It's a good thing they are going to Tartarus tonight because the unease is driving him insane, and he needs some way to vent it out.
Akihiko isn't that much of a liar to begin with, but he can admire how quickly Minako could morph into a completely unphased bubble of energy in a two second span. Maybe it helped sell his temporary nonchalance, ruffling his hair on the sofa like it's no big deal and they were just talking. She's chatting up Ikutsuki like it's nothing, greeting Ken warmly with a smile and it's slightly unreal how less than a minute ago she was right here, unraveling.
At least Ken has no idea, about any of the things he shouldn't know about, some more dire than others. That's something at least, the kid already looks uncomfortable enough, overwhelmed by her presence. Minako can be a bit much sometimes, not that he minds.
Just need to suck it up for a few weeks until he goes back to his dorm.
The sudden hot and cold is doing a number on him and he can't process. Alerted by the noise, Fuuka and Yukari are coming downstairs to greet their temporary guest and Akihiko takes the opportunity to flee to his room. Three hours to go before they need to deploy, enough for some warmup sets, or a nap. Or a shower. Or a mix of all of the above.
There's screeching static all over his head and he's seeing her half-lidded red eyes in every reflective surface.
They're on the backup team tonight with Mitsuru, letting Minato and the others take point instead so everyone gets a chance to push themselves. Starting on lower floors, they start engaging small groups, careful not to overreach since it's only the three of them and they need to pace themselves in case they need to switch.
But it's starting to feel a little too easy and Akihiko is chomping at the bit to let loose a little. Minako seems to be thinking the same, eying him.
"There's only two groups of shadows left down this way according to Fuuka; what do you say we just bundle it all in one go Mitsuru-senpai?"
The heiress shakes her curls, adjusting her evoker holder.
"You sound just like your brother. Akihiko's been sharing his recklessness around, I see."
He snorts at this one, mock offense on his face.
"They've always been like that Mitsuru. He probably uses less words though, knowing him."
Minako is throwing him an evil look, sticking her tongue out at him and Mitsuru chuckles again in amusement at the show.
"Well, we don't have all night!"
Akihiko sneaks ahead to get the jump on their first opponent and runs a countdown with one raised hand, then slides in and punches the first unaware shadow upside down with a sharp clap of his knuckles. Mitsuru joins in, rapier lunging to finish it off, her lips curled in a grim smile. Minako is already showering him with different enhancements, evoker to her head, brushing ether through his hair again. He shivers and rolls his shoulders, hopping to the right to drill into another otherworldly manifestation.
"Let it snow senpai!"
Minako covers Mitsuru so she can step back and use her own evoker, raining large blocks of ice on the battlefield. A tail whip comes her way and she uses her naginata like a lever to spring back out of the way, then bounces back forward to slash in counter.
One of Mitsuru's targets freezes solid and she wastes no time in jabbing it to oblivion with quick stabs of her rapier, taking it out of the fray. Akihiko eyes the other batch of shadows turning the corner, slides behind Minako and shoots Polydeuces out of his mind to call for lightning. It's not quite effective, but it brings them over so they can wipe the floor with the lot of them.
He jumps back in melee, distracting a few of the new opponents as they come into the fight with resounding jabs and quick footwork, while Mitsuru explodes some of the snakes with a crackle of cold.
"Loa, come forth!"
The demonic icon manifests in a splash of blue flames above Minako's head, opening its skeletal jaw to scream death on the battlefield. Beams of darkness fly everywhere, vaporizing some of the shadows into dust. What little remains, the trio hack into submission in short order, crisscrossing the battlefield like skaters in a rink.
Akihiko wipes his cheek with his forearm, he's feeling slightly more relaxed now.
The way back isn't quite as energetic as the previous day, the Dark Hour takes its toll and subsequent visits only make it worse. Even Iori, always fired up about fighting, is yawning something fierce.
Akihiko could keep going, but it's not a bad idea to pace the team through the schedule she has in mind; it's not going to get any easier. He doesn't mind though, he'll follow her in hell if need be but mostly, he wants to be there to hold her back if she stumbles.
She's so stubborn.
They walk as a group and he's cracking his fingers absently, a small grin on his face. Minako looks back at him once or twice, a speculative gleam in her eyes, and he shyly smiles back at her. She's herded into Iori's conversation once again by one of Aigis' questions and Akihiko hears Mitsuru's polite chuckle from his back.
"What?"
She's smiling, eyes demure, like she knows something.
"Nothing."
He raises an eyebrow in reply, as if. Mitsuru looks at him for a few seconds, then moves along like she's strolling an art gallery.
"You just seem to be getting along quite well."
That's… one way to put it.
He wakes up next morning somewhat refreshed despite the short night; repeated insomnia keeps one used to lack of rest apparently. She'll be busy all day and he's disappointed there might not be any chance to steal some of her time, but at worst they'll make do tonight. He takes a shower and just as he's about to head out of his room, Akihiko notices something jutting from under it. Did someone slide a note under his door?
He opens the neatly folded paper, curious.
You are such a cheater!
There's another paper scotched upside down right under and when he flips it, he laughs.
Score.
It's a charm she drew with colored ink pencils that says 1 favor in neat handwriting.