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Yosuke realized on the night of Valentine’s that some things weren’t adding up. When he gets home that evening, Teddie immediately sniffed him out, and of course he flew into a frenzy about it.
"Hmm, what's that I smell? Are those chocolates, with a hint of… Sensei?! Did Sensei give you these? How come he didn’t give me any? Huh?”
“I don’t know why, okay?! Hands off!”
“No fairrr!” Teddie whines, drawing it out as long and pitiful as he can get away with. He paws frantically in the direction of the chocolates, but to no avail– when he’s in the suit Yosuke can easily hold him at arm's length. “I want chocolates, too! Ohhh, I can't bear it!”
"Ted. I'll buy you two boxes of chocolate if you don't eat these ones."
Teddie stops moving almost instantly.
"Oh… alrighty!"
"And don't tell anyone either, alright? I dunno what's up with Yu, but he must've wanted to keep it secret for some reason."
"Your secret is safe with me. My head is zipped and my lips are sealed!"
Yosuke figured he'd ask about it the next morning, and that would be that. But then he’d dashed all the way to the school gates without so much as a glimpse of silver hair. No last-minute sliding the door open. Not so much as a peep during roll call, either. For the first time ever, Yu was absent. (For morning classes at least.)
Still, even with him gone he’s the talk of the class. Rumors were flying around even before Valentine’s, but now without Yu’s presence to keep them in check they’re really running rampant. Yosuke listens to them idly during lunch break, face-down on his desk.
“Did he skip with Ebihara?”
“What? I thought him and Ebi were history. One of those on-again, off-again kind of things?”
“If it’s like that, a date with every girl wouldn’t be a problem, right? He got so many chocolates it’s unreal.”
“I heard he dumped half of them on Hanamura, can you believe it?”
“Wow… He doesn’t care about our feelings at all, huh. What a jerk move.”
“It’s not like that,” Yosuke blurts out, looking up from his desk. “I was just helping him carry them.”
“W-were you awake this whole time?! Sorry!”
Yosuke slips his headphones on and leaves the classroom before he can say something really stupid. He gets apologetic looks as he passes by, and they'll probably talk behind his back, but he’s used to it by now. "Prince of Junes," "total disappointment," or the newest title, "Narukami's lapdog"? No skin off his back. He'd gladly be anyone's punching bag as long as they don’t trash his partner.
It's much quieter on the rooftop. After a couple of leftover skewers and a little time to cool his head, literally, he flips his phone open and calls Yu up.
“Hello?” Yu croaks.
“You sound like shit, partner.”
“Haha.”
“Don’t tell me you ate all the chocolates,” Yosuke says, and it’s a statement, not a question. He’d known what Yu did the moment class started and the seat in front of him was empty. And he knew even without racing him that Yu would’ve done it anyway.
“I did.”
“Of course you did…” He sighs. “Well, I’m free after school today, so I’ll swing by with some real food if you want?”
“Sure. Thanks, Yosuke.”
“Anytime, partner.”
The rest of the day speeds by because he's not paying attention. Time travel: it's a real hidden talent of his! Definitely not just him being scatterbrained. Yep. Before he knows it, he’s at the Dojimas’ doorstep with beef bowls, courtesy of Aiya’s.
"Thanks again," Yu says as he slides the door open.
"No problem, but you’ve really gotta stop making yourself sick, dude."
"It’s fine. I know you'll take care of me."
Yosuke thinks something about that sleepy, low and gravelly voice is kind of— No, he can’t think about that right now, his top priority should be making sure his partner’s okay. He shakes his head and hopes he's not blushing too hard.
"Y-yeah?" he stutters. Too late, Yu’s smirking. He already knows.
“Yeah.”
“I know you love me, but you don’t need an excuse to hang out, man. Just call me up and I’ll be there.”
“You’ll just pretend to be sick instead.”
“...Damn, you got me there. Heya, Nanako.”
"Hello!"
They eat dinner at the kotatsu, with Loveline playing on the TV. Every time the openings and endings play, Nanako sings along cheerily. Meanwhile “Big Bro” provides hoarse, scratchy backup. Yosuke barely knows the lyrics, but he tries to harmonize with them too, much to Nanako’s delight. It’s all warmth and smiles and good lighthearted ribbing— until Yu sprints off to the bathroom looking pale as a ghost.
“Big bro!” Nanako exclaims, concerned. But Yosuke moves to stand up before she does, and puts his best reassuring smile on.
