Authors Note: It's been a while since I last wrote anything on this site (6+ years or so and on a different account) so here is my attempt to get back into writing! Although, I would of liked this to get beta before I posted, since I'm not all too confident of my writing ability, but it's been almost and out of the 4 I wrote too none have responded back. So after looking over it several times and catching the mistakes I can see I'm just going to post it here and see what happens! Enjoy!
Universe and The Fool
Ch I
o0o
Wednesday, March 2012 Evening
Yosuke closed the door behind him and let out a tired sigh before walking towards his bed and allowed his body to plop on it. His mind was running in circles with all the day's events replaying in his head.
I School was school. There was nothing special about that. Even though Yosuke did start taking his classes slightly more serious by studying for a couple hours at the end of the day he still prefers to sleep in but he did notice he was sleeping less in class and actually paying attention. During one exam Yosuke found himself effortlessly writing down the answers to each question and noticed he was one of the first ones done and when the scores were posted he was only 3 points behind Yukiko, who held the top spot.
Junes was Junes. After school Yosuke worked the rest of the afternoon. Although the job was difficult and the pay was decent at best it was the Anti-Junes Group, or the A.J.G that caused the most headaches for him and today was no different. Before if Yosuke saw a face he recognized as a Junes hater he would lift his headphones to his ears and play his music loudly so he wouldn't have to deal the headache. Now he would get involved and help any employee who came under fire from the A.J.G. Mostly to prevent the employee from quitting and it worked half of the time. The times it didn't work Yosuke knew he was going to cover an extra shift since he was the managers son the others would automatically assume he would do so.
Home was home until dinner. Yosuke was sitting in his room studying when his mom called down for dinner they gave their thanks and began eating. Yosuke's father was talking about the meeting he had with other big wigs of Junes stuff he and his sisters had no interest in. it wasn't until his father finished his story when he looked at Yosuke and says, "I heard you had another encounter with those…" he paused for a second, "what did you call them? Anti-Junes haters?" Yosuke nodded as he took a bit of his food.
"Yup," he simply says before he swallows his food and adds, "An old lady came in and started up some trouble." He sighed, "And we lost another employee, so I'll be taking the extra shift until we find a replacement."
"What makes you think I'm going to have you take the extra shift?" his father asked with a smirk and crossed his arms.
"Because I'm the only one who is willing to do it." Yosuke says giving his father a knowing look, "besides who else are you going to ask? Haruka?" he scoffs, "Mrs. I need a day off every other day." He shook his head, "I can handle it dad no worries." Yosuke went back to eating while his looked at him with a proud smile.
"You know, Yosuke," He started, "I've noticed you taken a leadership role these last couple of months." He says getting Yosuke's attention as he continues, "You're always the first one to help your co-workers when those Anti-Junes people come in to stir up trouble, you've been volunteering for the extra hours when someone quits, and I even saw you stayed to help with inventory count when you didn't have to." He paused for a moment then adds, "And I'm not the only one who noticed." This caught Yosuke's full attention, "Yosuke, we're expanding the Junes name, and by request of Mr. Kennamura, head of board of Junes, ask that you are manager of the new Junes in Iwatodai."
Yosuke nearly jumped out of his seat with excitement. He was being promoted to manager! Sure he probably was going to have more hours than normal and more responsibility but the fact that it was someone besides his dad who requested his promotion left him speechless and honored. However, through his excitement he almost didn't catch the last part of what his father said.
"Wait Iwatodai?" Yosuke asked and his father nodded.
"Is that a problem?" his father asked curiously.
"Why can't I be the manager of the Junes here in Inaba?" Yosuke questioned.
"Listen, Yosuke." His father started, "I'm not getting any younger and I have a family to care for here in Inaba, but you are still young and don't have a family to care for yet." He smiled for a moment, "this move is the perfect opportunity for you to live on your own, branch out and meet new people." He then turned to Yosuke's mother who looked like she was ready to chime in, "and yes dear he will be attending school, I've personally talked to the councilors at Gekkoukan High and they said his grades are more than the standard requirements to transfer there."
