It was the end of another long day . The twins had to stay behind because they were on cleaning duty . By the time they were leaving , the sun was sinking into the sea before them as the monorail passed by the sea . The monorail was empty , making them feel even more lonely in the world . To them , their life was now a box of matches in the darkness , and with each day they burn a match until they run out .
" I think ... " Minato looked around , and as he saw that no one was in the same cart with them , he muttered quietly " I think I'll use that power , after all "
" No ! " Minako angrily turned and had him face her " we made a promise ! "
" And now I'm telling you that I don't plan on ... "
Minako placed her hand on Minato's mouth , her gaze dropped to the ground , and she began crying . At that point , what little resolve Minato had was dashed away . Slowly , Minako let go of his mouth , but he still couldn't talk .
" Minato ... Don't you think this is enough ... Don't you think we've suffered enough for all of this ?! " She wept " our parents died during the Dark Hour ,our loved ones died because of Death that was sealed inside us , and we had to fight in the Dark Hour for nearly a year , getting closer and closer to death with every night ! Isn't that enough ?!! "
" If you want to end your suffering , why didn't you choose to kill Ryoji ? "
" That's ... That's different ! " Minako looked at Minato anxiously , and stammered to explain herself " B—besides ... I was always scared of fighting Nyx , and I'm still scared ! I just ... I thought ... be it victory or death ... We'll face it together ... Why must it be just the two us who sacrifice themselves ?!! Why couldn't it be ... Literally anyone else ?!! "
" Minako ... "
" Seriously ... Did I just say that ... ? " Minako grieved " was I always this selfish ? "
" Minako ... I'm sorry ... " At that point , Minato's eyes were filled with tears , and it was taking every fiber of his being not to start crying
" Don't apologize ... Just ... No more sacrifices ... Please ... "
Fuuka rose her head from the screen of the computer , unable to focus on anything . She looked outside , thinking of going out for a walk , but it was already nighttime , and the snow was falling heavily . It was definitely not the right time to walk outside . Fuuka sighed and made her way to leave her room , but just as she reached the handle , someone knocked on the door from the other side . Fuuka gently opened the door , and was met with Yukari's hesitant face .
" oh ... good evening ... " Yukari replied " I'm not bothering you , am I ? "
" no ... I was just leaving my room ... " Fuuka sighed " being alone is so suffocating , I was hoping for a change of pace ... "
" right , then do you mind if we talked ? " Yukari invited her to sit in the hall by the stairs on one of the small chairs in the center
" oh ... certainly ... what do you want to talk about ? "
" well ... me and my mother haven't been getting along well ... but she called me yesterday ... " Yukari said with a troubled look on her face " I always thought she was a faithless woman who pretended my father didn't exist when everyone turned against us , after he was blamed for the incident that started the Dark Hour . You know , when she called me , she sounded very worried "
" she was worried about you ? "
" yes ... she told me to lock the door to my room at night , and stay away from anyone who seems dazed or pale . I think she's been watching the news , and she could see how it's been recently " Yukari sighed " I didn't know what to say ... I could just tell her that I'm fine ... but I think I want to talk to her more ... maybe we could talk about my father , I never understood why she tried to forget him ... maybe if we do that , we can be family again ... "
" of course , that would be great "
" but I haven't talked to her in a long time ! I was always hostile towards her " Yukari nervously replied " what if she didn't hate my father ?! It's so unfair , why am I learning about this now when we have less than three weeks to live before Nyx descends into our world ?! "
" I know how you feel " Fuuka replied " I've actually talked with my parents a few times , they were pressuring me to come back to their house , but I can't leave the dorm , not now "
" Fuuka ... "
" but you shouldn't let that bring you down , instead use it as a source of strength to drive you forward " Fuuka said firmly " I'll be honest with you , I sometimes think we made the wrong choice , but seeing my parents worry about me this much , even though they were strict with me and harshly judged my grades , it makes me so happy to see them care about me at this time , and strengthens my resolve ! When I'm reminded that this isn't just my fight , I realize that we didn't make the wrong choice after all ! "
" Fuuka , thank you ... " Yukari hesitantly said " but can you be with me when I visit my mother ? I feel it'll be a little less awkward for me ... "
" of course , I would love to ... "
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Mitsuru was calmly studying in her room , when she heard the door knocking . As she gave the permission to enter , she was surprised to see none other than Junpei at the door . He seemed to bear a depressed expression on his face , that he uselessly tried to hide it with his cap . He seemed to want to talk , so Mitsuru invited him to sit . She was expecting him to comment on how her room was luxurious , or at least act nervous in fear of her anger , but he seemed troubled by something else .
