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The Phantom Thieves’ way to their target in Mementos had been considerably peaceful—at least until they reached a large group of weaker shadows guarding the closed area where the stronger enemy waited.
So, while the group faced their target, Ryuji and Yusuke stayed behind, keeping the other shadows at bay. They were more than used to fighting together by that point, and complemented each other’s fighting style in a way that covered their weaknesses and improved their strengths.
From the beginning, Ryuji felt there had been something between them that made them work well together, be it as a fighting duo, close friends, or lovers. As if they could read each other better than most people, despite how different they seemed on a surface level. Thinking about it made him happy: he loved Yusuke, and chose to take that as a sign that, no matter what happened in the future, they would manage to stay together.
With the two of them joining forces, even that large group of shadows had no chance of winning. Little by little, their numbers dropped until a single shadow was left standing. Ryuji and Yusuke exchanged a glance, and in a silent agreement, they charged together, defeating that final shadow with a joined attack. Instead of dissolving into dark mist, however, the shadow exploded into a thick, purplish goo that sent both of them to the ground, coughing.
“Damn it!”
Ryuji’s brain froze for a moment when he heard his own voice—familiar and strange at the same time. He instinctively looked down at himself, only to see a taller and slender body, covered in blue and white clothes.
“The hell…?”
He looked to the side, and to his shock, saw himself there, covering his mouth with a hand as he coughed.
“Fox?” he called. “Is that you?”
Yusuke looked at him, his eyes widening as he came to that same realization.
“You are—”
His words were cut off by a pained groan. He leaned forward, bringing both hands to his right thigh.
“Hey…!” Ryuji rushed to his side, concerned. “You okay?”
Yusuke shook his head. “My leg… No, yours…”
He stopped talking, looking at Ryuji with a creased brow.
“Were you… fighting like this?”
The question caught him by surprise. Yes, he had been faintly aware of his aching leg, but he had gotten so used to it that his mind barely registered the pain—at least not as something urgent. However, to someone who wasn’t as used to it as he was…
“It wasn’t that bad,” he said.
“It is.”
There was a rare hint of anger in his voice, which made Ryuji want to abandon that subject as quickly as possible.
“C’mon, Fox… Is this really what you’re worried about right now?” He waved his hand between the two of them. “Look at us.”
“I already did.”
“You’re pretty calm about it…”
Yusuke sighed. “It is not the strangest thing that has happened to us this week.”
Considering that a few days before, half their group—including the two of them—had been afflicted with confusion, that was understandable. Ryuji had abandoned both the top half of his clothes and his weapon, and tried to fistfight an entire group of shadows, while Akira dramatically clung to his leg and cried about his inevitable death; meanwhile, Yusuke sketched the scene on the ground with a suspicious piece of chalk he found among the remains of a shadow, and Ann made a full cheerleader routine for him—which included fire, for some reason. Ryuji would have thought Futaba and Morgana were exaggerating if Makoto and Haru hadn’t confirmed the whole story.
“Well, I guess…”
An embarrassing memory, but he hoped that had been enough to end the previous subject. The hope, however, didn’t last.
“Why did you hide it?” asked Yusuke.
“I didn’t…” Ryuji averted his gaze. “It just hurts like that sometimes. You kinda learn to ignore it.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t do shit but stay in bed feeling miserable.”
He wasn’t trying to be dramatic or anything, but his words made Yusuke lower his head.
“You never told me it was this bad,” he said in a low voice.
“I’m used to it, that’s all.” Ryuji sat by his side. “And even if I complain, it doesn’t make it better.”
“Is it always like this?”
“Nah. I mean, sometimes it’s pretty bad, but most of the time it’s fine.”
“Is it really?”
“Yeah.” Ryuji met his gaze. “Why would I lie to you about it?”
“Perhaps because you tend to hide your troubles from me.” As if noticing the sharpness in his tone, Yusuke continued in a softer voice. “My apologies… It simply caught me by surprise.”
Ryuji nodded, lowering his eyes. “I didn’t try to hide any of it.”
“I know. But you still do.”
“Did I worry you?”
“Quite so.”
“My bad… I really didn’t mean to.”
“I know.” Yusuke sighed. “But I wish you would tell me. Even if it seems like something small to you. You taught me to share my troubles, so I wish you would do the same.”
Ryuji let out a small, nervous laugh—which sounded strange in Yusuke’s voice. “Old habits, I guess… I’ll try to change it, though.”
“Thank you.”
He didn’t sound angry anymore, but still, Ryuji couldn’t fully relax. He moved closer to Yusuke, looking at his face.
“Are you mad at me?” he asked.
“No. Just worried.”
“Sorry.”
“It is fine,” said Yusuke. “As long as you understand how I feel.”
“I do, really.”
