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It was silent as the TV screen was shut off and the lights returned to lighting up the opulent room they sat on. Minato just blinked, still trying to compute everything they had just watched.
He still remembered, lying in his hospital bed as Yukari told him why she had joined SEES. She had wanted so badly to find out the truth about her father’s death.
But this was… Yukari’s dad was responsible for this?
And… all he could do was look at Yukari’s face, how it had just crumpled and how it had gone completely stark white. Her fingers were shaking ever so slightly.
Minato’s heart clenched, watching her. What could he even say to all of this?
“Father, that was…?” Mitsuru-senpai began hesitantly.
Kirijo-san just nodded. “Yes. His name was Eiichiro Takeba. He was the head researcher at the time, and a very talented man at that. I remember how my father was quite pleased upon his hire.”
At that point, Minato began to tune him out. It… didn’t matter to him. All he could see was how crushed Yukari looked.
Yukari Takeba was somewhat of an… enigma to him. On one hand, he and Minako didn’t have… the greatest first meeting with her. Not to mention that she was… quite aloof with their peers, despite her popularity. Not that Minato could blame either party. Minato found the school’s interest in him as a transfer student grating and well… Yukari was quite pretty. No wonder she got people’s attention so easily.
But at the same time, she showed him several moments of kindness. She had even tried to summon her Persona to protect Minato and Minako the night the dorm was attacked. She had sat at their hospital beds, waiting for them to wake up. Not to mention all of the times she had their backs in combat.
Yukari’s hands suddenly clenched into fists.
“So… my dad was responsible for it all…?” Yukari said, her voice faint. Her voice shook as she continued. “The Dark Hour, Tartarus, the people who died in that horrible incident? Their blood is on his hands…?”
“Yukari-chan…” Minako mumbled out.
“Y-You okay?” Akihiko-senpai said carefully.
But it was like she heard neither Minako or Akihiko-senpai. She then turned to Mitsuru-senpai, her lips twitching into a mockery of a smile. A grimace twisted at Minato’s lips as he gripped his knees, watching her. It looked… wrong when Yukari was so obviously upset.
“So that’s why you were hiding this from me? Because you felt sorry for me?” Her voice cracked, hurt seeping through. “Is that it?!”
“No, Takeba, I—” Mitsuru-senpai trailed off. Emotions flashed in her eyes, emotions Minato couldn’t quite identify.
“Just forget it!” Yukari shouted, her eyes flashing. She was suddenly on her feet, her hands clenched into fists. “I don’t want your pity!”
It was in that moment that Yukari bolted. Minato’s eyes widened and before he realized it, he was on his feet. But then, he suddenly found himself balking. What would he do to help her? She deserved better comfort from someone so closed off…
“Minato-kun…? Are you going to go after her?” Fuuka’s soft voice cut through his thoughts.
“I…” Minato mumbled out, looking around at the other people in the room. “I dunno…”
Suddenly he felt something hit his arm.
“Ow! Mina!” he complained, flashing an annoyed look at his twin.
Minako just gave him a huff, sticking her tongue out at him. “Pffft, I didn’t even hit hard. Look, Minato, just go. I mean, come on, you’re on your feet and everything. And you’re obviously worried for her.”
…Really? He didn’t think that was the case…
“Arisato, please…” Mitsuru-senpai said. When he looked to her, she was biting her lip and her gaze downcast.
“Fine…” Minato said quietly.
He then turned and left the manor. It took him several moments of searching to find Yukari. She was staring out at the horizon. There was a slight breeze, ruffling her hair. Minato couldn’t help but stare, struck by how the soft moonlight illuminated her features.
She then shivered, wrapping both arms around herself. Then she sighed.
“…I know you’re there, Minato-kun.”
Minato winced before he walked up to her. “People were worried about you, Yukari-san.”
Yukari let out a heavy sigh. “I just… I needed to get away. I just—I believed in my dad for so long. And to learn the actual truth like this…?”
She finally turned to look at him. There was sorrow in her eyes, her eyes noticeably bright. It… made Minato’s heart clench, seeing it.
“Do you need to… talk about it?” Minato asked.
That would be what Minako would say, right? Minato couldn’t help but wish he had his sister’s easy charm. It always seemed so easy for her to reach out to people, almost as easy as breathing. She was exactly like Dad in that way—he always had a smile on his face and it always was so easy to talk to him.
