Sorry for the long absence. Here's a mega long chapter. Let me know what you think.
The day was late and Yosuke had taken it upon himself to wait for the last possible second to get ready. Yosuke knew it was only one day and one night but still couldn't be bothered to do this earlier. As he was looking over what clothes to bring His phone started to go off. A single glance told him who it was "Mr. Perfect" He answered.
"Hey Yu."
"Are you ready for a grand ol' time?" Yosuke rolled his eyes at his enthusiasm.
"You're honestly lucky to have a friend like me, Yu. I'm aiding and abetting."
"You're being dramatic, you know you love me." An audible groan escaped Yosukes mouth. "And besides just think: Chie in a swimsuit, willingly!" A light blush permeated the Junes workers face.
"Speaking of which, Don't you think inviting Chie might be a bad idea?" Yosuke stated on his phone whilst tossing some clothes into his luggage bag.
"Don't worry about it, I told Marie no PDA's on this trip and she's not one to gossip so it will be fine. And Nanako already knows my cover story in case Rise shows up." Yu retorted. This did little to quell his anxiety although to be fair, most of that anxiety came from him potentially seeing Chie in a swimsuit that he didn't have to coerce her into wearing.
"So Chie just agreed to go, just like that?"
"Yeah, pretty easily once I said you were going." He laughed. Yosuke didn't need to see his face to know he was wearing a grin.
"Oh, stow it."
"I just told her Marie suddenly showed up and wanted to spend some time with us and what better way than a short camping trip, she agreed and didn't seem suspicious at all.
"Well that's good, I guess. I just hope I don't end up regretting this."
"You worry, too much. It'll be a fun trip and I won't end up doing something to make matters worse. It's win for everybody." Yu always knew how to calm Yosuke, It was almost weird how he was able to do that."
"Is Teddie going to be Okay on his own?" Yu asked.
"Yeah, I think he's gotta another potential date. So that should go well for a few days before he makes a clown out of himself."
"Cool, cool. Maybe when my whole situation blows over we can get the entire crew together for a camping trip."
"As long as the girls aren't cooking I'd be down for that." Yosuke thinks that school camping trip gave him PTSD with how bad it was. No food, no space in the tent, than the girls come over, just expecting us to help them after that shitshow they called dinner which lead to even less space and to top it all off we got got pushed into freezing cold vomit water. Gods in heaven.
"You know the saying, 'fool me once' and all that." Yu casually responded.
"No kidding. I'm gonna finish packing. I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you then."
'Is this really happening?' A question Chie had asked herself a multitude of times on her walk to the local bus station. Yu's call had certainly been out of the blue asking her if she wanted to go on a trip for Marie who had shown up to town randomly. But what nagged at the Kung Fu girl was why didn't Yu invite the entire gang along? Chie was certain they'd all be happy to see her. Well, except for Rise who constantly took Yu's and Marie's Presence as a threat before the two were in an actual relationship. Yu claimed he wanted to keep it to just a small handful of people and that with Yukiko busy and Naoto out of town it wouldn't 'feel right' Chie wasn't sure she wanted to go until he said Yosuke was going. She, not wanting to seem overeager, casually accepted his invitation while inside she was panicking, this was made worse when Yu followed up with "Don't forget to bring a swimsuit."
Chie had only worn a swimsuit three times in front of Yosuke and two of those times she was forced to wear them, she still cringes whenever she thinks of the beauty pageant or their camping trip, and she didn't think much of Yosuke back then but now …She didn't hold him in that same regard anymore: he was her crush . Her stupid, irrational crush. Chie took a few deep breathes.
She reached the station and saw Yu and Yosuke waiting for the bus. Well, Yu was waiting, and Yosuke was sleeping.
"Hey, Chie-chan." Yu waved. She waved back looking at the dynamic duo, 'how is it I feel they're closer friends than me and Yukiko?' Yosuke was always fiercely loyal to Yu, from the second he helped him out of the garbage. Chie was almost jealous; Chie always chocked it up to the fact that Yu was the only one in the group in the group to see Yosuke's Shadow and never blabbed to anyone about it. Marie had arrived shortly after and of course made a remark about the "green girl." Chie couldn't really argue cause she wasn't wrong.
