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The Dojima residence began feeling like a second home to Yosuke.
With how often he occupied the family space, one could begin to consider that Yosuke was even part of it. Nanako seemed to think of him as a brother-type of figure anyways, and with his undeniable bond with the nephew residing inside, it was undeniable that the residence was special to Yosuke in ways he never imagined. It was why entering the household was so easy– especially when there was a police detective with a scowl to freeze Hell over living there.
Besides, there was only one big reason he frequented the Dojima house as much as he did, anyways.
Nanako greeted Yosuke at the door when he rang the doorbell, her bright and familiar smile made him grin just as widely. In his possession was a small grocery bag full of snacks and games for him and Yu to play– it was the last few weeks before Yu’s departure from Inaba and Yosuke was hell-bent on spending as much time with his partner as possible. He needed to fill his quota so that when he left, Yosuke wouldn’t be starved and alone.
There was also the part where he was deeply in-love with his partner, so even if Yu wasn’t leaving, he’d want to be around him twenty-four seven. But that was neither here nor there.
“Is your big bro around? He’s not answering his phone.” Yosuke crouched down to meet Nanako’s height, his free hand coming around to pat her playfully on the head. It earned a solid giggle as she nodded excitedly.
“Yeah! He is! But he’s… Um… What was the word he used…” Nanako’s sentence mumbled off at the end as her brows furrowed in contemplation. When it hit her, her grin grew brighter from accomplishment. “In the zone!”
“In the zone?” Yosuke repeated, a bit caught off guard by the randomness. What did that even mean? It was so vague– but leave it to his partner to be vague, that wasn’t surprising. Nanako nodded once again and pointed to the direction of the stairs with her little finger.
“You’ll see. But big bro doesn’t like when people go into his room when he’s in the zone. Usually I wait until he’s finished but he just started so it might be a while.”
Yosuke’s intrigue and mild concern only grew from Nanako’s response. He wasn’t sure what Yu could’ve been up to if something like it was recurrence enough for Nanako to pick up on a pattern. His partner was eccentric, it could’ve been anything honestly. Giving her one last pat of gratitude, Yosuke got up from his position, his knees aching from prolonged squatting, and he gave a final wave before heading towards the bottom of the staircase.
Yu had never mentioned any rigorous activities of this caliber to him. Yosuke knew well about his various other hobbies like his paper crane making and his model building but he wasn’t especially prickly when any of the Investigation Team joined him presence-wise. Nanako knew not to interrupt so it had to be something private. Instinctively, Yosuke’s head went into the gutter and he imagined Yu being up to something more salacious but he immediately tried to shake that thought away. It embarrassed him to the point where he tripped on a stair and stubbed his toe, earning a solid sharp hiss that inhaled through his gritted teeth. Nanako’s echo’d voice of concern was waved off as the throbbing made Yosuke want to scream.
No– Yu wouldn’t ever do anything of that caliber with Nanako in the house. It had to be something else. His partner was a good guy so it couldn’t be anything illegal as well, that meant his options of consideration were limited. Although his consideration was cut short when an unknown melody began filling the air around Yosuke as he ascended further up the stairs.
“Is that… A violin?”
Yosuke paused briefly on the last step, the previous distant sounds of music growing in sound until it got its strongest next to Yu’s door. He knew Yu liked listening to classical music when he was studying, but he had done all his homework already so there wasn’t a need to do work. And the melody gracing Yosuke’s ears felt too real– as if Yu himself was playing the violin and not something from a DVD player. Yosuke’s instincts took over and before he could stop to consider that entering without a heads-up could be considered rude, the door swung open and there stood Yu in all of his beautiful, elegant glory.
Violin and bow in hand with a music sheet neatly propped on his model display shelf.
The look of startlement on Yu’s normally composed face made Yosuke feel slightly bad for his abrupt intrusion, but the burning interest in what was before him smothered the guilt out completely. The both of them stayed quiet for a few beats before Yosuke snapped himself out of his daze and scratched at his neck sheepishly.
“You uh– you sounded great! I didn’t know you knew how to play the violin– and you play the bass too, what can’t you do?” Yosuke lightly teased, pushing the door behind him closed as he watched Yu lower the violin to his side, clearly at odds on whether to put it away fully or not. “I see what you’re doing, keep it out. Didn’t mean to interrupt you.”
