Ever since you and the other thieves have arrived in this realm, things were always getting weirder and weirder. First the creepy Kamoshida(man) utopia, meeting this other girl who's a persona user too. Now, a disaster movie themed realm with girl-dinosaurs??? What is going on… While exploring the jungle with your group, Oracle warned you guys about something or someone moving towards you group quite fast, you and the others followed behind Joker who took the lead with his fake gun for bluffing, only to be met with faces that were way very familiar to you (literally).

Yu Narukami

During the encounter in the jungle, Yu already thought the group of the Phantom Thieves was curious, but seeing you made him have the feeling of curiosity two times more.

And I imagine him being one to ask who are you. And then there were no doubts, similar hair, eyes, skin, voice, you get it and his point is further confirmed when the group brings up different timelines.

Yu will eventually ask you for a moment so he can ask his own more personal questions.

Not only he'd ask about you, but also people he's close with, I also see him asking about Nanako, considering you two were around the same age, if you were also staying in Inaba with him, I believe you would spend some time with her.

He has no doubts about your strenght, what he'd mostly ask about is details about how you fight (if you do) and how your persona works, along with details about the way your group operates. It seems boring, but it's his way of worrying about you in a not so direct way, wheter intentionally or not.

Would tell you that he's happy to see how well you've been doing and to keep things like that while fighting for what you believe in, while also praising the companions you've choosen to surround yourself with. (especially Joker after that one "hee ho" dialogue, so silly)

Yosuke Hanamura

A little traumatized from your encounter with Yosukesaurus, I assume. It's not everyday you see a dinosaur with your brother's face, don't worry he freaked out about it too.

Now, since he was only able to catch up to the group a good while later, I imagine his discovery of your identity being something between you two, kind of.

He'd notice how familiar you look, and be inclined to know who you are, so he'd approach you to chat.

It takes a while for him to get that, it's you, his sibling, right in front of him but aged up around five years in the future. Expect questions, but don't worry, your brother makes sure to ask only the things that matter... Does he have a hot girfriend? Maybe girlfriends? Don't give him a look, he's just asking!

Idk how to explain it, but Yosuke just gives me brother vibes... Maybe he just reminds me of my own sibling. But I totally see him having one and always bickering and arguing with his sibling, only to go hang out with them and get along well as if you two weren't at each other's throats 5 minutes ago.

He thinks you look extremely cool, only to brush it off later and tease you about how you're not "the original", he's just being silly though.

So, you're back to a big city, not a surprise, you two used to live in one before moving to Inaba.

He's very happy to see you're doing well and is ALMOST as cool as he is, but just because you're practically his age in this timeline doesn't mean you're free from his teasing.

Chie Satonaka

When Chie first saw you, the comparisons her head made were inevitable, even thinking of theories like reencarnation or doppleganger stuff, but she tries to dismiss them, after all, how can she be sure when, for now, you're just a masked stranger she's just met?

Once you two see each other in the theather, now you wearing casual clothes instead of phantom thief attire, she immediatelly realizes that, perhaps she's not wrong, you look older, have a slightly different style, but your voice and mannerisms bring a sense of nostalgia in her that Chie is unable to ignore.

Her doubts don't last much longer, when you introduce yourself, she does not doubt it, you're her little sibling! But now (probably) older than her?!!

I have the hc that, Chie would like being an older sibling despite how difficult it is, she'd be the type of sibling that you bicker a lot with sometimes, but even with the age difference she's still there to have fun and not snitch.

She's kind of jealous when the whole phantom thief costume thing when it's explained, what do you meann you get am amazing costume?! But also makes her super curious about how you are in battle, did you take inspiration from her?

She's happy for you, you're in a good school, aparently in a big city, and with good (and super cool whatt) friends by your side, despite how confusing this whole situation is, seeing how you've grown makes her happier than ever.

Yukiko Amagi

During the meeting in the jungle, Yukiko was quite busy with helping Rise, so she didn't pay much attention, especially since aparently this masked group meant no harm.

She was surprised when these masked people turned out to also be persona users. Before clearer introductions were made, I believe Yukiko would voice how much you remind her of someone.

And when she eventually recognizes you, she's surprised, at how much you've changed, I mean, you two come from a very traditional family, and in the future you go to a big city, and join an organization of persona users who steal currupt hearts (in stylish clothes)...

... And Yukiko thinks you're cool! Oh, she kind of wants to be a phantom thief now too, she's now curious about the details, quick! What's your code name?? She needsss to know.

