Yu's POV:
"Well, we should get going," I say, putting away the last of the dishes.
"Come on, man," Yosuke sighs. "You don't gotta go home."
I blink. "Yeah... I do...?"
"But-"
"Listen, Yosuke," I shrug. "We'll be okay."
"But... Dojima-san-"
"He's harmless." I hope.
"I'm worried about you," he admits.
I bite my lip. "Yosuke..."
"Just stay the night. Please?"
"Dojima-san would never allow it."
"My Dad'll text him, or something."
"...And Nanako?" I frown.
"She can stay, too."
"Yosuke, where are we going to sleep?"
"Me and you... Well, I could get out the spare futon for you."
I squeeze my eyes shut, the memory of that night reappearing in my head. The fool I made of myself.
"And..." He begins. "Nanako-chan and Teddie can stay downstairs."
"But-"
"Sleeping bags, pillows, the couch... What more could they want, right?" He chuckles.
Why is he so adamant on me staying? Is... he really worried? Does he seriously think Dojima-san will do something?
I know he's being ridiculous, but... I don't mind this much attention from him.
"...Fine," I breathe.
"Sweet," he grins. "Come on." He grabs my arm, leading me upstairs.
~~~
Yosuke's POV:
"Do you need any help?" He asks.
"Dude, I think I can manage," I chuckle, watching as he moves out of the way for me to fit the futon in the room.
I push it up against my own when he stops me.
"What's the matter?" I frown.
"...I just think it would be good to... Have space," he mumbles.
"...Sure, man," I shrug.
Is... this 'cause of last time?
Sheesh... Getting all touchy-feely with him is probably what put him off the idea of staying again.
"Alright," I smile, finishing setting up his futon. "How about a game, eh?"
"What kind of game?"
"Ehh, dunno," I say. I gesture to my stack of video games. "The choice is yours."
~~~
Yu's POV:
Seriously, what's so important that he has to pause the game for it?
I grit my teeth, watching as the controller bounces on his knee as he texts.
I don't want to be the type of guy to point it out. Especially not when it makes him so damn... happy.
But... He wanted me to stay here, so why isn't he paying attention to me?
I know that I sound like some needy kid, but it's a fair argument, right?
He snorts, shaking his head with a smile as he sends another text.
I can feel my blood boiling.
In an attempt to ignore him, I pull out my own phone, turning away.
"H-hey, what're you doing?" He asks.
"Hm?" I turn back to him.
"We were in the middle of a game, man," he laughs.
His phone is now gone, and his controller is back in his hands.
"You ready?" He smiles.
I nod. "Yeah."
~~~
"Dammit," he groans.
"...Sorry," I shrug.
"Dude, it's a game. You should be happy you won." He nudges me in the shoulder with a smirk.
"Yeah... Maybe," I sigh.
...And he pulls out that damn phone again.
"What's the matter?" I splutter.
"Hm?" He says, taken aback by my input.
"...Sorry," I quickly apologize for the second time, grimacing.
"It's just..." He breathes. "Another rejection."
"...On that dating app, right?"
I didn't expect him to tell me. In fact, I expected him to tell me to mind my own business. But... I guess I'm glad, huh?
"Yeah," he nods. "Seriously, man. Fifteen girls since this morning. And they all rejected me."
"Fifteen?" I stammer.
"Uh-huh," he groans.
"...L-like, on real dates?" I ask.
"No," he scoffs. "Gotta get past the talking stage first, right?"
"R-right."
"And I can't even seem to do that," he murmurs. "Geez, man..."
"...I'm sure if you keep trying..."
Dammit, I really ought to stop encouraging him.
"Everytime I try to take it up a notch, I get called a 'freak' or a 'kid' or some pathetic shit like that."
"What age range have you applied it to?"
"Uh... 18-25?"
I blink. "Yosuke..."
"Hey! Guys like me like older chicks," he smiles.
Sure, but... someone like Yosuke isn't just a regular guy.
He's... weird. He's childish and a total pervert.
No girl will want him... Right?
"Maybe try younger girls," I offer.
Dammit, Yu... Stop talking.
"What do you mean?" He frowns.
"Girls our age," I shrug.
"But that's lame," he groans.
"It's a better chance."
