Fenrir's Masquerade Chapter 9: May of Life
5/10
Mukuro's eyes fluttered open to the bright sun of the new morning shining through the drapes... and also the sound of her phone ringing on her nightstand. Turning over in her bed, the young soldier reached over and answered.
"Hello?"
"Ah, good morning, Miss Ikusaba!" Theodore's voice replied, causing Mukuro to blink in surprise. She'd almost forgotten he could do that, though she still wondered how. "I just wanted to inform you there has been a change in Tartarus. The barrier you had encountered preventing your progress within is gone, now."
Mukuro rolled on her back, letting out a sigh of relief. It seemed the barrier was indeed connected somehow to the powerful Shadow they'd defeated, after all. She was, however, still feeling fatigue from the battle of the previous evening so returning to the tower would come another day.
"...Thank you for letting me know," she replied sleepily.
"Of course," Theodore's voice replied. "At any rate, I wish you a safe journey, Miss Ikusaba, until I see you again!"
Mukuro placed her phone back on the nightstand as she turned back over in her bed. This had been the first time in a while she felt truly, utterly burned out. The young soldier couldn't help but scoff to herself a little, recalling when she'd first come here and wound up out cold in a coma for nearly two weeks in the hospital. It may have been using Fenrir's Battle Trance in the Dark Hour, or the entirety of the fight itself against the powerful Shadow that'd taken over the monorail. Still, she wasn't going to waste her day, and instead decided she would just go to bed early tonight with school still being tomorrow.
Pulling herself out of bed, Mukuro Ikusaba got herself dressed for the day.
"Oh, you're awake!" Yukari smiled sleepily up at her as she sat at the dining table in the student lounge.
"Are you alright?" Mukuro asked, looking her over and noticing the other girl's lethargy as she came down the stairs.
"More or less," Yukari said, closing the school notes she'd been studying. "Just can't believe I'm still alive, so... bit of trouble falling asleep, actually. You?"
Mukuro gave the girl a faint, but reassuring smile. "I'll be fine."
Yukari stifled a yawn. "You sure?"
Mukuro gave a nod. "I'm sure. We all survived, and we stopped the monorail from crashing. I think the Dark Hour's effects just wore me out more."
"Well, if you weren't there, we'd have never made it," the other girl said.
Mukuro cocked her head. "...I told you, that was just luck."
"No, I mean... all of it. I wanna just say thanks. I'm glad you're here," Yukari's smile sank a bit as she looked back towards the lounge area, where the others were seated around the TV with the news on. "...I feel bad for the driver, though. I imagine he'll get blamed for this. It's not like we can really prove the Dark Hour or what happened..."
Curious, Mukuro entered to where everyone else was, the newscaster discussing how the police were investigating how, while no one had been injured, the final train had somehow run past its red light and severely overshot its mark, and were currently questioning the driver who was now in custody.
"I'll see what can be done for him," Mitsuru said softly, frowning as she watched. "On a better note, though, the monorail's service is functioning normally."
"It's been too long for me, I just wanna get back out there, again," Akihiko grumbled from his seat, though he gave Mukuro a small smile "...Betcha once I'm good to go, we'll be an unstoppable force!"
"Even still, I made miscalculations last night," Mitsuru interrupted. "Until I can improve myself as navigator, I can't trust nor forgive myself."
"To be honest, thought I was gonna die back there," Junpei remarked. "Still, we survived, that's what matters, right? We're only human, Senpai!"
The young soldier gave a small nod. "...I suppose you're right," she said. "...And, Kirijo-senpai, we would have been going in completely blind without you and our chances of winning would have been much lower, if at all."
Mitsuru responded with a flattered, yet humble smile. "Thank you, but I still know I can be better. I'll see to it I improve."
"If it's like before, maybe that barrier in Tartarus is gone. Good way to get practice, right?" Akihiko asked with a smirk.
"Indeed, and you can start in two weeks when you're considered fully healed," Mitsuru replied with a stern gaze.
"...Way to ruin my fun," the light-haired boy sulked, it evident to Mukuro he'd hoped Mitsuru wouldn't catch that. She could certainly sympathize as she doubted she could tolerate two more weeks of inaction in addition to how long it'd been since the battle on the dorm roof.
Thus, an idea formed.
"Akihiko-senpai, would you like to go for a jog with me?" she asked, looking over at him.
"Huh?" the boy looked stunned. "After last night's mission you sure you're up for it?"
Mukuro gave him a slight, playful smirk. "Physical activity's important. Besides, I'll just go to bed early tonight."
Akihiko chuckled. "Talking my language!" He rose from his seat and headed for the stairs. "Lemme go change and we can meet outside."
"Merci, Ikusaba, I can't help but think you enjoy earning his admirers' ire," Mitsuru said soon as Akihiko was gone and quirking an eyebrow at Mukuro.
"What do you mean?" the dark-haired girl asked, blinking in curiosity. "Even with his injured rib he's still very fit, I doubt any of them would last long on a run with him."
Mitsuru sighed. "Very well, just so long as no more fights break out between you and them at school."
Mukuro folded her arms, her blue eyes flickering away from Mitsuru's judgmental stare. "I'd hardly call it a "fight", it was more like a stern warning, really... only one got a bruised wrist and no one ended up unconscious."
"Whatever you want to call it, just stay out of trouble, you are on the student council, after all, even if it's part-time," the redhead reminded her.
"I think that's more their responsibility then mine to behave around me, considering the impression I believe I made," Mukuro replied with a light sigh. "No one's going to stop me from spending time with a friend."
"Depends on how you handle it," Mitsuru replied with a hint of sharpness. "...But I'll concede it'd be wrong of me to say you can't spend time with him. Just... don't stir up any problems."
Mukuro looked back towards the stairs, trying not to blush from what she suspected Mitsuru was implying. It irritated the young soldier how she could be stone-faced about a lot of things, but with matters like that her heart found its way to her sleeve. She let out another small sigh and smiled lightly as she saw Akihiko return, and the two headed outside.
Evening had come, as Mukuro returned to the dorm from her visit to the strip mall, immediately noticing who had come to visit.
"Ahh, Miss Ikusaba! Welcome back!" Ikutsuki said from his armchair with a warm smile.
"Is something going on?" Mukuro asked.
"Oh, I just wanted to congratulate you all on a job well done!" the chairman said with a chuckle as he looked over at Junpei and Yukari, who were both seated in the lounge as well. "I figured I should wait till you returned and luckily it didn't take long. It pleases me to know that no one was hurt!"
"Yeah, it was a breeze!" Junpei said with a sheepish laugh, earning him a look from Yukari.
"Thank you, sir," she said.
"Yes, I'm... grateful for your kind words, as well, Chairman," Mukuro said with a polite bow.
"Oh, it's me who should be grateful," said Ikutsuki. "I understand, though, there's been some trouble with the monorails coming apart, Mitsuru?" he asked, looking over to where the redhead was sitting with a book. "I understand the front car detached and nearly rammed into the train ahead of it?"
