Watching the boys practice always made Yuko smile. She just usually kept it internal. Right now that proved beyond her abilities.

Minato rarely came to practice anymore, but she had insisted this time around. She wanted to talk to him and knew perfectly well that it would be easiest to catch him right after practice. Besides, she hadn't gotten to see him swim in a while.

Bzzt. The timer announced the end of practice.

"Alright. Good job, everyone." Yuko stood and helped everyone get their towels. Minato was out of the pool last.

"Thanks, Yuko."

She blushed slightly as she handed him his towel. Something seemed off about him lately, but she just couldn't place it. Something had changed. It frustrated her that she didn't know what.

He headed into the locker room. Yuko began putting things away, cursing that she hadn't talked to him already. She'd just have to wait by the lockers.

Or not…

"Hey."

"Minato." She'd been afraid she'd missed him after cleanup had taken forever, but apparently he had waited for her.

"You wanted to talk?"

"Huh? Yeah, I guess I did. Would you walk me home?"

He smiled, but once more the sense that something was off assaulted her. His smile looked different. Fake. She grabbed her coat and shoes.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, leaning down to pick up her bag.

"I should ask you the same thing," she grumbled quietly. Quietly enough that he didn't hear as he stood back up. She actually felt kind of bad when she faced him again. He looked worried.

Then again, didn't he always look kind of worried?

"Hey, do you want to stop at the mall? I know I said I should just go home, but I think they already have their lights up."

"Sure."

Yuko smiled as they left school grounds. She really did want to spend time with him.

"You've seemed down lately."

"Sorry."

"That's not something you apologize for," she scolded him. "Is it because Mochizuki left?" If she recalled correctly Mochizuki, Iori, and Minato had been a pretty tight trio.

It took her a moment to realize Minato had stopped. She turned towards him.

"Minato?"

His knuckles were white around their bags.

"What's wrong?"

"Hey, Yuko, would rather live for a thousand years and be remembered for a day, or live for a day and be remembered for a thousand years?"

"What?"

"Sorry, something Edogawa-Sensei said in one of his lectures."

"Is that what's bothering you?"

"Nevermind. It doesn't matter."

"Wait. What's your answer?"

"My…"

"Yeah, do you have an answer? I guess I'm a coward, and I'd rather live a long and happy life, even if it's not memorable to others. What about you?"

Minato closed his eyes a moment before smiling, a far broader smile then she had seen in a long time.

"I'd remember you for a thousand."

Yuko blushed.

In a sudden burst of speed she wouldn't have expected of him, Minato rushed forward and grabbed her hand. He was stronger than he looked. She had no choice but to run alongside him.

She'd remember him for a thousand too.

Author's Note: Sorry for the awkward beginning. It took the muse a while to warm up and I haven't really written with NPCs from Persona 3 before, so I had to remind myself what Yuko's like. Anyway, hope you guys like it. I think Saturday will be a lot of fun.