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“Congratulations to our pageant sweetheart, Ms. Hanamura!!”
He…
Won!?
The crowd cheered for his victory or his suffering, he isn't sure. He admitted it, it was nice winning something.
His head shifted to the left at Kanji who raised his brow in what he assumed was bewilderment. Rise sure chose a dress to show all his muscles and the wig is overly impressive with how weirdly natural it was on him. The rest of it was meant to be elegant and Kanji is everything but, elegant. He would have a better chance at winning over a large portion of the audience if he took the effort in not looking freakin' scary all the time.
To his right, Teddie appeared deflated. Quite surprised he didn't take the win. Teddie's appearance was the most flattering. Cute dress and silky extensions. Teddie is kind of adorable. Maybe he would have won if he came in as his bearself.
“Ehh! this is beary unfair!” Teddie grumbled, “Yosuke is going to kiss all the girls!” Absolutely bewildered by Teddie’s logic. There is no way he thought dressing up as a girl will get him chicks. No girls would want to kiss him after seeing him like this!
Yosuke finally looked at Yu and his heart thumped faster because of the intense stare he was receiving. Yu demeanor has not changed either but, it matched with the delinquent leader girl aesthetic he was going for. Sporting a longer skirt, braids and a shinai, which really elevated his cool factor. Dangerous but, classy girl vibes. It's a shock he didn't win, especially how popular he has gotten at school. His partner smiled at him and he sputtered and turned his gaze to the ground. Yu appeared to be quite a stunner in drag too.
While yosuke…guessed he got his legs??
Now the skirt felt too short.
Why did I have to win this?!
Maybe the others didn't win because this school wanted to see him humiliated the most.
"Who the hell voted for Hanamura?”
“I didn't vote at all, I gave my ticket away.”
Eyes turned back to the crowd to see the source of the conversation, but instinctively covered, held a hand up in an attempt to block the flashing lights.
“Now miss gorgeous! Don't be shy! What is your winning speech to your raving fans!?” The room died down, awaiting his answer.
“I am not shy, dumbass,” He cursed before taking a deep breath and removing his hand. The audience was smiling at him. It was hard to tell if they were all genuinely happy for him, so he chose not to dwell on it, “Yeah! Hamamura!” Chie cried. His heart thumped and he ignored the heat forming at his cheeks. Guh who cares I won damn it! They had to have liked him enough to make him win. Even if it was to embarrass him, they let him win! Winning against his fellow teammates who have better chances means something! So suck it up and take the victory. “Oh um,” he cleared his throat so he could pull his high pitched girly voice. He stepped forward and the spotlight on him followed, “I want to say, thank you for voting for me! I’ll keep doing my best. So um I'm going to act super cute now!” He struck the girliest pose he could probably muster. Gave his best customer service smile that he had practice years working retail with a wink for flair. Hips sway to the side and throws out two peace signs angled to his head.
The room erupted.
“Oh my gosh! He is crazy cute!”
“There's no way a guy could go from a 4 to a 10 just like that!?”
“I know I said he didn't pull it off but, he kind of sold me at the end there.”
“Okay, for real who voted for him?”
“Wow,” the host's tone sounded more sarcastic than he would have liked, “Your feminine charisma has stunned the audience!” Yosuke quit the pose to give the nastiest glare. First was the questions and now the sarcastic jabs. This guy is going to get on his last nerves. (Not to mention how rude he was to Yu when he called him on to the stage)! “Well! With that conclusion, that will be it folks! Be sure to come back to our real pageant sweethearts in an hour!”
Yosuke blinked a few times once the gym light switched on. Students took no time shuffling out the door. The host continued before leaving the stage himself, “Now, remember everyone! You will get a chance to meet Miss Hanamura at the kissing booth for a limited time after the show! For bachelors and couples alike!”
His blood ran cold, mind working overdrive to inspect an error on his hearing comprehension. “Ka kiiss- kissing- kissing booth?!?” He shouted, but did not get an answer. He gestured to the girls below the stage, jutted his hands in the air and down, “When the hell did we add that!”
Rise only shrugged, “It's okay, it will only be two hours.”
“I'm stuck like this for two hours!” frustrated he gripped his hair and pulled, “I don't wanna kiss anyone looking like this!!” he whined. This is too much fear and anguish for a guy to experience in one day, “I was supposed to judge!”
Chie was smug about it, “Too bad, so sad!”
“Did you do this!?”
“Nah,” Rise chimed in, “It was Teddie’s idea. He convinced Kashiwagi that it would “bring more love to the air” or something like that.”
