Thiccfurryboi69: It's no trouble. And yes, I did read. It's just... a massive amount, so going through all of it and telling my opinion on each piece would take far too long. Plus, I think there's a lot in there that I don't think would add much to the main story that I'm trying to tell, and I already am prone to overbooking as is. I'd like to think I've gotten better at controlling myself but we'll see.
Christmas Eve.
The day bright lights hang on every wall. Couples crowd every restaurant, with the unfortunate majority forced to have a change of plans and/or improvise another idea.
Makoto never liked these sorts of events. Too many people crowding and lights everywhere he went, both suffocating and blinding him at once.
So he claimed, anyway.
The smiling, the laughing, and the companionship—the envy was a natural reaction. Humans will always want more, and so deep was Makoto that it all seemed beyond his grasp, having been stolen from him.
School is no different from the rest of the city. Minato's classmates squirm, barely able to contain themselves in their seats. Their attentions go to the cute girl across the room or the dream of one of the boys working up the courage to ask them out.
How many hearts has Makoto broken, the bluenette wonders? A mentally depressed boy with volatile behavior and a homicidal obsession attracted more admirers than one would think—a bit concerning, in hindsight.
Fortunately, being a recluse meant none managed to get past his walls.
Minus one that is.
Kotone left the moment class was over. "Meet me at the mall later, okay?" she said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek before leaving. She didn't want to walk there together, something that has him suspicious.
What has he gotten himself into?
Minato stretches out his arms before standing up, loosening joints that had gone stiff from sitting for so long. Between school and how long he's been out of action, it'll be a miracle if he doesn't become a statue at this rate.
What must the others have planned?
Akihiko? Probably doing something with Ken, if he had to hazard a guess. It's not like he so much as notices his bachelorette fan club desperate to so much as speak to him. With any luck, they might bring Koromaru with them too; it would be horrible if the poor boy was left home all by himself.
Yukari is probably doing something with Fuuka. Those two are as close-knit as they come. Although, Minato wonders if they can manage their way of wrangling in Mitsuru to whatever they may have planned? A few months ago, he'd say that was absurd but now—anything is possible.
Aigis?
Nope. Minato shakes his head. That was not a road he wanted to go down. The less he knows about what she's doing, the better.
Before he leaves, there's one last thing he needs to do.
Minato gets up from his chair to Junpei, giving him a gentle kick to get his attention. "Go see her," he orders without elaboration.
Junpei, however, is in a slight daze as his attention snaps to the boy. "Huh? What? See who?"
"It's Christmas Eve," Minato responds, tilting his head slightly to gesture towards the door, "go be with her."
If he has someone to be with today, then so should she. It's times like this he wonders if Makoto could have accomplished his goal against SEES; he's far too sentimental.
"I don't know," Junpei sighs, leaning forward and propping his head up with his elbows on the desk. "I get the feelin' she doesn't want me—"
Minato interrupts immediately. "She does," he says with certainty, "she won't say it, but she does."
"Really?" Did his eyes just light up? Wow, he is head over heels for her.
Is this what he's been reduced to? A matchmaker, and one recommending he go for someone who tried to have him killed before?
… maybe he shouldn't be one to judge.
Minato shrugs his shoulders, taking his leave. As he parts, he leaves the capped boy with, "go ask her yourself."
That should be enough to get him moving. Old wounds between the two of them are only beginning to heal and something told him that it would be a long time before the two of them resemble anything close to friends.
Still, the thought of what he's done brings a smile to his face. If Kotone could save his soul, maybe Junpei could save hers.
Kaiya blinks, sitting down at her small table as her daughter paces back in forth in front of her.
When she received a call from Kotone saying she needed to see her, she was expecting some more hard questions she owed her answers for. To this end, she readied two cups of tea for both of them in preparation.
Instead, Kotone came barging through her door panicking.
"I don't know what to do! I don't know what to do!" she has been repeating for several moments now, never pausing for a moment for her mother to get a word in.
Maybe she should take this as a sign of trust? Kotone has come to her seeking help with—whatever this must be.
