Disclaimer: I do not own anything Atlus owns.

This fic involves a love relationship (no, not yet, soon.) between two teenage girls, and contains both in-game and end-game spoilers. It's rated T, so obviously there are some swear words.

Please continue at your own discretion.

I know a whole load of people are wanting to kill me for no updating for months. (3 isn't that long. Really.) But really, before you do anything, do take the time to read and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

It was really the last person she had expected to see at the pavilion.

Yukiko was staring at a smiling Satonaka Chie as she breathed out her name. Chie's smile turned into a grin at the mention of her name. She caught a glimpse of green at the corner of her eyes as she looked at her shoulders. Chie's trademark jacket was now covering part of her pink kimono.

It was a strange combination, just like how she and Chie were, but she still smiled at the gentle gesture.

"Thanks. "

"No problem! Hey, erm… can I sit there?" Chie was getting a little nervous as she pointed at the seat next to Yukiko. She didn't really have a plan on how or what to talk to Yukiko about. It was just like her to rush in without a plan, only to panic afterwards.

She sat down after Yukiko moved aside to make space for her.

Ok, calm down, Chie, calm down, she told herself as she took a few deep breaths to calm her pounding her heart.

…. …

They sat in silence, listening to the rhythm made by the raindrops hitting the roof and the occasional creaks as they fidgeted. Neither knew what to say to the other, after what happened the day before.

"Er…I was running an errand, when it started raining…"

"Oh… er… I was just taking a walk around town."

… …

They lapsed into silence again, after a weak attempt to start some sort of conversation.

"You know, I was moping around at home when I realised that the rented DVDs were due. But I didn't really want to get out of the house to return them, until I remembered I didn't have pocket money left to pay off the fines. " Chie rattled off the first thing that came to her mind, as she mentally kicked herself.

Just what did that have to do with an apology?!

"Did you spend too much on the steak at Souzai Daigaku again? You know that too much steak is bad for your health. And nobody knows where the steak at Souzai Daigaku came from! You really shouldn't eat too much of that.""

"Haha…well, it's cheaper and more delicious than those at Junes. I just couldn't resist!"

"Chie…"

"Yes?"

"You really do love steak, don't you?!"

"Of course I do! You know they're my favourites!!"

Chie grinned at the smiling Yukiko, satisfied that they have somehow struck up a conversation. It was a good start, scratch that, it was a great start. Yukiko's smile was back though it looked like she was still bothered by something.

"Hey Yukiko, erm… I'm sorry for yesterday. Erm, for not really considering your feelings. About Souji-kun and stuff. I mean I said some insensitive things and you were right to be angry at me. I just shoot off my mouth without really thinking things through, so erm, please forgive me?" Chie rubbed the back of her neck nervously as she waited for Yukiko's reply. Though she knew Yukiko would forgive her, it didn't take away any of the anxiety.

"…Chie…I wasn't angry at you yesterday. It wasn't your fault."

"It's not?!" Chie didn't expect this one, as she exclaimed with relief.

"…No…it was my fault for losing my temper like that. So I should be the one apologising. I'm sorry."

"Huh?! Wait no,no it's ok!! Yukiko, you don't need to apologise!!"

Wait, she was the one who was supposed to apologise, not Yukiko! When did they switch roles?!

"And… I'm not dating Souji-kun."

"You're not?!" Chie tried to keep the delight out of her tone, as Yukiko cast her eyes down at her feet.

Chie was already feeling dizzy from feeling surprised, panicky and happy from the exchange of words

Whoa, calm down, Chie, calm down.

Chie frowned as she thought about it. It didn't make sense now. If Yukiko wasn't dating Souji, then why was she so upset yesterday?

"Erm, then why did you look so upset during the meeting yesterday"

"…" Yukiko bit her lower lip, trying to prevent herself from saying things that she knew she would regret later on. She just wished Chie would just stop probing her, before she finally burst and released out all that she had been hiding from Chie these few months.