After being called out so thoroughly, Yu had a slight bashful expression written on his face and as he gave out a small sigh he held onto his instrument for Yosuke’s sake.
“I learned when I was a kid…” Yu said carefully, the hesitance made it seem as if the background behind it wasn’t worth the mention. Yosuke picked up on the subtext and attributed it to his homelife, but he wasn’t the type to not learn as much as he could about his partner.
Yosuke purposefully left the space filled with unspoken heaviness as he traveled towards the couch to put the goods on the table. “Your parents made you learn, I bet. I still don’t like them.”
“They did their best with what they had.” Yu’s lips tightened momentarily and he’d feel more insulted if this was anyone but Yosuke commenting on his upbringing. “They wanted me to learn since instruments are a good way to drill in proficiency and routine.”
Yosuke let out a rude snort, as if he didn’t believe in their good intentions. “I bet they wanted a dog-and-pony show to show you off to their elite high-rise clients.” But when Yu fell silent, Yosuke’s posture straightened in slight offense on Yu’s behalf. “Are you serious? Did they throw you to the wolves to entertain their guests?”
With a slight casual shrug of the shoulders, Yosuke took that as a sign that a conversation like this wouldn’t go anywhere. But the idea of Yu keeping up with his violin skills when it was his parents’ wishes and not his left a bitter taste in his mouth. He had questions– a multitude of them, but he had one above it all that burned at his curiosity.
“Do you at least like playing the violin? Or is it all for your folks?” Yosuke asked, crossing his arms over his fluffy jacket.
“I do. I grew to enjoy it, at least,” Yu hummed, casting a glance down at the black violin in his grasp. “Even if I didn’t, they’d try to get me into something else. But I like playing it.”
The rush of relief that was sent through Yosuke’s body was unprecedented. Yu’s happiness was one of the most important things to Yosuke, embarrassingly enough. If he was miserable doing something, he would’ve done his damndest to either make it enjoyable or convince him to quit entirely. Hearing that Yu wasn’t pointlessly wasting his time was pleasing to hear.
“Soooo… What were you playing, partner? Classical music isn’t my forte, it’s a total snoozefest but if it’s you playing then you caught my interest.” Yosuke approached Yu and bumped his arm with his own, the briefest touch sending tingles down Yosuke’s spine.
His question was met with silence though— typical behavior for his partner but there was a difference in the quiet lack of response. Yu’s face turned away from Yosuke’s as a nearly untraceable expression of embarrassment spread across his features. The silence continued to linger and it confused Yosuke to no end— but he wasn’t the kind of guy to leave his own questions unanswered.
With his usual signature quickness, Yosuke bounded over to the shelf, stealing the music sheet with surprising elegance and holding the paper up to his gaze to see what its contents contained. But what he didn’t expect was Yu’s sudden appearance by his side, attempting to grab back the sheet music with evading swipes of Yosuke’s arm. The two of them tangled back and forth with shuffling feet and limbs flailing like an uncoordinated dance. Clearly, this was supposed to not be seen by eyes that weren’t Yu’s.
“Dude—! Hey-! Stop being so stingy, it’s just music! What are you playing— is this french?” Yosuke finally got a glimpse of the title and it was in a totally foreign language. He only recognized it being French in nature because of Naoto's interest in lame old French debonair films but he didn’t expect Yu to take a shine in it. His partner took a step back, his pale cheeks turning a surprisingly bright shade of red as his flustered exposure had him gripping his violin tighter.
“…Yes,” Yu replied hastily, eyes shooting every which way but Yosuke’s direction. “It’s Edward Elgar’s Salut d’Amour.”
“Huh? Partner… Since when can you understand French? What does the title mean?” Yosuke questioned, holding the paper down to his chest.
Yu paused momentarily. “I know a few phrases, a lot of composers are European. I research pieces before I play so I can fully understand what I’m playing.”
Yosuke noticed the lack of answer to his other question. He poked more. “And? What does salut d’amour mean?” He knew he butchered the hell out of that phrase but correct pronunciation was the least of his concerns.
