There's no correlation between her absence, the fact that he didn't get to hang out with her much and how he's feeling right now, none at all. It must be the tiredness from the last two treks to Tartarus, coupled with lack of sleep, that's making Akihiko twitchy as he reviews the team stats in the clubroom. They really went all out too; just another visit before the full moon and they should make it to the next roadblock in the tower, clearing the way for further exploration after the operation.
Despite what it cost them all in energy and time out with friends, the team is in tip top shape to tackle the next large shadow and it shows. Minako seemed much more confident yesterday night on the way back to the dorm than on the ferry after Yakushima. He sighs, he can almost feel her hair whipping on his cheeks in the wind, seagulls crying under a blasting sun.
It's only two days.
She took the train for the fellowship in Inaba early and she might as well be on the moon by now. He got plenty of things to keep him busy here until she comes back too, between errands and his own fellowship at Gekkoukan against another school's club, but it's just not the same. Even the sun's gone, hiding behind a heavy cloud cover today like it decided to tag along with her.
His hand is clasping the club notepad a little too hard, crumpling the paper. A boxer is not supposed to train the day of a match, to keep all the energy for the fight, but Akihiko decides there's no choice but to. If he doesn't empty his mind of the static clutter that's flooding it, there's no way he can win, and he's not here to lose.
He's a little winded by the time it's his turn to step into the ring for his own match against the opposing team captain, but at least the tension in his limbs died down a bit. A bout is always won with the mind when fighting at equal strength, so before the bell rings he closes his eyes and pictures her.
The shooting stars of her magic are setting in his hair like so many windblown kisses.
He shivers and all surrounding sounds stop until just his heartbeat remains pounding in his ears.
She's sliding in his shadow, staying back-to-back with him. Her shoulder is brushing against his spine and she's holding her evoker to her head.
He opens his eyes, completely focused. If she's standing with him, he can't ever back down.
It's not that he hates kids, it's more like this one in particular makes him uncomfortable. There are circumstances to his unease of course, but also, the stares of admiration are a bit much. Usually, Ken seems to feel too awkward about hanging in the lobby since everyone is older or grumpy with lack of rest. But now, said young boy is looking at him starry-eyed ever since he came back to the dorm.
"Yukari told me you absolutely destroyed the opposing team at the inter-school event, that true?"
He scratches his hair, looking away. This is embarrassing, even though it's true.
"Uh, well… I wouldn't go that far…"
"Really? Because apparently Yukari couldn't get the archery club to pay any attention during their competition because it's all the girls could talk about. It really ruined her mood."
Just great.
Ken is fidgeting in excitement, pointing at his gear on the table.
"Is it because you wore your lucky gloves? I heard you're undefeated with them on."
"Yeah, it's no big deal, really…"
The gloves had absolutely nothing to do with it.
Iori, sprawled on the sofa with a manga and some snacks, jumps in the conversation.
"I don't think the dude can lose; he won all his matches so far! It's actually really impressive how dedicated he is."
Ken beams at Akihiko again.
"That's exactly what Minako-senpai said the other day."
And, of course, Junpei, ever curious about the thoughts of his female dorm mates and every single piece of gossip possible, drops his book to stand at attention and wiggles his eyebrows at Ken. Akihiko is trying really hard to remain nonchalant and not that interested, his ears are ringing, and he could leave, but...
"Oh ho, that from when you went for takoyaki with her? What else did she say?"
She went out with Ken? When?
"Well, I don't recall exactly how it came on the subject really, we talked about a lot of things, but she said he's like a hero you can trust your life to."
Well, this is nice.
Akihiko somehow refrains from grinning like an idiot but it's hard. Junpei nods, looking at the subject of inquiry with an admirative smile.
"Well Mina-tan ain't wrong, you can trust him in a fight alright, dude packs one hell of a punch! But she must have said something else too?"
Ken ponders, reciting.
"Apparently, he can run really fast and he's quite strong, and she said he's so handsome she could die. Something about pretty eyes too, it must be a girl thing."
Akihiko's cheeks are prickling and his mind is filling with clouds again, so he runs to the fridge to grab a drink like it was always the plan. Better be somewhere else out of sight to avoid a repeat of the Minato incident, Junpei is not exactly discrete in sharing information across the dorm, quite the opposite in fact.
"Someone has a new girl in the fanclub alright."
He just keeps preparing his protein shake and deadpans his reply from the kitchen.
"Please drop the whole groupie thing, it's just annoying and Minako's not like those harpies."
"Senpai, you have a fanclub?"
"Dude, all the girls at school just follow him everywhere, it's like he's a movie star... Keep playing soccer and maybe you'll get one too, when you grow up that is."
Ken muses aloud, excited.
"Then I can impress someone like Minako and invite her to a date, she's pretty awesome."
Junpei chuckles with affection at his presumptions.
"You'll have to get in line, buddy. I bet her phone's going to be ringing nonstop on festival day; she's very popular too."
Lips puckered around his straw and trying to look as indifferent as possible, Akihiko strolls out of the kitchen and grabs his bag to head upstairs.
"Going already senpai?"
"I got matches tomorrow; I need to prep and train."
Screw the line.
Junpei takes his manga from the table and gesticulates to him like he's on display.
"See? Told you he's dedicated."