8/29
After everything that happened with MedJed, you feel as if Tokyo should be grateful to the Phantom Thieves. Getting rid of dangerous hackers and who knows what else, yet people still criticize them. You try not to dwell on it to much, you and your parents are here at the beach to relax, not worry about what's happening in Shibuya or any where else. You walk around the still crowed beach, sunglasses firmly on your face and a cold drink in hand. You pass a couple of stands as you continue, stopping only as you spot someone in a white hoodie and dark blue polka dotted trunks looking at some lobsters in a tank. You stroll up to the person, having already guessed who it is.
"Yusuke? What are you doing here?"
He turns to face you with surprised, wide blue eyes. "(Y/N), this is surprising." He straightens up, "Does one need a reason to come to the beach?
You give a small laugh, "I suppose not, but you seemed like the stay at home type. Are you here alone or are the others nearby?"
"Ah." He looks around, "It appears I've lost them."
You hummed in response before turning your attention back to the lobster stand. "What were you planing on doing with the lobsters?"
"I'm not quite sure yet." Yusuke turns to look at the crustaceans again. "Once I saw them, I was pulled in by their distinct shape."
You look between the lobsters and the tall blue-haired teen, a thought quickly occurs to you. "You...you weren't planning on buying them, were you?"
"I was, with the last of my money."
'Yusuke, no. Why do you have such a problem with money?' You think, reaching out to grip his wrist before he pulls out his wallet. "I'll pay for them." You say hastily while pulling out your own wallet and paying for the red shelled marine life.
"Ah. Everything Ryuji says about you is true." You hand him the lobsters and stare at him with an odd expression.
"What does he say about me?"
Yusuke holds the crustaceans as they wiggle around aimlessly. "He often talks about how kind and amazing you are. How you help out friends in need and buy them things that you believe they deserve."
You can feel yourself blushing as Yusuke continues talking, you fear you might die from the second-hand embarrassment just as he says:
"He also told us what you've done for him when you both were young."
Your breath hitches once he says that and you stare at Yusuke. "He... he told you that?"
He nods and begins walking away from the stand, you follow after him in haste. "It's actually quite a beautiful story." Yusuke looks at you, "You took it upon yourself to insert yourself into his situation, completely unaware of your own safety in the process."
You look down as you remember that day. Ryuji was always a loud and overexcited kid by nature and the other kids at school took it upon themselves to avoid him like the plague. But not you, you approached him at lunch time and offered a piece of Onigiri with a smile. Ryuji was surprised to see you, since he often sat alone, he had taken the rice ball and hesitantly asked if it was really alright to eat it. You answered him with a nod and another smile. From then on you two became inseparable and any kids that tired to pick on you, Ryuji always stepped in to back you up and vice versa.
"I'm your sword and I'm your shield." You mutter under your breath.
"Did you say something?"
You shake your head quickly and beam at Yusuke. "I was completely aware of my own safety, I just didn't care." You down your drink before throwing it away, "I'm more than willing to forgo my well-being if I can get someone out of a terrible situation."
"Like Ryuji?"
"Like Ryuji."
You two continue to walk and talk until you both spot Ryuji and Akira, which both make fast tracks to approach them.
"By the way, where's Yusuke?" You hear Ryuji ask.
"So this is where you two were, I've been searching for you two."
You fake a hurt tone as you place your hand over your heart, "You didn't invite me to the beach, Ryuji? I'm wounded."
Ryuji huffs and smiles, "How was I suppose to know that you and your folks skipped work?"
"Is it skipping if you tell them in advance?" You raise an eyebrow and mimic his smile.
Ryuji laughs before turning his attention towards Yusuke, he frowns upon realizing what the teen's holding. "Uh, what're you doin' with those lobsters...?"
"While you were busy with your interrogation, I found these beautiful specimens on sale." He responds. "(Y/N) bought them for me so I wouldn't have to spend the last of my money on them."
Ryuji looks at you, you can feel his gaze even through the sunglasses. You look away and whistle innocently.
"Are you encouraging him now?" Akira asks.
"No." You say, far too quickly, "I just assumed 'No harm, no foul.'" You rub the back of your head, "It's better than having him spend his money, right?"
Akira and Ryuji couldn't argue with that.
"Wait, you were watching us!?" Ryuji suddenly yells, "Why didn't you help!?"
"Help?" You look between the boys while Akira motions out a 'You don't wanna know.' at you.
"Apologies, but I was entranced. The moment I set eyes on this distinct shape, I was in love." Yusuke smiles as he looks at the still wiggling lobsters, "I haven't had my core shaken as vigorously as this since the first time Ann and (Y/N) entered my gaze."
"Good for you..." Ryuji trails and walks away, you and the other teens quickly follow after.
"Interrogation?" You poke at Ryuji's side, "What does that mean?"
The blond bats at your hand, "We were just trying to pick up chicks, nothin' bad or anything."
You feel your heart sink a bit, "Ah..."
It doesn't take to long to join up with Ann and Makoto, who are being hounded by a pair of men. A short exchanged happens before the men walk away, you glare distastefully at them. You miss whatever the others say until Ann suddenly grabs your hand.
"I didn't know you'd be here today!" She smiles and you can't help but return it, "And you look good!"
Your face flushes at the compliment as Ann pull you next to her side.
"Don't they look good, Ryuji?" She raises an eyebrow in suggestion.
"Uh..." Ryuji looks you up and down and you swear you feel that your face is getting redder. "I guess?"
Ann makes a disappointed noise, "No class what so ever."
You shake your head and give a small laugh, "It's okay, Ann, I'm use to it by now."
"What's that suppose to mean!"
You stick your tongue out at him and he does the same to you.
"By the way, where are Futaba and Morgana?" Yusuke asks.
'Futaba? Did they gain another team member over the summer?' You think just as a short, long haired, red haired girl run up to Yusuke.
"Oooh! Are those lobsters? One for each hand!?"
Ann looks curiously at the red shelled marine life, "I was wondering about that myself."
Morgana meows as he and the red head step closer to Yusuke.
"Enough of your vile postulations! These are purely for the sake of visual appreciation!" Yusuke says as he tries to keep the lobsters' away from the girl's reach.
"They're your aesthetic?" You say in disbelief and groan into your hands, pushing up your glasses in the process. "Perhaps I am encouraging him..." You lean on Ryuji for support as he laughs.
The sound of your voice causes the girl to freeze up and look at you. You raise a timid hand in hello as Akira introduces you to the long haired girl, who in turn does the same.
"We did tons of stuff today." Ryuji smiles, "All in all, I guess comin' to the beach was pretty worth it." He turns to look at you, "No more buyin' Yusuke lobsters."
You rub the back of your head as Ann, Makoto, and Sakura look at you with questionable gazes. "I'll try not to."