Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Persona 4 and (500) Days of Summer. I don't intend to gain any profit from here. This is simply a fan work.

Part 1. First Encounter

(300) DAYS OF YUKIKO

[299]

Atop a hill where an old stone staircase had lead, is an old shrine, forgotten and undisturbed. It's chilly out today. But it didn't seem to matter.

The silver-haired young man sat comfortably on the shrine's steps, smiling over the tangerine over glow of the sunset diffusing all over the small town. It was his favorite spot in the town. But he just discovered it wasn't only the location, serenity and horizon that makes the place so special. It was something else.

A cool breeze just went past him, and the chill made his cheek flush in crimson. Or was it that? For that same breeze of air swayed wisp raven locks to go brushing on his cheek, and he smiled even more.

"Sorry." The girl beside him murmured. She smiled at him while brushing her long hair away, in one swift glide of her hand, cascading the locks on the other side of her neck.

They stared at the sun, drowning in dawn, and they just stayed there enjoying the tranquility. It was getting cold but it doesn't matter. His hand was on his side, cupping a red shrine charm that he had ever so cherished ever since he got it on the last Eve of Christmas. And with another breeze of wind, her hand reluctantly covered his—as if to share her warmth to his chilly fingers.

It made them both smile. And the girl with locks of raven made a wish: for tomorrow to come in delay. A wish that the silver haired young man had secretly hoped for himself.

o~o~o~o~o~o

This is a story of a boy meets girl.

The boy, Yu Narukami, came from Tokyo to stay the year at his uncle's at Inaba, grew up believing that he must never draw people close to him, let alone seek attachment nor belongingness…

Until the day he met, the one.

This belief stemmed from early exposure to the sad reality of their nomadic lifestyle brought about by his parents' work. Living at different cities from year to year, Yu Narukami subconsciously grew another belief: of finding a place where he'd love, stay, and belong.

The girl, Yukiko Amagi, from the old town Inaba, did not share this belief. Being the heiress of her family's Traditional Inn, she only loved two kinds of things: The first kind is her devotion to her family, and best friend; the second kind of love, though unconsciously, is how easily she could wish to leave them all behind without feeling guilty about it. And although not necessary, a Prince Charming with his shining white horse would help too.

Yu met Yukiko on April 12th. But he didn't know by then…she's the one he's looking for.

This is a story of a boy meets girl.

But you should know upfront, this is not a romantic-love-story-gone-well.

It's a tale of which one of them figures out first…that this actually and is supposed to be:

Their love story.

o~o~o~o~o~o

[262]

"Nana-chan! Hang on tight! We're almost bearrr!" Teddie said as he clumsily pedaled Yusuke's yellow bike, while Nanako huddled up between him and the handles as she clasped both of her hands to one of the blond boy's arm.

"But Teddie! Is there something wrong at home? Why are we using Yosuke Nii-chan's bike?" She asked closing her eyes with the sudden blow of wind. Both her legs hanged on one side while the school bag on her lap kept her skirt from blowing open.

Teddie wasn't any better than Yosuke in riding the bicycle—in fact he just learned it this day, thanks to the pressure imposed to him by Kanji and Yosuke himself. The ride is a bit wobbly, but swift and safe. Teddie is a fast learner after all.

"Sensei needs your expertise Nana-chan! And he needs it, super absolutely right now!" One last wobbly turn to the right and both of them are already on the Doujima's street. The house, just waiting open for their arrival, right at the end of the road.

"Really? Does he need breakfast? It's already too late for that." She asked Teddie with curious eyes and pouted lips. "Or does he need to get a stain out of his shirt? Or does he need help cleaning his room?" Nanako prompted, recalling all the house chores she's considered an expert at.

And if there's one thing Teddie is better than Yosuke, it is handling the break. He pulled them over so smoothly by the Doujima's gate, then both of them hopped out of the bicycle and rushed inside. They swiftly unraveled their shoes at the front door, while peering over the three boys at the living room.

"On the rocks, please" Yu requested in such a sleek and provocative voice, his face so cool and breezy, almost showering them with sparkles. He was sitting on their low table, facing the door, but not entirely cognizant of the entrance of two more company.

