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February 19th, 2009 (Evening)
In the dim light of Iwatodai Dormitory, Mitsuru Kirijo poured herself another cup of tea. The girl looked out at the stretching shadows along the street as the sun set, waiting for her other dormmate to return. The first year—Yukari Takeba—was already snugly huddled up in her room, likely studying or talking to friends. Mitsuru didn’t blame her; after all, Iwatodai was experiencing a fairly harsh cold snap. It discouraged even Mitsuru from wanting to brave the weather to get to Tartarus. Even now, she could see frost accumulating on streetlights and signposts.
Mitsuru’s attention was ripped away from the scene outside when the front door opened. Her combat partner for the last three years—Akihiko Sanada—walked in. Well, he more ran in, holding his hands on his knees and heaving his chest.
“I… got your message,” the young man panted, clearing his throat. “We’re really not going to Tartarus tonight?”
“That’s right,” Mitsuru nodded, sitting down and crossing her legs. As they talked, she kept her eye on the dorm’s stairwell. “We were just there last night, and the forecast calls for snowfall tonight. I won’t want to drive my bike through that…”
“It’s just a little snow,” he shrugged, popping his knuckles. “If we don’t go often, we’ll lose our edge, you know.”
“Akihiko, I keep telling you that mindset is going to get you hurt one day,” the redhead said with a deadly glare. “This isn’t like training for one of your bouts.”
“No, you’re right.” Akihiko unzipped his backpack and tossed down his worn-out gloves along with a thread and needle. Recently, he had learned how to repair his own equipment, and he was going to make use of it. He sat down and began to go to work. “We’re training to protect all of humanity. Which is the bout of all bouts.”
“I don’t believe you’re getting my point.”
“We’ve got to be just as dedicated to it as I am to boxing or you are to fencing.”
“S.E.E.S. as a club activity is just a cover story. What we do here has no scoring and doesn’t come with an award. It’s-”
“Not a game,” Akihiko finished, giving her a tired side-eye. “I get it, Mitsuru. Every time you tell me, I’ve gotten it.”
“And yet you never change your attitude,” the girl said, clenching her cup and wrinkling her nose in angered annoyance. “Even after all these years, you seem incapable of grasping the full magnitude of what it is we’re doing.”
“And who’s telling me that? Mitsuru, or Miss Kirijo?”
“I…” Mitsuru’s expression softened as she let out a regretful sigh. “I’m sorry…”
“Besides, if we should be taking it seriously, isn’t that even more of a reason to go?” he asked, taking out a box of leftover noodles and digging in. “You’re always mentioning how the fate and survival of humanity rests in our hands.”
“Don’t use those words against me,” Mitsuru snapped. “You and I are the only Persona users right now. We can’t afford any risky moves. If even one of us were to fall…”
“What about the newbie?” Akihiko asked, slurping a mouthful of noodles and pointing his fork at his friend. “Uh… The one with all the pink stuff. You found her walking around the Dark Hour and tailed her home.”
“Takeba? Well… We only know she might have the potential. That’s why we’re watching her…”
“We all found our Personas under stress,” he shrugged. “Give her the rough treatment and throw her to the wolves. It might do her some good in the long run.”
“Believe me, don’t think I haven’t considered it… But it would be unwise to throw her in a high-stakes situation before we know her capabilities,” Mitsuru reasoned. “You know just as well as I that the matter of Personas and Shadows isn’t so simple.”
“Yeah… I guess so. You’re going pretty easy on her, though, aren’t you?”
“It’s not like I’m…” She paused and thought for a second. “I thought perhaps she deserves time to be eased into it… Maybe that would make the process much easier.”
“Ha! If only there was anything easy about summoning and fighting with a Persona.”
“Personas…” Mitsuru looked at the brown-tinted ripple of herself in the reflection of her tea. “They are said to be the strength of the heart… No, it won’t do to be too hasty. Fear and anxiety could bring about unexpected consequences…”
“…”
“…”
“You know, if he were here, we’d still be making progress in strides.”
“Akihiko…”
“What? We’re both thinking about it! We both think about it every night we’re forced to come back after making no more progress than the previous one!”
“It’s…” Mitsuru sighed. “I suppose you’re right… If Aragaki was here, we wouldn’t need to go through so much effort to grow our numbers again…”
“Guess it can’t be helped though…” Akihiko looked down at his soba and tossed the container down on the table. He had lost his appetite. “It’s not like we both didn’t try to convince him to come back, but after what happened…”
“Please, don’t,” she winced. “That’s… That night is a painful memory for more than just him…”
“Oh, right… At least you decided to keep fighting, though. Shinji and his stubborn head…”
“You’re one to call people stubborn,” Mitsuru chuckled.
“Huh?! What do you mean?”
“Oh, nothing,” she sighed with a smirk. In the back of the dorm, pinned to the bulletin board, an old group photo caught her eye. “Do you remember our first summer together? How hard he tried to give us a plain old vacation?”
