The stew forces them to act on a deeply hidden desire.

chapter originally by doragom333 at writing.com)

This is great!" "Amazing!" "I feel like I could take on the world!" "Three cheers for Fuuka-chan!" "I feel so alive!" everyone started speaking at once all over each other. Fueled with the energy of the mysterious stew, they were feeling just like Minako was on the roof earlier that day. Hyped up, excited, and ready to do anything.

"Everyone!" Mitsuru announced, exuberant yet still composed. "It seems that Yamagishi's dish was a success after all."

Everyone cheered at Fuuka, who was sitting tall in her seat, breathing excitedly.

"Now that we're completely refreshed, it's 10 minutes until the Dark Hour, enough time to-"

"SHINJI!" Akihiko yelled, interrupting Mitsuru's speech.

"Akihiko!" Mitsuru shouted.

"This won't take long," Akihiko shouted back, jumping from his chair and pointing at Shinjiro. "Shinji! It's time we settled this!"

"Settled what?" Shinji replied, confused.

"Once and for all, which of us is stronger," Akihiko said, removing his vest and tie and starting to take off his shirt. "One-on-one, no-holds-barred, last man standing."

"Akihiko," Mitsuru glared. "What are you doing?"

"It'll only take five minutes Mitsuru," he said, now barechested and bouncing from foot to foot. "It's just something a man's gotta do."

"Five minutes huh?" Shinjiro replied. "Someone's feeling confident, but no can do. Because I-" he pointed at Fuuka. "Have a score of my own to settle!"

"What, me!?" Fuuka gasped. Energized as she was, that didn't mean she couldn't be surprised or intimidated.

"Yes, you, this meal..." said Shinjiro. "How could have gotten so good in such a short time!? I've never cooked anything like this in my entire life! I must know what you did!"

"I-I'm happy to give you the recipe," said Fuuka.

"Uh-uh, no way," Akihiko interjected, placing himself between Fuuka and Shinjiro. "Not until we settle our score."

"Tch! Fine then," Shinjiro growled, taking off his coat and shirt as well. "Like men it is!"

"Shinjiro, Akihiko, stop! I demand order!" Mitsuru yelled, slamming her fist onto the table.

"Woo! Check out the gun show! Whe-Whew! Keep it coming, studs!" Yukari whistled lewdly, leaning back in her chair, a huge grin on her face.

"Takeba!?" Mitsuru whirled around, her face contorted in bafflement.

"Come on, Mitsuru!" Yukari whined. "Just because I'm a girl I can't find hot guys hot? Is it not proper to let a fine young man know just how handsome he is? Is it _demeaning _to treat guys how they always treat me?"

"No, that's not what I- look!" Mitsuru face-palmed. "This has gotten completely out of hand!"

"Hey, if you like those," Minako cut in, having crept over to Yukari's side. "Then check out these babies!" With a flourish, she undid her jacket and blouse and tossed them off onto the floor, flexing her bare, toned arms inches away from Yukari's face.

"M-Minako-chan! I-! Oh! Oh my!" Yukari swooned. "Oooh... Such definition. I never would have expected-! These are great too..."

"Damn, so it was true... Aigis, restrain Arisato!" Mitsuru commanded.

In a flash, Aigis ran behind Minako and pulled her arms behind her back, holding her in place.

"Hey, watch it!" Minako winced.

"Mitsuru!?" Yukari gasped.

"We cannot take any chances," Mitsuru growled. "If left unrestrained she will soon disrobe entirely. Just like earlier today, when she threw all caution out the window and disgraced our fair school!"

"Huh? Wait, that means, you were the streaker, Minako-chan?" Yukari asked, mouth agape. "But you said you got your uniform dirty at lunch and had to change!"

"Heheh, yeah, that was a lie," Minako chuckled. "As it turns out, I dumped my clothes off the roof and someone found them before I could get them, forcing me to sneak around naked until I could find and wear my gym clothes. It was intense, and a bit scary, but also was the greatest thrill ever! Ain't that right, Fuuka-chan?"

"Y-yes," said Fuuka, who, under the effect of the euphoria, was viewing the memories in an uncharacteristically favorable light. "I got roped into it as well. It was unlike anything I'd ever done before."

"Fuuka-chan too?" Yukari blinked in disbelief.