They had gotten on the bus at 7:37am in order to make the most out of their day. This wasn't such a big deal to Chie due to her waking up early all the time for her morning training, but Yosuke on the other hand was dead asleep.
Yu was sitting next to Marie a row ahead of them and she was sitting next to Yosuke. Chie had the window seat because she loved to take in the sites; being in a small town your whole life makes everything seem amazing by comparison. She kept stealing glances at Yosuke's sleeping form. She didn't want to make herself look like a creep in case Yu or Marie look behind their seats. Chie had never observed his face from this close. " He's really grown in the time we've known each other.' If you told Chie a year and a half ago, that she was going to develop a crush on this instigator and slacker, Chie would have recoiled in horror but now she's at a point she never thought she'd reach. Yosukes face was awash with anything but peace all of a sudden. His face kept cringing and beads of sweat started to dot his forehead. 'A nightmare?' Chie knew Yosuke well enough to know he had no problems telling the gang whatever stupid or perverted dreams he had so she might well do him a favor and wake him up and ask.
Chie was absent mindedly reaching out to touch his face to lightly slap him awake and she almost would have if the bus hadn't shook violently. Yosuke woke with an audible gasp garnering the attention of the other passengers.
Yu leaned over his chair to look back, eyebrow raised, or at least Chie assumed that considering his trademark bowlcut covered said eyebrows.. "You okay, buddy?"
The Scion of Junes shook his head before replying. "I'm good, I'm good. Just a...nightmare." he answered honestly. This time Marie looked back "What about? nightmares are usually how our subconscious tells us about a problem we have." she asked casually.
Chie eyed Marie, wondering when she got so nuanced and then Yosuke, curious of his response. Yosuke, noticing the triple threat stare down, decided to respond accordingly:
"Could you stop staring at me like a science Project? Who cares what it was about?" and with that the duo sitting in front turn back to their seats.
Yosuke turned to his left and eyed a curious Chie. "That must've been one serious nightmare, Hanamura." Yosuke proceeded to ignore her and attempted to sleep again.
They had reached their destination at around 10ish. The day was a scorcher. Chie took to wearing a loose fitting green shirt and some short shorts. She observed Yosuke who was audibly grunting with every step in the heat; he donned his white and red shirt with with blue cargo shorts. Marie had on a simple white tank top and her trademark plaid chequered skirt.
"Please tell me we're almost to the campsite." Yu turned casually as if the sun didn't bother him at all.
"It's just up this hill." Marie looked at Yosuke with her head cocked to the side, she might not actually understand his plight considering she's a god or something; Chie was never clear as to who/what Marie actually is but didn't want to look stupid so she never asked. If the heat bothered either yu or Marie they made no mention of it.
"Those two aren't..normal." Yosuke groaned whilst pulling his luggage.
"No kidding." Chie agreed wiping her brow.
After a bit more of Yosuke Complaining they found a suitable camp site. There were other tents littered around the Area so this hunt for a decent spot was more difficult than expected. Chie was effectively groaning with every step as was Yosuke due to the intense heat.
"I think this spot will due. Not too many people, solid, non lumpy ground. This should do." Their leader stated calmly.
Yosuke dropped himself to the floor dramatically.
"Can we set up camp quickly? I'm starving over here!" Chie asked honestly.
Yu tossed her a bag of trail-mix. To which Chie replied "What's this?"
"Its nuts and berries, to hold you over till we set up camp." Chie looked at Yu like he we brain dead.
"Is there meat in this?" Chie asked.
"uhh, no." to which Chie responded by tossing it on the still collapsed Yosuke.
"Let's just set up camp Quickly so we can eat real food." Marie raised an eyebrow at Chies statement. "Are nuts and Berries not real food? Than what are they?"
"It's a figure of speech, Marie-chan." Yu answered.
The boys and girls paired off to set up their tents. Chie was showing Marie the proper setup method whilst Yu did a majority of the work in regard to their tent.
"Ugh, Jeez Yosuke, you could help Yu-kun a little bit." Chie scolded.
"Hey! I've helped him a lot these past weeks, get off my back.
"It's not a problem Chie. I have been rather bothersome to Yosuke, I must admit." That definitely made her raise an eyebrow. Yosuke literally never complains about Yu-kun. 'Should I find this alarming?' she thought to herself.
