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It starts as an itch Yosuke can’t scratch.
This has been, by far, the most eventful school year of his life. He has friends who actually, seriously like him for who he is, and don’t just see him as a means to an end. He faced the deepest, worst parts of himself that he’s always been too much of a coward to face head on. He has his persona, which is so fucking cool. They’re this close to avenging Saki-senpai, and finding the killer. He could go on and on about how this is the most fun he’s ever had. But, he has to give credit where it’s due.
It’s all because of his partner. Yu Narukami.
That’s what he doesn’t get. Everything in his life is damn near perfect. But there’s this feeling gnawing inside his chest, trying to claw its way out from where it sits just below his ribs. There’s a deep seated feeling of emptiness, and the need for more, more, more. And he has no idea why it’s there, why it won’t go away, or what to do with it. So, Yosuke does his best to fill that void.
He daydreams about kicking shadow ass when they’re outside the T.V. World, cooks up schemes to get attention from cute girls, and spends every second he can with his friends the second he clocks out from a shift at Junes.
He’s forcibly snapped out of his introspection by a solid smack to the back of his head.
“Ow! What the hell, Chie!?” He ducks his head flush against his desk, rubbing the afflicted spot with a pained groan rumbling in his throat. “Man, what’s up with you today? Pay attention! We’re talking about the investigation here, birdbrain.” Chie crosses her arms smugly, that smirk sitting on her face like it always does when she inflicts misery upon Yosuke. Oh, yeah. He was so in his head, he kind of forgot that they were all talking about Kanji.. Chie’s right, he’s not usually so spaced out. Maybe there really is something wrong.
“Jeez, sorry.. For a girl, you sure are strong,” It’s a comment that was meant to be mostly muttered under his breath, but of course she heard him. With wide eyes and an offended gasp, she taps her foot against the hard wooden floor. “Excuse you? What’s that supposed to mean!?” Yosuke readies himself to launch straight into apology mode, mainly out of self preservation, but Yukiko pacifies Chie in the way only she can.
“Chie,” She hums softly, “Aren’t you getting off topic now, too?” He watches Chie deflate into a near puddle as she walks back to her seat, a nervous smile settling on her face “Haha, sorry… Uh, what exactly were we talking about before Yosuke pissed me off?”
“Wh- How is this my fault-!” He immediately becomes defensive -- why is it always his fault? But per usual, Yu’s here to diffuse the situation. Or at least, completely change the topic to what it was before.
“Yukiko was wondering if the killer leaves any evidence behind in the dungeons once we rescue the victims. It’s possible that they could be crawling back into the T.V. after the fog leaves Inaba and their targets are safe.” Yu speaks so surely and succinctly that Yosuke automatically wants to believe it, just because he said so. He isn’t even sure if Yu agrees with Yukiko, considering he wasn’t exactly paying attention.
“Yeah, that! So, me and Yukiko were wondering if you guys were down to head to the T.V World today and check it out? I could grab Kanji and Rise really quick, there’s no way they have anything better to do!” Yosuke deflates in his chair at Chie’s chipperness, and deflates in his chair. Shocker, he’s not free. He has to work an overtime shift, and he can’t just fuck around in a T.V all day. Imagining trying to explain that to his Dad has him rolling his eyes before he can even complain verbally.
Yu’s the first one to notice the bleak energy that’s suddenly overtaken him, and quirks his head to the side just a bit. Yosuke can’t help but smile. He’s just so… Cat like, for a guy. It’s weirdly endearing. “What’s wrong? Do you have work today?” He nods solemnly, a whine crawling through his mouth. “That’s not even all, dude. I’m working overtime, and we’re crazy understaffed. I’d be lucky to get off at eleven.” He rests his cheek on his forearm and sighs wistfully, before he shoots up in his seat.
It feels like a lightbulb just lit up in his head.
“Unless.. Maybe, if we had some extra help?” Yosuke’s field of vision narrows in on his three companions, moments away from batting his eyelashes. He’s not above begging if he has to. Chie’s bottom lip juts out, and she curses under her breath. “Really? You aren’t miserable enough on your own, so you have to drag us down with you?” He can’t get too mad at that, because it is.. kind of true.
“Oh come on! It’s not my fault misery loves company! You just said that you aren’t busy anyway!” He turns his attention to Yukiko, shooting her the subtlest puppy dog eyes that he can manage. Unsurprisingly, it goes unnoticed. Or, if she does notice, she just doesn’t care. “Ah, I’m sorry Yosuke. Business is picking up at the Inn again, Mother and I are barely managing as is..” Her gaze is downtrodden, and Yosuke feels like a dick for even making her bring it up. The Inn has always been a bit of a sore subject for her, but especially lately it seems to agitate her.
He clasps his hands together and pouts, going all out on Yu. He doesn’t have to fake cry, because he’s already ridiculously close to tearing up. “Please, partner! Please don’t make me work this shift alone!” Yosuke sobs out, blinking up at Yu. He flushes in embarrassment when he sees the tiny glint of amusement on his face.
“Okay.”
Oh, thank God. Yosuke isn’t sure what he’d do if Yu said he was busy. Well, he’d still have to go to work. He’d just be especially pissed off during his shift, maybe.
Chie and Yukiko head out together, because apparently Yukiko’s big revelation about the Killer was just an excuse for them to hang out together. Okay, Yosuke doesn’t actually believe that, he’s just bitter about them not being able to help him out at work. Can’t blame a guy for having feelings, right?
Yu agrees to walk with him past the gate, but he has to stop at his place before he heads to Junes. Before Yu can even step foot out the classroom, Yumi Ozawa is on him like a leech.
“Yu-kun! It’s considered rude to make a lady wait so long, you know. You haven’t shown up to practice this week, will you try to swing by? We have a lot of work to do for the school concours!” Yu nods in agreement, listening to her while she engages in casual small talk with him that Yosuke doesn’t really understand.
Ozawa’s cute, it’s not the first time Yosuke’s noticed her. She’s mature, straightforward, and driven. Those are all important qualities in a girl, but.. She kind of scares him. Ozawa’s intense in a way that leaves Yosuke cowering in the corner. But right now, she’s just pissing him off. Can’t she see that he clearly has plans with Yosuke?
“Don’t worry, I’ve been reading the script every night while I help my cousin get ready for bed. She likes watching me rehearse.” Woah. Yosuke had no idea Yu was that dedicated to the Drama Club. He thought maybe it was just a way to pass the time and get to know some cute girls. But it doesn’t really surprise him, Yu’s good at everything he does. Of course he takes it seriously.
“I wouldn’t expect any less from you. After all, how am I supposed to captivate the audience without my scene partner?”
