Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

March 5th, 2011 Graduation Day

The beautiful spring when all third-year students graduated from Gekkoukan High. Most of the graduates were glad they finished school and they could decide on choosing a university and college for their major. Some prefer not to go to college or university and instead find a decent job and live independently. 

Three students waiting at the school entrance had a good time with themselves.

“WOOHOO!!!! WE FINALLY GRADULATED!!!! “ Junpei pumps his arms high in excitement.

The students stared at Junpei with troublesome or confused looks.

“Junpei, not so loud! You’re drawing too much attention.” Yukari scolded him.

“Sorry about it! It's just I’m so happy that I could graduate with everyone.”

“Is that not the only reason?” Yukari teased him.

“Well, I finally made Chidorita fall in love with me again, and we are officially dating! I’m so happy!” Junpei says in an energetic tone.

“Where is Chidori-chan? Aren’t you supposed to meet her?” Fuuka asked Junpei, curiosity.

“She forgot something in her locker. She will be right back.” 

“We are supposed to meet up with Mitsuru-senpai, Akihiko-senpai, Ken, and Koro-chan after school for the celebration dinner at her place. Right now, the people who aren't here are Kotone, Aigis, and Aragaki-senpai. We have to wait for them.” Yukari reminds him.

“Can you ask her if I can bring a guest too?” Junpei politely asks her.

“You can ask her yourself, Junpei.” Yukari rejects his request.

Junpei sigh in disappointment.

“Sorry for the wait, everyone,” says Aigis softly.

They turn around to see Aigis with Kotone and Shinjiro, with their diploma and graduate ribbons pinned to their uniform. 

“Thanks for waiting,” Kotone waves to them cheerfully.

“What took you guys so long?” 

“Aigis had difficulty figuring out which side of her graduate ribbon she should put on. We explained to her it is always on the left side of the blazer jacket for students who have graduated from high school.” Shinjiro explained to them.

“I find it strange why Aigis doesn't know how to do it. She is usually calm and focuses on everything. She is always on time and fully prepared.” Kotone wonders.

Yukari looks suspicious at Aigis. “Could she be nervous about Kotone and Aragaki-senpai’s relationship or jealous?” 

As they leave the school, Junpei decides to stay and wait for Chidori. They meet up with Akihiko, Mitsuru, Ken, and Koromaru at the front of the school gate. Mitsuru is fully dressed in formal attire: a dressy white collar shirt with a black blazer jacket, dark velvet ascot, ankle-length pants, and high-heel slippers. She also wore a pair of ruby earrings. Akihiko wore a cream color suit with a black collar shirt and a bright red tie. Ken, who is now in middle school, is almost the same, except he has grown slightly taller and wears pants instead of shorts. As for Koromaru, he wears a black collar with his name on it.  

“Mitsuru-senpai, Akihiko-senpai, Ken, and Koro-chan, you came to us!” Yukari looks happy to see them.

“Of course, you are now adults and have the right to choose your paths.” 

“Most of us except Aragaki-senpai are members of Shadow Operatives as a part-time job with Aigis, and I am a full-fledged member to help Mitsuru-san.” Fuuka reminded her.

“I’m fully aware, and I don’t mind. You have your schedules whether or not you are available to help out on Shadow-related activities around Japan. I’m not forcing you.” 

“I decided to live a normal life with my girlfriend. I can’t fight Shadows anymore.” Shinjiro looks dejected.

“Shinji…” Kotone is clinging onto Shinjiro’s right arm for comfort. Shinjiro gently pats Kotone’s head with his left hand.

Yukari, Fuuka, Mitsuru, Akihiko, Ken, and Koromaru expressed concern for him. They also felt terrible for lying to Kotone that Shinjiro could lose Persona when he was in a coma. They don’t know how she would react if she found that he was willing to seal away his Persona forever with his memories of the Dark Hour and Tartarus intact. 

“Hey, you guys!” Junpei shouted at them in the distance.

They see Junpei holding hands with Chidori, who just got her things from her locker. Chidori wore a standard female school uniform, except she wore thigh-length white socks and ribbons on her hair.

“Junpei, it’s good to see you again,” Akihiko greeted him.

“Same to you, Senpai!” Junpei greeted.

“Iori, Yukari called me yesterday before graduation saying that you were wondering if you could invite Chidori to the party. Is that correct?” Mitsuru questioned him.

“Yeah. Even though you guys aren’t close to her, I thought it would be good to have someone to talk to and get along with.  I want to ask if I can bring my girlfriend to the party.” Junpei requested Mitsuru.

“Sure, you can bring her. I see no harm in bringing another guest to the party. I want to get to know her.” Mitsuru kindly smiled. 

“Junpei, are you sure your friends are good influences for me?” Chidori looks doubtful.

“It’s fine. They are amusing to hang out, and I’m sure you will love them.” Junpei gives a thumb up to her.

“*giggle* You’re so weird, Junpei.” Chidori smiles slightly.

Kirijo Mansion, 2nd floor -Evening 

After everyone ate dinner, Mitsuru ordered the finest meals in the most fancy restaurants she knew. They started to hang out and relax a bit before they went to sleep since she had allowed them to stay for the night since it was dangerous to go out this late. She has many guest bedrooms they can sleep in. She told them yesterday through text to bring their extra clothes and pajamas with them. However, there are only eight rooms. Shinjiro doesn’t mind sharing a room with Kotone since they are already used to it. Koromaru wants to sleep with Ken since he has grown closer to him since last year. 

Shinjiro stands alone on the balcony, looking at the night sky. He briefly turns around to see everyone having a good time with their life. They talk about their future, which university they plan on attending, and part-time jobs to earn money. He took something from his pants pocket. It was a small black jewelry box. He stared at it in doubt and unsure. 

Akihiko notices him alone on the balcony and does not socialize with everyone. He decides to check up on him. 

“Hey, Shinji. Why aren't you with everyone, including Koto?” Akihiko casually asked him.

“I… I want to get some fresh air. The graduation ceremony was a boring speech about our final years at Gekkoukan High. I enjoyed myself with her. It made me happy.” Shinjiiro smiled slightly.

“Mitsuru and I are glad that you finally finished high school. I wish you were able to graduate with us last year if it wasn't for you being in a coma or your lifespan greatly reduced by the drugs.” Akihiko says sarcastically. 

“I can’t tell you if you are joking or was that a form of mockery…” Shinjiro looks annoyed.

“I was just kidding. You shouldn't take this seriously.” Akihiko casually pats Shinjiro’s back.

Shinjiro sighed.

Akihiko notices something Shinjiro is holding in his hand. “What you got there? A gift for someone, or did she give it to you?”

“No, Koto didn’t give it to me… I’m planning on proposing to her today.” Shinjiro confessed to Akihiko.

He was initially surprised since he knew that he and Kotone were legally adults now and could get married at any time, but this was soon before graduating from their university. 

“I’m happy for you, but getting married isn’t too early since you guys haven't started college yet. What would Koto think about this?” Akihiko is concerned.

“I’m not planning to get married this year! There are always a few more years to decide where to plan the wedding. After the graduation ceremony, I considered proposing to her, but Aigis interrupted our conversation.” Shinjiro looks discouraged. 

“I know both of you have careers you want to achieve, but what if you decide on having a child while still in college? How will you manage college work and raising a child together?” Akihiko looks serious.

Shinjiro remains silent.

“I can help you and Koto at any time like before, except for a part-time job or during Shadow-related missions. Or is it because of him?!” Akihiko questioned.

“Please… don’t mention him. It’s already been almost a year since his passing. I still haven't got over him.” says Shinjiro in a depressing tone.

“I’m so sorry, Shinji. I crossed the line. You aren’t the only one who missed him. Whatever path you choose, I, Mitsuru, and everyone will try our best to support your decision to marry Koto.” 

“Aki… thanks.” Shinjiro smiles slightly.

He looks at his girlfriend, who is having a conversation with Chidori. She looks so happy when Chidori shows her drawing of her and him together, seen in her new sketchbook. Chidori happily smiles at her for appreciating her art skills.

Akihiko briefly stops Shinjiro from going to her by placing his hand on his right shoulder.“Shinji… if she rejected your engagement proposal, I’m sure she wanted to wait until after graduating college,” Akihiko whispered to Shinjiro’s right ear. 

“Don’t tell anyone what I’m about to do yet, okay?” Shinjiro shrugs off as he walks away from Akihiko.

“Alright. Alright. I won’t tell.” Akihiko smirked. He talks to Mitsuru about her goals as Kirijo's group heiress. 

“Chidori, in your third year, you should join the art club. They have many talented people who love drawing, and you can learn about it. You might meet new people there. I never joined the club, but I heard it was good.” Kotone persuaded her.

“Normally, I prefer to draw alone during my free time, but how do you describe it? I might try to join, Shiomi-senpai.” Chidori liked her suggestion.

Kotone felt someone hugging her from behind. She looks up to see her boyfriend’s face. “Hello, Shinji! What’s up?” She happily smiled.

“I just want to see how you have been doing.” Shinjiro smiles back.

“I’m going to ask Junpei for his option for me to join the art club for the first day of high school next month. You two have fun and enjoy yourself.” She felt awkward towards them acting lovey-dovey with each other. Chidori leaves to find Junpei. She doesn't want to be on the third wheel in their conversation. She also had strange feelings that he met before he decided to attend school again.

“Do you have a moment? There is something I would like to talk about with you.” Shinjiro asked her with a serious look on his face.

“Oh, sure. I have time.” Kotone cheerfully accepts.

Shinjiro stops hugging her and decides to hold her right hand as he takes her to the balcony.  

“Wow! The night looks so pretty… there are so many stars!” says Kotone, amazed. Her eyes sparkle in enjoyment and admiration. 

He looks amused by his girlfriend’s positive attitude. He always loved the way she smiled.

“Is this what you want to show me?” Kotone exciting asked him.  

“*chuckles* No, that isn’t it. That’s not what I want to ask you.” Shinjiro chuckled.

Kotone looks confused.

Yukari was having a private chat with Aigis in the second-floor hallway.

“Aigis… you have been forgetful and unfocused ever since we graduated. You can tell me…”

“I…I’m scared. Kotone-san might leave me alone and no longer be friends anymore.” Aigis trembled. 

“Don’t be silly. Kotone will have time to hang out with you and all of us during holiday breaks. I know we have different classes and go to different universities, but we can still keep in touch. We see each other when we investigate and eliminate shadow-related cases.” Yukari patted Aigis’ shoulder.

“That’s… not the only reason, Yukari-san.” Aigis began to shed tears.

Yukari looks confused by her words.

“You know why I forgot to pin on my graduation pin? It was an excuse to prevent Aragaki-san proposed to her after the  graduation ceremony.”

“Proposed? You mean he was going to ask her to marry him?!” Yukari surprised.

Aigis nodded sadly.

“Aigis, you shouldn’t interrupt them. I know they only knew each other for a year, but it’s their decision on how they want to do with their life. Think about how Kotone would feel if she found out.”

“I know. It’s not like with Ryoji-san; this feeling makes me feel scared and angry for some reason.” Aigis clutches her chest.

“That’s called jealousy. Are you scared that Kotone would spend more time with him than you once they married and started a family together? Last year, you said you wanted to protect their children once they were ready. Are you backing out?” Yukari asks her, concerned.

“No, I remember what I said before, but I… what if she refuses to let me be part of her life.” 

Yukari gently places her hand on hers to calm down. “I know she will manage somehow. Trust me.” She genuinely smiles at Aigis.

Fuuka comes in and unintentionally interrupts Yukari and Aigis’ heart-to-heart conversation. She stops touching Aigis’ hand.

“Yukari-chan, Aigis, will you come to the main entrances? There is something Aragaki-senpai wanted to say to Kotone-chan.” Fuuka reminded them.

She notices Yukari and Aigis look a bit awkward.

“Did I interrupt something important?” Fuuka says, looking guilty.

“No, it’s alright. We are done with our conversation.”

Everyone meets up, including Mitsuru, as they secretly spy on Shinjiro and Kotone.

“We've been dating for a year, and I enjoy spending time with you. You gave me a reason for living again. You are my everything. I wouldn’t be alive now if I hadn't met you.” Shinjiro confessed to her.

“I felt the same way. I enjoyed spending time with you, too.”  Kotone blushed happily.

“Thanks again for not giving up on me graduating even though I still dislike attending classes and studying my ass off.” He says it jokingly. 

“*giggle* Well, Aki and I wanted you to graduate high school like the rest of us, especially Mitsuru-senpai.” She laughed. 

Shinjiro kneeled on one leg and took something out of his pockets, revealing a tiny jewel box case. 

Kotone reacted in surprise as she covered her mouth with both hands. She thinks she knows what Shinjiro is planning to do next.

Meanwhile, from afar. 

“No way…” Junpei reacted in surprise, yet he was secretly happy for him.

“Whoa… Senpai is gotta...” Yukari’s eyes widen in shock.

Akihiko smirked.

Mitsuru is left completely speechless.

Fuuka covers her mouth with one of her hands while her remaining hand clutches her chest. She slightly blushes.

Aigis reacted in horror as she fell into despair.

Koromaru wags his tail in excitement for Shinjiro.

“I did not see that coming…” Ken was surprised.

“Kotone Shiomi… I want to spend my life with you. I want to go to as many places as you wish to go. I promised to make you happy for the rest of your life. Koto, will you marry me?” Shinjiro opens the jewelry box, revealing an engagement ring. The ring appears to be made of silver, and the gem is pure diamond.

Everyone was surprised by what he had just done, and then they turned around to see Kotone’s expression on how she would respond to him.

Chapter Text

After Shinjiro proposed to Kotone, she began to laugh and cry simultaneously.

Everyone was confused and unsure if Kotone was happy or sad about this.

Shinjiro stands up and checks to see if his girlfriend is okay. 

“Koto? Are you alright? Why are you laughing? If this is too much, I’m okay with it if you reject my proposal. We can wait until we graduate college and try again. “Before Shinjiro could finish sentences, Kotone placed her finger on his lips.

“It’s not that *giggle*. I was laughing with you. I’m just delighted you did this for me. This is a new side of you I’m starting to like about you. *giggle* My tears are not for sadness but joy. What you did was amazing when you proposed to me in a beautiful moonlight scenery.” Kotone explained to him for a while, still laughing. 

Shinjiro expressed relief. 

“My answer to you is…” 

Everyone is waiting for her to answer to him. Aigis prays Kotone rejects him.

“Yes.”

“I understand you don’t want to get married this soon because of… Huh? What did you say?” Shinjiro thought she would say no, but he wasn’t expecting a different answer.

“I say I will marry you.” Kotone accepts his marriage proposal. 

Shinjiro felt glad he had found his soulmate, true love, and the precious person he wanted to spend his life with. He slips on an engagement ring on Kotone’s finger.  She looked amazed before she put her lips on to his. They were heartwarming and embraced each other. 

Their celebration make-out session was cut short when they heard hands slapping nearby. They turn around to see everyone congratulating them. They look happy for them for being in engagement. 

“Were you guys watching the entire time?” Shinjiro smirked and asked them.

“Yeah. I was the first to notice you guys before everyone else. Congrats, man!” Junpei grinned.

Yukari and Fuuka ran up to Kotone and hugged her. Kotone hugged them back.

“Congratulations for your engagement,  Kotone-chan!” Fuuka happily comments.

“I hope you have a happy life with him since you are responsible for looking after each other.” Yukari faintly smiled at her.

“We know. I’m sure we will manage somehow.” 

“Arf! Arf!” Koromaru ran up to Shinji and jumped into his arms. He starts licking his face. Koromaru happily wags his tail. 

“Koro-chan… I mean Koromaru, that tickles! Try licking someone next!” Shinjiro tries to hold out his laughter. He takes Koromaru to Kotone. He began licking her face, too. 

“Koro-chan, stop it! That tickles! *chuckled*” Kotone laughed after being tickled by Koromaru’s licks. 

Mitsuru walks up to them with a concerned look. 

“Mitsuru. I could explain.” 

“Initially, I wasn't expecting you to propose to Shiomi after graduation. I thought you would do it after graduating from college.  You’re not forcing her or anything to avoid studying at your college, right?” Mitsuru asked him suspiciously.

“I’m not forcing her. I felt this was the best way to propose to her.  It would not be easy to find the right place for this moment. I’m serious about choosing my career, and I’m not avoiding studying nor ditching classes like I used to.” Shinjiro explains his reasons to her.

“Most couples married in their mid-20s or 30s. However, I heard it is legal to marry those who are 18-19 or older. Are you going to take responsibility for this and never betray Shiomi?” Mitsuru deadly glared at him.

“I swear. Just don’t assume I might have cheated her. She is the only woman I will fall for my whole life. She brings me joy, and I feel at ease with her. I love her.” 

“Shinji…” Kotone turns red in embarrassment. She is secretly happy with what he says about her.

“Alright, you have my blessing. If you ever decide on a date and place to get married, I know many chapels where you can get married. Just ask me anything except during Shadow-related missions.” Mitsuru accepts him.

“I think we can manage on our own. You don't have to if you don't want to.” 

“I want to, mainly for Shiomi’s sake since she is also one of the important friends I cherish. The first is Yukari.” Mitsuru smiles gracefully. She looks at Yukari, who is blushing as well. 

Yukari and Fuuka stopped hugging Kotone so she could walk to Shinjiro. She holds his hand firmly and looks at Mitsuru with a calm expression. 

“Senpai, I promised we would manage our studying and wedding plans. We already managed our relationship last year. I think we can handle it.” Kotone tells Mitsuru with sincere eyes.

“Alright. I believe you. You can always ask me if you or Shinjiro have difficulty paying for your wedding. Then, bravo for your engagement!” Mitsuru kindly smiled at them. 

“Congrats, you two. I hope you have a happy life together.” Ken, congrats, Kotone and Shinjiro. 

“We will, Ken-kun,” Kotone assures him. 

“Mitsuru-senpai, since you are willing to help with Kotone and Shinjiro-san’s wedding, how about helping me when I proposed to Chidori?” Junpei whispered in Mitsuru’s ear.

“No, you have to pay for your wedding, Iori.” Mitsuru coldly ejected. 

“Crap… that means I probably have to get two or three jobs to earn enough money once I graduate college… This sucks..” He says in his thoughts, bummed out. Junpei sulks in the corner of the wall. Chidori comes up to him, comforting him by rubbing his back.

Aigis stares in the distance as everyone congrats the happy couple. She is the only one who doesn't approach them. She quietly leaves the room without anyone noticing her.

Late Night

Everyone went to bed in their assigned guest rooms. Shinjiro and Kotone sleep peacefully. He sleeps behind Kotone’s back for a while and hugs her.  Koromaru is sleeping on Ken’s bed.

 Junpei’s Room

Everyone manages to sleep except for Junpei, who is disappointed that Chidori is sleeping in Kotone’s room, as was initially assigned. “I know we've been dating for six months. I hope we can move to the next level of our relationship… So far, we only hold hands and hug each other. I wonder if she’s shy or wasn't ready for “that.” I should get some sleep for tomorrow.” As Junpei drifts into sleep, try not to think about it. He wakes up immediately, “Holy shit…! I just realized I won’t be able to see my girlfriend for the entire semester except for the holidays! This sucks in so many levels… *sobbing*” He ends up crying to sleep.

Meanwhile, in Chidori’s room

Chidori feels uneasy about not being able to hang out or see him often since she is still a high school student and Junpei is in college.  She will only see him during holiday breaks. “I wonder if my relationship with him was too restrictive or formal? We have been dating for six months but never had our first kiss. I’m scared our relationship is growing like Shiomi and Aragaki-senpai are. Maybe I should talk with Junpei tomorrow morning. The only thing I am certain of is that I’m not planning to get married anytime soon.” 

The next morning.

Everyone got dressed in their casual winter attire. They also got the bags, backpacks, and luggage they brought yesterday. Seniors like Yukari, Junpei, and Fuuka must move their things from their dorms to the college dorm they want to attend. However, Aigis will move to the Kirijo Group laboratory, where she will become a permanent Shadow Operatives member to continue serving Mitsuru Kirijo. Shinjiro and Kotone continue to stay in the same apartment as before. As for Chidori, she will still be staying at the female dormitory in her third year. 

“Chidori, I’m going to miss you so much!*sobbing* I don’t think my heart can take it!” Junpei bursts into tears as he hugs her.

“Junpei, don’t be so dramatic. We can always text each other every day and schedule to meet up on certain holiday breaks. There is no need to cry for me.” Chidori places her right hand on Junpei’s left face.

“Awww Chidorita!! I love you so much!” Junpei sounds happy.

Still annoyed, Chidori puts her lips on Junpei’s, mainly to shut him up.  She began to realize that kissing him wasn't so bad after all. Junpei, on the other hand, reacted in surprise.

Everyone saw them kissing for the first time, and they didn’t expect Chidori to make the first move. 

After Chidori and Junpei stop kissing to take a moment to breathe, their faces turn cherry red after they realize what they did.

“T-That was our first kiss… I felt amazed that I could faint happily..” Junpei sounds nervous and yet happy at the same time.  He fainted on the floor.

“So that kiss felt like when you love someone dearly.” Chidori quietly talked to herself.

“Should we help Junpei-kun?” Fuuka asked Yukari.

“No, I think he will regain consciousness at any moment,” Yukari replied.

They wait several minutes for him to wake up, but he still hasn't regained consciousness yet.

“*sigh* Kikuna, please take Iori to the limousine, window half open.” Mitsuru politely ordered her maid.

“Yes, milady.” Kikuna carries passed-out Junpei on her back to take him outside. Some of the staff have to carries the rest of Junpei’s things. Chidori decides to follow them to keep Junpei company when he wakes up.

“Does having a first kiss have different reactions, Sanada-san?” Ken curiously asked Akihiko.

“You’re asking the wrong person, Ken. I have no idea what it’s like to have one. All I can say is that many couples reacted differently.” Akihiko looks unsure. 

“What do you think?” Ken tries asking Koromaru.

“Woof! Woof!” Koromaru seems exciting. 

“I wish I could understand you, Koromaru, but maybe having a first kiss has some positive, negative, or both with the person you loved or hated. I wonder if this is the answer you're trying to tell me.” Ken kneeled to pet Koromaru’s head. 

“Come to think of it… have you guys seen Aigis?” Akihiko asks everyone.

“I haven’t seen her since last night.”

“I don’t think I saw her return to her room either.”

“Let me try calling her if she is alright.” Kotone takes out her cell phone to try to call her, but it only leaves a voicemail.

“Were you able to get a hold of her?” Fuuka asks Kotone.

Kotone shook her head in response. 

“We should search for her. Let’s split up into four groups: I and Yukari will check upstairs in the guest rooms, Akihiko and Amada will check in the living room, Yamagishi and Koromaru will go to the backyard, and Shiomi and Shinjiro will go to the flower garden outside.” 

They nodded in agreement, and they began searching for Aigis.

Yukari and Mitsuru’s side - Guest Rooms

They went upside down where the guest rooms were. They searched everyone's room, including where Kotone slept with Shinjiro. They look everywhere and are still looking for a way to get through.  

Yukari takes out her cell phone to leave a voice message to Aigis if she picks up.

“Yukari? Are you trying to leave her a voicemail?” 

“Yeah, to let her know we are looking for her.“ Yukari says in a depressing tone.

Mitsuru looks sad.

Akihiko and Ken’s side - Living Room

They try looking at the living room. They look behind the curtains, on the couch, on the flatscreen TV, and underneath the coffee table. Ken only manages to find one of Koromaru’s shed fur. 

“Do you think Aigis-san is having a similar experience to you? She has feelings for Kotone-san but should discuss this with us.” 

“It’s not like that last year; I wanted to go to the past to stop Kotone’s sacrifice. Aigis, on the other hand, I think she felt like she was being distant from Kotone’s relationship with Shinji.” Akihiko tries to explain to him.

“I found it strange… Aigis-san was okay with her dating Shinjiro-san after Vincent’s sacrifice. She was starting to feel lonely without her, and she will attend the same college as him.” Ken wonders about Aigis’ sudden change in attitude.

“I hope she’s alright…” 

Fuuka and Koromaru’s side - Backyard

They went outside in the backyard. Fuuka uses Aigis’ spared ribbon for Koromaru to sniff her scents to find her. Aigis’ scent ends there as he only manages to find used ammo bullets that was loaded from Aigis’ fingertips. Fuuka noticed a broken vase with several bullet holes and destroyed flowers. 

“Was Aigis stressed or angry at something?” 

Koromaru whimpered.

Kotone and Shinjiro’s side - Flower Garden

They went to the garden to look for Aigis. It has a variety of warm colors of flowers, including red and pink roses, lilies, daisies, tulips, and gerbera flowers. It also has an average lengthy size pond. 

“Aigis! Where are you?” Kotone tries to call out Aigis, but no response.

“Aigis! Everyone is looking for you! Come on out!” Shinjiro shouted Aigis’ name. 

“I wonder why Aigis become distant for some reason. She wasn’t like this last year in January.” Kotone worried.

“Last year…? You mean when I was in a coma?” Shinjiro confused.

“I don’t think I told you this before… few weeks before the final battle against Nyx. After confessing her love for me, she requested me not to fall in love with any guys or be in a relationship. She didn't know I was already in a relationship… with you. I couldn't bring myself to reconcile her feelings.” Kotone sadly confessed to Shinjiro. 

“Koto… I have no idea you didn’t move on, and you continued our relationship even though I wasn’t by your side.” Shinjiro frowned.

“It just… I don’t want another heartbreak since you were comatose in October. That’s why you are important to me.”  

Shinjiro brings Kotone closer in his embrace.

“I hope Aigis is alright…”

“Me too. She is one of your dearest friends, right?”

“Yeah. She is.” Kotone hugged him back. 

After a few moments, they went back searching for her until finally they reached the end of the garden, where they spotted Aigis sitting on a garden bench alone. She stares at a field of red roses in the distance. 

“Aigis! There you here!” Kotone shouted her name. She ran to her side. Aigis turns around to see her.  Kotone notices Aigis has some bags over her eyes and some dry-up tears. 

“Kotone-san…?”

“Aigis, where were you? We have been looking for you. Everyone is worried about you!” Kotone scolded her.

“Oh… I didn't know we were supposed to leave today to pack our things from our dormitory. I’m sorry to make you worry.” Aigis sincerely apologized to her.

“Aigis, you better have a good reason for leaving on your own late at night.” Shinjiro walks into their conversation. He looks earnestly toward her.

“It’s because I was jealous of you. I was afraid you would take Kotone-san from me. Kotone-san stopped hanging out with me anymore because of you!”  Aigis looks upset.

“That’s your reason?! She will never abandon you! Why would you think that?” Shinjiro looks furious.

“Last month, I had a nightmare where Kotone became so distinct and focused on her new family that she forgot about me. It was horrible, and I was scared of losing you again.” Aigis places both of their hands on her face in grief.

Kotone and Shinjiro look at each other with worry and yet sad expressions before they look back at Aigis.

“Koto… I will text Aki and Mitsuru to let them know we found Aigis. You try to calm her down.” 

“How come?” Kotone, curious, asked.

“I’m not as close to Aigis as you. I know you get along with many people you meet.” 

“Okay, I will do my best.” She gives a determined smile at him.

“That’s my fiancée.” Shinjiro gives her a quick kiss on the cheek before he leaves to give them a private talk. 

Chapter Text

Akihiko and Ken’s side

Akihiko suddenly receives a text message from Shinjiro. He looks at his cellphone’s screen. 

> Koto and I found Aigis at Mitsuru's Rose Garden. She is trying to reason with Aigis. She believes Koto will leave her and forget about her. Let the others know. P.S. I’m talking about Aigis’ reason, not Aigis’s fears. 

“Who’s that from?” Ken asked.

Akihiko puts away his cell phone before he faces Ken. “That was Shinji. He and Kotone found Aigis in the garden. Let us regroup with the others.” 

“Right.” 

Yukari and Mitsuru’s side

After Mitsuru read Shinjiro’s text, she put away her cell phone.

“What was from Senpai?” Yukari curiously asked.

“Yeah. Shinjiro says Aigis is at my rose garden. Shiomi is currently trying to talk some sense into her.  Let’s go meet up with the others.”

“Right. I’ll call Fuuka along with the way where to find Aigis.”

Last Night at 2:30 am

Aigis sat on the bench for a while, staring at her reflection in the pool.

“What am I doing to do? I’m okay with everyone moving on with their lives, but… why can't I accept Kotone-san’s marriage proposal?” Aigis looks upset. 

“Do you want to get rid of him?”

“Who says that?” Aigis looks confused. 

“It’s me… your Shadow. Your other self.”  

“Where are you? Show yourself!” Aigis tries looking around from left to right and back. She is alone. She wasn't sure if she was hallucinating or dreaming right now.

“I’m right here… in your reflection.”  

Aigis looks at the pool, but this time, her reflection has a sinister expression with glowing yellow eyes.

“What do you want with me?” Aigis asked, her reflection on the water.

“I’m here to grant your desire to be with her.”  

“Well, Kotone-san did come out pansexual last year to everyone at Summer Festival. Everyone was very accepting towards her, including her boyfriend, Aragaki-san, who was okay with it. Wait, why am I telling you this?! How are you doing to make my desire come true?” Aigis looks serious.

“By simply getting rid of Shinjiro Aragaki. The way… you can have her all to yourself.”  

“No… I never kill friends!! Kotone-san would hate me if I did. She would never forgive me..” Aigis slumps to the floor. The thought of killing Shinjiro never crossed her mind. She is programmed to hunt down Shadows and protect humans. Over a year, she started to become more human-like, and she began to develop negative feelings. It was completely different when she felt Ryoji’s presence because he was a Shadow.

“You started to develop a strong jealousy towards him since last Christmas. You overheard that your beloved might consider leaving Shadow Operatives to be her boyfriend.” Aigis’ other self grinned.

“Shut up…” 

“He is very reasonable since she almost lost her life if it wasn’t for their unborn offspring taking her place. He was foolish to often his like that. He is just like his weak father.”

“I say, SHUT UP!!!!!” Aigis screamed at her. She attempts to fire bullets at her Shadow in rage. She hasn’t gotten over Vincent’s sacrifice.

 Aigis woke up in a cold sweat. She looks at her reflection again at the pool. It reveals her regular reflection. She realizes it is a dream. She notices the firearms on her fingertips have been activated for some reason. She looks from her left, revealing a broken vase and damaged flowers on the floor. She is freaked out. 

“What was that sound?” says one of the servants.

“It’s coming from Milady’s backyard. I think.” says the butler. 

“Oh no…” Aigis flee and hide in the rose garden.  

Present

“Aigis… are you alright? You seem troubled.” Kotone places her left hand on Aigis’ shoulder.

“I. I wasn’t able to sleep well. It was because of a disturbing nightmare.” Aigis felt disturbed.

“A nightmare? Is that another reason why you become jealous of Shinji?” 

Aigis doesn’t answer back.

Kotone gently touches Aigis’ face. “We knew each other for one and a half years. I know you're not the type to ruin romantic relationships or hurt them, except Ryoji-kun. Aigis, you are still special, and I will always love you. You are like an older sister to me.” 

Aigis felt rejected yet slightly relieved that she still cared for her in a family way.

“I promise I will never abandon you once I start a family.” Kotone kindly smiles at her. 

“Kotone…-san.” Before Aigis could respond, she suddenly felt empty and strongly desired to make Kotone hers alone. 

“Yes, go on ahead, make her yours…” Says Aigis’ Shadow’s voice.

Meanwhile 

After Shinjiro finishes texting Akihiko and Mitsuru to inform the others about Aigis’ location, he waits until Kotone calms Aigis down. 

“Are you sure it wise to let your fiancé be alone with Aigis?”

Shinjiro turned around, but there was no one around. 

“I’m down here!” 

He sees a monkey's hand rise high and then let down to see a lighter orange-yellow monkey with hazel eyes. 

“A talking monkey? Wait for a minute… that voice... Marco?” 

“That’s me, alright. I’m the same Macro who granted your wish to restore your life span.” Marco reintroduced himself.

“Figures it’s you… That annoying half-ass voice and monkey face.” Shinjiro looks annoyed.

“I’m hurt. Well, that’s technically who you are. You haven’t changed much in the past half of the year.” Marco says in a sarcastic tone.

“What do you want? I haven’t seen you since last year. I thought you couldn’t interfere in the timeline?” Shinjiro questioned him.

“Well, I’m here because something is wrong with your robot friend. She is not acting like her usual self.” Marco explained why he was there.

“That’s called jealousy. We humans get like that. It's nothing serious. Koto is going to reason with her like before.” 

“Oh really now? Do you think Kotone can reason with Aigis in her current state?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Shinjiro glared at him.

“I’m saying that someone has been infected with a virus in Aigis‘ system. It’s a dangerous one that came from outside of this timeline. It increased your negative thoughts and the chance to convert your Persona back into a Shadow.” Marco explained in a serious tone.

Shinjiro reacted in confusion and horrified.

He checks to see if Kotone is alright, only to see that she and Aigis usually converse. He expresses relief that nothing wrong happens to her. 

“Here, I wanted to give you this for some time.” Marco hands over the same strange candy he gave Shinjiro and the others.

“This candy again? No thanks, I don’t want this shit. It tasted awful.” Shinjiro looked disgusted.

“Not for you! It’s for Kotone! I have been meaning to tell you the next time I see you. That candy restored and attained memories of time ripple effects, or you might call it a time slip. That’s why you and the others retain your memories of me.” Marco explained to him. He felt offended when he said that. “I was planning to tell you what this candy made of my blood, but forget it.”

“If I give her this, would she remember the promised day, Vincent meeting her? I had a feeling he had seen her for the final time before her soul was released.” Shinjiro looks worried.

“It’s up to you if you want her to remember her original memories of the promised on graduation day you spent together.” He responded thoughtfully.

After he put the suspicious candy in his pocket, Shinjiro noticed something off with Aigis. She has a dark, ominous aura surrounding her. Aigis looks almost like she is about to kiss Kotone. He ran to stop her what she was planning to do. He felt so stupid for not realizing it sooner. 

“I’m surprised Aigis lasted this long up until right now. If this continues, Aigis’s persona will lose control and become a shadow. I already created an antidote for her to dispel the virus within her, but I need the right opportunity to get close to her.” Macro says in his thoughts. He disappeared into a portal.

“Aigis.. What are you doing? We can’t. I’m with Shinjiro.” Kotone begged Aigis to stop, but she restrained her hands with one arm. She places her free hand on her left face. 

“I… I always love you, too, but not in a family manner. I want to be with you even though I wasn't born male, nor I can’t pregnant you.” Aigis’ eyes look lifeless as if she is not in her right mind.

“Aigis, please stop. You’re scaring me.” Kotone is trembling with fear.

As Aigis is about to place her lips onto hers, Shinjiro grabs her arm and pushes her away from Kotone.

“YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER!!!!” Shinjiiro angrily yelled at her.

“Shinji…” Kotone began to shed tears on his chest.

“Aigis? What the hell are you doing?!” Yukari shouted at her.

The three of them turn around and see everyone arrived. They look bewildered, disturbed, and shocked by Aigis’ strange behavior.

“Everyone… I.” Aigis has no idea what to say to them. She temporarily regains her senses.

“Aigis…”

“Aigis-san..”

“*Whine*” Koromaru whimpered.

“This is going too far! How am I going to reason with you?” Shinjiro was irritated at Aigis.

“Fight me,” Aigis whispered to herself.

“Huh…?”

“Fight me in battle. Beat me, and I will accept Kotone’s marriage to you. Lose, You call off the engagement.” Aigis wagered a little bet to Shinjiro.

“Are you serious? At Mitsuru-senpai’s rose garden? That would be messy if all of the flowers were destroyed.”

“Wait! You two want to settle things. I guess I asked my driver to change the destination at Kirijo Corporation. There is a special training facility for members of Shadow Operatives. You can fight there, not in my garden. Since last summer, I asked my gardener to plant and care for Yukari’s favorite flowers.” Mitsuru suggested to Aigis and Shinjiro. 

Yukari faintly blushed at Mitsuru. “Even though I never ask her to plant gerbera. I just said it would be nice to have some gerbera to brighten her garden… I’m happy she remembers them.” She says in her thoughts happily. 

“Affirmative.” Aigis obliged.

“Whatever. You better keep your promise, Aigis.” Shinjiro death glared at her hard.

“I will.”

“Shinji… Aigis.” Kotone looks sad for both of them. She hates to see them fighting over her. 

Kirijo Corporation - Daytime

Junpei woke up in a limousine where Chidori sat next to him. She looks worried for him.

“Where am I? How long was I out?” Junpei, panicking, asked her.

“About three hours,” Chidori answered in a flat tone.

“THAT LONG?! I didn't expect I was out that long. I guess your maiden kiss must have put me in a lovely dream, then?” Junpei chuckled a bit.

“…” Chidori’s face turned pink.

“Aww… did I make you blush, Chidorita?” He flirting with her.

“Are you some kind of idiot, or do you like to make girls skip a beat…” Chidori says in a nervous tone while not looking at her boyfriend.

Junpei grinned. He noticed everyone was gloomy for some reason. 

“You guys… Why the long faces?” Junpei asked everyone.

“Junpei… It’s a long story.” Yukari responded to Junpei’s question.

“Where’s Ai-chan? Why isn't she with us to get dropped off by our dorms?” 

“We didn't go to our dorms because there was a delay,” Fuuka says sadly.

“What do you mean a delay? You guys still haven't answered my question about Aigis.” Junpei was confused.

“She isn't with us because she wants to fight Shinjiro to settle things between them. Mainly because of Shiomi.” Mitsuru explained to him.

Junpei reacted with an astonished expression.

After everyone left the limousine, Mitsuru asked her driver if he had time to take Chidori to her dormitory. Junpei walks to her with the car window open.

“Chidori, are you sure you want to return to your dorm alone instead of sticking around?” concerned Junpei.

“I’m going to be fine. This is your friend’s problem and has nothing to do with me. I’m sure whatever it is, they will made up somehow. Text me if you are free today to hang out.” Chidori says in a calm tone.

“I will.” Junpei kissed Chidori on the right cheek of her face before the car window rolled up, and Mitsuru’s driver drove her back to her dorm.

Kirijo Corporation - Secret Training Room

The room is filled with weapons, armor, and workout outfits to train themselves for the upcoming Shadow events. There are vendor machines containing energy drinks, water, soda, protein shake mixes (Akihiko’s suggestion to add for training), and snacks.

There is also a giant two-way mirror between the training and command rooms. 

Shinjiro was already geared up, given by Mitsuru, whom she had specially made for him if he ever decided to join Shadow Operative. He wore a black turtleneck with elbow-length sleeves, fingerless gloves, maroon camo pants, and combat boots. He is also given back the same axe from before. 

Aigis entirely removed her school uniform and revealed her robotic form. 

Kotone tries to reason with Shinjiro from fighting Aigis. 

Meanwhile, after they thoroughly explained the current situation to Junpei, he felt anger deep inside, so he punched his fist on a wall. 

“Dammit, Aigis! Why can you leave them alone and be happy?! This isn't right…” Junpei cursed Aigis for trying to steal Kotone from Shinjiro.

“Junpei… I’m confused as well. She never acted like this until now.” Yukari depressed.

“That’s because someone has infected Aigis in her system. I know a way to cure her.” says the familiar voice.

Everyone turns around to see a talking monkey in the command room.

“WTF?! A talking monkey!!!” Junpei freaked out.

“I told you I’m not a monkey; technically, I am in the real world.” Marco reminded Junpei.

“Marco, is that you?” 

“Yes, it’s me. I’m happy you guys remember me.”

“Back to the main topic, what do you mean Aigis is infected with a virus?” Mitsuru demanded answers from him.

“Well…”

Training Room

“I’m worried… you haven't been fighting for almost two years, and I’m afraid you might end up getting hurt.” Kotone worried for him.

Shinjiro pet Kotone’s head. “It’s okay. You don’t need to worry about me. I do daily exercises every day to keep my body in shape. I will knock some sense into Aigis.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing…” Kotone hugs him for comfort. 

Aigis suddenly felt extreme discomfort all over her body. She has no idea why, but she can’t make the pain go away. “What’s happening to me…”

Command Room

“Do you know the plan I'm talking about?  If Aigis’ Persona starts to lose control like how Shinjiro’s Persona did in 2007, Shinjiro will need to attach this chip to Aigis’ chest where her Plume of Dusk is located or on her back. I already discussed this with Shinjiro and handled the chip.”

Everyone nodded.

“Good. I hope we aren’t too late… once the battle ends.” 

Chapter Text

Kotone left to join the others in the Command Room to watch their match. 

Shinjiro prepares in his battle position, and Aigis tries to get a hold of herself.

“Last year, I never fought you in battle because I didn’t want to choose a side,” Aigis told him her reason.

“And now you want to fight me now, mainly because you want to break my engagement?” Shinjiro rudely asked.

“Affirmative, I won’t stand for stealing my Kotone-san from me!” Aigis declared her love for Kotone to him.

“I’m already aware you harbor romantic feelings for her since you met from your summer trip last year, but this… you crossed the line. I will make you return to your senses, Aigis, even without my Persona.” 

Meanwhile, on the sideline.

Everyone is seated in the command room. Yukari sat next to Mitsuru, who was in front of the control systems. Kotone sat next to Akihiko and Ken. Koromaru lay on Ken’s lap. Junpei and Fuuka are seated on the right side of the room.

Kotone noticed she couldn’t hear Shinjiro and Aigis’ conversation through the glass.  She can tell they look very hostile at each other by their expression.

“Mitsuru-senpai… I can’t hear what they're saying. Is the speaker inside of the training room turn off?” 

“Oh, that! I forgot to turn it on. The reason was turned off because of the other day.” Mitsuru felt embarrassed. She turns on the speaker to the training room.

“It was after a training session between Junpei and Aigis. He wouldn't stop talking about his girlfriend. He says Chidori loves sunflowers, drawing, and being outdoors, and she dislikes immature men except for Junpei. Then Aigis became off-topic too on how she keeps talking about you, preference, and “other things.” This ends up becoming a relationship conversation.” Yukari explained to Kotone, annoyed.

“What do you mean by “other things,” Yukari?” Kotone asked, curiosity with her innocent eyes. 

“It bests you don’t know what Aigis has been up to during her free time.” 

“You have a good point here, Yuka-tan… I went overboard. Chidori is my first girlfriend; I must know her likes and dislikes. That’s what a good boyfriend does!” Junpei complained.

Everyone face-palmed in disappointment towards Junpei.

Back to the training room.

Shinjiro starts the battle when he swings his axe at Aigis, but she dodges it. She then kicks him in the stomach. He withstands it from her attack. Aigis fires bullets at him. Shinjiro deflects it with his axe and throws it onto a wall, leaving holes marking. 

“Damn it… I need to find an opening to insert this anti-virus chip on Aigis.” He cursed to himself in his thoughts.   

Shinjiro tried to get behind Aigis and knock her out. She knew all of his moves from the last battle from one year to another because she watched him how to fight. He tries another tactic that is something Aigis hasn’t seen yet. 

“Quit dodging my attacks and fight me like you mean it!!” Aigis yelled at him. She keeps on firing at him. He decides to keep dodging it until she is out of bullets. 

Command Room

“Where’s he going? He just dodging Aigis’ bullets shots…” Junpei looks confused.

“Maybe since Aigis-san is also very important to Kotone-san, he tries not to hurt her.” Ken guessed.

“Arf! Arf!” Koromaru barked happily. It seems he agreed with Ken.

“No way, Shinji will never go a coward tactics… Although he usually has a plan, that is something unexpected to bring down his opponents. Unless…” Aki thoughts as something. He looks at Kotome, and it seems she is doing the same thing. They both nodded in agreement silently.

Mitsuru looks suspicious at Akihiko and Kotone as they seem to know what Shinjiro plans to do to Aigis. She looks at Aigis; she realizes she is almost low on bullets. Mitsuru’s eyes widen in surprise. 

“Mitsuru-senpai? What is it?”  says Yukari, bewildered. 

“Magnifique! I get it now! Shinjiro plans to…” 

Training Room

Aigis careless wasting her bullets to repeatedly shooting Shinjiro. He keeps dodges or deflects it with his axe. She is also careful not to hit the glass where Kotone is in. 

“What’s wrong, Aigis? I thought you are usually calm and stoic when facing your enemies?” Shinjiro taunted her.

“That was the old me. Over the past year, I started to become more human than before. Now I know how it feels to not lose someone precious to me. I’m not going to lose to you!!!!” Aigis looks angry at him.

“What about Koto? What do you think she will feel for you interfering with her love life? Don’t you want her to be happy?!” Shinjiro looks frustrated. 

“I do want her to be happy, but not with you. Someday, you will make her miserable, and I will be the one to comfort her. You already hurt her when you almost lost your life on Oct 4th, 2009, and fell into a coma for months.” Aigis mocked him.

“That was one time… I wasn't expected to survive on that day.” Shinjiro suddenly dropped his guard. He didn't want to think about that day. He saw her crying face when she thought he was going to die. He didn't want to make her sad again. That's why he’s not planning to tell her the truth about their unborn child.

“Shinji! Look out!” Kotone shouted at the speaker button. 

Shinjiro quickly came to his senses and noticed Aigis firing her bullet at his head. He barely dodges it, except he gets grazed wounded on his left shoulder.

Aigis slowly walks to him with a very menacing look.

“Don’t you see… you are a nuisance. I must kill you now.” Aigis’ eyes turn bloody red.

Everyone grasped with horrified reaction what she just did. They know Aigis will never kill a human before. She manages to resist Ikutsuki’s brainwashing two years ago when he forced her to kill them. This unknown virus inside Aigis is bringing the worst of herself this time.

“Did we just hear that right?! Is she going to kill Senpai?!” Junpei started to freak out.

“No way… Aigis is not that type of person who would do that.” Fuuka worried.

“Mitsuru!”

Mitsuru pressed the speaker’s button and tried to talk to Aigis. “Aigis! This isn't what you agreed upon in your fight! We don’t kill friends or human life! You need to stop now! This is a direct order as Kirijo heir!” Mitsuru ordered her.

“I lied; this is the only time I disobeyed you.” Aigis ignored Mitsuru’s plead.

“Aigis!!! PLEASE DON’T DO THIS!!!” Kotone screamed at Aigis. 

“This is goodbye… Aragaki-san.” Aigis points her fingertips at Shinjiro’s head. She heard a clicking sound When she was about to fire at his head. She is unable to fight any bullets from her fingertips. She realizes she used up all of her bullets.

“I knew you when you ran out of bullets as soon you lose control of your emotions.”

Shinjiro took advantage by tripping Aigis and slashing her from behind. He then grabbed Aigis’ ribbon from her neck to pull her closer. He headbutted her so hard that she fell to the ground. It leaves small cracks on her face plate. Shinjiro quickly takes the anti-virus from his pocket and places it on her back. 

“I’m sorry, Aigis, this is the only way to cure you.” The devices proceeded to clean the virus inside Aigis’s system. Suddenly, she screams in pain when something comes out of her. A dark red substance leaves her body, evaporating into nothingness. Aigis’ eyes change back to blue eyes before she loses consciousness. 

“Aigis!” Everyone calls out her name.

One hour later.

Aigis regained consciousness, and she is currently being repaired in the laboratory. She’s noticed her face plate has been replaced with a new one. However, she is now being plugged into various machines. Everyone was present to see her.

“Thanks, goodness you’re alright.” Yukari expressed relief for her.

“Yukari-san… What happened? Where’s Kotone-san?” Aigis asked.

“She’s with her fiancee now. So far, he has some bruises and seems wounded, not serious enough to become a scar.” Yukari explained.

“Seriously, Aigis? Why would you do that? Do you have deep hatred toward Shinjiro-senpai?” Junpei looks angry at her.

“What are you talking about? I don’t hate Aragaki-san. He is our friend and Kotone-san’s boyfriend.” 

“You don’t remember what happened just now? You challenged him to battle for the fight for Kotone’s love.” 

“What was the last thing you remember?” Ken asked her.

“It was on Christmas Eve of last year.” 

“WHAT?! Are you saying you don’t have any memories from the past two months?” 

“Affirmative. I don't know how I lost my memories from two months ago. I think it was… *gasp* I remember! A strange person was spying on Kotone and Shinjiro’s date.”

“A strange person? Don’t let me it's Strega?!”

“No, Akihiko, it’s not them. They have been dead for a year now. I think it might be someone who is not from your timeline.” Marco says, who is currently sitting on an unopened container filled with bullets and ammo.

“Umm. Why’s that monkey talking? How does he know Akihiko-san’s name?”  Aigis wondered.

“That’s not important. Please continue what were you going to say.” 

“Well, it started in the evening on Christmas Eve at Paulownia Hall….”

December 24th, 2010 - Paulownia Mall; Evening

Aigis just finished purchasing a gift for Kotone-san in the jewelry store. She notices an unknown person spying on someone. At first, it wasn’t her business to intervene in other people’s affairs unless it was someone she knew. 

“So, how was your first Christmas since you comatose last year?” says a familiar, cheerful, feminine voice.

“It’s not bad. This is my first time spending Christmas Eve with the person I loved.” says a familiar masculine yet kind voice.

“Kotone-san?! Aragaki-san?!”  

She checks from a direction and realizes the person is spying on Kotone and Shinjiro’s Christmas date. They appeared to have a good time together as a romantic couple. 

Suddenly, Aigis overheard something from that unknown stranger. They wore a crimson red hoodie, bagged pants, and sneakers to cover their face. 

“Since this is the prototype of my creations. I need to test on someone that my mind control particles work on an individual.” They removed something from their pockets, revealing a dark red dust-like substance in a glass vial.  “I might as well be tested on not just any random human but the same person who saved the world.”

Aigis realizes that they aren’t after both of them. They are targeting Kotone.  

“First, I need to stop time and then pour onto top of her. I can’t wait to see how her friends would react if they saw their precious friend gone insane and a hateful person in the world when her Persona reverted into Shadow to kill them.” They devilish smirked.

They activate their powers, and time has stopped. They were about to open the lid, and they felt someone hard on his left arm. They turn around to see Aigis, the only one immune to the time effects.

“You!” They glared at her.

“Whatever you are planning to do to her, I won’t let you hurt her!” Aigis attempts to break their arm off.

“Hehehe… good luck with that. I’m impressed you managed to grab onto me before I activated my powers. You are just a defective machine with a human personality.” They mocked her.

“Who are you?! What do you want with her?!” Aigis asked angrily.

“I am merely going to use her as my test subject. You won’t remember once I leave this timeline.”  

“What?!”

The stranger blasts fire on Aigis, damaging her winter coat. They then throw the vital at her. Aigis quickly realizes what they are doing. She uses her thrusters to take the hit for Kotone. The glass vial shattered, and the dark red substance went inside Aigis’ mouth. She fell to the floor, and she tried to cough it out of her. 

“Damn… you got in my way, you piece of machine! It doesn’t matter; I’m curious about how a machine breaks when you become your worst self.” 

“*cough* What do you mean?” Aigi's death glared at them.

The stranger disappears, and time starts to move forward again.

Aigis’ memories of that stranger have been erased. “Wait…why am I on the floor for? Where’s Kotone-san’s present I brought her?” She looked everywhere for the gift until she found it near where she had bought it. She picks up from the floor. She heard Kotone’s voice coming from Paulownia Mall’s fountain. 

She hides in the back of the central fountain to spy on them.

“Koto, I wanted to give you this. It’s an early gift before Christmas. I want to see how you reacted.” Shinjiro gave Kotone a delicately wrapped gift to her.

“ Can I unwrap it?!” Kotone looks excited to open her gift.

“Sure.”

Kotone unwraps her gift, revealing it as a bright red Sony M3P Walkman device.

“Oh, Wow! A new Sony M3P walkman device! I tried to get a new version, but they always get sold out when it is first released! Thank you so much for this best gift, Shinji!” Kotone kisses him on the cheek.

“I heard from Aki that your old one got broken from one of your Shadow-related missions in Tokushima against a sea monster-like creature two months ago,” Shinjiro explained. 

“I tried to ask Fuuka if she could fix it, but it was beyond repair since it was broken into pieces. I wasn’t able to listen to any new music since then.”

“I know you always love listening to music when you’re relaxed.”

“Oh, I almost forgot! Here is your early Christmas gift! They made me think of you.” Kotone gave Shinjiro a gift bag to him. 

Shinjiro opened his gift, revealing a new peacoat nearly identical to his old one, except it was bright burgundy red with black trim on the shoulder pad and bottom sleeves. He notices there is something underneath his black knitted scarf.

“Koto… This is one of the best you gave me. No one has ever given me a gift like this. Second is Aki; he mainly gives me protein shakes, light weights, or coupons for my favorite restaurant.” Shinjiro says with a satisfied look. It seems he loves Kotone’s gifts for him.

“That scarf, I made myself. I learned it from one of my old friends from my second year in the sewing club. Finding the right color yarns to knit for you took me a while. I thought it would be a good match with your new peacoat.” Kotone’s explained her gift to him.

“That makes me feel more happy. Thank you, Koto.” Shinjiro embraced her tightly in his arms. Kotone hugged him back.

Aigis, who is spying on them, seems very happy for them for giving each other the best Christmas gifts. 

Kotone snuggled next to Shinjiro for a while. He wrapped his right arm around her right shoulder for comfort. They had a pleasant night together. 

They stay for a few minutes. Shinjiro’s expression changed to a saddened and yet worried look. He let go of her and rested his hand in his pockets. 

“Shinji? What’s wrong?” Kotone worried.

“I… Please leave the Shadow Operatives once we start a family. Please stay by my side.” 

Aigis reacted in great shock at Shinjiro’s words to her. 

“What are you talking about and why?” Kotone is greatly surprised by him.

“Almost every month, I see you get hurt, nothing but bruises and injuries from fighting Shadows from across Japan. I know you tried to balance out your school life, our relationship, and saving humanity from Shadows. I feared that you might end up losing your life one day.” Shinjiro looks depressed.

“Shinji… you know I can take care of myself. I have my Persona and Wild Card ability to protect me from harm. You don’t have—” Kotone tried to reason with him until he cut her off. 

“It doesn't matter. You were the strongest and most fearless leader before SEES disbanded this year. You still are, and that’s one of the qualities I love about you. However, this is different. I can’t lose you again from the last battle against Nyx.” He places both hands on his face, showing how scared he is to lose her.

“Shinji…” Kotone grabs one of his hands onto hers. 

“If you are worried about your friends from Shadow Operatives, you can still see them and hang out like before. You don’t have to do it right now; think about it after graduation, okay?”  Shinjiro says with a concerned look.

“Alright…” Kotone looks sad.

Aigis feared losing her if she decided to leave Shadow Operatives to be with him. She drops the gift she brought and walks off in depression. Suddenly, she felt a pain in my chest. She had never fallen before. Unknowingly to her, the Plume of Dusk acted as her heart and started to glow dark purple.

Aigis’ Flashback ended.

“So that was when you slowly became corrupt from that virus meant for Kotone.”  Marco theorized. 

“Do you remember what their face looks like?” Junpei asked her.

“I think they have fangs and scales on their faces and hands. It was almost like dragon scales.” Aigis tries to remember.

“Fangs.. dragon scales…!!! I think I know who was responsible for this!” says Marco in his thoughts, with a severe look.

“Marco, thanks for helping Aigis-san; so, who will be paying the price for the chip you made for her?” Ken curiously asked him.

“Oh, about that, the price is… Aigis must never fall in love again. If she falls for someone who looks like Kotone, her descendants, or Kotone, disaster will be brought before them. Leading them to their death or worse.” 

Everyone was profoundly puzzled and yet saddened for Aigis. 

“Then that means she can’t get closer to Kotone-Chan again…”

“Come on, there is got to be a second or third option for helping Aigis. You did for Shinjiro-senpai’s lifespan!” Junpei tries to bargain with Marco.

“I’m deeply sorry, Junpei. This is the price for saving Aigis. There is no alternative method besides not falling in love again.” Marco looks deeply regretted.

“Junpei-san… It’s alright. This virus I had for two months must been so serious that I almost did something horrible. This is my atonement, and I’ll accept it.” Aigis appeared to have accepted her price.

“Aigis…”

“Everyone, please tell me what “I” did after December 24th. I begged all of you. I need to know.” Aigis pleased them to reveal the truth to her.

At first, they are hesitant to tell her, but they can tell she’s serious about this. They decide to come clean with her.

Meanwhile, in the medicinal room.

After the doctor cleaned up Shinjiro’s injuries and bandaged his left shoulder, he said his wound would heal in two weeks. He must keep changing his bandages and apply antibiotic ointment to prevent infections. 

“This would be a pain to remember it all. Ack?!” Shinjiro finches from his injuries on his shoulder.

“Shinji, you should listen to the doctor. You will recover at a normal pace. If not, you will end up getting another scar again.” Kotone scolded him.

Shinjiro shrugged. He’s aware she’s right. 

“I… been meaning to tell you about what you told me two months ago…. I… still want to be my friend’s side in Shadow Operatives. They are important to me, and I love them. They are the only family I have left. To you, you’re different; you are my soon-to-be husband. I want to share my life with you. I meant every word.”  Kotone says wholeheartedly.

“Koto… you care for them deeply that much.” Shinjiro sadly smiled.

“I already asked Mitsuru-senpai that if I ever get pregnant, she says I can take maternity leave when I am close to having a baby. She also mentioned I could return once I recovered from my postpartum recovery. This means I won’t be able to fight Shadows for eight more weeks. That way, you don’t have to worry about me. I am willing to learn to look after our baby.” Kotone carefully explains to Shinjiro. 

“Who’s going to after you when I’m not around?”

“Our friends will take turns looking after me when you aren’t available.” She says with a straight face.

“You plan it out from two months ago?” 

“Yeah. I did. Shinji, unlike before when I sacrificed my life to become the Great Seal to seal away Nyx. I’m willing to look forward to the future with you and everyone else.” She says with determination.

Shinjiro pets Kotone’s head. 

“Maybe. You’re right. I guess I was an overprotective fiancé. I’m sorry I gave you a difficult decision to make. You didn’t want to choose between your friends or lover.”

“That’s okay. I forgive you. Once we get married, we can’t keep secrets and no lies. We have to be open with each other from now on. Please, swear to me, we will always be honest with each other.” Kotone requested him.

“I swear to be honest with you, Koto,” Shinjiro promised her. Unknowingly to her, Shinjiro still can’t tell her about Vincent, their unborn son. 

Shinjiro grabbed his turtleneck shirt and put it on slowly before he could hold his locket key where the clothes he was initially wearing were. Chidori entered the room.

“Chidori! What are you doing here? I thought you were going to wait for Junpei?” Kotone asked Chidori.

“I was, but… I got worried since he didn’t text me back, so I came here to pick him up earlier. Do you guys know where Junpei is?” 

“I will show Yoshino where he is. Koto, can you bring my clothes from my assigned locker room? I think it’s in the guys’ room. I preferred to change at home. Mitsuru says I can keep my clothes in case I ever decide to join Shadow Operatives.” Shinjiro handles the locket key to Kotone. 

“Okay, please be careful not to move your shoulder around.” Kotone worried for him.

“I will.” Shinjiro leaves the Medical Room with Chidori.

Men’s Locker Room

Thankfully, the other male staff haven’t arrived yet, which will bring her enough time to take out Shinjiro’s clothes and walk off before anyone notices. Kotone unlocks the locker that Mitsuru signed Shinjiro to join Shadow Operatives if he ever changes his mind. The locker number reads, “1002”. She is surprised that his unused locker is next to Akihiko’s. Shinjiro’s casual clothes are inside a black bag, except it’s not zipped. Something drops from Shinjiro's peacoat when she carefully removes it from the locker. She picks it up, wipes it neat from her sweater, and looks at it, revealing it to be a piece of candy, except it has an unusual dark red color.

“What’s this? Candy? I thought he hated sweets. Hmmm… did he secretly buy my sweets for me?” Kotone becomes curious about what the candy tastes like. “I guess having one won’t hurt, and I will apologize to him if it was supposed to surprise me.” 

Chapter Text

Everyone explains everything to Aigis. At first, she was calm and collected for a few minutes until she started to break down. 

“Oh my god… what have I done?! I cause so much pain for Kotone-san.” Aigis says with a remorseful look.

“Aigis, it wasn’t your fault; it was a virus created by someone outside our timeline. I’m sure she will understand once we explain this to Kotone.” Yukari says positively to her scared friend.

“Wait for a second…I don’t think she will believe us because she doesn’t have any recollection from Abyss of Time, nor has Vincent seen her before he switched places with her .“ Junpei sounds unsure.

“Which is why I already gave Shinjiro that same “candy” I gave you except Aigis last year.” Marco interrupts their conversation.

“We have been wondering about the candy you gave us. What’s it made of? I had never seen candy this unusual color before. It wasn’t made in any candy shop or outside Port Island Station.” Ken politely asked.

“Oh, that's easy. That candy is made from my blood.” He casually responds to Ken’s question. 

Everyone except Koromaru reacted in disgust and discomfort.

“Gross… I tasted the monkey’s blood. No offensive.” 

“*Panting* *Panting* Arf.” Koromaru doesn’t seem to mind the taste. He is seen wagging his tail. 

“None taken. I expect you will act that way.” 

“Wait, did Shinji know about this?!”

“No, I was planning on telling him, but he offended me, so that I won’t tell him. Feel free to tell him if you like.” Marco looks annoyed on his face.

“You could make something else besides your blood! Why?!” 

“My blood and my siblings have a unique property that we decided to bless to retain their memories of us and the original or revised timelines. You guys only need a small amount of my blood. Half of the lint or a large amount will have severe side effects. Like nightmares or traumas, you don’t want to know the rest. It’s horrible.” Marco stated. 

“Marco-san…”

“It’s Marco. You don’t have to be this formal with me, Fuuka.”

“Marco-kun.”

“I will let that side since it’s cute. What was your question?”

“I want to say the next time we ever see you again, thank you for your help saving Kotone-chan’s soul and restoring Aragaki-senpai’s life span, especially with Vincent-kun’s sacrifice to make it happen. Even though he was Kotone-chan, Aragaki-san, and Ryoji-kun’s son, we still think of him as our friend,” says Fuuka, thankfully Marco.

“I didn’t do anything. I granted Vincent and Shinjiro’s wishes. You were lucky that I took an interest in Shinjiro’s ability of Wild Card and Vincent’s determination to find me.” 

Aigis seems to be lost in thoughts.

“Aigis, what’s wrong?” Yukari asked her.

“I still find it impossible. How can Vincent-san be Ryoji-san’s son and gain his powers? Kotone-san was carrying Aragaki-san’s unborn child for four months until his caretaker saved him during the final battle, and he wasn’t able to grow naturally due to being conceived during the Dark Hour.”  Aigis looks confused.

“Aigis, we already heard it from Vincent himself. He got Ryoji’s Death power inside Kotone before leaving her psychic and gaining a moral body.” Junpei reminded.

“That’s not how Vincent inherited Ryoji’s powers.” 

Everyone was shocked and confused.

“What do you mean?”

“Since I like you guys, I can tell you briefly. Kotone’s unborn child can get some nutrients from human food but can’t survive without any nutrients from Death. He needed something to keep himself alive and growing slowly.”  

“Are you saying what I am saying?! You don’t mean that….” Akihiko worried.

“What are you saying, Senpai?”

“Yes, Akihiko, for Vincent to survive without the presence of Death, he needed to absorb energy from Death itself, which means intimacy, kissing, hickeys, or sex.” 

“No way… there’s no way Kotone cheated on Aragaki-senpai when he was in a coma!” Yukari says in denial.

“I remember Kotone started hanging out with Ryoji throughout November two years ago. He helped her go through the hard times, and she was able to open up to people again. I think he secretly asks her to come to her room.” 

“WHAT THE HELL ARE SAYING?!” says a frustrated young man.

They turn around to see Shinjiro and Chidori outside Aigis’s room, who do not know what’s happening. Shinjiro looks extremely angry at Marco.

“Chidori?! What are you doing here? I thought you were going to wait for me?” Junpei looks surprised. 

“I was worried, and you didn’t reply, so I—” Before Chidori could explain to Junpei, Shinjiro interrupted her conversation and focused on Marco.

“What do you mean he got his Death powers from intimacy instead of being inside of her?! Are you saying she cheated on me when I was comatose?! That’s bullshit!” Shinjiro yelled at him.

“You already know that your fiancée wasn’t aware she was pregnant at the time because he only grew during the Dark Hour. She ended up believing she became infertile from heartbreak. You’re the one who wrote a letter to her before Dark Hour on Oct 4th in the first place.” Marco coldly reminded him.

“Letter? What letter? What’s he talking about?” Mitsuru asks Shinjiro.

“Shut up.”

“He wrote an apology letter meant for Kotone. He thought he was going to die on that day. He secretly wanted her to move on and find someone else to share her life with once he was gone. He would bless Akihiko if he had romantic feelings for her.”

“Shinji, why would you write that? Don’t you have romantic feelings for her? Why do you give up?” Akihiko looks angry. 

“That was before I realized I survived that bastard’s attack! I didn't know I would survive from one of the bullets absorbed from my old pocket watch. I regretted writing it. However, I didn't put it in her room or my desk in case she ever came to my room. I decided to throw it away. After being charged from the hospital, I planned on burning my apology letter from my trash, but the letter was gone. I assumed someone else destroyed it for me. I guess not.” Shinjiro felt regretful of his previous actions.

“You didn’t have any confidence about your relationship with her? You thought she would be better off with your childhood friend than—”

From Chidori’s perspective 

“Oookie Oookie. Ooh. Aaakk! (Monkey noises)”  Marco sounds angry and then jumps around on the table. 

“Junpei, why is Aragaki-senpai talking to a monkey? Can he understand it?” Chidori whispered in Junpei’s ear. 

“Yeah, um. I’ll take you back to your dorm now.” Junpei grabbed Chidori’s hand and quietly left the room before anyone noticed he was gone.

Back to everyone’s perspective

“You are a timekeeper and all. Did she cheat on me? If this is a sick joke, that ain’t funny.” Shinjiro glared at him.

“Ask her yourself. Could you not take your anger on me? I was the one who helped you in the first place. I got to go. I need to find someone who can find Aigis’ culprit. I will come again once you calm down.” Marco created a portal and jumped through it. The portal disappeared. 

“Shinji! I got your clothes! I saw Junpei and Chidori along the way. They seem distressed, and Junpei hesitates to look me in the eyes for some reason.” Kotone says in a cheerful tone. 

Everyone stared at her in confusion and worried. 

“Huh? Why the serious look? Did something happen to Aigis?” Kotone frowned. 

Shinjiro’s expression darkens as he looks at her. He grabbed her wrist and forcefully pulled her away from the others so they could hear.

“Ooww. Shinji, wait!” Kotone begged him.

“Hey! Shinji, stop it. You’re hurting her!” Akihiko shouted at him, but he ignored him. He tried to go after them, but Mitsuru grabbed his arm. 

“Stop, this is their problem. Not our. We must not interfere with their conversation. They need to settle their differences.” Mitsuru says with a solemn look. 

Akihiko is so frustrated that he bit his lip.

Yukari, Fuuka, Ken, and Koromaru look worried about them. 

“I hope this is a misunderstanding,” Ken says, worried.

Kirijo Company - Hallway

Shinjiro still dragged Kotone's right wrist while she held Shinjiro’s clothes. She tries to break free from his grip, but he is too strong.

“Shinji! Let me go! Where are you taking me?! Please let go!” Kotone begged him.

Shinjiro let go of her wrist.

“Shinjiro, what’s wrong with you?! Why are you mad at me?” Kotone looks confused.

“Tell me the truth,” Shinjiro demanded her.

“Truth? What truth?”

“Your relationship with this Mochizuki person before he became Nyx Avatar or whatever. Did you have sex with him when I was in a coma?!” Shinjiro yelled at her furiously. 

“What, no, I didn’t! Ryoji-kun is just an important friend! He was good to me when I was depressed about Ikutsuki’s betrayal. Dark Hour and Tartarus never disappeared, and I couldn't bear any child anymore because of my heartbreak at the time until February, when I had my period again.” Kotone explained to him.

“This must have been when she was still pregnant with Vincent. She hasn’t realized the truth yet. I can’t tell her about him.” Shinjiro says in his thoughts, depressed. 

“I don't know why you are mad at me and assume I cheated on you, but you wrote a letter to me. I should be moving on and being with someone else!” Kotone looks hurt.  She clearly didn't take his rejected letter when he was in a coma. 

“So you are the one who took my discarded letter in my trash. That… I planned to put it in your room or desk but changed my mind. The truth is… It would help if you didn’t end up with anyone. I’m sorry what I wrote.” Shinjiro apologized to her.

“I knew you wanted me to be happy if I’m with someone else. But… there’s no other someone than you I wanted to be with. *sobbing*” Kotone began to cry.

“Koto… I didn't know. Please tell me what happened between you two when I was in a coma. I promise I won’t be angry at you again.” Shinjiro pleaded with her. 

“You promise?” Kotone asked for a while, trying to wipe her tears. 

“Yes, I promised.” Shinjiro holds her small hands close to his chest. He looks very sincerely in his eyes. Kotone hesitates about what she plans to tell him but still trusts him and knows he will never hurt her again. 

“Okay. I’ll tell you what I remember.  Since I met Ryoji, we have been hanging out a lot. We spend time on certain days he’s available. After school, Kyoto trip, and days off. I tried to move on when I started to date Ryoji-kun, but our relationship didn't last long after he revealed he was an appraiser of Death. We both knew we had never met to be. I realized my relationship with the people I loved always hurt me.” Kotone clutched her chest in sadness and pain. 

Shinjiro can tell she has been through a lot since he was comatose. He should be mad at her, but she was only doing this because of what he wrote. It was like a final request if he ever died on that fateful day.

“On New Year's Eve, Ryoji requested me to kill him, but I refused. He even showed his true form to me. He begged me again to kill him because he didn’t want me to suffer. I still refused to kill him.  It was not because he was my ex. He was very important to me in a family sense. He gave me a parting gift, a ring he got from Kyoto that was memorable when he was human. He thanked me for everything and was glad I knew him as Ryoji Mochizuki.” Kotone sadly smiles at him.

“Koto…”

“And then…” Kotone suddenly collapsed to the floor while clutching her head. She drops Shinjiro’s clothes in the bag. She is in great pain.

“Kotone! What’s wrong?!” Shinjiro kneeled and held her in his arms. He looks worried for her. He felt helpless as all he could do was watch as she rested her head on his chest, still in pain.

Chapter Text

Two years ago…

December 31st, 2009, Kotone’s Room

Kotone and Ryoji had their final chat in her room. 

“I love you,” Ryoji confessed his love for her.

Kotone smiles back, trying to hold back her tears.

“Let’s go back to the others. I must tell you how to confront Nyx,” Ryoji says solemnly.

“Right.” Kotone agreed with him.

Before they left, Kotone felt so dizzy that she fell to her knees. Ryoji noticed something was off and tried to catch her in his arms.

“Kotone! What’s wrong?!” Ryoji panicked.

“I…I don’t know. For some reason, I felt weak.” Kotone says weakly.

Ryoji carried her to her bed. She can sit up, but she can’t get up.

“I knew it. The unborn child you are carrying was conceived during Dark Hour. It absorbed your lifespan since I was no longer inside you when I was Pharos. This is bad.” Ryoji says with a worried look.

“Unborn child? You mean I was pregnant with my first love the entire time?! But how?!  I don't understand?! I don’t show any early symptoms of pregnancy. How is that even possible?!” Kotone panicked.

“You need to calm down when I explain what I know. I think you haven't shown any signs of pregnancy because they were growing slowly by each Dark Hour. Which month did you start to have sex?” 

“October 2nd.” Kotone calmly responds.

“Starting in October, the Dark Hour runs completely different from normal life. You only had your baby for 3-4 days in Dark Hour, not in real-time. If you were pregnant in real-world time, you would be two or three months.” 

“What’s going to happen to them?!” 

