#f.smt

Most of his classmates were too afraid to ask Akira about it, but your classmates had no fear (or tact). The second lunch started, a crowd of your classmates surrounded your desk and demanded answers.

You shrugged them off. What explanation did you owe them? You and Akira liked each other despite clashing styles. Though, those styles didn’t clash as much as your classmates seemed to think.

Akira also liked cutesy things. He liked you, didn’t he? He may not show it as outwardly as you did, but there were signs if people looked hard enough; Akira’s school bag had a tiny Hachiware keychain hanging off of it that matched the Chiikawa one on yours.

His notebook was covered in stickers and doodles that probably  didn’t come from him. You loved to scribble in the margins or any open space with your gel pens, writing sweet notes or crude drawings of Morgana.

He also showed up to school sometimes with painted nails. The surprising part was that his nails were always slightly messier than the ones you showed up with— when you painted each other’s nails, Akira had a much steadier hand.

You weren’t defined by your aesthetic, either. You had spent years trying to get away with violating Shujin’s rather strict dresscode. The first time you interacted with Makoto was when she scolded you over your shirt being the only part of the uniform you were actually wearing. You really didn’t care for the black and red plaid patterned bottoms you were supposed to wear.

Your skill of making keychains and bracelets also doubled as a general craft skill, especially useful in Mementos. You, like Akira, could also be crafting pipe bombs at your desk when you were bored in class!

Akira’s reputation meant that, even though most people were definitely weirded out by your relationship, they didn’t bother you about it. Still, people could be cruel. You and Akira were talking near the front entrance in the morning when some of your classmates passed by. They scoffed, mumbling something about how strange your relationship was.

Akira initially ignored the comment, but noticed that (Name) pouted and watched their classmates walk away. He slid his hand across (Name)’s upper back, rubbing gentle circles into the fabric of their top. “Don’t listen to them,” he said.

(Name) sighed, leaning into Akira’s touch until their body was against his side and Akira’s arm was around their shoulder. “I try not to. But, it’s so annoying. Why do people think we’re that different from each other?”

Hoping no one in the student council would appear to yell at him about the PDA rules, Akira pressed a chaste kiss to (Name)’s temple. “They’re not paying enough attention.”

A quiet giggle left (Name)’s lips, but Akira could still see a somber twinge to their expression. He thought for a moment, then tapped their shoulder. “Hey, my hair is getting kind of annoying. Could I have one of your hair clips?”

Sparkles poured into (Name)’s eyes at the proposition. They dove into their bag and searched until they found one of their My Melody hair clips and promptly clipped a portion of Akira’s bangs out of his face. (Name)’s hand slipped down to Akira’s cheek, looking at their handiwork proudly.

“Does that help?” (Name) grinned, already knowing the answer.

“It’s perfect.”

But it also wasn’t the most surprising. Nearly two years after his resurrection Akechi was still searching for answers— why was he back? What was he supposed to do now? What was left for him? Some days were worse than others. (Name) guessed today was one of those worse days.

With the food safely on their dining table, (Name) gave Akechi their full attention. “I don’t understand either,” they sighed. “About what you’re talking about, that is. Care to enlighten me?”

That response brought a cold ferocity to his voice. “Are you really content with playing house? This isn’t the life you would be living if I wasn’t here. All you’re doing is entertaining a ghost.”

His words stung, but not because they were mean to (Name), because they were instead a harsh condemnation of his own existence. 

Maybe there was a hint of truth to Akechi’s despair. When they returned from Akira’s “Phantom Thief’s Last hurrah send-off road trip extraordinaire” (title coined by Ryuji), the last thing (Name) expected to see was Akechi at their doorstep. A living, breathing, real Akechi that was more than just a wish in a false reality. they thought they had made her peace with his final goodbye, only to burst into tears and trap him into a hug for the next ten minutes.

Akechi didn’t want to go to their. With the Phantom Thieves out of Tokyo and his existence a distant memory to the general public, he wanted to escape. Whether that was motivated by a disgust for society or some self-imposed atonement for all he did didn’t matter in the end, because he couldn’t go through with it. Because he thought about (Name) while at the city limits and couldn’t bring himself to go.

He loved them. He wasn’t stupid enough to deny that but he hated himself enough to feel shame over it. (Name) had a bright future ahead of them, free of the burdens he added to their life with bloody hands, but Akechi selfishly derailed it. In between desperate kisses he asked them to leave Tokyo with him. To go somewhere so they could start fresh. Somewhere Akechi Goro didn’t exist and he was nothing more than the regular person (Name) always treated him as.

It was pathetic and made even worse because (Name) agreed without hesitation. They threw away their chance at excelling at the University of Tokyo because a boy who had caused them nothing but heartache begged them not to. Sometimes Akechi had nightmares about this reunion. People were supposed to improve with second chances, yet he used his to drag his partner into his own despair.

(Name) took time to consider what to say. Akechi was nothing if not stubborn and rigid in his beliefs. This was not the first time he lashed out about their circumstances, but (Name) always hoped they’d find the magic words to make it the last. “Sure. I guess I didn’t expect to be living in Sendai. But, I don’t consider this playing house. If it were playing house, we wouldn’t be paying rent.”

Akechi grabbed (Name) by their shoulders and leaned in closer. “Stop turning this into a joke,” he growled. “You had a life you were happy with. Why did you throw that away?

The wrong person would balk under Akechi’s intensity. But there was a reason he fell in love with (Name) despite all odds— they weren’t afraid to challenge him. They leaned forward as well, until their foreheads touched. 

“I’d love it if you stopped referring to my choice as ‘throwing my life away.’ I am living a perfectly happy life, with you, Goro.” 

It hurt because it was unbelievably saccharine and because Akechi didn’t think he deserved that statement being true. There had to be some sick twist on why his life was given back to him in the end. Perhaps another God wanted to use him as a pawn, or he was expected to find some way to atone for his crimes. Nothing in his life had ever been simple. 

(Name) continued in Akechi’s silence. “Wanna know something? Back in Dr. Maruki’s false reality, I used to hate myself for wishing you back to life. You didn’t want to live because someone else dictated it, and my wish forced you into it anyway.”

With that, Akechi softened. He loosened his grip on their shoulders and backed up to create space between them. “As I told you back then, I never blamed you for that. It was Maruki’s doing, not yours.”

“I know. But even though you said that, I still felt guilty. I thought about how selfish it was of me. You were so angry, and I couldn’t help but feel like it was my fault.” (Name) took a deep breath, looking up at Akechi. “So, I understand why you feel the way you do. And why you don’t want to believe me. But whether or not you believe me doesn’t change how I feel.”

(Name) knew how to take the lead with Akechi. He was dominating and wanted control, and (Name) learned over the years that the best way to retaliate was to simply be straightforward and honest. They reached forward and held Akechi’s face in their hands. He tensed under the brush of their fingers against his skin, but he made no move to remove them.

“I wake up next to you. We eat breakfast together. We share some of the same classes. We have an organized chore list. Sometimes we make dinner, and sometimes we get takeout. You know my reading pace and wait to turn the page when you know I’m paying attention to your book while we cuddle on the couch. Then I fall asleep in your arms and wake up to do it all over again.”

They described the most mundane aspects of their life like it was something special. For most of Akechi’s life, he cared very little for the small details; his life had one purpose and it was to seize power from the man who took it all away from him. Even when he and (Name) had begun their relationship, Akechi would be lying if he said he cared about things like sharing a meal, walking home together, and other small moments of intimacy. 

But (Name) changed everything for him. Their relationship was supposed to be nothing more than a little slice of paradise under Akechi’s control, but (Name) made it mean something. they loved him in a way that made him feel whole.

Akechi was a weapon. But he felt small in their gaze and fragile in their arms. Not in the sense that he felt pathetic, though he did consider that sometimes, but in the sense that (Name) let him be vulnerable in a way he didn’t let himself feel even while alone.

“I knew, after meeting you, that all I wanted was to be by your side.” (Name) beamed with pride and Akechi swallowed his disbelief that this expression was for him. “I don’t care if we’re in Tokyo or Sendai. I wouldn’t change a thing about my life.”

