Funny how a simple fic turned out more complex than I initially intended. But I'm glad to know that there are people reading this, and if anyone's enjoying/hating it, please let me know.
Disclaimer: Persona 4 belong to ATLUS
P4: Trouble Chocolate
Kanji Tatsumi, in all honesty, has no idea what to do. He initially had it all planned out. Help out his dear friend overcoming her depression, and pound whoever causes it. But with a newfound revelation, and some analytical observation from his respectable upperclassman and team leader, he found himself lost and confused.
"So… what do you think I should do?" Kanji looked at his upperclassmen for an answer.
"Do I need to repeat myself?" Souji asked Kanji with a stern face.
"Please do, I'm not quite sure myself I actually heard you right," Yosuke turned to Souji with the same shocked in awe look. Strange as it may be, he couldn't believe it. He just couldn't, although this could just be his denial and jealousy speaking. Whichever it may be, it is clear that he's upset over it. His friends can see it too, especially Chie.
"Oh for the last freaking time!" Chie kicked Yosuke on his stomach to make the point clear and drilled into his mind. "Rise-chan is in love with Kanji-kun! Is it really that hard for you to take in?"
"Do you have to kick me for it?" Yosuke held his stomach in pain.
Chie huffed out and looked away from his pathetic squirm. "Let that be a reminder to you and your one-sided love! And as for you, Kanji-kun," Chie turned to her underclassman. "Don't think. Feel!"
Kanji heard those words many times from her, in most times during battle when the team explored the TV world, he never really understood what that meant. From his understanding, it was a quote from one of her favorite movie, and she just quote for the fun of it. But this time around, those words made a lot of sense when she referred at him as so. "Thanks, Chie-senpai," Kanji replied expressing his gratitude. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Think about it!" Chie firmly expressed her words. She turned around and made her way towards the door, ready to return to her class. But she stopped upon realizing that her last words contradicted to her advice. It seems Yukiko picked up on it too, Chie can hear her muffled laughter is only seconds away into a hysteric cry.
"Uhh… I mean feel about it… wait, that doesn't even make sense." she tried to fix her mistake, though it resulted with another muffle this time from Souji. "J-just think about what I said. No, wait!" she stopped again realizing that she's back to where she was. "Don't think of it, feel it! Oh dammit, that still doesn't make sense!"
It is too late for Chie's to fix her mistake. Yukiko's already laughing out loud while Souji's laugh is not too far behind. "J-just… just remember what I said. And stop laughing you two! It's not that funny!" Chie walked away to escape from her own embarrassment. She looked back at her remaining friends before she disappeared behind the door, surprised at the fact that Yosuke didn't join the odd couple at their fit of laughter.
Back to Rise and Naoto
After taking in Naoto's confession and advice, Rise's legs eventually gave up on her, and the two sat down on the surprisingly clean bathroom floor. Naoto had to admit that the whole ordeal was the most emotional state she had ever witness on Rise. First the down look from class, ranging to the cry at the roof, followed by the angry cry and ended with another cry of joy. It had been the most tearful moments of Valentine's Day according to her, and she's glad to have it ended with a form of love found deep within a woman's heart.
"So… what happens now?" Rise turned to Naoto. Truth to be told, she didn't know what to do next, or what she's going to say to her friends when they meet again, especially to Kanji. As far as they're concern, Kanji has no idea of Naoto's real feelings towards him.
"I'll go let Kanji-kun know of my true feelings of him first," Naoto replied. "After that you go and confess to him."
"Won't that make me like some kind of rebound girl?" Rise asked to Naoto. She never really did become one before, but she heard that following the circumstance she would be labeled as one.
"It won't," Naoto assured Rise. "Kanji and I would have to be dating in order for you to be titled as one."
"I see," Rise nodded. The two sat down in silence for thirty seconds or so, Rise's still contemplating whether to go with the confession plan. "You sure you want to do this, Naoto?" Rise had to ask her one more time. She's not sure herself if she can actually go through this, after all there might be a chance for Kanji to reject Rise nevertheless if Naoto turned him down.
"Positive," Naoto confirmed her resolution. "You are entitled to have your own happiness."
"But what about his?" Rise asked. "Will he love me back?" The question lingered to the ex-pop idol. She may have finally be able to smile again, but she had to wonder what would to happen on Kanji's side of the deal.
"Let me ask you this, Rise," Naoto swerved into another direction. "When you first had a crush on Souji-senpai, what was your first thought on how to win his favor back to you?"
"Uhmm…" Rise thought for a few seconds or so. "I'll do my best to make him love me in return?" she asked looking at Naoto. "What does this have to do with anything?" Naoto smirked back in return, while Rise stared at it for another few seconds or so until she finally the process behind the question trade-offs. "Oh, I see."