His stomach curls in a way that’s far too unpleasant, and he forces himself to smile as he wraps his arm around Yu’s neck and pulls him closer. “Sorry, Ozawa-san. I know Yu would love to help you practice your lines, but my Partner was nice enough to agree to help out at my shift today. We’re super understaffed, so we need all the help we can get. You understand, yeah?”
Yu doesn’t seem surprised by his sudden outburst. He just relaxes against Yosuke’s side, the two of them attached at the hip. Albeit, in the most literal sense possible. He’s warm and sturdy, solid under his arm. Yosuke feels anything but. Ozawa, on the other hand, is definitely a little shocked. It was probably a dick move for Yosuke to butt into their conversation unprompted, but he doesn’t really know what came over him.
“Oh. Well, of course. I wouldn’t make him cancel his plans, Hanamura-kun. You know, he’s mentioned you quite a bit,” Ozawa-san bows politely, and Yosuke can’t help but feel even more confused. What is Yu saying to her about him? His gut swoops, low and just strong enough to cause him to stumble. Her eyebrow is raised, and she’s smiling slyly in a way that makes Yosuke way too nervous. Like she knows something he doesn’t.
“Don’t forget, Yu-kun. The Drama Club is a commitment. You wouldn’t break that now, would you?”
He smiles reassuringly, and shakes his head. “Of course not.” Yu’s as straightforward as ever when he says goodbye, and Yosuke watches her turn on her heel and walk down the hall, presumably making her way to the practice hall. Yu’s looking at him with a subtle, mirthful expression that has heat rushing to the tips of his ears, and he pulls himself away, acutely aware that they’re still in a relatively crowded hallway in front of their classroom.
“Hah, uh.. Sorry. Yu. I don’t really know why I..” He trails off, unsure how to finish his statement. Got weirdly jealous just now? Flipped the lid over a girl calling Yu her Partner? It’s not a big deal, really. It’s not like she means it the same way he does. Yosuke doesn’t exactly see her tag teaming shadows with Yu 24/7 like he is. She’s not Yu’s best friend, she’s not a threat at all!
… So why does he feel so crumby about it?
“Don’t worry. You’re right, we have a shift to get to, don’t we Partner?” Yu gently bumps his shoulder against Yosuke’s. It immediately pacifies him, and warmth spreads throughout his chest. He doesn’t get how Yu can just.. Do that. Immediately make someone feel better, just with a few words and a gentle smile. It makes his head spin.
“Ugh, don’t remind me, dude. It sucked before, but it might be even worse with Teddie running around,” He grumbles to himself, crossing his arms over his chest as they step down the stairs and through the first year corridor. A breathy chuckle passes through Yu’s lips, and he shrugs his shoulders. “I think it’s good for him to have something to occupy himself with outside of the T.V. World. He was miserable there.” Yosuke puffs out a sigh into the air, and nods agreeably. “Yeah, you’re right. I just hope he mellows out soon, man. Whoever’s idea it was for him to work the griddle should be fired.”
Yu raises his eyebrow. “It was your idea, Yosuke.” Oh, yeah. It is kind of entirely his fault, isn’t it? “Hey! I didn’t- I didn’t think my Dad would seriously schedule him there! I was joking! … Mostly,” He huffs out a defense, trying to fight back a snicker. “It’s like, the one job I don’t have to do, so.. I won’t have to work with him. I love Teddie, but dude. I can barely survive Junes as is, I don’t need him breathing down my neck and embarrassing me.”
Yu just hums thoughtfully. And that’s another thing he loves about his partner. He always lets him complain, and he doesn’t scold Yosuke for anything, either. He just listens.
They finally reach the gate, and Yosuke can’t help but feel bummed that they have to part ways. It’s not like they aren’t seeing each other for the rest of the day, so he can suck it up. “Well, see you later, Yu. I’ll even give you a bonus for helping me out on such short notice, kay?” He winks playfully, and something in his chest inflates when he sees the soft smile on Yu’s face. “You don’t have to do that. See you soon, partner.”
Maybe today won’t be so bad after all.
--
The second time it happens, Yosuke feels justified.
Yu has people literally lining up for his company, any scrap of time he’ll grace them with, but none of them seem nearly as entitled to it like Ai Ebihara.
It’s not a rare occurrence for Yosuke to walk Yu through the first year hallway, loitering by the lockers so they can hang out like normal highschoolers for just a second longer. Ergo, it’s fairly common for them to run into Ebihara.
She’s always pushing Yosuke out the way to get into Yu’s personal space, pointing a finger at his chest with a barely noticeable purse of her lips. Today is no different. Although… She does look unusually downtrodden. Her scowl is wiped, and her voice is strangely quiet, like she’d rather be anywhere else. “Hey. You.”
Yu greets her as he greets anyone, with a polite smile. “Take me shopping today. Okina finally has the purse I’ve been eyeing, and I need someone to tote it around,” He shoots Ebihara an apologetic glance, and shakes his head to the side. “I’m sorry, Ai-san. I’m not free.” She scoffs, not even bothering to suppress an eye roll.
“Seriously? Tell me you’re not hanging out with Hanamura again.” Again? What is that supposed to mean? They’re best friends, of course they hang out a lot. And in Yosuke’s humble opinion, it doesn’t feel like they hang out nearly enough. He crosses his arms over his chest and taps his shoe bashfully against the floor. He doesn’t even realize that he’s started biting the inside of his cheek until he tastes a tangy metallic flavor bloom across his tongue.
There’s a hot wave of embarrassment crashing into him, which is really stupid. So what if Ebihara’s noticed that Yu and Yosuke spend a lot of time together? It’s clear that she finds it weird on some level, or at least inconvenient for her. Ebihara has no idea about their friendship, or how close they are. So why should Yosuke care what she thinks? Why does he?
“Yeah, I am. We’re about to leave for the flood plain.” Yu seems unaffected, as ever. To be fair, he’s a lot more used to dealing with Ebihara’s temper than Yosuke is. He’s honestly just astounded that he doesn’t even seem to have a second thought about what he says, ever. Yu’s always so sure of himself, so confident in what he says. But Yosuke knows that deep down, he still frets over every social interaction just as much as a normal teenager would. Isn’t that silly?
“Yeah, no you’re not,” She glares at Yosuke, and he suppresses the awkward laugh that bubbles up in his throat. That’s not exactly something she has any authority over, so he’s not sure why she’s declaring it with so much certainty. It’s clear that no one’s ever told her no before.
Don’t get him wrong, Ebihara’s absolutely breathtaking. She might be the hottest girl he’s ever seen in Inaba (not that she has much competition). But no amount of beauty in the world could distract from the fact that she’s a Grade-A asshole. She sends a poor lowerclassman crying down the hallways at least once a week, and Yosuke doesn’t think he’s ever met anyone more arrogant. He considers himself a bit of a casanova, but never in a million years would he think of asking Ebihara out.