"There was, yes," Mitsuru explained. "They blame it on human error. It's unfortunate that there's likely still going to be some effect on the monorail company's reputation... I..." She paused, thinking of the right words to convey her feelings. "...I still feel sorry for them. The Shadow we fought was to blame for that, not anyone involved in operating it."
"Well, regardless, it's a... separate... matter, now, isn't it?" Ikutsuki asked with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood only to be responded to with a collection of silent, withering stares.
"...That aside, Chairman," Mukuro spoke up, recovering from his terrible pun first, "I feel we should investigate Tartarus soon. We destroyed that Shadow on the monorail that had appeared on the full moon, like the one that attacked the dorm. Maybe the barrier we encountered is finally gone?"
The chairman steepled his fingers in thought. "Hm, it's certainly a possibility. However, it's likely what awaits further up will be more formidable then what you've already faced." He turned his attention to Akihiko. "How long until you're cleared by the hospital, Akihiko?"
"After exams, sir," the boy replied.
"...Exams are next week, so I propose afterward when he is fully able again, should be when we return to our mission," Ikutsuki explained. "I don't underestimate your own talents, Ikusaba, but you will be exploring places even more unknown and likely more dangerous, so I feel it best you have the extra backup."
Mukuro gave a nod. "Understood, sir."
"For what it's worth, I appreciate that drive to soldier through, Ikusaba!" he said, another chuckle eager for some laughs coming from him as he looked at her expectantly.
Mukuro refused to dignify his pun with a vocal response of any sort to accompany the barest hint of an irritated frown on her face, but gave him another, quiet nod as she turned and headed to the stairs to turn in early for the evening lest she be subjected to more by remaining in his presence.
5/11
Feeling well-rested and relieved classes were finally over, Mukuro had decided to take up Aoi's offer to come participate at volleyball club that day. Upon arrival, however, she quickly determined having shown up was likely a blessing to the club leader as quite a few did not.
"What in the world is going on, here? Where is everyone?" Aoi Asahina asked, her hands at her hips and cheek puffed from huffing indignantly.
"Heck if I know, heck if I care," a girl with glasses replied nonchalantly, which naturally did nothing to improve Aoi's mood to its usual upbeat state in the slightest.
"Hey, Asahina-san!" a gruff female voice called from the doors, causing Mukuro to turn at the source, her eyes widening significantly as a look of mild curiosity swiftly became intrigued and astonished stare.
The girl in the gym uniform at the door was... built. VERY built. Mukuro figured she probably looked like a stick compared to her. A stick that could be picked up and thrown like a javelin with little trouble.
"Oh! Sakura! What's up?" Aoi asked, quickly putting on a smile.
"Martial arts club's out of athletic tape. You still got some left we could borrow?" the girl asked.
"Uh, yeah, sure thing," said Aoi, gesturing to a box in the corner. "Should be enough in there."
"Thanks." The very athletic girl said as she went over and took a few rolls. Before she reached the door, however, she paused and sighed as she looked at the meager members. "I guess that "group date" thing was true," she muttered.
"What do you mean? What's this about a group date?" Asahina asked indignantly and now scowling in suspicion.
"I dismissed it as some rumor but I heard something by the shoe lockers about some of the girls skipping club for some group date," the other girl, Sakura explained. "Like I said, I assumed it a rumor... I'm sorry, maybe I should have told you, regardless."
Aoi's tan face started to redden as she looked over at the other girls. "The heck?! You told me you didn't know where everyone was?! Why didn't you say anything?"
The girl with glasses didn't look at all intimidated. "Figured you'd get angry if we said so," she said with an apathetic shrug.
"Well DUH! Why wouldn't I?!" Aoi protested.
"Over a little breather from practice? What's wrong with that?" the bespectacled girl asked as nonchalantly as before.
"Aoi, calm down," Sakura interjected, her tone stern but gentle as she put her hand on the other girl's shoulder as Aoi took a few breaths and mumbled something to herself, Mukuro certain she'd heard the word donut in there someplace.
"Girls, look, I'm not... entirely... upset about ditching, okay? My problem right now is being lied to, alright!" Aoi protested. "Yeah, it'd frustrate me a little but no one ran this by me and you all just sorta did this behind my back then lied about it! Lying's not cool, you know!"
"Big deal, Donut Queen," the girl with glasses said dismissively. "Between what I heard about you and pastries and you being such a taskmaster who do you think you are anyway?"
"H-HEY! My so-called sweet toothed alleged addiction to pastries is pure rumor, okay?!" Aoi cried out indignantly. "A-And that's beside the point! I'm not a taskmaster I just wanna get us to the top! It's why we're here, right?"
"Pfft, maybe for you," the girl with glasses said, getting murmurs of approval from the other girls aside from Sakura and Mukuro. "We nominated you because you're so talented, didn't think you'd look down on us for it!"
"That's not what I'm-!" Aoi began, but the girls had already turned to leave.
Sakura frowned. "Asahina... I'm sorry. Maybe I should have stayed quiet."
"No, it's not your fault," Aoi sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "Maybe I am acting like a taskmaster if that many of them agree..."
"That's something only you can really figure out, Asahina. Personally I can say at the very least you're not as bad as they think," Sakura said with a comforting nod as she turned to leave. "The best you can do, if you wanna prove them wrong, is try and make peace with them. Anyways, I need to be bringing these back, I've kept the boys waiting long enough, I think."
Aoi managed a small, sad smile as she went off to her things to get a water bottle. "...Sure. Don't let me keep you."
Sakura made her way towards the door, pausing, however, as she passed Mukuro. "You're that transfer student, Ikusaba, correct?" she asked. "Asahina... I can tell you do a lot for her with what she's said, so if you can... maybe keep an eye on her, okay?"
"Has she said something about me?" Mukuro asked quietly, cocking a brow.
"No, just, she's been a little more positive ever since you joined, despite everything," Sakura explained.
"Is something going on?" she asked as she saw Aoi then take a few breaths and jog in place.
"A few things," Sakura continued. "...She's a great friend, very sweet girl on a normal day, but I know she can be a little driven when it comes to competition and sports. She has her eyes on the prize and I guess with her favorite sport being off the table she's getting a bit... hyper-focused to make up for it. But being manager for the boys' Martial Arts Club and..."
Sakura went silent, frowning as she looked away a moment before looking back at the dark-haired girl. "...She's my friend but my attention can only be in so many places right now..." She looked back at Aoi. "I'll see you later, Asahina."
"Right! Tell Kenshiro-kun I said hi, too! It'd be great for us all to hang out again, I'll even call my brother if you like, four of us like old times! Heheh..." Aoi offered, stopping her jog and and giving a small smile. Sakura gave a nod, though Mukuro noticed her smile was no longer quite meeting her eyes.