"Oh man, I've been feedin' him water for twenty minutes already. Ain't his bladder gonna burst or somethin'?" The big guy, Kanji, poured more of the contents from the chilled bottle to Yu's short icy glass. He sat on the side of the table that faces the TV and he could only cup his chin on his propped hand—a thinking pose, but actually a pose for ridiculing Yu's abnormal behavior.

Yosuke was doing the same, regarding Yu ever so weirdly, and one of his brown brow raised in ridicule. "Nah, that's fine. Make the water flush out the booze in his system." He was lazily slumping at the sofa right behind Kanji and he noticed first, as if eagerly waiting for, Nanako and Teddie coming from the door. "Nana-chan! What's up? Thank goodness you're already here."

Despite the announcement, Yu fell deaf and blind. Thus gulping his glass in one shot, then sliding it back to Kanji's side of the table. "Fill it up." he said.

"Why?" Nanako asked, then her eyes strayed from Yosuke to her silver-haired cousin. "What's wrong with big bro?" She asked, unexpectedly shooting the same look of ridicule to Yu, her small nose wrinkled and an eyebrow had raised as well.

Yosuke scratched the back of his head, "You see, uhh, we were of course kinda reluctant to go rummaging on your cupboards and stuff…" He tried to look for appropriate terminologies, unadulterated and child-friendly, as to explain to the Police Detective's little girl: We found your big bro unspeakably drunk with alcohol and God-knows-what else at the town's bar on this time of the day!

"Is he drunk?" the child asked as she looked back on Yosuke, piercing him with her rounded and innocent brown eyes.

He gasped. Abashed from such use of language and inquisitive awareness coming from a seven-year-old. Yosuke nodded hesitantly, wondering if he was supposed to exchange the word drunk to a more reputable synonym. "Uhhhhhh…..yeah? I guess? Seems like…but not really, he's not…you know…oh I mean, he is but…." Unfortunately, there was no other word to lessen the damage.

"Oh that's okay. Maybe he is. But he usually doesn't drink the alcohol when daddy and Adachi-san have dinner here and get drunk, some nights." Nanako said matter-of-factly and her piercing gaze is unblinking.

Yosuke gasps again, "Oh. Sure. Of course." And there was a strangled squeak in his voice. He wasn't sure whether to be relieved or surprised. It was a stabbing feeling on his heart, what with Nanako's definitive mention of drunk and alcohol. So young of a girl for an already ruined childhood, he thinks. But that's how it must be living with a house with only men to guide her.

"'s why we called ya." Kanji smiled at the girl while pouring yet again another refill of drink to Yu. Teddie sat on the side next to the silver haired boy, and both the blonds faced each other.

"Alright! I know just the thing!" She giggled. "I know exactly how to make the tea that makes daddy feel better after drinking! Family recipe!" Nanako beamed. She pranced to the kitchen, prepping the kettle to boil hot water, then she walked back at the living room again. "…surely, no hangovers in the morning!" she informed with a giggled again and she even darted it to the boy in headphones.

Yosuke swore his shoulder dropped to the side. Hangover. Such words for a little girl. He smiled back at her, but his lips twitched.

"Oh Nanako. I didn't know you were here. You sneaky little girl." Yu called out, grinning. And the rest of the boys noticed there was something really wrong in the way he voiced out his greeting to his cousin. A voice that only Teddie would usually use when talking to a waitress at Junes. "Well better sneaky than un-understandable right? Women this days…sure aren't what they used to be." He said bitterly before gulping his drink.

Kanji grunted, "Naw, not again! I don't want another King's Game aftermath!" he dropped his head in defeated fatigue. "…he's gonna start yappin about them girls and shit…again."

But the little girl didn't falter, she just smiled to her cousin then asked, "What's the matter big bro? Is it Yuki Nee-chan again?"

And just like that, a bulb clicked at Yosuke's brain—flickering in bright aggressive light. "AHA! I knew it! I knew it!" He jumped up from the couch and walked to the low-table in front of Yu. "It's her after all, isn't it?!" He grinned ever so slyly and crossed his arms, stood in one leg while the other is tapping the mat impatiently, "It's about time partner…Now, SPILL!" He provoked.