“Without me to stabilize your unborn child with my powers, I’m afraid it’s slowly killing you until it’s fully born. I can help you to prevent your death.”

“There’s no time… Dark Hour will start in 20 minutes. You will lose your human form.” Kotone sadden.

“I can use my powers to stop temporarily promptly. It will buy me some time to save you.” Ryoji uses his powers to stop time and space. Kotone looked around and saw her room was in dull colors, and her alarm clocks stopped moving. She realizes he really can stop time and space as well. She wonders if it has something to do with the Arcana Fortune fragment inside him.

“If you want to save your unborn child. I can stabilize them with my powers, and they should grow naturally in both real-time and Dark Hour.” Ryoji suggested to Kotone to save her unborn child. 

“What’s the second option?” Kotone questioned him with a worried look.

“If you want to eliminate them, I will absorb them inside my body since I sense a small portion of myself.” He says with a sad look. 

“I… I can’t lose my child. It’s like losing the last reminder of someone I loved. This child is the only one I had with him.” Kotone refused to give up on her unborn child. She doesn't know how long her loved one would be in a coma. Whether it’s months, years, or even if she grew elderly, she can’t risk getting rid of them. She clenched her stomach tightly. 

“I see. Your child with your first love is important to you.”

“Yes, they are. Please tell me how you can save them. I don’t want them to die.” Kotone started to shed some tears. 

“Kotone, what I am about to tell you is very important. You must not freak out.” Ryoji calmly asks her.

“I promised.”

“To stabilize your child, I need to embed a portion of my powers inside of your womb. They should be able to grow naturally like normal infants, but they still can’t live without Dark Hour.” Ryoji stated.

“Embedded? Are you going to give most of your powers to them? How are you going to do that?!” Kotone looks confused.

“Something like that, but it’s not that simple. 

To do that, we must be intimate with each other.  After that, we have to kiss, have sexual pressure, and have sex.” 

“WHAT?! I-I can’t do this. There’s got to be another way. I won't cheated on him. He was the only person I ever wanted to make love to.” Kotone looked shocked.

“This is the only way. I’m not joking. Besides, this will be the only time we ever do this before I lose my human form. I’m sorry, Kotone.” Ryoji is greatly saddened for her.

“Ryoji…” Kotone started to break out in tears. She doesn't know what to do. 

He walked toward her, sat next to her, and wiped the tears out of her eyes. 

“Kotone, if you felt like you were betraying him. How about after we have sex? I’ll erase your memories of your pregnancy, and we'll make love. That way, you won’t know about it. You will end up discovering it once you develop the early symptoms of pregnancy next month in January.” Ryoji suggested to her.

“You can do that? Would it be like trading my innocence?” Kotone asked him, but he didn’t respond to her question.

“It’s my fault your unborn child became part of the Dark Hour when I was inside of you. I want to make up for it. They are not only your and your first love, but they are also my child too. Please, let me help.” Ryoji begged her. He gently touches Kotone’s face with his warm hand.

“Okay. Just one time. Please be gentle with me.” Kotone sadly accepted Ryoji’s offer to save her child. She touches Ryoji’s hand with hers.  

Ryoji leads first as he places his lips on her. They closed their eyes as they started to get intimate with each other. She felt his tongue intertwined with hers inside of her mouth. Ryoji touched her breasts before he squeezed them. They stop to catch their breath. He nibbles Kotone’s right ear before licking it. Kotone started to moan a little. He takes off her red scarf and places it on the ground. Kotone does the same thing when she removes Ryoji’s scarf. 

He had Kotone lie down on her bed, where he started to kiss her neck. He then took off his collar shirt, revealing his avenged lean body. She almost forgot that he was skinnier than Shinjiro, who was slightly muscular. He removed her orange sweater top and placed it with her scarf, revealing her red lace bra. 

“Kotone…” Ryoji whispered her name softly. 

“Ryoji…” Kotone whispered back to him.

The two made out again, but they embraced each other this time.

“Shinji… I’m so sorry. I can’t bring myself to get rid of our child. They are the last reminder of you..” Kotone says in her thoughts, regretfully.

Present 

Kotone regains consciousness when she sees Shinjiro by her side with a worried look. 

“Koto, are you alright?” Shinjiro asked.

“Yeah. I’m alright. I remember everything on that night on December 31st, 2009. He noticed my weak state because my life force absorbed our unborn as nutrition. They weren’t stabilized without Ryoji. He said the only way to save them was to make love for a while, giving most of his powers to them. This was the only way Ryoji transferred his powers as Death to them. He also offers to erase my memories after we had sex and accept it.” Kotone felt shameful and regretful for cheating him. 

Shinjiro reacted in shock and confusion. He grabbed his clothes from the bag, stood up, and walked away. 

“Shinji! I’m so sorry! *sob* Please don’t go! Shinji!” Kotone screamed his name, but he ignored her. He looks at her, and she is crying uncontrollably. 

Shinjiro stops briefly to tell her face-to-face.“Kotone… I need some time apart.”  He looked disappointed in her. 

Kotone felt like her heart had sunk into the bottomless ocean, where nothing had come back up. She looked down at the floor and broke down, starting to cry her eyes out in remorse. 

He leaves the building alone without Kotone.

Two weeks later. 

March 20th, 2011

Shinjiro rarely comes to the apartment where he and Kotone live. He spends most of his days at the back of Port Island Station. Kotone focuses on training to get stronger and focus on choosing her classes in the college she chose for her spring semester. They haven’t spoken ever since.

Kirijo Headquarters - Meeting Room

Yukari, Junpei, Fuuka, Ken, Koromaru, and Mitsuru were the only ones present. The room consists of a long table with several black leather business chairs, a whiteboard with several colors of waterproof markers and erasers, and a projector screen connected to the ceiling.

“I called you guys here today to discuss Kotone and Shinjiro’s relationship,” says Mitsuru. She drops her surname and calls Kotone by her first name. It shows how serious she is. 

“I know, Kotone hasn’t been her usual cheerful self lately. She still felt guilty about what she did. I realize she did it to save Vincent’s life. If she didn’t, neither of them would be alive today.” Yukari sadden. 

“I agree with you, Yukari-chan. I felt bad for her, too. I could never be mad at her. She didn’t want to lose her child with Aragaki-senpai.” Fuuka pats Yukari’s right shoulder for comfort.

“In my opinion, I should be mad at her for cheating on Shinjiro-senpai like that.  However, it was technically his fault for writing an apology letter to her in the first place. If Chidori cheated on me with someone by force, I would be pissed off too. “

“Junpei! Now is not the time!” Yukari yelled at him angrily.

“What? It’s my option. If it weren't for Ryoji, I would lose my best friend and Senpai. Vincent is also our friend, even if we have only been together briefly. He’s the main reason both of them are alive today.” Junpei looks depressed.   

“I’m kind of worried for Shinjiro-san. He hasn’t texted or talked to Kotone-san for two weeks. I’m unsure if they call off their engagement or do not want to see each other again.” Ken looks sad.

“*Whine*…” Koromaru seems sad about their relationship falling apart. Ken comforts him by hugging him. Koromaru rests on Ken’s shoulder. 

“It’s okay, Koromaru. I’m sure they will make up somehow.”

“Do you know where Aigis is?” 

“She locked herself in the lab. She still felt guilty for hurting Kotone’s relationship with Shinjiro. Kotone tried to call her many times, but she ignored her. Maybe Aigis thinks she might never forgive her again after what happened.” Mitsuru explained.

“We should focus on fixing their relationship first. We need to find a way for them to meet up again without getting suspicious,” Yukari wonders.

“How about Yakushima!” Junpei excitedly suggested.

“Iori, why do you think going to Yakushima would solve anything?” Mitsuru suspiciously asked him.

“Well, since last year, we haven’t gone due to our business schedules and fighting shadows outside Tatsumi Port Island. I thought it would be a good relaxing weekend. This will also be Koromaru, Ken, Shinjiro-senpai, and Chidori’s first time going there.” Junpei grinned in delight.

“You just want to see Chidori in a swimsuit, right?” Yukari guessed in annoyance. 

“A course! I knew many swimsuit shops that would suit her best. I’m planning on taking her myself!” 

“Nice try, Junpei. Fuuka, Kotone, and I will take her shopping. You’ll make her wear something inappropriate or sexier swimsuit.” Yukari looks disgusted at Junpei’s pervert nature.

“Oh, come on! I will never do that. I considered finding her a red or pink since she always wore white dresses.” 

“I think it’s a good idea to go to Yakushima for Spring Break with everyone.” Fuuka liked Junpei’s proposal.

“By the way, where’s Sanada-san?” Ken asked Mitsuru. 

“He’s looking for Shinjiro. He will try to persuade him to make up with Kotone again.” Mitsuru responded sadly.

“How about you text him about going to Yakushima and say it will be a good way to relax and relieve stress? He won’t suspect us of bringing him and Kotone-san together,” Ken persuaded her. 

“Did you think it might work?” Fuuka asked him.

“I think so. Yukari-san, you can invite Kotone-san to the trip. Tell her it’s only for friends to hang out and spend time together.  It would be an excellent way to calm the minds, “ Ken persuaded Yukari.

“Okay, Ken. I hope you know what you're doing.” Yukari worried.

“I’m positive it might work,” Ken says determinedly. 

“Alright, I will inform Akihiko of the plan. And if they decide to break up their engagement, we should not force them to be together if they don’t want to. We have to respect their decisions,” Mitsuru advised everyone.

Everyone nodded in agreement. 

“I’ll go look for Kotone in the training room. She should be there. I’ll inform her about Yakushima.” 

“I’ll go with you too, Yukari-chan.” 

Port Island Station

Akihiko decides to go to the same place Shinjiro always went back then. He knows Ken has already forgiven him after what happened two years ago, but Shinjiro has no reason to return there. Suddenly, he hears a beep sound coming from his cell phone. He takes it out of his pocket and reads his text message, “From Mitsuru.”

“Mitsuru? Why is she texting me? I hope it’s something to do to fix Shinji and Koto’s relationship,” he says in his worried thoughts.

> Akihiko, Amada, and the others devised a plan to batch things up with Kotone and Shinjiro. This week, we are going to Yakushima for Spring Break. Please, come up with a way for Shinjiro to go with us. 

>Are you sure if it works? 

> I’m not 100% sure. This was the only way we got without either of them knowing we were going on the trip together. Let me know after you talk to him.

>Will do, Mitsuru. 

Akihiko put away his cell phone. 

Back Alley of Port Island Station

Akihiko finally found Shinjiro. He noticed his hair had grown back to its original length from middle school; he wore the original clothes before meeting Kotone in 2009, except he wore the peacoat Kotone gave him for Christmas Eve. 

“I haven’t seen you looking like this since last year,” Akihiko comments on Shinjiro’s original appearance. 

“Shut up. What do you want?” Shinjiro rudely asked. 

“Shinji, it’s been two weeks; Koto has been worried about you. You even ignored her text messages. Please give her another chance. I can’t stand to see the two important people in my life hurting!” Akihiko tries to convince him.

“I can’t.” Shinjiro sadly rejected.

“Why? I know what she did was wrong, but it was the only way to save Vincent and her life. Mochizuki knew he didn't do anything. Both she and your son would die. I know she’s not the type of person to sacrifice her child to save her life. Are you still mad at her?”

“I’m not mad at her! I’m mad at myself!” Shinjiiro yelled at him.

Akihiko is utterly silent as he has no idea what to say to him.

“I messed up. I shouldn’t have written that damn letter to her. I should have faith in myself and not give up my relationship with her to someone else like you. I think she secretly hates me for it.” Shinjiro says with a depressing look.

“Koto doesn't hate you, Shinji. She was hurt by what you wrote. You thought you would die on that day, but you didn’t. Do you think she would be better off with Mochizuki than you? She doesn’t have sex with him until December 31st. She didn’t do it for him. She did it for you and Vincent. She doesn't want to lose your unborn child.“ Akihiko reminds him.

Shinjiro reacted in shock. “It’s already too late for us now. I don’t know what to say or a better way to talk to her.” 

“It’s not. You guys haven’t called off your engagement yet. You can make things right. Talk to her and tell her how you feel for her. 

Shinjiro remains silent.

“If you still have trouble thinking, how about we go to Yakushima for relaxing and training?”

“Yakushima? Do you mean the place where you, Kotone, and the guys went for your summer vacation two years ago? Count me out.”

“Shinji, it will help relieve stress and clear your mind of negative thoughts. It will be just the two of us.” Akihiko lied to him.

“Just the two of us?”

“Yeah, it’s been a while since we've hung out. Please be my training partner. I want to see who’s the faster swimmer,” Akihiko smirked.

“I’m not interested. Go ask Ken or Junpei to be your training partner.”

“Are you a chicken, Shinji?” 

“What? No! I’m not it!” Shinjiro seems furious at him.

“I thought you said you would never back out your words. I guess not training to fight against Shadow made you soft and weak.” Akihiko provoked him playfully.

“Alright, fine! I’ll go! I’m only doing it to prove you wrong! I go to the gym every day to keep my body in shape. I will make you regret it.” Shinjiro glared at him.

“That's Good. Now we can shop for your swimsuit, and we'll be done!” Akihiko jokingly smiled. 

“I prefer to wear just a jacket and shorts. I’m not interested in buying a swimsuit for myself.”

“Come on, I know a swimsuit store that sells the best kind for water resistance. You need a proper swimsuit for training at the beach at Yakushima.”

“Fine. If you picked Speedo for me, I’m not wearing it like you did. I'll pick my swimsuit. I don’t want any complaints from you.”

“Deal. Come on, let’s go.” 

Shinjiro and Akihiko leave the alley of Port Island Station to shop for swimsuits before their trip. 

Chapter Text

After her training, Kotone got a drink from the vending machine. She inserts 500 yen coins, picks an orange drink, and drops out of the machine. She picks it up, removes the cap, and drinks a few slips before putting it back on. She wore only a gradient orange top, a black sports bra underneath, black leggings, and orange sneakers. She then grabbed clean white towels from the table to wipe out the sweat from her face and neck.

“Kotone! Did you have time to chat?” Yukari asked her.

“There is something we like to discuss if you have time,” says Fuuka.

“Yukari? Fuuka? Oh sure. I have time.” Kotone cheerfully accepts her offer.

The three of them sat on the bench together. Yukari sat next to Kotone for a while. Fuuka sat next to Yukari. 

“What do you guys want me to talk about?” Kotone wondered.

“I know it’s been two weeks since you haven’t been hanging out with Aragaki-senpai lately. We thought we could go to Yakushima together for Spring Break. It will only be us, Mitsuru-senpai, Akihiko-senpai, Junpei with Chidori, Ken, and Koromaru. You should come with us..” Yukari persuaded her.

“I’m perfectly fine, Yukari. I’m doing alright on my own. I might end up being you guys down, but thanks for asking.” Kotone forced herself to smile to hide her sadness.

Fuuka and Yukari can tell she is trying to act like her usual self, but she’s not.

“You won’t because you have us. We will ensure you have a good time at Yakushima before Spring Break. This may be our last chance to hang out together before we go to the colleges we choose. Otherwise, we can still see each other during holiday breaks or when we go on missions,” Yukari assured Kotone.

“She’s right. You should have fun, hang out, and enjoy memorable moments with friends. You haven’t hung out with us that much for two weeks. We want to spend time with each other like before.” Fuuka asks Kotone politely.

“Alright. I guess I will give it a shot. It's been a while since we went there. Thank you, guys, for being there for me when I’m in the darkest place.” Kotone smiled slightly.

“Kotone, after you take a shower and get dressed. Let’s go shopping together for new swimsuits.  We have been thinking of getting one, too. We have also already asked Chidori to accompany us if you don't mind her company.”

“Chidori is coming with us?! That’s wonderful news! I can’t wait to see her again.” Kotone looks pleased. 

“The biggest concern is about her body temperature. She probably still can’t feel normal body temperature like us due to the suppressants she had taken before she met Junpei.” Fuuka worried. 

“Maybe she can wear a swimsuit with blouse sleeves to keep her body partly warm. I think she would look good in the sunset or spring colors.” Kotone suggested to Yukari and Fuuka.

“That’s a good idea.” Yukari smiled at her.

Two days later…

March 22nd, 2011

On the ferry ship, everyone is fully prepared, and they are almost at their destination at Yakushima. Yukari and Fuuka make sure Kotone doesn’t encounter Shinjiro yet. Akihiko does the same thing with Shinjiro. Mitsuru and Ken observe each of them. As for Koromaru, he is too busy staring at the seagulls and ocean. Kotone is on the cruise with Yukari and Fuuka. 

Kotone wore a bright orange sundress, a white denim jacket, and orange flat sandals. She also carried around a sun hat with an orange ribbon attached that Yukari suggested she buy. She brought the headphones with the new MP3 player that Shinjiro gave her for Christmas Eve. Yukari wore a bright pink halter top, faded jeans, and high-heeled sandals. Fuuka grew her hair to almost shoulder length as she tied it in low pigtails. She wore a floral dress with short sleeves and teal slippers. 

“Fuuka, I forgot to mention that I noticed your hair is longer than before. It’s so good on you!” Kotone compliments her.

“Thank you for noticing. Since we already graduated, I wanted to change my looks instead of staying the same.” Fuuka slightly blushed happily. 

“Good for you. You have the right to change your looks and appearance. You will still be the same Fuuka we know.” Yukari kindly smiled.

“Thank you again, Kotone-chan, Yukari-chan. I’m glad to meet you all.” Kotone and Yukari hugged Fuuka. 

Outside of the ferry

Shinjiro looked at the ocean for the first time. He is not used to going to unfamiliar places besides Tatsumi Port Island. He hadn't changed his appearance, except he wore a black T-shirt underneath his peacoat. “I wonder if this trip will help me overthink things about Kotone. I wanted to talk to her, but I didn’t know the right words to say to her.” Shinjiro sighed in disbelief.   

“Hey Shinji, how does being in a new environment feel? Do you enjoy the sea breeze?” Akihiko asked Shinjiro. He wears a red collar shirt with tan pants and black leather shoes.

“Not really. I prefer to hang out at the back ally of Port Island than go to a beach resort.” Shinjiro complained.

“Ah, come on, Shinji! It would be best to have the sun absorb your skin since it’s good for your health. It would be best if you went out more often. That’s why I want you as my training partner to go all out and get muscle!” Akihiko shows off one of his muscles to him.

“Such a pain in the ass as usual.” Shinjiro mocked him.

“What was that?!” Akihiko looks furious.

“You never mention Junpei bringing Yoshino to this trip with us.” Shinjiro points out Junpei, holding Chidori in his arms and resting on her shoulder from behind. She doesn’t mind her boyfriend’s company. This is one of the few steps to be close as boyfriend and girlfriend.  

“Oh that… I wasn’t expecting them to see them either.” Akihiko casually lied. 

“If it's just them, then I won’t mind. Thank god Kotone is not here. It would be awkward if we were on the same ship together.” Shinjiro relieved. 

“Yeah. Good thing she’s not here….” Akihiko mumbled.

Unknown to Shinjiro, Ken secretly spies on him and Akihiko. When Shinjiro does not direct his attention to his best friend, Akihiko gives Ken a big thumbs up, saying that Shinjiro still hasn’t expected anything. Ken responded with a confirmed nod. Shinjiro notices something off. He turns his attention to Akihiko. He tried to act his usual self before Shinjiro noticed, making it less suspicious.

Ken wears an orange T-shirt with a soccer ball design on the back, ankle-length brown pants, and white and brown sneakers. Koromaru, who is spying on Shinjiro, wears Ken’s old hoodie jacket. 

“*pant* *pant* Arf.” Koromaru seems happy to see Shinjiro. He happily wagged his tail. 

“Sshh! Koromaru, please slow your voice. We don’t want Shinjiro-san to know we are here.” Ken whispered to him. 

Koromaru nodded.

“You keep an eye on them. I will inform Mitsuru-san. Ensure you don’t get spotted or prevent him from seeing Kotone-san.” Ken requested him, keeping his voice to a minimum.

Koromaru nodded in agreement. 

Ken looked for Mitsuru on the top floor. He found her seated in a chair, reading her newspaper about Taro Namatame’s Affair with Mayumi Yamano. She wore a white turtleneck top, a brown jacket over her shoulders, black leggings, and high-heeled sandals. 

“Ah, Amada, how’s Akihiko stalling Shinjiro from seeing Shiomi?” Mitsuru politely asked him.

“He’s doing fine for now. Do you know how long we will prevent them from seeing each other?” Ken asked Mitsuru.

“Just until we arrived at my family summer mansion. It would be awkward if they met at the ferry right now.” Mitsuru responded.

“What are you reading?” Ken curiously asked.

“I’m reading a new article about marriage affairs. For now, it's not Shadow-related. I hope Shiomi and Shinjiro’s relationship doesn’t turn out like that city council secretary cheated on his wife with a TV announcer. I don't see why he would do that to his wife whether they had an unhappy marriage or he was unfaithful to her.”  Mitsuru sounds worried.

“Yeah. It’s still a shame that Aigis-san didn't want to go with us.” Ken seems sad. 

“I heard from one of the scientists that she is undergoing maintenance today. She also requested that they upgrade her body for combat purposes,” Mitsuru informs him. She's aware Aigis did this because of her guilt over hurting Kotone and Shinjiro's relationship. 

“Then again, she was inactive from fighting against Death 12 years ago and then resumed school life last year. She probably needs to update in the current year.”  

“I agreed. She probably did it for Shiomi and everyone’s sake.” 

When they arrive at Yakushima, Kotone and Shinjiro unexpectedly encounter each other. They still haven’t been able to have a proper conversation since they last talked. Kotone goes to the guest rooms from the left side with Yukari, Fuuka, and Chidori, while Shinjiro goes with Akihiko, Junpei, Ken, and Koromaru. 

Daytime

Everyone manages to convince Kotone and Shinjiro to hang out at the beach rather than stay in their guest rooms for the rest of the trip.

The first ones on the beach are the guys. Junpei wore the necklace Chidori bought him for his birthday two months ago and dark indigo swim trunks. He also wore his baseball hat backward. 

“It’s so nice to be back to Yakushima! The fresh air and seeing many glorious women in swimsuits!” Junpei looks very excited.

“Are you sure you should be saying that? What if your girlfriend heard you?” says Akihiko, being doubtful. He wore a navy Speedo similar to his old ones the last time he visited Yakushima. Akihiko gains some muscles from his daily workout at the gym.

“I-I was kidding for the last part. They will never match my beautiful Chidorita. Please, Akihiko-san, don’t tell her about the “glorious women” part. She will be mad at me.” Junpei begged him to keep it secret from Chidori.

“That's fine since you could keep it a secret about the type of woman I preferred two years ago.” 

“What type of women does Sanada-san prefer?” Ken asked Junpei. 

“Ken! I didn't know you finished changing so soon…” Junpei is surprised.

Ken wore a plain white T-shirt with orange gradient knee-length swimsuits. He carries a red floatie with him in he or anyone who needs it to swim. He also brings Koromaru with him. He wore a light brown Lifesaver vest for dogs. This was Mitsuru’s suggestion to buy him one in case he can’t swim. 

“Oh, Akihiko-san’s type he liked was someone like Koto—” Before Junpei could respond to Ken’s question, Akihiko muffled Junpei’s mouth. “Quiet! You idiot!” 

“Did you almost about to say Kotone-san just now? I’m not surprised since we already knew you had crushed her.”

“Who says I was over her?!” 

Junpei removed Akihiko’s hands from his mouth. He tried to change the subject to ask Ken, “So, what type of girls do you like?” 

“Me? I prefer older girls. It has to be someone with the kindest smile and personality like Kotone-san.” Ken responded to Junpei’s question. 

“Damn. I never expect you to like that type of girl before. I thought you would go for someone your age. What made you decide to open up?” 

“Well, we have known each other for two years now, so I don’t mind revealing a bit about myself,” Ken says with a fluttered look. 

“Awww, You’re blushing. You are thinking of someone in mind?” Junpei teased Ken as he pulled his arm around Ken’s shoulder.

“I’m not telling you. It’s a secret..” Ken refuses to look at Junpei in the eye.

“Woof. Woof.” Koromaru barked at Junpei.

“I wish I could understand what you are saying, but I think I know you met someone you want to be with, Koromaru?” 

“Arf! Arf!” Koromaru seems happy for some reason. He wagged his tail rapidly.

“I saw another dog that Koromaru has grown attached to from the other day. I think it was Akita Inu. They seem to enjoy each company a lot.” 

“Will you guys stop talking about romance and preference shit in front of me!” Shinjiro sounds annoyed. 

Everyone turned around and noticed Shinjiro, who was less covered up than usual. He wore a white jacket with his chest exposed and black swim trunks with white and red stripes. He also tied his hair in a short ponytail. 

“Shinjiro-san, you’re here!” Ken seems happy to see him. 

“Woof! Woof!” Koromaru agreed with Ken with a bark. 

“Aki, don’t get the wrong idea. I’m still pissed at you for lying to me. I’m only here to help you as your workout partner.  Let's get this over with before Kotone shows up.” Shinjiro looks annoyed.

“Um. Senpai, the girls have already arrived.” Junpei told Shinjiro.

“What?!” Shinjiro looks surprised. He tried to hide until Akihiko grabbed his right upper arm to stop him from running away.

“I won’t let you get away that easy,”  Akihiko says with a straight face.

“Damn you… Aki.” Shinjiro cursed Akihiko for his stubbornness.  

“Wow! The scenery is so beautiful! I should have brought my sketchbook.” says Chidori’s voice.

The guys look and see the rest of the girls coming to the beach. The first one to arrive was Chidori. She wears a sunset-cut one-piece swimsuit with a transparent white fable tied around her waist and red sandals. She wears lily hair accessories on her head and tied her hair into a ponytail.

“Whoa!! Chidori, you look glorious! You’re like a beautiful angel.” Junpei’s face turned cherry red after seeing his girlfriend’s swimsuit. 

Chidori blushed at Junpei for the compliment. She is secretly happy that Junpei likes it. 

“Chidori, be sure to wear sunscreen before entering the water.” Yukari reminded her. She wears a heart-themed pink-to-red bikini top with matching swim shorts and high-heeled sandals. She also wore a bright pink jacket with short sleeves.

“Hey, Yuka-tan, you are still the same as always. The same type of—” Before Junpei can compliment Yukari on her swimsuit, Yukari stops him there.

“Junpei, if you ever start talking about my swimsuit, my body again, or any of the girls’ swimsuits with your pervert comments, I will tell Chidori that incident from the Kyoto trip two years ago.” Yukari threatens him.

“Please don’t! I promise I won’t say anything.” Junpei begged her. 

“What incident? What is she talking about?” Chidori confusedly asked Junpei.

“I-It’s N-Nothing, my love! Yuka-tan was joking around. He he he...” Junpei acts nervous. 

“The ocean looks very nice. Maybe I should collect some seashells and give them to Natsuki-chan the next time I see her, don’t you think?” Fuuka cheerfully asked Kotone. 

“Yeah. I’m positive she would love it. You are still friends with her even though you are apart,” Kotone smiled brightly. 

Kotone wears a pink and orange gradient bikini similar to her old one except with a light magenta hoodie jacket, short sleeves revealing her bikini top, and pink sandals. 

Shinjiro, Akihiko, and Ken’s faces fluttered when they saw Kotone’s new swimsuit. They were speechless. 

On the other hand, Junpei tries to endure and not to make Chidori jealous. 

Fuuka wears an aqua swimsuit top that exposes her stomach with a matching skirt and flat green sandals. 

“Hey, Shinjiro-senpai, I like the swimsuit you are wearing. It looks natural on you.” Kotone compliments him, trying to start a conversation with him.

“Umm… thanks, you too,” Shinjiro responds, but he refuses to look at her. Shinjiro’s face is flustered, and he doesn’t want her to see him like this.

Kotone smiles slightly that he is talking to her again.

“I’m glad everyone is here. We can do some relaxing activities today,” says Mitsuru. She wears scarlet bikini swimsuits with medium-length pattern fable skirts and white high-heeled sandals. 

Meanwhile, far from the beach, everyone is enjoying themselves. An unknown individual is spying on Kotone. 

“It’s time for my next plan.” says the hooded figure with dragon scales. 

Chapter Text

At the beach, everyone is doing their things. Yukari and Junpei help Ken and Chidori learn how to swim, Mitsuru swims with Koromaru to make sure he doesn’t drown or get lost, Kotone and Fuuka collect seashells together, and Shinjiro help Akihiko with his workout warm-up. 

They first do the back-to-back wall, where they interlock their arms together as they stretch up and down. 

“Say, Shinji… about Kotone. I think…” 

“I’m not going to cheat on Kotone with Fuuka or Mitsuru to get even with her.” Shinjiro rudely rejected his suggestion.

“What? No! That’s not what I would tell you!” says Akihiko angrily. 

“What are you going to say then?” 

“I’m saying is that… just try to talk to her about how you feel about her. She wants to know if you want to stay together or break your engagement with her. I don’t have the right to make your decisions; it has to be you.” Akihiko's reasoning with his best friend. 

Akihiko and Shinjiro notice Kotone having a good time with Fuuka. 

“She’s right here, talk to her. Don’t worry about the rest of the workout sessions; I’ll handle it alone. My only concern is for you and Kotone to make up. Whether as lovers or stay as friends, I don’t mind either way.” Akihiko is confident Shinjiro will talk to Kotone.  Shinjiro let go and turned to face Akihiko. 

“If I did try to talk to her, I don’t think she would forgive me for how I acted toward her.” Shinjiro looks dejected. 

“Shinji…”  Akihiko looks worried. 

“Just drop it. I don’t want to talk about it again.” 

Afternoon

Everyone was exhausted from playing in the water, building sand sculptures, and talking with friends. They decided to head back to take a shower to wash off the sand and continue exploring around Yakushima. Fuuka and Kotone sat down in the shade, where she had almost finished making seashell necklaces for Natsuki. Kotone continued to watch her as she saw her friend’s smiling face. 

“Kotone-chan, how's it look? Does it look too big or small?” 

“It looks so pretty. I’m sure she will love it. It looks good either way as long as you try your best.” Kotone compliments Fuuka. 

“Thank goodness. I thought I would be messed up on my first try.” Fuuka sounds relieved.

“Who taught you how to make seashell necklaces?” Kotone asked Fuuka curiously.

“My older brother taught it to me when I was a child. We used to visit the beach during summer vacation, and we always collected seashells to make accessories for our parents and friends,”  says Fuuka with a sad expression. 

“I didn’t know you had an older brother.  I thought you were an only child since you only mentioned your parents.”

“That’s because he abandoned me shortly after he graduated high school. He left me with our controllable parents because he didn’t want to become a doctor like them. Since then, I haven’t talked to him since I was 12.” 

“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.” Kotone felt wrong for mentioning Fuuka’s siblings.

“That’s okay. It’s been a while since I last mentioned him. Even though we aren’t as close as before, I still remember the good times I had with him.” Fuuka faintly smiled at her. 

“Do you know where he lives?”

“He lives in Kantō to study to become a business person.”

“At least you got us to support you.” Kotone gently pats Fuuka’s left shoulder.

“Yeah, you’re right. I have friends who care for me. That doesn't change about us even though we went to different colleges and universities.” 

“Kotone! Fuuka! It’s time to go back to the mansion to wash off and go to our rooms!” Yukari calls them from a distance.

“We will be right there, Yukari-chan!” 

“You go on ahead, Fuuka. I want to stay here for a while longer. I want to look at the ocean waves.” Kotone says with a calm look. 

“Are you sure?” Fuuka worried.

“It’s alright; I won’t be here that long. I will be fine on my own.” Kotone looks at Fuuka in the eyes. 

“Be sure not to stay until the evening.”

“I will,” Kotone smiled. Fuuka got up and left to join Yukari and the others. Kotone was alone at the beach, staring at the ocean waves. She took something out of her pocket, revealing her engagement ring. She stared at it sadly as she gripped it tightly. She moved her body to a feral position to make herself comfortable. 

Ten minutes later, Kotone calms down and returns to the mansion with everyone else until someone bumps into her and leaves. She tries to apologize to the stranger until she notices her engagement ring is gone. She turns around to see the stranger has her ring. She realizes they secretly stole it. The stranger noticed and ran off. Refusing to give up, Kotone decides to chase after them to get back her ring in the forest.  

Yakushima - Toroki Falls 

She chased them deeply into the forest until they stopped at a waterfall cliff. 

“There’s no way to run now, thief! Please, give back my ring!” Kotone demanded the stranger. 

The stranger laughed. 

“What so funny?” Kotone looks annoyed. 

“You… I can't believe you fell into my trap, Kotone Shiomi.” 

“Wait? How do you know my name?” She says with a suspicious look. 

“A course I know you. You’re the heroine who saved humanity from Nyx from last year, right?” The stranger takes off his hood to reveal his face. 

Kotone reacted in shock that the stranger was not human but resembled one as he had dark green hair and eyes with dark red dragon scales on his face, neck, and hands. 

“Who are you…?!” Kotone asked confusly. 

“My identity is not important. It’s time I remove you from this timeline.” He activates his time powers to freeze time, so Kotone won’t be able to call for help from her friends or a weapon to defend herself.

Meanwhile, at Yakushima beach

Everything stops, including the people and animals. Marco, in his humanoid monkey form, enters from the portal to see Shinjiro and Akihiko frozen in place where they were fighting for some reason. “I got no time for this! Kotone is in danger. There is one person who can help her. I can’t believe what I am doing.” Marco sounds stressed. He walks toward Shinjiro, places his hand on his chest, and pours some of his powers into him. Marco manages to undo the stop spell on Shinjiro, and he can move again.

“I don’t want to hear you’re—wait!? What the hell is this?!” Shinjiro looks around and sees everything frozen as if time has stopped. He seems to see Akihiko’s annoyed face. 

“My elder brother causes it.” Marco's response to Shinjiro’s question.

Shinjiro turns around and sees Marco in the original form from the time he saw him last year. “Marco?! What are you there?!” Shinjiro looks frustrated.

“I don’t have time to explain. Kotone is in danger! You have to save her before it is too late!”

“Why me? Can you unfreeze Aki instead of me?” 

“I can only use my powers on one person. I don’t have enough to free everyone. You’re the only one closest. Please listen to me once and put your gudges aside!” Marco seems very serious. 

“I…” Shinjiro looks hesitant to go with Marco.

“Shinjiro, if Kotone is taken out of the timeline, everyone, including you, will lose all memories of her. That's what my brother is planning to do.” Marco explains his elder brother’s plan to kidnap her.

Shinjiro reacted in complete horror. Losing all of Kotone's memories would be horrible and sad. Kotone means the world to him. Without her, everyone would have gone back to their old selves. He may have ended up becoming suicidal, or Akihiko is stuck in the past to blame himself for not saving his sister. What’s worse is that they won’t remember how the Fall prevented them and why they were trapped in the Abyss of Time in the first place. They would be empty without any memories of her. He realizes he needs to save her.

“Fine, I’m going! Do you know where they are?” Shinjiro desperately asked.

“Yes, Vivi already informed me where they are. We can catch up through my portals.”

“Vivi? Who’s the hell is that?”

“My younger sister…” Marco opened the portal where Kotone and his elder brother were. They ran through it before the the portal closed before the portal closed before they entered it. 

Yakushima - Toroki Falls 

“What the hell..?! How are you able to move?!” The elder brother looks shocked.

“I don’t know, and I don’t care. I won’t let you kidnap me! There are things I have to do!” Kotone says with a determined look. She tries a long broken branch she found on the ground she used as a temporary weapon. It’s not a naginata, but it was enough of a gun to use. 

“Hmph… You got spunk for someone who wasn’t supposed to be alive.” He mocked her existence. 

“I’m not sure if that's supposed to be mockery or taunting, but I will return that ring you stole from me!” Kotone death glares at him. 

The dragon humanoid brings out his three daggers from his daggers and throws them directly at her. She dodges two of them, but one hits the wooden branch she’s using as a weapon. She took it out and threw it onto the ground. The dragon humanoid throws three more at her. Kotone runs, dashes, and attempts to steal the ring from the left side. However, he quickly vanished from thin air. “Where did he go?!…”  Suddenly, she felt someone behind her, but it was too late as the dragon humanoid was about to slash her neck with the seventh dagger he hid in his back pocket until a peddle rock knocked his weapon out of his hand. He slightly panicked, and Kotone kicked him in the chin before she made a swirl kick to the stomach. He drops the ring where it almost fell into the waterfall, and Kotone manages to catch it barely. She realizes she is at the edge of the cliff. 

“Damn it… Who did that?! Nobody should be moving.” He cursed.

Unknowingly to him, an anthropomorphic rabbit in shrine maiden attire with Greaves attached to her legs was on the tree. She had several peddles with it to ensure Kotone's safety. 

At the same time, Shinjiro and Marco made it just in time to stop their elder brother from taking Kotone away. They appeared in front of them.

“It’s over, Draco!  You’re going to tell us why did you betray us?!”

“I don’t need to tell you, “little brother,” I simply do as I please.” Draco refused to answer Marco.

“Betrayed your role as time guardian. Nearly destroying the relationship with Kotone and her friends, You broke off the rules for interfering with the timeline, and now you will pay!” Marco looks furious at him.

“I’m not the only one who broke the rules.” Draco reminds him.

“That is my job as time guardian! I grant wishes to my customers whom I find interesting. In exchange, I take what is precious to them in return. I didn’t break the rules. I only interfere because you corrupt Aigis with your horrible experiments!” Marco takes out his staff and prepares to fight him. 

“Are you sure you can take me now?” Draco smirked as he drew out his real weapon, a buster sword. 

Marco and Draco start fighting each other. 

After a while, the two were busy with each other throwing; Shinjiro looked at Kotone, who she hadn’t expected to see. He noticed the cliff's edge slowly starting to break where Kotone stood. 

“Shinjiro-senpai… What are you doing here? Who’s the guy with a monkey tail?” Kotone asked confusedly. 

“He’s an ally. You need to walk to me slowly and not look down.” Shinjiro extended his hand to her, concerned for her safety.

“Why? Now you cared about me? You haven’t replied to me for two weeks; I was afraid that you would stop loving me after I cheated on you when you were in a coma two years ago.” Kotone started to cry.

“Kotone..I—” When Shinjiro tried to reason with her, Kotone interrupted him. 

“No! Let me finish! After two weeks, I still felt awful about what I did with Ryoji-kun because I didn’t want to lose our unborn child. If I ended up losing them too,*sob*  it’s like I’m losing you all over again and nothing to remember you by. My heart will always belong to you, nothing else.” Kotone collapsed onto her knee as tears started coming from her eyes. 

“I… I didn’t know. Kotone, I’m sorry for not replying to your past messages…  I didn't know what to say, but now I’m ready to tell you.” 

Kotone looks at Shinjiro in the eyes, still crying. She realizes his looks are sincere in his eyes. “What is it?” 

“I’m not mad at you for what you did. I’m mad at myself for not being honest and confident to stay by your side after I wrote that damn apology letter. I should have burned it before you got the chance to read it. You’re not the only one who regrets it.” Shinjiro told his true feelings to her.

“Shinji…*sob*” Kotone tries to wipe her tears away. 

“I still want to marry you and promise never to leave you again. My feelings for you have not changed since then. Koto, once I save you, let’s start over with a fresh start for our relationship as betrothed.” Shinjiro gives an honest smile at her.

“I would like that. Please, Shinji, promise me you will never abandon me again.” Kotone asks with an honest look. 

“I promised until death. I won't leave you again.” Shinjiro promised her.

Kotone manages to stop herself from crying. She stands up, puts her engagement ring in her pocket, and slowly walks toward Shinjiro. She is cautious not to look down and looks straight toward Shinjiro. She is almost there as she extends her hand to Shinjiro’s.

“That’s it, you're almost there! Just a few more steps!” 

Draco becomes overwhelmed by Marco’s fighting skills. He is heavily wounded and on one knee. He refuses to give up on his original plan or admit defeat. He decides to devise a last-resort plan to get rid of Kotone. 

He notices the cliff's edge at the bottom is spiked rocks from the pool.

“If I can’t take her out of her timeline to do insane experiments, she might as well be dead!” Draco grins devilishly. He throws dirt in Marco’s eyes and uses his remaining strength to slash out the edge of the cliff where Kotone is standing.

“No!!!” Marco screamed.

 Kotone falls as she stares at Shinjiro’s horrified look on his face. She falls further from him, and she cannot face him closely. “Am I… going to die because I hesitated to trust him?” 

Suddenly, she sees Shinjiro jump off and try to reach her. Kotone is shocked and horrified by what he is doing. He manages to catch her and hold Kotone in his arms.

“Shinji! Why do you go after me?!” Kotone tries to push him away.

“If you die, I’ll die with you. Without you, my life is meaningless. I told you I would never leave you again. I swear.” 

Kotone stops struggling and hugs him back as they fall to their death.

Marco takes a piece a stand of his hair, blows it into the wind, and creates a clone of himself. He ordered the clone to save Kotone and Shinjiro from falling, which the clone obliged. The clone uses his staff to create a gust of wind, blow Kotone and Shinjiro‘s direction, and move them to land safely in the pool. After that, Draco escapes by using one of the experiment portals he created. Marco tries to catch up to him, but the portal closes. 

Yakushima - Beach 

After that, the time-stopping spell wore off, and time resumed again. 

“I STILL THINK YOU should—. Huh?! Shinji? Where did he go? He was right there.” Akihiko looks confused. He tries looking around, but he isn’t on the beach. 

Yakushima— Hidden Cave 

Shinjiro regains consciousness and notices there is a cave hidden in the waterfalls. He sits up. “Where are we?… Kotone!” 

He looked around for Kotone until he found her by his side, still unconscious. He checks her pulse on her neck, and it’s normal. He expressed relief that she was alive and well. “Thank goodness, Koto is safe. Wait a minute, how are we still alive?! Don’t tell me it’s an afterlife.”

“You guys are not dead, Shinjiro. You and Kotone are very much alive.” Marco says with an annoyed look. 

Shinjiro faces Marco in front of him, who appears out of nowhere. He notices he’s not in monkey form but more human-like.

“Marco? Did you save us from the last minute?” Shinjiro asked him. 

“Yes, I did. I used one of the stands of my hair to create a clone of himself to move you two into the pool safely. In this hidden cave behind the waterfalls, your bodies wash up.” He explained professionally.

“How long was I out for?” 

“About an hour. In my free time, I used my wind spells to dry your swimsuits, jackets, and hair when you were unconscious,” he explained. 

“Wait?! an hour?!” Shinjiro looked shocked.

“You wouldn’t wake up. I guess you did swallow a lot of water. So I give you CPR.” 

“You did what?!” Shinjiro split out Marco’s salvia and raised his mouth in the water. 

“If it makes it a bit better, I didn’t do the same thing to Kotone because she didn’t swallow a lot of water; she just passed out from stress. She should be waking up soon.” 

“Good, because if you did, I’ll kill you.” Shinjiro threatens him. 

“Don’t worry, I won’t. Right now, my real self is informing your friends where you are. You probably won’t have to stay long.” Marco’s clone reassured him.

“Real self? Wait, so you're not here? Are you Marco’s clone?!

“Correct. Although clones don’t last long, I will disappear until midnight or when my real self feels like returning to my original form.” He stated.

“Then what about food? What are we supposed to survive?” 

“I came prepared and gathered fruits from the forest and garden for you two.” He pointed to the fruits where he gathered. He gathers Yakushima Pokan and Tankans, tropical fruits, pineapples, bananas, and other tropical fruits. 

“Thanks. I mean for both saving our lives and bringing us some food to eat until help arrives. It means a lot to me.”  Shinjiro appreciated him.

“It’s not problem. Although might need to stop the bleeding on Kotone’s ankle. One of the rocks underwater scrapped her by accident when I tried to move you.” 

“What?!” Shinjiro looks to see Kotone’s ankle is covered in a damp cloth.

“I don’t have any healing ability. The best thing I can do is to stop the infection. The rest is up to you.”

Kotone slowly started to wake up.

“I guess this is my time to get out of there. I explored the cave, and up ahead, there was a hidden room that contained a hot spring, two bedrooms, towels, fresh water bottles, bathrobes, first aid kit, and a bathroom. I don’t think anyone was using it, but I think it should be fine to use it temporarily.” Marco clarified to Shinjiro. 

“Huh…?” Shinjiro looks completely confused. 

Chapter Text

An hour earlier… 

Kirijo Summer Mansion - 12:30 pm

After everyone took a nice shower, they changed into their comfortable clothes. They discussed their plans to travel to other parts of Yakushima, which they had never done before in high school. Ken and Koromaru wanted to hike in the wild and meet different animals living there.

Junpei and Chidori talk on the sofa. 

“Tomorrow, how about we go to explore around town? I know some elegant souvenir shops.” Junpei discussed his plans with Chidori, excited.

“Does it involve well-crafted works made from craftspeople who lives here?” Chidori guessed his answer.

“How did you know?! It's almost like you knew I was about to say.” Junpei sounds surprised.

Suddenly, there is a sound of a door slamming open at the entrance. Everyone looks to see Akihiko, exhausted and out of breath. 

“Akihiko? What’s wrong? Did something happen with you and Shinjiro?” Mitsuru worried for Akihiko. 

“*gasp*… *cough* Gone,” Akihiko says weakly.

“Gone? Who’s gone?” Junpei asked.

“Shinji. He suddenly disappeared right before my eyes. I was arguing with him to talk to Kotone, and the next thing I knew, he was gone. *gasp*” Akihiko informed everyone.

“Akihiko! Kikuno, please bring some water to him!” Mitsuru ordered her.

“Yes, Lady Mitsuru.” She ran to the kitchen to bring some water for Akihiko. 

“Could it be that you were exhausted from your workout and hallucinated, making you see things?” Chidori says,  

“I wasn’t hallucinating! I've seen it happen!” Akihiko shouted at her.

“Senpai! Calm down! Don’t take your anger out of my girlfriend!” Junpei is angry at him. 

“Junpei… I’m sorry. I’m just worried about him and don’t know where he is. Yoshino, I’m sorry how I acted.” Akihiko apologizes to him and Chidori.

“Apologies accept. How would you try calling Shiomi-senpai if she had seen him?” 

“I haven't thought of that. I’ll do it right now.” Akihiko tries to get his cell phone but realizes he left it in his guest room. 

“It’s okay, Akihiko-senpai, I have my phone with me. I’ll call her.” Yukari takes out her cell phone from her pant pocket and calls Kotone.

Kikuno arrived from the kitchen with a glass of water. He gave it to Akihiko, drank it whole, and returned the empty glass to her. He felt much better and rehydrated.

“Thank you, Kikuno.”

Kikuno politely bowed to him before returning to the kitchen to wash the glass and put it back in the cabinet.

“Any luck, Yukari-chan?” Fuuka asked, worried.

“No good. I can’t reach her. All I got was her voicemail. I wonder if this is connected to Aragaki-senpai’s disappearance or maybe…” Yukari realizes something has had to happen to them. It's probably the same person who corrupted Aigis. 

“Mitsuru-senpai, Will you try to contact Aigis again? She’s the only one who can search for her. She should still be in the lab and adding some thruster to her legs.” 

“I’ll try. Aigis’ maintenance should be done in more than two hours. We have to wait for the time being.”

“Two hours? Would that be too late? We should try to find both Shinjiro-san and Kotone-san. I think they are together somewhere,” Ken suggested.

“Arf! Arf!” Koromaru barked. 

“He agreed with me. I’ll go find something that Koromaru can track down their scents.” 

“Wait! Let me come with you.” Chidori asks Ken.

“Chidori, I think he can handle himself. He got Koromaru with him. He will be fine.”

“Junpei, he’s twelve years old, and someone needs to keep an eye on him. I know about forests. He might get lost and have no way back to the mansion. Please, let me help.” Chidori begged him to come to a company called Ken.

“Junpei-san, it’s okay. I don’t mind. We don’t interact often, so I think it's best to get to know each other.” Ken smiled slightly at Junpei.

“Then again… the people Chidori had only interacted with me, the bastard Takaya, and four-eyed Jin, who was already with him. Even after her revival, she still hasn’t made a connection with my friends or students in her classmates. Maybe it is a good opportunity to open up with others.” Junpei says in his thoughts. 

“Fine. You can go with them, but bring your cell phone if you find any leads to Kotone and Senpai.” Junpei gave his girlfriend permission. 

“Thank you, Junpei.” Chidori kisses Junpei on the cheek before she leaves with Ken and Koromaru.

“Akihiko, you should take a shower before looking for Shiomi. If you don’t, your skin will dry from the seawater,” Mitsuru instructed him.

“Yeah, I know. I was planning to do that.” Akihiko looked annoyed.

In the present…

Kotone started to regain consciousness when she found herself in a cave. “Where am I? How am I still alive? I swore I fell from a cliff and almost fell to my death. Shinji jumped after me and embraced me in his arms. I lost consciousness afterward… maybe because I could sleep that often.”  She wondered in her thoughts. She looks around and sees a bunch of tropical fruits lying on the ground next to her.  

“Oh, Koto, you’re awakened!” says Shinjiro’s voice.

Kotone turned around and saw Shinjiro carrying a first aid kit and a plastic bag. 

“Shinji! What happened? The last thing I remember was falling from a cliff, and you dive in to save me…” Kotone tried to get up but felt a sharp pain in her left ankle. She looks to see where the pain comes about until she sees a damped cloth wrapped around her ankle. She carefully took it off. It revealed a scrap and fresh blood. 

“Don’t move. Let me clean your wounds before I apply ointments and bandages.” Shinjiro carefully instructs her.

“Okay. How did I get hurt?” Kotone looks confused. 

“After we fell into the pool, your left ankle was scrapped on a sharp rock underwater,” Shinjiro explained. He walked to her, sat down close to her, and opened the first aid kit, which contained various types of bandages, such as bandage rolls, antibiotic ointments, scissors, hot and cold packs, a thermometer, tweezers, safety pins, alcohol wipes, hand sanitizer, and cotton swabs. He took out the antibiotic ointment pack, alcohol-free wipes, cotton swab, and a waterproof bandage. 

“Koto, you need to endure the pain. I’m about to clean your wounds, okay?” Shinjiro speaks in a calm tone.

“I’ll try.” Kotone tries to put on a brave face.

Shinjiro grabbed her injured ankle and cleaned it with an alcohol-free wipe.  Kotone felt a sting on her injured ankle. Shinjiro can tell she is in pain, yet she’s trying to endure it.  

“You’re going great, just a little longer.” He praised her. 

Kotone silently nodded. 

After cleaning out the blood on Kotone’s ankle, he dabbed some antibiotic ointment onto the cotton swab and tried to apply it. Kotone felt cool and relaxed, and she couldn’t feel the pain anymore. Shinjiro felt relieved. Lastly, I peeled the wrapper on the back of the waterproof band-aid and placed it on the scrap injury.  

“Wow! It doesn't hurt anymore! When did you become so good at treating injuries?” Kotone curiously asked.

“I learned it when I was in the orphanage. I saw someone working there helping kids treat their injuries, so I decided to watch them. Many kids were fighting each other or doing stupid things. This was not just for other kids I wanted to help but also for Aki and his sister. That’s why I always treated Aki’s injuries after his boxing matches or get into fights in middle school.” Shinjiro explained his past to Kotone. 

“I’m glad you so much for your best friend.”

Kotone smiled.

“Well, he's like a brother to me and the only family I had left.” 

Kotone’s stomach started to growl. She realized she had only eaten a small breakfast this morning and began to regret not eating a good meal. 

“You’re hungry?” He asked.

“Yeah… I didn't eat much after breakfast.” 

“It’s important to eat a balanced meal. I told you before.” Shinjiro reminded her.

“I’m sorry… I guess I wasn't hungry as much as I usually do. Hehe..” Kotone tries to laugh it off.

Shinjiro signed. He grabbed a ponkan fruit from the tropical fruits piled and gave it to Kotone.“Here, you need to regain your energy.” 

“Oh, right! Thank you very much.” Kotone accepts it. She then starts pulling off the stern, peeling off the layers of ponkan fruit and tossing it into a plastic bag with the other discarded trash. She takes one of the slices and puts it into her mouth. She feels refreshed by the taste of tangerine. Kotone’s eyes sparkle with joy. “This tastes so delicious! This is probably the best orange I ever tasted!”

“Wait? You never tried it when you first came to Yakushima?” Shinjiro looks confused.

“We didn’t do much exploring all the places in Yakushima two years ago. We were only there for a short while. I didn’t have time to try new fruits here.” Kotone explained. 

“Oh, I see.” He picks up a banana from the fruit pile and starts eating it. 

“Can I try a piece after you almost finish eating it? I’m curious about the taste of the bananas here.” 

“Sure, why not?” Shinjiro smirked.

Kotone smiles brightly. 

Kotone and Shinjiri started to talk again like before. 

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Yakushima forest.

Ken managed to find Shinjiro and Kotone's belongings so that Koromaru could track their scents. He bought Shinjiro’s beanie and Kotone’s hair ties from their guest rooms. It took him about ten minutes to find them. After Koromaru remembers their scents, he searches for them in the forrest. Chidori came prepared in case they ever got lost. She started marking the trees with mud and sticks to ensure they would find their way back to the manor. She considered marking the trees by carving or drawing them with paint, but she didn't want to hurt the environment. Chidori’s backup plan is to leave a trail of seashells she found on the beach. 

“Koromaru found something?! They look like footprints. I think these are Kotone-san’s footprints from her sandals.” Ken theorized.

“I think you’re right, Amada. Shiomi-senpai’s footprint seems to be fresh for now. We are close to finding her, but I don't see Aragaki-senpai’s footprints.”

“Wow! Chidori-san, you sure know your ways in the forrest.” Ken looks impressed.

“Thanks, I learned from my Papa when I was a child. He used to take me and my twin sister camping in the forrest during the holiday breaks either in the spring or fall.” Chidori explained her past to Ken.

“Twin sister?” 

“She was my older twin. We used to be inseparable. She always protected me from certain dangers when our parents weren't around. She was my savior.” says Chidori with a happy, sad expression.

“What happened to her?”

“She… died in a car crash with our parents. I was the only one who survived. I was to blame for their deaths because of my stubbornness and immature behavior. I got them killed.”  Chidori stopped and fell to their knees. She looked down to the ground and began to cry.

“Chidori-San… Did Junpei-san know about this?” Ken, worrying, asked her.

“*whimper*” Koromaru looks sad for Chidori.

“No, I never told him. I feared he would hate me for what I did to them.” Chidori responded sadly. 

“I know how it feels to lose a parent, but I never know what it was like to lose a sibling. I never had any siblings since my mom raised me on her own. I heard my dad abandoned me and my mom before I was born.” Ken says in a depressed tone.

“Amada… I’m sorry to hear that.” She looks at Ken, who also tries to tear up a bit.

Ken started wiping his tears away and focusing on what they had been searching for. “However, many of my friends who support and care for me did help me to make peace with my mom’s passing two years ago. You have Junpei-san, who loves you a lot. I’m sure he will understand your past and never hate you. Trust me.” Ken smiled slightly. 

“Yeah, you’re right. Even though I've known him since I started Gekkoukan last year, and Junpei always helped when I needed it most, he is precious to me. I love him for that.” Chidori slowly started to cheer up. She got up and continued searching for Shinjiro and Kotone.

“Come on, let’s search for your friends.”

“You mean our friends?” Ken corrected her.

“Right, I mean, our friends.” Chidori gives a confident look. 

“*pant* *pant* Arf!” Koromaru barked happily.

The three of them continue their search.

Yakushima Cave - 12:55 pm

Kotone and Shinjiro have finished eating most of the fruits. Kotone gives Shinjiro the last slice of ponkan fruit, and he gladly eats it from her fingers. Despite not having a sweet tooth like her, he enjoys the taste of it. He decides the same thing when he gives her the last piece of the banana. She opens wide and eats it from his fingers. Kotone and Shinjiro give each other a relaxing look before they see the waterfall stream in their view. 

“I wonder if Aki and others will find us soon before it gets dark…” Shinjiro says in his thoughts, wondering. He checks to see if Kotone is feeling alright. He noticed Kotone’s expression change to a sad look for some reason. 

“Shinji…. There is something I wanted to tell you.” Kotone looks straight into Shinjiro’s eyes.

“I want to say something to you, do.” Shinjiro looks at her.

“Okay, let’s discuss the same thing together on a count of 3. I’m scared what I will say to you might make you mad,” Kotone says with a concerned look.

“Koto, when I was ever mad at you. Okay, if you want this, I do it with you too. To be honest… I felt the same way as well.” 

“3… 2.. 1…” Kotone and Shinjiro started to count together before they said their answer simultaneously.

“I want us to continue our engagement!” Both of them say in unison. 

They were surprised that they said the same thing. 

“The truth is, Shinji, I still want to be with you even though you are still mad at me.  I know it will take a long time to regain your trust and love. I promise I will never cheat you again.” Kotone swore her heart out to Shinjiro. 

“Koto… I… was never mad at you. I was mad at myself for writing that stupid apology letter that day. I thought you would be happy with someone when I’m gone. Hell, I wouldn't mind if you hooked up with Aki. Then I realized that I ended up hurting your feelings. It was wrong what I did. I wanted to make up for it by proposing to you the other day—a new life with you,” Shinjiro says solemnly. 

“Shinji…”

“I didn’t want to break our engagement either, and I still love you. I hope you will forgive me one day.”  Shinjiro gently touched Kotone’s face. 

“I was never mad at you either. At first, I was hurt. You thought you were going to die on that day. I understand why you did it; you didn't have much time left. You wanted me to be someone like Aki. I could never fall in love with another person. Whether it’s a man, woman, or nonbinary, you are the only person I love the most. You made me feel safe, and I can be myself with you.” Kotone confesses to him. She touches his hand with hers.

“I wanted to tell you something. It’s about our unborn child. On January 31st, the day Nyx ascended, they didn’t make it after the Dark Hour dissolved.” Shinjiro sadly half-lied to her. He still didn't want her to know about Vincent’s identity or his fate as the new Great Seal, so he could only partly tell her the truth.

“Somehow, I knew…” Kotone gives a sad look.

“How?” Shinjiro asked. 

“I remember it was in February when I experienced my period again since the last time I had was in September. I realized our unborn died inside after the Dark Hour, and Tartarus dissolved forever. Before my memories returned, I was crying emotionally, and I didn’t know why I was sad.” Kotone explained to him sadly. 

Shinjiro stopped touching her face and started to comfort her in his warm embrace. She hugs him back as she tries to calm herself down. 

After a few minutes, Kotone manages to retain her calm position. 

“Shinji, I decided I want to have a baby with you,” Kotone says with a determined look. 

“Koto, are you sure? What about college? Shadow Operative?” Shinjiro worried for her.

“Think of it as my atonement for cheating on you. I won’t regret it. That’s why I want to have sex with you right now without any condoms or birth control pills.”  Kotone holds Shinjiro’s right hand and places it on her chest. Shinjiro can tell she’s serious about this.

Chapter Text

One hour earlier...  

After Chidori, Ken and Koromaru left to find Shinjiro and Kotone's belongings so Koromaru could track their scents.

Akihiko’s Guest Room

Akihiko decided to take a quick shower after swimming laps in the ocean with Shinjiro timing him. After that, he dried himself off and put on the same clothes he had on. He left his room to find Shinjiro and Kotone.

Security Room (Outside)

He tries looking at the third floor, where he stumbled across the hallway, a security room. He notices the door is not locked or closed. “I wonder if the security guard forgot to lock up before leaving for break… Maybe I shouldn’t go in… I don’t want Mitsuru to get the wrong idea.” He looks less confident. As he was about to leave, he stopped and shook his head to help him return to his senses. “No…! This might be a way to find and ensure they are safe.” He decides to go to the security room even though there is a chance Mitsuru will get mad at him for evading parts of her mansion.

Security Room

He looks around and sees many monitor screens somewhere. There are ten screens for each location inside the mansion and outside. He decides to check out and press some random buttons to show him any locations where Shinjiro and Kotone might be. The monitors turned on, revealing many places inside the Mansion. He knows some basics of how to work on it since Mitsuru has shown him how to work on the keyboard in the command room since middle school. He browsed each screen; first was Mitsuru’s bedroom, the second was the kitchen where the maids and butler were preparing for tonight's meal, and the third was the living room where the pool table and other activities were. 

“So far so good.” Akihiko hasn’t given up yet. 

The fourth monitor shows Fuuka and Junpei in the garden. When Fuuka looks around, Junpei secretly plucks a white flower from Mitsuru’s garden and hides it inside his baseball cap. Fuuka turns around and sees Junpei acting casually to find any clues to look for Kotone and Shinjiro.

“Junpei-kun, what are you doing?” Fuuka looks suspicious.

“I’m searching for any leads to Koto-tan and Shinjiro-senpai. I'm not goofing around. He he he...” Junpei grinned.

“That’s idiot…. he probably did this to give to his girlfriend. Does he know Kotone and Shinji’s lives might be at stake?” Akihiko looks disappointed in Junpei.  

He decides the observe the rest of the monitors. The fifth shows on multiple screens in everyone’s guest room. The second half comes from outside of Mitsuru’s summer mansion. The sixth is the beach, the seventh is Kirijo lab where Aigis was created, the eighth is a town where residents of Yakushima lived, the ninth shows the dock where people enter and leave Yakushima, and the last monitor shows Mitsuru and Yukari in the library, looking through books about Yakushima’s landmarks, forests, caves, and rivers. Akihiko sighed in frustration because no surveillance showed where Kotone and Shinjiro were. He wonders what he’s doing here is a waste of his time. 

“DAMN IT!” Akihiko angrily yelled at himself. He slammed his fists onto the keyboard hard. Suddenly, the eleventh monitor appeared on the center screen, except it was password-locked. He clicks on the button for hints about a password, but nothing. He has to guess the password that only Mitsuru knows. He first tried her birthday, but it was incorrect. He tried to type Yukari’s name since she is one of the few people Mitsuru is closest with. “Please, this got to be the password since Yukari is everything to Mitsuru.” The password he typed was uncorrected again.  He takes a deep breath to calm himself and what is the most important thing to her. He comes up with another possible password. He types the word “Kirijo Group” and clicks enter. Akihiko managed to get in, and the password he guessed was correct. “I think the third time is the charm. Now, to find out about this eleventh monitor and why it was locked, that no one wants to see. The visual image from the monitor is fully shown. ThisIt shows an unknown cave hidden in the waterfall where he sees two couples eating fruit while they sit next to get over in close mid-range. Akihiko recognized them; it was Kotone and Shinjiro. “I found them! there alright.” Akihiko expressed great relief to see them alive. He takes out his cell phone and takes a screenshot of the cave where Shinjiro and Kotone are. He can send the image over to Mitsuru if she recognizes this cave. Before he can send it to her, he hears Shinjiro and Kotone’s conversation, but he can barely hear them, unlike the other monitor screens. He turns on the knob to increase the volume to hear them better. 

“Shinji…. There is something I wanted to tell you.” Kotone looks straight into Shinjiro’s eyes.

“I want to say something to you, do.” Shinjiro looks at her.

“Okay, let’s discuss the same thing together on a count of 3. I’m scared what I will say to you might make you mad,” Kotone says with a concerned look.

“Koto, when I was ever mad at you. Okay, if you want this, I do it with you too. To be honest… I felt the same way as well.” 

“The only time Shinji was ever mad was when I put too much protein in his ramen without looking.” Akihiko comments. 

“3… 2.. 1…” Kotone and Shinjiro started to count together before they said their answer simultaneously.

“I want us to continue our engagement!” Both of them say in unison. 

They were surprised that they said the same thing. 

Akihiko was a bit surprised that they thought the same thing. He thought the only ones to read with others were him and Shinjiro since they had known each other the longest. 

“The truth is, Shinji, I still want to be with you even though you are still mad at me.  I know it will take a long time to regain your trust and love. I promise I will never cheat you again.” Kotone swore her heart out to Shinjiro. 

“Koto… I… was never mad at you. I was mad at myself for writing that stupid apology letter that day. I thought you would be happy with someone when I’m gone. Hell, I wouldn't mind if you hooked up with Aki. Then I realized that I ended up hurting your feelings. It was wrong what I did. I wanted to make up for it by proposing to you the other day—a new life with you,” Shinjiro says solemnly. 

“Shinji…”

“I didn’t want to break our engagement either, and I still love you. I hope you will forgive me one day.”  Shinjiro gently touched Kotone’s face. 

Akihiko is glad that Kotone and Shinjiro made up again, and yet, his heartache with jealousy and sadness. He has no idea why he should act like this again, even though he has given his permission for his best friend to be with her. 

“I was never mad at you either. At first, I was hurt. You thought you were going to die on that day. I understand why you did it; you didn't have much time left. You wanted me to be someone like Aki. I could never fall in love with another person. Whether it’s a man, woman, or nonbinary, you are the only person I love the most. You made me feel safe, and I can be myself with you.” Kotone confesses to him. She touches his hand with hers.

“I wanted to tell you something. It’s about our unborn child. On January 31st, the day Nyx ascended, they didn’t make it after the Dark Hour dissolved.” Shinjiro sadly half-lied to her.

“Somehow, I knew…” Kotone gives a sad look.

“How?” Shinjiro asked. 

“I remember it was in February when I experienced my period again since the last time I had was in September. I realized our unborn died inside after the Dark Hour, and Tartarus dissolved forever. Before my memories returned, I was crying emotionally, and I didn’t know why I was sad.” Kotone explained to him sadly. 

Shinjiro stopped touching her face and started to comfort her in his warm embrace. She hugs him back as she tries to calm herself down. 

“This must be when that Theo guy saved Vincent during the final battle against Nyx last year. I know what it felt like to lose someone precious to me,” says Akihiko frowning. 

“Shinji, I decided I want to have a baby with you,” Kotone says with a determined look. 

Akihiko reacted in shock. “Why does she want to have another baby? They just lost their own last year… I know she’s doing this as some atonement. She should have waited until after graduation from college.”

 “Koto, are you sure? What about college? Shadow Operative?” Shinjiro worried for her.

“Think of it as my atonement for cheating on you. I won’t regret it. That’s why I want to have sex with you right now without any condoms or birth control pills.”  Kotone holds Shinjiro’s right hand and places it on her chest. Shinjiro can tell she’s serious about this.

“There is no way Shinji would accept this. I’m sure he'll—” Before Akihiko can finish his sentence, he reacts with a puzzled look as he sees Shinji making out with Kotone. They start to deepen their kiss by inserting their tongues into their mouths to taste each other. This was the first time Akihiko saw them like that. He saw them kiss regularly, but nothing like this. His face starts to turn very red in embarrassment. He closes his eyes as he tries not to look. After the sound of their making out has stopped, he hears Kotone’s voice.

“Shinji…” say Kotone’s voice, moaning softly.  

“I have been waiting for this for a long time,”  says Shinjiro’s voice, seductive. 

Akihiko tries to resist the temptation to look at them. .  

Security Room (Present)

“Should we let the authorities know?” Yukari asked, still disturbed.

“Not right now. Finding Shiomi and Shinjiro is of great importance. We can worry about this later.” Mitsuru says wisely.

Yukari notices the disk slider is left open for some reason. The other screen shows some kind of cave except most of the screen is covered up by someone stuff. “Mitsuru-senpai, do you recognize this cave before?”

“No, this is the first time I’ve seen it. I recognized that waterfall. That must have been the the same one Marco mentioned. We should let the others know.” Mitsuru suggested to notify the others and go to Toroki Fall.

“Right.” Yukari agreed.

Yukari receives a call from Ken. She takes her cell phone from her pocket and answers the call.

“Hello? Ken-kun, did you find them?” 

“Not yet. Kotone-san’s tracks stop by a broken cliff. The remaining parts of the ground fell into a lake. I think there are spikes sticking out underwater.” Ken’s voice sounds unsured.

“Don’t tell me that… S-she might have..” Yukari looks scared. She didn’t want to think of another way that she might have fallen to her death.

“Kotone-san’s body is not down there. I think Shinjiro-san might have saved her somehow. It might be a theory, but I think she and Shinjiro-san might have felt together and there are taking shelter somewhere close by.” Ken’s voice stated.

“Does that mean that you, Koro-chan, and Chidori plan to go down there to look for them?” Yukari asks Ken, hopefully.

“I don’t think we can go down there since the depth and length of the cliff and lake, it’s too high up. We would be taken a long way down or find a lower steep. It might take us for two or three more hours.” Ken’s voice, sadly.

“No way… it would be close to the evening. Is there no other way?” 

“I know a passage to take you to your friends.” Says a familiar voice.

Mitsuru and Yukari turn around and see Kikuno behind. Yukari screamed in frightened by her sudden appearance.

“Kikuno! Please don't scare me! You appear out of nowhere!” says Yukari, still surprised.

“I’m sorry I scared you. I promise I will find another way to approach you and Lady Mitsuru.” She apologizes to Yukari.

“How much did you hear?” Mitsuru asked.

“All of it. I believe the cave that your friends are taking shelter in a cave happens to be a secret love-making cave spot that only Kirijo's head knows. You can say it for a married couple who just got married and started the consummation of their marriage.“ She explained politely to Mitsuru.

“Gross… so it’s like a secret love hotel where the two lose their virgins…” Yukari felt disgusted.

“Who told you that? This is the first I heard of it?!” Mitsuru looks confused and yet furious.

“From your father before his death. He informed me and the other old-generation servants about this should he ever die before you got married to your ex-fiancé. If you decide to lose your virginity here.” Kikuno explained.

“That’s a bit disturbing… is that how my parents did it when they conceived me?” 

“Correct. Although, I heard from one of the maids before me that your parents only did it once.” 

“Please stops taking about conceive and lovemaking! We need to find Kotone and Aragaki-senpai!” says Yukari with an uncomfortable expression.

“Kikuno, please show us the way.” Mitsuru requested her.

“Yes, milady.” Kikuno obliged Mitsuru’s request.

“Yukari-san, what’s wrong? Why you screamed?” Ken sounds confused.

Yukari almost forgot that Ken is still on the phone. She decides to finish his conversation with him “It’s nothing. Kikuno knows a secret passage to take us to Kotone and Senpai. Please let everyone know and regroup back to the mansion. 

“Okay, I will let Koromaru and Chidori-san know.” Ken hung up. 

Chapter Text

Kirijo Summer Manor.

Everyone was gathered except Akihiko, who met up in the living room. 

“Where’s Sanada-san? Didn’t you already text him to meet us here?” Ken asked Junpei.

“I tried many times, but he wasn’t responding to my phone calls for some reason.” Junpei looks unsured.

“We can inform him later. He must have had a reason for not coming here,” Mitsuru said.

“I think it might be because he was sore from today's workout training with Aragaki-senpai,” Yukari guessed Akihiko’s reason.

“Kikuno, you say you know where they are? Would you show us?” Mitsuru politely asked her.

“A course. Follow me.” She leads everyone to an old wooden bookshelf with different books displayed. Most of them are poetry, history, geography, and science.

“A bookshelf. Are you saying the hidden passage is behind it?”

“Correct. I will ask you to turn around except Lady Mitsuru.” 

“What? Why?” Junpei disappointed.

“Only the head of the Kirijo group will revealed to. Those were the last instructions the previous head gave me,” Kikuno stated.

“Fine,” says Junpei in a sulked tone.

Everyone had their backs turned so they wouldn’t know how to open the hidden passage.

Mitsuru watches Kikuno pull a magenta book from the bookshelf. It opens, revealing a hidden passage. She looks bewildered, as she had no idea a hidden room existed in her family’s summer mansion.

“The main key is to find a book unlike the others,” Kikuno says calmly. 

“Alright, everyone, you can look now.” 

Everyone turns around and sees a bookshelf open like a door. They approached it, and it showed a flight of stairs for the passengers.

“Wow! That’s far down!” Fuuka was surprised.

“Arf!” Koromaru barked in agreement.

“Be careful to watch your steps. You probably don’t want to fall down the stairs.” Kikuno instructed them. Before she can take them, she brings two bath towels with her. 

“Why are you bringing with them?” 

“You’ll see.” Kikuno gives an amused smile at Chidori.

