...15/09/2009 Tuesday; Sunset...
Yukari stood frozen, her heart racing. The scene replayed over and over in her mind — the strength with which he fought, the cold look in his eyes, the way he protected her without a moment's hesitation.
And above all, that one phrase that still echoed like thunder: "I am. Let her go..."
When Minato approached, she lifted her gaze. The boy stopped in front of her, his expression serious, his chest rising and falling slowly.
"Are you okay?" he asked, holding out her bag.
Yukari blinked a few times, trying to return to reality as she took her bag back.
"Ah… yeah. Th-thanks, Minato."
They stood there, motionless, simply staring at each other.
The distant sound of the subway was the only thing breaking the silence between them.
Neither knew what to say — the air hung heavy, thick with embarrassment and relief.
Yukari took a deep breath and opened her bag to put her wallet back inside. When she saw it safely there, a weight lifted from her chest.
"But that was a bit… intense," she murmured, closing the bag carefully. "You didn't have to go that far."
Minato averted his eyes, his tone low but firm.
"They could've hurt you. I couldn't let that happen."
Yukari bit her lip, feeling her face heat up again.
His words were simple, but they hit deep — and the serious way he said them made it impossible to hide how much he cared.
She turned her gaze away, her heart still pounding.
Minato's words echoed in her mind, and a strange pressure filled her chest — warm, confusing, a mix of anger and something she couldn't name.
Why did it bother her so much?
She felt indignant… and yet, comforted to see him there.
Taking a deep breath, she fixed her eyes on the ground.
"Hey… why did you come after me?" Yukari asked, her voice low but tinged with something she tried to hold back.
Minato blinked, confused.
"Huh?"
"You thought I needed saving?" she said, gripping the strap of her bag tightly.
Minato's gaze hardened for a moment.
He didn't understand where that irritation came from. It didn't make sense.
Yukari raised her face, a frown forming.
"I didn't need to be saved." — She lifted her bag, showing the wallet inside. — "I got it back myself. I didn't need your help."
The silence that followed was heavy.
The distant hum of the trains vibrated through the empty corridor as Minato just stood there, watching her, stunned.
He stayed quiet.
Her reaction… he didn't know how to respond.
For a moment, it felt like any word he said would be the wrong one.
He lowered his head slightly, shoulders drooping.
"Sorry." he murmured, his voice weak — almost a whisper.
Yukari blinked, her heart skipping again — this time for a different reason.
That apology hit her like an invisible blow.
The grip on her bag loosened; her fingers relaxed. Her gaze drifted as if something inside her had cracked.
Why did she say that?
She knew she could take care of herself. She always had.
But… did she really have to react like that?
Minato only wanted to help. He only wanted to make sure she was safe.
He risked himself for her, and all she did was get angry.
Yukari slowly lowered her bag, her lips parted slightly, her chest tightening with a painful guilt.
She looked down. His words still echoed in her head, mixed with the distant rumble of the subway and the buzz of the corridor lights.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady her trembling nerves.
When she finally looked up, her voice came out softer, hesitant.
"You don't have to apologize…"
Minato lifted his head, surprised by her tone. His calm eyes met hers — but Yukari quickly looked away.
"I should be the one apologizing…" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I shouldn't have gotten mad at you for…"
The words died in her throat.
She raised a hand to her face, feeling the weight of everything she couldn't say.
Regret burned in her chest, yet the courage to speak failed to come.
Minato took a step forward, his hand reaching toward her.
"Yukari…" he called softly, his voice almost a whisper.
But she didn't look at him. She just took a deep breath, hiding her shame in a low tone.
"I'm better now… but I think I should go."
Her footsteps echoed on the cold floor as she walked past him. Neither dared to look at the other.
The silence between them felt heavier than any words.
Minato glanced sideways — her expression looked distant, downcast, as if something inside her was still searching for a way out.
He could tell, even without hearing it, that there was something she wanted to say… but that moment wasn't the right one.
"A-and… sorry… again," Yukari murmured without turning back.
After that, she just kept walking.
Her footsteps grew fainter and fainter, until they disappeared completely down the corridor.
He stayed where he was, motionless, listening as the echo of her voice faded into silence.
Minato lowered his gaze and saw the dark stains on the cold floor — remnants of the recent fight against the thieves.
The dried droplets formed an uneven trail toward the alley, reminding him of what had just happened… and of what was still to come.
As silence wrapped around him, the weight of the past year began to blend into his thoughts. The battles, the losses, the laughter. Everything the S.E.E.S had endured.
Two full moons. That was all that remained before the end.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
"When it's all over… will everyone still…"
The sentence got stuck in his throat. The cold air of the season felt heavier, and he shook his head, pushing the thought away like someone trying to dispel a bad dream.
"I should head back to the dorm. It's getting late."
The words came out softly, almost a whisper. Minato adjusted the strap of his bag on his shoulder and began walking through Iwatodai Station. The lights from the signs flickered every now and then, reflecting off the damp floor.
Rush hour had already passed; only a few tired faces crossed his path, hurrying home.
The steady sound of his footsteps echoed against the walls, blending with the distant rumble of trains. Even in the sparse crowd, a quiet loneliness followed him — the same one that had lingered since he first arrived there.
But now… it felt different.
When he looked up, he was already standing before the dormitory.
That double-doored entrance, illuminated by the streetlights and the soft glow above, held more memories than any other place.
Suddenly, flashes came — laughter echoing through the dorm's lobby, everyone's voices in the chaos of Tartarus, the casual conversations that broke the silence of the days.
Each memory struck him like a warm spark in his chest.
This was where he felt alive.
Here, where every battle, every wound, and every smile made sense.
Even with the arguments, even with the exhaustion and the fear of dying…
He didn't want to lose any of it.
Minato lowered his eyes, feeling his fingers curl tightly into a fist.
But when all the Shadow Arcanas were gone… would there still be a reason to stay together?
Would destroying the Dark Hour be worth it, even if it meant giving up that feeling of belonging he had only just found?
A gentle breeze blew, brushing his blue hair across his face.
He took a deep breath and placed his hand on the cold doorknob.
"I don't want this to end…" he murmured, eyes steady. "I want to stay with them."
He turned the knob and stepped inside.
As so many times before, the soft sound of the door closing behind him marked the end of another day — and the return to a home that finally felt like his own.
"I'm back," he said with his usual small smile. "Sorry I took so long."
TO BE CONTINUED...