“I’ll go, okay? I think you’ve already done plenty today.”
She doesn’t look too convinced, so he adds, “You’ve seen him eat all sorts of nasty stuff before. And has that ever kept him sick for long? Trust me, he’ll be fine.”
“...Okay,” she finally says, smiling back.
When Yosuke enters the bathroom, he finds Yu on his knees, hunched over the toilet with a dark, strained expression. Even when it’s not turned on him, he’s always found himself drawn in by that intense— No, goddammit, he shouldn’t think about that right now! He sets a cup of water down and crouches next to his partner.
“Sorry, man. I should’ve just brought soup or something instead…”
“It’s alright.”
Yosuke thinks he sure as hell doesn’t look alright, but he’ll let it slide. He’s got the guy alone, so it's the perfect time to pop a few questions.
"Hey, can I ask you something?"
Yu turns to him with a look that screams really, right now?
"Go ahead," he says anyway.
"Did you give anyone else chocolate yesterday?"
"No, just you."
Yosuke grins. He should be more embarrassed, probably, but knowing he’s as special to Yu as Yu is to Yosuke— showing it, even in a simple gesture as a tiny box of chocolates— that makes him happier than anything else. His grin quickly turns into a grimace when Yu makes a tortured sound and leans back over the toilet.
Oh god, why’d I do this, this is gonna get gross, he thinks, and slips his headphones on before the retching starts. He tries to turn to more pleasant memories to distract himself. Making models together, listening to his CD collection, think Nickelback thoughts, oh god, oh god…
He’s got his hand on Yu’s shoulder, rubbing his thumb in comforting circles while his partner’s half-digested beef bowl comes back up with a vengeance, and it’s in this moment that he comes to a galaxy-shattering realization:
Holy shit, Yu Narukami might be in love with him.
…Maybe. Possibly? There's a non-zero chance, it's probably going to make any White Day plans a little complicated. He’s broken out of his thoughts by a sharp spit into the toilet, and slides his headphones back off.
“Ugh,” Yu groans. “Sorry you had to see that, it’s never been this bad before.”
“Yeah, were those chocolates expired? Did someone poison you?”
“I talked Chie out of it, but Rise and Yukiko…” Whatever he’s thinking of makes him shudder and turn green, and it makes Yosuke regret ever asking. “I don’t want to think about chocolate for another year.”
“Dude! Why’d you eat those?!”
“I couldn’t accept everyone’s feelings, but I could at least— hrk— do this.”
“Sheesh, for a guy who’s supposed to be smart, you’re really an idiot sometimes, y’know that?”
Yu chuckles weakly, rests his head against the cool porcelain bowl and closes his eyes.
“Okay, one more question. What was up with you and Chie yesterday?”
He doesn’t get a response for that one. Upon closer inspection, Yu’s expression has turned peaceful, and his shoulders rise and fall in a slow, steady rhythm. Asleep already? He looks a little better, so that’s a relief at least. One night of bed rest and he'll probably be good as new.
There's just one small problem… How is he supposed to get 60-something kilograms of sleeping partner up the stairs?
"Uh… Hey, Nanako? Might need a little help here…"
Later that night he tries to call Chie for answers (and maybe to tell a couple bad jokes), but the phone barely even rings before he's sent to voicemail. He tries again— same result. He's a little worried, not that he'd ever admit it out loud, so he shoots her a quick text.
Me: u gd?
cheese: YOSUKE. WE ARE WATCHING KUNG FU SCUFFLE. URGENT BUSINESS.
cheese: DND (DO NOT DISTURB)
…Well, that's not how Chie types at all!
Me: naoto??
Me: who tot u tht
cheese: CHIE
Me: chiess a dngus. dnd stds 4 DNGNS & DRGNS
cheese: DINGUS AND DRINGUS? Y/N
Me: nO
Me: Dungeons & Dragons
cheese: DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS. UNDERSTOOD
Me: wll nyway wht r u doin w chs phone!
cheese: We r on a date!!
…What?
Me: wut
Me: U N NAOTO?????
cheese: Yes!!
Me: OMgwtfBBQ
cheese: Now Leave us alone!!!! U dingus!!!!
Yosuke doesn't get why she doesn't just silence her phone, but opts to leave her be, since he has to see her tomorrow and he'd like to have kids one day, thanks. And bothering Yu when he's the cause of the problem is off the table. But that's fine. He can just lie here and dwell on his romantic revelations alone . Whatever.