"Boy, when Mitsuru found out it was us, she was so pissed, ha ha! Though I have to wonder," Minako turned toward the fuming redhead. "For someone who likes to uphold decency and the rules so much, you don't seem to have a problem showing off my bra to everyone like this," she motioned her eyes down to her chest, partly sticking out thanks to how Aigis was holding her.

"Silence that scandalous tongue of yours!" Mitsuru roared, temper rising with her spiked energy.

*DOOF* *BAP* *CRUNCH* the sounds of fists and fury rang from across the room.

"Argh," Mitsuru groaned. "And would you two stop fighting already? This is pointless!"

"Yeah, stop making Mama Mitsuru mad!" uttered Ken, who had stumbled forth and pointed his spear at the quarreling duo.

The entire room paused at that outburst, including the two half-naked brawlers, who were starting to get covered in bruises from each others' punches.

"Mama?" Fuuka whispered under her breath, stifling her laughter.

"I'm... going to pretend I didn't hear that," said Mitsuru.

"It seems the stew has affected Ken-kun somewhat differently than everyone else," Aigis stated.

"Ken, stay out of this," said Akihiko. "We'll be done soon enough."

"Does that mean you're giving up? Cause I've got plenty more fight left within me." Shinjiro taunted.

"You call yourselves men?" Ken glared with half-lidded eyes. "To cause all this trouble for someone so wonderful and tough, strict yet caring, just like my mom was until she..." he paused. "Anyways, you two started all this, so apologize!"

"I can't believe it," Junpei finally spoke, having remained quiet up until now.

"Oh great, Stupei finally joins the party..." Yukari rolled her eyes. "What, gonna be all disappointed that you missed Minako-chan's earlier show at school?"

"Shut up!" Junpei shouted, glaring at her. "This isn't about that, Yuka-tan! What Minako-chan did today..." he clutched his fist, turning towards the floor. "How can I hope to measure up to that!?"

"Eh?" Minako asked.

"You lost me," Yukari said flatly.

"Every time, you show me up every time," Junpei grumbled. "As a Persona-user, as a leader... we joined the group at the same time, but you've left me in the dust from the very beginning. I thought at least I could be secure in my status as a lovable, happy-go-lucky class clown, but then you take that from me too by pulling off the ultimate prank! Streaking the school and almost not getting caught? How can anyone hope to top that?"

"Um..." went Fuuka.

"Ugh..." Yukari grimaced.

"Iori... that is hardly something to be envious of," said Mitsuru.

"Shut up!" said Junpei. "Well, I'm not gonna take this lying down. You think you're bad just because you streaked the school? Well, I'm going to streak Tartarus!"

"Junpei-kun," Minako shook her head. "What good would that do? There's no one there in Tartarus to hide our bodies from, other than shadows, and I don't think they care whether we're clothes or not. Where's the thrill in that?"

"Oh, this isn't about sneaking, Minako-chan," Junpei smirked. "This is about conquest."

"Conquest?" Minako asked, puzzled.

"Think about it," Junpei said, waggling his finger. "One man, his weapon, his persona, a gauntlet of shadows, and nothing else. With only his wit, his magic, and his blade at his side, fighting against impossible odds; it is the ultimate test of manhood. What do you think?"

"Junpei," said Yukari. "That has got to be the most stup-"

"Brilliant!" Minako exclaimed. "I've been wracking my mind trying to think of what could be better than plain old streaking, and you just gave me the perfect answer!"

"Seriously?" Yukari asked. "You do realize he just wants to see you naked, Minako-chan,"

"No, no he doesn't," Minako smirked. "I mean, sure he does, but, it's more than that, I can tell."

"Yeah, this is about a man's pride. So, that means you accept my challenge?" Junpei grinned evilly.

"Of course!" Minako beamed. "This is going to be so stimulating!"

"Absolutely not!" said Mitsuru, brandishing her rapier towards Minako, resting the tip near her neck. "Such foul, disgusting behavior needs to be dealt with at once. Prepare to be exe-"

"Gwargh!" Ken screamed.

"Amada!" Mitsuru yelled. She turned and saw Ken knocked down on the ground, rubbing his now-bloodied nose. Like the others, he had taken his shirt and jacket off as well. Akihiko was standing above him, rubbing his knuckles. "Now, where were we, Shinji?" he asked, turning back to his original opponent.