30 Day OTP Challenge
"I'm going to like the me you found… After all, I like the you who found her

Day 7- Cosplaying (Halloween)

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A/N: Just to say, I'll be bending canon and reality a little bit here by making Halloween a bigger thing than it is in both Persona and Japan IRL. This is probably my least favourite so far… Just had a really hard time coming up with an idea for it :/ Hopefully it isn't too terrible :/ Also, i have fixed all the spelling errors I could find. Dyslexia makes japanese names "Super Fun" to spell XD Regardless, enjoy :)

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Ridiculous.

That was the only word that could describe virtually everyone at this little party Yosuke was throwing in his living room.

Earlier that week at school, Yosuke decided that everyone should get together this Halloween to "Take their minds off the case" and "Cut loose and have a little fun". In reality, he probably just wanted to see the girls in costumes. Why else would he make it a costume party?

It was stupid. There was no reason to be dressing up like this… Yu thought this as he was "admiring" his own costume. He didn't plan it, he just wore the one Yosuke threw at him during Junes' Failed Halloween event. It had a large black cape, a top hat, a flannel shirt and fake pointy teeth. Yu assumed that the costume meant to depict either a Vampire or a very eccentric cannibal. Either way, he looked insane.

Chie and Yukiko turned up together, the former as a Pumpkin that had sprouted legs and an attitude, the other as a Witch (A costume Yukiko obviously didn't plan herself since she was complaining all night about not being hideous enough to make a good witch.)

Kanji turned up in frayed clothes with fake stitches all over his arms and legs and a steel bolt through his head. The stitches were a fitting touch for the master seamstress of the group. The steel bolt was not.

It was Naoto, surprisingly that was wearing the most revealing costume. She came as a Cat… A somewhat promiscuous cat, at that, as the costume was showing off her stomach. She was visibly uncomfortable with this, so Yu had to theorise that the other girls made her wear it. He could see why they did, too. Naoto needed to show off her femininity every once in a while.

It was Yosuke, however, that took the prize for worst costume. Fake paw slippers, a headband with Dog ears, painted on whiskers and, what looked to be, the oldest pair of trousers in the world. The "ensemble" was complete with a Dog's collar, a shirt that mimicked an animal's chest and a rope around his waist.

Teddie was having fun at least. He was running around like it was his birthday or something. In fairness, he was the only one of the team that didn't look a complete moron. The Jack o' Lantern costume actually suited him a little.

Yu was the first to realise that one person was absent from the "Party". He always noticed when she wasn't around. Everything was a bit more lucid when she was nearby. Whether that was because of her innate ability as a navigator and support in the TV or because she was his girlfriend, he had no idea.

Yosuke was the one to speak up about the issue however.

"Hey, where's Rise?" He asked, to nobody in particular. Everyone turned to loo at Yu, as if he held the answer they all needed on a test.

"No idea" He told them "She said she would be running a little late though. Something about getting ready." Truth be told, Yu only scanned that text from Rise saying she'd be there after everyone else. He was too busy trying to think up excuses not to attend.

"If she comes in a super-awesome costume, I'm gonna be so jealous…" Chie said, her competitive spirit showing even in something as asinine as this.

"I think you're the only one that cares about costumes, Chie-Senpai" Kanji chimed in. "Why the hell am I wearing this crap again?!"

"I told you, dude, it's a costume party" Yosuke said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

"Yeah but why? It's not even a party, we're just eating dinner in stupid outfits."

It was true, there was no banging music, flashing lights or anything anyone would associate with a party. Just 7 friends, eating sushi, looking absolutely ridiculous.

"It's low-key! It's not supposed to be like other parties. Besides, aren't you enjoying it just a little bit?" Yosuke asked Kanji, punctuating his sentence with a wink while gesturing towards Naoto.

"Dude… shut up…" Kanji said meekly, turning his head away from the rest of the group.

"C'mon, admit it, Kanji. A part of you is enjoying this" Yosuke added slyly.

"Hey, leave him alone, Yosuke!" Chie snapped.