Yu is a lot nicer to her than he thinks she deserves. When he told him that, all Yu said was: “She’s not really mean. She’s just been through a lot.” Of course. Yosuke really thinks he could see the beauty in anything. Even lousy detectives and mean girls that lurk around every corner.
“I can take you out shopping tomorrow, if you want. I don’t have any plans then,” Yu tries to compromise with her, bless his heart. The offering immediately falls on deaf ears. “Absolutely not. You don’t ask me to go to places. I tell you where we’re going, and you follow. That’s the only reason why you’re a competent shopping partner at all!”
Shopping partner.
Yosuke’s not going to let her blatantly disrespect Yu like this in front of him. Or the bond that they share. He pushes past Ebihara and links his arm with Yu’s, reaching his hand down to clasp his own hand over the boys, but it ends up more like a hand hold instead.
He clears his throat with a cough or two, and puts on the best customer service voice he can manage. It sounds a little too bitter for what he’s going for. “Sorry, Ebihara-san. My partner made these plans a while ago, so there’s no way we’re cancelling. Thanks for the idea, though. Maybe I’ll take him out shopping instead.”
He couldn’t help himself, really. He couldn’t stand seeing her boss him around so much. And God knows Yu deserves a trip to Okina where he gets pampered for everything he’s done. He’s the sole reason that they’re able to save the victims that get lost in the T.V, the sole reason Yosuke’s able to see the beauty in the serene quiet that Inaba offers.
Yosuke momentarily lets himself fantasize about actually taking him on a shopping spree. He doesn’t have to imagine the way his face would light up at the cute calico kitten plushie that he’s seen in the claw machine. Obviously Yosuke would have to win it for him, and—
He blinks back to reality to see Ebihara smirking standoffishly at him. Uh. He gets the sense that he’s really fucked up, somehow. His suspicions are confirmed when she straight up cackles in his face. There goes his ego…
“Are you serious? What, are you gonna take him to Junes for another dinner-date?” He steps forward in defense, but Yu’s hand squeezing his own lulls him just a bit. Yosuke relaxes, furrowing his brows in annoyance at Ebihara’s mockery. “What? Of course not! I’ll take him out to Okina and tote around whatever he buys, because you just see him as an accessory.” His jaw flexes in frustration.
“It’s normal when a guy does that for a girl, but it’s totally different when a guy does that for another guy, y’know. People are gonna get the wrong idea.” She leans on her hip, throwing her hair back while she stares Yosuke down.
His gaze falters, and he drops Yu’s hand like it’s burning him. Panic floods his lungs, and he needs to expel it any way he can. “Wh-What is that even supposed to mean? I’m not like that-!” She interrupts his denial and metaphorically digs her heel into his neck deeper, leaving him gasping for any out he can take.
“You get so jealous when anyone else even tries to hang out with your partner, it’s hard to tell. Boys don’t like boys that way, Hanamura.” Her lids narrow, and she only falters when she looks up at Yu and sees the disapproval fallen on his face. She chews on her bottom lip and curses under her breath, walking away before Yosuke can defend himself.
“I really don’t swing that way!” He raises his voice, hoping the shout makes its way to Ebihara’s ears. He’s fidgeting with his hands, thinking of anything he can do to feel less cornered, and tenses when a hand wraps around his wrist. It’s Yu. Who else would it be?
“Yosuke. It’s okay. I’m sorry she provoked you. I’ll talk with her about it tomorrow.” His hand falls down his wrist, slipping into Yosuke’s fingers. In any other circumstance, he would welcome the contact. Now Yosuke feels on edge; His eyes keep darting around the hallway, looking for anyone nearby. Does this look weird? Will people start talking? Gossip travels fast in Inaba, what if it makes its way to his Dad?
He’s not like Kanji. He doesn’t get flustered or shy when he talks to guys, his shadow didn’t reveal some deep, secret revelation about his sexual… preferences. He’s seen the flush that overtakes Kanji when Naoto so much as says a word to him, and there’s no way he’s like that with Yu. Why the fuck would Ebihara say that to him?
Either he said that out loud, or Yu can read his mind. Either option doesn’t surprise him.
“She just said that to upset you. She has a hard time feeling rejected, so she lashes out. She doesn’t believe what she said.” Yosuke turns his head, and he just knows he’s being pitiful by the way Yu’s looking at him. The soft empathy settling in his eyes, the way his lips slowly, reassuringly wrap around each syllable that graces his ears. There’s something cold and dreadful in the pit of his stomach, something that he so desperately wants to ignore. It’s not the first time Yosuke’s had this feeling, and by now, he knows it’s not the last time either.
He has no right to feel so possessive of Yu’s time. It feels stupid for him to care so much. But Yu changed his life, and continues to do so every day. He wants… He wants to do the same for him. And that’s a lot harder to do when there’s crowds of women begging for his attention. But Yosuke’s really no better than them, is he? If anything, it’s weirder for him to want to be so involved in Yu’s life, isn’t it?
Yosuke shakes his head, face burning as he forces out a self deprecating laugh. He needs to abandon this train of thought immediately, so he begins to step out the entrance to the school. “Haha, yeah, I guess not.. I can’t believe that I’m just pathetic enough to care about crap like that.” Yu frowns next to him, keeping up the pace. “That’s not pathetic. You just don’t want people to see you in ways that scare you, even if you know their opinion has no merit.” A calm buzzing spreads through his fingers, all the way to his chest.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Man, I was trying to be the one defending you for once. How come it always ends up being the other way around?” The sound of Yu’s breathy laugh rumbling through his chest has Yosuke beaming. Suddenly, he realizes that it doesn’t matter what Ebihara thinks. All because he’s one of the only people who can make him laugh like that.
They continue past the gate, but Yosuke stumbles when Yu stops dead in his tracks. “Yosuke,” There’s this mischievous glint in his eyes that has Yosuke gulping nervously before he can even respond. That’s never a good look on him, and it almost always means he’s planning something. “Were you serious about going to Okina with me?” Yosuke doesn’t need a mirror to know he’s flushing all the way down to his neck. Why does Yu have to be so.. Forward all the time?
“Well, yeah… Why wouldn’t I be? We’ve gone together before. A-And it’s not like I mind, uh.. Paying for you, or whatever.” He twists the fabric of his school uniform, mainly just to occupy both of his hands. The urge to bury his face in his palms is increasing every second he keeps talking to Yu.
