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In the spring of 2017, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts had gone their separate ways. Although they would always be friends, they wouldn't be reforming society anymore; all of them were now stepping into a new chapter in their lives. Haru and Makoto were going off to college, Futaba was starting high school, Sumire was focusing on gymnastics in a private institution, Ann had decided to pursue modeling even further and had gone off to study abroad, Ren had gone back to the country, Morgana was following him along, Ryuji was also doing physical therapy and going back into Track, and Yusuke was doing the same thing as before. All of them had gone off and had something new, but Yusuke was still in Tokyo. Brush stroking on the blank canvases, filling them with old memories, his friends, mementos, palaces, treasures, and shadows. He missed it all, he missed them all. Which is why he was happy to receive an invitation from Ryuji to attend one of his Track competitions. He always liked Ryuji; they were different, but combined perfectly. Like complementary colors across the wheel coming together and creating beautiful images. Yusuke had actually hit another art block recently. His teachers were no longer fans of his collections of paintings of the Phantom Thieves and the Metaverse; perhaps watching Ryuji run could inspire him once again.
Yusuke hadn't actually attended a sports event; Kosei was a liberal arts school. He wasn't sure what he was expecting to see once he got there or if he should get Ryuji something… So he went and got Ryuji flowers at Refflesia; he picked yellow, blue, and white flowers. And he made his way to the Gymnasium, where the event was happening. Yusuke hadn't seen Ryuji in a while. He had recently painted the Ramen restaurant that they had both made for their showtime attack. He reminisced till he got to the gymnasium, entering the loud building, looking for a specific blonde. He wiggled his way around the crowd. He didn't expect it to be so packed!
“YUSUKE! IS THAT YOU FOR REAL?” Ryuji, Yusuke thought.
There he was! “Ah, Ryuji, I found you! It has been a while since I last saw you. I brought a gift!” he exclaimed to the blonde. “Dude, you seriously got me flowers…” Ryuji exhaled looked all red. “Well, they’re pretty nice… thanks… I think my mom would like them! But anyways, it's great to see you again, man!” he smiled up at Yusuke. “It’s great to see you as well! Is the show about to begin? I shall look for a seat,” he replied. “Dude, what show? You mean the competition? Yeah, it’s gonna start soon. You can sit with my mom over there. I'll meet you guys later, maybe we can go out to eat!” Ryuji had pointed at his mother, Yusuke hadn't actually met her before…
“Ah, well, break a leg!”
“DUDE? IM RUNNING?”
“Good luck?”
“Yeah, good enough…” he sighed again as he walked away towards his team.
Yusuke's stomach began to feel weird; he hadn't eaten, perhaps that was it…. He also walked away, towards the stands where Ryuji’s mother was sitting. A small, older woman with black hair. ‘That's right, Ryuji’s hair is dyed...’ He thought. “Hello, Ms. Sakamoto, my name is Kitgawa Yusuke. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you! Ryuji talks a lot about you,” he bowed. She heard the woman giggle, “It's nice to meet you as well! Ryu talks a lot about you as well! And please call me Himari! I insist.” Yusuke hadn't expected Ryuji’s mother to be like this! “Ah, well, Himari-san, these are for you. Ryuji thought you might enjoy them.” She smiled up at him, “Thank you, Yusuke-kun! Theyre beautiful. Ryu was right about you being so creative, you truly have a great eye! Here, sit down,” she said as she patted the seat next to her. ‘Ryuji had spoken to his mother about him? And talked about his creativity?’ His stomach did that weird thing again; he really needed to save money for some food… He sat down next to Ryuji’s mother, just in time for the race to begin.
He was captivated by Ryuji. The sweat glistening on his skin makes him look godly, how some of his hair sticks to his forehead, his smile as he looked at… him? Ryuji was smiling at him? No, that was silly; his mother is sitting next to him. Obviously, he was smiling at his mo-
“Ryu’s always so happy when he runs, but I think he's happier since youre her, just look at his smile,” Himari cut off Yusuke's overthinking. Almost like she read his mind. Without another thought, he took out his sketchbook and a pencil and began to sketch Ryuji’s smile from memory, something so raw and beautiful needed to be drawn. He needed someone like Ryuji.
‘What?’