"Thank you, I will. He's... doing fine, by the way. Like he always says," the taller girl said, with a slight if bitter chuckle. "...Thank you again for letting me borrow these."
"Hey, Mukuro?" Aoi asked, her smile fading as Sakura left and looking more and more like she'd only held it together for her friend. "I-I... think I probably should be alone right now if you're planning to leave, I mean, obviously it's gonna be hard to run club with only two people, right?"
Mukuro shook her head. "I don't think you really want that right now, do you?" she asked, approaching.
"It's true, though... maybe I am kind of a taskmaster about this," Aoi sighed, trembling and looking ready to cry despite her efforts to hide it.
"I'm not an expert on club politics, honestly," Mukuro replied. "Your friend Sakura seems worried about you, though."
"Good ol' Sakura," Aoi said with a small laugh as she looked over at the doors. "She's the best friend I could ever ask for, but she's got a lot on her shoulders managing the boys in the Martial Arts Club, not to mention her-" She abruptly shook her head, frowning. "...Nevermind, that's not my place to discuss. She... asked you to be there for me when she can't, didn't she?"
Mukuro closed her eyes, sighing. "She did, but I'm here because I want to be. I learned in the military... school... I transferred from you get things off your chest when you need to, but you should maintain a sound mind," she explained. "And I'd be... lying if I said I don't have my own ghosts."
"I see," Aoi said, looking back at her again. "You're a little odd, Mukuro Ikusaba, but... I appreciate you staying with me."
The sound of glass shattering echoed within the young soldier's mind as the other girl gave a grateful smile.
It was then, however, the brunette let out a sigh as she stared down at the floor. "I could use comfort food. Kinda went through the melon bread you gave me, already."
Mukuro chose to withhold any critique on Aoi's eating habits and suspicions of what Asahina was hoping for as it seemed she had her strenuous physical activities to keep them in check.
"Maybe we could go to the strip mall instead of club?" Aoi asked with a hopeful smile. "The pastry shop is all I can think of right now, maybe we can jog to the station at least to make up for practice being cancelled?"
Mukuro nodded, giving the girl a faint smile as she went to gather her things, relieved to see she'd cheered up a little. "I can go for something."
Aoi's smile spread to an excited grin, her grief fading. "Great! My treat! I might need a box of six of whatever I pick, though. Also..." The brunette frowned a little. "...I'll figure out how to talk to the other girls. I just hope I can make things work out..."
"The year's young," Mukuro said with a shrug, her slight smile still there to reassure her as they left the gym together.
Busy rush hour traffic and picking up dinner had resulted in Mukuro arriving back at the dorm later then she'd expected, and to her surprise, she found Mitsuru leaning next to the registry at the desk, looking her way.
"Mukuro?" Mitsuru asked, getting the girl's immediate attention. "Are you any good with technology?"
Mukuro raised a brow. "A little, not much beyond the basics. Why?"
"Some of the equipment in the control room seems to be malfunctioning. Would you take a look at it?" Mitsuru asked. "I asked the others, but they all looked at me like they weren't taking me seriously, so if it's not too much trouble if you could maybe give it a try if you're going upstairs?"
Mukuro gave the girl a look she suspected was probably not much different then what the boys had done, before letting out a slight sigh and folding her arms. "I'll see what I can do, but don't expect much from me. I'm not an expert on this sort of thing, either..."
Heading upstairs and past her floor, Mukuro entered the control room, which was still lit up with the command center still up and running. From what she could tell, everything looked to be operating, just fine.
The dark-haired teen approached, examining the panels and buttons for anything Mitsuru might have missed. Her blue-gray gaze noted one blinking light, a button. The girl folded her arms pensively. Hopefully what she'd do next wasn't going to make the system break down... still, Mitsuru couldn't fault her after asking her to handle something she could not.
Pressing the button, the screen cut on, the image leaving one menu to a new one regarding recorded footage from the surveillance systems. Mukuro glanced at the doorway, puzzled as to how Mitsuru missed this unless the connection may have frozen momentarily and she'd given up too soon. Deciding not to let her trip up here having gone to waste and simply go back down and share whatever was on this with Mitsuru as soon as she was done, she pressed a key labeled "ENTER" for the lone entry recorded for the 10th at 1:23 AM, the morning following the Dark Hour when they'd fought the powerful Shadow on the monorail.
The footage cut on, revealing Ikutsuki seated alone in the control room in front of the console from the viewpoint of the camera mounted on the wall behind where Mukuro stood now, making the young soldier glance back briefly in the direction of a small mounted camera on the wall. Her gaze flickered back to the screen, as Ikutsuki jotted down notes in a journal, a stack of books and papers propped on the console table next to him.
"Hmm," the chairman mused aloud to himself, tapping a pencil against his chin as he leaned back in his chair. "...A Shadow in the middle of town, that managed to take over public transportation?"
The man turned in his chair, away from the controls as he rested his elbows on his knees, his nose resting just above his interlaced fingers deep in thought. "...Perhaps I should investigate whether this means it's finally begun," he said.
Ikutsuki sighed, his head tilting down a little as he once more looked buried in his thoughts, the light of the room shining off his glasses as he peered upward.
"...Monorail," he muttered to himself before suddenly perking up, as if an idea had just come to him.
"...Listen to the monorail in monaural!" he declared, raising his finger proudly as he giggled to himself, turning back to his notes. "...I better write that one down!"
Mukuro contemplated shutting the record off then and there for that, but decided to leave it running as it did not appear to be finished yet and hoping something useful would be mentioned.
"Luck played an uncomfortably large part in their victory, for certain," Ikutsuki sighed, his tone more concerned now as he took a sip of his coffee from a nearby mug. "Ikusaba's combat experience helped, but in this case, that Shadow had them in a dangerous situation. She was extremely fortunate to have chosen the right controls..."
Mukuro's expression softened. Pun aside, she couldn't argue with that assertion. She was tired, burned out from the fight and having used Battle Trance in the Dark Hour her body was still adjusting to, and by that point she had gone entirely by random choice approach on choosing which lever back there. Her talents indeed did begin and end with battle, she'd long asserted, not like...
"Those Shadows," Ikutsuki observed, pausing from his notes. "...For them to work in a group to overrun large machines is unprecedented. Manipulating that engine, though..."
He remained silent a moment, Mukuro leaned in, studying the screen in case there was something that'd caught the man's attention before he spoke again.
"...It sure was an engine-ous move!" he declared with a hearty chuckle. "...Wow, what's with me, today? I'm on such a roll, here!"
Mukuro stepped back from the screen again, sighing in disgust. Alas, however, it seemed neither the video, nor Ikutsuki, still seemed finished, yet.
"One should always wear bright clothing at night," he said, "...Otherwise the Shadows could make it dangerous to walk near traffic! Hoo hoo! I'm getting off subject here, but who cares?!" he asked as he giggled to himself at his own joke. "I oughta write these down and show them off next time everyone gets together!"
