“Well, except, using a bow really isn't that hard, and if you spent some time at it, you would just have to learn how to aim and you'd probably be as good as I am.” Yukari shrugged as she sat down on the couch.
“Okay, now you're just mocking those of us who have to work hard to acquire skills to fight.” Akihiko growled, clenching his fists.
“Calm down, Akihiko. She's trying to be encouraging about learning new skills. Isn't that right, Takeba?” Mitsuru gave Yukari both an encouraging and a threatening look.
“R-Right! Of course!” She smiled as widely at Akihiko, trying to keep as much peace as she could.
“Hmph. As long as she understands where true talent comes from. Hard work and perseverance.” Akihiko grumbled.
“Yukari practices her bow every other day at school and a lot of times she practices after school too.” Minato said.
Everyone looked over at him, surprised. The whole conversation had been initiated between Junpei and Yukari about how hard it was to learn how to use a weapon against Shadows. No one had really though Minato was paying attention, since, if he wasn't speaking directly with anyone, he looked very zoned out.
“I...I didn't know you paid attention to my practice habits.” Yukari started to blush.
“Of course. You're a part of my team. I need to know what you're doing so if we need to work on anything I know what your habits are so we can go from there.” He answered simply.
“That's atually a very good thing to pay attention to as a leader.” Mitsuru nodded proudly. “I see you have been taking your duties very seriously. That's wonderful.” She smiled. “Now, I would also suggest everyone gets some sleep. A team is no good if it is not well rested.”
“Yes, Mitsuru-senpai.” Yukari got up and started walking to her room.
“You know, Yukari...” Minato walked up behind her.
“Y-Yes, Leader?” Yukari turned to look at him, and then she almost fell backwards. She didn't realize how close he was to her, and suddenly they were inches apart instead of feet. She shuffled back a few steps, trying not to blush.
Minato gave her an odd look then shrugged and said, “If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to learn how to shoot a bow. Do you have any time where I could accompany you in one of your practices?”
“You want to learn how to shoot a bow?” Yukari looked at him, confusedly. “Are you more of the kind of person to fight from the front?”
“I am, but it's good to have all kinds of skills. The shadows vary more and more as we go higher into Tartarus. I want to be prepared....and....and...” He hesitated.
“And...?” She looked at him curiously.
“And...I think it would be nice to see how my master bowman practices.” He smiled at her shyly.
Yukari stood there, stunned for a moment, then nodded. “Of course. I'd be happy to show you how to use a bow. Would Friday be alright?”
“Yeah. That's fine. Thank you.” He smiled slightly.
Yukari felt her cheeks start to grow pink and she turned away. “Don't be late. I only get a certain amout of time to myself on the field.”
“Of course.” His voice was quiet and she frowned slightly. Why couldn't she just smile back? Why couldn't she face him like this?
“I...I look forward to it.” She looked over her shoulder at him.
He smiled slightly again, and for a second she thought she saw some color come to his cheeks too.
“It's always great for teammates to work together.” He said and walked to the stairs towards his dorm.
* * *
Yukari nervously set up the targets outside, looking at the door periodically. She had just finished practicing with her team and she had asked her captain permission to work on her own as she always did.
This time, though, she wasn't going to be alone. Minato was coming to practice with her.
For some reason this thought made Yukari's heart stutter.
She turned back and looked around. After getting used to the targets, she was going to set up balloons for Minato to try to pop, since most of the time the target wasn't going to be a big white circle to focus on, but smaller focal points on a larger target. She figured she'd pull in the moving targets later, if Minato really wanted to continue practice.
As she searched, she heard someone step into to the room. She stopped and turned around.
There he was, in his regular school uniform, looking at her curiously. She realized she was bent over looking for balloons, and she quickly stood up, blushing, smoothing down her skirt.
“You're early.” She said, smiling shyly.
“Well, you told me not to be late.” He replied, and looked over at the bows hanging by the wall.
“Eager to get started?”
He walked over to the bows and slowly picked one up, looking it over. “Is this one I can use?”
“They're all ones you can use.” She smirked. “It just depends on which one you're more comfortable with.” She walked over to him as he held up the bow.