Two weeks later and he's still thinking about it. Even so, the world around him carried on as usual. Winter chill slowly gave way to spring, and the first hints of buds began to appear on the cherry blossoms; he'd invade Yu's room when they got an afternoon together, and they'd shoot the shit like always. It all just felt so normal— he started to wonder if he had dreamed it all up.
He was still really happy to get chocolates from Yu, absolutely over the moon for it, and of course they were downright delicious too. But to be fair, his partner was the kind of guy who’d make homemade chocolates and then give them out on Valentine’s Day, romance or no. Even if it was supposed to be the girls giving chocolate. Yu just didn’t care about social norms like that, which was honestly pretty cool of him.
No, that wasn't what kept him up at night. The problem was that he'd also pinned Yu as the kind of guy who would make homemade chocolate for all his friends. So then why would he go through all the effort of making chocolate and then only give some to Yosuke? He wasn't delusional, that had to mean something, right?
A gentle tug on his shirt sleeve nearly makes him jump out of his skin.
"Hey,” Yu says, right next to him on the couch. “Something on your mind?"
For a moment, the only thing on his mind is that holy shit, Yu Narukami might be in love with him. Then he remembers how to speak.
“Just… thinking, I guess. You got any new ‘goods’ in stock?”
He shrugs. “I’m going to the bathroom, see for yourself.”
Who is Yosuke to refuse his leader's orders? Once the door is closed Yosuke goes and fetches the little shoebox from under Yu’s futon. There are a couple new photos inside, one of a familiar tabby, another of a calico and her kittens.
Honestly, it’s a wonder he ever thought his partner would keep pictures of the other kind of "pussy." Now March is just around the corner, and this might be the last time he ever raids the stash, and he’s a little sad. He rifles through the whole stack of photos, marveling at how every last cat’s grown healthier and stronger in Yu’s care. At the bottom he finds a couple of small pink notes.
Huh, when did these get here? he wonders, and begins to read the first one aloud.
“‘Dear Yosuke-senpai… I wish I could tell you how I feel, but I’m scared of how you’ll react.’ Uh-huh… Uh-huh… ‘Your smile is so beautiful, it—’”
“I’m back.”
Yosuke waves the paper at him casually. “Hey, man. What’s this—”
The next noise out of Yu’s mouth sounds an awful lot like screeching car tires. He thunders toward Yosuke at full speed, murder written all over his face, and tackles him to the ground. Yosuke might have begun to fear for his life, if he weren’t too busy thinking about how the futon is right underneath him and Yu’s scent is overwhelmingly— goddammit!
“Hey! I wasn’t done reading!”
"Don't read that!"
"What, did you write this? Oho, I see. Don't want Yosuke-senpai to know your true feelings?"
Yu growls at him— whoa!— and then makes a mad grab for the note.
They're a tangle of limbs, rolling and biting and scratching like animals, but Yu was always the stronger of the two. With the added advantage of a surprise attack, it's no surprise he comes out victorious, holding the note. He crumples it, crams it into his mouth in one swift motion, and swallows it whole. What the hell? His whole face is flushed red, too; Yosuke can’t tell if it’s because he’s flustered or because he’s fucking choking.
"You're gonna make yourself sick again," he says after a second, and Yu sticks his tongue out in response. "Oh, what's this one… Ahem. 'To Yosuke, I've had a crush on you for a while now' — oww!"
Yu snatches that note and eats it too.
"Bro, what the fuck?”
Yu glares at him.
"...Are they really that embarrassing?”
Yu glares at him.
“Look, I’m sorry for reading your little love notes, okay?”
Yu finally looks away and grumbles something, but it’s hard to make out.
"What was that?"
“...make it up to me.”
"Oh sure man, I'll do anything."
"Anything?"
"Anything for my partner."
When Yu looks back to him, he seems to have regained his composure. Not a good sign. He tilts his head in that totally fake, totally endearing— irritating— way of his, and puts a finger to his lips in mock consideration.
"Okay, I’ve decided. Will you give me a kiss," he says flatly.
"Hell yeah—" Yosuke claps a hand over his mouth. "Shit, I mean hell no! Anything but that!"
Smooth moves, Hanamura, way to go, he thinks. On the bright side, whatever composure Yu had got knocked right back out of him by that massive fumble. Still, the silence that follows is so awkward Yosuke ends up running home anyway. And as the cherry on top of his abysmal luck sundae, he spends the night sneezing non-stop. Just great.