“Okay. Do you want to go today?” Yu looks so serene like this, resting his right hand on his hip as he waits for a response from Yosuke. He collects a few seconds to allow himself to still the fluttering sensation in his heart, and nods his head excitedly. “That’s.. A little short notice, but— Yeah-!” His voice is just a bit too loud. Way to be cool, Yosuke. “I got my paycheck yesterday, so it’s all on me. Seriously, okay?”
“Alright. If you’re sure, Partner.”
The look on Yu’s face when Yosuke wins him a soft, fluffy kitten plushie with one eye missing is totally worth spending his whole paycheck in a day.
--
The last time it happens, Yosuke accepts he has a problem.
A month. The whole month, Yosuke has to deal with all the women in Yu’s life calling him their partner. Girls at school, outside of school, it doesn’t matter! Even Chie and Yukiko have done it by now, purely just to piss him off. Each time, he tries to laugh it off and playfully pulls Yu close. He smiles and calls Yu his partner, his subtle way of trying to tell them to back off. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes a single time it happens.
They’re training in the T.V. World with a newly recruited Naoto, doing their best to show her the ropes. It’s no surprise that she’s a quick learner. She’s agile, seems to never miss an enemies weak points, and can easily sneak up on a shadow if need be. Yosuke would be jealous and insecure about it but he doesn’t think Yu would ever even consider benching him, even if his own life depended on it.
It kind of might, in this instance.
It’s not often that they genuinely struggle in battle with a shadow. But when they do, it’s a doozy. A whole group of the bastards managed to get the jump on them, cornering them against the cold metal walls of Naoto’s dungeon. It doesn’t help that they’re exhausted, legs on the verge of giving out from exertion.
Yu shakes his head with a grunt under his breath as he summons one of his many personas, targeting their enemies with a maziodyne. Rise winces and sighs out a consolation when it does no damage.
“They block electric attacks… That’s no good, senpai!”
Her light, chipper tone would normally liven the group up, no matter who Yu brings with him on a dungeon crawl. Right now, Yosuke just feels his ears grating. It’s not her fault, he reminds himself. I’m just tired.
If you told him at the beginning of the school year that he’s friends with Risette, he would laugh in your face. And they’re close friends, too. Yosuke knows that deep down, she’s shy and reserved, maybe even a bit sarcastic at times. He likes the real Rise much more than the mask she wore as an idol. Yosuke still sees her slip into it during battle, still sees it in the way she clings to Yu like she needs him—
Teddie’s up next, bouncing on the plush pads on the legs of his costume. Kintoki-Douji stands readily behind him, and he jumps excitedly in anticipation for his next attack. “Mabufudyne!”
…
“Yikes, Teddie! Beary bad news, it blocks ice too!”
Damn it. Of course it does.
They all do their best to chip away at them with physical attacks, but Yosuke doesn’t know how much longer they can withstand them. Teddie looks like he’s about to pass out, Naoto is hunched over and clutching her ribcage, and Yu… Is actually breaking a sweat. That’s how Yosuke really knows that they’re in trouble. He’s panting into the stagnant air, stumbling back with a grunt once he body slams one of the shadows.
Yosuke can feel how hot he is from here. Heat radiates between the two of them, and he sends Yu an overly confident smirk, nodding his head in understanding. His eyes follow the bead of sweat that drips down his forehead, watching the way Yu wipes it away. Yu’s saying something to him, directing him for the next attack, but he’s not really listening. He watches Yu’s lips, his tongue poking out just a bit as he talks. Yosuke feels dizzy all of a sudden.
He needs this battle to be over with as soon as possible. All he wants is to go home and rot away in his bed until sleep overtakes him. His back is killing him, and his ears won’t stop ringing. It’s risky, but Yosuke makes an executive decision and summons Susano. With a steady breath, he points at the cluster of shadow and furrows his brows. “Magarudyne—!”
It’s a big fucking mistake.
The attack reflects, and swings right back around to Yosuke. He winces and braces himself as much as he can. The harsh gust of wind power doesn’t have a chance to connect, because suddenly, Yu’s shoving him out the way and absorbing the damage himself.
He inhales sharply, falling back on his ass against the hard, grated metal floor. Oh fuck. Yosuke’s on him in less than a second, casting Diarama and trying to help him up. “You idiot! I’m resistant to wind, why would you do that? You really could've gotten hurt—!” Yosuke huffs over him, heart twisting anxiously in his chest. He feels like he might cry.
Naoto quickly finishes what’s left of the shadows and targets them with a Megidola, then the rest of the team floods to fawn over him. “Sensei! Thank goodness you’re safe! We could handle losing Yosuke, but we can’t lose you!” Teddie’s openly weeping over him, and— Gee. Thanks, bear. If he wasn’t just as worried, he might smack him upside the head.
“That was foolishly rash of you, senpai. You could have been gravely injured.” Naoto shakes her head in disapproval, her lips downturned into a subtle frown. He sighs deeply, leaning on Yosuke to prop himself up. “I’m okay. Yosuke’s a lot more exhausted than I am. I didn’t want him to take that hit.” He furrows his eyebrows.
There’s no way that’s true. Yu overworks himself to death every day and barely shows it, but he looks visibly worn right now. That’s how Yosuke knows he’s lying. Before he can get a chance to ask why, Rise rushes over and nearly knocks him over again in a bone crushing embrace.
She’s teary eyed and nearly shaking when she starts speaking, voice wavering just enough for everyone to notice. “Yu-senpai, never do that again!” Rise’s burying her face in the crook of Yu’s neck, and he places a reassuring hand on her upper back. Yosuke steps back, something petty and bitter seeping through his limbs. He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly.
“I’m alright Rise, really. Nothing a night’s rest won’t fix.” Yu’s hand moves to her shoulder, clasping it like a promise. Yosuke doesn’t realize that he’s clenching his jaw, pouting on the sidelines like a kicked puppy. He’s being stupid, he knows that. But he barely had a second to check on Yu on his own, to really see if he was okay. Everyone else immediately flocked to him, and Yosuke could see him go into leader mode in real time.
Yu leads them back to the entrance; Naoto, Rise, and Teddie are all walking with him, congratulating each other on particularly good hits and occasionally giving Naoto pointers on what she could do better. Yosuke lags slightly behind them, just a bit. Sure, he may be sulking to himself, but he’s honest to God just jaded from today. He can feel the subtle ache building up in his muscles, and he knows he’ll wake up sore.
He sighs a breath of relief when they’re finally back at the entrance, leaning against the tower of T.V.s propped up in the center. Kanji raises his eyebrows in surprise. “Damn, Yosuke-senpai! You look beat. What the hell happened out there?” Kanji gasps aloud. Yosuke winces at his poor volume control. He’s glad Kanji’s so energized, but jeez. This isn’t the time.
