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The train rolled to a stop, and the station name echoed off the loudspeakers. Yasoinaba. Yu was finally here. He grabbed his bag from the overhead tray and made his way to the doors. The moment he stepped outside, nostalgia assaulted his senses.
The station had hardly changed since he’d last seen it four years ago. Same cracks in the pavement. Same airy scent mingling with the heat of the train tracks and seasonal breezes. Brisk wintry air and snow flurries brushed past his face. He tugged his gray scarf tighter around his neck as he made his way down the familiar steps. He’d need to get a taxi to the Dojima house where his uncle and cousin were waiting for him, hopefully, safe and warm. Surely, his uncle wouldn’t be out in this cold, damp weather in his condition—Yu gasped.
His uncle, Ryotaro Dojima, was indeed standing outside holding a sign that said Yu’s name. Nanako was next to him, smiling bright and wide. They were both bundled up in woolen hats, scarves, and thick-looking coats, but it wasn’t enough. Yu hurried down the steps, not wanting his uncle outside in the elements for another moment.
“Big bro!” Nanako cheered, running to meet him.
Yu embraced her quickly before turning to his uncle, who simply smiled with pride. Torn between ushering Dojima in the car and chastising him for driving post-concussion, Yu said, “Uncle, you shouldn’t be out here…”
“Sorry, Yu. I couldn’t stomach the thought of you paying for an overpriced taxi. I hope you don’t mind humoring an old man.”
Yu flung his arms around him. Dojima felt thinner, frailer as if his nasty fall had stolen his strength. If Yu squeezed him too tight, he worried he might snap. He should’ve visited sooner. He should’ve kept his promise to come to Inaba during breaks instead of letting his parents whisk him across the world.
As though Dojima knew his distress, he patted Yu on the back and released him. “Well, let’s get home. It’s cold out here. You mind driving?”
Nanako helped Yu load his suitcase in the trunk, and then they got on the road. She sat in the passenger seat, now old enough to be in the front, and Dojima took the backseat to rest his head. Yu’s mind was spinning from the passing of time. Four years hadn’t felt that long before. He’d justified it so many times, saying he’d visit at the end of the semester, at the end of the year, at the next break. There would always be time, they couldn’t miss him that much, but he’d been wrong.
Nanako was eleven now. Dojima was recovering from a head injury and on leave. Who knew how his friends were doing? Or…or Yosuke.
Yosuke, his best friend in his second year. The guy whose smile was as bright as the sun and whose laugh felt like warm sunshine. They were supposed to keep in contact, to see each other after graduation. Still, they drifted apart when Yu moved, and he wasn’t one to force his company on anyone. Even if it left him daydreaming about that the moment they shared on the riverbank.
The sunlight had made Yosuke’s eyes look like they were glowing. Yu was mesmerized, pulled in by a magnetism he couldn’t name then. One moment they were talking about what they wanted to do that day, and the next, their lips were pressed together, and his hands were cupping Yosuke’s face. It’d been so sudden, they’d laughed it off, unsure what to make of it, and then never really discussed it after. However, the rest of that visit, Yosuke was by his side, usually close enough that they were touching somehow.
Yu’s biggest regret was leaving town without telling Yosuke he loved him, but he had another chance now. A chance he wasn’t sure he should take.
He was sure Yosuke still lived in Inaba alongside most of their friends. What would they think if they saw him after all this time? He was here to take care of his uncle, so would it be wrong to reconnect with them? He didn’t have a good answer by the time he pulled into the driveway, and so he set aside his worries. He needed to focus on Dojima and Nanako. He could figure out everything else once they were settled.
He knew it was an excuse, but he wasn’t ready.
Not yet.
~
“Hanamura-kun, we need you in electronics!”
Yosuke turned from stacking vegetables to the part-timer with the giant circle glasses and fraying ponytail. She clearly wasn’t having a good day. Then again, Yosuke wasn’t sure he’d ever seen her have one.
“On my way!” he called back, rushing to follow her through Junes.
