It's not like Shinji gave him any indication of when he'd settle back at the dorm exactly, but Akihiko hopes it's tonight. They skipped Tartarus the day before; it was the start of the semester and most of the juniors wanted to catch up with friends or clubs, even Minato left shortly after their ambush to binge burgers with his kendo teammates. But this evening, they're starting the warmup blitz for the weekend full moon operation, and he wouldn't mind having his oldest friend at his side.
Just like the good old days. I'm stronger than when you left, you'll see.
They're both competitive and hate losing; it's in the set of their shoulders and in their word jabs and he missed it. Maybe it's because he's craving some action right now that he thinks about Tartarus longingly at 8 am, as if that could distract him from the static charge in his nerves. The shuffle of feet on the dock eventually takes him out of his reverie.
The monorail glides into the station and the dorm's population minus Mitsuru mingles with the crowd of grey and black silhouettes until every car is packed to the brim with Gekkoukan uniforms.
She saw me come back empty-handed. She's keeping busy.
As usual, the SEES boys fan around the girls to shield them from the worst, everyone chitchatting excitedly. Akihiko finds himself gravitating towards Minako without even thinking about it, absently listening to Junpei's dramatic laments to her twin.
"Dude, I wish she would have remembered me; she was cute y'know! When I went to the net café yesterday where she works, she didn't even give me a glance."
Thinking about that Dark Hour rescue I take it.
"…At least she forgot about Aigis."
Minato murmurs back, closely stalked by said robot maiden in winter uniform, who is attending class in 2-F starting today. The disguise is actually good, and she looks somewhat human, but the way she talks sometimes…
Why did Mitsuru entertain this insanity? If anything happens at school, I'm not taking any responsibility for it. What is the chairman even thinking…?
"It's unfair nobody knows what we do!"
Minato simply claps his friend on the shoulder to shut the brooding down, his voice low.
"She's safe, that's what counts."
Junpei grumbles about some weird gothic artist being the only girl giving him the time of day to Yukari until they make another stop for passengers. The incoming mass of bodies is mostly made of rowdy first years this time, pushing their way through with little consideration for the students already in the monorail.
"Watch it."
Akihiko just speaks with practiced detachment, barely scowling at the junior that almost bumped her until he backs off and slides smoothly between him and an earphone clad Minako like he does in Tartarus all the time. It's what any good senpai would do for his juniors and he has good manners. His glove sliding down her bare arm in passing is just accidental, really.
Her hair smells so nice.
It's clipped as usual in a high ponytail, still slightly damp because they showered after they ran, and he misses that perfume on his pillow in the morning. They're crowding each other because there's not much space at all and it makes him acutely aware that about an hour ago, they were at the playground together, partaking in closeness in a very different way.
We cut it very close on time too.
At least they had the good sense to put alarms on their phones, so they could sneak back in before the morning chaos at the dorm began unraveling. She's right in his space just now, and it would be so easy to just lower his head until it rests above her hairpins and drape an arm around her shoulders to mold her to him. Minako is avoiding his gaze to look nonchalantly absorbed with her music, but he could perhaps yank gently on that red ribbon of hers, get her attention and continue that earlier conversation he keeps rewinding in his brain since the snooze jingle rang for the umpteen time earlier.
I wasn't done talking with you, we still had a lot of things to say. Time is a thief.
He knows it's not the right place nor moment, he's not that irresponsible, but it's still gnawing at him like the jolts crawling up his spine when he daydreams. Her hand skims down to his hip and settles on his gloved hand, warm fingers burning his bare wrist before they slide under the black leather like they belong there.
Nobody can see what they're doing from this angle, but there are things he notices when she throws him a glance that scatters his thoughts like a bag of marbles. Her cheeks are dusted with pink, her rubies still as aflame as they were earlier on their perch, and he can't look away or he'll slip again. Badly.
They spend the rest of the short ride staring eloquently at each other in silence. Her nails dig into his palm and his own fingers close possessively over hers, remaining oblivious to the scenery and the crowd that swarms them until the monorail stops a few minutes later. He already misses his intense morning training sessions from this summer, and boxing club is only at the end of the day. This might take a lot of getting used to.
Akihiko is so distracted with red-tinted longing that he barely registers Yamagishi's flustered little face staring at him when he passes by to enter the school in a hurry, trying to outrun the harpies before they latch on his coat tails.
He's walking back late after drilling his club mates into shape when Shinjiro joins him near the Iwatodai station's stairs, mapping his larger gait to his and holding a bag over his shoulder.
"…About time you showed up."