He groans pitifully under his breath, eyes squeezing shut. “I really don’t wanna talk about it.” Yukiko must notice the agony he’s in from where she’s standing, because she takes pity on him and summons Konohana Sakuya to bless him with Diarahan. He throws his head back and damn near cries. “Yukiko, you’re an angel after my heart,” It’s a joke, for once, and he knows it landed by the way Yukiko is doubled over in a fit of laughter.
Yosuke’s ears perk up when he hears Rise squeak out a giggle from nearby.
“Come on, senpai. Don’t be so modest! We wouldn’t be anywhere without you, partner!”
His eye twitches. It feels like something’s wrapped around his throat, suffocating him. “Can you not call him that?” His voice sounds so god damn whiny, he almost wishes he didn’t say anything at all. The embarrassment sinks deeper when Rise simply cocks her head at him, eyebrows raising. “Why not, Yosuke-senpai?”
“It’s kind of our thing, y’know?” Yosuke tries to defend himself lightheartedly. It falls flat. He just can’t explain why it bothers him so much. She smiles nervously, running a stray hand through the strands of her hair. It’s a bad habit of hers that she can’t seem to quit.
“Well.. We’re all partners, aren’t we?” She doesn’t get it. None of them do, and that’s the whole problem. It’s different when it’s him and Yu; they’ve been together since the beginning, for all of it. That’s why they’re partners.
“Well, yeah. But not in the way we are. You’re saying it like—” He trails off, mouth falling open. No sound comes out. Rise’s staring at him like he’s an idiot, and an unjustified rage tunnels deep and hot into his chest. “...Like what?”
Yosuke snaps.
He doesn’t know if it’s the mental exhaustion from spending hours on end in the T.V. World. He doesn’t know if it’s the leftover adrenaline bursting through him after Yu took a hit for him and he felt his heart breaking in his chest at the thought of something happening to him. He doesn’t know if it’s because of the way his skin crawls at all the girls that keep trying to burrow their way into Yosuke’s place in Yu’s heart.
“He’s not your partner, Rise! He’s mine—!”
The entire Investigation Team stares at him with wide eyes. Even Yu.
Yosuke hears the blood rush to his ears and the dread squirm in his stomach, and immediately knows he needs to backtrack. He waves his hands around frantically, stumbling over any explanation for what he just said.
“I-I don’t mean like— He’s mine, I meant— He’s.. He’s my partner, not Rise’s, not..” His chest is rising and falling faster than before. He kind of wants to throw up. What’s wrong with him? Why does this bother him so badly?
His eyes glance over his teammates at a rapid pace, trying to gauge their reactions. Kanji and Teddie stare back at him, jaws dropped in disbelief. Teddie looks like he’s about to fall over any minute now. Chie and Yukiko are looking between them, gripping the other’s shoulders to ground them, like they can’t believe what he just said. Yosuke doesn’t think he can, either.
Even Naoto is visibly surprised. Her eyebrows are raised, and her posture is as straight as a pole. Those are the only signs that she even registered it at all. Yosuke stalls, bringing his eyes to look at Rise’s as slow as he can manage. He gets hit with a well deserved wave of guilt crashing into his gut. She looks like she might cry. Damn it.
And Yu… Fuck. He doesn’t even want to look at him. He furrows his brows, chewing on his bottom lip as he brings his gaze to him. Yu’s lips are parted softly, his eyes are flown open, and his cheeks are dusted pink from the over exertion of today. Yosuke’s never seen him look like that.
He needs to be special to Yu. That’s why they’re partners, right? It’s how Yosuke’s sure that he’s just as important to Yu as Yu is to him. His skin tingles every time he hears the word slip from Yu’s lips, every pass in battle, every compliment on his footwork.
Yu’s amazing. He’s by far the best thing that’s ever happened to Inaba and all of its inhabitants. It’s no wonder that everyone and their mother (a little too literally, in this case) are throwing themselves at him, clamoring for his attention. Yosuke’s no better.
This is different from jealousy. It’s driving him crazy. If everyone else is Yu’s partner — if Yosuke’s just the same as them — then how does he deserve to stand next to him, side by side? If they aren’t really partners, how can they be considered equals at all?
He wants to be Yu’s person.
Yosuke’s not stupid. He knows what it means, and he has for a while.. He just won’t let himself think it, or acknowledge it. If he doesn’t say it, then is it even true after all?
… But he just did say it. In front of all his teammates.
Yu steps in between him and Rise, taking it upon himself to ease the tension. “We should head back, guys. We’re all really tired. We can meet up and discuss more tomorrow.”
Everyone crawls back through the other side of the T.V, leaving just Yu and Yosuke alone for a moment. The air is being sucked out of his lungs. Yu won’t stop looking at him, he wants nothing more than to just disappear. He opens his mouth to chide himself, make a self-deprecating joke, but Yu just gently clasps a hand over Yosuke’s heart, instantly calming him down.
He’s never been so aware of a heart palpitation before. “It’s okay. We’ll talk about it.” Yosuke doesn’t want to. He wants to pretend this outburst never happened and never look anyone in the eye again. He hates the way that Yu’s hand against him is flipping the knot in his stomach tenfold, hates how his knees buckle at the contact. Red hot shame consumes him whole.
They exit the T.V. Unsurprisingly, Chie’s already run off to buy steak skewers. Typical. Yukiko’s already halfway out the door, ready to escort Naoto to ward off any fatigue she might have. Kanji and Rise are long gone. Maybe that’s for the better. He walks out of Junes with his tail tucked in between his legs.
The walk home with Teddie is silent.
--
Yosuke knows he has to apologize to Rise.
It’s been a few days since… The incident. Yosuke coined the term the first time he ruminated over it during the late hours of the night. And he wants to apologize! He blew up at her over literally nothing, all because he’s a selfish asshole he wants Yu all to himself.
… He should really unpack that.
And he should probably apologize to Kanji, too. He might be the shittiest friend in the whole world. At the very least, Yosuke knows there’s no way he deserves any of them. Not with the way he lashes out at them because he can’t make sense of his own stupid, irrational feelings. What place does he have on the Investigation Team if he still can’t accept the darkest parts of himself? He hasn’t changed at all.
Yosuke buries his face in the palms of his hands and groans in the back of his throat. He hasn’t even been trying to pretend to pay attention. If he wasn’t in Kashigawi’s class right now, he’d be in deep shit. She’s going on some spiel about how she’s so much more mature than the skanks in their school, and Yosuke can’t believe she passed any background checks.
It’s obvious that today isn’t his day. Yosuke sneakily grabs his phone from his back pocket, flipping it over and opening Rise’s contact. Well, here goes nothing. Might as well get it over with and extend the olive branch now before he does permanent damage to their friendship. Rise really is important to him.
[rise san we shud talk after school. i kno how 2 say wat i wanna say]
[u deserve an apology i was an ass!]
