Archive of Our Own ^beta

Minako thought that she will forever be like a stone. Emotionless and unmoved.

But this year proved her wrong--

--and instead brought a change to her feelings and herself.

Lips smiling, her eyes dimmed once she saw blue and gray petals in her hand. It's beautiful. Just like them. She immediately shoved the petals into her pocket, never to show to anyone.

...

01/10/2010

After School

Today is January and the End of the World is near that it brought Minako a sense of fear. Fear for death.

She always consider her feelings as a distraction for her, trying to regard everything as something that will eventually pass. But her own feelings betrayed her.

Looking down for the school's rooftop, the chilling air made her feel sorrow and pain. A pain in her heart slowly renders her weak, her knees buckled up as she tried supporting herself with the iron fence. 

Upon her sight below is a familiar sight of gray hair, seemingly having a serious conversation with a woman with burgundy hair.

It shot a pain in her chest.

Her feet brought her towards Paulownia Mall, moving towards the glowing blue door in the empty hallway. She twisted the imaginary knob and delved through consciousness and unconsciousness. A soft piano music is playing in her mind as her heartbeat fastened when a familiar face appeared before her.

'Welcome, Minako-sama.'

A smile unconsciously appeared in her face as she indulged in the image of this guy in front of her.

She will never ever forget him until she died. Even in the afterlife, she will remember him.

She felt weirded out upon realizing what she thought out. A grim smile is plastered on her face as she registered Alice in her current Persona slots. A child's chuckle sounded in her brain.

'Minako-chan is in looooooove, teehee.'

'Shut up, Alice.'

Thanatos gruffed as he sat down in the sofa in her mindscape, a glass of tequila in his hand.

Alice only gave him a 'beh' sound with her tongue and seated in front of an imaginary bar, ordering a chocolate drink to Asura.

Minako sighed for what her Personas are doing. She stood and bid a goodbye to Theodore, with a pang in her heart.

Both of them are bounded only by a contract, nothing more nothing less.

...

11/15/2009

Evening

"Where have you've been?"

A manly voice told Minako upon entering Iwatodai Dorm. It's Sanada Akihiko, no need to introduce him.

"I'm home."

Minako said as she went towards the kitchen and placed her newly bought groceries there. A girl with brown hair, Yukari, signaled Minako that she will help Minako. They placed the goods on the table as Minako went upstairs to her room with a long sigh. 

Minako closed the door with relief in her heart and sat in front of her desk. She held her chest as a sense of itch appeared.

‘cough’

She never thought that that single cough will forever crush her heart.

A single petal of Forget-Me-Not is on the floor, lying innocently. A tear escaped her eyes as she completely understood what that single petal means.

‘I can’t believe myself.’

That time, Minako didn’t go downstairs and that made all of them worried.

...

01/30/2010

After School

She felt the soft wind while standing in the rooftop of her school. Minako never thought that this day will be the last day where she can gaze down upon the sight of the Tatsumi Port Island. It gave her a shudder that the next day will be the destined day.

This time, she felt that itch again as she coughed. This time, harder.

Blue petals kept gushing out from her mouth as it gently flew away by the wind. 

Never she knew that someone is already looking at her with a curious look in its eyes. Minako never knew.

...

01/31/2010

Dark Hour

The entire world is shaking as the pale, deadly moon descended upon them.

'It's time'

A voice told her as she floated towards the moon, her team's voice never heard.

But this time, she heard Akihiko's voice loud and clear. A small smile appeared on her face as she sneaked a glance at him.

She will forever be reminded that she too, loved him, but once.

She coughed and coughed until dozens of petals flew downwards, this time, it has two colors.

Blue and gray.

Forget-Me-Not and Silver Scheherazade.

The scene uncovering the team flustered them as all of them took a glance at Akihiko's shocked face.

He too, never knew.

...

02/01/2010

Morning

They all forgot what happened. And that made Minako cry.

She had always remember. Each and every memories but can't bring it up. The excruciating pain made her cry every night, words left unsaid.

She can't. She musn't.

She also took a peek whether that glowing blue door will ever appear, but it didn't.

Blue and gray petals spread on her like a deathbed. She remained coughing while covering her blood-filled mouth. 

'Conceal. Don't let them know.'

A knock on her door. She let the one knocking enter her room. Her door opened as Yukari came inside and shock was registered on the latter's face.

'Never tell anybody.

'B-but, Minako!'

'Please.'

Minako once considered a surgery but she can't bring it up. With her feelings in line, she told Yukari about her feeling alone for her senior, but only that alone. And that made Yukari shut up.