The Christmas season was always one of the busiest times for the store. There was no lull between the early shoppers, the regulars, and the panicking late shoppers. If not for his nimble feet, he might’ve accidentally knocked into customers on his journey. They were everywhere. When he was younger, the chaos drained him, but now he was adjusted and knew what to expect—aching feet, extra-long shifts, and dreamless nights. Because of this, his younger brother, Teddie, usually gave him more space this week.
Usually, being the key word.
As soon as Yosuke finished handling the would-be disaster in the electronics section, Teddie, in his bear suit, collided into him in what the younger boy probably thought was a proper hug. In reality, it almost sent Yosuke careening into the big-screen TVs.
“Brosuke!” Teddie cried with glee, throwing his hands up higher. It might’ve been cute if not for the nickname.
Yosuke hated when Teddie called him that. It’d been Nanako-chan’s nickname for him back in high school when he and—no, he wasn’t going to think about him right now.
“Ted, aren’t you supposed to be at the front of the store?” Yosuke replied, gritting his teeth so as not to lash out when Teddie didn’t deserve it.
“…Bearhaps…” he giggled. “But I wanted to show you this cute text I got from Nana-chan!”
Nanako was texting already? She was only 11 now (Yosuke kept track of her birthdays and sent her a gift every year). He was surprised Dojima let her have a cellphone at all, but then again, given how sick she got in their second year of high school, it made sense that she had a direct way to contact her dad if something happened.
Admittedly, the text was cute. Nanako had written “Beary Christmas” with several tree and heart emojis. In addition, she included a photo of herself with her hair styled into two buns that sat on her head like bear ears. The sight made Yosuke’s chest flutter painfully as it reminded him of who used to help her style her hair.
Yu Narukami, his best friend and partner.
Yosuke hadn’t spoken to him since the Golden Week after Yu returned to Tokyo. They exchanged texts for months, but the conversation dwindled between them because Yosuke wasn’t sure what to say to him after everything. He supposed Yu, for once, hadn’t had the right words either. He could forgive Yu for that. Yosuke wasn’t angry or bitter. He was… He wasn’t sure what he was.
That Golden Week changed everything between them. It was supposed to be a happy reunion, and it was, but it was also more than that. After two semesters of what Yosuke now recognized as flirting and romantic tension, they’d kissed when Yu came back. It hadn’t been planned or even expected, but it’d been so natural Yosuke hadn’t questioned it until he was home in his bed wondering how these feelings even came to be, smiling like a dork. And Yu… Yosuke thought he’d been just as happy, but they drifted apart and—
“Yosuke!” His dad’s voice jolted him from his memory. “We need you in the food court!”
“Coming!” he replied despite how his hands seemed to tremble.
Teddie tugged at his arm before he could move. “Are you okay?”
Yosuke waved him off. “Just fine. You better get back to your station before Dad notices.”
Then he was gone, Teddie watching him until he was out of sight, cell phone in hand.
~
Nana-chan <3: Big Bro got here yesterday! I’m so happy. Even Dad looks happy.
Ted-erific: Is Sensei still as wonderful as before?
Nana-chan <3: Big Bro is always wonderful!
Ted-erific: Do you think he remembers me? TT_TT
Nana-chan <3: Of course! We were just talking about you and everyone. He smiled the whole time.
Ted-erific: Can I come to visit after work tomorrow? Yosuke and I get off in the afternoon.
Nana-chan <3: YES!! I’ll tell Dad.
Ted-erific: I wonder if Yosuke will want to come…
Nana-chan <3: Just don’t tell him Big Bro is here. It can be a surprise and then maybe they’ll finally talk to each other. I can tell Big Bro misses him a lot
~
“Come on, Yosuke!” Teddie whined for the third time.
He was practically dragging Yosuke through the snow-covered streets of Inaba. He’d asked Yosuke to walk him to the Dojimas after work for some reason, and since his dad overheard, Yosuke couldn’t say no despite how dead on his feet he was. All Yosuke wanted to do was go home and take a nap. The last thing he needed was to relive more memories from his time with Yu.
“Why do you even need to be walked?” Yosuke groaned, accidentally stepping in a puddle of slush. The cold pricked at his toes, and he hissed. “Ugh!”