“Heh, do I?” Akihiko grinned, glancing over his shoulder to look at the same picture. “I don’t think I could ever forget…”
July 27th, 2007 (Dark Hour)
“Give ‘em hell, Polydeuces!”
In the darkened corridors of Tartarus, two high school freshmen did battle against a small group of Shadows. One, Akihiko Sanada, was captain of the boxing team. The other, Shinjiro Aragaki, was the roughest, toughest friend they could’ve asked for. As Akihiko shot the gun-like Evoker into his temple, a massive spirit manifested behind him and gave the Maya Shadow a punch that completely obliterated it into a tar-like goop.
“Très bien, Akihiko!” a younger Mitsuru exclaimed, her voice permeating out of a small radio attached to his hip. “There’s only one left!”
“You got it, Shinji?” Akihiko smirked, looking over to his friend. Shinjiro popped his neck and raised his axe.
“Got it!” he roared, slamming his weapon down with such force that he cleaved the mask of the last Maya cleanly in two. The defeat of the last enemy gave them a moment to breathe.
“Magnifique, you two! No Shadows remaining in that area.”
“Mitsuru, how many more on this floor?” Akihiko asked, trying to catch his breath.
“There’s still… two mo- No, three more Shadows on your floor.”
“Sounds like a rough time ahead of us… Are you doin’ alright down there, Mitsuru?”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
“Tch, typical Kirijo,” Shinjiro sighed, rolling his eyes and slinging the axe over his shoulder. “It’s obvious she’s pushing herself.”
“Wh- I am not-”
“C’mon Aki, we’re done here today.”
“Hey, Shinji, wait!”
“Aborting today’s expedition isn’t necessary,” Mitsuru insisted. “I can go on for much longer, I assure you. There’s still-”
Mitsuru didn’t get to finish her transmission before Shinjiro appeared next to the teleporter in Tartarus’s lobby. She got up from kneeling over her radio equipment, and her Persona faded away too.
“O-Oh… You’re back…”
“Yeah,” he grunted with a deep, defiant voice. “I am.”
“Wait! Shinji, you can’t just decide to leave like that!” Akihiko appeared next to the teleporter too, stopping to catch his breath. He looked at the disappointed Mitsuru with a helpless expression. “I really did try to stop him, you know…”
“I said we’re done here today,” he decided, turning away. “End of story.”
“Hey! Not yet! I can still fight!” Akihiko declared.
“And I can still give support!” Mitsuru added. “There really is no need to worry about me! I wasn’t planning on asking for help or-”
“God, just listen to yourselves!” Shinjiro roared, letting his axe fall to the ground. It embedded itself into the floor where it landed. “You sound like whining children and act like it too! Aki, out there you use your Persona like a brat showing off his flashy toys!”
“Wh-”
“And the princess over here starts panicking the moment we turn a corner and see an enemy!”
“I do n-”
“I don’t know what the hell you two go to Tartarus every night for, but you’ve been like this almost every time, and I’m sick of it,” he spat. “If you’re just down here fighting for someone’s approval or memory, that’s bound to make you unravel sooner or later.”
“…”
“…”
Both Mitsuru and Akihiko bowed their heads down. Shinjiro had nailed them both with pretty scary accuracy. He knew that what he was saying was harsh, but then again, he was never one to sugar-coat his words.
“That’s what I thought.” Shinjiro pulled his axe out of the floor like it was nothing. “If nobody else has anything to say, then I’ll be the first to head home.”
None of them stopped Shinjiro as he made his way down the front steps of Tartarus. The whole way, the lingering thoughts of Mitsuru and Akihiko danced around in the back of his head.
“Those two… My heart’s not weighed down by anything, but what they’re carrying makes it damn impossible for them to unwind and act like normal kids should… Dammit! We should be spending time together as friends and not just teammates! But I guess the three of us don’t really look like we belong together, do we? Even so… It wouldn't hurt to think of something…”
* * * * *
July 28th, 2007 (Evening)
“You think a bit of the beach would be a good idea?” Mitsuru asked, confused.
“Yeah,” Shinjiro nodded.
“Oh, I know that,” Akihiko nodded. “I’m pretty sure that means salty flavors or something.”
“Not the taste, moron. The place.”
“We see it every day while commuting, though, right?”
“I’m not just talking about the port…” he said, clenching his jaw.
“Strange…” Mitsuru said, putting a finger on her chin. “I’ve gotten no news of Shadows appearing by the seaside…”
“Neither of you get what I’m talking about!” Shinjiro shouted, exploding in frustration. “Why?! Why can you two never have a normal reaction for your age?! For God’s sake, we’re high schoolers; at least try to act like it!”
“I still do not understand the mission you’re proposing.”
“Oh, is it for training? You know I’ll beat you any-”
“Fun!” he interrupted, verging on exasperation. “It’s for fun! We should take a beach trip together to have some fun!”
“Fun?” Akihiko narrowed his eyes. “Coming from you? That’s not something I’d expect.”
