A/N: Hello everyone, thanks for sticking around for part two. I'd love to see any reviews or thoughts anybody might have so let me know. Happy reading!
Reminder: I do not own Persona series or any characters within
The leader and Naoto walked quietly down the road towards the Dojima household. Naoto had wanted to find somewhere to speak privately when she found the detective following classes. After the afternoon that they had shared on the hilltop where they found Naoto's old detective pocketbook she wasn't exactly surprised. Ever since the night at the club on Tatsumi Port Island she had felt a strong infatuation with the inquisitive girl. Of course at that point in time she hadn't known the she was in fact, a she. Rather, the leader as well as everyone else in their investigation team circle of friends had believed her to be a young man. Since that semi-drunken night the investigation team had saved her from her shadow in the TV world and Naoto had agreed to join their group to solve the murders. As a member of the crew the leader had taken in upon herself to reach out the young sleuth and as they're relationship continued to grow closer that original feeling of infatuation within her heart turned to love.
Now as they approached the residence the leader had been staying in during her time in Inaba she sensed that the relationship she had been building her blue-haired companion was about to reach a new step, at the very least she hoped it was. After entering the home and removing their shoes Naoto spoke for the first time since leaving the school grounds. "I… If you find it acceptable I'd like to go to your room, Senpai." She fidgeted with the hem of her winter school uniform as she refused to yet the leader's eyes.
"Of course, Naoto-kun" the leader replied slightly amused at how flustered the young detective was. "It's right up the stair." She led her guest up to her room and closed to door behind them. Naoto moved towards to front of her room where the TV and bookcase were located. Meanwhile the leader took a seat on her couch at the back of the room. She crossed her right leg over her left and folded hands on her knee as she watched Naoto examine her belongings.
"So, this is your room. I notice a few items that don't fit your style but I suppose this is a temporary residence." The leader thought she noticed a hinted a sadness at the mention of temporary it was so quick that she wasn't completely sure. Naoto reached out and selected a small paper crane that sat on one of the selves located of the side wall. "Beautiful…" she commented toying with the wings of the complicatedly folded paper animal.
"Just like you Naoto-kun" The leader spoke up from her position on the couch. She noticed the detective stiffen immediately at her words, and a small smile formed on her lips. She loved throwing compliments at her for many reasons, but the reaction they always generated was both cute and amusing to her.
Naoto set the crane down and turned to face the object of her current uncomfortablility with blush clearly evident on her face. "That… that is actually what I wanted to speak with you about." Naoto shuffled a few steps closer to the leader then paused shifting her weight between her feet, biting her lower lip with a strained expression evident on her face.
The leader did her best to appear as friendly as possible to her clearly concerned guest. "Please Naoto-kun; say whatever is on your mind. I want to alleviate any concerns you might have." As she attempt to reach out to her friends a troubling thought crossed her mind that quickly saddened her. "Unless of course that is the problem, do you not want this… relationship to continue?" The normally collected leader fumbled with her question, desperately hoping that she was incorrect in her concern. As soon as she finished voicing her fear however Naoto's gaze shot up to meet hers, panic clearly expressed within the pools of grey and blue.
"N… no that's not it all Senpai." She rattled off quickly, franticly waving hands in front of herself. Shifting into a more reserved posture she moved her left hand up and rubbed her right shoulder nervously, staring back at the ground. "I had honestly, thought you might have reservations. I'm not exactly the typical…" She paused for a moment seemingly searching for the proper word to finish her thought, "…Partner for someone like you." She finished lamely.
The leader smiled fondly at the self-conscious girl. "Naoto-kun, please come sit." She patted the empty space on the couch next to her. Naoto paused and glanced nervously between the offered seat and the leader before sighing and moving to the couch. The leader shifted her position to face her and reached out to hold Naoto's hand.
"W… wait, Senpai." She shied away from the leader's outstretched limb. "Are you completely sure that this is what you what? I've seen the way others look and act around you; I don't believe you'd have a problem finding someone more… suitable."
"Naoto-kun I don't care how other people look and act around me. They're not important to me. You're important to me."
Naoto hid her eyes beneath the brim of her cap, though her fiery blush was still obviously evident to her couch-mate. "I... I see. Then who I am doesn't bother you?"
"Of course not Naoto, I love you. I love everything you are. I wouldn't want it any other way." This time when she reached out for the detective's hand she didn't move away. They stayed that way for a quiet moment, both enjoying the resolution that they had reached. Until a playful grin started to play across certain silverette's face.