"I'm afraid I don't follow. Come again?" Yu replied with a glint of his eye, it's obvious he doesn't intend to follow at all. He glide his glass to Kanji once more, "Fill it up."

Yosuke chuckled, feeling like a detective who finally cornered a criminal with a lame alibi. His foot continued tapping but his hands are now on his hips "Come on…you're already busted…spill…"

Nanako, with her fast-thinking skills that she probably got from her father, noticed the predicament she's put her big brother in to. Yeah, sure she's also curious, but she's not sure if her silver-haired cousin is willing to spill it all out. Hearing Yosuke's sentiments, everyone else under this roof obviously isn't aware of what's going on with his cousin and Yukiko. Yukiko was even just a wild guess! It's only because she remembered that the two of them (it was like Raven Vs. Silver) had a misunderstanding before. Either way, Nanako's alliance is still with her cousin so she admitted casually, "Well I was just guessing Yosuke Nii-chan. Because I'm sure Naoto-chan wouldn't bother to fight, Rise-chan wouldn't ever like to argue with big bro, and Chie nee-chan already have you to argue with, so that leaves big bro and Yukiko nee-chan to be arguing or fighting may be! Unless it's one of you here." she faked a laugh then turned to the kitchen and hurriedly attended to the boiling kettle.

Yosuke turned his neck and called to her, "Reasonable deduction you've got Nana-chan. But you see..." His eyes shone a double-dealing glint on it before turning his head back to the man in question—who's been swiveling his glass in circular motions with his fancy way of holding, enjoying the sound made by the melting ice. Yosuke crossed his arms again and squared his shoulders. "…you're big bro here…is unhealthily in denial of something!" He accused.

"Now spill it bro! What? Have you been dating secretly all this time? Come on!" Yosuke tried so hard to maintain a level-headed provocation, but the eagerness in his eyes and the wicked smile on the edge of his lips expresses something else. "It's not like it's a big deal. Sheesh. We're not gonna tease you like crazy."

Yu suddenly stilled his hand, "Dating?" he blinked a time or two then resumed the lavish way of swiveling the iced glass. "I'd leave that for Chie and you to take on." Yu punctuated it by drinking his beverage bottoms-up.

"What does Chie and I got to do something with that?!" Yosuke, poor Yosuke, took the bait.

"Well, you kissed after all. Why not date?" Yu slid the glass to Kanji again for the hundredth time, nodding once as if gesturing to a bartender for his regular drink.

"WHAA-" Yosuke's jaw dropped open. Not just his, but Kanji's and Teddie's too. Truly, there are occurrences in their senpais' schedules that aren't an open book to everybody. And Yosuke just couldn't believe how inadvertently Yu dropped the bomb at their kouhai and the bear (not to mention, the little girl who's now covering a hand to her slackened mouth). "Thh-thhh-thh-thhat was an ac-ccident!" He pointed his finger on Yu, shaking and threating. "Don't you turn tables on me, partner!"

"You enjoyed it." The silver-haired boy said a matter-of-factly, he was too serious that you couldn't tell he's not actually sober—only until he made a smacking kiss noise to Yosuke that everybody was sure he's momentarily deranged.

"Uh, hell no. Senpai? You are so messed up." Kanji commented, and Teddie agreed. "Sensei, sorry but, a smooching face suits me better."

"Sh-sh-shut it partner!" Yosuke's cheeks are undeniably red, flustered by the memory that only they know of. "And I'm not the one who's in question here! You are! And and and it's not like you're so innocent at all! You also got so hyped up when Yukiko hugged you while sitting on your lap! Not to mention your little moments at the tent! And lest you forget…the ski trip that I suspect, was a premeditated 'we got lost' shenanigans!"

"Keep it down dude!" Kanji motioned towards Nanako.

"Lap? Oh. You've just reminded me when you taught Chie how to bike…It was when you developed your leg fetish." Yu said and nodded in precision while he interlaced his fingers on top of the table—like a doctor discussing a medical condition.