" senpai ... I don't mean to remind you of this ... but what kind of presents did you use to give your father ? "
" oh ... well , I once bought him a watch from Patek Philippe for his birthday , for around 10 million dollars... ah ... " Mitsuru realized that Junpei was thinking of something else " but if you want to give a present to your father , I suppose something affordable would be suitable , wouldn't it ? Is this why you look troubled ? "
" hehe ... I don't even know when my father's birthday is ... " Junpei laughed wryly " The hospital called ... he was brought to the emergency room after he nearly died of overdose ... "
" what ?! "
" I went to visit him ... and all he could talk about was how the Apathy syndrome ... and how he wanted me to transfer to Tokyo ... of course , I told him I'm managing here just fine . I still can't forgive him for all that he did to me , but seeing that old idiot worry about me so much now ... I wanted to thank him for at least remembering I was around during all of this , and you're the closest person I got to ask ... "
" Iori ... very well then ... " Mitsuru stood up " I'll go with you to Paulownia mall , and we'll look for something that your father might appreciate "
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In a small graveyard behind the shrine , Shinjiro stood quietly , alongside him Akihiko who was visiting his sister's grave . The weather was cold , but the two of them still wanted to visit Akihiko's sister . Shinjiro's eyes wandered to the sky , as if he wanted to see the moon , just to remember how much time they had left . However the sky was filled with dark clouds , making the moon difficult to see .
" Man ... I miss the old times ... " Akihiko sighed " you ... me ... and Miki ... we used to play and play like nothing in the world mattered "
" you know what I think ... I think about the many children who're the same age as Miki when she died ... they will all suffer the same fate as her if we don't do something "
" you're right ... " Akihiko looked to see Ken and Koromaru approaching them " oh , you're done ? "
" yes ... I visited my mother's grave , and told her that I will save the world "
" good confidence " Shinjiro smiled " and Koro ? "
" oh ... Koromaru insisted on tagging along " Ken smiled as Koromaru yelped in response " I think he wanted to visit his previous master's grave "
" it's getting cold here ... what do you say we leave ? "
As Shinjiro descended from the shrine , followed by Akihiko and Ken with Koromaru behind them , he noticed Minako walking away from the shrine . Her back was facing Shinjiro so he couldn't see her face , in his mind he recalled what Margaret had screamed about during their battle against her . To the twins the whole battle seemed like a fleeting dream , but he wondered if that was really the case . His thoughts were interrupted when Koromaru eagerly rushed past him toward Minako . It was then that her back turned , as she crouching to hug Koromaru . When the others approached her , she looked up to them .
