Iwatodai dormitory - Lounge - Dark Hour
Minako and I make it to the dorm.
"All right, it should be safe now that we made it to the dorm. Are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm totally okay!" Minako lets out an exhausted chuckle
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing, I just can't believe I'm still alive after everything I went through today. Hell, can't believe what I just saw today."
"Yeah..." Huh, she sort of reminds me of me when I first experienced the Dark Hour.
I hear footsteps from the stairs to the second floor. It's Fuu-chan, who is wearing pajamas.
"Kazuki-kun, what are you doing here, you're supposed to still be in the hospital!" She rushes over to me.
"I know, but-"
"Some psycho tried to kill me! I ran into the hospital to get away from him. But in the end, he found me in there, and Kei-chan fought him off with awesome moves. He sent that dude flying down the hallway, he even tanked fire kicks! he's awesome," Minako interrupts me to sing my praises. Geez, could've just let me finish.
"It's nothing really," I try to downplay it since it really wasn't anything special.
"Nothing really? You were kicking ass and taking names!" Minako starts throwing punches in the air. She's going way overboard on it. "I bet Kei-chan over here could've beaten that guy with ease."
"You're wrong," I correct her.
"Huh?"
"Kazuki-kun"
I look behind Fuu-chan to find no one there.
"Fuu-chan, is everybody else asleep?"
"I was going to wake them all up with Lucia, but then the two strong energy levels faded away."
I see, so my hunch was correct.
"Minako," I call her.
"Sup!"
"Do you know why I said you were wrong?"
"I think I do."
"Oh?"
"Is it because you think you would've been defeated?"
"No, because I would have died." I lean on the sign-in desk. "That guy's power was amazing, if we had fought for much longer, he would've killed me. His kick left such a devastating effect on the ground when M.G. redirected it. Suffice to say: he's someone that's not only more experienced than me but stronger."
Minako remains quiet even after I'm done explaining. Fuu-chan came up to me and wraps me in her embrace.
"I'm glad you aren't hurt and you got here safely," she whispers, her voice is sweet if that makes sense.
"I can't say I'm not hurt, but I am here."
There's a quiet moment between us that clouds my mind, yet, my head wanted to go forward. It feels as if there's a pull that brings us together. Could this be...
"Smooch, smooch, smooch, smooch..." I gaze over to Minako with an irritated glance. "I see we have two heart stroked lovers, embracing each other in the warmth of the other; to receive such a privilege is nothing but a blessing. Now all that is missing is a kiss, so kiss."
"Minako..."
"Yes?"
"Go home."
"I am home."
"Huh, what do you mean," Fuu-chan asks.
"I was supposed to be living here since April, but apparently my transfer got delayed because there were some issues with the dorm, so ha," she obnoxiously explains
She's starting to annoy me just a tad bit.
"You know, Minako...if you don't get that cut on your hand healed, it could get infected."
"Really, Oh crap! Wait, it's gone too."
So it wasn't just her burn mark. Is it because of her Persona?
"Excuse me, but who are you?" Fuu-chan asks Minako.
"Right, forgot to introduce myself. I'm Arisato Minako. What's your name?"
"I'm Yamagishi Fuuka. Wait, do you know where your room is Arisato-chan?"
"No."
"Well, guess one of us is gonna have to go get Mitsu-chan."
"I don't know, maybe..."
I hear footsteps coming from the staircase. It's Makoto, who has his weapon on his hip.
"What's going on down here? Kazuki, what are you doing here, you're supposed to be-"
"Makoto?"
"Minako...?"
Minako goes up to Mako-kun. I wonder how they know each other?
"Makoto..."
"Yes..."
"YOU IDIOT," Minako yells. "You forgot to pick me up at the station!"
"I-I'm sorry."
"I was being chased by a freaking psycho! If it weren't for Kei-chan I would've died!"
"As I said, I'm sorry. I was busy lately and I overslept due to that."
"NOT! GOOD! ENOUGH!"
Yikes, she's just dogging the ever-living hell out of him. It's kind of awkward.
"Fuuka, I think we should just go up to our rooms now."
"Are you sure?"
"This whole situation speaks for its self."
"I, um, think we should help him."
Minako exuded a monstrous essence that couldn't be sensed but felt.
"I'll see you in the morning Kazuki-kun."
"Yeah, see you later, too..."
Fuu-chan and I start walking towards the staircase, acting as though we couldn't hear the several screams of help from downstairs.
Iwatodai dormitory - Lounge - Morning
I was fully dressed in my summer outfit, which was me without the uniform blazer, and I also just wrapped my hoodie around my waist. I went downstairs with Fuuka right next to me.
