Follow Mitsuru

(Chapter originally by faith on writing.com)

The inspiring words of love and affirmation Mitsuru had spoken gave the couple a new spur of energy and confidence as they marched towards Gekkoukan Highschool. And that new found hope lasted through a good twenty or thirty steps before reality managed to erode their convictions into dust. After passing a dozen pedestrians, all staring at her with looks of horror, lust, and contempt Fuuka moved closer to her senpai, her hand-holding becoming more like clinging.

"M-Mitsuru-senpai...." She moaned in misery as the citizens of Port Island gaped at her nude body.

"It's all right, Yamagi-gishi." Mitsuru said, valiantly forcing a steely calm into her words that almost hid the pit of mortification in her stomach..before her voice cracked and betrayed her real mental state. "Just ignore them."

"But....but..." Fuuka said, turning red and closing her eyes.

"Their stares..don't matter...in the least." Mitsuru said, through gritted teeth.

The pair attempted to stride down the road, looking down and refusing to meet anyone's eyes. Still, the frequent click of a camera phone or contemptuous snicker could not be entirely blocked out.

"Damn! I knew Gekkoukan had some hotties, but...just damn! What do they put in the water??"

"No argument there! But don't you feel a little bad for em? They're some of those Eden Syndrome chicks, right? They basically gotta strip off like this 24-7, right? That's gotta suck."

"Tch. Relax man. Your overthinking it. Besides, look at em a little closer! Those gorgeous titties have their nips standing like they're begging ta be sucked! And check it out! Something's peeking out down stairs too! Those two are the center of attention and they are LUVIN it. I'll bet that's how you catch the illness to begin with. Chickas that these are the type to look down on guys who check em out but secretly get off on the attention. Closet sluts and secret exhibitionists, all of em! But see, now they have no where and nothing left to hide! Heh. Whole world knows what kind of girls they really are."

Mitsuru and Fuuka stopped dead in their tracks. Despite their resolve, the loud back and forth easily penetrated their defenses and hit their already raw nerves. The fact that their bodies were indeed highly aroused made hearing the comments no easier. Their hands immediately attempted to hide the evidence of their lust from their audience (though by some instinct the pair kept their arms entwined even as they used them to hide their nudity...a lingering sign of mutual affection, perhaps).

The gates of the school loomed up before them. Taking a deep breath, Mitsuru began to cross the threshold, but suddenly found herself pushed against the brick pillar that separated the school from the rest of the city. Fuuka was pressing herself tightly against her senpai, all the while shaking her head.

"I can't do it! Curse or not, I can't go in there! Not like this! Not when everyone will look at me!" She whispered.

"Yamagishi...." Mitsuru whispered. The blue haired girl's natural shyness seemed to allow her to express the emotions burning inside the red haired girl more easily.

"I know. I feel the same way. If I had any way to prevent this..." She whispered.

"I can't! I just can't! I'm going to faint! I'll die from embarrassment! I can't survive like this!!" Fuuka said.

"You can and you will." Mitsuru said firmly. "I will see to it. You aren't alone here."

Fuuka buried her face between Mitsuru's generous breasts.

"Yamagishi...what you said before...what the other you said before..." Mitsuru began softly.

"Wha! Senpai, I didn't-"

"It would be all right if you truly felt that way. Especially towards me. I was...very insistent. We needed you. I needed you. I made a promise to help my father a long time ago. I have...very driven since then. I've only lately begun to...fully consider how hard I push others with that drive. If you did resent SEES, even a little, I would not be offended. All I would ask is that you direct your ire towards me and not your fellow members. It was, after all, because of me that the group exists at all."

"Senpai...! That's not...why are you saying this now? We're-"

"Because it needs to be said and gotten out of the way." Mitsuru said firmly. "The...other me acts as if...none of you matter. I don't want to any of you to believe that is true. You've done so much for us, Fuuka. You need to know we're grateful. If anyone is responsible for this disgraceful situation, it most assuredly is-"

"Senpai. Stop." Fuuka said, hugging her tightly. "I know all of that. And this...this is the first time I've done anything really important. I don't care what that other me says. I've never been so...Its been good being able to help with something that matters."

"Yamagishi..." Mitsuru whispered. "I'm glad. But don't feel as if you have to push yourself harder to...keep up with us all. We'll walk together."

"Okay." Fuuka said. "S-sorry for panicking. After being cornered in Tartarus, something as simple as...as being...shouldn't...errr..."

"I disagree. Facing **** is one thing. Moving into a situation where we have no weapons, no power...no clothes? Being so completely **** without any means to escape or fight back? This is...much worse than the Dark Hour." Mitsuru whispered. "Besides, I know better than anyone how...difficult it can be providing support for the others. None of them fully realize that the psychic links work both ways. We can hear their thoughts as easily as they can hear our instructions and analysis. The frequent annoyance and little barbs...the others don't know how often we can hear them. Objectively, I know they don't mean the things we hear them think, but..."

"Well...yes...but its not their fault, either. They never had to censor their own thoughts before." Fuuka said.

"Nonetheless...." Mitsuru said. "It was...stressful, looking them in the eye and ignoring the things they thought of me. Yukari could be especially vicious in the early days. That's just one more reason I'm grateful to you. You seem much more adept at...shouldering those comments. I found them...difficult to forgive now and again."

"Senpai...that's..." Fuuka blushed deeply. "Please stop. Your the amazing ones. Your personas are so powerful and durable. All I can do is watch. I feel so pathetic..."

"Don't! That's what I mean. Don't ever think for a second that your efforts are unappreciated. I am grateful to you."

She whispered that last part with a strange intensity.

"In point of fact...if you still don't believe me...I think I may just have to show you...." Mitsuru said, squeezing Fuuka's butt as she spoke. "Mortifying as it is, this change in our status does allow for certain methods of expression where words might fail...."

"Eep!" Fuuka gasped.

"Later tonight, expect a through demonstration of my gratitude." Mitsuru smirked.

"I...you..." Fuuka stuttered, then suddenly firmly kissed Mitsuru on the lips.

The pair stayed locked in that intense embrace for several moments, Mitsuru moaning and growling all the while.

"O-or our bastard puppetmasters can **** me to show you right here and now!" Mitsuru said in dismay.

"Nooooo! They can't! We're in public!" Fuuka moaned.

"Which I'm sure serves as the whole point!" Mitsuru whimpered.