So Yosuke’s pretty sure Yu likes him. Or he had been, until Rise hunted him down in the Junes produce aisle and dragged him up to the rooftop.
"Can someone please explain why we're all here on my shift?" he asks, taking his usual spot at the food court table. "Dad's gonna kill me if he catches me slacking, you know."
Rise rests her head atop her interlaced fingers.
"Emergency meeting," she says gravely.
"Then why the hell ain't Senpai here?"
"Because this is about him, Moronji!"
"Oh. Wait, what?"
"If he's not here then is it really that much of an emergency?" asks Yukiko.
"Of course it is, Yukiko-senpai. Now let me explain why I've brought you here. You see, I happened to come across some juicy information last night…" Rise leans forward. "Apparently on Valentine's Day, Senpai gave chocolates to Yosuke. And he didn't think to give any to me, that meanie!"
For a while no one responds, though Naoto's expression is turning more sour by the second. Then Yosuke realizes with a sinking feeling that the secret is out, and shoots his best glower toward the corner of the table.
"Ted… What did I say about not telling anyone…?"
"I'm sorryyy, Yosukeee!" Teddie wails. "Rise-chan was just too cute, I couldn't paw-ssibly stand a chance!"
After a minute realization finally sets in for Chie, and she nearly stumbles out of her seat with wide eyes.
"Wait, Yu gave Yosuke chocolate?!" she shouts.
"Shh! Keep it down, do you want the whole world to know?!"
“I don’t believe it. Like really, out of all people, Yosuke? Pics or it didn’t happen.”
“It’s been three weeks, what? Why would I have a picture of it?”
“‘Cause you keep sending me pictures of his cooking! And you always pick the juiciest, meatiest ones to make me mad!”
Naoto stands as well, with a scowl so impressive it looks like it hurts.
"Rise. If you tricked me into this meeting for such a trifling matter, then I have better things to do," they declare. "Excuse me."
"Wait, where are you going?"
"Chie-senpai?! I-I am looking for candy…"
"Really? Can I come with?"
"Ah, u-um, that's… I suppose that's fine…"
Chie stumbles after Naoto, and everyone watches awkwardly as they disappear back into the store.
“Ah, to be young and in love...”
“Ain’tcha younger than Chie-senpai—”
“Anyways. Yosuke-senpai!" Rise says, turning back to the table with a pout. "So you're the only one who got the chocolate. Any ideas as to why?"
All the remaining members face Yosuke with expectant looks, making him squirm in his seat.
"Well… what if he's got a man crush on me?" he offers.
Rise frowns, face a mixture of confusion and disagreement, and everyone else is quick to shake their heads.
"Oh, don't be silly, Yosuke-senpai."
"Ya sure 'bout that, Yosuke-senpai?"
"Yes, why would you think that?"
"Sensei isn't like that."
Once again Yosuke feels the inexplicable urge to defend his partner, even when he’s not being attacked. "He totally is! He's always inviting me over and stuff. And sometimes, I'll catch him staring and he gets all shy about it, heh."
"Um, why are you making things up about Senpai…?"
"I dunno if we're even talkin' 'bout the same Senpai here…"
"R-really, I just can't imagine it… Yu acting like a blushing schoolgirl, for Yosuke , pfft, heehee…"
"C’mon you guys, I'm being serious!"
Yukiko snorts, desperately trying to hold in her laughter, and Yosuke figures that's his cue to get back to work.
To be fair, Yu did say he’d planned to pull a prank for Valentine’s Day. Yosuke didn’t know specifically whether the notes were supposed to be part of it, or where the prank part ended and the real feelings began. But he was definitely the type of guy to write up a fancy love letter just for fun. He committed so thoroughly in every aspect of his life, down to even the little jokes, and Yosuke respected him for that.
No, that wasn’t what bothered him, it was Yu’s reaction that he found interesting. If it was really just a prank, then why would he get so up in arms about Yosuke reading them? Why would he keep those things in the first place? And why was his partner so goddamn cute—
“Hello? Yosuke?”
“Ack?!”
When Yosuke whips around, Yu’s right behind him. He’s got a fist pressed lightly to his mouth and his eyes are narrow with amusement, the bastard.
“Do you know if you’ll be restocking sometime this week? I still need thirteen more bags.”