"Oh wow." His mother said before looking at him, "Yosuke dear, when did you start taking school so serioue?" she asked in a proud tone. Yosuke didn't say a word. He had the same feeling as the last time when they told him they had to move to Inaba for the first time. It was a lonely feeling; everyone was so excited except for him.
"So what do you say Yosuke?" his father asked.
Yosuke sighed before burying his head in his pillow and groaned loudly in frustration. In one hand he wanted to take this job. Better pay, more freedom, new buildings and a new high school but in the other he wouldn't be able to see his friends. His close friends, the only friends he could call his second family. He grew to like Inaba, even if it was a smaller town.
After a moment of silently thinking about his decision he pulled out his phone and made a group text to everyone.
hey guys, meet me at Junes, I have something important I need to talk you all about something.
He double checked to make sure everyone was going to get the message, except Naoto and Rise who were out of town, before sending the message and spent the rest of the night looking at the ceiling debated if he should take the offer or just leave it.
o0o
Thursday, March 2012 Morning
The next day Yosuke woke immediately got ready for work. After losing another employee due to the scene that was caused with a member of the A.J.G Yosuke knew he was going to have to cover the morning shift especially now with one of the big wigs personally requesting him to manage the new Junes branch opening up in the city.
However, he couldn't give his father an answer just yet. Even though he hasn't seen much of his friends since the murders were solved last year he still considered them friends, family even, and he couldn't just accept something this life changing without telling them first.
Yosuke sat at the normal spot with five drinks sitting in front of him while waiting for everyone to show up. He checked his text a couple times to make sure he said where and when to meet but no one showed up. Finally, twenty minutes after the time Yosuke said to meet Yukiko text Yosuke back saying she and Chie won't be able to make it Junes since the Inn was too busy, "Figures." he says to himself with a sigh. Yosuke waited for another ten minutes before he deciding no one was going to show up and was getting ready to return back to work when suddenly he heard a familiar voice call out.
"Yo senpai." The voice belonged to Kanji who was walking beside the self-proclaimed 'ladies' man, Teddie, "Sorry for bein' late, ma needed help around the shop and this guy..." He says point at Teddie, "not much of a morning person, I had to bribe him with a topsicle just get him out of bed."
"We had one for you one too Yosuke!" Teddie said excitingly before he quickly added, "But I ate it before we left Kanji's house."
"Any way…" Kanji says before noticing no one else showed, "Huh? Hey where's everyone at Senpai?"
"Chie and Yukiko couldn't make it." Yosuke said with a sigh, "too busy at the Inn." He sat down and grabbed a drink before he adds, "And Rise and Naoto are still out of town so I didn't expect them to make it here."
"Oh." Kanji says before taking a seat, "I'm surprised they didn't come, your message sounded pretty serious."
"It…" Yosuke paused for a moment. He wanted to say this meeting was serious but now that he thought about it, it wasn't. It was good news, news that didn't require everyone to drop what they are doing and meet at Junes. It's not like there were murders or anything, "it's not really serious, I just got some good news and bad news."
"Oh?" Kanji said sounding generally interested, "well don't just sit Senpai, what is it?"
"Yeah, stop pausing for dramatic effect Yosuke!" Teddie says taking more interest in Yosuke's news rather than his melting Topsicle in his hand.
"Well," Yosuke started deciding to go with the good news first, "During dinner my dad told me there was a manager position opened at Junes and the big wigs of Junes have personally requested that I fill that role."
"Really?!" Kanji asked excitingly, "Senpai that's! That's great!"
"This calls for a celebration!" Teddie exclaimed, "Topsicles for everyone! Kanji's treat!"
"The hell it is!"
Yosuke smiled as he watched Kanji and Teddie bicker back and forth. He expected this reaction after telling them the good news but he knew it was going to change once he finished, "There is a catch…" the two stopped arguing just long enough to hear Yosuke and gave him their full attention, "In order for me to have that position I need to move." He looked at them for a moment and adds, "To Iwatodai."
"Iwatodai?" Kanji asked before asking, "Where's that?"
