Chapter 9

Kanji had returned to school with a sheepish grin on his face. "H-Hi there." Kanji stuttered. "What's with the manners all of a sudden?" Chie had asked. "Well... I didn't know you guys were my senpai." Kanji laughed nervously. Things could only get better from there. That afternoon, Kanji had joined the investigation team with enough willpower to get him through anything. Even the boys' homosexuality. They both decided to tell Kanji later, when Kanji had forgotten about the whole: 'Being a man is so... manly' ordeal. They were all hanging out on the roof, talking and laughing about different Personas. "Oh, oh! What about Mara?" Yukiko spluttered with laughter. "What about Incubus?" Chie burst out laughing. "What about Succubus?" Yosuke hooted. "What about that one I read about...? Ishtar? She hardly has any clothes!" Kanji cackled. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Just remember that I can kill you all in one strike." Souji said seriously. He was dying of laughter inside. Everyone stared at him, they backed away very slowly. "I'm kidding guys. I wouldn't kill you..." Everyone sighed with relief. "Unless I was charmed or pissed off." Souji added. Everyone widened their eyes in horror again. Wrapped around my little finger. You Social Links belong to me! Minions! Serve me well in battle. That's good. I should say that stuff next time. Heehee. Souji was in tears of laughter. Everyone was still staring at Souji as though he was the Reaper, laughing before their eyes. Souji began to reassure everyone; he didn't want to break a good few Social Links after all! Souji had forgotten all about his little game. He had forgotten to pretend to love Yosuke. He had forgotten to act as though they were all mere Social Links. He had grown to love Yosuke naturally and not just act like he did. He had made real friends, not just some people that help him strengthen his Personas. He wasn't being an asshole anymore.

The three boys were coming out of Aiya, their bellies full. "Daaaamn, I'm stuffed. Nothing better than a massive bowl of ramen on a weekday!" Kanji sighed with happiness. Souji and Yosuke laughed at Kanji's content expression. "W-What? Just because I'm happy with being full?" Kanji pretended that he was angry. "No, it just looks like you're happy. We've never seen you this content before, Kanji." Yosuke chuckled. "I've never seen you look so stupid, Yosuke-senpai." Kanji pulled a face. "Whatever." Yosuke stuck his tongue out at Kanji. "Break it up ladies." Souji stood in between the two arguing boys, laughing. "Who you calling lady?!" Kanji shouted at Souji. "You. Duh." Souji smacked Kanji on the forehead. "Ow. Senpai, violent much?" Kanji rubbed at his forehead, frustrated. "I ain't a lady." Yosuke said, a little too late. Souji and Kanji turned to Yosuke, confused. "No, you're an uke." Souji narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at Yosuke. Yosuke blushed furiously and hid his face in his hands. Kanji didn't comprehend. "Senpai, what's an uke?" Kanji asked, looking all-too-innocent. "It's like asking what a seme is." Souji rolled his big grey eyes dramatically. Kanji shook his head slowly, he didn't know what either of these terms were. "A seme is a boy who tops. An uke is the boy who's on the bottom." Souji said casually. "A boy who tops and a boy who's on the bottom? I still don't get it." Kanji bit the skin around the thumb. "Homosexual boys..." Souji waved his hands in the air, trying to get Kanji to put two and two together. "Homo... top and bottom... OH!" Kanji's face lit up with knowledge. "Hooray. Your knowledge has increased. Your knowledge has levelled up from Dickhead to Loincloth. Well done." Souji muttered. Yosuke sniggered, his face still in his hands. "Uh, Senpai. I don't get whatever you just said." Kanji looked idiotic again, his eyebrow raised slightly. "Whatever, let's all just go home." Yosuke had finally looked up. "Right, see ya." Kanji waved and began to walk away. "Kanji, wait. We need to tell you something." Souji grabbed Kanji's arm quickly. The blonde haired teenager turned around to face his upperclassman. "Kanji, try not to faint when we tell you this..." Yosuke warned. "We're homosexuals and we're boyfriends with each other." Souji said quickly. Kanji threw his head back; the force of which the nosebleed spouted was tremendous. He stood, dazed, for many moments and THEN passed out. "Wow, he lasted longer than I expected." Souji muttered. "Yeah, I know. What a guy." Yosuke tutted and shook his head at the unconscious Kanji on the floor.