“Sorry to disappoint,” Shinjiro side-eyed, bringing his attitude back down. “But yeah, summer vacation starts in a couple days, so I figured we could take a few days off and go to the beach. Have some harmless fun and all that.”
“You surprise me, Aragaki,” said Mitsuru. “I wouldn’t expect this kind of leisure to be your cup of tea.”
“Just ‘cuz I’m not good at being noisy and wet doesn’t mean I can’t do it. Now are you in for it or not? It’s our first summer vacation of high school, and it wouldn’t feel like it if we didn’t go somewhere.”
“Going to the beach together…” Akihiko mumbled. “Is this something high schoolers normally do?”
“If you ask me what ‘normal’ is, I’m afraid I’m an entire island away from such a concept…” lamented Mitsuru.
“Well, you’re self-aware if nothing else,” Shinji retorted.
“I always thought the ideal summer break should be spent studying things outside of our school’s curriculum. Independent studies into topics to better us as budding and future members of one of the most important and historically-rich cultures on the planet.”
“…What?” Shinjiro narrowed his eyes. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You know, as part of my cultural education, I’ve studied flower arrangement, tea ceremony, ballroom dancing, was taught by musical masters in the art of the koto, and I even practiced the basics of imperial court etiquette.”
“Wow…” Shinjiro whistled. “What a fucking drag. What the hell do you need to know imperial court etiquette for?”
“Come on, Shinji, don’t be like that,” his friend reasoned. “We should all strive to be an emperor or empress in our own right.”
“Hehe, you flatter me too much, Akihiko,” the girl said, going a bit red.
“We get it Aki, you wanna be an empress.”
“Huh?! No! That’s not what-”
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of Akihiko,” Mitsuru nodded. “In many cultures, men tapping into their divine femininity is an honor and sign of strength and wisdom.”
“Hear that?” Shinjiro grinned, tapping his shoulder with a fist. “She called you divinely feminine.”
“No, I’m an emperor! And I’ll make sure I’m as deadly as one myself… I’ll learn all the killing moves worthy of a royal!”
“You’re thinking of a shogun, moron,” Shinjiro sighed. “And we’re getting off topic!”
“Yes… I think Aragaki has a point though,” Mitsuru nodded. “The Chairman also said it’s important to take breaks, so perhaps this is just the right opportunity.”
“Thank you,” he nodded. “So you’re both in on it?”
“Well… I guess it won’t hurt to listen to Shinji for once,” Akihiko reluctantly nodded.
“Moron…”
“It’s decided then! Leave all the planning to me!” insisted Mitsuru, whipping out her phone. “I’ll contact home to make all of the arrangements. My friends should not have to worry about spending a single yen on vacation!”
“Woah, is that seriously ok?” Shinjiro asked, raising his eyebrows. “I appreciate it, but I’m the one who brought the idea up, so I thought I’d…”
“Nonsense! Don’t worry about it! The least I can do to repay the two of you for putting your lives on the line every night is to give us all the most memorable vacation of our lives!”
“You forget that she’s loaded to the moon and back,” Akihiko whispered. “This is one argument you’re not going to win.”
“Have it your way, princess,” Shinji shrugged. “If you wanna take care of it, be my guest.”
“Thank you, Aragaki,” she smiled. With a giddy enthusiasm, Mitsuru punched in a number and held the phone up to her ear. “Hello? Kikuno? It’s me. Apologies for the short notice, but prepare something for a vacation on Monday… No, this will be for three people. Well, we’ve only decided to go to the beach… I trust that you decide on the best location, but I have some…”
“Jeez, it’s been a while since I’ve taken a vacation anywhere,” Akihiko reflected. “I should start packing now, but I don’t think our school swimwear is gonna cut it.”
“Wow, look at that, little Aki using his brain,” Shinjiro teased. “Looks like you can use some common sense.”
“I just want something that suits me,” he reasoned, a smirk creeping across his face. “If I’m going to the beach, I should look how I want to.”
“Admit it, you’re starting to get into this.”
“Not as much as she is,” Akihiko observed, pointing a thumb to Mitsuru. “When was the last time you saw her this excited about anything?”
“Hm, good point.”
“No, no, I completely agree!” Mitsuru enthusiastically nodded over the phone, pacing back and forth in the dorm’s lobby. “What color? I think a discreet blue would be best, but riding in any color submarine would be memorable enough for-”
“Woah, woah, woah,” Shinjiro interrupted. “What the hell are you talking so nonchalantly about over there?!”
“One second, Kikuno,” Mitsuru apologized, muting her phone. “What’s the problem, Aragaki?”
“The problem is that you were going to cram us in a submarine!”
“I told you I’d make this the most memorable vacation, did I not? I didn’t think either of you had been in a submarine before. Though, I suppose I should have asked just to make sure…”
“How about we do something that, I don’t know, normal high schoolers do! Somewhere on the sandy shores, not 20,000 leagues under the sea!”
