Hey everyone! Dropping in just for a second to say that I appreciate anyone who has ever read this fic, and as we're getting to the end I just wanted you all to know that. Times are tough out there, lots of scary things going on in the world, but we're all in together, so let's celebrate with some fluff! Leave a comment if you've viewed, and enjoy the penultimate chapter of Summer Dreams!


Friday, 8/25/12, Dojima Residence, Late Afternoon…

"Ouch!"

"O-oh! Sorry, Nanako-chan! Are you alright!" Yukiko gasped, still holding on to a rather long strand at the end of Nanako's brown hair.

"Y-yeah, I-I'm fine…"

"S-sorry, I promise I won't do it again!"

"But…You said that last time, too…"

Yukiko winced, forgetting that she had already tugged hard on Nanako's hair once before. "O-oh…Y-yeah…" she mumbled, quickly gathering the remaining hair into a tight ponytail with a red hair tie. "Th-there! All finished…"

The little girl silently scooched away from her position at the coffee table and got up to her feet, dusting off her pink shorts. "I think I'll go see how it looks!" she said cheerily before nearly hopping over to the nearby washroom and closing the door.

Yukiko sighed and sat back on her heels, thoroughly embarrassed. Nanako, wanting to play, had suggested having Yukiko braid her hair like Kanji had. There was no way sweet and innocent Nanako could have known all that transpired or that Yukiko wasn't exactly thrilled to be reminded of Kanji, but she agreed anyways. Unfortunately, Yukiko had yet to put into practice any of Kanji's instruction, and it showed: Nanako's braid was messy, loose bits of hair sticking out everywhere while the actual braids themselves looked as if they were going to collapse at any second. Nanako had been exceedingly kind to her clumsy attempt, so Yukiko hoped that the 1st grader wouldn't be too harsh on the craftsmanship. Even if she were any good at that sort of thing, Yukiko felt more than a bit compromised.

It had been a difficult morning. Yukiko had woken up feeling bad that she hadn't said anything to Chie for a few days, but was mortified to find that Kanji had been texting her, too. Panicked, she quickly swiped away Kanji's notification and did her best to ignore it, but the dark thoughts loomed in her mind as she got in touch with Chie. She did what she had always done fairly convincingly: lie and make it sound sweeter than sugar. She assured Chie that everything was fine, and that the only reason she hadn't rung earlier was because she wasn't feeling well. Chie, bullheaded as always, kept asking about the date, which Yukiko intentionally kept vague. The best defense she could manage was that it had gone "well enough," and that she "couldn't get a sense" of what Kanji's feelings were. Lame answers, but Chie hadn't pushed back. Yukiko had learned to be good at it, but she hated lying and especially felt bad about doing it to her best friend.

As for Kanji, Yukiko still just didn't have the strength yet. It felt like anytime she closed her eyes she would relive the whole moment all over again, but it would freeze right at when Kanji screamed at her that her Shadow was frivolous and that she laughed "like an idiot." It was such a hurtful thing to say; she couldn't believe he would stoop to that level, especially when he knew how traumatizing Shadows had been for everyone. The fact that he was still suffering from the shame and humiliation of having his own broadcast out into the world should have been proof enough. She deeply regretted ever striking him, but she also couldn't ignore the anger and shame she felt at the thought of him belittling her. And for what? Because she was interested in getting to know him more?

She shook her head back to reality, disappointed she was letting her dark thoughts show. She didn't want Nanako seeing that she was upset; she had always felt bad that Nanako was burdened with growing up faster so she could help her dad and was willing to help shield what little childhood innocence remained if possible. Smartening her up to the harsh realities of teenage courtship didn't seem like it was going to help her along in that regard.

For now, she needed a distraction. The TV droned on in the background: the news was starting for the evening, something Yukiko had very little interest in. Out of habit she sank her teeth into her bottom lip, noticing they felt a little dry, finally finding her opportunity. She sighed before going over to the kitchen table and retrieving the small purse hanging off the side of one of the chairs. She tried her best to ignore her phone, which she had purposefully left on silent, but the blinking notification light made her instinctually check to see if she had missed a phone call. Luckily she could only see a text message notification, with Chie's number showing up on the byline with a (3) next to it. Breathing easy, she set it back down in the bag and reached instead for a small roll-on of lip balm and her preferred tube of sweet cherry gloss, along with her compact mirror.

As always, there was a bit of a calming effect for her when it came to grooming. Her mother's advice for life could often be stifling and steeped in a tradition that seemed deeply unfair, but Yukiko had no problem admitting that she quite liked looking her best, even if it was time-consuming and expensive sometimes. Her and Rise, after the awkwardness back in April, had even bonded over their shared love; while Rise was far more interested in alluring makeup that was cute and sensual and Yukiko liked a more minimal approach, both girls suffered from a nasty habit of biting their lip when they were nervous, so they often compared lip balms. It was Rise who had suggested that Yukiko look into lip gloss, remarking on how naturally beautiful her pink lips were. It was a hard sell but Yukiko had been pretty delighted with the results, even if it took a little extra time in the morning to apply.

She smoothed out her black flared skirt over the tops of her knees as she took a seat at the table, dutifully dragging her tube of lip balm across her mouth in order to soften up any of the cracks. She puckered her lips a few times to spread it before unscrewing the cap off the gloss and soaking the long applicator wand in the shiny substance. She made sure to center the compact in her left hand as she began to gently brush the gloss across her lips. As always the wand tickled a bit, and she struggled to contain a reactionary giggle as she lathered her bottom lip in the wet gloss, spreading it out to the edges before pressing her lips together to help spread it.

A quick inspection showed a bit of a smear, but otherwise the application had gone smoothly. She admired the shine and color, but staring into her compact while sitting at the Dojima kitchen table brought forth some unsettling déjà vu. It felt like an eternity ago, but it had only been a little over a week earlier that Yukiko had sat in this same position while Kanji gently braided her hair. A blush swam onto her face as she remembered how it felt to have him run his fingers through her hair, and then later on to have her arms around him as she tenderly rested her chin on his shoulder. The brief time they had embraced left her all the time in the world to feel how well-defined his back was and the smoothness of his chest, a little bare from his tank top. She had somehow resisted the urge to vocalize her delight during the time that he was braiding her hair, but once he had lightly put his fingers on her waist she couldn't help the excited gasp that squeaked out of her, eager for the feel of him encircling his lanky, sturdy arms around her that never came.

That day was one of many instances Yukiko had observed over the summer where she had suddenly become almost overwhelmed by passion, a feeling she couldn't recall ever having, not even with Narukami. It scared her, honestly; it had broken her heart to hear it put forth so plainly, but Yu was right with respect to Yukiko not enjoying feeling like she had no control. Like most girls her age, she and Chie and Rise had giggled over handsome pop stars and other celebrities, and she may have gotten stars in her eyes over some fancy foreigners who came into the inn, but this was a whole other level. Was it normal to feel like this around a crush? She had no idea, and that was the frightening part; even when her opinion of his actions was rock bottom, she still held a physical desire for him in some way.