"I... I guess you're right." He seems to be considering the thought. "Ooh! Or..."
I close my eyes. "...Or?"
"I could lie," he smirks.
"What?"
"Tell them I'm a Prince!"
"Yosuke, that—"
"I'm already the Junes Prince! What's to say I can't be a real Prince?"
"That's fraud," I scoff.
"It's not like they're gonna go into details," he shrugs. "Plus, girls dig guys with a reputation to hold up. And guys with money in their back pocket."
"And what are you going to say when they ask why they haven't heard of Prince Yosuke?"
"...I can get a new name."
"You can't be serious."
"It's just a bit of fun," he chuckles.
"So, what? She's gonna meet you for your first date, just to find you don't wear a crown in your freetime, you don't have a limousine, you don't have masses of cash—"
"Okay, okay, I get it," he groans.
"Please, just... be yourself," I murmur. "There's always gonna be someone who loves the real you."
Me. I love the real you.
"I'm so boring, though," he yawns.
"Try something new," I offer.
"Like... a new haircut?"
"Uh..."
"I could get more into sports... You're in the basketball team, right? Think you could put in a good word?"
"Yosuke..."
"What?" He frowns. "As soon as I get a girlfriend, I'll be outta your hair, man, don't worry."
"I don't need you out of my hair," I shrug. "And you don't need a girlfriend."
"Dude, I'm seventeen," he scoffs. "There's no way in hell I'm living through my teenage years alone."
"You have me."
"I'm not third-wheeling you and Rise for the rest of the year, man."
I swallow hard. "Rise and I have decided to just be friends."
"...What?"
I look away.
"B-but, you two were perfect together," he says.
"Yosuke, I didn't need you to matchmake me," I frown.
"...So you knew about that, huh?" He laughs nervously.
"Yeah."
"...I just wanted to help."
"I know. And I appreciate it, but... I didn't need it."
"...Aren't you upset that you broke things off?"
"I never liked her, Yosuke," I admit.
He pauses for a moment. "...Really?"
"Really," I confirm.
"...How about you join 'Cupid'?"
I blink. "Huh?"
"Y'know, the dating app," he smirks, waving his phone at me.
"I don't think that's a good idea," I chuckle softly.
"Come on, man," he grins. "You're bound to have better luck than me."
"I'm not really... looking for someone right now," I shrug.
"It never hurt anybody to browse," he grins.
"Yosuke—"
"C'mere!" He grabs my phone, heading to the app store.
"L-let me do it," I plead, taking it back from him.
"Geez, man, fine," he laughs. "Let's just hope we don't get matched with the same girl, yeah?"
~~~
It's been four hours since our conversation on his love life.
Now, he's lying in bed, presumably asleep.
I'm in the spare futon, but I can't close my eyes.
The thought of him talking to fifteen different girls in the span of eight hours.
It makes my stomach twist.
Any one of those girls could have been his future girlfriend. I would have had to meet her. To speak to her, to be around her.
I don't think I could do that, though. I don't think my body would allow me.
Because I'm the only one I can see him with. I can't see him with some random girl. He needs me... I just want him to need me.
I pull out my cell under the covers, hovering over the 'download' button.
...Maybe it's a stupid idea, but... What if I pretended to be a girl?
He wouldn't know, right?
And I could easily get matched with him. I know him like the back of my hand. It'll be easy.
The thing is, it's wrong. I shouldn't toy with his emotions. I shouldn't lead him on, and make him fall for someone who doesn't even exist.
Because the truth will ruin our friendship forever. He'll never forgive me. Not just for lying, but for being in love with him. He'll hate me.
I feel my heart stop when I hear muffled noises coming from his bed.
I blink, turning my head towards him in the darkness.
He has his back to me, but I can see the dim light on his cell. And... I can hear him moaning. I can hear him touching his skin, shuffling gently in the covers.
I feel sick.
My heart has slowed to almost a stop, and my whole body feels achy.
He... can't be serious...
I try to block out the noise, but he starts to get louder. More desperate.
I bite my tongue, just begging him to stop.
But he doesn't.
I don't know when, but tears started to flow down my face.
I get out of the futon as silently as possible and make my way to his door.
I don't know what the point in being stealthy is, though. He's too preoccupied right now to even notice.
