It was a beautiful day for work: overcast and rainy, as it often was in Inaba. Souji was contentedly buttoning up his shirt, as he thought about how the day would play out. He was very cautious when it came to love, and didn't want his small crush for Yosuke to get noticed, though he'd been dropping hints left and right. He all but vomited his feelings up in a colourful mess, which would have taken a lot of cleaning up… unless Yosuke didn't mind the mess. Didn't mind if everybody saw. He could almost taste him on his lips… the moment was drawing nearer and nearer. He pulled on his shoes and left his room.

"Where are you going in this weather?" Dojima asked.

"Junes. Yosuke needs help with inventory" he replied.

"Well, just be back before dinner. We're having soup- that is, if I can figure out how to make it. Nanako offered to do it for me, but… well, I want to try harder. Speaking of Nanako, don't forget you promised to buy Nanako a Featherman R action figure next time you went to Junes" he said.

Souji nodded and headed out the door. The rain was coming down in a slight drizzle, but his hair was still dampening- the white darkening into a darker gray. Soon he could see the outline of Junes through the mist and rain. Christmas lights were hung up outside, for sale.

He walked inside, and felt a warm breeze. He felt the heat begin to rid the cold of the winter air from his body, and he sighed in contentment. He sidled over to the inventory room and crept inside. Yosuke was sitting on a pile of crates with a demented look on his face.

"If I see one more tomato, I will kill somebody" Yosuke said.

Souji grimaced at his surroundings. "Where can I start?" he asked tentatively.

"Anywhere you can…" Yosuke choked out.

They started to dig through the boxes, and soon began to feel very hopeless. As one box was moved out, it seemed that two more magically appeared.

"We're never gonna finish!" Yosuke cried.

"Hey, we're halfway done" he said, trying to be optimistic.

"Alright then, let's keep going…" Yosuke said, unenthusiastically.

They moved quicker than before, but the task was quickly becoming mundane. Souji was beginning to think of ways to kill himself in ways that would look like accidents, when he looked around, seeing with normal eyes for the first time in a long time.

"We're done" he said, amazed.

"Yeah… we are. Hey, you want to come over? I think we have some food" Yosuke asked.

Souji hesitated. "Sure, I'll come" he said finally.

"Great, just let me clock out" Yosuke said, grinning.

Yosuke did as he said he would, and they left the twinkling lights of Junes behind. As they walked, Souji tried to expel all thoughts from his mind, knowing that they would all make the situation about a thousand times more awkward. Yosuke unlocked the door and led them inside, explaining that his parents were still working overtime at Junes. Souji mentally kicked himself for all of the images that popped into his mind.

"Nothing…" Yosuke said disappointedly, after looking in the kitchen for only a moment.

"That's too bad" Souji said, moving next to him.

Souji tried to think rationally, but gave up eventually and let himself move. Before either of them could say or do anything, he tilted the other boy's head toward him and pressed their lips gently together. Yosuke's eyes bulged out of his head momentarily. He moved closer, then- so close that he could feel the other's heat on him. Yosuke pulled back slightly to look at him.

"You should go" Yosuke whispered.

"What? Why? I mean, that wasn't supposed to be-" he started.

"It's okay, I just… I need to think" Yosuke said.

Souji nodded, and moved to the door. He left quietly and walked swiftly through the streets toward his house. He was so stupid… things like that only happened in the movies. He looked up at the sky as he walked. The rain had stopped and the clouds had cleared, so the stars were out. He ran the events through his mind over and over until he got home.

"Hey! Just in time for dinner, you must be starving" Dojima said with a chuckle.

"Oh, wow! A Featherman R! Thanks, Big Bro!" Nanako said, grabbing the action figure and hugging it.

"You're welcome" he said with a smile.

They settled down for dinner and began to eat. Dojima had surely tried his very best, but even though the soup was clearly store-bought with clear instructions, he'd mucked it up. Souji still complimented it, however, trying to boost his ego as well as he could. Souji sat there and brooded as he finished his soup.

"So, how was inventory?" Dojima asked innocently.

"It ought to be illegal, you should look into it" he answered.