“That high and mighty attitude is getting pretty old, you know.”
Mitsuru doesn’t admit it, even to herself, but she jumps. She wasn’t expecting this, for Yosuke to approach her, much less sound actually serious and at least five years older when he did so. “W-what?”
The smile is somewhat humorless, and for the first time she can look at Hanamura and see the warrior inside. “Stop acting like you’re the only ones who’ve had to fight for their lives,” he states bluntly. “Hell, you’ve even kind of had it easy. You didn’t have to fight yourselves. The dark sides that you don’t want to see, the fears and weaknesses. The stuff that makes you think you’re a monster, that you should go die. You didn’t have those shown to the whole world, let alone trying to kill your best friend. So if we act goofy, enjoy ourselves, well, it’s because we know exactly how dark the world gets. Get off your high horse or senpai or no senpai, I’m going to beat you into the ground.” He knows she’s strong. He finds her attractive. There’s absolutely no hesitation in his tone. He will do his absolute best to live up to his promise.
It takes her a moment to find her voice, and when she does it sounds a bit strangled. “S-Seta…”
“…Souji wouldn’t tell you this. Not until it drove him up the wall, after which he’d be screaming at you.” The smile is fond, and definitely not directed at her. “He’s polite. Me, I’m the rude one. I get to get away with saying stuff like this.”