He wished he could put to words why accepting the peace in his life made him so uncomfortable. Akechi wasn’t oblivious to the fact that the biggest obstacle to his happiness had become himself. It wasn’t Shido or the God of Control anymore but his own inability let go of the past. The what could have beens and the what ifs. In some sick way, he was more self assured about his future when it involved being Shido’s lapdog. 

Akechi leaned into (Name)’s touch, turning his head slightly and brushing his lips against their palm. “… It’s real this time? I am living this life for myself?”

“Your life is yours,” (Name) reassured him. “And I’m glad to be part of it.”

They closed the distance between them to kiss Akechi on the cheek with a disgustingly loud MWUAH sound that they knew that he hated. Akechi winced but (Name) didn’t give him a chance to retaliate, holding him close and pressing more kisses across his face— his forehead, eyelid, jaw, before a kiss to the corner of his lips that was the final straw for Akechi.

“Ugh,” Akechi groaned. He grabbed (Name)’s jaw and stopped them from moving. “I get it. You can stop being gross now.”

It was nice to have Akechi back to his normal, cheerful self. Maybe (Name) had finally found the magic words he was looking for. Even if they weren’t, they didn’t mind comforting him.

That was their life, after all. Remaining at each other’s sides throughout all the unexpected twists and turns.

ACTS OF SERVICE: This is the love language he ends up doing the least, kinda. It depends on your specific definition of acts of service.

I say that because I believe Yusuke does everything with you, more than he does things for you. For example, if he buys dinner for the both of you, he’s more focused on the act of eating together rather than being the one who took initiative.

But Yusuke definitely does smaller, detailed oriented stuff that doesn’t even register as affection to him. He will tie your shoes, organize your papers, carry your bag, and anything else he thinks will help you in the moment.

He appreciates anything you decide to do for him, of course, but Yusuke will rarely ask or expect anything from you. He’s just not wired that way!

GIFTS: Do NOT let him buy you gifts! He cannot afford them!

Genuinely, you have to tell him not to unless for special occasions, or else he will not have enough money to eat. Alternatively, Akira will bail him out and actually be the person paying for your gift.

He likes to buy you flowers. He thinks flowers are beautiful, and he thinks you’re beautiful, so it’s perfect!

In terms of his gift giving skill for special occasions, like birthdays, he is the type to remember hyper specific details you mentioned offhandedly. Sometimes, you don’t even remember saying you wanted something, but Yusuke always will.

“A few months ago, you mentioned that your bag always feels disorganized, so I got you a new bag with a lot of pockets.”

The best gift you can give him, besides a meal, is a sketchbook. He goes through them quickly, and high quality ones are always out of his budget (set by you and the rest of his friends). 

Yusuke used to be pretty disorganized with his sketches, and he’s lost plenty, but after you started gifting him sketchbooks with loving notes written on the first page, he cherishes them forever.

QUALITY TIME: I think this is Yusuke’s preferred love language, both giving and receiving.

As seen in the game, Yusuke likes to be around his loved ones, even if it’s as simple as just being in the same room together, doing separate activities.

Yusuke had the habit of showing up unannounced to your place for any number of reasons, and you told him he had to warn you first after more than one incident where he showed up when you weren’t home.

His idea of bliss is laying on the floor of your bedroom, painting, while listening to you talk about your day. He claims to be the most productive when he’s around you, but you have reason to believe that’s wrong.

Sometimes he will ask you for feedback, sometimes he will ask you to stay still for 3 hours so he can draw you (before you tell him just to take a picture as reference), and sometimes he will simply show up for the sole purpose of sitting in the same space together.

Genuinely, “nothing,” is his favorite activity. Dates are fun, but so is sitting idly by.

PHYSICAL TOUCH: It takes Yusuke some time to integrate physical touch into your relationship. Not because he didn’t want it, but because he literally doesn’t think about it.

There wasn’t much room for physical affection in his childhood after his mother died, so he doesn’t have the instincts for it.

He is touch-starved and has no idea until you enlighten him. The first time you give him a hug, Yusuke is certain he is in love with you. The first time you two kiss, Yusuke doesn’t want to ever be without you.

After crossing those thresholds, Yusuke starts to initiate physical affection more often. To be honest, he’s kinda awkward about it in that he likes making contact with you in any way; holding hands is great, but he also seems satisfied putting his hand on the top of your head.

One of Yusuke’s favorite rituals is, when you’re meeting up for a date, you come up behind him to hug him. He adores the wonderful surprise to the point that he will literally face the opposite direction he knows you will arrive from.

(Name) looked over their shoulder to find Shinjiro towering over them, hands buried in the pockets of his large overcoat. Most people, students and adults alike, would find that sight foreboding. (Name), however, grinned.

“My favorite person.” (Name) used their free hand to pat the open space next to them on the bench. Shinjiro didn’t move at first. “Don’t worry. The temp is definitely still above zero!”

Whether or not (Name) realized that wasn’t what Shinjiro was referring to at all was up for debate. Regardless, when (Name) turned back around after a beat, Shinjiro knew they weren’t going to budge so easily. With a sigh, he took the open seat next to (Name).

Their shoulders brushed against each other, not enough contact to transfer any warmth between them. Again, Shinjiro pushed, “where’s your coat?”

“I didn’t realize it would get this cold,” (Name) confessed in between bites. “I should’ve known, though. It’s that time of year again. Did you come from Hagakure?”

The question felt rhetorical, so Shinjiro’s only response was a low hum. If he had known (Name) was around, he would have invited them to join. Somehow. Shinjiro wasn’t exactly sure how he would do that. (Name) was easier to talk to than some of his other peers, especially the underclassmen, but the closer he got to (Name), words stopped flowing as easily.

They had… an effect, on Shinjiro. That was the only way Shinjiro could describe it. Doting— though he hated that word —came naturally to him. He had done his best to take care of Akihiko since they were kids, Mitsuru since they joined SEES, and the rest of the SEES members because the last thing Shinjiro wanted to do was cause any more harm to someone.

Doting on (Name) was entirely different for him. While Shinjiro would rather pretend to be asleep than admit he was learning a new recipe, he found himself directly telling (Name) exactly what they needed to do to take care of themself.

Stop eating so much junk food, Shinjiro said as he plucked (Name)’s second bag of chips from their hands.

Get more sleep, Shinjiro said as he dragged (Name) from the shared computer and upstairs to their room.

“You have to be more careful about the weather,” Shinjiro said, without thinking, as he began unbuttoning his coat.

It would be easier, Shinjiro thought to himself, if (Name) showed any resistance when he doted on them. Maybe experiencing some pushback would make Shinjiro feel less insanely soft anytime he did something for (Name). He thought himself a dangerous man with nothing but jagged and sharp edges— yet he also didn’t think twice about wrapping his coat over (Name)’s shoulders.

But (Name) did the opposite of resist; they watched with awe and admiration as they were engulfed by Shinjiro’s overcoat. The warmth that flooded their senses was deep, because it was Shinjiro’s. Not only from his own body heat, but the warmth of the kind gesture to give up his coat for someone shivering in the cold.

(Name) liked to think it meant something. Shinjiro thought it meant something, too, but they never labeled it.

“Thanks,” (Name) beamed. Shinjiro turned as far away as possible without breaking his neck to avoid watching the way (Name) pressed their cheek into the fabric. “Aren’t you gonna be cold, though?”

Shinjiro shrugged. “I’m fine. I’m not the one sitting out in the cold.”

“You are now, though.”

A response wasn’t offered. (Name) thought it was because they made an argument that Shinjiro couldn’t win.

Or maybe Shinjiro was just enjoying the peace. The streetlights flickered on as the last traces of the sun dipped below the horizon, and the bustling crowds began to wane. It was only getting colder, but Shinjiro wasn’t too bothered, even without his coat. Because the point of contact between him and (Name) felt like it was burning, and his heart was threatening to leap out of his throat.

He felt (Name) shift next to him, and when Shinjiro hazarded a glance, (Name) was holding out a ball of takoyaki to him.

Shinjiro raised a brow. “I just ate.”

That wasn’t a no, so (Name) tilted their head. “So, you don’t want one?”

He should say no. Shinjiro’s first instinct was to say no. But, he made the mistake of lingering too long on (Name)’s face. The way they smiled and smiled even more with their eyes. Damn that effect, Shinjiro lamented to no one but himself as he bit the takoyaki from the toothpick. (Name) acted like they had just won a prize.