After setting up the tents and eating a proper breakfast (that is to say one with meat), The crew was up and energized.
"Now that we've eaten, Marie what do you want to do? We can go for a hike? Or skip straight to going for a swim?" Yu asked the curious girl. This made Chie understandably nervous.
'Don't say swim Don't say swim Don't say swim Don't say swim Don't say swim Don't say swim Don't say swim Don't say swim Don't say swim Don't say swim Don't say swim" The martial artist thought on repeat with the expectations that if she was gonna learn she was telepathic, now would he a great time to discover this power. Marie thought on this for a bit with a single finger on her chin. Chie was visibly sweating at this point, the heat wasn't helping.
"I guess we should swim." she said with a shrug. Externally Chie was fine but her inner thoughts in that moment could've made a sailor blush. Marie's lack of societal norms or expectations was something Chie was immensely jealous of. 'If only I was so clueless .' she thought.
"Well that settles that." Yu said. The boys and girls left to their tents to get changed.
"You don't find being bathing suit a bit embarrassing?" Chie asked of Marie. Marie cocked her head in confusion. "why would I?"
"You know...showing so much..skin…" Chie said blushing.
"It's just skin we all have it, Green girl." she said brushing off Chies remarks.
"If only everyone thought like that." Chie said with a sigh.
Marie exited their tent first wearing a simple black 2-piece.
"well, here goes everything." Chie exited the tent and Yu looked at her and nodded not a blush even touching his face. Yosuke on the other hand looked for a brief second before finding something particularly interesting in the sky. Chie decides on a green top, surprise surprise, and light green boy shorts. Yu was wearing green trunks and Yosuke went for Orange. It was weird seeing his naked chest for what feels like the first time.
"Now that we're ready, Yosuke go take Marie to the nearby lake. Me and Chie will catch up."
Yosuke gave him a look before going. Chie was confused before Yu turned to her.
"Chie-chan, I wanted to ask you for a favor." he asked plainly.
"Uhhh, sure, what is it?"
"Could you not tell Rise or Yukiko, we went on this trip?" Chie was more confused than before.
"Why?"
"You know how Rise gets with Marie, if she finds out I decided to just hang with her she'll crucify me." Chie understood where Yu was coming from. Rise is super jealous of any semi attractive girls Yu talks to. Whether it be Marie or even the Ice queen Margaret, Rise loses her composure."
"Ohhh, I get it. No problem, Yu-kun."
"Thanks, Chie." Yu stated with trademark smile. The two caught up with Marie and Yosuke. Their resident goddess was already in the water doing laps. But Yosuke was stretching. Chie looked for longer than she'd ever admit. Yosuke was by no means super muscular but he wasn't unfit either. Yu was his opposite, he was toned all over from their days of fighting not to mention his time on the basketball team. They both had the odd scars on their bodies. Chie was never hurt that badly because she was naturally tough but Yu dealt with the brunt of the battles and Yosuke was arguably more fragile than Teddie due to his reliance on speed back during the investigation.
"Why are you stretching Yosuke?" asked Yu.
"Marie-chan might be a goddess but I'm not. I don't want to cramp up." Chie was so engrossed in the minor scars Yosuke had she wasn't paying attention.
"Earth to Chie?" Yu snapped his fingers in front of her face. Chie shook her head and a blush made itself known on her face. Yu rolled his eyes at the girl. Yu beckoned for Marie to come out the water.
"Alright let's play a game of Marco-Polo. Yosuke has to go first."
"Why me?"
"Because shut up." With a sigh Yosuke agreed. He hopped into the water.
"Who is this Marco polo?" Yu sighed before explaining the rules to Marco polo.
"Are you guys coming in or what?" he asked eyes closed.
"We're coming we gotta get in slowly so you can't find us easily." yu whispered to Chie and Marie "Let's not get in and just toss rocks." Yu had to stifle his laughter. The trio Took up different spots on the shore and picked up different size rocks and tossed them to make Yosuke was none the wiser. Yu made sure to keep them switching positions and saying "Polo" at various volumes to confuse him.
"This is getting irksome" stated a unknowingly bamboozled Yosuke.
