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Yu felt tears swell up in his eyes.
How?
It didn't make sense. The yellow glow of the television flickered before shutting itself off, leaving him in nothing but the darkness.
Within the second, his cell lit up.
"That was..." Yosuke breathed.
"You," he finished, holding his breath.
"B-but, how, man?" He scoffed, trying to keep the fear from his voice. "I have my Persona. I've fought my Shadow and—"
"You haven't been on TV lately, have you?" Yu murmured.
"Huh? Oh... I don't think so."
"What about Junes? Advertisements? Anything?"
"Dude... I honestly can't remember," Yosuke groaned. "Look. I'm exhausted right now. Let's meet up tomorrow morning."
"...Sure," he sighed.
"Night—"
"Yosuke?"
"Hm?"
"Lock your doors, okay?"
Yosuke stifled a laugh. "Sure thing, man."
"And lock your windows."
"Yu—"
"Please... Don't go out alone."
"As if, man," he snickered.
Once Yu was satisfied, he sighed. "Goodnight.'
~~~
The next morning, nobody spoke a word. They gathered around at Junes, as usual, but they were all afraid to speak.
"How could...?" Naoto began quietly.
"Come on, guys," Yosuke groaned, throwing his head back. "We gotta be overthinking this."
"You showed up last night," Chie said sternly. "There's no way 'overthinking' this is a liable excuse."
"It could have been someone else," he shrugged calmly.
"We see you everyday." Rise crossed her arms with a frown. "I'm sure we wouldn't have mistaken you."
Yosuke refused to look at Yu full stop.
He knew all he'd get was his 'leader voice'. Y'know, when he starts thinking of all the possible outcomes and how to keep Yosuke safe.
He didn't need that. He wasn't threatened by anything.
"What do you think, Sensei?" Teddie turned to Yu.
Yosuke bit his lip.
"I think I should spend the night at your place," he nodded.
Yosuke recoiled. "What?"
"That's not such a bad idea," Yukiko agreed.
"B-but, Senpai—" Kanji tried. But it was no use. Yu's mind was already made up.
"I'll do whatever it takes to protect him," Yu said flatly.
"Dude, don't—" Yosuke grumbled.
"I don't care, Yosuke," he scoffed. "You're my number one priority. I won't let anything happen to you."
"Dude, I'm not some princess that needs saving, alright?" He mumbled. "I can take care of myself."
"You don't have a choice," Yu said firmly.
Yosuke blinked. He didn't oppose the idea as such. He just... felt like he was being too needy. Of course he wanted his best friend to stay the night; anybody would. But he knew Yu. He knew he wouldn't settle.
~~~
Yosuke sat down on his bed with a sigh. Yu didn't even look his way. He was too preoccupied looking out of the window.
It wasn't even dark out yet.
"Wanna.. do something?" Yosuke offered a small smile.
Yu shook his head.
"C-come on, man," he grumbled. "It's broad daylight. Don't you think you're being a bit... over the top?"
Again, he shook his head. "We don't know what the killer is capable of, or why the Midnight Channel broadcasted you."
Yosuke bit his lip. "I'm not worried."
"Maybe you should be."
Yu's gaze was still fixated on the roads outside. Yosuke sighed, dropping his shoulders.
"I'm not stupid. I know what to look out for."
"Do you?" Yu challenged, turning to face Yosuke. "Even Naoto managed to get kidnapped. This guy... he always gets his way."
"But—"
"You're not special, Yosuke," he said firmly. "You are just as vulnerable as everyone else."
Yosuke rolled his eyes. "I'm not as weak as you think."
"That isn't what I'm implying."
"Well, it sure as hell sounds like it," he scoffed.
Yu closed his eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah," Yosuke grunted. "I'm going for a snack. Want anything?"
"I'll come with you," he offered.
Yosuke rose to his feet. "I'm... just going downstairs, man."
"Your parents and Teddie are out."
"...So?"
"So I'm not taking the risk." Yu stepped towards Yosuke, his face stone.
"Whatever, dude," he shrugged.
~~~
"Hey, Yu?" Yosuke called, his head in the fridge. "Mind making me something?"
"Huh?" Yu frowned, turning his head from the door back to Yosuke.
He stood upright, leaning against the countertop. "...Nevermind," he sighed.
"N-no, I will," Yu insisted. He made his way over to Yosuke, tending to the ingredients he got out.
"U-uh, you just put the—" Yosuke tried.
"I know," Yu murmured.
"Right," Yosuke nodded. He scratched the back of his neck anxiously.
"Go relax," Yu said. "I'll bring it over to you when it's ready."
"You sure, man?" His eyes widened. "I don't mind helping out or—"
"It's fine, Yosuke," Yu said sternly.
"..Got it." He swallowed hard, turning to the living room. He gave Yu one last look before leaving. He didn't want to sound like a nag, but he knew Yu was stressing way too much about the situation.
After about ten minutes or so, Yosuke was getting anxious. Seriously, how long did it take to make a little bit of sushi?
He turned off the TV, heading back to the kitchen.
As he'd expected, Yu was staring at the front door, knife still in hand.