Yosuke is NOT bringing more love in the air for no one! This was sick, he couldn't kiss some random guy or look like a girl while kissing a girl. This makes sense for the girls but it doesn’t make sense to him. Teddie and his stupid logic! He stomped his feet and growled, “GRRRR TEDDIE!!”
The coward dared hide behind his partner, “I didn’t know you would win Ms. Hanamura!! Honest!” Shaking as if he is the one being sent to get kisses from some random pervert who wanna kiss him!
“Dont call me that you stupid bear!” The mascot covered his eyes once the finger jabbed in his direction. “I’m going to make you take all my shifts for this!” Yosuke got a glance at Yu and diverted his eyes just as quickly. He was still staring at him. Honestly he was hoping he’ll back him up, but Yu is thinking way too hard right now. He’ll have to ask him what is on his mind later.
“I don't think anyone would go to your booth besides couples.” It was hard to tell if Yukiko intended that to be an insult or to ease his freak out.
A quiet “damn” from Kanji confirms which one it could be.
The conversation shifted off topic and Yosuke had time to calm down. Yu came over to him, “You dropped this,” He showed him the cherry hair tie, “Let me tie it. It would be easier.” Yosuke stilled and allowed his partner to touch his hair and tie the accessory back. He can smell a light perfume off him and woah he was kind of close, “Thank you. God this sucks.”
“You will be okay. I’ll make sure to visit you.”
That's one thing to look forward to.
The dismay loosened up a bit while he headed to the booth. The girls led him over to the stand as the guys went off to change out of their clothes. They sound less mad at him now that he got what he deserved for putting them in this predicament. They all teased him except for Naoto. She gave him the silent treatment the whole way (He should make it up to her). Normally Yosuke would like this attention from a bunch of girls, but that did not feel right due to multiple reasons.
The booth is at the end of the hallway. A spot he loitered in after class, notably secluded…thank god. The stand had round and hearts shaped balloons, party garlands hung under the painted sign. There were fairy lights tied around the pillars. On the soft table cloth, there is a wheel labeled to different parts of the face.Two of the options were significantly smaller: “lips” and “date”. Yosuke cringed, on one hand it should be impossible judging by how big the “gift” option was compared to the rest, but the fact that it was there does not make the chances zero.
He huffed at his seat, thirty minutes go by and not a single person has come over because they got better things to do at this festival! He has better things to do at this festival! He could be hanging out with everyone and hanging out with Yu.
They were supposed to go through the haunted maze. He was anticipating the look on Yu’s face when he got startled, any reaction would do. Maybe he would grab on to him out of instinct or what if he hides behind him? Nah, that would be too far-fetched for Yu to do. It's not like they don’t fight monsters every other day…but still it’s something Yosuke wants to experience with his partner.
Speaking of a partner…hi is down the hall and running towards him. It's a regular occurrence, but he is definitely faster this time around.
“Oh! Hey, Partner!” Yosuke greeted, “I was seriously getting bored.” Yu came to him like an angel. He hopes he sticks around till the torture is over.
“Has anyone come over to your booth?”
“Nah, not a single one,” he sighed, “Guess Yukiko was right haha.”
Yu rummaged through his pocket, “I am honored to be your first,” and handed him a ticket.
“Wha- What the??” Life throwed curveball after curveball at him, “Are you serious??” There was no way he could prevent how heated his face felt. His heart thumped harder than the drums in the bands he listens to.
Yu gave him a smile, “Dead serious.”
“Oh…” The nerves kicked in and he did not like how nervous he was feeling. This is his partner we are talking about, he got to be cool here! He took the ticket off Yu’s hand, “Just spin the wheel and you’ll win whatever the arrows land on.” Just as the word left his mouth, the wheel spun. His heart was still pounding, staring at the back of the wheel. He has no view of the results. The ticking sound like a bomb. Please be a gift. I am not ready for this!!
The wheel stopped…Yosuke looked up at Yu from his seat and he was pouting. Oh god what could that mean?
“I got a gift.”
Yosuke, grabbed from the box, “You sound disappointed, partner.” He placed the good bag on the table and another ticket slid up the table, “Dude…”
Each ticket was used to vote for the winner of the pageant. Yu wouldn't have a ticket in the first place. The girls must have given him theirs for him to use.
Whatever he is going for he won't have many tries.
The wheel ticked.
“My hand.” he lent his hand over.
Yosuke examined it before leaning to the side to see if anyone could watch them. Once the close was clear he grumbled, “Fine…” he held his hand weakly. Place his lips against his knuckles.
Yu pointed eyes brightened at the contact. Deep red lipstick marked his hand and somehow this enraptured him.