Mukuro's brow furrowed, the teen beginning to wonder if this had already happened when she came home last night and the others had already been subjected to this torture before she'd arrived, and now, Mitsuru had wanted to make sure Mukuro would not be left out.
"I'll need to commend Miss Ikusaba when I see her tomorrow. She did get them out alive, impulsive as her choice was, she certainly was still quite the... brave little soldier!" Ikutsuki giggled. "...Not to mention, with that weapon of hers, she doesn't draw things out with Shadows, I imagine she certainly... cuts to the chase! Heehee!"
Any waning feelings of annoyance Mukuro was having returned with a fiery vengeance as her gloved palm pressed hard against her forehead and slid down her face, teeth grit and feeling more and more certain there was nothing worth hearing in the remaining seconds of this recording...
"Don't care for seafood? They also serve GROUND beef... or maybe poultry if you're feeling... CHICKEN!" Ikutsuki cheered in another big fit of gleeful giggles, his mood certainly improved as he wondered how many more he could think of before returning to the status report.
Mukuro sighed in relief as the video cut off then and there, sparing her of any more of the chairman's unbearable attempts at comedy that may have otherwise resulted in her impulsively throwing something at the screen, perhaps the chair he'd sat in. Surely he'd appreciate the irony, she thought.
Turning to leave, Mukuro decided she could go and tell Mitsuru another time there had not been any problems with the hardware when she was in a less irate mood and instead elected to go straight to her room to catch up on studying for midterm exams for the remainder of the evening.
5/12
The class went quiet during lunch, prompting Mukuro to look up at the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Good, you haven't left!" their owner, Natsumi Kuzuryu, stated as she smirked down at the seated Mukuro.
"...Can I help you?" the young soldier asked.
"Change of plans. Meet me after school lets out," the blonde stated, her tone making it clear that was more an order then a request, before she promptly turned and left, gone as abruptly as she'd arrived.
"Kuzuryu?! What was that about?" Yukari asked, glancing back behind at Mukuro from her lunch at her own desk.
"Seems she has something for Paranormal and Occult Studies Club that couldn't wait until after midterm exams," Mukuro replied, recalling how Natsumi had initially said last Friday how they were going to wait till then to meet up. In light of SEES past adventure, however, she already began to suspect what it was about.
"Dude, she's super-cute as all hell... but damn she's every bit as scary as they say in person!" Junpei mused from his seat to the right of her.
"Junpei, really?" Yukari asked with a sigh. "I mean, the last part's kinda true, but expected, considering... well... Anyway, on a good note," she said, changing the subject, "...At least it sounds like people are recovering from Apathy Syndrome again! Hopefully things'll remain okay till after midterms, so..."
"Yeah, yeah, I get the hint," Junpei interrupted with a groan. "I'll start studying for 'em... tomorrow. Nothing planned, then."
"Fine by me, just don't be shocked if you fail any," Yukari fired back while Mukuro slipped on her ear buds and switched on her music player as she returned her attention to her half-finished bento box while her two friends continued to bicker for the remainder of lunch period.
Class finally ended, and Mukuro made her way to the empty classroom Natsumi held the club meetings at, finding a sign reading "KNOCK FIRST OR GET KNOCKED DOWN!" taped to the door. Obeying the sign, it wasn't long before Mukuro saw the blonde yakuza princess peering through the barely-cracked open door.
"Slip in, I don't want the door too wide open," she ordered sharply, her green eyes peering through the darkness of the room she occupied. Obeying, the dark-haired girl slid herself sideways through what space Natsumi permitted her to enter the room with, grimacing at the blonde's amused sneer at her struggles to fit her chest through the slim opening and finding the classroom had thick black cardboard sheets covering the windows, with only a dim red light providing illumination. From several small trays were what appeared to be photographs immersed in water while others were being hung on clothespins.
"You know, digital cameras do exist," Mukuro remarked.
"You think I don't know that, Ikusaba?" Natsumi grumbled with an eyeroll. "It's called being professional and making full-size prints... plus there's a rumor spiritual energy shows up better on normal camera film... or so Gundham's notes claim, and like hell am I gonna verify that with that bitch Koizumi so let's just let chance prove it, shall we?" she asked with a snide smirk.
"...Okay," Mukuro said quietly as she paced around the tables that'd been brought together for the other girl's makeshift darkroom. "You wanted me here, what exactly is this about?"
"Well, haven't you paid attention to the news, Ikusaba?" the blonde asked, cocking a brow and folding her arms as a small frown formed on her face as she looked over the prints still developing. "Something happened with the monorail. It was off-shot by quite a bit from what people remember that evening."
"But... didn't the news say the conductor must've gotten careless, or a system malfunction?" Mukuro replied. Seemed her suspicions were correct.
Natsumi rolled her eyes. "You believe everything the news says?" she asked. "Okay, maybe this'll explain it, alright?"
The blonde promptly went over to one of the prints, plucking it from the clothesline and passing it over to Mukuro with a small flashlight.
"Right here. I was out getting some photos of a few Apathy Syndrome victims, they were swarming that area. It was nearly midnight... notice anything?"
Mukuro ran the flashlight over the print. The photo had clearly been taken at the Iwatodai Station, with several Lost standing around, and some people were in places she remembered seeing plenty of coffins when she and the rest of SEES had arrived. Her gaze, however, was more interested in what was in the background.
The monorail was parked, with its doors open and people entering and exiting.
"That was taken just before midnight," Natsumi explained, reclaiming the photo.
"What were you doing out that late?" Mukuro asked, curious.
"I told you. Getting photos of Apathy Syndrome victims," Natsumi said, as though it were an obvious answer to a foolish question while handing Mukuro another photo.
"I heard around school people who don't have the best reputation hang around those parts at that hour," Mukuro replied.
"They know me," Natsumi replied dismissively. "...Now, take a look at this one I took right at midnight..."
Several people were still where they were, hanging about, but the monorail was now gone.
"It didn't just leave like it usually would after passengers board?" Mukuro asked, giving Natsumi a bemused stare.
"If it did, I would have heard it!" Natsumi snapped. "Are you not getting this? Even then it would have needed more time to get where it was judging by what time it apparently was! It's like the damn thing up and teleported out where it was! THEN there's the fact it detached itself further down! The front car was found a pretty good distance from the other!
The blonde snatched the print back. "I didn't actually believe in this supernatural nonsense till that happened, I just needed the club credit, and then I saw the news report, but this registers pretty damn high on weird, doesn't it?!"
Mukuro was speechless. It seemed Natsumi managed to be in the right place at the right time to notice something unusual that couldn't be so easily covered up, as from Natsumi's perspective, the Dark Hour had not occurred, so whatever changed position before her eyes once it came at the stroke of midnight would have seemingly done so instantaneously. Still, it concerned her what Mitsuru or her family might do considering Ikutsuki wanted them to stay discreet, and Yukari had her own uncertainties about the former's family and its involvement with what happened to her father. Mitsuru didn't seem to have any nefarious intent, as far as Mukuro could guess, but she knew nothing of the young woman's family.
