Hero: Well I really like how this chapter came out! It's the most funniest yet, but I think this one will still be the funniest hands down, but I hope you all agree. This is the King's Game where everyone has to play! And post-King's Game as well! Anyway, here's Ch. 13 of "Our Year Together" Hope you all enjoy this one!
Chapter 13
September 2nd, school had just finished for the day and Yukiko was fixing the board on the first floor as usual before heading home.
"So is it true that you're with Souji-senpai?" A random first year had approached Yukiko. Yukiko only pinned up the last paper advertising the school trip in the coming week, sighing before speaking.
"My, do rumors spread fast here." Yukiko groaned.
"Hey, does that mean that's a yes?" The pestering student asked.
"Yes." Yukiko bluntly said.
"No way, that's not fair, why does he-"
"What's going here?" Another student approached. This time it was a brunette student that was a second year.
"E-Ebihara-senpai…?"
"Don't go prying into the two's love life, it's none of your business." Ai remarked. "Get out of my sight." Ai ordered with her finger pointing at the doorway. The baffled student just turned away and left.
"Whoa, that was quite the scene." Kou had now walked down to the stairs. He seemed to have heard the whole conversation.
"Thank you, but… who are you?" Yukiko had asked the Moon's identity.
"You don't know me? I'm Ai Ebihara and don't you forget it."
"I see, thank you very much. I wouldn't want to think what I would have had to do if you hadn't intervened."
"Well, it's nothing. It's the least I could for Souji… He helped changed my outlook on life. A-Anyway, if any other girls bother you, let me know, I'll give you a front row seat to see a verbal thrashing like you just saw."
"Wow, you seem to support these two." Kou commented.
"What's that supposed to mean? Souji's a dear friend to me. Any friend of his is a friend of mine. Even if it's a girlfriend."
"Ha ha, I understand, he's a good friend to me too. Anyway, let's go. You wanted to go to Okina right?"
"Yeah, let's go!" Ai gleefully said with her face slightly red, a bit hard to notice.
"Hey by the way Yukiko-san, the same thing Ai says goes for me too. I'll help you in any way if you need it."
"I see… Thank you guys, though I'll be prepared should this happen again."
"I can tell; you seem to be the scary-angry type." Kou said as he broke into a small laugh.
"C'mon Kou, let's go or else we're gonna miss the train." Ai pushed.
"Oh yeah, anyway see ya later!" Kou waved as he left with Ai in tow. Yukiko only smiled and waved back. Souji had walked down the steps and noticed Yukiko in that usual spot, to him, he thought she must have been waiting for him for where she wanted to go.
"What was all that loud noise?" Souji had questioned.
"I'll tell you on the way." Yukiko smiled.
"Where do you want to go?" Souji asked.
"Well… I want to go to your room again." Yukiko whispered.
"I see… let's go then." Souji said as he walked Yukiko to his house while she explained the situation from earlier. They had eventually arrived and Yukiko saw that his room was a bit different. His futon seemed to be laid out already. Before Yukiko could ask, Souji had already spoken for himself.
"I was running late, so I didn't have time to put it back up. I'm still a bit used to staying up late at night." Souji chuckled while rubbing the back of his head.
"Oh I see." Yukiko replied as she took off her red blouse that she wears over her summer uniform. "Since it's there already, you want to lie down? I wouldn't mind a nap with you." Yukiko giggled.
"Sure, I don't mind that at all." Souji smiled as he took Yukiko into his bed. The two laughed and played around a bit before getting back to the previous topic.
"Still, your friends are being surprisingly very nice."
"Would you rather they not?" Souji joked playfully.
"Of course not; I've never even met some of them yet they're still really nice people, they said you helped them greatly." Yukiko continued smiling.
"I guess I have." Souji said modestly. The two continued talking about school-related things such as homework and the usual things.
"Oh, are you excited for the trip next week?"
"Normally, I wouldn't be. I've had my fair share of cities, but if I get to be with you, then I'll likely enjoy it now." Souji said playfully.
"Is that a 'yes'? Still I hope it'll be fun!"
The two continued to enjoy the stay in Souji's room, also taking a short nap along the way. As it grew late, Souji walked Yukiko home. Time had passed and it had been an actual tranquil time in Inaba. Perhaps the case really has indeed come to an end.
September 9th, It was now the 2nd day of the school trip. The team had gone shopping all over Tatsumi Port Island. Yukiko had taken Souji to a clothes shop to try on clothes and get his opinion on them. She stepped out of the dressing room with snow white dress and a sky blue cardigan on top of it.
"How do I look?" Yukiko asked.
I think you look great in it. You look good in blue too." Souji complimented. "It almost reminds me of a Sundress."