"That was a crazy night for me," I tell Fuu-chan as I yawn.
"It must've been. So, there are more Persona-users than just us?"
"Seems to be that way, yeah, But also-"
All of a sudden, my nose catches a delicious smelling scent.
"Do you smell that Fuuka?"
"I do, it's coming from the kitchen."
"Let's check it out."
Fuuka and I go down to the kitchen, to see what's literally cooking. Minako is in the kitchen, getting done cooking some eggs and bacon, along with some toast.
"Oh, good morning Fuu-chan, Kei-chan," she greets us.
"Looks like someone is getting ready for a feast," I point out.
"Nah, I only made this much for everyone else in the dorm. Only one person ate what I made, everyone else is already gone. Makoto is still upstairs."
"So this is for us?" Fuu-chan asks to confirm.
"Yeah, so grab a plate and some grub."
As she said, we grabbed some plates and food and went to chow town. Fuu-chan ate light, taking one piece of bread. Minako and I took larger portions than her. After Fuu-chan gets done with her food she gets up.
"I forgot something in my room, I'll be back." She excuses herself from the dining room.
"Gonna feel lonely without her," Minako teases.
"I'm not some puppy you know."
"Sorry, you just seem easy to tease."
"Where did you get that?"
"Come on, don't be so angry."
I take a sip of my water to calm myself down. She's just messing with you man, just calm down.
"So, how far are you two?" she asks me out of the blue.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, how far you and Fuu-chan in things, you guys hold hands?"
"No."
"Give the other gifts?"
"I mean, not really a gift, just school supplies."
"Did you even kiss?"
"No."
"Wait, you two didn't... Did you go in reverse?"
"What does that mean?"
"Ya know... Did she ever expose herself to you?"
"Huh... Wait, huh, no! No!"
Minako laughs at my flustered state. She laughs uncountably as I come to grips with what she suggested.
"Listen, we just started going out, nothing too serious has happened yet."
"I see, looks like I assumed wrong."
"What type of guy do you take me for?"
"Oh come on, it's nothing to be embarrassed about. If anything, I think her boobs are above-average, just like mine."
My eyes can't help but stare towards her breast. It's not in my place to judge, nor do I care to, but I think they're slightly smaller than Fuu-chans'. Mind you, it's not like I actively look at them, but even I notice these things.
"Pervert," Minako calls me.
"What, why did you call me that!?"
"Because you're checking me out!"
"You're the one that brought attention to them!"
"Doesn't mean you get to look at them with such longing and creepy eyes."
"You wish!"
"You so are!"
"Come on, you're as flat-chested as they come."
Gonna be honest, that just popped up in my head and I just went along with it.
"How could you say that!?"
"Because you called me a perv!"
"Because it's a fact."
"Then you being considerably flat is a fact!"
"That makes no sense at all, you moron!"
"Well, it does to me!"
"Cuz you're an idiot!"
"The pot calling the kettle black!"
...
I return to the kitchen with Yuki-kun, who was on his way down when I reached the second floor.
"I'm back, and I ran into Yuki-kun upstairs."
"Morning Minako, Kazuki, how are you...?"
"Flatty!"
"Perv!"
"Moron!"
"Brainless dope!"
The bickering continued for a while. We didn't get to class on time that day...
Gekkoukan high - Class 2-E - Afterschool
I jump out of my seat immediately after the bell rings. I walk to the side of Fuu-chan's desk.
"You wanna go anywhere today?" I ask her.
"Sure, but where?"
"How about we-"
"Ha, found you!"
I cringe at the mere thought of knowing whose voice that belongs to.
She came right over to me.
"What you lovebirds?"
"Nothing."
"If you say so, perv," she says as she laughs.
"I'm not a perv!" I release a sigh of exhaustion. "What do you want?"
"I don't know any of the go-to places in the city, so I was wondering if you guys could show me around?"
"Why can't Makoto do it," I ask her.
"Because I'm still mad at him," she pouts.
"How about Yuka-chan then?"
"She's busy with Archery club."
I'd ask if Junpei could do so, but I'm sure she doesn't want that. What the hell, might as well.
"We would love to show you around Arisato-chan."
"Cool, thanks Fuu-chan, you're all right in my book. Also, you can just use my first name."
"O-okay!"
"What about me, where am I in your book," I ask with no expectations of good results whatsoever.
"In the fighting department, the top. But when it comes to the overall, I'd say 49th out of 50." Minako sticks her tongue at me. Honestly, I can't even get angry, I know that would be a losing battle. Maybe we could slink out on showing her around?