"...You... didn't tell anyone of this, did you?" she asked, finding her words.
"Of course not...except the school paper but they just accused me of making things up and faking those dates," Natsumi fumed. "...And only because I don't need the school thinking I'm just chasing the dragon like that dumbass Edogawa clearly is in his spare time, I didn't press on it!"
"Anyone else?"
"Aside from Edogawa himself since he's the faculty advisor, but all he did ramble about it being moved by aliens or something. Otherwise no, no one else," Natsumi explained. "...On the slim chance I'm wrong I won't embarrass myself calling Dolittle Junior up about it, either, till there's something impossible to deny," she scowled as she slid the prints into a manila envelope and grumbling to herself about rather avoiding speaking to him if she could help it. "...How about you? Think I'm making this shit up?"
Natsumi's glare was cold as ice, even in the low light of the room, but her tone was just slightly less harsh then usual like she wanted Mukuro to say yes and affirm her. The blonde seemed to notice, however, and promptly folded her arms, huffing before the other girl could speak.
"...Nevermind. Guess this means no more BS-ing the same conspiracy crap, huh?" she asked with a bitter sneer. "Who knows, though? Maybe my photography skills may have found their calling! Who needs boring photos of smiling people compared to shit like this?"
At least Natsumi seemed a little more interested in the club's purpose then she'd first let on, though it was at least partially due to there being someone she was trying to use the club to upstage...
The sound of glass shattering echoed within the recesses of Mukuro's mind from the yakuza princess's resolve.
"Well, whatever," Natsumi continued. "I don't give a rat's ass if you believe me based on this or not, honestly! Just come when I let you know if anything else interesting happens and see how long any skepticism lasts!"
"...Um, Kuzuryu?" Mukuro began.
"Natsumi will do. What is it?" the blonde asked, though not looking back at her as she made her way over to the other prints.
"When something does happen, next time, or you go out that late to... investigate any leads, invite me and I'll go, alright? Good to have backup and club activity together, right?" Mukuro offered. She'd considered stealing the prints but Natsumi had the film and would have suspected her immediately, thus she decided it would be best to just keep an eye on her in case she put herself in any potentially dangerous situations. The last thing she needed was Natsumi winding up vulnerable to Shadows if she was out during the Dark Hour again.
"Yeah, sure, whatever you say," Natsumi replied in a dismissive tone once more, but at least she seemed to be listening. "...I can't think of anything else to do for today till all these're done, so club dismissied!"
"You sure?"
The blonde turned with a sharp gaze. "Yes. Don't worry, I'll behave till you're around again, alright? Now scram and let me finish these unless you feel like reading in the dark, which I don't recommend..."
Mukuro decided to leave her to her task as she turned and left without a word to contemplate dinner and an evening workout.
5/17
A week of review lectures and studying, along with a few thankfully drama-free practice sessions in volleyball club had come and gone, and midterms were only a day away, now with it being Sunday. Mukuro had just come back inside having finished her morning jog with Akihiko, who was in far better spirits, now, as the doctor had assured him he'd have his final checkup after midterms and if all went well, be back on duty.
"Don't forget our match, Mukuro!" Akihiko said with a smirk as he headed upstairs to his room. Mukuro opened the protein shake he'd given her and chugged it down, tossing it in the trash bin as she prepared to go shower, only to pause at Mitsuru's words as she addressed her from her spot on the student lounge couch.
"Just don't hospitalize him again or he might never forgive any of us," Mitsuru remarked. The redhead, however, then gave the slightest hint of a smirk through her otherwise stoic expression. "...Just don't have too much fun, we'll be resuming Tartarus after he's considered active again.
"I'll go easy on him," Mukuro replied.
"Magnifique! While I have been stern with him on his time being... I believe the word is "benched", it's only because I want him at full strength once we return," Mitsuru said with a small, amused smile. "...As for myself, I've been practicing for when that time comes during the Dark Hour to better hone my Persona at monitoring and detecting Shadows," she explained. "Fortunately the number of Apathy Syndrome incidents have gone down significantly since defeating the Shadow on the monorail, and those afflicted prior have recovered."
Mukuro nodded. "Yes, Yukari had mentioned that."
"If we can continue to defeat them, perhaps we will finally be able to fully rid the public of their fear, though that last Shadow appeared to be stronger then the one that came before, which means the next one if they are indeed coinciding with the full moon cycle, may be even stronger... plus even when Akihiko is on active duty again we still aren't at full strength."
"What do you mean?" Mukuro asked.
Mitsuru sighed. "I mean, my Persona is more suited for combat, not navigation and support. If we had one with a Persona suited for such a task, I'd be able to assist in battle as well, and we'd be significantly more efficient. You're capable, Ikusaba, but I recall the situation on the monorail and the injury you sustained from that powerful Shadow."
Mukuro instinctively placed her hand over the one she'd recalled had gotten an unpleasant experience with magic frostbite in that fight. Thankfully Junpei had tended to it before any lasting damage and Yukari's Persona had healed any lingering pain after. It did bring a faint smile to the girl's face, though, knowing they had her back, too.
Mitsuru chuckled to herself. "Perhaps Akihiko isn't the only one who'll be challenging your skill... it may be nice to have a fencing partner from time to time."
Mukuro cocked an eyebrow at the older girl's statement. "Um, I don't really know anything about..." she paused as Mitsuru raised her hand.
"It was merely a thought, but regardless of what manner of melee combat is your expertise, I imagine Shadows aren't prone to spending their free time honing their skills with a rapier, perhaps it will be a learning experience for us both if I'm afforded the time to." Mitsuru mused. "I had asked Junpei if he'd be interested as well, but he seemed rather intimidated by the idea."
Mukuro folded her arms, smirking a little in amusement at both the mental image of what Mitsuru had described, as well as pondering the idea she'd offered. It might have actually been fun to try and it'd be a way to fill in the hours on less eventful days or evenings.
"I'll look forward to it," she said.
"At any rate, I hope your midterm exams go well. I'll be expecting that of all of you," Mitsuru replied as Mukuro her way upstairs to the girls' floor and headed into the washroom. She was, she thought, admittedly very curious what both Mitsuru and Akihiko were capable of in a fight and was looking forward to finding out.
She may need something else to practice Battle Trance, though...
When she'd finished, Mukuro dried off, covered up, and made her way to her dorm room to get dressed, though unsure how she'd spend her day. As if to answer that question, she noticed her laptop and remembered what she'd gotten from a vending machine at the mall the other day when getting dinner: A white teddy bear sticker. Her sister loved bears. Maybe she really would feel proud of her now for finally trying to move forward in life.