Everyone entered the passage, leading them to where Shinjiro and Kotone were.  

Hidden Passage underneath Kirijo’s Summer Manor

When they reached the ground, they walked straight to the pathway to a locked door. Thankfully, the path has glowing stones attached to the walls to guide them in the dark. 

“Wow! It looks so beautiful and memorable. It's no wonder your parents came here. It’s so romantic!” Fuuuka compliments Mitsuru.

“Why… thanks.” Mitsuru blushed slightly.

“Have these stones always been there, or did Mitsuru-san’s relatives install them so they don’t have to use flashlights, Kikuno-san?” Ken asked Kikuno.  

“They have been installed when this place was created. You can say it brings up the romantic atmosphere.” 

“Oh, I see. That’s such a brilliant idea.” Ken compliments her as well.

“So Mitsuru-senpai, once you settle down and start a family, are you planning on coming here again with someone, or if you don’t mind…” Junpei tries to persuade her with something until Yukari interrupts him, annoying.

“Nice try, Junpei. You aren’t going to use her family’s love-making hidden room.” 

“What?! That’s not what I was going to say… hehe.” Junpei suspiciously denied Yukari’s guess.

Chidori, who clings to Junpei’s left arm, looks suspicious at him.

“What are you going to say to her?” 

“Umm…If you ever give permission to use it, I know which couple can,” Junpei suggested. 

“Who? You mean—?!”

“We’re here,” Kikuno confirmed to everyone.

Yukari and Junpei stop and see a well-fined door with a door handle and locked code. 

“Another door, but this time, it’s a locked door with a handle that you need a password to get in.”

“Correct, Amada-san. This is the most updated password door lock we have used so far. We always change new door locks once every half-decade or more to keep up with today's times,” Kikuno says to Ken with a faint smile.

“Do you know how to get in?” Mitsuru asked her.

“A course. Let me input it for you. Be sure to watch me since I’m only doing this once. But first, can someone hold onto these bath towels for me?” She politely asks anyone to help her.

“I will.” Yukari volunteers to hold on to them. 

She gave them to Yukari before inputting the password into the door. Mitsuru observed her and memorized the password.

After a few clicks, and Kikuno finished inserting the password, the door is unlocked.

“That can’t be… that my..?” Mitsuru reacted in confusion.

“Yes, Mitsuru. The password is your birthday.” Kikuno confirms her.

“I thought you said my parents only came here once. Why is the date of my birth the password? ” 

“The previous head changed the password last year for you. If something bad ever happens to him, the previous password will be difficult for you to remember. He says your birthdate will be easier to remember.” Kikuno explained to Mitsuru. 

“Father changed the password for me. I’m happy he’s thinking about me… and yet I’m sad he’s not around anymore.” Mitsuru looks happily sad.

“Mitsuru-senpai.” Yukari felt bad for her.

Later, Yukari returned the towels to Kikuno, and each of them entered the hidden room. 

Yakashima Cave

Shinjiro swoops Kotone into his arms and jumps back into the lake to hide. They slowly lower themselves so the people living there won’t see them. They heard footsteps drawing closer. They embraced each other for the worse. However, unknown to them, they listened to an expected sound.

“*pant* *pant* Arf! Arf!!” says the dog’s barking. 

“Koro-chan?!” says Shinjiro in thoughts, completely unexpected to hear.

“Wait! Koromaru! Not’s so fast!” says Junpei’s voice.

“Junpei?” says Kotone in thoughts confused. 

“Wow! You just ran instantly as if you know already found them.” Yukari is slightly tired.

“Man, you sure can’t wait to see them.”

“Arf!” Koromaru barked happily as he wagged his tail rapidly. He started sniffing around the area until he finally spotted Shinjiro and Kotone in the water. He looked thrilled to see them, okay?

“Koromaru, no.. do not jump.” Shinjiro quietly begged him not to. 

“Huh? Why is Koro-chan staring at water?” Fuuka asked Yukari, confused. 

Koromaru looks like he is ready to jump at them. 

“Koro-chan?” Kotone looks puzzled.

Koromaru, who couldn’t hold his excitement any longer, jumped in the water and landed on them.

They heard a loud splashing coming from the water. They also listened to a familiar grun sound. 

“Koromaru! You just had a bath four hours ago! Why do you want to go back in the water again?” Ken looks disappointed. 

“Wait of minutes, what’s that?!”  

Suddenly, the two familiar figures came out of the water. Shinjiro still carries Kotone in their arms, and Kotone carries Koromaru in her arms. Koromaru licking both of them on the cheeks.

“Kotone! Aragaki-senpai! You’re alright! I’m so glad.” Fuuka expressed relief to them.

The last ones to enter the hidden cave were Mitsuru, Kikuno, and Chidori.

“Dude, don’t scare us like that. We thought you were in danger again,” Junpei says, smiling in relief. 

“I was. A strange guy with dragon scales attacked me.” Kotone stated. 

“Kotone, what happened? You and Senpai were gone for four hours! We were worried sick about you! Second, what happened to your ankle?!” Yukari worried for Kotone.

“It’s a long story, Yukari,” Kotone says with a kind smile.

Shinjiro, Kotone, and Koromaru climb out of the water. He gently puts Kotone down, and Kotone lets Koromaru go. Koromaru’s fur is soaked and wet. 

“Koromaru, don’t! Don’t shake! We just took a shower!” 

Like before, Koromaru doesn’t listen to Junpei. He starts shaking the excessive water off of him. He gets Junpei slightly wet for a while. Yukari is smart enough to back away. 

“Kikuno, please give them the towels to dry off.”

“Alright.” Kikuno gives Kotone and Shinjiro towels to dry them off. After Shinjiro finishes drying himself, he uses the other side of his towel to dry Koromaru’s body.

“That reminds me, Mitsuru. How did you find us? I thought it was someone else's hidden area,” Shinjiro asked her.

“Kikuno was the one who identified the cave you and Shiomi were in. It was my family’s secret room for married couples who wanted to conceive a child.” 

“WHAT?!” Shinjiro and Kotone were shocked, and their faces started to turn red. Thankfully, Yukari covered Ken’s ears so he wouldn’t be able to listen since he was too young to know.

“How do you even know where we are?” Shinjiro repeatedly questions back to her.

“In the security room within the mansion.” 

“Wait for a minute?! Did you say you saw us—?!” Shinjiro doesn’t want to think that Mitsuru might watched him have sex with Kotone. If she did, he might get executed, and he doesn’t like that.

“Seen what? And I wasn’t able to see most of the monitors because they were covered in someone else “stuff”. A partial intruder sneaks into the mansion for an unknown reason.” Mitsuru explained to him.

“Stuff? What “stuff”?” Fuuka innocent asked.  Junpei whispered into her ear so Ken wouldn’t about this. After he told her, Fuuka’s face turned brightly pink. 

“You have the dirtiest mind, Junpei.” Yukari looks at him disgusted.

“I only told her the truth.”

“Wait? What’s going on? I can’t hear what you guys are saying?” Ken looks confused.

Yukari almost forgot she had Ken’s ears covered all the time. She stopped covering Ken’s ears so he could hear again.

“How about we go back inside to the hidden room to relax before heading back to our rooms.” Yukari persuaded Ken so that he wouldn’t hear any adult words. 

“O-Okay?” Ken has no idea why Yukari wants to go back inside. Yukari gently moved Ken back inside the cave. 

“Mitsuru-senpai? Can I ask you something?” Kotone curiously asked.

“Sure. Anything. What do you want to know?” 

“What’s inside of your family’s hidden room like?” Kotone questioned her innocently. 

Chapter Text

Kirijo Honeymoon Room

Kotone was in awe at the hidden room underneath the Kirijo Summer Mansion. It’s almost like an actual love hotel room, except it has a two-person couch, a coffee table with a guidebook that helps women and men become fertile, a mini refrigerator containing water bottles, and a food sender that the chief can send their meals to them. There is a cabinet that includes emergency supplies in case of an emergency. This is the same place where Shinjiro finds the first aid kit, which he needs to use to treat Kotone’s injured ankle. 

There are also two more rooms. Kotone checks the first room where it’s king size bed with memory foam, ultramarine blankets and white bed sheets, double lamps, two cedar-crafted drawer nightstands, a single large dresser cabinet for each side, ultramarine curtains, a window for a view of the beautiful scenery outside, and another room is a bathroom with just the toilet and sinks and yet, no showers or bathtub for some reason. There are a couple of bath towels displayed on the table. She decides to check on the last room. She opens a sliding door, which reveals Cave Hot Spring. It’s almost like a hot spring in Kyoto with her friends when she is in her second year. Thankfully, it exposes the cave ceiling to fresh air, both during the day and at night’s breeze. There are shampoos, hair containers, body soaps, and shower heads attached to the wall. 

“Wow! This hidden room is amazing! I didn’t know your family owned this!” Kotone looks excited. 

“Yeah. This room screamed Kirijo Group, alright.” Shinjiro looks slightly annoyed.

“Awww man! This must be the most expensive room ever! I wish I could stay here for the holiday break with my beloved Chidorita. That would be a perfect place for our date!” Junpei looks disappointed that he can’t stay here since it’s Kirijo Group’s property.

“Try saving up, and I’m sure Mitsuru-senpai will help you find the perfect love hotel for you and Chidori to spend time together.” Yukari pats Junpei’s shoulder for comfort.

“It’s fine, Junpei. I prefer the way we are now. I don’t want our relationship to move too fast,” says Chidori. 

“Okay…” Junpei looks sad. 

“I get a feeling Junpei-san’s expression reads 'I got rejected again. I feel bad for him, and yet, it’s reasonable since they started dating for six months.” Ken says in his thoughts. 

“I've got to say, Shinjiro, you did a good job cleaning and bandaging Shiomi’s injured ankle. I guess helping Akihiko in the past does pay off in improving your medical skills.” Mitsuru compliments Shinjiro.

“It’s not my first time doing it. Speaking of Aki, where is he? Shouldn’t  he be with you guys?” He asked Mitsuru.

“He says he didn't feel good for some reason. He is currently resting in his room. When I go to check on him, Akihiko’s face looks a bit flushed. Probably due to exposure to cold air, he did not dry himself sooner. I’m sure he will get better soon.” Mitsuru explained about Akihiko’s condition.

“That idiot. Always do the most reckless thing.” Shinjiro scratches his head in frustration. 

“Mitsuru-senpai, we’re sorry for trespassing on your family’s hidden room. We came here by accident.”

“It’s fine. You and Shinjiro came here by accident. You didn’t know about this place. All that matters is that you’re safe and around.” Mitsuru pat Kotone’s left shoulder. 

Kotone smiles at her in relief.

“Shinjiro.” 

“What?”

“I would be mad at you for using my family’s first aid kit without permission, but you did it to help treat Shiomi’s injury. For that, I’m grateful for keeping her safe.” Mitsuru gives him an honest look.

“It was nothing. If I hadn’t, the infection would have worsened. I’m just a caring and loving fiancé who treats Koto like a princess.” Shinjiro says to Mitsuru. He wraps his arm around Kotone affectionately.

“Aww… Shinji. ❤️” Kotone smiles, flustered.

“Fiancé? Does that mean you guys finally made up?!” Fuuka looks surprised.

“Yes, Fuuka. We made up.” Kotone ensured her.

“I can tell by those hick marks all over your upper bodies and your “stuff” back in the cave you guys were in,” says Yukari, with a discomfort expression. Her face is a little pink for some reason, as she doesn't want to say it out loud.

“Oh, that... that was my fault.  I overdid it because I hadn’t “done” with her for two weeks.” Shinjiro apologizes.

“Done what?” Ken asked Shinjiro, vaguely confused by his words.

“Okay, it’s getting late. We should be going now before dinner starts in two hours.” Yukari tries to change the subject since she hasn’t explained that topic to him yet.

“Come to think of it, all that searching for Kotone and Senpai did make me exhausted. I'm going to eat a snack.” Junpei supported Yukari. 

“Oh no, you don’t! You’re washing Koro-chan tonight.” Yukari tells Junpei.

“What? WHY? Koromaru got soaked in freshwater! He’s fine until tomorrow morning. Why do I have to do it? Junpei complained.

“Ken-kun already washed him since we got out of the water at the beach. It’s your turn to do it!” 

“I don’t mind helping you out, Junpei. I always wanted to try washing Koromaru clean.” Chidori says in a soft tone. 

“Awww Chidori… On second thought, I would love to wash Koromaru with my girlfriend helping me.” Junpei’s mood has shifted to a warm and positive feeling.

“A course you will do anything to please her…” Yukari mumbled to herself. 

Everyone except Kotone, Shinjiro, Mitsuru, Yukari, and Kikuno left the hidden room. Kikuno stayed behind to clean the mess Kotone and Shinjiro had made in the cave. 

Shinjiro whispers in Kotone’s ear before they return to the mansion to take a shower. “We will continue what we left off later tonight.” 

“*giggle* I’m looking forward to it. Can I come to your room this time?” Kotone whispered back to him, flirting.

Yukari notices something is a bit off between them until she realizes, after they ate dinner, they are planning on having sex again, and what’s worse, Akihiko or Junpei might hear them doing it. 

“Um… Mitsuru-senpai, can I talk to you quickly?” says Yukari, slightly panicked. She takes her to the bedroom for a private conversation.

“Okay…? What’s this about?” Mitsuru asked politely.

“I have been thinking since you are not planning to use this anytime soon. Could you lead Kotone and Aragaki-senpai to this secret room until the last day we leave Nakashima?” Yukari tries to persuade Mitsuru.

“Why? This is my family's secret room for married couples to conceive a child. I don’t think I should lead this room very easily, who are not part of the Kirijo family.” Mitsuru says, doubtful.

“Think about it. If you don’t, Kotone and Senpai will be having sex all night. Akihiko-senpai might hear them since his room is next to Aragaki-senpai’s room. My guest room is also next to Kotone’s, and I don’t want to wake up and hear them doing it every night. Please, I begged you.” Yukari bowed to Mitsuru, demonstrating her seriousness. 

Meanwhile, from Kotone and Shinjiro’s side

“That reminds me, I want to thank you for the candy you brought me two weeks ago.”

“Candy? What candy? Wait for minutes?! Was it you who ate it?!”

“Yes, I swallow it. Although it had a bitter taste, it was sweet. However, I did feel a bit strange after that. Like a flow of memories I've never seen or experienced before.” Kotone admitted, honestly.

“Do you remember that monkey guy who was with us and the time you were assaulted by that guy with dragon traits?” Shinjiro questioned her.

“Yeah. I remember him. I saw him twice. He looked humanoid with a monkey tail. I did like the wonder of whether he is related to a new type of Shadow breed or something.” Kotone responded to his question.

“One last question. Before your soul was released from the Great Seal, did you see anyone with you at the time?” Shinjiro gives her a stern glance. He hopes she doesn’t remember him, or else he will be forced to lie to her again. 

“That part I wasn’t able to remember. The last thing I remember was performing the Great Seal, and then I woke up in an unfamiliar place, covered by my coat, while everyone stared at me in relief. Why you ask?” 

“It’s nothing. I want to confirm it. I’m glad you remember graduation day on March 5th, 2010. The day we reunited with each other,” says Shinjiro, relieved that she still hasn’t recovered all of her memories yet. He guesses it's not time yet to reveal Vincent, their son, to her. He sadly smiles at her. 

“Me too. That was one of our memorable moments together.” Kotone says it cheerfully.

Shinjiro and Kotone hugged each other. “I’m glad you like my little gift for you.” He lied to her. He wants to tell her that Marco gave it to him so that he can recover all of her memories from both the past and the future. At least she remains the same cheerful and lovable girl he remembers. So now she is like us, immune to time's effects, except for Aigis. He is not planning to tell her about the price he made with Marco. It will break her heart if she knows. 

After a brief heartwarming moment, Yukari and Mitsuru approached them. 

“Yukari? Mitsuru-senpai? What did you guys discuss?” Kotone wonders. 

“We discussed something important, so I decided you and Shinjiro should stay here for the night until we leave Yakushima on the last day,” says Mitsuru with a calm expression.

Shinjiro and Kotone look surprised by Mitsuru’s sudden decision.

“Mitsuru. We don’t know what to say. You don’t have to. This is your family’s hidden mating room. We aren’t part of your family.” Shinjiro says, concerned. 

“It’s fine. I was hoping you could think of this as my early marriage gift to you. I’m glad you managed to patch things up. I want you all to relax and spend quality time together, since you've been apart. Maybe, you two will catch up.”

“Really?! Thank you so much, Mitsuru-senpai!” Kotone says with a cheerful expression. As she was about to hug Mitsuru, she stopped her.

“But first, you and Shinjiro need to take a shower and dress warmly to go back to your guest rooms, not in here yet. Some things need to be tidied up. After dinner, please gather your belongings from your rooms and bring them to this location. By the time you two get here, this room will be ready.” Mitsuru instructed them.

“Right, we will do that.” Shinjiro and Kotone say in unison. 

“I will give you guys the password to this room since the door is a password lock. This will be the only time you two will be in this room since I’m planning on changing the password again with a new locked door system that gets released.” Mitsuru reminds them to make the most of their time here. 

They nodded in agreement.

“Well, I hope you guys have belle nuit ensemble en tant que futurs mariés (lovely night together as future newlyweds),” Mitsuru says with an elegant smile.

“I still don’t understand most of what she’s saying in French,” says Shinjiro in his thought, puzzled.

Kotone and Yukari left the room together to check up with the others. Yukari, a course helps support Kotone due to the injury on her ankle.

Before Shinjiro can leave, Mitsuru stops by and grabs onto his right wrist.

“Wait, Shinjiro. Please, don’t do anything reckless towards Kotone. She needs to recover from her injuries. She probably can’t walk too much until her ankle fully heals.” Mitsuru asks him with a worried look as she is concerned for Kotone’s safety.

“I promised. I’ll make sure she gets enough rest and recovers from her injury. You have my word.” Shinjiro promised her. He shook off Mitsuru’s hand on his wrist before he put his hand into his trunk’s pocket. 

“About the person that she mentioned. Could it be the same person who infected Aigis back in December?”

“I think so. I have no idea what his motives are, but, if he ever shows his face again and hurts Koto again, I’ll going to kick his ass and send him to hell.” 

Shinjiro left the room, leaving Mitsuru the only one left. Later, Kikuno returns, having finished cleaning up the mess, and picks up the fruits that are lying on the ground. She has fruits in a crafted basket found in the cabinet and a mop and bucket in her other hand. 

“I’m finished cleaning up. I also found some fruits on the ground. I suggested these would be good for fruit salad for everyone. Hmm? Mitsuru?” Kikuno confused.

“Kikuno, excellent work,” says Mitsuru, faintly smiling.  

“Did I miss something?” 

Kirijo Summer Mansion - 5:00 pm

After Shinjiro took a relaxing shower, he was dressed in his comfortable clothes. He wore a simple, plain T-shirt and jeans. He carries a water bottle that the maids give him and Kotone when they get back. He takes a large gulp from his drink, and his bottle is almost half empty.

“Hey, Shinji,” says Akihiko’s voice.

Shinjiro looks to see Akihiko, who appears to be happy to see him.

“Aki, where were you?! I haven’t seen you since this early afternoon.  I heard from Mitsuru you didn’t feel good.” Shinjiro asked Akihiko, worried. 

“I see you are drinking more water than usual. I met Kotone, who had just finished taking a shower and drinking water. I kind of wonder if it’s probably from hydration from being in the sun for too long, or—” Akihiko tries to avoid his question by changing the subject.

“Don’t change the subject! I’m asking you what you have been doing since Koto and I went missing for four hours?!” Shinjiro reacted with angry looks.

“*sigh* Fine. I did try to look for you and Koto. However, something came up. I… found a security surveillance room within Mitsuru’s summer mansion. I looked everywhere on each monitor with no luck.” Akihiko explained.

“Is that all?” Shinjiro looks at him suspiciously. 

“Yes, after that, I try to do some evening workouts before I take a break and rest. I also called Aigis after her maintenance to report that Koto had gone missing. She said she will be coming here tomorrow afternoon. Not today because she still wants to tune up something in her combat function.”  Akihiko informs him.

“You what?! Why would you call her?” says Shinjiro, frustrated.

“That was my last resort. I already informed Mitsuru through texts. I was surprised she and Kikuno managed to find you and Koto so soon. I was relieved to hear that from her,” says Akihiko, impressed by Mitsuru and Kikuno’s quick thinking.

“Look, Aki. Don’t get the wrong idea. I haven’t talked to her since I cured her of the virus that Marco’s older brother created to corrupt her. I know it wasn't her fault that she had a strong, dangerous obsession with Koto. The point is… I have no idea what to say to her when I see her again.” Shinjiro looks dejected. 

“I’m sure she felt the same way, too. She has the same thoughts about you and Kotone. I told her the same thing, just be yourself and water under the bridge.” Akihiko gave some helpful advice to his best friend.

“Maybe you’re right. Although my only concern is if Aigis knows what that metaphor means and not literally.” Shinjiro annoyed. 

“I’m sure she knows what it means,” Akihiko smirked. 

Chapter Text

Guest Bathroom  

Junpei and Chidori changed from casual attire to more comfortable clothes. They didn’t mind getting wet. Junpei wore a black tank top with knee-length indigo shorts. Chidori tied her hair in a ponytail and wore a plain white t-shirt and navy jeans shorts.

Junpei helps Chidori wash Koromaru in the bathtub. She washes him quite nicely with her delicate hands. Junpei helps wash Koromaru’s back, tail, and private parts while Chidori washes his head and chest. Koromaru looks like he’s enjoying it.  After he’s all soapy, Chidori turns on the shower to wash the shampoo off him with the showerhead. 

After a few minutes… Koromaru is nice and clean.  Junpei uses a towel to dry Koromaru’s head and legs, while Chidori helps by drying his bottom and tail. 

“I bet Koromaru enjoys this. Especially since this is the first time Chidori has washed him.” Junpei chucked in his thoughts. He saw Koromaru, who looked very delighted to be rinsed twice. He also wags his tail more rapidly than usual. After they finished drying him off, Koromaru shook off the remaining water of him. 

“*pant* *pant* woof.” Kotomaru barked happily, 

“Now you are nice and clean, Koro-chan!” Chidori sincerely smiles at the shiba inu. Koromaru licks Chidori and Junpei’s faces before he leaves the bathroom to join the others. Junpei and Chidori sat on the edge of the bathtub. 

“Wow, Chidori! You have some impressive skills at washing dogs. Where did you learn it, or someone taught you how to do it?” Junpei teased Chidori gleefully.

“I learned from watching my twin sister. She has always wanted to become a veterinarian or dog groomer since we were kids. She learned how to do it by reading books in the library or watching videos on our papa’s laptop computer. She loved dogs so much. She practices it on our neighbor’s pet, and they like it.” Chidori says sadly, smiling.

“I didn’t know you had a twin sister. I thought only your parents died? Why didn’t you mention her?” 

“She died along with my parents years ago. I had my reason for not bringing it up to my doctor or you.”

“Oh… I’m so sorry to hear that.” Junpei tries to comfort her.

“That’s all in the past. Right now, I must focus on what I want to do with my life.” Chidori says with determination. 

Chidori touched Junpei’s hand and held it firmly. She looks into Junpei’s eyes, and the same goes for Junpei, who is surprised yet comfortable. “Don’t worry, Chidori. I promised I would be by your side and never leave you. I want to spend my time with you.” Junpei put his hand on top of Chidori’s hand. 

“Me too. I want to spend my life with you, too, Junpei.” Chidori genuinely smiles at him. She rests her head on Junpei’s right arm. 

March 23th, 2011

Kirijo Summer Mansion - Morning

After everyone had breakfast, Junpei and Chidori waited for them to explore around Yakushima for their second-day trip. He has so many ideas he wants to do with Chidori and everyone else. Junpei and Chidori are fully geared up in their hiking attires. Junpei wears a Thunderlight indigo, purple jacket, zipper open, with a black Journey T-shirt, dark gray cargo pants, and indigo black trimmed hiker shoes. He also wears his hiker hat and carries a purple backpack with all the supplies they need to travel in the forrest and mountains. Chidori wears a braided ponytail that Fuuka did for her. She wore a pale red T-shirt with a white cream outdoor waterproof hoodie, raincoat jacket, black leggings, and Hoka beige sneakers. 

“After eating a well-balanced breakfast, it’s time to go hiking up the mountain!” Junpei beaming with enjoyment. He realizes no one is present, just him and Chidori.

“I wonder where they are? Didn’t you say last night that we will all explore Yakushima?” Chidori asked him.

“That’s what Mitsuru-senpai said. I think it has something to do with yesterday about a sick pervert who did something in the Surveillance room. Probably one of the servants working here.” Junpei recalled from last night.

“Wow, you’re here already?!” says Kotone’s voice.

Junpei and Chidori see Kotone and Shinjiro in their hiker outfits, and they are fully geared up. Kotone wears a bright vermillion orange high collar jacket fully zippered, white shirts underneath are black tights, and Hoka Festival Fuchsia and camellia sneakers. She carries around a bright orange hiking backpack. Shinjiro wears a dark red high-collar hiker jacket with long black sleeves, navy baggy pants, and Hoka black anacapa breeze mid sneakers. He still wears the same black beanie and hiker backpack.  Shinjiro has his left arm around Kotone’s shoulder. 

“Kotone, Shinjiro-senpai?! I never expected you guys to be ready before everyone else. Senpai, where do you get those outfits and equipment?! I could have sworn you packed one or two luggage.”

“I’m borrowing Aki’s clothes and supplies since he won’t join us today,” Shinjiro explained.

“What?! Why?!” Junpei, panicking, asked Shinjiro.

“Mitsuru is going to be Aki’s training partner in my absence since me and I made up yesterday. I want to spend time with my fiancée to make many memories together. We start college next week.” Shinjro calmly answered his question.

“So that leaves Yuka-tan, Fuuka, and Ken, Koromaru, then. I don’t mind waiting for them.” Junpei looks a bit relieved.

“Yukari is hanging out with Fuuka today to help her find a chain necklace to put on seashells together for Natsuki,” Kotone explained to Junpei.

“What?! This is the first time I’ve heard of it. When was that?!” Junpei reacted in shock.

“She texted me this morning before breakfast. I thought she already let you know when we finished eating.”

“I… I didn’t get a chance to look at her text message. I was in a hurry.” Junpei says in a sulked tone. 

“You should always check your phone before assuming they want to hang out with you.” Shinjiro looks disappointed in Junpei.

Ken and Koromaru arrive to see them off.

“Ken, Koromaru, I’m so glad that you… wait, why are you still in your casual clothes, Ken?” 

“Oh, me and Koromaru are staying here when Aigis-san arrives. We will explain everything to her from yesterday. Hoping by the time we finish, Kotone-san will have a proper conversation with her. She hasn’t seen her for two weeks.”

Kotone looks saddened when Ken mentions Aigis’ name. Shinjiro notices this and tries to comfort her. He knows she misses her greatly, the same way she missed him when they took a break. “Koto, I’m sure you will be able to reach her and tell her how you feel once we get back from our hike.” 

“Yeah. I hope so, too. Thank you.” Kotone smiled slightly.

“Wait of minutes... If it just be the four of us, then… does that mean a double date?!” Junpei reacted in surprise. He never had a double date with friends before. He and Kotone often hung out in their 2nd and 3rd years of high school but never with their dates before. He wondered if this would be kind of awkward or exciting.

“A double date? What’s that?” Chidori looks confused. 

“Is where two couples go together in a romantic activity,” Kotone explained to Chidori.

“Honestly, this is my first time going to one with another couple,” Shinjiro says honestly.

“Then again, we are the only ones still in a relationship with our significant other, so it probably won’t be this bad, right?” Junpei asks Kotone.

“Yeah, that way, we will have plenty of time to talk about our relationships and future during our hiking to Jomonsugi. I read there are two paths to get there: one is the Anbo trail, and the other is the Okubo trail that leads to Wilson’s Stump, which has a heart-shaped opening. Me and Shinji are planning to take that path. What about you?” 

“Well…Um.. We were planning on taking that trail, mainly to take photos together. I thought it would be the best romantic place to be intimate.” Junpei says with a fluttered expression.

“Oh, I didn’t know. We could take the other trail for you to have some alone together…” Kotone is nervous.

“It’s okay, Shiomi-senpai. We don’t mind your accompany with Aragaki-senpai. Besides, I don’t mind getting to know him better.” Chidori reassured Kotone that she was all right hanging out with them.

“You four have a great time together. Don’t worry, Kotone-san, I will let you know when Aigis-san arrives.” 

“Thank you so much, Ken-kun.” Kotone smiles. 

“Arf!” Koromaru barked.

“But first, we should pack snacks or purchase some snacks at the local market before we go hiking. We must not forget to bring water with us since it's a long walkway up and down once we’re done.” Shinjiro reminded them.

Yakushima Beach - Morning 

Mitsuru reminded him to put on sunscreens before they left the mansion. Akihiko wears his workout outfits, which consist of a white T-shirt, black shorts, and running shoes.  “I hope this routine will help me forget what happened yesterday. This is probably the most embarrassing thing I ever did. I would rather not let Koto, Shinji, Ken, or even worse, Mitsuru find out about this. They would probably think of me as a disgusting pervert.” Akihiko says in his thoughts nervously.

“Hm? What’s the matter, Akihiko? You seem uneasy?” says Mitsuru, concerned for him. She wears her hair tied into a high ponytail and a white top with a black sports bra underneath,  black leggings, and white and dark red sneakers. She is also seen carrying a stopwatch around her right wrist. 

“I-I’m fine, Mitsuru. I wasn’t able to sleep that much.” Akihiko lied.

“You’re usually calm and determined when training your body and mind. Don’t tell, are you still thinking about yesterday?” Mitsuru looks suspicious. 

“N-No! I’m not! I’m sure one of the staff members probably did by accidentally not knowing it. They don’t want to admit it for fear of getting fired..” Akihiko says, acting nervous. 

 “Okay… if you say so… let’s start with warm-up exercises. I suggested you do reverse alternating lunges, mountain climbs, air squats, crab walks, bear crawls and sprints, two sets each under 15 to 30 minutes. You can go on either order you want.” Mitsuru instructed him.

“That’s my kind of challenge. I think I will start with some push-ups. I’m used to doing that at the gym.” Akihiko smirked. 

“Just don’t force yourself. If you are in pain, you can always take a break.” 

“Don’t worry, I won’t.” Akihiko starts in the high plank position, bends his elbows, lowers your chest toward the ground, and presses back up to the starting position, fully extending your elbows.  

“Honestly, Akihiko. What’s the matter with you? What are you hiding?” Mitsuru says in her thoughts, puzzled. 

Okubo Trail (Wilson's Stump) - Daytime 

Kotone and Shinjiro, along with Junpei and Chidori, decided to take the Okubo trail that leads to Wilson’s Stump, which has a heart-shaped opening at the top of the stump. Thankfully, it wasn’t crowded, and there were only a few tourists. Junpei takes a photo of Kotone and Shinjiro with her camera. After that, he looks at the picture he took for them. It's the most romantic pose he has seen. Kotone gives her usual cheerful smile in Shinjiro’s arms while Shinjiro looks surprisingly relaxed and has a calm smile in Kotone’s warm embrace. He gave Kotone’s camera back to her. Junpei gave her his camera so she could take his and Chidori’s photo next to Wilton’s Stump. They decided to do the hand-heart pose. So romantic! She adjusted the camera angle and took the picture. Kotone and Shinjiro look at the results, and it turns out great. 

“This is possibly one of the first pictures Chidori looked happy,” Kotone says in her thoughts, cheery. 

After that, she gave back Junpei’s camera, and he put it back into his backpack.

“How did I look? Was it right, or was I being a bit forceful to my smile?” Chidori says with an uneasy look. 

“Chidorita, it’s alright. You have a lovely smile.” Junpei complimented her with a playful grin.

“Chidori, you were fine. It’s a lot better than the one from the cultural festival last year.” Kotone supported Junpei’s complimentary toward Chidori. 

“I agreed with her. You didn’t smile much. You were a bit awkward.”

“I wasn’t used to getting my picture taken beside my family. It was all new to me,” says Chidori, sheepish. 

Everyone laughed happily. 

“Oh yeah, that reminds me, Kotone. Are you sure you should be walking right now? You’re still recovering from yesterday.” Junpei worried for his best friend.

“I’m alright for now. I had plenty of rest and wore comfortable socks that didn't cause unpleasant pain in my ankle. Kikuno had already changed from bandages this morning.” Kotone explained to him. 

“I hope you are right. Say, how about we have a break before we go to the Jomonsugi? I think I know a spot where we have our snacks and drink our water bottles,” Junpei suggested to her. He wants her to take it easy and tries not to force herself to walk with her current injury.

Everyone nodded in agreement to relax somewhere to eat.

Meanwhile, at the Kirijo Summer Mansion - Daytime

Ken plays ball outside the summer mansion to not break Mitsuru’s vases or mirrors. He throws the ball in the distance, and Koromaru runs and dashes to fetch it and bring it back to him. Koromaru splits it out from his mouth and looks at Ken with an innocent puppy dog eyes. He panted and wagged his tail rapidly.

“*pant* *pant* Arf! Arf!” Koromaru barked happily.

“Amazing Koromaru! This is like your ten-time fetching. You must have been happy for some reason. I wonder why?” Ken cheerfully smiles at Koromaru.

“Arf!!” 

“I wish I could understand you. Aigis is the only one who understands dog languages.”

“Koromaru-san says I’m so happy that Kotone-san and Shinjiro-san are finally going to try to conceive a baby together.” says a familiar female voice.

Ken looks in a close distance to see Aigis again. There is something different about her. She now wears a black military coat dress with a red necktie instead of the ribbon she used to wear in high school and black pants. She also got some upgrades on her metal headband. 

“Aigis-san!” Ken shouted Aigis’ name happily.

Koromaru ran to her at top speed. Aigis kneeled and hugged him back, not minding the shed fur. 

“Woof!” 

“I missed you too, Koromaru-san.” Aigis looks very happy to him again.

“I’m so glad you came here. Everyone misses you, including Kotone-san.” 

“That’s reminds me. I will help you find Kotone-san and Aragaki-san, who went missing yesterday. I promise I will find them immediately.” Aigis says with determination.

“Wait, Aigis-san! They were already found yesterday, and they're safe. They are on a double date with Junpei-san and Chidori-san. They won’t be back until either in the afternoon or early evening.” Ken explained to her.

“Thank goodness Kotone-san is alive and well. I should probably recharge first and then head back to base.” 

“Oh Aigis, I’m surprised to see you here so soon,” says Kikuno, astonished. 

“Kikuno-san. It’s good to see you and what are you holding in hand?”  Aigis asked her, confusedly. 

Kikuno is carrying what appears to be some kind of white substance in a glass vial. “It the intruder’s “loads” that were left at the surveillance room. The maids managed to clean up the mess and I managed to snatch the evidence. I’m hoping you will be able to identify who it was.” Kikuno politely asked her.

“Is that what a guy’s “stuff” would come out when we feel excited? Adult men are such perverts…” Ken looks disgusted. 

“I think I can help you with this since I got some major upgrades to my body and functions. I got a new function that I can analyze a person’s stuff. It would take me about ten minutes to finish completion.” Aigis says it positively. 

Chapter Text

The four found a relaxing place to take a break before they went to the Jomonsugi. They took out their water bottles and snacks from their backpacks. Kotone had an onigiri pickled plum, Shinjiro had an onigiri seasonal cod roe, Chidori had onigiri chicken and vegetables and mangoes, and Junpei had bananas. Junpei took one gulp of drinking water from his water bottle before having a few bites of his bananas.

“Man! That hit the spot! I was so thirsty and hungry from all the walking!” Junpei says with a refreshing expression. 

“It wasn’t that bad, Junpei.” Kotone chuckled. She nibbled her onigiri. 

“So, Junpei, what are you planning to do once you start college?” Shinjiro asked him.

“I will study hard at my university and get a part-time job working as a little league baseball coach. I wanted to teach kids to have fun and learn just like I was when I was their age.” Junpei grinned.

“I thought you wanted to be a baseball player?” Shinjiro asked him, confused. 

“I’m still thinking about it. I mean, after I finished up classes and pay job, I tried it. But first, I need to improve my swing and other baseball skills to be a pro baseball player someday.” 

“You have a good, promising goal.” Chidori sincerely smiles at her boyfriend.

“Awww. Stop. You’re embarrassing me, Chidorita.” Junpei blushed a while, smiling at her. He rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. 

“Please don’t call me that,” Chidori begged him bashfully.

“Chidori, were you able to get along with your roommates at your dorm?” 

“They are still a bit noisy and upbeat to talk about dating guys and wanting to have sex all night with them. It dove me crazy, but I hope first years will be tamed and mature enough to focus on classes and enjoy life.” Chidori signed. She bit and chewed on her mangoes in frustration.

“I’m sure they won’t be that bad,” Kotone says soothingly.

“Are those the same fruits from yesterday?”

“Yeah, there were some lefts from late night. We thought we might finish up. Akihiko-senpai told me that bananas are good for high potassium concentration and carbohydrate-potassium, which will reduce leg cramps.” Junpei explained.

“It's better to eat them than waste them. We still have some in my backpack if you want to eat them later. We don’t mind sharing some with you guys.” Junpei peels the banana and eats a piece.

“That will come in handy! After eating my onigiri, can I eat some bananas, too?” Kotone excitedly asks Junpei. 

“A course you can. It might help reduce excessive pain in your knee.” 

Shinjiro almost finished eating his onigiri seasonal cod roe before drinking water from his bottle. “Chidori seems more emotional than when I met her four years ago with Takaya and Jin. She used to stand out out of three. She never spoke to me, just stared silently. I didn’t bother to talk to her because there was nothing I wanted to say. I mainly talked to her associates. The only time I ever engaged with her was saving her from being killed by her Persona by force-feeding her my suppressant.” says Shinjiro in his thoughts. 

Shinjiro stares at Chidori, who is having a good time with Kotone and Junpei, Chidori’s boyfriend. She looks pretty calm and happy. “It makes me wonder if this is fate that we got saved somehow by our beloved from a tragic fate… that we are alive right now.” 

“By the way, you don’t have to be so formal with me. You can call me Kotone since we are friends, after all.” Kotone smiles at her.

“Sure thing, Kotone.” Chidori smiles back. 

Shinjiro expressed relief that his fiancée and Junpei’s girlfriend are getting along nicely. 

Yakushima Gift Shop - Daytime 

Fuuka and Yukari were browsing around one of the Yakushima gift shops. Fuuka tries to find a perfect necklace strap to put on seashells that Kotone helped her collect yesterday. She cannot decide to go for leather, cord, or waterproof.

“Fuuka, were you able to find what you’re looking for?” Yukari asked.

“Not yet. I can’t decide if seashells would look good in leather or waterproof cord… what do you think?” 

“Well, I think the leather would look with it. Although if you don't want the leather cord to get wet and break, you should try on a waterproof one; it won’t break easily.” Yukari suggested.

“Hmm…. you’re right. I will go for the waterproof cord necklaces. Thanks, Yukari-chan!” Fuuka looks pleased by Yukari helping her.

“It was nothing. I know a lot about jewelry and necklaces when they come to mind,” says Yukari kindly. 

“Are you also here to find a gift for someone, or did you just come here to help me?” Fuuka asks hwr curiously. She thought she would want to hang out with Kotone or Mitsuru-senpai. She would be fine alone, but Yukari insisted on coming with her today. Fuuka secretly expresses relief to have such a good friend like her.

“Both. I’m also here to look for a souvenir for Mom.” Yukari responded casually. 

 “You’re Mom? You mean your mother you haven’t seen since after your father’s death?” 

“Yeah, I already reunited with her last year during Golden Week, and she was surprised on how much I changed since I last saw her. She tries to be a better mother, as she did before my Dad’s passing. She felt awful for what she did and abandoned me for dating younger men to replace Dad.” Yukari says with a sad look.

“Yukari-chan…” Fuuka frowned.

“I asked her if she ever had any kids with any of them a decade ago, but she says she couldn't conceive one once. She tried many times but failed. I didn't know how I would react to whether I should express relief or sadness that I never had any half-siblings. I’m a horrible person, aren’t I?” 

“No, you’re not. You weren’t sure if your mother did with them or not. There’s no way of knowing.” 

“Fuuka. Thank you for understanding my feelings. I meant it.” 

“No problem. I’m glad you and your Mom patched things up compared to my parents...” 

“Have you talked to them since you moved out and moved to the dorm two years ago?”  Yukari asks her.

“I don’t think standing up to my parents would be a good idea. I’m glad I don’t live with them anymore. I can choose my own life and career.  I am getting used to living in my college dormitory for the time being until I graduate.” Fuuka says warmly. 

Yukari was about to check how much money she brought, only to realize she had forgotten to get her wallet. “Ah, crap! I forgot my wallet in my guest room!” She panicked.

“…?!” Fuuka looks confused.

“I’m going to be right back. You stay here and don’t leave the gift shop when I return. It won’t be long since the town is close to the mansion.” Yukari instructed Fuuka.

“Okay, Yukari-chan. I promised I wouldn’t leave!” Fuuka promised her.

Yukari quickly leaves the gift store and returns to the mansion to find her wallet.

Fuuka picks out the waterproof necklace core that Yukari suggested for seashells. The colors she was considering buying were either standard black or green. She decides to get both since she’s planning on tests on either color. “Now all it was left is to purchase—” Before she can go to the cashier, she accidentally trips and bumps into a person. The person drops some postcards on the floor. 

“I-I’m sorry! Let me help you get your things that fell just now…” Fuuka panicky apologized to them. She gets on the floor to pick up the stranger’s items. She has no idea what the person she accidentally bumps into looks like as she is too busy gathering their things. 

“It’s alright. I can take of it this.” They insisted.

“No, it’s my fault. I have to do this alone.” After she picks up all the postcards, she returns them to the stranger. She looks to see their face for the first time. They appeared in their early 20s, with long, beautiful azure blue hair tied in half-up and navy blue eyes. They wore an aquamarine dressy collar shirt underneath a black turtleneck with a sapphire teardrop necklace, a navy skirt with black tights, and cyan high-heeled boots. “Oh my… her face looks like an angel. She has a kind expression. I had never met someone this beautiful person before.” Fuuka says in her thought, bashful.

“Um, miss? Are you alright?” 

“Huh? Oh, I am so sorry. I-I got distracted by how beautiful you are. I-I mean… how pretty you are.” Fuuka was nervous.

“Hehehe… it’s alright, I get that a lot.” The stranger chuckled.

Fuuka managed to gather the stranger’s items, stand up, and give them back to them.

 “I don’t think I've seen you around before. Did you move here recently, or are you just visiting?” the stranger asked.

“I’m just here with my friends on spring break. We are going to leave in about three days,” Fuuka explained.

“Are you sure with someone?”

“I am. She forgot something and went back to her guest room to find it. She won’t be gone for long.”

“So, are you guys staying at the hotel?”

“Umm… No. We are staying at one of my friends' summer mansions, which I went to two years ago as a second-year student.” 

“Two years ago… don’t tell me. Are you friends with Mitsuru Kirijo?” 

“Wait?! How do you know her?! Are you one of her former classmates at Gekkoukan High?!”

“No, I attended a different high school. She is three years younger than me.”

“Huh..?!” Fuuka looks completely confused.

“I can tell you have so many questions for me. Well, a proper introduction should be a good start.”

“Oh, umm. I’m 18 years old, Fuuka Yamagishi, and I plan to start my first year at Keio University.” Fuuka shyly introduces herself.

“Ah, you attend the same university and are four years younger than me. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Tsubasa Nakamura, and I'm 22.” They introduced themselves.

“So, how to do you know Mitsuru-senpai?” Fuuka repeatedly questioned Tsubasa.

“Oh, that, I’m Mitsu’s childhood friend in Yakushima.”

Kirijo Summer Manor

After Aigis finished analyzing the semen inside the vital, she gave it back to Kikuno. 

“So, were you able to analyze who it was?” Ken asked Aigis curiously.

“I did. I didn’t expect the person who did that to be someone among Shadow Operatives.” Aigis expressed disappointment.

“Wait..?! Someone in Shadow Operatives?! Is it Junpei-san?!” Ken puzzled. 

“No, it wasn't him. He never went to the surveillance room before it happened.”  Aigis corrected him.

“Well… I know it’s not Shinjiro-san since he went missing around the same time as Kotone-san. It’s not me since I didn't know how to do that “thing” that adults do when they feel good. The semen is human, not a dog. No offense, Koromaru.”

“Arf.” Koromaru barked.

“He says, “None taken, Ken-san.” Aigis’ translation of Koromaru’s words.

“So, basically, the only guy I know was…. Wait. No. It can’t be. Don’t tell me it’s...!!” Ken had figured out who he was, but he didn’t want to believe it. He looked very disappointed and yet worried. 

Yakushima Beach  

After Mitsuru finished doing laps with Akihiko, she heard her cell phone ringing in her seat. She picked up where it said the call was from Kikuno.

“Hello? Kikuno. You’re just in time. I just finished going workout training with Akihiko. Do you need something? What?! Aigis found out who did it yesterday. Please tell me who it is.” Mitsuru asked her on the phone.

Akihiko managed to catch up with Mitsuru. He felt relaxed and refreshed. He grabs a towel from his seat and wipes the sweat from his face, face, and back neck. He then grabs a water bottle from the cooler they brought, covered in ice. He drank half of the water bottle in one gulp.  He notices Mitsuru is on the phone with someone. He wonders if it was from Yukari, Aigis, or her friend. He decides to approach her.

“Thanks for informing me. I’ll see you soon.” Mitsuru hangs up her cell phone. She turns around to look at Akihiko and angrily approaches him.

“Oh, hey, Mitsuru! Thanks to you, I'm finished with today’s workout. Although most of the warm-up was a bit more challenging than before, it was worth it.” Akihiko expressed relief.

“…” Mitsuru glared at Akihiko.

“Mitsuru, what’s wrong? Did I say something wrong, or was I—” Before Akihiko could finish his sentence, Mitsuru slapped him hard.

Jomonsugi Cedar Tree

After they made it to the Jomonsugi cedar tree, they took a group photo together instead of taking their pictures separately. They talked about couples in different romantic poses, such as piggyback, where Kotone and Chidori get on their lover’s back; bridal carry, where Shinjiro and Junpei carry them in their arms, make-out/kissing pose; hug-behind pose; and finally, the casual hugging one-arm pose with their lovers. Kotone and Junpei skimmed the photo images from Junpei’s camera. 

“Hmmm… I like the kissing and bridal poses the best. What about you, Junpei?” Kotone asked.

“I agree with you about the kissing pose, although Chidori looked embarrassed in the piggyback and bridal carry pose. All of the photos looked good, but she was just not doing her natural smile, which I love the most,” says Junpei, undecided.

“Should we ask our lovers what they think?”

“You read my mind, Koto-tan.” Junpei agreed with Kotone’s suggestion.

“Shinji, Chidori. Which group photo do you love the most?” 

“Well. I do love all of the group photos we have taken so far. If I had to choose one, the casual pose.”  Shinjiro says honestly. 

“I have to agree with Aragaki-senpai. I like the casual pose because it feels more natural, and I can be myself.” Chidori agrees with Shinjiro.

“Huh?! Why?!” Kotone and Junpei say in unison.

“Koto, I love you and all, but I prefer photos of just me and you together because I felt uncomfortable around another couple acting lovely and dovely. Is that offensive, Yoshiro?”

“None taken, Aragaki-senpai. I feel the same way. Junpei, you want us to be romantic and get used to being around another romantic couple. However, for some reason, I would rather have a casual romantic pose than do it with another couple.” Chidori says honestly with Junpei. 

“That’s reasonable. Then again, this last group photo is the only one you give the cute yet sincere smile you have given . The same goes for Shinjiro-senpai; he looks more relaxed and has a kind smile.” Junpei comments about Chidori and Shinjiro’s smiles. 

“Oh, you’re right! He does look relaxed in that last photo!” Kotone looks amazed. 

“This last group photo will be good for our first double date Yakushima trip. Although I prefer the most romantic poses we have to take, this is okay. Maybe the rest of the other photos can be good for our birthday present.” Junpei smiles slightly. Kotone comforts him by rubbing his back.

A few minutes later…

They decide to head back to town to eat at one of the restaurants Shinjiro suggested. They decide to take the same path they went so that Kotone’s injured ankle gets sore, swollen, or worse. 

“Koto-tan, can I talk to you privately?” Junpei casually asked.

“Sure, Junpei.” Kotone confusedly accepts his offer.

Junpei and Kotone are ahead of Ahinjiro and Chidori in a few distances so that they won’t hear them.

“So… what do you need to talk about so privately?” Kotone wonders.

“Will you tell me how to have a proper way to have sex?” 

Kotone reacted bewildered by Junpei’s question. 

Chapter Text

“What hell was that for?!” Akihiko looked angry. He rubbed his left cheek, where Mitsuru had slapped him.

“I could ask the same thing! What is the matter of you spraying your semen all over the monitors and carpet? You could have masturbated in your room, but you did the disgraceful thing!” Mitsuru is furious at him. 

“What?! Why do you think it was me yesterday…” Akihiko tries to lie to her.

“Aigis uses one of her new upgrades to get an analysis of your semen that Kikuno collected yesterday.” Mitsuru angrily explained to him.

“Crap…” Akihiko cursed himself.

“So it was you! You better have a good reason for doing that, or I will execute you a third time,” she threatens him.

“Fine… just don’t get angry when I tell you from perspective. Yesterday, after I took a shower, I decided to go to the surveillance room to find clues to Kotone and Shinji’s locations. I looked at every monitor screen, but I wasn't able to find them.

Mitsuru slaps him again.

“Ow..”

“That’s for invading people’s private. Only security guards can monitor them.”

Akihiko continues, “I was almost about to give up until I located a hidden monitor that is password locked.”

“A hidden monitor? I never heard of it. It’s probably one of the secrets my father never mentioned to me about…” 

“I guess the password for the third time, and I managed to get in. I found them in the secret cave hidden in the waterfalls.” 

“If you already found them, why didn't you inform us immediately?”

“I was... until not only I heard and witnessed their conversation... I.” Akihiko’s face started to turn lighter red.

“What did you want to avoid to tell me, Akihiko?” 

“I watch them have sex,” Akihiko says bashfully. 

“What? They did it without a condom or protection?! If Shinjiro forces her, he will deserve severe scolding by me.” Before Mitsuru leaves, Akihiko stops her by grabbing her wrist.

“Wait! You didn't let me explain. Kotone requested to have sex with him to have another baby. She wanted to atone for what she did and was willing to risk it even though it would neglect her studies at her college. Please believe me.” Akihiko begged her.

Mitsuru has mixed feelings about this. Kotone and Shinjiro just lost their unborn child, Vincent, last year, and she wants another child with him. She knows they vow to keep Vincent’s identity from Kotone, but is this the right thing to do for their future? She feels uneasy. 

Okubo Trail

“Why are you asking me for advice to have sex? Didn’t you see it in an online or adult magazine before?” Kotone asked him.

“I didn’t since I started dating Chidori. I didn’t want her to think I was some dirty pervert who was only interested in her body or something. You know I love her by her looks and personality, right?” Junpei responded to her questions. 

“Of course, I know you love her. You have always been talking about her.” Kotone reminded him, cheerfully.

“I know you and Shinjiro-senpai always have passionate sex non-stop on certain days or weeks. I want to know how to make Chidori feel good in the gentle way.” Junpei tries to ask her again nicely.

“Did you already ask Shinji about this?” 

“I did, but he refuses to answer my question! He says to me, “Mind your own goddamn business and figure out yourself, Junpei.” That is exactly how he says it to me. Talk about harsh…” Junpei signs in disappointment.

“Well, it was personal. I have to agree with him.” 

“Please, Kotone. You are my last hope to improve my relationship with Chidori. You have more experience and a healthy relationship.” Junpei begged her for a while as he held his two hands pressed together. 

“*sign* All alright, I will give you some hints of having sex. Let me whisper to your ear so that Shinji and Chidori won’t listen to us. Be sure to listen carefully, and I won’t repeat myself.” Kotone says, concerned. 

“Gotta, I’m all ears!” Junpei smirked with determination.

Kotone covered her mouth with one hand and started whispering in Junpei’s left ear.

Meanwhile, from Shinjiro and Chidori’s side

Neither of them had any idea what their lovers in front of them were talking about. 

“Aragaki-senpai,” Chidori calls for him.

“What is it?” Shinjiro asked.

“Are you alright? You seem down for some reason?” Chidori worried.

“It’s about Aigis. I heard from Aki that she’s coming here because he called her here after what happened yesterday. Kotone is trying to talk to her about how she feels about her. I still feel uneasy around Aigis, but I can’t stand to see Kotone sad again… I want to help her for some reason, and I don't know how,” Shinjiro says with a depressed expression.

“I think I know the solution. This might help Kotone and Aigis patch up their friendship,” Chidori says calmly.

“You do? Tell me.” Shinjiro politely asked.

“But you can’t be jealous when I’m about to tell you. Understand, Senpai?”

“Fine, just let me know about the plan,” Shinjiro says impatiently. 

“Okay. Here’s plan… Kotone has to...” Chidori and Shinjiro have a brief conversation.

Back to Kotone and Junpei’s side

After Kotone tells Junpei about her experience and perspectives on having sex, Junpei turns extremely red, like a tomato.

“Wow… that’s very hot, and yet, I felt like I was about to feel pleasure for a moment,” says Junpei, still fluttering.

“Well, that’s how I first experienced Shinjiro after I lost my virginity to him.” Kotone pouted. 

“I know, but at age sixteen? A while Shinjiro was eighteen, that still underage and illegal though, but still hot.” Junpei reminds her about the age difference.

“Junpei…” Kotone playfully punches Junpei’s left arm.

“Hehehe…” Junpei laughs at Kotone’s innocent and yet cute face. 

“It’s important to know which parts of women’s bodies they feel pleasure and sensitivity the most,” Kotone advised her best friend.

“Yeah… I won’t forget it. I think I’ll try it tonight with her.” Junpei sounds confident.

“What are you two been talking about?”

Kotone and Junpei turn around to see Shinjiro behind them.

“Senpai! Don’t scare us like that!” Junpei was startled by his intense presence. 

“I need to talk to my fiancée a bit. You go to spend time with your girlfriend.” Junpei can tell by the look in Shinjiro’s eyes telling him to “get lost.” He fully understands him clearly. 

As Junpei joins Chidori, he gives Kotone two thumbs up while Shinjiro is not looking, grinning.

“So, what are you two talking about?” Kotone repeated Shinjiro’s question back at him, playfully teasing him.

“It’s about Aigis, and she gave me an idea to give you. She knows a way for you two to talk alone together. I hope you are good at acting.” 

Kotone looks confused.

Outside of Yakashima Gift Shop

Yukari finally found her wallet since it was still in her luggage. Now, she can reunite with Fuuka at the Gift shop. She hopes Fuuka is alright by herself. When she arrives, Fuuka has already purchased her gift and is talking to a stranger outside. “I never seen her before… did Fuuka just meet her? Hm… They seem to get along nicely. Should I interfere or leave them be? Then again, I don’t want to wait for her longer.” 

“Fuuka!” Yukari calls Fuuka’s name.

“Oh! Yukari-chan!” Fuuka looks surprised at her.

“I’m sorry I took so long. It has been a bit overwhelming. I’m not as messy and unorganized as Junpei, though.” Yukari looked nervous.

“I don’t mind. I made a new friend. Nakamura-san knew Mitsuru-senpai when they were kids. She is very friendly and often helps visitors around the island. She also mentions she works at her family’s business during weekends or holiday breaks.” Fuuka says with a cheery tone.

“Yeah… I like helping my parents with their business once in a while.” Tsubasa looked discomforts for some reason.

Yukari wonders if something is wrong with Fuuka’s friend. 

Suddenly, Fuuka and Yukari spotted Akihiko and Mitsuru, who had returned from the beach. She notices Akihiko’s face is slightly swollen on his left cheek.

“Mitsuru-senpai! Akihiko-senpai! You’re back! How was the workout training?” Yukari asks them.

“It was a refreshing warm-up exercise for both of us, mainly for Akihiko, who continues to push his limits as usual.” Mitsuru looks sad for a reason.

“It was no problem…” says Akihiko with distress. 

“Hm? What’s wrong?” Yukari asked Mitsuru.

“…” Mitsuru remains silent.

“Mitsu?! Is that you?” Tsubasa asked her.

“Oh, Tsubasa? Is that you? You looked a bit different the last time I saw you.” Mitsuru came back to her senses and saw her old childhood friend.

“Yeah, three years, to be exact. The last time I saw you was when you started Gekkoukan High in your second year. You glow up quite beautifully.”  Tsubasa playfully flirted with her.

“Why, thank you. I'm very flattered by your compliments.” Mitsuru faintly smiles at Tsubasa.

“Do you know her, Mitsuru-senpai?” Yukari, curious, asked her.

“I have known him since childhood, and our families are very acquainted. Tsubasa comes from a family of wedding planners. His parents were responsible for planning my parents’ wedding before I was born.” Mitsuru explains her family to Yukari, Fuuka, and Akihiko.

“Wait of a minute?! “He?” Nakamura-san, you’re a guy?!” Fuuka looks surprised.

“What the—?! I didn’t know… how? I thought you were a woman?!” Yukari reacted in shock.

“…?!” Akihiko is completely speechless, and he doesn’t know how to respond.

“You never asked…” Tsubasa says, frowning.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were a guy. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I wasn’t trying to be offensive. The way you dress, I thought you were a beautiful woman like Mitsuru-senpai.” Fuuka apologized to Tsubasa, feeling guilty.

“I wasn’t expecting him to change so drastically in appearance. I thought he would dress casually like I remember him.” 

“Mitsu, I’m not a guy,” Tsubasa tells her.

“What?! Wait, so… do you have a sex change or prefer to be dressed in woman's clothing?”

“I’m not a woman either.” Tsubasa denied Mitsuru’s guesses.

“Then what are you?” Akihiko asked.

“I’m non-binary. I came out two years in my second year of college. I prefer to be called they and them.” Tsubasa corrected them on the proper use of their gender.

“I’m so sorry for the wrong use of your current gender. I didn’t know you came out. I promised it won't happen again.” Mitsuru felt sorry for them.

“It’s fine. You didn’t know since I hardly saw you visit my hometown or see me due to our important schedules. A lot has happened to me since we last saw each other.” Tsubasa is still upset. 

“Nakamura-san… I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” says Fuuka, saddened and guilty.

“We are so very sorry, Nakamura-san. We didn’t mean to offend you. We just saw anyone like you before. What I did was very insensitive and wrong.” Yukari felt sorry.

“It’s alright; not many of us are willing to come out and get out of the closets until the time is right. People are afraid of what other thinks of them, or they reject our true genders. It’s been like that since I could remember. Please, don’t do that again.” Tsubasa begged Yukari and Fuuka.

Fuuka felt guilty about what she had said to them.

“I’m going to my parent’s home to rest. Mitsuru, you don’t mind if we catch up tomorrow since we haven’t had a meaningful conversation together.” Tsubasa invited their old friend to hang out.

“I would love to.” Mitsuru accepted.

Tsubasa leaves the gift shop alone. Mitsuru and Akihiko head back to the summer mansion to take a shower. Fuuka helps Yukari to pick out a souvenir for her mom at the Gift shop. Fuuka wants to find some way to make up for them.

One hour later.

After the four of them ate lunch, Kotone felt pain in her injured ankle. Junpei calls Aigis on his cellphone for help. Aigis ran off to Kotone's location, where Kotone explained that her ankle started acting up after she and the others returned from visiting the Jomonsugi Cedar Tree. Aigis quickly piggybacked Kotone and returned to the mansion to place her in the hidden room where Kotone and Shinjiro stayed for spring break. Aigis gently places her on her bed, removes her backpack, boots, and socks, and places an ice pack on her ankle bandages. 

“There. I managed to reduce the pain in your ankle. The swelling should go down in the next hour. Be sure not to move it that much.” Aigis explained to Kotone.

“I promised, and thank you so much, Aigis. Says Kotone kindly.

“If you need anything, call any of us for help. I’ll be leaving now.” Before Aigis can leave the room, Kotone grabs Aigis’ left hand with hers.

“Wait, Aigis. There is something I want to tell you. It was about two weeks ago. Please, listen to what I have to say.” Kotone begged her.

“*sigh* I’ll stay a little longer.” Aigis grabbed a seat and sat down next to Kotone. She looks at Kotone’s innocent red eyes to her blue electric eyes.

“Aigis, I’m not mad or hate you for what you did because of the virus that corrupted your mind. I know your type of robot who never hurt our friends and lovers. You have a kind heart like a human. I know you will never hurt me, not even the time when Ikutsuki controlled you to kill us. You resisted and broke us free from our shackles.” Kotone says it is indeed in her heart.

“That’s different. The virus I had almost two months ago slowly corrupted my emotions. I tried to get you away from Aragaki-san,  I ruined his proposal to you on graduation day, I tried to kiss you, and I almost killed him. I don’t deserve your friendship...” Aigis’ expression is mixed with depression and sadness.

“Aigis…” Kotone softly says her name. She clutches her hand tightly. 

“I thought you would be better off without me intervening in your love life, so I didn’t reply to your texts. However, when I heard from Akihiko-san that you had gone missing, I decided to speed up my upgrades and weapons during the maintenance. It took longer than expected, so I flew to Yakushma this morning to find you. ”  

“You flew? You didn’t take the boat here?” Kotone looks confused.

“I used updated thrusters installed on my legs to fly here in 20 minutes,” Aigis stated.

“That would explain the new metal band and a new outfit. I notice you’re not wearing the ribbon tie you usually wore.”

“I did it for my own choice as an official member of Shadow Operatives. Back to the main topic: Why do you still want to hang out with me after all this? Why?” Aigis demanded answers.

“Like I said before, you are one of my previous friends I hold dear. Please continue to be part of my life with my beloved and future kids. Someone needs to look after them. I still think of you as my family.” Kotone smiles fondly at Aigis.

“You still care about deeply. I’m very touched and happy. Even though I, a machine, can’t make you feel good or have sexual intercourse with you like Aragaki-san did. You still treated me like your family.” Aigis started to shed some tears from her eyes. Kotone gently wipes her tears.

“Don’t cry. You always look best when you smile, Aigis.” Kotone kindly cheered her up.

“Kotone-san…” Aigis got up from her seat and embraced Kotone tightly. Kotone hugs her back. “Even though I can’t fall in love with you, or else something bad would happen to you or your female descendants. No matter what, you will always be the person I cherish in my heart,”   Says Aigis in her thoughtful, teary voice. 

After a few moments, Aigis calmed down and rested in Kotone’s lap until Shinjiro arrived. Kotone stroked Aigis's hair with her tiny, delicate fingers. She is glad that she and Aigis finally made up. That’s all that matters. “I’m surprised about Chidori and Shinji’s plan work. Although I felt bad for pretending my ankle got swollen from walking up and down the mountain. It was the only way I could have a proper conversation with her. I wasn’t sure how long Aigis would be visiting Yakushima.” says Kotone in her thoughts, slightly ashamed. 

“I’m back,” says Shinjiro’s voice. He unlocked the security-locked door and entered the room.

“Shinji! Welcome back!” Kotone greeted him.

Aigis quickly gets off Kotone’s lap and stands up. She doesn’t want Shinjiro to be suspicious, so she’s stealing Kotone from him again.

“I’m glad you two made up.” Shinjiro expressed relief for them.

“I’m going to greet the others at the lounge inside the mansion I haven’t seen yet. You two enjoy your time together.” Aigis smiles at Kotone and Shinjiro.

Kotone and Shinjiro nodded at her. After Aigis, Shinjiro took off his backpack, jacket, and beanie and tossed them on the floor. He then got on the bed where Kotone was lying down and proceeded to make out passionately. 

Meanwhile, somewhere in an unknown place.

???

There is an unknown pocket dimension where several pieces of damaged furniture, tables, and broken glass vials are on the floor.

Draco is frustrated that he can’t travel to the real world like before. According to his scroll, he banned going to Port Island, Inaba, or Shinbuya's past, current, and future timelines. He is currently hiding in his pocket dimension to prevent his annoying two siblings from capturing him. 

“*huff* Damn monkey and rabbit! Marco can use his powers to restrict me from traveling in the real world and time! This is bullshit!” Draco screamed to himself.

“I still need more data to create the special collar I need to brainwash my foolish siblings, especially the type of strong substance that can’t be broken by any normal Persona user. I still needed to find those twins my master mentioned, who had the two keys to be freed from his seal.” Draco grunted.

He kicked the air in frustration until he came up with an idea. “The restrictions didn’t say I can pull someone else in the past who was destined to die on that year.” He opens a portal from his copy of the Index and searches for specific names and years to choose from. “I know which people I want to bring here.” Draco evilly grins when he scrolls down to the year “January 31st, 2010”. 

Chapter Text

1/31/10 - Tartarus (Before SEES facing Takaya)

The shadows are beginning to surround Kotone and her friends.

“Tch! We were here for too long!” Akihiko looks annoyed.

“We’re running out of time! We have to go! Now!” Mitsuru says with a severe expression.

“But… we can’t…” Junpei seems hesitant to abandon Jin.

“You idiots! I don’t want your pity…!” Jin angrily yelled at them.

Mitsuru turned around and headed for the floor above…

Ken and Koromaru looked guilty for leaving Jin behind. They both ascended to the next floor to catch up with Mitsuru.

“But…” Fuuka felt sorry for Jin. 

“No hesitation. If we don’t defeat Nyx, then this was all for nothing.” Akihiko reasons with her. 

“A-Alright…” Yukari looks sadden.

“Damnit…” says Junpei, frustrated with this cruel decision.

“We can’t leave him….” Kotone says it in her heart, worried.

“Then… are you just going to stay here and die with him? Think about why we’re here.. Don’t you want to see Shinji again once the Dark Hour is gone forever?” Akihiko tries to reason with Kotone. 

Aigis approached Kotone and put her right hand on her left shoulder with a sad look. “Kotone-san.. We… must go.” 

“Let’s go…” Fuuka agrees with Aigis, frowned.

Akihiko grabbed Kotone’s hand and the rest headed upstairs to the next floor. She briefly looked at Jin before she focus on rejoining the others.

The shadows slowly crawling to approached Jin, who is completely exhausted.  “Look at all of em’ crawling out with those nasty face… Heh. I won’t let you eat me…” Jin grinned. “ I believe in you, Takaya… Fulfill your wish… I hold on to the freedom you gave me to the very end…!” Jin says without regret. He takes out his remaining  grenade, pull the string with his mouth and toss it to the floor where he is standing. As the Shadows reached him, a black and red portal appeared and Jin fell where he stands before the explosion get to him as it destroyed all the Shadows.“Huh?! What the—?!” Jin looks  bewildered.

1/31/10 - Tartarus (After Kotone sealed away Nyx)

 Takaya silently watch as the green eerie sky disappearance before his eyes. He falls as the tower floor were he was lying down has starting to disappeared and slowly changing back to the school. Takaya, who has already accepted his fate to fall to his death without anyone knowing. He quietly hopes to reunited with Jin in hell. Unknowingly to him, a black red portal appeared behind him and swallow him whole before it disappeared without a trace.

???

Jin slowly regain consciousness and woke up in unfamiliar place. “What is this? Where am I? Why am I still alive?” Jin looks very confused.  He sit up and look around where he spotted Takaya, unconscious.

“Takaya!” Jin ran toward him. He kneel down to check his pulses on neck, confirming he is alive. Jin express deeply relieved that the person he admired greatly is alive. However, he notices something on Takaya’s face. A blood like liquid coming from his mouth.  “Is that blood…?  Was it from those meddling organization who did this?!” He touch it, suddenly he taste something awful from his mouth and spit it out, the same blood like liquid comes from his mouth as well.

“What the hell did I taste?! It’s taste awful like I’m drinking dirty alcohol.” He wipes his mouth with one of his detached sleeves, leaving a stain. 

“To answer your questions, you’re in my pocket dimension.”  Says unknown voice. 

Jin turns out in front of him, unfamiliar face he never seen before. He green hair and eyes with dark red dragon scales on his face, neck, and hands. He also wore a lab coat and traditional Chinese clothes. 

“Who the hell are you?! Some kind of freak?!” Jin insults Draco to his face.

“This “freak” is your saviors. I would like it if you appreciated for saving you and Takaya from meeting your tragic death.” Draco feels offended.

“What?! You mean that strange portal appeared before the explosive hit me wasn’t a dream?” 

“Correct. You are really here and alive.” 

“But how? That’s impossible!”

“I’m not going to fully explain unless you wake up Takaya.” Draco ordered him.

Jin shook Takaya’s shoulders. “Takaya, wake up.” 

Takaya wake up and what it seems to be a nice eternal slumber to him. He turn around to see Jin again.  “Jin?! How are you alive? I thought you commit suicide.”

“I thought so too. Wait, what did you means how I’m alive? I thought you were waiting to stall SEES before they reached on top of the tower.” Jin questioned Takaya.

“No, I was sadly defeated by them. I used my last energy to see Nyx’s ascended and bring the end of the world before my life expires.”  Takaya explained.

“Good now you two are awake. I will explained to you everything what I can.”

Takaya notices the strange dragon humanoid figure. Rather than being disgusted like Jin, he admires his inhuman traits. “My, what a lovely creature you are. What’s your name?”

“Draco. That’s my name.” Draco responded to Takaya.

“Okay, Draco, why the hell you saved us? We were about to meet our end before the Fall arrived and end humanity.” Jin rudely asked him.

“The reason I extract you from your timeline is because you are going to work for me from now on.”

“What?! We don’t take orders from— hgh!” Jin suddenly felt weak. 

“Jin?!” Takaya catch him in his arms.

“It seems you haven’t recovered yet. Fine, I will answer your questions until you fully recovered. For the time being, rest in these beds I set up for you.” Draco summons two beds out of thin air. They looks like average ones and each of them has different colors blankets. For Jin is bright green and for Takaya, is cobalt blue. 

“Is this… some can a trick?” 

“No trick. I’m not going to ask you again, get in your bed or I won’t answers your questions.” Draco threatens him.

Takaya carries Jin to his bed before he goes to his. Before Jin falls asleep he notices Draco’s right wrist that was concealed under his lab coat sleeves was bandaged up with a few drops of the same blood like liquid.

Junpei’s Guest Room - Late Night

Chidori sleeping peacefully on Junpei’s chest for a while he hugs her with his right arm. In the end, they weren’t able to lose their virginity today. That doesn’t bother Junpei, he wants to find a way for Chidori to get used him touching her body. “I’m glad Chidori is finally calm down. I wonder what make her acting like this. She didn’t act like this before she revived me two years ago. At else she didn’t we did inter-femoral sex where I rubbed her pussy with penis in between her thighs behind. She seems to enjoy it.” Junpei says in his thoughts, relieved. He kindly kiss Chidori on the cheek before he fast asleep. 

Kirijo Honeymoon Room - Late Night

Aigis quietly unlock the room before she shut the door. She went to see Kotone sleeping in Shinjiro’s arms. She looks happy to see her again sleeping peacefully like from the time she recovered from fever at the dorm. She touch Kotone’s face and check her temperature and heart rate. She reads both of them are normal and no signs of illness or fatigue. Aigis leans and kiss Kotone on her right cheek before she leaves the room and quietly closes the door. Shinjiro, who was awaken after Aigis barred in again, woke up with one of his eyes open.

Yakashima Cave

Aigis decides to enter it this way so Kotone won’t her notices now that she has no reason to stay in Yakushima. 

“You’re leaving without saying goodbye to Kotone?” Says a familar man voice.

Aigis turns around and see Shinjiro in dark navy bath robes. He looks serious look upon his face.

“Yes. I am, Aragaki-san. I know Kotone-san is safe in your hands. I don’t want her to keep on worrying on me. And besides, I can’t fall in love in her like I did before or else I will be responsible for her death.” Aigis says solemnly.