He stopped drawing and closed his sketchbook. He felt his face get all hot. Yusuke was never into women; he found them beautiful, but not in the way other men saw them. Yusuke was also not afraid of his sexuality; perhaps the feeling in his stomach was what they call ‘butterflies’. What was Ryuji to him? He always felt comfortable around him; he liked going out to eat with him, and now he's even attending his races. Ryuji was definitely special to Yusuke, but did Ryuji feel the same towards him?
Yusuke fell in love with watching Ryuji run. After going to his first race, he kept attending them. Choosing train tickets over a new set of brushes. He assumed that Ryuji liked him attending them until one day, after one of his races. That day, Ryuji’s team had won and advanced to the next…round? Yusuke still didn’t understand it. He and Ryuji had gone out to eat ramen afterwards. Yusuke had learned months earlier that it was his favorite food. As they walked to the shop, Ryuji had popped the question. “Hey, uhh, why do you keep coming to my competitions?” Yusuke wasn't sure how to answer the question. In fact, he wasn't sure himself. He had come to accept that he had a crush on Ryuji after asking a reliable source, Futaba, for her opinion on his feelings.
If he had to think of a reason, Ryuji had become his muse. After seeing Ryuji, he would go back to his dorm to paint him, his team, the field, and his smile. So he replied, “I’m just simply supporting a friend, that's all.” he smiled at Ryuji. “Yusuke. Are you ok, dude?” Ryuji had asked him all of a sudden, stopping where he was walking. “Where is this coming from?” Yusuke was shocked; he hadn't expected that. “I dont know, man, I like that you're coming to my competitions, don't get me wrong, but dont you have other things to do?” Oh. “If you're worried about my studies or my artwork, they're all fine and complete,” it was the truth. He had been working hard to do everything in time so he would be able to go see Ryuji. “Nah thats not what I mean. I'm talking about YOU,” he said, pointing at him. “My mental state is also fine, Ryuji. There is no need to worry about me,” Yusuke finally understood what Ryuji was implying. “ I dont know, you keep coming to my competitions even when they’re freakishly far away, you have money, and I haven't heard you bring up a friend or something!” The blonde looked up at him. “Ryuji, I have friends, I have money because I have been learning how to manage it, and I come to your competitions because you’re someone special to me,” Yusuke said without a second thought. He saw Ryuji’s face get all red. “Are you alright? Your face is all flushed.” He said, looking down at him. Ryuji replied, “Dude, you can't just say that and expect me to act all normal?!” “What did I say?” What did he even say that caused such a reaction from him? “I’m special to you?!? You sound like Ren during you know what,” Ryuji said as he crouched down and covered his face. ‘Oh. So he didn't think that but said it.’ “Geez, Yusuke, you’re so. UGH. I can't do this anymore,” Ryuji stood up and looked up at him. “What? Do you not want me to think of you as someone special to me? Am I not special to you either?” Yusuke asked.
Ryuji replied, “No, wait. Ughh. Geez. Of course, you're special to me.” He said as he scratched the back of his neck. “It’s just… Well. Yusuke. You’re so confusing to me. You make me feel weird when I'm around you,” he avoided eye contact with him. “So you dont like me being around you? I'm sorry if I have made you uncomfortable!” Yusuke quickly apologized. “No! Not in a bad way. Like, almost like how I feel when I'm around a girl.” Had Ryuji just… “Ryuji. Part of the reason why I've come to see you so often is that you’re special to me, more than anyone I know. More than Ren, Ann, Makoto, Morgana, or Haru. You've become a shining light in my life! Something I look forward to,” Yusuke kept going on, “I didn't realize how much I needed you in my life until I saw you again.” Yusuke was quickly cut off by Ryuji kissing him. Yusuke had never kissed anyone before, so he tried his best to match Ryuji's movements. He leaned down, putting his hands on Ryuji’s face, as Ryuji moved his to hold him and pull him closer. They moved a soft synchronisation of mouths, slowly giving each other what they've wanted so badly. They both pulled apart, their faces crimson red. “So you do reciprocate my feelings?” he asked him. “ Dude, why else would I have kissed you?” He replied. “Ah, yes, well… I just wanted verbal confirmation…” Yusuke pouted.
“I like you, Fox.”
“I like you too, Skull.”
They smiled at each other. Embracing one another as the two walked together towards the restaurant, content. Both had gotten what they had wanted.