AN: I was kinda ehh about this chapter but I think it came out alright, just slightly shorter than I prefer.
"He's late."
The girl was sitting on a bench in the middle of Okinas shopping district waiting for her favorite Idiot. Chie emphasized the fact that he was an idiot to distance the fact that she might be the real idiot for how much she liked him. Chie would never say how strongly she felt for him, despite how prone he was to irritating her.
She wanted to go with her usual casual outfit: track jacket and a skirt; but Chie wanted Yosuke to start looking at her as more than just a friend. Yeah, this was a punishment, but Chie figured she'd try to Capitalize on the situation. She wore a loose white shirt, a ripped Jean skirt, and her black and green sneakers to finish the ensemble; Nothing too crazy but different enough to get his attention.
Unfortunately, Chie had to make Yosuke
suffer today. She didn't want to but on principle, she has to. The best way to make Yosuke suffer was through his wallet. Which wouldn't be too hard, Considering her insatiable appetite and Yosuke's want of forgiveness.
'This is retribution. Maybe he'll learn, trying to maintain some stupid image doesn't make it okay to insult someone.'
Chie sighed. She took in the sights of Okina, the place where most people went for leisure that was far enough from Inaba to feel different but close enough that you didn't need to travel a billion miles to get there. The place had become even more bustling in the last year. New stores were opening up regularly and the area was gaining more fame by the day.
'Soon enough, we won't be able to afford to go here.' the thought saddened her. Chie was broken out of her thoughts by a familiar voice. She turned her head to make sure she wasn't hearing things and there he was with a sheepish smile on his face just preparing to apologize. He was wearing an extremely casual outfit: a blue fitted T-shirt and brown jeans and white sneakers; The same Yosuke she knew just more tired looking.
"Uh..hey, Chie." he awkwardly voiced. Chie just gave him her best 'get on with it face'.
"I'm sorry for being late." Yosuke stated with resignation. "I know, I know. As I was leaving my dad suddenly forced me to help find some special ointment we have buried in our supply room."
Chies eye brows knitted together in response. "Ointment?"
He shook his head "I didn't ask." The girl shuddered at the thought.
"Well, Better late than never, Hanamura." she huffed.
"Oh, C'mon Chie, don't be like that. Listen, we're gonna have a grand ol' time, at least as long as my wallet permits.
'What a dummy. I don't care how much you spend, we could have done anything and I would've enjoyed myself because you were there.' Chie could never bring herself to voice these thoughts. The very idea of being that vulnerable frightened her and frankly she thought it was always fun to see him squirm and she figured she'd milk it as best she could.
"If you say so. So, did you write your apology to me? Chie asked knowing full well he didn't.
"You were serious about that?" he asked through knitted eyebrows.
"You must not be as serious about my forgiveness, as you claimed." she was just being facetious now but she didn't care.
"Come on, Chie! I know you don't actually care about that. you're just emotionally bullying me now.
"No, I get it you don't care. I bet you didn't even want to come today." Chie turned around pretending to be sad.
"C'mon Chie. You know I hate when you're mad at me." Yosuke said with slumped shoulders.
Chie found his confession endearing so figured she'd stop for now, despite how much fun she was having.
Chie turned with a devious smile on her face."Alright, Yosuke. I was just teasing. I actually do want that apology but I don't need it urgently."
"Why do you gotta play with a guys emotions for?"
"You make it too easy." Chie shrugged.
Yosuke led Chie to a "fancy" ramen shop. It was dimly lit, in an attempt to capture a kind of night time aesthetic. Chie felt a giddy; she knew this wasn't a date and yet she couldn't help but feel excited. The very idea of being here with Yosuke seemed Ludicrous. And yet here they were.
'Nothing's gonna happen, Chie. Calm down.'
The price for a single bowl was a little outlandish but Yosuke played it off.
"It's alright just order whatever." he said confidently. They took their seats on the stools behind the counter.
"I'll have a double beef bowl." Yosuke said.
"I'll have a triple beef bowl!" she said eagerly. The chef looked at the girl pensively, wondering if someone with her small frame could finish it. Yosuke chuckled at his expression.