Placing it on the bottom-right corner of the inside of her laptop, Mukuro realized she'd not touched Innocent Sin Online in a while, and decided to boot it up after switching the computer on, and to her surprise, MARY's name appeared as active on her Friends list, which, admittedly she thought in hindsight, consisted only of her.
MARY seemed to notice right away, though.
[Ginko! Hi! Howru?] she messaged.
Mukuro needed a second to remember how to communicate. She decided she may have needed to look up 'leet-speak' vocabulary again.
Her pause, however, seemed to concern her gaming partner.
[U remember me rite? =\ ] MARY messaged next.
[Sorry. Yes, I do.] Mukuro replied quickly.
[I'm well. Thanks.]
Oh. Right.
[Super!] she messaged, trying to get herself back in-character and commanding her character to do a cheer gesture.
[lol no need for ic yet] MARY replied. Seemed at least acting in-character had eased her partner a bit.
[Surprised ur inside 2! It's nice out!] MARY added.
[Could say same for you.] Mukuro replied.
[Hm, true. Usually arcade but friend wanted 2 play this a bit instead.] MARY answered.
[Arcade?] Mukuro asked.
[Yeah. Sometimez we go 2gether.] MARY messaged back.
[He wuz tired 2day tho. Stayed up all night again.]
[Where is he? Is he on now?] Mukuro asked.
[Nah, went afk fttb. Taking nap important stuff 2nite. We can quest till he comes back, tho!] MARY replied.
Mukuro needed a second to remember what some of the acronyms MARY used meant before replying.
[I'm all for that.] she responded.
[Wuts that, Ginko-chan? ;) ] MARY replied.
Mukuro closed her eyes, took a breath, and typed a more cheerful, peppy version of her response which was replied with where to go to meet up.
Several hours of slain 'Demons' later and Mukuro had noted her 'toon' had leveled up a bit, as MARY put it, with a whole supply of new skills. Still, a fair bit had included MARY helping her on the ropes of her attacks, something which, Mukuro could only feel embarrassment from that earned another deflating sigh from her after the highschool 'dungeon' as MARY called it, had finally concluded.
"I'm a force of nature on the battlefield as a Fenrir is supposed to be, I fight Shadows in the Dark Hour, how am I such a complete rookie in this keyboard-based online simulation?" she grumbled to herself aloud, digging her fingers through her dark hair.
[Hey. U ther?] MARY messaged.
Mukuro slipped a piece of jerky from the open bag next to her laptop into her waiting mouth before closing it up.
[I am.]
[Just wanted 2 say thnx for doing this with me. =) ] MARY replied.
[Ur still new but ur lvling up great! =) ]
[We R quite a team!]
Mukuro felt a slight blush at the compliments, and an echoing shatter of glass was heard within her mind.
[Thanks.] she responded.
[Oh! Getting l8. Study time! Going afk 4 now. TTYL!]
[Thnx again! We'll lvl up some more another time! =) ]
Mukuro watched as MARY logged off, and did the same after. Odd, she mentioned a study time, so she'd indicated she was a student, though that could have meant anywhere around her age or college age, and 'leet speak' was very common from what she noticed in the game's general chat so it offered no answers there, either. Maybe, she figured, she'd learn more of her another time.
Now that she thought about it, studying was probably the best course of action for the remainder of the evening as she noticed the sun had already set. Closing her laptop, Mukuro took out her school notes and textbooks and got started on a long, dull evening eager for when this week would be over...
...Maybe some TV first.
"Welcome back to the evening show of Tanaka's Amazing Commodities!" the host, Tanaka declared proudly on his brightly lit stage as his chorus once more sang his show's little jingle.
Right, she thought. She'd left her TV on that channel.
"This being our evening show, we sell some even better stuff!" Tanaka explained, flashing a big grin at the camera. "Good things come to those who wait, after all, and have we got something sharp and stylish just for you!"
"Feast your eyes, cun-!"
"IRUMA!" Tanaka interrupted quickly, facepalming as he looked back at the enthusiastic, grinning blonde in the provocative pink fuku and goggles as she flaunted a flashy katana.
"-SUMERS!" she quickly said. "It's the epically awesome All-Purpose Katana! Whether you're just an avid collector or some otaku who wants to play JRPG hero in his bedroom, this is the sword that's gonna make you feel more powerful then swallowing a bottle of via-"
"-TAL reminders of WHY this is the blade for you for all the above reasons, because why imagine what you can do and how cool you'll feel when you can have it and do so? Or maybe you just want some extra protection for those long nights?" Tanaka interrupted and declared proudly, ignoring the snicker from his co-star as she continued to pose with it. "Order now, at the price below! ...Just know Tanaka's Amazing Commodities takes no responsibility for the chances of you getting arrested if you choose wave it around in public places. That's on you, viewers, so remember to be responsible with your amazing new weapon!"
Mukuro couldn't help but wonder how he was able to sell some of this stuff, but an interested caller made it clear in moments it was not impossible for him to do so. Deciding to resume studying, she turned off the TV and returned to her schoolwork to prepare for what awaited her for the next several days.
5/23
Saturday. Mukuro had felt she'd done reasonably okay on her exams, though time would tell when the scores came out next week. Junpei had looked anything but optimistic as he got up and shuffled out of class soon as it ended, while Yukari seemed far more confident as she rose from her seat and came over.
"Hey, I take it you're feeling quite a relief to finally have midterms over, huh?" she asked with a bright smile.
"Mostly," the young soldier said, resting her chin in her gloved palm.
"You worried how they'll turn out? Don't be, I know you studied hard!" Yukari assured. "I think Junpei there's already made up his mind to go sulk..."
"You sound like this is a normal thing for him," Mukuro inquired.
"You heard it from him, we've had the same class for years." Yukari giggled. "Honestly I'd feel more bad for him if he actually tried this time rather then his usual slacking off till the last minute... maybe Mitsuru can get him to work on his study habits now, though," she explained, shrugging. "...So, anyway, Akihiko's got something to tell us later tonight, so I was wondering if you'd maybe like to celebrate end of exams by going out somewhere together?"
Mukuro gave a faint smile. Missions in Tartarus or battle she could handle and look forward to, studying however was dull and repetitive to the point it and the tests themselves had been rather exhausting aside from things regarding the more conflict-driven parts of Japan's history, so she didn't feel overly optimistic.
"...I'm fine with that," she said.
"Great! How about we go to the movies first!" Yukari said with a smile. "A few new ones just came out, actually. Girls' day out, we should go all-in!"
"I have to admit, I didn't imagine you were a fan of that genre, Yukari," Mukuro remarked as the girls left the theater.
"Of course I love Phoenix Ranger Feathermen!" Yukari beamed. "Pink Argus has always been my favorite she's kinda one of the reasons I took up archery, actually! Guess it's a good thing I did, huh?"
"I haven't really seen any of the shows since I was a kid, it was nice to see how far it's come," said Mukuro, smiling.
