Chapter 32; That's my decision

...10/08/2009 Monday; Dawn...

The dormitory was wrapped in absolute silence, broken only by the occasional ticking of the clock on the wall, marking four in the morning.

All members of S.E.E.S were in their rooms, sleeping deeply.

In Hiro's room, peace was evident. He was lost in a heavy sleep, occasionally shifting in his bed, pushing the blanket aside in an attempt to escape the oppressive heat.

His face looked serene.

The door to his room opened slowly, without a sound.

A figure stepped in stealthily, moving with calculated precision to avoid waking him.

It was Mitsuru, wearing a red robe over her white nightgown.

She approached Hiro's bed, her eyes fixed on him, a mix of determination and worry etched on her face.

"I won't let you turn into that again," she whispered to herself, her voice almost inaudible in the quiet room.

Her gaze shifted to Hiro's wardrobe. She walked over, opening its doors carefully.

She began searching meticulously for his combat suit, but her mind was elsewhere, haunted by the echo of her father's voice:

"...the Theurgy cartridge has a forty percent chance of destabilizing his Persona."

"Where's the armband? It's not here," she murmured in frustration, closing the wardrobe and realizing that Hiro didn't keep his gear in the same meticulous way she did.

Everyone had their own way of organizing things.

Mitsuru placed a hand on her chin, pondering where else the suit could be.

Suddenly, an idea struck her as she recalled President Shuji's instructions about the Theurgy cartridge.

"If Shuji said the cartridge needs to be kept inside the armband in a dry place... then it must be in the box it came in," she concluded, glancing at Hiro's bed and deducing the box's likely location.

"I just hope I don't get stuck... or wake him," Mitsuru murmured, resigned, as she knelt beside the bed and slipped under it.

Her hands searched the floor until they found the box.

"Got it!" she whispered in relief, pulling the box from under the bed.

On the lid, the SEES emblem and the number 8 were engraved, identifying Hiro's equipment.

Opening the box, Mitsuru found the suit, the Evoker, and finally, the armband.

She took the armband and pressed the Gekkoukan High School insignia, activating the mechanism that ejected the Theurgy cartridge.

Holding the cartridge, she cast a worried glance at Hiro, but soon a smile of relief appeared on her lips.

"Don't worry. You'll be safe," she whispered as if Hiro could hear her in his dreams.

Mitsuru returned the armband to the box, closed it, and slid it back into its place under the bed.

Before leaving, she leaned over Hiro, gently brushing his dark hair into place.

The feeling of doing the right thing enveloped her, even if the cost was the trust Hiro and the others placed in her.

As she exited the room, closing the door silently, Mitsuru sighed, feeling both relieved and burdened by the responsibility she bore.

"I'm doing the right thing. Trust me, Hiro," she whispered to herself as she walked back to her room, determined to protect everyone at all costs.

But the Hiro lying in bed stirred toward the door, and his eyes opened.

He had been awake.

10/08/2009 Monday; Midday

The sun was at its peak, illuminating the grounds of Gekkoukan High School, where the activity was bustling.

Students and spectators filled the stands surrounding the running track, ready to watch the 400-meter sprint competition.

It wasn't just Gekkoukan students present—students from other schools had also gathered, all eager to see who would emerge victorious.

Minato, representing Gekkoukan High School, stood at the starting line alongside the other competitors.

His posture was firm, and a focused exhale escaped his lips as he kept his gaze fixed on the track ahead.

"Go, Minato! You can do it!" Yukari shouted, cheering from the stands.

Junpei, next to her, waved a Gekkoukan High School flag enthusiastically. "Show them who's boss!"

"Don't forget you can't tire yourself out in the first laps!" Fuuka yelled, trying to pass on some helpful advice.

Minato heard the cheers of encouragement and felt the weight of their expectations on his shoulders.

He closed his eyes, seeking to center his mind as he waited for the referee's signal.

The referee approached the starting line, pulling out a starter pistol and loading it with a blank cartridge. "Get ready to run. In three, two, one..."

The sound of the gunshot echoed across the track, and the runners bolted forward, sprinting as fast as they could.

The stands erupted in cheers and shouts as the race began to unfold.

Minato quickly secured third place, maintaining a steady and accelerated pace.

"Faster, Minato!" Junpei shouted, standing up in the stands, trying to further motivate his friend.

Minato increased his speed, overtaking the second-place runner and prompting an enthusiastic reaction from Gekkoukan's cheering section.

Meanwhile, a bit farther away, Mitsuru and Hiro were watching the race, evaluating Minato's performance.

"Arisato's doing well," Mitsuru commented, her eyes fixed on the scoreboard. "The second lap is starting, and he's already secured second place."

Hiro, holding two cans of juice, smiled as he listened to Mitsuru's analysis. "Yeah, but Mamoru Hayase is just toying with the others. Once he gets serious, Minato will eat so much dust he won't even believe it. Want one?" he asked, offering one of the cans to Mitsuru.

"Thank you," Mitsuru said, accepting the can and opening it. "I'll pay you back later when I get my wallet."

Hiro took a sip of his juice and smiled amicably. "No need. After all, you do so much for us."

As Mitsuru sipped her juice, her eyes remained focused on the race, while Hiro's mind wandered back to the previous night.

He had seen Mitsuru in his room, taking something from the box where he kept his gear.

When he checked his armband, he noticed the Teurgia cartridge compartment was empty.

He knew Mitsuru hadn't taken the cartridge to harm him, but the question of her reasons still nagged at him.

"Mitsuru..." Hiro began, hesitantly.

Mitsuru turned to him, curious. "Hmm?"

Hiro thought for a moment, weighing whether or not to bring up what he had seen. He looked into Mitsuru's crimson eyes—beneath her elegant demeanor was a responsible leader.

In the end, he decided to trust her.

"Do you remember when you asked me why I fight?" he asked, diverting his gaze to the race.

"Yes, I remember. You said you didn't have one," Mitsuru replied, turning fully toward him.

"That's right," Hiro nodded. "But now... I've started to realize I need to change. And my reason now..."

He paused for a moment, looking at the clouds in the sky, reflecting on his decision.

He knew he needed to stop being an angry and indifferent person; he needed to strive to be better.

"My reason is to try to be a better person," he said, his eyes meeting Mitsuru's. "Not that I'll change completely, but I want to be someone everyone can rely on."

Mitsuru's heart warmed at those words.

Even knowing Hiro still struggled with his own emptiness and pain, she felt relieved and happy to see this change in him.

"Thank goodness... you're improving," Mitsuru whispered with a gentle smile, so softly that Hiro couldn't hear her.

"Did you say something?" Hiro asked, confused.

"No, nothing," Mitsuru replied, looking into his eyes. "I'm just happy that you're opening up more to everyone. Keep it up, Hiro."

Hiro felt his cheeks warm, a blush that almost went unnoticed.

He smiled and looked away, feeling grateful to have someone like Mitsuru by his side.

"Thanks. Count on me whenever you need, okay?" he said, his smile soft and sincere.

Mitsuru nodded, a warmth in her chest as she saw Hiro's growth. "Okay."