Teddie frowned. “You really have the worst luck.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“At least walk me to the riverbank.”
“Fine, but I’m going home after that.”
Instead of answering, Teddie turned away to furiously text on his phone. Yosuke didn’t even bother to ask. Ever since he got it last year, he’d been pretty protective of his privacy.
They trudged through the streets, Yosuke frowning and Teddie grinning so big his face nearly split in half until they reached the riverbank. Teddie grabbed his hand and pulled him forward, almost causing him to slip on a patch of ice.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
“Brosuke!”
Yosuke blinked. It was Nanako’s voice that called him, not Teddie’s, but she shouldn’t be here. He looked up, and there she was, bundled in layers of pink of white, waving her hand to frantically her glove might fly off. And next to her was—oh shit.
Yu Narukami.
And for how composed and cool Yosuke remembered him to be, the guy’s face looked as gray as his hair. Yosuke supposed he wasn’t alone in his surprise, but what was Yu even doing here? A glance at Teddie’s wicked smile confirmed Yosuke’s suspicions. This was a setup.
Teddie pulled Yosuke forward, and Nanako pulled Yu until they finally met in the middle of the road, next to the steps that led down to the river. Of course, he’d reunite with Yu at this place of all places. Just down those steps and right on the bank was where they kissed all those years ago.
Teddie coughed loudly and jabbed Yosuke with his elbow.
“Hey!”
As always, Yu saved him. “It’s so nice to see you again, Yosuke.”
Yu’s hair was still styled in that infuriating bowl cut that prevented anyone from seeing Yu’s full range of expression. His eyes were just as silver as he remembered, but there was more panic in them than Yosuke had ever seen. Yu still wore the same neutral shades of white, gray, and black, and Yosuke could spy a pressed collar underneath his coat.
“Nice to see you too, partner.” The word rolled off his tongue before he could stop it.
Yu’s eyes widened a fraction.
Yosuke mentally cursed but followed through. No point taking it back now. “A text or a phone call that you were in town would’ve been nice.”
Maybe it was the cold. Or maybe Yu Narukami really was blushing. His cheeks were as red as the ornaments on the Junes Christmas tree. “I wasn’t sure if…” He ducked his head so cutely Yosuke felt his own face warming.
“Big Bro missed you a lot!” Nanako practically sang, making Yu gasp. “He’s talked about you nonstop since we brought him home.”
“Oh yeah?” Yosuke asked. A flash of anger ripped through his chest violently. So Yu had missed him, huh? Sure, communication was a two-way street, and Yosuke was just as responsible for their distance as Yu was, but he couldn’t listen to reason right now. “Funny way he has of showing it.” He looked at Yu again, who was mortified. Yosuke smirked. “Then again, you’ve never been great at expressing your feelings, partner. You always needed me to help you, right?”
Yu’s withered grunt of agreement was comical.
Yosuke could’ve laughed, but instead, he dropped to a squat and began pilling snow in his hands. “Well then, allow me to help you again.” His snowball flew and hit Yu in the face before anyone could react.
Yu didn’t wipe the snow from his face. He let the clumped flurries fall as he stared at Yosuke, mouth open. Then, he smiled. So big and carefree, Yosuke wondered if his lips were as soft as they were years ago. He didn’t have time to see where that thought would’ve taken him before Yu lunged and tackled him in the snow. Their foreheads banged together before Yosuke’s head hit the ground. Gods, it hurt, but he laughed louder than he had in years as Yu pinned him and shoveled snow onto his chest and face.
“Snowball fight!” Nanako shouted.
“I call being on Sensei’s team!”
“No, I want to be with Big Bro!”
Yosuke spat out snow and pushed Yu off him. “It can’t be three against one!”
Yu smiled cat-like. “Too much for you, Yosuke?”
Yosuke slapped some snow at him. “You wish.”
Yu laughed, and Yosuke laughed too before jumping to his feet and rushing down the stairs. His three assailants followed him, lofting shoddily made snowballs at his body. Yosuke was able to dodge most before he dropped to the ground and retaliated.