"Is that some kind of Topsicle flavor?" Teddie asked innocently.
"It's the name of a city." Yosuke says answering both Teddie and Kanji's question.
"The city?" Teddie repeated still confused however Kanji seemed to understand
"So, you're going to have to move huh." He said in a somber tone.
"M-move?" Teddie questioned, "You mean like Sensei did?"
"Yeah." Was all Yosuke could say. Everyone stayed silent for what seemed like a long time. Kanji was staring at his drink while Teddie kept his gaze on the melting Topsicle in his hand. Suddenly Kanji shook his head as if he was getting himself out of some sort of trance.
"Why are we getting all emotional for?" he suddenly asks before looking at Yosuke with a smile on his face, "This is a great opportunity for you Senpai! I say you take it!"
"Yeah!" Teddie chimed, "I'm not sure what's going on but if it helps Yosuke I'm all for it!"
"really?" Yosuke questioned.
"Don't get me wrong." Kanji began, "It is going to suck knowing you aren't in Inaba anymore but sometimes it's better to leave some familiar things behind in order for you to grow." Kanji noticed Yosuke and Teddie staring at him and began feeling uncomfortable, "uh...what?"
"That was really grown up of you Kanji." Teddie says proudly, "you make your Senpai proud!"
"Oh, than-wait a minute!" it took a while but Kanji finally caught on, "You're not my Senpai! I'm older than you!"
"Sure, in physical form but I'm older…" he paused and pointed at his head, "In the mind, which makes me older than you."
"What?" Kanji asks confused before he stood up, "wait are you calling me dumb! I'm not dumb you stupid bear!"
the rest of Yosuke's break was spent watching as Kanji and Teddie argue back and forth over trivial things. The entertainment kept Yosuke's mind busy enough that he didn't worry about the decision he had to make. Like all good things the visit ended with Kanji and Teddie leaving Junes and Yosuke returning to work.
o0o
Thursday, Martch 2012 Evening
His shift was over but Yosuke stayed behind to help the closing staff. Once everything was finished he bid farewell and began walking home. It was a chilly night but Yosuke didn't mind, it was a good way to clear his head and finally think things through and he knew a perfect place for such things.
It was a little out of the way but Yosuke made it to the hill that overlooked Inaba. Yosuke walked up the hill expecting it to be empty but to his surprise sitting on one of the benches was Marie looking at the town below. Yosuke stood silent for a second before calling out to her getting her attention. She turned her head and gave him a welcoming smile before offering him a seat beside her.
"What are you doing here?"Yosuke asked once he took a seat beside her.
"Don't know." she simply said with a shrug, "just thought I would get a good look at the town I call home." they stood silent for a moment before she looked at Yosuke, "what about you?"
"Same." Yosuke answered, "well sorta." he began telling her about the decision he had to make. at first she was happy to hear he was being promoted but then disappointed when he told her he had to move.
"Are you going to take it?" she questioned and Yosuke sighs.
"I don't know." Yosuke says, "Kanji and Teddie say I should but…" he stood up and walked to the wooden fence by the edge of the hill and looked at the town that sat below, "I hate how I feel like I'm leaving everything behind."
"Sometimes You have to leave the familiar things behind in order to grow." Marie says which causes Yosuke to chuckle.
"Kanji said the same thing."
"He did?" she questioned with a amused smile, "that's very grown up of him." He chuckles before returning his attention to the town. A silence falls between the two as Marie watched Yosuke ponder.
"Duh!" Yosuke suddenly says excitedly, "I'll just call Yu! he'll know what to do."
"Yu?" Marie questioned, "wait are you going to ask him for advice or what you should do?"
"what I should do!" Yosuke says as he pulls out his phone from his pocket and begins dialing his number, "He's never made a bad decision before he'll know what I should do."
"Yosuke…" Marie says as she stands up but Yosuke didn't hear her and continued dialing his number.
"Man, I hope I'm not disturbing him."