"Dude," Yosuke groaned. He unarmed Yu, frowning.
"I wasn't finished." Yu abruptly snapped out of his daydream.
"I'm not hungry anymore." He slid the knife into the sink.
"But—"
"Serious, man." He pocketed his hands.
"... I'm sorry."
"I'm no stranger to that world, Yu," he scoffed. "Even if the killer did come, I'd know what to do."
"But, what if—"
"Yu," he snapped. "Please, just... chill out."
Yu swallowed hard before nodding.
"Come on," Yosuke murmured, leading him back upstairs.
~~~
Yu still stared out the window. It was starting to get dark, now.
Yosuke sighed, laying down on his bed. "Can you stop?"
"Hm?" Yu turned his head.
"This was supposed to be... I dunno," he muttered. "Fun."
"I don't understand."
"Of course you don't." Yosuke sat up. "'Cause all you give a damn about is the freakin' killer."
"I'm just trying to—"
"Enough, man," he snapped. "You're freaking me out."
"I just don't want anybody to hurt you."
Yosuke's chest ached. He knew that Yu cared. He didn't mean to get all mad at him. He was frustrated. He felt like he was some damsel in distress. He hated feeling like that. He didn't know how to feel about the idea of a protector.
"Can you please just... sit down?" Yosuke begged. "For five minutes, Yu." He crossed his legs.
"...I shouldn't."
"I want to spend time with you," he sighed. "But I can't when... you're like this."
"Like what?"
"This!" He groaned, gesturing to him. "We equals. Remember? You said that."
"Yes, and—"
"And you're not better than me."
Yu nodded slowly.
"Stop acting like it," Yosuke whispered.
"...Okay."
Yosuke relaxed again. "So... video games?" He offered with a slight smile.
"I'm just... gonna go check the door is locked," Yu mumbled.
"It is," Yosuke assured him.
"Yeah, but—"
"Yu," he frowned.
"...Sorry," he breathed. He sat down on the bed beside Yosuke, picking up his controller.
Throughout the game, his head darted to the window and to the bedroom door at every slight sound. Yosuke turned the volume of the game up.
Yosuke could tell Yu wasn't interested. Yu always beat him, after all. Now, he was just... slacking off. And Yu never slacked off.
"Okay," Yosuke said, putting his controller down. "It's late, so... let's head to bed."
"But... You were having so much fun," Yu frowned.
"Yeah, but you weren't."
"I was," he furrowed a brow.
"Seriously," Yosuke yawned. "I'm exhausted."
"...Okay," Yu nodded somewhat sadly. He felt guilty about ruining the night. "I'll get in Teddie's bed."
"Nah, it's cool."
"Huh?" He murmured.
"Here." Yosuke budged up, making room for Yu beside him.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea," he sighed.
"Please, man?" He pleaded. "You wanna protect me, right? Come be my shell, then." He smirked a little.
Yu blinked, his heart racing. Of course he wanted to sleep with Yosuke, but... He would never forgive himself if something were to happen.
"Mom and Dad will be in soon," Yosuke said. "So... They'll keep look out."
"They don't know."
"Do you really think they'd let anybody hurt us?"
"Hurt you," Yu corrected.
"Same thing."
Yu's cheeks flushed.
"C'mon." Yosuke urged him once more.
Yu scratched his arm before complying.
He laid beside Yosuke, their faces almost touching.
Yu quickly moved back.
"Don't be like that," Yosuke chuckled, brushing a strand of Yu's hair to the side.
Yu froze up. "S-sorry."
"...If they want me... They're gonna have to go through you first. Right?" He smiled.
"Right," Yu agreed.
His face fell into Yosuke's hand, watching as his partner's eyes drooped.
"Please, get some rest," Yu said softly. "I'll be right here with you."
"Damn right you will be," Yosuke laughed, his eyes coming to a close.
"...Maybe I should check the window is locked," Yu began, sitting up.
But Yosuke grabbed his arm. "Don't."
He bit his lip, unsure whether or not to do as he's told.
"Yu," Yosuke groaned.
"...Maybe we should stay up to watch the Midnight Channel," he suggested.
"It only works when you're alone," he reminds him.
"...Oh, yeah," he sighed.
"Don't turn back now, Yu," he said. "You wanted to be close to me. Stop chickenin' out."
"What?" He was taken aback by Yosuke's assumption.
"If you wanted to stay over... You coulda just said so."
"I- I didn't," Yu protested. But Yosuke was having far too much fun teasing him.
"I don't mind, honest," he chuckled. "Stay with me any time you like."
"Th-that's not..."
Yosuke nuzzled his face into Yu's chest.
"H-hey," Yu stammered.
"Stop bein' so tense," Yosuke smiled.
"S-sorry."
"I'll be okay."
"Uh-huh..."
"Trust me."
"I... I do."
Yu pulled the covers over them even more, ensuring Yosuke's comfort.
After a couple of moments of silence, he attempted to get up to check the door.
"Don't," Yosuke warned.
"O-okay," he agreed.
"I got you and Izanagi to protect me," he stated. "It doesn't get better than that."