Chapter Text
January 15th, 20XX
It's over, isn't it? They drove back Ameno-Sagiri when he popped out of Namatame, foggy nights in Inaba no longer mean that a body will be found the next day, the Midnight Channel is dead air, and the killer is in jail... everything's good now.
Even Nanako recovered. She's awake and waiting for the doctor to tell her it's okay to come home.
So yeah, it's over.
But if it's really over, why is there still this unsettled feeling in everyone's gut? It's been two weeks, and none of them can seem to shake it.
When Yukiko tells them that she feels like there's unfinished business—like there are still some answers that they don't have—it resonates with Yosuke. He turns to Yu, who shrugs his shoulders.
"It took up the whole year," he reminds them. "It's only natural that we'd feel a little bit weird now that it's over."
Now that Yosuke thinks about it, it makes perfect sense. This case has taken over their entire lives for the past year. It's been their only focus, so naturally, it's hard to believe that it's actually over.
Yukiko seems placated by his answer, and she looks across the table at Naoto. When everyone's gaze follows, Naoto steeples her chin in her fingers and hums thoughtfully. She stares at the table so hard that Yosuke can hear the gears in her head turning.
Sometimes, Yosuke forgets that she's a year younger than him. She's so smart for her age, and Yosuke will go to his grave swearing that they wouldn't have gotten this far without her. When she lifts her head again and looks across the table at Yukiko, Yosuke finds himself anticipating her verdict.
"It seems likely, doesn't it?" she asks, though there's something distant and strange in her expression. Before Yosuke can pinpoint it, she continues. "We all devoted so much of our time to this, now that it's over, it's only natural that we would be floundering a little bit."
Usually, these meetings are livelier. Yosuke makes jokes and the girls roll their eyes at every one of them. Teddie makes stupid puns. Chie devours every bit of food in sight. Yu adapts himself to every bit of conversation like a social chameleon, amping them up when they need it and settling them down when they need it.
None of that is happening.
Yosuke thought that maybe they'd make plans for a celebration now that everything was settled, but…
The mood is still somber. Maybe Yu and Naoto's reassurances aren't as placating as Yosuke thought. Even Teddie, not known for his pensiveness, stares at his empty steak plate blankly.
Finally, Chie breaks the awkward silence. "C-c'mon, guys. We're just being weird," she tells them.
"Yeah!" Rise agrees, turning to Yu with a smile. "We're just tired. I think we should turn our attention to the future! Right, Senpai?" She drapes herself over Yu's shoulder and smiles, and he quirks his lips in return.
Yosuke winces and looks away.
It's been months since Yu turned him down, and it's still not easy to see Rise drape herself over him like that. Sometimes he thinks he gets better at dealing with it, but then a moment like this comes along and he feels like he'll never get used to it. He wonders if she knows. Would Yu ever tell her that Yosuke confessed his feelings? Would he ever tell her that they kissed?
Probably not.
That would mean he'd have to admit to the flirting, and that Yu had reciprocated the kiss.
"Yeah," Yu answers. "What do you guys want to do to celebrate?"
Teddie hums theatrically. "Well, it's winter, right?"
Chie gasps. "Ooh, ohh, ooh! I know!" she announces. "Remember how back in the summer we talked about going on a skiing trip? Why don't we do that? I wanna speed through the slopes and leave Yosuke in the dust!"
"Yeah right!" Yosuke finally conjures his voice to answer. "Everyone here knows I'm faster than you!"
Giggling innocently, Yukiko shrugs and casts Chie a look. "I don't know, I think I'll be faster than all of you!" she challenges.
"Really, Yuki-chan?" Teddie taps his chin. "All that elegance and speed to boot? Wowie wow wow! I'm shocked! You really are the babe of all babes!"
Chie casts Teddie a sharp glare. "Shut up, you perv!"
Yukiko's face is as red as her dress. "Te-Teddie, stop it!"
Pointedly ignoring Teddie and Yukiko, Rise pouts. "I haven't skied in a long time, so I'm probably rusty," she tells them, then hugs Yu's arm tighter to her chest. "Oh, but I'll still go if you remind me, Senpai! Promise?"
"Yeah, sure." Yu nods, letting Rise continue to drape herself over him.
For a second, Naoto watches Yu closely. She shakes her head sharply, then hums. "Could you teach me too? I've never been, but it's something I've always wanted to learn."
"Or would you rather have Kanji teach you?" Rise teases.
Kanji flushes deeply. "Sh-shut the hell up, Rise!" he snaps. "Bu-but, I can teach you if you want, Naoto."
"Ye-yes," Naoto nods, her cheeks just as deep red as Kanji's are. "As long as someone teaches me, I'll be fine."
"Exciting! This is gonna be so exciting, isn't it Yosuke?!" Teddie asks, smiling bright and wide.
Yosuke nods. "Yeah, definitely!" he replies. "It'll be great!"
Just like that, it seems like the dark cloud has finally cleared up. The promise of something exciting in the future always seems to lift their spirits. Their time together is always the best time in their lives, after all. They fall into normal conversation, ping-ponging between a plan for a celebration party at Dojima's house when Nanako gets home, talk of their ski trip, and stupid jokes.
For the most part, the conversation still feels normal. Even when Yosuke is the butt of half the jokes, he doesn't mind. If it's normal, he'll be the butt of all the jokes.