"Marco." Yosuke said dejectedly. Marie tossed a rock before saying "Polo." Yosuke jumped towards the rocks splash only to be rewarded with nothing.
"Ugh, Marco, damn it." Chie chucked her rock before not quite yelling polo. The trio were trying their absolute best not to laugh at their floundering friend.
"Alright, Yosuke. You can open your eyes." and he did just that to see his friends all standing on the shore.
"Wait, what?" to which they all bursted into laughter. Yosuke was obviously unhappy. Yu explained the trick.
"That's what I get for not cheating. Only I could fall for such a dumb idea." he sighed.
"Oh, don't be so hard on yourself, Kanji definitely would have fell for it." Chie retorted.
"That doesn't really make me feel better." they all had a turn at Marco polo with Marie being the most successful.
"I call BS. She has like...super powers or something." Yosuke argued.
"Maybe you were just too slow." Marie casually said. Yosuke was stunned at this. Even Yu and Chie were surprised at that level of sass.
"Uh...Alright, how about we crank it up?" they all looked to Yu confused. "With Chicken fight? Me and Marie-chan vs Yosuke and Chie-chan." Chie was extremely nervous at the thought of sitting on Yosuke. Illicit thoughts came and went through Chies mind.
"Um, I don't know, if Chie will be comfortable with that." Yosuke stated not wanting to put Chie in a literal and metaphorical awkward position.
"No, I'll do it. I never back down from a challenge." stated a determined Chie.
"Than we've got ourselves a game." Yu exclaimed clapping his hands.
"I don't understand how will we fight with chickens, I don't see any." Marie naively asked. The other members of the group collectively facepalmed.
Chie now sitting on Yosukes shoulders made it impossible for her to not blush. Yosuke had to ignore the warmth of her thighs and the heat on the back of his neck. Across from them was a confident Yu and a semi confused Marie sattled on him.
"A-are you r-ready Chie? A very nervous Yosuke asked.
"Yeah t-t-totally" she answered in unready tone Yosuke had ever heard.
"On 3!" Yu yelled.
"1"
"2"
"3!" Yosuke charged as fast as he could through the water with Yu doing the same. Chie was still trying to steel her nerves whilst managing this balancing act. Chie and Marie collided arms and Chie had to admit the girl was stronger than she would have guessed. The two girls were finger locked trying to knock each other off balance.
"C'mon Chie, you've got this!"
"Marie, Don't give up!"
They were trying shove each other as if their lives depended on it. There eyes were locked. This wasn't just a game, this was a battle. Chie would die before giving up. She coordinated with Yosukes movements while struggling to make sure he balanced her accordingly. Left and right the two girls went neither giving an inch.
"Does this seem more intense than one would have figured or is it just me?" Yosuke jokingly questioned.
"You got that too?" replied Yu. Marie was moving Chie around faster than Yosuke could balance though.
"Oh crap, oh crap" repeated Yosuke.
"Don't you let me fall Hanamura!" she demanded. But it was too much. Chie fell off Yosuke's shoulders and into the water.
"God damn it, Yosuke I had her and you couldn't hold me!" she scolded.
"Don't blame me, I figured you'd be strong enough to finish it faster than that!"
"So you're saying I'm weak? Is that it?"
Yu and Marie watched them go at it.
"I get the feeling this is something that happens often."
"You have no Idea." Yu said with a sigh.
As entertaining as watching these two bicker is, he knew they could go on forever if he didn't intervene.
"Alright, break it up you two. You played a good game Chie but don't go blaming Yosuke he tried his best."
"Well his best wasn't good enough."
"Oh, please." Yosuke responded. Yosuke thought of something else to add to her Cons list: " Too competitive.'
"Alright, I think we've had enough water fun for now." Yu said trying to defuse the situation.
"Uhh, no we haven't. We'll leave once I beat her." Yu knew he couldn't talk his way out of this one.
"Now let me back on, Hanamura."
The daylight was already starting to fade. Chie eventually got her win. Whether Marie let her win or Chie beat her fair and square is irrelevant at this point. The squad dried off and changed back into their casual wear. Marie and Yu went to gather firewood.
Chie and Yosuke were making sure they had all the food stuffs. The silence was insufferable.