"Not a word of it to Junpei but I've been a fan since I was a kid," said Yukari.
"So was I, actually," Mukuro said, folding her arms as she looked over at the poster advertising the movie, her reflection faint in the glass casing. "I always loved to play pretend, I had one of the masks, Black Falcon. I'd run around with my toy gun pretending to shoot monsters and save my sister from them."
"Oh, she played with you?" Yukari asked.
"Not exactly, no. She thought it was..." Mukuro paused and shrugged. "...It wasn't her thing so I sort of played pretend with that, too. She preferred building stuff. She was always incredible at that sort of thing... just, making and designing stuff despite how young she was, like this sandcastle she made when we visited the park once back when we were six."
"Oh?" Yukari cocked her head, curious to hear more.
"It was incredible... if only you could have seen it." Mukuro frowned. "...I went to get us some food from a vendor when she was done, we planned to have lunch and wait till our parents got back so we could get a picture of us with it. I come back and find Junko crying because someone wrecked the sandcastle while she went to get some water. All that was left was a smashed up pile of sand..."
Yukari's eyes went wide. "My god, that's awful! She must've been devastated!"
Mukuro nodded. "...She was. She could barely speak and just sat there, crying and wondering who could have done it. I promised her I'd be a good big sis and find out, and... I'm not too proud of what I did next," she said, staring at the poster, where Black Falcon was beating up some of the villain's minions, and her own reflection's sharp glare as she faced away from the other girl. "...Got in a lot of trouble for it."
"I see... I don't exactly condone that, but," Yukari said, frowning and gently placing her hand on the other girl's shoulder. "Look, I'm an only child but I think I get it, even if that... maybe was rash, you just... like you said, wanted to be a good sister, right?"
Mukuro nodded softly. "Even before Fenrir I was compared to a wolf a lot, even by mom and dad, because wolves look after their families and protect them, I always did that for her... till she needed it most."
The dark-haired girl shook her head. "Sorry. I'm bringing down the mood, aren't I?" she asked, turning and managing a small smile. "I enjoyed the movie, Yukari. Thanks for bringing me. It was a nice trip back to an old hobby that inspired me as a kid, too."
"Pleasure's mine!" Yukari said with a grin, before her eyes went wide as she looked to the right. "Ooh! They've reopened the florist shop!"
Mukuro watched the other girl hurry over and followed. A wide assortment of flowers was now out for display with the weather having started to warm up. Yukari studied them all eagerly, like Theodore had behaved at the mall, almost.
"Hey, Mukuro, what do you think?" she asked, smiling, but then catching herself as she realized her behavior. "Sorry, I guess I got carried away. Seeing lots of flowers with all their colors and shape just makes me feel better. You ever get that?"
"I wouldn't know. I'm normally not around them arranged like this," she said, though a smile formed on her face. "I do like them, though. Especially the roses."
"They have kind of a mature, adult woman feeling to them, don't they?" Yukari asked, looking at some of the rose displays. "I'd love for my room to be like this, though, just full of flowers... just like my house back in the day..."
"Hm?" Mukuro cocked her head.
"I guess it's fair I share a little bit of my childhood, huh?" Yukari chuckled. "We seem to do that, don't we? Well, my mom always loved them so she'd buy a bunch. She'd decorate with ones I picked, too. It may be why I like them so much..."
"But...?" the young soldier could see there was more to it.
The other girl sighed, frowning. "After a while, I didn't like them. It reminded me how what's beautiful can wither away," she explained, though managing a small smile. "But it's not the case anymore, though... not lately, anyway! I kinda want to get some for my room, even if I'm not sure why my opinion on them changed, I just... do."
Mukuro noted the other girl's face, there was a longing in her eyes, but decided it was Yukari's business and she'd already pried enough as the other girl had shared something about herself in return for her own story. It may have been essentially trade-off, but Yukari had opened up to her once more, regardless.
The sound of glass breaking rang within the recesses of the young soldier's mind while Yukari excitedly went over and bought a small bouquet to bring home before they'd begin the trip back to the dorms.
"Hey, welcome back!" Akihiko said with a smile as he waved to Mukuro and Yukari from the lounge with Junpei, standing up and taking a few playful jabs at the air. "...Guess who's finally fully healed and ready for Tartarus again!"
"Dude deserves some congrats!" Junpei said, rising from his own seat and playfully slapping him on the shoulder.
"True, congratulations, senpai!" Yukari said with a smile.
"That said, I gotta catch up on training!" said Akihiko. "That damn injury forced me to slack off all that time!"
"Shouldn't you be careful, though? Don't want to re-injure yourself," said Yukari, concerned.
"-Tch!- I'm fine. I've wasted more then enough precious time, anyway! Not to mention there's some other good news as well, potentially." Akihiko explained. "Wanted to wait till you two got back, first, before I shared it."
"What's that?" Mukuro asked, stepping forward.
Akihiko smiled. "...Well, good news-bad news situation, technically. Good news is Mitsuru and I found another Persona-user,"
Junpei's eyes went wide and his mouth agape in awe. "You did?! Sweet! Is it a girl?" he asked, a little too eagerly.
"It is, yeah," Akihiko replied, ignoring Junpei's enthusiasm. Yukari was another matter, entirely, though.
"Is your mind always on girls, Stupei?" Yukari asked, facepalming while Mukuro just quietly folded her arms and ignored it.
"Who is she? Do we know her?" she asked.
"Her name's Fuuka Yamigishi," Akihiko explained. "She's a second-year at our school like you guys."
"I don't recall ever hearing that name anywhere," Mukuro said.
"I've seen her a few times," Yukari replied. "She's a bit on the short side, very pale, probably due to her health, she apparently gets ill often. Heard she's real smart though like her grades are real good, probably has helped make up for the absences."
"If she's not there often, and she's a grade below, how did you find out about her? It doesn't sound like you knew her beforehand," Mukuro asked.
"I didn't, no," said Akihiko. "She happened to be at the same hospital as me when I was getting my last checkup. It's how we found out about her, same symptoms and all from those with the potential beyond coincidence," he explained.
"...And the bad news?"
Akihiko frowned. "...She doesn't seem cut out for battle, honestly. Still, Mitsuru had an Evoker made for her, just in case."
"We really giving up on a new teammate already?!" Junpei protested. "I was gonna offer her some private lessons!"
"Even if you're being literal, you sound like a perv saying that, Junpei!" Yukari snapped, giving Junpei a sharp death glare and causing him to recoil instantly.
"Whoa, retract the claws, Yuka-tan! I'd think you and Mukuro'd love having another girl around!"
Mukuro did her best to tune out yet another round of Junpei and Yukari's bickering as she turned her attention back to Akihiko. "So, you're cleared for duty again?" she asked with a small smile.
"Yeah, starting next week we can head back into Tartarus with me on-board!" Akihiko said with a grin.
