no one's second banana!

He pauses for a moment, a small fluttering smile for a moment before sighing, leaning in just a little more… “….If I found my own place, would you move in with me…?” This was something Yu had wanted to ask for awhile, but, of course, had been unable to work up the words to do so.

“Move in??”  

He seems surprised at the very thought. “Like...roomates? Are our schools close enough together to allow that?”

“…But I dont want a fake girlfriend.” He replies, still gently twirling that cord, nuzzling to rest on Yosuke’s shoulder more, his other hand coming to fiddle with a button on Yosuke’s jacket. Things that the normal Yu would never do, let alone on his own steam.

“…I dont think I want a girlfriend at all.”

He resists the urge to swallow. Seriously, not now.

Poor Yu was probably gonna be a little embarrassed later. But Yosuke’s rollin with this much at least.

He knew he was lying, but he doesn’t mention it, he just stays snuggled relatively close, toying with the cord on Yosuke’s headphones as he talks and listens, it felt sort of calming.

“…I dont think you have to run for that.” He comments before shrugging. “I know, but it still hurts… being told that what I’m doing isn’t going to amount to anything. But I want to help animals…” He sighs, low. “…He also keeps trying to set me up on dates…”

He knew that. SURE he did. All that. “You get the point.” He’s gotten a little used to the idea of this too--the touch starved, closeness starved Yu who expressed it rarely in this quiet, mascara-rocking god Shadow. The little curl of his finger through the headphone cord.

His heart is going faster than he should. He’s being more honest with himself but maybe, maybe not right now.

There is a tiny sigh, it seemed like he wasn’t so keen on the idea, but there was no one he trusted more than Yosuke, of course. He could trust him with this. “I hope you’re not confused, I mean my Other Selves Father, my human Father. I don’t know if I, as a Shadow, have a Father persay.” Especially considering his relationship to Izanami.

“…He’s still not pleased with my decision to take up Veterinary Sciences. Keeps saying I should be a ‘real’ doctor. That there is no use in what I’m doing. I had hoped he’d see it as a middle ground between what I wanted and what he wanted but… he didn’t. He keeps telling me I’m going to regret it…”

“Y-yeah, course.” LIAR. Still, it’s a short save of face, and he’s back to listening pretty quickly.

Good thing he did too. “...Well hey, last I checked he’s not a fortune teller, right? You know better than he does if what you’re doing is gonna be something you regret. And hey, it’s not like you ran off to become an e-boy or something right? It’s still pretty much in line with what he was wanting.”

He closes his eyes in the hug, he doesn’t seem to mind the little shift, he still keeps his head as close to Yosuke’s shoulder as he can, popping one eye on him to look at him as he spoke, a soft smile on his face.

It was nice, that he didn’t break the hug so soon this time.

“…Just lonely. Stressed a little. Had an argument with Father.”

“An argument, huh...?” That was new. Rarely did he hear about ‘Shadow politics’--Last he remembered, his own Shadow was a Basic Bitch and he’d seen no warning signs of a resurgence. Around here though, Shadows seemed to pop in whenever they decided it was a girl’s night.

Here he comes, he’s coming to snuggle in. Snuggle snuggle. In those arms, hold him tight. Now he’s a happy God Shadow. “Feelin’ lonely.” He admits, nuzzling in and breathing deep. Mmm, Yosuke smell.

“Missed you while you were gone…”

“Heheh, me too man...” The hug’s spiced strangely, that ozone smell that shadows, and especially this one, got. “I’d have hung out properly before now but uh, jetlag’s not really good mixing with catch up schoolwork.”

> Tell him he did a good job and agree to help him toss it. > Laugh at him. > Try the ‘food’ anyway.

No hesitation, he reaches into one of the kitchen draws for a spoon, and gives Yosuke no room for argument as he digs down into the bag and pulls out a spoonful.

No hesitation as he pops it into his mouth…

Bitter.

“…T-The blueberries are n-nice…”

“Wh--Yu!” he yelps but it’s too late. The man has....given himself over. He has Eaten The Hell. And he was, at present, paying the price.

“I tried to warn you man...Ok Partner, let’s....go get you to a bathroom. And...maybe get you something to drink.”

“I--I really think you don’t....” his voice wavers but his arm is already handing over the bag; he HAD brought it after all.

And inside....oh god not even a box could contain this thing apparently.

Uuhhhhhhhhhhhhh

>Junes branches in America don’t open up all by themselves, after all.

>Good thing you weren’t alone that whole time.