Hakekure - after school
Minako-chan and I slurp down on the soup of the ramen, Fuu-chan was eating it at a slower pace. "Ramen, nothing like it," I stated. "Yeah, totally!" Minako rubbed her hands together.
"Guys, now let's talk about the you-know-what."
"Again, what is that?" I ask her.
"Come on! That Dark Hour thingy." Minako rocked her seat.
"Oh, yeah, thought you up and forgotten about it."
"Yeah right, like I would."
"Thought as much."
I explain everything to her to the best of my abilities.
"So, are we the only ones who can move around in that hour," she inquires, her eyes beaming with curiosity.
"No, everyone in the dorm can move around in that time."
Minako grabs her cup and swirls the drink inside it.
"Can Makoto move around in it?"
She has an uneasy look about her than she did a moment ago.
"Yes, he can."
She has a grave look on her face. Thinking about how to perk her up, I come up with a conclusion.
"Ya know, Makoto is awesome as our leader."
"Leader," Minako repeats.
"Oh yeah, he's a great leader, if not, he's a natural at it. He's smart, strong, and well, he's pretty cool overall."
Minako goes straight-faced for a moment, she then gives a bright smile.
"Of course, that sounds like him. Perfectly in fact."
She mumbles on about Makoto. It's clear that she admired him, and I can definitely say I have that feeling and still have it.
"So...about the Dark Hour. I wanna know more," she exclaimed. "Oh, well, Fuu-chan explain." "Huh, why me?" I put my head on the table. "Cuz I have a feeling she's gonna screw with me somehow."
"Oh, I wouldn't do that," she snickered.
"Okay then, well, it's like this..."
Fuu-chan takes the time to explain the Dark Hour.
"Sounds hardcore," Minako comments.
"Trust me, it's more exhausting than you think," I add on. "That reminds me, have you gone to Tartarus yet, Fuu-chan?"
"No, we held off on going until you got out of the hospital."
"I see."
"So you guys go there every night?" Minako questions. I simply nod my head no. "I guess that makes sense. So when are we going?"
"No idea, gotta talk to Makoto about that, and he has to talk to Mitsuru about that."
"So Makoto is the leader?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm..." She finished her bowl by slurping the soup inside. "Delicious! This was great!"
"I know, this is the best stuff I had yet," I agree with her.
"And after the best stuff, you know what you gotta do?"
"What?" Fuu-chan asks
"Karaoke!"
"Karaoke!?"
"What's the matter, too-"
"...I'm down!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, I always wanted to go to Karaoke with friends!"
Other than Naoya, nobody was ever down to go with me for obvious reasons. So there was no way that I would back down from an opportunity like this!
"Alright then, let's go! Fuuka, you down," Minako asks, pumping her fists into the air.
For a moment Fuu-chan seems to be a bit apprehensive but smiles at us. "Sure, though, I'm not too good at singing though."
"Don't worry, just belt it out and you'll be fine."
"If you think so..."
After paying for our food and drinks we left for Karaoke. Not going to lie, Minako was pretty good at singing, Fuu-chan kind of missed a few of the lines but seemed to be having fun. Me on the other hand...I don't wish to speak of it. But overall: it was fun as all hell... Even if it seems like a small thing, I'm just glad I was able to go out and do Karaoke with people.
6/17 Iwatodai dormitory - Kazuki's room - Midnight
I have been walking around in circles for a while now. Anticipation is killing me. I've been thinking back on the night I fought M.G. His moves were quicker than I could anticipate, ultimately overwhelming me. But that isn't it... A light knock is heard coming from my door. I walk up to the door and open it. Fuu-chan is on the other side, she was in her PJs. She seems as though she'll fall asleep any minute.
"I'm here," she announces tiredly.
"Sorry about waking you up this late Fuu-chan."
"It's quite all right since you told me this is important."
"All right, take a seat..."
Fuu-chan sits on my bed, I take a seat next to her.
"All right, let me ask you something: do you remember when I was all cut up in Tartarus?"
"How could I forget."
"Well, it wasn't from the Reaper, it was someone else."
"What really!?" I went on to explain what happened during the fight. "If there's someone that strong then how did you get away?"
"I didn't, he spared me. Not only that, but he gave me medical items."
"But he dealt you so many hits, how was he certain that you would live!?"
"He said the Dark Hour for them started, or something in between those lines."
"Wait, how did he know the Dark Hour would start for everyone else...? Maybe a watch?"
