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The snow along the Samagawa flood plains was cast with a rosy hue as the sun began to dip below the tree line. The former investigation team had spent the afternoon catching up with their leader who was in town visiting his uncle and cousin over the winter break sans Rise who was busy preparing for a concert tour starting in the New Year. Since it was getting dark, the team decided to split for the night and make their way home for the evening.
Yosuke and Yu decided to walk Chie and Yukiko back to the Amagi Inn where Chie was spending the night with Teddie also tagging along since he would be heading home with Yosuke. Yu watched as his best friend walked ahead with the girls, bickering with Chie while Yukiko made the occasional snarky comment, and he couldn’t help but feel at ease. Every time he returned to Inaba, there was always a part of him that worried that with the distance he wouldn’t fit in like he used to, but somehow every time he was back he felt himself slide back into place like he had never left.
Teddie was walking alongside him and was uncharacteristically quiet for a change. “What’s on your mind?” Yu asked curiously, and Teddie glanced at him before nervously crossing his arms behind his back. He then glanced toward where Yosuke was walking with the girls. Afterward, he leaned conspiratorially toward Yu while keeping his voice down.
“Are you and Yosuke fighting, sensei?” he asked quietly, while glancing again at his brother figure.
“Why would you think that?” Yu asked, genuinely baffled by Teddie’s question.
“It’s just…normally you’re both inseparable and today it seemed like you weren’t as close as usual,” Teddie frowned. “Yosuke was so excited you were coming home, but at our outing you were hardly together. And now, you’re not even walking together.”
Yu let out a light hum as he pondered Teddie’s words. “We discussed it beforehand. I wanted to make sure I got to spend time with everyone,” he explained.
Teddie still appeared doubtful, and he chewed on his lip before tilting his head and observing Yosuke for a few more moments. Then, he appeared to make up his mind and letting out a high-pitched squeal, he threw himself between the girls and shoved Yosuke back, proclaiming that he wanted to talk with them and all but forcing Yosuke next to his partner. “What the hell, Ted?” Yosuke huffed, while Teddie completely ignored him and started an animated discussion with Chie and Yukiko. They were getting close to the inn now so it would only be a few more minutes before they dropped off the girls.
“Do you know what that was about?” Yosuke asked, his brows furrowed. Yu gave a small shrug.
“He seems to be worried we may be fighting,” he calmly replied, while Yosuke raised an eyebrow.
“Why would we be fighting? He really gets some weird ideas in his head sometimes.” Yosuke’s cheeks were flushed from the cold air, although Yu couldn’t help but ponder if some of the color may also be a light blush. Either way it was a charming look on him.
Once they got to the Amagi Inn, Teddie proclaimed he also wanted to stay the night, much to the annoyance of Chie and Yukiko. “It’s so beary cold, I want to have a nice bath in the onsen,” he whined, and after a few minutes the others caved in.
“Fine, I’ll let mom and dad know you won’t be back tonight,” Yosuke said, once Yukiko reluctantly agreed to let Teddie stay in an available room. Teddie looked pretty pleased with the turn of events.
“Be sure to walk sensei home, Yosuke,” he said with a wave, before disappearing inside. Yukiko let out a small eye roll, while Chie shook her head.
“He isn’t exactly subtle, is he?” Yu asked after they had exchanged goodbye with the girls and began their way toward the Dojima residence.
“That’s probably the only reason Yukiko caved,” Yosuke replied. “Do you think she also thought we were fighting?”
“I’m sure everyone found it odd you weren’t hanging all over me today,” Yu said bluntly.
“Hey, this was your idea,” Yosuke argued. “You’re the one who wanted to try to hide this from everyone.”
“Only because I still want it between us for now,” Yu pointed out calmly. He glanced down the empty street, devoid of the usual early evening bustle due to the falling snow that had started to pick up on their walk home, and reached over to take his partner’s hand. Yosuke also quickly looked around before squeezing it and pressing closer. Yu was finally able to get a close up look of his bright eyes and rosy cheeks, and he couldn’t help but feel like while Yosuke was really built for the summer and spring, there was something particularly lovely about him during the winter months. “Staying as far away as we were was probably a bit too much though.”
“Hey, I can’t trust myself not to reveal anything if we’re too close,” Yosuke pointed out. “You know I’m a terrible actor. Not everyone has your perfect poker face.”
“I’m sure it wouldn’t have been too different to how you acted before,” Yu mused, and Yosuke lightly punched his shoulder.
“I’m starting to regret agreeing to date you,” he grumbled.