“It means love’s greeting. Elgar wrote it as an engagement present to his then fiancé turned wife so it’s a romantic serenade.” It seemed as if it took all of Yu’s energy just to admit such a simple statement. It furthered Yosuke’s confusion— why was he so hesitant to admit he was playing a piece like that? Did he think Yosuke would make fun of him for that? He wouldn’t, his partner was off limits for his teasing in that regard.
In his hands held some old and probably dead guy’s feelings for his partner. He took the time to write something most likely beautiful sounding to propose to the love of his life. The weight of profound affection tied his hands down, the sheet of music paper suddenly felt like something he couldn’t hold up. But there was a disconnect as well— Yosuke was seeing someone’s love… But in a medium like music, seeing was only half of the experience.
There was an urge that pulled deep in his chest to hear Yu play such a piece for him specifically. That maybe instead of Elgar’s love that he was listening to, it would be his partner’s.
“Play it for me,” Yosuke abruptly said, the intensity of his voice spooking both himself and Yu.
Yu blinked a few times before turning his head to face the violin in his hands. It was as if the gears in his head were turning— it was a familiar look of consideration. Yosuke discovered over time that Yu often looked like he wasn’t listening but in actuality, there was never a time where he wasn’t thinking when it came to others. There were a lot of little quirks that Yosuke memorized about his partner— his eyebrows furrowing was a sign that he wasn’t exactly for the idea of playing such a piece for Yosuke.
“Ah… I would but I haven’t practiced it enough. It doesn’t sound good enough yet.” There was something in Yu’s tone that felt too vague— almost as if there was something more under the surface in regards to his words.
“Come on. Your worst probably sounds like Mozart’s best day. Isn’t practicing with an audience better for you anyways?” Yosuke took a final look at the sheet music in his grasp and gave it back to Yu, hoping he’d finally bend to his whim like he usually did.
Yu’s continued pause finally broke and he gave a soft sigh of resignation. Yosuke’s badgering had won. “Okay. It’s now or never, I guess…”
Yosuke’s passing puzzled expression at Yu’s last remark was ignored to prioritize getting into the ready position to perform. His posture immediately straightened— almost as if he was a soldier at attention. When the music sheet returned to its rightful place back on the shelf, Yu gave a quick look between Yosuke and his old couch and like clockwork, Yosuke followed his cue to sit down and get himself comfortable.
It was a bit mesmerizing seeing Yu’s presence change just from preparing to play. The well-cared for violin sat snug in-between his neck and chin— the usual ugly sight of it looked absolutely ethereal on Yu. His typical up-right shoulders were relaxed and he aligned his body so that the violin would line with his left foot. He looked professional— as if he was born to play such a refined instrument. Or maybe that was because Yu himself was as refined as they came. He was a natural when it came to making himself and everything he did seem effortless. It was one of the many traits that allured Yosuke to him, after all.
But instead of hearing the beginning notes start to flow into the air, all Yosuke got was stark quiet.
“Hey… It’s okay, seriously. I’m not gonna judge you or anything. Just pretend I’m a cute girl or something that you’re playing for, kay? Maybe that’ll get your confidence back up. It’s weird seeing you so hesitant,” Yosuke gently joked, ending his lame quip with a signature wink. Even though he said that to help Yu, the idea of him envisioning Yosuke as anyone else as he played the pinnacle of romantic music made his skin crawl.
It seemed to do the trick though as his encouragement made Yu nod in response and wisen up to start his playing. Yosuke wasn’t sure if his words actually having an effect made him feel better or not.
If this was Yu when he barely practiced, Yosuke wondered what he sounded like when he mastered a piece.
The first few notes already made Yosuke rapt with amazement. He was mesmerized and they had barely started. He wasn’t sure which he preferred, the beautiful sound of the melody picking up in volume as it vibrated and wavered or the sight of Yu playing himself. His eyes had closed shut— almost as if he was whisking himself into another world while his bow slowly and methodically moved every which way across the reverberating strings of the violin. He gently swayed with each movement, his hair shifting and flowing even, it seemed as if the world went still solely to allow Yu to play in peace. It gave Yosuke a whole new insight to a side of his best friend that he hadn’t seen before, and he was taking total advantage of being able to simply stare and admire Yu in such an intimate setting.
