Post-Amat: Yosuke and Naoto.

[shiroganeheir]

Everything feels off. Naoto has re-appeared from the island about a week previously, and nothing was right. The date was wrong, six months in the future, her grandfather seemed different, the texts on her phone were strange, she seemed to have very little contact with Kanji, and to top it all off, she was in the middle of a case that she didn't even remember.

Finally, she threw up her hands and decided to get out for a while, go somewhere that was neither the Estate nor school. Taking her bike, she ended up at Junes somewhat without intending to. Getting a soda at one of the food court stands, she sits down at a table pulling a book out of her bag and starting to read. At least she has her books back. Most of them, at least.

Comments

[magiciansluck]

Yosuke is working today at Junes. It's been about a week for him since the island, too, and he's been lost and disoriented. This is the first time he hasn't called sick into work, and it was a mistake to come in today. But his dad was pissed and there was only so long he could pretend to cough and have a stomachache.

He's been messing up all day but it's finally his break. He wanders into the food court and stops when he sees Naoto. He has no idea this is his Naoto, the one he's so in love with. So all he feels is pain upon seeing her and he stops in place, resisting the urge to run with every fiber of his being.

[shiroganeheir]

She doesn't notice at first, but as she reads, she rubs the side of her neck, a possibly-strange gesture for this universe's Naoto.

Looking up, her grip on her book tightens as she tries to hold herself back. There was no way this could be her Yosuke, right? "Good afternoon, Yosuke-senpai. You seem... tired."

[magiciansluck]

He recognizes the gesture, but rather than making his heart leap in hope, it just grinds his stomach more into the dirt.

"...yeah. You too."

[shiroganeheir]

"I have not been sleeping well." She shrugs. "Are you on a break? You are welcome to join me." She puts her book down.

"Any particular reason you're tired?"

[magiciansluck]

"I don't think you'd believe me if I told you."

He eyes the seat and finally decides to sit there, deciding that any Naoto is better than no Naoto at all.

[shiroganeheir]

"You would be surprised at what I believe, Senpai." She sighs. After as long as she was on that island, and as many things as she had seen, nothing surprises her anymore.

"If you wish to talk, I do not mind listening." Having him here, even though she is certain it would not be the same, well, it patches at least some of the hurt.

[magiciansluck]

"Would you believe someone if they said they'd been swept away to another place for awhile and now they just got dumped back, but no time had passed?"

He's not sure why he's saying it. He doesn't think that she'll believe him.

"Because that's why I'm tired."

[shiroganeheir]

"What?" Naoto sits straight up, honest surprise on her face. "Where was it, exactly?" Her question comes out more as a demand, closer to her detective mode than idle chatter.

Could it be possible? Could she actually be in her Yosuke's world? What happened to the Naoto who was here? Clearly, she had taken the other version's place.

[magiciansluck]

He's looks surprised as well, almost shocked at the fierceness of the question. "Atia," he says. "Nice little island in the middle of somewhere."

[shiroganeheir]

"Yosuke!" Almost knocking her soda over, Naoto jumps up, and before he knows it is in his lap, arms around his neck, clinging to him tightly. "I don't know how it happened, but I'm here in what I can only assume is your version of events. I got here about a week ago, and I have felt so lost."

[magiciansluck]

"Naoto?!" It takes a moment for this to sink in, and when it does, he holds onto her tightly, a look of awe on his face. "It's you? It's really you?"

[shiroganeheir]

"Yes, it is." She buries her face in his shoulder. "And it's you, and that is why everything feels off, I'm in another version of events. But... how? And why, and... I hope everyone else is alright, but..." She looks up at him, pulling back a bit. "I am glad I am here with you."

[magiciansluck]

"I'm glad you're here with me," he says. "I felt so alone and lost with you. Like everything inside me was missing."

[shiroganeheir]

It's been a couple weeks since they found each other. School is the same somewhat boring situation that it usually is, and Yasogami's students are no better than they were last year.

Halfway through lunch, there is a bit of commotion on one of the second-floor hallways. It seems, at the end of the hall, there is a scuffle occurring, some third-year students backing a tiny second year into a corner.

"Seriously, Shirogane-chan, you'd be so cute if you actually dressed like a girl."

"Yeah, I mean, half the school thinks you're hot stuff, why don't you put this skirt on?"

Naoto is standing, arms at her sides, glaring daggers at the much-larger students. "This is who I am, and how I choose to dress. It is none of your business."

The largest student reaches out and slaps her across the face. "Stupid bitch."

[magiciansluck]

Yosuke had been heading down to visit Naoto during lunch. What he expected was to have a nice meal with his girlfriend and hopefully see her smile. He didn't expect this and he stomps over, looking angry.

"The fuck did you just hit her for?"

[shiroganeheir]

Naoto is a bit startled when he comes over, but before she can say anything, the taller guy turns and glares at Yosuke. "Why do you care?"

The other boy pushes Naoto on the ground, then looks over at his friend. "Guy's not worth it, dude. Let's get out of here before someone else comes."

The students leave, and Naoto just stays on the ground for a moment in a tiny ball.

[magiciansluck]

Yosuke kneels down next to her, his expression now worried. "What happened?" he says, and skips over the question of 'are you okay'. Obviously, she's not.

[shiroganeheir]

"Those two students decided they wanted to be idiots about my gender presentation." She sighs, uncurling slightly, and leaning against the wall. There is already a bit of a bruise on her cheek from the slap, and she winces, and puts a hand on her side.

"I will be alright. It is... expected, especially here."

[magiciansluck]

"We've got to get you to the nurse for that bruise." As well as the fall. She might say she'll be alright, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be checked out.

"I wish it weren't expected."

[shiroganeheir]

"So do I, but that is, unfortunately, life." She shakes her head a bit. "I will get better. We do not have school tomorrow, so no one will see how bad it is."

Naoto is unconcerned, and reaches over, putting a hand on his arm. "I wish things were simpler, but people do not like things they do not understand."

[magiciansluck]

"I don't know if I'll get used to that after the island," Yosuke says, shaking his head. "Everyone was so accepting there, even if it got strange a lot."

[shiroganeheir]

Naoto sighs, leaning against the wall for a moment. "I know. No one cared how I presented myself, and everyone simply accepted me for whatever I decided I was."

She buries her face in her hands for a moment. "I have been considering changing to wearing skirts so people will leave me alone."

[magiciansluck]

"Noo," he says, putting his hands on her shoulders. "I'd move the two of us to somewhere more accepting before I'd let that happen."

[shiroganeheir]

She looks up and smiles, amused. "I could likely move myself somewhere if it came to it, Yosuke. You needn't worry about that. In theory, I have already finished high school, but I wanted the experience, so I'm here."

Naoto shakes her head. "Sorry. I'm just rambling now. I should... get to class. Or something."

[magiciansluck]

"Or skip," Yosuke suggests. "Have some fun. It'll make up for all this shit." He waves a hand towards their surroundings. "And you won't get teased anymore today."