He winces as soon as he presses send, reading them over and over until he starts feeling sick again. Could he be any more pathetic?
It doesn’t take that long for a response, thank God. Yosuke guesses she’s not paying attention to class, either. He assumes it might be his fault.
[Okieee senpai]
[Where wud you leik to talk (^3^)!!]
He clicks his tongue and lays his head on his desk while he tries to clear his thoughts. He can hear the droplets of rain beat against the window, and it almost lulls him into a stable calm he hasn’t felt in maybe months. The rain used to be something comforting to him. Now it just puts him on edge, even if there’s no victim at risk right now.
Maybe they could talk on the roof? It’s pretty quiet and secluded, especially when it’s raining like this. It’s the best option, considering what they’re talking about. He thinks he might die if anyone else heard him. But Rise deserves an explanation. Yu does, too. But he’s not..
He’s not there yet.
[the roof work 4 u?]
[yez ><]
Rise’s texting like nothing ever happened. Like Yosuke didn’t see the tears prickling at her waterline when he raised his voice at her. He digs his fingernails into his arms and he sits up straight, laying his back against the chair. In all honesty, he’s terrified to tell her. Yosuke’s dreading the look on her face, watching her eyes contort into something pitiful or maybe even downright disgusted.
Rise’s not like that. None of them are. If anything, Yosuke was the most judgemental. He always had shit to say about Kanji, now that he thinks about it. He racks his brain to think about the first time they saw him talk to Naoto. His dungeon. The camping trip.
“What I mean is, are we gonna be safe alone with you?”
Some senpai he is, right? Let alone a friend. Yosuke never thought even for a second that they were ever in danger around Kanji. Sure, he might lash out and get violent from time to time, especially at Yosuke, but he’s so deeply gentle and understanding when you give him the chance. He remembers feeling so flustered at the idea of sleeping in such proximity to Yu. Scared that he might be too obvious and freak him out. He panicked at the idea that he was so damn giddy about sleeping next to another dude.
Yosuke realizes just now that he’s felt like this for a long time.
That thought keeps him occupied until the end of class, and before he knows it, his feet are dragging him up the 3rd year staircase, all the way to the rooftop.
The rain’s not coming down quite as hard anymore, but it’s still sprinkling. He can’t bother to open his umbrella. Maybe if he sits out here long enough, he’ll get a cold and have a sorry excuse to run away from his friends even longer… No. He doesn’t wanna be like that anymore.
He’s still stuck in his thoughts about Yu, and only manages to snap out of it when he hears the click of a door snapping into place. Yosuke’s eyes dart to locate the source of the noise, even though there’s no one else it could be. Of course, it’s Rise.
She came prepared, unlike him. He watches the water droplets bounce off her clear umbrella, smiling awkwardly as she walks up to him. They don’t hang out alone much. Yosuke always thought that, if they ever did, maybe it would be more romantic than this. He doesn't even know what this is, but it’s decidedly not romantic in the slightest.
He opens his mouth hesitantly. Nervously, he speaks up. “...Hey, Rise. Um, thanks for coming.” Yosuke doesn’t have much else to offer her, at least right now. She doesn’t seem to mind. Rise nods her head politely, lips upturning just enough for him to notice. “Hi.” She makes her way over to where he’s sitting, flopping down a few inches away from him.
“...The weather’s pretty fitting, I guess. Hah,” He chuckles absentmindedly. This is so awkward. Yosuke almost wishes lightning would strike him down and put him out of his misery. Surprisingly, Rise finds the humor in it too. She snorts under her breath, eyes flickering over to him. “That’s a stupid segue.” It’s a huge punch to his ego, but he welcomes it in stride. Mainly, because he absolutely deserves it this time.
“So, I’m just gonna.. Get straight to it. Because.. Because you didn’t deserve that!” Yosuke huffs to himself, fidgeting with his fingers while he rambles on. Rise lets him talk, which he’s grateful for. “I’m sorry. And I didn’t know how to say this out loud without sounding like a crazy stalker girlfriend, which is ironic. I just.. Every time a girl called Yu their partner, I felt something break inside my chest. Like they were.. Taking a piece of me away, or something.”
Her eyes glaze over with sympathy. But he still has more to say.
“And, I yelled at you because Yu had just taken a hit for me in the T.V. world, which was really stupid and he got hurt. I was really scared and worried, so.. I took it out on you. I’m sorry.” Rise bumps her shoulder against his with a hum. She understands. He told someone. He swallows down the lump in his throat and waits for her to say something back to him.
“It’s okay. You just want to be special to him. Because senpai’s special to you… Right?”
She doesn’t spell it out for him, just like he didn’t spell it out for her. But she understands. And with a shaky inhale, he nods silently. Sure, he didn’t say it. But—
He didn’t have to.
“Sorry. I’m not gonna fight over him, I know you like him too, haha.. I just,” Yoseuke sighs shakily, something fragile in his chest cracking. He might cry. Rise sighs too, blowing a strand of hair out her eyes. “...Of course I like him. He saved me from the T.V. World! He listens, he doesn’t just see me as Risette…”
There’s an uncertainty to her voice. Yosuke’s scared that if he adds his input, she’ll stop saying anything at all. So he lets her talk.
“That's all a girl is supposed to ask for.” Is what she ends up settling on, and Yosuke feels.. Confused. He wasn’t expecting that at all from Rise.
“What do you mean ‘supposed’ to?” She’s Rise, for crying out loud! She could do anything she wanted. So why does she feel like she.. Has to? Yosuke watches her tentatively tug her bottom lip between her teeth, face flushing in embarrassment. “That’s what a crush is supposed to feel like, y’know? Someone who’s nice to you, protects you. Saves you.”
He tries to rack his brain around those words. What is she saying? Because it sounds like…
“You don’t like Yu. Do you?”
Her hesitation is enough of an answer. Her hands fly to her face as she props her head up with her elbows, puffing her cheeks out in thought. “... I don’t know. I love him a lot, he’s really important to me. I depend on him so much. Maybe too much, sometimes,” She giggles heartily. Yosuke knows all too well that it’s forced, because he does the same thing.
“... I want to like him.” They finally make eye contact, and they both look miserable. It’s funny, in a way. That he found this company in Rise. That he’s having this conversation with her, out of anyone.
Great, Yosuke thinks. I wish I didn’t.
“... Are we good?” Yosuke holds out his hand. Rise takes it with a squeeze, shaking it once, twice, before letting go. The weight on his chest lifts almost instantaneously. “Yeah, Yosuke-senpai. We’re good.”
He goes to bed peacefully that night.
--
Things have been weird between them.