What had begun as an attempt to distract herself from thinking about him now left her swimming in the same memories that had had tortured her the other day. It was all too much: she quickly clamped her compact closed and slid it away from her like it was diseased. Luckily Nanako had come in from the wash room, her hair now dangling down her back again in loose, tangled strands.

"U-um…" Nanako started, looking very apologetic, "It was…good! But it…it kinda fell apart, so I had to untangle it…I'm really sorry…" Bless her heart, Yukiko thought. She went to say something when the doorbell suddenly rang out through the room. With little hesitation, Nanako made for the door, which startled Yukiko out of her chair. It had been almost a year and Yukiko still couldn't help but be nervous about Nanako answering doors for strangers; her eagerness in doing so had led to her abduction by Taro Namatame. It was somewhat remarkable that she didn't show any more reservation, but Yukiko was more worried than impressed.

She caught up to her in the small hallway that lead to the front door. "N-Nanako-chan, hold on, you shouldn't…!"

"Hi, Kanji! -gasp- Wh-what happened to your face!?"

"O-oh, h-hey, erm, Nanako-chan…"

Yukiko looked as if she had seen a ghost. Indeed, Kanji's tall frame stood in the doorway looking very nervous as he gazed at his shoes. And like Nanako had pointed out, the side of his face had a big red mark on it. Instinctually Yukiko wondered if the nasty blot was her doing, which made her hand tingle just a little bit.

"Oh, you mean, er, this?" Kanji asked Nanako, pointing haphazardly to his face, "'S no big deal really! Jus'…jus', y'know, one of those things that happens. So listen, is, erm, is Yukiko-senpai here? I really need…need ta…"

Kanji trailed off, taking note of Yukiko standing in the hallway. They locked eyes for a second, Yukiko flinching first as she turned her head in shame. A stew of emotions was sitting lukewarm in her throat, a distinct response failing to emerge. She decided to swallow it down and listen to her first instinct: fear.

"Wh…What are you doing here?" she said quietly, still trying to avoid looking at him. Her arms were crossed tight over her sleeveless red collared blouse, causing it to crease significantly.

Nanako looked between the two teens worriedly as Kanji stepped into the foyer, not making a move to remove his skate shoes just yet. "I-I texted you, but you never said nothin' back, an' I couldn't wait any more. Look, I know sh –" he quickly stopped himself as he passed by Nanako, "Erm, stuff, got really…Really outta hand, and I wanna jus'-"

Yukiko's stomach was starting to ache. Her phone did say she had multiple messages, and she realized now that Chie's was stacked on top of other ones, now most likely from Kanji, that she had ignored. This was getting to be too much to handle; shamefully, Yukiko conceded even more power to the fear, hoping it could scare him off. "I don't…I don't want to talk to you. Please…Y-you shouldn't have come here!"

She briefly looked at Kanji and felt a stab of pain in her heart for the hurt look on his face. "Hey…"

Now it was Nanako's turn to weigh in. "What's wrong? Are you guys…fighting?" she asked, her little face scrunched up with concern.

There was no denying the obvious tension in the air. "Nanako-chan, K-Kanji-kun and I are just…" Yukiko bit her lip, unsure of how to best put it. Nanako's big, innocent eyes looked like they were on the verge of tears as she clutched the collar of her white and pink t-shirt. Before she could say something, Kanji stepped in between the middle of them, crouching down a little so he wasn't towering over Nanako.

"'E-ey, take it easy kiddo," Kanji said quietly, putting his big hand on top of her hair, "'We ain't fightin'...More like arguin'." He took his eyes off of Nanako, who muttered "Th-that's the same thing…" under her breath, and looked up at Yukiko, who met his stare back. "I-I said some real bad stuff to senpai, here. Stuff you shouldn't ever say 'bout yer friends. I came here, like a man, to 'pologize to 'er in person, cuz that's what ya do. But…If she don't want me here, I ain't gonna stay."

He got up from his crouch and started walking back toward the foyer until he stepped back and turned to Yukiko again. "...I'm sorry, Yukiko-senpai. Ev'ry word I said was stupid, it was outta line, and I'm sorry. Ya don't gotta forgive me, but…" With that, Kanji bowed very deeply, deeper than Yukiko thought someone of his size could bend.

Yukiko could already feel her eyes getting a little wet. Seeing him humble himself right then was surprising, but only because it really wasn't. Yukiko knew in her heart that Kanji, flawed though he might be, was unfailingly sweet and quick to admit his wrongdoings; all the things he said the other night were so out-of-character that there had to be something more to it. But it was one thing for her brain to know that logically and a whole other thing to actually process it emotionally – the failure to synch those two parts of her mind was causing this emotional short circuit.

"Y-Yukiko-chan, maybe you should listen to Kanji!" Nanako argued, pointing at the foyer where Kanji was, "Big Bro always said that, erm, that if someone says they're sorry, you should at least hear them out!"

Sound logic, even from a 1st grader. Unlike from when they were at the festival, Yukiko couldn't sense the aggressive anxious energy radiating off Kanji, nor was he being petulant in his apology. Most importantly, the side of Yukiko that was still drowning in the euphoria of the last time they were together in the Dojima home was starting to win out. As angry as she had gotten, there was no denying the affection that had grown over the summer for the younger boy, which made it very hard to see him in such clear agony as he was. Maybe there was a chance still that she could mend the fence if she told him exactly how he made her feel. She hadn't gotten the chance with Narukami before it was too late, and she didn't know if her heart could take missing out on this fortuitous second chance.

"W-wait!"

Kanji was about to open up the door and leave so he had to crane his neck to look back at her. Now that she had his attention, she suddenly lost focus of what to say. Did she just want to talk? Well, yes, but that seemed a bit simple. Did she want to apologize? Oh, by the Gods, yes; as soon as she had done it, she had regretted the slap. Did she…did she want to reconcile? Tougher still. Her feelings were starting to become undeniable, but Kanji was the wildcard here – if his issues persisted, her feelings were going to be very difficult to act upon.

"N-Nanako-chan," she asked, putting her hand on the girl's shoulder, "Could you…give us a minute? I'd really like to speak to Kanji-kun a-alone, please…"

"Y-yeah!?" she heard Kanji mumble as he staggered back into the hall.

The young Dojima nodded her head in understanding. "Uh-huh! Here," she yelped, an idea glowing in her eyes, "you can use Big Bro's room!" She quickly scampered over to the nearby stairwell, pointing up towards the second floor, "It's the first door on the left side. I'll just stay down here 'til you're finished."

Yu's room. It was funny to think now about how she used to always wonder what it was like and had long since given up on ever seeing it. This wasn't exactly the way she'd pictured it, but it did suit what she asked for. "Thank you, Nanako-chan," she said, wiping her eye of an errant tear, "I-I promise as soon as I'm done, I'll…I'll start dinner for you, okay?"

She frowned at Nanako's rather audible gulp. "Um…y-you don't have to do that! I'll be fine. Just…I don't want you two to fight. Friends shouldn't fight." She looked like she wanted to say more but she settled for shuffling back off to her cushion near the family room table. Yukiko sighed; her cooking had gotten better, but she supposed it wasn't hard to blame Nanako for being wary. Her cooking wasn't the important thing right now anyways.