"That's it. Hey Nanako, want a piggyback?" Kanji stood up, offering the little girl a round of playtime before she'd hear anything worse than fetish. The little girl delightfully nodded "Yes, please!" and jumped up and down as they headed outside the house. Teddie, the ever best playmate and babysitter went out to join the fun as well, "let's ride on Yosuke's bikeeee!"

"Why y-y-youuu! Dude! How could you just announce that to everybody! For the record, that was an a-c-c-i-d-e-n-t!" Yosuke was dripping in cold sweat, then he grabbed the neck of the bottle Kanji has been pouring little by little. Yosuke didn't need a glass anymore, he just gulped it all in his mouth. His drying throat really needed a few drops of water just to quench. But before the cool drink could even go past his throat, Yoskue's eyes shot wide open as a constricting bitter-strong taste burned his tongue, fumed his nose and stung his eyes. Then he splattered a mouth-full of drink all over. "What the F?" He twisted and turned the bottle to read the labels and alas, it was alcohol all along. "You've been given this the whole time?! That stupid Kanji! He's been friends with Naoki long enough not to know this!" Yosuke cursed under his breath remembering how Kanji rummaged the refrigerator earlier to trick his senpai who's been constantly asking for an 'on the rocks' drink. It must've been Doujima's unfinished bottle of liquor.

However, it was enough to convince Yosuke that Yu is in no shape at the moment to actually make sense. He sighed, but it didn't stop him of course. He asked a few prying questions, just in case his friend would slip, while they waited a good thirty minutes until the trio are done with their playtime.

They left Yu in the care of the more reliable little Doujima while they did the courtesy of taking care of the empty bottle of gin. As the three guys flew out, Nanako had already prepared Yu's futon ready for him to rest and had given him the warm cup of chamomile tea.

She tucked in her big bro but instead of going straight out right after, she sat on the love seat, crossing both her legs and arms while she stared to the still fully-awake silver haired boy who's staring in blank space. Now she's back on Detective Loveline mode.

"Just start from the beginning and tell me what happened." Nanako said with her ever so sophisticated tone of question.

Nanako-chan hasn't been exactly Yu's shoulder-to-lean-on with matters he couldn't bring himself to discuss with Yosuke or anybody else. He couldn't burden her with such heavy ordeals she wouldn't even understand yet. But her soft little heart has always been so open and supportive to her big bro. There were times that she even figured them out and Yu just let it slide—even joking about it, like calling Yukiko his girl-friend (and another more shamefully intimate labeling that he couldn't bring himself to say again) when it's just Nanako and him. It's not that he claimed it, it's just the easiest word to call girl that's a friend and avoid a series of questions from a seven year old…well at least, that's what he keeps on telling himself. But anyway, the two of them have been somehow an open-book to Nanako. The little girl naturally have this detective, or prying, instincts that could make Yu unconsciously admit to things.

Yu blinked, once, twice, thrice. "Things are going so well again…" he gulped, one heavy lump on his throat. "…but then she said..."

It was one of the two-seating tables at Aiya's where Yu and the raven-haired girl shared an explicitly boring and wintery afternoon on February 8th. She looked inconsolably dry and was staring at him from across her seat, with eyes ever so disinterestedly cold. On the other hand, he kept his cool but his gaze was flustered. He thought he'd been through this a couple times before, but her aura today is distinctly chafed. Something on the back of his mind tells him that the afternoon was not running good.

Then suddenly she told him: "I hate you, Narukami-kun"

"Just like that?" Nanako asked.

Yu nodded, his pillow under his head even rustled with the movement. "Just like that."

"But did she ever tell you why?" the little girl asked again.

"SORRY! That didn't come out right!" She waved both of her palms in defeat but it didn't take the confusion out from the silver-haired boy sitting in front of her, with mouth agape. Hell, the word 'sorry!' was the last thing he'd prefer to hear from her at this time. "I was just saying that I don't lik—I mean this 'thing'" She made a gesture of her hand as if holding a rounded ball, but both of them knew what she was referring to. "…stop what you're doing okay? I mean what is this? What are we doing? Is this…normal?" Yukiko asked, even she can't find a perfect definition to it. She just called it a 'thing'.

