realpolitik | Minato Arisato | Akira Kurusu

Entry tags:

Minato Arisato | Akira Kurusu | 090

[He's exhausted.

It's been an intense couple of months, and it feels as though the situation will only get worse somehow--worse and worse, and Minato has no idea what to expect. Strega is still out there. The Dark Hour still exists. The Arcana Shadows are gone, but...at what cost?

What was Ikutsuki rambling about, before the end?

Junpei's exhausted and depressed, the entire dorm dark and quiet and respectful of his mourning, and Minato's still shaken too from how close it was--how close he came to losing yet another teammate, and friend.

So he hops on the train. Akira probably won't mind a visit, right...? They get along well enough, and he thinks Akira would probably understand if Minato just needs a day away from the oppressive atmosphere of how much everyone has lost over the past two months.

He pushes open the door to the cafe quietly, but... well, the silence is almost more stifling over here, and his brow furrows a bit, even as he glances at Sojiro behind the counter.

UM...]

Is Akira around...?

[Now would probably be a good time to get interrupted before Sojiro tells this punk he doesn't really know well that Akira's TOTALLY DEAD.

(Minato probably should've texted first.)]

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[as soon as he mumbles the name "Akira," Minato is met with an ice cold stare from the cafe owner. Sojiro isn't exactly the warmest barista around, but he doesn't actively try to scare his customers off, so it's definitely. . . different]

[his response is gruff. laced with suspicion a clearly parental protectiveness. "What do you want with that kid? He isn't around anymore."]

Boss.

[but thankfully, before Minato can be interrogated even more, a familiar voice cuts in from near the stairwell. Akira stands there, bag slung over his shoulder, the hood of his hoodie pulled up over his head. he tugs on same idly, similar to how he sometimes toys with the fringes of his bangs, and blinks at Minato. there's something. . . different about the way Minato stands, something more defeated and tired than he's ever seen in his fellow protag before. and he decides right then and there to toss out whatever plans he had for the day to hang out with Arisato instead]

It's okay. [he says, pulling up a smile as he steps forward] He's a friend.

[Sojiro's gaze narrows, and he grumbles something like, "Just be careful. Don't do anything stupid," under his breath. it may sound harsh, but the care and concern is obvious in his words. Akira rests his hand on Minato's arm and gives him a smile from underneath his hood. the shadows hide most of his face and his expression, but the smile. . . at least that's clear as day]

Let's walk.

[and then he heads for the door]

[... Something happened.

Minato knows immediately, as soon as he gets that icy stare, and the words only make him straighten further, dragging in an uncertain breath--

And then there's a familiar voice, and Minato's head whips around immediately. He's a bit on edge despite himself, his usual placid calm frayed in small ways, but he breathes out a soft sigh of relief when Akira's clearly there. The hoodie is...new. The way that he can't see most of Akira's face makes Minato a little uncertain, despite himself.

But he knows when to bide his time--so he nods quietly in response, and follows Akira immediately. He'll wait, somewhat patiently, as they walk, before quietly:]

...Something happened, didn't it?

[Something big, and Minato wonders how he could've been self-centered enough to think that Akira wouldn't also be dealing with a lot on his plate, with his own tasks that he has.]

[they don't go too far from the cafe, actually. the Yongen-Jaya back alleyways seem surprisingly empty for it being in the middle of the day, and Akira has been living here long enough to know all of the best nooks and crannies to hide in. he pulls Minato into a hidden corner (spoilers: it's the place where you can find the guy listening to the radio most days) and plops down on the bench]

[he tilts his head up, hands in his pockets, and shrugs. there's something dark framing the curve of his jaw. something that definitely isn't a shadow]

Something happened to you too, right?

[they're too good at reading each other sometimes]

... Yeah.

[Minato won't hide that. It's true, after all, and...well, he's still too busy trying to see Akira's face properly. Seated beside him, it's a little easier to tell that...well, something's not quite right.

But with that hood up...]

I don't mind telling you, but...

[...]

What did Sojiro-san mean? That you weren't "around anymore"?

[there's a pause, because while Akira knows Minato's going to get it out of him eventually, he kind of wants to hear what his friend has to say at first. but if he dodges the question instead of answering. . .]

[. . .]

[his gaze flickers towards the entrance to their alcove, just to make sure no one is standing nearby and watching. then, with a sigh, he lifts a hand and tugs the hood off of his head]

[the dark shades on his jaw are definitely bruises, and there are a lot more of them. on his cheeks, his brow-- there's a butterfly bandage on a cut right above his right eye, too. some of the bruising extends past his collarbone, the rest hidden by his sweater. the injuries only seem to be a few days old]

[Akira replies lightly, almost nonchalantly, head canting to the side]

He just meant that I'm a little dead at the moment.

["LITTLE DEAD"]

["AT THE MOMENT"]

[The first thing that really processes is Akira's appearance.

Minato's a calm soul; he's not used to things taking him off-guard, and most things honestly can't make him react at all. But this... Seeing Akira like this is too much of a shock for Minato to take in stride.