"What was I thinking?!" Kotone shouts in the air, reaching up and nearly pulling her hair out. Her tirade devolves into her repeating the word "stupid" ad nauseam.
Perhaps she is reading too much into this? Kotone could simply want someone to air her frustrations out to and she was the only option she had. Regardless, this is about Kotone, not herself. She's had enough selfishness to last a lifetime.
Kotone buries her face in her hands. "I am such an—"
"Kotone!" Mother's voice booms, the suddenness eliciting a brief jolt from the girl. The exclamation brought with it a scratchy sensation at the back of Kaiya's throat, bringing a cough before she could clear her throat.
With the girl's aimless diatribe brought to a halt, it was time to figure out what she was ranting about.
Mother gestures to the empty spot across the table, nonverbally directing her to take a seat and Kotone complies.
"In," Mother directs, raising her hand slowly with a stern look until Kotone takes a deep breath. "Out," her hand lowers along with Kotone's exhale.
Mother repeats this a few more times until she is convinced that Kotone is calm enough to hold a conversation without breaking into another panic.
"Now," Mother says, raising an eyebrow, "what is wrong?"
"I don't know what to do," Kotone gives the same answer as before, groaning as she lowers her head back into her hands again. "I thought I'd figure it out by now, but I have no idea what I'm doing. I said I'd have plans or something but I'm completely winging it."
Plans? What was she—oh…
Kaiya leans forward asking, "Is this about your boyfriend?"
A single crimson eye peaks out between the girl's fingers. "Mm-hmm," she answers with a nod. Lowering her hands, she attempts to explain, "I want to do something special! I've been trying to think of something for the past few weeks, and I said I'd meet him at the mall, and…"
Kotone collapses her head onto the table, using her arms as a cushion while also hiding her face in shame.
The sight brings a tender smile to her mother's face. Despite the confidence she musters, she's still a young girl with her whole life ahead of her. It's comforting for her to see she hadn't missed out on everything a mother should be there for.
Something Kotone can do to make today special for her and her boyfriend? "Hmm," ideas began forming in Kaiya's mind.
"When did you say you would meet him?"
Kotone raises her head slightly, her expression betraying slight confusion before she answers, "I didn't. I mean, I said he might need to wait for me there and—"
Mother abruptly rises to her feet, walking over to what appeared to be a closet to grab a jacket before giving Kotone a knowing look. Kotone looks back at her wide-eyed before returning her smile. "We better hurry then."
Bluish-grey eyes stare back at Minato. Their owner's expression is worn, if somewhat lethargic. Despite the weary appearances, there was a slight curl at the edges of his lips, forming a smile that manages to stick out despite the ripples forming in the water reflecting it.
Taking a step back from the fountain, Minato took a moment to take it all in.
In accordance with the holiday, strings of small bright lights decorate the walls and ceiling. Christmas trees made of pure light decorate the scene, complete with a big star at the top. Strips hang from the ceiling, their light being reflected by the marble floor.
The lack of people somehow adds a sense of longing to everything. A mall is meant to be the location for people to congregate, make new memories, and live their lives. But there are so few here. Apathy Syndrome caused by the Dark Hour is running rampant, growing further and further out of control.
Yet here it is, shining its brightest—a beacon calling out for all those who can hear its cry. Tragic but beautiful nonetheless. For once, his presence is helping to bring life to something rather than bring it crumbling down.
"It's amazing, isn't it?" A familiar voice asks him from behind. Minato attempts to turn around but a hand pressing on his back signals him to stop. "Uh-uh, not yet. Answer first."
Minato briefly snorts, shaking his head slightly. No reason not to play her game. "More than that. I spent a lifetime where I would have been blind to the lights around me, and deaf to the laughter of friends and families."
Minato thinks nostalgically about all the memories of the past ten years with Makoto. All the dread he felt lingering filtering his surroundings, and only now could he truly see it all. He spent his life in a bubble of despair—breathing and existing but not truly living.