She's a very supportive sibling, and had always encouraged you to follow your aspirations and interests despite the traditional enviroment you two were raised in, and to see you like this, as old as she is (especially since before all she had only seen you as a middle schooler) and seeming so sure of yourself, Yukiko wants to congratulate you, despite how awkward it may be. "congrats for growing up!!"

Yukiko is curious about the future, despite how nervous it makes her feel, you seem okay, you don't seem to have anything against her, so she tries to be positive about whatever is to come in a few years.

Kanji Tatsumi

During the first meeting with the Phantom Thieves, Kanji was a little skeptical of them, and was paying more attention to Joker who had a (fake) gun with him.

Though, later in the movie theather, Ganji would be very suspicious of you and would even seem a little intimidating from the way he was looking at you. Some probably pointed it out, not that you'd care, you know he means no harm obviously.

After the discovery of you and the rest of the crew being from the future, and that you're actually his sibling, Kanji isn't sure of how to react, why didn't you tell him sooner?! Well it was obvious why, he probably wouldn't believe it so easily.

A little unsure of what to say, so he just feels awkward for a moment while looking at you and how much you've grown up.

His tough guy facade falters for a moment when he's immediatelly bombarding you with questions, worried about how you and the rest of the family is doing. So you've moved to the city, Are you living alone? Do you keep in contact with him and mom? Are you taking care of yourself? Has anyone dared picking on you during these years?

Very proud, and thinks your new outfit looks cool as hell,

Am I biased for believing my favorite character would be a good brother? He's a great son!! so on YOU GUY'S SOUL he'd be a good sibling.

I hc that Kanji actually made quite a few plushies for you during childhood and was overall very present and basically helping to raise you.

Rise Kujikawa

When Rise first saw you she thought it was just the poison messing with her vision, and you were probably just someone similar to her little sibling.

Due to being unwell when you two first met, I believe she would only pay attention to how scarily familiar you are to her when you're back to the cinema and Rise's been treated. And when she's able to take a look at you in a better state, she will have a gut feeling about you being someone she knows, but won't voice it.

I mean, Rise's an idol, and celebrities tend to have impersonators or people who get some relevance for looking like them.

When the big reveal happens, she would feel a lot of things at the same time. Being Rise's sibling means you get to see her more natural self, but also means she tries to put up a strong front for you, Rise doesn't want her sibling to worry for her, especially considering your age at the time.

She's happy to see that you seem to have grown into a reliable person and be doing well in school. Not to mention that your group of friends seems full of nice people, but the idea of you going in adventures just as dangerous as what she went throught (especially if you fight) makes her worried big sister alarm go off.

She definitelly hypes you up, she might be worried but once she sees you in action, Rise sees how much you have grown and just that makes her want to run to you and hug you tight, but also cry!

Also asks you about her future, how is she doing? Does her future self keep in touch with you? Rise bets she still as cute as ever! Seeing you makes her excited but also anxious about it.

Naoto Shirogane

Naoto is more of a logic type of person, when she first sees you the familiarity she feels is dismissed at first moment, you remind her of someone, but you're not their age, the similarities are just coincidence.

But during the chat the Investigation Team has with the Phantom Thieves, and the topic of time travel and the thieves being from the future arrives, Naoto is reminded of the nostalgia your presence brought.

Being Naoto's sibling means you were probably raised by her, so I image her being a protective, sometimes strict sibling that means well. That sometimes leads to disagreements as you grow up, trying to balance her work and personal life at a young age, especially before the Investigation team, but I feel like the bond is also very strong since you two went throught all kinds of difficulties.

And, when your identity is revealed, she can't help but feel... relief.

Due to your upbringing, Naoto often found herself worried about what the future awaited. She will ask things about your daily life in highschool, it's sweet how despite being serious, Naoto clearly cares for you by a LOT.

To see you in a group of people who seem to support you and make you so relaxed is something she's happy about. And unlike her in the past, Naoto doesn't wish for you to follow the same path of ignoring your own identity and shutting if off that she did for a long time.

Tried my bessst!!! I feel like the dividers got too biggg and I don't fw the banner wwwwww- :dies:

Can I be honest? I wish Naoto was a trans guy or just under the trans umbrella, and I have that as a personal hc of Naoto as genderqueer, but I'm not sure of how others feel about that, so I just used female pronouns for their part.

