Yu's POV:
"...You cold, Senpai?" Kanji stops, turning to me. "You're shivering like a dog."
"Hm? No, I'm fine..."
But it doesn't stop him from taking off his jacket and putting it around my shoulders. I nod my thanks.
"...Sorry," I mutter.
"Huh? The hell for?" He scoffs.
"Shit... I feel like such a bad friend."
"Dude, what's gotten into you?" He frowns.
"I respect you, Kanji. But-"
"But you like him," he shrugs. "I know."
"I don't know what to do," I sigh.
"...Senpai," he breathes.
"...Have I fucked things up?"
"He wants to change you."
"What?" I say.
"He told me," he bites his lip, looking away.
"...What... what's that mean?"
"It means he doesn't appreciate you for who you are," he scoffs. "Doesn't that sound alarm bells?"
"...I mean... Change is good, right?"
"Not when it changes you entirely." He pokes a finger to my chest.
"...I wouldn't mind," I admit.
"...What?"
"I- I mean... If that's what he wants...?"
"Jesus, dude," he groans. "Are you outta your goddamn mind!?"
"I just want him to be happy."
"Yeah, and I want you to be happy."
"I can be happy once he's happy."
"You can't be happy if you're living in a lie."
"Kanji, please don't be like this."
"You can't just hide away just because he says so."
"It's nothing like that," I mutter.
"Then, what is it, huh?" He snaps.
"I... I just want him..."
"Yu, look at me." He grabs my shoulders. "You can't do this. Not for him; not for anyone."
"You don't get it."
"Of course I get it," he sighs. "I've been teased all my life. And, sure, there have been times where I thought it'd be best to just hide away, but then I met you. I met you, and I felt safe. I felt like I had somewhere to belong."
"Kanji," I whisper.
"I don't want you to suffer."
"...I just want to make him happy."
"You can't do that if you're not happy."
"Hm?"
"He knows you, Senpai. And he knows when something is wrong. Just... stay true to yourself. Promise me?"
"Hm."
"Senpai-"
"Okay, okay, whatever," I mumble. "Can I... uh... kiss you, now?"
He blinks a few times. "N-not now..."
I frown. "Come on, Kanji..."
"...Okay, fine," he groans, leaning in.
"I'm sorry to interrupt."
Kanji rips apart from me as Naoto appears.
"N-Naoto," he splutters. "It's not like... I- I mean, we're not-"
"I'm not here to judge," he shrugs. "I just wanted to let the two of you know that the killer has been caught."
"...What?" I ask.
"The police has arrested someone who claims he is the culprit behind the serial murders. A high schooler, much like yourselves."
"...So, it's over?" Kanji says.
He nods. "Assumed so."
"...Well, thanks for letting us know," I nod.
"My pleasure," he smiles. "Besides, aren't the two of you supposed to be in school?"
"Could say the same about you." Kanji looks away.
"I had... matters to attend to."
"...You busy now?" I ask.
"Hm?" He turns to face me.
"You could always hang out with us."
"N-no, he can't!" Kanji scoffs.
"Kanji," I warn.
"I- I mean... He's prolly busy! J-just leave him alone..."
"...No, I'm not," he sighs. "With the culprit being caught, I... I have little use to the police now."
"...Come on, don't think like that," I smile.
"It's the truth." He pockets his hands. "I'm just a child in their eyes."
"...So, hang with us," I recite. "Let us help you find use."
~~~
So the three of us sit here on the riverbank, each of us with our heads on our knees.
"May I... May I ask why the two of you aren't in school?" Naoto finally pipes up.
"J-just stuff," Kanji grunts.
I sigh. "I... Well, I kinda dragged him out here."
"...Is something troubling you?" He looks to me for a second.
"N-no, not at all," I cough slightly, looking away.
"You are... Dojima-san's nephew, correct?"
"H-huh? Oh, y-yeah."
"Hm." He thinks to himself for a moment. "Does... this have something to do with his sudden change in attitude recently?"
"What are you talking about?" Kanji frowns.
"He... He seems to be overworking himself, lately. He refuses help and snaps at anyone who bothers him."
"...Is that so," I murmur.
"Are... you having troubles at home?" He asks slowly.
"Maybe?" I shrug.
"...I take it he does not know about you being absent today, either."
"He dropped me off at the gates but..." I sigh.
"My lips are sealed." He chuckles softly.
I smile.
"May I ask why things are so complicated between the two of you?"
"It's... a long story," I mutter.
"I don't mind."
I sigh. "It all started when I went into his office. I just... wanted to check out some files about the case. I... I needed to. For... for him..."
"For whom?" He furrows his eyebrows.
"That... that ain't important," Kanji grunts.
"After that, it just feels like everything I do is wrong," I continue. "It feels like he hates me - that he can't trust me."
"Well, you did peek at classified information," Naoto sighs.
"There was nothing there that helped, anyhow."
"Even so... That's still a crime," he shrugs. "You should be lucky he didn't turn you in."
"I think I would have preferred it if he did," I grumble.
"...Senpai," Kanji whispers.
"I just... It just seems like no big deal."
"Dojima-san is a detective who takes his work very seriously. I can only imagine his sense of betrayal."
"That's such bullshit," Kanji murmurs. "He don't give a damn about nobody but himself."
"Kanji," I whisper.
"It's true, ain't it!?" He scoffs. "Always makin' assumptions and shit... Always getting pissed at the smallest things... You... You deserve better, Senpai."
"I know it's not ideal," I sigh.
"...Why are you living with him?" Naoto furrows his eyebrows.
"My parents are overseas," I shrug. "...'Cause they don't give a shit about me, huh?"
"...Hm?" He frowns.