" oh , Shin-chan ! " Minako exclaimed , before playfully holding Koromaru before her face , as if he was talking , and then saying in a deeper yet adorable voice " thank you for taking me on a walk , Shinjiro ! I had fun ! "
" what are you doing , Minako ? " Akihiko laughed
" this isn't Minako , this is Koro-chan ! "
" I don't think anyone would call themselves with an adorable nickname " Ken said happily
" oh , I know Koro-chan would ! " Minako turned Koromaru to face her , and she held it affectionately " isn't that right , boy ? "
" it's getting late ... and cold ... what do you say we go back for now ? " Shinjiro suggested
" really ? I don't think it's ... it's ... that ... achoo !!! " Minako sneezed , then she stood up and laughed clumsily " okay , I stand corrected ! " Before she suddenly exclaimed " last person to reach the dorm treats everyone to a burger ! " And then running away toward the dorm
" oh , I wouldn't let you beat me ! " Akihiko said as he ran after her
" seriously ... " Shinjiro sighed as he watched her slip and fall face first on the snowy ground
" Minako is amazing ... just watching her smile and play around makes me almost believe that nothing is wrong " Ken mumbled
" Ken ... you were there , too , weren't you ? " Shinjiro asked seriously " did you hear what that Margaret said ? "
" I ... I don't know ... the memory of that fight is growing hazier with every day ... " Ken said with a puzzled look on his face " but ... I think we've imagined it ... I mean ... there's no way a Persona could kill you , not the moment you summon it , right ? I saw you and our leaders using Personas beyond your control , and in both cases it took a long time before you were weakened by it "
" a Persona that would kill them ... was that what she said ? " Shinjiro groaned " damn ... I can't even remember what she said anymore ... was it really all just a dream ?! "
" Shin-chan ! " Minako said as she ran toward him , but she slipped and fell again , this time her face met his chest , she then looked at him with her bright eyes " what's taking you two so long ? Wasn't it you who said we need to hurry back ? "
" right ... right ... " Shinjiro rolled his eyes
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Even though it was heavily snowing outside , and very few were walking the streets , Aigis insisted that Minato would go out with her . Because of the harsh weather , they couldn't go further than Iwatodai mall . When they entered the ramen shop , Minato was freezing , so they ordered a bowl of ramen for him and sat down together in that lonely restaurant . Nobody was there besides them , and the owner was even considering closing the shop before they arrived . Minato wanted to order another bowl for Aigis , but she didn't seem interested in eating anything. Minato noticed that Aigis was staring at him intently , a stare that was more like a glare than anything . However , at first he was only concerned with warming himself up .
" I heard you ... " Aigis was the first to start talking
" sorry ? " Minato said confusedly , uncertain of what Aigis said
" I heard you talk with Minako-san in the monorail... you were discussing wether you should use the ' power ' that you have acquired "
" what ?! " Minato jolted from his seat " the monorail was empty ! "
" you acted like our battle against Margaret was nothing but a dream , but you forgot one very important thing " Aigis siad sternly " we robots don't dream "
" I ... I don't think you're just a robot anymore , Ai ... " Minato stammered
" well ... I had my doubts , so I followed you " Aigis said angrily " first , I heard you two promising each other that you will not use that power , and then the argument regarding that promise ! "
" I see ... " Minato sighed , seemingly finally submitting himself
" you ... ' see ' ... ? " Aigis exclaimed " what do you mean ?! Is this the truth ?! Were you planning to give your life to save the world ! "
" what if I that was my intention all along ? What would you do then ? "
" I ... I do not want you to sacrifice yourself , Minato-san ! " Aigis said pleadingly " if anyone should sacrifice themself , it is me ! "
" listen ... Ai ... " Minato said with a pained look on his face " I don't want to do this either ... in fact , I don't think I can do this ... "
" Minato-san ... "
" I have so much to live for ... so much to look forward to ... so many things that I haven't accomplished yet . Maybe if I was faced by this truth during the battle , I would've been able to sacrifice myself without a second thought , but to learn about it now , and to live and do and see the things I enjoy and want , it makes me cherish life and hate the idea of sacrificing myself all the more "
" I'm so sorry ... "
" listen ... just ... don't tell the others about this , okay ? " Minato said pleadingly " they're suffering enough as it is , with every passing day . I don't need them to worry about me yet "
" what ? No , but ... "
" what Margaret said ... she said it on a whim , it was the first thing she noticed . Me and Minako went and talked with her later , and she said she needed to study that power a little more . Let's give her some time "
" yes ... "
While Minato managed to convince Aigis to stay silent , he could not convince himself that everything will be fine . After all , time was running out , and who knows when Margaret would be ready to tell them what their powers really is .
Only seventeen days stand between them and the promised day ...
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