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Yosuke stood by the classroom window, watching as the sky began to darken and snowflakes floated gently down from the clouds.
He normally found it hard to pay attention during class, but it had been even harder today when the snow started falling outside the window, not to mention being distracted by thoughts of his plans for the night and the upcoming holiday break.
He was going to spend as much of the break as possible with Yu, of course—with his new boyfriend.
It was still weird to think of Yu as his boyfriend, or honestly even to think of himself as a person who could even have a boyfriend. Everything had happened so fast; so much had changed about how he viewed life and love and himself and his Partner in such a short amount of time.
He was happy, though.
Incredibly, irreversibly happy.
“What are you thinking about?” Yu asked softly, walking up beside Yosuke and looking out the window with him.
He was standing just close enough for Yosuke to feel his warmth but to not touch.
“Heh, just enjoying the view,” Yosuke said, caught a little off guard by Yu’s question.
Had he somehow known Yosuke was thinking about him?
Yosuke wouldn’t be surprised if Yu could read his mind.
Yu just nodded, looking toward where the sun was beginning to set.
“You finish organizing your notes?” Yosuke asked.
Yu was always a meticulous note-taker, and the majority of the other students in the class had cleared out of the room while he was finishing up his notes.
Yosuke couldn’t relate, but he admired Yu’s studiousness. Some of it rubbed off on him sometimes, but even when it didn’t, Yu was very generous about sharing his notes so Yosuke could study from them instead of trying to decipher his own chicken scratch.
Yu nodded again. “All finished.”
“Well, we’ve still got some time before Teddie gets off of work,” Yosuke said, kind of wishing they were completely alone so he could indulge himself and inch a little closer to Yu.
“Wanna go…?” Yu asked, pointing up, and a warm, admittedly fuzzy feeling rose up in Yosuke’s stomach that traveled upwards until he broke out into a smile that almost hurt his cheeks.
“Yeah. Let’s go, Partner.”
As soon as they were alone on the school roof, Yu was glued to Yosuke’s side.
They stood together at the edge of the roof near the chain link fence, looking out over Inaba.
The uninterrupted blanket of clouds overhead was grey, but in the distance where the bottom quarter of the sun had dipped below the horizon, there was only a smattering of clouds whose wispy edges were painted in warm pink and orange light.
The snow continued to fall, still light enough that it was barely sticking; the rooftop and the sidewalk in front of the school were wet but not icy, with the only evidence of the snowfall being a light dusting of white like powdered sugar on the grass and the tops of the bushes and trees…
…and, Yosuke noticed, the snowflakes sticking to Yu’s hair.
Yu had tried to put the hood of his coat up, but it was too big and kept slipping off the top of his head. He’d gotten tired of fussing with it and now had a small collection of snowflakes sitting on his grey locks. Some melted and disappeared immediately, but others lingered longer, catching Yosuke’s eye.
Before he could stop himself, Yosuke reached up and brushed some of the snowflakes away. He then slipped his glove off and pocketed it, finding that it was much easier to pick out individual snowflakes with his bare hand.
It took a bit too long to realize Yu was staring at him with wide eyes and a light pink tinge across the apples of his cheeks and the bridge of his nose.
“Oh, sorry,” Yosuke said, lowering his hand. “You just had a few snowflakes…”
Yu shook his head, smiling a little as he looked away. “It’s okay. Thank you.”
“Yeah, you’re, uh, welcome,” Yosuke said awkwardly, about to put his glove back on when Yu reached out without looking, bumping the back of his hand against Yosuke’s.
Yosuke watched in curious fascination as Yu’s hand retracted for a second and then reached out again, his fingers searching for Yosuke’s and grazing the side of his hand. Yosuke then adjusted his hand and pressed their palms together, firmly curling his fingers around Yu’s.
Still not looking at Yosuke, Yu suddenly let out a short laugh, a puff of cold air escaping his mouth.
Yosuke couldn’t read Yu’s mind like Yu could read his, but if he had to guess from Yu’s expression and the deepening pink hue on his skin, it seemed like Yu was embarrassed, but happy.
It was endearing, Yosuke decided, and if he was being super honest with himself, it was just downright cute.
And if Yosuke was being extra super honest with himself, right now Yu—with snow swirling around him, the barely-there breeze tousling his snowflake-laden hair, crinkles at the corners of his bright eyes, the golden glow of the sunset softly highlighting his form, clutching Yosuke’s hand like it was something precious—was beautiful.
Yu finally overcame his embarrassment long enough to turn his head and meet Yosuke’s insistent gaze, and the atmosphere between them shifted as the potent eye contact knocked the air out of Yosuke’s lungs.
Yu cautiously scanned Yosuke’s face several times, and Yosuke silently begged him to read his mind one more time.
He did, moving closer and tilting his head, breathing a small, visible puff of air against Yosuke’s mouth in a moment of hesitation.
Yosuke suddenly got nervous, but he shelved that feeling, since the other things he was feeling were way more important.
Plus, he had been waiting for this.