"…Oh…you liked Souji-kun?" Looking at the hesitant Yukiko, Chie can't help but feel a pang of pain in her chest at the thought of that. Still it was possible that Yukiko harboured feelings for Souji, as much as she really refused to admit it.

"No! That's not it, Chie!"

Yukiko's raised voice took Chie aback for a moment. But the surprise quickly turned into frustration, as she felt her already short temper getting even shorter.

Chie couldn't decide which was more frustrating.

The fact that Yukiko was reluctant to talk to her.

Or the fact that she couldn't do anything about it.

"Then what is it, Yukiko?! Look, I KNOW you're upset about something. I don't like it when you are upset and suffering alone, ok?! I…I just want to help. "

She could feel her voice cracking. Damn it, Chie, now wasn't a time for you to start crying.

But she couldn't stop it, couldn't stop the suffocating pain spreading, couldn't stop the lump in her throat from getting larger, couldn't stop the familiar pricking of unshed tears.

It hurt that Yukiko didn't trust her enough to talk about it.

But it hurt a lot more to see Yukiko's face now.

So lost. So lonely. So empty.

"…Sorry, I….it's…just…you can't do anything about it, alright?"

Yukiko's tone softened at Chie's plea.

No, Chie couldn't help at all, she couldn't do anything at all, could she?

How could she when she didn't even realise that she was the problem.

A problem couldn't solve itself.

"Yukiko… we promised that we'll be frank with each other right?"

Why couldn't Yukiko talk to her about it? She was Yukiko's best friend.

Didn't Yukiko trust her enough to talk about it?

Or maybe Yukiko didn't need her anymore.

"…Just…Just stop it, Chie…"

"Yukiko…If it's really something to do with Sou --- "

That was the last straw for Yukiko.

Why couldn't she get it?! Why couldn't she just stop it?!

"CHIE! Just stop it! It has nothing to do with Souji-kun! Just STOP dragging him into the picture! It has EVERYTHING to do with you!"

Her? What?

Oh god. What the hell did she do?

Did Yukiko hate her now?! Did she bust their more-than-a-decade-long friendship somehow?

Was Yukiko going leave her?!

"Wha----"

Yukiko didn't know what came over her. Her emotions took over again. After being kept hidden for long, she couldn't keep it any longer.

And the voice inside her head urged her.

"If she wants to know, then tell her. She wants to know, so tell her."

"I love you, Chie! I don't love Souji! I love you!"

Chie finally knew how a hangover felt like. It felt like there was a major trainwreck in her brain.

First Yukiko hated her, then she loved her?!

" …Huh? What? Oh…wait, is this the--"

"I'm IN love with you!"

"Like this."

Something warm, soft, sweet and strawberry pressed against her lips.

And then Chie's world faded into red.

A/N: Ok finally updated after more than 3 months and throughout I realised quite a number of readers have favourited this or put in in their update alert. I really didn't expect that, since while I guess I do write decently, but I don't write spectacularly. No, writing is not my forte, is not and will never be.

Anyway, before I ramble on, apologies for this long long long overdue update. (will update chapter 8 soon, since it's a short one.). Let's just say I've been really busy with life (I do seriously hate long-term projects) and sidetracked with loads of stuff. Another was plot-related, not sure how I would want this story to go, even if I did have drafts. Things happen and when you go back to look at the drafts(that's why they're called drafts), you just have fresh ideas which you wanna implement. I still have no answer, but oh well, I'll just let nature take its course and see where I would end up and hope it would still be a good story.

Last of all, chapter 8, a rather short chapter would be posted up next and I sincerely do hope, you guys would give me a less painful death, which I know I thoroughly deserve. Reviews and comments are as always welcomed. And no I don't think I'll abandon this story, no matter how slow I update. It's just one of the "Things I must complete at least once in my entire lifteime" thing. Just do give me a ring/mail/review once in a while, if I really didn't update after a long while. Sometimes I get so busy and sidetracked, loads of things escaped my mind and I procrastinate unconsciously.

P.S. Young Yukiko makes a cameo in Persona 3 Portable which comes out in Japan on Nov 1, in case you didn't know. But sadly no Chie.

Best regards,
digi