Work Text:
After yet another battle against the Shadows, Yukari, Junpei and Akihiko-senpai follow Minato through the confusing halls of Tartarus. Yukari doesn’t notice Akihiko falling behind, too distracted by bickering with Junpei (and getting told off for bickering by Mitsuru, their senpai listening to the argument from outside). In fact, she doesn’t realize anything is wrong until the thud.
A groan of pain follows the loud thud, and Yukari jumps, spinning to look behind her. Several feet behind the rest of them, Akihiko sprawls on the ground, his gloved hands scrabbling against the floor as he tries and fails to haul himself upright.
“Oh shit!” Junpei says, eyes wide.
“Senpai?” Minato says, walking towards him.
Yukari freezes on the spot, not sure what to do. “Akihiko-senpai?” she whispers, her voice wobbling.
“I’m… I’m okay…” Akihiko groans, finally getting himself to his knees…
“Oh my god…” Yukari gasps as Junpei swears and Minato stumbles on his feet.
Blood soaks through Akihiko’s shirt, the bloodstain spreading out around a small tear in the fabric. Yukari winces, remembering how the last group of Shadows used piercing attacks in battle. Did Akihiko get stabbed during that battle but not tell anyone?
“Shit, did you get stabbed?!” Junpei cries, obviously having the same thought.
“I’m fine…” Akihiko says, pressing a gloved hand against his wound. His free hand taps against his pant leg, an action she sees him doing a lot when he’s stressed.
“No, you’re not!” Junpei shouts, but his voice quivers with anxiety (an unusual sound considering how cocky he can be). “You’re bleeding!”
“You should’ve said something, senpai,” Yukari says. I know healing magic, she thinks, remembering having to heal Junpei only twenty minutes ago. I could’ve helped.
“What on earth is going on in there?” Mitsuru says from outside, her voice echoing.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Akihiko says at the same time Yukari cries, “Akihiko-senpai is bleeding!”
Mitsuru sighs. “Merde,” she says, which Yukari thinks is a swear word in French. “Akihiko, stop being stubborn and let someone heal you.”
“It’s n-not that bad, honest,” Akihiko says, trying to stand up. He makes it halfway before his knees buckle and he cries out in agony, staggering forwards. The only thing that saves him from crashing to the ground is Minato and Junpei’s quick thinking, both boys darting over to Akihiko and grabbing his arms, keeping him upright. As Akihiko hangs his head, face sweaty from the pain, Minato and Akihiko help ease him back to his knees.
“I think it is that bad, senpai,” Minato says in his usual quiet, flat voice, but obvious concern shows on his face.
Akihiko sighs, and then moans in pain, slumping sideways against Junpei, who flinches before wrapping an arm around Akihiko’s back, taking most of the older boy’s weight. He retches, the action making him wince, and Akihiko mumbles a weak, shaky, “Okay… I-It’s pretty bad…”
“Heal him, Takeba,” Mitsuru says, and Yukari nods.
Unable to watch Akihiko tremble and gasp for breath any longer, horrified by the sight of her senpai’s blood pouring down his front, Yukari drops to her knees in front of Akihiko. Breathing heavily, she grabs her evoker and brings it to her head, forcing her finger to pull the trigger. Her Persona appears, and when Yukari casts Dia, the healing magic swirls around Akihiko. Yukari has seen her Persona heal her teammates many times, but it never stops amazing her to watch the wound close and the expression of pain slide from the person’s face. Soon enough, Akihiko has been completely healed, the only clue that he was wounded being the bloodstain and tear in his shirt.
Touching his bloody shirt and obviously feeling no pain, Akihiko offers Yukari an awkward smile (avoiding eye contact, which doesn’t bother her in the slightest), and mumbles, “Uh… thanks, Takeba.”
“No problem, senpai,” she says, grinning back as she holsters her evoker. “Do you wanna wait for a bit before carrying on, or—”
“I’m fine,” Akihiko says, springing to his feet with all his usual energy back (it really is like he was never wounded—this healing magic is incredible). “Come on, you three.”
“For goodness’ sake,” Mitsuru says, sighing fondly, as Yukari, Minato, and Junpei scrabble to catch up with their senpai.