realpolitik | Minato Arisato | Akira Kurusu

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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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[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.

[Minato doesn't need comforting words, at least. He knows what happened, and why. He knows that he should've been able to prevent it (somehow, somehow, he's the leader, that's what they're supposed to do), and he knows that not being able to prevent it was a failing that all of them committed.

...He just shakes his head, and offers Akira a very weak smile.]

She loved him.

[So of course she was willing to give her life for him. That much... in a way, makes perfect sense to Minato, in a strange sort of eerie clarity.]

...We'll recover. We'll keep moving forward. [Somehow, even if they don't have a purpose anymore... and even if they've suffered more losses lately than they know what to do with.] But... I hope that your dangerous ploy will keep you safe now.

[He doesn't want to come back to news of Akira really being killed.]

[despite his words, despite the smile, Akira can read guilt in every line of Minato's body language. it doesn't surprise him. if he were in Minato's situation, he'd feel it, too]

[. . . did feel it. with Haru, and the loss of her father. he doesn't return the smile]

Of course you'll keep moving forward. I never doubted that.

[he may also be purposefully ignoring Minato trying to turn the conversation back to his deal for now, oops.]

But do you blame yourself?

[Stop doing that, Akira.

Minato's not used to his attempts at changing the conversation to fail... though he supposes he should expect that, considering Akira's also a protag. Still, it's a bit of a surprise, and the question is...not really one he wants to answer.

His expression flattens a little.]

Junpei never really did like to listen to me.

[That's his own failing as a leader, and he knows it.]

Maybe if he had--

[None of this would have ever happened.]

[plops a hand on top of Minato's head]

[the movement hurts, just like everything else does, but he swallows his instinct to flinch. focus]

So you do. You blame yourself for not being able to get through to him before it was too late.

[and then]

[he lightly flicks Minato's temple. it doesn't hurt, but it's a rough motion nonetheless!!]

First-- you have to quit that.

[... ... ... Minato frowns.

He frowns and almost goes crosseyed trying to look at the hand on his head.]

Would you stop moving so much--

[He knows it has to be hurting, Akira, stop that--!!

... Though the flick does make him blink despite himself; he doesn't flinch, because it doesn't hurt, but it's hard not to react.]

... I know. It's not about me anyway. Junpei... is the one who's hurting right now.

[It's hard not to feel a little guilt, though.]

You try staying completely still for several minutes at a time. It's enough to drive a person crazy.

[IN OTHER WORDS, NO]

And, well-- that's true. But not what I was getting at.

[at least he drops his hand back into his lap when he's done being obnoxious and slumps against the wall again]

You're hurting, too. Guilt can be a form of hurt. [or so he thinks. maybe he can say that because he's a leader too, so he knows. . . what it's like. to feel responsible for an entire group of people. to feel like you failed them] And if you ignore your own hurt, moving forward is going to be a lot more difficult.

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