"Thank you. I actually have one I'm going to try on next; it's even got a nice hat to go with it. It's got a bit of blue on it too." Yukiko noted. "I know Chie said I look good in red, but… I wanted to see if I could find something I could like on my own this time."
"You can probably wear that Sundress during Summer Vacation next year."
"Next year…" Yukiko began to look down after saying that.
"Don't worry; I intend to visit next year too. I may ask my parents if I could come back for the 2nd term until graduation. Then I'll likely stay through all of college here." Souji said while nodding his head in affirmation.
"Wow, you sound like you have this all planned out." Yukiko giggled.
"Of course; I tend to think a few steps ahead."
"A few steps?" Yukiko remarked.
"Yes; anyway, you need to change back; the sun's starting to set. Rise said for us to meet up by the fountain at Paulownia Mall. She said she wants to take us somewhere."
"Oh yeah, she did say something like that. Alright, let me at least try the Sundress before we go." Yukiko smiled as she rushed back into the dressing room. After Souji saying what he thought about the dress, Yukiko bought both the sundress, the white dress and blue cardigan together, then headed out to the center of Paulownia Mall with Souji.
The couple arrived and Rise took everyone to Club Escapade, from there the group ran into Naoto and had invited him to hang out with them. From there the group had gone up to the upstairs section that Rise was able to reserve and all the drinks were on the house. Teddie was the first to get drunk off the drinks and soon others were to follow.
"I kanj-ecture that something's up! Ahahaha, that's a great one!" Teddie laughed obnoxiously.
"Man, you're already in high gear." Yosuke commented at Teddie's sudden change. A giggling Yukiko could be heard after.
"Kanj-ecture!? Bwahahahaha!" Yukiko began laughing aloud.
"She's looser'n usual too…" Kanji also commented on Yukiko seemingly becoming drunk with Souji making a smirk to himself to hearing that. After what felt like a moment of silence, something else was heard.
"Ahahaha…" A faint and rare type of laugh was heard in the club. "Oh, I'm sure they're fine… It's nothing to worry about, Hahahahahaha." Souji had begun laughing on his own, almost manically in one sense but not towards the bad pun.
"Souji-kun… Don't tell me you're drunk too." Chie groaned.
"Drunk? I doubt that." Souji grinned before taking another drink. "Kanji; get me another one please. You know I prefer my drink on the rocks of course."
"I-I told'em to give us soft drinks. They're non-alcoholic!" Rise blurted out while everyone showed doubt in their eyes. "…I told them. Really, I did… Really!" Rise continued trying to convince everyone.
"…You're a terrible liar." Souji bluntly said which made Rise begin to sob silently. The other team members began making comments about the drinks until Rise had suddenly stopped crying and stood up, getting everyone's attention.
"King's Gaaaaaaame!" Rise shouted aloud to the group. "Time's like this, adults play the King's Game. It's the law…" Rise hiccupped. "What's their problem…? They make act like a ditz, call me Risette and stuff, and then say I'm a kid. It's sooo obvious… Those wrap parties get a lot more fun after I go home! Morooons! I'm gonna play the King's Game now and ain't no one gonna stop me!" Rise smiled mischievously. "Kanji…! Get the chopsticks ready! The King's word is law! Chop-chop!"
Yukiko explained the rules of the game to the team with Chie questioning how she got such knowledge considering she's still a teenager. Rise had ordered everyone to draw a stick. Souji picked the one nearest to him. He drew number six. Teddie was the first King and had ordered number three to give him a smooch. The one who possessed the unlucky chopstick was Kanji. He jumped in surprise, while Teddie changed his choice to number two, but Yosuke said no take-backs, which seemed to hint that he was the one who owned the second chopstick. The girls had tried pushing Teddie to continue his order and Teddie tackled Kanji and had proceeded to smooch him despite Kanji's violent protests and threats to "flatten him." Rise then remarked that those two had dropped out despite being in the first round. She then gathered the chopsticks and ordered everyone to draw again. Souji went with his gut instinct and drew the near one again.
"Who's the King?" Rise questioned.
"Hahahaha!" Souji laughed while giving his stick a spin and flashed it towards the remaining players. "I… am the King." Souji said with a big grin plastered over his face.
"Phew, someone decent… No crazy orders this time…" Chie sighed in relief.
"You just don't seem to know what I'm capable of do you?" Souji remarked while Chie gave a disheartened look in response. Yukiko had remarked how the orders have to be more extreme after each round while she and Rise began flinging suggestions to the Fool. The suggested orders were sitting on Souji's lap, resting their head on his lap, a piggy-back ride, or even a hug.
"C'mon King, who's gonna do what?" Rise called out.
