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10/31/16: Nightime
It's Halloween. It's actually Halloween. Sure the deadline of finishing Sae's Palace is over there head, but after everything that has happened, they need a break. Having fun on Halloween is the perfect excuse, even if Akechi wanted to get done with the Palace right away. Yesterday Ann manage to get everyone a Halloween costume. It was a little hard to find one that everyone liked and fit into, but it all worked out in the end.
Minato remembered the last time he actually had a chance to celebrate Halloween. It wasn't back in 2009, since everyone in SEES was busy with... other things. It was back when he was a kid, at age 6.
He didn't go last year since he didn't like being around people in general, but after seeing his sister carry in a huge bag of candy, he wanted to go. He was a bit nervous going up to each house, but she always made sure that it was okay. There was spooks and a few jumpscares, and of course he got scared by it. He wasn't as scared as his sister, who at one jump scare went into full protection mode. It was such a fun time...
And now here he is today, a 24 year old adult staring at himself in the mirror while wearing a clown costume. Well whatever, as long as the Thieves have fun, that's all that matters.
Leblanc
"Where is he? I wanna go alreadyyyyyy!"
"Futaba, please be patient. He will be here soon."
She slumped back into her seat. "But I want candy."
"Good things come to those who are patience." Akechi adjusts the position of his hat, but honestly he is annoyed at how long Minato is taking. Can't they just go already and get this over with so that way he ca-
"Sorry for the wait." The door chimed as Minato walked on in with a blue plastic pumpkin, holding it by the handle."I made a quick stop earlier to buy some candy, and getting this on isn't easy."
Akechi had his signature detective smile on his face. "It's no problem at all Arisato-kun."
Ann took a small handful of the candy and shares it out. "Everyone's costumes looks great. I'm glad it all worked out."
Akira dressed like an actual Thief, Ryuji is a Pirate, Ann is a Witch, Yusuke is a tradition YoKai Ghost, Makoto is a Zombie Cop, Futaba is an Alien Squid, Haru is the Queen of Hearts, and Akechi somehow had a costume of Naoto Shirogane at home. Minato glared daggers at that one but let it slide for now...
"I'm particularly proud of MY costume!" Morgana meowed. His is all custom made, with it being similar looking to how he is in the MetaVerse, and yes he did make it himself... mostly.
"Dude i'm still surprised you made that belt by yourself."
"Of course I was able to make it by myself Ryuji, I am a talented individual."
"We know."
"It's a lovely costume Mona-chan" Haru said, petting his head.
"So what's the plan for today?" Yusuke asked.
"CANDY!"
"Actually Futaba, trick or treating is more of a western tradition" Ann answered. "Some places in Japan do it, but i'm pretty sure here isn't one of them."
"Aw.... can we at least do a haunted house?"
"I-Is there a haunted house here?" Makoto asks.
"I believe one was being set up somewhere in Yongen-jaya" Ryuji replied.
"Oh yeah, that's the one I heard about! Can we go there, pleeeeeeeeeease!"
"Oh that haunted house. You always wanted to go there before but never got a chance to." Sojiro appered from behind the counter. "But, are you sure you'll be okay in there?"
"I'll be fine Sojiro, plus I have everyone with me."
He sighed. "Alright... you kids have fun out there."
Everyone left Leblanc one by one, Sojiro quickly stopped Minato. "Keep an eye on them for me, okay?"
Minato knows why Sojiro is asking him that. He is the 'adult' of the group, so it's his responsibility to make sure they stay safe. Well, yeah, he can do that in the MetaVerse no problem, even risk his life for it. The real world he has no control over. Besides, there is a gigantic reason why the Shadow Opetitives don't leave Minato to lead alone anymore...
"I can't promise anything Boss, but I'll try my best."
The Haunted House
Over behind the Theater was an old building that has been decorated to the brim with all the Halloween. It looks like your typical haunted house, and there was only a few people around or going inside.
Yusuke walked around framing the house. "This design... it's absolutely superb! The perfect balance of cutesy and horror elements is mesmerizing."
"Oh this is going to be fun" Akira said while spinning his dagger around... wait a moment.
"Isn't that the same dagger you use for combat?"
"Yes, but don't worry Minato, it's fake."
"Oh, right. I forgot you guys use fake weapons."
"Wait, then the sword you use is real?"
"Of course it's real- what kind of question is that?"
Akechi walked in between them, slightly bumping Minato in the process. "This is going to be my first haunted house. I'll admit, I'm a bit nervous."
"I'm sure it will be fine" Haru reassures.
After grabbing Yusuke before he wanders off and paying to go inside, the Thieves head into darkness, with the air having a touch of green to it, like the Dark Hour. Of course Minato wasn't phased by the darkness, he could see perfectly fine. Technically speaking, Minato shouldn't be phased at all in here. He survived the Evil Spirit Club, he climbed all the way up Tartuars...
This should be nothing!
Same can't be said about everyone else.
Makoto already doesn't like this at all. "Why does it have to be so dark in here..."
"The darkness makes scares more effective" Akechi comments.
"It's not that dark for me."
"Well that's because you have night vision Morgana."
Soft, high pitched giggles could be heard echoed throughout the walls, and a few steps later, a doll popped out from the side. Some freaked out, some got into a defensive position.... while Minato and Akechi stared at the doll with no reaction.