"Besides…" Quickly her free hand darted out and grasped the brim on Naoto's hat. "Who else can I steal accessories from?" She pulled Naoto's hat off her head before placing it on her one. She tilted it slightly to the side and struck a sultry expression. "How does it look?" She questioned with a breathless quality filtering her tone of voice.
An audible gulp could be heard from her companion. "Uhhh…" the dumbfounded girl responded. Her jaw hung slightly open, brain unable to properly formulate a response.
"Don't you like it Naoto-kun?" She drug out the sound of the honorific. She shifted unto her knees so she was now looking down at the speechless girl and leaned over placing her hand on the detective's thigh.
At the touch on her leg a shot of adrenaline coursed through the stunned female, and she jumped up off the couch to feet leaving her suddenly domineering leader to lose her balance and sprawl across the now empty couch. "Y… ya… definitely. Looks great Senpai, yep, real good." She rambled excessively.
A rumble of laughter was heard from the newly solely possessed furniture in the room. "You're too cute, you know that?"
With the advances of her crush seemingly at a standstill the flustered sleuth somewhat successfully tried to regain her composure. "That very well may be. There is something I did actually want to give you, if you'd kindly return my hat please."
The leader popped up from the couch at the suggestion of a gift and stood next to Naoto. "It does look better on you anyway." She pulled the hat off herself returned it too its former position on Naoto's head. "Now, what is this about a gift?"
"Heh, it's perhaps a bit juvenile but I did make something for you." Naoto pulled out a shiny detective badge and offered it to the leader. "I haven't made any gadgets in quite a while and I don't have all my materials and tools like I would at the estate. But it does flash, and I made myself one to match." Naoto sighed and peered into the distance as if reminiscing to sometime in the past. "When I came to Inaba I thought that being a detective was all I was. I was neither adult, nor man, only a badge. Then I met you and everyone at school, and I realized that I was wrong. I love doing what I do but I'm more than it as well. It's a part of my identity, but not my entire identity."
The leader smiled, sensing that this speech had been building up in the girl for quite a while. Naoto stepped closer to leader, "D… Do you find the pitch of my voice strange?" She lightly cleared her throat. "Or do you prefer it more like this?" Her voice had risen quite a bit, become very feminine.
"I prefer your voice however you like it, Naoto-kun. I just want you to be comfortable."
"R… Really? I never thought that I would consider sounding like that. People change though I guess. I'll think on it, maybe I'll try to use it more often." Naoto smiled gently, seemingly more self-assured. "I spent so long ignoring who I was, focusing on Naoto the detective before Naoto the person. Until I met you anyway." She looked at the leader with love in her eyes, blush clear on her face. "I… I love you."
The leader lifted her hand to Naoto's chin and lifted her gaze to meet her own. "I love you too." She leaned forward and placed a quick kiss of the detective's cheek. She gestured back to her couch, "Shall we?"
"Y… yes, we shall." They sat back down, closer to each other than before though Naoto maintained a clear separating between them. The leader noted her apprehension. She chuckled to herself, one step at a time she told herself. The pair settled in to watch a mystery movie that the leader had on hand. Naoto made sure to mention every part of the tale that made no sense or took extreme logical leaps. As far as the leader was concerned it was the most fun she'd every had watching it, and it was one of her favorites.
When the time came for Naoto to finally depart it had grown late and quite dark outside. The leader insisted she walk Naoto walk to the apartment that she was staying in for the duration of her time in Inaba. They walked back mostly in a comfortable silence, occasionally commenting on the chill the air had recently received or other such mundane topics. The leader had pinned the badge that Naoto had gifted her onto the lapel of her winter coat and toyed with it during the journey, playfully testing the flashing function.
The pair eventually arrived at Naoto's apartment. "W… well, this has been quite an informative and… enjoyable."
The giggled at Naoto's continued awkwardness around her. "I agree, I'm very glad you asked to come over. You're certainly welcome in my room… anytime." She seductively spoke the last part striking her best alluring pose.
"Y… yes. I… I'll do that." Naoto stammered near incoherently. She turned away from the leader to save some semblance of face, She unlocked her door and turned back one last time. "Very well, I will see you at school tomorrow then?"
"Of course, I'll see you then." As she made a move to leave Naoto lunged forward at the last moment and hugged her. As quickly as she made to move she retreated back into her apartment and shut the door behind her. The leader smirked at the now closed door. 'Well, got to start somewhere I suppose.'
Thanks again for reading everyone, please review or let me know of anything you'd like to see in the story, I have an outline for the different points I'd like to hit but there's certainly plenty of flexibility to add other stuff in. With any luck I'll have the next chapter up in the next couple of days. Have a great day!