“I know. Sometimes I wish there is a way to change your price a bit so you can be by her side.”

“There is, Shinjiro.”

Aigis and Shinjiro turns their attention to the same talking money, who is eating his banana.

“You! What are you doing here?! I thought you already leave.” Shinjiro looks angry. 

“I never left. I been sampling and eating banana here. To be honest, these are way better than the ones outside of Japan.” Marco says, continue eating.

“Wait of minute, what are you really here for?” Shinjiro asked him.

“Well I heard overheard your conversation about Aigis’ price I say two weeks ago. So I can help alternative for Aigis’ price in exchange where she is willing to give up.” Marco explained. 

“Is it possible?” Aigis confused.

“I can’t change the price for Aigis, but I can twitchy it a bit with previous items Aigis holds dear like that ribbon tie she has in her breast pocket.” Marco points to the location of Aigis’ precious item.

Aigis takes it out from her pocket, revealing a red ribbon she used to wear shortly after she was activated. “How’s do you know it was here?” 

“I guessed.” He simply responded to Aigis’ question.

“Aigis, why did you have it with you?”

“I… I was consider of give it to Kotone-san in case if something bad happen to me. I wanted her have something to remember me by.” Aigis says nervously.

“That would explain why you changed to a necktie instead of choosing a different one.” 

“No, the red ribbon was special to me. It was given to me by a kind researcher who helped me understand human emotions, but I wasn’t to able to due to my programmed. She was the only researcher who treated me like human instead of machine. I’m greatly saddened and regret for not being here for her shortly after her passing.” Aigis clutched her ribbon tightly.

“That’s why your ribbon tie is so valuable. I’m not going to force you to give up so easily. It’s up to you what you want to do.” 

“Marco! This is too far! You can’t make her force to—!” Before Shinjiro scolded on him, Aigis stop him by touching his shoulder and shook her head in disagreed.

“It’s alright. If this is the way I can still be by Kotone-san and her descendants, I’m willing to make any sacrifices.”  Aigis says with determined looks. 

Aigis give up her ribbon she had for almost twelve years. It bring more memorable moments to her. She gave it to Marco in hand and he gladly accept it.

“It’s done. Aigis’ price has been change slightly. She can freely love Kotone, her descendants, and her look like again.” Marco puts Aigis’ ribbon in his pocket dimension for safe storage.

“Aigis, was it alright to do that?”

“It was my own decisions to make and I’m not going to regret it. All that matters I can be by her side. I promised you I’ll keep her safe in future missions.” Aigis swear to Shinjiro, heartily.

Shinjiro faintly smiles at her. 

Aigis smiles back at him.

They turns their attention back to Marco, who just finishing eating his banana.

“Marco-san, what is the new price for the anti-virus program you created when I was corrupt?” 

“You can’t not have sex with Kotone. Ever.” 

“I can live with that.” Aigis doesn’t mind the new price. 

Before Marco can leave this timeline, he gave Shinjiro his Chinese amulet with his emblem on it. 

“What’s this?” Shinjiro asked him, puzzled.

“It’s my calling amulet. Since I still can’t depart from you or your friends. I might a well stick around a bit. Call me if something important regarding to the whereabouts of my elder brother or anyone who has strong desires that isn’t selfish. To activate it, simple put a drop of your blood on it and I will answer your call right away. “ Marco instructed Shinjiro carefully. 

“Or I’m not going to used it.” Shinjiro says it coldly.

“Talks about harsh. Coming from you.” Marco smirk jokey, 

Marco opens the portal on the cave and enters it. However, he stops halfway and looks at him, menacing. “My warning to you, if you ever summons me something stupid, evil or selfish desires for yourself, I will erased your memories of Dark Hour along with your unborn son, Vincent. Be warned, Shinjiro Aragaki.” And with that, he left.

“Aragaki-san, I think I might stay here a little longer until you guys are leaving Yakushima this weeks.” 

“What change your mind?” Shinjiro curious asked.

“I think my heart has become lighter for some reason. As if the weight of my shoulders has disappeared. I want to continue to spent time with our friends since I last seen them. I think it’s better this way.” Aigis looks calm. 

After Aigis left the secret room and resident in her old room in Yakushima. Shinjiro takes off his bathrobes and snuggled Kotone again.  He quickly drifts into a relaxing sleep. 

Meanwhile in Junpei’s guest room

Junpei’s expression shown as discomforted for some reason as he is dreaming something disturbing. 

Chapter Text

March 24th, 2011 - Morning 

Fuuka’s Guest Room 

Fuuka’s POV

I woke up from my bed and started to get dressed as usual. For some reason, I can’t stop thinking about Mitsuru’s childhood friend. I still felt awful what I said to them, and I might have offended them. “Maybe I should go to apologize to Nakamura-san the next time I see them.” Before I leave, I notice something on my desk. Two seashell necklaces are finished well made, and some extra seashells are left. I must have made another seashell unconsciously necklace last night without realizing it. I know I finished Natsuki’s seashell yesterday, but I have no idea why I made another. I know! I can give it to Nakamura-san formally to apologize to them.  

Kirijo Summer Manor - Morning

Junpei’s POV

I still feel uneasy about that nightmare I had—Chidori’s earlier days as Kirijo Group test subjects and the other orphans. Chidori’s caretaker was a pedo and sicko for tricked her kindness even in the dark place. This makes me so mad at him. I wonder if this man is one of the survivors who shared ideas with Ikutsuki-san or if he has his reason for working with them. 

“Good morning, Junpei-san!” Aigis greeted me.

“Ai-chan?!” I shouted at her in surprise. She always does that in the wrong place and time. I would be happy to see her, but I’m not in a mood right now.

“I noticed you are feeling down today. Is something wrong?” Aigis looks worried.

“It’s nothing. I had a nightmare about Chidori when she was a test subject for the Kirijo Group. I don’t understand why I dreamed about her past even though I wasn’t here.” I explained to Aigis what I remember. I wish I never wanted to see the painful memories Chidori suffered by that bastard. 

“It might be a theory, but I think it has something to do with Chidori-san’s former Persona fused with your Persona. You must have triggered something that unlocked part of Chidori-san’s dark past she suppressed. Do you remember what you did to Chidori-san?” Aigis asked me.

“You mean we started dating? We mainly hold hands and hug. I didn’t experience dreaming about Chidori’s childhood past. Well… I got my first kiss with her two weeks ago, and nothing happened. Last night it might we….?!” I came to realize that it must have been we were warming our bodies before we almost had sex. 

“Your expression reads that you know what caused it.” Aigis looks suspiciously at me.

“Oh, Aigis-san! Good morning!” Chidori greeted Aigis.

“Good morning to you too, Chidori-san. How have you been doing? How have you been sleeping well?” Aigis asked Chidori.

“I’m feeling fine. I slept alright… although I felt strange for some reason.  I slept fine with Junpei last night. It just… I can’t remember what.” Chidori feels uneasy and confused.

“It’s alright, Chidori. You don’t have to force yourself to remember. How about we go to the garden after breakfast? To help you relax in a peaceful environment. You can bring your sketchbook with you. If you want.” I tried to calm her down without mentioning what we did last night.

“I would love to go to the garden today. I’ll see you later.” Chidori quickly kisses me on the lips and leaves me in a good mood.

“The one Chidori-san mentioned just now, did you and Chidori-san have—“

“No, we didn’t have sex yet. She wasn’t ready after what I saw. I don’t want her to be scared and hurt again.” I say in an honest tone.

“If you worry about if Chidori-san is not a virgin or not. I quickly analyzed her. She is still a virgin. Both the anal and uterus haven’t been broken down yet. You still have a chance with her.” Aigis says with a straight face.

“I-I’m not worried about that! Please keep your voice down before everyone can hear you. Please don’t do that again.” I can feel my face turn red in embarrassment. 

“Understood.  Whatever you did with Chidori-san last night triggered those painful memories of her. I’m not saying if you should do it again and learn more about her. I’m saying that you should find some way to help her overcome the forgotten pain she once had. If you wanted to have a child with her.” Aigis stated.

“I’m not planning to get Chidori pregnant when she is still in high school. That’s wrong. Maybe when we graduated college, but not right now.” I felt frustrated.

“If you don’t have any questions for me, I will be waiting for Kotone-san.” Before Aigis left, I stopped her.

“Wait, Aigis. When you see Mitsuru-senpai, will you ask her about the Kirijo Group scientist named Kurosu? I mean, whether he’s alive or not, and I want to know more about him. I only found out the name of Chidori’s caretaker. I want to ensure what I dreamed about was real.” I requested Aigis.

“Understood. I’ll ask Mitsuru-san about this “Kurosu.” If she cannot answer your questions, I might look into the database in the main computer in the study room where the former head used to work.” Aigis informed me.

“Wait? Can you do that? Was it illegal to do that without Mitsuru-senpai’s permission?” I say to her, concerned. 

“Don’t worry, Junpei-san. She gave me full access to it in case of emergency when she is not around.” Aigis stated happily.

I can’t tell what she’s thinking, whether she is honest or lying to me. 

Fuuka’s POV

After eating breakfast with everyone, I decided to see Nakamura-san once Mitsuru-san was done talking to them. 

“Hey, Fuuka, are you busy today?” Yukari asked me.

“Oh, hi Yukari-chan, no, I’m not busy now. I was thinking about waiting for Nakamura-san to finish their conversation with Mitsuru-senpai.” I say it honestly to her good friend.

“I heard from one of the maids that Mitsuru-senpai is going to their house in the early afternoon, mainly chatting about the old times they shared. I think it’s a good idea for her. She hasn’t seen them for a long time. I hope they are still on good terms with each other.” Yukari explained to me in a cheerful expression.

“You two have already finished breakfast? What was any food left?” Akihiko asked them.

Yukari-chan and I were surprised to see Akihiko-senpai's horrible appearance. His hair was very messy, and he had dark circles around his eyes. I saw some stubbles on his chin.

“Akihiko-senpai?! What happened to you?! You look awful!” Yukari says with a bewildering reaction.

“*yawn* Last night, I wasn’t able to sleep. I heard a lot of banging and screaming next to my room. I tried to cover my ears with earplugs and a pillow, but it didn’t work. Even after the sound stopped, I had these strange dreams I had never thought about,” says Akihiko, tired.

“Wait, is Junpei’s room next to your room?” Yukari asked Akihiko.

“Yeah, I did… what of a minute. Don’t tell me… Damn it, Junpei! He should have done it more quietly or when we get back…” Akihiko cursed Junpei for ruining his sleep.

“Of course, it has to be him. He wouldn’t stop bragging about it. Both Junpei and Chidori are virgins, after all. I hope they used condoms. I don’t want to think about what happened with Kotone and Aragaki-senpai two years ago.” Yukari looks annoyed. 

“Umm, were you discussing about having sex just now?” I shyly asked them, blushing.

“Fuuka, you don’t need to worry about it. I’m sure they are going to be safe.” Yukari reassured me that nothing wrong had happened to them.

“So, what were you two talking about?” Akihiko asked us.

“We were just having a normal conversation about Mitsuru-senpai with her childhood friend,” I informed him. 

“You mean that person she was talking to yesterday. I think they were Mitsuru’s ex-fiancé in high school, and she was in middle school.”

“WHAT?! When?!” Me and Yukari reacted in great surprise.

“She mentioned it in our second year in Gekkoukan High. She says she used to be close with her childhood friend every time she visited him, I mean them. They always are by her side when she feels lonely without her father or Kikuno. They always do their thing together in every summer vacation. However, something came, and they just broke off. I don’t know which one started, but it wasn’t with a bad intention.” Akihiko explained what he remembers.

“Could it be… that Nakamura-san might have unrequited romantic feelings for Mitsuru-senpai?!” I say with a troubled look.

“Fuuka, you're overreacting. I’m sure Nakamura-san only sees her as an old friend. There is no way they will have feelings for her.” Yukari tries to reason with me. However, I still feel uneasy about this.

“Maybe. I can feel that way about Mitsuru-senpai. Nakamura-san is one of the few people I have been closest to since childhood. She didn’t mind. They called her by her nickname.” I told Yukari in a positive way that Mitsuru-senpai sees them as friends, not potential lovers.

“Yeah…. Right.” Yukari seems jealous. 

“…?” Akihiko confused by Yukari’s expression.

“Fuuka, Akihiko-senpai. How about the rest of the day we spy on Mitsuru-senpai and Nakumura-san’s conversation.” Yukari discussed.

“Yukari-chan?” I say her name, troubled. 

“Count me out. I want nothing to do with Mitsuru’s personal affairs. I don’t want to risk being executed again. I’m going to drink my coffee and proteins, do warming-up body exercises, shower, and take a long nap. *yawn* I can’t risk losing a day without working out.” Akihiko leaves Fuuka and Yukari to go to the kitchen. 

“Okay, it's just you and me. Let’s secretly tail Mitsuru-senpai without her noticing us, whether or not what Senpai says is true.” Yukari discussed a plan with me.

“Are you sure?”

“Trust me. I know what I’m doing. Let’s get dressed and start following her.” I can tell Yukari is jealous of Nakamura.

An hour later….

Me and Yukari got dressed in our comfortable clothes. We secretly followed Mitsuru-senpai up the hill where Nakamura-san lived with their family. I brought my aqua bag containing the light blue seashell I made for them. I kept them safe inside my bag. We decided to hide in the shade behind the gate underneath the house’s rooftop. We see Mitsuru in a glorious white, creamed Sunday dress with a sun hat, black high heels, and slippers. She also changed her lipstick to dark velvet red. 

When I look at Yukari, her face is a little flushed when she sees Mitsuru’s outfit. I think she’s smiling at her. I wonder if she likes her. 

“I’m so glad you finally came here again. I was worried you might forget where I lived,” Says Nakamura. They wore different outfits, too. This might be a teal dressy collar shirt, black pants, and leather boots. Their hair was tied into a neat bun. 

Oh my, they look so handsome this time. They look good in any outfit. I must focus on their conversation and comment on their appearance later. 

They both sit on resin garden furniture with their stairs they are seating

“This is just like old times. You and I used to hang out playing chess, reading, and drinking teas.” Mitsuru told them.

“Me too, Mitsu. When we first met, you were too shy to talk to me because I was older than you. You were five, and I was eight at the time. They often see each other once a year or during holiday breaks.” Tsubasa smiles at her.

“I was shy around you because I never talked to someone of similar ages and commoner status before. You were casual and not afraid of what people say about you.” Mitsuru compliments them.

“I know. You weren’t used to talking to other people who weren’t your family. You did get used to me over time. We were inseparable only in the summer. We did exchange letters during the weekend.”

“How are you and your family doing?” I asked them.

“My parents are fine as usual. Helping other wedding couples to find a place to get married and other things. I heard my younger sister is starting her first year in Gekkoukan High.” They inform Mitsuru about their family’s life.

“That’s excellent news. I see your parents are still doing the family business, and Ame is attending the same school you used to attend.”

“I don’t want to talk about that school. It brought me bad memories there.” Nakamura seems sad.

“I’m very sorry. I forgot your mother informed me about transferring to different schools because of difficulty getting along with others. I didn't know why I changed schools so suddenly.” Mitsuru felt ashamed. 

“It’s because I found out I was non-binary in my first year, and the students and staff didn’t accept me how I looked and dressed. I was very different from anyone else. I ended up being bullied badly. No one helped me at all. I was forced to wear a standard male school uniform instead of mixing up a blazer jacket with the original skirt for winter or a ribbon tie with pants in the summer. They were inappropriate for men like me, even though I don’t think of myself as one. I do what I say because I just wanted to fit in with anyone.” I sense Nakamura is in pain. They were just like me, wanting to be accepted by other people. Their situation must have been worse than mine before meeting Kotone-chan and the others.

Nakamura continues, “That's why I only stayed here one semester and decided to attend another school that accepts people like me. I was happy but wasn't ready to fully come out yet.” They looked miserable. 

“Why didn’t you tell me about this? I could have protected you even though I was in middle school.” Mitsuru says with a severe look.

“I was afraid you might reject me just like the rest. You had a perfect life even though you lived in isolation most of the time, and you were only focused on studying and weren't interested in hanging out with other students until you met Sanada and Aragaki. I was happy for you, but our friendship slowly drifted apart.”

“Tsubasa. I didn’t know. I could never misjudge you by your current appearance. You will always be an older sibling to me. That will never change.” Mitsuru says it wholeheartedly. 

“*sob* Mitsu..” Tsubasa starts to shed some tears. Mitsuru got up from her seat and embraced them for comfort.

And Yukari felt very sorry for them for having a rough life. Maybe that’s why Nakamura-san thought I was offending them because they felt I treated them like women instead of seeing them for who they were. I need to tell them what I think of them. I hope they will forgive me from yesterday. 

Chapter Text

After Mitsuru helps her childhood friend calm down by making their favorite tea to soothe them,

Tsubasa took a slip and started to drink the whole tea. 

“Thanks, Mitsu. I needed that. You always know which tea I love drinking.” Tsubasa thanked her gratefully.

“You always love drinking Earl Gray whenever you feel emotional or stressed about something,” says Mitsuru, rubbing their back for comfort. She has a very problematic look on her face. 

“Hm… you knew me well.” Tsubasa faintly smiles at her.

“Tsubasa, if you have any troubles or doubts, please let me know immediately. You can always talk to me just like the old days.” Mitsuru gave them permission. 

“You’re right. It's strange. It feels like you're the older sister even though you're younger than me,” Tsubasa says jokingly.

“Well, you are a bit immature most of the time, but that is what I like most about you.” Mitsuru chuckled.

Fuuka and Yukari continue to eavesdrop on Mitsuru and Tsubasa’s conversation. They never realized how Tsubasa was hiding who they were and becoming someone they didn’t want to be.  They craved for someone to accept them. Something that Fuuka can relate to Tsubasa. She took out the seashell necklace she planned to give them and held it to her chest. Fuuka felt pity for Tsubasa.

“Fuuka, Mitsuru-senpai, only sees Nakamura-san as an older sibling and friend. There is something romantic between them.” Yukari whispered to Fuuka.

“Yeah, I knew it along. I just wanted to confirm myself.” Fuuka whispered back. 

“Oh, that reminds me, Mitsu. Have you been seeing anyone else?” Tsubasa casually asks their dear friend.

“What?! What is this coming? I'm not seeing anyone. Why do you ask?” Mitsuru looks a bit startled.

“I heard from Kiku that you broke your engagement with that sexist man in your final year in Gekkoukan High two years. I was wondering what you did for someone for love. I wonder?” Tsubasa playfully teased.

“Shiomi is one of my dear friends. She helped me understand who I am and my role as Kirijo's heiress, even though I was born a woman. Besides, she already has a fiancé. She planned to marry him once they settled down someday.” Mitsuru explained to them.

“Oh, congratulations to your friend. I might consider helping your dear friend and her fiancé out with their wedding plan. I will do it two times for you and your dear friend.” Tsubasa congrats Mitsuru on her engagement.

“Two? What are you talking about? Aren’t you planning to take over your parents’ business once they retire?” Mitsuru seems confused by her childhood friend’s words.

“I guess my mother nor my father hasn’t told you.” 

“Tell me what?”

“I have been thinking a lot since I started college. Sadly, I decided I didn’t want to be a wedding planner anymore,” says Tsubasa.

“Why? I thought you would love to become a wedding planner like your parents. You say you want to help many couples to plan their weddings.”

“That was the old me. I changed a lot since I last saw you. My new dream is to become a teacher and teach students that judging others by their appearance and who they are is wrong. They should accept them equally. I don't want students to suffer the same tragedy as me.” They explained.

“That’s a very thoughtful and wise decision you made. What about your parent’s shop? Who’s going to inherit it without you around?” Mitsuru wondered about their family’s business. 

“Ame is planning to inherit our parents’ family business. Although, she still has a long way to go. I don’t mind teaching her when I visit her during the holiday breaks.” 

“What an excellent older sibling you are. What does your sister call you now?” 

“For non-binary, I learned in Western culture that they can be called either Sib, Sibster, or Sibter. I let her call me “Sib” since it’s short for a sibling as sis and bro.  Which is easier for her to remember.” 

“Fascinating, I learned more about non-binary people for you already. I should have considered re-modeling restrooms and dressing rooms for people comfortable in unisex. I, too, want them to feel welcome and not stricter.” Mitsuru seems impressed. 

“Maybe in the next few years or so since they are people who aren't ready to come out yet, and they aren't welcome. Trust me, I tried to come out in my old high school, and I ended up getting alienated.”  Tsubasa suggested Mitsuru.

“Oh, my dearly sorry, that was a bit too far. You’re right. I’ll wait for now.” Mitsuru felt ashamed. 

“That’s okay. You’re trying to be a good and kind leader of the Kirijo Group. Some people aren’t ready to know or have seen people like us yet. I'm certain it will get better eventually.” 

Yukari looked in Mitsuru’s direction and felt disappointed for going overboard like that. She placed her left hand on her forehead, her head down.  

“Mitsu, you haven’t answered my question. Are you currently having romantic feelings for someone? Maybe that guy with band-aid you were with, Sanada?” Tsubasa playfully questioned Mitsuru’s crush.

“I have known Akihiko since middle school, and he is just a good friend. There is no romantic relationship between us,” Mitsuru explained to Tsubasa solemnly. 

“What about the girl in the heart-shaped collar? You seem to be very interested in her.”  Tsubasa playfully guesses her Mitsuru’s crush again. 

“Wait, w-why do you think I might like Yukari?” Mitsuru slightly blushed.

“How you looked at her tells me that you have feelings for her. I don’t mind if you do. You have my full support.” Tsubasa says happily. 

“I-I… ever since my father’s passing… Yukari was the one who helped me overcome my grief, and she started to support me rather than stay in the past in guilt. I promise to support her always, even though her decisions might be right or wrong. I find this strange… when I’m with Yukari, my heart feels at ease and comfortable being around her. It wasn’t like when I hung out with Akihiko, you, and my valuable friends with whom I developed a strong bond. I don’t know what it’s called…” Mitsuru’s facial expression is mixed with both confusion and bashfulness. She places her hand on her heart, feeling her heart beating faster than usual.

“You’re in love, Mitsuru. That’s the only reason you feel warm inside. There is nothing wrong with falling in love with another woman.” Tsubasa places their hand on Mitsuru’s free hand. They look into her red eyes.

“Love… this is love,” says Mitsuru, still feeling lost in thought that she might be in love with Yukari.

Yukari reacted in surprise. “Did I hear that right? Mitsuru-senpai is in love with me? I’m completely speechless. It’s strange; I’m normally attracted to men, but I've never fallen for another woman before. Is that why I was jealous? I thought she might have old feelings for her childhood friend. I think I’m in love with her too. Even so, how am I supposed to say to her.” says Yukari, in her thought, blushing. 

“Yukari-chan…” Fuuka quietly says her name, worried.

“But, even if I am, I’m going against my family tradition. The Kirijo Group has always been a man and a woman. No one in my family tree has ever married someone of the same sex before. I read about those who aren’t interested in the opposite sex. They would usually result in a consort to bear or pregnant from a sperm donor.”  Mitsuru says in a sad tone.

“Aren’t you the current head of Kirijo Group? It is possible to do it if you want. You’re abusive grandfather is gone, and there is no need to hold back.” Tsubasa tries to reason with her, reassuring her it’s okay to be with another woman.

“Fuuka, we should get going before they discover us,” Yukari told Fuuka.

“R-Right.” She agreed. 

“Yukari, Yamagishi, I know you're there. You can come out now.” Mitsuru says with a stoic look. 

Yukari and Fuuka were shocked she had already been found out. So, they decide to reveal themselves. 

“Yamagishi-san?!” Tsubasa looked at Fuuka, shocked.

“Hi, Nakamura-san…” Fuuka looks nervous.

“How much did you here?” Mitsuru demands answers from Yukari and Fuuka.

“Everything…” says Yukari ans Fuuka in a union. They look guilty and ashamed for eavesdropping. 

“You know it was a private conversation between friends. You shouldn't have done that.” Mitsuru scolded.

“We know. Please don’t take your anger out on Fuuka. I asked her to. When I heard from Akihiko-senpai that Nakamura-san used to be your fiancé, you might have feelings for them. I’m genuinely sorry, and I promise it won’t happen again. “ Yukari bows her head to show how sad she is.

“Tsubasa, can I talk to Yukari alone? In the meantime, please talk to Yamagishi,” she asked them.

“Sure. I don’t mind, Yamagishi. Would you like some tea?”

“O-Oh! Sure, I would love to have some!” 

Tsubasa and Fuuka left as they went inside the house. 

It was just Mitsuru and Yukari alone together. 

Chapter Text

Yukari’s POV

There is just me and Mitsuru-senpai now. This is getting awkward. I am still trying to figure out how to start. Ack! Fine, I’ll start talking. “Mitsuru-senpai, when you start falling for me?” 

“I think it was last year, at the summer festival after Shiomi came out."

A year ago….

Mitsuru’s Flashback POV

8/16/2010, Naganaki Shrine - Evening

Everyone gathered at the Naganaki Shrine entrance. Like before, Yukari, Yamagishi, I, Aigis, and Kotone wore beautiful yukata except in different colors than last year. Yukari wears a purple one with magenta gerbera flower patterns and a blue obi sash.  Yamagishi wears a green one with a Hemp Leaf pattern and a yellow obi sash. I chose to wear a navy blue one with lavender rose patterns and a pink and red gradient obi sash. Aigis wears a dark orange one with white lily design patterns, light orange curve lines on the sleeves, and a dusty pink obi sash with dark rose bubble patterns. Kotone wears a bright pink one with yellow sunflowers and a cyan obi sash.  The guys also decide to wear a yukata and Jinbei for a nice change of pace. Iori wears a dark purple Jinbei outfit, Akihiko wears dark red with a dark orange sash, Shinjiro wears a maroon one with a black sash, and Amada wears a dark sky blue Jinbei outfit. Koromaru wore a breathable dark gray with white stripes warrior yukata. 

“You called us at the summer festival for a big announcement you wanted to share. Wait, let me guess, you’re pregnant again.” Iori guessed horribly.

“No, idiot! She’s been talking birth control pills to prevent getting pregnant,” says Shinjiro, annoyed at Iori.

Yukari smacks Iori on the back of his head in annoyance.

“Ow!” He cringed in pain.

“Are you planning on getting married?!” Yamagishi guessed unexpectedly.

“No, Fuuka. We aren’t planning to get married yet. Maybe after graduating from Gekkoukan High.”

“Oh… I thought it was.” Yamagishi looks disappointed.

“Then what is it you wanted to announce?” Akihiko asked her patiently.

I see Shinjiro hold Kotone’s hand to comfort her. She looks at him calmly and smiles before she looks at us. “Everyone, there is something I want to tell you all. After I told you, you might have noticed me differently before. You guys, I’m pansexual.” Kotone came out.

Everyone reacted in surprise, and yet, they were happy she did.

“We knew.” Says Yukari with a relieved look.

Kotone looks shocked that her friends are significantly accepting of her coming out. “How did you find out?”

“It was obviously. We can tell by how you often playfully tease or flirt with us. That still doesn’t change the fact you are always our dear friend to us.” Iori says with a casual smile.

“Being pansexual doesn’t change our perspective of you. You are still the same Kotone Shiomi we met last year.” I say with a graceful expression. 

“I still don’t know what that word means, but my feelings for you will never change. I mean, as a dear friend, not as a lover or nothing.” Akihiko seems nervous, yet he accepts Kotone with ease. 

“It means a person is attracted to people of any gender or people regardless of their gender. I don’t mind Kotone-san being one.” Amada explains to Akihiko. 

“Woof. Woof.” Koromaru barks softly.

“Koromaru-san says sexuality doesn’t matter to me. I will always accept Kotone-san for who she is and her value to me. She will always be my important friend and everyone in the Shadow Operatives.” Aigis translated Koromaru’s language.

“Aww. Thanks, Koro-chan! That means a lot.” Kotone kindly thanked him.

“Arf!” Koromaru barks happily. 

“We will always be there for you, Kotone-chan,” Yamagishi smiled at her.

“You see, Koto, everyone will always treat you the same as before. You mean everything to us, and we love you. I love you the most. Nothing will change, no matter what,” Shinjiro says sweetly to Kotone.  

“Yeah. You’re right. Thank you so much for your continued love for me.” Kotone starts to shed tears of joy. Shinjiro kindly embraced her in his arms. 

Everyone smiles at her. 

During the summer festival, everyone is having the time of their life. Iori played several games in both to win a prize for Chidori the next time he saw her next semester. Akihiko and Amada go to one booth to catch a fish, which he is terrible at. Koromaru visits his former owner’s resting place. Aigis and Yamagishi are buying festival masks for fun. As for Kotone and Shinjiro, after finding a place to watch the fireworks with everyone else. They said they were going to text everyone when the fireworks started. I checked on them, discovering from behind a tree that they were making out again. So I head back to the shrine until then. Lastly, I decided to hang out with Yukari and try some unique foods in one of the booths. After that, we sat down on a bench to finish our snacks.

“It‘s nice to hang out with everyone again, right?” Yukari asks her.

“Yeah, nowadays, the only time we get to hang out is when we fight Shadows outside of Tatsumi Port Island or during holiday breaks like this one. Next year, you, Shiomi, Iori, Yamagishi, Aigis, and Shinjiro will graduate. You guys will have a plan on which college you want to attend.” I say to Yukari, honestly.

“Yeah… that means it would be hard to come by. I enjoy hanging out with you like this and everyone else.” I feel Yukari’s warm hand with mine. I never realized how soft she was.

“Me too. I enjoy hanging out with you, Yukari.”

Suddenly, I heard a child calling out to his parents.

“Mommy! Mommy! I have to try a takoyaki at that booth there! I heard they taste delicious! (English)” says the foreigner boy. He has short, light brown hair and wears a scarlet Jinbei outfit.

“Thomas, we know. You have been dying to try one ever since we arrived in Japan. We have five days left until we go back to New York. (English)” says Thomas’ mother. She wore a blue and white yukata with a purple obi sash. She has light brown hair tied in a neat bun with a flower hair ornament.

The child ran to the takoyaki stand for his mother and his mother’s friend. I notice on both women’s fingers that they are wearing the same rings. Could it be? Are they a lesbian married couple?! This is the first time I’ve seen one in person. 

“Honestly, he got your personality when you were his age. Curious child. Which is what I like about you and our son. (English)” says Thomas’ other mother. She has black butcher hair and wears a white T-shirt, jeans, and a pair of black sneakers. 

The couple kissed and held hands before they reunited with their son.

“That’s something you don’t see that often. I wonder if Kotone coming out today was a sign or something.” Yukari wonders.

“You mean we are close to the age where it’s okay to accept people who they want to be rather than pretending they don’t want to be?  Is that what you were thinking about?” I tried to guess her answer.

“I never realized marriage is not limited to a man or woman. What we learned about is it could be for any gender.  Love is love, and there’s no rule about falling in love with the same sex.” Yukari says truthfully.

“Are you planning to marry someone one day?” 

“Never. I don’t want to end up like my mom. If I lose someone I love, I would go crazy or even try to find a way to get over that person. The only reason I will never want to date random, hotter, and younger men. I don’t want to be like that after I graduate.” Yukari seems to dislike the idea of getting married to someone. It’s reasonable since she lost her father a decade ago. As for me, I had never once experienced love before besides family love. I never fell in love with any guys when I attended Gekkoukan High for three years. Akihiko and Shinjiro are out of the question since they always have romantic feelings for the same girl. Iori never stops loving Chidori even though she loses all her memories of him and the Dark Hour. Amada is not interested in being in a romantic relationship with anyone. Falling in love with another woman never crossed my mind. 

“I’m sure you will find your soulmate someday, and they will treat you well,” I say to Yukari.  

“If I ever become interested in starting a family someday after graduating from university, find the right person and have a good pay job. I might try to date someone kind, tall, smart, who cares for my wellbeing. I’m still taking a break from finding a guy I like and spending time with my best friend, you, Kotone, and Fuuka.” Yukari looks into my red eyes. When I looked closer, I never realized how beautiful her brown eyes and rosy pink lips were. It makes me blush for some reason. 

“Yeah, we will always be best friends forever.”

“Oh… just best friends.” I look sad for some reason. Usually, I should be happy with what Yukari says, but this time is different. My heart aches, and it’s not the same as when my father was killed last year. 

“Mitsuru-senpai? Are you alright?” Yukari worried for me.

“It’s nothing. I’m happy to continue to be your best friend.” I force myself to smile back at her, hiding my sadness from her.  Maybe… I think Yukari should be with a man who treats her kindly. I will continue to support her love life even if it means I end up hurting myself. There’s no way she will fall for another woman.

End of Mitsuru’s Flashback POV 

Yukari’s POV

“So that’s when you started to develop feelings for me. Mitsuru-senpai, I’m sorry about what I said; I didn’t know.” I say with a guilty look.

“It’s okay, Yukari, I—“

“No, it’s okay! I hurt your feelings without realizing it. You tried to force yourself to be okay, but you’re not. You thought that I might be happy with another man I will someday meet, you’re mistaken. I’m not going to be happy about it. The truth is Mitsuru-senpai. I… I’m in love with you!” I confessed my feelings for her with all my heart. I started crying from my eyes.

Fuuka’s POV

Nakumura’s Kitchen

I sat down at their parent’s kitchen table. The room is quietly lovely, with various teabags and floral plants.

After Nakamura made tea for me, Jasmine made tea with some sense for them.

“Thank you so much, Nakumura-san.” I politely thank them.

“You’re welcome. Be sure to clean your cup after drinking. I’ll check to see if my sister returned from errands.” Nakamura appreciates it, but they still refuse to look at me. I think they are still mad at me from yesterday. I need to apologize to them, or I will regret it for the rest of my life.

“Wait, don’t leave. I want to apologize for what I said to do. I wasn’t trying to offend or think of you as a woman. You probably thought I was one of the people from your old school. I was wrong to mistake you for a woman. I’m very sorry.” I get out of my seat and bow my head down.

“Yamagishi…” 

“I know what it’s like to be bullied. I was a victim in my second year at Gekkoukan High. I tried to fit in with students but ended up in the wrong crowd. Get my notebook and books stolen, thrown into the women’s bathroom, or taken advantage of. I tried to please them the best I could, but nothing changed. The most horrible they ever did was lock me in the gym storage room at night. I wouldn't be alive today if it weren’t for Kotone-chan, Yukari-chan, Junpei-kun,  Mitsuru-senpai, and Akihiko-senpai.”

“I don’t know you have suffered greatly. So you didn’t transfer school to get away from your bullies?” Tsubasa asked me if I had done the same thing. 

“No, I didn’t. It’s the same as running away from my problems. I have made great friends who see me as me and not as someone else punching bag. They are important to me, and I don’t want to lose my bond.” I stop bowing to look at Tsubasa face-to-face. 

“Yamagishi… I’m so sorry how I acted to you. I have had some major trust issues in the past, and I fear you were pretending to be nice to me to cause me pain. I have been betrayed so many times in the past. I don’t know who to trust besides my parents, Ame and Mitsu.” 

I walk to them and hold onto their soft, big hands. I look at their angelic face. “Nakamura-san, I never betrayed and deceived my friends or anyone I care about. That’s not who I am. I want to be your friend. You are the kindest and most fun-loving person I ever met. I like to get to know you better. I promise it won’t happen again from yesterday. Will you forgive me?” I say them sincerely.

“You mean it. You’re not tricking me or anything.” They wanted to confirm if I was telling the truth.

“I’m not tricking you. I met everything word what I say.”

“Okay… I believe you. Thanks for being the second person, besides Mitsu, who accepted me for who I am. I’m looking forward to getting to know you, too.” Nakamura thanked me with a calming smile.

I smile back at them. I’m so glad we made it up. I’m happy to make a new friend from my college. I wonder how Yukari-chan is doing with Mitsuru-senpai. 

Chapter Text

Kirijo Summer Mansion - Evening

Kotone and Shinjiro sit on a lounge couch together. Kotone is reading a parent guidebook she found on the bookshelf to learn about being a parent. Shinjiro reads with her as he lays his right arm over Kotone’s shoulders. She feels comfortable being around him.

“Oh, Yukari, Fuuka! Welcome back! How’s your day.” Kotone cheerfully greets her friends.

“It was wonderful; I was able to apologize to Mitsuru-senpai’s childhood friend, they accepted my apology, and we became friends. I managed to give them a seashell necklace for them. They said they really seashells and often collected them during their free time.” Fuuka says with a joyful expression.

“That’s wonderful news, Fuuka. I’m so happy for you.” Kotone congrats her for making a new friend.

“That reminds me, what did the two of you do today?”

“I hung out with Aigis today to shop some comfortable clothes and souvenirs for her. So far, it wasn't easy to find the right dress to cover her mechanical body completely. We found a beautiful flora long-sleeved sundress, and it suited her nicely. Shinji hung out with Ken and Koro-Chan. *chuckled* mainly to brush Kuro-chan’s fur and play with him.” Kotone giggles.

“I’m not going to deny it this time. I haven’t spent time with Koro-chan, Koromaru, for two weeks. I must ensure he gets plenty of exercise and his fur isn’t too long or tangled.” Says Shinjiro, blushed.

“What about you, Yukari?” When Kotone tried to ask her best friend for today, she didn’t respond. She notices she looks distracted for some reason. Yukari’s face is red, and her eyes are slightly swollen from crying.

A few hours ago….

After Yukari confessed her love for Mitsuru in the heat of the moment, she expected a simple rejection from her. Instead, Mitsuru hugged her. Yukari was confused about whether or not she was hugging her for gentle rejection from her or if she accepted her feelings. Mitsuru looked at Yukari’s face, stroked her bangs to the sides, and started kissing her on the lips. Yukari was surprised at first, but the feeling of her lips was soft and irresistible. She wants her badly. She closes her eyes, focuses on Mitsuru’s lips, and kisses her passionately. She embraced her back. After a short moment, they break to breathe.

“*huff* Wow…That was my first kiss.” Yukari says nervously.

“You’re mine too. It was a delightful feeling.” Mitsuru says, happily blushing at her crush.

“Mitsuru-senpai… do you accept my feelings for you?” Yukari asked Mitsuru to confirm if her feelings had reached her.

Mitsuru stops hugging Yukari to look at her directly. “I… This is a lot to take. My mind is messy. I’m not sure about my feelings. I’m sorry I did it. My body moved on my own.” She looks confused after what she did.

“So… you did it out of pity, and you don’t have feelings for me…” Yukari felt rejected.

“No! That’s not it! Yukari, I like you, but I need time to think now. I just found now I’m might be bisexual or lesbian.” Says Mitsuru, confused.

“ Please come to my guest room in the evening after you take a shower around 10:00 pm. Tell me in person how you really feel about me. If you don’t show up by then, I know my answer.” Yukari requested Mitsuru.

“Alright…” Mitsuru walks pass Yukari and watches her head back to the mansion alone.

Present

Yukari came back to her senses and sees Fuuka, Kotone, and Shinjiro look concerned for her.

“Yukari? You were just staring into space. Are you feeling alright?” Kotone asks Yukari again.

“Oh, I’m right. I’m just exhausting today. I’m going to eat something before I take a shower and go to bed.” Yukari responds back, more nervously than usual. She ran to the dining room.

Yukari’s Guest Room  - Evening; 10:00 pm

Yukari pulls on a pink nightgown mini dress and lacy panties. Before she sits on her bed to wait for Mitsuru, she heard a knock on her door.

“Yukari, it’s me. Can I come on?” Mitsuru’s voice politely asked her.

“Sure. I’ll open the door for you.” Yukari gets up and walks to the door to let her give. When she opens the door, there is she. Mitsuru is wearing only a rose red robes and slippers. She lets her into her room. She secretly locks her door so no one disturb them. Yukari and Mitsuru talks to each other.

“After I took my time to think about my feelings and sort of out… Yukari, I love you too. “ Mitsuru reciprocated her feelings for her.

Yukari smiled at her. As she was about to hugged her, Mitsuru stopped her. This leaves Yukari confused. “Mitsuru-senpai?”

“I’m not done talking yet. I do wanted to be with you a lot. There are some things I need to do as a head of Kirijo Group. I’m not saying is that I choose my family tradition over you. I just needed some time to experience actually love. I’m not as sex passionate expert like Shinjiro. I have no clue how to have sex with another woman. I’m inexperience as Iori.. I’m truly sorry for not begins prepare partner to her.” Mitsuru apologized to Yukari.

“I know how to have to have sex with woman before. I can teach you what I know if you liked.” Yukari walks up to Mitsuru, and gently touch her face. They both smile at each other before they kissed passionately. Suddenly, Mitsuru felt something inside of her mouth.

“It’s okay, do exactly as I do. Stick your tongue into my mouth and intertwined with mine. It helps increases pleasure and enjoys our taste.” Yukari seductive instruction her.

Mitsuru nodded and do what she says. She can feel Yukari’s tongue intertwined with hers. She pull her closer to deepen their kiss. Mitsuru moans softy in Yukari’s mouth as she squeezes her big breasts through her robes.

Late Night

After they fully climax and muffled their screams through their kiss to prevent their loud noise coming from the room next door. Yukari turns off the lights and join Mitsuru in her bed. Yukari resting her head on Mitsuru’s bosoms a while Mitsuru has her right arm around Yukari and uses her left hand to hold hers. They are completely cover in blankets.

“Thank you so much for teaching the value of sex, Yukari.” She smiles at her, greatly.

“Same to you. I’m glad you are my first.” Mitsuru smiles back at her lover.

“I love you, Mitsuru.”

“I love you too, Yukari”

They pressed their lips together a while holding their hands.

They both a long time spend a lovely night together.

Chapter Text

Yakushima Beach - Daytime

Junpei calls everyone to hang out at the beach before they leave tomorrow and return to Tatsumi Port Island. Everyone (except Tsubasa) has been wearing their swimsuits since the first day. Junpei also texts Fuuka that she can invite Mitsuru’s friend to hang out.

“You guys are probably wondering why I call you here. It's because today’s the last day we can enjoy ourselves!” Junpei explained joyfully.

“We were considering hanging out at the  beach today.” Yukari seems annoyed at him.

“I know. I know. Except, I want to take some memorial photos of our time here. We probably won’t know if we will ever come here again, or this might be the last time we spend together. Like Ken, we will be busy with colleges, working, and attending school.” Junpei forces himself to smile at everyone, hiding his sadness.

“Junpei-kun…” Fuuka says his name in a sad tone.

“I’m sure we will eventually work out somehow since our bonds will never be broken, and I cherish you all as my best buddies!” Junpei says with the best smile he gives to them.

Everyone is doing their beach activities. 

“Yamagishi-san! I’m sorry I’m late! Did I miss something?” Says Tsubasa’s voice. They wore an aqua and black compressed swim top that exposed their abs and black swim shorts. They also have their hair tied in a beautiful braid. 

“No, it’s fine. You arrive just in time. There is someone I like to introduce to you.” Fuuka takes Tsubasa to see Kotone, who is with Shinjiro. 

“Kotone-chan, Aragaki-senpai. Do you have a minute?” Fuuka politely asks them.

“Sure. We haven’t decided what to do yet. So, is this your new friend you mentioned.” Kotone playfully teased Fuuka.

“Yes, this is the person I'd like you to meet. This is Tsubasa Nakamura.” Fuuka introduced Tsubasa to them.

“It’s nice to meet you, Nakamura-san, I’m Kotone Shiomi. This is my fiancé, Shinjiro Aragaki.” Kotone casually introduced Shinjiro to Tsubasa.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Says Shinjiro casually to them.

“Oh, so you're the people Mitsu mentioned. It is an honor to meet you two. If you decided on a year and date to get married, here is my card.” Tsubasa took out their card from their swim shorts and gave it to Kotone.

“Whoa! You’re a wedding planner?! I never met one before. That’s awesome!” Kotone looks surprised and yet happy. 

“That’s a hard maybe if we decide to get married.” Shinjiro yoked Tsubasa’s family business card from Kotone’s hand and put it inside his white jacket’s pocket. 

Tsubasa looks confused at Shinjiro’s jealousy towards them.

“It’s alright, Nakamura-san. Aragaki-senpai can be like that around strangers. He looks scary, but I’m very positive that he is a good person.  I’m sure he will warm up to you.” Fuuka explained to them.

“Really? That’s a relief.” Nakamura gives a relieved smile at her.

“Fuuka, your new friend, is a very nice person. They are very friendly and willing to help us with our wedding plans,” Kotone chirps.

“Uh?! How do you know Nakamura-san is non-binary?” Fuuka seems surprised and confused.

“Fuuka, it’s not hard by their appearance. It’s they are.” 

“You too?! Aragaki-senpai!” 

“Plus, I met one in middle school who was in the closet,” Kotone explained. 

“Well, good for you for being the first to recognize my gender before I could explain. I’m happy you didn’t mistake me for a woman or man.” Nakamura looks happy.

“Now I feel bad…” Fuuka says in her thoughts, guilty.

Yukari and Mitsuru’s side

Yukari and Mitsuru sat together in a shaded umbrella on the beach stairs. Afterward, she applied sunscreen to her back before pulling on her bikini top. 

“Thank you for sunscreens my back, Yukari. I will do the rest of my body on my own.” Mitsuru gracefully thanked her.

“It’s no problem. You have such beautiful skin. It would be a shame if your skin got tan from the sun or sunburn.” Yukari complimented her, bashful.

“*chuckles* What was a compliment or flirting just now?”  

“It was both,” Yukari responded gleefully. 

The atmosphere between them starts to become heavy. 

“Yukari… about this morning. Are you still bothered by it?” Mitsuru reminded Yukari, sadly. 

Yukari doesn’t respond. She is a little upset and hurt. 

Several hours earlier.

Early Morning

Yukari and Mitsuru wake up in a peaceful morning. The first thing they do is make out to each other on the bed covers.  Mitsuru briefly departed Yukari’s soft lips; she moved her hair gently, and she imprinted small kisses before she sucked the back of Yukari’s neck, leaving a hickey mark. Yukari can feel the sweet kiss coming from Mitsuru’s lips. They both sit up where Yukari has Mitsuru’s face against her and presses her mouth against hers. They embrace each other, not caring their blanket falls off and completely exposed as their breasts press against each other. Mitsuru opens her eyes, wholly bewildered at what she is doing. She stops making out with Yukari.

“Mitsuru? What’s wrong?” Yukari sweetly asks her girlfriend. She has her left-hand touch Mitsuru’s cheek. Mitsuru refuses to look at her.

“I… Let's keep our relationship a secret from the public.” Mitsuru looks dejected. 

Yukari was shocked by her sudden decision. They both let go of each other. Mitsuru left Yukari’s bed to put on her panties and robes, which she had on last night. Yukari covered herself in her blankets. 

“Are you ashamed of me? Because I’m a woman and not a man? Is that it? Are you embarrassed of me?” Yukari questioned her for a while, holding back her emotions.

“No, that’s not true. You’re not embarrassed. You’re the most wonderful woman I have ever met.” Mitsuru reasons with her. She walked up to her bed, sat down, and touched her right shoulder.

“Then why do you want to keep our relationship a secret from everyone, including our friends?! We already accept Kotone as being pansexual and Aigis as being interested in women even though she hasn’t dated anyone. If you love me, tell me your reason.” Yukari demanded answers from Mitsuru.

“The truth is, I don’t want the same thing to happen with Tsubasa. They were discriminated against and bullied for their gender choice; they were forced to transfer schools because of it. If I told the media about my relationship with another woman, it may cause a major backlash, threatening letters, or hateful comments. They hurt you, or worse, we might lose our careers because of them. I can’t risk it. However, I’m not planning to hide our relationship any longer. I’m waiting for the right time and place to go to the public. This year is not the best time.” Mitsuru explained.

“Is that your main reason?” Yukari looks uncertain. 

“Yes, it is. I promise to announce our relationship to the public once everything settles down; after I graduate from college and have a good job.” Mitsuru holds Yukari’s right hand while her other hand holds her blanket to cover her chest.

“You promised, Mitsuru?” Yukari tearfully asked her.

“I promised. I swear with my life. I will never lie to you.” Mitsuru says with a determined look. 

“Okay… I believe you. We will keep our relationship a secret for now.” says Yukari, disappointed.

“If you felt uncomfortable keeping a secret from the public… I don’t mind if we stay as friends until the time is right. If you still hold romantic feelings for me several years later, I’ll be waiting.” 

Present - Yakushima Beach

Yukari and Mitsuru’s side

“I remember what you said, and I understand. At first, I was distraught because I thought having me as your girlfriend might ruin your reputation, and the public might renounce me as a lesbian. I managed to calm myself down and realized that the Kirijo Group means everything to you. You wanted to follow in your father’s footsteps to atone for the sins your grandfather committed years ago. I don’t mind waiting for you. My feelings for you will never change.” Yukari touch Mitsuru’s hand. 

“Thank you.” Mitsuru smiles at her secret girlfriend. They embraced in each other’s arms, heartwarming.

Fuuka’s side 

Fuuka decides to spend time with Tsubasa before she leaves with the others tomorrow. 

“Here. I made this for you yesterday. This sea glass made me think of you. I hope you remember our time together even though it’s short.” They give Fuuka a bright emerald sea glass bracelet. 

“Whoa! It’s beautiful! It’s my favorite color! I love it so much!” Fuuka appreciates Tsubasa’s departing gift. She accepts the gift and puts it on her right wrist.

“I’m glad you loved it. I made it for my parents, younger sister, friends, and boyfriend.” 

“Huh? Boyfriend?” Fuuka seems confused.

“Oh, I forgot to mention. I have a boyfriend who lives in Port Island. He attends the same university as me. He’s a year older than me. We have been dating since I first attended my university.” Tsubasa explained to her.

“Oh, that’s good news…” Fuuka seems heartbroken.

“But we can still be friends since Hanzo is often busy with work and rarely has the time to spend with me. We only hang out during the holiday breaks or when he’s off work.” Tsubasa explained.

“Yeah, I don’t mind being friends with you, Tsubasa-chan.”

“Tsubasa-chan?” He seems to have fluttered a bit.

“Ah! I’m so sorry. It slips out. I wasn’t sure what to call you: Tsubasa-kun, Tsubasa-chan, or Tsubasa-san.” Fuuka feels significantly embraced. 

“The name “Tsubasa-chan” sounds cute. No one has ever called me that. Not even my boyfriend. I like what you call me. You don’t mind if I call you Fuuchan?” Tsubasa asked Fuuka for permission.

“Sure! I like it.” Fuuka happily accepts. 

Fuuka and Tsubasa have had a good time together.

Junpei, Chidori, Aigis, and Koromaru’s side

Junpei peacefully took a picture of Chidori playing with Koromaru. When Chidori kneels to teach Koromaru to shake properly, Koromaru stands on two legs and puts his paws on her head. Junpei laughs, calling Koromaru the funniest dog he has ever met. 

“It seems you are in a good mood than before, Junpei-san.” Aigis stands next to Junpei to observe his movement. 

“Oh shit! I forgot you wanted to spend time with us. I’m sorry about it.” Junpei apologizes to her.

“It’s fine. I haven’t seen you and the others for two weeks. It’s normal. I found some info about Kurosu-san you mentioned yesterday. It seems he was Kirijo Group's scientist and caretaker for most experimental subjects. He does horrible things, and I’m unsure if you want to continue in full detail about him.”

“Could you give me a short version? I don’t want to get to know him fully,” Junpei says disgustingly.

“Here, the short version. Junya Kurosu was a pedophile who preyed on little girls. He would often sexually harass them after testing. He did this even before working for the Kirijo Group.” Aigis stated.

“WTF?! That isn’t very pleasant. That bastard is mess up, sicko.” Junpei seems angry.

“What’s “WTF” stands for?” Aigis innocently asks Junpei.

“I’ll explain later. Has he… like pregnant his victims as well?” Junpei asks Aigis, uneasy.

“He did at six people. One was from his homeland, and the other was from when he worked for the Kirijo Group. However, the three of them commit suicide by summoning their Persona to kill them.”  Aigis responded to his question sadly.

Junpei’s expression is mixed with anger and shock.

“One last question. Is he currently alive?” Junpei says with hostility. 

“No, he was killed along with two scientists who were with him after three surviving test-subjected escaped and went into hiding. Yes, the survivors were Strega, and we know.” 

“So that sicko was dead. That’s good since those children won’t fall victim and lose their innocence.” Junpei looks relieved.

“Junpei-san…. Are you planning on telling Chidori-san?” Aigis asked him.

“Never. I will never tell her about him ever. I don’t want her to remember those trauma memories she wanted to forget. I can’t have her reopen her wounds again. I will keep her safe and won’t let her be hurt again.” Junpei says, determined, showing his love for Chidori.

“Koro-chan, shake is to put one of your paws to my shake hand, not both paws on my head.” Chidori criticized Koromaru.

“Woof.” Koromaru barks proudly.

Koromaru still has his paws on Chidori’s head.

Shinjiro and Kotone and Akihiko and Ken’s side

Kotone is paired up with Shinjiro to play volleyball against Akihiko and Ken. Kotone carries the volleyball in her arms.

“Okay, Shinji, best two out of three! If I win, you get a Caesar haircut like me, and you can’t have sex with Koto for a month.” Akihiko looks prideful. 

“Hell no! Not again. If I win, you can’t have your protein shit for a month. And you can’t complain about my sex life with Koto or that you’re a virgin.” says Shinjiro, with an irritated look.

“Are you sure if mentioning the word “s” to Ken-kun is alright? He is still twelve, after all.” Kotone shows concern for Ken.

“It’s fine. I understand what that word means.” Ken reassured her. 

“That reminds me. What about Ken-kun and me if we win?” 

“Yeah.” Ken agrees with Kotone.

“I promise to go to your next soccer game at your school and walk Koromaru for you,” Akihiko tells Ken with a friendly attitude.

“Really?! That’s awesome! I would love to see you coming to my games, Sanada-san.” Ken seems excited.

Shinjiro whispers into Kotone’s ear. “If we win, when we get back, I promise to make you your favorite dish and resistible, passionate bath sex.” He says with a smirked face.

Kotone’s face turns pinkish red. 

From a distance, Akihiko and Ken have no idea what he’s talking about, but Kotone looks bashful for some reason.

“Okay, let’s play!” She seems pumped with joy.

Several matches later….

Akihiko and Ken are on the sand, exhausted and defeated. Shinjiro and Kotone give each other high fives before they hug.

“It’s over, Aki—no more matches. You have to accept defeat. You can’t complain about my sex life or being a virgin for a month.” Shinjiro reminds his best friend.

“Damn it…” Akihiko cursed Shinjiro.

“We lost again…” Ken disappointed.

Meanwhile, it is a far distance from the beach.

Marco and Vivi watched Shadow Operatives spending their last day relaxing before they left Yakushima.

“Big brother, was it really necessary to threaten Shinjiro like that? You know he will never ask you something stupid or murder someone. That’s not his thing.” Vivi seems annoyed. 

“I know. I was kidding. I just did to scare him a bit.” Marco chucked.

“Your sense of humor is dull as usual.” Vivi annoyed him. 

“I’m hurt. Off-topic, you’re going to Inaba soon to write down information about the fourth generation of Persona-users. Especially a new Wild Card user.” 

“Yeah. That’s my new task for 2011 to 2012. I heard it’s going to be bigger than the last.” Vivi casually admits it.

“I just hope Draco doesn’t interfere with your work. We don’t know where he is and why he is betraying us. So far, our siblings don’t know about Draco’s betrayal. We are the only ones who know. Should we tell them?” Marco looks worried.

“Not yet. Wait until the time is right for now.” Vivi calmly tells him.

Draco’s Pocket Dimension 

Draco secretly creates a substance for Takaya and Jin to help stabilize their existence outside his pocket dimension. He tests different components in each beaker containing his blood. “I have a long way to perfect a pill to prolong Takaya and Jin’s existence. I have to be patient for now.” 

Chapter Text

Two weeks later… 

Shinjiro and Kotone started college, and they have significantly adjusted to it. They both decided to take child development parent education classes together on certain days for the spring semester. They are focused on their main courses, Kotone taking significant classes to get her AA degree, and Shinjiro taking cooking classes to help him improve since last year he entered a cooking competition in September with Kotone as his assistant. However, Shinjiro was placed in 2nd because he wasn’t skilled enough against a professional and talented chef. The one who beat him got 1st year for not only 1,000,000 yen but also an internship to work at a professional chef’s restaurant. The 2nd prize he got was 500,000 yen, along with a free dinner meal at the master chef’s restaurant. Kotone heard that Yukari got a job working as an actress for Phoenix Ranger Featherman Neo as her part-time job, and Junpei applied for a job as a junior little league baseball coach for kids. In his second year at university, Akihiko tries to study and learn to become a police officer. As for his part-time job, Akihiko is a fitness instructor. Mitsuru is still trying to take college classes and her job as Kirijo Group head. Fuuka meets up with Tsubasa at the same university, and they get each other's phone numbers so they can keep in touch. Even though Fuuka is disappointed that someone has already taken Tsubasa, she doesn’t mind continuing to be their friend. Aigis takes her duty as an Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapon when Mitsuru is not around at the Kirijo Group base. She will often teach the recruits the basics of fighting Shadows, collecting Shadow’s data from previous complete missions and gathering info from the witnesses. The only task Mitsuru didn’t give Aigis was writing down paperwork. That job is done by one of her trustworthy assistants, Kikuno. As for Ken, he attends his everyday life in middle school peacefully, and Koromaru meets up with the dog he admires at the shrine.  Everyone is doing their daily lifestyle in Tatsumi Port Island. 

April 12th, 2011

Shinjiro and Kotone’s apartment - Early Morning  

Kotone woke up from sleep and is fully energized to go to class today. Suddenly, she felt sick for some reason. She ran to the bathroom and threw up in the toilet. "What is wrong with me? This is the seventh time. I managed to avoid suspicion during class and at home. I don't know how long I can keep this up," says Kotone in her thoughts, feeling weak. 

Shinjiro wakes up from the noise and notices Kotone on her knees, feeling nauseous.  He got out of bed and ran to her. 

“Koto! Are you alright?!” Shinjiro sat down next to Kotone. He pats and rubs her back gently. She flushes the toilet after she’s done vomiting. 

“I don’t know… why I'm throwing up almost every morning, afternoon, and night since this Sunday,” Kotone says, weakly.

“You have been throwing up since Sunday?! Why didn’t you tell me?!” Shinjiro seems upset at Kotone.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t want to worry you.” Kotone apologized to him. 

“Is it something you ate?” Shinjiro asked her, worried about her current state. 

“I… don’t know. For some reason. I don’t have a big appetite, but I usually do.” Kotone says, confused.

“Do you remember the last time you had your period?” Shinjiro asked Kotone, concerned.

Kotone’s face turns pale, “I-It was last month, shortly after we took a break from our relationship. Now I think about it. My period is late. I should’ve started last week.” 

“After class, I’m taking you to the hospital. I’ll make you a healthy breakfast before we leave for class.” Shinjiro helps Kotone and lets her wash her hands and dry them with a towel. 

“Okay… please don’t tell the others yet, especially Aki. Not until it is confirmed whether or not I’m pregnant.” 

After College Class

Tatsumi Port Island Hospital

Just like Shinjiro says, he took Kotone to the hospital to get checked. The doctor took some tests on her. A few hours later, Kotone was fully dressed in her casual winter attire. She wears an orange turtleneck with cherry blossom petals design, a red and orange plaid skirt, black leggings, and red boots. Shinjiro wears his maroon peacoat with a black long-sleeved t-shirt underneath, dark green baggy pants, and black leather boots. He also wore his trademark beanie.  He holds Kotone’s right hand. He notices her hand is trembling. Kotone’s doctor enters the room to talk to her and Shinjiro about her test results.

“After taking your blood for a blood test and analyzing it in the lab. It is confirmed. Shiomi-san, you are indeed pregnant with your fiancé‘s baby.” Kotone’s doctor confirmed Kotone’s pregnancy.

Kotone and Shinjiro were shocked and yet relieved for some reason. Kotone touched her stomach, where their baby was growing inside her womb. They looked at each other happily before focusing on Kotone’s doctor.

“It’s normal for pregnant women to experience morning sickness. Vomiting, loss of appetite, and nausea are natural side effects. I may suggest that Shiomi-san avoid any spicy, greasy, and fatty foods, especially raw fish. To ease your nausea during pregnancy, eat high in protein and fruits and vegetables. I’ll give you instructions on what foods to eat or not.” Kotone’s doctor explained. She leaves the room to get the handout for Kotone for her pregnancy.  It is just Kotone and Shinjiro alone together.

“I… This is a lot to take. So this is like being pregnant normally. I’m so happy and yet emotional about this.” Kotone sheds tears of joy. 

“Yeah. We did, Koto.” Shinjiro smiles sincerely at her.

“*sobbing* We finally did it. We made a baby together, and they are born normally this time, not from Dark Hour we did two years ago.” Kotone expressed relief, still crying. 

Shinjiro gently wipes her tears, seeing Kotone’s beautiful and innocent face. They kiss passionately.

April 13th, 2011

Kotone and Shinjiro will tell their best friends about it today after class.  

Yukari’s side

Neo Featherman: Rehearsal Studio - Noon

Yukari rehearsing for the upcoming episode for Neo Featherman as Pink Argus since the former quit due to wanting to pursue other career opportunities. She watches the news on the other cast's flat-screen TV in the rehearsal room.

“In other news, Mayumi Yamano was announced dead in Inaba yesterday. She died at the age of 27. The cause of her death is still unknown. There are no signs of stab or fatal injuries on her body. They believe she died from suffocation. The police are currently investigating.” says the announcer. 

“Man, first she has an affair with Taro Namatame, who was already married, and now she is pronounced dead on media. I can’t tell if this is karma or bad luck for her.” says the Feather Owl‘s actor, speaking ill about her.

“Sshhh! Not so loud! Everyone is rehearsal right now. I know Yamano-san’s death is a shocker, but I focus on my job instead of worrying about the decreased TV announcer. “ says the Feather Falcon‘s actor rudely to his co-worker.

“Hey, you two! Less talking, more rehearsal of your lines!” one of the actors furious.

“I told you!” says the Feather Falcon’s actor.

“Ugh… Men. Can they respect the decrease slightly instead of speaking ill of her?” Yukari says in her thoughts, disgusted at her co-workers. Suddenly, she receives a text message from Kotone. “Uh? It’s from Kotone. I haven’t heard from her since we got back from Yakushima.”  She opens her cell phone to read Kotone’s text messages to her.

> “After work, do you have time to hang out today?” Kotone asked her best friend.

>” I think I’m free today after work. Why do you ask?” Yukari replies to her, confused

>I have a big announcement I want to tell you. Meet me at Paulownia Mall around 3:30 pm after work. Mitsuru-senpai has already informed me which time you will get off. I’ll see you later. :)” 

Yukari pulled her cell phone from her bag. She has an uneasy feeling about this. “I wonder what Kotone wants to talk to me about?”

Akihiko’s side

Gym - Noon

Akihiko is at the gym, finishing teaching newbies to workout and body warm-up. He takes a break to drink water from his sports bottles since he can't have his protein for a month. He still has ten more days to go. Suddenly, he receives a call from Shinjiro.

“Hm? Is it from Shinji? I wonder what he wants now?” says Akihiko, curious. He decides to pick up the phone. “What is it, Shinji? If you call me to remind me about our bet on the last day in Yakushima, I haven’t had a single protein.” 

“That’s not what I call you, numbskull! Just listening to what I am about to say. It’s important.” Shinjiro’s voice sounds serious.

“Fine. I’m on my break right now. Be sure to make it quick.”

“I have something very important to say to you in person. Will you meet me at the Iwatodai strip mall at Hagakure around 3:30 p.m.?” Shinjiro asks Akihiko.

“Sure, I’ll come since my workout session ends at  3:00 pm.” 

“Good. Be sure to come. I’ll be waiting.” Shinjiro ended the call. 

“What does he want me to know? Sometimes, I don't know what he’s thinking. I should meet with him today.” Akihiko looks frustrated. He pulls away his cell phone in his pocket and does some weight training. 

Chapter Text

Yukari’s POV

Paulownia Mall - 3:30 pm

After leaving work, I waited for my best friend, Kotone, at Paulownia Mall. I have no idea what it was, but I could assume it was. I have known her for two years, and she has a reason to meet up. 

“Ah! Yukari! You made it!” Kotone cheerfully waves at me. 

“Kotone! It’s been a while.” I wave back at her happily.

When we reunited, we hugged each other briefly before we let go. “How have you been working at the famous children's action series Phoenix Ranger Featherman R?” Kotone asked me playfully.

“It’s been stressful. I remembered lines, got into character, and played the part given to me by my boss. I was surprised I was given the role of Pink Argus because the last person who played quit. I thought I would be given a minor role first before I got promoted to a major role. I guess the director loved how I acted on my first try.” I casually explained my part-time job to Kotone.

“I guess fighting Shadows helps you get into character more realistic and professional in an awesome way.” Kotone complimented me.

“Say, how about we continue our conversation at our favorite hangout place, Chagall Café? I’m thirsty from reading my lines and talking all day.” I suggested.

“Sure. I would love that.” Kotone accepted my suggestion.

Me and Kotone go to Chagall Café.

Akihiko’s POV

I arrived at Hagakure at 3:29 pm, a minute before 3:30. I waited until Shinji came up. He doesn’t ask to meet at the backside of Port Island Station. That place often gets dangerous at night. What’s the main reason for asking me out here? I hope his relationship with Koto is not serious. 

“Wow. I’m surprised you arrived here a minute earlier before I got a chance to text a reminder.” Shinji says sarcastically. 

“Shinji, you arrive just in time. I just took a shower after working out. That’s why I’m slightly earlier than before.” I complained to him.

“A course you are.” 

“So, what did you want to tell me something important?” I decided to ask Shinji what he said to me on the phone.

“What I’m about to you may surprise you or accuse me of something I didn’t do wrong,” Shinji warns me.

“I’m not going to accuse you. How bad could it be?” I smirked at him.

“It’s about Koto…” 

“Did something happen to her? Is she sick? Did she lose the ability to wield multiple Personas? Is she leaving the Shadow Operatives?! " I panicked, asked Shinji. I fear something terrible must have happened to her. 

“None of all above, Aki. You are way off.” Shinji seems to be disappointed in me.

“Wait? So she’s not leaving Shadow Operatives, then?” 

“Not yet. Just listen to what I am about to tell you, and don’t jump to conclusions.” He says to me, annoyed.

“Fine. I’ll listen. What’s about Koto?” I ask Shinji again, this time with a reasonable question.

“Koto… she’s pregnant with my child,” Shinji told me the big important announcement.

I felt a bit overwhelmed by what he just said to me. I walked a step back before I tried to calm myself. I can’t tell if I should be happy or angry at him. I’m fully aware Shinji and Koto are planning to have a baby at some point after the loss of their unborn child, Vincent. Shinji and I knew about Vincent’s sacrifice for Koto’s sake so we could live an everyday life. Koto believed he died inside of her after the Dark Hour was destroyed. 

“When did you find out about this?” I carefully asked him, restraining my negative emotions in front of him.

“Yesterday. I found out when Koto was throwing up in the bathroom in the morning. I took her to see her doctor and did a few tests on her. Koto’s lack of appetite, her usual “thing” she has once a month, and nausea are all symptoms of morning sickness. “ Shinji explained to me.

“Did you force her to get pregnant to replace Vincent, right?” I felt enraged by this. 

“My current unborn child with Koto is not Vinny’s replacement. They will never be. They will be my new beginning for being a father to them once they are born. Koto felt guilty after remembering everything that happened to Vincent, even though she was unaware that our son had replaced her as the Great Seal.  When she found out she was pregnant again, she was overjoyed. She thinks this is her atonement for cheating on me when I was in a coma two years ago.” Shinji says it truthfully to me. I could tell he wasn’t desperate or delusional; he was honest about his feelings for Koto. I know he is not the type to lie to my face. I still love her, too, but I can’t confess my love to her at the right moment.

“This is a lot to process. I can’t tell if I should be happy for you or get angry for ruining her college life.” I say to Shinji, still sort of my feelings for him. 

“Hey! She wants to get pregnant.  She is willing to risk it.” Shinji felt offended. 

Suddenly, I heard a growl in my stomach. I was unable to think right, and working out made me hungry.

“You’re hungry, aren’t you? *sigh* Since we are already here, how about a meal at Hagakure? I’ll treat you since you seem stressed right now.” Shinji offered me to eat at our favorite restaurant. 

“I’ll like it. Maybe after eating, I will get you my proper response to Koto’s pregnancy.” 

Yukari’s POV

Chagall Café

Me and Kotone sat down at our usual table, and we always sat there. When we were ready to order our drinks, I noticed Kotone had ordered herbal tea instead of pheromone coffee. She looks like she has gained a little weight. Has she been stress-eating during her first semester at her college? While we waited for our drinks, I decided to start the conversation.

“Kotone, how’s college life going? Have you been making any new friends there?” I ask her in a friendly manner.

“It was great. The students in my class are friendly. Most of my teachers are a bit strict or polite, but I won’t let my personal feelings toward them get away from learning and understanding the basics. So far, I have befriended more than two people. One is an elegant girl, and the other is a tomboy who reminds me of Aigis.” She stated her personal daily life in college. 

“I’m so glad you are managing college so far. So, what’s the big announcement you mentioned in your text messages?” I asked her, teasing her.

“I’m pregnant.” Kotone excitedly smiles at me.

“WHAT-” I cover my mouth to prevent myself from causing a scene. I calmly take a deep breath and go out. I look at my best friend, who is waiting for my response. I’m not judgmental as Mitsuru, but I don’t want her to think I’m being a bad friend to her. She still isn’t aware of Vincent being her unborn child who sacrifices his life for her sake. “I’m sorry, I was a bit off guard what you said just now. I got to say congratulations.” 

“Awww, thank you so much, Yukari. I thought you would be against it for a second since I just started college this year, " Kotone said with a relieved look.

“No. I’m not. I will never misjudge you. I’m happy for you. Does Aragaki-senpai know about this?” I asked Kotone curiously.

“Yeah. Shinji and I found out yesterday after class at my appointment at the hospital. He was surprised at first, but he seemed happy about it.” 

“I’m glad he’s not the type of person who is willing to abandon their child or force their partner to have an abortion. I have seen many news and shows like that. Mainly people who are scum and good for nothing.”  I expressed annoyance. 

“Don’t worry, he’s not. I’m sure he will be a great father to our unborn child.” Kotone says positively. 

I’m glad she is happy with her relationship with Aragaki-senpai. As long as she doesn't regret her decision to carry a child inside of her, I’m so glad for her.

After that, our waiter brought the drinks we ordered. We started discussing things like shopping, a schedule to hang out with everyone, and the next meeting at the Kirijo Group base.

Akihiko’s POV

Hagakure

After I almost finished my meal, my mind started to become more apparent. I missed the house's special meal so much. 

“Are you feeling better now that your stomach is full?”

“I am. I have thought about what you said. I’m glad Koto is having your child. If she is okay with it, then I’m okay with you. You’re not only my best friend since childhood but also my brother. I will always support you. You’re like the second family to me.” I smirked at him. 

“Thanks. That means a lot to me and Koto. I will try to be a better parent once my child is born.” Shinji smiles back at me with kinder eyes than usual. 

“But the only thing I can’t accept is you have been suppressants to kill yourself and kept that a secret from me. It does not solve anything.” I reminded him.

“Just drop it, Aki. I’m not taking those drugs anymore, and I do see my doctor from Kirijo Group to check up on my condition. So far, I’m slowly feeling my body temperature again.” Shinji felt annoyed when I reminded him of three years ago. 

“I know. I want to make sure you remember. Are you planning on telling Mitsuru about this? I’m worried about Koto since she is carrying your baby, after all.”

“I’m not the one telling her. I’m sure Mitsuru won’t force Koto to work once she’s in her second term of pregnancy; she will temporarily leave Shadow Operatives until she recovers.”  Shinji reassured me that nothing wrong would happen to Koto. I believe him.