Yukari was quiet, biting her lip.
“Remember what I told you at the hospital…?”
Minato nodded. “He died and you thought the Kirijo Group was connected to it somehow.”
Yukari just nodded. “You pretty much saw it on video… He died during that incident. Nobody knew the truth, so there were all sorts of rumors. Because he was in charge of the research team, he was an easy person to blame. People were awful to me and my mom… Dad was gone, so we were the remaining targets. We even had to move a few times…”
Minato just looked at her, a sad smile pulling at his lips. A part of him felt that Yukari didn’t want to hear ‘I’m sorry’. Minato personally disliked that himself. It was just… a reminder of what he had lost that night.
“That must’ve been really rough on you,” he said. “I know it was always difficult when a relative decided they didn’t want to take care of me and Mina anymore. And… your mom wasn’t that supportive?”
“…I pretty much had to fend for myself for the longest time,” Yukari said quietly, absently rubbing at her arm.
Minato winced. Even though he and Minako sometimes argued and bickered… he couldn’t imagine a life without her in it. And Yukari didn’t even have that.
“I see… that must have been tough,” Minato said finally.
It was a struggle to think of what to say. But still… Minato wanted to try. He couldn’t explain why exactly but…
“Thank you, Minato-kun.” Yukari smiled sadly, only to sigh. “But… all this time, I kept telling myself it wasn’t his fault. I loved him so much and I believed he’d never do such a thing.”
Yukari’s eyes seemed to glimmer and she reached up to brush away a tear.
“I received a letter in the spring. It was from him, written ten years ago,” she said. She then let out a small laugh. “It cracked me up ‘cause, even though it was addressed ‘to my family’, it was pretty much all about me. That only made me believe in him more.”
She then sighed again. Minato couldn’t help but wonder how long she had been holding this in.
“When I found out I had a special power, I thought it was fate. I was scared, but I thought if I cooperated with the Kirijo Group, I might find out what really happened.” She then looked to Minato. “That’s why I agreed to fight with my Persona. But… it was really all for nothing…”
“You don’t know that.”
“Huh…?” Yukari turned to him, bewildered. Then she shook her head. “You’re just trying to make me feel better.”
She reached up to brush away a tear before she gazed up at the stars.
“It’s nothing really… You don’t have to try and cheer me up. It’s just… life. Reality is just harsh like that. I tried so hard to fight my fear but…”
Yukari gave a small sniff, a single tear rolling down her cheek.
Yukari grew quiet. “Even if… I might be jealous of Mitsuru-senpai? I can’t help but think—why my father and not hers? I’m a horrible person for even thinking that but I just…”
Minato stepped forward, putting a hand on her shoulder. “You’re not a bad person, Yukari-san. Far from it.”
Yukari just shrugged him off. “Hmph. You’re Mr. Perfect, aren’t you? Nothing ever fazes you, not when you saw a Shadow for the first time or even at the monorail… So why do you assume that you know how I feel?!”
Her cheeks grew flushed as she got more and more worked up.
“That’s because I do,” Minato said. “I’ve wondered time and time again what Mina and I have done to deserve this, to lose our parents. For our relatives to not care for us. And… I’ve felt bitter about it over the years.”
Yukari slowly exhaled, looking down at her feet.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t know.”
Minato shrugged. “It’s not like Mina or me broadcasted it.”
Because… it was still painful to talk about.
Yukari sighed heavily. “Still… you’re just trying to be nice to me and I… I’ve been such a mess. I’m afraid. All of my motivation to do what we did was just taken away. I don’t even know what to do anymore.”
Yukari was… trembling. She sounded so vulnerable. Minato sucked in a breath as he wracked his brain, trying to think of what to say.
“It’s okay to not know,” Minato said at last. “But… don’t lose hope.”
“Hope…” Yukari echoed, turning back to him. “Even after everything…?”
Minato nodded.
“There’s this saying,” Minato said. “There are three sides to a story. The two parties’ sides. And… the truth.”
Mom often said that… though granted, it was often after she had to break up a fight. Minato sighed softly to himself, closing his eyes for a moment. God, he missed her…
“I see…” Yukari murmured. He opened his eyes again to look at her. “And again, I’m sorry, Minato-kun. I know you lost your parents too, when you were young. It hasn’t been easy for you either, since you’ve lost your parents.”