"Ah, the classic jumpscare, I expected that to happen."
"Whatever" Futaba mutters. The Phantom Thieves give Minato some slack for... not being that reactive since it's something he can't control, they get it. But even if Minato doesn't look scared, that doesn't mean he CAN'T get scared.
It's just really hard to spook him.
Continuing down the narrow hallways, with another jumpscare from a giant spider dropping from the ceiling along the way, the floor starts to get a bit creaky as they enter a large room.
(We should be fine...) Ann tries to convince herself. (We see inside people's twisted cognition's, that should be much scarier than anything in here.)
(We are the Phantom Thieves!) Ryuji was doing the same thing as well. (We are hero's, we fight shit much scarier than this!)
Haru and Futaba were giggling away, well at least someone finds this amusing. Yusuke also doesn't seem that bothered by the scares, or at least hiding his fear pretty well, and Makoto.... well, she is still walking, until an actor dressed like a zombie nurse jumped out and stabs a giant needle to the ground. Almost everyone got at least a little spooked by that.
Akira almost dropped the bag Morgana was in, he quickly hurried along out of the room to get the strap back on.
"Watch how you handle me!"
"Well it's not my fault that I got spooked and almost dropped you out of terror!"
Makoto manage to walk out of the room in one piece, with Haru by her side to make sure she was okay. "Remember to breath Mako-chan."
"I didn't predict one being directly there" Akechi mutters.
Minato stared at him. "Oh, are you trying to predict them Mr. Detective?"
"I am, figured it would be a fun way to go through this."
Minato rolled his eyes as Makoto got her bearing, then everyone continued onwards. After a moment of silence, Morgana pawed Akira, making him flinch. "Can you not!?" Morgana chuckled, clearly amused by that.
"I have a question." Everyone stopped to hear Yusuke. "Why exactly do people like Haunted Houses?"
"Well, some people like it for the Halloween spirit, while some people like the trill of getting spooked." Haru answered.
Ann was in disbelief, "They liked to get scared, excuse me?"
"From what I read online, it is for those reasons, but also having other trusted people around you can make it feel like a game!" Futaba said. "Once you know your not in real danger, you can just laugh it off together and have fun."
"Huh..."
Things continued on somewhat smoothly, and overtime just like Futaba said, they get scared but quickly realized there not in real danger. Even Makoto was starting to get a bit more comfortable. Minato cracked a small smile, having fun as well.
Unfortunately that didn't last long, ah he heard a sound that stopped him dead in his tracks. That sounded like...
"... Minato-san? You okay?" Haru turned around and noticed he wasn't walking with them.... Didn't take long for everyone else to check on him.
"Oh, did the unspookable get spooked?" Akechi teased, which caused Ryuji to elbow him. They know if Minato does react to something like this, it can't be good.
Minato placed both of his hands in his pockets. "I'm fine. Promise." He took a few steps forward before the sound triggers again, and everyone saw him flinch.
"Ah, it appears he doesn't like the sound of chains."
He quickly turns around to Akechi. "Stop."
This is one of the extremely rare moments he doesn't have his MP3 player playing music, his earbuds are in his pocket. He doesn't have music to fall back on, and it's really starting to show how much he RELIES on music to keep his cool.
"Look, we are almost done here, so let's do that."
Akira stayed next to him as they continued forward. He knows Minato doesn't like to admit when something is wrong with him, it's a habit he hasn't discarded for years cause... that's unfortunately what he had to do to keep moving foward in life. Minato simply doesn't want anyone to worry about him, cause he is always strong and can handle himself just fine.
Yeah....
That's a lie.
They enter the final room which looks like a graveyard, the chain sound only got louder. The floor in front of the gravestones popped open with animatronic zombies, and an actor dressed as the Reaper manage to get behind the group, where Minato was at, and jumpscared him. He was already on edge, so that sent him over. There was pure terror in his eyes.
One shaken up Minato later, and they exit the Haunted House and went to an empty area. He immediately plugged in his earbuds and went to 'Burn My Dread'.
After giving him some space to calm down, Akira and Morgana went to check up on him. "How are you doing Minato?"
"..... A bit better. Well, at least you guys had fun, right?"
"Well yeah, but that doesn't matter at all if it bothered you."
"....."
Morgana quickly noticed that Minato was holding his right wrist. Actually, he has been holding it the entire time once he got his music set up. "Is your wrist okay?"
"Oh, yeah. Just got a little too tense."
The three sat in silence for a long while. Akira wanted to ask him about the sudden reaction to the chains, but he figured it wouldn't be the best idea in the world. At least him standing there seems to be helping a bit.
Minato quickly eyed his wrist, then his ankle. (I can still feel it there... it just had to be chains huh? At least on the upside, I don't feel them at all in the MetaVerse... but I really do want to be free from this, stupid thing.)
The most frustrating part about this is, Minato can't tell them about this. I mean, the Shadow Opetitives and Investigation Team know about it, and why it happens... but he knows the Phantom Thieves want to understand why. He can't tell them, I mean...
Would they even believe what was happening to him?
Even if they did know, they can't help. This isn't something that can be easily fixed, and will most likely stay with him for the rest of his life, like it or not. Then again, this was all on him, that was his choice... but it wouldn't be that bad right? Really, if he could make one magical wish...
He would wish to not be chained down by fate anymore.