Kanji woke up in his room, he was confused and slightly worried. "Urgh... how did I get here? Last thing I remember was... being outside of Aiya." Kanji muttered to himself. He remembered what had happened after that. "Oh yeah. I passed out after that." Kanji touched his nose and felt the crusty layer of blood there. "That was one heavy nosebleed." Kanji snorted with laughter. "Kanji, dear, is that you? Are you up now?" Kanji's mother called from the other room. "No! I'm still sleeping. You old bag, of course I'm awake!" Kanji barked at the closed door of his room. There was a long pause. Then a loud bang and a high pitched scream. An old lady scream? Kanji sat upright and stared at the door, dazed. He ran out of the room, fearing the worst. He was worried that he'd lose another parent, making him an orphan. He definitely didn't want that. Kanji stared at his mother. She was laid on the floor, eyes distant, mouth slightly open. Kanji's eyes widened. "Shit, Ma?! Mum!" Kanji knelt beside his mother and shook her body nervously. "Are you alright? Can you hear me? Come on!" Kanji kept shaking his mother's body. "Don't die on me dammit! You're not allowed to!" Kanji felt tears well up but he knew that he would never cry. Ever. Suddenly, Kanji's mother sat up. She looked at Kanji eerily, a smile spreading across her face. "Aaaaaaaaah! What the hell? A zombie?!" Kanji moved back a little, scared shitless. "I'm not dead Kanji, not yet." Kanji's mother kept grinning, her eyes still on her son. "But... that bang. That scream..." Kanji looked confused, his brow furrowed. "I banged my fist against a table and screamed. To get your attention. No big deal." Kanji's mother shrugged. "What the fuck? Seriously? Are you fucking shitting me? To get my attention?!" Kanji stood up, his whole body shaking. "I was worried that you'd actually DIED! What would I do if that happened?" Kanji's voice was breaking so he ran out of the room, out of the house. Kanji's mother shrugged again, stood up and continued with her housework. "Works like a charm." Kanji's mother laughed.

Kanji was panting heavily as he ran. "Damn old bag! How can she do that?" Kanji muttered to himself. He saw Souji up ahead, laden with carrier bags. He seemed to be struggling because he was stumbling and his legs were shaking. "Senpai...!" Kanji shouted as he slowed his pace a little so he could walk with Souji. The silver haired boy looked to his right, then looked up, smiling. "Afternoon Kanji-kun. What's up?" Souji asked, his voice calm and cool. "I was... running from Ma." Kanji mumbled, looking away. "Ah. I understand." Souji winked. Kanji looked at Souji, smiling. "Y-You do? Thanks Senpai." Kanji thanked Souji, from the bottom of his heart. "What're you thanking me for? I just know how you feel. No biggie, right?" Souji tried to reach up to sweep his bangs from his eyes, but his arms gave out. Sighing dejectedly, Souji jutted his head to the side so that his bangs would move. "Crap, do you need help with that stuff Senpai?" Kanji tried to grab a bag but Souji shook his head and laughed. "I'm not as weak as I look, am I Kanji?" Souji laughed, teeth shining in the afternoon sun. "N-No. It's just that... you couldn't sweep your hair out of your eyes with your hand because the bags seemed to heavy. I thought I could help." Kanji chewed on his lip a little bit, twiddling his thumbs. "It's alright Kanji. Don't worry about me." Souji grinned. Kanji nodded, his face a little red. Souji saw his light blush but decided not to say anything. "Anyway, I'm meeting up with Yosuke now. I'm going to cook him something." Souji said. His eyes glinted pleasantly and he looked giddy, like a small child. "O-Oh. Sorry to disturb you then Souji-senpai." Kanji said, blinking rapidly. "You weren't disturbing me Kanji. It's fun talking to you. Although, you could loosen up a little bit." Souji smiled gently. Kanji was taken aback. "Ah... I-I see." Kanji looked at the ground. "Tell you what, why don't you come round as well? It'd be nice to have more company." Souji looked up at Kanji again. "Y-Yeah sure. Do you mind if I come round now?" Kanji asked nervously. "No, I don't mind. I could do with a little bit of help actually..." Souji looked in front of him, staring at the Shopping District. "I'll do my best... Senpai."

"What the hell is that?" Kanji stared at the meat questionably. "Uncooked chicken..." Souji frowned at Kanji. "Have you never seen it before? Seriously?" Souji had a hint of sarcasm in his voice, but he sounded concerned. "I've never cooked before." Kanji admitted, his face going a baby pink. "Aw. Poor little Kanji." Souji teased. "S-Shaddup!" Kanji stuttered. Souji laughed, throwing his head back and showing his sparkling white teeth. Kanji could only stare at him. He was... mesmerised? Souji wiped a tear from his eye and gave Kanji a range of instructions. "We have a lot to do before Yosuke comes round." Souji said seriously. "R-Right." Kanji sighed quietly. A lot of time passed, with a frustrated Souji and a worried Kanji. "I hope it tastes alright." Souji gave Kanji a side glance. Kanji stayed silent, his thumbs twiddling. "It'll taste fine... It'll taste fine..." Souji closed his eyes and muttered to himself. "It'll be fine Kanji, I've added a load of spices and seasoning so it won't be awful." Souji put emphasis on the 'awful'. Kanji smiled a little and sat himself down on one side of the table. "I-I'll stay here." Kanji hid his face in his hands in despair. "Yeah... you do that. I'm going upstairs to get changed." Souji took off his apron, hung it on the back of a chair then went upstairs, into his room. Souji had some clothes laid out on the bed, ironed and all. Souji smiled to himself and got changed quickly. He didn't want Kanji to greet Yosuke when he first got there. No way. When Souji had finally changed, Souji went downstairs to see Kanji playing on his phone. "Hey Senpai." Kanji waved at Souji without looking at him. Kanji looked up and his mouth opened wide. "Wow Senpai! You look... awesome!" Kanji gave Souji a big thumbs up, smiling. Souji nodded at Kanji and grinned. "I just hope that Yosuke thinks I do." Souji said shyly. "He will. No worries, man." Kanji was certain.