"No, I didn't see a watch on him, even if it was entirely black, the lens would've still been visible. Besides, it was the Dark Hour."
"You're right, it wouldn't have worked then."
"This is all so strange, just how in the hell did he know where to find and reach us. And why did he spare me... Fuu-chan?"
Fuuka is fast asleep on my bed as her legs hang off from it.
"Hey, Fuuka, you can't sleep here!" No good, she's out like a light. Great... I pick up Fuuka and I put her on my back, and I leave the room to take her back to her room.
Iwatodai dormitory - Fuuka Yamagishi room
I open the door to her room, I see a pink low, round table in the middle of the room, a cubby full of flowers on the right-hand side. Her room is well kept, all things considered. I lower myself as I approach her bed.
"Easy does it..." I lay Fuuka down on her bed. "Good, well see ya."
As I leave the room I glance at a notepad on her desk.
"It would be rude of me to see, but...maybe just a peak."
I pick up the notepad. It seems to be a list of places to go with me. Most of them have "x" marks next to them. Most of these places are in Paulownia Mall. I'm guessing she was thinking I wouldn't like to go to any of these places, hell, she even left a comment saying,
"Not a likely date spot."
Most of the places she said weren't good enough seem good enough to me. But going to just one seems a bit short... Hmm... I got it! I pick up the pen that sat next to the notepad and I start writing into the notepad. After I was finished, I rip the paper out of the notepad carefully and I fold it into a small enough shape to put it in her hand. I slip it into her hand. Even after finishing up anything to do in this room, my body sticks to the same spot like glue. Something caught my attention; her lips!
"Crap, why am so I fixated on them?"
I look at them for what feels like hours. Damnit, I just need to leave! "Right, I'm getting out of here!" I rush out of the room as if I was a typhoon recking havoc through a city. My heart is beating like a drum. Shit, it's like it's trying to bust free. Just calm down, calm down, calm down, calm down...
"Sup, lover boy."
My body jumps from someone's voice calling me out. I turn to find Minako sitting at the table near the stairway in sweat pants and a tank top, holding a cup in her hand.
"What are you doing?" I ask her.
"Getting my midnight drink for my midnight reading. What are you doing."
"Can't you just read in the morning, besides, isn't it hard to see the words?"
"My eyes are the best, plus I'm used to reading in the dark, it's not even an issue." Well, that's a feat that I kind of wish I had. "So to backstep, what are you doing up here, and mind you: this is the girl's floor." I rub my temples, trying to find a way to explain this without bringing up the conversation in my room.
"I...came to see how Fuu-chan was doing."
"Hm, she seemed fine this morning."
"Yeah, but... I mean, how she's adjusting to SEES. She was thrown into all this pretty quickly, and it has me a bit worried." I walk over to the chairs near the vending machine. "I feel like she was rushed into this. She should've been allowed to adjust to the idea before officially joining."
"But is that really bothering you? She told me she volunteered to help." I guess she has a point there, and it appears that's she's able to see that isn't the only thing on my mind.
"You're right, that's not what's really bothering me. What's bothering me is the fact I'm still weak."
"You seem pretty strong to me."
"...I got my ass handed to me while I was trapped in Tartarus, it didn't take much effort for the opponent to beat me. Compared to that person, I was nothing at all."
This isn't just an excuse anymore. When I awakened my Persona fully, I thought I was as strong as I ever would be, but even when I unlocked it, I still wasn't strong enough to beat one person. I'm not broken up about the fact I lost but about the fact that I could've died there if that masked person didn't let me live. If someone like that decides to threaten to kill me or the team, I don't know if I can stop them.
"There was a time I was just a weak little girl who was lived in an orphanage," Minako says.
"You're an Orphan?"
She bobs her head yes. "I lost my dad in a car crash, and I was six years old when my mother was killed."
"Killed by what?"
Why the hell did I ask!? I'm just stepping on a metaphorical landmine. "To this day, it's ruled as an accident, but something tells me that it's not that. Well, it's not like I can prove it, and it's not like I want to anyway," she muttered at the end. "While I was living in the orphanage, I was picked on by the other kids, mostly because of the color of my eyes."
"You're eyes, why for," I ask as I look at her eyes. The crimson in her eyes is a key feature that I failed to notice. There's a beautiful yet darkening hue to them.
"Because the other kids said they were weird; because they were scary." She touches her eyelid, her fingers trace it. "I hated my eyes so much back then. I thought about taking them out at one point. Of course, I couldn't do it, and it would've been stupid as all hell."
Being treated differently for no good reason, it's the same shit no matter what, and it just pisses me off; like what the hell is wrong with us? Minako suddenly perks up.
