Author's Note: I do not own Persona 4. I wish I did so I could make YuNao canon, but unfortunately we couldn't be that lucky. Instead, you get this. Enjoy!
November 9th, 2013. Having just recently moved back to Inaba, Yu Narukami leaned against the wall of the Chinese diner Aiya and watched for the person he was waiting for. Glancing at the watch on his wrist, a smile touched his face as he recalled the Christmas Eve he'd spent with the one who gave it to him; the one girl he loved, and who he'd already chosen to spend the rest of his life with. All that was left was to tell her that.
As his mind drifted into pleasant memories, a screeching sound reached Yu's ears. Glancing up, he saw a black car careening down the road, pushed by an out-of-control vehicle behind it. Even as horror filled his eyes, the black car overturned, landing hard on its roof with a sickening crunch.
The sound of passersby gasping in horror barely registered in Yu's mind as he ran toward the wreck. He recognized that car, and knowing who it belonged to made the blood pound in his ears and terror grip his heart. Making his way to the wreck, he tore the passenger door open with adrenaline-fueled strength and gazed in horror at the person he saw there - a small, slender girl with navy blue hair, dressed in a dark blue semi-formal suit and a matching hat that had fallen from her head. Yu forced the seat belt off of her and began carefully pulling her out, murmuring, "Naoto…"
As she was removed from the wrecked car, Naoto Shirogane looked up at Yu with silver eyes, slowly reaching up to touch his cheek. "S-Senpai…" She gasped, struggling to breathe as panic filled her gaze. Then, with a motion that lasted an instant but felt like a million years to the silverette, her beautiful eyes fell closed.
"Naoto, no!" He cried, cradling the girl close to his chest as he fell to his knees in the middle of the street. "Please, wake up! Naoto, open your eyes! Naoto!" His heartbeat sped up enough that he couldn't tell one beat from the next; his breath came in rapid gasps as he held his beloved close, his mind paralyzed with the fear that she might die here in his arms. Yu's vision began to blur, then to fade, and as the ambulance arrived he hit the ground with darkness overtaking him.
The next thing he knew, voices were drifting into Yu's ears as his hazy mind struggled to make sense of them.
"…is he?" A male voice asked, sounding familiar.
The next voice was also male, though it sounded much older. "He's fine. The panic was too much for him, but there's no permanent damage."
"So big bro's gonna be okay?" The voice of a small girl asked. Yu's hand twitched and his eyes opened, the light piercing his retinas painfully.
"Ah, Narukami-san, you're awake." The aged doctor beside his bed said. "Have you calmed down?"
Yu blinked and looked at the other two people in the room - a middle-aged man with dark hair and stubble on his chin, and a young brown-haired girl who looked at him with worry. "Uncle Dojima… Nanako… What happened?" His voice was dry and raspy, which was quickly remedied as Nanako got him a glass of water from the sink in the room.
The doctor looked relieved as he explained, "After you pulled Shirogane-san from the wreckage of her car, you hyperventilated and passed out. Luckily there was room for both of you in the ambulance."
Yu's head pounded as he bolted upright, but his only reaction was a small wince. "That's right, Naoto- How is she?" The panic was starting to return to his voice, prompting Dojima to give him a stern look.
"Calm down, Yu. She's alive, but right now you need to think about yourself. You knocked yourself out panicking so much over her." The older man's expression was a mixture of relief and exasperation, but he was obviously glad his nephew was awake.
Yu shook his head and said quietly, "I need to see her. I have to see that Naoto's okay with my own eyes." His voice betrayed the pain his heart felt as his fists clenched around the sheets, causing Dojima and Nanako to exchange worried glances.
Luckily, the doctor spoke up right then. "Shirogane-san is awake now, so you can see her whenever you wish. Her room is on the third floor, second door on the right from the stairway." He left immediately after speaking, leaving Yu to get dressed and make his way to Naoto's room.
After locating the room, the silverette opened the door as quietly as he could in case Naoto had fallen asleep again. He was greeted by the sight of his girlfriend lying in bed, her eyes open and looking toward him. "Senpai…" She said in a weak voice, smiling as much as she could.
Yu rushed to her side and gently took her hand, murmuring, "I'm sorry, Naoto. I should have saved you. I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" Tears had formed in his eyes as he lifted her hand to his lips and softly kissed her fingers, repeating his apology over and over.
"Please don't apologize, Senpai." Naoto said quietly, lightly grasping his hair to tug his face down toward hers. Her silver eyes were as bright as ever and her lips curved into a soft smile, the same smile that Yu had come to love. "You can't possibly blame yourself. How were you supposed to stop the car from rolling?" She laughed softly, seeming to be in remarkably good spirits given her recent trauma.
Pulling a chair beside her bed, Yu sat down with Naoto's hand still resting in both of his. "I'll be right here until you can go home again, Naoto. I promise." Their eyes were locked on one another as each felt their intense love for the other within them. Yu marveled at how soft and smooth Naoto's skin was, how delicate her hand felt in his, almost as if she was a porcelain doll. But even the most priceless dolls could never compare to how special you are to me, Naoto. He thought as he looked into the small detective's eyes.
It was at that moment that a doctor arrived and began speaking to Naoto. "Shirogane-san, the results of your test came back. There was little permanent damage, save for that done to your spinal column. However…"
"I already know." Naoto's voice was more sorrowful now, her hand clutching onto Yu's as if for strength.
Glancing between the doctor and his love, Yu asked, "What's wrong? What's going on?"
"Senpai…" The detective said, tears beginning to choke her voice as she looked back into his eyes. "I… I can't walk. I'm paralyzed from the waist down."