The melody reminded Yosuke of a typical ballroom scene he’d find in any old romance movie— he was never a classical buff but Yu’s playing demanded his attention and threatened to never let go of it. The swelling of the music had him physically rise with it— his placement on the couch teetered on the edge and he had to remind himself to breathe. He was getting too caught up in the daze of Yu’s playing. He hadn’t slipped up once, each note was specifically curated to perfection and filled with a surprising amount of emotion that Yu never emitted himself. It was as if he had composed this piece himself, he had taken it and made it his own wholly and fully.
It made Yosuke question who he was picturing as he played the serenade.
Who had captured the unshakable Yu’s heart? With how he played, it was obvious that someone weighed in his mind. Selfishly, he hoped it was him. It was too easy to indulge in his fantasies— pretending that the piece Yu was playing was meant for him. That their tucked away, hidden from the rest of the world routine was for them and them alone. Imagining that this performance was for Yosuke made it all the more sweeter and it was turning what should’ve been regular practice into a hedonistic torture session. A sacrificial pursuit of what never could be fulfilled.
The violin’s range hit a peak, akin to a soprano’s high notes before returning back down to earth. Yosuke hadn’t realized he had closed his eyes until they fluttered back open, the prior blackness bringing itself to an end as the room— but more importantly Yu— filled his vision. For a moment, a mere moment, Yosuke understood why classical music was so integral. It could make a person feel in ways unfounded and Yu’s feelings shined the brightest with it. The composer’s love for his then fiancé was conveyed through Yu. Yosuke was properly experiencing it now and he was caught in a whirlwind of appreciation, heart-aching yearning, and a wish that he could’ve been the center for such deep love from the one he adored.
The song ended too soon for Yosuke’s liking and by the time the song began petering out, Yu closed with a final elongated note that sent tremors through Yosuke’s skin, sending goosebumps trailing up and down his arms. After the serenade came to an end, the silence that lingered between them was heavy enough to choke on. Neither wanted to be the first to speak up and shatter what lingered in the air— although what lingered there specifically wasn’t something Yosuke could put his finger on.
But a burning sensation began to well up in his chest and nothing could stop the words from bursting from his mouth.
“Why that song?” Yosuke blurted out, gripping the fabric of the couch as the bunched up material scratched at his calloused palms.
“Huh?” Yu’s voice sounded a bit too far away— dazed and not all there.
“W-Why’d you pick that song specifically, I mean-“ Yosuke was fumbling over his words, he wasn’t sure why he was suddenly a mess but it was taking every piece of willpower existent in him to not fall apart at the seams right then and there. “It’s just— it’s probably really niche and it sounded super good but… Y’know. It’s- yeah, you get it.”
Yu looked as if he sort of understood what Yosuke meant, it was an accomplishment all on its own since he was the only person alive who could make heads or tails of his incoherentness, and thinned his lips. “…It was supposed to be a gift.”
“A gift?”
“For the person I like.”
“What!?”
Yosuke nearly tripped over the table when he stood up with break-neck speed. Out of anything Yu could’ve said, what he confessed to wasn’t anything he expected. He watched Yu take a step back in surprise at his outburst– but it was hard not to have a visceral reaction when a bomb of that size was dropped on his head. He could feel the sickeningly harsh beating of his heart in his ears as the new information revealed to him had trouble settling in his consciousness.
Yu, his partner, and his best friend liked someone. And the off chance that that someone could’ve been Yosuke himself was slim to none. He had gone out of way to learn a musical piece filled with love to give as a gift– the painfully earnest and sentimentality of such a grand gesture was agonizing. Yu was more considerate than most, but even something like this was too much to Yosuke– and the fact that he admitted it outright without missing a beat stunned him beyond anything else. He knew if he was in his position, he would’ve waved it off or pretended it was for another circumstance. But Yu’s honesty was blinding and if Yosuke was in a different predicament, he’d feel touched that he was being confided in.
But the predicament wasn’t different, and Yosuke harbored the harrowing realization of Yu’s feelings– a fact that he could never unlearn.
“...Is it that much of a surprise that I would do something like this? Maybe a song would be too overwhelming…” Yu hummed, passing a look of deliberation towards the sheet music.
God. It was just like Yu to be focused on the wrong thing. It left Yosuke completely flabbergasted.