“Oh… I see…” Mitsuru looked down and sighed in disappointment, raising the phone back to her ear. “Kikuno? I’m sorry, your idea was marvelous, but I’m going to need some more options…”
“God, this girl…” Shinji sighed. “I’m almost afraid of what else that damn company can come up with…”
“Ha, at least she’s excited,” Akihiko smirked.
“Hm?”
“For the beach, I mean. Mitsuru really does seem like she wants to make it the best vacation she can muster.”
“Yeah… I just hope I won’t need a vacation from our vacation…”
* * * * *
July 30th, 2007 (Daytime)
The three members of S.E.E.S. walked along the beach of Yakushima, taking in the beautiful afternoon sights. Or at least, they were trying to. They didn’t look particularly dressed for the beach. Mitsuru was still dressed in the Gekkoukan High standard, Akihiko was in a skin-tight one-piece bathing suit, and Shinjiro was the only one there who looked ready for the place he was at, with his shirtless chest, swimming trunks, and goggles.
“Ah, it really is the perfect weather for the beach, isn’t it?” Akihiko reflected with a deep breath. “You can already taste the salt from the ocean.”
“Indeed, you’re right,” Mitsuru agreed with a pleased smirk. “And it’s been such a long time since I’ve taken a full day off for leisure!”
“…Alright, what the hell?” Shinjiro groaned.
“Hm?” Akihiko and Mitsuru tilted their heads to the side and looked at their friend. “What’s wrong, Shinji?”
“Yes, is something displeasing you, Aragaki? Were you not the one who suggested this?”
“The location isn’t the problem!” he fussed, pointing at Akihiko. “What’s with that outfit?!”
“Hm? It’s a swimsuit.”
“You look like what they wear at dolphin shows! You’re grabbing the attention of everyone who walks by in all the wrong ways!”
“Ah, I thought he looked like a gymnast,” Mitsuru nodded. “Very astute, Aragaki.”
“And you, princess! You didn’t have to come looking ready to study!”
“W-Well, I looked in the student handbook, and there’s an irregular rule where residents of the student dormitory are required to wear school uniforms as much as possible, even during outings on holidays,” she insisted, folding her arms.
“Great,” he sighed. “I don’t suppose you’d come to school in a swimsuit, would you?”
“Absolutely never.”
“You both seriously need to pick up a dictionary and learn the definition of the word ‘vacation,” Shinjiro groaned, rubbing his temples. “At least you didn’t come dressed like Aki.”
“…”
“Don’t tell me-”
“I-I was… I picked it out, but was dissuaded by my maids from doing so.”
“Oh, for the love of-”
“I prefer my school uniform anyway,” Mitsuru insisted.
“Yeah, but how’re you going to get in the water with that?! If the waves don’t eat you up, that blouse will practically be see-through!”
“Hm? It’s not like I’m going swimming or anything.”
“Wh- Huh?! We’re at the beach! What’re you going to do?!”
“Oh, we’re not staying here,” she chuckled, taking her phone out and happily dialing a number. “Hello? Yes, it’s me. Bring it around.”
“Princess… You’re giving me a bad feeling…” Shinjiro groaned.
“Oh please, Aragaki, don’t overthink it. It’s nothing to get in a fuss over.”
“C’mon Shinji, just be open-minded!” Akihiko encouraged. As he looked over the horizon, the boy narrowed his eyes. “Hey, do you see that boat too?”
“Hm? Boat?” Shinjiro squinted to see it too. “Oh, wait, I do. It looks like- No… I-It can’t…”
Around the side of Yakushima came a full-sized cruise liner with three stories, a swimming pool and slides, and likely much more. A whole crowd accumulated on the other side of the beach, intensely speculating what it was there for.
“Woah! Amazing job, Mitsuru!” Akihiko cheered, giving her light punches in the arm. “You seriously pulled that off?!”
“Oh, it was nothing,” she effortlessly shrugged. Knowing her status and resources, it probably was. “A small feat for my friends.”
“What’s wrong, Shinji? It’s pretty hot out, but you’re shaking.”
“Oh! Aragaki, you’re even a bit red… Is this what a heat stroke looks like? I’ve never seen one in person.”
“Let me go get a-”
“It’s… Not that,” Shinjiro said, letting out a massive groan of frustration and grabbing Akihiko’s arm before he could run to get a cool towel. “It’s the fuckin’ cruise ship!”
“Is it not to your liking?” Mitsuru asked, disappointed.
“What kinda normal high schoolers go on a private cruise?!”
“W-Well, you… Y-You said a submarine was a no-go, so I…” The rich girl bowed her head in embarrassment. “If underwater was no good, then I thought maybe… a week on the water…”
“…” Shinjiro sighed and grabbed one of Mitsuru’s hands, bringing her eyes up to meet his. “Look, I appreciate the gesture, and it came from the right part of your heart, but it’s too over the top, okay?”
“O-Okay…” Mitsuru once again dialed a number on her phone. “Kikuno? Yes, I’m sorry again, but you can return the ship to Florida.”
“…”
“I see… Then perhaps Mother would enjoy a private week away from home.”