"Don't go." Marie suddenly said, stopping Yosuke from hitting the last number of his partners cell phone and looked at her. A cool wind gently blew passed the two teens as they looked at one another, "That's what you want to hear right?" She says suddenly as she takes a step towards him, "You want to hear your friends tell you to stay in Inaba, to keep the same job and be the same Yosuke every knows." she stood in front of him and slowly placed her hands on his phone and closes it, "But that's not going to happen Yosuke, they're all going to tell you to go." she looks up at him and smiles, "it is an opportunity for you to grow." she giggles and playfully adds, "and let's face it, you have a lot of growing up to do."
Yosuke chuckles a bit at her remark before looking at the town not once taking notice of Marie's hand on his phone which was still in his hand, "Yeah…" Yosuke mummers, "I've been too reliant on other people's decisions that I guess I got used to not making my own." he paused for a moment before smiling at Marie, "thanks for that."
"Sounds like you made up your mind." Marie says mirroring Yosuke's smile and Yosuke nods.
"Yeah." he said with a slight shrug of his shoulders, "I still have some doubts but for the most part I have." He clasped his hand over the phone and gripped her hand that sat on the other end, "Thanks Marie I appreciate the help." Marie's face blushed as she felt his hand gently touching the back of hers.
"I-it was nothing." she said as she looked away and quickly pulled her hand away from his light grip. She avoided eye contact with him as she nervously griped her arm with the hand he touched, "StupidJerkActingLikeTheOtherWomanizingJerk." she mumbled under her breath. She waited for a moment until she felt she had control of her composure before looking back at Yosuke who was leaning against the fence looking at the town with a smile on his face.
"I'm going to miss this place." Yosuke says but before Marie could say anything Yosuke pushes himself off the fence and stretches his arms, "but it's not like it's going anywhere." with one last sigh he pushed himself off the fence and smiles towards Marie, "Thanks again Marie, I'll talk to you later." he says before walking past her.
"Um, hey Yosuke." Marie suddenly calls out getting his attention, "Um, let me know when you leave so I can say good bye ok?" Yosuke looks at her for a moment before he nods his head and holds up his phone.
"I'll text you." he answered before saying his goodbyes and continued on his way. Yosuke took his time getting home just enjoying the night air but when he got home he went straight to his room and threw himself on the bed and pulled out his phone. His partners number was still on the screen and all it would have took was one button to call him but Yosuke closed his phone as Marie's words echoed in his head, "I'm going to do it." Yosuke said to himself before he sat up, "I'm going to do it." he repeated as he got out of his room to give his dad the answer he has been waiting for.
o0o
Friday March 2012, Late Night
All was quiet in the Tatsumi Residents with the exception of the ticking clock that hung on the wall and the snoring from Kanji and Teddie. Teddie stayed the night again getting knitting lessons from Kanji so he could make Nanako a present when her birthday comes around.
A beep was suddenly introduced into the otherwise silent night ringing three times rapidly before stopping for two seconds and repeats. It took a moment to wake Kanji but when it finally did he woke up see Teddie laying his head on Kanji's stomach, shirtless, "Wh-what are you doing in my bed?!" he exclaimed as he sat up and pushed Teddie off. Teddie landed on the floor with a thud followed by a groan.
"What was that for?" he asked tiredly.
"You have your own bed Ted!" Kanji says as he reaches for his phone and adds, "go sleep on that."
"But your bed it more comfy!" Teddie complained. Teddie stayed silent expecting a typical remark from Kanji. However, it never came. Curious, Teddie opened his tired eyes to see Kanji staring intently at his phone, "Hm? What is it Kanji?" Teddie questioned.
"It's Yosuke." Kanji answered before looking at Teddie, "he's leaving."
"Now?!" Teddie exclaimed, "Why so early?" he groans as he lays back on the floor and closes his eyes, "doesn't he know Teddie needs his beauty sleep? How else am I supposed to score with chicks if I don't get any sleep?"
"Worry about that later." Kanji says as he gets out of bed, "get dressed we're meeting him at the train station." Teddie groaned once again before he sluggishly got up and slowly began getting dressed while Kanji quickly sent a text to Chie and Yukiko.