“Again.”
So he goes again.
Yu leaned down, moved his head to the side and pointed at his cheek, “Kiss me here.”
“Don't say it like that,” but he obliges and applies his shaky kiss.
He obliges for the chin, the forehead, and the nose.
These are a significant amount of tickets Yosuke has expected. Every kiss felt less yet more embarrassing because he is getting used to kissing his partner already! Yu looked ridiculous and Yosuke felt so too.
“Another one on the cheek.”
Yosuke let out an exasperated whine before he kissed the other cheek with its own mark, “Partner, quit messing with me.” He dragged the wheel into a spot where they could both see it. It will be easier than Yu telling him every spin.
“I'm not messing with you.” he put down three tickets, “three more.”
Tick tick tick… gift
Tick tick tick… gift
Yu burrows furrowed and his pout has returned.
Tick tick tick… gift.
Yosuke laughed, “Three in a row! That's a new record!” This was one way to get a reaction from his partner, an opportunity to tease, “Now where did you get all these tickets? Bet you have to ask around. People definitely knew that you were going to use it on me.”
Yu stood there and a blush crept up to his face, “No…I bought all of these.”
Eh? He can do that?????! Why would he spend all that money on this?
Yu continued to hand his bundle of tickets. Yosuke is left to wonder and kiss him. They converse, mostly Yosuke trying to nudge him into spilling his intent. Yu was just too invested in the wheel than him. They shouldn't be doing this, spinning some dumb wheel. They should be spending meaningful time with each other.
What is so important about that wheel? The only option left are the lips and date.
.….!
Is he trying to get me to kiss him on the lips?!!?!
Yu’s face was covered in lipstick. Yosuke did his best to not overlap them but, it got to a point that there is no room for that.
Tick... tick tick…
No way…
Lips.
They turn towards each other in unison. Both hot in the face. It's the rules so Yosuke can't back out. It would be rude not to, Yu spend a lot for him. “The lips huh? Is that what you wanted?” he asked quietly as he stood from his seat. Used his hands as leverage while he got closer to Yu. His partner nodded enthusiastically and waited for his reward.
Yosuke's lips met his, it wasn’t anything outstanding in retrospect. It was like all the other kisses. Though he let it last a second or two longer, sending an eclectic string note to his heart. He instinctively smiled back at the other boy’s face. His partner was trying to process the act and hopefully was feeling how Yosuke was.
“Let's go again.” He said in his classic monotone voice, putting yet another handful of tickets on the table.
Is he saying he sucks at kissing?! What else could he have done? It's a kiss on the lips not a whole make out. He did not hold back his frustration because damn it, Yu should be grateful he is doing all this, “Is that not enough? Don’t tell me you're just here to mess with my feelings partner, that's not funny.”
“No! I am not,” Yosuke shifted his mood and snapped him out of focus, "I'm being serious about this.”
Yosuke would have found the shock cute if he wasn’t irritated. “Then what do you want from me?!” He gestured to the wheel, “I gave you every kiss on this thing and you aren’t satisfied with what I give you.”
“I..” Yu cutted eye contact with him. His body is stiff and for once Yu’s voice goes low, “Want a date...”
Yosuke is dumb founded, the date option was the last one left. He spent all this money to try to get a date with him. That’s kind of sweet in a weird way. All that energy and time to do that for him. However it's a silly way to go about it, “Dude! You could have just asked me!! You didn't need to do all this!”
“I wanted your kisses too!”
What is up with him?! Every surprise from this guy gets Yosuke seconds closer to exploding into thousands of pieces from the flustered shock he was experiencing. He needed to calm down, process the information.
“I’m sorry. I thought it would be romantic.”
He can’t stay mad at him. Not when he sounded and looked like that. As long as he knew him, Yu is genuine and he knew the way his partner expresses his feelings is complex to say simply. Man, he brought the mood down, Yu is upset and that’s Yosuke’s fault. Yosuke does what he does best and grinned at his partner, “You could have the decency to take me out first before kissing me,” sending a wink.
Yu heard the light in his comment and his eyes returned to him. His hopes were being realized and humored him back, “I'm flattered you are thinking that far ahead.”
“Whatever dude!” He rolled his eyes in a playful manner, “I'm ditching this stand!” He stepped away to be at Yu’s side, “I have a confirmed date with my partner and it would be messed up if I kissed someone else.”
Yu frowned, “I wouldn’t want that.”
“Don’t think about it,” He felt the air hit his legs, "Okay I need to get out of this!”
His partner let out a loving laugh.