"Normal? I-I-I d-don't know." He started stuttering, his hand doing the same gesture as she is, only shaking. "I don't care. It's fun! It makes me happy…aren't you happy?" Yu returned a question that instantly made him afraid to hear an answer of.

"You're happy?" She asked ever so befuddled. She was actually surprised with his admission but her gaze seemed to have scared him out instead.

"You're not?" Yu prodded. That was supposed to be a question he only had on his mind but his mouth betrayed him. And his heart is obviously being stabbed as he seek for more verification.

"But all we do is piss each other off." She justified, her eyebrow slightly raised.

"That's just bull—Stupid!" Yu groaned and rolled his eyes. What was that for a response? It doesn't justify her words at all. She just said she hates him, damnit!

"Big bro, maybe she was just in a bad mood." Nanako consoled."Maybe it's just the time of the month."

Yu snuggled in his comforter, then both his eyeballs rolled to the left, glaring at Nanako this time. "What do you know about the time of the month?" He quote and quoted.

"I just know." She said innocently. "…maybe more than you do, and more than you think I do. But what happened next, big bro?"

"This doesn't come like a total surprise. I mean, recently we have just stopped speaking with each other again…For two weeks, that's the longest so far on the record…" She reasoned out.

It's two and a half weeks and that's totally because you stopped talking to me first! He thought, fighting the urge of smashing the table. Yu just he just rolled his eyes again, trying to hear her 'reasons'.

She sighed, "…and most of the times we're on each other's throats…"

No we are not! Yu would've wanted to protest but she wasn't done speaking yet.

"…well silently. But we're as worse as Chie and Yosuke are on getting on each other's nerves." The raven haired girl looked down so her eyes won't be shown. Her voice oddly had that disappointed note on it though, and it wasn't much concealed to Yu.

"Yukiko…" Yu called her back, his voice is very consoling but ridiculing at the same time that the clash made the sound of her name so casual. "Yosuke pushes Chie on the edge, and Chie kicks him painfully on the gut, better yet murdering his ego. I mean, we had a lot of misunderstandings but I hardly think I'm 'Yosuke' kind of irritating." Yu tried to explain, very calmly as he could. And it's undeniable that his eyes are clouded with worry.

"No… I'm 'Yosuke'." She said, still looking down and biting her lower lip.

"Oh." Yu didn't see that one coming. "So I'm 'Chie'. So…I…I kick you…in the gut?" Yu slumped his back on his seat. He couldn't comprehend which part he was missing. Because he's sure as hell he's not physically brutal. So was he asleep the whole time this allegations have been given a conclusion? Unless it's more emotiona…

Their beef bowls had arrived, the waiter gave them each their order of gyuudon—which was not exactly her favorite.

"Let's just eat and talk about it later." She said. Then she split apart her chopsticks and poked about the lump of meat on her bowl before finally putting one in her mouth. "Hmmm…this is good." She nodded her head and covered her mouth. Then she feigned delight, "I'm really glad that we're doing this."

Yu was reluctant. He wasn't confident enough with the honesty of her words. Before he knew it, he was just staring at her, with jaws dropping.

"Hmmm… I love this gyuudon." She faked it again, just like a TV host of a cooking show, she poked and poked on her bowl as if trying to find the smallest piece she'd devour next. Receiving no side reactions, she briefly looked up to him, but then saw him staring at her with eyes almost cloudy and expression definitely soulless. "What?" She asked, her brow raised.

This is so wrong. He doesn't want to have her end this in her way. He couldn't take another shock anymore.

Yu inadvertently stood up, leaving his bowl untouched, then slowly walked out.

"Narukami-kun! Wait! Don't go! You're still my guy best friend!" She called out but he didn't look back. It lingered, a deafening echo in his head, saying he's just the best friend.

He didn't know what that tight feeling in his chest was but it sure was not pleasant at all. And he so ever just loved to imagine that in spite that, she called him out with her arm so extended in want to grasp him back.