“Thirteen what…?” Yosuke says. It takes him a couple seconds to see Yu’s also got a basket with him, and holy shit it’s overflowing with marshmallows. “Dude, no!” Without missing a beat he reaches over and starts putting them back on the shelf.
“What are you doing?”
“Marshmallows are so last decade, everyone hates them now. Are you trying to break all those poor girls' hearts?”
“Well, what do you think I should get then.”
“Try some of these. You'll thank me later, seriously.”
Yosuke sends his partner on his way with a basket full of cookies— it should get the platonic message across, without being too harsh. Crisis averted! He’s ready to pat himself on the back and wrap up his shift, but then halfway to the registers Yu turns around and flashes him a little smile that leaves him reeling.
He knows exactly what this emotion is, and he knows way better than to try and deny it. He's known for months, and he's tried to come up with excuses, but most of all he's scared to give it a name. This whatever-it-is? He could comb the shelves of Junes high and low and there'd be no candy good enough to convey it. Yu (probably?) put his whole heart into his chocolate, he deserved better than that.
“Well sheesh, Yosuke,” Teddie tells him. “If the wonders of Junes aren’t up to sniff, why not make your own?”
“...Wow. That actually doesn’t sound half bad.”
“You really think so? Does that mean Topsicles are still on the table for—”
“Like hell I’d let you off the hook that easy!”
“Wahhh!”
He drags Teddie home by the scruff with an idea forming in his mind. Oh, he’ll get Yu back once and for all this time. He’ll raid the cupboard and make something that’ll knock his stupid crew socks off. White Day can't come soon enough.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. He’s picked the petals off what, nine flowers at this point, and they’re not giving him a clear answer. Loves me, or loves me not? He’s not sure which one would make him feel better. Probably neither.
It’s like as soon as the doubt starts to creep in, Yu does something else that has Yosuke questioning all over again. For the past four weeks he’s felt like a plastic bag in the wind, whipping back and forth between hope and despair, because he just had to get involved with the Master of Mixed Messages.
Four weeks. Four long weeks of torture have led Yosuke to this moment, where he’s walking Yu home with a war in his heart and a school bag full of sponge cake.
"Yu?"
"Hm?"
Yosuke fishes the cake out of his bag and holds it out. "Uh, happy White Day. You said you were sick of chocolate, so… Just take it already."
Yu gingerly opens the box, all smushed inside and smeared with white icing thanks to Yosuke's incredible biking skills. He wants to cringe into the floor.
"You made this yourself?” Yu asks.
“Y-yeah kinda, well I roped Teddie into helping, or tried to, and it's Mom's old recipe, I know it’s nothing special—”
"I love it. Thank you."
“But you haven’t even eaten it!"
“That doesn’t matter. I love it, because it’s from you.”
A gentle spring breeze rustles the cherry blossoms. Their eyes meet, and Yosuke finally understands.
He would know that look anywhere, because he's seen it before. A month ago, a year ago, so many times. He'd walk into the bathroom after a shift, and he'd see those same tender eyes and warm smile reflected in the mirror. Like there was no one else that mattered in the whole entire world.
“Hey, can I ask you something?” he starts, shaky.
"Go ahead."
"...Do you like me?"
"Of course, we're partners after all."
"No, I mean… do you like-like me. Like, are you in love with me?"
"Haha. What gives you that idea?"
"Oh, I don't know. The homemade chocolate. The love letters. The flirting?"
Yu squints at the mention of the letters, but doesn’t protest. "I don't flirt with you that much."
"Really, bro? How many times have you asked me to kiss you? The group date cafe was one thing, but at this point it's gone way past weird."
"What's so weird about it?"
"This," Yosuke breathes, "this is the part where you laugh at me, right. The part where you go, 'Just kidding! I was playing dumb the whole time.' Right?"
"I'm being serious right now. I don't get it."
Yosuke does a once-over and is baffled to find nothing about his attitude that suggests otherwise. No subtle quirk of the lips, no tapping fingers, nothing. He didn't think anyone could possibly be this dense. Never in all his seventeen years has he met someone more out-of-touch with their own emotions than Yu Narukami. And he's— he's in—
"Why's it such a big deal to you, anyway?"
Yu gives him an amused huff and a light smile— god, come on, take me seriously— and that’s the last straw for Yosuke’s emotions, apparently. He seizes his partner by the shoulders and shakes him back and forth.
"Because I love you too, dumbass!" he shouts.
"You… huh?"