"You have a strong spirit, Rise-san," Naoto leaned her head back on the wall. "Let that spirit burn, and show me that you're not backing down without a fight."
"And who am I exactly competing with?" Rise asked feeling the smile crawling back to her. Naoto's encouragement really had brought the joy back to Rise's cheeks.
"With Kanji-kun and his strong crush on me," Naoto replied. "Though after I break the news to him, he's going to receive a hard blow. So in a way, I've soften him up for you."
"Oh Naoto," Rise chuckled at Naoto's change of comforting and comical character. "Come on, I'm being serious here."
"And so am I," Naoto chuckled along. "Don't back down or give up without a fight. That is not the Rise Kujikawa I know." Naoto had always admired of Rise's perseverance spirit. Whether it's about love or during the fight against shadows, Rise never backs down. And Naoto, in some retrospect, respects that of her.
"Thanks, Naoto," Rise huffed a sigh of satisfaction. She put her arms over the shorter girl one last time, tightening it into a hug. Thanking her for all the gratitude she did for her throughout the day. "You're the best friend ever."
She may not admit it, but Naoto do regards Rise as her best friend. She may be loud, and in certain cases annoying to her, but Naoto loves her optimistic attitude. Her cheery personality cheers up the hard times during their TV adventures; and in certain case during the stressful atmosphere in general. So one can imagine what's going through her during Rise's depressing state, after all it wasn't only Kanji who's hurt to see Rise cry. "And you're mine too," Naoto returned Rise's gratitude with a simple hold of her hands.
Staff room
"Do you have any idea how much trouble you're in?"
"Uhhh… not much?" Chie shrugged with sheepish smile. Kashiwagi rolled her eyes frustratingly, while her other three captors looked at Chie with a deadpanned reaction. They still can't believe that after Kashiwagi caught them for ditching second period, Chie had the nerve to strike a joke in times like this. Souji and Yukiko cannot afford for a mark down on their permanent record, and Yosuke cannot afford any more negative marks if he wanted to get on the next grade.
"Don't get smart with me, Satonaka!" Kashiwagi scolded her off. "I expect this kind of behavior from you and your boy toys," Souji and Yosuke grumbled silently upon hearing that kind of comment. "But you have no right to bring in Amagi into this mess!"
"Actually, I…"
"Zip it, Red. I don't want to hear it!" Kashiwagi silenced Yukiko with a point of her lanky finger, which made Yukiko grumbled in return. "Now do any of you care to explain to me why you all ditched second period?"
"With all due respect, Kashiwagi-sensei," Souji represent his respectable tone. "Does it really matter the reason of our absence? We're back now, and I can give you my words that we won't disappear again for the rest of the day."
Kashiwagi looked back at the teen, still disgruntled at their sudden disappearance. She's about to retort back to the silver-haired teen, ready to scold him for another of his antic that her predecessor warned her about. But just one look of his face, it all just disappeared. It may be his charming look or his charismatic attitude, but whatever it may be, it was enough for her to forgive him. "Alright then," Kashiwagi submitted. "I'll forgive all of you just this once. But only cause of you, Seta," she added with that sultry voice of hers that made the three shudder in disgust.
"Thank you, sensei," Souji bowed still keeping his cool. His other three party members bowed along too, still can't keep the shiver in check just like their leader.
"You're all excused," Kashiwagi send them off. "But I'll be keeping an eye on all of you. Just because it's Valentine's Day, don't think you all can disappear and have sex on the roof," she finished off with an explicit remark that heavily bother the two girls of the guilty party. "Although, I won't mind if you're going to pull something like that on me, Seta-kun."
"Oh, sensei," Souji chuckled. "I wouldn't dream of it. Now if you would excuse us." Souji lead off his three friends out of the staff room, still plastering on his poker face for the sake of his reputation. His three friends wondered how he managed to keep his emotion in check, even after Kashiwagi pulled out such suggestive comments.
"Souji-kun, are you okay?" Yukiko asked first as the four exited the staff room.
"I think I'm gonna puke," Souji's face dropped into an expression of sickness. "Help me, you guys." Yukiko quickly tend towards her boyfriend's side, while two of his closest friends are snickering of his quick change in emotions.
"Steady now," Yukiko let Souji leaned on her for support. "Yosuke-kun, can you help me please?"
"Oh no, no, no, no, no!" Yosuke shook his head furiously. "Sorry, but I can't stand vomit! One look and I feel like I'll throw up myself!"
"Just help me to the men's room, Yukiko, please," Souji held his mouth trying to contain his gag reflex. "Upstairs."
"Oh… sure, just hang on," Yukiko quickly move up towards the stairs still supporting her sick boyfriend. "I'll see you all in class."
Yosuke and Chie watched the couple climbed up towards the stairs, one supported a smirk while another showed her worries. "What's with that grin?" Chie asked of Yosuke's odd expression.