As she walked to the stairwell, Kanji's long limbs caught up with her fast. She took a step off to the side and let him go up first, still avoiding his eyes. As she watched him walk up the stairs silently she noticed his body was hunched over a little, not unlike how his posture was when he helped her carry towels back to the inn. Like then, too, she figured it must have been the weight of the situation causing it; her doing, her mind told her.


The two teens' socked feet were the only noises on the second floor above the din of the family room TV. Kanji cautiously stepped into the door to Yu's room, flicking on the light to the rectangular wooden lamp hanging from the ceiling. Yukiko followed, taking a deep breath to see the room that she had always been curious about. It was…quite average: a blue and black carpet over traditional tatami mats, a metal shelving unit, basic wooden dresser and entertainment cabinet, and a work desk in the far corner all completely wiped of personal affect. She hadn't expected much now that he had moved out, but there was really no sense of Yu left in the room. A two-seater sofa lay crouched under the drape-covered window, although neither teen took the initiative to sit down – a bit too much nervous energy for that. Kanji instead stood in the center of the room, a nervous look on his face as he stood alert and pensive. Yukiko felt like he looked as she took a moment to close the door, leaving it only slightly ajar, before turning to face Kanji.

"E-erm…" Kanji stuttered, his eyes scrunching up behind his glasses as he was clearly searching for the right words.

"S-so…" Yukiko didn't fare much better. Again, it was hard to find the balance between the justifiable anger and disappointment she felt for him versus the more tender feelings that just wouldn't bury themselves.

"Look, I…I jus' wanna make this right, 'lright?" Kanji started, clasping his hands together. "Square this stuff off, 'cuz the other night was…Erm…"

"It hurt." There was no need to pull punches now, Yukiko thought. If Kanji was sincere, then she was willing to let him prove it.

"Yeah…Y-yeah, I know, and I'm so – "

"'Sorry', yes I heard you," Yukiko snapped, feeding into the anger that was still persisting in her blood, "But 'sorry' doesn't take back…It doesn't take back all those things you said…"

At that, Kanji hung his head and sighed, his voice sounding a little more agitated. "N-never said it did. If you could just let me –"

"Being in the TV was…is the most painful thing I've ever been through, and y-you just…How could y-you mock me about something like that!? I would never do that to you! A-and my laugh, too? That's so mean!" She didn't mean to raise her voice, but Yukiko couldn't help how emotional she was getting.

Kanji responded like a tea kettle on the verge of peak temperature. "I. Know. I-I fucked up, but-"

"I just…I don't understand," she interrupted again, "What did I do? W-we were having a really nice time, and then I just…I became the bad guy, somehow? For what?"

"P-please, you know it's not – "

"What do I know!? Th-that's what I'm trying to figure out! K-Kanji-kun I…" she struggled with what she was going to say next, as a cacophony of thoughts and feelings were filling up her throat.

"You what?" Kanji suddenly yelped, his eyes starting to smolder with a similar intensity to Wednesday night, "G-go 'head, say it!"

The way he barked his response at her made Yukiko freeze up a little, unsure of what was getting him so upset. "Wh-why are you..."

"Because," he groaned loudly as Yukiko hoped the door would soften it before Nanako could hear it, "I…" he took a second to calm down, rubbing his eyes under his glasses with both palms, "O-one 'o the reasons I…Why I got so edgy the other night is like…I don't think you listen ta me..."

Yukiko winced, getting a very bad flashback to Narukami telling her something similar. Kanji continued, his voice calming down a little yet still severe. "Look I'm sorry about everythin' I said, okay? Really, I am. I-I deserved what ya gave me, but…I-I just got so pissed off, ya know? A-and maybe that's –"

She knew it was rude, but Yukiko couldn't help interjecting yet again before Kanji could finish. "'P-pissed off?' At m-me?"

Kanji sighed again. "Th-that's…Why do ya gotta do that? You know what ya did, don't try ta act like –"

"What?" Yukiko cried again, "What did I do that was so awful?" It really defied all explanation to her; what on earth was he talking about?

"You wan – Fine!" Kanji howled, startling Yukiko, "How d'you think I'm 'sposed ta feel when the second I don't show some appreciation for you magically choosin' ta like me, you start getting' snippy 'bout Naoto and me? Did it make ya feel good to take somethin' that I told you was so frickin' hard for me to get over and use it against me? Huh!? "

Yukiko realized so quickly the impact of her words that she felt like she had whiplash. And he clearly was just getting started. "H-how was I 'sposed ta react? You kinda jus'…ya drop this on me and I don't know th' hell I'm gonna say, and yer mad 'cause I had a weird feelin' about it? I don't owe you this, alright!?" He stopped finally to take a breath, his cheeks flush with seemingly both anger and embarrassment.

Yukiko swallowed a sob, her bottom lip quivering so bad that she had to calm it with her teeth. Much like with Narukami, this was just confirmation of the awful truth: all the things her shadow exhibited were still alive and well, pushing away someone she cared about yet again. It scared her how much the things Kanji had saying had not occurred to her; in her mind she hadn't been pushy at all, and in fact had actively worried about that, but he didn't feel the same way, evidently.

"Just fuckin' once," Kanji swore, clenching both of his fists in anguish, "I wish I wasn't made out to be a piece o' shit because I haven't figured it all out yet. Just once! I didn't…I thought you weren't gonna be like that…You know what it's like to deal with stuff like this, so why did ya have to make it harder? Fuckin' sucks…"

She didn't know what else to do but beg for forgiveness. "I-I-I duh-didn't know," she wheezed, barely able to control herself once the words starting coming out, "A-a-and I didn't…I duh-didn't mean to…Make you fuh-feel like that…I'm suh-so sorry…" It was taking all the energy she had to try and keep her tears back, but it was just so difficult. As her chest heaved trying to get some oxygen, she noticed Kanji's face had notably softened as he took a step closer to her.

"S-senpai please, d-don't cry," he begged, looking very conflicted. "I-I…Look, I-I'm sorry I yelled, I jus'…I dunno how ta control myself sometimes…"

Yukiko disagreed. "Wh-why should yuh-you be sorry?" she sobbed, trying and failing to wipe away the cascade of tears that was beginning to coat her cheeks, "Yuh-you're right! I…I asked suh-so much from you, a-and I just…expected it Buh-because I wanted it…E-even though you didn't. And nuh-now, you r-resent me…" This was the hardest truth for Yukiko to process, but she knew, in her heart, that it was accurate.

The entire summer had felt like one long, confusing attempt to get to the bottom of the sadness that had permeated her ever since her spat with Narukami in April. It was starting to dawn on her just how much she was projecting that confusion, frustration, and pain onto Kanji, who was already neck-deep with his own summer fiasco. Ever since they had gotten closer Yukiko had become nearly intoxicated with rapture knowing that someone, and one of her dearest friends at that, could relate to that feeling of crippling rejection that had so devastated her. Better still, Kanji was everything she had seen in Narukami and more: an able listener, with an incredibly kind soul and a capacity for empathy that continued to astound her, even now.

