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[ two - video ]

[ He said he'd do this weeks ago but maybe it's more convenient to do it now that there are more people around. There's no real reason to ask, beyond curiosity. It's not like they have their old powers from home.

But he is curious. And Souji had been too. ]

Did anyone here have a Persona?

[ The question is short and to the point and easily misunderstood if you have no idea what a Persona is. Minato's not saying any more on that particular matter, either. For most people, the feed ends there.

However... for one person it will not. Another video message follows. ]

[ filtered to Minako Arisato: ]

[ He looks downward after turning the feed back on and remains silent for a few moments to collect his thoughts before looking back up again, almost shy. ]

Minako-chan... can we talk? I have a few questions. [ Looking away again with a frown, he practically mumbles the rest: ] You're the only one I could think to ask. Who would understand.

[ Wow, that sounds serious. Okay, seriously, he's done now. Time to wait for replies somewhat nervously. ]

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[She can make a wry smile at that, though she isn't planning on ever asking for his help in that way.]

Uh-huh... Yeah, he came up to me at the fair when I was playing one of the carnival games, saying he was some mysterious ring-throwing champ.

...Haha, it sounds stupid, but it was kinda funny. And, after I figured out who he actually was, he told me to try it out.

[She sounds mostly amused at the whole affair.]

[ ...He would pose as a champion of some kind. That guy thinks he's great at everything, when in fact it's not always the case.

Minato's not sure how he feels about Yukari and Souji... charming each other, however. ]

How did you charm him? What did it do?

[She beat him, too! ...He wasn't very good. Neither was she.]

Umm, well, it's just kind of my power thing... It's hard to describe "how" you do it, it's not exactly like summoning Isis. So far as I can tell, it just makes the person feel better about you, or like you more.

So... now he likes you more? [ His eyebrows narrow slightly. Minato's not sure why, but he isn't too keen on that idea. ]

I guess? I dunno if it's a permanent thing... It's probably not, right? But that's pretty harmless... It might even be a good thing, really.

[She's starting to pick up on a few hints of his mood here, and, while it's not enough to vocalize or confirm or really even get coherent, she doesn't entirely mind it.]

[ So cruel, Yukari.

There's a soft sigh from the other line. That power, the ability to influence people's perceptions and opinions of you... it isn't entirely harmless. Bonds between people are power, and not just for those with the Wild Card.

Yukari's power makes him worry. What if the power is permanent? What if it stacks upon itself when you use it repeatedly? What if she charms someone so hard that they end up treating her better than Minato ever could?

...Why did he just think that? That wouldn't happen.

But it could...

There's a long silence before another sigh and a soft-spoken reply. ] You should be careful using your power, too. Don't use it often.

[Indeed, she's starting to think he's taking it more seriously than she meant it. That long silence and those sighs make it pretty obvious. And while that makes her happy in a way, she's aware that that's a little mean, because he probably doesn't feel too good about it. Souji's a cool guy in a corny way, but... Well, that's not the point.]

Next time I test it out, I'll use it on you, Minato-kun.

...Assuming it'd have an effect.

[ Oh, no...

He'd thought they'd finished ranking up long ago, only to realize there was still further they go up. So far that had been done naturally. Minato can't even imagine how much more confusing his feelings would turn out to be if she charmed him. ]

Yukari... that's not the best idea. [ Realizing his lack of enthusiasm might turn her off, he adds: ] I want us growing closer naturally.

[ If they absolutely had to at all. If there was more room to rank up. ]

[She's left wondering for a moment what it means. She'd thought it would be reassuring, but apparently it wasn't... And then he'd said he wanted it to happen naturally.

That made more sense. Especially considering she didn't know for sure that the scope of the power would always be minimal or temporary. Her tone turns serious.]

Y-Yeah, you're right... [She laughs a little self-consciously.]

What I really meant was that... I don't think this power really compares at all to how I feel about you. I... [She pauses.] You're so much more important to me than that, Minato-kun.

[ That's... really good to hear. It's reassuring, especially if Minako is right and this is, in fact, love.