“It is all fine, then.”
His reassurance made Ryuji’s—Yusuke’s?—heart feel lighter. As he looked at his face carrying Yusuke’s expression, however, a strange, slightly unpleasant feeling made him laugh.
“It’s so weird to look at my own face like this…”
“Indeed,” Yusuke chuckled. “I want to kiss you, but not as myself.”
The idea of kissing himself was enough to send a shiver down Ryuji’s spine. “Yeah… Let’s hope whatever this is goes away soon.”
So, instead, they approached their faces until their foreheads touched. Despite the changes, the feeling was still comforting… Ryuji closed his eyes, bringing a hand to Yusuke’s face.
“Love you,” he said.
Yusuke brought a hand to the back of his head, caressing his hair. “I love you too.”
They stayed like that for a minute longer, until Ryuji’s body was taken by a strange, fuzzy feeling. Then, a moment later, a strong ache in his right leg made him open his eyes.
Yusuke was there, right before him, with his usual appearance; Ryuji looked down at himself, and his body was his own again. A wave of relief made him sigh.
“Looks like it’s over now,” he said.
“Took it long enough.”
“Yeah.”
They shared smiles just before they shared a kiss. A light one at first, but as soon as they broke apart and their gazes met, something stronger than either of them pulled them together into a second, deeper one. Neither of them pulled away for more than an instant to catch their breath, relief and affection melting together as they held each other close.
“Eww…”
Morgana’s voice suddenly brought them back to reality. They parted their lips, looking toward their group, which was a mix of giggles and exasperated faces. The second case was strongest with Morgana.
“You were supposed to be fighting, not making out!”
Ryuji grunted. “Shut it, Mona… You see any shadows around?”
“Just leave them.” Haru giggled, amused. “Nice work, you two!”
“Same to you!” said Ryuji.
Makoto moved closer, creasing her brow at the sight of the purplish stains left by that shadow. “Looks like you were hit by something… Is either of you injured?”
Ryuji almost said “no,” but Yusuke’s expression made him stop that automatic response.
“My leg is kinda acting up again.”
“Alright, just a moment.”
Saying that, Makoto crouched before him, casting Diarama. It wasn’t enough to heal that old injury, but helped alleviate the pain.
“Sorry for the trouble,” said Ryuji.
“It’s no trouble at all.” She smiled. “Does it feel better now?”
She never blamed him for needing help, and yet, every time, a scared part of Ryuji couldn’t help but expect the worst. Maybe, just like that instinct to hide his pain, that too was something he needed to work on.
“Yeah!” He returned the smile. “Thanks!”
“Our troublemaker is afraid of causing trouble…” Ann lightly patted his head. “Can you believe it?”
“That’s Skull for you,” Morgana responded, shaking his head.
Ryuji groaned. “Yeah, I see how it is… No ’good job, Skull,’ or ’I hope your leg gets better.’ Just troublemaker this, troublemaker that…”
In response, Ann crouched by his side, kissing his cheek.
“Good job,” she said.
Ryuji blinked, taken aback by the gesture. “I…”
Before he could say anything, however, Akira rushed to his side.
“Ah, I want to join!”
He threw his arms around Ryuji’s neck, giving his face a loud kiss.
“Are we all doing this, then?” asked Futaba with a mischievous grin.
“Maybe we should make a line,” Haru suggested.
Her words made Ryuji raise both hands in front of him. “Wait, wait… That’s enough, already. I get it, okay?”
Ann laughed. “Aww, he’s all red.”
“So adorable!” said Haru.
Ryuji groaned in response, but wasn’t as displeased as he tried to sound. It was good to see how much they actually cared about him—he needed that reminder from time to time.
Ann stretched up her arms with a pleased sound. “I think we’re all done here for today.”
“Let’s go, then!” Futaba looked at Ryuji and Yusuke. “Joker is making curry for us tonight.”
“Hell yeah!”
“You have my gratitude, leader.”
Akira brought a hand to his chest, slightly bowing at them. “Yes, yes… Keep the praises coming.”
“Actually,” said Makoto, “save them for after we leave Mementos. More shadows could appear at any minute.”
“Good point.” With those words, Morgana changed into his car form. “Alright, all aboard!”
Everyone did as he said. Ryuji stood up, and despite most of the pain being gone, the movement made him grunt. Yusuke moved closer to him.
“Is it hurting?” he asked.
“A little.”
“You may lean on me.”
The pain wasn’t actually that bad, but instead of saying so, Ryuji placed his arm over Yusuke’s shoulders, while Yusuke supported him by the waist.
It was still weird to accept help for things he believed he could do alone, but… If he was going to change those old habits, then that was a first step—and judging by Yusuke’s expression, he was glad Ryuji had taken it as well.