“…”
“Excellent! Thank you!” She closed her phone and sighed. “Apologies… I’ve never had friends such as you both to impress before… I simply wanted to take care of everyone’s vacation.”
“Don’t sweat it, prep-school princess,” Shinji smiled with a thumbs up. “A nice, normal week at the beach is more than enough. Though, you could’ve dressed for it. Didn’t need a bathing suit, but you could at least look like you’re on vacation.”
“You keep mentioning a ‘normal’ vacation,” Akihiko said, scratching his chin. “What’s this ‘normal’ vacation that you were apparently planning for us to have?”
“Huh?”
“It’s just that you keep mentioning things that ‘normal high schoolers’ do. How about you just tell us what you were thinking of, and we’ll go along with that.”
“Oh, yes, that would be the simplest solution,” Mitsuru nodded. “I wanted to repay you with this vacation, but I should have listened to you from the beginning.”
“I’d be upset if you were the only one not having fun, Shinji.”
“Yes, Aragaki, tell us what you were thinking. Whatever this ‘normal’ you’re thinking of is, I can make it a reality.”
“Tch, looks like I’m the one getting scolded now,” he chuckled.
“C’mon, out with it! Or is it too hard to explain?”
“I mean… I think it’s too hard for you two to understand. Doesn’t seem to be in either of your natures to be normal, and with all the fighting we do, I think it just removes you farther from-”
“Shinji!” Akihiko interrupted, snapping his fingers. “I’ve got it!”
“Would you just listen to me, you moron?! I’m trying to explain-”
“Look, over there!”
“What?!”
Akihiko pointed to the other side of the beach, where a couple of guys were chatting with two women, telling jokes and making each other laugh. Eventually, they even left the sands to go to who knows where. Shinjiro was more confused than anything.
“Ain’t that just… hittin’ on girls?”
“Exactly! The answer was right in front of us!”
“Huh?”
“I don’t understand either, Akihiko,” Mitsuru added.
“Oh, Mitsuru, I guess you wouldn’t know since you’re not that social, but hitting on girls is one of the main activities of the beach!”
“I see… So that was what Aragaki was wishing to do…”
“I- NO! Aki, you’re not social either! Mindlessly flirting is not a main beach activity! And it’s not what I was talking about when-”
“Do not fret, Aragaki,” Mitsuru interrupted, putting a hand up. “I see why you were so hung up this whole time. Finally, the truth is out in the open, and the problem is solved!”
“Solved my ass! The overall problem gets worse every time one of you opens your mouth!”
“Don’t worry, Aragaki, I think I can wrap my head around the concept of hitting on someone. You want to get acquainted with them in a short amount of time, learning and inferring enough to convince them to invest more time into you. And from there, if all goes well, you can work out more time to spend together if both parties wish to do so.”
“You’ve never hit on anyone, have you, princess?”
“How can you tell?”
“Because what you just described to me was a business negotiation.”
“Don’t worry, Shinji,” Ahihiko said, clenching his fist and putting a hand on Shinjiro’s shoulder. “It’s an uphill battle for us all, but you won’t be alone in this. I’ll be taking on this fight right there with you!”
“And I shall provide support from the back,” Mitsuru added.
“Great… It’s like we never left Tartarus…”
“I’ll go first,” Akihiko decided. “Wish me luck.”
“Oi! Aki, wait!”
Akihiko approached two girls who were too busy taking photos of each other by the shore to notice him approaching. He grabbed their attention with a wave and a small introduction.
“Hey there, you two!”
“Hm?” The one posing looked away from the camera.
“Oh my God…”
“Nice day for the beach, isn’t it?” he grinned. “I was wondering if-”
“Oh my god, your swimsuit!” one madly laughed.
“What’s up with this guy? Let’s just go!”
“Wait, wait! Just hold on a sec!”
Before he knew it, Akihiko was being photographed by the girls, who apparently found his swimsuit hilarious.
“Hahaha! Look at these!”
“Oh God, it’s just too funny!”
“I know, right?! I can’t believe this!”
As the girls laughed and dashed down the beach, Akihiko sulked his way back to his friends. As Shinjiro patted him on the back, Mitsuru scratched her chin in confusion.
“Perhaps I am missing an important aspect of this pastime. When did the ‘hitting on girls’ happen?”
“Somehow your words used in ignorance cut deeper than the ones used with intention,” Shinjiro shuddered. “Sorry, Aki, I don’t think girls are your forte.”
“Maybe I should just stick to boxing then…”
“Probably right about that.”
“Aragaki, I wish to see a seasoned veteran partake in this activity,” Mitsuru requested. “If you could show us how it’s done, I’m sure I could flawlessly replicate the results.”
“Huh? What’re you doin’ calling me a ‘seasoned veteran’ of flirting?!”
“Yeah, I had a go at it, so now it’s your turn,” Akihiko added. “Go on, you were the one who wanted to do this in the first place!”
“My ass I was!”
“Just go!” Akihiko said, pushing him over to a couple of ladies who hadn’t noticed him yet.