Seemingly pleased with his answer, the hand removes itself from his back, beckoning him to turn around. Doing so, he sees a sight that nothing in this mall could hold a candle to.
Forgoing her school uniform, Kotone is wearing a black short-sleeve dress with a hem extending just past her knees. Her hair is down, extending enough past her shoulders that she wraps a few strands around her finger, playing with it nervously as he takes in the rest. Her cheeks are flaring but even that can't distract from the cherry red lips she had.
Kotone speaks up. "S-So," she stammers, "what do you think?"
Minato blinks in slight disbelief before looking down at himself. "I'm feeling underdressed."
"You're feeling underdressed?" Kotone scoffs, taking a step forward glaring, "it's freezing out there! I was blue-er than you."
Minato can only smile warmly back at her. Kotone's glare breaks almost instantly, returning one of her own. "I went to ask for some help from Mom. 'A lady's gotta look her best,' she said."
Kotone raises her hand with her palm facing her, showing off more red in the form of her nails. "Like them?" she asks and he nods. "I thought it was too much red, but I didn't know if blue was too desperate, and—"
A thumb pressing against her lip silences her. The thumb slides down, settling on her chin and tilting her head up to the boy leaning towards her.
But she wasn't going to make it that easy tonight. Kotone pulls back, grinning at her boyfriend's confused expression. "Save some room for dessert, baby."
Minato winces. "You know that weirds me out."
"Mm-hmm," Kotone laughs, a familiar mischievous glint in her eyes. "Guess you'll just need to deal with it tonight, babe." She's sure to draw emphasis to the term, smirking like a child that managed to sneak a few sweets without their parents noticing.
Minato lets out an exasperated sigh. How did his life come to the point that he's allowing himself to be bossed around by some redhead with such nice well-toned legs—
Oh. Now it makes sense. Damn hormones.
Kotone turns her attention up towards the speakers. The usual music that plays is now being replaced with Christmas songs that Makoto never bothered to learn the names of. A shame; the music isn't bad.
But then that glint returns with a predatory smirk that sends a shiver down his spine. Kotone beckons him closer with a finger.
Before he can ask what she's doing, Kotone pulls him closer, placing his hands on her waists.
"I don't see anyone else here, do you?" She asks, briefly glancing around the unusually empty mall. She doesn't wait for a response. "We have music and scenery," she says, placing her head on his shoulder, "so make it count, alright?"
This was unusual for him, to say the least. Dancing wasn't an art he had much practice in, he could apply his knowledge of footing when it comes to fighting.
His movements are still stiff and awkward. Even when he begins getting into the flow of things, he can't help but feel he's humiliating himself.
But none of that matters—nothing but the smile it brings to his girlfriend's face.
Junpei Iori could be described as many things.
He's a slacker; he sleeps through class, frequently zones out, and only studies when threatened by his senior, Mitsuru. Despite her efforts, a barely passing grade is the best he could accomplish on a good day.
He's lazy, constantly lying around and procrastinating everything to the last minute. Another trait that irritates his senior but continues to persist, much to her chagrin. The only time he applies himself to anything is in combat.
Yukari would likely describe him as an idiot. He must be because he's currently standing outside the door of the girl that would have killed him months ago at the behest of the guy that did try to kill him.
But what did those cheesy romance junk always say? You can't change who you love.
Stupid! Why did he even look into that crap?! He hoped watching all that stupid romance anime would help him learn something useful, instead, he only felt what few brain cells he had left begin to die one by one.
A sigh escapes the boy's lips, lamenting his fate as he walks in. He never knew what he was doing then, and he doesn't know what he's doing now. He only hopes that he does the right thing.
Of course, he's greeted by the same sight as always. Chidori sitting in her hospital bed drawing.
Junpei asked Mitsuru when or if she would be able to leave. The doctors reported that the pills she had been taking to suppress her persona, lest it turn on its master, had done too much damage to her body.
Her body is dying—and there's nothing he can do but hope the doctors can find a way to keep her alive.
He pulls up a chair to sit down beside her. "Hey, Chidori," he calls out to her. It's subtle, but she glances at him before going back to her drawing.
