At least Naganaki Shrine isn't far. Minako and Akihiko grab evokers, weapons and communication devices, then kick Iori's door and ask him to catch up before rushing out of the dorm running. It's not a full moon, but any shadow out of Tartarus is a risk, better not take any chances.

He can hear a warbling liquid smack he knows all too well and the sound of other impacts coming from the park ahead, then a loud high-pitched whine that doesn't sound human. By the time they get there, all that remains is the shadow's cloud of dust floating in the still air, some scorch marks across the playground and a white animal laying on its side next to the shrine gate. Minako gasps in shock and runs to it.

"Koro-chan?"

She crouches next to the dog, assessing its injuries with trembling hands. It's laying in a pool of blood, whimpering pitifully.

"Oh my god… Call Fuuka, ask Junpei to bring a medkit, this might not be enough."

She grabs her evoker and raises it to her ear.

"Virtue!"

An angelic figure made of glass bursts in actualization, flapping its wings around her and the injured creature with a shower of blue motes. Akihiko is fumbling with the Dark Hour communicator, adjusting the frequency to join those near Tartarus.

"Yamagishi, can you hear me?"

There's some screeching before she answers.

"Senpai, are you and Minako okay?"

"Yes, you on your way back? I think you guys better come right away, we're at Naganaki Shrine. There was a shadow but…"

He looks at Minako, covered in blood, ripping her sleeve out to make bandages with tears in her eyes.

"The little fella's been injured… I wanna save him if we can."

By the time the expedition team makes it to their location, Junpei's already with them, petting the poor broken creature to calm it down. Minako is desperately trying to stop the bleeding with compresses Akihiko is passing on to her from the medkit. Fuuka immediately joins them on the floor, tears in her eyes, stroking the dog's ears.

"Are you okay, Koro-chan!?"

Mitsuru looks confused at her outburst.

"You know this dog?"

Yukari crouches down as well, evoker in hand, Minato in tow.

"Yeah, everyone around here does… We have to help him!"

Io and Minato's seamstress persona add their own power in the mix, replenishing the shiba inu's vitality, but it's not enough to staunch the wound that keeps oozing black. Akihiko talks over his shoulder at the others, raking his hand in the soft white coat while ripping a new sticky tape with his teeth.

"Man… He's one tough fighter. He defeated that shadow all by himself before we got here."

Junpei looks up, confused.

"You mean the dog's a persona-user?"

Aigis, who's been hovering near Minato like a second shadow, cocks her head to the side while taking in the dog.

"He says, this is a place of peace, so I protected it. There are flowers over there."

Fuuka looks at the bouquets near the shrine gate with a side glance.

"Those must be for the priest who died in the accident, his former owner. He must really be guarding this place."

Sighing in fatigue but still raising her evoker with stained hands, Minako summons her persona again to shower the dog with fireflies like a refreshing downpour. Junpei's looking at Aigis with curiosity.

"Uh, Aigis? Don't tell me you can translate dog language too?"

The robotic maiden simply answers him matter-of-factly, she's still far from sounding human.

"Canines do not have their own language. However, speech is not the only means of communication."

Eh, that's very… astute indeed.

All he can focus on is the dog's determination and loyalty at defending what's important to him, at the cost of his life if necessary. Akihiko knew dogs could be devoted, but this is extraordinary and humbling. He smiles when he strokes his fur and Koromaru looks at him, lolling his tongue.

"This fella really is a rare breed."

Mitsuru takes her dead cellphone out, looking at the moon.

"The Dark Hour is almost out; I can probably arrange a vet as soon as power comes back."

It's a somber trek home afterward, not knowing if Koromaru will pull through. The junior girls are chatting in low tones at the front of the column like they often do and Fuuka sounds wistful.

"I'm really glad you guys caught that shadow on the cameras and came on time, poor Koro-chan…"

Minako is holding her grimy hands in her back to avoid caking blood on her friends, yawning before pitching in.

'It's all because of you Fuuka. You managed to make those modifications happen so quickly once I asked Ikutsuki, I expected a lot more delays to get this up and running. Thanks to you, we saved a life, that's something."

Their navigator sounds all shy at being put on the spot, murmuring.

"You know, I didn't really have to do much, just program the camera gallery matrix and the alerts, the cameras were already there before I started. That took no time at all!"

Yukari puts her hand on her shoulder, smiling at her.

"Take the praise, we're all grateful, some of us can relax at the dorm and still be useful, you can't be in two places at once."

Minako snorts, amused, and whispers her way.

"Just admit you like my idea because you had the perfect excuse to stay home alone with my brother in privacy!"

Takeba instantly bristles at this one, stuttering in panic.

"Minako! Keep your voice down! That's… that's… not it at all! I just… needed a break that day! Archery club is intense sometimes, and… I'm afraid to… be alone in the dark so…"

Well, well, well…

Akihiko bites down a chuckle and looks sideways at Minato, who's slightly blushing and frowning back at him with a murderous eye. It's a good thing Iori is busy chatting Aigis about animal language and not listening to any of this, or he'd tease Yukari to no end. He turns his face back forward, not wanting to antagonize him further, and his gaze falls on his sister.

She's passing under one of the street lamps, dimly casting her in a cone of light. Her eyes look bleary but her expression is one of dreamlike contemplation; probably the fatigue and the concern for their rescue. Except she's still holding her bloody hands in her back, one clasping the other, running her thumb on the inside of her wrist like a caress absently.

That wrist. Akihiko can feel the heat rush up his ears and bites down on his lip.

Minato picks up the pace and jabs him lightly in passing with his elbow, mumbling something.

"Takes one to know one. Good luck with that."