Story 6: Nothing's Sweeter
Yosuke bit on the end of pocky gently, grinning as the chocolate melted in his mouth.
"Hey, save some for me." Souji laughed as he sat on the sofa next to his best friend and boyfriend.
"No way, the pocky is mine!" Yosuke shoved the box under his top quickly, chuckling.
"Well then, I'm just gonna have to take it from you by force!" Souji leaned forward and tickled Yosuke's sides, making the brunette yell and shriek with laughter.
"Hey! Stop, Souji!" Yosuke laughed, trying to catch his breath.
"Can I have some pocky?" Souji asked, pinning Yosuke's hands against the arm of the sofa.
"No way." Yosuke winked at the older male hovering above him.
"I thought you might say that..." Souji said lowly, moving his head down towards Yosuke's stomach.
Souji used his teeth to pull up Yosuke's top to reveal the plain white box of pocky sticks. Yu trailed his tongue from the top of Yosuke's trousers, to his stomach, reaching the pocky box.
"Stop Souji, that tickles!" Yosuke squirmed uncontrollably.
Yu removed a stick from the box swiftly, wasting no time to eat it as he released Yosuke's hands.
"Mmm, I should do that more often." Yosuke chuckled as he removed the stick from his boyfriend's mouth.
"Hey...!" Souji started, but stopped as he felt Yosuke make their lips connect in a gentle kiss. Souji begun to move his hand up to cup Yosuke's face, but was stopped when Yosuke retracted.
"I still have a whole box to go." Yosuke whispered, walking out of the room slowly, winking at the older male sat on the sofa.
"I-I can help you with that." Souji replied, chasing after the cheeky brunette.
Story 7: Best Friend, Boyfriend
Souji was curled up in a ball, fast asleep. The only sound coming from him was his gentle and even breathing and the occasional snuffle.
Yosuke paused his muted game and watched the older male sleep. He smiled gently as he sat on the edge of Souji's futon.
He pecked Souji's forehead affectionately, earning another soft snuffle from the leader.
"You're sweet when you're asleep." Yosuke whispered.
Being an extremely light sleeper, Souji opened one eye lazily and grinned.
"What, I'm not when I'm awake?" Souji chuckled lightly.
"I never said that." Yosuke winked. Souji laughed quietly, tugging Yosuke's t-shirt, forcing him to lay next to him.
"So warm..." Souji smiled as he cuddled up to Yosuke.
"H-Hey, that kind of tickles." Yosuke started squirming, until he felt a hand stroke his back gently. "Alright, I'll stop..."
"Good. Now go to sleep." Souji commanded. "Or else."
"Or else what?"
"Or else, I'll be cranky and aggravated tomorrow. Good night." Souji gathered enough energy to lean over Yosuke and quickly give him a kiss good night.
"'Night..." Yosuke mumbled, turning over and cuddling Souji. The older male smiled and cuddled Yosuke back.
"Love you Hanamura."
"Love you too."
Story 8: Musician's Fingers
"Hmm..." Yosuke stared at his yellow electric guitar a little nervously. He hadn't touched the thing in months.
"Do you remember how to play?" Souji asked as he watched Yosuke from the sofa.
"Kind of. It's been a while, so it won't sound great." Yosuke picked up the guitar and tried strumming it. Both he and Souji cringed. "Ouch, that doesn't sound healthy."
"Try tuning it?" Souji suggested, a little hesitantly.
"Haha, very funny." Yosuke rolled his eyes, words dripping with sarcasm.
"No, honestly."
"I know what to do, it's just that I can't be bothered." Yosuke sighed as he replaced the instrument lazily.
Yosuke sat next to his friend on the sofa tiredly, earning a soft chuckle from his friend.
"Lazy, lazy Hanamura. I was so excited to hear you play as well." Souji sighed, shaking his head slowly.
"W-Well, if you really want to hear it, I'll try." Yosuke grabbed his guitar again and began to tune it. It was a slow and tedious process.
"Play something for me." Souji crossed his legs and put his head on his hands childishly.