"And I guess you don't understand what that means, so let me spell it out for you!"
"Yosuke, what—"
"Because you’re my best friend, and I think you’re super cool and I love hanging out, but I— I want more than that, dammit! I want you all to myself sometimes. You’re always on my mind. I want to share the futon with you, and watch the stars on the rooftop with you, and steal a kiss in the movie theater with you— all that stupid couple shit that makes people sick!"
Yu is gaping at him, and Yosuke is embarrassing himself, but the dam is broken now. He couldn't stop even if he wanted to. Everything that’s been building inside him for the last few months, every gentle touch and lingering gaze and skipped heartbeat, all the confusion and doubt and frustration, it’s all bubbling up and bursting from his mouth.
"A-and you're the best thing that ever happened to me, and you’re moving away in like a week, and I thought 'I have to tell him now' because I know we'll still talk and everything but shit, it feels like I'll never see you again! That's what 'I love you' means, got it?! You feel the same way too, right? Please tell me you feel the same way or else I’ll… I’ll… ugh, I dunno what I’ll do."
Finished, Yosuke lets his arms fall limply to his sides. At first: a wash of relief. The weight is finally off his shoulders.
But then anxiety floods in to fill the void, freezing him in place and forcing his mind to run double time. He shouldn't have gotten his hopes up. It was a joke after all, and he's the punchline. He got too selfish, he made it weird, and now he’s just ruined the best friendship he’s ever had. He hangs his head, blinking back tears. Stupid, stupid, stupid—
It feels like an eternity before Yu speaks, in a voice so quiet Yosuke's almost not sure he hears it.
"...Oh."
"Oh? I-is that a good oh or a bad oh?"
“I… I really, uh… Wow, this is really hard.”
Yu was never much for talk, but it’s a rare treat to see him truly lost for words. Still, hearing his voice at all is doing wonders to calm Yosuke right now. He chances a look up to see his partner gazing off toward the horizon, biting his lip.
With a sharp exhale, Yu clenches his fists and faces Yosuke once more, eyes full of resolve.
“I like you,” he begins, and there’s a faint pink starting to bloom across his cheeks. “Um, a lot. But I guess you already knew that. I’ve never really had a close friend before, so I didn’t realize, I guess. That I… fell in love.”
By the time Yu finishes, his voice is faltering and his face is tomato red all the way to his ears. Yosuke wants to laugh, wants to grin and say “I told you so,” but he just chokes back a sob.
“Yosuke, what’s wrong?”
“Ugh, you j-jerk… You can’t just dump that on me and then leave…” He wants to be happy, and a part of him is beyond belief, but no matter how hard he fights it the tears just won’t stop. He drags his sleeve roughly across his face. “Sorry, this is so lame.”
"It's not lame. I wish I could stay here forever.”
First there’s a hand on his shoulder, and then he’s being swept into a tight embrace. Yosuke can only cling to the back of Yu’s jacket as his whole body is wracked with more and more sobs.
—That’s right, Yu held him until he stopped crying, all those months ago and just like this. When his emotions spilled over in a roiling hot mess Yu stayed by his side, even though he looked like shit and he got his shoulder all wet with snot. He’d realized that day, in those arms, that there was finally a place he belonged. That he’d fallen for a weird and wonderful asshole and he never wanted to let go.
“I'll call every day, and when we run out of minutes I'll catch the train,” Yu continues, in a tone that leaves no room for argument. “I want to be with you.”
“Me too, I just… I can’t believe we figured this all out a week before you’re gone.”
“Sorry I didn’t figure it out sooner.”
“Man.” Yosuke lets out one last sniffle. “We’re really bad at this, huh?”
“Yeah, we suck.”
He chuckles at that. Feeling that his tears are dry enough, he draws back, just centimeters away from Yu’s face. This close, he can see the stray locks of silver hair, the small puffy redness in his eyes, the softness of his lips, and Yosuke remembers he doesn’t have to hold back anymore.
"Can I… kiss you?"
Yu nods quickly, eyes already shut tight. It's so painfully cute he has to resist the urge to swallow his partner's face whole. Instead, he closes his own eyes, and then closes the distance.
They walk together, fingers intertwined, the rest of the way home. Maybe their time in Inaba will be short, but Yosuke knows now that three things are certain:
He’s in love with Yu Narukami. Holy shit, Yu Narukami’s in love with him too.
And god, their hands are really sweaty. Fuck.