He had a feeling Yosuke didn't text them about him leaving soon. Ever since the murders cases were solved a year ago the group has somewhat drifted apart. With Rise and Naoto jobs always taking them out of town and Yukiko and Chie working at the Inn it was mostly Kanji, Teddie and Yosuke who would hang out. Even though Yosuke never said it Kanji was sure Yosuke thought they would rather do anything else than be with him. Which was why Kanji wanted the others to be there. They just had to.
He hoped she would wake up to the sound of her phone receiving a text or maybe he would get lucky and catch her working late. He pressed send and noticed he also had Marie's number in his contacts. He sent her a quick text.
I Yosuke is leaving Inaba can you make it to the train station?I
he pressed send and got out of bed to get dressed when his phone beeped three times. when he checked he saw Marie had sent him a reply.
I He text me earlier, I'm getting ready to go there now, do you know if he text the others? I
Kanji began typing his response with one hand while trying to get dressed with the other. Bouncing on one foot while trying to pull up his pants.
I Don't know but if I have to guess, probably not. I
the next message was a jumble of letters that Kanji couldn't read. He didn't know Marie as well as Yosuke or Yu did but he had a feeling she was annoyed with him, ready…" Teddie said tiredly as he walked into Kanji's room rubbing the sleepiness from his eyes. Kanji quickly grabbed a random shirt from the floor and two jackets and tossed one to Teddie before walking out to meet Yosuke.
Kanji and teddie on a bench on the platform waiting for Yosuke to get his ticket and meet up with them. Kanji kept looking at his phone before putting it away only to pull it out and check the time again. Kanji sat tapping his legs and looked at his phone for what Teddie counted the 50th time, "Ugh! Can you stop that? That's beary annoying." Teddie complained.
"Oh, uh, sorry." Kanji said taken aback from Teddie's outburst, "I just hope the others get here." Yosuke's train was going to arrive at the train station in ten minutes and there was not a word from them. Yosuke was their friend; they've been through alot together and they can't stop for a couple minutes to see him off? He clinched his hands into a fist, "I'm going to have a few words with them if they don't show up."
"If who doesn't shows up?" Yosuke suddenly says seemingly appearing out of nowhere. Kanji was caught off guard obviously not expecting Yosuke to hear him. Kanji fumbled over his words trying to make some excuse when suddenly Teddie chimed in.
"The train!" he says. Both Yosuke and Kanji looked at him for a moment.
"The train?" Yosuke asked.
"Yup." Teddie said with a nod, "Kanji was going to have a few words with the train if it didn't show up!" Teddie looked pleased with the explanation he made up while Kanji and Yosuke just stared.
"Why wouldn't the train show up ted?" Yosuke asked with a raised eyebrow. Teddie opened his mouth as if to say something but then quickly closed it when he realized he had nothing. After a moment of thinking Teddie just shrugs and Yosuke sighs. He sits beside Teddie, "you guys have some weird conversation alone don't you." He smirks and looks at Kanji with one eye open, "but I bet Kanji doesn't mind huh Kanji-Kun."
"I'm sure you're not trying to imply something."
"Whoa chill, I was just kidding Kanji." Yosuke said quickly defusing Kanji before he got worked up over the rumor of is he or isn't he. Kanji sat silent with his arms across his chest looking annoyed while Teddie leaned side to side humming a tone while waiting for the train.
Yosuke couldn't help but look at his friends. Through all the struggles in the TV world fighting shadows, gods, and trusting one another he never felt so close to a group of people. Even with his own insecurities he could always rely on them to pick him up when he needed it. Yosuke smiles and looks at the early morning sky, "You know I used to hate this town." He suddenly spoke. Both Kanji and Teddie looked at him as he continues speaking, "I would always brag about how cool the city was and complain about how boring this Inaba was but…" he trailed off for a moment and sighed with a sad smile, "because of this town I found eight of the closest friends anyone could ask for." He paused for a second and looked at them, "feels weird that I'm leaving it all behind."
"It's not like we're going anywhere." Kanji suddenly says, "I don't plan on leaving this town anytime soon so if you ever want to come back and hang I'll be here."