“It would be tough, though. Attending college and raising a child at the same time might be a bit challenging for both of you,” I comment.

“We will manage somehow. If not, we will find a suitable babysitter to look after our child.” Shinji says with determination.

“I’m impressed you already planned even though your child wasn’t born yet,”  I say, puzzled look. 

“You better not tell Mitsuru, Junpei, or anyone in the Shadow Operatives about Koto’s pregnancy, especially Koromaru, since Aigis will translate what he’s saying. Koto plans to schedule a date to reveal it to everyone herself.” Shinji glared at me. 

“Fine. I won’t tell anyone.” I promised him. 

“Good. Now, eat your ramen before it gets cold. I’ll wait until you finish, and then I’ll pay the bill for the meals.”

“Oh, right! I almost forgot. I’ll be sure to finish it.” I quickly try to finish my meal. 

Yukari’s POV

After we finished our drinks, we left the cafe together.

“Kotone, this Sunday. I’ll help you to find some clothes for pregnant women. The clothes you currently have won’t fit you when your womb gets bigger. I know which clothes shops which suit you the best. As for baby clothes, maybe when you’re in your second trimester.” I suggested to her. 

“I’m so impressed you knew about pregnancy and which month to buy baby clothes. Where did you learn it from?” Kotone looks at me, curious. 

“I learned from one of the romantic family films I watched during my free time. It’s beneficial for soon-to-be mother to have a child.” 

“Yukari, you will keep this secret from everyone. I don’t want them to freak out about my pregnancy. I already know when to announce it on Golden Week at the Kirijo Group base where all the Shadow Operatives gathered.” Kotone begged me with her innocent red eyes.

“Fine. I’ll try to keep this secret from everyone, especially Mitsuru. Don’t be mad at me if I accidentally spill the beans to her.” I promised her.

“I’m never mad at you. You’re good at keeping secrets, and I trust you.” Kotone says in a cheerful tone.

“Although, I’m surprised you didn’t tell Junpei about this. Or even Aigis.” 

“Junpei would tell Chidori about this, and she would tell Mitsuru-senpai since they are close. For Aigis, she’s busy with work, and I’m afraid she might be against my pregnancy.” She shyly explained to me.

“That sounds like reasonable accusations.” I agreed with her. Junpei is good at keeping secrets, but he might accidentally tell Chidori about this. Aigis, however, might eventually find out because she has a heart monitor installed in her system. There is a chance she might be able to detect her unborn child’s heartbeat.

“That reminds me, once you graduate from college, are you planning on starting a family and having kids with your special someone? I think you look like a person who gets along with kids.” 

“Hard no, I’m not planning on starting a family on my own anytime soon,” I responded to Kotone’s question, denying having kids. If Mitsuru ever proposes to me, once the LGBT community, including non-binaries, is entirely accepted in Japan, I will gladly accept her and maybe adopt a child together. I’m glad Kotone didn’t ask me if I was dating someone, or else I would have to lie to her. I promised Mitsuru I would keep our relationship a secret from anyone, and I meant it.

Chapter Text

April 14th, 2011

Waseda University

Junpei attended his afternoon class at college. So far, he’s bored without friends from Shadow Operatives, and his girlfriend is in her third year at Gekkoukan High. He decided to apply to Waseda University in Shinjuku to play baseball again. So far, he has barely managed to join the baseball team since they are famous in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League. He hopes he will leave a good impression with his new teammates. He also remembers his job as a Little League baseball coach. He is only available on the weekends or when his baseball team is on a break from practice for an upcoming tournament. “*sigh* I can’t tell which is more exhausting… fighting Shadows outside of Port Island, practicing baseball for an upcoming match, or being unable to spend time with my cute girlfriend,” says Junpei, complaining about his new college life. 

When Junpei is off in his little world, he accidentally bumps into someone without looking. 

“Ack!” The stranger accidentally drops a shopping bag onto the ground, causing most of the objects to fall from it. 

“I am so sorry! I’ll pick it up for you! Don’t be mad.” Junpei panicked. He gets on the ground to pick up the stranger's belongings; it is a book about different breeds of dogs and a limited edition Featherman Neo Feather Falcon action figure. “Huh? What the heck?” Junpei quietly says to himself, confused. He decides not to worry about what the stranger is carrying and focuses on putting everything in a bag and returning it to the stranger he accidentally bumped into. Junpei was able to put everything back in the bag, got up, and handed it over to a stranger. When he looks at their face, he reacts in shivers and alarm. “What the— Senpai, what are you doing here?!” 

The stranger in front of him looks precisely like Shinjiro, except he’s in his mid 40s. He wears a black turtleneck with a dark green blazer jacket, black pants, and Chelsea boots. He also has crew-cut hair. 

“Excuses me?” the stranger seems suspicious of Junpei’s reaction to his face, who mistaken him for someone else.

“I’m so sorry. You look exactly like a friend of mine. He gives a scary look at first but keeps down; he’s a good person.” Junpei tries to explain to him. 

“Huh?” The stranger seems confused. 

“I hope you have a good time today. I’m sure your children or grandchildren will love the gifts you brought to them.” Junpei tries to get away before their conversation becomes more awkward. 

“These gifts are for my great-nephew. “ The stranger corrected him.

“I mean your great nephew. I forgot to have a date today to spend time with my girlfriend. Enjoy having a good day.” Junpei makes up excuses to leave. 

“Wait. Before you leave, a young man with a goatee. Tell me, what’s your friend’s name? Answer my questions, and you may leave. Don’t even think about lying to me.” The stranger asks Junpei about his friend’s name.

“It’s Shinjiro Aragaki.” 

The stranger looks surprised after Junpei mentions his friend’s full name. “Shinjiro…” 

A phone call comes from his jacket pocket. Junpei takes it out, and the caller ID reads “Chidorita. “Yes! Thank you, Chidori!” Junpei says excitedly.

“That’s my girlfriend calling me. I’ll leave now! Bye!”

Junpei quickly leaves to find a place to answer Chidori’s phone call. The stranger leans onto one of the buildings to regain his composure. He looks almost about to collapse from shock, and his emotion changes to sheer happiness. “*sobbing* Shinjiro… Shinjiro. He’s alive. Thank goodness.” 

Gekkoukan High - After School

Chidori decides to call Junpei after her class ends. 

“Yo! Chidorita! How’s school going?” Junpei asks cheerfully.

“Please don’t call me that. I tried texting you during breaks, but you didn’t respond, so I called you instead. I want to know how to socialize with students who are younger than me.” Chidori shyly asked her boyfriend for some advice. 

“That’s easy. Try being yourself. You are the most beautiful and smartest girl I have ever met. I’m the luckiest man to have you as my girlfriend.” Junpei flirts with Chidori on the phone. 

“You’re not just saying this is to make me feel better… right?” Chidori faintly blushed by Junpei’s heartwarming words.

“What I say to you comes from my heart. I met every word. I know you can do it.” Junpei says truthfully. He had known Chidori for almost two years, and Chidori had known him for a year due to her memories of Dark Hour and his being erased after her Persona was fused with Junpei’s to save his life. Junpei swears he won’t let Chidori remember her dark past again. She once suffered. To Junpei, being by her side again and officially dating her is all that matters. Chidori will have an everyday life with him once she graduates from Gekkoukan High next year. 

“Junpei… during Golden Week. Can I hang out with you at your place or stay until the last day of Golden Week? I want to get used to sleeping with you just like we did during the Yakushima trip when we met with your other friends.” Chidori requested him. She wants to make up for what happened the last night they shared. She wants to improve their relationship a bit. 

“Sure. A course! It feels like forever since we last saw each other. I would love to see you again.” Junpei happily accepted Chidori’s request to hang out at his place. “I’ll see you on Golden Week, my Chickidori.” 

“Please don’t use that name either. I prefer the first one you called me. I’ll see you during Golden Week, and we can schedule the day I come to your place.” 

“I love you, Chidori,” Junpei confessed his love for her.

“I love you too, Junpei,” Chidori confessed her love for him, blushing and smiling. 

Junpei and Chidori both hung up on good terms.

“Now... I need to return to my dorm…” As Chidori is about to leave the third floor. Suddenly, a student snatches her sketchbook.

“Hey! Give that back!” Chidori says furiously. 

“Yoshino-san, your drawings are dull as usual. All of those are only filled with flowers: a goofy idiot and a beach landscape,” says the rude student.

“My drawing isn’t boring! That “goofy idiot” is my boyfriend. Give it back, or else!” Chidori tried to act tough like Yukari or Kotone if she was in their shoes. 

“Or else what? Those upper-class students graduated last month and aren’t there to protect you. I’ll give you your sketchbook back under one condition.” 

“What’s the condition?” Chidori seems confused. 

“I want you to have sex with me on the rooftop.” The rude student grinned with a sadistic attitude.

“What?! I will never cheat on him! You can’t make me!” Chidori refuses his offer to have sex with him. 

“I don’t take no for an answer, goth bitch.” 

Two unnamed students appeared behind her, restrained her, and forced her on her knees. “What’s the meaning of this? Let go of me!” Chidori panicked. 

“You will have sex with me. I have been having a major crush on you since last year. I was about to make a move until that goatee showed up and asked you out. I’m not going to hold back.” says he with a menacing tone.

“N-No.. Please don’t violence my body!”

Suddenly, a student with dark navy hair and glasses kicked the rude student in the face. He fell on the floor with his nose bleeding. “Who the hell are you?” 

“My name is unimportant, but I suggest you leave her alone now. If you don’t, I’ll expose you and your “friends” dark secrets you wished to conceal from the public. He threatens the injured student.

“You wouldn’t dare. You’re lying. There’s no way you know my secrets.” The rude student started to feel a bit anxious. 

The student with glasses shows him the evidence of his crimes on his iPhone. It lists students he raped, drugged, and forced to have abortions.  One of his victims was his half-sister he raped. There is also a video link to his crimes on the bottom page.

“Where did you get that information?! Nobody should have access to that unless…”

“Yeah, your half-sister was willing to spill the beans to me. You were busy hatching a plan for your next victims. She came to me on a whim since she had no one to talk to, fearing her classmates and friends wouldn’t alienate her. She told me everything.” He explained to him. 

“That bitch of sister of mine.”  The rude student cursed his half-sister.

“I’ll repeat it. If you don’t leave this girl alone, I’ll send you to the faculty office, the student council, and the police for your crimes. The same goes for your “friends,”  a sick pedo who has a feet fetish and a cheater who blackmails students younger than him into doing his work for him. I have everything information them. You save face or let your friends go down with you.” He warns him and his friends. 

“Screw this!! Come on, let’s go, guys. We got better things to do, this rape goth chick.” He tosses Chidori’s sketchbook back onto the floor. The two students let go of Chidori and leave the floor with him, with complete guilt and shameful expressions. Chidori grabs her sketchbook back in her person. 

The guy with glasses helps Chidori.” Hey, are you alright?”  He extended his hand to her. 

“Yeah. I’m alright. Thank you for saving me back there. No one except my boyfriend has stood up to me before.” Chidori thanks his savior. She looks at him with a kind, loving look.

“I didn’t do for you. I did for the students who were abused and rapped by that man. You were almost made a victim if I wasn’t around.” He denies it.

“Are you the transfer student in my classroom at the beginning of the school year? Jinta, no Jinny..” Chidori tries to remember his name.

“I’m Jinnosuke Shiratori. That’s my name.” He introduced himself for a while. He looked at her, very annoyed for not remembering his name.

“It’s nice to meet you, I’m Chidori Yoshino. I hope we can get along in our third year together. I’ll see you later!” Chidori waves at him before she leaves school. 

When he is alone, he decides to call someone. 

“Jin, have you made contact with Chidori?”

“Yeah, that Draco guy was right. Chidori loses her memories of the Dark Hour. She is no longer the same Chidori we knew. Her eyes are filled with life and hope.” Jin confirmed to Takaya the current situation with their former ally.

“He tasked you with observing her current state until we can find a way to restore the Persona she gave up,” Takaya reminded him. 

“I know. He mentioned the only way to re-created an exact copy of Chidori’s Persona was her DNA.” 

Junpei’s apartment - Evening

He returned home, and the apartment he could afford was spacious like his dorm room last year. He tried to change and fix his messy habits. He tries to make his place neat, but needs help to keep his room clean. He’s planning to ask Aigis to help out before Golden Week.  After his baseball lessons at his college, he takes a warm bath, is dressed in comfortable clothes, and decides to eat instant ramen for his meal. Before he waits for his ramen to be ready to eat, he gets a call from Ken. He decides to put it on speaker instead.

“Hello?” 

“Junpei-san, how was your university going?” Ken curiously asks his friend.

“Overwhelming… very lonely without my girlfriend,” Junpei complained.

“You just have to wait until Golden Week to see her again. You have to endure it a little longer.” 

“I know… Chidori already told me that yesterday. It just has a strangest day.”

“How’s your life, strange, Junpei-san?” He wondered.

“I met a middle-aged man in his early 40s with the same face as Shinjiro-senpai. 

Chapter Text

A week ago…

Draco’s Pocket dimension

Jin is forced to wear a Gekkoukan High uniform given by Draco, whom he has “paid” for himself. Even though he has never attended school, Jin looks uncomfortable wearing a school uniform. “I have to attend Gekkoukan High by myself. How come Takaya doesn’t have to wear this?!” says Jin, irritated, asks Draco. 

“You can fit in perfectly with the other students without suspicion. Your mission is to monitor Chidori and get a DNA sample from her.” Draco explained the mission to Jin.

“Okay, then what about Takaya? Why can he come with me?” Jin repeats his last question to him, still angry.

“Takaya is not suitable to attend Gekkoukan High because of his eerie pale skin, his refusal to wear a collared shirt, his looks more of an adult, and his refusal to cut his hair and shave,”  Draco responded in a vulgar manner. 

“That’s your reason?! So he just going to stay here and do nothing, or you’re going to painful experiment on him?!” Jin assumed he might experiment on Takaya when he wasn’t around to be by his side. He’s the only person he ever cared for the entire time he had known him. If he died before him, he’s going to lose it.

“What you said was correct, but I’m trying to find a suitable way to sustain your and your beloved Takaya’s existence. The only reason you’re Personas hasn’t killed you two yet is because of me.” Draco explained to them. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jin glared at him, feeling like he was threatening them.

“I gave you two my blood unconsciously. My blood not only to stop your Personas from losing control but to prevent you two from losing your memories of the Dark Hour.” 

“WHAT?! YOU’RE. SICK.” Jin looks pissed off.

“I don’t mind the taste of it.  I always wanted to try reptilian blood. It gives a unique taste.” says Takaya, intrigued.

“Not you, too. You’re okay with that?”

“Not at all. We can plot our revenge against our enemies as long as we are alive. We need Chidori at our side again for our plan to succeed.” 

“But now? She is all buddy with that idiot. It has been hard to get close to her. What Draco said was true; she won’t remember us.”

“That’s why you will be enrolling as a third-year instead. You will be in the same grade as Chidori. She will be alone without her boyfriend since he’s in college. You have plenty of time until you get what I need to re-create Medea.” Draco instructed Jin on the plan exactly he needed to follow. 

“How am I supposed to get back here and forth in the present?” Jin asked him, skeptical. 

Draco gives Jin a smartphone with an unusual black and red app.

“What the hell of this?” He rudely asked him. 

“It’s called a smartphone that humans use to communicate with others. Don’t you and Takaya own one?” Draco gives an annoyed expression on his face.

“No, we didn’t use  “a smartphone” to communicate since there’s no point in interacting with low-life scums. I heard of cell phones, but not smartphones. Are they similar?” 

“Cellphone can be only used for phone calls and text messages. The smartphone is an advanced version of a cellphone that you can use to browse the internet, software applications, and mobile OS. If you press the red and black app, you can return to the real world and travel here. However, there is a catch. You can’t stay in the real world after 24 hours, or you will fade out of existence.” Draco warns him of the consequences of staying outside of Draco’s pocket dimension for too long.

“So how am I supposed to go back and forth before the 24 hours are up or what?”

“That’s why I created a prototype blood capsule from my blood that helps stabilize your existence. I add a little ingredient to it. You have to take one pill per day. So far, I made seven capsules for you to test. Make sure you inform me how it goes, and I’ll try to improve it if something goes off. Understand, Jin?” 

Draco gave Jin the metal container filled with a small dark red capsule for each day of the week. He snatched it from him and put it away in his pants pocket. 

“Whatever. I’ll do anything even if it means I can stay by Takaya’s side, bring back the Fall, and die a peaceful death.” Jin says with a determined expression.

“I like that fire in your eyes. You might be one of my favorite villains in history.” He murmured.

“What?”

“Nothing. Now you need an alias so no one from your past will know you.”

“Why would I have to go by a fake name? Those kids are adults now to attend college. Chidori won’t remember me either.” says Jin, who is completely confused.

“You may have forgotten that one kid who was in that group, the one who lost his mother four years ago. He might recognize you if you choose your real name. I think it’s safer to temporarily create a new name for yourself until you complete your mission.”

Present 

Gekkoukan Male Dormitory - Evening  

Jin is forced to apply for a room in the male dormitory where all first- and third-year students stay until graduation. For Jin, he will only be there for a year. The room he’s in is average. The walls are white, the curtains are navy, the bed has a comfortable mattress and bed covers, and the blankets are navy and teal green checkers. The desk table has a bookshelf attached with different subjects for each class. A drawer that can store any objects and materials when not used. A mirror and sink to clean your face with face clothes and a brush holder with a toothbrush and toothpaste to brush your teeth. There is also a closet where he can store the clothes he wears. He only wears his school uniform, the outfit he usually wears, and pajamas. 

“I prefer my old room at an abandoned factory where I, Takaya, and Chidori used to live. He heard that the place was destroyed half a year ago and that an orphanage was being built there by the Kirijo Group. That must have been that little lady’s doing. She and her friends thought me and Takaya were dead. Think again.” Jin says in his thoughts, annoyed. 

He takes out the metal container from his pant pocket. He opened it, and it contained none since he took the last one yesterday. He checks to see if Draco has already sent him his pills in his rooms. He manages to find a new patch on his desk. There is a small note inside addressed to him. He opens it and says, “This second patch is slightly improved from the first one. It should be the least bitter and tasteless. I suggested to drink it with water. Make sure you take all of it and report the process. Taking it every day delays the time effects on your body.  Signed Draco. P.S. If you are worried about your beloved Takaya, I have developed a blood pill on him.”

“That’s right. When me and Takaya tested the pill last week and tried to leave Draco’s domain back in the real world, I was stable enough to last my existence for 24 hours, but Takaya… can only retain his existence for less than 12 hours. I hope that damn dragon didn’t do anything to him.” says Jin in his thoughts, worried for Takaya’s safety. 

Meanwhile, at Draco’s hidden pocket dimension…

Draco has Takaya placed in a liquid green human tank to analyze his body and control data. He is half-naked in a black boxer brief, and a breather mask covers his bottom face. He is also hooked to various machines. Draco looks at his futuristic scroll and sees how the suppressants took a heavy toll on his body and health. He turns off the machines, drains the liquid, and releases Takaya. 

“*cough* *cough*” Takaya coughs out fluids from his mouth. 

“It wasn't that bad; you were only in it for almost the entire day.” Draco sarcastically talked about Takaya’s current state he was in.

“I got to admit it. This is not bad from the horrifying experiment I endured when I was a child. Unlike Jin and Chidori, I suffered the worst alongside them. They electrocute, poison, and insert different chemicals into my body.  It caused me so much pain that my hair and eyes changed color from the negative effects of the drugs. My skin turned extremely pale from stress.” Takaya in unique detail about his suffering as a Kirijo’s lab experiment. 

“So, platinum hair and yellow eyes aren’t your natural look then?”

“None. However, I can’t even remember what my original hair and eyes used to be. I used to have a feeling, that is all. There was no need if you offered to restore my original memories before I was implanted with my Persona. I’m not desperate to learn about my old past and why I was in the streets in the place first. My family must have abandoned me, sold off to the Kirijo Group, or they were killed tragically.” He informs Draco about his past.

“I wasn’t considering on to restore your childhood memories. I’m trying to figure out what to stabilize your existence outside my pocket dimension.” 

“Well, I guess we are on the same page then. I think I’m starting to like you.” Takaya smirked. He starts getting out of the human tank and dries himself out with a towel where it was placed next to his clothes.

Junpei’s apartment - Evening

“Wait a minute… What do you mean you saw someone who looks exactly like Shinjiro-san?” Ken sounds confused.

“I know it’s hard to believe. When I looked at his face, I had a serious Déjà vu moment when I first met Shinjro-senpai at the hospital almost two years ago with Yuka-tan and Koto-tan.” Junpei looks disturbed a while, slurping his ramen noodles.

“Do you think we should tell Mitsuru-san or Shinjiro-san himself about this?” Ken suggested on the phone. 

“Nah. I’m sure it’s nothing. I’m just glad this is the last time I would encounter him. I’m already used to Shinjiro-senpai’s presence, but two of him. I feel a chill down my spine.”

“So, if Kotone-san and Shinjiro-san had a child together, you don’t mind if they look like him?” Ken curiously asks Junpei.

“Hell no. The baby may be cute, but they will look exactly like Shinjiro-senpai’s clone when they get older. I would rather have their child look like Koto-tan because she’s cute, innocent, and has a warm atmosphere every time I see her. Please, don’t tell Chidori what I say.” Junpei looks absurd. He doesn’t want to consider whether their child would like Shinjiro than Kotone. If so, I have to get used to it. 

“It’s probably not going to be that bad. How did you act when Vincent was Shinjiro and Kotone’s unborn son? Were you terrified of him?” Ken reminds Junpei about Vincent.

“Well… Vincent wasn’t that bad. He had Kotone’s eye color and bright personality. I felt at ease, but when he gets angry or pissed, he ends up looking a lot like his dad.” Junpei says honestly. 

“Relax, Junpei-san. Shinjiro-san and Kotone-san have many years ahead of time until they graduate college. They can decide whether or not they are ready to have a baby on their own.” 

“Yeah. You’re right. What I am worrying about. There is no way they are planning on having a child anytime soon. So, I shouldn’t worry about that and focus on my college life. Thanks for the chat, Ken. I needed that.” Junpei thanks them.

“No problem. I’ll see you soon on Golden Week, Junpei-san. Good night!”

After Ken hung up, Junpei put away his cellphone and finish his reman noodles. 

Chapter Text

April 15th, 2011

Shinjiro and Kotone’s apartment - Evening

After Kotone finishes her assignments, she submits them online. She watches the news to pass the time when Shinjiro finishes preparing dinner for them. She sat on the couch and turned on the flatscreen TV. The channel was set on the Inaba news network. 

“Our next story is an update on our ongoing report on the bizarre murders in Inaba. At around 7:00 A.M., local high school student Saki Konishi was found dead in Inaba’s residential area. Since the body was positioned similarly to the last victim, and since Ms. Konishi was the one who discovered that body… Police are proceeding under the assumption that this may be a serial murder case related to the death of Mayumi Yamamoto. The corner’s report established Ms. Konishi’s time of death at around 1:00 A.M. last night. The body went unnoticed until this morning due to the heavy fog blanketing the area.” Says the announcer formally.

“This must have been hard for that girl’s parents to lose their daughter at a young age. I can’t imagine how I would feel if I lost one of my own or a friend younger than me to die right in front of me,” says Kotone in her inner thoughts, depressingly. She looks at her stomach and touches it where her baby is currently growing inside of her. She swears she will protect her child once they are born. Later, she decides to continue to watch the news, where the scenes shift to Amagi Inn in Inaba.

“Wait for a second. I recognized that inn. Isn’t that the same inn I went with my tennis club members in my second year?!” Kotone reacted in surprise.

“Amagi Inn, located upstream of Samegawa River, is the town’s oldest historical landmark. Vacationers travel surprising distances to visit its open-air, radium-rich hot springs.” Says the narrator.

“After the incident with Ms. Yamano, the manager has stepped aside, leaving her daughter Yukiko to fill her shoes.” says the reporter. 

“Did he say Yukiko?” 

The one that appears on TV is a beautiful young woman with long, elegant black hair and dark gray eyes who wears a bright pink kimono. 

“I know her; that’s a girl I met almost two years ago. Whoa, she has grown into a fine woman when I was her age.” Says Kotone, in her thoughts, surprised. 

“In other words, she’s a manager who’s still in high school. Now that has a nice ring to it… Let’s see if we can interview her. Excuses me!” The reporter tries to get Yukiko’s attention to look at the camera. 

“Hm? Um… Are you speaking to me?” Yukiko asks the reporter.

“We’ve heard that you’re the new manager. Is it true you’re still in high school?” The reporter asks her. 

“Oh, well, I’m only filling in temporarily...” Yukiko responded plainly to him.

“Someday, though… that aside, wow! You’re looking gorgeous in that kimono. You must have had a lot of male visitors.” The reporter compliments her beauty.

“Huh? No, um…” Yukiko seems uncomfortable and nervous to give the reporter a proper answer.

The reporter’s rambling goes further and further off the subject. 

“Koto, what are you watching?” Says Shinji’s voice, concerned. 

“It’s nothing… just watching the news.” Kotone turns off the TV. 

“I was going to tell you dinner ready. I made you a healthy meal to eat. It contains vegetables and proteins. You might like it.” 

“I always love your cooking, Shinji. I’ll be right there.” Kotone says in a cheery tone. 

After dinner, Shinjiro and Kotone relax on the couch to rest a bit until the food in their stomach is fully digested. 

“That was amazing food you made!” Kotone enjoys the food he made for you.

“You’re welcome, my love. I researched recipes for you to eat in your first Trimester. The baby needs to grow healthy and strong.” Shinjiro seems appreciative of his fiancée’s compliments. 

“That reminds me of that woman in the kimono who was interviewed by that annoying reporter. Do you know her?” Shinjiro asks Kotone about Yukiko.

“Yes, I do. She runs her traditional family inn and has the best hot spring. I already mentioned to you before that I met a middle schooler during a two-day training at Inaba. I’m a bit surprised at how much older she got. She did come out beautifully.” Kotone says gleefully.

“I haven’t forgotten what it says to me. So that’s the girl you mentioned, Yukiko Amagi. She does have the beauty part, but didn’t you notice she seems stressed.” 

“Yeah. I noticed. She must have been stressed from working at her family inn and attending school simultaneously. I can’t blame her. I think managing her school and work life is taking a toll on her health. I hope she feels better.” Kotone’s expression has changed to a sad and worried look. 

Shinjiro comforts her by rubbing her back. 

“I’m sure everything will work out eventually.” He tries to soothe her worries away. 

“Maybe you’re right.” Kotone leans on Shinjiro’s left shoulder with both of her hands resting on it. She feels safe being around Shinjiro most of the time. She can be herself and tell him about her worries and problems. 

Shinjiro and Kotone’s Bedroom - Evening

After bathing together, brushing their teeth, and putting on their comfortable pajamas, Shinjiro wears only his black boxer briefs, and Kotone wears her orange nightgown dress. They both get into bed and get comfortable with each other.

“That reminds me, you did tell me everything about your Inaba trip with your club members, but you neglected to mention your last night together before the ghost story your friend told you about and returning home. Why is that? I can tell you are hiding something from me.” Shinjiro looks a bit suspicious at her.

“W-Well… that was before we started dating. So I might as well tell you if you don’t mind listening.  Kotone nervously, a while blushing. 

“I got it all day before we got to bed for tomorrow's class,” Shinjiro says with a straight face.

“Okay… it started at the Amagi Inn when I was conversing with Rio and Yuko in our room after we bathed with everyone….”

Two years ago…

August 1st, 2009  

Amagi Inn - Evening

Kotone, Rio, and Yuko were in traditional Japanese rooms. They had what a regular inn would have in Japanese dramas and the Edo period: a few futons on the bamboo mat and a small table with three seats. Due to the strict athletic dress code, Kotone, Rio, and Yuko wore gym clothes instead of yukatas. 

“Hey, isn’t there something more appropriate to talk about at times like this?” Yuko smiles at Kotone and Rio, who is in a better mood. 

“What, like boyfriends?” Kotone guessed what Yuko was she wanted to talk about. 

“Yep, exactly!” Yuko says happily. 

“I have a feeling this is what we young high school girls will talk about. I think this will be fun,” Kotone chirps in her inner thoughts.

She notices Yuko looks depressed for some reason. 

“Well… I’d be confessing my love if there was anyone I really liked. I prefer a thin guy, but he’d have to be athletic. And there’s no one at our school who fits that description.”

“Wait, I think I know a guy that fits her preferences….” Kotone murmured to herself. 

“What about Kazushi?” Rio cheerfully guessed Yuko’s potential crush.

“No way.” Yuko laughs it off, believing Rio is just messing with her. After a few seconds of silence, her mind clicked, and she realized Rio was serious about it. She signed in annoyance that her possible match for her might be her childhood friend. “Uhh… but I do have this feeling… This is just an if, okay? If Kaz and me don’t end up finding someone for a long time… I get this feeling I might end up getting married to him… Ack, what should I do!?” 

“What kind of premonition is that…?” Rio looks confused. 

“I mean, he’s completely useless without me. There’s no way he’ll even remember when he keeps his underwear. Imagine him getting old all alone and eating nasty convenience store food every day! It's just so sad!” Yuko complains about her childhood friend and fears he can’t handle himself without anyone to support him.

“So marry him.” Kotone gives a straight answer to Yuko.

“Nooooo! I’ve gotta fight it!” Yuko furiously denied marrying him.

“So… what about you Shiomi-san? You’ve got someone you like, right?”  Yuko curiously asks Kotone excitedly.

“Yep. I do have someone in mind.” Kotone responded to her question willingly. 

“Oooh! Who?!” Yuko looks excited.

“You don’t know him,” Kotone says, flustered.

“What, seriously? I know pretty much everyone at our school, though… You do seem pretty busy, I guess.” Yuko chuckled.

“You can say that…”

“Then tell me what you like about him. Is he tall? Handsome? A bad boy? Lonewolf, college student?” Yuko guessed what type of guy Kotone likes. 

“Well… at first, he was both attractive and scary simultaneously due to his menacing presence. When I meet him again… he’s very kind even though he won't admit it.  You might say it would be love at first sight. “ A warm smile forms on Kotone's face when she mentions her crush to Yuko. 

“So he’s like the type of lone wolf with a heart of gold, huh? I think I seen drama romantic films like that…” 

“You can put it that way…” Kotone nervously chuckled. 

“You two seem like you’re having fun. I really don’t get that sort of thing.” Rio commented on them.

“Ugh, I don’t want to think anymore about a future with Kaz.” Yuko sounds annoyed and disappointed. 

“I wonder if I will ever meet Akihiko-senpai’s friend again someday.” Kotone wonders about Shinjiro in her inner thoughts.

Shinjiro and Kotone’s bedroom - Present 

“And that’s the part I excluded from you.  You probably won’t be interested in romance comedy moments.” Kotone felt shyly embarrassed about what she said to him. 

“I’m not interested in listening to other people's love’s love or crushes. I don’t mind if it’s you.” Shinjiro petted Kotone on the head affectionately.

Kotone’s face turns faintly red. 

“So, you fell in love with me at first sight, huh?”Shinjiro flirted with her.

 “Y-Yeah…” Kotone said, still blushing. 

“The truth is… I fell in love with you at the hospital unknowingly. At first, I didn’t know why I became intrigued in you. When we started to hang out a lot in September, I realized that I was starting to have feelings for you. I wonder, falling for you became my new reason for living again.” Shinjiro felt nostalgic, thinking about the past and how Kotone brightened his future and gave him hope again. 

“I’m glad I fell in love with you, Shinji,” Kotone says lovingly. Shinjiro places his hand on Kotone’s stomach, where their baby grows. 

“I think having a child won’t be so bad. I hope they will look like you the most. You have the most beautiful smile and innocent eyes.” Shinjiro kissed Kotone’s cheek affectionately. 

“I don’t mind what our child would look like either way. My deepest wish is for our baby to be born healthy and a wonderful future without tragedy outcome.” Kotone places her hand with Shinjiro’s. She gives her most calm and relaxing smile while staring at her lover. 

“Me too, Koto.” He agreed with her.

Chapter Text

13 days later….

Kotone’s pregnancy has gone smoothly thanks to Shinjiro helping Kotone to eat well and avoid unhealthy foods. She also can’t drink coffee and alcohol, but she can drink decaf, water, and tea. She is one month pregnant. Junpei has been improving his batting swings and catching skills since he joined the baseball team at his university. He also tries to get along with the kids as their little league baseball coach to help them learn. Chidori is getting along with a transfer student named Jinnosuke Shiratori, but his real name is Jin Shirato, Chidori’s former ally of Strega. She has an unusual feeling towards him and has seen him before, but she doesn’t know where. Akihiko slowly learns to accept Kotone’s pregnancy, and she is carrying Shinjiro’s baby. He becomes determined to be a good uncle figure to them since he wasn’t good to Vincent last year and wants to make up for it. He still wants to be by Shinjiro and Kotone’s side. Fuuka became close to Tsubasa when they started to hang out more after class, and they developed a strong bond with them. She also remembers that her old friend Natsuki is visiting her on Golden Week on May 1, so she plans to give her a gift she made from Yakushima.  Ken and Koromaru have been together ever since Ken started his second year in middle school. He continues to provide Koromaru with walks, grooming his fur, feeding him, and letting him sleep with him on his bed. Koromaru continues to see and play with his crush at the shrine. Yukari and Mitsuru continue their secret relationship with the public. The only one who knows is Kikuno, and she is good at keeping secrets. They grew concerned and guilty for not telling their friends about their relationship. As for Aigis, she continues to fulfill her duty to serve Mitsuru in Shadow Operatives. 

April 29th, 2011

Kirijo Corporation - Daytime

Everyone was present as they entered the building. Kotone has Shinjiro accompany her, and she reveals her pregnancy to everyone. He also wears a guest pass around his neck since he is not a member of Shadow Operatives and can’t use a Persona anymore. 

“Hi Kotone! Aragaki-senpai!” Yukari greeted Kotone and Shinjiro. 

“Yukari! It’s good to see you again.” Kotone looks happy to see her best friend and is in good spirits. 

“Same to you, Yukari. I saw you so relaxed. Is it something you like about your work?” Shinjiro guessed Yukari’s possible crush. He’s used to seeing her calm or acting like her usual self when she’s with everyone in the Shadow Operatives. 

“No… I don’t have a crush on someone from my work. It is forbidden to be in a relationship with co-workers.” Yukari says in an honest tone.

“You’re blushing, Yukari. So you have a crush on someone outside of work, then.” Kotone friendly teased Yukari.

“What?! M- My face is not red. I-I must have taken a shower for too long.” Says Yukari sheepishly 

“Koto, don’t tease Yukari. We have an important meeting today with Mitsuru,” says Akihiko’s voice.

The three of them see Akihiko, who casually greets them.

“Yo!”

“Aki!” Kotone and Shinji say Akihiko’s name in sync.

“Senpai. It’s good to see you. How’s college?” Yukari asks Akihiko.

“It’s fine as usual. It’s still annoying to study and memorize other subjects. As for the police training class, I think I’m getting the hang of it. I’m just learning the rules.” Akihiko explained about his classes to them.

“Same thing. I have to pay attention in my classes, write down everything my professor discusses during lectures, and socialize with my classmates. I’m used to it since it is similar to when we did it at Gekkoukan High.” Yukari stated.

“We should get going before Mitsuru-senpai scolded.” 

Before Kotone and Shinjiro go to the meeting room to meet up with the others, Yukari and Akihiko stop them.

“Wait, Koto, Shinji. Last week, we needed to talk to you in private. It’s about your guys “announcement” you’re planning to tell everyone.” 

Kirijo Corporation- Break Room

The four of them are seated at the table, having coffee, except Kotone, who has decaf only due to her pregnancy. 

“Kotone, are you sure you wanted to reveal your pregnancy to Mitsuru and the others like this? I want to make sure you don’t regret the decisions you are about to make.” Yukari touches Kotone’s hand for comfort. 

“Yukari’s right. I can’t imagine what the others will think, especially Junpei. Some will support your decision, and some won’t. I’m not sure how Mitsuru would react.” Akihiko worries for her.

“It’s her decision, Aki. She wants to announce it before she’s in her second trimester. She will be on maternity leave until she gives birth and recovers at home until she’s ready to return.” Shinjiro explains to Akihiko the decisions Kotone made. 

“I can’t tell if you did this on purpose to prevent Kotone from working as a Persona user or you did it because you don’t want to risk losing another child again back on January 31st, two years ago.” Akihiko looks suspiciously at Shinjiro.

“What’s that supposed to mean, Aki? Are you trying to make me angry?” 

“Stop, you two! Don’t fight in front of Kotone! She’s pregnant with Aragaki-senpai’s child! Don’t make her stressed, or else she might have an early miscarriage.” Yukari warns them if they continue to argue with each other. Shinjiro and Akihiko look at Kotone, who looks worried towards them. Shinjiro, who sat next to Kotone, pulled his arm around her and kissed her forehead to ease her worries. 

“It’s okay, Koto. We aren’t fighting. It was just a small argument between friends. Nothing serious.” Shinjiro says to her kindly. 

“Hm. Okay.” Kotone leans on Shinjiro’s chest for comfort. He’s aware she has already been enough since she regained her memories when she discovered her pregnancy on December 31st with Ryoji. She blamed herself for all the efforts to keep their unborn alive, for nothing once the Dark Hour disappeared forever and died inside of her. Shinjiro, Akihiko, and Yukari, along with the other members, are the only ones who know the truth about Vincent, her unborn child. 

Akihiko stares at Shinjiro, who is next to him, as he comforts his concerned fiancée, who is worried. 

After they finished their drinks, they headed straight to the Meeting Room.

Meeting Room 

Junpei meets Fuuka by the entrance to the Meeting Room, waiting for the rest of the others to show up. So far, only Kotone, Akihiko, Shinjiro, and Yukari are presented. 

“Long time no see, Fuuka!” Junpei happily greets her.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Junpei-kun? I’m glad you’re doing well.” Fuuka greeted back with a carefree smile.

“You can’t wait to hang out with your crush this week?” Junpei teased Fuuka about Tsubasa.

“Actually, no. I’m planning to hang out with Natsuki-chan. Tsubasa-chan is hanging out with their boyfriend.” 

“Oh. I almost forgot they have one. I’m so sorry to hear that.” 

“It’s alright. I guess I’m meant to be alone. Me, Yukari-chan, Mitsuru-senpai, and Ken-kun are the only ones still single. I highly doubt anyone would be interested in me.” 

“Don’t say that. You’re beautiful. You already started growing your hair and wearing nice updated outfits.” Junpei compliments Fuuka after she tries to get over her crush. 

“Thank you, Junpei-kun. I need that.” Fuuka faintly smiles at him. 

“No prob. I’m sure there’s plenty of fish at sea to be your soulmate one day. Don’t let one person get you down.” Junpei cheers her up. 

“Although…. They possibly won’t match Tsubasa-chan’s beauty. They are the only person I fell for… I didn’t react when I first met Junpei-kun, Akihiko-senpai, Ken-kun, or Aragaki-senpai.” Fuuka says in her thoughts. Doubtful if she will ever meet someone like Tsubasa again.

“Off topic… did you notice about Kotone?” 

“Huh? What do you mean? Kotone-chan seems alright with me. Why?” Fuuka wondered about Junpei’s words.

“She looks like she has gained some weight since she started college with Shinjiro-senpai. I can’t tell if it’s because of classes or if she has been eating stress. I have known her for two years, and she normally doesn’t gain any weight no matter how much she eats.” 

“Please… don’t say that when you talk to her. That’s a bit rude.” Fuuka seems concerned.

“I promise won’t. I never say anything rude to my best friend. I know I often argued with her when we were members of SEES. Things have changed since I have a lovely girlfriend, and she gets along with almost everyone.” Junpei gives Fuuka a thumbs-up while grinning at her. 

Fuuka giggled.

An hour later….

Meeting Room  

Mitsuru is in the center of the table, where all major members (except Shinjiro, who only came because Kotone invited him) are present to discuss the incident in Inaba and strange rumors called the Midnight Channel. Kotone sits between Shinjiro and Akihiko, Yukari sits next to Fuuka, and Junpei sits next to Ken on the opposite side of the table. As for Koromaru, he lies on Shinjiro’s lap. Aigis stands next to Mitsuru as her bodyguard.

“I’m glad you guys have made your schedule to come here. It was about something that happened in Inaba. Strange fog appears only on rainy days, and the television turns off at the stroke of midnight when a person appears on the screen. I believe the decreased announcer Yamamo and decreased high school student Konishi and our third victim were found alive two weeks ago are connected somehow.” Mitsuru theorized the situation.

“Mitsuru-san, Why do you think so? Is it somehow connected to Shadows, or is it somehow similar to the Dark Hour?” Ken seems confused.

“Because one of my employees was on vacation there until they saw a television turned on at midnight that showed a blurry image of an unknown person on a rainy day. They suggested I should try it, too, so I did. However, I didn’t see any images on my television, nor was it raining. When I accidentally touched my television screen, my hand went through.”

Everyone was shocked.

“Scary. Did you also stick your head inside too?” Junpei asked Mitsuru.

“I did, but I saw that the screen was completely blank. As if nothing was there, it was a complete black void. If I had fully entered the TV, I might have been lost forever,” Mitsuru stated with a fearful expression.

“So anyone can enter the TV now?” Akihiko curiously asked Mitsuru.

“Unfortunately, no. We had volunteers touch the TV screen just like I did, but they couldn’t get in. One of the scientists stated that only Persona users could enter that place. That’s why I was able to enter it.” She explained to everyone. 

“So, what’s your point? Is it related somehow?” Junpei casually questioned her.

“Maybe. The person I mentioned when we were on their vacation trip, the three high school dressed in their school uniforms during the weekend, so they followed them to Junes, and they were able to enter the TV. The following day, they secretly recorded three Yasogami high school who could enter TV at the Junes store. They waited until they got back the missing person for a day.”

“You mean the missing person was… Yukiko Amagi.”

“Correct. According to my intel, when a person becomes fully shown on TV during a rainy day on the Midnight Channel, it confirms they are trapped inside the TV world. However, the Midnight Channel cannot be recorded or taken as pictures. The person that appears to look like them is either an imposter or her other self. I think it’s the latter. We can confirm those three who may have saved her that day are Persona-users like us.” 

Mitsuru turns on the header and shows video footage inside Junes from April 17th to April 18th. The first scenes show a young man with bowled-shaped gray hair and eyes wearing black glasses, another young man with light brown hair with headphones around his neck, who wears orange glasses, and a young woman in a bright green jacket, all of them wearing Yasogami school uniforms enter the TV, with one of them grab the girl’s wrist as she enters with them. The next scene shows them entering the TV again, except the young woman, now wearing yellow glasses, enters the TV with the two guys. The scenes fast forward several hours later, and they bring out the missing person, who appears to be a young woman in a bright pink kimono who seems to be exhausted but alive. 

Everyone gasped in shock.

After that, Mitsuru turned it off. 

“My reason for calling you guys here is whether or not we should investigate Inaba and discover the mystery of the Midnight Channel. I would like to hear your votes and suggestions. For me, let's go to Inaba.” 

“I agreed with with Mitsuru. Whether or not it doesn’t involve us, we should still help people thrown inside the TV.” Yukari agreed with her. 

“I disagreed because if there are indeed Persona users living in Inaba, I don’t think we should get involved. We have our personal lives to live by, and we are only reserved members.” Junpei disagreed with her.

“Junpei, how could you say that?!” Yukari seems angrier at him.

“I just had a feeling those three students can handle this case since it is their turf, and they seem to know what they are doing. That’s my option.” Junpei asks it honestly to Yukari.

“I don’t mind getting involved since It’s been a while since we fought Shadows in February. I’m inching for the fight again!” Akihiko smirked and seemed excited. 

“I don’t think we shouldn’t get involved either. Would it be a bad idea without knowing what is going on? We might make it worse for being there.” Fuuka says, worried. 

“Arf! Arf!” Koromaru barked casually.

“Koromaru-san says, "He believes those three can invoke the mystery in Inaba since they remind us of when they were their age.” Aigis translated Koromaru’s words to everyone. 

“What about you, Aigis?”

“I will follow what you command me to do. However, I think I prioritize protecting innocent citizens from harm. I do what my hearts lead me.” Aigis says it with honesty. 

“I have to agree with Junpei-san and Koromaru. They could be a new generation of Persona users like us. They might be able to solve the strange disappearances and save the lives of those thrown there. We saved people two years ago thanks to Kotone-san, who were trapped in Tartarus. We already saved two of her associates. Why can’t we allow them to learn how to do it?  Or else observe them until another kidnapping incident happens again. Someone from our group should go to Inaba to observe them.” Ken suggested gathering information for the three new Persona users. 

“Ken, I’m surprised you didn’t side with Akihiko-senpai this time.” Junpei was mildly surprised by Ken’s choice. 

“I still greatly admired Sanada-san’s determination, but I just have a feeling those Yasogami High students will be fine on their own for now if something bad happens to them and they fail to save missing victims.” 

Everyone stared at Shinjiro. 

“What? I’m not part of your organization, and it’s not my choice. It’s up to you whether you want to get involved with those Persona users or leave them to handle the case by themselves,” says Shinjiro bluntly. 

Everyone draws their attention to Kotone, the only one who hasn’t decided yet.

“It’s your call, Shiomi. Do we go to Inaba and help those high school students or leave them be and continue other Shadow-related cases without Persona users living there?” Mitsuru asks Kotone with a serious tone.

Kotone took a deep breath and stepped out. Shinjiro held her hand tightly. She looked at him with a sincere expression. He faintly smiled at her, knowing she would make the right decision. She smiled back before she looked at everyone.

“I think.. we shouldn’t get ourselves involved in Inaba. There are Persona users like us who help people. Looking at the guy with gray hair, I felt the same power as I was. I believe he will be the one who can involved in this case with his friends. We should give them a chance and see how they do. If we get involved, it may attract unwanted attention. I don’t want to make the situation worse. I have faith in them. We should continue to save people from Shadows from other parts of Japan like before.” Kotone says with sheer determination and a strong belief for the next generations of Persona users.

Everyone was surprised by her answers. 

“When you put it like that, I’m very convinced. Alright. I believe you. I know your choices are never wrong. ” Yukari smiled at Kotone.  

“It’s been decided, with four votes for getting involved in Inaba and five for not getting involved. We should respect this decision and go with it. However, I like what Amada has suggested. I should send Aigis to Inaba when the next potential victim might appear.” Mitsuru says in a formal tone.

“I also agreed with Kotone-san’s decision. She wants to be safe so that her baby can be born. I believe she doesn’t want to risk having a miscarriage or something bad might happen to them.” Aigis stated with a straight face.

“Hehehehe… You almost got me there, Aigis. Kotone and Shinjiro-san aren’t planning to have a kid anytime soon. They are still in college and have no time to have a child on their own yet. You’re jokes almost sound serious for a second.” Says Junpei, chuckling.

“I can reassure you, I’m not joking. Kotone-san has a small being inside of her now.” Aigis told Junpei. 

“Wait… a “small being”? What are you talking about?” Junpei started to be confused by Aigis’ words.

“Arf! Arf! Arf!” Koromaru barked happily as he jumped from Shinjiro’s lap to Kotone’s. He started to nuzzle her with affection. 

“Koro-chan, what’s got into you? You’re so protective.” Kotone smiles at him, petting him gently. 

“A crap… I forgot that Aigis has one of the update functions from last month. This is not going to end well..” Shinjiro cursed himself in his thoughts.

“Koromaru-san says, “Kotone-san is pregnant with Aragaki-san’s baby. I can tell because I strongly urge to protect her and the baby from harm.” That’s what he’s saying to everyone.” Aigis explained this by translating Koromaru’s words. 

“WHAT??!!” Junpei, Mitsuru Ken, and Fuuka reacted in great shocked for Kotone’s pregnancy.

Chapter Text

Kirijo Corporation- Meeting Room; Daytime

Everyone who wasn’t aware of Kotone’s pregnancy until now tries to calm themselves down and come back to their senses. They stared at Kotone with Koromaru, still on her lap, panting happily, and Shinjiro, holding her hand tightly. Everyone’s reactions are mixed with confusion, shock, or worry. It’s probably not a happy announcement.

“Kotone-chan, when did it happen? Did you and Aragaki-senpai do it during spring break at Yakushima?” Fuuka seems puzzled by Kotone’s sudden pregnancy.

“Yes..” Kotone says sheepishly. She started to feel a bit embarrassed when she confirmed it. 

“I knew this would happen eventually, but I never expected your pregnancy to happen so soon.” Mitsuru closes her eyes in disappointment and places her hand on her forehead.

“Wait? How would you know? We never told anyone about this.” Shinjiro seems frustrated. He and Kotone were cautious about hiding their secret to having another baby together. There was no way one of their friends could spy on them when they were having sex non-stop until they went back to Tatsumi Port Island. They wanted to wait until everything was settled down.  So far, only Yukari, Akihiko, and Koromaru are okay with him and kotone having a baby, but he’s unsure about the others. 

“I wonder the same thing. How did you know Kotone and Aragaki-senpai plan to have another baby, Mitsuru?” Yukari demanded answers from Mitsuru. She looks at her, suspicious of her secret girlfriend.

“It was when Aigis confirmed the semen in the vial that was left on the rug in the surveillance room. It belongs to Sanada-san.” Ken shyly explained to the others.

Everyone reacted in disgust except Kotone and Koromaru. Kotone seems very confused toward him. On the other hand, Akihiko was so ashamed of his actions that day. 

“Why, Akihiko-senpai?! Why do you do that? Don’t tell me, were you watching porn when we were searching for Kotone and Shinjiro-senpai?!” Junpei’s eyes widen in surprise. 

“WHAT?! No! It’s not like that, Junpei!” Akihiko denies Junpei’s exclaims. 

“If you weren’t watching dirty video, why did you jerk off by yourself?” Yukari angrily questioned him.

Ken answers Yukari’s questions for Akihiko. “Aigis believed Sanada-san for what he did when he saw Kotone-san and Shinjiro-san making love in a cave on the secret monitor.” 

Everyone except Aigis's face turns very red and pink. Most of them are utterly fluttered and bashful. They turn their attention to Akihiko. 

“What the hell?! Aki, are you kidding me?! You watched us have sex?! That was supposed to be private.” Shinjiro released Kotone’s hand and stood up from the chair to slam the table hard. He glares at him. 

“It was a misunderstanding. I was trying to turn off the monitor, but then… I couldn’t resist seeing Koto… passionate’s face and body. But then I felt something that had never happened to me before. I had an erection.” Akihiko explained how it happened from his perspective. He never seemed to be an accidental pervert.  He started to act a little embarrassed. 

“What’s an erection?” Ken curiously asks Junpei.

“You don’t need to know, Ken. You have to wait until high school to know. Not now, since you’re still in middle school.” Junpei refused to respond appropriately to Ken since he is still 12 years old in a calm manner.

“That’s gross Akihiko-senpai!” Yukari says with disgust.

“Oh my…” Fuuka looks slightly bashful. 

“I think it is part of human nature for men and women to feel turned on when seeing each other to make love. Whether on television, magazine or literature.” Aigis stated to everyone.

“You’re not helping, Aigis.” Yukari looks disappointed.

“Wait, so Mitsuru-senpai, Koro-chan, and Aigis are the only ones who know about Shinji’s and my plans to have a baby and my pregnancy. The only ones who didn’t know are Junpei, Fuuka, and Ken-kun.” Kotone tries to piece together the information she got from everyone they talked about from Yakushima last month. 

“That’s correct, Shiomi. A while Aigis and Koromaru found out earlier, for me, I only know your and Shinjiro’s plan to have a baby again.” 

“So, what are your thoughts about my pregnancy?” Kotone seems concerned about how her friends will react to this. Will they accept her or shun her for carrying a baby at the age of 18? She knows they aren’t terrible and shallow people. She trusts them, and whatever the outcome, she needs to learn to accept it. 

“Kotone-san, ever since I have known you for two years, you have been like an older sister to me. I meant it for you having a baby with Shinjiro-san, my friend and former enemy. Having someone to comfort you guys in need would be a good idea. If your child looks like you, Shinjiro-san, or both, I’ll happily play with them since I am a similar age when you two are busy with college or work.” Ken says to Kotone optimistically. He seems to accept Kotone’s pregnancy and carrying Shinjiro’s unborn child.  It shows how mature he has gotten over the past two years and how he is already letting out his past grudges against Shinjiro, who was responsible for his mother’s death four years ago. He looks at Shinjiro, who not only accepts him being in a relationship with Kotone, his former crush, but is also starting a new life with her. Shinjiro genuinely smiles back at him. 

“I know this is a lot to take. The only thing I’m concerned about is the hope that your unborn child will receive a lot of love and support you will give to them. Promise me, Kotone-chan, Aragaki-senpai, you won’t regret your decisions. I don’t want your child to have a miserable future without anyone to give or receive affection.” Fuuka requested that both Kotone and Shinjiro look after their child together.

“We will. We will ensure our child has affection from us and a bright future ahead of them. Fuuka, you have our words. We will raise them with love once they are born next year.” Kotone promised Fuuka.

“We will never regret our decision to have a child together, even though we are still in college. I’ll make sure they are raised in a safe environment with friends and family like you guys,” says Shinjiro, calmly and honestly responding to Fuuka. 

“Then, I’m happy for you and your pregnancy, Kotone-chan. I’m sure you and Aragaki-senpai will be great parents.” Fuuka complimented her and Shinjiro.

Kotone and Shinjiro faintly blushed at Fuuka before they turned around, hiding their faces. They were secretly happy. 

“And you, Mitsuru?” Akihiko questioned her.

“I know it wasn’t expected for you and Shinjiro to have a child sooner than expected. It was irresponsible to do it when you are still in college and unmarried.”

“What’s your point? You’re against it?!” Shinjiro seems frustrated at her, believing she didn’t support Kotone getting pregnant. 

“I’m not saying that. It’s your life, and I respect you and Shiomi’s decision to have a child together. Like Yamagishi, I hope you don’t regret having them once they are born, and don’t neglect them either. That’s very bad parenting.” Mitsuru says in a serious tone. 

“Don’t worry, Mitsuru-senpai. We will try our best to spend as much time with our unborn child as possible once they are born.” Kotone promised Mitsuru confidentially.

“Hm.. It's a wise decision. I pray your child will be born healthy.” Mitsuru wishes her luck in carrying Shinjiro’s child.

“Like I said before, Kotone-san. I will always protect your child. Whether they look like you or Aragaki-san, I will still protect them no matter the costs.” Aigis swears wholeheartedly to Kotone. 

“Thank you, Aigis.” 

“Junpei? You've been quiet for a while now. We would like to hear your decision. Are you okay with Kotone carrying Aragaki-senpai’s child?” Yukari curiously asks Junpei. 

“Yuka-tan.. I’m not okay with it.” Junpei says it coldly. 

Everyone reacted in shock, especially Kotone. 

“Junpei.”

“Why have a child even though you're still in college?! I thought you were going to wait until you and Senpai got married?! It’s too soon!” Junpei shouted at Kotone.

“Junpei, that’s enough,” says Akihiko angrily toward him. 

Junpei, furious, walks toward Kotone to give a piece of mind, but Shinjiro shields Kotone from him. He gives a death glare, too.

“I can’t tell if you are really desperate to have a child after you lost your unborn child two years ago. Or you too stupid to think about your future!” Junpei criticized her.

Kotone looks guilty and sad about what he thinks about her.

Feeling enraged for Junpei offending Kotone, Shinjiro punched Junpei in the face. 

“Shinjiro?!” 

“Don’t you dare call my fiancée an idiot! It was her choice to have a child in the first place. She didn’t do it out of desperation. She did it as her atonement; no, it’s our atonement for hurting each other ever since I fell into a coma. My greatest sin was writing that stupid letter to her about moving on and finding someone to be with because I thought I was going to be killed on October 4th. Kotone’s greatest sin was dating Mochizuki at the time, but she never stopped thinking about me even though I was comatose. That’s why we decided to have a child together. You can’t make us to abort it.” Shinjiro, enraging, explained to Junpei.

Everyone was shocked and worried, as that’s how Kotone and Shinjiro fell after being apart for a long time in 2009 and before Graduation day last year. They realized Kotone and Shinjiro’s love for each other was more substantial than it seemed.

“I… *sigh* I need some fresh air.” Junpei looks stressed. He gets up from his stairs and leaves the room. 

Kotone reacted with worry and confusion when Junpei stormed off the room alone.

Kirijo Corporation- Rooftop Garden

Junpei is sitting on a bench, trying to get his thoughts together. He watches peacefully at the beautiful greenery, which consists of plants, trees, and bushes. The floor is made of stone tiles, and a path guides people around the place. There are a few tables and chairs on the left side for people to relax and chat. On the right, there are some stone benches for a nice view of the city. An expensive glass wall around the area prevents people from falling from the building. 

Junpei calls Chidori since she wants to come to his place this evening. He needs someone to talk to who isn’t a member of the Shadow Operatives. He takes out his cell phone and calls her.

His phone rings twice until he hears a familiar voice.

“Hello?” Chidori’s voice sounds confused.

“Hey, Chidori, it’s me. I know I said I would text you my new address, but I want to have someone to talk to,” Junpei says depressingly.

“Junpei, is something wrong? You’re not your usual happy-go-lucky self.” Chidori’s voice sounds worried.

“I recently found out my best friend Kotone is pregnant with Shinjiro-senpai’s baby. Right now, I have mixed feelings about this.” Junpei looks awkwardly.

“Kotone-senpai is PREGNANT?!” Chidori’s yelled in shock.

“Sshhh… not so loud.” He says quietly on the phone. 

“I’m sorry… I got a bit excited. So Kotone-senpai is pregnant by how many months?” Chidori asks her boyfriend about the state she’s in now.

“I don’t know how long she is pregnant. It’s hard to tell. I noticed she had gained some weight the last time I saw her. When we returned from Yakushima on the second week of April, she felt sick and started throwing up in the bathroom. I think that’s how it started.” Junpei guessed from what he remembered.

“Okay, so she’s one month pregnant then. Morning sickness usually occurs from earlier weeks after the sperm successfully enters the egg in the womb.” Chidori explained. 

“Wait, how are you now about this? Did you learn it in class?” Junpei asks her about her knowledge of pregnancy.

“No, I borrowed one of the books from Mitsuru-san when I started school. I was curious about how reproduction works. Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not planning to have a baby with you anytime soon until after I congratulate high school or college.” Chidori responded with a calm voice.

“I know. I’m not planning to have children yet, either. Tell me your thoughts about Kotone having a baby at a young age. Are you mad, sad, happy, or don’t know how you feel?” says Junpei solemnly.

“Well... I’m happy for her. Even though it would be rough to focus on classes and looking after the child, she can handle it with Aragaki-senpai. Are you happy for her as well?” Chidori curiously asks Junpei.

“I… I’m not sure how I am supposed to respond to her. In my mind, I’m afraid she might ruin her future by raising a child at a young age. It’s not because there’s a chance her child might look like Senpai. I don’t want her to have a baby. In my heart, I’m so happy for her to have a child of her own, especially with Shinjiro-senpai. The man Kotone truly loved the most.” Junpei explains his thoughts about Kotone’s pregnancy to Chidori.

“Junpei… It’s not my business, and I don’t have the right to choose your opinions. Just tell her how you feel; I’m sure she will understand. Everyone reacted differently.” Chidori gives him some helpful advice. She knows he’s a good person, even though he can be an idiot at times. 

Junpei starts to shed tears from his eyes. He tries to wipe away his tears with his jacket sleeves, but they still overflow.

“Are you crying? Did I make you upset?”

“*sobbing* No.. Chidori. You didn’t make me upset. These are happy tears. I’m so glad to have a girlfriend who understands me and helps in a time of need. Thanks, Chidorita.” Junpei teary smiles. 

“I hope you reconcile with Kotone-senpai. I’ll see you tonight.” Chidori ends the call. Junpei puts away his phone. He stops crying and stares at the bright blue sky and breeze-swept clouds. 

10 minutes later….

“Junpei! There you are. I was looking all over for you. You have me worried.” Says Kotone’s voice, concerned.

Junpei turns around and sees Kotone appear right in front of him. She looks at him worriedly. 

Junpei stands up from his bench and walks towards her. He felt guilty about how he reacted to her pregnancy. “Kotone… what I say to you. I’m truly sorry for how I acted. I’m just worried for you.” 

“That’s okay, Junpei. I forgive you. I want to apologize to you, too. I know this will be hard work, raising a child, working at Shadow Operatives, and attending college. I’m sure this is nothing to handle, and we can manage somehow.” Kotone says it optimistically. 

Kotone and Junpei hugged. He briefly noticed Shinjiro behind Kotone, who was standing by the door, glaring at him, so he quickly cut the hug short. 

“Is it something a matter?”

“N-Nothing! I don’t want you to keep here longer.” Junpei nervously smiled at her.

Kotone leaves to inform the others of Junpei’s whereabouts. Shinjiro walks towards Junpei, staring at him distrustfully. 

“Look, I’m glad you and Koto have makeup and all. What is your reason for being against her pregnancy? I can tell you are hiding something.” 

“W-Well… it’s because I feared your and Kotone’s child might look like you.” Junpei lied to him.

“That’s your main reason? It doesn’t matter what our unborn child would look like. We will always love them unconditionally. You need to deal with them. We were considering making you uncle figure to our firstborn child.”

“Uncle figure?! Me?! This is the first time I haven’t heard of it. You’re serious, right?!” Junpei was shocked by Shinjiro’s statements.

“Since you are against it, I might make Aki one instead.”

“Wait! Wait! I change my mind. I’m glad you and Kotone are going to have a child together. I will do my best to be their greatest uncle once they are born.” Junpei looks excited.

“Good. Do not make Koto stress or worry again; it affects her pregnancy. If she has a miscarriage, I’ll blame you for this.” Shinjiro scolded him. 

“R-Right. Understood.” 

Shinjiro leaves to catch up with Koto. 

“The reason I was against Kotone’s pregnancy is because my mother had me when she was in high school, and my old man raped her.” Junpei says in his thoughts, remorseful.”

Chapter Text

Kirijo Corporation - Daytime

After Kotone informs everyone she found Junpei, they make up. However, there are some tensions between Shinjiro and Akihiko. He still can’t forgive Akihiko for eavesdropping on him and Kotone having sex in a cave on the day they went missing on the first day in Yakushima. It will take some time for Akihiko to regain everyone's trust again. Kotone, Aigis, and Koromaru are the only people with no hard feelings for Akihiko. The Shadow Operatives will spend the rest of the days hanging out today. Yukari and Fuuka decided to help Kotone shop some cute and stylish maternity clothes for the summer and winter. Ken takes Koromaru for a walk with Aigis to accompany them. Mitsuru decides to review the new cases to see if they are shadow-related at her workplace. This leaves Shinjiro and Akihiko alone together.  

“Shinji… about what happened. I’m so sorry. I wasn't trying to be a creepy pervert or anything. I didn't think I couldn't resist the temptation.” Akihiko tries to apologize to him. 

“That’s called being aroused. You were turned on by how you looked at Koto’s nude body and her pleasure face. It’s not cool to be turned on by someone else’s  fiancée.” Shinjiro looks at him in disappointment. 

“I know, and what I did was wrong. I once tried to get over you and Koto having sex by watching some porn videos that Junpei suggested. I wasn't turned on or erected like before. I don't know why I didn't enjoy watching one bit.” Akihiko seems uncertain.

“Fuck… he only turned on when Koto has sex. Aki still has feelings for her.” Shinjiro cursed himself in his thoughts. 

“Don’t tell me you still harbor feelings for Koto, don’t you? Even after two years have passed.” Shinjiro grunted in frustration at his childhood friend. He should know that Kotone chose him, not Akihiko.

“What are you talking about?! I don’t have feelings for her!” Akihiko denies Shinjiro’s claims.

“You can drop the act. I can tell it’s written all over your face. You have unrequited feelings for her and are too damn scared to admit it if you want me to forgive you. Confessed to Koto or take me to your place and destroy that video you recorded of me and Koto having sex in Yakushima.” Shinjiro demands Akihiko. 

“What video?!” Akihiko acts like he doesn't know what Shinjiro is talking about.

“Mitsuru mentioned to me before we head back to Port Island. A missing disk was inside the recording in the surveillance room a few days ago. When I visited your new apartment, there was a blank disk in your room next to your laptop. I noticed it wasn't like any DVD movies you watched. I want to ask you where you bought it. You say, “I got it from one of the stores in Yakushima.” That island doesn't sell movies there, only souvenirs.” Shinjiro stated.

“I…I pressed the record button on accident and I didn't want anyone to know about it. I took it with me and hid it in my luggage. I was considering destroying it, but I hesitated.” Akihiko shamelessly admits it.

“What’s it going to be? Admit your feelings for Koto or destroy the recording at your place?” 

Akihiko’s expression are mixed with regret and hesitation. “I….” 

Meanwhile, at Paulownia Mall 

Paulownia Mall - 4:00 pm

Kotone has bought some new clothes she can wear during her trimester terms, thanks to Yukari and Fuuka’s help. Her clothes are mainly orange, red, pink, and orange-yellow for spring, summer, and winter. 

“Thank you so much for helping me. These look great to wear. If I hadn’t revealed my pregnancy, most of the clothes I currently had wouldn’t fit me, and my stomach would end up being exposed.” Kotone chuckled.

“It’s what friends are for, Kotone. Friends support each other even though we have busy schedules. Like me, Mitsuru and Junpei still have to work during Golden Week. I’m working tomorrow on second day of Golden Week to rehearse for the upcoming new episode from Neo Featherman. The rest of the week, I’m off.” Yukari informed Kotone and Fuuka of the schedules for Golden Week.

“I’m going to hang out with Natsuki-chan tomorrow to meet her at Iwatodai Station. She has been doing good lately since moving out of her parent’s place.” Fuuka says it energetically.

“Good for you, Fuuka. You haven’t seen her since last year, right?” Kotone genuinely smiles at her.

“Yeah… I wish we could hang out more like we used to. She lives far away from here, and she’s not planning to return to Tatsumi Port Island because of the college she wants to attend.” Fuuka sadden.

“It’s alright. She must have a good reason. At least she has the time to hang out with you on certain holiday breaks. That's all it matters.” Yukari ensures her.

Kotone checks her wristwatch and realizes what time they have been shopping for. “Whoa! We were shopping for four hours. I should get back home. Shinji must have been waiting for me now. You don’t mind if I go on my own?” Kotone asks Yukari and Fuuka’s permission.

“Maybe I should come with you until you reach home. It will be hard when you are in your second and third-trimester terms. We will probably have to keep an eye on you when Aragaki-senpai isn't around to protect you. I heard when pregnant women are in their early-term pregnancy. Their brains will experience memory problems, concentration, and absentmindedness. I’m afraid you might get lost in the back ally of Tatsumi Port Island.” Yukari stated. 

“I should write down everything in my notes and do it lists before I forget. I don’t want to forget my college assignments and exams.” Kotone noted herself in dismay. 

Kotone and Yukari leave Paulownia Mall, and Fuuka returns to her university dorm. 

Junpei’s Apartment - Evening

When Junpei got home, Chidori was at his place since he told her about the spare apartment key hidden underneath the rug. She notices he has a bruise on his face where he was punched by Shinjiro. She grabs the first aid kit his cabinet and patch him up. 

A hour later…

Junpei and Chidori are in their pajamas after having a bath together for the first time.e. They are too shy to look at each other fully nude. Junpei wears a plain white t-shirt with black shorts. Chidori wears a lavender nightgown with dark violet jacket sleeves. She also wears her hair down without any hair ties or ribbons. They both lay down on a bed together. 

“I’m so glad you’re okay with Kotone-senpai having a baby.” Chidori expressed relief.

“I know. This will take time for me to get used it. Whatever gender her and Senpai’s child look like, I will love them unconditionally. You can say I’m like a uncle to them.” Junpei smirked. 

“*giggles* I’m sure you will, Junpei.” 

“So, how was your today? Did you hang out with someone from school or were you drawing again at Port Station?” Junpei gleefully curiously asks Chidori.

“I was hanging out with a friend from school. He’s smart, anti-social, and he’s interested in tech. He’s in the same year as me. He even saved me from almost being raped by a guy after school.” Chidori carefully explained. 

“WHAT?! THAT’S TERRIBLE! Are you okay?! Did he hurt you?!” Junpei reacted in concern for her. 

“I’m fine now. Nothing bad happened to me. The following day, Shiratori-kun reported him and his friends to the faculty office and they were not only expelled, but they are arrested. If it wasn't for him, I would had lose my virginity to him.” Chidori calms down Junpei by touching his face.

“Shiratori?” Junpei looks at her, confused.

“That’s my friend’s name. His full name is Jinnosuke Shiratori. He’s also in the same class as me.” 

“Jinnosuke… why is that name so similar somehow…” Junpei in his inner thoughts, suspiciously. He had a feeling he heard that name before. Not the full first name, but part of his name. 

“Junpei… can I make a request tonight?” Chidori politely recommend him.

“Sure! Anything you like. We have all night until we go to bed.” Junpei says with confidence.

“Would you have sex with me tonight?” Chidori requested.

“What?…” Junpei’s face turns pale in fear and confused by Chidori’s sudden requested.

Shinjiro and Kotone’s Apartment

After Kotone safety reunited with Shinjiro at their apartment, Yukari says her farewells to Kotone before she went inside the apartment. Before Yukari can return home, she receives a text message from Mitsuru.

“Huh? What does she want at this hour?”  Yukari confused. She opens her cellphone and reads her text messages.

>Yukari, meet me at my mansion as soon as possible before midnight. I have important conversation I want to talk you regarding to Shiomi’s pregnancy announcement. I’ll see you later. 

>Alright, Mitsuru. I’ll be there. 

“I wonder why she wants me for? I hope she’s not mad because I didn’t tell her about Kotone’s pregnancy sooner..” Yukari has a troublesome expression.

Yukari decides to meet up with Mitsuru at her mansion. 

Chapter Text

April 30th, 2011

Iwatodai Station - 10:30 am

Fuuka’s POV

I manage to sleep early and wake up at the right time. Natsuki-chan texted me the other day to wait for her at 10:30 am. So far, I haven’t seen her yet. Maybe she’s a bit late, or something must have happened. We have been keeping in touch since she transferred to school. Even though we are far apart, I still want to befriend her. 

“I’m sorry I’m late! There was one in front of me, and they refused to move,” says Natsuki-chan’s worried voice.

I finally got to see my precious friend again, Natsuki-chan. She appeared to be different from the last time I saw her last December. Natsuki-chan’s hair is now almost neck-length. She wears a black top with an open dark gray and white windbreaker jacket, dark navy jeans, and gray sneakers. She also wears a silver clock necklace around her neck. 

“Natsuki-chan!” I ran to her and gave her a lovely embrace. Natsuki-chan hugged me back. 

“It’s good to see you again, Fuuka. How have you been since I last saw you?” Natsuki-chan asked.

“It’s been great! I finally graduated from Gekkoukan High with my friends last month. It was both memorable and sad.” I sadly smile.

“It’s part of human life. There are good and bad recollections. Let’s hang out at the same place as the last time we were there. There is so much to talk about.” 

I nodded. 

Chagall Cafe 

We ordered the same drinks as the last time we were here. It was like our usual hangout the next time we saw each other. We talk about many things about our school years, clubs, school field trips, and experiences of becoming adults. I’m glad Natsuki-chan is still the person I remember. 

“Fuuka, I noticed you’re growing your hair again. It suits you.” Natsuki-chan complimented me. 

“Thanks. I thought about it after graduation. I want to change my looks to show how grown-up I am.” I shyly smile at her.

“I still felt guilty for what happened when we were first years together at Gekkoukan High. You used to have long, beautiful hair, and guys flirted with you. I thought you were a attention seeker to get a boyfriend of your own. I become so jealous that I cut all of your hair off to the length you had for three years. I was a horrible person back then. You must had secretly hate me for it, huh?” Natsuki-chan’s eyes expressed guilt underneath her force smile she try to hide her negative emotions.