Falling for him was inevitable, as was the familiar feeling that it was all too good to be true. Still, she had ignored that instinct and, with Chie's help, begun to live the fantasy that the crush was mutual, a fact seemingly confirmed by his agreement to go on a date to the summer festival. In the lead-up to Wednesday, she shifted her whole way of thinking, already picturing a world where she could think of Kanji as not just her friend, but her boyfriend.

Unfortunately for her, she was not the center of the universe, and it wasn't that simple.

Clearly, Kanji had a few more things on his mind than just being boyfriend and girlfriend, and Yukiko's confession had rattled him in some way. He wasn't good at hiding it, and there were plenty of opportunities during the night for Yukiko to ask him how he was feeling, to be frank about her own feelings in a way that was more than just a simple four-word confession over the phone. Instead, she had let it build up over the night until it erupted. Looking back it all seemed so preventable and unnecessary, but she just had to have the perfect night.

The more she thought about it the more upset she got. Soon she buried her face in her hands, unable to bear looking at him through tear-stained eyes, and walked over to the couch. She tried to keep some level of control, but the sobs were coming fast and heavy. It was only moments later that Yukiko felt the couch shift, indicating that she was no longer the heaviest thing on it.

"Y-you mean…ya think I-I hate ya or somethin'?" Yukiko nodded, another sob squeaking out. "H-how come…?" Kanji asked quietly, his softer and gentler voice seeming almost a different person from the animated, aggressive Kanji that had been laying into her a minute ago. Yukiko's brain, ravaged by a flood of negative thoughts, couldn't quite focus, so her answer was a little meandering.

"B-because it's juh-just like you said: you don't owe me. B-but I…That's what I do…" She said, taking one hand and running it from her red headband all the way down the back of her flowing hair. Even referencing her shadow made her antsy and uneasy, as did the realization that she hadn't strayed too far from that abhorrent behavior.

"W-wuzzat mean?" Through blurry vision, she could see that Kanji had the look on his face she had come to find so darling: concern, but with a bit of befuddlement, like a child that was asking their parent for help. In the moment, feeling like everything was coming down around her ears, perhaps there simply wasn't any time for more secrets or half-truths, she thought.

"A pruh-princess…" She felt herself blurt out before she could stop herself. Maybe there was a slight chance Kanji didn't hear her?

"I-I shouldn'ta said that…" He said quietly, confirming that he had heard it. She remembered that he had called her that in his anger on Wednesday; a part of her wanted to just let him believe that was what she was talking about, but an even bigger part was telling her to confide in him the truth. "-I didn't mean ta –"

"N-no…I meant my shadow. That's what it was," Yukiko interrupted, ignoring the smaller part's advice. She could almost feel Kanji wince in regret. "I-in a big b-beautiful gown, a c-crown, a castle, everything. I-it hated Inaba, a-and wanted to luh-leave town, h-hoping that a 'prince' wuh-would come and t-take it away. I-it was everybody else's fault th-that it was so miserable, buh-because i-it d-didn't ask to be born in Inaba b-but they treated it like it duh-did. Buh-bitter and suh-selfish and c-cowardly…th-that's me."

Kanji didn't say anything, and in the dying orange light streaming through the window it was difficult to see his eyes over the reflective sheen in his glasses. Yukiko sniffled and tried her best to keep talking through labored breaths. "I-I t-talk myself into these situations whu-where I'm always the v-victim, th-that I'm owed s-something. I-It's never my fault, and then whu-when I don't get what I wuh-want, I-I just d-drag others down wuh-with me. You've been so gruh-great, a-and I s-still tried tried to make you fuh-feel bad for my s-sake…" Finishing the thought made her cover her mouth again as something between a blubber and a cough emerged from her rapidly drying throat.

What hurt the most was that she could see it so clearly. She knew scolding him about Naoto was cruel and unfair, but she justified it because he wasn't going along with the narrative she had concocted for herself. Just like when she found out Rise and Yu were dating, and later on when Yu told her why he did not want a relationship with her, Yukiko couldn't help but see it as theft. Harboring a secret crush on Yu, and now Kanji, wasn't always fanciful bliss for her; true to her nature, she often thought far more of the reasons why she didn't deserve their affection. The fact that all of that self-doubt and heartache had just lead to unimaginable heartbreak was hard enough once, let alone a second time. It wasn't fair and even if Rise and Yu had been nothing but kind to her in return, she had a very difficult time separating her feelings from reality.

*BANG*

She suddenly yelped in surprise, looking up quickly to see that Kanji had slammed his fist on the coffee table in front of them. Should she be scared? Even if she trusted that he would never hurt her, Yukiko couldn't help but worry as he got up and started pacing the room, agitated and muttering to himself.

"K-Kuh-Kanji-kun…!?"

"I jus'…It's exactly like Chie-senpai said…Which means I'm an even bigger asshole than I already thought…"

"Ch-Chie!?" Yukiko gasped. What did she have to do with it?

Kanji turned to her, a sad look on his face as he pointed at his swollen cheek. "Yeah…She, erm…She did this ta me. After I…It's a long story, but…"

Despite his attempts at summation, Kanji's story was long. Yukiko listened with baited breath as he described a ferociously violent encounter with Yosuke, who had apparently been kissing Naoto outside of the festival after their fight. While that was shocking in and of itself and something Yukiko wanted to hear more about, it got even kookier: the only person able to stop the fight between Yosuke and Kanji was Chie, who had evidently taken Yukiko's stonewalling as a sign that things had not gone well. Before he could critically wound Yosuke, Chie had arrived after figuring out where they were and landed a wicked roundhouse kick to Kanji, holding him off while Yosuke fled. Crazier still was that afterwards, Chie had not only stopped Kanji from fighting, but got him to talk about his feelings to her. In turn, Chie had directed him to tell Yukiko everything he had told her, but not before warning him that no matter what he felt, Yukiko was going to be far angrier with herself than he was.

Yukiko wasn't sure what to even say. As usual, she was in awe at Chie's kindness; she'd risked her life recklessly to save Yukiko in the TV World, and now she was still trying to look out for her. She had felt awful for ignoring Chie as much as she had, but even that was enough to signal to her best friend that something was seriously wrong. Still, the fact that Kanji not only endured Yukiko's slap but also Chie's kick made her feel even worse; it sounded just like he had said, that he was being punished for having an honest, conflicted feeling.

Before she could process everything, Kanji spoke up again. "After Wednesday, I…I-I mean, even before that, since Monday, I've been real screwed up. I-I know that mus' sound so damn dumb: girl says she likes ya then ya start psychin' yerself out about it. An' it ain't just any girl either, it's Yukiko Amagi. Should be a no-brainer, right?" He took a long breath in through his nose, the strain in his expression and voice very noticeable. "Should be, 'nyways. But I can't…It's hard not ta listen to my head, and everythin' was screamin' at me that I'm no good for ya."

