returning home. | minako/akihiko
emperorxboxer:
♫ music: memories of the school (inside the cinema)
“If I had the choice between having any time with you over not having time with you, no matter the outcome, I’d would choose to have time with you. Every time, with no regrets.”
Akihiko’s voice came strong, it was confident – this wasn’t the Akihiko from 5 years ago that was uncertain of what he wanted to do. This Akihiko understands the power of choice and sacrifice, the power of what she did that day, and he’ll never forget it.
“Changing the past isn’t going to do anything, Minako. You can relive that year over and over and over again, and nothing will change. You said it yourself. I told myself that I would never change the past because I understand the drastic consequences that it can have. When we all fought over the keys, Amada and I respected your sacrifice. No one is saying that this won’t be painful. But this is the present! This isn’t the repeating timeline that you live every year. What you were given, you should cherish. And when your time here is over, we’ll face it then. Maybe then I’ll get to meet the other person that’s fighting for your time now.”
Aki’s words were genuine for what he felt, even if he was uncertain of the outcome at the end. But he knew if she just ran away, then they’d never know the true nature of what was happening.
“I never knew it was two of you fighting for us all. This whole time, I always thought it was just you. I guess I should thank him too, huh?” The boxer smiled, and a hand was placed over his heart. “I almost feel like I know him, honestly.”
He pulled the girl closer to him, wrapping his arms around her. “You don’t have to face this alone. Things are confusing, I understand. But if the cycle, by some miracle, has changed, then you should be thankful for it.” He sighed.
Truthfully, Akihiko wasn’t sure what he should be saying, but everything felt right. Then again, there was nothing really based to make this wrong in the first place. “Maybe Elizabeth found a way to let you live your lives every now and again. I’m not saying it’s true, but she was quite the miracle worker. But don’t throw away chances like this. It may not be what you wanted, and we might have to part ways someday, but fate brought us back together again, by the very same sacrifice you made.”
He smiled at her and then wiped her eyes from her face. “Now come on. It’s because of you that I’m even here. You could at least act like you’re happy to see me instead of wanting to run away from me. I don’t look that bad after 5 years, do I?”
Of which, the 5 years got Akihiko thinking…. why 5? It may have just been because something was altered, but more than that, there were two people fighting, not just one. But they repeat the years and swap. So…
“That other person… do you think you get to live your life on every even year? It’s 2014 now, and you swap every other year. If you’ve been doing this since 2009 and it’s been 5 years… That other person went first, you lived 2010, and so on..? I dunno, I’m just rambling.”
An unlikely Akihiko trait, but he could blame Mitsuru and Aigis for that one. “It doesn’t matter. The point is, you’re here. That’s all that matters. So…”
“Welcome home, Minako.”
Tears came to a halt when strong, dependable arms wrapped around her. Minako closed her eyes, felt herself relax in his arms, and with just the sound of his voice as a catalyst, let the tension slowly drift away into the darkness. Everything Akihiko said was correct. She believed it with every fiber of her being, but then she also believed that behind every positive dream was an obstacle to be faced.
No one could fault her for placing more faith in these dreams.
“Yes...” she nodded. “Okay, we’ll... face it together, then.”
Akihiko musing over the blue-haired boy had her smiling a little, a profound sense of pride evident in the way she took a deep breath and pulled him in an even tighter hug. In a sense, Akihiko did know that boy -- had this been another timeline. Perhaps he would be having this conversation with that person rather than her right now, albeit in a calmer way. Her partner wasn’t exactly one to display emotions like an open book, unlike herself.
“I am happy to see you,” she insisted, crimson eyes meeting his for the first time since the embrace. And feeling a bit of her old self returning, Minako giggled mischievously. “On the contrary, senpai. You look rather hot after five years. I bet your fanclub’s grown into an actual organization by now.”
Maybe an organization as huge as the Shadow Operatives right now -- well, in reality, she could only assume the latter’s massive scale due to Mitsuru being the one who founded it. Strange why this group should exist, though. The shadows should have disappeared alongside Tartarus. What need would they have to fight again?
“Honestly, I’m not sure which cycle I’m on right now. Time doesn’t really work for me the same way it does for you guys. You say it’s five years on your end, but maybe it’s been a century for me. Or at least, it feels that way,” she said. “Maybe there’s a reason why I’ve been sent to the year 2014, though. Are we in the midst of strange happenings right now? I’m assuming the shadows are back if you and the others are fighting again.”
Suddenly, before Akihiko, stood Minako whose eyes were filled with purpose once again, closely resembling the leader she had been during all those times in Tartarus. And when he’d uttered his recent words, welcoming her back, she smiled.
It truly felt like she had just returned.
“Thank you,” Minako nodded. “I’m home.”