"It's Christmas—or well, Christmas Eve," he says, looking down ashamed. "I didn't know what to get ya, or what they'd let me bring in." He looks up, trying his best to force a smile, "If you want, when you get out of here, I can take somewhere—any place you want!"
The declaration is desperate but genuine—enough for the girl to set her sketchbook down for a moment.
"You coming here is enough," she smiles for the first time in ages. It's a sheepish smile afraid to draw attention to itself but it's enough to light up the small hospital room. "Thank you, Junpei."
The smile fades as quickly as it came. Chidori looks out her window for a moment with a blank expression.
"Something terrible is coming," she says, looking down at her sketchbook. "It's the same emptiness I felt from him, but stronger and concentrated here."
Junpei nods in agreement. "Yeah, I know."
If he doesn't tell her now, he never will.
"It's Death," Junpei tries his best to explain. His legs begin to fidget as the sinking realization comes. "That thing inside Mak—Minato. It's coming for us. It'll be back soon, and we'll have to stop it."
For the first time since he's known her, Chidori looks worried. Her eyes widened and her voice raised itself sharply, "don't be there. Stay here with me, please."
He wants to promise her that he will. He knows what can happen—heck, what probably will happen.
"I can't do that," Junpei says, his voice full of regret. "Kotone and the others—they're my friends."
"Kotone," Chidori repeats that name, "she's the one Death wants, isn't it? Angry for separating it from his friend, like me and Medea. Why do you have to be there?"
"I'd be lying if I said that Minato was my favorite person," he scoffs, only for his lips to curl into a nostalgic smile. "But they were always there for me. If I left Kotone when she needed me most, I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror."
Minato.
Makoto.
Kotone.
Death.
Junpei's friends helped him—accepted him and her despite her being the enemy. Now he's asking to return to the favor, helping Kotone with her dearest.
Chidori understands now, why Makoto would visit her. To see her would be for him to look into a mirror, hoping to see his reflection without the emptiness he carries.
Foolish Junpei. Why did he have to keep coming back to her? Why did he make her hands tremble, forcing her to stop drawing?
But she knows why.
Junpei Iori could be described as many things.
But for all his faults, they all paled in comparison to what she saw. The kind and loyal boy that would always refuse to give up on his friends. It was a kindness she hadn't felt in so long but a loyalty that now leaves her terrified.
"Junpei," his name was all that could occupy her thoughts hours after he left and even into the Dark Hour. For the first time, she found herself desperately praying. "Please be safe."
The 'dancing' went on for what felt like hours. She called it dancing but Minato couldn't help but feel his dignity being washed away into that fountain.
Exhaustion was reaching its peak. Having enough energy for a single grand finale. Holding her hand, he gives her one last twirl before letting go. Kotone continues, raising her arms in the air as she takes several steps away before she stops with her back facing the fountain.
Small amounts of sweat glisten off the girl's brow before she playfully takes a curtsy to the imaginary audience.
They both take a moment to catch their breath.
"Good," Kotone thought. This was a good start. Dancing under Christmas lights next to a fountain reflecting their glow? Yeah, that's a story she will be telling someday.
She looks back at Minato who is crossing his arms looking at her expectantly. The first impression was good, but now he's waiting to see what else she has under her sleeve.
Of course, there was one thing he needs to make up to her. When she spotted the cafe still open, she knew that now was that time.
Without bothering to explain, Kotone grasps the boy's hand and drags him inside.
Despite the barrenness of the mall, there are a few people seated in the cage and enjoying their cups of coffee. Soon, the couple joins them, taking a seat of their own with Kotone asking for one for each of them.
Going out for coffee is a bit cliche but it must be popular for a reason, Minato thought. But the slight bewilderment soon magnified when Kotone asks, "So, you come here often, Stranger?"
Minato raises an eyebrow but his response is his girlfriend grinning, expecting, and waiting for an answer.
Maybe she didn't hint what she was doing enough, Kotone thought. "I'm glad you agreed to take me out," she raises both eyebrows, hoping her expression would say 'get the idea, idiot!' hard enough.