His lips part in shock, eyes widening, even as he stares at Akira, and while the shock would be muted on anyone else, from Minato it's the equivalent of a gasp of surprise. Akira looks terrible, and for a moment, the first feeling after shock is a flash of anger. Who the hell--

... Thankfully, Akira's words are enough to get him to focus properly again, even as he drags in a slow breath, and tries to calm his suddenly more rapidly beating heart.]

... What happened to you?

[What the actual fuck, Akira. What does "a little dead" mean? And then before Akira can even answer that, Minato's brow is furrowing, even as he leans in a bit more to inspect the bruises on Akira's face (sorry about your personal space).]

Have you gotten these looked at? Properly, I mean?

[HELLO PERSONAL SPACE. Akira jerks back on instinct, but at least he glances up and actually meets Minato's gaze when he leans in. he looks. . . tired. but despite that exhaustion, he maintains his flippancy]

Ah-- nothing that big.

["NOTHING THAT BIG," he says, as he pulls his hood up again. the sleeves of his sweater fall down, revealing rings of bruises around his wrists]

I just got arrested the other day. And let me tell you, the police need to work on their interrogation bedside manner.

[he says that so dryly, wtf Akira]

Boss patched me up, and I'm friends with a local doctor. I'm okay.

[... How is none of this big at all... Minato stares at Akira for a long moment, processing that--and then he sits back properly to give Akira his personal space back, sighing out as his shoulders slump.

He can't!!

Handle you people!!

And your recklessness!!

The Junpei thing, the Ikutsuki thing, the Shinjiro thing--it's probably no wonder he's a little grumpier when he responds:]

You're a little too laid-back about this, I think. Next you're going to say you meant to do it, or something.

[ha. ha.]

[opens mouth]

[closes it again]

[opens it again]

[closes it with another click]

Okay. I'll leave that part out, then.

[poor Minato. why are all his friends like this]

[.........................

It's too much for him, really.

He just buries his face in his hands with an aggravated sigh.

And a muttered:]

You're too reckless.

[...But Minato is Minato, so Akira also gets a mumbled, but sincere:]

...But I'm glad you're okay.

[there's a pause]

[and then a small pressure on Minato's back, around his shoulders, as Akira slides his hand across them. there, there. . .]

. . . thanks.

[the flippancy is gone, and the smile is obvious in his voice, even if Minato can't see it]

It's. . . complicated. But I needed to be arrested, and I needed to fake my death in order to smoke out a traitor in our group. The-- ah. . .

[exhales deeply]

The interrogation going the way that it did was an unforeseen hitch in our plan.

[Minato lifts his head at that, expression relaxing slightly despite himself. Akira's alive and...well, not well, but getting there. He has people to take care of him, and that...that counts for something. So instead of more fussing, Akira just gets a wry:]

I don't think you should be the one reassuring me right now.

[But that sure does seem like a protag thing to do, doesn't it? Akira's wild card nature does shine through at times like this.]

... But I'm glad it went okay. Aside from... [... all of this, christ, Akira.] ... Well, please try not to aggravate your injuries further by overdoing it more.

[Please???]

I make no promises. I am, after all, "extremely reckless."

[AKIRA??? how can he be so!! casual!! about this!!]

[okay but enough being flippant about being arrested and dead and beaten up by a bunch of no good detectives during an interrogation. his hand comes to rest on Minato's back, between his shoulder blades, before it drops away]

So. . . what's up with you?

[time to protag at Minato in return as revenge for that Velvet Room stuff!!]

[.. ... ... How can Akira be so casual about this? Minato thinks back to the way Junpei's face had looked when he'd been shot, the blood draining from his body, because he'd been so reckless as to think he was invincible.

His hands clench into a fist for a moment, before he forcibly loosens his fingers and threads his hands together instead, breathing out a sigh.]

Well... now that I know you've been beaten to an inch of your life, I'm not sure it's the best time for story time...

[Don't worry, he's not going back on what he said, he's still just!! A little sour!! Over everyone being so god damn reckless and constantly getting into trouble and--!!!]

... We were wrong, though. About the Dark Hour, and how to get rid of it.

[Minato just sighs, shaking his head, and admits pretty plainly:]

We messed up in who we trusted. Maybe...I should've taken a page from your book after all.

[Akira seemed to have managed to smoke out his traitor, reckless as his plan was.

Minato never saw it coming.]

[. . . eh?]

[he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, brows furrowed in concern. he threads his fingers together as well, flinching a bit as the movement causes a few twinges of pains in his bruises]

[the only reason he and his gang were able to smoke out Akechi is because he had slipped up, months earlier, before any of them even knew what he was. because he had let something so simple, so easy to overlook, slip that day at the television station. if he hadn't made that one, single, fatal mistake. . .]

There was no page to take from our book. We just got lucky.

[extremely lucky]

Tell me everything-- from the beginning.

[Minato looks a little uncertain at that--more concerned than anything, especially at Akira's wincing. He's not completely convinced...that Akira's completely okay, and doesn't need to be taken care of right now.

But he's not really sure how to stop him when he's being this serious, so... all Minato can really do is go along with it.]