“No, you’re not,” Yu said, flashing him a grin and enjoying the deepening of the blush on Yosuke’s face.
“Ok, maybe not, but it’s still not fair you have more of an effect on me than I do on you,” he grumbled.
“What makes you think that?” Yu asked.
“You’re totally unaffected whenever I hang all over you,” Yosuke scoffed. He kicked his foot in the snow, and Yu realized that he felt self-conscious about it.
“Yosuke, I have never been unaffected by you,” Yu replied, causing both of them to stop. They weren’t far from the Dojima household now and in fact were standing by the streetlamp that Yu’s window overlooked. Snowflakes danced around them, blanketing their conversation by the gentle patter as they slowly piled up around them.
“Really?” Yosuke asked, not looking like he quite believed it.
Yu turned to face Yosuke and tugged him forward by their clasped hands before gently pressing his free hand against Yosuke’s cheek. Yosuke leaned into it while matching Yu’s gaze. “Really,” Yu said softly, before leaning forward. Yosuke met him halfway, having to get on his tiptoes in order to press their lips firmly together.
The wind brushed past their bangs and left them both with a chill, but they ignored it for this rare opportunity; they had only been dating for a handful of weeks after Yosuke had confessed over the phone after letting Yu know he was studying to take the entrance exams to get into a university in Tokyo so they could live closer to one another. So far, they had only been able to sneak in one kiss since Yu had been back in town. Neither of them wanted to squander this opportunity for a second one.
Yosuke was clutching Yu’s jacket with his free hand, and Yu tilted his head so Yosuke wouldn’t have to tiptoe up anymore. Yosuke sighed into the kiss, his warm breath brushing against Yu’s lips before he dove in for a second kiss, gently brushing his lips against Yu’s while pressing forward to get closer to him. Yu placed his hand to cup the back of Yosuke’s head instead while Yosuke wrapped his arm around Yu’s waist, tugging him closer and simultaneously trying to deepen the kiss. “Partner,” he gasped against Yu’s mouth, and Yu suddenly wished that neither Nanako nor his uncle were home. Unfortunately for them both, they very much were and undoubtedly Nanako would be soon looking out the window for him while wondering when he’d be home.
Yu reluctantly pulled back while giving Yosuke an apologetic look. Yosuke let out a sigh, pressing one last kiss against Yu’s chilled cheek and brushing some snow from his hair before finally taking a step back. “Well, looks like this is your stop,” he said, before awkwardly running his hand through the back of his hair.
“How’s studying been coming along?” Yu asked, and Yosuke gave him an odd look before his expression flickered as he read between the lines.
“Honestly, it’s going really well,” he said. “Now that I have the right motivation, I’m finally starting to get things. Yukiko’s been tutoring me.”
“So, soon, you’ll be in Tokyo and we’ll be able to see each other more often,” Yu said.
“Partner, I plan on living with you,” Yosuke frankly replied, and it was finally Yu’s turn to blush. Yosuke looked delighted at his accomplishment and gave Yu a cheeky grin. “So, for now, I’ll take what I can get.”
“After New Years,” Yu started. “After New Years we’ll tell the others.”
Yosuke tilted his head. “Are you sure you’re ready?” he asked. He surprisingly hadn’t been as worried about letting everyone else know even though he should have been the one with more hangups; it was like once things had clicked for him the only path was forward.
“I’m technically ready now,” Yu said. “I just selfishly didn’t want to share you with anyone yet.”
It was Yosuke’s turn to blush again. “Ugh, partner, how can you just say things like that?”
Yu gave him a soft smile, before pushing his bangs out of the way and pressing one last kiss to Yosuke’s forehead. “Text me when you get home.”
Yosuke waited for Yu to step inside before he turned to start trudging through the snow to his home, whistling softly to himself as he walked away. Nanako was sitting in front of the TV waiting for Yu as expected, and she gave him an excited “Welcome home!” as Yu watched from the doorway as Yosuke walked away. “Did you have fun?” she asked, once Yu finally closed the door.
“I did,” Yu replied. “Would you like to hear about it?” As he joined his cousin at the kotatsu in front of the television, his mind couldn’t help but wander back to his boyfriend – his boyfriend! – and how magical it had been to sneak a kiss in the snow. He was glad they were taking this time to themselves while their relationship was so new, but he was also starting to feel ready to share with the others. He didn’t want to hide Yosuke, and he also didn’t want their friends to incorrectly think something was amiss. He looked forward to their reactions once they spilled the beans and even moreso looked forward to being able to kiss him more openly in the future.