“No, it’s not. I like the hair cut you been me. It would be easier to take care of my hair better. I didn’t like on how my mother wanted to me to had the same hair length as her when she was my age. I was uncomfortable. When I came home and my parents saw my haircuts. The first thing she did was slapped me in the face and my father didn’t do anything. This was the first time my mother ever touch me. I was both joy and yet sad to feel pain for the first time.” I smile. 

“Fuuka… I didn’t realizes your parents are that abusive and controlling of your life. Not just your grades, but your appearance. They are the worst.”

Natsuki-chan reacted in disgust about my controllable parents. 

“I’m used it. For once, I was able to choose how I wanted to live my life. I’m glad I was able to move out from my parents’ house. It brought me bad memories here. Even after I graduated, I refused to see them again.” 

“I been meaning to ask you. Why didn’t you grow out your hair after I stop bullied you and in your third year?” Natsuki-chan questioned.

“Well… I’m already got used to it that I didn’t want to change my hairstyle at the time. I was planning to keep it that way until after graduation. It brings me memories the moment I spend time with you.” I explain my reasons. Despite of her for bullying up until our second years, I never once hold any grudges against her. I really wanted to be her friend. That part of me never changed and I want to continue on spending time together until we grow old.

“So have you been seeing anyone lately?” Natsuki-chan teased me.

“What?! Well.. maybe.. no, I am, wait… hgh.” I blushed.

“Hahaha… relax, I was just teasing you. You don’t have to be nervous around me. We been friends for almost two years now. How about give me a name you have a crush on then.” Natsuki-chan chuckled. 

“They go to the same university as me. They are really kind to me. We hang out around campus talk about things. They are four years older than me. I enjoys being around them, they make me feel safe.”

“Ah. You are keeping your crush’s gender a secret. That’s interesting. You didn’t have to hide that either. Is it guy or girl?” Natsuki-chan became intrigued about my current crush. Should I tell her or make up a lie about Tsubasa-chan’s gender. I’m sure she is understanding person now.

“They are non-binary. They don’t see themselves as neither male or female. That didn’t bother me and I’m glad to be their friend.” 

“I never expected to fall for non-binary person before. That’s good news. I’m happy for you.” Natsuki-chan looks happy.

“Really?! You’re not mad or judgmental about the person I like?!” I was surprised by her respond.

“Why would I? It’s natural. I seen many people in my college are the same as your crush. It’s no big deal even though there are people who are in a dark and refuses to come out.” She commented.

“Are you seeing anyone too?”

“Yes I am! You are going to love him if we ever get a chance to meet up. He’s from San Diego. He came here to study Japanese to become a Japanese language teacher at some kind of university. His name is Jacob Dankworth and my boyfriend.”  Natsuki-chan sounds very happy when she mentioned him.

I’m happy for her that she found someone to be with for the rest of her life. For me, I have no one beside my friends, the parents I disowned, and my older brother who abandoned me as a child. The only person I want to be with was Tsubasa-chan, they have a boyfriend. I’m not the type of person who steal of another person’s partner. 

“So what’s they name?” She curiously asked.

“It’s Tsubasa Nakamura. They already have a boyfriend. I never met him in person, but I was told he is chill person who cares for Tsubasa-chan greatly despite his busy schedules. I’m sure he is a better suitor for Tsubasa-chan than me.” I says with a frowned look.

“You must have fell harder for that person. Have you ever told them how you feeling? If it keeps bugging you, you should let them know even though they don’t feel the same way.” Natsuki-chan gave me some advice. 

“But I..,” I was unconcerned if I should tell them my unrequited feelings for them. 

“You don’t have to do it right alway the next time you seen them. Do it when you feel like it.” 

“Natsuki-chan… thank you. You’re a good friend.” I smile slightly at her.

“You’re welcome. You are one of my important friends after all.” Natsuki-chan cheerful smile at her.

 Oh that’s remind me.. before I forget, I want to give it you.” I grab something from my purse and take it out, revealing a well-wrap gift box. 

“It is for me? You didn’t have to. I’m currently wearing one you gave me last time I saw you in winter break.” Natsuki-chan reacted in amusing expression. I gave her the present, and she open the box, reveals seashell necklace.

“Wow, Fuuka! I love it! Did you made this?!” She looks amazed at my gift, she likes my gift a lot.

“I did. I sometimes made them when I have time. These seashell I collected from Yakushima during my spring break trip with my friends.  I enjoy doing it a lot! Especially seeing smiles from my friends.” 

“This is one of the best gifts you given to me.” Natsuki-chan seems to enjoy the gift I given her. It brings me joy to see her smile at me. 

I spend wonderful time with Natsuki-chan.

Akihiko’s POV

After I got back from my jog and took a shower. I got dressed and relax a bit before I leave to buy some groceries. I look at my trash bin where a broken dvd was found. I sighed in frustrated that I choose Shinji to break the recording of him and Koto having sex in Yakushima than confessed my feelings for her. Am I really a coward of confessing to her even though she has Shinji by her side? Although I must not forget that Koto is also carrying his child. I know both Shinji and Koto are going to be busy to raised their child together next year. It would be difficult to hang out with them too. What should I do?  I’m scheduled to look after Koto tomorrow on May 1st since Shinji has work.  I hope it won’t be around her without him around.

A day ago….

April 29th, 2011 - 

Akihiko’s Room 

Shinji break the disk in two by snapping it with his right knee. He then toss it into my trash bin. 

“Here. I forgive you for now, Aki. Don’t ever do that stupid ass stunt again.” He still pissed at me. 

“I won’t happen again, Shinji. It was this one time.” I sulked.

“I’m glad you choose to destroy it rather than confessed your feeling for Koto. I don’t want you to keep watching repeatedly every time you horny.  So how many times did you watched it?” Shinji suspicious asked.

“Ten times.” I shyly admitted.

“You really enjoyed Koto’s naked do it? Then stop thinking about my future wife again. Now that you can move on with someone else. Do you have anyone you are interesting beside Koto?”

“No.. I’m not thinking of anyone right now.” I says honestly.

“What about Mitsuru? You have know her longer than me. You probably started to have feelings for her at some point.” Shinji suggested if I have a crush on Mitsuru. Which I don’t.

“Mitsuru is just a friend. We are completely opposite of each other. She is not my type of woman I want to be with.” I stated the fact of my relationship with Mitsuru is platonic. It been that way ever since middle school.

“Are you sure?” Shinji asked.

“Yes I’m sure! Beside, she looks like she is into someone else, but I didn’t know who. Although l often sees her hanging out with Yukari a lot. I noticed something from the other day, Yukari was holding Mitsuru’s hand and they kissed. Maybe I must been tired from training.” I was annoyed that Shinji still assume I might have a thing for her.

“Oh, I get it. Because Mitsuru might be bisexual or lesbian towards Yukari, huh? You once mention during your first time at Yakushima, you had crush on Aigis and tried to flirt with her, but got rejected because she was a lesbian. That was when you lose interest in her because of Koto.” 

“That’s kind of reasonable why I’m not attracted to Mitsuru. Hey wait! I’m not assuming she is or not. If is she, Mitsuru would have tell me about this already. Maybe Yukari was the one who made a move on her first and Mitsuru isn’t sure about her sexuality.” I denied Shinji’s claims about Mitsuru’s sexuality.

“So you are jealous of Yukari and Mitsuru’s relationship then?” Shinji says in a sarcastic tone.

“No! I’m not jealous about them either! When I looked at them, I felt nothing, not like how I was jealous of your relationship with Koto. The point is… Kotone is the only woman I will have my eyes on. I’m okay she is carrying your child. I only care is her happiness and nothing more.” I says with determination. I know it hurts when I see Koto with Shinji at times. 

“Tch…On May 1st, I want you to look after Koto when I have work on the day. I won’t be back until the evening. I trust you behave around her and not do something stupid.” Shinji says in serious tone.

“I won’t. You can count on me, Shinji. I’ll make sure she won’t get harm.”

Chapter Text

May 1st, 2011 

Yukari’s Apartment - Morning

After finishing work yesterday, Mitsuru decided to stay at her secret girlfriend’s place for the night. She did this mainly to comfort Yukari about meeting her mom again after almost 12 years since she last saw her. She helped her pick up an outfit that suited her taste. She finally picked out the perfect attire for her. 

After breakfast, Yukari wears a magenta collar shirt with black lacy ribbons, a black blazer jacket with bright pink trim, a black mini skirt, tight-length solid black socks, and leather high-heel boots. She also wears a black velvet gold heart choker that Mitsuru got her from her birthday. Thanks to Mitsuru, her hair is braided halfway. She also wears peach pink lipstick.

“Thank you for helping me get ready to meet my  Mom. It means a lot.” Yukari thanks Mitsuru.

“It was nothing, Yukari. She is your only living relative left, and it’s important to dress nicer.” Mitsuru seems to appreciate her sense of fashion.

“Can I ask you something?” Yukari’s face turns pink and red across her face in flutters.

“Sure. What is it?”

“Ummm…. Why are you only wearing an apron and panties?” Yukari shyly asked. 

Mitsuru is half-naked and only wears her dark brown apron with light brown flower pattern designs and black panties. She has her hair tied into a neat bun. “Is this an appropriate way for a girlfriend to please in an alluring manner?” 

“It is.. but this is so attempting. I’m going to be leaving soon to see my mom in Tokyo. She said to meet her at Tokyo Sky Tree. I already purchased my ticket ahead of time.” 

“Are you nervous about seeing her again?”

“I don’t know… maybe. The last time I saw her was when I was a child after my dad died. I’m worried how she reacted to me. I changed a lot since I took care of myself. What if she doesn’t accept me the way I am… Or the real reason to see me because she wanted money.” Yukari looks concerned about meeting her mom again.

Mitsuru hugged Yukari into her arms. Yukari’s face is pressed against Mitsuru’s beautiful breasts. 

“I’m sure it will be fine. Have faith in your mother. She’s trying to redeem herself to you.” Mitsuru soothed Yukari’s worries with her calming voice. 

“Yeah, maybe you’re right. Thank you, rose écarlat.” Yukari’s face changes to a calm smile, and she lays her head on her bosom. 

After they share a quick kiss, they leave home to catch a local train to Tokyo. Yukari reminds Mitsuru to get dressed and ensure no one sees her coming from her apartment, which she doesn’t mind. 

After fully dressing,  she wears a black top, a velvet red suit, and high-heeled slippers. Before she could leave Yukari’s place, she noticed something on the coffee table. She walks toward it and picks it up, revealing it to be a bright pink gradient cellphone with a heart-shaped keychain. “Oh no… Yukari forgot her cell phone. I must get to her before she boards the train to Tokyo.” Mitsuru shocked.  She put Yukari’s cell phone into her purse, locked the door that Yukari gave Mitsuru a spare key to her place, and ran off.

Shinjiro and Kotone’s Apartment - 9:00 am

Shinjiro wears his peacock coat and his work uniform underneath. He wears his trademark black beanie. Kotone decides to do home chores when he goes to work. She wears her usual high ponytail, peach turtleneck shirt, black and red knee-length skirt, and black tights. 

On the other hand, Akihiko wore long sleeves red collar shirt with black vest, white pants, black socks, and brown shoes. He also wore his usual black leather gloves. He arrived just in time before Shinjiro left for work.

“Aki, do you remember what I told you before?” Shinjiro reminds him.

“Yeah, to look after Koto and make sure nothing bad has happened to her a while you’re gone,” Akihiko says with an annoyed expression.

“A while I’m gone, I don’t mind you talking to her and starting a conversation with her. That’s it. Don’t even think about trying to hit on her behind my back.” Shinjiro threatens Akihiko.

Akihiko gulps. 

“Shinji, don’t worry. Aki won’t do anything to me. I trust him. Have you ever seen him try to steal me away for you?” Kotone playfully teased Shinjiro.

“No…” Shinjiro blushed.

“Then, it’s fine. You go to work since I don’t want to stay here anymore.”

“Before I go, how about a kiss before I go?” He smirked. Shinjiro points at his left cheek, where she can kiss there.

“Sure! You always love my kisses.” Kotone giggled.

As Kotone slowly closed her eyes to lean to kiss Shinjiro on the cheek, he tricked her by getting a kiss on the lips instead. Kotone’s eyes widen in surprise. At first, Kotone is surprised by sudden “sneak attack”, but she enjoys it. Both of them close their eyes to focus on their affectionate kiss. Akihiko turned around in disgust. After that, they open their eyes and smile happily. 

“Shinji… you surprise me again. You’re such a sweetheart and bad boy at heart.” Kotone squeaked in excitement. 

“I know. I’ll see you after work, my love.” Shinjiro flirted.

After that, Shinjiro left for work, and Kotone and Akihiko are now alone together. At first, it became awkward since it’s been a long time since they were alone like this. Kotone decided to start the conversation first. 

“So Aki, do you want something to drink? If you like some, we have tea, coffee, water, and fresh fruit-flavored drinks,” Kotone casually asked.

“The Water is fine. I just jogged two hours ago and took a quick shower to come here,” Akihiko replied sincerely.

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”  Kotone cheerfully.

A moment later…

Shinjiro and Kotone's Living Room 

Akihiko sat on the couch where the wooden coffee table was before him. Kotone arrives with Akihiko’s drink, but she gives him the wrong one.

“Koto, I say water. This is decaf coffee.” 

“Huh?! I’m so sorry. I thought you said decaf coffee! I guess this pregnancy brain is starting to take effects on me.” Kotone is distressed. 

“No worries. I’ll go to the kitchen to bring water myself since I used to live here with you and Shinji. Just sit there and don’t move until I get back.” Akihiko instructed her.

“Alright. I’ll stay here until you get back!” 

Another moment later….

“Thank goodness you stay. For a second, I thought you were to go somewhere.” Akihiko is relieved that Kotone stays where she is.

“You told me too. Now we got our drinks; how about a chat since we haven’t talked to each other that much since February.” Kotone radiant smile at Akihiko.

“We lasted talk alone last month when you and Shinji took a break from your relationship.” Akihiko reminded her.

“We did?” Kotone confused.

“I can’t tell if Shinji sent me here to babysit Koto on purpose due to her pregnancy memory problems or if this is payback from watching him and Koto have sex in a cave on Yakushima…” Akihiko says in his thoughts, pessimistic. 

Iwatodai Station - Morning

When Mitsuru arrived at the station, she was too late as Yukari had already left. 

“Bon sang! I was too late!” Mitsuru frustrated.

She decided to call Kikuno for a ride to Tokyo Skytower. But first, she needs to ask one of her friends to accompany her to deliver Yukari’s cell phone to her secret girlfriend without raising any suspicion. First, she tries calling Akihiko.

“Hello?” Says Akihiko’s voice, confused.

“Akihiko, it’s me. Are you available today? I need help without something. Will you accompany me to Tokyo Skytree—“ Before Mitsuru could explain to him, she heard Kotone’s voice.

“What’s that Mitsuru-senpai just now?” Kotone’s voice sounds curious.

“Yes, it is. I’m talking to Mitsuru right now. I promise this call will be short.” Akihiko was talking to Kotone on the phone. 

“Shiomi? Why are you with her, Akihiko? You’re not trying to steal her away from Shinjiro, aren’t you?” Mitsuru looks suspicious.

“Shinji asks me to look after Koto at her place until Shinji finishes working today. I would love to come, but I’m stuck babysitting her if I come with you and Koto. It would be overwhelming since the Tokyo Skytree is huge, and people can get lost easily if I had my eyes off of her for seconds. I will lose her in the crowds, and Shinji will be very pissed off. I can’t risk it.” Akihiko rejects Mitsuru’s offer.

“That’s fine. Shiomi is in the early stages of her pregnancy in her first trimester. It’s important to look after her.” Mitsuru seems reasonable. 

“You can try asking Junpei, Fuuka, Ken or Aigis. I think they are available.” Akihiko suggested.

“I’ll call them right away. Thanks, Akihiko, and I hope you do well to look after her.” 

Akihiko hangs up to spend time with Kotone.

Mitsuru tried calling Junpei, but she received a voicemail, presumably spending time with his girlfriend again. She tried texting Fuuka, but she replied that she was busy with her assignments in one of her classes. Ken is busy with soccer practice with his teammates at his school. The only person she hasn’t called yet is Aigis. She decides to call her last. 

“Oh, Mitsuru-san?  Do you need my assistance?” Aigis’ voice sounds confused.

“Yes, will you meet me at the entrance of Tokyo Skytree? Be sure Yukari doesn’t see you until I get there. Don’t ask why. I will explain everything along the way.”

“Understood. I’ll meet you there.” Aigis accepts Mitsuru’s offer. 

“Thank you, Aigis. It means a lot. I’ll see you there.” Mitsuru 

After Aigis hung up, Mitsuru sighed in relief. “I should have called Aigis first. Now I need to call Kikuno to take me there.”

29 minutes later…

Tokyo Skytree - 10:20 am

Yukari enters the building to search for her mother. She hopes it’s not hard to find her since she hasn’t seen her for almost 12 years. “I hope she is the same as I remember her. She probably might gain wrinkles due to her old age. Where could she be? She should have texted me where she is waiting for me,” Yukari says in her inner thoughts, anxiously. She notices that there is a lot of hope she the same as I hope she the same how’s I remember her. She is pratobably might gain wrinkles due to her old age. Where could she be? She should have text me where is waiting for me.” Yukari says in her inner thought, anxious. She noticed there are a bunches people spending time with their kids during Golden Week. 

“Yukari? Is that you? My, you have grown into a fine woman. You have my looks,” says a familiar woman’s voice.

Yukari looks around at the sound of a voice she just heard and sees her mother again. She seems a slight mid-age version of her with few wrinkles, except she has long hair tied in a low ponytail and blue eyes. She wore a white collar shirt, a tan blazer jacket, a matching skirt, and black high-heeled slippers. Yukari can tell it’s her mom. 

“Mom… *sob* It’s you. It’s been a long time. You lose some weight.” Yukari started to shed some tears of joy.

“I didn’t lose that much. I’m still the same as the last time we saw each other.” Yukari’s mother chuckled. 

Yukari ran to her mother and embraced her tightly. “Mom!” 

Yukari’s mother hugged her daughter back. She expressed great joy at seeing her again after a decade had passed. They share their mother and daughter's tender moments.

Shinjiro and Kotone’s Apartment - Living Room  

After they drank their preferred drinks, Kotone decides to do some house chores before she forgets again. Akihiko volunteers to help her since he doesn’t want her to be misplaced again. 

One hour later…

After they finished all the house chores without any mistakes, they decided to watch something on television. So far, it has been sports, Junes’ 50% off sales during Golden Week at Inaba, and trailers for upcoming movies. So they decided to watch a police film instead.

“It’s been nice to hang out again like this… it brings back memories.” Akihiko feels nostalgic.

“Yeah… back then, during summer vacation, we often watched random films while Shinji worked hard to get a driver's license. Mainly because he would be traveling to a faraway place related to work,” Kotone says in a calm, quiet tone.

“Only half of us got our driver's licenses last year. Except for Ken, Koromaru, Aigis, Junpei, and Fuuka. I got many reasons why they didn’t get there yet.” Akihiko shrugged.

“Ken-kun is still in middle school, Koro-chan is a dog, Aigis doesn’t need one since she can travel independently with her thrusters, and Junpei and Fuuka failed their driver tests,” Kotone stated their reasons for not getting one.

“Well, Mitsuru suggested that everyone except Koromaru and Ken get a driver's license once they become adults.” 

“Aki, can I ask you something? I might have forgotten about it…” Kotone shyly asked.

“Sure. You can ask me. Does something bother you?” Akihiko seems concerned.

“Why did you move to a new apartment in late February instead of returning to the college dorm?” Kotone innocently asked.

“Well…. The truth is… I don’t want to be a third wheel between you and Shinji’s relationship.” Says Akihiko solemnly.

Kotone gasped in surprise.

Akihiko continues…

“Ever since I decided to move in with you to make sure Shinji doesn’t make you cry, and I helped him graduate… You guys try your best not to make love when I’m around and are limited to only focusing on studying, scheduling to hang out together during holiday breaks, and other things. I feel like I’m getting in the way of your relationship. For the past year were the best I got to hang out as roommates and a lot. I meant it.” Akihiko sadly smiles.

Kotone touches Akihiko’s left hand to comfort him. 

Akihiko reacted in surprise and genuinely looked at Kotone’s face. She had a kind, gentle smile on her face.

“You are not getting away from our relationship. We love having you around. Although it was annoying every time you and Shinji got into arguments and were often competitive against each other, You helped Shinji take his classes seriously and get good grades on the exams. You brighten our moods.” Kotone cheerfully compliments him.

Akihiko’s face turns utterly pinkish red across his face. After hearing her kind words, Akihiko is left speechless. He has no idea how to respond to her.

“Hmm? Are you feeling okay? Did you get sick from helping out? Let me feel your forehead to see if you have a fever.” Kotone looked curiously at Akihiko. When Kotone is about to touch Akihiko’s forehead, he quickly grabs her hand before she touches him. “I-It’s fine. I’m not sick. I guess I was tired from the jogging I did. It’s nothing serious…” Akihiko nervously lied.

Kotone giggled. 

Akihiko laughed with her. 

Three hours later…

Tokyo Skytree - 1:30 pm

For the past three hours, Yukari and her mother have been looking around to go shopping for clothes and souvenirs and taking commemorative photos together on the 350th floor. Yukari has never felt this relaxed to spend time with her mom for a very long time. 

Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Mitsuru and Aigis, who already purchased their ticket to get in, tried to find the right opening for her to put Yukari’s cellphone back in her purse, except she had it hanging around her hip. Plus, her mother is never leaving her side at the moment. They are currently hiding from them.

Tokyo Skytree - 340th floor (Skytree Cafe)

Yukari and her mom sat in the front row, which had a nice view of Tokyo. Yukari ordered the Skytree parfait with a Cafe Latte, and her mother just ordered a Peach and Lychee cocktail with mixed nuts. 

“Mom, I’m surprised you didn’t choose much. I thought you were planning on choosing something spicy like curry?” Yukari is concerned.

“I already ate breakfast before coming here. Right now, I felt like drinking alcohol and some snacks… Are you capable of drinking yet?” Yukari’s mother asks Yukari for a while, slipping her drink.

“No, I’m still 18. You know my birthday is on October 19th, right?” Yukari looks annoyed at how her mom forgets what year she was born.

“I’m just testing you if you remember your birthday.” Yukari’s mother denies remembering her daughter’s current age.

Yukari sighs in annoyance. “I almost forgot she was absent-minded sometimes when she used to date hotter, younger, or older men,” she says in her inner thoughts.

Mitsuru and Aigis’ side

Unknown to Yukari, Mitsuru and Aigis try not to cause a scene and act less suspiciously. They sat in the far-right table seat, opposite Yukari and her mother’s seating. Mitsuru’s disguise is a brown trench coat with black sunglasses to hide her eyes and a luxury dandy hat to conceal her hair. Aigis, on the other hand, wears a long black wig with circular black sunglasses and a scarf to hide her mechanical neck. Her outfit is identical, except she wears fake legs with black slippers. To prevent suspiciousness from the crowd, Mitsuru ordered black tea chiffon cake with Earl Gray tea. Aigis, I just ordered Japanese fried chicken. 

They spied on Yukari and her mom, seemingly having a good time together. 

“It seems it would be tough to deliver Yukari-san’s cellphone,” Aigis commented.

“I know… Yukari is always with her mother. I need to find some way for them to be apart quickly… But how.” Mitsuru plans to separate her secret girlfriend from her mom temporarily.

“I’m surprised Yukari-san still hasn’t discovered that she forgot her communication device yet.” 

Yukari’s side 

“Mom, I've been meaning to ask you, what changed your mind about not wanting to get married again two years ago? What is something I say to you? Or was it out of guilt for not being in touch for 12 years?” 

“I… ever since your father and my husband were killed in that accident. It took a heavy toll on my mental health that I wanted to forget about him and move on. I did neglect you to pursue random handsome men I dated and had sex with…”

“Gross… don’t tell me the full details of your sex life. I don’t want to know.” Yukari felt disgusted when she mentioned sex with random men. To her, it might be worse than Kotone and Shinjiro’s mention of having sex non-stop until they have conceived a child together.

“There are two reasons: One to try to get myself pregnant to have another child so you won’t be lonely when I’m not around anyone. And second, to have a father figure for you to replace your father.” Yukari’s mother says with a serious tone.

“What?! Is that your reason for neglecting me all these years?! So you are currently living with some random child you conceived from one of your ex-boyfriends.” Yukari is furious at her mother.

“I wasn’t able to conceive another child once… I had two miscarriages, and one died in between giving birth due to the umbilical cord being wrapped around her neck, and the doctor had to perform a C-section. Once I reached my 40s, I can’t no longer get pregnant again.” Yukari’s mother explained sadly.

“Mom… I. I never realized. I didn’t know. I’m sorry for what I said to you.” Yukari looks guilty.

“Afterwards, I decided to just wanted to be with my new lover, not just focusing on having sex or having children, but to get married and be a family. Remember the last guy I got engaged to? He had a son who is the same age as you. I thought you might go along with you.” 

“I can’t tell if you are trying to guilt trip me or being genuine about it because he can never be Dad’s replacement.” 

“Yukari… I wasn’t—“ Before she could explain, her phone rang from her purse. She took it out and read the caller ID. She didn’t show it to her daughter, but it was an important call.

“Aren’t you going to answer it?” Yukari says impatiently.

“I’m not done talking. I promise this call won't be long. I’ll be right back.” Yukari’s mother gets up from her seat and walks outside the cafe. 

“Mom… I thought you changed. I don’t need a new dad or new brother… I want you back in my life again.” Yukari reacted sadly to her mom’s behavior. 

Mitsuru watched Yukari from a distance, greatly saddened by her secret girlfriend’s grief over her mother’s neglect.

“Aigis, will you watch Yukari’s mother and make sure she doesn’t return to the cafe until I safely deliver her cell phone back?” Mitsuru requested that Aigis spy on Yukari’s mom.

“Understood. I’ll go after Yukari-san’s mother for the time being.” Aigis obliged.

“Thank you. I’ll text you when I’m finished or come to you.” 

Chapter Text

As Mitsuru orders her to do, Aigis secretly follows Yukari’s mother out of the cafe to answer an important call. She opens her cell phone and responds in an impatient tone.

“What is it, Fumiko? I’m in the middle of my conversation with my daughter. Right now. I’m in no mood to take your joke seriously.” Yukari’s mom sounds irritated. 

“I’m here to curiously ask about your relationship with your only child, Isako. Good? Bad? The same as before since you abandoned her the same year of your husband’s death?” Fumiko’s voice sounds mischievous.

“It was going well for three hours until Yukari brought about my reason for dating random men for the past 12 years. She didn’t like what she heard about my reason.” Isako responded negatively. 

“Let me guess, you told her about how you tried getting pregnant many times but ended up tragic.”  She reminded her.

“Yes, I did, and I met it. What’s your point?”  Isako looks annoyed. 

“So you excluded that “other” reason you negated her was that you wanted to start a new family and new life altogether, leaving behind your old life, including your daughter, who bears some resemblance to your late husband. You shouldn’t bear to look at her face and be alienated by the people you know who blamed him for the deaths of Kirijo Group scientists.” Fumiko mocked her.

“That was a very long time ago… I wasn’t in my right mind at the time, and I was desperate to start a new family, so people who stop blame me for my deceased husband’s faults. I want to become the mother my daughter remembers and nothing more. Besides, Eiichiro’s name was cleared last year, and it was his boss who was responsible for every research scientist in the Kirjo Group’s deaths. Please don’t speak ill about him again.” Isako demanded.

“Fine. I’ll stop. There is another question I want to ask you.”

“What is it? Yukari is waiting for me…. Make it quick.” Isako looks impatiently.

“Are you sure the real reason you wanted to see your daugther is because you're hoping she will get married and have children?  Since you can't have children anymore, but your daugther can. I hope your late husband’s legacy will continue through your daughter, and she will give birth with suitable potential. Am I right?” 

Isako didn't respond because she never thought of it. She wants to be a better mom to Yukari.

Yukari and Mitsuru’s side 

When Yukari patiently waits for her mom to finish the call, she spots a familiar face. 

“I believe this is your cellphone, madam,” says Mitsuru, as she is still in character, so Yukari won’t recognize her. She firmly holds Yukari’s pink cell phone in her hand.

Yukari turns to face a radiant, glorious woman in her view. Mitsuru briefly took off her sunglasses to wink at her.

“Mitsuru, thank you for bringing my cell phone. I was wondering why my purchase fell a bit light. I knew you would bring it to me. You always have my back, honey.” Yukari cheerfully flirts with her.

“Same to you, Jolie Fleur.” Mitsuru removes her hat to hide Yukari’s face with it as she leans in to kiss Yukari. Yukari enjoys the sweet taste of her lips. After they parted their lips, Mitsuru returned her hat so people wouldn’t recognize her.

“How did you know it was me? I thought I had a perfect disguise?” Mitsuru wonders.

“I first noticed you with Aigis in a black wig when we were sightseeing around Tokyo Skytree for three hours. I didn’t say anything because I was with my mom. I’m glad you came. My mom is so busy that I can’t tell what she’s thinking.” Yukari annoyed.

“Yukari, I know she missed out most of your life growing up, but I know she is trying to redeem herself to her.” Mitsuru looks concerned. 

“I know she’s trying to make up for lost time… I still have difficulty trusting her even after she told me her reason for dating random men.” Yukari looks upset. 

Mitsuru hugged Yukari in her arms. She hugged back to try to calm herself down a bit.

After that, Yukari calmed down, and they let each other go.

“You should probably be going before my mom returns and wonders if you were my stalker. Don’t worry, I’ll be the one in the sexy apron in front of you at my house if you like.” Yukari winked at Mitsuru in a flirty manner.

“I would love that. I think I’ll be shopping around here just a little longer. I’m just curious about this tower and how it has a lot of beautiful scenery across Tokyo. Let me know if you want me to pick you up and return to Iwatodai.” Mitsuru says gracefully.

After she finishes her dessert and tea, she leaves with Aigis, who has been spying on Yukari’s mother for an extended period. 

Mitsuru and Aigis’ sides

After they watch Yukari’s mother finish her call and re-enter the cafe to rejoin Yukari, Mitsuru, and Aigis, remove their disguises. 

“I’m so glad it’s over. Now, I can relax and explore Tokyo Skytree for a bit longer. Maybe do some shopping perhaps.” Mitsuru smirked.

“I’m going to see Koromaru-san if he has been doing alright on his own at the shrine since I last left him. I must be there before Ken-san gets back from his soccer practice.” Aigis stated.

“You were supposed to keep an eye on Koromaru?! Why didn’t you tell me you were busy?!” says Mitsuru angrily.

“Koromaru-san said he wanted to spend time with Miyuki-san at the shrine she always goes to. He says she is always around when her owner is at school or hanging out with her friends.”Aigis says with a straight face.

“Aigis… You should check on Koromaru immediately, and please don’t break the outside windows. Go back to the entrance we came from at the beginning. I don’t want to risk paying damages because of you.” Mitsuru instructed her carefully.

“Understood. I’ll see you for work!” Aigis salute Mitsuru. “Before I go, I want to report something about Yukari-san’s mother. I think you should hear about this. When she was talking to associates on the phone. She was—“ 

After she informs Mitsuru, Aigis leaves the tower in a usual human way before she flies off soaringly into the sky to head back to Naganaki Shrine. 

Mitsuru has a troubled expression for unknown reasons.

Shinjiro and Kotone’s Apartment

Kotone took a nap on top of the bed due to feeling exhausted. Akihiko watches her sleep peacefully, just like she did on March 5th, except she didn’t fall into a coma. He loves to see her peaceful smile again.  Akihiko roams around the bedroom to see if anything has changed since he moved out. He notices a new photo displayed on the top of the clothes storage. It’s a photo of Kotone and Shinjiro in their hiking clothes during last month's Yakashima trip. They looked happy together. “I’m glad Shinji is showing more of his emotions than before. He rarely smiles or any emotions in front of me.” Akihiko jokingly. 

“Hmmm… Shinji. You are an awesome kisser. Let me hug you to deepen our kiss.” Kotone was talking in her sleep. 

“She’s talking in her sleep again. Lately, she has been doing that at random times. I think the last time was Koromaru talking like a person. At else she doesn’t have any nightmares.” 

Suddenly, he notices that Kotone is sleepy and has started rolling off to the edge of her bed.

“Kotone!” Akihiko panicked. He ran to catch her from falling off the bed. He is on the floor, holding the sleeping Kotone in his arms. 

“Thank god, that was close. I’m glad I was able to save her. For a second, I thought something might gone wrong.” Akihiko says in his inner thoughts, relieved.

When Akihiko picked up the sleepy Kotone and put her back into bed, he accidentally tripped on something on the floor, and his lips crushed down on Kotone’s. By the time he regains his senses, he is horrified, realizing that he is kissing Kotone in her sleep. “Damn it, I jinx it. My lips are on Koto’s soft lips. For some reason, I don’t want to let go… wait. I need to snap out of it. I must stop kissing her and keep my distance until Shinji returns.” Akihiko stopped kissing her, moved Kotone to the center of the bed, and covered her with a blanket. She peacefully grabs her pillow and squeezes it. It seems she is having a good dream.

Akihiko leaves the bedroom to calm himself for what just happened. He can hear his heart pounding rapidly, and his face suddenly feels warm. “That was close… if I would’ve stayed in that position longer… I would’ve had to lose control. Now that Koto is asleep, I might do some warm-up body exercises. I think Shinji should get off work right now….” Akihiko decides to go to the living room to work out. However, he touches his lips and accidentally kisses Kotone for the first time. “I can’t believe this… I got my first kiss with Kotone. And yet, I felt happy and excited for some reason.” Akihiko’s mouth changes into a smile. He punches himself to come back to his senses. “No! I must keep this a secret from him, Koto, and anyone else. Or else he’ll think I might try to steal her from him.” Akihiko felt regretful for his actions.

Yukari’s side - Tokyo Skytree Cafe (2:10 pm)

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting. I was talking to an “old friend” of mine. She shouldn’t stop talking to me. She has a motormouth.” Isako nervously smiles.

“It’s fine. I’m used to it. For a while, I was waiting for you. I already finished up with my dessert and coffee just right now.” Yukari depressed,

“I was gone for that long?! Oh dear, I’m so sorry, sweetie. I promise this is the last time I will send my smartphone to silent mode. So what were we talking about?” She politely asked her daughter.

“The part where you guilt trip me for ruining your happiness?” Yukari says sarcastically. 

“Oh, that. I thought you might be happy to have an adopted brother who loves you and an adopted father who understands you since he lost his wife from giving birth to their son. Because of it, he abandoned him and left him to be raised by his wife’s side of the family. We have similar pasts, so I thought it would be a good match.” Isako felt bad for Yukari.

“Is that all you want to say to me?” Yukari looks at her with hostility.

“Yes, it did. That’s all I want to say to you. How about we talk about something else?” Isako tried to change the topic.

“Fine, if it helps me better my mood.” 

“Are you seeing anyone? Did you have a boyfriend when you were in high school?”

“Oh, that; I don’t have a boyfriend since I wasn’t dating because I didn’t want to become like you. I shouldn’t find the right person for me.” 

“I’m sorry to hear about it. Don’t worry; I have many connections who have single sons, just graduated this year, and are the same age as you. I’m sure you will find the right man to be with, getting married, having sex, and making many babies with him.” 

“Wait?! What was the last part you just said?!” Yukari looks angry and confused at her mom.

“I say I hope you will find the right man to be by your side just like how I was by your father’s side before his death. I want you to be happy.” Isako reworded her words and lied.

When Yukari and her mother start to get into an argument, they see two lesbian couples sitting in the front. One is a butch with black hair in masculine clothes, and the other one is a feminine with long platinum blonde hair in pastel dress. They show off their affection by making out.

“Ugh… Disgusting. Doing that in public, and they are both women who spent the rest of their lives not being with men. They can’t even get each other pregnant..” Isako looks disgusted at them with disdainful eyes.

The lesbian couple heard what she had just said and left the cafe angry. 

Yukari looks greatly shocked by her mom’s adverse reaction towards the lesbian couple. “Mom, that wasn’t very nice. Why are you so hostile towards them? They didn’t do anything to you.” Yukari asked.

“I’m sorry I get carried away, Yukari. It just… every time I see same-sex couples. It drives me crazy. I hate them. Guys are acting like women, and women are acting like guys. They are an abomination to human society. It feels wrong for them.” Isako, angry, slips her drink in frustration.

“What about people who are bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, or pansexual? What are your thoughts about them?” Yukari nervously asks. She prays she doesn’t want those other sexualities.

“Bisexual and Pansexual aren’t as bad since they are half-straight. I prefer that they date people of the opposite gender rather than those of the same gender. As for transgender, I’m greatly disappointed that since they had a sex change operation, they can’t no longer get pregnant or pregnant women. Are they trying to become infertile or something? Finally, for non-binary, it’s confusing… I can’t tell whether they were born a guy or a woman. It isn’t obvious what they are. I’m glad I didn’t date them.” 

“Oh my god… my mom is homophobic. She hasn’t supported them at all. She doesn’t care at all. This is the worst reunion I had with her.” Yukari says in her thoughts, trying to hold back her emotions.

“Why did you ask? Do you support these disgusting people, aren’t you? Or are you one of them?” Isako looks at her suspiciously.

“N-No, I’m not like them. I like guys. I think it’s getting late. I’m going back home since it’s work-related. It was nice to see you again, Mom.” Yukari forces herself to smile and lies to her mother to her face without raising any suspicion.

“Me too. Let’s catch up again. Next time, you can choose which cities to meet up in. You go on ahead; I’ll pay the bill. You can relax,” Isako says with a relaxed smile. 

After Yukari finally leaves the cafe, she breathes heavily since she still has to keep her composure in check when talking to her mother. She decides to call Mitsuru. 

“Yukari, are you done talking to your mother?” Mitsuru asks.

“Yeah, I am. Are you still here? Can I go back to Iwatodai with you? I’m not in the mood to go back on the train…” 

“A course you can. Me and Kikuno are waiting on the ground floor in the parking lot. We are in a black limousine. I’ll wait outside for you if you cannot use it.” Mitsuru accepted.

“I think I know where you are. I’ll be right down.” Yukari says it depressingly.

Tokyo Skytree - Parking ALot

Yukari manages to find the limousine, where Mitsuru patiently waits for her. Yukari walks towards her. Suddenly, she hugged Mitsuru unexpectedly, but she still hugged Yukari. They enter the limousine together, and Kikuno leaves the parking lot.

Kirijo Group Limosine Interior

During the driveway, Mitsuru sat beside Yukari on the right side of the seat. She noticed Yukari hadn’t spoken since she last chatted with her mother. She thought it best to have a private conversation with her.

“Kikuno, please set up privacy mode. I want to talk to her privately,” Mitsuru asked her.

“Understood, Lady Mitsuru.” She obliged. 

She turns on the privacy mode, in which the window block separates Yukari, Mitsuru, and Kikuno. The window is so utterly black that they can’t see Kikuno anymore.

“Yukari, you can tell me what’s been happening with you. Did something happen between you and your mother?” Mitsuru carefully asked.

Suddenly, Yukari became clingy to Mitsuru's breasts, and she started to cry uncontrollably.

“*sobbing* You were right, Mitsuru, about everything. It wasn’t the right time to come out yet. My mom strongly hates gays and lesbians.  I’m afraid if I came out to her, she would treat me differently. She already informed me of a potential boyfriend for me. I haven’t told her I’m already in a relationship with someone, but I was too scared to admit it.” Says Yukari tearfully.  Mitsuru’s fears have come true since Yukari fears being rejected and discriminated against by her mother. The only thing she can do is wait until she stops crying. She puts her arm around Yukari’s body. 

“Sshhh… it’s okay. I’m here for you when you need me. I will never let anyone discriminate against you by your sexuality, even if it is someone who is your only relative.” Mitsuru says in a calm tone to her. She tried rubbing her back before she started stroking her light brown hair.

“Did you think… we should break up? That way, my mom won’t expect me to be either a lesbian or bisexual. It would be best if you didn’t get hurt because of me. Even if I didn’t come out, I would probably be dating some random guy my mom suggested for me. My mom would be happy, but I won’t—.” Before Yukari could finish her words, Mitsuru shut her up with a kiss. Yukari’s eyes widen in bewildered expression. She tries to push her away, but Mitsuru refuses, so he tries to deepen their kiss with a French kiss. Yukari starts to lose strength from her outstanding kissing skills, but she finally submits to her.  After 5 minutes, they catch their breaths with their tongues linked together by their salvia. Yukari’s face became very fluttered from the heated kiss.

“Yukari, don’t say it! You don’t have to listen to what your mother’s says. You are an adult now and have the right to choose what you want to be with. You chose me last month when you confessed your love to me. My father would accept you wholeheartedly if he were still alive. I know he’s not the type to judge people for who they are.” Mitsuru says with a sincere tone.

“Mitsuru…” Mitsuru’s kind words move Yukari. Mitsuru kindly wipes her tears off her face with her hands.

“You are the most wonderful woman I have ever met, and I mean it. I wanted to spend my life with you despite keeping our relationship a secret. You don’t need your mother’s approval. You have me and everyone else in Shadow Operatives. That’s all that matters.” Mitsuru gently smiles at her.

“Mitsuru… I love you so much.” Yukari confessed her love, still crying.

“I love you too, Yukari,” Mitsuru responded.

They shared a quick kiss a few times. Mitsuru kissed Yukari’s eyelids, licking and kissing her fair-skinned neck. Yukari mew in relax pleasure. Mitsuru stops to look at her calmly. “How about I’ll be in charge of having sex with you? I heard having sex helps relieve stress, and I think you need one. Just let me know which sex positions you prefer tonight. Do you want to go to your place or mine?” 

“*sniff* You’re mansion… women position, since I’m in no mood for another rectum position right now. Your place is safer,” says Yukari, frowning. 

Shinjiro and Kotone’s Apartment - Evening

Shinjiro returned from work and brought dinner from the same place he worked.

“Aki, thank you for watching my future wife for me. It has not been easy since she started having memory problems this week. Now you know how it feels.” Shinjiro thanks Akihiko.

“It’s no problem. I didn’t mind. Koto’s memory problems weren’t that bad. However, she threw up in the toilet after waking up from her nap. Don’t worry, she brushes her teeth and uses mouthwash to wash off the taste of vomit.” Akihiko informs Shinjiro about Kotone’s condition.

“Welcome home, darling!” Kotone cheery greeted her future husband.

“Please don’t call me that… it’s too embarrassing.” Shinjro pulled his beanie down to hide his eyes in embarrassment. 

“Oops! Sorry. I forgot you don’t like any affectionate marriage nicknames.” Kotone embarrassing smile. 

“I ordered some food for you that helps the baby grow healthy inside you. If you don’t eat seafood tonight?”

“Is the fish raw or cooked?” Kotone looks confused.” 

“Don’t worry, the salmon and other fish meals are fully cooked. It’s okay to eat.” Shinjiro reinsure her.

“Yay! I can’t wait for seafood again!” Kotone sounds exciting.

Before Akihiko sneaks away to leave, Shinjiro stops him by grabbing his left shoulder.

“Wait, Aki, how about you eat with us tonight? One of the cooks gave me extra food by mistake, even though I worked both the Prodigy platter and the seafood full course. You need to eat some salmon; it makes you smarter and has protein.” Shinjiro invited Akihiko to eat with him and Kotone.

“Come on, Aki, we haven’t eaten together since February. It would be nice once in a while.” Kotone encourages Akihiko to eat with them.

Akihiko can’t resist Kotone’s cute smile; he accepts it. “Alright, I’ll eat with you guys. After that, I’m returning home.” 

The three of them eat dinner together in the dining room. Kotone and Shinjiro sit together, and Akihiko sits across from Shinjiro. 

The three spent quality time together. 

Chapter Text

Four months later….

The Shadow Operatives become busier each month since Kotone temporarily leaves the organization on maternity leave in June. 

Kotone is now five months pregnant and has noticed some changes in her body. Kotone’s breasts have gotten slightly more prominent, and her stomach has increased as she and Shinjiro’s unborn baby started to grow bigger each month. She often sometimes feels the baby’s movement inside of her. To her, it felt like butterflies in her stomach. Kotone’s appetite increased a bit so that the baby could grow healthier. She is still in college classes, except she switched to online courses... She earns good grades on her exams and gets her assignments on time before the deadline. 

Shinjiro still checks Kotone’s current state during her pregnancy. He works hard for his college classes and a part-time job to pay rent and food. After winning the cooking competition this year, he earned a considerable sum and got an internship with a famous chef. His Japanese and Western dishes won 1st place with Fuuka, assisting him without any accident. Shinjiro would have taken Kotone this year, but she is pregnant, so Fuuka was his second choice. He has enough money to pay child support and is saving it for his and Kotone’s marriage ceremony, which he is considering going to after their child is born next year. Kotone and Shinjiro also found out the gender of their baby will be a boy, based on an ultrasound from Kotone’s last checkup 18 weeks ago. They started to take parent classes together to prepare them for pregnant women to enter into labor, change a baby’s diaper, breastfeed babies at certain months until they are ready for solid foods, and learn how to give birth to newborns. Shinjiro and Kotone’s love for one another stays strong.

Junpei still has a healthy relationship with Chidori, as usual. He tried a method for Chidori to stop giving him blow jobs every time they met on holiday breaks by either showing her a variety of famous artworks or flower landscapes. Chidori’s addiction has deceased, and she’s much calmer. However, she starts to enjoy getting anal sex with him. Junpei still uses condoms for safety purposes, and he is still technically a virgin himself since he didn’t do it raw. He hasn’t seen the Chidori in his dreams since May, nor has he experienced any of Chidori’s childhood memories of the Dark Hour. He worries that Chidori did it on purpose to prevent him from seeing that ugly side of her.

Akihiko’s officer classes have gone smoothly except for some significant courses, as he barely passed due to his focus on training his body at the gym. He still felt guilty about what happened during Golden Week. He never told anyone about it. He knows he should be moving on but cannot forget his first kiss with Kotone while she is asleep. Plus, Kotone doesn’t feel anything off after she wakes up from her nap and the feeling of her lips. Akihiko is off the hook for now.

Yukari is still together with Mitsuru in secret from the public. She is still annoyed that her mom schedules her on blind dates with men almost every week. She has to make up excuses that she needs to focus on work and college. She doesn’t have time for blind dates right now, which her mom understands, so she changes to holiday breaks instead. Yukari still refuses Mitsuru to take her first time because she doesn’t want to come out yet, even though she took Mitsuru’s words at heart during the Yakushima trip. 

Fuuka is still seeing Tsubasa and has a good time together, but she is hesitant to confess her love for them even though they have a rarely seen boyfriend. She decides to improve their friendship first before she can tell them properly.

Ken is doing well at school, club activities, and joining the student council club. He tries to befriend students his age, whether young or older than him. 

Koromaru spends every time hanging out with the dog he has a long-time crush on at the shrine he always visits to pray his respect for his former master’s resting place and get to know his crush. 

During the important case in Inaba from four months ago, there have been a few more incidents each month until July. The son of the Textile shop’s owner, Kanji Tatsumi, was kidnapped in May and was safely rescued the following day by the same students who saved Yukiko Amagi. A retired idol, Rise Kujikawa, was also kidnapped in June and rescued the following day. Mitsuru stated most of the victims shared some connections to the deceased Mayumi Yamano. However, several weeks later, a former teacher at Yasogami High, Kinshiro Morooka, was found dead even though he didn’t appear on television, nor was there any connection to her. In August, the police arrested a young man with blank eyes who claimed to have murdered three people and kidnapped the saved victims. Most of the Shadow Operatives, especially Kotone, felt terrible about it, and something was off. 

September 7th, 2011 - Daytime

Shinjiro and Kotone’s Apartment - 1:30 pm

Kotone is doing a project from one of her online classes about biology on her laptop computer at home. She learns about the species and the function of their bodies. She does pregnancy exercises such as yoga, walking, and trimester workouts to keep her body active before the baby's due date. After she finished, she closed her laptop and put it on the coffee table. Suddenly, she receives a call from someone she hasn’t seen for a very long time since her first year at high school. It reads “Naoto Shirogane.” Kotone surprisingly picked up the phone right away. 

“Hello?” Kotone sounds unsure.

“Greeting cousin. It’s me, Naoto. I'm sorry I didn’t call, text, or send you letters due to working for two years… How have you been doing lately?” Naoto politely asked.

“Naoto! It’s good to hear your voice again!! I could ask you the same thing. I read on the news online about an androgynous young man in a trademark blue cap investigating mysterious murder cases in Inaba. I thought that might be you. Oh, based on your previous question, I’m fine for now. Just taking my online course during my fall semester classes for college.” Kotone cheery explained to her cousin.

“You’re working on your homework assignment just now. Is it a bad time to call you?” Naoto sounds worried.

“No, I’m fine. I’m almost done. What do you want to talk about?” Kotone asked.

“I was wondering if I could stay at your place for three days and two nights since you lived in Iwatodai after that. My first-year classmates and two other students are taking a class trip this week. I checked what hotel we are staying at, and I don’t want to sleep here with other students I’m unfamiliar with.” Naoto asks her permission to stay temporarily.

“Why? What kind of hotel are your classmates staying at? It’s probably not as bad…” Before Kotone can finish her sentence, Naoto interrupts and reveals the name of the hotel and what it used to be called in the past.

“It’s called Seaside Clamshell Hotel; it used to be Love Hotel Champs De Fleurs two years ago.” Naoto regrettably corrected her.

“Ohhhh….. that hotel.” Kotone seems uneasy about the love hotel to which she and former members of SEES went during the full moon operation in July 2009. Kotone’s recollection of that place was awkward and disturbing, especially after they defeated Arcana Hierophant. The other Shadow paired them, split them up, and transported them into different rooms. She was paired up with Akihiko, and Yukari was with Junpei. 

Two years ago….

Champs De Fleurs Hotel - Dark Hour

After Kotone regains her sense from the Shadow’s manipulation, she hears the shower turn off. “I wonder who’s in the bathroom who just finished showering… That figure seems familiar. Where did I see it before…” Kotone wonders in her inner thoughts.  Suddenly, she sees someone coming out of the bathroom. It was Akihiko Sanada. He was completely naked, except he wore a towel to cover up his crouch. She felt something was off with him. Akihiko’s eyes are completely blank. He slowly walks towards Kotone. He stares at Kotone’s red eyes with his gray soulless eyes. 

“Hey, it’s your turn next.” Akihiko reminds her.

“Huh?! Uh... I’m sorry, I’m good. I don’t feel like taking off my clothes right now…” Kotone denies the brainwashed Akihiko’s offer.

“Or do you want me to undress you instead?” He flirted with her. 

“Wait? What?!” Kotone looks confused about what he means. Suddenly, Akihiko pulls her onto the bed, removes her S.E.E.S. jacket, and her red ribbon tie from her collar shirt. He licks Kotone’s soft, delicate neck before he sucks it hard. He was leaving a hick mark on her left neck. Kotone reacted very confused and slightly nervous until she realized the Shadow’s ability influenced Akihiko. When Akihiko was about to kiss Kotone on the lips, she blushed and quickly slapped him in the face. “Senpai, snap of it!!!”  

“OW!!! What was that— Huh? W-What the hell!? What’s going on here!?” Akihiko looks confused, finally returning to his senses from the shadow’s control.

“It’s an enemy trap!” Kotone responded to Akihiko’s question in a serious tone.

“What!? We have to regroup immediately!” Akihiko looks furious. He looks down to see that he’s not wearing anything except his bath towel. He reacts nervously and is surprised by this. “…..Oh, after I change first…” 

Akihiko ran back into the bathroom. It seems Akihiko’s mind had been clouded, too.

Kotone sat up and put back her jacket and ribbon on. She heard Fuuka’s voice.

“Oh, I can finally reach you! Can you two hear me?” Fuuka sounds relieved. 

“I can hear you, Fuuka,” Kotone responded softly.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you sooner… The Shadow was interfering with your thoughts… And you all got separated… The enemy is still in the same room. Please regroup and hurry there.” Fuuka informs her.  She decides to talk to Akihiko if he hears everything now with Kotone. “Sanada-senpai, can you hear me?”

“Y-Yeah, loud and clear!” Akihiko replied.

“Um… Did something happen?” Fuuka’s voice sounds confused.

By the time Akihiko was entirely changed to his S.E.E.S. battle gear and weapons, including his Gekkoukan High school uniform.

“All right, let’s go.” Akihiko had a brief pause of silence. He noticed something on Kotone’s neck. He realizes he might be the cause of it. “Um, and about what happened earlier… Could you keep it a secret? Please… Especially that mark I gave you.” Akihiko shamefully begged her to keep it a secret just between them.

“O-Okay. Akihiko-senpai.” Kotone agreed with him. She faintly blushed at Akihiko. 

September 7th, 2011 - Present

“Kotone? Are you alright? You sound like you've been to that place before.” Naoto sounds concerned for her cousin.

“N-No, I’m alright. Of course, you can stay here for three days. I’m so happy to see you again tomorrow.” Kotone happily accepts her request.

“Do you want to meet up at Gekkoukan High since my class is going there first for a lecture before we go to the hotel where we will be staying? You can probably recognize me since I always wear masculine clothes and a blue cap. You can find me wearing a Yasogami High summer school uniform.” Naoto asked which place to meet up.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll recognize you.”  Kotone determined.

“I’ll text you the time and place tomorrow morning. I’m looking forward to seeing you again, cousin.” 

“Me too. Naoto. :)” 

Naoto ends the conversation. 

“Who were you talking to on the phone?” Shinjiro curiously asks his pregnant fiancée. 

“Oh, Shinji! I didn’t know you just got back from class.” Kotone looked surprised by his sudden appearance.

“That was 10 minutes ago. I didn’t want to bother you because you were doing your online work. So, the person on the phone just now was someone you know?” 

“She’s my cousin from my mother’s side. She is on a class trip with her classmates to Iwatodai. I agreed to let her stay at our place for three days until she returns to Inaba.” Kotone cheery explained.

“What?! I never agreed to this. We promised Ken we would babysit Koro-chan since he is on a school trip in Shinjuku. He won’t be back until this Saturday.” Shinjiro pointed out Koromaru's nuzzle on Kotone’s stomach to feel the baby’s movements. 

“Oh, right. We did. I’m sorry. It was at the last minute. I haven’t seen my cousin for a long time since I transferred to Gekkoukan High. She and her grandfather were the only relatives I was close with. My other relatives weren’t kind to me, and they blamed me for my parents’ car accident. I highly doubt they want to see me getting married. They took it harder than my uncle and cousin.” says Kotone, happily saddened. 

“I’m sorry to hear that… to have heartless relatives who refuse to move on and end up blaming you instead for their grief.” Shinjiro sat down and gently pulled Kotone closer to him. Kotone lay her head on his shoulder to rest.

“I’m already used to it. I don’t think about them anymore since I was taken in by my cousin and uncle, the family I have left. That’s why I want to catch up with her.” Kotone comfortably held Shinjiro’s hand, which was valid for hers.

“*sigh* Koto, next time, tell me before you make a reckless decision without me. Your cousin can sleep in the guest room since we are still making our son’s room.” Shinjiro, who couldn’t stay mad at his lover, forgave her. 

“Arf! Arf!” Koromaru was cheerful, wagging his tail. He seems to know what is going on. He doesn’t mind meeting Kotone’s cousin tomorrow. 

“Hm. You seem excited to meet Koto’s cousin, Koro-chan?” Shinjiro smiles at the dog with red eyes. 

“Bark.” Koromaru agreed. 

Shinjiro pats Koromaru’s head gently and comfortably with his other hand. Koromaru seems to enjoy it. Kotone looks relieved that Shinjiro, her cousin, stayed for three days. She will ask Shinjiro the next time someone asks her for something important.

September 8th, 2011

Gekkoukan High - 4:00 pm

After the lecture, their teacher guides the first—and second-year students from Yasogami High to the hotel, where they will stay for three days and two nights. Everyone has left except an androgynous young woman dressed in a male school uniform, waiting for someone to meet her. 

She checks the time on her cellphone to meet with her cousin, whom she hasn’t seen for two years. She hopes her cousin doesn’t get into much trouble.

“Naoto!” says Kotone’s voice in a cheerful tone.

Naoto faces the direction of the voice and sees her cousin, Kotone Shiomi, who is surprisingly happy to see her. She waves at her to get her attention. She seems to be touching her stomach, revealing that she is pregnant. Kotone stands in front of the school gate. 

“Kotone!” Naoto calls her name happily. 

She ran to her before she gave her a heartwarming reunion hug. Kotone hugged her back. The two of them were happy to see each other again.

“It’s been a very long time since I have seen you graduate from your first year of high school. You look the same as ever.” Naoto compliments her.

“Same to you, Naoto. I’m still surprised you are still dressed in men’s clothes. I wish I could see you dressed in feminine clothes once.” 

“You know I can’t because my ancestors who were detectives before me were men. This is the only way to become like my grandfather. You and my grandfather are the only ones who know my true gender. I hope you kept your promise to me years back.” Naoto reminds Kotone the reason she has to keep her gender is revealed.

“So, no one has ever found out?” 

“I am professional in keeping my true gender a secret from the public. Everyone thinks I’m a man, and I want to keep it that way. I want to avoid being prejudiced against my gender.” Naoto frowned.

“Don’t worry, Naoto. I still accept you for who you are. Your gender doesn’t matter to me. You will always be the kind, serious cousin I grew up with.” Kotone cheers up Naoto.

“Thanks, Kotone. I need that. I noticed just now that you’re at least five months pregnant. I was wondering why you didn’t tell me about your pregnancy.” Naoto looked suspiciously at her.

“Oh! I forgot to tell you! I’m sorry. I was so excited to see you again that I almost forgot I was pregnant. I promise it wasn’t intentional.” Kotone's heartfelt apologies. 

“I believe you. It’s one of the common side effects of pregnancy. It just… I have no idea why you became pregnant even though you’re still in college, Kotone.” Naoto puzzled.

“It’s a long story… I’ll tell you on the way back if you don’t mind me talking?”

“I got time since it’s been a while since I have had a meaningful conversation with my relative. I want to know what you have been up to lately.” Naoto says with a calm smile. 

Kotone takes Naoto to her place, where she talks about the day she met Shinjiro at the hospital and the month they started to hang out and spend time together at night. She mentions she started dating him at the beginning of October, when she confessed her love for him, and they lost their virginity to each other. However, Naoto doesn’t want to know how she experiences sex for the first time. So, Kotone decides to skip that and move on to what happened two days later, where Shinjiro got into an accident that left him unconscious for four months. They reunited on March 5, 2010,  and had a happy reunion. 

Meanwhile Shinjuku….

Ken and his classmates arrive in Shinjuku to spend their trip until Saturday. Numerous buildings and many people are living there. He realizes how big Shinjuku is. He has never been outside of Tatsumi Port Island before. 

“Wow. It's so amazing.” Ken seems bewildered. 

“I know. This is one of the most interesting cities yet. For the next two days, we will explore important attractions, like the art museum and  Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building,” Ken’s classmate excitedly says.

“That seems interesting. Although I wonder what we will do today before we go to our hotel…” Ken wonders.

“Today, we will visit a school recently opened two years ago. I heard foreigners, half Japanese and disabled, are also welcome to learn. You don’t see many schools accept them.” Ken’s classmate explained.

“Why is that?” Ken asked.

“Their school is very prohibited against prejudices. I think it’s best not to provoke them when we see them.” Ken’s classmate nervously suggested. 

“Alright, everyone, quiet it down. Today, we are going to Hosei Academy, a school open to everyone, including outsiders. I want your best behavior. The principal is a kind man who is good friends with the creator of Hosei Academy. I advise you to respect him, the staff, and the students. After that, we will go to the hotel for two nights. You can do whatever you want the following day if you return to the hotel before evening. The safest to tour around is being in a group.” Ken’s teacher announced. 

“I can’t believe my classmate was right about this….” Ken quietly sulked himself.

Kotone and Shinjiro’s Apartment - Evening

“I’m home!” Kotone announced herself.

“Koto, welcome back. Were you able to find your cousin?” Shinjiro greeted his beloved.

“Yes, I did! I like to introduce you to my cousin, Naoto Shirogane.” Kotone introduced Naoto. 

She gets the first glimpse of her cousin’s fiancé. “Hmmm…. Strong build, gray-brown eyes, black beanie, and often wears turtleneck. This is the person Kotone described to me on the way back. I never imagined she would be engaged by someone menacing yet having a warm atmosphere. He reminds me of someone,” Naoto says in her inner thoughts, doubtful.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Shinjiro Aragaki.” Shinjiro extended his hand to Naoto as a polite way to greet her.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Aragaki-san.” Naoto shakes his shake firmly before they let go. 

“She told me about you yesterday, and you come from a line of detectives. You’re the fifth generation, and you wanted to succeed your predecessor. It takes a lot of work to become a detective despite being in high school.” 

“It’s no big deal. I have been doing this a lot. It’s my job to solve cases.” Says Naoto, proudly at her job. 

“I’m sure a friend of mine would love to meet you. He loves detective stories and movies because they’re interesting and thrilling. I should introduce you to him next time you visit here,” Kotone happily suggested.

“I would love that.” 

Suddenly, a Shiba Inu with red eyes comes out of nowhere to sniff Naoto. 

“Oh, you also have a pet dog too? I thought apartments don’t allow pets here?” Naoto questioned Kotone. She kneels and extends her hand so Koromaru can smell her hand before he licks it. 

“The apartment we are staying in allows pets. This is our other friend, Koromaru, and he’s not our dog. We are pet-sitting for the friend I mentioned. He is also on a school trip. He dropped him off yesterday,” Kotone explained.

Koromaru jumps on Naoto’s shoulders and starts licking Naoto’s face affectionately.

“Hahaha… you’re so touchy. You sure like to lick people, huh, Koromaru.” She chuckles. Naoto hugs him for a while, still licking her face. 

“*pant* *pant* Arf.” Koromaru barked in agreement.

When Kotone and Naoto have a good time playing with Koromaru, Shinjiro seems lonely and depressed. “I’m glad Koto has a relative who cares for her…. I wonder what it would be like to have a family like that. I… barely remember my parents.”  Shinjiro, in his thoughts, was despondent. 

Chapter Text

September 8th, 2011 

Tokyo Plaza Hotel, Shinjuku - Evening

Ken, his classmates, and the other 1st and 2nd year students from his middle school are waiting for their teacher to book them in a hotel and the room they will be staying with. Ken wants to be a roommate, someone he started to get to know in his classmate. He is not on a first-name basis with him yet, but he seems like a chill, friendly person even though he is more mature than him. He didn’t mind when Ken called him by his first name since he was a year older than him. He has short, curly black hair and gray eyes. He wears a standard middle Gekkoukan uniform. 

“Um… Ren, can I share a room with you? The teacher mentioned we could hang out and stay with someone we were close to. Well, except the opposite gender, whether from the same class, year, or a year older.” Ken shyly asks him. 

“Sure. I don’t mind. Amada-senpai. You’re technically the only person I get along with.” Ren casually accepts Ken’s request to share a room for their school trip.

“Thanks. It's the same thing for you, too. It's just I’m used to hanging out with people who are six or seven years older than me. I almost forgot what it felt like to hang out with someone close to my age before.” Ken shyly rubs the back of his head.

“To be honest… I have a difficult time of befriended people in my classmates because I wasn’t born in Iwatodai. For some reason, I felt I could get along with you.” 

“I’m sure you will find the right people you can call friends someday. They will support and trust you greatly.” Ken says to him positively. 

September 9th, 2011

Kotone and Shinjiro’s Apartment - Morning

Naoto woke up nicely from the guest bedroom. She borrowed her cousin’s old pajamas, which she used to wear to sleep in high school. She saw her cousin cooking breakfast today. She made a simple breakfast for herself, Shinjiro, and Naoto: white rice, miso soup, and grilled dishes. She already gave Koromaru some white rice and shredded grill dishes. After Kotone finished cooking, she sat beside Shinjiro while Naoto sat in the middle of the table. 

“Good morning, Naoto. Did you sleep well?” Kotone happily asks her detective cousin.

“I slept fine. I think it is better to sleep alone than someone I don’t know. I don’t want to risk getting my gender exposed.” Naoto says calmly as she eats part of her grilled fish with her crop sticks. 

“Why you’re against staying at the hotel with your school again?” Shinjiro tirelessly asks.

“She doesn’t want people to know she is a girl. She fears being discriminated against even though it’s not true.” Kotone reminds him.

“I’m surprised you found out I was a girl yesterday. I thought Kotone told you about this even though she wasn’t supposed to keep my gender a secret.” Naoto looks disappointed in Kotone.

“I didn’t say she would dressed in feminine clothing.” Kotone casually comments.

“That’s not the only reason she told me; it was obviously by how you talk, your body type, and your face resembling your cousin. I know what a female figure looks like since I made love to Koto, and we have been dating for two years.” Shinjiro blunted. He casually eats his white rice from his bowl with his chopsticks. 

“Please don’t talk about sex while we’re eating breakfast, Aragaki-san.” Naoto annoying begged him. She is not interested in learning how sex works. 

Kotone chuckled as she enjoyed seeing her lover and cousin starting to get along nicely. She quietly ate her grilled fish with some white rice.

“So, Kotone, have you and Aragaki-san decide on a name for your child yet?” Naoto asked curiously.

“Not yet. I was considered of naming him Shinji Jr., Akita, or Akijiro, but he hates that idea. I think about our child's names should be either close to his or mine. I’m unable to think of good names for him.” Kotone responded, disappointed.

“I'd rather not name our first child after my best friend or after me. It would be weird for most people,” Shinjiro comments in a discomforting tone.

“We still have time before December or January. My doctor says our child can be born either on the due date, December 26 this year or in the last full term week in the 41 or 42 week of 2012.” Kotone explained to Naoto. 

“We still have time before the baby is born. We still need to buy baby clothes, a baby stroller, a baby carrier, and a baby pacifier, plus pay for the child’s support. We are going to be so busy preparing.” 

“I’m surprised at how calm and confident they are. They both prepare for their first child and focus on college simultaneously. Most couples in their early adulthood would be stressed… Maybe Kotone is serious about having a baby. According to her, she had a miscarriage when he was still in a coma. Why do I feel uneasy about something being wrong for some reason….”Naoto says in her inner thoughts, thinking.

After finishing breakfast, Shinjiro hugged Kotone and kissed her forehead before he went to class today. At the same time, Kotone proceeded with her online assignments. Naoto decided to roam around Port Island, mainly spying on the other students involved in that murder mystery case two months ago. She doesn’t want to tell her cousin yet or get involved. Before Naoto goes out, Kotone gives Naoto the spare key she can borrow until she leaves with her classmates tomorrow.

Shinjuku - Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building North Observatory; Daytime  

Ken and Ren decided to explore the observatory on the 45th floor, where they looked at the beautiful view of the cities and buildings of Shinjuku. They were amazed at how high up they were. They also noticed many people hanging out with their friends and families. Some students from their middle school came here to take pictures. This floor has many places to relax and things to look at, such as a cafe and souvenir shop. 

“This place has the best view of Shinjuku. Maybe I should ask one of my friends to come here for the holiday break someday. I heard from one of the tour guidebooks that there is the best coffee here.” Ken seems excited. 

“Aren’t you too young to drink coffee? Should you wait until you are old enough?” Ren asked.

“I’m fully aware of that, but I don’t drink that much. I make sure to drink coffee that is no more than 100 mg of caffeine per day.  I’m 13 years old.” Ken was slightly annoyed.

“Are you friends you mentioned back from Port Island older than you? What are they like?” 

“They are very nice and have their unique traits and personalities. Kotone-san is very friendly and cheerful with everyone she meets. She always lifts everyone's spirits when we feel down. She is also my former crush I had when I was eleven…” Ken shyly. 

“You had a crush on someone six years older than you? Isn’t she out of your league?” 

“She is. Kotone-san is engaged to someone she loved dearly and will have his baby soon,” says Ken, happy and sadly.

“She is also pregnant, too?!” Ren looks surprised.

Ken continues…

“Yukari-san is very fashionable and has good social skills. Junpei-san is a goofy but okay person. He works as a little league baseball coach for kids and a member of his university’s basketball team. He has a girlfriend in high school. Fuuka-san is shy, bright, and friendly. She likes fixing tech and loves helping out with her friends.” Ken explained cheerfully.

“Wow, Amada-senpai, you know about them. They seem to be excellent friends to you.” Ren complimented positively.

“Mitsuru-san is the serious, yet polite, head of the Kirijo Group. She enjoys speaking in French and making teas. Sanada-san enjoys training and working out. He is working hard to become a police worker at his college. He is also the person I admire. He is a great person when you get to know him.”  Ken says passionately.

“You mean befriended people who are famous too. So you have more to talk about your friends?”

“Aigis-san is straightforward, but she strongly desires to protect her friends. She is very attached to Kotone-san and always wants to be by her side. She doesn’t seem to be attracted to anyone except her.” Ken stated. 

“Aigis-san a lesbian?”

“You could say that. Even though her romantic feelings for Kotone-san are unrequited since she is already with someone, that doesn’t mean they can’t hang out together like before. Now their relationship is like a sister-like bond.” Ken reassures him. 

Ren smiles softly. 

“Two more I want to talk about. Koromaru is the most loyal, friendly, and intelligent dog I ever met. He has rarely left my side since I decided to take it last year. He is my best friend, and we care for one another. Lastly, there is Shinjiro-san. You can say he is my good friend and former rival. Since he was the one who engaged  Kotone-san and pregnant her, I am not jealous. It's just I-I…” Before Ken could finish his sentences, he heard a child cry. 

“*sob*  Great Auntie…. Toki… where are you.. *sob* I hate.. being *sob* alone.” says a sad child’s voice.

Ken follows the sound of the child’s voice until he finds it. The child has dark-toned skin and short platinum hair. He wears an elementary school uniform with a black hoodie underneath. He sits alone on the stone bench. He notices nobody is helping him or comforting him. They just ignored his pleading cry. Ken cannot see his face since he only sees the back of his head and clutches an action figure to hide his face. 

“Why is a child by himself? Don’t tell me he got separated from his family?” Ren worried.

“I think so… I find it strange that nobody is helping him. That’s so heartless of them. Ren, I’m going to try to comfort him. Will you find the security to take the child to find his family?” Ken requested Ren.  

“*sigh* Fine. , but please stay here and don’t wander off by the time I return.” Ren left Ken to find someone working there to help search for the boy’s family.

Ken walked toward the crying boy and sat next to him.

“Hey, are you alright? What happened?” Ken comforts him.

“*sob* I’m not allow to talk to strangers… especially adults.” The crying boy hides his face with his black action figure. 

“I’m not fully adult yet. I’m a preteen. Close to a teenager. I want to try to calm you down until my friend finds someone to search for your parents.” Ken tries soothing him with his calm voice.

“My parents are having their wedding anniversary in Germany. They *sob* won’t be back until next week. My great-aunt and great-uncle babysit me and my little brother…” The boy corrected him.

“He still refuses to let me help him. He doesn’t want me to see his face. I need to find some way he can open up to me…” Ken says this in his inner thoughts. He noticed the action figure he held was not originally an action figure but a limited edition Featherman Neo Feather Falcon. 

“Wow! It is Featherman Neo Feather Falcon! I didn’t know you were a fan of Phoenix Ranger Featherman. You must have watched every episode during your free time, huh?!”  Ken looks amazing.

“Y-Yeah… with my friend and little brother.. *hic* every Sunday.” The boy slowly stops crying when he starts talking to Ken.

“Where did you do this? It must been hard to find these days. I only purchased most of them except Feather Falcon and Feather Swan. They often get sold out during the weekend.” Ken curiously asks the boy.

The boy wipes his tears away and decides to show his face to him.”My great-uncle got it for me for my birthday. He manages to find the last one in store…” 

Ken looks surprised at the boy’s face, which resembles a child version of Shinjiro Aragaki. They share the same color eyes as him. “Huh?! What the-?!”