He had said something like this at the festival too, and it was as confusing now as it was then. "Buh-but why?" She got up to her feet, wiping off her eyes and nose with the back of her hand, "I-I…Care about you vuh-very much. Duh-don't you b-believe me?"

"O-o' course I do!" Kanji exclaimed, rubbing his face under his glasses, "It's jus'…hard, 'lright? I get worried that…I get worried that I'm too weird fer most people. I mean, ya saw my sh-shadow, ya know that I...W-well, I guess not all the way, but I kinda…I-I like guys, too! 'Kay, I said it, okay?! Yeah!" He clearly had worked up a lot of bluster to say that, and it almost immediately exited his body when it was done. He turned beet red, and a few tears welled up in his eyes. "…Er, uh-erm…I mean I think I could, anyways. A-and I guess I jus' figured that 'cuz Naoto d-doesn't seem to care 'bout, well, i-if people 'r weird 'r not, sh-she wouldn't, y'know, b-be scared by that…A-an' it's like I said: I didn't want ya to have to deal with it. I-if even N-Naoto didn't wanna d-deal with it, why wuh-would anyone?"

That was frank, Yukiko thought. Of course, he was right: his shadow did seem to implicate that he was, at the very least, a little bit off center regarding his desires and attractions. And it was most certainly different; Yukiko had never known anyone other than Kanji who had those kinds of feelings, and she couldn't help the bit of natural resistance to the idea that came into her mind. But even as foreign as the concept was, she knew it didn't affect her feelings much, if at all, and it hurt very much to see him so disparate about it. What was he afraid of? Of course, Yukiko knew the truth: rejection was a cruel mistress who could make even the greatest person feel deeply unworthy of anything, let alone affection. Kanji had helped Yukiko fight through it, and she could see now that if she wanted a future with him, it was time for her to do the same for him.

"Duh-do you…D-do you think I wouldn't like you because of that?"

Kanji removed his hands from his face, the anger and frustration seeming to melt away from his face in favor of a look of surprise. "H-huh?!"

"Y-you said that like…luh-like I'd think less of you. If I like yuh-you for you, wh-what does it matter who y-you're attracted to?"

It took a moment for Kanji to process what she was saying. "S-so…so i-it duh-doesn't bug ya?"

Yukiko meekly shook her head, her heart fluttering a bit at the look of genuine relief on his face. "Nuh-not really." She left that there for a moment, before suddenly remembering something from Wednesday that may get him to understand. "At the fuh-festival. Yuh-you said that y-you liked me, e-even if you didn't think u-us being m-more than friends was a good idea. W-was that truh-true? D-did you mean it in that way?"

Yukiko felt a fresh set of tears rise up as Kanji started biting his own quickly quivering lip as he recalled the memory. "Y-yeah…I-I mean y-yes, I-I meant it…L-like that…"

The momentum was starting to switch. "A-and when you said I was b-beautiful a-and "the prettiest g-girl in town," you muh-meant that too?" Kanji's raised eyebrows showed her that he was truly surprised at how much Yukiko had paid attention to, and in fact been obsessing over, his exact words.

A quick nod from Kanji, starting to let loose some of his emotions. "Y-yea- erm…Mm-hmm."

Feeling her heart swelling, Yukiko walked a bit closer, her hands fumbling behind her back as she did her best to look him in the eyes. "Th-then that's all I cuh-care about! I-I've known you f-for most of my life, and I've always known you w-were a little strange. I-I understand why you'd be afraid to admit that, a-and I think you're so b-brave to be honest about it, but I…I-if all those things yuh-you said about me are true, then I-I don't have anything to be scared of, do I?"

Kanji's mouth fell open as a single tear drifted down his busted up cheek. "Y-ya think so?"

Yukiko was trying her best not to shake as she stepped even closer to Kanji, now within his personal space. "I-I'm not totally sure, but…i-in my heart, that's what it feels like." She could feel the tide turning, so she went in for the kill. "A-after e-everything with Rise-chan and Y-Yu-kun, a-and even now, I g-get the feeling that th-there are parts of me I can n-never fix that s-scare people away, but…Y-you're still here. C-Chie's still here. A-all of our friends are. Y-you've helped me so muh-much, and I-I want to do the same for you…and more…" Yukiko didn't think she could be redder if she was standing next to a furnace, and she had to look away or else she felt like she'd start hyperventilating.

The tall boy looked like he wanted to say something, but no words came out of his mouth. He rubbed the back of his head and sighed, a few more silent tears making their presence known. "I-I jus'," he finally said, his voice cracking and unsteady, "I-I'm s-scared th-that I'd let ya down somehow…"

"M-maybe you will..." Yukiko answered, earning an odd look from Kanji. "B-but…" She took what felt like the deepest breath she'd ever taken in her life before beginning to expunge some of the feelings that had been building up over the past month. "K-Kanji-kun, i-it's like I said: Th-the fact that you're here, listening to me ruh-right now, means I know you'll always t-try to make up for it. I know you're not p-perfect, and I'm vuh-very sorry if I made you feel like y-you had to be. I-I like you buh-because you always try to be b-better, even when it's hard…I-if anything, I've let you d-down! I w-wanted to be your guh-girlfriend but I just ended up making it worse…!"

That statement hung in the air like a mushroom cloud. Yukiko could imagine her neck and ears were turning the same color as her top at a rapid pace, mirroring Kanji who seemed to be going through the same affliction. She had said something of the sort out loud to Chie on Monday, but this was the first time she had ever been upfront about her intentions to Kanji directly. Again she wondered if this was being way too forward and, since he was already clearly a little spooked by the idea, perhaps this was what would finally scare him off for good. After a minute or so of silence, he took one step closer to her, the distance between them almost completely erased.

He took a big sniffle and wiped his left eye a little of some of the tears that had come out. "You…D'ya remember that d-day when ya came to pickup an order fe-fer yer folks and my Ma made me help y-ya with it?" He asked softly. Yukiko gave a quick nod; she was worried her throat was getting so tight with anxiety that she wouldn't have been able to give a verbal affirmation.

"W-well," he continued, unable to keep his nervous hands off his face, "I'd been in a real shitty place 'cuz o' everythin' that happened, a-and I just pushed ev'ryone away, like I always do, like I did to you. 'Cept…you didn't go 'way. Even wh-when I was bein' mean, you jus' kept tryin' to m-make sure I talked 'bout what I was feelin'. I-I didn't get it then, y'know? 'S like I got this girl who I known since I was a kid, and she's like e-everyone's favorite, super popular, w-wouldn't be caught dead hangin' out with me. Then we g-go through all this crazy shit together and kinda by a-accident we're friends now, an' all 'o a sudden she cares about my feelings?" He framed it as a question, but Yukiko figured he meant it rhetorically.

She was quiet as he continued. "I couldn't help but be s'spicious 'o that. I told myself that u jus' wanted someone to vent to 'cuz Chie-senpai was tired o' listenin', or that you had some kinda reason for doin' this that wasn' jus'…hangin' out with me. I get this feelin' sometimes that ev'ryone just tolerates me and don't actually want nothin' ta do with me. Th-that day, when you got me that free pass to stay at the inn…That was when I realized I was bein' an idiot, and a-at least one o' you guys really…cared."