“That’s not it, you idiot! You’re into someone? So much so that you’d whip out a whole routine performance to play as a gift!?” Yosuke gaped, running a hand through his caramel colored bangs with stress.
Yu gave a small nod. “Yes. In all honesty, a song represents only a fraction of how I feel. It’s too difficult to put into words or gestures.”
“But… Why a song? Why play violin at all?”
“They like music. Not classical but… I thought it would be a good way to convey how I feel.”
Yosuke noticed the neutral pronoun but his head was too much of a mess for it to truly register in his head.
Yu was perfect in every way, but it was disgustingly endearing to see him have such deliberations over what would be the best method of an essential confession. He often had difficulties expressing himself, Yosuke knew that fact better than most– it was why he was the messenger for all his whims. He could see how something like a serenade would be a halfway decent sincere expression of his affection even if the very idea of someone else receiving said confession boiled his blood.
“You’re ridiculous, you know that?” Yosuke sighed, falling back on his ass onto the couch. His torso shifted downward so the weight of his body rested on his forearms which were propped down on his thighs. “Seriously, you’re like… Totally abnormal.”
“So you didn’t like it?” Yu frowned. Yosuke shook his head at his sentiment. “Do you think I shouldn’t have done this?”
“I liked it. Honestly, I’m a little jealous of whoever’s gonna be getting something like this.”
“Jealous?”
Scratching the back of his neck, Yosuke’s jaw tensed as he dropped his head further. He didn’t want to look at Yu when admitting to such embarrassing things– his bangs acted as curtains to give him protection. How couldn’t he be jealous? He knew neither of them were special in the worshipping sense, but he knew they were special to each other.
Or at least, that was what Yosuke thought. Maybe his version of special to Yu was different from Yu’s version of special to him.
It was hard to not have Yu be the center of his entire world– they had gone through so much together and they had been side-by-side since the very beginning. They were on a separate level that was entirely their own, but there were parts of Yu’s heart that even Yosuke couldn’t fill. He’d always be his partner, but there were roles that he’d never get the part for. Hearing that some mystery person would be to Yu, something Yosuke couldn’t be infuriated him to no end, he felt almost offended by the concept. He knew he didn’t own Yu– his partner wasn’t a thing for him to have as if he was an old childhood toy but coping with his partner having sections of himself that were being fulfilled by another was driving Yosuke crazy.
“Yeah man… I mean, someone caught your attention and you fell head over heels to the point you’d play them a whole damn song. They better not take my place as your partner.” Yosuke chuckled sardonically. Even the simple act of saying a sentiment like that was like leaving a physically vile taste in Yosuke’s mouth. “Being partners is like… The one thing I have over everyone else. Everyone wants you and you’re everyone’s friend but there’s only one partner for you and that’s me, y’know?
“Yosuke…” Yu trailed off. He sounded rather rattled and it was difficult to miss the miserable-sounding tone that crept in like a snake. “What are you talking about?”
The question caused a familiar sense of humiliation to bubble in his chest and the inevitability of back-tracking came into fruition in Yosuke. “That… Sounded really weird, didn’t it? Sorry, ignore me. It’s just the usual Yosuke’s dumb foot-in-mouth routine. I’m happy for you, man. I’ve been waiting for you to finally join the age of teenage boys because you were anything but. We can finally talk about girls like all guys should.”
Yosuke stood up once more and forced out an unnatural laugh, traversing over to Yu he smacked his arm with a bit too much strength. His attempts at making the atmosphere light-hearted had the opposite effect– it felt more tense than before. Yu could read him like a book though, it was nigh impossible to feign inauthenticity around him.
“No one could take your place, Yosuke. So please relax. Besides, you don’t have to be jealous.” Yu moved his bow to the hand holding the neck of the violin and used his newly freed hand to gently grab Yosuke’s bicep.
“Huh?” Yosuke blinked in slight confusion over what Yu was plotting, but he would never be against receiving any sort of contact from him. His mouth suddenly felt dehydrated and he swallowed harshly to ease his parched throat.
“At least ask me more about this person before you start spiraling.”
“I-I wasn’t spiraling! Agh, get off my ass! Fine, what’s this person like anyways?”