"Oh I'm sorry, I forgot I'm in the court of the pumpkin queen and not my own house!"

Everyone in the room let out a collective sigh. Even Yukiko. Apparently, even she had a limit on bearing Yosuke and Chie's sexual tension…

Before it could go any further, there was a knock at Yosuke's door.

"Am I allowed to answer the door to my house, your majesty?" Yosuke asked Chie sarcastically, bowing as he did so.

"The pumpkin queen allows it" Chie said, acting regal.

Another sigh from the group.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Yosuke said, slightly angry.

"I'll tell you later, just answer the door?" Yu asked… More ordered, actually. Out of everyone in the Team, if Yu asked someone to do something, they would probably do it with no hesitation. That's just the kind of person he was.

Within a few seconds, Yosuke ran in the room, practically falling over as he did so.

"DUDE!" He yelled, addressing Yu.

"What?"

"Rise's here!"

"Why are you so excited? You see her all the time"

"It's her costume!"

"What about it?"

"Just wait and see!"

"Yosuke, don't stare at Yu's girlfriend and say stuff like that!" Chie interrupted.

"Sh-Shut up, I wasn't staring…"

Yu had to admit, now he was kind of excited. The idea of seeing Rise in a cute Halloween costume might make this night slightly less terrible… At that moment Rise walked through the door, shadowing Yosuke.

"Hey everyone. Hey Senpai!" Rise said with a wave

Yosuke had massively undersold this spectacle to Yu. Rise was wearing a tri-corner hat, a loose white shirt and black leggings that hugged her legs very tightly. The whole thing was topped off by an eyepatch, large earrings, a huge belt and a fake sword on her hip.

She was the best looking pirate Yu had ever seen.

She made her way over to him and sat in his lap with her arms loosely around his neck, a position comfortable for her.

"So what were we talking about?"

"Chie and Yosuke" Yu replied to the newcomer, already doing wonders to improve his mood.

"What?!" Chie asked surprised. "There's no 'Chie and Yosuke'!"

"Sure there isn't, Chie-Senpai" Rise said with a wink and a giggle

From there the conversation turned to schoolwork, to drama in classes, to TV dramas and many other topics.

"Senpai?" Rise asked. It was pretty late, so at this point Rise had her head buried into Yu's neck trying to use him as a pillow. She looked up just for this exchange. "Can you take me home? I'm sleepy…" She was using all her energy to just stay awake.

"Long day?"

"Yeah… The store was pretty busy… And I had to run all over town to get this costume together."

"You couldn't have just got one like ours?"

"I would have, but you were gonna be here so I had to look good…" Rise said, barely retaining consciousness but still finding the energy to give her Senpai a kiss on the cheek

"You could have turned up in a garbage bag and I would have liked it… Honestly, this was pretty dull until you got here…"

Rise just smiled into his neck. She loved it when he talked like that. It reminded her of the time under the stars where it felt like they were the only ones left in the world…

"Let's get you home then, Kōhai" He said, rising to his feet with Rise following suit, hanging limply to his arm. The two lovers left the party in silence. Only Naoto noticed them leave and gave the two a curt nod.

Yu carried Rise every step of the way back to her store, shielding her beleaguered form from the night air. After a short while (and some fumbling from the fatigued Rise) they made it to her doorstep.

"Thanks for helping me home, Senpai." Rise smiled weakly. She was absolutely exhausted…

"Get some sleep, OK?" Yu said, kissing his girlfriend on the cheek as he turned to walk away.

"Wait!" Rise said when he was barely a foot away… "Stay here tonight, Senpai? Pleeeease? You make a really nice pillow…"

"You won't sleep if I stay over…" He sounded like Dojima telling Nanako she was up way past her bedtime.

"OK…" Rise groaned, genuinely disappointed. "G'night, Senpai… Love you…" She managed to slur as she walked into her house. All Yu could do was smile… Even when she was tired, she never failed to brighten his whole world.

Despite the terrible costume idea, it turned out to be a pretty good night.