"Oh…" Nanako gave a dry expression. Almost as dry as her drunk cousin's—who was huddling in his futon and staring blankly at space again. She gulped, "Well you have many girl best friends."

"Yes." Yu bluntly acknowledged.

"And a lot of girls think you're their best friend too. So that's okay…" Nanako gave light to his gloomy mindset.

But he wasn't fazed. "This is different."

Nanako didn't respond, but she uncrossed her arms so she can cup her chin in one hand, and tilted her head to look at Yu ever so questioningly again.

He continued, "It's different. It's Yukiko."

Finally he admits! Nanako was giggly on the inside. During the course of their conversation and story-telling, and despite being a little tipsy with alcohol, Yu has never confirmed it was Yukiko. He left it with Nanako's imagination to play with. And with the delight of being right with her assumption, it got her levered up to become a better advisor to her big bro.

Nanako cleared her throat, as to hide the remnants of the giggles formed, and tried her best to deliver a semi-stoic, Detective Loveline-ish, tone of professionalism. "She likes to be your best friend, why not? That's no different from a girl-friend. It's even better! A girl-best-friend." The seven year old innocently smiled.

But he just grumbled, "No."

"Come on big bro…cheer up! There are plenty other friends and girls you can call your girl-friend… My teacher told me 'there are plenty other fish in the sea'." Nanako smiled again, amused on how she finally said something philosophical during this course of conversation.

"No." Yu grumbled again, this time, starting to sound like a spoiled little brat. Surely, this duo sometimes enjoy role-reversal.

Nanako pouted. She thought her philosophical correlations were wrong, so she contended more, "But my teacher…she said… 'there are plenty other toys at the playground'."

"Well she's lying." Yu calmly protested, but Nanako could tell his lips were drawing a pout too. He shimmied under the sheets and cracked his shoulders once to bear more comfort.

The little girl sighed then both of them fell silent for a while.

But then, Yu whined, completely like a little-drunken-spoiled-brat, "I don't want another toy! I don't want another fish! I only want that fish!"

Author's Note:

(He just called her a fish. Haha! Sorry, he's a bit drunk. I know he's a sexy drunk and he was earlier, but on the last scene…well, it's just one tantrum).

Hello readers! Another Persona 4 fic from me! Yay! Actually this is the first one but I didn't publish it before because the idea and timeline of this fic had been complicated for me to patch up. If you have managed to stumble across this fic through reading the other one: (Chances Are), then thank you so much for taking time to read this too! I'm new to this fandom and writing fanfics wasn't really a hobby. Like some people, I also think there's a lack of Souji/YuxYukiko fics out there and I'm not gonna stand here and do nothing about it. So here I go.

I'm not an English speaker, it's not my first language so please be nice with me. I appreciate if you point out grammatical errors and such. I'd be happy to correct it.

Yes, this is a lot like the (500) DAYS OF SUMMER movie introduction too. If you review the movie, that's awesome, you will see this fanfic is similar at the beginning. BTW, I'm so sorry for basing the movie without permission at all. It's obvious that I'm a copy cat anyway, and I'm doing this with no intentions of profit…so I hope they'll forgive the humble cat.

The numbers inside the brackets are the numbers of the days the event took place. I tried to base it as much as I can on the game's calendar…and actually the total will be 339 days so we're sort of a month short. But just for the story's similarity to the movie's title, I hope we can just have a silent agreement on the inconsistency (Because I certainly cannot name this (400) DAYS OF YUKIKO 'cause that's gonna be over a year stay at Inaba). The point of the labelling is just an emphasis that this certain day happens before or after another certain day. I'll drop the labels soon after (maybe), and let the story flow continually on it's own.

Well this is the first chapter, kind of a teaser. Everything will unravel along the process of this story: like, how come they are 'Yosuke' & 'Chie' in a silently hurtful way; how it happened that he calls her 'girlfriend'; what happens in the tent, after the King's Game and ski trip; the biking lessons; and of course YosuxChie kiss; and many more.

PS: Nanako isn't exactly aware of what happened to Adachi. So she brings him up just so carelessly on conversations. And Yukiko calls her Narukami-kun for a strange personal reason of hers.

Please Review :] Thanks!