" Minako-san , can you tell the class how to rephrase this sentence with the correct composition ? " Miss Toriumi asked
" Mm ... Huh ? " Minako stood up in front of the whole class , and blushed as she stared at the board searching for the question " uh ... Sorry ... I don't ... I don't know the answer ... "
" You weren't paying attention yet again , were you ? "
" I ... I wasn't ... " Minako said in defeat
" Is something wrong ? Are you sick ? This is the second question you don't even pay attention to "
" And before that , she failed to answer a history question about the Sungoku era " Kenji commented
" Nobody asked you , Kenji " Minato glared at him
" You're usually such a diligent student, is something bothering you ? Maybe you need to wash your face ? " Miss Toriumi was genuinely concerned about her student " or maybe you should go to the nurse's office ... "
" I'm fine " Minako sighed " I'll try to pay more attention "
" Okay ... You may sit down . Anyone knows how to answer the question ? "
Minako left the class during lunch break , going to her usual place at the rooftop to eat . On her way she met Shinjiro , and tried to start a conversation about his first day of school with him . However , he looked irritated by the cause of the conversation , as he wasn't excited to go to school and he just shrugged and said he slept through the class .
" oh ... it's lunch break ... have ... have you brought your lunch , maybe we could ... "
" I brought nothing "
" then ... I could share mine with you ... "
" you don't have to , I'm not that hungry "
" you can't just spend the whole day without a single bite ! Here , at least have this " Minako took out a small cupcake from her lunchbox .
" I told you I'm not ... "
" this isn't a request , it's an order from your leader ! "
" tch ... as if being forced to go to school wasn't bad enough , now my underclassman in bossing me around ... " Shinjiro took the cupcake
" sorry ... " Minako mumbled to herself , and wondered if Shinjiro was too upset to be pressed anymore
" mm... this cake .... " Shinjiro took a bite from it before mumbling " it's really good ... "
" it is ?! " Minako asked excitedly
" yeah ... thanks " Shinjiro nodded and began walking away " the lunch break is almost over so finish yours quickly "
She had mostly finished her lunch box by the time Rio approached her . The two sat down to talk , but it was clear that Minako was giving answers on autopilot . Rio knew that and decided to trip her .
" ... and then you cheated on the final exam for the last semester and that's how you got the highest score "
" well ... yeah ... obviously ... " Minako nodded
" did you even hear what I just said ?! " Rio yelled at Minako which startled her out of her dazed state " I said you got the highest mark by cheating !!! "
" wh-what ?! No ! "
" you said ' yeah , obviously ' ! What's is it with you today ?! " Rio slammed her palm on Minako's forehead " you don't have a fever . I came to tell you that we have a practice session today , pay attention! "
" I ... I don't think I'll be able to to come " Minako forced a laugh
" with how dazed you are , I don't think you should "
It was a long day for Minako and . While Miss Toriumi was forgiving , Mr. Ekoda wasn't ( especially after the problems she and her brother had caused him in the previous semester ) , and he had her stand in the hallway with a bucketful of water . She tried to sneak toward the third class to see how Shinjiro was doing , but was stopped by the teacher and given an extra bucket for trying to ' escape ' . Minato began wondering what was going on with his sister , and he was trying to remember what had happened to her in the recent times that had her feeling so out of sync with the world around her . Just then he was picked by the teacher to answer another question , and since he wasn't paying attention , it was the hallway for him . He took one bucket from his sister who was carrying two , before deciding it was about time the two talk about what was happening .
" so ... what's clouding your mind ? " Minato whispered
" nothing ... " Minako murmured .
" really ... ? "
" yes ... " Minako said as firmly as she could
" you're lying ... and I could just ask Aigis to ... "
" do you think I'll keep it a secret if I didn't mind people knowing about it ?!! " Minako yelled back
" quiet ! " the teacher yelled from within the class " or do you want me to send you to the principal's office !!! "
" we'll continue this conversation at the dorm " Minako sighed
At the dorm , Mitsuru told them that the computer was malfunctioning again . At that point they didn't bother questioning it , as it was a good opportunity for a quick laugh or to get to know their teams better , especially after such a grueling day at school , and Minako thought whatever is in the recording this time would make Minato forget what happened at school . This time it was a recording of the lounge . Shinjiro was sitting on the couch , while Koromaru was sitting in front of the TV . While it was offscreen , they could tell by the sound of the TV that it was a cooking a show . Suddenly , Shinjiro's attention was averted to front door of the lounge , before he placed a magazine on his head and pretend to be sleeping .