As he shut his eyes and swooped in to close the remaining distance between them, his nerves transformed into a fluttery excitement, and as his lips came into contact with Yu’s, that fluttery excitement became something more like the sunset, but radiating an even warmer glow and projecting an even more brilliant array of saturated colors and shining brighter with a white hot core of light than anything, in Yosuke’s opinion, ever had.
When they pulled apart and saw their own feelings reflected on the other’s face—slack-jawed surprise, tender awe, and a quiet joy—they both laughed out loud.
Yosuke buried his face in Yu’s shoulder, remembering to be embarrassed as he continued to let out bursts of laughter, releasing all the pent-up energy inside him.
“Geez, Partner…” Yosuke breathed out as his laughter died down and he moved his hand to loosen Yu’s grip on it and lace their fingers together.
He was about to straighten back up when he felt Yu’s other hand come up to touch the top of his head.
When Yosuke looked up at him questioningly, Yu explained, “You have snowflakes too.”
Grinning, Yosuke resumed his place on Yu’s shoulder, and Yu set to gently, meticulously picking the snowflakes out of his hair.
“You two smell different,” Teddie accused, sniffing the air and stepping closer to Yosuke, who fell a step back.
“What?” Yosuke said, glancing behind him into the kitchen at Yu, who was occupied with arranging all of his ingredients on the counter.
The two of them had arrived at Junes just as Teddie was wrapping up his shift, and together all three of them had shopped for ingredients and snacks for their movie night before heading back to the Hanamura house. Yosuke’s parents were out having a date night, so the boys had the house all to themselves for a few hours.
Yu had taken it upon himself to prepare dinner for the three of them as well as his fanciest hot chocolate to date (which he was quite excited about), while it fell to Yosuke to keep Teddie out of the kitchen and out of Yu’s way.
“You sure it’s not the smell of the food?” Yosuke asked, taking another step back as Teddie’s sniffing intensified.
“Beary sure,” Teddie said with a nod. “You two smell su-spi-ci-ous,” he said, drawing out the word for dramatic effect. “Ooh, I have an idea!”
And with that, he took off running and bolted up the stairs.
“The hell?” Yosuke said under his breath, turning toward Yu. “Partner, you think he’s onto us?”
“Onto us?” Yu asked, glancing up from the veggies he was chopping. “He knows we’re dating.”
“Yeah, but he doesn’t know… what we did today… on the rooftop…” he trailed off vaguely, too embarrassed to say out loud that they had kissed.
“Kissed?” Yu asked, apparently not having the same issue. “Do you think he’ll be unhappy about it?”
“Nah, opposite problem, Partner. I think he’ll be too happy about it. If he finds out, he’s gonna run through the streets of Inaba screaming, ‘Yosuke and Sensei smooched! They’re in love!’ I’ll never live that down, man!”
Turning his back to Yosuke, Yu said faintly, “That was a good Teddie impression…”
Crossing his arms, Yosuke sighed, “Yeah, not exactly a skill I’m proud of.”
“I’m back!” Teddie yelled, running full speed from the staircase straight at Yosuke, who screamed when he turned and saw a flash of red, white, and blue careening toward him.
Yosuke just barely had time to jump out of the way and dodge Teddie, who was inexplicably clad in his bear suit.
“What did Mom tell you about running in the house?!” Yosuke scolded, collecting himself so he could stop Teddie from barreling toward Yu. Grabbing Teddie’s bear arm and swinging him away from the kitchen, Yosuke asked, “And what the hell are you doing wearing that thing?!”
“It enhances my powers!” Teddie cried, sniffing wildly at the air. “Sniff! Sniff sniff!”
“Do you really have to say ‘sniff’ when you sniff?”
“It enhances my powers!” Teddie repeated even more insistently. “SNIFF SNIFF! Yep, I’ve sniffed both of you extensively bear-fore, and I can tell something is definitely different!”
“What? I never gave you permission to ‘sniff me extensively,’ Bear!”
“Sensei gave me permission to sniff him extensively!” Teddie asserted, pointing at Yu, who looked to Yosuke guiltily.
With a small shrug, he said, “He asked.”
Yosuke of course couldn’t fault Yu for being overly accommodating toward Teddie, and while Yosuke briefly got distracted reflecting on how kind his Partner was, Teddie got up in his face and took a few big sniffs, his nose radar landing on Yosuke’s mouth and taking one final pointed sniff.
“Aha!” Teddie exclaimed in Yosuke’s face, an impish determination taking over his expression.
“H-hey, back off!” Yosuke sputtered, putting both arms in front of himself to create some distance between his face and Teddie’s.
Teddie took the opportunity to move swiftly toward Yu, who happened to be carrying a pot of hot water.
“Be careful, Teddie!” Yosuke cried, worried for both of them.
Yu froze in place as Teddie stopped short in front of him.
Having trapped Yu right where he wanted him, Teddie stated menacingly, “Sniff. Sniff.”
Once he collected the data he was seeking, Teddie quickly transformed from menacing to giggly.
“Sensei… why does your mouth smell like Yosuke?”
Yu blanched, and he had to tighten his grip on the pot of water to keep from dropping it.