"Yes, and I don't need to keep an eye on you," Mitsuru called from the top of the stairs and making her way down. "I take it you've filled in everyone regarding Fuuka Yamagishi?"
Akihiko nodded. "I did, yeah. Shame she didn't join up."
"True, lucky as we were to find another Persona-user, it can't be helped if she's too weak to fully participate," Mitsuru said. "We'd only be putting her in unnecessary danger if we pressed her..." The older girl sighed and glared at Junpei and Yukari. "...Are those two at it again?"
"Like a couple newly-weds," Akihiko scoffed.
"We are not like newly-weds!" Yukari snapped, red-faced turning her attention at the other boy sharply before letting out an annoyed huff and heading for the stairs while an equally red-faced Junpei quietly picked up his manga and followed a few seconds after.
"I don't see what the problem is," he said, shaking his head. "Yukari gets another girl her age to hang with, so do you, and we need all the help we can get, right? It's win-win situation if Yamigishi ever changes her mind!"
"It can't be helped if she's not up to the task. I'm sure we'll find another eventually," Mitsuru said, taking a seat on the couch and opening the book she'd brought.
Mukuro sighed softly. She didn't know the girl, and Junpei regardless of intent was right they would likely need all the help they could get now that a new path was open in Tartarus and it was evident Shadows became more dangerous the further they went, but there was nothing that could be done about it.
Still, there was one unresolved matter left.
"So... if you're fully able again, where do you want to do it?" Mukuro asked, smirking at Akihiko.
Junpei stopped dead in his tracks, turning sharply and staring agape.
"How's the rooftop sound? Plenty of space, cool air. Better bring some mats though so we don't bruise each other!" Akihiko chuckled.
"Wait, WHAT?!" Junpei's eyes went wider, though Mitsuru did not even glance over.
"...Just don't make too much noise," the older girl said.
"Sounds like a good sparring match venue," said Mukuro, prompting a sigh of relief and realization from Junpei before he resumed his trip upstairs, if a little more hastily. "Let me change and get ready."
"Likewise. I got some mats we can use. Seeya up there!" Akihiko grinned as the two of them headed upstairs to get ready.
The night was clear. Stars hung in the skies to form countless pictures. Constellations, Akihiko remembered, as he stared up at them he lay flat on his back after the latest time Mukuro had sent him onto the foam mats on the rooftop during their sparring match.
"I haven't hurt you, have I?" Mukuro asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
"Heh, not at all. You're really something, Ikusaba," the boy chuckled. "Y'know, just makes me know I gotta get stronger... physical strength is everything and I definitely wanna get on that training regimen Fenrir had you on!"
Mukuro chuckled to herself a little as she sat down next to him, hugging her legs to herself as she stared up at the stars as well. "School clubs aren't near the level that is. I imagine a lot of things aren't. Even standard military BT. There's no mistake you'll come out something else."
"Your skills are definitely remarkable, that's for sure," Akihiko said. "...Didn't need to go easy on me, though."
Mukuro frowned as she looked over at him. "...You'd be dead if I didn't."
Akihiko frowned. "Guess you're right. You've done well leading the others in Tartarus, too, so was wondering if you'd be alright continuing even after I come back?"
Mukuro blinked in curiosity. "You're sure?"
"Gives me a chance to build my own strength, and Mitsuru's already fine with it," Akihiko explained. "...I brought it up with her earlier, she said if it was alright with you."
Mukuro gave a nod. "I'll do my best," she said, giving a small smile. "...You were really good back there. I can see why you were trusted with all this before you were hurt."
Akihiko chuckled as he sat up. "Thanks. Mitsuru thinks I'm reckless but hey, nothing wrong with feeling alive in the heat of the battle, right? Makes you give it your all."
The dark-haired girl smiled, hugging her face to her knees quickly as she felt a warmth fill her cheeks. "...I'm familiar with that."
Akihiko turned away suddenly, coughing.
"You alright?" Mukuro asked, looking concerned as she stood up.
"I'm good!" the boy said quickly, managing a smile. "I'm gonna follow that Fenrir regimen, then maybe somewhere down the road we can get a rematch! You're real quick, you read my moves and go for quick ways to subdue me... Still..."
The boy raises his fists into a fighting stance, Mukuro did the same. Akihiko swung his right fist, Mukuro weaved out of the way only for Akihiko to spin and catch her other hand with his own and gently poke her forehead with his free hand's finger.
"...That's why I gotta get up close if I'm gonna have a shot!" he said with a smirk. "It's the key to winning a battle, breaking the defense and not sacrificing your own for a quick-win strike."
Mukuro couldn't help but smile, before glancing downward, Akihiko noticed her own hand had gripped the wrist of the hand he'd grabbed hers with as well, their eyes met as he quickly let go, Mukuro doing the same.
"Good match, though," he said, giving a nod and looking away again and rolling up one of the mats. "Anyways, I'm free on Mondays and Fridays after school, since I don't have club meetings, then. We could go grab a bite and celebrate finally being back on the team... if I had to wait any longer I think I would have gone insane!"
Mukuro cocked her head, wondering what was up with him as she rolled up the other mat they'd used.
"So, shall we hit Tartarus tomorrow?" he asked, not looking directly at her, though. "...Since there's no school we can rest up and get ready."
"That'd be a good idea. It'd be a chance to investigate if the barrier we ran into last time is gone," Mukuro said, tucking the mat under her arm.
"Can't wait to see what could be waiting if it is. Mitsuru's Persona isn't quite meant for support and navigation, so we'll need all the manpower we can get further up." said Akihiko, giving an approving nod as he tucked his own mat under his arm. "Well, at any rate I'm gonna turn in for the night. Seeya tomorrow, Mukuro!"
Mukuro watched the boy leave, perhaps a bit... causing her to blush a little and look away briefly, herself. The teen closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath of the cool night air blowing lightly around her. Exams finally ended, and Akihiko would now be joining them. Having gotten a glimpse of what he could do when reality was normal, she was all the more curious of what he was capable of during the Dark Hour.
She'd find out soon enough, she thought, as tomorrow night, they'd be returning to Tartarus...
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and some clues about stuff to come as well as things like MARY's identity(not the teacher this time). Also chose to skip a few days given how uneventful things are till after midterm exams take place. P3 Reload is almost here, everyone!
0 - The Fool - SEES: Rank 3
I - The Magician - Junpei Iori: Rank 3
IV - The Emperor - Kiyotaka Ishimaru: Rank 1
V - The Hierophant - Bookstore Owners: Rank 2
VI - The Lovers - Yukari Takeba: Rank 2
VII - The Chariot - Aoi Asahina: Rank 3
IX - The Hermit - "MARY": Rank 2
XII - The Hanged Man - Seiko Kimura: Rank 2
XVI - The Tower - Natsumi Kuzuryu: Rank 2
Mukuro's Personas: Alp, Nekomata, Forneus, Omoikane, Ara Mitama