"Do you honestly think that Souji's actually going to throw up?" he asked Chie.
Back on the roof
"You're despicable," Yukiko pouted as Souji lead his girlfriend back to the infamous school roof. She felt stupid for letting herself fall for the oldest trick in the book. More importantly, she felt stupid of herself for not suspecting anything when he demanded her to bring him up to the roof. "I really thought that you were sick."
"Oh lighten up, Yukiko," Souji laughed at her pout that strongly resembles Nanako. "The fresh air is making me feel better. And besides…" he grabbed a hold of her hands and brought them close to his face. "I want to spend some alone time with you."
"Sou-Souji…" she stammered looking at his eyes. "I said not in public…" she looked away from him embarrassingly. She really isn't the public affectionate type, and she's glad that Souji respected that wish. But sometimes, when he looks at her with that charm she loves so much, she tends to lose herself.
"But no one's here, so technically," Souji said closing in on Yukiko's face. "We're not in public." Souji loves to tease Yukiko. He just can't get enough on how she blushes whenever he brings himself too close to her. Sometimes he would kiss her unknowingly just to see her blush as red as her sweater. But he loves her too much to do whatever that may have upset her, out of respect he would usually backs off. But this is the first time Yukiko made the initiative move.
Yukiko strike the limit. She pulled her hands off his to bring his face close for her to kiss his lips. She didn't know if it's his charm or his striking good looks that drew her to give in to him, whatever it is she didn't care. She's lost within the moment. It would take all of her willpower to break away from him, grudgingly she had to before Kashiwagi caught them again for ditching another study session.
"Wow," Souji gasped in surprise when she pulled away. "You surprise me there."
"Yeah?" she somewhat mocked at him. "Well it's your fault for pushing me too far, Souji-kun," she finished with a giggle. Souji chuckled along with her, he almost forgot that though she's shy, deep inside she longed for intimacy. A striking reminder of her shadow-self princess.
"Well then," Souji grabbed a hold of Yukiko's waist and pulled her close. "I wonder what happens if I push you this far?" Yukiko's not the only one who's reaching their limit. Souji also yearn for his love to move a bit forward in their relationship.
Yukiko's not at all surprised of Souji's forward behavior, she know of his teasing behavior and how forward he would be when they progressed within their relationship. Well two can play that game. "You get…" Yukiko brought her hands to his neck and pulled him close. "This!" she lightly karate chopped his face.
"Hey!" Souji leapt back up in shock. "That's not fair," he cursed at his misfortune while attaining a smile back at her laugh.
"Sorry, Souji-kun," Yukiko laughed as she head for the doors. "But I have a class to attend to. You just have to wait." She hoped that it wouldn't upset him as so. But she knew that Souji's also not the type who would rush his beloved to match his needs.
"I got ya," he also headed towards the stairs. "I did give my words to Kashiwagi-sensei." Souji truly is a man of his words, but that still didn't stop his gag reflex to choke him up a bit whenever he's reminded of her previous strong flirty words.
"And don't forget," Yukiko took a hold of his hands. "You're still getting that Valentine's Chocolate." She reminded of that beautiful moment the two shared for brief seconds, before Naoto rudely interrupted them. "And if play your cards right, I'll take our relationship on a higher level." It took a lot of courage for Yukiko to state those words to Souji without stuttering or embarrassingly looking away. It may require some courage that she lacked but if Souji's with her, she's not afraid to throw anything at so.
Souji, on the other hand, is left confused and perplexed on how to go as so. As much as tempting that higher level sounds to him, he's still not ready for the upcoming Mysterious Food X round three. The first two were horrible as it were, not to mention the effects gotten stronger during each level. He nearly submitted to it when he was lost within the moment earlier during the day, but he thought that maybe Naoto's interruption was more of a blessing rather than ruining the glorious moment.
"G-great…" Souji half-smiled at Yukiko. "I definitely can't wait."
That may be the very first time he ever lied to Yukiko.
YOU ALL MIGHT BE THINKING HOW DESPICABLE I AM FOR UPLOADING SHORT CHAPTERS IN COMPARISON OF THE PREVIOUS LONG CHAPTERS. WELL TO CLEAR ANY GRUDGES FROM YOU, LET ME SAY THAT I AM GOING OVERSEA FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR THE HOLIDAY. AND I WAS ON THE MIDDLE OF THIS WHEN I REALIZE THAT MY FLIGHT IS IN 9 HOURS AND I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN MY BEAUTY SLEEP (IT'S 4:00 AM IN HERE RIGHT NOW). SO, I'M SETTLING YOU ALL WITH THIS IN THE MEAN TIME UNTIL I RETURN. I KNOW IT'S NOT MUCH, BUT BETTER THAN NOTHING I RECKON. PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW, AND THANKS AGAIN FOR READING ^^
P.S - MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL
