Minako Arisato

(chapter originally by Phantom Pen on writing.com)

The morning began just as most school days started for Minako Arisato- with her slapping the off button on her alarm as its screech roused her from slumber. Minako was a heavy sleeper, and her occasional summons to the Velvet Room while she slept didn't seem to help. She suspected something about the place affected her sleep, made it a little less restful. But the Velvet Room's occupants had proven to be nothing but helpful, so she didn't hold it against them when they felt it necessary to summon her.

With a **** stretch, Minako sat up and looked at the calendar posted on her bedroom wall. It was Saturday, so at least tonight she'd be able to turn off her alarm and sleep in. At least, she could do that, but she also thought it might be worth heading to Tartarus tonight. The team could always use the exercise from fighting the Shadows, and there's no telling what useful items they might come across in their exploration. Of course, if she decided to bring the team to Tartarus, she'd need to do her usual ritual. It wasn't something she told the rest of the team about, and they didn't need to know. It made her feel more alive, and considering the very real danger they all faced when they ventured into the mysterious tower, feeling alive helped her remember what she fought for.

"Hm, I guess I could just do it without going to Tartarus. Kind of like having my cake and eating it too." Minako thought to herself as she brushed her teeth, the final step of her morning habits. In any case, she had to hurry; it might be Saturday, but it was still a school day all the same and it wouldn't look good to be late. It would look even worse to Mitsuru, who she had plans to go shopping with after school today.

Rushing out of the dorm, Minako made it to the monorail with a little time to spare. Quickly finding Yukari and Fuuka, Minako approached her friends and teammates, engaging them in pleasant morning conversation. It seemed like a perfectly normal morning, or as normal as life could get for any member of SEES. Minako had no idea what was in store for her today, if she did, she would have likely just stayed in bed...

Everything started to go wrong during-