If the arrival of autumn could be this warm, maybe there was no need to worry about winter.

He came back with only a small pack of brushes, though, and (Name) raised a brow. “That’s all you’re getting?”

Yusuke nodded, “I have to save money so we can eat dinner.”

That raised even more questions. Yusuke was a terrible mooch— though it definitely wasn’t on purpose and was enabled by his dear friends —and he was always content to let others foot the bill. (Name) had done so plenty of times whenever Yusuke reached into his wallet only to find a few hundred yen. But (Name) did that because they wanted to, and partially because they were worried he wouldn’t eat otherwise. He had a lofty promise of paying everyone back someday, but unless someone were to start keeping track of his ledger, it was generally accepted that paying for Yusuke’s meals were akin to a charity donation.

“... You’re paying for dinner?” The idea was so absurd that (Name) was worried they misheard him.

He was unphased by the suspicion. “I promised I’d start paying you back, didn’t I?” Yusuke said it like it wasn’t a miracle. Someone else (likely Akira, who was responsible for paying for most of Yusuke’s meals) would have said something by now if Yusuke had finally turned over this new leaf.

Meaning (Name) was the first person he was doing this for. They weren’t sure how to feel about that. Probably grateful.

Crocodile tears pricked at the corner of (Name)’s eyes as they pat Yusuke on the back. “You’ve finally learned the value of money… I’m so proud.”

It was Yusuke’s turn to stare at (Name) with a puzzled expression. “I can’t help but feel like you’re patronizing me.”

“Maybe a little,” (Name) laughed. “But, I think I’ve earned it.”

Yusuke’s favorite ramen place was just down the street from his favorite craft store, which was maybe one of the contributing factors to why he rarely ever had money in his wallet. He wasn’t exactly one for holding back on his inhibitions, after all. That kind of easygoing nature was something (Name) greatly admired about Yusuke.

(Name) didn’t even have both feet over the threshold by the time Yusuke finished ordering both of their meals. He spouted the order to the employee behind the counter with deadly accuracy, having (Name)’s favorite and least favorite toppings memorized like the back of his hand. With everything taken care of by Yusuke, (Name) wandered to Yusuke’s favorite seat in the back corner of the restaurant. Its window faced a busy intersection that Yusuke said he drew a lot of inspiration from. Something about the amount of different people who walked through, all with different destinations and goals. 

It was a bit too crowded for (Name)’s taste, but the art inspired from it all was beautiful.

Yusuke took his usual spot next to (Name) with two drinks. (Name) wondered when he committed that to memory, too. “There’s not a lot of people here today.”

Aside from a salaryman at the other end of the restaurant, he and (Name) were the only people there. Muted sounds from the kitchen and the intersection were the only noises heard outside of their own voices, and it was a peaceful atmosphere to enjoy dinner in. “Maybe the weather? It was pretty warm today. Not really ramen-eating weather.”

“I think ramen transcends weather.”

“I know you think that,” (Name) laughed. “Other people don’t.”

The thought really seemed to bother him with the way he ranted about how there’s plenty of different types of ramen that complimented all types of weather, and (Name) couldn’t deny the good points he was making. They weren’t the biggest fan of eating ramen in terribly hot weather, but the meal always tasted better when Yusuke was next to them.

Their conversation meandered from ramen to Yusuke’s artwork to (Name)’s latest homework assignment to their last venture into Mementos to (Name)’s opinion on a passerby’s strange outfit to Yusuke’s sketch of the strange passerby before their ramen finally reached them.

The waiter placed the tray between them but didn’t move when (Name) thanked her. She shifted her weight from her left to her right leg, crumpling the piece of paper she was holding between her fingers. 

Her eyes were focused on the back of Yusuke’s head— and he was seconds away from enjoying his first bite of ramen. “Um—!” It was nearly a shout, and louder than expected, judging by the way the waiter seemed startled by her own voice. Yusuke glanced over his shoulder, and his gaze turned the girl’s face an even brighter shade of red. “Here is the receipt for your meal… Please read it closely!”

The waiter placed the receipt in the middle of the tray, then made a dash back towards the counter and practically threw herself over the register. Yusuke stared, but turned back to his bowl faster than (Name) did. “What a strange way to give the receipt,” he said, before finally taking his first bite of the ramen he had been craving all day.

It was strange, but not strange in a way that didn’t raise any flags with (Name). They picked up the piece of paper and noticed nothing was out of the ordinary— except for the bright red, shaky handwriting in the negative space at the bottom.

Consider calling me, please? 

(Name) froze. It was something innocent and cute that should have made their heart skip a beat to witness, but their reaction was something more akin to a flatline. The girl’s number seared into their irises like forbidden knowledge. Something (Name) shouldn’t see.

A gentle tug at their sleeve grounded them. “Is something wrong?”

They pushed the receipt into his palm. (Name) didn’t want to look at it, but there was a similar unknown anguish in passing it off to Yusuke. “Read the receipt closely,” (Name) said, mimicking the waiter’s tone.

Yusuke raised a brow but obliged. (Name) watched closely as he scanned the receipt until noticing the waiter’s number at the bottom. His response was something (Name) had, honestly, expected: “Why does she want me to call her?”

The noise that escaped (Name)’s throat could only be described as a guffaw. “She wants to—” Go on a date with you, but the words never quite made it outside of their mind. (Name) coughed and switched gears. “She’s flirting.”

“Oh,” Yusuke said. He offered very little in the way of helping (Name) deduce however he felt about this. “She wants to go on a date with me? But, I’m a stranger.”

“So what? You’re a… objectively attractive guy.” Their words were sterile and almost didn’t sound like a compliment. But it was easier to say than (Name)’s own personal opinion on Yusuke’s looks, for some reason. “And you were nice to her. That’s all it takes. She seemed sweet!”

They both glanced toward the counter again, but the girl had ducked out of the sight the second she saw them turning.

“I see… should I go on a date with her, then?” Yusuke placed the choice in (Name)’s lap like it wasn’t anything to worry about. And, it wasn’t. Whoever wanted to go out with Yusuke was none of (Name)’s business and they should be happy for him. They should encourage him to go out and experience new things. Yet their words keep dying in their throat.

“Do you want to?” It was the easiest way out. It forced the decision back onto Yusuke.

He shrugged, “I’m not sure. I suppose I’ll have to think about it.”

Yusuke returned to eating his ramen, the thought likely pushed to the back of his mind in an instant. (Name), though, chewed on the thought like they didn’t have a warm meal in front of them.

“They asked him out on a date?! In front of you?!”

The only reason (Name) explained the story was because Leblanc was empty, but Futaba was shouting loud enough that a passerby could hear.

“Yeah,” (Name) sighed. “I didn’t expect it, is all. And, I don’t know why you’re putting so much emphasis on me being there. What does that have to do with anything?”

Futaba looked offended. She kicked the edge of (Name)’s barstool and scoffed, “Um, it has to do with everything! I don’t know how that girl had the bravery to do that when you look like Inari’s partner!”

In the top five most insane things (Name) had ever heard, this had to be the new winner (dethroning Morgana’s explanation of the Metaverse). It took a moment for (Name) to even process those words, having to repeat them in their head before crossing their arms in judgmental dismissal. “Did you play one too many otomes, or something? What are you even saying?”

“Are you playing dumb? Don’t you have a crush on him?” The word ‘crush’ exploded (Name)’s brain into a million tiny pieces, but Futaba cared little for (Name)’s reaction. She turned to the unbiased third party, Akira, who was peacefully drying mugs before being pulled into the argument. “Back me up here!”

“There’s nothing to back up!”

Akira begged to differ. “I dunno. Futaba might have a point. You two are attached at the hip.”

(Name) slumped into their seat. “That’s because we’re best friends! That’s normal!”

It wasn’t like anyone gave Akira this level of grief for playing darts with Akechi every night. (Name) and Yusuke had been friends since they were kids and before the Phantom Thieves came along, Yusuke didn’t exactly have many other people to talk to. 