Yukiko silently clapped about three times at Souji despite looking like she was doing it out of sheer randomness, hinting as to what her number would be. Souji gave no expression in response and glanced at the rest of the players, who were all curious to see what may happen.
"Souji Seta commands you…." Souji raised his arm to be horizontal and just across his face while his hand flung through his hair and tried to face it in the upward direction, "Number three…! Give me your finest hug!" Souji then made his arm slash through the jubilant air and point towards the group.
"Ahaha. I'm number threeee!" Yukiko said cheerfully and got up immediately to walk to King Souji and live up to his orders. Souji couldn't help but grin playfully at this as Yukiko wrapped her right arm around Souji's neck and began to land herself on Souji's lap and wrapped her other arm as well and nuzzled herself closer to him.
"Y-Yukiko-san!?" Yosuke said in a surprise.
"How else would you hug someone who's sitting down?" Yukiko giggled mischievously as she continued to hug Souji pretty tight. "I love you." Yukiko whispered into Souji's ear. Despite how drunk she was, she indeed enjoyed Souji picking her number.
"Umm… isn't that enough of a hug?" Naoto cut in.
"They're probably gonna be a while." Yosuke answered. "They're the new couple; you couldn't split them up even if you tried."
"Oh… I'm sorry. I didn't know." Naoto apologized.
"They really must be drunk if they're doing something like this in front of everyone." Chie noted.
"Yeah, especially since Rise's right in front of them, but she's too drunk to even care." Yosuke remarked.
The couple had kept the hug going for a couple of minutes before everyone practically tried to separate them despite Souji saying he can do it because he's the king. Yukiko had then proclaimed she was the king; or rather the "queen" as she called herself, though the group didn't draw their chopsticks yet. She had ordered Naoto specifically to something embarrassing. He complied with saying that the group must say something as well. He had only explained his family history and asked for the group to explain their true involvement in the murder case. Yukiko had slipped up saying in her drunken tone the method behind rescuing people. Rise had just popped up from her seat despite sleeping and confirming it and going back to sleep. Naoto however, did not believe it thankfully. She had then snapped back saying that the group hasn't been drinking alcohol. They had apparently been drunk for no reason. Or rather, they shouldn't be.
"Whee, I feel so good… Goood niiiiiiiight…" Yukiko said as she quickly fell asleep.
"Hey, Senpai! …How the hell're gonna get back with two passed out drunks?"
"I'll take Yukiko then. Chie, carry Rise, get Kanji to help you if you need it." Souji ordered.
"Dude, this isn't-" Yosuke tried commenting, but Souji cut him off.
"Don't question your leader's orders." Souji bluntly put. "Or should I reveal something embarrassing of you Yosuke?"
"Damn, even when 'semi-drunk' you're scary." Yosuke sighed. "All this is giving me a big headache. Is this what a hangover feels like?"
"Teddie's still totally okay!" Teddie shouted. "Lesh keep drinking 'til morning."
"Bring it oooon…" Rise mumbled to herself while still sleeping.
"As I said… you haven't been drinking alcohol. Are you a pack of imbeciles?" Naoto had said with a disappointed look on her face.
"Come on, let's go. We need to get to the hotel before it's too late." Chie said as she tried to grab Rise. "Man, she's heavier than I thought she'd be. Kanji-kun, can you lend me a hand."
Kanji had helped Chie take Rise. Yosuke offered to help, but Chie immediately denied him his request, noting he would probably take advantage of the situation.
"Come on Yukiko, let's go back." Souji said as he approached Yukiko and woke her up.
"Okayyy. Carry me, Souji-kun." Yukiko said aloud in an almost child-like manner while she stretched her arms out towards Souji. He picked her up and carried her bridal-style while she wrapped her arms around his neck again. Yosuke gave a look which could likely be considered a look of envy. Souji only smirked before speaking again.
"What's the matter Yosuke?" Souji called him out. "I am the King, aren't I?" Yosuke didn't say anything in response, only giving him a faint glare and continued to walk out of the club. "Ahahahaha…! I win." Souji laughed.
"Souji-kun… you're laugh is sooo sexy." Yukiko complimented as she hugged Souji tightly. Everyone's heads turned since this is something you would never hear Yukiko say at all.
The walk to the club could have been worse. Yukiko was fine, just making occasional comments about Souji out loud or whispered to him, whichever she felt like doing. Teddie had to be virtually dragged by Yosuke since he wanted to go back into the club. Chie and Kanji had their hands full with Rise when she would wake up for a bit. Sometimes the group had to stop moving because of Rise and Teddie going berserk. Eventually, they reached the hotel and made it just in the nick of time. The group had arrived at the doorstep to the girls' room.
