Chapter Text
Something that stuck out to Ryuji during his very first encounter with Yusuke was his ignorance and disregard to literally obvious societal norms… such as uh, don’t follow a girl around?! Upon first impression, it was creepy and rude. Hell, it'd still be creepy and weird even now! Definitely not the best way to start a friendship with someone.
With time, he’s become a bit more understanding of Yusuke’s… how did Akira describe it? Eccentricities? He can’t say that his opinion on Yusuke has done a full 180 overnight, but with the whole Persona awakening thing and learning the truth about Madarame, it did make him see Yusuke in a newer light.
Usually, any person who’s mentor turned out to be a piece of shit would get angry. But Yusuke… he’s not angry in a red hot fury ‘I need to punch that piece of shit right now’ way like Ryuji was. His anger is quiet and contemptful, in a way where he’s in full control of it. Above it, maybe. Madarame is now but an insect beneath his heel that he could crush at any moment, if he so chose.
But he doesn’t.
And Ryuji so wishes he could be that way. Instead, his anger feels intrinsic to his being, lurking underneath the surface. It's shaped him as a person. He’s held it inside for such a long time that he’s not sure what would happen if he were to let it all go. He’s probably not capable.
What makes it even more interesting, is the fact that Yusuke seems to have bounced back so easily from Madarame's mask being ripped off. Like, Yusuke’s mentor was a whole lot more than just a mentor to him. At least, that’s the vibe he’s picked up on thus far. What with the whole bein’ orphaned thing going on, Madarame taking care of him and all that.
Kamoshida wasn’t a father figure-
Ryuji jolts upright in bed as a red hot, sickening bolt of adrenaline shoots through him at the thought. His pulse skyrockets, and he feels his stomach lurch uncomfortably.
There’s no need to think about all that, so he focuses on breathing in and out, just like he would when on the track. Soon enough, the feelings are all but gone. Except… Now he’s wide awake. Doin’ what? Thinking about some guy he doesn’t even know all that well.
Speaking of Yusuke, he’s probably asleep right now. He would most likely prioritize good sleep. Would claim ‘it is essential to the creative process’ or however artsy way he’d frame it. Ryuji, too, prioritizes sleep. It’s a critical aspect of recovery which is necessary for muscle building.
Which is why he needs to get back to sleep right the hell now.
At the current Official Phantom Thieves Meeting™, Ryuji finds himself lost in his own world, completely unable to pay attention to what’s going on today. His brain keeps focusing on anything else, mostly getting lost thinking about his surroundings, such as how the LeBlanc attic is rather dusty and small, but in a cozy, homey way. Maybe it’s just of all his friends being here making it feel that way.
He glances from Akira, to Ann, to that stupid cat, to Yusuke.
His gaze lingers the longest on Yusuke. He’s sitting so neatly, posed like an artist’s sketch mannequin, posture perfectly upright and his hands delicately in his lap. Man, Ann’s right, Yusuke really is a pretty boy. Everything he does is simply so elegant or something. Even when he talks, it’s with such purpose. Every word feels thought out and carefully chosen, like if he wants to say something he will, otherwise he won’t. It’s a stark contrast to Ryuji’s thought process of ‘say everything immediately’.
Because he’s so well-spoken, Yusuke always has some cool, metered response. Some big thoughts on whatever topic is at hand. Meanwhile, his own responses feel more surface level in comparison. He doesn’t have the mind to perfect them and mold them into the perfectly crafted expression of thought, they come out however the hell they want to.
Ryuji admires Yusuke's thoughtfulness and quiet, contemplative approach to life. He's in no rush, rather, he seems like the kind of guy to look at one situation from ten different angles, just to make sure he’s come to the best solution. Until it comes to art, that is. Then the passion comes out, all hell breaks loose, and he’s more like Ryuji in the sense that he’s all go go go! Still, even when excited, he remains rather eloquent and well-spoken.
That’s what Ryuji really admires the most. Even after all this time, despite the struggles he’s gone through, Yusuke still engages with his passions, seemingly without any negative feelings. How he somehow doesn’t associate the act of creating with that scumbag Madarame is beyond him.
“Ryuji?”
It seems the meeting has come to an end. Ryuji is only made aware of this fact because Yusuke is waving a hand in front of his face, calling his name to try and get his attention.
“Woah, sorry.” He blinks a few times as he comes back to the present time and scratches the back of his neck. “Guess I was lost in my own ‘lil world for a sec there. Did I miss anythin’ important?”
Yusuke regards him with that Look, the one that makes him feel like he’s both being judged and also observed. It’s unnerving! Eventually, he finally says, “No, nothing in particular. Simply details of our next infiltration.”
Was that supposed to be sarcastic? He really can’t tell. Yusuke is so straightforward with what he says, he probably doesn’t even register that it seems sarcastic. He’s so unsure of how to respond, he tries to gain intel from Yusuke’s body language. There’s a faint smile on his thin lips and a sly look in those charcoal eyes. Net zero information gained there. Could go either way, really.
“Okay, cool.” Is what comes out of his mouth at the last second. That’s the perfect response! Very neutral. Good job, him.
With a slightly raised eyebrow, Yusuke simply nods. It seems that this is the end of their exchange.
That’s more than fine with him. He’s rather relieved to finally have a short conversation. It was only manageable because he wasn’t the one leading it, and he got caught in an awkward spot where his brain just noped out.
God, he needs to get out of his own head today. He vows to spend the rest of the night not focusing on what Yusuke is doing, nor wondering if he’s being observed by Yusuke at length.