With You (Souyo)

It's Always Been You

Yosuke's POV:

"Have you seen Yu?" I ask, tossing my bag aside as I re-enter the room.

"Nope," Kanji shrugs, looking at me over manga he's reading in bed. "Why?"

"Can't find him anywhere," I groan, checking my cell for the hundredth time -- in hope of hearing something from him.

"Don't get paranoid," he sighs.

"Well, aren't you worried?" I scoff. "It's dark out, he's alone, and we have no idea if he knows how to get back."

"I think you're forgetting he's lived here before," he chuckles.

"This isn't the same."

"What's the worse case scenario?"

"Geez, Kanji, I dunno," I mutter, sitting down on my bed. "He's dead."

"Jesus," he says, throwing his manga to the side. "That's a bit dark."

"I just don't like the idea of him being out alone. Especially after the kind of day it's been."

"What's that mean?"

"Shit... Nothing," I shake my head.

He sits upright. "You think he might've hurt himself?"

"Dammit, I don't know." I clutch my head in anguish.

"Hey," he says, trying to soothe me. "If it bothers you so much, why don't we go out looking for him?"

"Yeah," I sigh. "That's a good idea."

He picks himself up off the bed and grabs his phone. "Let's split up, yeah? That way we can cover more ground. Call me if you find anything out."

"I will."

"I'll check south, you check north, 'kay?"

"Yeah."

"You have to stay calm, though."

"I know."

"For him, Yosuke."

"Yes, I know," I mutter.

"Alright... Well, good luck," he says, shutting the door behind him.

Geez... Why would he just disappear like that? He'd have told me if something was up.

Hell, maybe Shin arranged for a secret meeting. I can't rule that possibility out, either.

Honestly, he was acting a little strange after we came back from the beach. I thought it was because of what I said, but I don't think he really cared about it at that point.

He just looked... so tired, and like he'd had enough. Do I really think he'd do something stupid? Like hurt himself? Worse?

Fuck, I don't know.

But I can't think like that. I just have to find him. Before it's too late.

~~~

It's been over an hour of scouring in the cold darkness, and there's still no sign of him.

I don't know where else he could be. I've looked everywhere, and Kanji obviously hasn't found him.

What if he just up and left? Left everything behind on an impulse? But... he can't. He can't leave me, and he knows it.

I pocket my hands, slumping my shoulders as I walk onwards.

Not far in the distance, I see the shadow of a man sat on a bench.

All I can make out is that he has a bottle of something, and he's drinking it like there's no tomorrow.

I shouldn't get involved.