Yosuke took on a sarcastic tone. "Meat? I thought your favorite food was pudding." Chie felt a wave of embarrassment wash over remembering the "Beauty pageant".
"Could you not remind me of that, please?"
"Sorry, sorry. I just don't know why you didn't say steak."
Chie was hesitant to say why but just went for it. "Well, Y'know. A good portion of the guys at our school don't view me as feminine." She started, focusing on the table. Yosuke's countenance became serious as he listened. "So if I would have said steak was my favorite food that'd only add to that. So I chose pudding, I don't really like pudding or view it as "feminine". In a way, I guess I actually wanted to win, so I lied." Chie was finding how forthcoming she was strange but she didn't feel the need to hide around Yosuke, which felt nice.
"And I guess that's why I got mad when I thought you were saying I wasn't a girl."
Yosuke looked at Chie hard before giving a half smile . "Ah, C'mon Chie. Anyone who cares if you do or like 'guy' stuff as opposed to 'girl' stuff isn't someone worth knowing in the first place." he finished patting her on the back bringing a light blush to her face. "I never figured you were one to care about what people think about you."
"I try not to but it just gets to me sometimes, how differently they treat me as opposed to Yukiko or Rise." this made Yosuke burst into laughter garnering other customers attention.
Chie hit his shoulder "Stop making a scene." she whisper-yelled. Yosuke wiped a tear from his eye.
"Trust me Chie, you don't want the kind of attention they get. While I imagine a few of those guys are probably genuinely nice, let's just say friendship or even a relationship aren't the primary objective for the majority."
Chie questioned his words when suddenly their meaning hit her.
Chie grimaced."Ugh, pervert. How would you even know?"
"Cause I used to be one of those guys." he stated bluntly. "I remember when I asked Yukiko out on a date, I had no interest in really knowing her when I asked. And when it came to Rise, if it weren't for the murder case and the fact that she stuck to Yu like glue, I'd have definitely made moves." Chie tried to hide the disappointment on her face at Yosuke's admittance of his infatuation with their two friends and his lack of interest in her.
"But I'm not like that anymore. This is probably due to Yu's influence but I don't like any girl now without having some kind of a bond. I can find the hottest girl but if we don't connect or vibe, there's no point, y'know?" Chie was shocked that something so mature came from Yosuke but she was also relieved thinking that maybe she does have a chance. A small smile graced her lips.
"So, basically the guys at our school are probably more honest when talking to you. And in conclusion, as long as you have me and all our friends who accept you for who you are, who gives a shit what other people think." Chies smile widened at Yosuke's words.
"Yeah. You're right. Who cares."
The two teens were too engrossed in their meals to speak, especially Chie. Yosuke looked at her as she wolfed down her beef bowl, as if she had never eaten before. Chie was in bliss and definitely planned to get another bowl. Unbeknownst to her, Yosuke was checking her out. Yosuke figured he'd yank her chain a bit.
He placed his bowl down. "Man, I gotta say Chie, you're doing that outfit Justice." Chie paused and turned to look at him with her mouth full, in disbelief at what he said. "In fact, this is the best you've ever looked. Had to make sure you wore something nice for me?" Chie swallowed her food and had to put on her guard.
"Y-yeah, a-a-as if. I just wanted to try something different, is all." she said trying to fight off the blood rushing to her face.
Yosuke scooted closer to her which in turn caused Chies heart to beat faster at his proximity. "It's alright Chie, you don't have to lie, You've fallen for me. I have that effect on the ladies." Chie flashbacked to the first time he made that terrible joke that would later turn out to be true.
"Ugh. Stow it, Hanamura."
He shrugged. "Alright, Alright. But seriously: You look good." Yosuke said nonchalantly. Chie dug into her bowl more fiercely to hide her red face. She didn't understand how he was so casual about all this. Chie also couldn't describe the sense of elation she felt at Yosuke complimenting her.
"So when we're finished here do you want to maybe catch a movie? It's the least I can do for being such an ass yesterday."
"Shwore." she said with a full mouth. Chie swallowed. "But I'm gonna need another bowl." Yosuke cringed but had a smile on his face.
"Sure. Why not?"