Yukiko felt her heart start to ache while he spilled more of his guts. "After th' beach, e-everythin' was back ta normal, 'cept you. Ya were s-still hangin' around me, more'n anybody else. An' I still didn't g-get it. B-but then, we were here and I b-braided your hair and you gave me that hug, and it was like…Woah." For the first time the whole day, Yukiko felt a real smile tug at her lips, even as more tears fell from her eyes. "I…There ain't a day goes by that I don't think about that hug, and honestly…that I don't think about you. But 's like I s-said…Ta me, ev'rybody wants somethin'. An' I guess all the little things started ta add up right when ya called me on Monday."

While listening to his story, Yukiko could start to see his frame of mind: when you spend so much time being the lonely kid no one liked, how can you be expected to place complete and total trust in someone else just like that? Even after a year of hanging out and risking their lives for each other, it was clear that no amount of dear, loyal friends was going to separate Kanji entirely from being the outcast who never felt he was worth anything because he wasn't like everyone else. It made Yukiko realize, more than ever, how lucky she was to have Chie with her growing up; they had their rough patches, but that was nothing compared to the scars of true loneliness she could see in Kanji.

Kanji still wasn't finished. "I…I'm still kinda mad about the things I was talkin' 'bout earlier, but…I know you weren't doin' it on purpose. A-and th-that stuff ya said about your shadow puts it into, erm…Makes it m-make sense." There was another long pause before he rubbed his face then puts his hands on his hips, looking straight at Yukiko but barely talking above a whisper. "Y-you seriously w-wanna be my g-girlfriend? Fer real?"

While she hoped she was maintaining some form of composure, Yukiko was aware her legs were starting to shake badly. "E-e-ermm…w-well, yes! I-I muh-mean…if that's too much, I-I'd understand, but…Kanji-kun, all I r-really want is f-for us to be close. I wuh-want you to t-tell me things, and l-let me be there for you whu-when you feel like no one's listening t-to you." Feeling emboldened by her words and with even more tears flowing, Yukiko blinked hard and did something she'd been wanting to do for weeks: she slowly moved her hand up and cupped Kanji's left cheek, noting how warm it felt as she brushed away one of the tears that had fallen upon it. Kanji flinched in response, gasping a little as his eyes turned into frying pans. "I-I huh-haven't done a good juh-job so far, and I'm so suh-sorry for that, b-but…I-If you guh-give me another chance I swuh-swear, on a-all that I am, that I'd m-make it up to you…"

The two teens stood quiet, Yukiko biting her lip and tasting some of the still-wet gloss as she tried to keep herself together. Kanji let out only a sniffle or two as tears continued to dribble onto Yukiko's hand, which she ignored as she gently caressed his cheek with her thumb. She spent a little bit of time admiring his worn, lean face, memorizing the tight feel of the skin as her fingers bristled a bit at the sensation of nearly invisible whiskers. He had looked away from her, perhaps in embarrassment, but was otherwise rigid and offering no physical objection to Yukiko's touch.

"Yukiko-senpai…" he nearly choked, "Y-you don't gotta swear on n-nothin'" He sighed heavily before finally meeting her eyes, "I-I r-really like you, too…D-d'ya really th-think it'd be o-okay? F-fer us ta go with each other?"

"I t-trust you," Yukiko breathed, starting to feel more than a bit overwhelmed at what was happening, "Th-that's g-good enough for me…D-do you trust me?"

Kanji's eyes flickered back and forth for a moment, but finally Yukiko felt his cheek spasm a little as a small smile lit up the bottom of his face. "Y-yeah…H-hell yeah!"

A relieved laugh sputtered out from Yukiko's throat, and Kanji matched it with his own softer chuckle, punctuated with a few deep inhales through his nose. His eyes, which had been somewhat lifeless throughout, now had a little bit of a spark in them, which Yukiko found adorable. As she let her right hand trace the corners and contours of his cheek, jawline and temple, her attention inevitably fell on the ugly red stain on the opposite side.

"Does it hurt?" Yukiko asked, her eyes now focused on the swollen flesh.

He appeared to contemplate his answer. "N-not really," Kanji winced, an obvious lie. Yukiko laughed sadly, shaking her head at her…her boyfriend's stubbornness. A new blush washed over the previous as she realized that thought was going to become the new normal. Feeling lighter than air, she began pondering out loud to herself, a nervous tic of hers.

"If we were in the T-TV World, I could just heal you. Nurse Sakuya, at your service! That would be nice…I don't want to see you in pain," she rambled, unaware of how fast she said it or the tone of voice she used. Given the look on Kanji's face, like he just found a really cute stray animal, she figured she was being embarrassing and stopped right away.

"I-I'm sorry, I just...W-when I work at the inn I have to figure out what people want and take care of them, so…I g-get like that sometimes…" Yukiko didn't even know what she was apologizing for, but she felt any noise was better than an awkward silence where she'd be forced to confront the seemingly impossible idea that Kanji Tatsumi was now her boyfriend. The intense, all-encompassing feelings of passion were starting to come back, and she didn't want to come off as too overbearing, even if she currently wanted to hug his brains out.

"'S 'lright," Kanji said quietly, making her face nearly explode by slightly nuzzling his cheek into her hand, "'S kinda nice feelin', when someone wants to help ya!"

"I-I just wish I could do something…" Yukiko pined, finding herself more smitten by the second. As she searched for yet another new tangent to distract and center her attention away from everything happening, she remembered something her father used to do to her as a young child when she would get the occasional bruise or scratch. It wasn't a real remedy and was a complete placebo, but it always made Yukiko feel better. Maybe it would work on Kanji, too!

It was also totally out of left field.

"Ya don't haveta, I'm gonna be o-kay, senpai!" Kanji responded, which made her want to do it even more. Of course, Yukiko had to be quick; if she thought for even just a minute more on what she was about to do, she was going to talk herself out of it, which would help no one.

"M-m-maybe this'll help!" she yelped before balancing on the tips of her toes and jetting herself upward, planting a very quick kiss right at the center of the mark on his cheek. As soon as she felt her heels touch the ground again, she retracted her hand and brought both of hers together behind her back. As she fumbled and wriggled her fingers, she took a step back and moved her eyes from Kanji directly to the floor and his feet, wishing pretty hard that she could just melt right into the blue-and-black checkered carpet. What had gotten into her?! If Chie was here, she would have clonked her upside the head; she had spent almost a whole month trying not to come across as needy and desperate, and in an instant she faltered.

Yukiko didn't want to stare at any part of Kanji, but when she turned her head to stare at the couch, a strange sensation sent shivers through her whole nervous system. It felt like someone was breathing right into her ear before poking her head. It took only a moment to realize that Kanji had bent down to her and attempted to reciprocate her display of affection, but had clumsily missed the mark when she turned her head; instead of her cheek, his lips had made contact with the area roughly below her ear. Even worse, her sudden turn to the side had made her hair hang over her ears, so Kanji mostly ended up kissing a large patch of black hair.