So it was only natural that they were so close. Yusuke was a better friend than anyone gave him credit for and (Name) couldn’t imagine their life without him. For all his eccentricies, which made him such a wonderful person to be around, no one was as reliable as Yusuke. He was the type of guy to drop everything bring (Name) soup when they were sick and stay there the whole day to keep them company. The type of guy who walked through pouring rain to deliver (Name) an umbrella so they didn’t have to get drenched. He was the perfect guy— in a completely friendly and platonic way.

“Alright,” Akira said. (Name) didn’t like the tone of his voice. “In that case, tell me how you feel about Yusuke-san going on that date.”

In the moment it happened, (Name)’s mouth dried up to the point they couldn’t answer Yusuke’s questions. Now, though, everything unspoken spewed out in word vomit. “Well, he can do whatever he wants to. I think it’s good that he could broaden his horizons!”

But, (Name) continued, which was a mistake. “She seemed nice. But, I don’t know. Yusuke takes time to warm up to people, so I’m not sure how well they would work together on a first date like that.”

Akira leaned on the counter, propping his chin on his palm. “Who would he work well with, then?”

They should have realized the most cunning Phantom Thief was leading them into a trap, but (Name)’s mind was running too fast to notice. “I just feel like he has to know someone really well to date. That’s just what I think, though! I don’t wanna speak for him, and maybe I’m wrong! I’ve just known him for so long that I don’t think dating a stranger would end well.”

“So, under those conditions,” Akira started. He had a smirk that indicated (Name)’s impending doom. “You would be the perfect candidate for him.”

(Name) had thrown the thought out immediately when Futaba it, but Akira’s pointed statement forced them to ruminate on it. Yusuke and themself as a couple. It was like there was a blindspot in their view of their friendship with Yusuke that prevented them from ever considering what it would be like to be dating. They expected to be met with an instant visceral reaction— something that inherently told (Name) that they were destined to be best friends forever. What happened instead, though, was (Name)’s heart starting to race the more complex their imagination got.

Going on dates. Holding hands. Kissing? (Name) could have thrown up. In disgust or delight— it wasn’t clear yet.

Futaba poked (Name)’s shoulder with no response. “They turned into stone!”

“I thought maybe you were in denial, but I guess you never thought about it at all. Sorry for forcing you into this revelation.” Akira turned back to the kitchen to make (Name) an apology coffee, but he seemed more smug than remorseful.

Enough of Futaba jostling their stool freed (Name) from their frozen state and stopped their daydream from going through every possible hypothetical romantic situation. They let out a loud sigh before dropping their head onto the countertop. 

“So what? This revelation doesn’t do me any good,” they groaned, muffled against the grain.

“What are you talking about? Now you can be proactive! Chase after that Inari!” Futaba’s well-meaning but overconfident encouragement made (Name) melt into the countertop even more.

“I can’t,” (Name) sighed. “Yusuke went on the date.”

Clattering in the kitchen. Gasps of horror at the bar. Children crying in the streets. Futaba pushed up (Name)’s dead body by the shoulders until she could effectively yell into their face again. “You didn’t mention that!”

“We didn’t get to that part of the story before you started grilling me!”

For once, Futaba conceded, and gently placed (Name) back into an upright position. They continued, “he said I always encouraged him to try new things, so he decided to go on the date. He’s on it right now, actually.”

Futaba winced at the explanation. “Critical damage…”

She was right that the date went from not very effective to super effective damage after (Name) came to this unfortunate realization. But, if they were going to be honest with themself, the sulking started before the full understanding. It was why (Name) found themself restless in their home, worrying about Yusuke on his date, before deciding to drown their sorrows in coffee and good company.

 Akira slid a mug over and (Name) wasted no time in taking a sip. The apology coffee had extra sugar.

(Name) had a restless night, and they would have liked to blame it on the evening coffee excursion rather than the horror that was realizing feelings for a dear friend. Morning light blinded their bleary eyes as they awoke much earlier than they normally did.

It was a Saturday and (Name) really wanted to sleep in and laze in bed. Anything to ignore the new elephant in the room. So they shut their eyes only to head what had apparently woken them up in the first place: knocking at the door.

They didn’t want to get up at all, but there was really only one person who would be at their door this early in the morning— and it was the person behind their current struggle. (Name) moved on auto pilot, not bothering to change out of pajamas or fix their bed head to answer the door.

Yusuke looked radiant with the sun shining behind him. (Name) wondered if he had always been this bright. “Good morning. Did I wake you?”

(Name) yawned, “good morning. You did, but it’s no big deal. What’s up?”

“I wanted to go get a blessing at the shrine. Will you come with me?”

Maybe their brain was slow from lack of sleep. Or, maybe going to the shrine for an urgent early morning blessing and bringing along your best friend was an extremely Yusuke thing to do. And, no matter what strange things (Name) was feeling about their relationship, one fact remained true: every weird thing Yusuke wanted to do was a wonderful adventure that (Name) could never pass on.

“Count me in. Let me get dressed, though.”

(Name) grabbed a clean set of clothes and splashed cold water on their face to both wake them up and wash away any funny ideas that could get in the way of completely friendly and platonic bonding between two best friends. It did little other than add some frostbite to their morning, because (Name) couldn’t focus at all as they walked to the shrine.

They should have asked about his date, how it went, and if there was a second date upcoming. However, the word date was suddenly taboo and their body rejected the idea of saying it. 

That topic was off the table, but (Name) couldn’t find anything else to say, either. Their regular small talk felt like a hefty task with a whole new weight of unspoken feelings on them. Did you have a good night? On your date. Fuck, don’t talk about that.

The shrine was a short walk, and with it being so early in the morning and not any sort of important holiday, no one was around. (Name) followed Yusuke to the front of the shrine and took a curious note of how focused he looked; Yusuke was always someone who became fully engrossed in whatever he was doing, but there was a certain level of intensity to his stride that made this trip feel more like a mission than a casual event.

They had always visited the shrine together during New Years, so (Name) followed the usual routine. They rang the bell and Yusuke threw two coins into the offering box. It took (Name) bowing for them to realize they had no idea what kind of blessing they needed today. Success? Luck? They needed both of those things desperately. Love? That made (Name) want to puke.

Clapping their hands, (Name) decided to ask the gods for, simply, an okay day today. In other words, as long as (Name) was still alive by the end of it, they wouldn’t have to feel abandoned by the gods.

(Name) glanced at Yusuke again after their last bow. His gaze still held the same fervor that they noticed on their walk there, and when Yusuke turned to look at them after all was said and done, (Name) shied away. 

“Thank you for coming with me. I needed a blessing of luck today.” Yusuke was absolutely superstitious, but not usually in the way where he needed support from a blessing.

(Name) raised a brow. “Why’s that?”

“I went on the date with Nijika-san last night.” Yusuke was still looking at (Name)— they could feel his stare burning into their skin.

But that was a dull pain in comparison to the way their heart just dropped into their stomach. With a clenched jaw, (Name) nodded. “Ah, it went well? So you want good luck for your relationship?”

Through their peripheral vision, they saw Yusuke shrug. “It didn’t go bad. She was very nice.” There was a pause. Yusuke didn’t often think too hard before speaking, but something was slowing him down. “She asked if we could go on a second date, but I declined.”

That got (Name) to turn back toward him. They studied his face— Yusuke had his usual, neutral expression. No sign of sadness or anger. It was just an objective statement to him. 

“Why’s that?”

It turned out the blind spot (Name) had for their relationship was still there in spite of it all. Because Yusuke’s next move was extremely unexpected; he reached out to grab (Name)’s hands, tugging them closer. His palms were warm and he held onto (Name) like they were something precious. Something short-circuited in their brain and (Name) was, once again, frozen.

“I’ve never thought about being in a relationship before. Not until I went on that date.” Yusuke lifted their hands up, holding them closer to his chest. “And, when I did, all I could think about was you.”

(Name) squeezed Yusuke’s hands to confirm they were still in reality. Not in a dream conjured up by the (Name) who slept in today. And his hands were real, which meant Yusuke’s words were really what (Name) was hearing, and that expectant gaze of his was really awaiting their response.

The only words (Name) mustered were not much substance. “You thought of me?”

Yusuke nodded, “I thought that, if there was anyone I would like to go on a date with, it was you.”

With his words echoing (Name)’s own lamentations, they let out a deep breath. “It’s funny. Last night, I was mourning our relationship because you went on that date.”