The boy started to tear up his eyes, believing he was offending him. “I knew it. It’s because I’m a one-quarter foreigner. That’s why you can’t stand to look at me…”

“No. No. That’s not it. It just… you look exactly like someone I know. It has nothing to do with your race.” Ken tries to clear the misunderstanding. 

“My great-uncle and great-aunty said the same thing too. They say I looked like their son when my other great-uncle Renji lost him when he was a toddler. They haven’t given up searching for him until they manage to find him, only to find out he presumably passed away in a burning orphanage. That’s what Mama told me.” The boy looks sadly. 

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Ken felt sorry for him.

“I never met him… I’m not even sure if I should feel sad or not. I’m not my great uncle and great aunty’s son's replacement. Sometimes I’m afraid they might forget my name…” 

“I’m sure your great uncle and aunt love you for who you are. Your great-uncle brought you a gift for your birthday, and they are willing to look after you and your little brother when your parents are away. You are your person. I’m sure your parents feel the same way.” Ken touched the boy’s right shoulder. The boy stared at Ken with hopeful eyes. 

“*sniff* Maybe your right… Thank you, mister, for comforting me.” The boy thanks Ken. 

An hour later, Ken talks to the boy about many things, such as school life and hanging out with friends. All of them are college students and one dog. Alphonse tells Ken he has many great uncles and aunts, including one uncle and one aunt. He mentions he has two cousins in Africa. When a boy starts talking about his family, he finally calms down.

“I feel a lot better now when you talk to me. No one besides Toki has ever helped me before. Most people avoided me because I’m a quarter German from my father and African from my mother. Both of my parents are half-Japanese. That makes it unusual. Thanks again, mister.” Alphonse carefree smiles at Ken.

“I’m not old enough to be called a mister yet. You can call me Ken if you want. What’s your name?”

“I’m Alphonse Von Adler—“ Before the boy named Alphonse reveals himself, Ken hears a worried voice from a distance.

“Alphonse, there you are!!! We have been looking all over for you!” says the worried woman. 

Ken and Alphonse see a woman in her late-thirties with velvet brown shoulder-length wavy hair and lime green eyes. She wore a peach-red dress with a dark velvet blazer jacket, black pantyhose, and high-heeled slippers. A two-year-old boy with short platinum hair and brown-gray eyes is in her arms. He wore navy overalls with long sleeves, green and purple stripe shirts, and dark green sneakers. He has the same skin tone as Alphonse. The little boy looks like he is about to cry. Next to the woman is another boy who appears to be the same age as Alphonse. He has short, stylish red hair and eyes. He wears the same school uniform as him except with a dark red vest underneath. He has a worried expression towards him.

“Great Auntie Kumiko! Toki! Jonas! I missed you guys!!!” Alphonse gets off and runs towards his great aunt while still holding his action figure. He looks relieved to see them again. 

“Alphonse, how many times have I told you? Don’t run off by yourself or have someone with you. What would happen if your parents came out by this?” She comfortingly embraced her great nephew. 

“Alph, I was worried too. Don’t scare us like that.” Alphonse stopped and hugged his friend next. Alphonse’s friend hugged back.

Ren appeared behind them, who was slightly out of breath. 

“Ren! How did you find his family?”

“When I was searching for a security guard or person working here, I encountered these three people looking for a boy holding a limited edition action figure from Featherman Neo. I knew these people have been looking all over for the boy.” Ren explained.

“Thank you so much for finding my great nephew. I was about to look for someone working here until I encountered this nice student. I figured he would end up here. He forgot his action figure by the time we left. I almost thought we would end up losing another child again. It almost gave me a heart attack. I hope he didn’t bother you or something.” Alphonse’s great-aunt expressed relief at seeing him. 

“You’re welcome. Your great nephew has been doing alright. I tried to comfort him and talk about our interests in the same show we watched,” Ken told Kumiko about her great-nephew. 

“Great, Aunty Kumiko, I promise I won’t leave again. I will be sure to wait patiently.” Alphonse promised her.

“Alphonse’s friend looks kind of like someone I know. He has the same hair and eye color as Mitsuru-san. I wonder why.” Ken says in his thoughts.

“Are you two from Gekkoukan by any chance?” 

“Yeah, for our school trip, we'll return to Iwatodai tomorrow. It’s quite surprising that days go by so fast,” Ren commented. 

After chatting, the two middle schoolers bid them farewell, hoping they will meet again someday. They leave the building to explore Shinjuku a little longer. 

“I’m so glad you’re alright. What did you two talk about? I’m sure that nice young man was being nice to you.” Kumiko politely asked.

“Great, Aunty, we talk a lot of stuff; he says I looked like someone he knows. He shares the same name and surname as your son. It’s strange, huh?” Alphonse smiled.

Kimiko reacted, shocked at what Alphonse just said to her. She was so shocked that she accidentally hurt Jonas in her arms. “Owie.. It’s hurt.” He whimpered in pain.

“Oh! I’m sorry, sweeties. I almost forgot I was holding you. I’ll put you down now.” Regretful what she did just now. She gently pulled her second great-nephew down and had him hold his brother’s hand. Alphonse held his little brother’s hand firmly. 

“I noticed Ken-kun was looking at Toki strangely, just like he looked at me. I wonder if he reminds him of someone.” Alphonse wonders. 

“I think he thought I was my older brother or cousin, whom I barely know. I last saw her two years ago at Uncle Takeharu’s funeral in November. I was closer to him than my Papa.” Toki saddened.

Alphonse noticed his great-aunt was crying for some reason. 

Kumiko gives mixed feelings of happiness and sadness. “My husband was right….he is alive… I thought Jiro was delusional from grief when he mentioned he met a young man with a goatee. He says he knew someone who shared the same face as him. I’m so glad and sad… I shouldn’t have asked the young boy his number to learn about him… The only thing I’m certain of is that he still lives in Iwatodai. Wait! I can’t give hope again. I need a DNA test if that young man says it is true.” says Kumiko in her thoughts, determined.

Tokyo Plaza Hotel, Shinjuku - Ken and Ren’s Hotel Room (Evening)

When Ren is showering, Ken decides to chat with Mitsuru on the laptop computer he brought home. He turns on the computer screen and clicks on Mitsuru’s name and phone number. The video chat screen opens, and a clear image of Mitsuru in her roses bathrobe. 

“Oh, Amada. I didn’t expect you to video chat with me this late. I thought you planned to meet up after returning from your school trip. Do you need me for anything?” Mitsuru asked. 

“It’s something important. Do you know if Shinjiro-san has any living relatives?” 

“Fortunately, no. He grew up in the same orphanage with Akihiko and his sister when they were kids. I never thought of checking his background before he met Akihiko. I presumed they are decreased. Why do you ask?” Mitsuru confused. 

“Um… would you believe I met someone who looks nearly identical to Shinjiro-san today?” 

Mitsuru’s eyes widen in surprise. 

Kotone and Shinjiro’s Apartment - Evening

Naoto arrived late, trying to sneak in without waking her cousin and Shinjiro. Unexpectedly, she saw the lights turn on by themselves. 

“You seem you had a good evening today,”  says Shinjiro’s voice, sarcastically. 

Naoto sees Shinjiro in his pajamas, a plain long-sleeved T-shirt, and comfortable cream-colored pants. He has a stoic expression. He isn't mad or disappointed in Naoto for coming back late. 

“Aragaki-san… I didn't realize you stayed up late. Where’s my cousin?” Naoto acts nervous.

“She’s sleeping. I told her I’ll stay up until you return.” Shinjiro responded to her questions in a calm and well-behaved manner. He still has doubts about her. Mainly because she doesn't want to reveal her actual gender to anyone. He felt that if she did, she would lose her job as a detective.

“That’s good. I texted her I would be out late at night. I didn’t know how long I would be out for it. I was curious about hanging out with the people who might be involved with the case, which was closed two months ago. So far, they are a strange bunch. Some of them act like they are drunk even though our drinks aren’t alcohol. We also played a ridiculous game…” says Naoto, annoyed.

“What kind of game?”

“It’s called King’s Game. It's a game where people draw random numbers. The first person to draw a red stick can command a chosen number to do whatever they want. The chosen number can’t back out or quit since the King’s orders are absolute. It would last until one person stands to win. Although, we didn’t get the chance to finish the game because three people fell asleep “drunk.” I find it strange that they were spouting nonsense like Persona and how they fight it against Shadows. I felt like they were messing with me.” Naoto explained with a disappointed tone. 

Shinjiro looks slightly surprised. “Wait… don’t tell me that Naoto met those same Persona users in Inaba that Mitsuru mentioned… back in late April. Including the three new Persona users from four months ago… Thank god she doesn’t believe them…” says Shinjiro in his thoughts, relieved.

“Hm? You seem unedge for some reason. Please don’t tell me you believe Persona and Shadow exist. It’s makeup and nonsense. It’s science fiction.” 

“What? No, I don’t. It is nonsense. Maybe they were tired and talked random shits…” Shinjiro lied to her.

“Good. This reminds me of when Kotone was in her first year in middle school after my grandfather took her in. She asked me if I had seen any black coffins, water turns into blood, or the entire city and sky turn green. I responded no, and I think she just had a nightmare. She was scared and worried that something would happen to me or my grandfather. The following day, she stops talking about the previous night and acts like her cheerful self, yet… she hides her negative emotions from her forced smile. Maybe the trauma from losing her parents, being mistreated and abandoned by her other relatives took a toll on her mental health.” Naoto shows sympathy for Kotone. 

“I never realized she suffered. She only told me that she had been moved to different relatives from both sides, and nobody took care of her except to pay for her school and food. She mentioned she had a caring cousin and kind uncle who cared for her until she finished her first year at her old high school.” Shinjiro felt bad for Kotone.

“After that, Kotone decided to attend Gekkoukan High for two years instead of finishing up at her old school. I was against it initially, but she felt she had to return to where she used to live. She was drawn to coming back there. I had no choice but to accept her decision. We both lost our parents at a young age, and I didn’t want her to suffer to reopen old wounds. I love her like older sister, and I still feel the same way about her,” says Naoto, sadly. 

“Naoto…” 

“I still have no idea what she sees in you. What makes Kotone feel for you? She mentioned you dropped out of school in 2007 and often hang out at the back ally of Port Island Station, where thugs and delinquents hang out. Was it your face, body, personality, and skills, or did she pity you? If you took advantage of her, I will bring you to justice.” Naoto distrusts Shinjiro. She is very protective of Kotone. She doesn’t want her to get hurt again. 

“She didn’t date me out of pity. She loves me for who I am. She didn’t care that I had a dark past and enjoyed hanging out with me. She has such a kind, loving heart, yet I didn’t expect her to fall for me either. The truth is… I was in a very dark place… I did something horrible, and I couldn’t forgive myself. I even tried to kill myself slowly from the drugs I had taken for two years. I thought there wasn’t a reason for me to continue living anymore. That was until I met Koto and started to get to know her… I felt warm inside. Something I haven’t felt before. I realized she was my everything and gave me hope to live again.” Shinjiro faintly smiles at Naoto. 

“Oh…. So that is why she loves you. Kotone chooses the right person she wants to be with. I guess I have no choice but to support you fully marrying my cousin someday. What you say is true. She made you a better person than before. She’s a wonderful person who loves to help people she cares about deeply.” Naoto says it sincerely.

Chapter Text

September 10th, 2011

Chagall Café - Afternoon 

Kotone and Shinjiro take Naoto to one of the cafes where they enjoy hanging out. They have already ordered their drinks. Shinjiro gets coffee, Kotone gets decaf due to her pregnancy, and Naoto wishes to try tea. Shinjiro sits next to Kotone, and Naoto sits opposite her cousins.

“Oohh… So that’s King’s Games. I want to try it with my friends sometimes. Judging by what you guys describe to me. That sounds so fun!” Kotone says with a bright smile on her face.

“No, you don’t, Koto… the point is if you get the stick in red and command which you number picked, you can’t take it back if the person who holds the number you chose is someone you expected, for example. I had a different number if you chose “2”  to kiss the King or Queen because you thought I would hold that number. You end up kissing a random person who has the same number instead. I would have a different number. I don’t want to risk kissing or other things with a random person. I don’t want to play that game unless it is challenging.” Shinjiro looks jealous for some reason.

“Even though it was just a game?” Kotone chuckled.

“Yes. Or if someone was picked as king and randomly numbered like you. I’m afraid they command you to do it somehow horrible to you. Like striped naked, pleasure you, or make love to them. I don’t want to see you do it with anyone, especially Aki.” Shinjiro worried.

“I don’t think they will do that far, especially in public places. If we ever decide on that game again, we will make sure sex or striped naked with other people will be prohibited. It would be inappropriate if a child played this game.” Naoto reassures Shinjiro’s worries.  

Shinjiro can think of one child in mind, and he doesn’t want that to happen to Kotone if Ken does it to him since he’s only thirteen and Kotone is almost nineteen. 

“You may have a point here… The only person I want to make love to is you, Shinji.” Kotone agreed with him.

“Thank you for the drink, you two. I enjoyed being with you for these past two days. I already returned your spare apartment key to you this morning. I want to ask you something before I go, Kotone.” Naoto politely thanked them.  She bows down by removing her hat before putting it back on.

“Sure. What do you want to ask me about?” 

“Remember about that guy who claims they murdered three people since April, Mitsuo Kubo? Do you believe he was telling the truth?” Naoto says in a severe tone. 

“Hmmm… I think he’s the type of person who wants attention. He doesn’t seem to give a dangerous or crazed vibe. Just a guy who just wanted to be noticed by anyone. The third person who worked as a teacher seems to be the only person Kubo killed. Maybe he wants to copy exactly like the real killer would, like a copycat killer. Most killers usually hide or get rid of any evidence of their crimes.” Kotone theorized Kubo’s motive.

“Where did you learn to get that idea?” Shinjiro puzzled.

“I learned my detective skills from my mom since she used to be a Shirogane. Naoto also helped me a bit just for fun when we were kids. My intuition is always right.” Kotone says it proudly.

“A copycat killer…. Hmmm…” Naoto rethinks what Kotone’s saying until she finally understands what she means. However, she can’t talk to her cousin and Shinjiro since it has nothing to do with them. She has to solve the case herself. 

“Naoto? Are you okay?” Kotone worried for her.

“No, it’s fine. I think you helped me with something important today. I’ll be going back to Inaba now. I hope to see you and Aragaki-san again once your baby is born.” 

Kotone and Shinjiro get up and give Naoto a warm and comforting embrace. She hugs them back warmly since she hasn’t been hugged like this since her grandfather hugged her before she went to Inaba for a mystery case. 

“The next time we meet, you should try calling my future husband by his first name since he will be your cousin-in-law, too,” Kotone kindly reminded her.

“Don’t be insecure about your gender you were born. There is nothing wrong with you. I hope someday you will meet people who accept you for who you are. Just remember that.” Shinjiro has some advice for her.

“I will, you two,” Naoto promised them both. 

After that, Kotone and Shinjiro pay for their drinks at the cafe. They see Naoto off at the Iwatodai Station with her classmates, and she heads back to Inaba.

Three months later….

Kotone is in her full term on the 40th week. She and Shinjiro have been fully prepared to buy things for the baby to arrive. She heard Naoto and her new friends had already captured and defeated the real culprit behind the deaths of Mayumi Yamano, and Saki Konishi was Naoto’s friend’s uncle’s police partner Adachi. He is also responsible for manipulating Namatame into kidnapping Yukiko, Kanji, Rise, her cousin, and a child named Nanako, who Naoto becomes close with. The yellow fog, thought to be a poison that covered the entire town of Inaba, has also been lifted. She realizes the new generation of Persona users has saved the world without assistance from Shadow Operatives. Mitsuru was the one to help send particular medication for the residents who accidentally inhaled the yellow fog and fell ill at the time. 

December 26th, 2011 

Kotone and Shinjiro’s Apartment - Evening

Kotone is lying down on the couch to rest. Shinjiro lays his head on his lover’s stomach. He hears the sound of his unborn child’s heartbeat. He felt relaxed and less stressed, but he was mainly looking forward to his baby with Kotone arriving soon. She gently petted Shinjiro’s head firmly. They both watched the news together on the flat-screen television. It shows a woman with an image of the culprit. He appeared in his mid-twenties with short, unkempt black hair and gray eyes. He wears a black suit, a long-sleeved white dress shirt, and a crooked dark red tie.

“Evening, It has been four days since the former police officer, Tohru Adachi, was arrested for the crime of murdering two people and manipulating Namatame to kidnapped victims in Inaba. The prison sentence for him is five years imprisonment if he continues to behave himself in prison. He doesn’t seem to resist or object, but rather, seems to accept his punishment for his crimes.” Says the news anchor. The next scene switches to a new story, this time from Iwatodai. 

“In other news, a college student who appeared to be in his early twenties was arrested for raping his adopted younger sister. The prison sentence is eleven years, which includes sexual abuse and double murder who were close with the victim. The name and face of the victim are classified. She was raped at seventeen before she turned eighteen on her birthday. The victim’s ex-tutor discovered it. She is currently pregnant with her adopted brother’s child shortly after his arrest. She is unable to decide whether to give it up for adoption or abortion. She doesn’t show either hatred or sadness for her brother's arrest. He and his adopted sister came from a rich family in Iwatodai beside Kirijo Group. Her adoptive father is looking after her after he divorced his wife for refusing to take care of her and her unborn child. Believing she took advantage of her son and got pregnant. She not only agreed with divorce, but she also disowned her adopted daughter.” 

Annoyed by the news discussed about rape and pregnancy, Shinjiro grabbed the remote to the table and turned off the TV.  He gets up and sits down next to Kotone, who leans her head on his shoulder. 

“Will our child be born sooner? It is already due, yet I don’t show any signs of contraction for early labor…. Is it natural for the baby to come late?” Kotone softly asked.

“I’m sure there is a reason. Most of the time, babies are born past the due date until the final week of full-term pregnancy. We have to wait and see. If not, we can schedule soon.” Shinjiro says to her with a calming voice.

“It just... I’m a little nervous too because of my parents. I only knew my parents until I was seven years old when they were killed. It made me wonder if we will ever see our child growing up by the time he gets older and start a family of his own…” Kotone sadly smiles for a while as she holds Shinjiro’s hand.

“I feel the same way…” Shinjiro looks Kotone straight in the eye. Kotone does the same thing and stops, leaning on his shoulder to take a closer look at Shinjiro’s sincere gray-brown eyes. He felt sad and yet regrets. “I don’t think I tell you this, but… I can’t remember my parents' appearance before I met Aki and Miki at the orphanage. Hell, I’m not sure if they were good or bad parents… I don’t have many memories of them. It made me kind of jealous that you knew your parents longer than me. You still have a few relatives who still care for you.”

Kotone gently kissed Shinjiro on the cheek to ease his worries. “I’m sure you will be a great dad to our son. You did well looking after Koro-chan and spending time with Ken last year.” 

“Yeah… you’re right… I hope our child will have a happy and normal childhood. We don't want him to suffer the same fate as us.” Shinjiro felt confident about becoming a parent and ensuring his and Kotone’s son would have a happy future with them. 

One week later…

January 2nd, 2012

Kotone and Shinjiro’s Apartment - 4:45 am 

Shinjiro slept soundly after spending time with everyone at the shrine during New Year's Day. “Everyone had made different wishes at the shrine yesterday… most were hopeful, wise, and unnecessary. Junpei’s wish is to marry Chidori and start a family with her, Yukari’s wish is her mother’s approval of the person she dates, Aki’s wish is for my and Koto’s child to grow big and strong like me, Mitsuru’s wish for her family legacy to grow, Fuuka’s wish is to have an act of courage to confessed her crush on Nakamura, Aigis’ wish is for Koto to live longer to see her children grow, and Ken’s wish is to grow taller and mature. We wish our child to be born soon since he didn’t come out past the due date, and it’s the beginning of the new year. If he doesn’t come out, I will take Koto to the hospital for further examination, whether or not they have to perform a C-section to get him out. I fear… our baby might had…” 

Suddenly, he heard a fainted cry next to him; he woke up and saw Kotone in her bathrobe on the floor, who just finished taking a shower, whimpering in pain. She didn’t look good as her face started to look pale.

“Koto! What’s wrong?!” Worried, Shinjiro quickly got out of bed and sat next to her. He gently rubs her back with his soft, big hand. 

“I... I don’t know. I think I’m starting to have contractions,” says Kotone weakly. Shinjiro realizes she’s in the early stages of labor.

“I’m going to take you to the hospital right now. But first, we need to get dressed warm and go right away,” Shinjiro says, concerned.

Kotone nodded.

Shinjiro helps her get dressed in their warmest clothes; he grabs his keys to his car, wallet, smartphone, and a copy of the birth plan. They both put on their shoes, leave their apartment, and go to the parking lot to find his car. He drives to the only available hospital open for 24 hours, Tokyo-Shinagawa Hospital. The hospital they usually go to is open at 5 or 6 in the morning.  During the drive, Shinjiro calmly instructed her to relax breathing during her contractions.

Tokyo-Shinagawa Hospital - 5:00 am

When they arrived, Shinjiro gave the doctor a copy of their birth plan. He has a feeling Kotone is going to give birth today. The doctors and nurses have prepared her room for her to relax until she’s ready to give birth. They tell them to inform them when her water breaks, they will start helping her with delivering her and Shinjiro’s baby. Kotone could feel her cervix dilate to 6 centimeters after Kotone and Shinjiro changed their clothes to hospital garments for the operation. She started to feel more pain and sick in her stomach, but she tried her best to relax and not think about it. The nurses supplied her with a lot of water and took some medication to help relieve the pain during labor. The doctor says her water might break anytime soon. 

One hour later…

When Shinjiro waits for Kotone to finish using the bathroom, he hears a cry for help. When she opens the door, he sees Kotone in a weak state. As she is about to collapse, he catches her in his arms. She looks like she is in a lot of pain, and tears start pouring from her eyes.

“Koto!” Shinjiro calls to her. 

 He feels something wet and sees a clear liquid puddle leaking from Kotone. “Is this urinate…? No, it’s water. Wait… don’t tell it’s?!” Shinjiro’s eyes widened as he knew what was wrong with his fiancée. 

“S-Shinji…. My water broke... THE BABY IS COMING!!!” Kotone screamed in pain. He quickly supported her back to her bed and called a doctor to inform them about her pregnancy happening right now.

Chapter Text

Tokyo-Shinagawa Hospital - 5:42 am

It’s been forty-two minutes since Kotone entered into labor and moved to the delivery room. She is placed in a delivery bed. She has a hard time pushing her baby out of her. So far, she has only managed to pull three to four times. Shinjiro has never leave her side since she went into labor. He gently helps wipe the sweat from her forehead and face with a cooling cloth. Kotone clenches Shinjiro’s left hand tightly, trying to endure the pain even though the meds help reduce labor pains.  If she weren't on meds, she would be in horrible pain due to the size of her unborn baby, which has grown over the past almost ten months. 

“It’s okay, Koto—just a few more pushes. Our child will be out. It would help if you relaxed and breathed." Shinjiro soothe her with his gentle voice. It helps her a bit as she focuses on pushing her son out of her body. 

Kotone inhales in and exhales out in a calm, breathing phase. “I’m trying Shinji. *sob* I’m trying to get our baby out.” She sobbed in pain.  Kotone is starting to shed tears on her face. She tries to pull again, this time with her hardest. She tries to think positively and hopes their child will make it. 

“Shiomi-san, I can see the head. You’re almost here. Two more big hard pushes and you’re done. Just hang on a little longer.” Says Kotone’s Obstetrician, encouraging. 

“That’s it, my love. You’re almost there. Give it all you got. I know you can do it. Do it for the friends you forge your bonds with, your cousin and uncle you still care for; do it for me, the man you madly fell in love with; do it for our son you will bring to the world. Don’t give up.” He whispered to her, softy.  

Shinjiro encourages words towards his beloved.  It helps her feel less stressed and endure the pain a little longer.

“O-Okay…” Kotone says it weakly. She tries to give one more big push. She screamed in pain as she slowly felt her son out of her body. 

“The head and shoulders are out. You’re almost there. One more hard push, and your child will be out. ” Kotone’s Obstetrician informed her.

“This is for you, my sweet child….” Kotone uses all her strength to push her son out of her. After that, she collapses onto the bed, completely exhausted and covered in sweats. Shinjiro continues to wipe the sweat from her eyebrows and cheeks. After the baby is out, the obstetrician sustains him by patting his back or butt. The first thing Kotone and Shinjiro heard was the sound of the baby’s crying.

"Waahhh! Wahhh! Wahhh...!" The baby starts coughing out fluids from his mouth for a while, still crying. This shows that their child is alive and well. The Obstetrician holds Kotone and Shinjiro’s baby in his arms and clamps the baby’s umbilical cord in two places. 

“Congratulations, you two; it’s a healthy baby boy.” He congratulates both of them on their baby's birth. 

“Thank goodness… our baby is born healthy,” Kotone says with a satisfied expression. She is both happy and exhausted from giving birth. 

“Aragaki-san, would you like to cut the umbilical cord?” The doctor offered him as he gave him medical stainless scissors.  He accepts it and cuts it before returning it to the doctor. He asks one of the medical staff to give him a blanket to cover the baby up before giving him to Kotone, his birth mother. She held her baby upright and supported his head and neck with one hand while resting him on her chest and shoulder.  The baby lay his head comfortably on Kotone’s chest for a while. He was still weeping. “Shhhh…. It’s okay, precious. Mommy here. Shhh…” Kotone soothed her baby’s crying with her gentle voice and gently patting his back. The baby stops crying and slowly opens his eyes to see Kotone and Shinjiro for the first time. Shinjiro takes a closer look at his son. He looks small and fragile, a little chubby. He has a full head of brown hair like himself, and his eyes are red, just like his mother’s. He is a mixture of both of their genes.

“Shinji, our baby is beautiful. He has your hair color and looks. He also has my eyes. He’s perfect. I’m so happy.” Kotone embraced the child she and Shinjiro created; a newborn child came from both. She sheds tears of joy for her son being born this year. 

The baby looks Shinjiro in his direction with curious eyes. Shinjiro extends his finger to him, and their baby grabs it with his small baby hand. 

“He is beautiful, Koto. The most adorable and precious baby I ever seen.” Shinjiro smiles softly. 

Meanwhile, in Iwatodai….

Mitsuru’s Mansion - 5:50 am

Mitsuru’s Room

Mitsuru and Yukari slept peacefully together after they made love the night. This time, Yukari turns to pleasure Mitsuru. Yukari and Mitsuru slept in an intertwined position. Yukari slept with her arms wrapped around Mitsuru’s neck, Mitsuru’s right arm on Yukari’s left arm, and her free hand on Yukari’s back, and Yukari’s legs were in between Mitsuru’s right leg. They are entirely covered in blankets. Suddenly, Mitsuru woke up from the sound of her cell phone on her desk. She still feels a little exhausted from last night's climax together. She gets off the bed,  slips on her bathrobe, and picks up her phone. She reads the caller ID is Akihiko. “Akihiko, what does he want at this hour?” Mitsuru says in her thoughts, slightly annoyed. 

“What is it, Akihiko? You woke me up almost 6 in the morning. What do you want?” Mitsuru tiredly asked.

“Mitsuru, do you know which hospital you suggest Shinji and Koto go to in case her water breaks earlier than usual?” Akihiko’s sounded curious.

“It’s Tokyo-Shinagawa Hospital. It's the same hospital my family went to when I was born there. They wanted to go somewhere private and avoid any social media. I already requested my family doctor, who has been helping the Kirijo Group, to help assist her in delivering her baby if they decide to give birth there. They are open for 24 hours. Why? Did something happen to Shiomi?” Mitsuru sounds suspicious.

“She’s about to have a baby. I’m about to drive there right now. Will you inform the others about this? Shinji says he wants everyone to be there for her once she gives birth. I have to know if Kotone is alright or not.” Akihiko informs Mitsuru.

“WHAT DO YOU SAY?! She’s giving birth right now?!” Mitsuru yelled in surprise.

Yukari woke up as well and sat up where she clenched her blanket to cover up her breasts, revealing love marks on her crossbones and shoulders. She gently rubs one of her eyes. “Mitsuru, why are you yelling… is almost 6 in the morning.” 

“I got to go. I’m entering my car right now. I’ll see you soon. Let me know what time you guys will be here.” Akihiko hung up. 

“Did I hear that right? Kotone is giving birth now?” Yukari recalls Mitsuru’s words when she had a conversation with Akihiko. 

“Yes, she is. We should get dressed and have breakfast before seeing her and Shinjiro. Is your free schedule today?” Mitsuru asked.

“I have work today and won’t get off until around 2:00 or 3:00 pm.”

“Well… the hospital Shiomi and Shinjiro is strict with how many visitors visit patients and the hours. They open around 2:00 to 5:00 pm for visiting hours. Oh… I forgot to tell Akihiko about their rules. I should inform him after breakfast…”  Mitsuru faced herself for forgetting about the hospital’s policy. 

Somewhere in Inaba… 

Dojima Residence - Early Morning; Weather: Snowy

Vivi secretly spies on the leader of the Investigation Team, who has been sleeping in his room at his uncle and cousin’s residence, through the window. Vivi noticed her older brother had been quiet for some time now. He’s in the lotus position, and his eyes are completely closed.  “What has Brother Marco been doing right now? He said he needed to check something from the “other side” if Draco is from that timeline and doing the same thing. I hope the other Draco doesn’t do the same thing since that would be bad.” Vivi talks to herself, worried. 

Suddenly, Marco woke up from his sleep. 

“Marco, you’re back. So, were you able to get information from your other self? What do you learn from him?” Vivi curiously asked.

“I exchanged knowledge with each other. It didn’t take that long. His Draco hadn’t betrayed them yet, and he was doing his duty just as fine as before… for now. He’s going to keep an eye on him. My guess is that Makoto Yuki was supposed to stay dead, just like exactly how the timeline was written. However, he met a guy a year before 2009 who had the same face and hair as Makoto, except his hair is slightly longer. He has a similar characteristic as Makoto, and he is immune to the time slip; he retains his memories from the Dark Hour and can summon a Persona that is too strong for him…” Marco stated.

“What’s this have to do with Makoto?! You say you can find info from the “other side.” You are the only person who can transfer your consciousness to the other versions of yourself. None of us can’t do it.” Vivi impatiently reminded him.

“I know. It’s already been almost a year since we last saw him. I have no idea what Draco is up to. The only possible clue is that Takaya and Jin were taken out of their timeline where they were supposed deaths on January 31st, 2010. Ever since then, we haven’t been able to track their location. So far, Draco’s trail is cold, and I couldn’t find his pocket dimension either. That’s the only place he might be hiding.” Marco seems distressed.

“If he doesn’t have a plan to kill or ruin Kotone’s relationship with her loved one, we can only wait for now. You banned him from entering the past, present, and future timelines in Port Island, Inaba, and Shibuya. Did you think you should also be extended to other parts of Japan that Draco might travel to? This is the case since Kotone and her friends started to travel outside of Iwatodai after graduating from Gekkoukan High, except for Ken. I think you banned Draco from traveling to Tokyo and Shinjuku. I just had a feeling.” Vivi suggested extending Draco’s banned time travel restrictions.

“Fine… since you’re institution is never wrong. And also… should you return to the Abyss of Time to reunite with our other siblings? You missed New Year's.” 

“I’m still working, and there are three months until I’m fully done recording the 2012 historical archive for the Investigation Team’s journey. I probably won’t be back here again until Golden Week.” Vivi explained. 

“You’re a busy bunny, aren’t you?” Marco says with a mischievous laugh.

“I’m not a bunny… I’m Vivi. I could say the same to you, monkey.” Vivi felt insulted.

“Come on, I was just kidding.” Marco felt slightly guilty. 

Six hours later….

Tokyo-Shinagawa Hospital - Early Afternoon

Kotone’s Hospital Room

The staff moved Kotone to her assigned hospital room to rest from giving birth to her child. The nurse took her and Shinjiro’s baby away to clean the blood and fluid off of him in the other room. After that, the baby is all refreshed since the nurse cleaned him well. The nurse gave him some fresh hospital baby white robes to cover him up nicely. The nurses gave her a healthy meal since her last meal five hours ago. After she finished her meal, the nurse brought her baby to her from the nursery room to breastfeed him. She needs to feed her baby 8-12 times for 24 hours in the hospital. So far, she only did three times for 10 minutes each 2 hours. After the nurse left for private, Kotone removed one side of her hospital gown and had her newborn baby start suckling on her left breast. 

“You enjoy being around me, sweetie. You have a quiet appetite, just like me.” Kotone comments on her son in a warm embrace. She felt warm and comfortable having his presence. 

Shinjiro enters her room. He had just returned from changing his clothes and getting lunch at the cafeteria. “Hey, Koto, how’s our son doing?” Shinjiro says in a friendly tone.

“He’s fine. The doctor says there’s nothing wrong with him. No congenital disabilities, body problems, or anything. He came out normally. Although I have to breastfeed him 8-12 times when I’m in the hospital for five days.” Kotone calmly smiled at him. 

“He already informed me, and it sucks I can’t see you at home until you are fully discharged from the hospital,” Shinjiro complained.

“Well… at else I can learn how to properly bath, breastfeed, and change diapers at the same time at the Birth Center for a few days. Right now, I’m still recovering from using my strength to bring our baby to the world, and the meds have already worn off, so I’m a bit sore down there.” Kotone explained to him patiently. 

“Aki called just now, saying everyone will visit you around 2:00 or 2:30 pm after they finish work,” Shinjiro explained. 

“Wait, do you need to go to work too?” Kotone worried.

“I already informed my boss what happened, and he says I can have a day off today, except the rest of the days… so that means I have to pick you up after work,” Shinjiro informed her. 

“That’s okay... I can handle staying in the hospital until I fully recover my stamina. This is unlike how we fought regular Shadows in Tartarus or Shadows, who only appeared in the full moons. This is nothing.” Kotone shows some confidence within her.

“I know I won’t be able to visit you until I get off work. I asked Aki and the others to visit you from 2:00 to 5:00 pm each of the four days I’m not around.” Shinjiro sat next to Kotone next to her bed. 

“Thank you so much, Shinji. You are such a lovely person.” Kotone smiled in a loving voice. 

“I know.” He smiles back at her.

They both share a quick kiss. 

Their baby finished his fill and stopped latching Kotone’s breast. He rests on her chest. Kotone chuckles about how cute their baby sleeps. She slowly puts back her hospital gown to keep herself covered. 

“Would you like to hold our son? You weren’t able to hold him since I was breastfeeding him, and the nurses took him to bathe him.” Kotone hand the baby to Shinjiro. He accepts his lover’s offer. He now has his son in his warm embrace, making sure not to awaken him.

“Have you decided on a name for our son? We can't keep calling our child "boy" or "baby" all the time.”  Shinjrio curiously asked her.

Kotone tries to think of a perfect name for their son; something is somehow related to her and Shinjiro. She recalls the time when she hung out with Junpei last month. He teased her about the baby names of their unborn baby. He thought of combining either their first or surnames into a name. “I remember the names he came up with are Shinto, Shigaki, Kotara, Arakoto…. Those names were very unique, but they sounded very off. A perfect name that comes from her and Shinjiro…” Kotone says in her inner thoughts. She came up with a perfect name for their son. She gives a brilliant smile across her face.

“Did you finally come up with one for him?” Shinjiro asked her curiously.

“I did. I think I know what name we should call our son. How about Kojiro? Koji means “good fortune” and “happiness,” and Ro means “cheerful, bright.” Combining the two words, it means “braveheart.” He was strong enough to stay alive long enough for me to give birth to him even though he was inside of me for almost ten months.” Kotone happily suggested the name for their son. 

“Kojiro… that’s a perfect name for him.” Shinjiro likes the name Kotone came up with for their son.

Suddenly, the baby boy named Kojiro woke up after hearing that name. He blinks in confusion before he looks at his parents.

“Hehe… I think he likes the name I gave him. He responds it positively since he’s not crying. I think it’s a good sign.” Kotone chuckled.

“Hello, Koji… I’m sorry to wake you up from your nap. I haven’t properly introduced myself to you. I’m your daddy, and it’s nice to meet you.” Shinjiro says to his son softly.

“*baby cooing* aah.” Kojiro giggles. 

Kotone and Shinjiro continue to smile lovely at the son they created together. 

Chapter Text

Three hours later…

Tokyo-Shinagawa Hospital - 2:35 pm

Everyone in Shadow Operatives, including Chidori, who is curious about what Kotone and Shinjiro’s baby looks like, arrives at the hospital in Tokyo to see how Kotone has been doing since she gave birth. They are each given visitor bands on their wrists to enter the hospital. However, Koromaru has to be on a leash for safety reasons, and Ken is holding it. 

“Do you know where we can find Kotone Shiomi’s room? Who is with Shinjiro Aragaki by any chance?” Mitsuru politely asks one of the hospital receptionists at the front desk.

“Shiomi-san is on the 3rd floor, the east side, room 302.”

Kotone’s Hospital Room

Everyone arrives at Kotone’s room, where Kotone is in bed; her wonderful friends greet her. They notice they don’t see Shinjiro anywhere.

“Kotone, are you alright? What was hard to give birth to?” Yukari’s worried about her best friend’s condition.

“I’m fine, Yukari. I was given medication before my water broke. It helps lessen the pain. It was a bit difficult to push my baby out. I’m sore from down there, but I can handle the pain. I won’t be able to get up until tomorrow, probably.” Kotone slightly chuckled.

“We’re glad you’re hanging on, Kotone-chan.” Fuuka expressed relief.

“That’s our fearless leader. She can handle anything. Especially given birth to a healthy baby. Is your and a Shinjiro-senpai’s child born healthy, right?” Junpei smiled.

“*giggles*.. yes, our baby is born healthy. The nurses have already collected data on our baby; his vital statistics and signs are normal.” Kotone cheerfully responded to Junpei’s question. 

“That’s a relief. I guess the delivery came out alright. So, where is Shinjiro-san? Has he been with you since you arrived at the hospital?” Ken curiously asked.

“*Whimper*.” Koromaru looks saddened.

“I notice your baby is not here either. Did something happen to your child?” Aigis says with a confused look.

“After I finished breastfeeding Kojiro, the kind nurse brought him back to the nursery room. Shinji also accompanies him to make sure he arrives safely.” Kotone explained to everyone.

“Who’s Kojiro?” Junpei puzzled. 

“That’s the name I picked out for our son. Shinji likes the name I chose since it suits him greatly.” Kotone says with an approving smile.

“Hmm... Kojiro sounds like a unique name you thought of. You chose an exciting name for your son.” Mitsuru compliments Kotone.

“That name suits him. You’re good with picking out baby names. I’m sure you will be a great mother.” Akihiko slightly smiled at her. 

“Thanks, Aki. That means a lot.” Kotone, heartwarming, smiled back at him. 

“Does anyone know where the Nursery Room is?” Chidori asks everyone in the room.

“I think I know where it is…” Mitsuru stated.

Nursery Room

Everyone except Chidori, who chose to stay behind to accompany Kotone for a bit longer, went to the nursery room. The room has several chairs to sit on. In the center is a clear, wide window to see from the other room. They see a bunch of newborn babies in clear plastic containers with different colored blankets to represent their genders—pink for girls and the baby blue for boys. There is also a white crib mattress with a pillow. The newborns are wrapped in baby swaddle hospital blankets. They reunited with Shinjiro, who already knew they would come to see him and his son.

“Aragaki-senpai. It’s good to see you again. I’m surprised you stay up for 14 hours. Are you feeling alright?” Fuuka seems to be very worried for him.

“I’m fine. I slept next to Koto as soon she was moved back to her assigned room for about six hours. After Kojiro was brought back here, I slept another two hours, and then Koto requested to check up on our son to see if he was getting enough rest.” Shinjiro explained. 

Koromaru seems reckless to go to Shinjiro badly. Ken kindly removes Koromaru’s leash, and he instantly jumps in Shinjiro’s arms. He held him tightly. 

“Arf. Arf. Arf.” Koromaru barked happily.

“Koromaru-san says, “I miss you so much, Shinjiro-san. You and Kotone-san. I’m so glad your baby had a safe delivery today.” It seems Koromaru-san is glad Kotone-san and the baby are safe.” Aigis expressed relief and happiness for him.

“I miss you too, Koromaru,” Shinjiro says, relaxing.

“I wonder when Koromaru started to Shinjiro-senpai by his first name…” Junpei says in his thoughts curiously.

“By the way, can we see your baby? I heard Kotone and your son are in here.” Yukari casually asks permission from Shinjiro.

“Sure, you can see him. I want you guys to guess which one of the newborns is my son. I’m not telling you the answer until you guys guess right.” Shinjiro encourages them.

“That would be easy to find him. How bad could it be?” Junpei says, filled with total confidence.

He walks to the glass to see through the other room. He makes the error of estimating that the total number of newborns born today is about more than twenty.

There are about more male than female babies judging by the color of their blankets.

Everyone followed suit, and they were surprised as well, except Aigis. 

“You were saying, Junpei?” Yukari says sarcastically.

“Me and my big mouth…” Junpei sulked.

“Never expected to see many baby boys born today. It would not be easy to find Kotone-chan and Aragaki-senpai’s son. We should probably focus on the hair and eye color. I’m sure he inherited traits from both of them.” Fuuka suggested spotting Kotone and Shinjiro’s newborn on the other side.

“Hmm… Many babies have black, brown, or yellow hair, so it's not him. As for the eye colors, most of them are either brown, blue, or green. There is a chance their son is in the middle section in between—“ 

Before Yukari can piece together what Kotone and Shinjiro look like, Akihiko interrupts her.

“The newborn on the two middle right is Shinji and Koto’s son.” Akihiko pointed in the other direction. Meanwhile, the others see a baby boy in a baby blue knitted hat wearing a matching swaddling baby blanket. He has the same hair as Shinjiro and has partly open, revealing red eyes before he closes them and goes back to sleep.

“Wait?! How do you know that’s him, Akihiko?” Mitsuru confused.

“I have known Shinji my whole life since the orphanage, and I can tell what his son looks like,” Akihiko smirked.

“Akihiko-san is right. I analyzed the baby in his direction: Aragaki-san and Kotone-san’s son.” After she finished scanning the baby, Aigis agreed with Akihiko.

“You guess it right, Aki. I’m surprised you managed to get it right. What is the hair, eyes, or both?” Shinjiro praised his best friend. He pats Akihiko’s right shoulder firmly.

“That, and I saw the name tag on his bed.” Akihiko pointed out. The others take a closer look at the nametag. It says, “Kojiro Aragaki-Shiomi.” 

“He has two surnames?” Ken seems puzzled.

“Since Koto and I aren’t married yet, The nurse wrote down our surnames together for Kojiro. Koto does want to change her maiden name to my last name once we get married.” Shinjiro explained to Ken. 

“I heard not many married couples in Japan have two surnames. Most of them prefer their spouses’ surnames instead. For me, I want to keep my last name if I get married to someone else in the future.” Mitsuru stated.  

Yukari looks in her direction, feeling concerned for her secret girlfriend.

Kotone’s Hospital Room 

Chidori sat on an empty chair beside Kotone, who was resting in bed.

“So, in the hospital, the doctors will give you a choice of different methods of giving birth?” Chidori questioned.

“Yep. There are three ways to get the baby out during pregnancy; the first is the natural way of giving birth without medical. It would be ten times the pain. The second is the one with medicine to help lessen the pain, which Shinji and I chose to do. It did help, but I had a difficult time pushing my baby out.” Kotone explained to her about the two out of three birth methods.

“And the third method?”

“Oh, that, that’s the most important part. That’s only if you are carrying twins or your baby is in the wrong direction to come out from. They would have to move you to the operation room, where the Obstetrician does a C-section on your stomach. This is to avoid dangerous delivery-room situations and can be a lifesaver in an emergency. Shinji doesn’t want me to risk it. I would end up getting a scar.” Kotone nervously smiles.

“That’s so scary… If I decide to have a child with Junpei. I probably would avoid getting a C-section…” Chidori seems slightly terrified. She doesn’t want to get her stomach cut open. 

“If you have one with Junpei, your baby will have a playmate with my son. I bet they will be best friends as they grow up.” Kotone says energetically.

“Yeah… but that’s a maybe... I’m still scared of losing my virginity. We have been having safe sex for the past year. I do enjoy having Junpei doing it in my “other” hole. Don’t worry; we used a condom for it so that it wouldn’t contain any infection or diseases. This year, once I graduate from Gekkoukan High in two months. I will have proper sex with him.” Chidori says with a determined look. 

“I’m glad to hear it. Not the part of losing your virginity. I’m just glad you are staying together with Junpei. He’s a great person. I know he’s not the type of person who abuses you. He’s a kind, funny guy and one of my best friends.”

“Thank you so much, Kotone-senpai. That means a lot.“ Chidori smiled gently as she held Kotone’s hand softly. Kotone smiles back at her.

Nursery Room (Outside)

When the others talk about how cute Kojiro is, and some are curious about how he would like to grow up, Shinjiro asks Akihiko something important. So, Akihiko decides to have their conversation outside of the nursery room. 

“Aki, will you tell Koto soon, or should I wait until I return home?” Shinjiro said in a serious tone.

“No, I will tell her tomorrow since it’s my turn to visit her. I should be the one to tell her. She needs to know. Everyone knows about this except her because I told them to keep it secret from her.” Akihiko seems a bit hesitant. 

“I hope you know what you’re going to or not saying something stupid like an idiot.” Shinjiro annoyed.

“I won’t. Please trust me on this.” Akihiko says with a severe expression. 

January 3rd, 2012

Kotone’s Hospital Room -2:40 pm

After Kotone finished breastfeeding her son, she handed him to Akihiko, who was blushing and avoiding seeing one of her exposed breasts.  He tries not to look and carries his honorary nephew in his arms. Akihiko looks at him with a lovely expression on his face. He had never held an infant before. Kojiro, half asleep, briefly looks at Akihiko’s face, extending his baby hands to his face as if he wants to touch him. Akihiko kindly lets him. When Kojiro touches his face, Akihiko can feel how warm he is. It brings tears to his eyes.

“Koji… really looks like Shinji, except with Koto’s red eyes. I can tell he resembles both of them. I’m so happy he was born healthy.” Akihiko says in his inner thoughts that he is grateful.

“Kojiro seems very calm when he’s with you. I think you will be a great uncle figure for my son.” Kotone complimented him.

“I know… He became another person important to me. He reminds me of both of you and Shinji.” Akihiko says honestly to her.

Kojiro giggles softly at him. 

Akihiko smiles back at his innocent face. 

“So, Aki, you mentioned two things you wanted to discuss today after Shinji informed me yesterday. What is it you want to talk about?” Kotone curiously asked after she put her hospital gown back on to cover up her breasts. 

“There is something I want to get off my chest for a very long time. Please don’t get mad at me when I’m about to say, okay?” Akihiko begged her.

“I promise I won’t get mad,” Kotone says with kind eyes.

“Okay… Koto, I love you.” Akihiko confesses his love for her.

“…?!” Kotone looks very surprised by his sudden confession.

“I have been in love with you since October in my third year of high school. I didn’t realize I loved you until the final battle against Nyx. At first, I thought I saw you as my little sister because I missed Miki so much… but my feelings for you changed to something more than like a sibling. I’m sorry I kept this from you. I’m fully aware that your heart belongs to Shinji.” Akihiko says in a depressed tone.

“Aki…” Kotone’s voice sounds worried.

“My feelings for you had gone stronger when I… unwilling saw you had sex with Shinji back in Yakushima last April. I was very jealous and yet turned on. It never happened to me before. I’m the worst person ever to tell my dark secrets.” Akihiko felt dreadful and ashamed.

“Aki, come sit next to me on my bed. I want to tell you something, too.” Kotone gave him her permission. 

Akihiko sat next to her at her bedside. 

“What you say to me, I’m very flattering what you say to me… but Shinji is the only man for me. He’s very dear to me, and I love him so much. My deep friendship with you will never change; I still want you to be part of our life like a family. My son has already grown attached to you. That’s why you are a second precious friend I deeply love and care about. I love you too as a dear friend.” Kotone confessed back, platonically.

“*sigh* I think I finally got out of my system. That was breathtaking. I don’t have to worry about it anymore. Thank you for listening.” Akihiko expressed relief that all that bottling emotion within him had been freed from his consciousness. 

“No problem. That’s what friends are for. I’m glad you take it very well.” Kotone faintly smiled. 

“Thank you, Koto. For being a precious person I love and care for. When you and Shinji get married, I will always love you forever. I always love Shinji and Koji too.” Akihiko confessed happily.

“What’s the second thing you want me to know?” Kotone says with a curious look.

Akihiko’s expression has become sad for some reason.

“I’m leaving Iwatodai to travel the world. I have no idea when I will return home again…” Akihiko frowned.

“What… Why are you leaving all of a sudden?” Kotone expressed confusion.

“It’s not because of you… the truth is. I want to explore the world to strengthen and help people in need. Even though it might be challenging, I promise I will return someday when I'm ready.” Akihiko promised her.

“When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow morning, Shinji and Mitsuru will drive me to Tokyo airport. Shinji and Mitsuru will see off here before returning to work.” Akihiko informed her.

“What about the others?”

“They have other plans, and they won’t be able to see me off either. I wish you could come to see me off too,” says Akihiko sadly.

“Aki.. I-I’m.. *sob*” Kotone starts to cry. 

Akihiko gently wipes her tears away with one of his gloves on his hand. He kindly smiled at her. “It’s okay. I know you will miss me dearly. I will definitely return when your son is grown a few months older.” 

“You promise, Aki. Promise you will make it back then.” 

“I promise.” Akihiko gently hands back Kotone’s son back to her. He touches Kotone’s left shoulder and uses his free hand to brush her bangs and kiss her forehead. Leaving Kotone completely speechless and dumbfounded. 

“Just don’t tell Shinji what I did just now. It is between the two of us and maybe Koji.” Akihiko smirked. 

Kotone nodded, still fazed by the kiss on the forehead. 

Chapter Text

 January 4th, 2012

Tokyo Airport - Morning - 9:00 am

Akihiko, Shinjiro, and Mitsuru arrive at the Tokyo Airport, where they decide to see Akihiko off before he goes to Brazil. Akihiko wears a plain white shirt, a red hoodie jacket, black trousers, and red and black sneakers. He carries a black travel backpack that contains cooking supplies, such as a pot and pan, a laptop, chargers, a wallet, and a passport. Shinjiro helps to take Akihiko’s luggage out of his car’s trunk. 

“Here is your luggage, Aki.” Shinjiro hands Akihiko’s luggage back to Akihiko. His other luggage contains a change of clothes for both cold and hot seasons, as well as a first aid kit. 

“Thank you, Shinji, for driving me to the airport.” Akihiko casually thanked him. 

“It's better than taking many different trains to go there and spending a lot of money. You should spend your money on food, airport tickets, and a place to stay when you're out of the country.” Shinjiro advises his best friend.

“I can’t believe you decided to travel outside the country instead of continuing your studies at your university, Akihiko. You barely passed your other subjects except for the Police Training class.” Mitsuru expressed disappointment in him.

“Well… lately, I’m not as pumped about studying and exams as much as Gekkoukan High. I feel the world needs me to help other people in need.” Akihiko smirked.

“That’s not something to be happy about...” Mitsuru looks doubtful about Akihiko skipping the semester. 

“Don’t worry, Mitsuru; I saved a lot of money from my part-time job and Shadow Operatives missions I was involved in last year. I promise I will return in a few days. I will let you, Shinji, or Koto know which month I’m coming back.” Akihiko promised her.

Mitsuru and Akihiko, heartwarming, embraced each other briefly before they finally let go.

“I’m sorry not all of us were available to see you off today. Yukari and Yamagishi are planning to visit Shiomi at the hospital after work; Iori is training for baseball season at his university with his teammates, Amada is hanging out with a friend from his school with Koromaru accompanying them, and Aigis is on an errand to buy some baby toys or plushies for Shiomi since she and Shinjiro forgot to buy some after their son was born. He wrote it down on paper to ensure she doesn’t forget.” Mitsuru explained to him.

“It’s reasonable. They have their normal lives to the fullest. They choose their path to success in life.” Akihiko murmured to himself, faintly smiling.

Suddenly, Mitsuru received a call from an unknown caller. She decided to answer the call. “I've got to answer this. It won’t be long.” Mitsuru went back inside Shinjiro’s car to have a private call. Now, it’s just Shinjiro and Akihiko. 

“Shinji… I told Koto how I felt for her and was rejected.” Akihiko sadly confessed to him.

“You what?!” says Shinjiro, slightly surprised.

“Relax. I was okay with it. I just wanted to get out of my system that I had suppressed my feelings for her for two years now. I’m less stressed and guilt-free than before. I heard from her that you don’t mind if I continue to be part of your and Koto’s life to raise Koji together. It made me happy.” Akihiko expressed joy. 

“You know you didn’t have to confess your feelings for her since you chose to destroy that “shameful” record video. It is your choice. I’m not angry about it. I would like you to continue to be part of our life together just as we were in the old days at the orphanage. Even though you’re sometimes a pain in the ass.” Shinjiro says jokingly with a grin.

“Geez, thanks a lot, Shinji. That’s a better way to say goodbye to me,” Akihiko says softly, chuckling. 

After Mitsuru finishes her call, Shinjiro and Mitsuru give Akihiko one big hug before he goes to the airport to get his plane tickets and board his flight. Akihiko feels like the weight on his shoulders has been lifted. He hopes to return as a new person who values protecting his precious friends and newfound family. 

Mitsuru and Shinjiro’s Side

After Shinjiro dropped off Mitsuru at her family’s company for an important meeting, Mitsuru stops him from staring at his car. “Wait, stop. Could you spare me a few minutes of your time? There is something I want to discuss with you about… your birth parents.” 

“What about my birth parents? I barely know them and don’t know if they are alive. I’m not interested in finding out.”Shinjiro has no interest in finding out.

“What if I told you that your parents are still alive and they live in Shinjuku?” 

Shinjiro’s eyes widen in shock. He is unsure whether he wants to know who his parents are. 

Four months ago…

September 9th, 2011 

Tokyo Plaza Hotel, Shinjuku - Ken and Ren’s Hotel Room (Evening)

“What do you mean you saw someone who looks like Shinjiro?! Were you able to get any information from them?!” Mitsuru had a serious look in her eyes.

“Mitsuru-san, please calm down. I’m getting to it. It happened when my friend and I visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. I found a lost child crying, and no one wanted to help him. I comforted them until his aunt arrived with his brother and friend. He looked almost exactly like Shinjiro-san except with dark skin and blond hair.  He told me his great-uncle and aunt had a son that his great-uncle Renji-san lost when he was a toddler. They have been looking for him for four years; they believe his son died in the fire in the orphanage.” Ken informed her.

“Is this similar to how it happened to Akihiko’s sister, who died in the fire where he and Shinjiro grew up in the same orphanage together? Do you know the boy’s name? His surname by any chance?” Mitsuru questioned him about the boy he met. 

“I think his name was Alphonse Von Adler. He looked as though he was about to tell me his other surname, but his aunt arrived, and they went home. There’s no way I would ever encounter him again. I wish I could ask what his aunt’s surname is. I’m sorry I wasn’t a help.” Ken solemnly apologized to her.

“It’s alright, Amada. Thank you for the information you provided me. I might look into it next week to see if Shinjiro has any living relatives. Is there anything else you want to say?” Mitsuru seems grateful for the information Ken gave her.

“Do you have a cousin by any chance?” Ken asks her curiously.

“I have two. My first cousin, Akimitsu Yuujou, is the same age as me. He graduated from Hosei Academy two years ago, around the same time as I did. He and I don’t get along very well due to our differing beliefs within the group. He prefers to marry someone his parents have arranged for him, rather than finding true love. Then there is my second cousin, Touya Yuujou. I barely knew him since I last saw him three years ago; he was five years old. He was with my aunt and his older brother at my father’s funeral. He reminds me of when I was his age. He got his looks from my side of the family.” Mitsuru says with melancholy eyes.

“Did your younger cousin have the same red hair and eyes as you? He looks like a gender swap version of you as a child?” Ken guessed what her cousin looked like.

“Yes? How do you know that? My father, mother, and aunt always say he looks identical to me as a child.” Mitsuru is confused.

“I think I met your younger cousin today. He was friends with the boy Alphonse I mentioned just now.” Ken stated.

“…?! Oh, of course! Brillante, Amada. You found some useful information. I need to call tomorrow. Hopefully, I can confirm that the woman who met might be Shinjiro’s mother. I’ll let you know if I find the answer. I find Mitsuru. Thanks, Ken. 

“I hope you find what you're looking for, Mitsuru-san.” Ken wishes Mitsuru luck in finding Shinjiro’s extended lost family. 

Kirijo Corporation - Present  

“The following day, I made a call to my aunt I was closest with since I was a child. After I told her what I learned yesterday from Amada, she will help me schedule a meeting with his son’s friend’s great aunt and uncle at the beginning of January. I have already sent her my address to the place where I work. I have to see it myself if they are your birth parents, that you thought they abandoned you.” Mitsuru explained what she remembered. 

“…” Shinjiro is still lost in thought about this. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to see them. 

“I know this is a lot to take, but trust me. I believe those two people I will meet today might be your parents. If you want to know, I don’t mind you coming with me to see them.” Mitsuru kindly offered to invite him.

“No. I’m not going with you to see them. I think this is just a coincidence. Maybe their son died at a different orphanage.” Shinjiro refuses to see his possible birth parents. Fearing they might be abusive or neglectful towards him if he decides to face them. 

“Shinjiro… you don’t know that. I know this is hard to believe. I have a feeling that they are your parents. *sigh* after I have a meeting with them. I might consider you and your parents to perform a DNA test at the laboratory I know.”

Shinjiro scratches his head in frustration. “Fine. I’ll do a DNA test if you meet my presumed parents, but I’m not going with you to see them. I must get dressed for work and visit Koto and my son at the hospital.” Shinjiro agrees with Mitsuru’s terms if the married couple she will meet are his parents.

Shinjiro gets in his car and drives away. Mitsuru enters the building, where the lady at the front counter meets her boss. “Good morning, Kirijo-san, how have you been doing?” She politely.

“I’m fine. Just say goodbye to an old friend of mine at the airport. Did a married couple come by here by any chance? I have an appointment with them.” Mitsuru politely asked her.

“Of course. They arrived here not too long ago before you. I told them to wait for you in the meeting room on the third level,” the front counter said. 

“Thank you very much.” 

Kirijo Group - Meeting Room 

Before Mitsuru entered the room, she checked herself in the compact makeup mirror to ensure her makeup was applied correctly and that there were no smears before putting it away in her black luxury bag. So far, she was fine. Mitsuru wears a black suit, a blazer jacket, and matching high-heeled slippers. In addition, she wore white diamond earrings. She wants to make a good impression as head of Kirijo Group and as one of Shinjiro’s trustworthy friends. She enters the room professionally. She sees two married couples sitting next to each other in the front of the room. One is a man in his early 40s who surprisingly looks exactly like Shinjiro; he wore a darker gray sweater underneath a collared shirt with a heavy black jacket, dark navy pants, and leather boots. The one next to him is a woman in her mid-30s. She has velvet-brown, shoulder-length, wavy hair and lime-green eyes. She wore a peach long-sleeved dress, a velvet jacket, and high-heeled slippers. Both of them wore matching silver band wedding rings on their ring fingers.

“Are you Kirijo-san, whom Kanon-san mentioned last September? She told us you know where our son is?”  Kimiko looked very anxious.

Kimiko’s husband calms her down by holding her hand softly. He stares into his wife’s eyes, reassuring her that everything is alright. “Kimi, it’s alright. You don’t have to be nervous. She is going to tell us about our son.” He says comfortably.

“Okay, I’m sorry, dear. We haven’t seen him since he was barely a toddler. We need to confirm if it’s him.” Kimiko apologized to her husband.

“How about we introduce ourselves first and then ask questions later.” He kindly suggested.  

“Okay… I’m sorry about my desperate behavior, Kirijo-san.” Kimiko's heartfelt response in apology matters.

“It’s alright. I’m not offended. Please continue with what you are going to say.” Mitsuru gives a gentle smile.

“I’m Kimiko Aragaki, and the one next to me is my husband, Benjiro Aragaki. We have been together for twenty years.” She introduced herself and her husband to Mitsuru.

“It’s an honor to meet you two, Mr. and Mrs. Aragaki. I’m the heiress of Kirijo Group, Mitsuru Kirijo. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Mitsuru politely greets them with an honorable smile. 

Mitsuru walks toward them and politely shakes their hands. They seem relaxed and calm. 

Meanwhile, at the Tokyo-Shinagawa Hospital…

After Kotone finished taking a relaxing bath with her adorable baby boy, she felt relaxed and refreshed for the first time. She noticed her little Kojiro enjoying his first bath with her. Kotone sits on a chair next to her bed. She gently holds her son in her arms, dressed in friendly and clean new hospital baby clothes and diapers, while he is wrapped in a swaddle blanket. 

“*giggles*” Kojiro happily laughs. 

“You love that, huh? Aww, you're such a cute baby. You are so well behaved.” Kotone talks sweetly to her son in cute baby talk. She gently pokes his nose for fun. Kojiro responds with a gentle laugh. 

“I guess my first bathing him, changing his diapers, and clothes, I learned from today, comes in handy. The nurses were very nice in teaching me how to care for a baby. Now I should probably teach my lovely soon-to-be husband to do this too once we are discharged this week.” Kotone says this to herself, cheerfully.

Chapter Text

Benjiro’s POV

Shinjiro was born on August 11th, 1991, at Tatsumi Port Island Hospital. When I was twenty-four years old, and my beloved wife was nineteen years old. We live in a house filled with love and care. However, my parents weren’t happy about having a child before I finished college. So we officially married in the same summer our son was born. We named him “Shinjiro” because it means “real, genuine.” My kind older brothers, one sister, and one sib supported me. They were the only ones willing to look after the child together when we were still in college. My eldest brother, Denjiro, has two children with an African woman and has decided to live together in Africa since their eldest daughter, Mandisa, chose to live with us until graduation from high school. She started to attend a university in Shinjuku to meet her future husband, who is half Japanese and half German and had two sons. My eldest sister was named Orihime, she’s the second oldest, who I had a close relationship with, follows our mother’s footsteps as baker since she love making bread and pastries. My third older sibling Satsuki, a successor Acrylic artist who is married to art professor in Osaska and adopted daughter. Lastly my fourth and fifth older brothers, Renjiro and Kanjiro, who are both identical twins except Renjiro had violet eyes. All of five of them looks after my son and often babysitter him on the weekends. They both loved him dearly. 

At the age of 2, Shinjiro developed a strong sibling like bond between his cousin, Mandisa, who was 8 years old and Denjiro’s elder daughter. He saw her as his older sister, and she saw him as her younger brother. Shinjiro had a regular early childhood with us and his family, and nothing terrible happened. We were a big happy family. 

However, when Shinjiro was 3, our family started to fall apart when Kanjiro unintentionally “stole” Renjiro’s fiancée. He and his fiancée tried to conceive a child together since they got engaged last year. She found out that Renjiro was sterile. She call off their engagement, married Kanjiro and had a son together.  Like Renjiro, Kanjiro also had a crush on her since high school. As a result, there was a shift in their brotherly relationship and he started to despise him they got into a fight at their wedding and Kanjiro and his wife were forced to move to outside of Japan to the United States, California to start a new life together. However. Kanjiro did feel guilt for what happen. After Kanjiro left. I began notes something in Renjiro’s eyes, everything he sees my son, and Denjiro’s kids. He felt a deep resentment and anger towards us. He slow develop a deep jealousy towards us for being the only ones who can reproduce children with our spouses except Satsuki.  

On the faithful day, shortly after Shinjiro turn 4 recently, I become a new owner of restaurant in Shinjuku short after my boss retired. It would be a trouble to go back and forth between Iwatodai and Shinjuku so we decide to moved. When me and my wife were busy moving our belongings in the mover truck, I asked Renjiro to babysit Shinjiro and take him to see a movie, playground, buy taroyaki or anything before moved tomorrow. This was the last time we stay there before we moved to Shinjuku. On late evening, we were worth worried that neither Renjiro or our son hasn’t come home yet so I was about to leave to find them until the door opened by our house. Later, our nightmare become reality when Renjiro arrive at our house, without Shinjiro around.

Benjiro and Kimiko’s House (Formerly in Iwatodai)

“Renji, where is our son?” I demanded him. However, Renjiro refused to look at me in the eyes. He felt, guilty and saddened that he looks almost about to cry. Feeling build up anger, I furious grab his collar shirt up. 

“RENJIRO! I SAY WHERE IS OUR SON, SHINJIRO?! Answer me damnit!” I asked him again, but this time I yelled at him.

“I… I lose him.” He finally spoken.

“What do you mean you lose him…? Renji.” My wife says in a tearful voice. 

“It’s my fault… I’m responsible of losing your son…*sob* I’m sorry…” Renjiro apologized.  

I punched him harder in the face that he fell to the floor. I get on top on him and continue smack and punched him repeatedly until my wife restrained me before I punched him to death. My other siblings, who were helping me moved our furnitures, witness my vengeful face. They also split me and my good for nothing brothers. Kanjiro by Renjiro’s side by helping him up before he shook him off. Renjiro’s face was covered with bruises and blood dripping from his mouth. The rest of my siblings held me back. We told them what happened and turn on Renjiro, filled with disappointment and betrayed.

“Where did you lose him?! He was right there! Do you realized we are about to moved tomorrow!? We can’t delay our departure to look for him. Why do this, Renjiro?!” I yelled at him in a angrier manner.

“The truth is… when we arrived at Paulownia Mall before the evening, I was originally going to leave him there after I gave him money... once I finished drinking at Club Escapade. I had a second thought, but I was black out for unknown period of time that it was already in the close to evening. By the time I left Club Escapade, he was already gone. I panicked and go to the police station about a lost boy who’s four years old with gray brown eyes, but they told me, because he couldn’t remember his parents’ names or address, they sent him to an orphanage… I swear, I tried to get him out, but it cost a fortune.” Renjiro was sincerely sorry for what he had done. He begged forgiveness, but I will never forgive him in my whole life. 

“YOU BASTARD!!!!! I’ll KILL YOU!!” I cursed at him. 

“Stop it! Jiro! He’s not worth it! He’s our brother!” Denjiro begged me to stop a while he tried his hardest to restrain me.

“He’s right, you have to calm the hell down!” Satsuki agreed with him. 

After a few minutes, I calm down a bit just like they said. The first words I spoken to my bastard brother is. “Get out…”

“Huh?…” Renjiro looks confused.

“I SAY GET OUT!!! I DONT’ YOU SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!!!” I gave him a deadly glared. I was so mournful that I couldn’t never forgive my brother for his jealous and selfish’s behavior.

After that, I never saw Renjiro again.  Me and rest of our families search everywhere for Shinjiro for four years since Renjiro forgot to mention which orphanage Shinjiro was kept. All of us  except me tried calling or text him, but he ignored us. There were at least four orphanages.There were been some mishaps such as some kids slightly resemble to him except different color eyes or pretend to be him for money and food. Finally, we managed to find the orphanage where Shinjiro was kept. However, he didn’t remember us since we were separate for four years. We managed to used our saving to get him out of the place.  The owner says he will go fetch with us the following day. 

However, things go unexpected when we saw the news about a single child died in the fire of the orphanage, the same place we went. We were devastated that our son might be dead. When tried to approach the owner of the orphanage who just got burn last night, the name and gender who just lost their lives, but they were business moving all orphans were being moved into different locations and building temporarily until they will find suitable housing place for them. We weren’t able to see any of the children that might be our son in that crowd. Most of us believe our son is out there somewhere, we have to believe he’s alive and some thinks me and my wife should have another child again and move on. However, we weren’t able to conceive another baby after what happened. I become impotent and I wasn’t able to sex with my lovely wife. A decade later, we learn to come to terms with our past and move on. We have to learn to accept what was done. Hoping our beloved son will either have a good life someday or he would reincarnated in the next time happy and fulfilled.

Present - Kirjo Corporation; 10:30 am

Meeting Room

“I’m so sorry for both of you. You’re weren’t able to find him for sixteen years due to orphans were moved into different areas.” Mitsuru feel sympathy towards the married couple.

“It’s was a long time ago. We thought we had closure and moved on with our life to raising our niece, nephew and great nephew that helped ease our loneliness.” Benjiro says, melancholy.

“I can reassure you that Shinjiro, your son is alive. I knew him since middle school. Although I’m not as close as him. The only people who knew him the most are Akihiko Sanada, a childhood friend of his who knew him since they grew up in the same orphanage who were searching for your son.” Mitsuru helps ease Shinjiro’s parents’s worries and concerned. 

“I’m so glad he made a friend here. At least he wasn’t alone in here. Can we see also scheduled to meet with him? I’m sure he sure him the longest than us.” Kimiko politely asked Mitsuru with a comforting look.

“Akihiko… is out of the country. I have no idea when he would return home. I’m truly sorry for not asking him before he left.” says Mitsuru, apologies to her.

“You mean the other person who is closest with him?” Benjiro asked, curiously.

“Ah, yes. I was planning to get to it. The other person I mention is Kotone Shiomi. She’s a year younger than him. She been helping him a lot and going over some things. You could you say she help him mend his broken heart and gain a new reason for living again.” Mitsuru stated about Kotone.

“Ooh, a lady friend. I bet this Kotone-chan is our Shinjiro’s kind and cheerful girlfriend. She must a been very lucky person to met our son.” Kimiko says happily.

“Actually… Shiomi is not Shinjiro’s girlfriend.” 

“Awww I thought she was…” Kimiko seems disappointed.

“Shiomi is Shinjiro’s fiancée and they are scheduled to get married this year.” Mitsuru informed them.

“WWWWHHHAATTT!!!!!!!” says Shinjiro’s parents, completely bewildered and surprised by the sudden announcement. 

“Maybe… it’s best not to mention their grandson either. I’ll let Shinjiro and Kotone to tell them if Shinjiro and the married couple’s DNA match.” Says Mitsuru in her thoughts, reluctantly. 

After ten minutes, the married couple manages to recover from shocked and regain their composures.

“It’s not celebrated yet. We also came here if you manage to receive a DNA sample from your friend that may or may not be our long lost son.” Benjiro explained.

“I could also ask the same thing. Shinjiro was consider a DNA test too after I met you today. If you don’t mind. Which one you prefer?” Mitsuru asks the couple.

“For us, we used swabs for our salvia, for you, it’s our piece of hair.” Kimiko took out from her purse it’s a piece of hers and her husband’s hair tied in a ribbon separately in a plastic bags with their names on it. She gave them to Mitsuru by hand and put it away in her luxious black bag which she left it on empty rolled work chair.

“Thank you, Mrs. Aragaki. I have something belong to him.” Mitsuru took something out from her luxurious black bag out was a piece of Shinjiro’s hair inside in a plastic bag. It labels “Shinjiro Aragaki”. She maturely held it and gave it to Kimiko. Where, she put it in her bag for save keeping until she and her husband go to the DNA Test.

“Thank you so much, Kirijo-san… I will definitely let you know when the DNA Test comes out.” Benjiro thanks Mitsuru. 

“Same to you. I will let you know the results as well. Are you sure you don’t want to do it here, my labs can also do DNA test?”

“It’s fine. We know a place who has DNA Test Lab in Shinjuku. We want to let our family know since if the test results were positive.” Benjiro kindly reject her offer to uses the DNA Test by her work building. 

Four hours later…

Tokyo-Shinagawa Hospital - 2:55 pm

Kotone is sitting on her bed, where she watches Yukari carrying Kojiro in her arms, sleeping on her left shoulder. Fuuka, on the other hand, took some photos from her cellphone that she can send to Kotone later. 

“Zzzzzz…” Kojiro sleeping peacefully. 