Teddie was out first. Yosuke managed to tackle him and slide some snow down his shirt. He shrieked and stumbled away. Then, Yu switched to defensive, taking any snowballs meant for Nanako. So, it was easy to wear him down until he slumped into the snow and said he’d been bested. Nanako eyed him fiercely, waiting for his move. She looked so much like the little girl who loved to sing the Junes song with him that Yosuke purposefully moved into her line of fire and also collapsed on the ground.
“I win!” Nanako cheered, throwing out a peace sign.
“Yes you do,” Yosuke replied, sitting up and dusting off his orange and white coat. He yanked his hat off his head and tried to shake off the snow, but it was pointless. Every part of him was wet and cold.
When he returned his attention to Nanako, he expected to see Yu fussing over her. However, instead, he was still on the ground watching Yosuke. His gaze was soft, and his lips were still curled in a smile. Yosuke turned away before he could blush. It was clear that Yu’s feelings hadn’t changed even if he was being shy about them. And now Yosuke knew his hadn’t either. The question was how to bridge the gap between them.
“Do you want to come over?” Nanako asked after helping Yu to his feet. “We can get dry and drink hot chocolate!”
It was the opportunity Yosuke needed.
~
Yu couldn’t take his eyes off Yosuke.
Somehow, the man was exactly who he remembered and different all at once. His hair was still dyed and windswept as before, but it was shorter, not even past his ears. His face was littered with scruff that he probably shaved most days. Yosuke’s smile was just as warm, though, and his physique, while more filled out, retained a certain litheness to it. Yosuke’s style hadn’t changed; of anything getting older had only enhanced it. Though now, he and Teddie were wearing Dojima’s old clothes as they sat under the kotatsu drinking the hot chocolate Yu had prepared.
Nanako sat next to Teddie. Both were sneaking glances and giggling at their phones, no doubt engaging in a secret conversation. So, Yu sat next to Yosuke and wondered what he should even say. Yosuke’s kind heart had excused the years of silence, but Yu wasn’t so sure he could forgive himself as quickly. It wasn’t a lack of desire that led to them not talking for years. He’d just been so far away and after they kissed, the distance felt even further, and no words felt adequate enough to bridge it. And so, he’d tried to figure it out and then never did between classes, traveling, and his many part-time jobs. It was an excuse but acknowledging that didn’t feel like enough.
“So…how is everyone?” Yu finally said, hating how hoarse his voice sounded.
Yosuke’s brown eyes shifted from his mug to Yu. “So, you didn’t tell anyone you were coming? Geez, partner, they’re going to chew you and spit you out, you know. Chie might just kick you.”
Yu paled at the thought.
“But everyone’s good. Yukiko became the official manager at the inn last year when her mother retired. Chie works in Okina at a kung-fu studio. Kanji and his mom still run Tatsumi Textiles. Naoto comes and goes. I think she’s working a case right now. And well, I’m sure you know how Rise is doing. There’s not a soul in Japan who doesn’t.”
Rise was an international star now. Yu supposed there wasn’t a soul on earth who didn’t know how successful she was. He was very proud of her. They exchanged letters often, and Yu did the same with Naoto. He followed Yukiko, Chie, and Kanji on social media, but he supposed Yosuke might throw another snowball at him if he said as much.
“I’m glad everyone’s doing well. I’ve been thinking about texting the group, but I wasn’t sure what time I would have.”
Yosuke tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
“I’m here to take care of my uncle.”
Yosuke frowned. “What’s wrong with Dojima-san?”
“I fell and hit my head Hanamura.”
Yosuke jumped, knocking his knees against the table. His eyes were wide, and his face looked guilty even though they hadn’t been doing anything but talking. Yu bit back his chuckle and turned to greet Dojima.
“Did we wake you, Uncle?” Yu asked, already shuffling out of the kotatsu.
Dojima waved him off. “No. And you don’t need to get up. I can get myself some coffee—”
“The doctor said you can only have herbal tea,” Nanako chimed in.
“Right. I can get myself some…tea.” Dojima said the word as though it disgusted him.
Yu made a mental note to call the doctor and ask if decaf would be all right. And also some detailed notes about his treatment regiment. Dojima had been pretty scant on what he was or wasn’t allowed to do.