"Nothing. Sorry."
"...Well, I say, screw 'em," Kanji scoffs, picking at the grass beside us.
"Excuse you?" Naoto says.
"Yu, you're a great guy, man. I admire it; I admire you. You always look out for others and you never do anything wrong... What more could they possibly want!?"
"That's the thing," I mutter. "They didn't want me."
"...Oh," Naoto mumbles. "...How can you be so sure?"
"It's not like they hid it very well," I shrug. "Always saying I was a burden. I needed to try harder, I needed to be more independent."
Kanji's nostrils flare. "That's... That's stupid. They're stupid."
"Kanji-kun," he sighs.
"He's right," I say. "There was never... 'love'. Just... I was in their presence, is all."
"...And your uncle ain't much better," Kanji says.
"...I think it's because he cares," I say quietly.
"That's... likely," Naoto smiles.
"Or he's just an asshole," Kanji mutters.
"Hm," I hum, looking away.
"A-anyhow... I would like to inform you that I will be enrolling in Yasogami High School within the coming weeks." Naoto readjusts his position on the grass.
"For serious?" Kanji splutters.
"Uh-huh," he nods. "Since the case has been solved, I ought to focus more on my studies, hm?"
"Is that what your parents told you?" I ask.
"My grandfather... And, no."
"...Grandfather?" Kanji says.
I nudge him hardly for being so insensitive.
"It's alright," Naoto shrugs. "My parents died when I was little. That's all there is to it."
"...I- I see," he whispers.
"...Honestly, I can't really remember much of them," he admits. "So... It doesn't pain me so much."
Not as much as being rejected.
"I'm sorry," I say.
"Why?" He chuckles. "My grandfather talks about them all the time. It's a shame I'll never get to meet them, but they were optimists, not pessimists."
"How can you be so... gung-ho about all this?" Kanji frowns.
"S-sorry," he murmurs. "Is... it strange?"
"No," I smile.
"It's just that... it's been a while since I've had an actual conversation with people my age... It's... refreshing."
"I'm glad," I laugh. "...We should do this more often."
"Y-you would like to?" He asks, surprised.
"D-don't feel like you have to," Kanji clears his throat. "Y-you can go back to your detective self, and-"
"I'd love to," he chuckles.
"Great," I smile. "Isn't that right, Kanji?"
Kanji swallows hard. "Y-yeah, I g-guess."
"...Sorry, am I intruding?" Naoto suddenly frowns.
"Huh?" I ask. "No, of course not. Why... Why would you think that?"
"...Before, the two of you were having a moment, and-"
"I-it wasn't like that!" Kanji snaps. "Th-there's... nothing between us, okay!? We're... we're just friends!"
Naoto smiles. "Okay, okay, I hear you."
"He is serious, though," I shrug. "So... If you ever wanted to-"
"Hm?" He turns to look at me.
"Sh-shut up!" Kanji snaps, blushing furiously.
I can't contain my laugher.
"Y-you're a real asshole sometimes, you know that, Senpai!?"
"Oh, that's right." Naoto snaps his fingers, as if coming to a realisation. "If I start as a first-year, won't that make you my senpai, too?"
I shake my head. "There's no need for formalities. Just... be my friend."
"But, Kanji-kun-"
"I'm indebted to him," Kanji mutters.
"...How so?"
"Don't sweat the details," I chuckle.
"Anyhow... I should get back." Naoto stands suddenly. "I'll... see you again?"
"Y-yeah," Kanji nods.
"See you, Naoto," I wave.
"Yes... See you."
~~~
Yosuke's POV:
"Huh? Where's Kanji?" I frown, sitting besides Rise as I open my bento box.
"Dunno," Chie shrugs. "Maybe he got held back after class."
"...Hm," I nod.
"...And Narukami-kun isn't here, either," Yukiko sighs. "He's... not in school today..."
Rise furrows her eyebrows. "You don't... have feelings for Senpai, do you...?"
"H-huh? Me?" Yukiko blushes furiously, her hand to her chest.
Rise's face is deadpan.
"U-um... W-well..."
"Come on, Yukiko," Chie groans. "He used you, dammit."
"Hm? Used her?" Rise frowns.
"Th-that part doesn't matter right now," I interrupt.
I can't let Rise have second thoughts now.
"The thing is... I really admire Yu-senpai," Rise smiles. "And, well... He did save my life after all..."
"Uh, he saved all of our lives," Chie says.
"I did, too!" I scoff.
"Ahah, I guess so, huh?" Rise chuckles softly, completely ignoring me. "I don't want us to fight over him, Yukiko-senpai."
"S-so, what do you propose we do?" She shuffles unfortunately in her seat.
"...C-come on, Yukiko," I say. "Yu isn't the guy for you..."
"Hm? How can you be so certain?" She frowns.
'Cause he's more into the blond punks.
"I've never felt this way before about someone," Rise says softly. "I... I don't know what I'd do if-"
"Alright, I get it," Yukiko snaps.
"Really?" Rise beams.
"Y-you can't do that," Chie scoffs. "You can't just come in here and force her to back off!"
"Hey, what's up with you?" I cross my arms. "I thought you were against her being with Yu."
"I am," she frowns. "But it's not Rise-chan's call!"
"...Do you like him, too, Chie-senpai?" Rise's eyes widen.
"Wha!? Wh-what kind of question is that!?" She splutters.
Geez. I should be so jealous of Yu right now.
But... I know this is important.
The more girls the better, right?
He can be free, again. He won't listen to Kanji; he'll listen to me.
Everything can be normal again.
I'll find a girl, and Yu has three right here to choose from.
...I know this will work. It just has to.
~~~
thanks for reading:)
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