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.”

he will draw doodles of you/ exchange his diary with yours

gregory will never tell you this but exchanging diaries make him feel safe and secured, since he knows that you are not sad with him being emotionally constipated and is willing to take your time to be patient with him.

gregory was never the person to talk about his emotions even after you guys started dating, so you came up with a solution, why not try to exchange your diaries so he can write comments and tell you about how he feels through text? (don't tell me that he can use phones the setting is in the 1886)

so he started to write about his daily life, sometimes drawing doodles of the P4 at the swan gazebo or Cheslock helpng him do chores.

sometimes gregory will draw doodles of the two of you, in the garden or in his room, and when he finished, he will place the drawing between the pages of his diary and hand it to you, then admire your surprised yet joyous face when you discovered the drawing while reading his diary.

he is willing to dance with you

(i headcanon that gregory has anaemia since he mentioned that dancing makes him dizzy but let's ignore this fact rn)

during the 3/6, it's time when the opening ceremony of the cricket tournament takes place, though gregory doesn't like dancing and will much prefer to stay in the corner, he will be more than happy to slow-dance with you

gregory would remember your facial expressions and your graceful sways during the dance, and make yet another drawing of you afterwards

to gregory, if you're happy, than he'd be over the moon to see you being happy and smiley, this man lives for your smile

he’s always willing to listen to you

no matter if it’s your rambling or yapping about your favourite stuff, gregory always listens

he’ll continue sketching while you’re talking about your day, or maybe he’ll sketch whatever you’re talking about

“Alright then.” You triumphantly do a little cheer before you load up the movie. Yosuke makes his way over to you, sitting beside you on the couch. He doesn’t protest, but his bouncing leg betrays his calm demeanor.

Once the movie is loaded you sit beside him, and he’s quick to close any distance between the two of you. His leg continues to bounce, a bit more frantically now, as the movie begins.

You eye him worriedly, thinking maybe this isn’t the best idea after all. Before you can suggest a different movie his leg suddenly stops bouncing and you feel a weight drape over your shoulder.

You turn your head to see Yosuke’s arm draped across your shoulders, and a goofy smile makes itself apparent on your lips.

Maybe you were worried over nothing? He seems alright now, surely things will be fine.

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★

“Oh my god oh my god no look oUT- AHHH!” Yosuke’s booming shout startles you more than the scene playing before you, and soon both of his arms are draped over you as he practically jumps in your lap.

You can’t help but snicker at the complete 180 this man’s attitude has done. Over the past half hour, he appeared to be unfazed and even enjoying the movie, a small smile on his lips as he watched the movie beside you.

Lo and behold, once the first “scary” moment occurred Yosuke’s facade crumbled to bits.

“Name, this is too much! Did you see the way he brutally- oh mY GOD!” Yosuke buries his face into the crook of your neck as loud shouts can be heard from the TV.

You tear your eyes away from the TV to look at Yosuke. His fluffy hair all but obscures your vision anyway, and a quiet sigh of resignation escapes your lips.

You gaze at his trembling form with the fondness and adoration of a lovesick fool.

You wordlessly change the movie, putting on some random trending show on Netflix instead of continuing the movie.

Yosuke takes awhile to notice, still trembling in your arms, so you wrap said arms around him and rest your head on top of his.

It isn’t long before your movie night transforms into a cuddle session.

Yosuke’s blissful sigh reaches your ears, and his body relaxes. Your fingers gently card through his fluffy head; his hair feels like the soft touch of a cloud against your fingertips.

“You okay now?” You can’t help but tease him. “Oh, shut up.” His grumbled reply only serves to make you smile.

He finally removes his face from your shoulder, and your heart lurches when his eyes immediately search for yours. “Sorry if I ruined our movie night..” Yosuke’s sheepish apology, coupled with his forlorn expression, elicits a coo out of you. 

He’s so cute.

“You didn’t ruin anything Yosuke. Sorry, next time I’ll pick a movie I’m sure we can both enjoy.” His eyes widen in surprise at your thoughtful words. His mouth parts to reply, but your lips capture his before any sound can escape.

He’s startled, yet he wastes no time in returning your sweet kiss. Your eyes close as your fingers find purchase in his soft brown locks. You feel his arms wrap around you, pulling you into him as you share a pleasant kiss.

You pull back, but his lips are on yours once more.

Oh, how you adore the way his lips curl up against yours in a small smile.

You feel pure bliss and tranquility as you bask in Yosuke’s warm embrace. When you two part once again, Yosuke’s lips press against your nose, your cheek, and your forehead before they gravitate towards your mouth yet again.

Your body melts against his, and his arms gingerly cradle you against him. A monet passes before his lips regrettably leave yours, although your lungs thank you for the opportunity to breathe.