To her dismay, Minato only looks at her like she's crazy—the irony is almost enough to make her slam her head into the table.
"Alright, pause," Kotone sighs, leaning forward with a serious expression. "Remember our first date? You know, the one when you left?"
Minato winces at the memory. That was the time when Kotone was going to tell Makoto her feelings for him. She did everything right, said all the right things, but he left her high and dry.
Makoto couldn't accept her feelings then. If he did, maybe Pharos never would have grown to loathe her—maybe they wouldn't be here, waiting for the end to come.
The boy nods, not wanting to share his inner thoughts and risk ruining the mood.
Kotone seems pleased. "Well, we're doing a redo. First date; we're just classmates, and you're that emo boy that accepted to go out for coffee with me."
Minato's response is a glare. "I am not emo."
"See?" Kotone giggles, the waitress arriving and delivering their coffees to their table. "You're getting into the role already! Now…"
Kotone clears her throat, leaning in and supporting her head with her elbow with an odd, almost dreamy look on her face. "How would you rate your Christmas so far, hmm?"
"You've gotta be kidding me," Minato mentally sighs. He has to have a first date again as if the first one isn't awkward enough.
Actually, it was less awkward and more of him having a crisis. By those standards, this is already a massive improvement.
Christmas… surely those pick-up lines from those magazines Pharos used to read can help here? Right?
"So far?" he asks, a sly smirk on his face. "My time with you is like a gift," he shrugs, "must be why they call it the present."
Did he just say that?!
Why did he say that?!
At least it's better than the 'lost in your eyes' one… right?
Minato's internal debate aside, Kotone perks up. She whispers in a sultry voice, "and yours is one I can't wait to unwrap."
That's enough to make the boy's eyes go wide before blinking in disbelief. The sheer amount of shock on his face is enough to break Kotone's composure.
Her cheeks go red. "That was too forward, wasn't it?" she sinks into her shoulders. "First date. Can't do that. I should never do that! Why do I—"
Minato shakes his head, grasping her hands on the table to calm her down. "It's fine, it's fine," he attempts to assuage her, "just surprising."
Though a smile returns to her face, Kotone still refuses to meet his face. She glances at him for a moment before looking off to the side.
"Hey," she calls out, sounding somewhat uncertain, "is it… bad I'm like that?"
Minato tilts his head. "What do you mean?"
She groans, already regretting asking. "You know… how much I like that," she bites her lip, forcing herself to keep going despite a voice in the back of her head telling her to stop. "I mean, isn't that supposed to be a guy thing or something? I—"
She slams a fist on the table. Not out of anger but to keep her nerve, disregarding the odd looks she receives on the side.
"I like feeling close to someone I love, and making them feel good, and—"
"Who did it?" Minato asks, his eyes hardening into a glare cold enough that it would freeze hell thousand times over.
Now it was Kotone's time to be confused. "Did what?"
"Who insulted you for it?" he asks quickly, balling his hands into fists. "Gimme a name and—"
"No, no, no!" She waves her hands, drawing, even more, stares as she's quick to disarm the bomb she accidentally primed. "No one! Just…" she sits back down, sinking into her chair, "you know. Insecure sometimes."
"Insecure?" Minato chuckles, crossing his arms. "Who was it that went to my apartment to save my ass from what they called a 'demon'?"
Oh, is he about to give a thousand compliments? Kotone's mood instantly brightens. Screw first date; having her boyfriend appreciate her is much better!
"And then later went on to kick my ass?"
"You bet I did," Kotone laughs. The situation was so scary back then. She didn't know if she was going to be able to save him from Death, or how she could stop him.
So what did she do? Kick his ass enough until he regained control of himself!
And here she is! Having coffee with the dumbass who scared her half to death! That act alone should give her ten girlfriend points! Go Kotone!
From there, Kotone's mood improves immensely.
When he mentions how she went to face her mother all on her own, she begins regaling him with tales of her childhood. He returns with some of his own, many involving Minako in some form.