“And Yosuke…” Teddie said, turning to Yosuke with his lips pursed in a kissy-face. “Why does your mouth smell like Sensei?”
“We kissed, okay?!” Yosuke blurted out hysterically, cursing Teddie’s advanced powers of smell. “You happy now?!”
“Teddie… is… BEARY HAPPY!” Teddie exclaimed, raising his bear hands to the heavens, twirling around, and exuding sparkly energy. “SENSEI AND YOSUKE SMOOCHED!”
“See? I told you this would happen!” Yosuke told Yu, who had cautiously backed away to safely set down the pot.
“I’m gonna tell everyone!” Teddie cried joyously, bolting toward the front door, and Yosuke grimaced at how painfully correct he had been about Teddie’s reaction. “Chie-chan! Yuki-chan! Rise-chan! Nao-cakes! Sensei and Yosuke smooched! Old lady who lives down the street! Sensei and Yosuke— ”
“Quit it!” Yosuke yelled, throwing his body between Teddie and the door. “They can’t hear you from here!”
“Let me out, you meanie-bear! Everyone has to know!”
“Why?!”
“Bear-cause this is the bear-st thing that has e-bear happened!”
“Huh?” Yosuke said, truly confused by Teddie’s response.
Teddie explained, “My two favorite people smooched! Everyone knows smooches are the ultimate expression of love! Sensei and Yosuke are gonna be together forever, and I get to bear witness! I’m so happy I can barely contain it!” Teddie growled, balling up his fists and nearly vibrating with enthusiasm.
“Whoa there,” Yosuke said more calmly, placing a hand on Teddie’s shoulder. With a fond chuckle, he said, “You’ve been watching too much TV.”
“Yosuke?” Teddie asked at the sudden change in Yosuke’s demeanor.
“Thanks, Ted. For being happy for us, I mean,” Yosuke, squeezing Teddie’s shoulder. “You still don’t need to tell everyone we… smooched, but I appreciate the support. Not everyone would think of that as a reason to celebrate.”
“They wouldn’t?” Teddie asked, looking genuinely confused.
Yosuke shook his head with a sad smile. “It’s complicated. I’ll explain later, promise. Now go back upstairs and get ready for dinner, okay?”
Tilting his big bear head, Teddie asked, “Do you want a bear hug first, Yosuke?”
“Um, sure,” Yosuke hesitated, but then he opened his arms. “Yeah. I’ll take one.”
Teddie threw his arms around Yosuke’s middle, burying his nose in Yosuke’s shirt and taking a long, slow sniff.
“It wasn’t just your mouths that smelled different,” Teddie revealed quietly. “You smell warmer, and happier. Both of you! Like hot apple cider with lots of cinnamon. Like love, Yosuke!”
Reeling over this revelation, Yosuke looked over Teddie’s head to see Yu peeking out from the kitchen, watching them with a shy smile on his face.
Yosuke motioned him over with his head, and Yu immediately threw off the apron he had borrowed from Yosuke’s mom and made his way over. Yosuke extended an arm so Yu could join in on the hug, and Teddie scooched over to make room for his beloved Sensei.
“I’m beary happy,” Teddie sighed, squeezing and being squeezed by his two favorite people.
“Us too,” Yu said warmly, and Yosuke nodded in agreement, feeling however hot apple cider with lots of cinnamon smelled to Teddie.
After they all had their fill of bear hugs, Yu ran back to the kitchen to make sure nothing was burning, Teddie went back upstairs to change, and Yosuke stood in place by the front door, feeling so grateful that he had a Partner who made him so happy and a little brother who was so happy to see him happy.
Eventually they all settled in the living room with Yu’s homemade meal and three large, steaming mugs of hot chocolate.
Teddie, ever the romance fan, had picked out a cheesy holiday film called Are You on Top of My Christmas Tree? Because You’re An Angel, which he watched with rapt attention, talking animatedly the whole time and cheering when the main couple finally kissed under the mistletoe.
By the time the credits were rolling though, the sugar crash hit him and he was asleep, clinging tightly to Yosuke’s arm with both of his.
Yu changed out the DVD for a different holiday movie and then took all the dishes back to the kitchen. He returned with fresh mugs of hot chocolate for himself and Yosuke, who accepted his gratefully; it really was Yu’s best, fanciest hot chocolate yet.
Yu unfolded a blanket and threw it over Teddie and Yosuke, and then he sat next to Yosuke and scooted under the blanket as well. It wasn’t long after they drained their hot chocolate that Yu also fell asleep, holding Yosuke’s hand under the blanket.
Yosuke reveled in the still-new feeling of Yu’s hand in his, moving his thumb back and forth over Yu’s skin.
Even with two warm bodies on either side of him and a full stomach, Yosuke didn’t feel tired. He couldn’t really pay attention to the movie much either; his mind was too busy swimming with how much he had lucked out to be where he was in this very moment.
When he finally started nodding off toward the end of the movie, the thought at the top of his mind was that with these two by his side, it was definitely going to be his happiest holiday yet.
And he had a sneaking suspicion that his stroke of luck would continue; there was no going back on his newfound happiness, and he would have it no other way.