Swallowing hard, I turn the handle on his door, running to the bathroom.
~~~
And I'm sick. Physically, I am sick.
The acid of my stomach burns my throat through and through. But I can't stop.
Just... the thought of it. Of him...
I don't even want to know the details. I just want to know why.
Did he think I was asleep? Or... did he know? Did he know I was awake, and he wanted to torment me because I kissed him?
I catch my breath, turning to the sink to grab myself a handful of water to splash over my face.
Is this my punishment for falling for a straight guy? Watching him fall for other people? Watching him desire pretty women rather than me?
I don't know what hurts worse. The lack of acid in my stomach, or the thought of him being so daring.
"Yosuke! Hurry up!" Teddie knocks at the bathroom door.
I blink away the tears, cleaning myself up before opening the door.
"Sensei?"
I splutter at the sight of him. "T-Teddie?"
This... is not Teddie. This is some... blond guy. Some blond guy wearing... Yosuke's clothes.
"Hiya, Sensei," he grins.
"Y-your suit—"
"Hm? Oh, it's in the wash," he shrugs nonchalantly.
"...I- I see."
"What, you didn't know I grew myself a body, Sensei?" He chuckles.
"...I do now, Teddie," I nod.
"Will you come down and read me and Nana-chan a bedtime story?" He asks.
"...Why me?"
"Because I missed you, Sensei."
I sigh.
I suppose anything is better than going back to Yosuke's room.
"Sure thing, Ted."
"Yay!"
~~~
Yosuke's POV:
Haruexoxo: did you enjoy
yourself?<33
JunezPrince2000: fuck ye
JunezPrince2000: ur so
hot
Haruexoxo: aww!
Haruexox: want me to send
more?<33
JunezPrince2000: im down
JunezPrince2000: just let me
clean up first
Haruexoxo: aweee are you
tired already?<33
JunezPrince2000: what can i say?
JunezPrince2000: girls like u
rlly get me goin;)
Haruexoxo: hurry up oki?<33
I finally catch my breath, slowly taking my hand from my pants.
But, then I remember.
Oh, shit... Yu.
I hold my breath again, in fear of waking him.
I quickly turn off my phone, sitting upright.
"...Yu?" I whisper.
I look over to his futon, but he isn't there.
That's... good, right?
I mean... geez. I wasn't even thinking of him. I got too caught up in the moment.
Did he... hear?
I bite my tounge hard at the thought.
Maybe... it wouldn't be such a bad thing?
I mean, he'd know, right? That I'm not as pathetic as people think. That I can get a girl to send me pictures. That... I can satisfy myself.
...He'd be proud.
I'll... finally be on his level.
Has he ever...?
I shake the thought out of my head.
No doubt he has, but... I don't need to think about that right now.
I just gotta clean up.
~~~
I head to the bathroom, stripping my bottom half, grabbing myself a new pair of underwear.
Shit... This goes everywhere...
I try not to make too much noise.
It is quite late, and the last thing I need is Teddie wondering just what the hell I've been doing.
...I wonder where Yu is.
He... didn't go home, right?
I frown at the thought.
I told him to stay, but... Maybe I freaked him out?
Oh, who am I kidding, of course I fucking scared him.
The last thing he needs is me jerking off while he's tryna sleep...
Oh, fuck...
I grimace, washing my face while I'm at it.
I seriously couldn't have waited?
Please don't be pissed, Yu...
I'd never judge you for it...
~~~
I head downstairs once I'm clean, ready to get myself a glass of water.
I blink twice, seeing another figure in the living room.
Sure enough, it's my partner.
He lays down on the floor, a book open on the table in front of him. Teddie hugs at his waist, and Nanako shuffles comfortably on the couch.
Did he... really read them a bedtime story?
I can't help but smile.
Of course he did. He's Yu, isn't he?
He's... always so sweet. He has this innocence to him that Kanji is trying to take away. But I won't let him.
This is Yu.
He looks all cool and intimidating on the outside, but, in reality? He's a huge softie who loves his little cousin.
...But, hey. I'm not gonna tell anyone.
I couldn't ruin his reputation like that.
I just... hope he doesn't tell anyone about what happened tonight.
~~~
thanks for reading:)
word count: 2346