Dojima’s hand dropped onto his head and ruffled his hair. “Stop thinking so much, Yu, you’re going to go gray,” he chuckled. Then he turned to where Yosuke was still gawking. “Nice to see you again, kid. I was beginning to worry Yu wasn’t going to contact any of you.”
“To be fair, he didn’t,” Yosuke replied. He winked at Yu before saying, “But don’t worry. I’ll make sure he sees the others soon.”
Yu was sweating. The banter, the snowball fight, and now this, winking. Gods, how did Yu take so long to realize his feelings before? It was so glaringly obvious how his heartbeat sped up, and his stomach flip-flopped.
“Do me a favor, Hanamura. Take him out sometime,” Dojima said, “Nanako and Teddie can keep me company.”
“Uncle, I shouldn’t—”
“I’ll be fine,” Dojima replied with a wry smile. “I’m not bedridden.”
“Consider it done,” Yosuke agreed before Yu could argue further. “We’ll go tomorrow.”
The fact that tomorrow was Christmas Eve was not lost on Yu.
He flushed while Nanako cheered, “Big Bro has a date!”
“Nanako, it’s not…” He faltered when Yosuke glared at him.
“Don’t make me take you back outside, partner.”
Dojima laughed. “Sorry, Hanamura. Looks like I’ll have to teach my nephew about dating before tomorrow. Are you two staying for dinner?”
The topic changed, but Yu couldn’t move past what Yosuke had said. A date—a Christmas Eve date. Yu hadn’t even been on a regular date if he didn’t count that day on the riverbank with Yosuke. They hadn’t met up for a date, so he didn’t feel like he should. After that, he’d had no interest and turned down anyone who approached him or that his parents tried to set him up with.
Yu and Nanako cooked dinner together, garlic noodles, stir-fried vegetables, and miso soup. Yosuke Teddie kept Dojima entertained with his commentary on the day’s news channel. From the glances Yu was able to steal, Yosuke seemed distracted. He kept looking at his phone like he was waiting for something.
They ate together, and then Dojima went to lie down. Nanako invited Teddie to have tea in her room, leaving Yosuke and Yu alone. As though time hadn’t passed, Yosuke nudged him and then walked up the stairs to Yu’s room. Yu was compelled to follow.
Upon entering, Yosuke stopped in the middle near the coffee table and put his hands on his hips. “This place brings back memories.”
Yu sat on the couch. Yosuke plopped down next to him. He couldn’t believe they were sitting next to each other, and Yu still didn’t know what to say to him. He should apologize, beg for forgiveness, and—why was Yosuke getting closer?
Yosuke pressed their noses together, making Yu inhale so sharply it sounded like a whistle. Yosuke laughed, hot breath tickling Yu’s face. To Yu’s disappointment, Yosuke pulled away, staring into his eyes.
“I missed you a lot, partner.”
Yu nearly choked on his spit. How had he ever deserved Yosuke? He was so kind and considerate. So loyal. So passionate.
Yosuke sighed. “This is what happens when we’re apart. You get too into your head, and I dive headfirst into work, so I’m not jumping on the first train to go see you.”
“You wanted to jump on a train and see me?” Yu asked.
Yosuke smiled. “Yeah, but it doesn’t count because I didn’t do it.”
“I should’ve kept calling and messaging you. I should’ve visited. I should’ve—”
Yosuke stopped him by putting a finger on his lips. The feeling was softer than Yu imagined. “Just say you’re sorry.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too, partner. Never again, right?”
Yu nodded solemnly, and then Yosuke kissed him, threading his fingers through Yu’s hair and holding him close until they ran out of air. Yu was dazed when Yosuke pulled away but quickly became alert when Yosuke winked and leaned close again to whisper in his ear.
“Come to Junes tomorrow after my shift, okay? We’ll have our first date there.”
As if Yu could say no. Instead, he said, “First?”
Yosuke grinned. “That’s right. There’ll be many more to come, got it?”
Yu smiled too, reaching for Yosuke’s hand. “All this time I’ve worried I imagined the way you looked at me. You’re right. No more wasted time. Can I ask if you’ll be my…romantic partner?”