“If he wants to be like that, I’ll play into his little game,” Shinjiro thought, running his hands through his hair and listening to their conversation.
“It’s like, sooo hot! I put on sunscreen, and I’m still burning to a crisp here!”
“Should we get some umbrellas?”
“I mean, we’d have to go back to…” The woman turned over to Shinji, who was making it a bit too obvious now that he was watching them. “Um… Do you need something…?”
“Huh?”
“Jeez, he’s scary,” the other shuddered.
“Wh-”
“Yeah, he, like, totally is!”
“No, I-”
“He’s definitely a bad dude!”
“Shinji, you’re scaring them,” Akihiko criticized.
“Shut it, Aki,” he hissed, turning back to the ladies. “Ah, no, sorry for glaring. I didn’t mean to put you off like that.”
“Ah… It’s ok…”
“Yeah… No problem…”
“Cooool…” Shinjiro awkwardly swung his arms back and forth as the uncomfortable silence between them all grew to be deafeningly obvious.
“You got this, Shinji!” Akihiko encouraged. “That’s it, go get ‘em!”
“Shut up, you blockhead!” he roared, backhanding Akihiko and sending him face-first into the sand. He turned back to the ladies. “So, um, are you two free?”
“Eh?”
“Ohmigosh, are you, like, hitting on us?” one giggled.
“Well… That’s the idea, more or less…”
“What about that girl over there?” the other asked, pointing to Mitsuru.
“My name is Mitsuru Kirijo,” she introduced. “I am a first-year at Gekkoukan High School and serve as heir to the Kirijo Group.”
“That’s not what she was asking about, brainiac.”
“Hm, so you’re all first years in high school?”
“Yeah,” he nodded.
“Ah, well, I’m afraid that means that you’re out of my age range, kiddo,” one of the women shrugged, waving as she started walking with her friend. “I’d love to take you away and all, but you know how it is lately. Maybe come find me again when you’re a bit older!”
“Kiddo…” Shinjiro scoffed. “What a friggin’ joke. Looks like it was just my age that got me put out to dry, though.”
“Looks like we’ve both got a loss,” Akihiko said, getting up.
“You’re the only one taking this as a competition.”
“Ah, if this is a contest, then I don’t intend to lose,” Mitsuru decided. “I suppose that would make it my turn then.”
“What the- Don’t tell me you’re doin’ this too, princess?” Shinji asked in disbelief. “I’ve seen you try and order catalog items on the phone. There’s no way you can flirt on the beach!”
“Watch and learn, Aragaki,” she smirked. “Hidden talents often emerge in the most unlikely of situations.”
While Mitsuru walked away, Shinjiro folded his arms as Akihiko leaned against his shoulder.
“Shinji… We both know she’s not going to succeed, right?”
“Oh, no, she’s going to crash and burn,” he agreed. “I just want to see it with my own eyes.”
“I mean, she could surprise us… After all, I’ve heard the rumors of girls shoving so many love letters into her shoe locker that they start to fall out.”
“Seriously?” Shinji smirked, rolling his eyes. “I think our princess is a bit too straight-laced for that.”
“…”
“Right?” he asked, looking at Akihiko in a moment of doubt. He was just met with an uncertain shrug. “Anyway, she’s not winning this contest.”
“I’m just surprised she’s heading towards the guys.”
“Hm?”
“Nothing.”
“I’m surprised at the type of guys she’s heading towards…”
“Excusez-moi, may I have un moment of your time?” Mitsuru asked. She had approached a small group of guys on the beach that were clearly just delinquents hanging around. “I wish to engage in the pastime of ‘hitting on people,’ if I may be so forward.”
“…Huh?” one guy asked, scratching his head. “The hell is this chick talkin’ about?”
“I dunno, man. She just started talkin’ but I don’t hear no words that make sense.”
“What’s this girl’s deal?!”
“She’s still in her uniform,” one scoffed, waving his hand. “Go back to class, girlie.”
“I will have you know that my name is Mitsuru Kirijo,” she declared, speaking with pride and puffing her chest out with authority. “I am a first-year at Gekkoukan High School, and I have come to the beach for summer vacation in order to find relaxation and pleasure among friends!”
“God. Please. End. It,” Shinjiro begged, hitting his temples with every word. “This is too painful to watch.”
“A high schooler hittin’ on us?” one asked, giving a whistle and eyeballing her skirt.
“You know, now that I’m gettin’ a good look at her…”
“Hey, keep those eyes above the waistline, jackass!” Shinjiro shouted.
“Eh? Who the hell said that?!” one growled, looking around the beach. “Was it you?! Asshole in the trunks next to the guy in the disgusting bathing suit!”
“Huh?” Akihiko looked around. “Is he talking about me?”
“Yes, dumbass!” the delinquent and Shinji shouted in unison.
“The hell is with you people?” one sneered. “You’re the ones who approached us!”
“Where do I even start…”
“Aragaki, this is an unfair breach of our competition,” Mitsuru frowned. “Nobody interfered with your nor Akihiko’s attempts. There is no need to sabotage my turn when it’s going so well.”