"Ditto!" Teddie says as he jumps to his feet, "Oh but you'll probably have to stay at Kanji's place when you visit."
"Huh? Why would I do that?" Yosuke asked.
"Because I'm going have a lot of babes staying over and I don't want you cramping my style." Teddie said with enough confidence that Yosuke believed for a split second that was something that was going to happen but once he realized just how ludicrous he sounds Yosuke just shook his head.
"Oh please what makes you think you'll be pulling any babes into MY room?" Yosuke asks.
"I'm beary charming." Teddie answered confidently.
"You're about as charming as
Teddie wagged his finger side to side tsking, "How quickly we forget." He says, "who was it that managed to pull not one, not two, but three babes during the festival hmm?" Yosuke was dumb struck. He remembered clearly when Teddie managed to do it, as much as he didn't want to. He couldn't come back with anything he even looked at Kanji for help but Kanji just shrugged his shoulders.
"He's got a point man." Was all Kanji said. Yosuke hung his head in defeat while Teddie just stood triumphantly but Yosuke smiled, this was the last time he was going to have a conversation like this with his friends and he was going to miss it.
Suddenly the sound of the train horn was heard and rounding the corner was Yosuke's train slowing its speed to stop at the platform. Yosuke didn't notice Kanji grabbing his phone and texting someone since he was grabbing his luggage, "Looks like this is it." He says looking at Teddie then at Kanji, "I'll miss you guys."
"I'll miss you too Yosuke." Teddie says as he begins to tear.
"C-C'mon dude." Yosuke says with a cracked voice and wipes his eyes. When he regains his composure he looks back at Teddie and ruffles his hair like an older brother does to a younger sibling. Normally Teddie would be against this type of thing but it seems Teddie didn't mind it this last time.
"Sorry about the others not showing up." Kanji apologized seeing as the others wouldn't make it. Kanji half expected Yosuke to be disappointed but Yosuke shrugged his shoulders.
"I figured as much," Yosuke said surprising Kanji, "With Chie trying to get better at school AND helping Yukiko run the Inn, not to mention I haven't seen Marie since I told her I was leaving. " He paused for a second, "and who knows if Naoto and Rise are even in town." He sighed but a small smile appeared on his face, "Life is getting too hectic to expect we could all just hang out all the time." Kanji raised his eyebrow. Yosuke was showing a strange sort of maturity and it was something Kanji wasn't used to.
Yosuke adjusted his grip on his luggage and looked at the only two friends that managed to see him off, "well, I should get going now." He says before turning around and walks towards the train only to stop after a couple steps and turned to face them, "you two should get some sleep; it's still too damn early to be awake right now" He flashed them one last smile before he continued walking towards the train.
"Yosuke!" A familiar voice called out causing Yosuke to stop and turn around. Running through the train station was a group of familiar faces. Marie was ahead with Chie and the rest of the group slightly behind her. Yosuke was surprised to see them, even more surprised when Chie hugged him, nearly tackling him down.
"You jerk!" Chie she said before looking at Yosuke, "How are you going to leave without saying goodbye to us first!" Yosuke was still stunned to see them. So much so that it took him a bit to say anything.
"I thought you were going to be too busy with the Inn?" Yosuke questioned while looking at Chie and Yukiko.
"I got Kanji's text." She began explaining, "but the Inn was so busy I didn't have time to read any of his texts; then Marie came to the Inn and made me realize one of my closest friends was about to leave Inaba and I didn't know when I would see him again so…" she paused for a moment to add dramatic effect then continued, "I got Chie and told one of my employees to watch the inn and left before they could even say a word."
Yosuke looked at Marie surprised she would go out of her way to do something that and all she did was nod as if confirming the story was true before adding, "From there we picked up Naoto and Rise."
"I do not believe barging into the police station and pulling me out of a meeting qualifies as being 'picked up' Rise." Naoto says before a smile appears on her face, "Although, I do appreciate filling me in AFTER the deed was done."
