Chapter Text
Fighting Namatame's shadow was the most challenging experience Yosuke had ever been through. As though Nanako being in immediate danger wasn't enough, their strongest attacks frequently missed, and then there was the matter of the freaking mind control. Yosuke expected that the confrontation with Namatame's shadow would be more difficult than any of the previous shadows they had faced - it followed the same game-like pattern of every dungeon being slightly more difficult and every 'boss' shadow being slightly stronger than the last - but the fight was overwhelming, to say the least. They still managed to pull through - barely, Yosuke thought after the fight, taking in the drained forms of his friends and Souji, crouched, holding Nanako in his arms - and as the giant black and red shadow faded, leaving only Namatame on the marble battleground, Yosuke heaved a sigh of relief. His respite was quickly cut short, however, as a cry from Souji had him rushing over. He was quickly joined by the rest of his friends, and together they looked down in shock at Nanako, now motionless in Souji's arms.
"Is she...?" Yukiko asked quietly, voicing everyone's thoughts. For a moment no one moved, and the very air around the platform seemed to still. Then Souji was up, rushing down the stairs, Nanako's form still limp in his arms.
The rest of the day was a blur. Yosuke remembered helping Kanji drag Namatame out of the TV and back into Junes where, thanks to a quick call from Naoto, both police and paramedics were there to take Nanako and Namatame to the hospital. Somehow they all got to the hospital themselves, but as Yosuke sat on a hard bench outside of ICU, all he could remember clearly were flashes from the battle and Souji's terrified face as Nanako lay unmoving in his arms. Glancing up at Souji, now stationed off to Yosuke's right against one of the grey hallway walls and staring down at the floor, Yosuke took in his closed-off demeanor. It was composed to the point of unreality considering the state two of his family members were in, but Yosuke was unsure how to make sure Souji was okay. Ever since their fight on the Samegawa a little over a week ago, Yosuke had felt more connected to Souji, like their relationship had deepened. Affection and admiration now rose up heavily inside him whenever he thought about Souji or the memories they shared, and Yosuke didn't want their bond to lose the strength it had so recently gained. He was going to go over and say something, maybe try to lighten the mood, when Teddie spoke up.
"Nana-chan's still small... so her other self didn't appear like everyone else... And she got caught in all that craziness... I hope she'll be okay.".
"I mean, are the doctors going to be able to help her...?" Yosuke asked in response. He couldn't help but worry that the doctors would be just as confused in the face of Nanako's illness as they were with the rest of the fog-related illnesses plaguing Inaba recently. His comment had Teddie crying out over how worried he was for Nanako, and then Chie was adding on a "But there's nothing more we can do for her..." and Yosuke figured that was the extent of the conversation for the night. At least until news about Nanako's condition came out.
The hallway was quiet once more, and Yosuke's attention was caught by a hallway light flickering in his periphery. He was in the middle of contemplating if he had enough money saved to pay for a broken light in a hospital when Naoto let out a frustrated groan.
"A deliveryman named Namatame, the possibility of Nanako-chan being targeted... If only I'd been more thorough in putting the facts together! Then Nanako-chan wouldn't have had to go through this!" Naoto was facing the wall with a pinched, angry look on her face. Yosuke thought back over all the months spent saving everyone, all the now-obvious clues, all the time they puzzled over the murders, and felt guilt weigh heavily on his chest.
"That... goes for me too. If I hadn't stood there like a lump in front of that bastard, Nanako-chan might've been okay...".
It seemed Naoto's and Yosuke's statements had opened the floodgates. Chie, Yukiko, and Rise were quick to add on their own comments, equally sad expressions on their faces.
"I hate myself. Why do I always panic when it matters most?".
"I couldn't do anything either...".
"I should've noticed sooner that something was wrong with that guy...".
And then it circled back around to Naoto, who continued.
"Why did I waste my time listening to what Namatame had to say?! If I hadn't tried to engage him in conversation, and we'd rescued Nanako-chan immediately, this wouldn't have happened!"
Yosuke could feel the depressing atmosphere they had created, hovering among them like the fog outside.
"Don't blame yourselves" Souji said quietly, in the way he tended to when giving advice or trying to console. He managed to fit sincerity and kindness and understanding into such a small amount of words; Yosuke both envied and admired the skill. But Souji's face was still blank, and his hands were still tight around his arms as though he was physically holding himself together. Yosuke wondered if Souji was taking his own advice.
"But...I still..." Naoto said, but before she could finish Yosuke saw Kanji turn from the wall he was facing and run a hand through his hair.
"Alright, enough of this pity party. Is standing around whining really what we oughtta be doing now? Feeling pathetic, consoling each other... That gonna solve anything!? We gotta believe in her. So stop rehashing what's already done. Get it together, Naoto!"
Yosuke had to admit he was impressed. Kanji effectively just told Naoto, and the rest of them, to get their shit together. For all of Kanji's... odd traits... Yosuke appreciated the bluntness he brought to the team.
"Sorry... you're absolutely right." Naoto said, recovering quickly from her shock at Kanji's slight outburst.
"This is all that bastard Namatame's fault, and he's behind bars now, right? And it ain't like we were too late for Nanako-chan." Kanji was right, Yosuke thought. The case was over, Nanako was fine, Dojima was fine. All that was left to do now was wait for their recoveries.
"Yeah... That's true." Yukiko stated, eyes glued to her lap in apparent bashfulness. The atmosphere of the hallway was still tense, but Kanji had relieved some of the depressing feeling, at least.
"I'll come see Nana-chan every day so she'll get better faster!" Teddie added, further brightening everyone's spirits.
"That's all we can do right now. Gee, Kanji... you sounded cool for a second there." Rise said with a giggle, causing an outburst from Kanji and laughter from the rest of the group. Yosuke glanced up and was pleased to see even Souji had a small smile on his face. Then out of the corner of his eye, further down the dimly lit hallway, Yosuke saw movement. He tensed before recognizing the disheveled figure. Adachi approached them out of the semi-darkness and came to a stop next to Souji. He gave them a quick update on Nanako - mainly that there weren't any updates because the doctors had to do tests - and told them to go home because "The last thing we need is for you guys to collapse too". Adachi was right, and they all knew it, so following his lead they trudged through the empty hospital and out into the cool night air. Yosuke was about to turn and say goodnight to Souji, maybe make sure he was doing okay with everything, when he realized no one was behind him. Glancing around at his friends walking off into the night, Yosuke didn't see Souji's figure. It was only when he realized that Teddie was also not around that Yosuke managed to calm down, and the noise of the hospital door sliding open further relieved him.
Turning around to face Souji and Teddie, Yosuke felt a wave of fatigue wash over him. He hadn't realized how much he was holding in until he had a moment to breathe. Souji wore an equally tired expression, but when he locked eyes with Yosuke he smoothed out his features and showed a light smile. Yosuke smiled back, if only for the principle of pretending they were both fine and not about to collapse from exhaustion. Before he could say anything, Souji was bidding them both a goodnight and walking off through the fog. Yosuke stared after him until he felt Teddie pulling on his sleeve, whining about how tired he was. Yosuke felt like whining too, especially about having to go to school tomorrow, so he pushed down the sense that he was missing something and walked home with Teddie.