Persona 4: Overseas Romance Chapter 7
Kanji POV
I woke up the night before we left because I had to take a piss. It was still raining cats and dogs outside and that wasn't helping me out at all. So I hurried to the bathroom and did my business. On the way back to my room I noticed the hall clock said 11:55.
"Man I need ta' learn not to drink so much before bed so I don't keep wakin' up like this. Especially since we need to get up at 5." I mumbled to myself not realizing an important fact. I opened my door and walked over to my bed, but I had a weird feeling, kinda like I was being watched. I turned around and looked at my room not noticing anything out of place until...
"Achoo!" I heard someone sneeze. I immediately grabbed my desk chair and rushed towards the sound.
"Ahhhh!" I yelled as I started to swing it. But in the middle of my backswing a lightning bolt struck and lit up my room revealing that the person was Naoto. I adjusted my swing to miss her but unfortunately that made me fall onto my back. "Dammit that hurt."
"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry Kanji!" Naoto said slightly flustered as she helped me up.
"It's fine, I'll live. But why are ya in my room this late at night Naoto?" I asked confused.
"Well there's not a TV in your guest room and I felt if I went into the living room I would wake your mother up." My mind was still fuzzy from sleep so I still didn't connect the dots.
"What do you watch this late at night?" I asked like a dummy.
"The Midnight Channel." Naoto said with a 'duh' tone. That's when it finally clicked.
"Oh yeah, duh." I said facepalming myself. "I guess I forgot since we're leaving tomorrow."
"That's understandable." Naoto told me. "But it's almost time." So we walked over to my TV and waited for midnight. Nothing showed up and we both exhaled a breath we didn't realize we were holding. "Well, that's a relief."
"Yeah, you're tellin' me." I said and then Naoto sneezed again. "Are you feeling okay Naoto?"
"I'm fine. I think there might have been something in your cellar that affected my allergies. Is your back still okay?"
"Yeah, just a bit sore. Uh, you might not want to go back to the guest room if the cellar is messing with your allergies since they're connected by vents."
"I figured as much, but where else do you propose I could sleep?" Naoto asked.
"Well I got a sleeping bag in my closet. I can sleep in it and you can sleep in my bed." I suggested nonchalantly. But Naoto started blushing a deep red when I said that.
"Um Kanji, do you really think that's appropriate for how our relationship stands at the moment?" She asked kinda shakily.
"I don't see why not, it's not like we're going to be in the same bed." Though I would like it. "Just think of it like a sleepover with a friend."
"Okay, I guess that makes it fine." Naoto said. "But I'll sleep in the sleeping bag, I don't want to put you out. Plus your back too." So I pulled my sleeping bag and laid it on the floor for her. She got in and I climbed into my bed as well. "Thank you Kanji, this is very considerate of you."
"It's nothing Nao, really. I hope you sleep well."
"Same to you Kanji."
"And by the way, you look really cute in those pajamas of yours."
Naoto POV
I woke up precisely at 5:00 AM when my watch alarm went off. I briefly pondered why I was on the floor but then I remembered what happened last night. I especially remembered the last thing Kanji said before we fell asleep, you look really cute in those pajamas of yours. I stood up and wondered why in the world he would say something like that to me. I mean my pajamas are nothing special, just a white tank top and blue plaid boxer shorts, and my hair is a mess. Maybe it's just one of those things that you say when you're part of a couple. Anyway, I looked over to the bed to see Kanji laying on his stomach still asleep. So I walked over and started to try and wake him up.
"Kanji, Kanji, wake up." I said softly so as to not startle him. All he did was roll over and start mumbling.
"Five more minutes Ma, I wanna mhhm..." That didn't work so I tried holding his nose closed so he'd wake up that way. Eventually I heard a catch in his throat and he started coughing. His arms and legs started flailing around and I couldn't help laughing a bit.
"Huh what?" Kanji said finally sitting up and looking around. When he looked at me I couldn't help but laugh some more. "What's so funny?!" He asked confused. That's when I realized why he said what he did last night.
"It was cute how you were flailing your arms around, you're usually a bit more composed than that."
"Well that happens when I can't breathe. Man, I can't belive it's 5 already. Wait, did you say I looked cute?" I blushed when he asked that.
"Yes I did. I'm not used to seeing you look so vulnerable and I felt like I had to repay your compliment from last night."
"Oh, so that's why. You know Naoto, you don't have ta say things like that if you don't mean it." He thinks I'm just saying things to be nice?
"But I did mean it Kanji. I'm not just going to say things that aren't true." I said a bit perturbed. And then Kanji's eyes went wide.
"Wait! That's not what I meant! I wasn't calling ya a liar." He said backpedaling. Maybe I was a bit harsh on him.
"I think we both need to calm down. We're both tired and blowing a small misunderstanding up to unneeded proportions." I said calmly and Kanji swung his legs over so he was sitting on his bed.
"I agree, and I'm sorry. See, I told you I don't have a filter on my brain." He said and that got me to smile a little. "So um, are we good?"
"Yes, we are good. Though I thought our first fight would be a bit different."
"Heh, you're callin' that a fight? I've said worse things to Ma that haven't started a fight." Kanji said with a straight face. At least for a few seconds. "Wait, that came out wrong."
"I got the idea though. So, I'm going to go get dressed and then eat some breakfast. Do you care to join me?"
"Yeah, do you like corn flakes. 'cause that's all we got."
"That should do well." I said. But then I remembered something else. "Kanji, your mother said something to me last night." Before I continued he already knew what I was going to say.
"Yeah, she said that ta me too. Sorry 'bout that."
"It's fine, she's just being a mother. Though it brings up an interesting question."
"And that is?" It's not like I could back down now, I just wanted to know.
"Kanji, have you ever been kissed?" Surprisingly he didn't freak out when I asked that.
"Nope, but thanks for asking. But you know that means I have to ask too."
"I know. And yes I have, by a girl no less."
"She thought you were a dude right?"
"Yes, I helped her find her father and she just did it without thinking."
"Man, that sucks. Well I'll make sure our first kiss is more special, considering we get that far that is."
"That's very considerate of you Kanji." I said as my stomach grumbled. "Maybe we should eat first before getting dressed." I said and we both laughed. I have a good feeling about this trip.