Then came Fuuka and Aigis , Koromaru rushed to greet them . As Fuuka knelt down to pet the dog , she noticed Shinjiro sleeping " oh ... Shh ... " She signed to Koromaru " I'd feel bad if Aragaki senpai woke up because of us "
" Koromaru-san says ' Shinjiro-san is not sleeping ' ... " Aigis remarked
" Really ? " Fuuka looked at Shinjiro , then she noticed the magazine on his face and remarked " that cooking magazine ... I had no idea this month's issue was out "
" Are you interested in cooking , Fuuka-san ? "
" Oh ... Well ... Yes ... "
As Fuuka and Aigis walked away while talking about cooking , Shinjiro took the magazine off of his face " well shit ... I forgot she can read minds " he grumbled . Then he saw Koromaru at his leg whining guiltily " heh ... Don't sweat it , Koro-chan , it wasn't your fault"
" Finally someone else suffers from Aigis ! Right , sis ?" Minato exclaimed as the recording ended , but Minako didn't respond to him , and he noticed that she was staring at the static image of Shinjiro and Koromaru " you love him , don't you ? "
" What ?! " Minako's face instantly turned red and a puff of smoke rose from it
" Th-tHaT'S nOt iT ! " Minato sarcastically said " that's what you want to say , right ? "
" I ... I do like him ... " Minako instead admitted " but that's it ... I just like him ... Love is a strong word "
" Fair ... You haven't spent so much time with him , I'd freak out if you fell in love with someone you just met that day " Minato replied " why Shinjiro , though ? I had no idea you were the type to fall for bad boys "
" he's not a bad person ! " Minako angrily defended , as that word seemed to trigger something
" calm down , I was just messing with you " Minato grinned " you're mostly sociable with the other members of SEES . Why don't you start hanging out with him and see if your feelings will change ? "
" Well ... Usually I establish some form of familiarity with them before we hang out , but Aragaki senpai doesn't want people to get into his life ... Understand that this is the first time that I feel like I have to take the initiative to ... "
" You're just making excuses at this point"
" Well ... I'll ask him tomorrow ... Maybe after school ... "
" Now you're procrastinating " Minato took a deep breath " are you scared of him ? He won't hurt you , I fought alongside him to know that he's not a cruel person, or are you afraid of ... "
" I'm afraid of liking him ... What if he ... What if ... You know what I mean ... " Minako felt like she was pulling the words out of a deep well
" Disappear , right ? "
" Yes ... " she flinched as she heard that word
" For the longest time I've been thinking the same thing about you , I was afraid I won't be able to protect you and that one day you'll disappear . However , this year we're different . We're no longer powerless , and we can protect the things and people we cherish . How many times did you think you won't see me again ? Almost as many times as I thought I wouldn't see you again, right ? And yet we're here . Bottom line , don't be afraid of the unknown . Ask him , or you'll just agonize over this uncertainty "
" Well ... Okay ... " That didn't feel like a confident response , it felt like she said that just to end the conversation " I'll ... I'll go ask him right now ... "
The twins left the computer room , and Minako descended to the lounge to ask Shinjiro . However , she saw he wasn't around , and she felt a mixture of relief and disappoinment .
" Oh ... You're already here "
Shinjiro's voice from behind zapped Minako , and she anxiously turned to see him descend to the lounge . She thought he was talking to someone else , but she was the only one in the lounge at the time , and his gaze was directly aimed at her .
" To be honest , it's not the best choice to ask me to go with you on a walk , it's not like I know any places "
" I'm sorry ? "
" You asked me to hang out with me , didn't you ? I don't know why you asked me through a text message instead of talking to me , but I suppose it doesn't matter "
Minako felt her pocket , and realized her phone wasn't with her . Apparently , Minato used her phone to ask Shinjiro out in her name . Between denying it and following along with Minato's plan , she ultimately chose to follow Minato's plan . The two went to Iwatodai strip mall for dinner . Coincidentally , Shinjiro brought Minako to the same restaurant she used to bring Ken to , but she didn't comment on that .