“I’m sorry,” Yusuke frowned. He rubbed his thumbs against the back of (Name)’s hands. “I was very slow to realize my feelings for you…”

(Name) laughed, which alleviated pressure for both of them. “Don’t apologize. I’m glad you went on the date. Especially if it led to this!”

With new courage, (Name) stepped forward and pulled Yusuke into a hug. It wasn’t the first time they had hugged, but it was now— the first hug of a new era. 

“I like you a lot,” (Name) said. They had all but danced around the direct wording.

Yusuke smiled. “I like you as well.”

It was terrifying, but the unknown never felt more familiar. And there was no one better to navigate it with than each other.

With those previous texts in mind, the rational part of (Name) assumed that it was another instance of Yusuke being dramatic in his texts. The irrational part of (Name), though, thought the possibility of Yusuke breaking up with them was technically nonzero. And that was horrifying.

Yusuke was a train ride away, so (Name) had no other choice but to wring their hands in their lap as the train approached their stop. Nothing was wrong in their relationship; nothing that (Name) was aware of, at least. It would be silly to jump to the conclusion that Yusuke would break up with them out of nowhere, but his texting style was the opposite of comforting and left too much room for worry.

Their grim thoughts were interrupted by the announcement of the train arriving at Shibuya station. (Name) followed the crowd that exited the train and made a beeline for the stairs to the underground mall. Yusuke enjoyed hanging out there, inspired by its hustle and bustle and bright colors, but made the oddly specific request to meet up in front of the Big Bang Burger.

It was never difficult to spot Yusuke in a crowd— not just because of his tall stature, but because his eccentric energy permeated the area whenever he was looking around. (Name) described his aura as magnetic, but, apparently, others found it off-putting. 

Even with their worry, (Name) couldn’t help but smile when they saw Yusuke leaning against the wall beside Big Bang Burger. (Name) pushed through the hustle and bustle and tugged on Yusuke’s sleeve.

That was when he bowed and apologized for his failures, leaving (Name) staring in confusion. They grabbed his shoulders, trying to pull him back up.

Yusuke was unmoving from his bow. “I’ve realized my actions have been inadequate…”

Oh no, was this actually a break up? An it’s not you, it’s me situation? (Name)’s heart plummeted into their stomach and their grip tightened on his shoulders.

“H- Hey! Are you breaking up with me?” They tried to figure out where they went wrong. Were they too clingy? Too pushy? A bad listener? Any little action that failed to be charming flashed through their brain and (Name) tried to figure out what specifically could make Yusuke want to break up with them.

Yusuke straightened his posture again in an instant, eyes wide and confused. “Breaking up with you..? Of course not. Why would you think that?”

It was a day of many emotions and the next one (Name) felt was annoyance. Relief was mixed in, too, now secure knowing that Yusuke wasn’t breaking up with them— but how could he be so oblivious?!

(Name) let out a sigh, relieved, before crumpling Yusuke’s shirt between their fingers in their grip. “Why would I think that?! Oh, I don’t know! Maybe the ominous we need to talk text and you saying that you’ve failed me! What was I supposed to think?!”

Yusuke tapped his chin in thought, considering (Name)’s words. It took him a few seconds to come to a conclusion: “Oh. I see how my words would come off that way. I apologize… I would never break up with you. I love you.”

How could (Name) stay mad when Yusuke confessed his love like it was just another breath? It was tempting, though, so they breathed out a sigh and dropped their head forward onto Yusuke’s chest. “Forgiven, I guess. I love you, too. Still, what are you talking about?”

They felt his arms wrap around them, pulling the rest of their body closer to press his cheek against the top of their head. Yusuke had a gentle touch but moved with the purpose of an experienced artist; his hands always landed in the same spots on (Name)’s upper back and hip. He held on for a few seconds in silence, savoring the physical contact between them, before loosening his grip to look at (Name) again.

“Dumplings over flowers.”

(Name) turned their head up from Yusuke’s chest, brows furrowed. “Please start with the context.”

“The saying, ‘Dumplings over flowers.’ I heard it for the first time, recently. Have you heard it before?”

They chewed on the inside of their lip, searching through their memories. “I mean, yeah. But it’s not like people say it all the time.” And there was still no answer on how this related to Yusuke somehow failing them.

Yusuke moved back, but his hands still lingered on (Name). “I heard Makoto-san say it to Akira-kun, so I asked what it meant. If ‘Dumplings over flowers’ means practicality over aesthetic, haven’t I failed you? I like giving you flowers…”

Moments like this made (Name) remember that this wasn’t just Yusuke’s first romantic relationship, but also one of the first meaningful relationships he’s made in his life in general. Yusuke had mentioned several times before that he’s learned a lot about interacting with people since making friends with (Name), and this was another one of those learning moments.

(Name) reached up to cradle his cheek with one hand. “And I like receiving flowers! Not everything has to be practical.”

That declaration made his eyes widen. Yusuke tilted his head, either in confusion or as way to lean into (Name)’s touch. Or both. “Is that so..? What’s the point of the phrase then? I thought I understood it’s point. Practical things like food make better gifts than something that just dies.”

(Name)’s lip curled upward. “‘Nothing gold can stay.’ Y’know the phrase? It’s western.” When Yusuke shook his head, (Name) continued. “Beauty is fleeting. When you give me flowers, I don’t look at them and see something that will die. I feel loved, because you saw something beautiful and thought of me.”

One of the reasons Yusuke fell in love with (Name) was the way they understood him. He learned, a little too recently for most people’s tastes, that his personality was considered enigmatic and difficult to decipher. Maybe he didn’t think like the average person but Yusuke never considered that a flaw, even if some people looked at him strangely for it. But, (Name) never seemed bothered and always found the right words to say— even if they were still confused by Yusuke’s line of thinking every now and then.

“I see,” Yusuke started. He let his mind chew on (Name)’s words for a few moments before smiling, letting out a small huff. “Of course I think of you when I see flowers. Unlike flowers, though, your beauty is not fleeting. You’re beauty blooms at all times of the year.”

He was painter first and foremost, but Yusuke could easily be mistaken for a poet with the way he spoke. (Name) leaned forward and connected their smiles for a kiss, and Yusuke pulled them back in for another when they separated for air. He started off as a clumsy kisser but (Name) would dare to call him experienced by this point, with the way his hand squeezed their hip to keep them close to his chest.

A passerby, on their phone and not paying attention, bumped into Yusuke’s shoulder as they passed by, forcing (Name) to have the startling realization that they were still in the middle of the underground mall. (Name) pulled away and narrowly avoided Yusuke’s attempt to capture another kiss before they got too far.

“You never explained why you wanted to meet here,” (Name) said, regaining their breath and fixing their freshly tousled hair.

Yusuke’s eyes lit up. “How could I forget! The point of the phrase was that food was the most practical gift, right? I wanted to treat you to a meal.” He gestured to the burger joint with a proud smile and sparkling eyes.

(Name) blinked. “So, briefly, you thought that Big Bang Burger was a more meaningful gift than flowers?”

“When you describe it like that, you make it sound as if this was an unreasonable conclusion. But, someone wise just told me that the value of a gift is measured by the love and affection behind it.” Yusuke pressed a chaste kiss to (Name)’s cheek before they had the chance to react. “And there is nothing I love more than to see you happy and fed.”

He truly outmatched the rest of the world personality wise, (Name) was sure of it. They laughed and linked arms with him. “How can I argue with that? Let’s eat!”

Sometimes true love was in flowers, and sometimes it was in a greasy burger.

He was an only child, but Yu knew a thing or two about neglectful parents. Even if this was their first time speaking, there was a lot Yu could confirm from the way (Name) carried themself. When (Name) turned around to apologize, Yu noticed the bags under their eyes and the disheveled appearance of their school uniform. Then the hunched over posture of someone with the weight of the world on their shoulders, but wanted to take up as little space as possible.

There was no time before this to talk to (Name), and there would definitely be no time afterwards if they were going to pick up another job— and Yu was curious.

“Are you looking for a part-time job, too?” Yu stepped up to the bulletin board, but left enough room for (Name) to stand next to him. They took a step back, expecting Yu to block their way, but paused at the wordless gesture. (Name)’s hands fidgeted with the collar of their uniform, and with the passing of a few more seconds, stood next to Yu and nodded. “You already work at Junes, don’t you?”