Because Yukari knew that Mitsuru-senpai also secretly have some feelings for that certain senpai.

...

02/14/2010

Lunchtime

Valentine's Day is one of the most dreadful days in Minako's life. This year isn't an exception.

But this time, she have never gone to school and only remained in the dorms.

She kept coughing as she threw the petals out or only burned them. Her face darkened upon bringing one of Anti-Depressant pills in her mouth.

'20.'

And she still have many.

...

03/02/2010

After School

After meeting her friends, she went towards the Pharmacy in Paulownia Mall.

She gave a description as the shop owner gave her a small bottle of pills.

Rushing to the bathroom, she had a series of dry coughs that took a toll in her body.

She felt weak and miserable, but with the help of her strong will, she maintained a calm façade and walked towards the dorm. Her white blouse cuff carried a hint of red, but she never noticed. 

...

03/02/2010

Evening

Finally, Amada Ken and Iori Junpei noticed that Minako have bags under her eyes and seemed to get thinner and paler than ever.

She only told them a lousy excuse but they believed and only remained silent as Minako drank water.

Koromaru only that time smelled rust and iron. His nose seemed to smell something as it went towards Minako, sniffing her sleeves.

Minako's heartbeat fastened as Koromaru whined and the others finally noticed.

'Oh no.'

Minako has been cornered.

...

02/21/2010

Evening

Mitsuru considered that Minako will have a surgery once their graduation ceremony is finished.

Mitsuru also threatened that Minako must confess her own feelings but the latter pleaded 'no'.

With a sigh, Mitsuru only remained silent.

...

03/05/2010

Lunchtime

The graduation day of the seniors came and Minako felt like only sleeping past this day but she didn't.

Through her sheer will, she somehow managed to only cough a few petals and went to the school. But instead of the auditorium, she went to the rooftop. The place where she always releases her pent-up feelings.

This time, she wasn't alone.

'Minako-san, I know you're hiding something.'

Minako smiled ruefully as she glanced at the android in front of her. Minako nodded.

'I thought that only I remember fully but...'

'Sorry for not telling you.'

'It's okay, Aigis. Everything's okay. Nothing will ha--''

A cough stopped her words as bunches of blue and gray petals, with a hint of red, puffs out from her blood-filled mouth.

'My chest hurts.'

'Come here. Lay your head in my lap.'

Minako complied with a weak nod as her head laid against the, surprisingly warm, legs of Aigis.

'I knew that you've been taking pills. And I also know that you're having an illness.'

'Sorry for not telling you, Aigis.'

'Now you have nowhere to go.'

'I know.'

'And they will definitely be extremely worried.'

'I know.'

'And I will be worried too.'

'I know.

'And Ama--'

Minako can't hear what Aigis is saying as she felt a wisp of soul enter her consciousness.

...

??/??/????

??????

'Welcome, Minako-sama.'

'Please pardon my intrution.'

'Oh, that food!'

'The tastes of this world is indeed peculiar.'

'You are one of the most unique guest in this room, Minako-sama.'

'I'm sorry but I can't comply this time in your request.'

Series of memories came into her mind as she cried.

'Is loving you really hard?'

'Do I have to suffer more?'

'Why can't you love me back?'

Minako's train of thoughts stopped as series of another memory came into her mind.

'Arisato's a girl. She needed to be taken care of, of course.'

'We'll always be behind you, Leader.'

'I really need your comfort right now.'

'You're just like my sister, Miki.'

'I'm sorry but I needed some time to think. Don't disturb me right now.'

She coughed in her mindscape as bluish-red and pure red petals came out.

Her sight dimmed as she felt suffocating pain. Before she knew it, darkness invaded her sight.

Arisato Minako died in Aigis' lap, with a flower with blue and gray petals in her mouth.

...

EPILOGUE:

News of Minako's death came through as a group of students went and surrounded the cold body of Minako.

They all finally remembered.

All of them felt miserable, especially one man with gray hair.

His knuckles are clenched as he punched at the floor tiles, never giving a fuck whether its bleeding or not.

'It's all my fault. It's all my fault. It's all my fault.'

He never thought that this one-sided love will also be a death for her.

He, too, fell to her, but he can't muster his own courage.

He, too, once coughed out sunflowers as days passed.

But he never thought that she will die first, his knuckles clenched, enough to draw blood but Mitsuru's pleas came to his ear as his body shook.

'She will never come back?'

'Akihiko, the dead never come back. Remember that.'