“You think it’s going well?!” said all the delinquents and Shinjiro at the same time.
“Hey assholes, nobody asked you!” Akihiko howled, raising his fist. “We’re all engaged in a showdown right now, and Mitsuru is trying her best, so shut your mouth and let her hit on you!”
“The fuck did you say to me?!”
“C’mon, Shinji, you say something to them too!”
“Why bother?” he sarcastically remarked with a side-eye. “Your diplomacy is going so well.”
“Please, both of you, stop it!” Mitsuru demanded, looking back at her friends. “It’s rude to insult the uneducated like that!”
“Are you all lookin’ down on us?!”
“We’ll rough ya up like a buncha pack dogs!”
“Ya won’t know what hit ya!”
“Think ya tough?! I’ll chew ya up and be spittin’ out what’s left for weeks!”
“Uh, princess…” Shinjiro said, taking a step back. “I think it’s time to apologize…”
“I believe you’re right,” she nodded, turning back to the thugs. “I’m sorry, are you still speaking Japanese? I can’t understand what you’re saying.”
“Huh?!”
“What didja say about us?!”
“That’s not how you apologize, genius!”
“You bitch…” one hissed, gritting his teeth.
“I don’t think this one will be a victory for Mitsuru either,” Akihiko said, shaking his head.
“Way to state the obvious, blockhead.”
“By the way, I’ve been wondering…” Mitsuru pointed to one of their tattoos. “Those markings on your bodies, are they a skin infection? If you need treatment, I know a superb physician.”
“Grrrr, that’s it!” one of the delinquents roared, whipping out a butterfly knife. “I’ll friggin’ carve you all myself!”
“I think now is when we scram,” Shinjiro decided.
“Leave now? But it’s just getting interesting,” Akihiko smirked, taking a fighting stance and raising his fists. “C’mon guys, we can take ‘em in 10 seconds flat!”
“Seriously?! You started this whole flirting contest, and now you wanna end it with a boxing match?!”
“Huh? Didja seriously forget that you were the one who wanted to come to the beach and check out the girls, Shinji?”
“What?! Why I-”
“I agree with Aragaki! Let us make a tactical retreat!” Mitsuru decided, running to the shoreline. “Ending this meddlesome situation with violence will damage the household name of Kirijo!”
“In that case… Let’s make it a race!” Akihiko laughed, dashing after Mitsuru. “C’mon, Shinji!”
“Gah!” Shinjiro raced after the two while all the delinquents chased them. The entire time, Mitsuru and Akihiko were laughing. “Why the hell are you two having so much fun right now?!”
“I see why Aragaki was insisting we spend our week this way!” Mitsuru chuckled. “Though you describe this as a ‘normal’ vacation, I’ve never felt so excited while away from home!”
“Let’s make our goal the top of that lighthouse,” Akihiko decided, pointing to the distant structure. “The first one up there wins!”
“As if… I’d let… you win…” Mitsuru huffed, pulling ahead of the boys but with some clear struggle. “Perhaps these boots… are not proper… proper attire to run on the beach…”
“Hey, Shinji, thanks,” Akihiko said with a smile, matching his friend’s pace. “I think I finally get why you brought us here.”
“Somehow after our whole beach adventure today, I doubt it.’
“Maybe we should take some time to let go of the past…” The young man looked out onto the clear sea. “It’ll always be there behind us, even if we move forward. In a way, it’s both a comforting and dreadful thing to think about, isn’t it?”
“Aki…”
“But hey, the only one getting left behind is you!”
“Wait a minute, you dirty cheat!”
“Don’t you boys forget about me! I won’t go down without a fight!”
And so, running along the shoreline of Yakushima being chased by a group of delinquents with butterfly knives and switchblades, the three friends had the best vacation of their lives. Shinjiro ran, gut sucked in with the most foolish, mischievous expression his face could make. Mituru led a carefree dash along the beach with a wider smile than even she could ever remember making. And Akihiko let out a mighty laugh as both his friends attempted to reach out and pull him back. Their first summer break of high school was one of the most unforgettable times of their lives. The three of them believed beyond the shadow of a doubt that all their summer vacations would be just as perfect as that one felt.
However, fate does not look upon these moments with such a gentle fondness. Fate, like a guillotine, will sever people’s ties to each other and their future with an unbiased prejudice…
October 6th, 2007 (Evening)
“Aragaki, wait!” Mitsuru reached her hand out.
“I’m not your lapdog, Kirijo!” Shinjiro spat. “Everyone else may be, but you can’t control me!”
“Don’t you dare talk to her like that!” Akihiko warned. “Are you really just going to walk out like this after everything we’ve been through? What are you gonna do after you leave?”
“That’s none of your business, Sanada.”
“Shinji! I-”
“Just shut up!” Shinjiro roared, his words biting them both. “Quit thinking Aki, you’re no good at it! How many times do I have to say it before the message gets through that thick skull of yours? We’re through! I’m done with this junior explorer club!”