They couldn’t possibly get any smaller in their posture, but they certainly tried. (Name)’s eyes were glued to the ground and their arms clutched tightly to their chest. “I do,” they mumbled. In his periphery, Yu watched as (name) shifted their weight back and forth. “Pay sucks. I need a second income.”

That was another thing Yosuke mentioned about working at Junes; they paid the most minimum of minimum wage. Yet it was still one of the more lucrative jobs in Inaba, where working in the shopping district may save you from the wrath of the town, but will leave your wallet rather empty after a full day of work. Yu squinted at one of the job listings— it wasn’t even paid. 

“That really sucks. Customer service is already bad enough, but here, your customers hate you for doing the work they’re asking you to do.”

A strained noise escaped (Name)’s lips. It was somewhere between a laugh and a scoff. “Exactly. It’s lame. Maybe getting a job at the shopping district will get them off my case.”

Whatever tension that may have been present at the beginning of the conversation slowly melted away. Yu smiled, “they should have some respect for Inaba’s hardest worker.”

Maybe it was his voice, or the fact that he was the charming new city boy and talk of the town, but his words struck a chord deep in (Name)’s heart. It was warm and inviting and it almost felt like being thawed from the inside out. “If only.”

The conversation was over with that, but it was a natural end. (Name) pulled a tab from the job listing for a daycare attendant, and waved goodbye to Yu. Yu grabbed a tab from every single job listing— yet was most excited for the volunteer paper crane folding position.

JUNE 20TH 【JUNES DEPARTMENT STORE】

“Oh, Narukami-san!”

“You’re supposed to be resting.”

The last thing Yu expected to see on a routine trip to Junes was (Name), who was rescued from the TV world, faced and accepted their own shadow to receive a persona, and was explicitly told to rest, just two days ago. Yukiko and Kanji were plenty evidence that, the longer the shadow was present, the more exhausted the user would be after defeating it. 

(Name) collapsed onto the ground the instant they accepted their persona. With this being the fifth time Yu had seen this happen, he was prepared; in one swift movement, Yu was able to catch (Name) before their head hit the ground. They reached up and clutched his wrist, squeezing gently as a quiet thank you.

“Yosuke-san said the same thing when I clocked in for work today.” The words were accompanied by an eyeroll. They continued to stock the shelves in spite of Yu’s judgmental but harmless stare. “I rested, I’m fine.”

At that same moment, (Name) knocked over a box of oranges. One poignant motherfucker escaped their lips, but any other curses they wanted to say were suppressed by their impressive customer service experience. They crouched down to start cleaning up the mess, with Yu following suit.

“Yeah, definitely rested,” he said. His tone was sarcastic but the slight upturn of his mouth let (Name) know it was nothing malicious. While picking up the oranges, Yu leaned in closer. “Dealing with your shadow and getting a persona is really draining. You should really rest as much as you can.”

Either the headache they had since being rescued from the TV world got much worse all of a sudden, or their close proximity was another issue for their brain entirely. (Name) had no prior experience with either, so both seemed like reasonable possibilities.

(Name) didn’t respond until all the oranges were back in the box. “Thank you,” they started. It was like their first meeting again— tense and awkward. There was a certain bite to (Name)’s tone that, while Yu didn’t think was directed at him specifically, made him hesitate. “I did rest as much as I could. I’m tight on cash. My mom hasn’t sent any money for the bills.”

It wasn’t that Yu forgot about (Name)’s situation— everyone in Inaba was acutely aware of everyone’s business, and (Name)’s poor circumstances served as nothing but gossip for the housewives in the shopping district. But he frowned because it slipped his mind long enough to say something touchy.

So he apologized, “sorry, I know you don’t have it easy.” 

Yu narukami’s ineffable sincerity humbled most people in its wake. He was supposed to be the trendy and electric city boy— and maybe he would’ve been the spitting image of one if Yosuke, Chie, and Yukiko weren’t the first people to befriend him. Or if he had been disgusted and bored by the sheer nothingness to do in Inaba. Or, and most likely, if he didn’t become the leader of the Investigation Team and have the pressure of protecting his friends and the town at large.

But even if all that did happen, Yu would still probably be the same guy at heart. The guy who fed the stray cats in the rain and risked his life in the TV world to keep strangers safe. He was an honest guy through and through.

It hurt more to be mad at him. “No, sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped. It’s just… tough. I don’t know. I hate acting like this. At work, customers get pissed, and at home, my brother gets worried.”

“No worries.” Yu smiled, and it was like the sun breaking through on a cloudy day. “I understand how you feel.”

It was funny, because when they first met a few months ago, Yu couldn’t empathize with anything about (Name)’s situation, apart from the casual parental neglect. He didn’t have a younger sibling to take care of, he didn’t have a dire need for cash, and he didn’t have anyone’s expectations. But Nanako called him big bro’ and he suddenly became the lead investigator of a supernatural murder mystery. Igor told him he was on an important journey and he had to pretend like that didn’t keep him up at night.

Funnier that (Name) usually hated when people tried to say they understood how they felt. The housewives that didn’t hate them for working at Junes said that to them sometimes, as if their failing marriage or the affair they’re having with a handsome man from Okina was anywhere remotely relatable to being a family’s sole breadwinner at 16 years old. But, when Yu said it, there was an air of remorse and solidarity; he stood up straighter and didn’t say it like he knew better— he just knew.

“Your little bro’ is Akira-kun, right? I think he and Nanako are friends.” The change in subject reminded the both of them that the world was still spinning, and (Name) returned to stocking the shelves with the slightly bruised oranges that they hoped no one would give them shit for. 

Yu only meant to lighten the mood and could not have predicted the way (Name)’s eyes lit up and entire demeanor changed at the mention of their younger brother. They nodded, “that’s him.” For the very first time, months after meeting them, Yu saw (Name) smile. It was small and only noticeable because Yu found himself studying (Name)’s face closely, but it was there, and it made him smile in return.

“You’re right. He was telling me about Nanako-chan the other day when he got back from school. Said they feed stray cats on their walk home.” They were a few years apart, but the elementary school and middle school were right next to each other, so it wasn’t surprising that the two knew each other. (Name) nudged Yu, the small smile turning somewhat mischievous. “You must be rubbing off on everybody. The cats in Inaba are gonna become spoiled.” 

Yu laughed. Even with as little rest as they got, (Name) seemed brighter. It made him feel brighter, too.

“Good. Cats deserve nothing but the best.”

AUGUST 21ST 【TATSUHIME SHRINE】

Yu didn’t realize this would feel like a date until he realized he was struggling to have a conversation with (Name). It had become so easy in the last few months that it felt so foreign and wrong to be lost again.

“... I’m the only one you invited?”

The hustle and bustle of the summer festival felt so distant, even if it was only a few feet away from where they stood at the shrine’s entrance. He looked (Name) in the eyes once when they arrived, then lost the courage to do so again. His eyes darted everywhere from the ground to the night sky— everywhere but (Name).

Yu scratched the back of his head. “Yeah… I felt bad that you didn’t join us yesterday because you were too tired from work. I didn’t think you would go alone, so I wanted to invite you.”

The poignant silence afterwards made Yu want to crawl into a hole. He might’ve actually done so if he made eye contact with them in that moment, so he stuck to the concrete. A meiou cricket hopped over his foot.

“Well.” He had no idea how much time passed before (Name) finally spoke up again. It could have been any time between 5 seconds and 3 hours. “You’re right, I wouldn’t have gone alone… so, thanks. I’m glad you invited me.”

Yu breathed a sigh of relief, but the tension didn’t fully disappear. At the very least, He gained the confidence to look at (Name)— who seemed equally as awkward as him, if not worse. Their hands covered their face and they were practically squirming in their personal bubble, as if they were contemplating fight, flight, or freeze.

Maybe it was a little cruel, but knowing that he wasn’t the only one with their heart beating out of their chest made him feel a lot better. It didn’t make him feel less awkward, but it made him crack a smile. “Great, let’s go.”