"Okay, Kanji-kun, I'll take her inside myself." Chie said as she thanked Kanji for the help. Souji walked inside the girls' room with a sleeping Yukiko and placed her on the bed, but as he was about to get up and leave, he got dragged back down.
"No Souji-kun, sleep with me tonight…!" Yukiko said as she pulled Souji back onto her bed.
"B-But… we'll all get expelled." Souji said as he tried to escape Yukiko's grasp. Rise who was already on the bed had begun to crawl towards them.
"C'mon Souji-senpai, be a man! Sleeeep with me!" Rise ordered as she helped hold Souji down and Yukiko had begun to unbutton his shirt.
"Heyyy, hands off my Souji-kun!" Yukiko snapped in response. Despite how drunk she was, even she knew when she was being threatened.
"Whaaaat, don't be so uptight, Yukiko-senpai. How about he sleeps with both of us?" Rise asked.
"Okayyy, I get to hold him more though!" Yukiko laughed.
"You idiots…! Get off of him!" Chie said as she tried to break them off of Souji. "Kanji-kun, help me here! Get Rise off of him!"
Kanji had rushed on over to the little cling war and tried to move Rise off of Souji so he could escape while Chie tried to move Yukiko. Kanji had tried pulling her off by grabbing her from her waist without being too rough when his hand moved upward and had stopped on her breast. Kanji's face grew bright red after he noticed what he was grabbing.
"So that's how you are Kanji…" Rise smiled with mischief in her tone. "COME HERE THEN!" Rise then shifted towards Kanji and tackled onto him. "You're sleeping with me then!"
"Well Kanji-kun has proven he's a man." Yosuke commented to himself.
"Kanji's dowwwwn." Teddie said to himself while on the floor.
"Yosuke, don't just stand there, save Kanji!" Chie ordered while still trying to deal with a very stubborn Yukiko. Yosuke had tried to save Kanji while Rise continued to smother him.
"Teddie wants to join!" Teddie shouted as he plopped on to both Souji and Kanji
"What's with all the noise…?" Naoto had walked into the open door and his eyes widened when he saw the sight in front of him. Souji was being held by Yukiko with his shirt mostly unbuttoned while Chie was trying to pull Yukiko off. Kanji was being nuzzled to death by Rise among other things while Yosuke was holding her trying to move her off. Teddie on the other hand was on both Kanji and Souji. It was a quite a sight. The sober members noticed and everything got quiet for a moment.
"Uh… we can explain?" Yosuke said trying to break the silence.
"Is this an army of idiots?" Naoto insulted.
"Naoto-kun…! You should join us!" Rise blurted with a big smile over her face.
"I… didn't see anything. I'm going." Naoto said as she backed away slowly and left. Souji and Kanji took advantage of the situation and broke free from the women's grasps and left the room. Yosuke, Chie and Teddie soon followed. Chie slammed the door leaving the inebriated girls inside.
"Chie… we must NOT bring this up… EVER!" Yosuke said.
"R-Right; let's hope the girls don't remember this."
"If they really are drunk, I'm certain they won't. Okay we're gone. Have fun with them." Yosuke said with a discouraged tone.
"Yeah… You have fun with Teddie." Chie said as she went back inside.
"C'mon Yosuke… the night's still young." Teddie commented as he smacked Yosuke on the back.
"Shut up, you dumb bear. Let's go back to the room."
At the guys' room.
"Senpai, you mean to say you were never drunk the whole time?"
"Yeah… I just felt like acting the part since I could get away with it. I expect you won't say anything? Less you wish for Kashiwagi to know of what you did to Rise." Souji blackmailed.
"O-Of course not senpai!" Kanji said.
"Good." Suddenly Teddie and Yosuke came into the room.
"Welcome back. You're late."
"Well you seem to be back to normal. But hey I thought you were drunk?" Yosuke questioned.
"I was drunk? I guess I sobered up. I just realized I was in the girl's room so I wanted to get out or else I would get expelled. I don't need my parents trying to get on my case." Souji shrugged.
"Yeah… well what are we gonna do about this guy?" Yosuke said pointing at Teddie.
"The floor's sho nice… I think I'm gonna sleep here." Teddie said as he lay comfortably on the floor.
"I think he'll be fine. Let's just turn in before things can get worse." Souji suggested.
"Yeah… just remember, don't speak of any of this."
"Yeah, yeah whatever dude." Kanji said to shut everyone up.
The rest of the night ended happily, though that was one night no one would forget. Well at least the ones who weren't drunk.
Hero: Oh man, I really like how this turned out. By the way, I have one anime reference and another Persona game reference, see if you can find both of them. Anyway, be sure to review the chapter and tell me what you think! Anyway, until next time, stay gold!