Yosuke knocked on the door, 10 minutes later. Souji opened the door, his smile overpowering his whole face. "Wow Souji, you look... amazing." Yosuke gasped. "Thanks. Come in, I have food ready." Souji gestured Yosuke coming inside. Yosuke complied. He was surprised to see Kanji there, watching TV. "Hey Yosuke-senpai." Kanji said, in his regular gruff voice. "What's Kanji doing here?" Yosuke whispered into Souji's ear. "I invited him over, he was running." Souji whispered back. "Tch. Pussy." Yosuke scoffed. "Be nice. Or I'll sock you." Souji hissed as he steered Yosuke towards his seat. "I'd like to see you try." Yosuke sniggered. "I've done it once, I'll do it again." Souji smiled. "Tch." Yosuke scoffed again. "You two are like an old married couple." Kanji muttered. "Shaddup!" Yosuke shouted. Souji slapped the back of Yosuke's head, firmly but gently. "Ow! Do you mind?!" Yosuke held his head in pain. "I didn't hit you that hard. Don't be weak." Souji went into the kitchen, scowling at Yosuke. "You two argue a lot. Are you sure that you two are together? I mean, are you sure that you'll stay together?" Kanji asked nervously. Yosuke's breath caught in his throat. "What do you mean? We always argue. You have to argue, just to stay together. Or else, the problem will just be there and it won't be mentioned." Yosuke rested his chin on his hands, sounding wise. "That was deep Senpai." Kanji gawped. Yosuke and Kanji heard Souji laugh from inside the kitchen. "Dude! Inappropriate!" Yosuke shouted into the kitchen. "My house, my rules." Souji shouted back. "Dojima's actually!" Yosuke retorted. "But if Nanako and Dojima aren't here, it's mine. Suck on that." Souji laughed. "Will do. I'll suck on it riiiiiiiight now." Yosuke laughed. The couple laughed for a long time as Kanji tried to figure out why the boys were laughing. "Suck on it... deep... hmm..." Kanji sat, talking to himself for many moments. Souji looked over his shoulder at Kanji and Yosuke just stared at his underclassmen. "I still don't get it Senpai." Kanji finally admitted. Yosuke turned around to look at Souji and they both started laughing again. "You'll get it soon enough Kanji, seriously." Yosuke sighed. Souji raised his eyebrows and sighed, seconds later.

After a long 30 minutes of food preparing, Souji laid out a range of food in front of the two guests. "Damn Souji! That's a lot of food!" Yosuke was extremely surprised and Souji reacted to it. He kissed the top of Yosuke's head and grinned. "That's nothing compared to how much I actually cook." Souji scoffed. "I helped!" Kanji piped up. "Yeah... I wouldn't call it helping Kanji." Souji narrowed his eyes at Kanji. The underclassmen slumped in his seat. Yosuke laughed, just to ease the sudden tension. "Easy guys. Don't tear each other apart verbally. If anything, fight physically. That'd prove strength...?" Yosuke stopped talking. The last comment/question made him shut up. 'That'd prove strength'? Puh-lease. Souji and Kanji looked at Yosuke as if he was an alien. "Dude, shut up." Kanji frowned. "No, no. It'd be fair on you Kanji. That would mean that it wouldn't prove how smart we were." Souji retorted. Bull's eye. "Senpai, harsh much?" Kanji whimpered. "I'm a bitch when I'm bored." Souji sighed and went back into the kitchen. "You're a bitch 24/7." Kanji mumbled. "Shut up, that's my boyfriend you're talking about." Yosuke spat. "I'm a bitch when I'm bored." Kanji shrugged. "That's my line." Souji shouted from the kitchen. "Guys! Shut up and eat, dammit!" Yosuke stood up and banged his hands on the table in frustration. Souji and Kanji jumped. "Sorry Yosuke." Kanji and Souji said in unison. "Good." Yosuke sighed. Souji put some plates on the table and the three boys ate in silence. It was a long and awkward night. When everyone had finished and all the dishes were in the dishwasher, Souji decided to mention the TV. "Hey, it's raining tonight. Why don't you guys stay until midnight and we'll watch the Midnight Channel together?" Souji suggested. "Sure." Yosuke smiled. "Whatever." Kanji shrugged.