Walking around made them feel better. The warm lights, happy voices, and smell of food reminded the pair just how lovely Inaba could be. The summer festivals in Tokyo were big, loud, and fun, but for a popular yet isolated guy like Yu, they were exceptionally lonely. A spectacular fireworks show didn’t have the same impact when he had to enjoy it alone.

But he was not alone this time, and it was as nerve-wracking as it was thrilling. They made conversation about school, their friends, their hobbies— anything, really. Yu never had a difficult time talking to them once they joined the Investigation Team. Sometimes (Name) was still timid, but from the depths of their psyche, buried by immaculate and demoralizing customer service, Yu slowly discovered a side of (Name) that was blunt and sarcastic.

“What the hell.” (Name) leaned over Yu’s shoulder to count the number of goldfish in his bowl. “24!? Geez, how are you so good at everything?”

Yu laughed and emptied the bowl of goldfish back into the pool. His high score secured him a large Jack Frost plushie that he tucked under his arm (the existence of persona merch always freaked Yu out. Are his frost family personas based off his memory of seeing this merch, or does this company know about personas? The latter option ate away at him sometimes). “It’s probably because I spend so much time fishing.”

“Please explain to me how your fishing skills translate to goldfish scooping,” they scoffed. “You have to be strong to reel in a fish. You have to be delicate to keep your poi from breaking. I don’t see a connection.”

“Technique.”

“Technique,” (Name) repeated, but with a serious furrowed brow that made Yu chuckle again. Their head tilted to the side when Yu held out the plushie to them. “... For me?”

It could have been the ego boost from crushing at goldfish scooping, or the atmosphere of the festival making his heart feel lighter and less embarrassed— either way, Yu felt a surge of confidence that was painfully absent when he was fumbling around with (Name) at the gate.

He nodded and placed the plushie in (Name)’s arms before they had the chance to refuse. “You can tell Akira-kun that you won the best prize for goldfish scooping.”

(Name) opened their mouth to speak, but no sound was heard. Instead, they shook their head with a smile and clutched the plushie close to their chest. Yu Narukami really was too much sometimes. An impossibly straightforward and kind guy that was easy to fawn over. 

Not that (Name) was fawning. They didn’t think they were, anyway; anyone would feel like that around Yu. ‘That’ being their heart skipping a beat and butterflies threatening to burst from the pit of their stomach. That was normal. Right?

The more (Name) considered it, the more embarrassing the answer became. And that was something they weren’t prepared to confront right now— not with a murder case, the Midnight Channel, and the fog looming over their heads. (Name) swallowed the thought down before it could consume them whole.

Yet they still let their shoulder brush against Yu’s as they walked. Yu didn’t know what to make of it. Neither did (Name). But it was startlingly natural, and they both liked it. A lot.

As the night winded down, the pair found themselves on the front steps of the shrine. Much of the crowd, especially the children, had already gone home for the night, leaving a more quiet atmosphere in their wake.

“It’s getting late,” (Name) pointed out. “Let’s pray for a blessing then leave, yeah?”

Yu nodded, but it wasn’t like either of them really wanted to leave. But they both had family to return back to— younger siblings who would be upset if they were out later than their bedtime. He turned towards the shrine and paused to think. He spent time at the shrine nearly every night to catch bugs and beg the offertory box for a good blessing, so it’s very familiar to him. At the same time, though, it felt different. Probably because (Name) was leaning against his side and his heart was beating like crazy, but who’s to say?

He pressed his palms together and closed his eyes. There was really only one thing to pray for. “I hope we get closer,” he whispered just loud enough for (Name) to hear. Yu chewed the inside of his cheek and tried to pretend like he wasn’t completely red in the face.

Yu didn’t have to look at (Name) to know their reaction. From the way their body tensed after he spoke and the silence that followed, he imagined they looked pretty similar as they did when they were standing outside of the shrine gate. 

“Geez,” (Name) huffed. The ambient noise of the festival and Inaba at night was drowned out by their intense heartbeat. With their eyes closed and shoulders touching, it was like they were the only two people in the world at that moment. It took a moment for (Name) to collect themself, and when they did, they elbowed Yu’s side. “You’re too much.”

It wasn’t a rejection. Yu grinned from ear to ear. “Sorry,” he mused, but he wasn’t really. “What did you pray for?”

when he looked at (Name), they made eye contact, then (Name) turned away in an instant. They kicked the ground and fidgeted with their sleeve, while their free hand shakily grabbed Yu’s. He blinked, looked down at their hands and back up at (Name), and slowly intertwined their fingers.

“The same thing.”

DECEMBER 3RD 【DOJIMA RESIDENCE】

“You didn’t have to walk me back home.”

“Oh, don’t even start with me, Yu-san.”

It was hard to see at this time of night. The fog obscured the moonlight and made it near impossible to see the empty, dark Dojima residence.

To say it was a long day would be the understatement of the century. Everything that happened was simultaneously a blur yet clearly and vividly in the forefront of Yu’s mind. He couldn’t believe the day started out normal.

Yu stood up straight with hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket. He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Because how could it? He had to smile because (Name) was standing next to him. He was the leader of the Investigation Team. He kept everyone calm, collected, and from committing manslaughter by throwing Namatame into the TV. Yu had to be stability, their voice of reason.

“I’m alright, really,” Yu insisted, even though (Name) didn’t say anything to prompt him. “Don’t worry about me.”

(Name) sighed, “Yu-san…”

He didn’t look at (Name) because he didn’t think he could take it. They were probably staring at him with a furrowed brow and a frown that would make Yu feel guiltier than he already felt— if that was even possible. It’s his fault any of this happened.

The key in his pocket was cold against his skin, and he clutched it so tight that it left a mark on his hand. There was nothing Yu wanted more in that moment than to crawl into bed and sleep, but his hands were shaking so bad that he couldn’t fit the key into the lock.

He only fumbled with the key twice before (Name) intervened. They grabbed his wrist and pulled him to face them. Yu’s eyes remained fixated on the door. “You don’t have to pretend like you’re fine. Today was— it was insane. You had to watch Nanako…”

(Name)’s voice cracked. Even just the memory was enough to make them choke up again, and, next to them, Yu struggled not to break down. His sweet little sister deserved nothing but happiness, but it was his fault that she got trapped in the TV world. His fault that she was in there long enough to get sick from the fog. If he had gotten through the dungeon faster, if he had grabbed her from Namatame right away instead of trying to reason with him, She would have been alright.

He couldn’t protect Nanako. How could he protect his team? The town? Yu couldn’t even figure out who the murderer was, and they were chasing them for months.

So if he can’t do anything right, the least he can do for everyone is remain calm. 

“Nanako pulled through.” That was the truth. The doctor said she pulled through because she heard everyone’s voices calling to her, and while Yu wasn’t sure how scientifically accurate that sounded, it made him feel like he did something right. 

(Name) pushed their way in between Yu and the door, forcing him to look at them. “I know she did. But she…” Again, their voice escaped them. The memory was too horrible, too wrong, and too close to home; Nanako was like the little sister to everyone on the Investigation Team, but (Name) also had a younger sibling of their own, and if anything were to happen to him, (Name) would never recover.

To be honest, (Name) was fine with throwing Namatame into the TV world. There was nothing in their heart in that moment other than pure contempt and hate for the man they believed killed Nanako. If Yu hadn’t reminded them things weren’t adding up, the Investigation Team would have had blood on their hands.

That’s why he was their fearless leader. A leader so fearless he couldn’t even cry when Nanako died and had enough mental fortitude to calm them down right afterwards. There was a lot to admire about someone so strong, but he was still human. And humans have limits.

“No one should have to go through what you went though,” (Name) started. They brought Yu’s hand close to their chest to try and comfort the both of them. “Listen, I get it. You feel like you have to be unbreakable because you’re our leader. But… we care about you. We dont want you to hide your pain just to make us feel better. That doesn’t make me feel better.”

A burning sensation behind his eyes made him freeze. Yu can’t. He can’t cry in front of the investigation team. They’ll figure out he was really a coward— the guy truly worthy of the fool arcana.

(Name)’s body was warm against his hand, and their heartbeat steadied his own back into a comfortable rhythm. They took one step closer, breaking into his personal space so he couldn’t keep ignoring them. “I get how you feel, but… we’re here for you. I’m here.”