Yu squeezed at Yosuke’s bicep and suddenly his jacket made him feel a thousand times more warm. There was a sweet albeit small smile appearing on Yu’s face– almost as if he was getting deep pleasure from witnessing Yosuke’s panic. Once again, Narukami Yu was completely unreadable to him and he would’ve tried his best to figure him out if not for Yu’s response throwing him out for a loop.
“They’re integral to me. I wouldn’t be who I am now without them. He has some issues with wanting to make his mark and playing the big strong hero, but he’s done his best to handle those feelings and he’s come out stronger for it. He’s a bit clumsy and he doesn’t always say the right things, but if he wasn’t around, I’d be worse off. I’m his partner, and he’s mine…”
“P-Partner…? Yu? What are you trying to say-”
“The gift was for you, Yosuke. It was always going to be for you. You’re the person I like.”
Yosuke was speechless. The silence in the air was deafening as Yu’s words settled into him like a revelation refusing to be ignored. He almost convinced himself that he misheard Yu entirely– or that this was all some elaborate ruse. His thoughts came up with any and every excuse in the book to force an alternative– someone like him didn’t deserve something as amazing as this.
If what he heard was true– the honest truth– Yu harbored his own feelings for Yosuke. His pity party for one actually was thrown for no reason. The love he held for his partner was shared in full– Yu practiced a whole damn violin serenade as a gift for Yosuke. His mind was on overdrive and as thoughts mixed and merged into an incoherent tangled mess, he opened his mouth to try and say something rational.
“Why me? Came out instead.
“Why not you?” The gentleness and raw unfiltered fondness that came from Yu’s voice made Yosuke nearly want to cry. He felt the hand that rested on his bicep trail down, leaving a sparking trail of crackling electricity in its wake and then a soft hand gripping his as if it was a precious treasure to be held with the utmost care. “It wouldn’t– no, couldn’t be anyone else but you.”
“But I’m just… You know. I really don’t think you’re thinking straight about this.” If Yosuke wasn’t so self-hating at the moment, he would’ve chuckled at his choice of words. “Is it really me? Are you sure?”
Yu squeezed the hand in his grasp and nodded. “Listen to me. No one else has been by my side as much as you have. You’re what I’ve been missing in my life. I’ve spent my life constantly going from place to place and I’ve never really known what stability was… Until I met you.”
Yosuke’s stunned quietude gave way for more high praise– Yu was the one to take the reins for once when it came to semantics. It was a jarring switch of roles, but he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity given.
“I love you, Yosuke. And I know you love me back, it’s obvious. It’s why I never felt upset when you kept pushing women onto me. I was waiting for you to come to terms with it before I said anything, but we’re losing time and I’ll be leaving soon.” Yu’s lips quivered, unfamiliar to airing out all of his thoughts so freely “I love you, and I’ll never stop. So stop thinking so hard on your own feelings of inadequacy and just… Give me your answer.”
“My answer…” Yosuke trailed off, his eyes darting to their joined hands before returning to the boy before him. He looked so put together but under the surface, he was cracking. His hand was trembling and despite the perfect poker face Yu had mastered over the years, the fear of rejection that plagued him was as clear as day to Yosuke. “God, please don’t let this be a dream.”
“It’s not a dream. I just wish I got to show you the song when I perfected it. I had a whole plan set up for the execution.”
“You really wanted to go the extra mile? That’s so damn cute, I think I might puke.”
“Never did I think I’d hear you call another guy cute.”
“There’s some exceptions… Or rather, one exception.” Yosuke’s free hand raised itself part-way before stopping in mid-air– his gesture unfinished as embarrassment took hold of him. But it would be more stupid of him to neglect the parts of him that yearned. Suddenly, the hand moved forward with quickness and wrapped itself around the swell of Yu’s waist, the white pajama shirt riding up slightly in the process from the hasty movement and allowing Yosuke to feel the smallest patch of slightly cold skin under his fingertips. His posture turned a bit shy as he caught the faintest gasp escaping from Yu’s mouth. “I-Is this… Y’know. Fine? I’m sorta dying over here so anything would help. Or well- not anything. Don’t tell me it’s not, that might actually kill me-“
“Partner. It’s good. Great, even. I promise,” Yu said reassuringly, an amused look being unavoidable on his features.
“You’re enjoying this a little too much, aren’t you.”
