A WEEK LATER
The investigation team sat at their usual table at Junes. Naoto was speaking to everyone.
"Im sorry I wasnt able to train last time." Said Naoto. "I was busy working on something."
"Its alright." Said Yu. "We can get some training in today."
"Good." Said Chie. "I've been wanting to bust some heads all week."
"Count me in." Said Kanji. "Ive got some stress to relieve."
"I can't go today Partner." Said Yosuke. "I have to fill in today."
Yosuke groaned.
"Two employees are out sick, and I have to do their work!"
"I could help." Sugested Yukiko.
Yosuke raised an eyebrow.
"You wouldn't mind?"
"It would be my pleasure." Said Yukiko with a smile.
"Guess that leaves us." Said Yu.
The others got up and left.
"Do we start now?" Asked Yukiko.
"Yeah, just let me finish my soda." Said Yosuke.
Yosuke took one last long sip of his soda before tossing it into the trash can and getting up from his seat.
"Alright, lets go."
Yukiko got up and followed Yosuke into the store.
Ten minutes later Yosuke and Yukiko were both wearing Junes aprons and stocking shelves.
"He sure works hard." Thought Yukiko.
Yosuke stopped and looked at Yukiko.
"Okay, we got to unload some boxes in he back now." Said Yosuke. "After that we just have to help customers."
"Alright." Replied Yukiko.
Yosuke led Yukiko into the back storage area where they spent the next half hour unloading boxes of various items.
"Phew! Glad thats done." Said Yosuke.
Yosuke rubbed his back.
"Damn back pains..."
Yukiko looked at Yosuke concerned.
"Are you alright?" Asked Yukiko.
"My back has been a bit sore." Said Yosuke. "All the heavy lifting has taken a toll on me."
"You could use a soak in the hot springs." Said Yukiko. "Your more than welcome to come by the inn after work... If you'd like."
She turned away from Yosuke as a small blush formed on her face.
Yosuke's eyes widened.
"You mean that?" Asked Yosuke.
Yukiko nodded.
"And you wont throw anything at me like last time?" Asked Yosuke
"I wont."
Yosuke smiled.
"Then I'll have to take you up on that offer."
Yosuke relaxed in the warm spring water.
"This is great." Sighed Yosuke. "The tension is just fading away."
He allowed himself to sink into the water, only his head was sticking out now.
"It was nice of Yukiko to invite me here." Thought Yosuke. "Come to think of it, shes been nicer to me than usual lately..."
Yosuke swam closer to the side and laid against a rock.
"Shes been inviting me places, helping out at work, even offered to pay for the sandwiches last saturday... Something is up."
Yosuke scratched his head.
"I'll have to ask her about it later..."
Yosuke sunk back into the hot spring water.
THE NEXT DAY
Classes for the day have just ended.
Yosuke made his way to the front gate and saw Yukiko leaning against its side.
"Hey Yukiko."
Yukiko's head shot up.
"Oh hey Yosuke." Said Yukiko, startled."
Yukiko rubbed the back of her head.
"...Would you care to walk home with me?" Asked Yukiko. "If you want to I mean..."
"Uh... Sure..." Said Yosuke, slightly confused by Yukiko's behavior.
The two students began their walk.
Yukiko and Yosuke walked through the flood plains.
"Hey Yukiko." Began Yosuke. "Could I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
Yosuke stopped.
"You've been nicer to me than usual." Said Yosuke. "And your acting kind of strange today."
Yukiko froze up.
"W-What d-do you m-mean?" Asked Yukiko.
"The hot springs, the sandwiches, you skipped out on training yesterday to help me with work." Said Yosuke. "Why is that?"
Yukiko's face turned a bright red.
"W-Well... I-I...I-I..."
Yosuke approached Yukiko.
"What?"
Yukiko gulped.
"I-I t-think t-that..."
Yosuke noticed the large blush on Yukiko's face.
"Your blushing." Said Yosuke.
Yukiko quickly turned arround and ran off.
"Yukiko!" Shouted Yosuke.
She didn't respond, Yukiko just kept running.
"Now I know something is up." Muttered Yosuke.
Yosuke ran after her.
Yukiko stopped in front of Tatsumi textiles to catch her breath.
"Yukiko you nervous wreak." She muttered to herself. "You could have just said those three stupid words and gotten this thing off your chest."
"What thing?"
Yukiko ghasped and spun around, Yosuke was standing behind her.
"Y-Yosuke!"
"Whats going on with you?" Asked Yosuke. "Something is up with you."
Yukiko's blushed even harder.
"Well... Thing... Is..."
Yukiko took a deep breath.
"I LIKE YOU."
She turned away to hide her face from Yosuke. Yosuke's eyes shot wide open in surprise.
"What?!"
"I think your a good person with an enjoyable sense of humor and a likable personality!" Blurted Yukiko. "And your kind of hot!... Damn it why did I say that!"
"Yukiko likes me?" Thought Yosuke. "Wow, thats... Unexpected..."
Yosuke looked at the greatly embarrassed Yukiko.
"Half the school is after her and she chooses me." Thought Yosuke. "Maybe thats a good thing... Shes smart, loyal, great to be around,... And shes pretty..."
Yosuke chuckled.
"Eh, why not."
"W-Why not what?" Asked Yukiko.
"Give us a chance."
Yosuke pulled Yukiko into a hug, her eyes widened.
"I'm willing to give a relationship between us a chance." Said Yosuke.
Yukiko smiled and returned the hug.
"Thank you Yosuke."
They stayed like that for what felt like hours, even though it was just mere minutes.
And that ends this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it and I'll see you in a few days.