Yosuke snorted. “Yeah, I’ll be your romantic partner.”
This time Yu kissed him, and Yosuke was the one who gasped.
~
Yosuke paced the backroom. He’d hardly slept last night, too busy preparing for his date with Yu and the surprise that would follow. It’d been hard enough convincing his dad to close the food court for an exclusive party the last few hours of the day, but it’d been even harder to think about the logistics of sneaking in their friends and keeping Yu occupied while they set up. In the end, he’d settled on snatching a Christmas tree from storage, all the decorations he could find, and setting it up in the backroom for them to work on together. When they were done, they’d take it to the food court, where the group would surprise him. It was perfect.
“Yosuke’s waiting for you back here, Sensei!”
Teddie opened the door, and Yu stepped inside, looking timid and unsure. Yosuke smiled fondly. A few hours together would hopefully erase any lingering guilt Yu felt. They exchanged apologies already. All that was left was to move forward.
“Partner!”
Yosuke went to greet Yu with a hug but was stopped when Yu thrust out a bouquet of roses. “These are for you.”
Yosuke’s heart swelled as he smelled them. “Thank you. I-uh got something for you too, but I’ll give it to you later, okay?”
“Okay.” Yu’s eyes drifted to the bare tree in the room. Amusement danced in his silver irises. “Is this date or just me helping you at work?”
Laughing, Yosuke answered, “You caught me, Partner. There was one tree that didn’t get displayed this year, so I thought we could make it look nice together.”
Yu’s eyes seemed to sparkle as he assessed the tree. He gave it a once-over, walking around it, before stopping next to Yosuke again. “I have some ideas.”
How Yosuke had missed the decisiveness in Yu’s tone. He flipped the lid off the decorations bin. Glittering ornaments, garland, tinsel, and candy canes waited inside. “After you,” Yosuke said, “I’ll follow your lead.”
Well, Yosuke intended to follow Yu’s lead. Still, it wasn’t long before half the tree was covered in colorful sparkles and oversized, round ornaments. The other half was neatly sprinkled with silver tinsel and striped candy canes. The sides were so different it was laughable.
“Looks like we both had different ideas,” Yosuke admitted as he stroked the scruff on his chin. “Maybe if we combine them?”
Yu shook his head. “It’s perfect this way. Besides, I have a better use for the rest of the tinsel.”
When Yosuke turned to ask what he meant, he met a fistful of tinsel. It fell onto his hair and face and was followed by a candy cane that Yu tried to balance on his nose.
“Dude!” he laughed, “I’m not a tree.”
“You’re as pretty as one.”
Yosuke rolled his eyes, picking some of the tinsel from his hair and tossing it onto Yu’s shirt. “Yeah, yeah, Casanova. Now help me wheel this tree to the food court where it belongs.”
“What about the topper?”
“We’ll do it when we get there.”
Yu grabbed the handle of the flat cart the tree was sitting atop and carefully steered it toward the door. He was still as chivalrous and helpful as ever. Yosuke wondered when Yu would put together that Dojima hadn’t invited him to Inaba because of his fall, but because he missed his nephew. That was for Yu to figure out, though. He contained his excitement for what was to come and opened the doors for Yu as they made their way to the food court.
~
“Looks great!”
Yu stood up from where he fretted over the tree’s placement on the far-left part of the food court. Yosuke stood several feet away, looking at the tree from different angles. Finally, he nodded once more and waved Yu over.
Yu joined his side, daring to slip his arm around Yosuke’s waist. Yosuke leaned closer, resting his head against Yu’s. “You know, out here, I think our ideas complement each other. It was just the light in the backroom that made it look weird.”
“You’re just saying that,” Yu replied.
Yosuke shrugged. “Maybe. You want to do the honors?”
