#akimitsu

Ryoji’s eyes dart nervously between the three of them as their… vigorous discussion… picks up steam.

He seems genuinely concerned, which is sweet of him even if it’s also totally unnecessary– as far as their verbal jousts go, this one is peanuts. Minato would even go as far as to say that it’s a good sign. A return to form that underlines Mitsuru’s recovery: she has the energy to pick a fight, and Sanada and Aragaki no longer feel compelled to treat her with kid gloves.

There’s another word that might describe what’s happening here a bit more accurately, but there’s no way Minato’s going to say it out loud. Not where they can hear, at least. He absolutely will not be the one to pop open that can of worms– they’ll have to do that themselves.

He’s kind of surprised that Ryoji doesn’t recognize what’s really going on, given what a Romeo he tends to be.

Then again, Minato has been realizing lately that there’s a surprising undercurrent of naivety running below Ryoji’s romantic streak. The conversation they’d had at the riverbank today was a shining example– how else would he have been able to say what he had so completely guilelessly?

That’s going to have to be something Minato fully unpacks later.

Their senpais’ bickering cuts off so abruptly that Minato can practically hear a record scratch sound effect. They turn to stare at Junpei in comical unison, then avert their gazes in three different directions, their expressions each a variable mix of alarmed, outraged, and mortified. 

As a reaction, the whole thing is wildly out of proportion to Junpei’s observation.

Unless, of course, he had hit a nerve.

Eyes squeezed shut, Mitsuru pinches the bridge of her nose. Sanada is rubbing his forehead as though fighting off a headache. Aragaki glares at the ceiling and looks for all the world like he’s praying for a God Hand to come crashing down on him.

So much for keeping the lid on that worm can.

This is honestly painful to watch. If something comes of these three finally acknowledging the messy cat’s-cradle of red string knotted between them, Minato will be happy for them. Really!

But he doesn’t particularly want to actually bear witness to the untangling process. So he turns towards Junpei and Ryoji and, channelling Aragaki, does the sensible thing.

Without allowing the opportunity for any arguments, Minato about-faces and hooks his arm through Ryoji’s. Junpei mirrors him, and together they drag him away towards the stairs.

The silence left behind when Mochizuki’s protests have faded into silence is elephantine.