“Shinji… You were there when I lost her! Let us be there for you!”
“We’re done…” he said, turning around and grabbing his bag.
“Don’t turn your back on us, Shinji! I know the pain you’re fe-”
In one swift motion, Shinjiro dropped his bag and grabbed Akihiko by the collar of his shirt. As he hoisted his best friend up with one hand, Akihiko likewise grabbed his collar. All while Mitsuru covered her mouth and took a step back.
“Listen here, and listen well…” Shinjiro shakily breathed. “You have the pain of losing a loved one. I will forever be haunted with the knowledge that I’m responsible for someone’s loved one being lost. Don’t compare pain Aki. My sins would crush you like a twig.”
“Aragaki…” Mitsuru gulped and shakily breathed. “Let him go…”
Shinjiro let go of Akihiko, tossing him to the floor. As he picked his bag back up, Mitsuru helped Akihiko to his feet. Shinjiro gave one last glance over his shoulder at his only two friends.
“Seems like Death himself has taken a liking to us both, eh, Aki?”
“Shinji… just come back to us… We all made a mistake that night, not just you… We don’t hold anything against-”
“What difference do you think that forgiveness makes if it’s coming from you? You’re not the one I need it from.” As Shinjiro opened the door, he looked back at the distraught faces of Akihiko and Mitsuru. For just a moment, his rough exterior softened into something his friend recognized. “Thanks for everything, both of you. See you around.”
As Shinjiro closed the door, Akihiko dropped to his knees, tears welling up in his eyes. Mitsuru put a silent hand on his shoulder.
“Shinji… ‘Death himself has taken a liking to us both’…? Shinji, what are you even saying…?”
“Akihiko… He-”
“I’ll get stronger, Mitsuru,” Akihiko said, wiping his nose with a few sniffles. “I swear to God, I’ll get stronger. I’ll put my all into it and then some. And someday I’m going to look Death in the face and give him a punch that’ll put him in his place!”
“…” Mitsuru’s entire body shook as she silently wiped her eyes.
“You hear that!?” Akihiko howled at the door. “I’ll be so strong that you won’t need to worry about Death! He won’t know what the hell hit him!”
February 19th, 2009 (Evening)
“…and I guess it was only a matter of time before his suspension notice came. Not that he was even here to receive it,” Akihiko said with a heavy sigh.
Mitsuru got up and glided herself over to the nearest window. She opened it up, letting the cool air nip at her nose. Small tufts of white gently landed on her uniform, making small wet splotches on her blouse and skirt.
“It’s just as they said, snowfall…” Mitsuru closed the window and picked her tea back up. “I wonder what he’s doing now, that Aragaki…”
“I heard he still hangs around that place…”
“That doesn’t surprise me… So it appears he hasn’t let go of what happened either…”
“That attitude of his isn’t helping any one of us,” Akihiko said, looking out into the snowfall. “But deep down, I know that one day he’ll face whatever demons still haunt him. And when that time comes, I’ll be there to take his hand and bring him back to us.”
“The bond you two have seems to run as deep as brotherhood can,” Mitsuru grinned, taking another long sip of her drink. “It almost makes me jealous…”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, sometimes I wonder… Never mind.”
“Never mind?”
“Never mind.”
“In that case, I’m going to have an early night,” he decided, getting to his feet. “I’ve got early training tomorrow morning. Aya insists I need to learn to throw more punches than I take.”
“I may not agree with everything that Tokitou says, but I think we’re in consensus about that,” Mitsuru chuckled. “I hope to finish my speech for the Graduation Ceremony tonight before the Dark Hour.”
“Didn’t you do one last year too?” Akihiko looked to the ceiling and reflected on their last year fighting together. “Man… Can’t believe we’ll already be going into our third year…”
“…” Mitsuru looked down. “I didn’t know how to bring this up, but The Chairman contacted me earlier this evening. Apparently there might be more students who can experience the Dark Hour. Two of them, actually.”
“Really?!” Akihiko snapped back to reality. “Who?!”
“They don’t go to our school yet; they’re transfer students, both second years. Makoto Yuki and Kotone Shiomi.”
“Yuki and Shiomi, huh…?” He reclined back in his seat. “Doesn’t ring a bell to me, but that would make three second years among us.”
“I would hope they could both join us, but…” Mitsuru held her arms. “My stomach turns when I think about what I’d be asking them both to do for us… The sacrifices… The dangers…”
“Hey, don’t worry so much.” Akihiko took one of Mitsuru’s hands into his own. “What happened to him won’t happen to them.”
“Akihiko… I hope so…”
“Besides, just think of the possibilities,” he said. She wasn’t sure why, but the way Akihiko talked couldn’t help but make Mitsuru smile. “And who knows? Maybe these two are the miracle twins that can completely turn the tables on the Shadows and Tartarus.”
“Maybe… Maybe you’re right,” the redhead nodded. “There’s always a chance.”
“New power brings new possibilities,” he softly smiled. “And new possibilities bring hope.”