" sorry for bringing you here , I don't know that many places to hang out " Shinjiro sighed " it's ironic that I spend most of the time in the streets of the city and yet I don't know which place is fun for hanging out "
" that's fine , I actually like this place " Minako said with a carefree smile , the tension she had been feeling before was lifting off steadily
" you're weird " Shinjiro took a spoon of his soup , but he winced as he tried to sip it
" is something wrong ? "
" I had a cut in my mouth , because that ape Aki punched me "
" Aki ... you mean Akihiko senpai ... were you fighting ? "
" we fight all the time , get used to it "
" please don't fight ! " Minako said sternly , as a sadder tone became apparent in her voice " we're in this together and I want us to get along . I don't think you remember , but the last time me and my brother didn't get along , the shadows used the friction between us against us . Had you not been there in time I wouldn't be here "
" okay ... I'll keep that in mind " Shinjiro felt he couldn't refuse even though she wasn't really forcing him
" promise ? "
" fine , I promise you I won't fight Aki again . Anyway, what do you think about Aki and Mitsuru ? Are they strong members or are they holding you back ? "
" they're very reliable ! "
" I see ... " Shinjiro sighed " I'm interfering with your leadership again , am I not ? "
" no , you're not . We're leaders , not dictators , as Minato would put it "
" in our last battle , your brother scolded me about questioning his leadership . I think you've become wiser and had got the hang of leading the team , so it's not that I don't trust you two , it's just who I am . Besides , I can see that the team is more comfortable with fighting during the Dark Hour than back when I was in the team , back then we were just stumbling our way through battles . I suppose it's not just your power that they needed , as you also have a knack for leading the team and keeping it coordinated "
" I see ... "
" you think I'm over praising you , right ? And yet that plan you hatched with your brother to save Junpei was pretty smart . I'll be counting on you "
" I'll ... I'll do my best ... " Minako blushed
" be more confident than that " Shinjiro chuckled " you two have a lot more going for you than you think "
" I ... I am confident ! " Minako forced a facade of confidence, but her red cheeks gave away her embarrassment
The two ate their dinner , and then they began strolling their way back to the dorm . Minako wanted to start a conversation with Shinjiro , but she felt her tongue tied up and couldn't say anything . Thankfully , Shinjiro was the one who broke the silence by asking " how are you holding up so far ? "
" uh ... fine ? We didn't really go that far so I'm not tired ? "
" I meant your health , after the last time your collapsed with fever ... you know , after we took Koromaru to the cinema "
" oh ... that never happened again " Minako let a nervous laughter as she lied her way out of the question " must've been a fluke"
" well ... how are you getting along with the team ? "
" I'm getting along with them just fine ! They're all my new family , each of them has certain quirks that define them , yet we all trust and like each other with our quirks and flaws , each completing each other's imperfections "
" I see ... you're feeling at home "
" definitely "
" I wonder if I'll ever be a part of this family of yours " Shinjiro had a sad smile on his face
" oh ... well ... you're more ... " Minako blushed and grew flustered " that is to say ... you're already ... a member of our family "
" heh ... glad to know that " Shinjiro smiled , and his smile almost made Minako's heart stop " well , take it easy . I heard from your upperclassmen that they'll be ready to explore Tartarus starting tomorrow . You twins will get a chance to show us again that we can entrust our lives to you "
" we'll do our best "
" I know you will ... "
" um ... Aragaki senpai ... " Minako started as they arrived at the dorm " let's hang out again sometime , okay ? "
" hm ... sure " Shinjiro nodded
As soon as they entered the dorm , Shinjiro went to his room and Minako went to hers . Minato was sitting there studying , but stopped when he saw her entering . He observed her and tried to assess her impression , but he saw that something about her was different , something about her smile had changed .
" looks like I made the right choice " Minato smiled
" so it really was you who sent that message "
" well , I figured at worst you'll get a social link from it , but I could see you got more than that " Minato's smile grew a little wider
" ahaha ... you think ? " Minako blushed slightly as she laughed at Minato's comment
" anyway , if you want to change , I'll leave the room "
" that won't be necessary , we agreed that each of us changes in the ... "
" I figured you'll need some time by yourself even after you change " Minato stood up and approached his sister " you look so so happy , I want you to experience this feeling alone , and you want that , too ... am I right ? "
" Minato ... thank you ... "
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If you enjoyed this part , feel free to vote on it , and remember to comment on who you want Minato to fall in love with, and I will see you in the next part . Stay safe
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The debate is closed , read the part about the results to find out who won