Yukari picked up her own bow and took an arrow, making her stance behind the line on the edge of the floor. She placed her arrow on the notch and pulled it back, looking over at Minato. He was studying her carefully. She felt her heart flutter again and she tried to swallow her nerves as she concentrated on the target. She took a deep breath, and then let go. The arrow flew and hit the middle of the target with ease. She smiled and looked at Minato, then she blanched. He actually looked...nervous.
“Are you sure you want to practice today?” She asked him, looking concerned.
“Of course! I just want to make sure I'm doing this correctly.” He looked down at his bow.
“It's honestly really easy.” She stood next to him and took her stance. “Stand like this.”
Minato looked at her, studying her stance quietly. She felt herself start to blush from him looking at her. Then he turned and copied her stance exactly.
“See? It isn't that hard at all.” She smiled at him.
“Great. I can stand.” His voice was slightly hollow, almost like he was trying to hide something.
“A-Anyways. Then you hold your bow like this. Never pull back on the string unless you have an arrow attached. Dry shooting could hurt you and break the bow.”
Minato nodded and held his bow like her. She then placed an arrow on the notch.
“Alright. Then you aim at the target, pull the string back till your fingers are at the corner of your mouth, and release.” She showed him again, her arrow hitting the target perfectly.
Minato nodded and swallowed, focusing on the target. He pulled his string back, took a deep breath, and released.
The arrow flew towards the target, and Yukari gasped as she watched it hit. It hit the very outer corner of the target, almost missing it completely.
Minato's shoulders slumped.
“There's no need to be upset. I've been doing this a long time and you just started. Honestly when I started I could hardly hit the target. You're doing well already.” She smiled encouragingly. “You have to just find your own special way to aim. Once you do, you just practice till you're confident, and then you practice some more.” Yukari laughed and went back to her place, pulling out more arrows.
“Is this all you do? Alone? Shooting at targets?” Minato looked at her.
“Well, yeah. I have to stay sharp. My life depends on it.” She said, looking at him curiously.
“You have your teammates to look out for you. You're not alone, you know. I...I wouldn't let anything hurt you.” Minato looked down at his arrows, pulling one out and placing it on the string.
Yukari's jaw dropped as she watched him aim carefully, then release the arrow, the arrow almost hitting the middle of the target.
“I...I don't want to be dead weight.” She said. “I have to stay strong...for the team.”
“You already are. It's good to take a break sometimes...just go out...enjoy life.” Minato said, still not looking at her as he kept practicing, getting closer and closer to shooting the middle of the target.
“L-Leader...”
“You can call me Minato, you know.” Minato turned to her.
Yukari felt herself blush bright red. “Y-You want me to call you...M-Minato-san?”
“I'd....rather you call me Minato-kun...” His voice was softer, and he looked down.
“I...I...” Yukari felt herself blush even more.
“You don't have to, though. It's a stupid idea, anyways.” He quickly turned back to practicing.
Yukari stood there, speechless, then she went back to practicing herself.
After an hour had passed, they both took a break.
“I'd like to come back and practice next week. May I?” Minato turned to Yukari as they both got some water to drink.
“O-Of course! I'd be happy to practice with you.” She smiled.
“Good.” He smiled weakly back at her and started to walk out.
“I'll meet you here next Friday, Minato-kun.” Yukari said, her voice raising pitch even though she was trying to be calm.
Minato smiled to himself and waved. “You can count on it, Yukari-chan.”
* * *
Minato and Yukari started practicing archery together once or twice every week for a month, and Minato was growing very skilled at aiming.
The last week of the month, Yukari told him she had a surprise in store for him the next time he came to practice with her.
“What is it?” He asked suspiciously.
She grinned. “You'll see.”
“Well, in that case, I also have a surprise for you.” Minato smirked.
Yukari tried not to look too thrown off by that. “I-Is that so?”
“Mhm. You'll see.” He smiled and walked off to class.
After classes Yukari set up the archery targets and pulled out a bag of balloons. She had finally found them and thought it was time to show Minato how to focus on focal points. She set up his target then set up hers.
