Chapter Text
“Take me home my trusted steed!” yelled a certain suddenly energetic ginger, pointing ahead as she clung to the taller, and very confused dark haired boy who was currently giving her a piggy back ride.
Yusuke had no idea how he managed to get himself into this situation. One moment he had been offering to take Futaba home, the next she was all over him, insisting that he carry her all the way, crowded subways be dammed.
They had gotten some strange looks, but eventually they made it all the way through the trains and out front of Leblanc with minimal problems. Futaba had giggled maniacally the whole way, a sound that Yusuke would have considered beautiful, if it weren't for him being so distracted with trying not to drop the tiny female onto the streets.
“We're here,” he stated, crouching slightly to allow Futaba to get off.
She did not. Instead, she clung tighter, shaking her head furiously.
“Stupid Inari! This isn't my house!”
“Yes, but I figured you wouldn't need to be taken all the way-”
“Nope! You can't stop now! Onwards!”
Yusuke frowned.
“But-”
“Onwards I said!”
With a sigh, Yusuke gave in, straightening up again as he walked the final distance to her house, arms and back sore from carrying her so long. She might have been light, but she was still a whole person, and she was much heavier than the easels and paints that he was used to carrying around.
She was giggling again by the time he set her down, responding with a few tired chuckles of his own. He turned to look at her and she beamed back at him, the biggest smile he'd seen on anyone before.
She was so bright, so full of life, so unlike how she'd been before the phantom thieves had defeated her palace and changed her heart. It was stunning.
Yusuke filed the image away in his head for safekeeping - after all, if there was anything worth painting, it was that.
“We have arrived. I must take my leave now, Fare-”
“Wait wait wait!” The ginger interrupted, grin turning almost mischievous. Yusuke frowned, that look could mean anything, and he wasn't sure it meant anything good.
“What is it?”
“You haven't had your reward for escorting me, kind sir.”
Reward? What was she talking about?
“Wha-”
“Com’ere,” she said, beckoning with one finger.
Yusuke did as he was told, knowing better than to argue, even bending down a little subconsciously in order to maintain eye contact.
Once he was close enough, Futaba placed a quick kiss on the artist's cheek, drawing back as quickly as she had darted in.
“Thank you, my knight, for returning me home safely,” she said, pink dusting her cheeks. “You may leave now.”
With that, she was gone, moving so quickly into the house that Yusuke almost couldn't remember her moving at all.
His face felt as though it was on fire, the heat seeming to stem from the spot she had kissed him only moments before.
He placed a hand over the spot, lost in thought as he found himself unable to convince his legs to move.
Perhaps it was worth carrying her the whole way.