Not on Yu’s end, of course. He’s acting he didn’t watch Yosuke make a complete fool of himself all over a stupid word. If it wasn’t for the flush that creeps up on his cheeks every time Yosuke peeks into his eyes, he’d be convinced that Yu didn’t hear him at all.
Yosuke decides to put an end to it, once and for all. He’s already in Yu’s house, stepping into his room and closing the door behind him with a barely audible click. Yu’s standing in front of him, arms leisurely by his side while he watching Yosuke fumble over his words with a soft, mildly reassuring smile.
It’s a lot easier said than done, okay?
“Listen, partner.. I, uh, just wanted to apologize for the other day… I made a huge ass of myself in front of you guys, huh?” He leans his back against the door, cracking his knuckles to keep himself distracted. “I’ve been thinking about what I want to say, and I-I didn’t want to talk to you until I knew how to—”
Yosuke startles as Yu interrupts him.
“Can I paint your nails?”
“... Explain myself. What?”
He nods his head down, gesturing to the small glass of nail polish sitting on his work desk. Okay, so… He did hear him right.
Yosuke’s so momentarily stunned that he almost agreed without thinking. Almost. Then he thinks about the optics of him walking around Yasogami High with smooth, bright orange nail polish that starkly contrasts with his calloused, clumsy fingers. He’s a dude, for crying out loud.
His kneejerk reaction is to flip out. “Wh— Hell no! Partner, I’m a guy! Guys don’t get their nails painted… Except for like, maybe a manicure every now and then, but that barely counts—!” Yosuke flushes down to his neck when Yu stifles a hum of laughter. He’s holding his hand out, gesturing for Yosuke to take a look at it.
Yu’s nails are painted a soft, off grey. And the craziest part is, they’re perfect. The skin surrounding his nails are completely untouched by polish, his cuticles are pushed back, and there isn’t a single flaw or smudge on all 10 of his fingers. “Why can’t boys paint their nails?”
Yosuke’s shock subsides when his stomach lurches. God damn it. He’s doing it again. Freaking out over how weird this stuff makes him feel, and deflecting it onto the other person. His chest heaves with a sigh and he steps closer to Yu, crossing his arms over his chest and clicking his tongue against his teeth.
“Fine. Just.. Don’t make them super girly. People talk about me enough as is..” He swallows thickly. Why does his throat feel dry all of a sudden? Why is he so nervous? It’s just Yu. Strong, determined, caring, selfless, funny, beautiful Yu. His partner.
He can’t believe he didn’t realize sooner.
“Does that mean no matching nails?” Yosuke rolls his eyes, pouting at his quip and shoving his shoulder against Yu’s. He leans into the contact, and neither of them say anything.
Yu knows. There’s no way he doesn’t after his sorry display during their last training session. So Yosuke doesn’t understand why he’s still being patient with him, still goofing off with him. He doesn’t seem freaked out by it at all.
The two of them crouch down at the chabudai while Yu looks at him expectantly, much to his chagrin. “Whenever you’re ready.” Yosuke begrudgingly rests his right hand on the surface of the table, using his free hand to self consciously pick at the tatami mat below him.
He didn’t even get his nails painted for that stupid cross-dressing pageant.. Is he seriously about to let Yu paint them just because? Yeah. He kind of is. Yosuke doesn’t think he could ever say no to Yu, even if he tried. “D-Don’t look at me like that—! Just paint my stupid nails!” He huffs, already getting red in the face from something as simple as Yu’s expression.
“Stay still.” Yu grasps onto Yosuke’s palm to hold his hand steady. He exhales softly as he begins his task. He starts with his pinkie finger, dragging the brush in a downstroke as the paint glides over his nails. It’s so clean and opaque with just one movement, Yosuke can’t help but be impressed. He doesn’t even think he’s seen Rise or Yukiko do this so efficiently. Of course he’s so skilled at it, his partner’s good at everything, it’s just..
Different. When he has to watch him hold his hand so securely. The way he feels his warm, solid hand hold his still is kind of driving him up the wall. The way Yosuke has to watch the way Yu’s strong, articulate, defined fingers guide the brush down his index finger--
Yosuke jolts with a yelp, ripping his hand away like Yu shocked him.
Yu looks up at Yosuke from across the table, and his stomach flips so strongly he feels queasy. “Partner.” That’s when Yosuke knows he’s totally 100% screwed for life. Yu has to be doing this on purpose, right? “You’re messing with me!” He huffs through gritted teeth. Yosuke’s never had a good poker face; He knows how agonized he must look, if the way Yu starts overexplaining himself is any indicator.
“I’m not trying to tease you. You’re nervous.. I wanted you to feel more comfortable, so I thought..” Yu trails off, eyes briefly flickering to the floor while his cheeks flush faintly.
Oh.
Yu’s nervous, too. He has no idea what to do in this situation, does he? He’s sat through countless confessions from girls completely straight-faced, but he’s floundering over having to talk to Yosuke?
He can’t help but smile. “Jeez, it’s fine.. I’m gonna be nervous no matter what, so..” Yosuke tries to contort his face into the most natural smile he can manage. He’s sure it looks stupid. “Just.. Keep going. Yeah?” He swallows thickly when Yu raises an amused eyebrow at him.
“You were the one who snatched your hand away, Yosuke.” He opens his mouth with a wince to defend himself, but his words fall silent when Yu reaches over to grab his hand. Yu’s fingers are steady and gentle around his wrist. His thumb idly swipes across Yosuke’s knuckles, and his throat runs dry.
The two of them are silent while Yu works, and it might be the most awkward moment of his whole life. There’s an expectant fog hanging in the air, and it takes everything Yosuke has not to launch himself across the desk and be close to Yu. His eyes flicker up to look at the boy in front of him, and he suppresses a shiver.
Yu’s bangs are falling into his eyes, he’s so focused on painting Yosuke’s nails that he doesn’t even notice that he’s looking at him. His heart squeezes in his chest and he’s never felt more embarrassed in his whole life. He should be getting butterflies over some cute girl, but no. He’s shoving his foot in his mouth and blushing like an idiot because of his best friend.
“Listen—” Yosuke sighs to himself, pulling his hand away once Yu’s finished with him. He rests his hand in his lap, careful not to smudge the paint while it dries. “I, um… I’m just gonna start talking, alright? So if it’s too much, just.. Tell me to shut up before I embarrass myself even more,”
Yu’s leaning his head against his hand, resting his elbow on the surface of the table. He nods at Yosuke with such a fond smile, staring right into his eyes. It all feels so domestic, Yosuke just doesn’t know what to do with it. “Okay,” Yu hums, voice smooth and consoling. “But you’re never too much for me, Yosuke.”
Yosuke sucks in a sharp breath through his teeth, running his free hand through his hair with a self-deprecating laugh. “Don’t.. say stuff like that! I can’t even look at you without feeling weird..”