When Minato walked in, he snorted slightly at the sight of the targets. “Are our targets having a party?” He asked, teasingly.
“No, these are to show when you're fighting, sometimes you can't hit straight in the middle of a target. Sometimes you have to aim at certain focal points.”
“I see. So the focal points are balloons?”
“I thought they might add some fun color.” She smiled.
“Well, why don't we get to it, then?” Minato smiled and pulled out his bow.
“Wait a minute, what was your surprise?” Yukari asked, picking up her bow.
“You'll have to wait and find out.” Minato smirked more and started to aim at one of the balloons. He shot his arrow and it almost hit one of them, but the balloon swung out of the way from the wind in the shot.
Yukari smirked to herself and she drew her arrow and aimed at her target. Minato grumbled to himself as he pulled out another arrow. Suddenly, Yukari turned and shot her arrow at his target, popping one of his balloons.
“Hey!” He yelled in protest.
“Too slow.” She grinned at him.
“Oh I'm going to get you for that.” He grumbled and started to shoot at another balloon on his target. After a few tries he finally got it.
“I knew you could do it.” Yukari giggled.
“Oh hush.” He grumbled and started to try to shoot another balloon.
“Oh really?” Yukari pulled out another arrow and quickly shot the balloon Minato was aiming at.
“H-Hey!” Minato yelled again. “Why don't you shoot your own balloons?”
“I could, but it's much more of a challenge to shoot from this angle.” She smirked.
“Why, you little...” He grumbled and aimed at her target, popping one of her balloons. “Ha! How does that make you feel?”
“Hmph.” Yukari shot and hit Minato's last balloon on his target. “That's better.” She grinned.
“That's it.” Minato walked over and hung his bow back up.
“W-Wait! Minato-kun! Don't go!” She ran after him.
“Why not? You keep shooting my target anyways.” His voice sounded almost like a growl.
Yukari flinched and looked down. “I promise not to do it again. I'm sorry.”
Suddenly she felt Minato's hand on her chin as he lifted it slowly, wrapping his other arm around her waist.
“M-Minato-kun? Wh-what are you...?”
“Oh just shut up already.” He leaned in and kissed her.
Yukari thought her heart might just stop. Her eyes fluttered closed and she dropped her bow, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him back.
It was a moment she begged fate not to end, but eventually, Minato pulled back and smiled down at her, whispering, “Surprise.”
Yukari blushed, looking back up at him, breathless. She wasn't sure what to say, or what this all meant. Was this his way of messing with her, or did he really mean something with that kiss? Her mind whirled as she tried to pull herself together.
Minato's face grew concerned and he held Yukari's shoulders. “I...I'm sorry. Do you not....I shouldn't have just....”
“N-No....I...I liked it.” Yukari's face turned bright red.
“Y-You did?” He looked down at her, and she was surprised to see he was just as red as she was.
“M-Mhm!” She started to grow flustered.
“Y-Yukari-chan....I have to admit something. I honestly didn't want to learn archery to become more skilled....I...I wanted to learn it so I could be closer to you....”
“Y-You did?” She asked, her eyes widened.
“Y-Yeah...” He looked away, blushing still.
“I...I r-really like being close to you, Minato-kun.” Her voice was soft, shy. She had never dared to speak these feelings out loud. She always thought Minato didn't like anyone. She thought all he cared about was fighting Shadows, but it turned out that he cared about her, too.
“Will....will you be my girlfriend, Yukari?” Minato asked, looking back at her, his expression full of both hope and fear.
“Y-You want me to be....be your girlfriend?” Yukari gasped.
“I-If it's okay with you.” He blushed.
“Y-Yes...I'd...I'd like that....a lot.” She smiled, shyly.
“Y-You would?” His eyes widened and he slowly started to grin.
“I really would.” She nodded.
Minato pulled her into a tight hug and she hugged him back tightly. They stood there like that for a few minutes before Yukari hesitated, then asked.
“Does...this mean you don't want to practice with me, anymore?” She asked.
“What? Of course not! This means I'm going to practice with you even more until I pop your balloons before you can even shoot them!” Minato said.
“Oh you can try!” Yukari laughed.
“You know I will.” Minato grinned.