The two boys sat on Souji's couch, in his room. They were chatting idly about different things. Yosuke looked up at the clock. 11:59. "Hey guys, it's almost midnight." Yosuke said. "Come on, it's not serious. It's not like it's the Dark Hour or anything." Kanji rolled his eyes. Souji and Yosuke blinked at him. "Like on Persona 3?" Kanji's eyes widened. Souji and Yosuke blinked a few more times at him. "Seriously?" Souji asked doubtfully. "What if our lives are like Persona 3?!" Kanji asked hopefully. "What, so this is Persona 4? Dude, this experience isn't a game!" Yosuke groaned. "How do you know?" Kanji put his face very close to Yosuke's ominously. The three boys paused and then looked up at the ceiling silently. "Damn." Souji whispered. The boys' thoughts were interrupted by the crackling of the TV. The three boys stared at the screen. A girl appeared on the screen. Even though they usually had a heads up, a fuzzy picture of the next victim, this picture was clear. A Rise was on the screen, in a golden swimsuit. She seemed to want to strip it off. Kanji was staring at the screen, engrossed. A nosebleed formed but Kanji took no notice of the runny nose. Yosuke and Souji looked at Kanji's nose and held back laughter. "Dude, he's even more of a fanboy than I am." Yosuke whispered. "Yeah. I know you, you still have posters and fan books of Rise in a box inside your wardrobe." Souji sniggered. "Have you been snooping through my stuff?!" Yosuke gasped. "No..." Souji looked away mysteriously. "Damn right 'No'." Yosuke hissed. The TV went blank again and Kanji looked at Souji and Yosuke at last. "We have to rescue her." Kanji muttered. "Aw, is Kanji in love with Risette?" Yosuke laughed. "No! I just... like her music!" Kanji wanted to punch himself. He'd never be into the music. He's only into her. He decided that he'd try and fancy Risette instead of the blue haired detective. "Oh her..." Kanji whispered dreamily. "What...? Dude, are you high or something?" Souji sniggered. "It's Kanji, he's so high, he can't get back down." Yosuke sighed.

The next day, the Investigation Team went into the TV to ask Teddie about if he'd sensed anything. He could only sigh and murmur. "My nose hasn't been working beariffically recently. My sinuses might be blocked? Or, maybe it's time that I retire and become a lonely bear with lots of cats as company." Teddie sighed, staring into the distance. Everyone looked at each other questionably. "Teddie, if we find you some clues, will that help?" Yukiko suggested lightly. Teddie's face lit up nicely. "Oh Yuki-chan, that'd be lovely! Maybe we'll score another stud for the team!" Teddie cheered. Yukiko's lip trembled, a vein pulsing on her forehead. "Can we forget about the whole 'scoring' thing?" Yukiko asked through gritted teeth. "Yeah well, at least it ain't as bad as having a naked-guys-only sauna as a dungeon..." Kanji muttered. Teddie began to sulk again (why...? Just...why?) so Yukiko and Chie decided to stroke the fur on his head (?) and Teddie was happy again. Lightweight. The team exited the TV World so they can ask around for clues. Souji knew exactly where to look so Yosuke went with him. As they were walking towards the shopping district, the two boys chatted quietly. "We haven't slept together for a while, have we?" Yosuke said casually. "I know, I know. My bed's really cold without you next to me." Souji said quietly, a cute blush appearing on his cheeks. "Mine too. I imagine you cuddling me, but it's nothing compared to what it's really like." Yosuke sighed. "How about a little cuddle now?" Souji suggested. "It wouldn't hurt." Yosuke shrugged, but smiled widely. The two boys looked around. The area had no one in it. Souji put his arms around Yosuke's waist and Yosuke wrapped his arms around Souji's middle. "I love you Souji." Yosuke muttered. "I love you too Yosuke. Always and forever." Souji chuckled lightly. Yosuke became silent. "Souji... will we ever break up?" Yosuke looked up at Souji nervously. Souji looked deep into Yosuke dark chocolate eyes and he smiled a little. "No. I'll make sure that never happens." Souji replied. "So... will we be together forever?" Yosuke asked. Souji paused. He had to go back home in the spring. He couldn't promise that. "We'll be together forever Yosuke. I... I'll always be by your side." Souji said, tightening his cuddle a little more. The two boys clutched each other tightly, not wanting to let go. They wanted to be together forever. But could it really last?