“Awww… Kojiro-kun is so cute sleeping. He seems to enjoy being around you.” Fuuka carefree compliments Yukari.

“Fuuka’s right. You seems like a pro at making babies to sleep.” Kotone compliments her as well.

“Thanks you too. This is my first time holding a baby and I manages to stop him crying just a second ago.” Yukari express relieve.

“Do you know why was he crying for?” Fuuka wonders.

“I think he was crying because he doesn’t know how to make himself fell asleep. I already breastfed him, burped him, and change his diaper. Most babies cry for no reason without remember why.” Kotone theorized. 

“Or maybe he wants to held comfortably with someone he sees as family or friendly… I’m still a bit surprise he inherited his look from his father a lot. Well.. except his eyes color, he got from his mother. He still look innocent and cute.” Yukari chuckled.

“I agreed with you, Yukari-chan. I’m sure you will be a great mom someday.” Fuuka said with kind smile.

“Yeah…. No. As much I love getting along with Kojiro-kun, but I’m still not cut out of being a mom yet. There are some things I need to get over it.” Yukari says with sad look upon her face. 

Kotone notices Yukari doesn’t seems like she has some confidence of becoming a mom someday. Maybe if she find the right person, she might change her mind. 

Tokyo-Shinagawa Hospital - 4:00 pm

Shinjiro arrive late to visit Kotone at the hospital due to works.

Kotone is in bed, and notices Shinjiro’s presence as he enter her hospital room.

“Koto…” Shinjiro quietly said her name.

“Shinji, welcome back! How’s was work and were you and Mitsuru-senpai were able to see Aki off to Brazil?” Kotone cheerful asks him.

“It’s fine as usual. As for Aki, he’s still a muscle brain idiot, protein lover I know. He doesn’t seems to regret his decisions to leave Iwatodai to explore the world. I have no idea when he will return. He claims he will be back when our son is few months older. *sigh* sometimes I have no idea if he can predict the future or not.” Shinjiro signed in annoyance.

“I’m sure he’ll video chat with us when he has signal where he’s staying at. Think positive!” Kotone playfully wink at Shinjiro.

Shinjiro smile slightly towards her. He sat on her bed and looks at her sincerely. He gently touches her face with the warmth of his hand. They slowly close their eyes and share a comforting and gentle kiss against their lips. They then they softly touch each other in a deep hug. Then their softly kiss turns into a deep passionate make out session as they tongues enters each other mouths. It was like their tongues dancing romantically. To them, it was captivating. Suddenly, Kotone can feel Shinjiro touching one of her breasts. She slightly yelped before she push him away gently.

“Shinji… please, not right now. We are in a hospital.” says Kotone completely shy and flustered. Kotone’s face shows a hint of peach across her face in slightly embarrassed.

“Oh, I’m sorry… out of habit. It just… I’m not in the right mind right now..” Shinjiro looks guilty and depressed.

“What’s wrong? Did Aki’s departure made you sad?” Kotone guessed.

“No, I’m not sad Aki left, I just found out my parents are alive. I don’t know if I want to see them once DNA Test results comes out in the next two to three weeks…” Shinjiro sadly admits to Kotone.

“You’re parents are alive?! That must of been great news to have parents who are alive. I’m so happy for you.” Kotone smiled.

“The only problem is that I don’t remember if they are good or bad parents. I have trouble remembering them. Even if I am their long lost son, I won’t know how to say to them. I mean if the test results is positive. Mitsuru already gave me their hair samples to me after work and submit them at her work place.” Shinjiro looks unconcerned. 

Kotone help Shinjiro’s warm hands together to hers, to ease his gaze and make sure he’s alright. “I’m sure your parents are good people. I just know it. If you are still feel unsettled of meeting them, I can come with you. You will have my support. Oh, a course our son too. He will probadly be curious to see his grandparents look like. I bet they will be shock to find out they also have a grandchild.” Kotone giggled. 

“*chuckles* You’re right about that. They will freak out when they sees our little boy.” Shinjiro started to cheer up slightly. 

Shinjiro gave Kotone a quickly kiss before he looks into her red beautiful eyes. “Thanks, Koto. For being there for me. I love you for the bottom of my heart.” 

“Me too, Shinji. I love you too.” Kotone confessed back to her lovely soon to be husband. They start to passionately make out again until close to 5:00 pm, where Kotone’s nurse asks to Shinjiro to leave due to visitor hours are over. 

Chapter Text

January 5th, 2012

Tokyo-Shinagawa Hospital - 2:40 pm

Kotone sits on a chair by the window, happily watching Junpei play with her newborn baby boy in his arms. He makes funny faces to make him laugh, which makes him giggle a little.

“I’m glad my son is taking a liking to you, Junpei,” Kotone says with a relieved smile.

“Yeah… he does take some of your traits from you. He has a nice laugh, just like you. It’s both relaxing and cute.” Junpei commented.

“I’m sure you will be a great dad one day when you and Chidori get married someday.” Kotone cheerfully commented. 

“…” Junpei felt silent when Kotone mentioned the word dad. He was unfortunate yet uncertain about the future of his relationship with Chidori. Junpei doesn’t have been very confident about having a child anytime soon due to Chidori’s trauma she can’t remember. He knows he will have to wait until after his girlfriend graduates from Gekkoukan High. 

“Hmm? Junpei. Did I say something to offend you?” Kotone gently asked, worried.

Junpei came back from his senses and looked at Kotone in her direction. “Oh, no, you didn't offend me, Kotone. I have been thinking… do you think I would be a good dad like you say just now?” Junpei responds with a depressed voice.

“Of course, you get along with Ken-kun and manage to calm Kojiro to sleep. See, look, he’s sleeping on your chest.” Kotone pointed out. Junpei sees Kotone’s son sleeping peacefully as he leans his face on Junpei’s chest. Junpei faintly smiled at him.

Kojiro has a precious smile on his face when he’s sleeping.

“So, from when Kojiro was born the other day, what did you and Chidori talk about? I'm not suspicious or anything. I’m just concerned for her mentally, and she’s acting like her usual self. I try asked her after the first visit, but she refused to answer. I think her face is all red for some reason.” Junpei slightly panicked as he didn’t want to give her the wrong idea.

“We were talking about which baby delivery is safer if she decides to carry your baby. Chidori prefers safer delivery, just like me. The normal delivery will be an excruciating way to give birth, and the C-section will cut open halfway and leave a scar.” Kotone explained to Junpei.

“Then why Chidori’s face was red all of a sudden?” Junpei says curiously.

“That’s a secret between women. It wouldn't be fun if I told you.” Kotone teased him.

“That reminds me of when you and Shinjiro-senpai discovered your baby’s gender. Did you also come up with a girl’s name?” Junpei curiously asks his best friend with a goofy grin.

“Well, we did. Suppose our child turns out to be a girl. In that case, we will name her “Shion,” which means “Aster tataricus” or “Hiwawari,” which translates as “sunflower.” I thought about naming our daughter after my favorite flower. Shinji likes that idea since she should be named after I like. I guess it depends on which genes she would inherit from.“ says Kotone, being thoughtful about naming her next newborn baby someday. She and her fiancé know they are not considering having another child anytime soon until they know how they can handle their current baby. 

“Those sound like wonderful names for a girl. I hope your next child will inherit your looks. I don’t mind your son looking like Shinjiro-san when he grows up; I thought it would be neat to see another child looking like you for a change,” Junpei kindly suggested. 

“Awww… that’s very nice what you say. Please don’t say it in front of Shinji. He’ll think you are being offended by his traits.” Kotone smiles gleefully. Her eyes aren’t smiling. 

“I won’t… he’s sometimes scary when angry.” Junpei suddenly felt a deadly chill down his spine.

“Good. So, why did you suddenly ask about that? Don’t tell me… Are you already thinking of having kids, too?!” Kotone looks surprised and happy.

“Maybe… but not right now. Say if Chidori and I decide to have a baby. I hope it’s a girl because I would love to spoil her and give her many loves and kisses.” Junpei says with a lovely smile. 

“I guess you want your daughter to look like your girlfriend then.”

“You are correct! She would like a mini version of my Chidorita. It would be so cute!” Junpei’s eyes are filled with hope and happiness. 

Kojiro woke up and started to cry, “WWWWAAAAaaa!!! Waa!!! *sob*.” Kojiro wails loudly for being woken up.

“Oh, Sh—?! I’m so sorry, Kojiro, for waking you up. I’ll put you to sleep again.” Junpei felt remorseful for waking him up from his sleep.

After a few minutes of trying to rock him by gently bounding him up and down, nothing worked.

“What should I do?! Koto-tan, do you think he’s hungry again?!” Junpei guessed.

“I don’t think so. I just breastfed him not too long ago. Hmm… could it be his diaper needs changing?” Kotone guessed, worried.

As much as Junpei doesn’t want to smell a baby’s diaper, he will briefly smell it for a second. After that, Junpei didn’t react in disgust since Kojiro’s diaper didn’t smell. “It’s definitely not his diaper. It’s still clean..” Junpei responded to her.

“Maybe you should try gently patting his back and seeing what happened,” Kotone suggested.

Junpei does what she says. He turns Kojiro to face his back and pats it a few times with his right hand until he hears burps. Then, he stops crying and lies on his shoulder.

“Thank god. He stopped crying, so he woke up because of that. You sure know how his schedule works.” Junpei expressed relief.

“He sometimes does this in one of the hours. After feeding him, he would cry loudly until someone pats his back until he can burp. I think I’m slowly getting used to the mixed cry signals he makes when he’s upset.” Kotone carefully explained to Junpei.

“Wow. You've been a mom for a few days and already know how he feels. I’m impressed.” Junpei complimented her positively.

“Thank you. That means a lot, and this will also prepare me for the maternity postpartum for the next eight weeks, meaning I won’t be able to rejoin Shadow Operatives any time soon,” says Kotone, sadly smiling.

“Koto-tan, it’s going to be alright. We were able to handle our previous missions without you last year. I’m sure another eight weeks won’t hurt. You are stronger than you look to be. Just keep hanging on a little longer. Don’t worry, Koto-tan. You have us to help support you the best we can.” Junpei reassures her that everything will be fine and that she has friends to support and care for her and her son. 

Kotone’s expression turns into a relieved feeling, and she feels satisfied. 

Suddenly, Kojiro threw up on Junpei’s shoulder, which disgusted him.

“I’m sorry! I forgot to warn you he sometimes does that after you burp him… Are you alright? I can help you get him off of you.” Kotone sat up from their chair and went to Junpei, who was still holding her son as he went back to sleep.

“I-It’s fine… I don’t m-mind at all. Is there a restroom on this floor, by any chance? I need to wash off the baby's vomit from my jacket. I don’t want Chidori to smell or see this.” Junpei politely asks Kotone as he tries not to freak out or make any loud noises again to wake Kojiro. 

An hour later, after Junpei went home, Ken secretly took Koromaru to visit Kotone and her baby, Kojiro. Ken held him gently in his arms, where he slept soundly until Kojiro opened his eyes. He curiously reached out with his tiny baby hand until Ken used his left finger to let him hold one of his fingers. Kojiro gripped tightly so he wouldn’t let go. Ken chuckled at how he looked so much like Kotone and Shinjiro, his parents. 

“Kotone-san, he’s very precious to you, right?” Ken looks at Kotone calmly.

“Yeah, he is my pride and joy. I can’t wait to raise him in a lovely environment with Shinji. I’m a bit curious about which personality he will inherit. To me, it doesn’t matter. Shinji and I will always love him when he grows up.” Kotone says with a hopeful smile.

“*pant* *pant* Arf. Arf.” Koromaru barked. He stands on Ken’s leg and looks at him with innocent red eyes. 

“I think Koro-chan wants to have a look at the baby.” Kotone guessed.

“You’re right. I don’t think he has a good look at Kojiro up close before. I’ll let him have a good look at him.” Ken agreed with her. He knees down a while, still holding the baby in his arms. Koromaru began sniffing the baby Kojiro somewhere, his face and hair, so he could remember his senses. Kotone already fully understands what he is doing to his son. She believes he continues to smell him because he wants to know if Kojiro has the same scent as her and Shinjiro. After Koromaru is done smelling him, he gently licks Kojiro’s face. 

“*giggles*” Kojiro felt ticklish from Koromaru’s licks. Koromaru already has a gown attached to him, as if he is closer to her, Shinjiro, Ken, and everyone else in the Shadow Operatives. Kotone noticed Koromaru was wearing Ken’s old hoodie when he was in elementary school. She decides not to bring it up and thinks maybe Ken gave it to him because it’s winter this month. 

January 6th, 2012

Tokyo-Shinagawa Hospital - Morning

After Kotone got a checkup from the hospital doctor, she was about to visit her son in the nursery room. She unexpectedly got a surprise visit from Mitsuru and Aigis. They decided to come with her to see Kojiro today.

Nursery Room

Kotone sat next to Aigis, where she was conversing with her.

“I’m happy you two came to see me. I thought visitors could only come from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.?” Kotone says with a confused look.

“I’m friends with one of my family’s doctors who worked here. He and his family have been good friends with the Kirijo Group for years. Aigis and I came here to check on you since you will be discharged tomorrow and return home to Tatsumi Port Island,” Mitsuru explained.

“I detected nothing was wrong with you except you are at least 75% percent recovery from your childbirth. I recommend rest and relaxing.” Aigis suggested this after she had analyzed her current conditions.

“I know. The doctor says I will be in maternity postpartum at home for six to eight weeks, take some pain relievers, and take warm baths to help ease the soreness on my private parts. She gave me helpful advice to look after myself until I fully recover. I have to do some exercises to lose some baby weight.” Kotone says in a very positive way.

“It strange that Kotone hasn’t had any baby weights since she gave birth. She looks the same before she was pregnant.” Mitsuru says in her inner thoughts. 

“What about your breasts? I also noticed your chest is a bit sore and full of milk. Does that mean you need to pump them all until your breasts are back to your normal size?” Aigis asked.

“Well, the doctor did mention I should take a warm shower or put a warm washcloth over them. Please put them in a cold washcloth or take pain relievers between feedings. If I‘m not breastfeeding my baby, I should wear a short bra for support and put an ice pack on my breasts to ease the discomfort. Or maybe I ask Shinji…” Kotone seems to display a slightly naughty smile on her face.

“You'll ask Aragaki-san for assistance if your breasts overflow with milk. He will greatly help you with that ”machine” to extract milk from your breasts. He can help put it in bottles and keep it safe in a refrigerator to stay fresh until your son is ready to drink breast milk.” 

“Aigis, I don’t think Shiomi suggested that. It’s… probably something different, but very inappropriate for a lover to do it.” Mitsuru said with a slightly disturbed look. 

“What do you mean?” Aigis was curiously confused by Mitsuru’s statement.

“You don’t want to know…” Mitsuru‘s face started to turn pinkish-red. She looked a bit bashful.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I was thinking something else. I’m sure after several weeks have passed, my son has grown a bit. I will be ready to be on missions again with you guys. Plus. I am taking my semester classes. I promise I will be back in the battle again soon.” Kotone promised to Mitsuru and Aigis.

“You don’t have to push yourself. Rest and looking out for your son are the most important things.” Mitsuru kindly advises Kotone.

“The only thing I’m most disappointed in is that I can’t have sex with Shinji until my doctor gives me permission after six to twelve weeks have passed…” Kotone pouted.

“Spending time with your new family is the most important thing. If you don’t, it may cause child neglect.” Mitsuru suggested, concerned.

“I know… me and Shinji will have another long wait until I’m fully healed and have someone to babysit Kojiro. It’s not as bad when I waited for Shinjiro to one day to wake up from his coma until 2010 on graduation day. I have to think positive.” Kotone replied with her best smile.

Meanwhile, in Draco’s pocket dimension

Takaya started to get used to being inside Draco’s pocket dimension and his new condition. Since he started taking Draco’s new, improved blood pills, his Persona hadn’t attacked him as often as before Dark Hour vanished. He felt something was off, but he didn’t know why, except he couldn’t feel his body temperature. Draco returned from his secret lab, which he had created two months before. He has a disappointed expression.

“Were you able to re-create Chidori’s Persona? You were in your lab for about a month. I’m sure it took you a long time to create Medea.” Takaya questioned Draco.

“The hair that Jin brought with him, it was tested negative, and I wasn’t able to re-create Chidori’s original Persona she had before her sacrifice. I tried everything, and nothing worked. Chidori’s DNA is normal, and there is zero chance of re-awaken her Persona.” Draco explained rudely. 

“Or maybe it has something to do with the guy Chidori saved almost three years ago. Her powers transfer to him and get stronger because of her. So you think we needed his DNA next?” Takaya suggested.

“I already tasked Jin two months ago, and all he had was his fingernails and toenails, but they still did not work. It seems I need DNA from something combined for each of them.” Draco says with a thinking look.

“Hmmm… you suggested that Chidori and her man make a baby together. Jin would have an opportunity to either extract a DNA sample from it or kidnap it so you can do experiments on it.” Takaya is intrigued. 

“Either option is alright with me. I’ll let Jin know instead. When the time is right, I will tell him what to do. This might be the only suggestion of re-creating Medea from scratch.” Draco says with a devilish grin. 

January 7th, 2012

Tokyo-Shinagawa Hospital - 4:30 pm

Today, Kotone and Kojiro are finally discharged from the hospital. Shinjiro brought Kotone and his son a change of clothes for the cold winter. He wore a fluffy brown with Shiba Inu design hooded footed flannel jumpsuit. He also wore a light brown knitted beanie to keep his head warm and fuzzy. He felt so comfortable with his new clothes that he fell asleep. She wears one of her favorite comfortable winter dresses to stay warm in the winter. She wore her knitted hat with a sunflower design to keep her head warm, a bright orange coat with a red and orange skirt, black tights, and red winter boots. Kotone and Shinjiro are happy to see each other again. Shinjro brought his car to take Kotone and their son home. The vehicle is already a baby backseat, so he feels safe and protected—the three return to Iwatodai in their warm and cozy home together. 

Chapter Text

A month later….

It’s been a month since Kojiro, Shinjiro, and Kotone’s first son was born. They had difficulties raising him due to Shinjiro’s work, and Kotone had trouble getting enough sleep to care for her precious baby boy. Their friends often help look after their baby when they have days off. However, Kotone got help from her next neighbor, Takenosuke Yugo, a friendly middle-aged man in his early 40s. He often babysits Kojiro when Kotone and Shinjiro need rest or are not around. Kotone lost all the baby weight last month thanks to a pregnancy workout she learned from her previous classes. They haven’t had sex since Kotone started her second trimester. Not even after she gave birth due to Kojiro waking up every night crying for either feeding, burping, changing diapers, or unable to sleep, they didn’t have the energy to do it, and they couldn’t go out Kotone had to stay home for another two weeks until the postpartum period is over. 

While traveling the world, Akihiko is still in touch with Kotone, Shinjiro, Mitsuru, and Ken. He can often be seen with injuries and scars he fought against thieves, criminals, or wild animals like a bear the next time they video chat with them. Like in old times, he often had private video chat conversations with Shinjiro. Akihiko mentioned to him that he met a foreign woman who looked like Kotone after he saved her life from a group of thugs. He got to know her for about a week after he recovered from the bruises, but he still wasn’t into her. However, he did have a one-night stand with her before he left for the next town. However, Akihiko wasn’t sure if it counted as losing his virginity since he had a condom on. 

Junpei and Chidori’s relationship has grown smoothly. Chidori almost finished her third year and applied to the college she wanted to go to. Junpei and his team at his university won some games he participated in. He manages to get along with them despite their differences. His grades in his classes were average due to spending time at baseball practice rather than studying. 

Yukari’s secret relationship with Mitsuru became distant due to busy schedules and college classes. Yukari become very busy with work since her debut as Feather Pink last year; she became very popular with kids and is the female lead for Phoenix Ranger Featherman Victory kids TV show. She didn’t have time to spend time with her secret girlfriend. However, Yukari decides to have romantic plans for Mitsuru on Valentine’s Day since she has a day off. Mitsuru did well at her college and got excellent grades for the primary classes she took. Many of her classmates predicted she could graduate within two or three more years. Mitsuru’s major is business development and social work. She also discovered more about Shinjiro’s presumed parents and their background. The reason she’s doing this for Shinjiro is because he is one of her closest friends, and she wants him to be happy with his family once both of them get their DNA test results. Like Yukari, Mitsuru wants to spend time with her bisexual partner Yukari, and she shares the same idea as her.

Ken and Ren have become close friends as they address each other by their first names. Ren becomes the first person close to his age to find out about his part-time job as a Shadow Operatives to investigate Shadow-related cases. He didn’t mind, and he believed him about Personas and how he and his friends saved the world two years ago. Ren has some hazed memories from that day or the years he remembered before he met Ken, but it wasn’t clear as it was still fragmented. Ken thinks his friend may have the potential to awaken to a Persona, but he chooses not to tell Mitsuru about this.

Fuuka met with Tsubasa and their boyfriend after class, and he came to pick up Tsubasa to go out. He appeared a year older than them, except he had slicked-back hair and red eyes. He would often wear black clothes and goth accessories. He is an inch taller than Tsubasa. Fuuka had strange feelings about Tsubasa’s boyfriend, as if he almost treated them like a woman instead of treating them for who they were. She brushes it off for now since she’s confident that Tsubasa’s relationship with their boyfriend is similar to her friendship with Natsuki back from Gekkoukan High.  She knows this is a misunderstanding, and Tsubasa will remind or correct him. 

Like Akihiko, Aigis tries dating a woman who looks like Kotone; she has been on a few blind dates, and so far, it’s been challenging due to being a robot. They would expect her to be human. She would wish to meet someone as kind and accepting as her beloved Kotone, but she hasn’t been able to meet the right person. However, this doesn’t stop Aigis from her duty as a Shadow Operative active member and Mitsuru’s bodyguard. To Aigis, even though she’s alone, she will always have her friends by her side.  As for Koromaru, he is currently dating the same dog he had a crush on last year, and they have a lovely, healthy relationship. 

February 14th, 2012

Kotone and Shinjiro’s side 

Kotone and Shinjiro’s Apartment - Morning

Shinjiro woke up in a peaceful morning. He notices Kotone isn’t there by his side. He becomes curious about where she went. He gets up from bed and searches for her. He looked at the bathroom and Kojiro’s room, except he wasn’t there either. Shinjiro started to feel alarmed, so the last place to check was the living room or the dining room. 

When he arrives, he is greeted by his beloved fiancée and adorable son. 

“Good Morning, Shinji! Happy Valentine’s Day!” Kotone says with a lovely, kind smile. She holds their son in her arms. He is fully awake in his navy blue footie pajamas.

“Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Koto, Kojiro.” Shinjiro greets back.

Kojiro seems to want to be carried by his dad as he reaches out to him. “Bah. Bah.” He has a desperate look on his face. Shinjiro chuckles, walks toward them, and carries his son. He looks pleased to be in warmth. Shinjiro notices Kojiro is holding a white teddy bear plushie with a velvet red heart-shaped collar that says “Happy Valentine's Day” in white letters. 

“You like? I brought our son his first Valentine's gift for this occasion. I thought I would surprise you when you woke up in bed.” Kotone shows Shinjiro the traditional Japanese breakfast she made for him and herself for Valentine’s Day. It consists of fresh-cooked salmon, miso soup, cooked white rice, tamagoyaki, and a small plate of pickled vegetables on the table. The food is made with love and hard work. 

“You mean this? I have to say, I’m impressed you did it on your own. You did this similar to this last year, but I feel you have improved greatly since then.” Shinjiro complimented.

“Well… I learned from the best,” Kotone kindly remarked. She gave Shinjiro a gentle kiss and another kiss on Kojiro’s forehead. Their son giggled softly at his mom’s affection.

After breakfast, Shinjiro took a warm bath, got dressed, and took his backpack, which contained his wallet and cell phone, to Kotone for work today. He then got a special bento lunch from Kotone for Valentine's Day. Kotone took Kojiro back to his baby crib, where he went back to sleep with his teddy bear. She turned on the baby monitor to hear him when he needed something.

“Have a good day at work, Shinji. When you get home, I have another gift for Valentine’s Day from me. I will be extra special.” Kotone flirts with him.

“*chuckles* I’m looking forward to it. The meal you made was the best meal I had ever eaten. Thank you so much.” Shinjiro wholeheartedly thanked his beloved.

“Thanks, you made me blush.” Kotone fluttered in embarrassment, yet she was secretly happy about the compliment.

“What about our son? Who will look after him without being interrupted by his crying again?” Shinjiro asked.

“I already asked Yugo-san to babysit him yesterday, and he said he would look after him until 8:00 p.m. He will be sure to text us when he’s by our door. He’s good to him dearly, and he is very patient with him.” Kotone explained.

“Thank god. It has been a while since we have been alone together like this. The only thing that kept us apart was that you were in from childbirth, and I focused on earning money to pay rent for our apartment. It was a painful month to go without making love or spending time with you.” Shinjiro sounded relieved.

“I agree with you. I don’t regret spending time with our son while you were at work or attending classes. It would help me grow closer to Kojiro and learn about him, especially his different signals when he cried. I love him dearly, and I want to protect him. I want to protect you, too. I love you both very much.” Kotone expressed her love for Shinjiro and their son. 

Shinjiro kisses Kotone on the right cheek of her soft, delicate face to show affection for her. He looks satisfied with his current love life with his soon-to-be wife and son and starts feeling fatherly towards him. 

Shinjro leaves for work.

Ken and Ren’s side 

Gekkoukan Middle School - Before Class 

In Ken’s class, he is slightly annoyed and surprised by how many love letters he has gotten from his female classmates and students who are a year younger or older than him. There are a bunch of love letters on his desk, about 20 to 25. He sat down in his seat to read them. “Is this how Sanada-san felt being popular with girls? This is very uncomfortable, and yet, I’m flattered.” Ken murmured to himself.

When Ken is sorting out his love letters, he gets a surprise visit from Ren.

“Hey Ken-senpai, how are you feeling today?” Ren curiously asks him.

“Well, I have mixed feelings about this. I’m happy I have fans who enjoy seeing me play soccer in one of my sports teams, but I have no idea how to respond to them. I barely knew them.” Ken complained.

“It’s not easy to be popular, Senpai,” Ren says honestly.

“Do you have a similar situation where you got a lot of love letters from your admirers?” 

“Nope. None. Which I don’t mind. I’m not interested in being in a relationship right now. I must focus on school and consider what I want to do after graduation.” Ren says with a casual look. 

“I felt the same way. I might consider wanting to be a famous soccer player. I love the game of soccer, meeting new people, and socializing with them. It makes me feel alive again and brings me a new purpose.” Ken says with a carefree smile towards Ren.

“So, you still found any girls who are older than you besides your ex-crush?” Ren asked.

“None. The girls in my school aren’t my type. They can never be like Kotone-san.  She was the only girl I ever had strong feelings for after my mom died. I knew my mom my whole life until I was nine years old. She helped me a lot since Shinjiro-san was in a coma. She was my light who brightened my eyes to see that I still have a life ahead of me, and I shouldn’t have wasted it.” Ken confessed about his feelings for Kotone. He already started to see her as a prominent sister figure. Ken's feelings for her never change, but he will continue to support her and Shinjiro’s relationship and grow close to their infant son. 

“I think I understand what you’re saying to me. You wanted your ex-crush to be happy with her beloved and son. You want to spend time with them as much as possible because you still want to be part of her life. Am I right?” Ren jokingly asked him with a slight smile on his face.

“Maybe,” Ken responded shyly as his face slightly flushed. Ren chucked at his senpai’s innocent expression.

Yukari and Mitsuru’s side

Togetsu-tei, Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen  - 9:30 am

They travel from Iwatodai to Kyoto by bullet train. A few weeks ago, Yukari made reservations at the hotel in Kyoto so they could spend time together for Valentine’s Day. She heard that it has the best rooms and a private osen so no guests can see them together. It will be just the two of them. 

“Wow, Yukari, this hotel is beautiful. I heard it was expensive. How can you afford the money?” Mitsuru asked.

“Nakamura-san had already made reservations with their boyfriend, but he was busy, so they decided to help me pay for the Ousen Suite, and I paid for the food and drinks. They already know that we are secretly dating and want a nice day together on Valentine’s Day.” Yukari casually tells Mitsuru.

“Tsubasa shouldn’t have to do this. I should pay them back next time I schedule to hang out again.” Mitsuru seems guilty about her childhood friend helping pay for their suite. She doesn’t want them to think she is using them.

“Mitsuru, it’s okay. Nakamura-san wanted to do this. They planned to stay at this hotel around the same day, but their boyfriend was out of town and wouldn’t be back until May. So, they didn’t want you to have a sad Valentine's Day, and they wanted you to take a break from work since you didn’t have a break for several weeks. This relaxation will help improve our relationship, and we can do fun activities.” Yukari positively suggested.

“You’re right, Yukari. I’m working hard; I should have scheduled to spend time with the people I’m close with. I’m sorry I couldn’t spend time with you for weeks.” Mitsuru looks at Yukari with sad eyes. 

“It’s okay, Mitsuru. I’m not mad. I felt the same way. I was also busy, And I want to make up for being distant from you. You can say this hotel is the best stress reliever.” Yukari holds Mitsuru’s hands and kisses her on the cheek. “You will always be my true love, and I love you.”

Mitsuru kisses Yukari on the cheek back. “I love you too, Yukari.” She smiles at her with sincere feelings for her. After that, they enter the hotel together to rent two rooms. 

Junpei and Chidori’s side

Gekkoukan High - After School

Chidori had her homemade chocolate, which she had made with Kotone, Yukari, and Fuuka last night. She kept it cold in the refrigerator to prevent the chocolates from melting. She had it inside her high school bag. When Chidori was about to leave the school and meet with Junpei by the gate, he heard a familiar voice. 

“Hey, Chidori, what are you up to?” says the familiar male voice.

She looks around to see her only guy friend in her class, Jinnosuke Shiratori, a.k.a Jin Shirato. 

“Hi Jin, have you received any Valentine's cards or chocolate from anyone in class?” Chidori asked with a playful smile.

“Not really. I’m not interested in romantic letters or chocolates. I find it a waste of time to go out with someone I won’t know.” Jin has a disgusting expression. 

“Does that mean you have someone in mind then? What’s their name?” Chidori asked.

“It’s… someone you don’t know. I have known him for a long time, and he once saved me from a dark place. I owe him my life and soul. He means everything to me.” Jin’s expression softened a bit when he mentioned Takaya. He spoke of him fondly since he knew him.

“He?” So the person you care for is a guy. Do you see him like a precious friend, brother, or something more?” Chidori is curious about Jin’s potential crush.

“He’s my everything, and you can say I love him. I don’t see him as a friend or a sibling. That’s all I can say to you.” Jin responded, fluttering as he didn’t want to continue his relationship with her.

“Are you gay, bisexual, or maybe pansexual? I don’t mind either one since I know a few people who are pansexual and lesbian. If you feel uncomfortable talking about your sexuality, I understand, and I won’t bring it up again until you're ready.” Chidori gently touches Jin’s right shoulder for comfort.

“I’m asexual,” Jin responded shortly. 

“You’re asexual?! I thought asexual have no interest in romantic relationships?!” Chidori reacted in surprise.

“Asexual people do express romantic attraction in their unique ways. It's only people they have feelings for.” Jin corrected her.

“Oh, I’m sorry about it. I’m happy you came out to me. I will always support you and your crush on him. I hope you will someday be able to confess to him. Even if he doesn’t feel the same way, I will always support you in your sad moments. You are my best friend, and I hope we can hang out again once we graduate.” Chidori says with a caring smile.

“Thanks. Chidori. That means a lot.” Jin says with a calm expression. 

“Hey! Chidorita!!” Junpei’s voice sounded excited.

Chidori looks in her direction in front of her to see Junpei, her boyfriend, who has already arrived at the school gate to meet her. Chidori seems very happy to see him. He still does play the same goofy, good smile she remembered. Jin, who doesn’t want Junpei to recognize him, has to devise an excuse to avoid him.

“Hm? Jin, where are you going? Don’t you want to meet my boyfriend?” Chidori asked Jin, confused. 

“You go on ahead. I forgot something from the classroom.” Jin lied to her.

“Are you sure?” says Chidori, worried. 

“I’m going to be fine. You enjoy Valentine’s Day with your boyfriend. It’s your special day with him.” Jin faked a smile at her. Jin left Chidori and went back inside the school. 

Chidori has yet to learn why Jin acts strange whenever she meets Junpei or his friends. 

“Yo, Chidori. How’s school today?” Junpei curiously asked his lovely girlfriend.

“Same as usual. Many students are crazed with giving chocolates and love letters to lovers or crushes. It made me feel jealous and uncomfortable. I don’t know why I’m feeling like that. Does that mean I’m a heartless person?” Chidori felt guilty and worried.

“No. No. That’s not true. You are a lovely, kind person. You’re just not used to being around romantic couples. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.” Junpei comforts her and helps ease her worries. Junpei is unhappy about Chidori’s Valentine'sed her tightly. Chidori hugs her back. After a brief moment, they stopped hugging. 

“I almost forgot here. For you.” Chidori took out a well-made wrap box with a white ribbon attached to it. “Happy Valentine's Day, Junpei. I made some chocolates for you.” She shyly confessed. 

“Awww. Chidorita, you shouldn’t have. I wouldn’t mind if you bought some at the candy store. I’m very grateful. Thank you so much.” Junpei seems with happy about Chidori’s Valentine gift. 

“You’re welcome. I got help from Kotone-senpai, Takaba-senpai, and Yamagishi-senpai. This is my first time making chocolates. I don’t know which chocolate you prefer, so I made a mixture of chocolates of various types. The girls also let me use their spare chocolates to make this.” Chidori explained to Junpei. 

“I can’t wait to try your homemade chocolates!” Junpei seems excited to try her chocolates. 

Chidori smiles at Junpei. They held hands as they left Gekkoukan High together. They decided to spend their Valentine's date at his place since Chidori’s dorm doesn’t allow male students or outsiders. 

Fuuka’s side 

Fuuka spends time with Tsubasa on Valentine’s Day since their boyfriend shouldn’t make it to spend time together. They take the train to Todai-Ji Temple, Nara, to go sightseeing and take photos for their trip. They have such a good time together. After many walks and taking pictures, they settle down by staying in for the night. One of Tsubasa’s parents paid for the hotel so that their child and their boyfriend could stay for Valentine’s Day, but Tsubasa invited Fuuka instead since they didn’t want to waste the money. 

 Nara Park Hotel - Evening 

Fuuka and Tsubasa had some traditional Nara foods for the evening meal. They talked about many things about themselves and what career opportunities they wanted to have in their lives. It was a quiet evening with each other. After they finished eating, they decided to exchange their Valentine's gifts.

“Tsubasa-Chan, Happy Valentine’s Day. I made this for you. I hope this is alright.” Fuuka politely gave Tsubasa the homemade chocolates she had made for them. Tsubasa also has the same idea, as they give her some Valentine's cookies they made for her. It is wrapped in a clear plastic bag tied in a red ribbon. They had their Valentine's chocolates for their boyfriend, but he was out of town again, so he mailed them to the address he gave them. 

“I could say the same thing to you, Fuuchan.” They smile softly toward Fuuka.

“Those cookies look so cute and delicious. It has small heart shapes. You made this?!” Fuuka seems amazed. 

“Yep. I learned how to cook from my mom when I was a child. She’s an excellent cook expert. I’m glad to have her as my mom.” They explained fondly about their mom. 

“Can I eat some?” Fuuka asked.

“Sure. Help yourself.” Tsubasa gave her permission.

Fuuka seems happy. She unties the ribbon, opens the package, takes one Valentine’s cookie, and bites into it. Fuuka’s eyes sparkle, and she feels very happy. “Mmmmm…. These cookies are so sweet and tasty. They have a vanilla and chocolate flavor inside. I love it!” 

Tsubasa decides to try a bite as well. They unwrap the bag and take some small bites. Fuuka’s Valentine's chocolates appear white chocolate with dark chocolate writing that says Tsubasa’s name. When they took a bite, they were slightly surprised and yet impressed. 

“Not bad. Your chocolate seems good, too. How do you know I love white chocolate?” Tsubasa asks curiously.

“I asked Mitsuru-senpai about what type of chocolate you prefer since she has known you since childhood and how you always remind her that you prefer white chocolate over dark or milk chocolates. What it alright?” Fuuka seems worried.

“Well… your white chocolate seems soft and gooey, but it still tastes delicious. I think it would taste good with tea or any hot drinks. Thank you so much for Valentine’s gift.” Tsubasa genuinely thanks Fuuka for her cooking skills. They pour tea into their cup and drink it warmly to taste the sweet and bitter. 

“I could feel the same way.” Fuuka smiles back. Fuuka decides to try the same thing as Tsubasa. After eating a cookie, she drank some tea since the cookie had chocolate inside.

Chapter Text

Fuuka and Tsubasa’s side

Nara Park Hotel - 10:30 pm

Fuuka and Tsubasa sleeping in separate beds next to each other. Fuuka woke up who had trouble sleeping. She turns around in Tsubasa’s direction, where she sees Tsubasa, who has no problem sleeping. They display a calm and peaceful demeanor when they are asleep. 

“Tsubasa-chan, are you awake?” She politely asks.

“Yeah. I noticed you have a hard time sleeping for some reason. I’m a good listener. Say what comes to mind.” Tsubasa says with one of their eyes half open. 

“What did you like about your boyfriend? I only met him a few times, but he doesn't spend much time with you.” Fuuka regrettably asks them.

“Oh, you mean Hanzo? … he was my longest relationship since my last one in my old high school.” Tsubasa seems sad for some reason. 

“You were in a relationship before you met him? What was their name?” Fuuka questioned them curiously. 

“Her name was Mayuri… She was my first girlfriend back in the middle school. We were always together and played at the beach. We often help each other when we are at our lowest. I thought she was the one.…” Tsubasa stops for a second. They appear to be trembling in fear and hesitation.

“Tsubasa-chan…? Did something happen when you were with her?” Fuuka worried for them. 

Tsubasa gets up and sits on their bed. They refuse to look Fuuka in the eyes, fearing she might reject them, too.

“Remember I mentioned to Mitsu that I was coming out as non-binary last year at Yashima? She was one of the students who rejected me. When I discovered I was non-binary, I didn't feel like I was a guy or a woman; I was neutral, and I was proud of being one. However, when I came out to her during high school in the summer semester…. She was disgusted and denied my sexual identity. She repeatedly tells me, “You’re not non-binary. You're just confused.” or “Stop making things up. You’re a man, and you should be dressed up like one. Not in women's clothing. It’s gross and usually. It makes you a drag queen.” Those are the exact words she told me to my face. I couldn’t believe that my ex-girlfriend was homophobic. So, I break up with her.” Tsubasa explained their dark past to Fuuka when they were in high school. They were both hurt and rejected. 

“I’m so sorry you had a bad relationship with her. It must be hard to break up with her. What happened afterward?” Fuuka sadly asked.

“After I broke up with her, she was furious and didn’t accept my break up well, so she had someone to take hidden photos of me changing into the bathroom when I went out. She took and posted them on the school boards—a guy wearing a mixture of men's and women’s clothes. I was so humiliated that the bullies started to attack me for being non-binary. So, I decided to transfer school because I couldn’t took the pain and embarrassment I endured. That was the last time I saw Mayuri again.” Tsubasa starts to shed tears in their eyes. They were devastated and endured so much pain for being different from anyone else. 

Fuuka got out of bed, walked toward them, and hugged them on their shoulders. Tsubasa can feel the warm feeling in her arms that they calm down.

“Tsubasa-Chan. You aren’t alone, you have your family and friends support you. We will never treat you differently. We care for you greatly. You shouldn’t let people tell you what to do or how to dress. You are your own person to begin with. I’m proud to be your friend.”  Tsubasa was unexpectedly comforted by someone who wasn’t their parents or siblings. Not even Mitsu is the type of person to comfort others from their perspective since they last seen her before reuniting with her last year. They are usually the ones who comfort Mitsuru. The warmth they felt was sincere and honest. They never had true friends who cared for them for the first time.  They casually held Fuuka’s arms with theirs.

“Fuuka….” Tsubasa drops the nicknames, and the girls are now very emotional about their insecurities about their past relationships and gender identities. “Thank you. For being another dear friend to me.” They look pretty graceful in showing her kindness. 

“Did your boyfriend hold you like this after you told him your past?” Fuuka curiously asked Tsubasa.

“I never told him about my past either because I feared being betrayed and rejected again. I never told him any of my problems. We never even have sex, either…. We only hold arms and make out, and that’s it. I was too afraid of opening up and revealing my body.” 

Fuuka faintly blushed before she shook her head and returned to her senses. “So… you're still a virgin?”

“Yeah… I am. Maybe once I graduate, I will tell him about my past someday, and we can upgrade our relationship to more romantic things.” Tsubasa confirmed Fuuka. She is the first person Tsubasa told it to. They don’t want to admit it, but it’s the truth.  “Please keep this between us. I don’t want to worry Mitsu or my relatives.” 

“I promise.” 

Tsubasa and Fuuka decide to make a pinky promise: they interlock their pinkies together. This is the secret between them only. 

???

Theo brought Kojiro to the other side, where his older brother, Vincent’s soul, is part of the Great Seal. The baby looks amazing and is surprised by the star-like scenery and the “big door.”

“Baaa… baa. Ba.” Kojiro points at the door where Vincent’s soul is sealed. He has a curious look on his face. 

“Yes, Master Kojiro. That is the Great Seal. Your brother is guarding as a seal that keeps evil from touching a bringer of death. I’m glad you remember the last I brought you.” Theo seems satisfied. 

Theo walks towards the Great Seal and jumps high to reach Vincent’s soul, which is chained to the Great Seal. He floats midair while still holding the curious baby infant in his arms. Kojiro looks at Vincent’s face. He wants to touch his face badly as his baby hands try to reach it. Theo decides to go closer a bit. When Kojiro touches his face, a shine of blue glows in his eyes, and he is engulfed in a bright light.

Great Seal’s Conscious Domain

Vincent is having a good time with his second father, Ryoji Mochizuki. He appeared before him, presumably to have a nice conversation between father and son. He started appearing about two years ago during certain months and seasons when he could fully regain consciousness. It would take him a month to charge up his powers. Ryoji can’t cross to the other side where his son is. The only thing he can do is look at him through an invisible wall. He can hear his voice. 

“*cooing* ah..” says an infant’s voice. 

Vincent turns around to see his baby brother, who greets him with a smile. He is lying on his back, staring at his older brother upside down.

“Kojiro! It’s good to see you again!” Vincent expresses his satisfaction. He walks to him, kneels down, and carries him in his arms. He stares at him in his eyes, full of hope. Kojiro happily touches his face with his tiny hands. Vincent responds by touching his forehead.

“Vincent? Who’s that baby? How did he get here?” Ryoji asked, alarmed and confused. 

Vincent stood up a while, still holding his precious baby brother. He looks at his second father in the eyes, faintly smiling.

“He’s my little brother, Kojiro. Kotone Shiomi and Shinjiro Aragaki’s first born son.” Vincent proudly introduced him to his second father.

“Kotone’s… son?” Ryoji’s eyes widen in surprise. 

“Yes. He got her eyes. He looks like a bit of your ex-lover. Don’t you think?” 

Kojiro seems confused at first since he doesn’t know him. However, he becomes curious and takes a closer look at his face. Vincent decides to bring his brother closer to Ryoji. He couldn’t take him farther due to the invisible wall that splits between him and Ryoji, so he lets Kojiro touch the wall instead. Ryoji, who is overjoyed to see Kotone’s son, follows suit. 

“Kojiro… he’s so precious and innocent… like your mother. It brings tears to my eyes,” Ryoji says with a kind, soothing voice. He is crying tears of joy that the woman he loved profoundly has a child of her own. He is also aware that she was able to conceive one with her true love, Shinjiro Aragaki. Ryoji touches the wall where Kojiro presses his hands. He realizes that a baby’s hands are small compared to his adult hands-on smalls. 

“You are wondering how I know him… it was almost a month ago before you visited me. I was considering introducing you to him when you regained your consciousness. You can only keep your human form for 30 minutes before you return to Nyx.” Vincent reminds his second father. He would love to talk with him more, but their conversation was always cut short and never as long as he had hoped. Ryoji is part of Nyx, and he can’t escape from her. The past two years with him were the best so far. His caretaker has updated him since he switched places with his mom as the Great Seal. He would tell Vincent how his parents spent their peaceful and romantic lives in their third year of Gekkoukan High, exams, school trips, his mom coming out as pansexual, and spending the holidays with each other and friends. They graduated with Yukari, Junpei, Fuuka, and Aigis last year, and their parents attended the same college together. The caretaker, Vincent he mentioned refrained from mentioning Kotone’s pregnancy because he wanted to surprise him once his parent’s first child was born. 

A month ago…. 

January 22nd, 2012

Kotone and Shinjiro’s Apartment - Early Morning

Shinjiro and Kotone are exhausted from Kojiro’s wailing for his needs and wants all night. Shinjiro already called his boss for a day off from work, which his boss understood. This would be their relaxing day if it weren’t for Kojiro’s crying again. They had tried calling their friends to see if they had a day off today, but sadly, they did not. They can’t trust Aigis to care for their baby due to being misunderstood in terms of phrasing and metaphor. They fear she might let their baby do dangerous things that they can’t risk. Suddenly, the sound of a doorbell rang on their doorstep. Shinjiro, who is more exhausted than she is, shouldn’t wake up, so Kotone will answer it. She opens the door and sees her next neighbor, Yugo, who seems to be concerned for her mental health.

“Kotone-san, are you feeling okay? You don’t look so good.” 

“*yawn* Kojiro woke us up almost immediately after we had been asleep all night. We had been changing his diapers, and we fed him either breast milk or formula when it was Shinji’s turn. *yawn* The harder part was when he cried for no reason. Maybe because he didn’t want to be let alone.” Kotone explained, tired. She has dark circles underneath her eyes, and her hair is a little messy. 

“I’m sorry to hear that. If you are too exhausted to take care of him… then I’ll be the one to look after him when you and your husband regain your health again.” Yugo recommended looking after her son.

“Again. Shinji is not my husband yet… *yawn* I would love to make it happen someday. Maybe… once we settle off taking care of Kojiro until he is well-behaved and almost one year old.” Kotone corrected him by saying with a tiredly smug face. She looks like she is about to collapse until Yugo catches her. 

“You should be lying down on the couch. Don’t worry. I know where your son is resting. Just relax and enjoy your day.” Yugo helps her up by carrying her to her bed with Shinjiro. 

“O-Okay… hehe.” Kotone’s eyes become heavy until she falls asleep on her pillow beside Shinjiro. Both of them are now fast asleep.

Yugo closes their door quietly. He checks to see if Kotone has already made or, instead, contains more of her breast milk for her son. He checked in the refrigerator, and so far, she only made three bottles of milk in cold temperatures. He took three bottles out and put them inside the baby bag, which Kojiro’s parents left in the living room. The bag contained some fresh diapers, a bib, and blankets. Presumably, Kotone and Shinjiro had already prepared for the babysitter they were supposed to be looking after him. He put the baby bag around his waist. He decides to pick up Kojiro in his room. 

Kojiro’s Room

Kojiro’s room is filled with baby toys in the toy box, two desk drawers across, presumably his baby clothes Kotone and Shinjiro bought for him. A window with blue curtains in the center shows a clear view of the neighborhood. The walls are painted baby blue with dog patterns. A dark blue sofa chair to sit where Kojiro’s parents can comfort him to sleep or feed, and the rug has white and blue wavy patterns. There are also baby books stacked on bookshelves with regular dog-size plushies. An elegant white ceiling lamp is attached to the ceiling. Kojiro’s baby bed is a light brown wooden bed mattress where the baby sleeps. 

When Yugo goes there, Kojiro has already fallen asleep in his baby bed. He carefully puts the baby carrier on top of him, then takes Kojiro out of his bed and slides him inside the carrier. He then takes him somewhere he can’t disturb his parents' sleeping. Suddenly, he opens a blue velvet door that leads to his place. 

“I hope Master Kojiro enjoys spending time with me just like how his mother was when she was a teenager.”  He entered the blue Velvet door with a sleeping baby before it disappeared. 

Chapter Text

Yugo’s Apartment Room 
Yugo arrived at his place, taking a sleeping Kojiro from the baby carrier and letting him down on the cozy blue lounger with an activity arch. Attached to it is a small brown teddy bear in the center. He is relieved that Kojiro hasn't woke up yet. It would give him the time to learn and study from the study of newborns up to a year old. He grabbed it from the bookshelf and read where he had left off. He sat on the sofa chair to read for a while, keeping the sleeping baby in front of him. “So far, I have learned that newborns need to sleep long until they grow old enough to be active in the daytime. They can’t eat solids or anything else that helps them sleep besides breastmilk and formula. What else? They have to have their diapers changed when they do their business. If they don't, let alone for a long time, there is a chance they will get rashes or worse.” He talks to himself.  He carefully browsed each page and chapter to help him understand how to care for a baby. Yugo, a.k.a, Theodore, former Velvet Room attendant of Kotone Shiomi and Shinjiro Aragaki. He fondly recalls last year when Kotone told him she was pregnant with her significant other’s baby. He was curious about how babies were conceived, so he purchased many books about caring for a baby. Mainly to help Kotone raise her child together. He’s aware he can’t be with her due to his duties in the Velvet Room. He still has some regrets about what he did to Kotone and Shinjiro’s unborn child and trained him to be his mother’s replacement as the Great Seal two years ago. After his plan succeeded in freeing Kotone’s soul, he felt empty. He thinks of it because he has grown attached to Vincent and feels regretful. He swore to find a way to free Vincent someday, even if it meant abandoning his duties at the Velvet Room and stopping Erubus’ resurrection once a year. He hasn't forgotten which month and date it will reappear again: April. He quickly came back to his senses and continued his reading. “There are several different cries from an infant. One is for hunger, the second for burping, the third for the need to change diapers, the fourth for being unable to sleep, and the fifth one… Hm… What was that one again? I know it’s important.” He wonders as he is unable to recall one of the baby's cries to remember from. 

“Heh… Heh… Heh.” Suddenly, Kojiro woke up from his sleep. He looks around from his surroundings. He notices it’s not his room, nor he doesn't recognize this place. Kojiro’s eyes start to fill with water in distress. Yugo panics quickly, picks him up, and tries to rock him to sleep.

“Sshhh… it’s alright, Master Kojiro. Don’t cry. There is nothing to worry about. I’m here.” He tried to pat his back for comfort gently, but nothing worked. He doesn’t want Kotone and Shinjiro to wake up from their sleep. He notices in his reflection in his mirror that he is still in his disguise without realizing it. “Oh dear…. I forgot I was still in my Takenosuke Yugo persona. Maybe showing him my true self will help calm him down.” with a snap of his finger, he transforms into his authentic self. When Kojiro sees Theo in his proper form, he briefly stops crying and is curious and confused. “It’s alright. There’s nothing to be scared of.” Theo says with a calm smile.  However, revealing his authentic self does not help as Kojiro starts to cry. Theo has no idea how to make him stop. He tried to give him his bottle containing his mother’s breastmilk, but he wasn't hungry. He tried to burp him, but he didn’t burp. He tried to check that his diaper needed changing, but it didn't smell bad or have wet stains. When he considers trying to sing a lullaby to him, but the only song he knows is The Velvet Song, which he learned from his older sisters, he notices Kojoro is shivering and his hands are so cold for some reason. Theo’s mind finally clicked; he remembered the other cry he had forgotten was meant discomfort. He lay Kojiro on the flat table and searched for his red blanket in the baby bag, which he found. He covered his body with a blanket on top of him, but he could not go to sleep. “Hmm… maybe it has something to do with swaddling. Master Kotone mentioned…. something about wrapping the infants in garments or cloth. I should try wrapping him up before his cries grow louder, " says Theo, suggesting himself. He neatly lays his blanket on the table next to him, moves Kojiro on top of his blanket, and then wraps it up like a cocoon. When he is done, he realizes he accidentally covered his head and face, too, so he undoes them to help the baby breathe. He grabbed the book he was reading, placed a blue butterfly bookmark where he left off, and started skipping some chapters that mentioned swaddling the baby until he found the page he was looking for, including a picture of how to swaddle the baby. After a few minutes, he swaddles Kojiro into a comfortable position with his head and face uncovered. Kojiro stops crying and happily goes back to sleep.  “*pant* That was close. I never expected Master Kotone’s responsibility to be this difficult.” Theo checked the time on his pocket watch, which he took out from his pocket. It reads “8:30 am”. He carries Kojiro back to his cozy lounger again. “Well, I still have about 13 hours left until Master Kotone and Shinjiro wake up from their sleep. I might as well learn from their son’s needs and wants when he wakes up. The biggest challenge is calming him down when he can’t sleep or anything else…. Hm.” Theo thinks carefully and doesn't make Kotone worry or angry at him.  

Seven hours later… 
After Theo used two bottles containing milk, he burped and changed his diapers; in between one of the hours, he came upon a formula that would help Kojiro sleep. He wrote down on paper what to put in his bottle containing an already-finished infant formula liquid since he accidentally made the temperature too high, so he would let it cool down. First, he put in angel feathers to help Kojiro have sweet dreams. The second is one larp string of Orpheus Telos to help calm the nerves, and the third is the golden dragon scale for divine blessing and luck. He pours all the ingredients inside, ultimately dissolving them into pure edible powders. “Now the only item I’m missing is to help Master Kojiro increase his self-awareness and intelligence… I think I know where I can find some.”

??? 
Theo is forced to bring a baby Kojiro with him since he fears something terrible might happen to him if he is left unattended. They arrive at the same place where Vincent’s sacrifice to become the Great Seal in his mother’s place. He has Kojiro inside the baby carrier. He looks around his surroundings to make sure Erebus isn’t revived yet so that it would be very traumatizing for a newborn infant. “Now for the last ingredient…” Theo scooped a small portion of stars in the night sky in the palm of his white glove. He summons the same bottle he used as he gently pours the galaxy stars from the night sky inside of the small bottle. “Stars from the night sky help increase knowledge, self-awareness, and understanding of everyone’s emotions. Just what a baby needs.” he proudly smirked. He stirs with a stirring stick and mixes it. After sitting it for two minutes, the infant formula has turned into a pure blue, edible liquid. Theo seals it with a rubber nipple cap tightly.  He kneeled to take the baby carrier off of him and Kojiro. He places the discarded baby carrier on the ground. He held Kojiro with one arm and the other holding up his bottle. When he tried to feed him with it, Kojiro wasn't hungry yet.  “Hmm… he’s not hungry yet since we are here. I might introduce him to his brother instead until he feels like it.” Theo makes the bottle disappear, carries him in his arms, and walks towards the Great Seal. Kojiro has no idea what’s going on as he stares at the golden door with four different moving images of two eyes, one nose, and one mouth. Seeing it makes Kojiro slightly uncomfortable, so Theo shields his eyes until they arrive to see his older brother. Theo holds Kojiro tightly and jumps up high until he stops mid-air to reach a young man statue in chains attached to the Great Seal. He looks like a fallen angel with wingspread mid-air to reach a young man statue in chains attached to the Great Seal. He is wearing traditional black robes and leg warmers. “Master Kojiro, I want to meet your older brother, Vincent.” Theo points to Kojiro in front of him. The baby was in awe and curious to touch the statue. Theo was not sure if it was safe for mortal humans to touch supernatural or remnants of death. He wanted Kojiro to meet his long-lost brother since he was born. He tried to make up for forcing Vincent to take Kotone’s place. Suddenly, Kojiro’s eyes glow blue after accidentally touching Vincent’s face.

Great Seal’s Conscious Domain
Vincent waits for his second father to revisit him or for any updates from the outside world from his caretaker.  “It’s been a month since I last saw my second father. I’m sad that I couldn't hear the rest of his story about my mom’s life before she returned to where she was born and raised. I only get to talk with him for a short period. It’s reasonable since he keeps Nyx in check from the other side of this invisible wall. This is close enough to how I miss my parents. I see my second father more often than them.” Vincent sighs, depressing. Suddenly, he heard a baby crying next to him. Vincent was both confused and bewildered to see a baby here. He can tell the baby is at least a few weeks old, has brown hair, and his face is turning red from all the crying. “WWWWWAAAAAaaaa….!” Kojiro cries loudly. 

Panicked, Vincent kneels and holds the crying baby in his arms. He gently bounced him up and down until he stopped crying. It works as the baby slowly calms down and his face reverts to normal.  “I don’t understand… how did a baby get here?! No mere human babies can’t get here. Wait… don’t tell me that he…?!” Vincent concluded. Theo spoke up through telepathy.

“He is not another replacement. I brought this baby with you because he is your little brother.” Theo confirmed Vincent’s suspicions.

“He’s my little brother?!” Vincent’s eyes widened. He looks at Kojiro’s face and sees his innocent red eyes after he calms down from crying so hard. “My parents… *sob* finally made a baby together. He’s so beautiful. He has everything he inherited from. Mom’s eyes and Dad’s face and hair color. I’m so happy.” Vincent embraced Kojiro gently, still teary eyes.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner. I wanted to surprise you when I had the chance.” Theo apologized.

“It’s a big surprise and the greatest news. I wasn’t expecting my parents to have a child this soon. I thought it would be after they graduated college.” Vincent thought.

“I was surprised as well when your mother told me. She mentions she has something to do with your father being in a coma for four months. She didn’t tell me further details about it, but I believe it has something to do with your second father.” Theo thinks. He is in the dark as well when she tells him. He clearly remembers her face was filled with regret and sadness. He knows it’s not his responsibility to intervene, and it’s human affairs. It has nothing to do with him. He was relieved that Kotone and Shinjiro made up and already started a family together. Kojiro frees his arm from his swaddling blanket and curiously touches his brother’s face with his tiny hand. Vincent lets him; it has been a long time since he’s been touched. He can feel his brother’s warm and soft hand. He senses he is living and normal, with no powers or ability to summon a persona. Vincent smiles kindly as he looks at him. Kojiro giggles at his brother’s smile. 

“What’s his name?” Vincent asks his caretaker, still staring at his brother’s innocent face. 

“Your mother named him “Kojiro.” “ Theo responded with a soothing voice. “Kojiro… that’s a perfect name for him. I like it.” 

Two hours later, Vincent has to say goodbye to his baby brother since he can’t have him stay any longer and needs to return to the real world. Vincent understands, and he tells him that he hopes to see his baby brother again when he brings him here next time. Theo promised him to take Kojiro back here when he’s ready. Theo decides to take Kojiro back home. But first, he has to receive the rest of the baby supplies he used to look after Kojiro.

A few minutes later…

Shinjiro and Kotone’s Apartment- Early Evening
Theo arrived with Kojiro in a baby carrier and brought the rest of the baby bag. He placed the items on the table, and Kojiro lay down on the couch. Theo decided to check the time on his pocket watch and realized that five hours had passed, and he had an hour until Kotone and Shinjiro woke up.

“What this? Hmm… it seems the place I was in runs in different time zones between the sea of souls and the real world. I can’t believe I never thought of that…” Theo seems disappointed and confused. He heard Kojiro’s belly growling. Theo looks at him, who is very sad and hungry.  “Oh! I forgot I have to feed you. I think I still have the formula I made you.” Theo summons the unique bottle containing his special infant formula for Kojiro. He checked the temperature, and it was a bit warm. He held Kojiro properly and had him drink the blue liquid. He drank it at an average pace as he sucked the nipple cap. Theo waited for him to drink it up until the bottle was empty.

He heard a noise coming from Kotone and Shinjiro’s bedroom. “Hmm…. *yawn* What a long nap we had. I feel some refreshing,” says Kotone’s voice. Relax.

“*yawn* Never slept this good since last month. I wonder how our son has been doing?” says Shinjiro’s voice, wondering.

“Oh no….” Theo says with an alarmed expression. Without waiting for Kojiro to finish his bottle, he quickly put him to sleep, returned him to his room, and placed him in his baby crib. He took the bottle from him, ran to the kitchen to wash off the remaining liquid in the sink, and cleaned it with dish soap and hot water. He places it in the dishwasher for baby bottles. He quickly changes to his disguise when he sees Kotone leaving her room, presumably to check on the baby.

“Good evening, Yugo-san. How is our boy doing? He hasn’t been bugging you or anything?” Kotone asked her kind neighbor.

“Your son has been wonderful. I just have to put him to sleep after I finish feeding him. I think he has a grown attached to me.” Yugo confidently lied to her. 

“Oh, that’s good news! Thank you so much for babysitting him. It means a lot.” Kotone carefree smiled at him. 

“It’s not a problem. I’m always here when you need me.” He smiles back at her.

Great Seal’s Conscious Domain
Present 

“Wait. Is that what happened?” Ryoji demanded, feeling concerned for Kojiro’s safety.

“Yeah. He explained to me the other day. At first, I was worried he might accelerate his age just like me, but he explained that he gave my brother a special infant formula he created thanks to his sister’s suggestion. He says Kojiro can sleep alone without waking up our parents every night. He can tell what’s right and wrong. He understands people’s feelings and the words they say to him even though he can’t talk yet. He doesn’t cry in his sleep anymore. That’s what my caretaker informs me.” Vincent explained to Ryoji.

“Oh, I see. Well, seeing him in your arms means he’s right for now. I hope he—“

“Father. Please don’t jinx it. Kojiro is my baby brother. My caretaker will never lie to me; he knows what he’s doing. He says he won’t make replacements again.” Vincent defended Theo, his caretaker. 

“*sigh* Alright. I believe you.” Ryoji sighed, worried.

When Vincent is distracted by Kojiro’s cuteness, Ryoji uses his powers to check the baby's body and current condition. So far, he seems to have nothing or major damage to his insides. He felt a little amount of power coming from him for some reason. He isn’t sure if it’s from the formula Vincent’s caretaker made or something else. 

Chapter Text

Shinjiro and Kotone’s Apartment- Late Evening

 Theo, disguised as Yugo, brought back a sleepy Kojiro as promised. He met Shinjiro, who was fully dressed, by his doorstep and brought back the baby bag to give it back to him. 

Kojiro sleeps soundly on his dad’s right shoulder. Shinjiro holds him tightly in his arms, warmly. He also takes back the baby bag as well.

“Mr. Yugo. Thanks again for babysitting him. It means a lot since most of our friends were busy during Valentine’s Day.” Shinjiro honestly thanks him. 

“Like I said before, I don’t mind babysitting him again until he is old enough to attend school.” He added with a smile.

“Right. You know you are the strangest neighbor I ever met, right?” Shinjiro comments on Yugo’s behavior. 

“It happens a lot. I sometimes say random things when I feel excited.” Yugo nervously smiles.

“Are you sure I haven’t seen you before we moved in two years ago? You remind me of someone I met before.” Shinjiro said with a suspicious look. He felt he knew him somehow but couldn’t remember who he was. 

To avoid any suspicion, he decides to change the subject. “You should take Kojiro back to his room. It’s getting late. You don’t want to keep your wife waiting.” He kindly suggested.

“Again. She’s not my wife yet. We still haven’t decided on the date to get married yet.” Says Shinjiro, blunted. 

“Oh, before I can leave. You have something in your mailbox that says your name on it. I suggested you look at it.” 

Shinjiro was surprised that his DNA test results had finally come. Yugo returned to his apartment to rest after looking after Shinjiro and Kotone’s son. 

Shinjiro and Kotone’s bedroom 

Kotone gets dressed in her orange nightgown and reads a book in bed while waiting for Shinjiro to return. 

“Koto, are you still up?” Shinjiro says with a casual expression.

Kotone quickly yelped as she put away her book in the desk drawer. She looked at her with a calm expression. “Shinji, I didn’t see you there coming. How’s our son?”

“Yugo's safety returns to him, and I put our son into his room. He sounds asleep in his comfy crib.” Shinjiro informed. 

“That’s good to hear,” she said with a relieved sigh. Kotone noticed he was holding a light brown Kraft Clasp envelope in his left hand. “What’s that you holding? Is that?” 

“Yes, it’s my DNA Test results. I got samples from Mitsuru three weeks ago. Who assumes they are my birth parents? I’m not confident about this.” Shinjiro felt unconfident when he was about to read his results. He walks to Kotone and climbs to bed with her. She has him rest on her shoulder. She gently pats his head with her soft, gentle hand.

“It’s going to be okay. I’m here. Let’s read your results together if you don’t mind, Shinji.” Kotone offered, still smiling at him. Shinjiro stops lying on her shoulder to sit up. He decides to open the envelope and slowly move the paper out of it. He takes a deep breath and out before he can fully take the paper out. She places her left hand on Shinjiro’s shoulder to help ease his worries. 

Both Shinjiro and Kotone reacted intensely, surprising the DNA results.

Meanwhile, at the Togetsu-tei, Kyoto Arashiyama 

Mitsuru and Yukari’s Guest Room - Late Evening 

Mitsuru and Yukari slept together by combining their futons together, completely nude, with their haori lying on the floor. Suddenly, Mitsuru’s cell phone rang, waking her from her wonderful dream. 

“*yawn* Who’s calling at this hour?” says Mitsuru, half asleep. She is forced to leave Yukari’s side, who is sleeping comfortably in between her breasts. She gently moved Yukari to her right side before covering up with the futon blanket. She gets up and puts her haori on. She looks at the caller ID and reads, “Aragaki.” She wasn’t expecting to receive a call from Shinjiro’s possible parents. She is already up, and she will answer their call in the living room, so Yukari won’t be able to hear her. 

Mitsuru opens and closes the screen door behind her and sits on the couch chair. She answers their call.

“Hello?” Mitsuru responds with a tired voice.

“Kirijo-san, We’re sorry to wake you up this evening. This is about the DNA test results we took last month. We promise a quick conversation before you go to bed.” Says Benjiro’s voice reported. 

“What is it?” Mitsuru asked him. 

“After several tests from the past weeks due to some problems, we got the results…. The DNA results matched. The young man you mentioned is our biological son, Shinjiro Aragaki.” Kimiko sounded emotionally relieved about this news. 

Mitsuru was surprised and delighted to hear that she found Shinjiro’s biological parents and his parents were crying over the phone call, expressing joyful relief that their son was alive after all these years.

“I’m glad you found out that our friend was your long-lost son. I expressed my gratitude to you.” Mitsuru smiled for their good fortune.

“If you see our son again. Will you also tell him the date to meet him?” Benjiro requested to Mitsuru.

“Sure, I’m sure once he read the results. He will be happy to see you.”

Shinjiro and Kotone’s Apartment

After Shinjiro reads his DNA results from his biological parents, instead of feeling happy and joyful, Shinjiro feels overwhelming fear and regret. Kotone comforts Shinjiro, who is not in a good mood right now. 

“I can’t believe this. The people Mitsuru mentions are my birth parents. I almost kill myself with suppressants before I ever get a chance to reunited with them. I’m such as dumbass and a piece of shit for not realizing it.” He blames himself.

“It’s okay, Shinji. People react differently when people find out about their biological parents. It would be best if you were relieved to have parents who know about you. I’m sure they have a reason for not trying to find you.” Kotone soothes her lover.

“I know, Koto. I don’t know what to say to them. It’s been 17 years since I last saw them. My memories of my parents are still hazed. What if they don’t want me there anymore.” Shinjiro slowly became paranoid about what his parents would think of him.

Kotone kisses Shinjiro on the lips to ease his pain and worries. His eyes widen in surprise before he kisses her back. They both depart their kisses as their lips are still slightly swollen from their extreme make-out kiss when they have sex. Kotone places her hands on Shinjiro’s cheeks to look at her gaze. 

“Think positive. I’m sure we will find a way to make it work. They are the only family you have left. Have faith in them. I’m confident that they are good people.” Kotone leans on Shinjiro’s back and hugs back. She has warm eyes and a kind smile towards him. Shinjiro calms down before he places his right hand on hers. Despite his being in a state of shock after reading his and his parent’s DNA results, he never has doubts about his beloved. Shinjiro’s only concern is how his parents would react that he’s not only Kotone is engaged in getting married, but they also have a son together. 

Afterward, Shinjiro and Kotone have tender moments before they sleep for the following day. She lies on her side with Shinjiro, who hugs her from behind for comfort and warmth. Due to the side effects of suppressants, they have almost gone away. They both feel very comfortable together. 

Three months later… 

Kotone has fully recovered from her post-p postpartum period and is free to go outside; she returns to the Shadow Operatives as a member and preserves her college life again. She lets her next neighbor (without knowing that Theo) babysit Kojiro when she and Shinjiro attend classes at college and have part-time jobs. Shinjiro works at one of the famous restaurants where he interned last year and earns more money than before. His boss was impressed by his cooking skills and techniques on most of the dishes he made. He is still nervous about meeting his parents. Mitsuru has already informed him and Kotone of the date for officially meeting with his parents in Shinjuku during Golden Week. Kotone is willing to come with him to see them since they will soon be her parents-in-law. She was also thinking of bringing their son with him since Kojiro deserved to know his grandparents, much of Shinjiro’s dismay. Yet, he was secretly happy that Kotone and their son would accompany him since he didn’t want to be alone without anyone to support him. Kojiro is now three months old. 

Akihiko has finally made a video chat with Kotone, Shinjiro, and Mitsuru from Mexico. He announced that he was finally returning to Japan after months of traveling and training. They were surprised at how many scars he received through his travels. Mitsuru has invited Akihiko to another new mission to accompany her, Aigis, and Fuuka to Inaba to receive stolen cargo that belongs to the Kojiro Group she found. Akihiko accepts her offer and promises he will be there soon to fight by her side again. Shinjiro and Kotone send photos of their son to Akihiko to show him how much he has grown. They informed him that their son can now grow, see, and hear clearly and hold a toy in his hands. Akihiko felt overjoyed for their son's development, and once he helped Mitsuru, Aigis, and Fuuka with the mission, he wanted to hold him again. It shows that Akihiko willingly acts as an uncle figure as he thinks Kojiro is his nephew.  It is something that he wants to make up for what happened to Vincent, Shinjiro, and Kotone’s first and unborn child two years ago.

Junpei helps new members of his university baseball team. Most professional players who are a few years older than him graduate and get recruited to join other baseball teams. He tries to manage both his team and be a coach to the Little League baseball team. He does his best to teach them, but Little League loses their match because the other team plays pretty and balanced. This doesn’t stop Junpei from giving up on them. 

Chidori finally graduated from Gekkoukan High and moved in with Junpei’s place. She attended the University of Art and Design, where she decided to major in painting and floral design. She saves up to pay for her classes and intuitions. 

Fuuka is doing well at her university and getting good grades in her classes. She makes new friends here besides Tsubasa, who will graduate next year. She still wants to hang out with them. When Tsubasa invites her to hang out close to the end of Golden Week with their boyfriend to officially hang out since their boyfriend has finally got a day off, Fuuka sadly declines since she has a busy schedule with Mitsuru. In reality, she is requested to join Mitsuru and Aigis in Inaba to find the stolen cargo. Fuuka’s Persona is not met for combat, but that doesn’t mean she can’t fight with them. She will provide support like all the previous missions she met with friends in Shadow Operatives. She feels guilty about lying to Tsubasa. 

Mitsuru and Yukari’s secret relationship remains strong. Yukari promised Mitsuru they could hang out shopping since she had a day off from work during Golden Week. Mitsuru accepts her invitation to hang out once the mission in Inaba is complete. In the public’s eyes, they are good friends who have known each other since high school. They are very good at keeping their relationship a secret. 

Ken has soccer matches from the rival school. He invites Ren to see his soccer game during Golden Week, but he plans to visit his parents outside of Iwatodai to see them. Ren promised to hang out with him once he gets back. Ken seems reasonable since he still has parents who care about him despite their busy schedules. He barely has time to send letters to his distant relative, who’s been paying his school fees in middle school. Ken’s relationship with his only relative seems neutral. Koromaru sometimes stays at the Iwatodai dorm where Ken lives since they are the only residents living there. 

As for Aigis, she will be accompanying Mitsuru to receive the missing stolen cargo. She senses that another surviving Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapon might be like her and hopes to learn more about her.