Rise and Naoto explained why there were in town once they noticed Yosuke's confusion. Rise managed to convince her manager to let her have a couple days off once she finished her tour and since she arrived early in the morning, about two to three hours before Yosuke work up, she didn't want to wake up anyone up. It wasn't until Marie, who somehow broke into her house, woke her up and explained Yosuke was going to be leaving.
Naoto was in the same boat although she was only going to be in town for a day or two. She didn't get Kanji's early morning text when she went into the meeting and didn't know about Yosuke's promotion and relocation until AFTER she was 'kidnapped' by Rise.
The two girls looked proud of Yosuke but there was a hint of sadness on their faces. It was harder to tell on Naoto's face but easy on Rise's. She is very expressional when it comes to her emotions.
"We're proud of you Senpai." Naoto says suddenly, "you've worked hard and you definitely deserve this promotion."
"It just sucks you won't be where we can easily find you." Rise added with a pout but she quickly replaces it with a smile, "But Naoto-Kun is right! You earned this!"
"But how come you didn't tell us?" Yukiko asks before adding, "We had to hear from Kanji to know about your promotion and relocation."
"I just thought…" Yosuke says, "Everyone was so busy with their goals and studies I didn't think…"
"That's right you didn't think!" Chie suddenly interjected, "we're all your friends Yosuke! Even if we were busy; telling us something THIS important wouldn't stop us from seeing you off, even if we were busy."
Yosuke looked at his group of friends as they all agreed with Chie. He noticed a smirk on Kanji's face, "Told ya." He says smugly.
"You guys…" Yosuke says before looking at the floor. All their words and support left him with a good feeling. So much so that he felt like he was about to cry. He tried his hardest not to do such a thing in front of them but he still felt some tears roll down his cheeks, "you guys are great." He says with shaky breaths which prompted the group hug Yosuke.
"Hey kid," the train attendant said, "we're about ready to leave, are you getting on?" One by one the group let's go of Yosuke and step back giving Yosuke room.
"Yeah." He says after he took a deep breath and walked towards the train.
"Oh wait." Rise suddenly says before pulling out her phone and jogging to the train attendant, "take a quick picture first." She handed him the phone before standing beside Yosuke, "come on everyone." Everyone got together around Yosuke and waited until the train attendant took the picture.
Once the picture was taken Yosuke said his final farewells before getting on the train. Minutes later, the train left the platform and headed towards the city of Iwotodai. It was a weird yet, familiar feeling. The same feeling of leaving the city and going to Inaba for the first time. He felt an overwhelming sense of nervousness but that changed once he got a text from Rise.
He opened the text and saw the picture the train attendant took just moments before he left. Teddie and Rise stood beside Yosuke, their cheeks pressed on Yosuke's while Yukiko and Naoto stood properly and Chie had her fingers in a peace sign by her forehead. Kanji had his arm around Yosuke and his other flexed while Marie just looked away from the picture shyly.
Yosuke smiled when he saw this picture along with 'good luck' and 'we'll miss you' texts from everyone. The sense of nervousness went away and Yosuke leans his head against the window. He kept his gaze on the picture for a moment before he yawns. He quickly replied to the group message, thanking them for the support and calling them good friends before he saved the picture. He sighed happily and closed his eyes. His trip was going to be a couple hours long and he was going to use this time to catch up on some sleep. He was looking forward to his new life in the city but even more to returning to Inaba to reunite with his friends.
?
Yosuke suddenly woke up finding himself in a room of nothing but blue and velvet with a giant glass window revealing a night sky and lights that Yosuke could only assume were lights from other buildings in the distance.
Yosuke was examining the room when suddenly a voice says, "I must say I was not expecting any visitors for a very long time." Yosuke, startled by the sudden break in silence, looked ahead to see an elderly man wearing a suit sitting behind a fancy U-shaped desk, "Welcome to the Velvet room."
Authors's note: that ends the first chapter, if anyone has taken interest in this sotry and want's to beta please leave me a PM, if not that's cool too :) hope you enjoy the story and I look forward to seeing you in CH II! (If anyone knows where I can find a Yukari and Yosuke pic for the cover picture that would be GREAT THANKS!)