“I’ve waited almost an entire year, I’m gonna savor this as much as I can.”
“What did you in? Was it the trashcan routine? Or was it seeing the worst side of myself in personified monster form? That really gets a guy going, I bet.” Yosuke snorted, subconsciously tugging Yu closer to his person.
Yu gave a dramatic hum of deep contemplation before giving Yosuke one of the most genuine smiles he had ever seen from the other since they met. It winded Yosuke and had his heart fluttering in his chest. “It was when we shook hands on the walk to Yasogami. When you officially called us partners. That’s when it all started.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
That was a redefining moment for the both of them. Two boys without a clue about how to handle a situation so much bigger than them with only each other to count on. It was a deal to stick together, but above it all it was a signifier for a genuine bond to be created. Both of them were so alike, it was practically fate for them to be tied together. The far-away look in Yu’s eyes returned— as if that encounter had an even deeper meaning for him that Yosuke was unaware of. Maybe if he asked, he’d get the full picture, but he decided that it could be saved for another day.
He wanted to stay in the moment and never leave it.
“You still never gave me a clear answer,” Yu spoke up, unweaving his hand from Yosuke’s to poke at his chest instead.
Yosuke’s eyebrow raised in incredulousness. “Was the waist grab not enough of an indicator? Do you think I just randomly grab guys’ waists for fun?”
“I know you don’t. Remember, even a hug is girly to you. How do I know you like me if you don’t say it outright?” Yu’s tone went purposefully flat— it was the same tone he used when he wanted to mess with Yosuke. He knew his partner hated saying sappy things out-loud— he wore his heart on his sleeve and was easily embarrassed. It was a perfect chance to tease him. “Are you using me, Yosuke? You can’t get any girls so you have to take advantage of someone with feelings for you? That’s so cruel, partner.”
“Ow! Since when did you get so catty? Rise must’ve rubbed off on you.” Yosuke rolled his eyes before sobering up a little. “Girls are great but… I was slightly overcompensating when I realized that I… You know.”
“I don’t, actually. Realized what?” Yu pressed on. His playfulness slowly dissipated and all that was left in its wake was a genuine desire to hear the love of his life say the words he had been praying to hear all along,
There was something terrifying about saying three little words. In actuality, those aforementioned three little words held so much power. It could create ever-lasting love or destroy relationships. Yosuke couldn’t deny that he was afraid of what would happen if they changed their status– their deeply rooted friendship turning into something more ran the risk of ruin if they fell out of love. A breakup would be devastating– Yosuke didn’t think he could ever come back it if it was with Yu. They were too integral to ever split apart and even entertaining the thought of a separation made Yosuke sick.
But the glimmer of hope in Yu’s eyes made the fears evaporate like the fog they lived in. It made Yosuke want to, at the very least, try.
“When I realized I–” Yosuke had to swallow the uncomfortableness of expressing how he felt. It nearly choked him out but he wouldn’t lose to himself. “I love you, Yu. I love you.”
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted to hear,” Yu said wobbly, the smile from before increased in size and he shifted to lean his forehead down to press against Yosuke’s. His eyes naturally shut and Yosuke followed suit– he was always following Yu's cue after all.
But there was still the big elephant in the room that Yosuke wanted to address– a topic that weighed heavy on his mind. Pulling away reluctantly, he looked up at his partner with his very own mischievous glint in his eyes and a coy smile to match.
“You know any other romantic pieces, wannabe Beethoven? I interrupted your practice session and Nanako-chan said you hate it when people interrupt. We gotta work extra hard to make up for all the time you wasted.” Yosuke smirked.
Yu casted a glance down to the bow and violin in his possession and gave a soft laugh of mirth. “Well… I do have a few. Speaking of Beethoven, I know how to play his Romance No. 2, though it’s quite long.”
“I love it when you get all technical on me, it’s hot.”
The both of them exchanged a glance before bursting out into laughter. Nothing had made Yosuke’s heart lighter than being with Yu. He didn’t care what shape or form it took, as long as he had his partner by his side he could withstand anything. Even boring classical music that he avoided like the plague. But even Yu made that experience bearable. He’d put up with listening only as long as it was Yu who was playing for him.
Yosuke’s appreciation for the art-form only grew that day.