Yu didn’t realize he started crying until the tears landed on his arm. A flood of tears that Yu had held back for who knows how long rushed out with an ugly sounding sob, but for that moment, Yu didn’t care. he let himself crumble in (Name)’s arms, burying his face in their neck as he grasped the back of their jacket. This time, (Name) was the strong and resolute pillar of support, tightly hugging him so he could feel grounded.

For once, Yu let himself share the weight of the world.

MARCH 20TH 【YOMOTSU HIRASAKA】

Hands of of pure darkness pulled Yu down into an endless void. It was pitch black night initially, until there a flash of light as his body hit the ground. Fog surrounded him, and his memory suddenly flashed back to his first night in Inaba, where his dream was filled with fog and he summoned Izanagi for the first time without understanding anything. When the true culprit was just a silhouette, an idea, and not the goddess Izanami herself.

Yu deserved to die like this, he thought. Drowning in the fog he tried so hard to overcome. It was a fitting and cruel end for the so-called leader who couldn’t even protect his own teammates.

Yu didn’t know exactly what happened. The shadow approached him, hands manifesting from the darkness and reaching out for him, Izanami laughing in the distance. Yu readied his sword, hoping he could at least parry some damage away, but he heard Yukiko’s voice call his name, and he was suddenly pushed aside. Yosuke and (Name) screamed, Rise shreiked something in his ear, but when he regained his bearings and looked back to where Yukiko pushed him, she was gone. Nothing but the shadow hands receding back into the darkness.

He waited for Yukiko to appear again. She couldn’t just be… gone. That wasn’t right. But they faced another brutal attack and Yukiko was still gone. The realization washed over him that she wouldn’t be coming back, but he couldn’t even let that sink in; if he had that realization, then Yosuke and (Name) did, too. 

And they did exactly as he feared. First was Yosuke, who tackled him out of the way of the shadow before he could stop him. Yu couldn’t do anything but watch as the shadow consumed Yosuke, his best friend disappearing into the darkness. He thought he would have been prepared to stop (Name) from doing the same, but Izanami sent the shadow for him again he saw (Name) running for him out of the corner of his eye. Even as he grabbed onto their arms, begging them not to do it, (Name) was able to push him out of harm’s way just enough for the dark shadow to latch onto them instead of him.

The shadow ripped (Name) out of Yu’s grip, leaving him to scramble to try and grab them again, to stop them from disappearing like Yukiko and Yosuke, but he couldn’t reach. His fingers ghosted against (Name)’s hair as they sank into the darkness. Despite Yu’s failure, despite everything, (Name) managed a smile.

“Sorry.”

They were gone, Yosuke was gone, Yukiko was gone, and there was no one left to face Izanami but Yu. But who was he alone? nothing. Izanami sent the shadow after him again, and there was no one left to sacrifice themselves for his sake. This is how it should have been, Yu thought as the hands grabbed him. It should have been me.

He didn’t know if he was alive or dead, nor did he really care. There was no point after letting his friends die. Yu laid motionless in the middle of the fog, waiting to fade away and pay for his failures. Yet Yu remained— there was a reason he was still here. 

A voice called out to him. It started out as a whisper in the back of mind, then surged to the forefront to be so clearly Margaret’s voice. Yu forced his eyes open to see the velvet room attendant standing before him.

“Get up,” she commanded. “You are not someone allowed to fall here.”

Yu didn’t get a chance to respond before she disappeared into the fog as quickly as she arrived. Loneliness and hopelessness began to creep in on him as soon as she left, but in her place, a visage of his uncle appeared to give him encouragement as well. Then Nanako, then his classmates, all the people he met while working— even Adachi appeared to give him a bittersweet backhanded compliment.

Then the Investigation Team. They begged him to get up again, for him to keep going, as if they weren’t the ones who laid down their lives before him. It would have been enough for Yu just to see them again, but their pleas pulled his heart from the fog to remind him why they wanted him to live in the first place.

His eyes widened and his whole body tensed when (Name) appeared before him. The mysterious light in the fog behind them made them look ethereal— even more so when they smiled at him again. “I know we ask so much of you,” they started, and Yu already wanted to cry. “But, please get up. We need you. we’ll be by your side when you do. We’ll do this together.”

The weight of the world was on his shoulders, and he had been acutely aware of that for almost the entire year. It was a burden to him, a source of his anxiety and nightmares. But if it was the burden he had to take for all the precious people in his life, he would do it a thousand times over. With their help.

Yu Narukami had the strength to stand again.

JUNE 15TH 【SAMEGAWA FLOODPLAIN】

“You look exactly the same.”

“No I don’t!”

“What changed?”

“I’m taller.”

He wasn’t incorrect— he had grown about 5 centimeters since he left Inaba last year, but (Name) rolled their eyes and nudged Yu with their elbow. They laughed in spite of their feigned annoyance, harmonized with the sound of the flowing river and cicadas. 

“Okay, you’re taller,” (Name) conceded. “That’s still the only change. At least change up your haircut like the rest of us.”

It was fitting, though, that Yu had barely changed since he left. He spent everyday wishing he could be back in Inaba with the rest of his friends, who still had each other for support and could move forwards in their life. So they got new clothes and new haircuts and tried to make physical progress that Yu could see when he came back to visit. Yu, on the other hand, ate beef bowls to reminisce about Inaba at a hole-in-the-wall Chinese place that didn’t hold a candle to Aiya.

He was terrified that things would be awkward when he came back. That he would have been gone so long that they would have all moved on without him. It was a silly fear in hindsight; they loved Yu more than anything else in the world and welcomed him back with all the excitement, extravagance, and chaos one would expect from Inaba’s one and only Investigation Team. It was like Yu never even left.

There was a still a change. His fingers intertwined with (Name)’s without apprehension. (Name) leaned into his side and rested their head on his shoulder without hesitation. The year apart replaced their timidity with an unrelenting desire to be close to each other at all times. Rise called it sweet, Teddie told him it was unfair.

When the Investigation Team finally gave him some free time, Yu dragged (Name) to the floodplain so they could sit at the edge of the river together. His thumb traced circles on the back of their hand, trying to engrave the feeling in his memory. He would be back in Tokyo at the end of the summer, after all.

(Name) thought about the same thing. “You just got here, yet I’m already worried about when you’re gonna leave again. I don’t think I could take it again.”

They curled in closer to Yu, burying their face against his neck. To be honest, Yu didn’t know if he could take leaving again, too. It was hard enough the first time.

So Yu thought of other options. “I start university in the Spring. I’m gonna be moving out from my parents’ place, so I’ve been looking at apartments.”

A dry laugh from (Name) tickled his skin. “What a coincidence, I was also looking at apartments near Tokyo University. It’ll be hard to pay for a two-bedroom apartment on my own, even with how much I saved up. I need… a roommate.”

Yu pulled (Name)’s hand to his lips and kissed their knuckles. “A roommate? Is that the only thing you’re looking for?” (Name) turned their head to look up at Yu, who smiled. “How about a partner?”

“Yosuke is your partner.” It was hidden against his shoulder, but Yu felt the way (Name)’s mouth curled up into a smirk against his shirt.

His hands moved, his left on (Name)’s cheek to tilt their head up and his right gently touching the back of their neck. “Semantics,” Yu replied with a smirk of his own. “He’s my partner. I’m your boyfriend.”

It was said with a confidence Yu never could have managed just a year again, even though it was the first time he said it aloud to (Name). Because he was their boyfriend, and he was the leader of the Investigation Team, and he helped save Inaba and his precious friends. Yu decided that maybe he had finally done enough to be proud of himself, and he could revel in it just a tiny bit.

With that confidence, Yu leaned forward before (Name) had a chance to respond. It was a little clumsy, with neither of them knowing what to expect— It was a first kiss for both of them, after all. He felt (Name)’s hands fumble against his chest before grasping his shoulders to steady themself.

The kiss was the aftermath of a year of longing. A year of lingering gazes and timid touches, a desire to be close outweighed by a heavier responsibility to save the entire world. Now that responsibility was behind them, leaving no obstacles in between them.

They only broke from the kiss when they needed air. Yu didn’t move far; he leaned back in and bumped foreheads with (Name), gazing into their eyes with all the affection he could muster.

(Name) laughed, “you’re too much.”