Kyoto
Yukari looked out of her room's window, letting out a short yet worried sigh.
"Are you alright? You seem bothered." Mitsuru asked her in a worried manner, gaining the brunette girl's attention.
"Huh? Oh sorry, I… there's still something on my mind." Yukari explained whilst slightly averting her gaze.
"Do you wish to talk about it?" Mitsuru offered.
"No, no. It's fine. I'm sure it'll sort itself out eventually, right?" Yukari responded with an uncertain smile.
"If that is what you think will happen, I suppose there isn't anything I can do about it." Mitsuru sighed. "However, I don't believe just keeping it to yourself is a good idea either. After all, you were willing to help me out despite my refusal to open up about my problems."
Yukari thought about it for a few seconds and sighed as well.
"Guess you're right… It's about Makoto. I'm still worried about him. Ever since… that day, he hasn't been the same." Yukari explained and looked out the window again.
"I see… I suppose in my stupor I failed to see how that night had affected the others…" Mitsuru commented with a sense of guilt apparent in her voice.
"N-no, it's alright. You had your own problems to deal with, and besides, the others seemed to be handling it well. Well… Everyone except him." Yukari said that last part in a small voice.
"Is that so? If it isn't too much for you, may I ask how exactly his behavior has changed?" Mitsuru hesitantly asked her kohai.
"How do I put it… It's like he's actively trying his hardest to distance himself from everyone as if he's trying to return to the way he was when he first arrived at the dorm. When you talk to him he barely forms a sentence to answer or doesn't even use any words at all. We've only been dating for a few weeks but I still feel as if I should be there for him." Yukari started holding onto one of her arms, feeling her worry for her boyfriend as well as some tears welling up inside her. "...but he just won't let me." she whispered.
Whether Makoto did it to not burden her or not, she didn't know. But seeing him be but a mere shell of the man she fell in love with did nothing but hurt her. To rub even more salt into the wound, the new kid Ryoji Mochizuki managed to reach out to him and spent significantly more time with her beloved, than the actual couple had in the last few weeks. It seemed to work and she feels like she should be happy about it, yet there is that part of her that envies him.
Mitsuru walked up to Yukari and rubbed her back, hoping it would comfort her. "I'm sorry, it must be hard on you to see him like this. Surely there must be a way to help him."
"Well, if you have any ideas, spill it because I don't have any." Yukari answered in a disheartened tone.
"Does Yuki know how you feel about his behaviour?" the red-headed upperclassman asked.
"He doesn't. I feel like if I were to tell him, he would just see himself as a burden to me." Yukari explained.
"I understand your worry and I might not be very well versed in relationships. However, I don't believe that it would have to end up that way." Mitsuru argued. "The two of us were, at least I believe, on a neutral standing ground with one another. Yet you kept being persistent and reached out to me which in turn helped me. You and Yuki love each other, correct? If you keep being persistent to try and reach out to him, like you did for me, you might be able to be the help he needs so desperately right now."
Yukari's eyes widened, why didn't she think of that? Was it because she was scared of him rejecting her help? He was there for her when she kept trying to reject his help, even when she said awful things to him.
"You're right, senpai. Makoto has always been there for me when I never asked for it. Even if he starts thinking he's a burden to me, I'll keep reaching out to him. It's the least I can do!" Yukari spoke with determination, making her senpai smile.
"Very well, there's still time before the girls' bath time starts, you should look for h-" just as she was about to finish that sentence, they heard a loud sound of something splashing into water.
"Wh-what was that?" Yukari asked in surprise.
"I don't know. Let's go check it out." Mitsuru answered in a hurried tone, trying to make sure the other students were okay.
The two of them rushed downstairs, where they heard the splashing sound occur. When they arrived they saw Aigis and Makoto standing completely drenched in the courtyard's decorative hot spring whilst Junpei and Ryoji had rushed out of it a few seconds prior. Both girls couldn't believe their eyes at the scene they had witnessed.
The part that Yukari couldn't believe however, was the bright laughter painted all over Makoto's face. There was something so pure and innocent about it that Yukari couldn't help but smile too. Of course when she heard how all of this occurred in the first place seconds later her smile immediately dropped.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Yukari asked her boyfriend as she handed him a towel.
"I'll be fine, thanks." he responded in his usually calm voice.
It was subtle but Yukari immediately noticed it. His voice, his expression, even the way he moved, all of it seemed alive again. Makoto was back to his usual self, the one she fell in love with.
"H-hey, can we talk about something?" Yukari hesitantly asked.
"Sure, what's up?" he asked obliviously.
"How are you feeling? The last few months have been pretty hard on you, haven't they? You kept trying to distance yourself from everyone. Don't think I wouldn't have noticed." Yukari called him out.
"Sorry…" Makoto simply said in a guilt-ridden tone.
"Just 'sorry' isn't enough for me anymore, Makoto. I want to know why. I want to be able to be there for you but if you won't open up about it, then how am I supposed to be of any help?" Yukari stared deep into his eyes.
"I...felt scared. Scared of losing some- No. I was scared of feeling the pain of loss again. After everything that happened, I couldn't bear to feel that feeling again. It terrified me." Makoto explained in pure honesty.
"So you just decided to isolate yourself, just like that? Think Makoto, I know you were- you probably still are hurt but life moves on. And even if you don't know how to deal with this feeling properly, it's perfectly fine not to know, right? That's what friends are there for… that's what I'm here for." Yukari looked at her boyfriend, who was still averting his gaze in shame.
"You don't have to process all of this right now but try to keep it in mind for the future, 'kay?" Makoto felt her arms wrapping around him and her head pressing against his chest.
Makoto looked at her for a few seconds, to process how much he made her worry. But this time he decided not to beat himself up about it and instead be happy to have someone like her be there for him.
"I'm sorry for making you worry. It must have been tough on you." he hugged her back.
"That doesn't matter anymore. Right now I'm just glad to have you back." she looked up at him.
The two of them lost themselves in each other's gaze, inching closer and closer until their lips locked. While the two shared a kiss they also shared a thought. A thought that despite everything happening right now and the things that had already happened… that maybe things will work out after all.
Author's Notes:
It's been a while but I'm glad I was able to bring this out today.
I was surprisingly comfortable writing this, considering that I haven't written since... whenever I last posted.
As to where I was... My head isn't exactly in writing right now. I'm currently prioritizing gaming and art over writing and I'm kinda sorry for that.
That's btw also the reason why this is gonna be the only submission I'll do for ShuYuka Week.
With all of that being said I hope you guys enjoyed reading this as much as I had writing it and I wish all of you guys a fun ShuYuka Week :)