Even so, every time someone mentions the case, the whole table goes silent. Every time someone mentions anything that happened this year, a deep silence covers the room.
Is that going to be how it goes every time they get together now? Will there always be this doubt and uncertainty, covering the table at Junes like a heavy blanket? Are all of their memories tainted? The whole time they've been friends, there's been a murderer on the loose, and now talking about that seems to drag them all into depression.
What about when Yu goes home in a few months? How long will it be before he gets tired of the dismal atmosphere and gets tired of coming back to visit?
Yosuke is the only one at the table who's quiet now. Everyone else talks normally, and Yosuke has even lost track of the topic.
Rise seems to pick up on it somehow. She nudges him gently, and smiles warmly at him. "It's okay, Yosuke-senpai. It just feels weird. Like Yu-senpai and Naoto-kun said."
He's sure her smile is supposed to be reassuring. Because of her intent, Yosuke manages a smile of his own. Still, he can plainly see the concern she hides behind it.
"Yeah," he says simply, then nods and manages to muster a more genuine smile.
When Yosuke looks up again, it's just in time to see the whole table bust into raucous laughter. Teddie wears a shocked expression, because all of the girls denied his request for a ski-lift snuggle.
It's fine. Everything is normal.
Yosuke runs a hand through his hair, scratching gently at his scalp. He finally joins in on the laughter.
He turns his eyes to Yu, with the intent to share a smile and a laugh with the one who'd undoubtedly done the most work in ending this. Just as quickly, his smile falls away. Yu doesn't meet his eye. He simply stares at his phone in his hands, typing a text with a blank look in his eyes.
What's that about? Yosuke asks himself.
Nah, he's just overwhelmed, he insists quickly. This is the first time we've talked about it since we closed the case. And now Nanako's out of the hospital, so… yeah, that's definitely who he's talking to.
Even though Yu doesn't meet his eye, he offers a smile. Just in case Yu looks up again. If he does, Yosuke doesn't want to look all glum. A second passes.
Then two.
Then ten.
Then a whole minute.
Yu doesn't look up. He still stares at his phone, still looks blank and empty. Now, Yosuke feels uncomfortable and worried all over again.
He turns his attention across the table, and when his eyes fall on Naoto, he notices that she looks worried, too. She watches Yu for a second, then turns to look at Yosuke. They exchange a pointed glance, and in that moment, he knows he's not the only one who still feels off. They'll have to talk later. Behind Yu, they're both the vice-leaders of the group. It's their job to notice things like this.
As Teddie excitedly yammers on about going to play with Nanako again, Yosuke sees Naoto stand up to get a drink. On her way past, she brushes Yosuke's shoulder with her hand, and when he looks, she gestures for him to follow. He nods.
"I'll go too. I could use an iced coffee," he says as he stands up.
Rise chimes in. "Ooh, get me a melon soda?"
"Fruit milk for me, please!" Chie decrees.
After a chorus of drink orders and no offers to pay, Yosuke and Naoto make their way to the machines with a laugh.
"The more things change, the more they stay the same," Naoto murmurs.
Yosuke huffs. "Tell me about it."
It seems like the silence plague followed them from the table. They're quiet all the way to the machines, and as Naoto gets her drink, Kanji's, and Rise's. When Yosuke steps up to the machine, Naoto finally breaks the silence.
"Yosuke-senpai," she calls in a level tone.
Yosuke turns to her curiously. "What's up?" he asks.
She gathers a couple of drink trays and puts the drinks into the slots. "Something seems off, doesn't it?" she asks, casting her eyes back toward the table.
Yosuke pauses after punching in the code for Teddie's drink, and turns to look at the table. Everything looks pretty much the same, save for one thing: Yu is watching them.
"You noticed, too, huh?" he asks as he turns to look back at the drink machine.
"Yes," she replies. "I'd rather not doubt Yu-senpai, but there's something bothering me about his behavior. He should be ecstatic about Nanako-chan and Dojima-san coming home, right?"
He nods. "But he doesn't seem it."
Naoto hums. "Indeed. He doesn't seem to be registering much, does he?" she asks.
He doesn't. It's weird. Yosuke frowns as he orders Yukiko's drink and then gets Chie's. "Maybe. But… I think he's earned some trust from us, don't you?" he asks. "He's probably just a little overwhelmed by everything right now. Finishing the case, Nanako-chan's recovery, knowing that he has to leave in a couple of months. I'm sure things will eventually level out, and he'll be back to normal."
After a few seconds of quiet contemplation, Naoto nods. "You're right. I apologize," she frowns and stares at the ground sheepishly. "I shouldn't doubt him either. I simply..."
She trails off, leaving her words hanging in the air. The truth is, she doesn't need to finish. He knows what she wants to say. She still isn't satisfied.
Yosuke nods. "I know. I'm not either," he admits with a soft smile. "Maybe he'll be more open to discussion later. When there's less going on."
"Right," Naoto agrees.
They both agreed, but there was an unspoken undertone in the conversation that felt a little… traitorous. Neither of them trusted that Yu's attitude was just a phase. They said it was just shock, but… in the backs of their minds, they doubted. It isn't a good feeling for Yosuke, doubting someone that he trusts so deeply, but he's sure it'll pass.
He's sure things will be normal soon.