Yu’s entire attention is all on him. And Yosuke’s realizing that it’s been like that for quite a while. It’s.. Always been Yosuke. And for some reason, that makes this so much harder.
“I’ve always wanted to be… special, y’know? I wanted to do something important, I wanted to.. Be important to someone. Being your partner makes me feel like I’m doing one thing right, and I wouldn’t give it up for the world. So, maybe I got a little defensive hearing everyone else say they share our bond..”
Yu listens patiently.
“At first it was just annoying, because I know Ozawa and Ebihara aren’t actually like.. Threats to our partnership, or whatever. I know that’s really stupid. They’ve never been inside the T.V. so they don’t.. get it. But Rise does.” Yosuke chews on his bottom lip anxiously. He knows Yu would never judge him, especially not for this.
“Rise is… Rise, for crying out loud! She’s the most beautiful woman in the whole world, she’s an idol, and she’s all over you! There’s no way that I measure up to her at all, so.. Hearing her call you her partner just set me off.” He wants to melt into the floor just admitting it. Especially with Yu staring at him like he’s something so.. Fragile. And delicate. Important.
“It’s not fair to compare yourself to Rise. You’re both very important to me in different ways. She’s a close friend, but you’re my partner.” Yosuke doesn’t get how Yu can just say that to him and still act completely unphased. It honestly kind of pisses him off. He knows Yu’s just as nervous as him, so why doesn’t he act like it?
“You don’t get it, Yu! I…” He sucks in a deep breath, heart racing in his chest. He can hear his heart beat in his ears. “You’re the most special person in my life, and I… I want to be special to you in the same way.” Yosuke tears his eyes away from Yu’s. Counts down from three in his head. He parts his lips.
“I like you.”
All the anxiety leaves his body the second he looks back at Yu and sees him smile. Oh.
“I know. I like you very much, Yosuke.”
He exhales, softly. Yosuke blinks at him, dumbfounded. He doesn’t want to say anything, because what if Yu means it differently? What if he’s not…
“... Really?” He has to make sure. He doesn’t wanna get his hopes up.
“Of course. You don’t believe me?” Yu looks so earnest, like he has no idea what he’s doing to him. He has Yosuke’s whole heart, and the scariest part is that he trusts Yu with it completely. He shakes his head with a pout of his lips.
“No, it’s not that. I just..” He squirms under Yu’s gaze, biting the inside of his cheek while he gathers himself. “Maybe I feel like I’m not good enough for you. I’m not exactly the easiest person to get along with.” This past month was enough to prove that to himself. He wonders how long it would take to prove it to Yu.
“I don’t think that's true.” Yu hums. Of course he would say that. “You’re just defensive sometimes. It doesn’t make you difficult to love.” A bolt of lightning flutters in his belly. He can’t believe they’re having this conversation. Not only does he feel lightheaded, he’s also embarrassingly sweaty on top of that. This is just a week long humiliation ritual for him, isn’t it?
“You can say that, but.. I’ve been a dick to Kanji since we’ve known him, and I wasn’t exactly nice to Rise the other day, either. I’m not…” Yosuke trails off. “I’m not like you. I feel like.. I’m always saying the wrong thing.” He flexes his fingers, gnawing on his bottom lip until it feels raw. If life was a video game, Yosuke would somehow manage to pick the wrong dialogue option every time.
“You apologized to Rise. And I know you’ll apologize to Kanji when you’re ready for it.” Yu’s voice is soft and low, just audible enough for Yosuke to understand him. “You’re only human. What’s important is that when you mess up, you admit that. I don’t like you because you’re perfect. I like you because you’re Yosuke.”
Yosuke’s jaw drops, and he gawks at him. He thinks Yu will stop there. He doesn’t.
“You’re the one I walk home from school with. You’re who I spend afternoons at the riverbank with. You’re who I call when someone appears on the midnight channel. You’re my Partner, Yosuke.” Yu sees him as an equal. He seeks Yosuke out when he needs someone to lean on. He’s… Yu’s person. Goosebumps travel up his arms, his spine. Electricity sparks through Yosuke’s veins, lighting him up in ways he’s never felt before. His stomach is flipping so much that he feels queasy, and his heart’s pumping so much blood to his head that he can’t even hear his own thoughts.
Maybe that’s why he’s just as surprised as Yu is when he reaches across the table, grabs him by the collar of his shirt, and kisses him.
From an objective standpoint, it’s probably a really shitty kiss. Yosuke has no experience kissing anyone whatsoever, his lips are chapped from how badly he’s been chewing on them lately, and his nose crashes against Yu’s when he pulls him close. He doesn’t seem to mind, because Yu wastes no time leading the kiss. His lips are soft and warm, plush against Yosuke’s own as they move against each other.
He could suffocate like this and he would die perfectly happy.
Yosuke pulls away first. Mainly because he doesn’t think his heart could take it if this turned into an impromptu makeout session. But he just.. Needs to look at Yu. He needs to see the glimmer in his eyes, the flush against his cheeks, and the way his lips quirk up. He’s glad he pulled away, because he doesn’t think he’s ever seen Yu look like that before. Just like Yosuke pictured, his eyes are wide in a way that’s very unlike him, his jaw is dropped, and he’s blushing. Enough for it to be obvious this time.
“Cat got your tongue, partner?” He can’t help but tease him cheekily. It’s nice to not be the one flustered for a change. It’s nice to know that he’s the only one who gets to see Yu like this. “No. Just you.” His voice is low and breathy, and Yosuke shivers on the spot. Yu’s staring right at him, making eye contact with such a determined glance before he reaches over and holds Yosuke’s left hand, intertwining their fingers together and squeezing. Now he’s the one who’s blushing, over something as simple as handholding. Right back to square one, huh?
“S-So, um..” Yosuke stumbles over his words, cursing under his breath at the way he can feel his heart rate spike. Yu keeps smiling at him, and it’s making his head spin. “Are we… What are we? Are we.. friends, o-or boyfriends, or..” It feels like a stupid question. He just kissed Yu’s brains out, so he sure hopes they’re more than friends by now.
“I’d love to take you out, if you’d let me. Which is definitely something that lands in boyfriend territory. But that doesn’t feel like the right label for us, does it?” Anxiety spikes through him, and he knows Yu can tell by the way he immediately clarifies. “Lets stick with partners. Is that okay with you?” Oh thank God. “Oh, you jerk! You really had me going there, you know..” His bottom lip juts out as Yu apologizes but Yosuke quickly recovers from his ill-timed tease. He rubs his thumb gently across Yu’s, smiling sheepishly at the butterflies in his stomach.
“Yeah. Partners.”