"Today was fun, right?" Yosuke said eager to break the awkward silence.
"uh, yeah, totally. Making an ass out of you never fails to brighten my day." she said mockingly.
"Let's not bring that up around the others please?"
"You know I will, don't be silly." Chie stated.
Yosuke simply sighed accepting his fate.
"You know I've got to say, you looked really good in your swimsuit." As if on cue the blushing began.
"T-thanks. I guess.."
"You'd be a knockout in some of the stuff we have at Junes."
"Don't be such a pervert, jeez."
"I'm just saying is all."
Yu returned walking briskly ahead of Marie looking somewhat disheveled.
"Something up, Partner?" Questioned Yosuke.
"uh, nope nothing at all." Marie casually took her seat. Yosuke glanced from Yu to Marie and had a Idea of what happened. Chie was extremely out of the loop. The fire was started and then Yosuke and Yu made sure to cook the food and keep Chie out of it. They had curry and ate in relative silence. They decided to play a game of cards as they wound down.
"Bullshit." Yosuke told Marie. She revealed her card and wasn't lying.
"Guess you gotta pick up those cards." Yosuke looked at the pile and gave up.
"Screw this. I'm turning in." he said.
"Yeah. I think it's about that time." Yu added.
Yu and Yosuke both went in their tent.
"Yeah, Maybe they're right, I'm exhausted." Chie stated.
"Yeah, time to hit the clay." Marie said.
"Hay."
"Yeah, that."
The girls changed into their Pajamas before entering their sleeping bags.
"You don't snore do you?" Chie asked. Marie pondered on it.
"I'm not sure."
"Well no matter cause I brought ear plugs." Chie refused to have repeat of that annoyance.
"So did you have fun today?" Marie nodded.
"I did. It was so good to make these memories with you guys and especially with Yu." Marie Yawned.
"Yeah, Yu's a great guy." Chie agreed.
"And a better boyfriend ." Marie responded sleepily. Chie thought her ears deceived her.
"What did you just say?"
"And a better boyfriend?"
"I thought so. You know what. I forgot I snore. Take my ear plugs for yourself."-And she just started aggressively kissing me. I just wanted to get firewood, I swear." Yu whispered to Yosuke.
"Partner, this needs to stop. You're only gonna hurt them more the longer this goes on."
"I know I just-"
"OPEN YOUR TENT NOW." Yu and Yosuke just looked at each other. The angry Chie outside.
"uhh. What is it, Chie." Yu asked meekly.
"If you don't open your tent in the next thirty seconds I'm going to tear it open." Yu reluctantly unzipped the tent and immediately got a punch to the face causing fall
"DUDE!" yelled a shocked Yosuke'
"Chie, um, what's wrong?" Yu said rubbing his face. Chie entered the tent.
"You fooled me. But now I understand everything. The reason you were acting so weird around Rise and the Reason you don't want me to tell her about this trip is Because you're Cheating on her, you pig." Chie pushed Yu by his shoulder aggressively. "And what's worse is that YOU knew Yosuke. She said pointing at him. The secret you and him had was this!? You would help him sustain an affair? I barely even know you do I!?"'
Chie exclaimed in a voice that wasn't quite screaming but higher than started welling up in her eyes.
"Chie please. I can explain." Yu said pleading to her.
"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM YOU!" She creamed at pushed him by the shoulder again. Yosuke was stunned at what was happening.
"How could you take advantage of Rise? One of my best friends?" she questioned Yu who just at silently with his head hung low.
And Yosuke "I'm so disappointed in you; beyond words. You would let him emotionally manipulate our friend? What's worse is I feel like the biggest idiot here, feeling how I feel." Chie exited the tent quickly.
"Chie wait!" Yosuke yelled. But she didn't look back. Chie wen back to her tent and quickly packed her things, trying not to wake up Marie. When her tent Yosuke was talking at her but she was too angry to listen.
She walked past him when he reached out to stop her. She pushed him off her with ease knocking him to the ground. And she just left them. Yu came out the tent looking as Chie disappeared into the night.
"Yosuke, I am so-"
"Save it."
Yosuke walked back into tent entered his sleeping bag and tried to sleep and hoping when he woke up that this was just a dream.