“You don’t have to stop feeling bad about this. It is a pretty big bombshell,” Minato stated.
Yukari sniffed. “I just… hate feeling sorry for myself. I think I’ll be okay, I’m used to dealing with stressful situations anyhow. Thank you, though.”
Then she took a step closer, eyebrow arched at him. But… she gave him a tiny smile, a smile that made Minato’s stomach flip.
“But let me guess… Minako-chan made you come.”
“W-Well…” Minato rubbed the back of his neck. “I was wondering about going after you but Mina just gave me a shove forward to do it. I, um, I was worried…”
“Oh…” Yukari’s cheeks went pink. “Thank you.”
“Um… I’m still learning this too but… I want you to know that you can depend on me too,” Minato said hesitantly. “There’s Mina too, of course but…”
Yukari smiled at him. “I already knew that, Minato-kun… but thank you.”
She really had a pretty smile. Minato could feel a sense of warmth rushing through him as she continued to smile at him. He wished he could see it more.
Minato’s cheeks went warm at the mere thought.
But as she stood there, gazing out at the ocean once more… a sadder smile pulled at her lips. Before he realized what he was doing, he moved to stand by her.
“Minato-kun…?”
Minato wrapped his arms around her.
“Yukari-san… you’re not alone… okay?” he murmured.
For a moment Yukari went stiff. Minato was about to pull back and apologize to her when she suddenly hugged him back, choking back a sob. She pressed her forehead into the crook of his shoulder, her damp eyelashes fluttering against his collarbone. Minato suddenly felt… breathless.
“Minato-kun… thank you.”
They might’ve stayed in that position longer, if Junpei hadn’t suddenly called out to them. Yukari flinched and immediately pulled back. Minato couldn’t help but feel… disappointed.
“Sheesh, what took you guys so long?” he huffed out. “Mitsuru-senpai sent me out to find you guys, what with the Dark Hour coming soon.”
“Oh right… I forgot it’s everywhere, not just Port Island,” Yukari mumbled out.
“Yeah, so let’s head back!” Junpei then paused. “But uh, hey, Yuka-tan, is everything okay? You had everyone worried.”
“I, um, I’m fine!” Yukari squeaked out. “Minato-kun helped a lot.”
“I did?” Minato couldn’t help but feel relieved.
Their eyes met and Yukari smiled. “You did.”
Without another word, she walked away. Minato couldn’t help but stare after her, watching her go.
“Did I miss something?” Junpei asked. Then his eyes lit up and he suddenly smirked. “Ooooh, a moonlit rendezvous… You must’ve—”
“I’m not telling you anything, Junpei,” Minato said evenly before he started to walk back to the Kirijo mansion.
“Aww, come on,” Junpei cajoled. “I won’t tell Mina-tan!”
Minato huffed. “That’s a lie, Junpei, and we both know it.”
Minako could not know about this.
“Nuh-uh!” Junpei whined out. “Come on, Minato, pleaseeeee?”
“No.”
“Ugh, you’re no fun!” Then he gasped. “Waitwaitwait—is this why you refused to tell me which girl was your type earlier?!”
Minato huffed, the puff of air ruffling his bangs. “Mitsuru-senpai should’ve sent Akihiko-senpai…”
But as they returned to the mansion, he found Minako and Fuuka fussing over Yukari.
“I’m sorry to make you guys worry…” Yukari apologized.
“It’s fine, I hope that Minato was able to help you at least,” Minako reassured.
Yukari’s cheeks suddenly went pink and her eyes softened. “Um… I guess you could say something like that. But… I think I’m going to head to bed now. It’s been… a long day.”
Without another word, she headed up the stairs. Minato watched her go.
He could only hope that Yukari wasn’t lying. That she really did feel better… Even though, Minato still wasn’t sure what he said exactly helped her.
Honestly, Minato had been skeptical of him being able to make connections and bonds when Igor had first informed him about having to forge Social Links… And even though he had managed to create some Social Links already… he still couldn’t help but question why people would want to form a bond with him. It was still… a struggle to express himself sometimes.
But maybe he wasn’t so bad at this after all.