Memories that were once too painful to think of now come out so easily.
Kotone recounts a time during an outdoor party when she and her mother had a food fight involving copious amounts of cake. By her and her mother, she meant she threw the cake while running from the parent pursuing her, naturally.
This reminds Minato of a baking incident that occurred when he and Minako tried helping in the kitchen. They inevitably got into a fight over who caused what—details long since lost to time. The two turned their backs to one another, refusing to speak until bath time came because then, the 'water war' started.
The moral of the two stories is that children should not be allowed near a kitchen. At least, that's the conclusion that Minato drew from it all.
Sometime later, Kotone appears distracted, humming to herself in thought. Minato crosses his arms and legs while leaning into his chair, doing his best to appear interested while not rushing her.
"You love me, right?" The insecure question was asked with an otherwise confident voice. What sort of trap is he walking into?
Trap or not, the question has an obvious answer. "Yes, and we're not turning this into 'I love you more.'" The statement elicits a brief snort from the girl.
"Oh?" she teases. Suddenly, there's a familiar fire in her eyes that lets Minato know just what she has in mind. "Wanna get outta here and show me?"
Now it was Minato's turn to tease. "So soon?" he asks coyly. "We hardly got here. And wasn't this supposed to be our first date?"
"Screw all that," Kotone brushes the idea aside. "How about we celebrate Christmas the same we did my birthday?"
"I say," he returns her grin with a smirk of his own, "lead the way."
"Velvet, oh, velvet!" the attendant named Elizabeth sings, "My master has a long nose!"
Igor's eyes subtly shift to the strange woman, but he otherwise doesn't give any reaction. He sits there with his hands folded while Makoto sits across from him.
Whether it be the Velvet Room reacting to his heart or the influence of his new persona, Makoto's section of the room has become shrouded in an unnatural darkness.
Despite his words to the contrary, Makoto's taken a liking to the Velvet Room. The piano and woman's singing from parts unknown to him is rather soothing. Even at its worst when Igor or Elizabeth pesters him, it's less painful than viewing the life he gave up through Minato's eyes.
But the mask in his hands serves as a reminder of the path he chose. His fingers glide over the many cracks and crevices deforming the once smooth surface. Despite the damages, it still possesses that horrid grin.
As time went on, Makoto began to realize that grin was less disturbing and more mocking. He could almost hear it speaking to him despite never uttering a word.
"Are you proud?" it would ask him, laughing. "You have all the power to make this world bleed for what it did for you. Isn't that what you wanted?"
He's tried shattering it countless times but it always comes back. It's as much a part of him now as Minato is. No matter how hard he tries or how much he may want to, there's no severing the connection between them.
"Poor, poor Makoto," it taunts him. It knows where it hurts and how to twist the knife. "Forever alone and forever crying out for mommy. You sure are good at getting everything but the thing you want, huh?"
"Shut. Up." Makoto mutters under his breath. It's a vein effort and he knows it but the words come out all the same.
"Or what?" It asks, doing its best to sound curious. "This is the path you chose, remember? Too late to be getting cold feet. You were too much of a coward to save Minako, and now you're too much of one to be with Kotone."
He hears it whispering in his ear despite holding the mask in his hands, "you can pretend this is penance all you want. When you're finished with this beaten path you chose, I'll be waiting for you."
And then, he's with two strangers yet is all alone once more. All alone at his apartment once more, sitting in his chair with his mangled arm bleeding into a pot and bloodied knife beside him. It's all he is; it's all he does.
Sit.
Wait.
Bleed.
Repeat.
Sit.
Wait.
Bleed.
Repeat.
That is the path chosen by Makoto Yuki.
I can't believe I wrote this. Someone give Makoto a hug!
What? Oh, did you guys think I was going to write those two screwing each other's brains out? Ha! I thought you'd learn by now! I definitely wasn't considering writing one and posting it on AO3, only to cancel after I wrote the Makoto scene thinking that was a better way to end it and not worth shoving an intimate scene in.
This chapter is long enough! I'm not shoving more in!