So Yosuke strummed out the first song that came into his head. A soft and gentle tune, the first song he ever learnt to play on guitar. Souji watched, astounded that his clumsy best friend could play something to sweet and meaningful.
When Yosuke had finished, his single audience member applauded politely, grinning.
"That was sweet." Souji grinned.
"It was the first song I ever learnt on guitar." Yosuke coloured considerably, whilst adding: "It was a song I wrote for you."
"For... me?" Souji blinked at his friend. A smile grew on his face. "I love it. I'll have to return the favour."
Story 9: Distance Doesn't Matter To Us
"Distance doesn't matter to us. Even when we're apart, we're still friends!" Yosuke shouted to his departing friend.
Souji gave a small nod to everyone, but gave Yosuke a sad look and waved a little.
"I love you Souji."
"I love you Yosuke."
They both whispered as they began to text to each other.
I can't believe you're gone Leader.
I wish I did not have to leave. I miss everyone.
Everyone misses you.
Including you, Yosuke?
Me, especially. You changed my life, you know.
You told me. Is it true, or did you just say that to make me feel better?
It came from the bottom of my heart Partner.
Well, I have something to tell you Yosuke, I just don't know how to tell you.
You can tell me anything.
Ever since I moved into Inaba, I've always liked you, so now that I have the chance, I just wanted to say that... I love you.
Souji, ever since you saw me crash my bike into a lamppost, I always knew that we'd have a friendship like no one else's. I always knew that I loved you.
Really?
Honestly.
How can we love each other now? We're so far away.
...Distance doesn't matter to us. Even when we're apart, we're still friends. Right?
Right.
Story 10: Paradichlorobenzene x Anti-chlorobenzene
"Hanamura, you suck!"
"Take Junes down, they're killing family businesses!"
"They're such jerks, trying to run everyone out of business."
"Saki didn't even like you!"
"SHUT UP!" Yosuke screamed, fists clenched. "I'm sick of everyone blaming me, telling me I suck, when none of this is my fault!"
"Yeah you guys, back off." Souji was behind Yosuke, scowling at everyone. "It's all anger and jealousy."
"I'll show you anger and jealousy...!"
"Woah, hold on, don't go fighting him, fight the Hanamura kid."
"You're right. Everyone! Get him!"
"No, don't come near me!" Yosuke hissed, holding his hands up in desperation.
"I hate you guys." Souji muttered under his breath. "Quit bullying him, it's not his fault!"
"Yes it is! If he didn't move here, we wouldn't be ready to kick ass today."
"That's still not his fault, he didn't have a choice in it." Souji reasoned.
"Everyone, go home. Leave me alone." Yosuke whimpered. "I've had enough."
"We haven't! Right everyone?!"
"RIGHT!"
"I'm sick of you bastards! Fuck off or I'll make you!" Yosuke shouted at the crowd.
"Yosuke, calm down. They piss me off too but..."
"I'm not calming down Partner, I've had enough."
"So have we." A protester removed a gun from their pocket aiming at Yosuke.
"Do it." Yosuke hissed. "I'm not scared of you."
The sound of the gun ricocheted off of every wall and into the ears of everyone within a mile of there.
Falling to the ground slowly, Yosuke reached out to Souji, his smile cheery, despite the blood escaping his mouth.
"Well, nice knowing you Partner. Say hi to everyone, okay? And... I'm sorry." And with that, Yosuke fell to the ground unconscious.
"Why did you do that?" Souji asked quietly. "Why?!" Souji shouted at the protester.
"It needed to be done."
"Tch." Was all Souji could say before carrying the dead Yosuke Hanamura away from the scene. He wasn't going anywhere specific, just somewhere away from there.
It's difficult, it's sad it's regrettable, that I want to stop, and yet I'm not even allowed to do that, but only keep on losing more and more. It's too painful, it's too detestable, it's futile, that I want to erase all, abandon anything and everything, fly off and make a clamorous outcry.
For what do I sing? Paradichlorobenzene. I just sing without understanding why, Paradichlorobenzene. Yes, I ran, seeking the answers, Paradichlorobenzene. Though I knew there was nothing out there for me to reach.