If it's love, should he say as much? The words always feel so awkward when he tries to say them. Maybe not yet.

That can come naturally too. ]

Good. I'm still going to keep an eye on Souji Seta. [ He's half joking. Maybe less than half joking. ]

[Sigh. She feels an unaccountable disappointment that he didn't lavish similar words of affection on her -- and really, "good" was all!? -- but he's always been laconic, so it's not all that unusual. Still, the rest of his ... that is a joke, right?

...Well, anyway, the rest of his joke seems to convey the general outline of a response. Though it's not the first time it's crossed her mind that, hey, maybe something's wrong with her, especially after he was just gone at home -- maybe she always expects more from him, and always wants more, more declarations of love and reassurance, and that's got to be tiring in and of itself eventually. Yeah, it's stupid, she decides. As long as he's saying stuff like that, who needs the rest?

She puts on a smile.]

...And I'll try not to accidentally hit him with any more of my charm. He doesn't need any more, after all.

[ Hey, Yukari, he's working on it. Maybe he wants to wait until the right time? Right. That's it. He's going to wait for the opportune moment to sweep you off your feet with a love declaration.

...No. Who're we kidding? He'll probably end up doing something small, simple, and quiet, like whispering it in her ear, or... maybe even sending it in a text first. Just to see what happens.

It's hard, okay? Those words are really quite awkward to wrap your tongue around when you're unfamiliar with them. ]

Definitely not. [ For now though, he's relieved. No need to be too jealous... if that was, in fact, what he'd been feeling earlier. ]

Haha, all right.

[That's one of her explanations/guesses for it. It's only a faint disappointment, but it is a strangely lingering one. Since they were in his room back in their world, the first time, in fact, she'd been a little surprised that he hadn't replied in the most natural way when she'd said she loved him. And she loved him less then than she loved him now... Whatever that meant.]

Just don't beat the guy up too badly.

I'd never.

[ He sounds almost sheepish before going silent for a few moments.

A few moments that last a little too long. ]

[...He's not actually... Yeah, of course he's not.

She wants to reassure him more, but -- well, not having had him say much in return, the cue is kind of missing. Maybe she's read it all wrong and he's totally joking. In any case, the moment probably has passed with those silences.]

Well, good.

Anyways... There's so many cupcakes around here now... I don't know how we're gonna finish all these. Did you make any?

[What a graceful subject change, Yukari.]

[ He has a lot on his mind. The silences are awkward for the both, it seems.

He ends up clearing his throat briefly before speaking up again. ]

I did. [ They aren't the most romantic cupcakes, though. The frosting looks like poop. Literally. He probably shouldn't show her them.

So...

He just goes silent again.

This love thing is tough. ]

[...Why is this suddenly so awkward? Yukari starts to wonder if she made a mistake by saying that stuff. It's scary, since it's really the least she'd have wanted to say, in some ways...

She doesn't understand this stuff that well, does she, when she thinks about it, anyway. She knows he cares about her, but...

She sighs a little. It's funny that it's been maybe six weeks since she got him back, and now what's making her a little unsure is his reticence. People adjust to their conditions quickly... She should, by all rights -- and was -- happy just to have him there at all.]

I'll bring you one or two of mine sometime... They're pretty ordinary, but they're not bad.

[Superficial conversation papers over all that thought.]

That sounds great. [ And it does. Maybe it'll be so great that he'll say the L word and they'll collapse into each other's arms, like something out of a movie.

Or maybe he'll deem it not the right moment. Again.

Anyway! Cupcakes. Yum? ] Maybe I'll come over later?

Sounds good to me, Minato-kun... Bring one of yours, too, I wanna try one.

Sure. They're pretty good. [ Whether she'll like them or not is a different story, however. He's hoping that he'll at least get a laugh from her. ] See you later.

[Probably an incredulous chuckle or two before she starts accusing him of emulating Junpei. For now, she continues to cheerily expect normal awesome cupcakes.]

...Okay, see you, Minato-kun!

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