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]

He sits up a little bit and still keeps her close, but makes sure not to touch any inappropriate areas because she's right. It takes him a moment to process what she said and he looks almost shocked once he does.

"Really?"

[shiroganeheir]

"Yes. I will always care for Souji and Kanji and the others, but I've felt for a while that what we have is special. There's a spark we have, Yosuke, that just... isn't there with everyone else."

She pauses, a tiny smirk on her face. "Unless you'd rather have Sou... I mean, Yu."

[magiciansluck]

"No way," he says quickly and firmly, wanting to assure her. "I want you and only you."

[shiroganeheir]

"I was mostly teasing, love." She smiles at him, leaning back against him, head on his shoulder.

"My presentation does not bother you here, does it? I could attempt to wear something more feminine if you wanted me to."

[magiciansluck]

"Why would it bother me?" He gives her a strange look.

[shiroganeheir]

"Well, er, in the past, you have been a bit awkward towards this sort of thing."

Naoto shrugs. "I am just making certain."

[magiciansluck]

"I learned better from being on the island," he assures her. "And even if I hadn't, I'm willing to do anything for you. I'd never force you to be something you're not."

[shiroganeheir]

"If you are certain." She leans up and kisses him on the cheek. "I am much more comfortable like this, especially after most of the realizations I made on the island."

[magiciansluck]

"I'm certain." He kisses her on the cheek in return and smiles. "If you're comfortable, I am."

[shiroganeheir]

"Alright." She snuggles and then sits up after a moment. "How long is your break? Shouldn't you get back to work? I can meet you afterwards."

There's a hopeful smile on her face at that.

[magiciansluck]

"...I so forgot I was working." He looks a little alarmed at that. Hopefully he doesn't get in trouble with his father. "It's probably over, yeah."

[shiroganeheir]

"Oops." She smiles at him and gets out of his lap. "I will possibly go do a few errands, and then I'll come back. When are you done?"

[magiciansluck]

"Two hours." He stands up from the chair and peers around to see if a certain angry dad is approaching, relaxing when the coast is clear.

[shiroganeheir]

She squeezes his hand. "I will be waiting here for you, then."

Blushing a bit, she grins up at him. "I love you, Yosuke."

Turning, she takes what was left of her soda and deposits in a bin, disappearing.

By the time he is done with his shift, she is waiting at the same table he spent so many hours at the year before, sipping a coffee, and reading a new book, much happier and much calmer than before.

[magiciansluck]

"I love you, too," he says with a smile and then goes back to work.

He's done with his shift right on time. Sometimes he stays after but that day is not today, and he hurries up to the table. "Hi!"

[shiroganeheir]

She looks up, smile widening. "Hello. How did the rest of work go?"

Closing her book, she tucks it in her bag, and takes a drink of coffee. "Are you free for the rest of the day?"

[magiciansluck]

"It went okay, but I was distracted," Yosuke says. He leans in and kisses her. "I'm completely free." But even if he wasn't, he'd ignore everything he was supposed to do. He wants to be with her.

[shiroganeheir]

"If that was because of me, I apologize."

She kisses back cheerfully, then reaches over and takes his hand. "Would you like to get some dinner together? I think we could certainly use the time. We are both a bit restless."

[magiciansluck]

"Don't apologize. It was a hell of a lot of fun passing the time thinking about you."

He squeezes her hand. "That sounds great. Where would you like to go?"

[shiroganeheir]

"Hm." She thinks for a moment. "I did not have anything in particular in mind, and to be honest, the only places I know for certain are the same between what I am familiar with and here are Aiya, Souzai Daigaku, and here. I wouldn't mind Aiya, but I think we should have something better than steak skewers, and you likely do not wish to stay here."

[magiciansluck]

"Aiya's fine. But I'm going to have to take you for a fancy dinner soon. You deserve it."

[shiroganeheir]

"Why would I deserve that?" Naoto looks up at him, a bit confused. "I hardly did anything except appear here."

She thinks for a moment, then nods slightly. "We also should perhaps come up with a reason that we seemingly suddenly are together? I have a feeling people here might be a bit confused with us suddenly dating."

[magiciansluck]

"You exist. That's how you deserve it."

The look he gives her is incredibly fond.

"Maybe if one of us makes a public confession it'll help smooth the transition."

[shiroganeheir]

She blushes at him and nods. "That would definitely work. I have a feeling some of our friends are going to find it sudden anyway, however, I am not willing to let you go. I want to be with you, Yosuke. Perhaps we could say we've been nervous about telling people? Or something?"

Naoto still doesn't know how these relationship things work.

[magiciansluck]

He takes her hand in his. "We'll figure it out when it comes to it," he says. "And we won't let it split us."

He'd die before he allowed that to happen.