... When SEES was founded, it was with the front of a school club. Mitsuru-senpai worked with Ikutsuki-sa-- [...] Ikutsuki, the chairman, to make it happen.

But he was lying to us.

[Minato sighs, shaking his head quietly, even as he glances away from Akira. It may be that Akira and his team got lucky, but...it still feels pretty pitiful as a leader to have had the wool pulled over his eyes so thoroughly. It's not really about Minato, though--just the situation, since he told Akira he'd tell him.]

He was just using us for his own ends.

[to be frank, Akira's exhausted, and probably does need to be resting now. but he's always been the type to push himself, especially for the sake of others, so. . .! here he is]

[not that he minds, of course. anything for a Confidant]

Is he the one who told you killing those Shadows during the full moon would get rid of the Dark Hour?

[brushes a thumb against one bruised knuckle, his gaze on Minato now]

If. . . he was lying to you, then what was his goal?

[Minato literally just said to not push yourself, dummy!!

Minato's definitely got his eye on Akira despite everything; the minute he looks like he's going to fall over or like he's too tired, this Confidant sharing session is over, okay!!!

... But, well... it's not like Minato knows what to share there, either. He hesitates for a moment--more out of personal uncertainty than because he doesn't trust Akira.]

... I'm not sure yet.

[All of that talk of--the Fall. The end of the world. All of that... Minato doesn't want to bring that up just now. Not when Akira looks like this. He has enough on his plate, doesn't he?]

But we'll figure it out. [He shakes his head tiredly, rubbing his forehead.] Everyone's been too reckless, though.

[AKIRA INCLUDED.]

[PLEASE, AS IF HE'S LETTING YOU GET AWAY WITH THAT, MINATO. he's going to keep needling; it isn't usually like him to pry, but. Velvet Room]

You will.

[he says firmly, with the utmost of faith]

Why do you say everyone's been reckless, though?

[not. including himself in this equation because he's not SEES]

[Yeah, no, Minato gives Akira the flattest look at that, because you are part of the problem. Just look at those bruises!

(Not that he doesn't appreciate the faith; he does. He's just not quite ready to address it, and get back on the topic of Ikutsuki.)]

Someone here purposefully got themselves arrested and came out looking like this.

[FOR THE RECORD.

... A moment of hesitation, and a bit more quietly:]

But Junpei, too... [... He grimaces.] You're not invincible. No matter what powers you have, it just...takes one mistake for everything to go wrong.

[And maybe they're words that aren't just meant for Akira, but Akira's the current audience right now.]

[. . . HEY!!!]

[gives Minato a flat look, and he's about to respond with something sassy, but then his pal gets all serious on him again and he swallows the words before they can come out]

[there are layers to what Minato says next, and Akira shifts in his seat, sitting up a little straighter and ignoring the way his back and right leg feel so stiff]

-- is he okay? What happened?

[certainly Akira's heard about Junpei by now. certainly he knows about Minato's version of Ryuji]

[He is...absolutely noting all of those winces and shifts in Akira's movements. Akira's worried about him and his team, and he gets it (he appreciates it, he does) but...

He's worried about Akira, too. It definitely goes both ways, and he's not done with asking about Akira's situation either.

... Is he okay?

...]

Maybe he will be, eventually. [Getting over Chidori, though... Minato's not sure he'll ever fully be over that.]

He thought he was invincible just because he has a Persona. He was sure that he'd be fine, even if he flung himself into danger to protect the person that he loved, and--

[Quietly:]

It doesn't work that way. ...He's alive. I'm thankful for that. But it was close.

[So don't...do anything stupid, Akira. Don't die.]

[oh]

[suddenly Minato's reaction to his own injuries makes a whole hell of a lot more sense. not that he didn't expect some concern (they're friends, after all), but]

[. . . it suddenly feels a bit cruel to act so flippant about his supposed "death" and injuries at the hands of the police, knowing Minato is just coming off of a stressful betrayal and the almost-death of a close teammate]

Shit.

[he hisses to himself, and before he can stop his movements, he leans over and bumps his shoulder against Minato's]

I'm sorry. I'm glad he's okay, but-- what about the person he tried to protect?

[this story only gets sadder, Akira]

[It's Persona 3--of course it only gets sadder. Minato looks up a little at the curse and the brushing of their shoulders together; he's still concerned about Akira's injuries, and isn't sure Akira should be bumping shoulders with people at all.

... But he looks like he's hanging in there for now.

There's a pause in response to that question, and then Minato hunches his shoulders a little, jamming his hands into his pockets further, and ducking his head.]

... She's dead. She gave her life...to save his.

[Everything kind of goes to shit around October/November in Persona, doesn't it...]

[what IS it with October and November sucking for protags, really]

[his own shoulders slump as Minato withdraws, and the body language is telling enough that he isn't surprised by the answer that soon follows]

. . .

[he's always been a good listener. someone who provides a quiet ear to those who just need to vent, or comforting words to those in pain. but knowing the right thing to say to someone who nearly lost a teammate, only to have someone else die in his place, is just. . .]

[it's like Haru all over again]

That was very brave of her. [he eventually settles on, voice quiet] . . . I'm sorry.

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