Akihiko just snickers and elbows him in greeting, feeling like a little kid again.
"Lost your spare dorm key, Shinji?"
His friend just keeps looking ahead like he's such a waste of time but eventually bumps him hard in reply.
"…Screw you."
Yeah, I missed you too.
Most of the team is already there when they enter the dorm together, looking up at the unexpected visitor with surprise and questioning glances. Everyone except Mitsuru, who's sitting regally at the table with some reading and a cup of tea. His adoptive brother stares at her for a few seconds before he looks sideways, taking stock of the juniors with a grunt until he spots Koromaru. The dog angles his head in curiosity and whines softly as Akihiko does the introductions.
"This is Shinjiro Aragaki, he used to be in SEES and he's an old friend of mine."
Iori instantly perks up with a look of admiration, portable game console instantly forgotten on the loveseat.
"That guy is a persona-user? Oh man! I remember him, he scared some punks like a badass!"
Yukari and Fuuka take in Aragaki with some apprehension but the navigator eventually looks at Akihiko, blushes and nervously turns her eyes back to their new team member.
"If he's your friend… he must be a very nice person."
What's up with her?
Shinji just huffs dismissively at the compliment and makes his way toward the dining table, nodding to Minato in passing before his eyes land on Ken, who's coming out of the kitchen with a drink. The kid freezes instantly, probably intimidated by Aragaki's intense stare, and the exchange lasts a few seconds before Akihiko feels the need to lighten the awkward mood.
"Don't worry… he's always like that. You'll get used to it."
You'll be safe too; we'll make sure of that.
Ken grumbles before approaching Iori, turning a stiff back on Shinji. Mitsuru sets her teacup on the table and barely shifts toward her fellow seniors in acknowledgement.
"Aragaki… Welcome back."
Not on a first name basis anymore.
Her tone is very professional yet not quite cold, and she closes her paperwork with calculated motions before getting up.
"Come with me… We got some things to discuss."
She moves toward the staircase without a glance back and Shinji's eyes soften a bit when he follows her. Akihiko exhales slowly once they're finally out of sight, unsure what he expected out of this reunion.
Mitsuru volunteers for command room duty that night, supposedly to handle the paperwork regarding Aragaki's return to the fold for the chairman, but he knows better. At least she's at the dorm if Ken needs something, he wasn't feeling good and locked himself into his room very early to go to bed.
He still needs to get used to the Dark Hour fatigue, he's young and with school back…
"SEES sure has changed. A robot, a mutt… So many girls too."
All the juniors are packed together around Koromaru some distance at the front while they march to Gekkoukan, perhaps to give them some privacy to catch up. The dog definitely seems to be enjoying the attention, yipping happily as Aigis translates his replies.
"Boy or girl, it doesn't matter, Shinji. They know their way around a fight and that's what counts."
"Of course you'd say that. You've got a one-track mind set to combat, numbskull."
Akihiko barely refrains from whacking him on the shoulder, Shinji always brings out the worst in him and it's the way they always played that game two years ago, to Mitsuru's never-ending disappointment.
Old habits die hard.
Aragaki keeps staring at the team and settles his gaze on Minako in particular, shifting the weight of the axe on his shoulder absently.
"…I gotta say, you sure didn't lead us like she seems to, you were way too excitable. Still are. She's clearly focused on the team, and she got her head on straight, it shows."
What did they talk about when they walked Koromaru together earlier? I wonder…
"She's one of a kind, and one hell of a fighter, you'll see."
Minako is busy chatting Yukari and Fuuka with enthusiasm, eventually sweeping by Iori and her twin for a bit. The tension between her and Minato seems to have abated, or perhaps it's because Ken isn't here tonight… She looks adorable despite the gloom of the Dark Hour, and Akihiko is probably staring a little too much because Shinji eventually whispers with amusement.
"Two-track mind, I guess. So… where you at with that?"
Perplexed, he turns around to a mocking smirk and frowns in reply. It's not like he didn't share some thoughts about her a while back, and Shinji can read his face no matter how much he tries to disguise his emotions... But he never broached what happened during the summer, how deep the burns run now, and he doesn't really want to.
Not even with you.
"I don't see how that's any of your business."
Shinji keeps staring hard and takes his merry time commenting, making him squirm until his ears turn red.
"At least you seem to keep an eye out for her… But I thought you'd be past just looking by now."
Akihiko resists the bait dangling tantalizingly in his face, for once.
Minako must have picked up on some things about Shinji during their walk because Koromaru is added to their team. She's letting Minato take point with the other juniors and Aigis tonight, preferring to rescue the presence Yamagishi sensed a few floors lower in Tartarus.