"-Pfft- -Kaff- Ack! Blegh! Aw, crap!" Kanji sputtered, hacking as he tried to cleanse his tongue of any extraneous hairs. While he was making a big scene, Yukiko felt the all-too familiar tingle of her funny bone, which had seemed almost nonexistent up until then. The combination of how precious his attempt at being affectionate was, combined with how funny it looked to see a tall tough guy like him hopping in place and batting at his tongue with his hands was causing a complete frying of her systems, and it wasn't long before she was doubled over in absolute comedic ecstasy.

"-Snrrrkkttt- Ahahahaha! Heeheeehee K-Kanji-kuhuhuhuhuhun!"

Kanji noticed she was laughing and immediately stopped. He pouted for a second before starting to crack a little bit due to Yukiko's antics. "Geehee, senpai, it ain't that fuhuny…See if I ever trhehhehy to kiss ya 'gahehhehn – woah!"

Now feeling too silly to be embarrassed by her actions, Yukiko walked toward him and threw her arms around his neck, nestling her head into the left side of Kanji's black hair, which muffled her laughter and knocked his glasses off balance. Like before, Kanji was slow to react, but, to her delight, this time he returned the hug in full, wrapping his gangly arms all the way around her torso and tugging her closer to his chest. He must have been in a silly mood too, for he started laughing again and even exerted a little strength to gently lift Yukiko up, spinning her around in place and making her skirt flutter like it was caught in a breeze.

He only made one full revolution before setting her back down, his laughter dying down as he focused more on holding her tight. Yukiko did the same, spasming a little with little giggles here or there but mostly bathing in relief, warmth, and other feelings that seemed to be turning her normally intelligent brain into mush. As much as she had been crying, her overwhelming laughter had replaced the anguished tears with more jolly ones, which seemed to be the case with Kanji as well. She almost didn't want to let go; Kanji's grip made her feel safe and secure, but it also excited her beyond belief. Her whole body broke out in goosebumps feeling one of his hands gripped around her shoulder blades and the other firmly snaked around her lower back. He was wearing a fairly thin yellow tank-top, and Yukiko greedily rubbed the top of his back where the material was thinnest, feeling her pulse quicken feeling his bare skin on her fingers. While she had her nose buried in his hair she took a deep inhale, and the smell was deeply familiar: the rubbery scent of dye and a more earthy smell that she always associated with his mother's textile shop. She was in total sensual overload.

"E-erm, 'ey, Yukiko-senpai?" she heard Kanji ask politely. She turned her head to the side so she wasn't so muffled by Kanji's hair.

"Y-yes, Kanji-kun?"

"'I…I don't think ya laugh like an idiot…I-I don't think ya do anything like an idiot…"

"K-Kanji-kun…" Could he be any sweeter? Yukiko loosened her grip and pulled her head back so she could give him a more confident but no less tender peck on his left cheek, totally overcome with even more affection. They were both absolutely volcanic; Yukiko could have sworn she could see the steam coming out of Kanji's ears. Still, despite the bashfulness, she kept her hands loosely grasped behind his neck, which kept their faces very close to each other. Her eyes absent-mindedly flicked to his lips, which were tightly pursed, as if he was trying his hardest not to say anything more to ruin the moment. It was her curiosity that had lead her along the path toward desiring a relationship with Kanji, and it was her curiosity once again that was prodding her to be even more bold and find out what Kanji's lips might feel like when pressed against her own.

It was possible he sensed it too, as he suddenly loosened his lips and began to edge his face closer to hers. Yukiko matched his actions, allowing for one shy bite of her bottom lip before moving in to seal the deal. Her eyes narrowed then closed completely, a totally unconscious action that only further stimulated her desire. A fraught and tense second passed, Yukiko waiting anxiously for Kanji's lip to collide with hers. She waited, and waited, before…

"Tee-hee!"

Tee-hee!? The titter was far too girlish to be Kanji, and Yukiko was so caught up that she could barely focus on breathing right. She gasped and turned her head towards where she thought she heard the noise, and she noticed the gap left by the nearly closed-door was now filled with a precocious 7 year old who had her hands over her mouth, evidently finding her two charges' romantic displays of affection very funny.

"Aw, shi…!" Kanji must have noticed first, for he immediately let Yukiko go and stood back up to his full height, which broke the flimsy grip Yukiko had around his head. At the same time Nanako realized she was caught and slammed the door shut with a gasp, her panicked run down the stairs echoing loudly through the house.

Yukiko felt a little dizzy as she tried to get her bearings. How much did Nanako see? Everything!? Only the last bit? She already knew she was going to feel silly and humiliated about her actions even privately, but to know that little Nanako Dojima saw her acting so foolish? Melting into the floor sounded even better than it had a minute ago.

She quickly looked up at Kanji, who just shrugged as he nervously played with this glasses. It was only now starting to occur to her, but Yukiko had no idea how she was going to break this news, and now it seemed like the world wasn't even going to let her try and come up with a strategy. Obviously, keeping it under wraps from the group was probably a no-go; secrets of this nature didn't tend to work out very well. But what about everyone else? Her parents, the staff at the inn, Kanji's mom, the other people in the shopping district she knew, and other associates from school…it was all so overwhelming. She continued to build up a minor panic attack before a single thought stopped it all:

You are not alone

With that snap back to reality, Yukiko was able to calm down a little. It was good to remember that, no matter how insurmountable it might seem, she didn't have to face the awkwardness of this new relationship on her own. She was standing right next to someone who cared deeply for her, and had pledged that she had his total trust; it didn't seem so bad knowing that Kanji had her back. Knowing that, Yukiko took a deep breath and fixed her hair, trying to figure out the next best course of action.

"E-errr…I'ma-I'm gonna g'head and go," Kanji muttered, starting to walk past her. Yukiko quickly took a few steps backwards and pushed her back against the door, forcing it closed.

"W-wait! You d-don't have to go," she pleaded, her mind working overtime to convince him to stay. "Why don't we just…try and talk with Nanako-chan? Just so she doesn't get the wrong idea…"

"Thinkin' she kinda already has the right idea," Kanji groaned, taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "S-sorry, I jus'…I don't wanna embarrass ya, or say somethin' dumb, so lemme just get outta here and we'll talk more when –"

Yukiko instinctually grabbed his wrist as he reached for the door handle behind her, which got him to gasp and be quiet. Perhaps she needed to be a bit more forceful, like her mother. "Kanji Tatsumi," she growled, trying her best to use a killer glare and stepping a bit closer into his personal space, "I am not embarrassed of you! Please stop thinking that I am!" Immediately, Kanji backed up a little as if he was intimidated.

"'Lright, 'lright! Yeesh. Okay, I won't say it no more, geez!" he said, putting his hands up as if he was in surrender. That's better, Yukiko thought. A sneaky smile replaced her frown, wondering if she had finally unlocked the secret to taming the "Bloodcurdling Beefcake Emperor."