The topper Yosuke offered him was a brilliant golden star. Yu took it, uncertainty flaring up inside him. Shouldn’t Yosuke do it? Yosuke didn’t look like he would change his mind, though. Yosuke grabbed a short ladder from one of the food court shops and brought it to the tree. Despite not really needing to, Yosuke held the ladder as Yu climbed and set the star on the top branch. Yosuke had it plugged in a moment later, and the built-in tree lights were blinking in sync with the star atop them. The clash of colors was horrific, but somehow, it was still the most beautiful thing Yu had seen in years. He stared at the reds, greens, blues, and pinks for quite some time before Yosuke spoke again.
“I didn’t say it that day, but…”
Yu cut him off with a shake of his head. “Let me say it first.”
Yosuke smiled playfully. “You don’t know what I was going to say.”
Yu placed his arms on Yosuke’s hips, loving the feeling of his body underneath his fingertips. “Maybe, but I have a hunch. Yosuke, I love you. I know I already apologized, but again, I’m sorry it took so long for me to tell you.”
“I love you too, and for the record, even without telling me, I knew.” Yosuke leaned forward, silently giving Yu permission to kiss him. So, Yu did, and the last of his worries and guilt surrendered to the love between them.
“Anyway,” Yosuke said, pulling away, “How about I give you your gift now?”
Yu was curious about what Yosuke got him. He thought a date was enough. Whatever it was, he hoped Yosuke hadn’t spent too much.
“You there, everyone?” Yosuke called.
He turned to look toward the small hall where the restrooms were. Yu followed his gaze and gasped. From the hall, Nanako, his uncle, Teddie, Chie, Kanji, Yukiko, and even Naoto stepped out and shouted, “Surprise!”
Yu was overwhelmed and overjoyed all at once. He didn’t have time to bask in his joy before he was assaulted with hugs. Chie cried on his shoulder while saying she wasn’t crying, Yukiko laughed so loud in his ear that he was sure it’d echo for hours, Kanji nearly squeezed him to death, and Naoto simply watched and waited for an opening to give him a light but heartful embrace. Yosuke slung his arm around Yu’s shoulders after.
“Surprised?” he asked.
“Near speechless.”
Yosuke laughed. “Well, so long as you can still smile for pictures, it’s okay if you don’t say anything.”
Nanako rushed forward and offered two Santa hats. One already on her head, pink to match her winter dress. Yosuke took them and placed one of his head and the other on Yu’s. Yu couldn’t remember the last time he’d worn one, but he was sure it couldn’t have been better than this moment.
“I call taking a picture with Big Bro first!” Nanako announced. No one argued with her, continuing the unspoken agreement they’d all come to as teens that Nanako’s requests should be granted when possible.
Yu sat with Nanako at a table, and Dojima pulled out a camera. Before he could direct them, Nanako said, “Brosuke! You need to be in the picture too!”
Yosuke looked honored as he came to sit down on Yu’s left side. With him there and Nanako on his right, he finally felt at home after four long years. Nanako threw up a peace sign that Yu supposed had become her trademark gesture, Yosuke mirrored her, leaving Yu no other choice but to follow suit. Nanako loved it.
Dojima snapped a few pictures, and then the rest of the group joined. Dojima even sat for one after Nanako wore him down. It was a perfect night made even more perfect when Naoto announced Rise was on video call. To hear everyone together again, laughing and chatting as if they’d never separated, made Yu’s heart warm. And to have Yosuke next to him, fingers threaded between his own, made him wonder why he ever hesitated.
“Yu?” Yosuke eyed him curiously. “Feeling okay?”
Yu squeezed his hand and nodded. “Best I’ve ever felt.” Leaning forward, he kissed Yosuke as deeply as he dared in the presence of company, earning himself a round of cheers and hoots from his friends.
Blushing, Yosuke stood and tugged Yu along with him. “Come on, partner. We’re just gonna check…the stockroom. We’ll be back.”
They didn’t stay to hear the jests and taunts. Yosuke whisked him away to the elevator, and then they were kissing again, and Yu began to melt. Before his mind was gone, though, he reminded himself to thank his uncle later. If not for Dojima, Yu wouldn’t be here experiencing this magical reunion. And perhaps that was why he asked him to come in the first place, to remind him of the people that loved him. Yu would thank him by cooking a feast tomorrow, but for now, he’d thank his boyfriend for accepting him again with his lips.