"But that changed when Makoto came to the orphanage."
"He's an Orphan too?"
"You didn't know?"
"No."
"Well, I remember the first time I saw him, his hair was covering his eyes. I thought he was covering them from others, but when I saw his eyes, they didn't seem sad at all, they just seemed...calming." Her face is in pure bliss as she was going on about Makoto, her cheeks growing red as she went on. "The first time I ever talked to him was after he defended me against some bullies." She plants her hand on her chest. "He was like my knight in shining armor..."
Hearing her talk like this; a normal girl was a bit different. She's usually easily excited, short-tempered, rambunctious, and kind of like an excitable kid. Her eyebrows jump up suddenly. She glares at me, her girlish demeanor is gone.
"Hey, I poured my heart out to you but this doesn't mean you can tell anyone else, okay," she stammers. The change in attitude didn't annoy me. I begin to chuckle, then all together laughed out loud. "H-hey, what's so funny?"
"It's not your story, it's just... I never thought I never meet someone like me."
"Like you? What do you mean?" I try calming myself.
"What I mean is, I wasn't treated fairly either when I was young; I-"
A sound echoing sound coming from downstairs interrupts me.
"What was that?" Minako asks, jumping up from her chair. The noise is still coming from down there, I look down from the rail but I see nothing on the second floor.
"Hey, what is that."
"I don't know but go get your weapon from your room Minako, we might need to get physical."
"Okay, I'll get it quickly, just wait for me."
"No sweat."
She rushes towards her room and I went downstairs. Reaching the lobby, I see that the door is half-open. Heading over towards it, I'm able to see something on the floor. Something is lying on the floor. It's plain white folded-up paper with my name on it. I open it to see the contents of it.
"Come to Tartarus, our fight isn't over yet."
There's are only a few minutes before the Dark Hour hits.
"I'm here!" Minako approaches us from the stairs. She has her weapon in hand and she's dressed in her Gekkoukan uniform. "What's that," she asks, pointing to the letter in my hand.
"I think I've been invited to a fight."
"Want me to tag along?"
This letter might lead me to a trap, and I have no reason to go. However, if I don't go, the fight might come here...
"Minako, we're going to Tartarus."
A smirk forms on her face.
"Finally!"
"Why are you excited?"
"I never thought I'd be going there for the first time behind the other guy's backs."
"Well, I wouldn't think of it like that, but whatever. We need to get going if we want to make it."
"Lead the way."
The lobby of Tartarus, Dark Hour
We enter the lobby to found someone sitting on the staircase leading to the labyrinth: M.G.; mask guy didn't sit too well with me, so I shorted ir.
"I see you brought someone along with you," M.G. points out.
"Yeah, I don't really trust you, to be fair."
"It was stupid enough of you to even come here," M.G. tells me without malice or a cocky attitude, just a blank tone. M.G. gets up from the staircase. "Well, no point on stabbing at that. I guess the only question that remains is: are you ready?"
"I don't know what the hell I need to be ready for, but sure, I am..."
Bonus: Dark hour interview
Kazuki: Hello everybody, and welcome to the Dark hour interview, I'm your host, Kei Kazuki.
Kazuki: Today, I'm here with the one, the only, Minako Arisato!
Minako: Sup, everybody.
Kazuki: So, Minako, I'm gonna ask you three questions.
Minako: Okay, I'm ready.
Kazuki: Alright, first question: Why did you forget to put on your clothes?
Minako: People always did say I sometimes go on autopilot. It's either that or maybe it was due to the fact I was up so late, I forgot to put on clothes.
Kazuki: I see...
Kazuki: Alright, question two: Where did you go to school originally?
Minako: I went to Shujin high, and I like to say, those uniforms were snazzy, but the Gekkoukan uniform is much cooler, so I guess it's an even trade.
Kazuki: Oh, we got a Tokyo girl in the studio.
Kazuki: Final question: How flat are you, Wait, what!?
Minako: ...
Kazuki: Minako...
Minako: Well everyone, I hope you had a fantastic time with us tonight...
Kazuki: Um, Minako...?
Minako: ...Because now, Kei-chan and I have something to talk about now.
Kazuki: ...Why are you cracking your knuckles?
Minako: ...Until you're possible next time with Kei-chan again, take care.
Kazuki: Mino-chan you don't need to do this.
*Bam*
Kazuki: (Groaning) Oww, are you done yet?
Minako: Are you kidding me, I just got started.
Kazuki: WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, MINO-CHAN, MINO-CHAAAAANNN!