Still, she really didn't want him to worry anymore. "That's fine, it's just…Kanji-kun, I'm very happy you're in my life, and I want you to know that." Taking the hand she had seized, Yukiko threaded her fingers with his and squeezed tight while also enveloping his hand with her other hand. "Now would you please stay for a while? Dojima-san will be home before too long, and I…I need someone to walk me home…" She gave him an innocent smile and looked up at him from downcast eyes, hoping he'd say yes.

He gave a very visible nervous swallow before giving his response. "Wh-whatever. I-I'll do whatever ya wanna do," he acquiesced, turning into a blushing, stuttering mess.

"Oh, thank you!" Yukiko gushed, squeezing his hand again, "I'll make dinner for you, too! It'll be fun!"

"Cool…" she heard Kanji moan as she turned to open the door and lead him downstairs. He flicked the light as he passed the doorway and they walked hand-in-hand down the steps, Yukiko only letting go once they were in sight of Nanako.

She exchanged a hopeful glance with him before she walked into the living room, where Nanako had taken up her usual space on the side of the family room table, the evening news on in the background. As she got closer Nanako seemed to shrink up, looking quite scared.

"I-I'm sorry I'm sorry! I didn't mean to –"

"Nanako-chan," Yukiko interrupted, keeping a neutral tone and smiling to let her know she wasn't mad. This seemed to calm the little girl a bit. "Kanji-kun wants to stay for dinner and watch TV with you. Is that alright?" Since she seemed so panicked about being caught, Yukiko felt it was best to just deflate the situation before bringing it up later.

"O-oh…erm, y-yeah! I like when Kanji stays over!" Nanako nodded, elated at not being in trouble. "Uh, a-are you guys…done fighting? I-it kinda looked like you were!" Her chuckle while she said that hinted at what she knew.

Yukiko's smile grew, seeing that Nanako didn't seem to be too freaked out by what she saw. "Yes, we're done. I'm sorry if we scared you; everything's okay between us. Right?" Yukiko looked to Kanji and gestured him to come over, which he did shyly.

"H-hey, Nanako-chan. Y-yeah, we jus' had ta have, like…grown-up talk. But 's all good now! Whatcha watchin'?" he asked, moving to sit next to her near the table. She immediately started chattering all about what was going on in the news, which he listened to patiently. Sighing in relief, Yukiko walked over to the kitchen, needing a glass of water but figuring she'd get one for everybody. After a minute she had filled three small glasses of water and borrowed a small tray, carefully balancing the glasses as she transported it over to the table.

"And they have this new weather lady who's really pretty, and she – Oh, thanks Yukiko-chan!" Nanako cheered, gracefully taking a glass and sipping from it. Kanji took one too, issuing a silent nod and sneakily squeezing her fingers as she handed him the glass. Finally able to relax, Yukiko centered a pillow on the floor and knelt down on the opposite end of the table as Nanako, so Kanji was sandwiched between her and Nanako. While she took her own gulp of water, the first drink she felt like she'd taken all day, she heard Nanako gasp and Kanji give a concerned "What?"

"You have something on your face, Kanji!"

"N-Nanako-chan, I told ya, that was from when I –"

"No, not that, that!"

Nanako was pointing at his non-battered cheek, which Yukiko couldn't see from her spot. Kanji started groping around to see, and then recoiled once he inspected his fingers. He turned to Yukiko, looking really nervous, and she squeaked a little gasp of surprise once she could see what Nanako was talking about. Right in the middle of Kanji's cheek was a dollop of lip gloss, no doubt left from when Yukiko kissed him as she pulled out of their hug.

"Oh, oh, it's on the other one, too!"

Nanako alerted Yukiko to take a look, seeing the same stain on his right cheek as well, the shininess standing out amidst the pink flesh. She felt her face heating up, and she covered her hand with her mouth in order to keep from giggling a little. Of all the things! Foolishly, Kanji tried to play it off as a gag. "Pfft, this 's nothin'! It's just, erm…food! Yeah!"

"I dunno…Yukiko-chan, do you see it?"

Oh dear. Yukiko scooted over in front of Kanji and inspected his face, getting an even clearer look at the sloppy marks she had left. He had pursed his lips up tight again, Yukiko quickly learning that he was one to clam up tight in awkward situations. She looked at Nanako, who looked a little concerned, then back to Kanji and his sweaty embarrassment. She could play along and say Kanji was telling the truth, but it was a pretty flimsy lie that even Nanako was starting to see through, and she also remembered the promise she had made to Kanji: she wasn't embarrassed of him. This, naturally, extended to the truth of their relationship too.

The irreverent mood that had overtaken her in the bedroom was starting to come back in full force. It was like when her funny bone got tickled: nothing was going to stop her from doing something goofy. It only took a few moments for her to think of a little prank she could play on Kanji, using the kiss marks left as a setup.

Giggling lightly, she turned to Nanako. "Oh, I see! I've got it, Nanako-chan!" she acted, biting her tongue at how ridiculous she sounded, which wasn't lost on Kanji, who shot her a glare.

"What is it? What is it?" Nanako asked, very eager as she always was.

A devious smile stretched across Yukiko's face as she used her pointer finger to illustrate her points. "Well, there's one spot here," she said, pointing to the first spot on his right cheek, "And then there's one right here," she finished up, pointing to the other one on the opposite cheek. Her point? "I think someone was trying to play 'connect the dots' on Kanji-Kun's face!" She drew an invisible line with her finger that traced across Kanji's nose between the two marks. She had to suppress a big laugh as he looked absolutely mortified at her plan.

"H-huh!? Th' hell ya talkin' about!?" Kanji screeched, pulling his head away from her finger like it was cursed.

Nanako furrowed her brow and studied the line, taking it very seriously. "Wow, I can see it! But…did they just wanna make a straight line, or…?" Now Nanako was crowding up to Kanji's face, trying to point at potential dots that could be at any point in his face. With his face getting redder by the second, Yukiko decided it was time to bring it home.

"I think," she started, her eyes mischievously shifting to Kanji's increasingly wide ones, "there's only one spot it could be…" For a moment she looked at Kanji's lips, wondering if she should just bite the bullet and do the most surprising thing she could manage. But it had been a pretty exhausting day, and she didn't want Kanji to get too worked up again; there was always time in the future to express her desires. Plus, what kind of sister-figure would she be if Nanako just saw her kissing boys on the mouth right in front of her?

Yukiko instead carefully got up to her feet, then crouched down right in front of Kanji's face. He was at the point of flop sweat when she positioned her finger at the center of his wide forehead, pupils shakily trained on the spot.

"Here!"

With that, Yukiko leaned forward and plopped a big, sloppy kiss on his forehead, making an exaggerated –mwaaah- sound just to sell it even more. She held her cool for about two seconds before the sight of Kanji, his mouth open in utter shock and his glasses slipped down his nose, and Nanako, who had covered her mouth with her hands again and was squealing into them, made her go apoplectic with laughter.

" -Snnnrrkkttt- Ahahahahahaha! Ah ha, hee hee, heeheheheeheeheeheheee!"