Junpei Iori's P.O.V

"Mina-tan! Come on, don't be such a party pooper! Let's go to Tartarus man, I'm begging you." I mock-knelt in front of our unyielding leader.

It has been a week now since Shinjiro-senpai's death and Minako found it hard to go to Tartarus. Psh. If anything she should be in there releasing her anger by killing all those shadows! Not here, moping around and sulking. The rest of the S.E.E.S gang have already talked about this matter and we're getting desperate here.

Her red eyes found mine and for the first time since his death, they were soft and light. "Do you really want to go, Junpei?" her voice cut through me and sliced my conscience but I battled it.

"Of course I do!"

She sighed.

Behind me, Yukari sighed too. "Maybe you shouldn't push her Junpei. Can't you see she's still…sad?"

Minako shook her head. "Fine. Go ahead Junpei. Go to Tartarus."

I felt my face break out into a grin. "You're the best dude!" He stood up and hugged her hastily.

"You okay being leader for tonight?" she said quietly. "I don't feel like going myself but if I'm the only thing that's preventing you guys from going then…"

"Minako-chan!" Fuuka gasped.

"He's going to be the leader?" Yukari said critically. "You could pick anyone! Anyone and you chose him?"

I was still so shocked to retort back.

Minako smiled genuinely, for the first time. Then, she began laughing. She laughed to the point where tears formed in her eyes and she was crying from too much laughter. Yukari and Fuuka joined her, both of them clutching their ribs.

I frowned at them. "Fine, mock your would-be leader. But don't blame me if I take the guys out for Tartarus tonight."

"I do hope they survive." Yukari said between giggles which only intensified the laughter of the girls there.

"Oh Yukari! Please stop. We can trust Junpei, can't we?" Fuuka giggled.

"I'll have to right my Will and Testament first."

"You better keep a close eye on them Fuuka." Even their impartial leader joked.

Their comments stung me – Yukari's the worst. I glared at her, and then at Fuuka, but when I turned my eyes to our leader, I faltered.

She was smiling at me in a way that made me stronger, made me flinch. It was like I was drawing my strength from that warm smile. Her eyes were still shining with tears but I got the sense that she trusted me so much to give me this almost godly position, to which I could only hope stems from a place somewhere deep inside her. Somewhere where a piece of the steel encasing her heart made a soft spot – a vulnerability.