Even with the cameras, we can't catch them all. Weird though, it sounded like the twins knew we'd find someone tonight before the scans confirmed it…
"This place is just as creepy as I remember."
Shinji looks around the current floor with a disgusted sigh, and Akihiko mumbles in reply.
"You should have seen the Arqa block, there were faces coming out of the walls, it was… pretty disturbing."
You missed a lot of things .
Their first encounter is barely anything to write home about, just three stray shadows they dispatch with weapons in short order without even using their evokers.
"Sure feels different when this dumbass isn't running off by himself because he's bored. Had to bail him out all the time before."
Akihiko scowls and avoids replying to the jab because it's only going to encourage him, but Minako laughs, eyes sparkling at the anecdote.
"Really? He's not like that at all. Well, we need to make haste, still 4 floors to go. Think you can keep up senpai?"
And she winks at Aragaki.
Oh, you're on now. He never backs down.
The hard glower coming from Shinji is apparently all the answer she needs before they get serious. Initially, he keeps his distances because he swings large and with abandon, but he eases himself into the formation in short order.
"Koro-chan, perk us up!"
Cerberus' howl pierces their bones, leaving Akihiko giddy with power. He punches his first target so hard it careens to the ground, opening it up for a finishing strike from her naginata, then pivots to the next shadow in range and drives it toward Aragaki with a clapping four hit combo that resonates through his shoulders.
"All yours!"
His battle axe promptly cleaves it into a cloud of black ash and Shinji takes out his evoker, not even flinching when he fires the trigger at his brow.
"Castor!"
Brightly outlined in spiritual flames, the mounted apparition rears and bulldozes through the battlefield like a natural disaster, its golden hair billowing in its wake before it flickers out of existence. Diving in Akihiko's shadow while he takes advantage of Castor's rush to crack a mask, Minako shoots a persona out of her head with flaming eyes.
"Eligor!"
Her persona's steed jumps over them both to jab one of the flying shadows with a gigantic spear, pinning it down to the floor. Koromaru zips in, knifing it hard in passing when she signals him to strike and the last enemies crumble after a few more hits.
Shinji glares at Minako and him a little strangely when they regroup, but stays silent and walks off with heavy steps toward the stairs.
It takes some doing and a few more fights but they eventually find their target, mumbling in terror in a corner. The Dark Hour won't last forever and pressed for time, they eventually jumble the last shadows some distance away from their rescue to quickly clear them out.
Minako stays focused on support, letting them take the lead while she rains enhancements frantically on her comrades. Each of them feels like a tingling caress and Akihiko hides his smile by summoning Polydeuces when she signs for it, giving Shinji the front line.
Gushing beams of lightning crisscross the floor until it chars black, and he zigzags in quick steps to drop a double cross combo on the shadow closest to her before it even gets in striking range. Shinji swings his weapon along with Castor's headbutting strikes, the long horn of his persona skewering one of the shocked enemies while he wounds another with a grunting cleave.
"Get out of the way, now!"
What comes slithering out of her head in a rush is large, serpentine, and full of teeth. The dragon-like being lifts its coils in the air before it breathes sleet over a large swat of the battlefield, disintegrating an enemy. Koromaru follows with columns of darkness, howling eerily, while Akihiko quicksteps back into melee to pummel a frozen target until it falls apart in chunks. Their last opponent is bulkier and Shinji exchanges blow for blow with it, taking a few bad hits until blood drips down his face.
He doesn't even look bothered, keeping the shadow's attention with a ferocity proportional to his wounds, giving them openings to strike it from the flanks until it fades into dust. Minako immediately takes out her evoker but Aragaki motions in the negative while speaking harshly.
"Tch, leave it."
"Seriously Shinji? You're hurt, don't be stupid."
Things must have been rough the last two years if you think we'd let you walk away wounded.
Before Akihiko can get in his face and take out his own evoker out, Minako narrows her eyes and summons the Hare of Inaba in a quick motion.
"I don't think so."
Defiant, she pets the glowing shape on her shoulder with a smirk and extends her hand, showering everyone in healing moonlight while Aragaki grumbles in annoyance.
Did I forget to mention how stubborn she can be?
"You're pretty good in a fight, senpai."
Her grin is quite genuine, and Shinji just huffs like she's ridiculous with her compliment, but there's the flimsiest lifting of his lips that doesn't escape Akihiko's gaze.
"Girls are usually nothing but trouble… But you're a pretty good leader, Arisato."
I told you she's one of a kind.