[Summary: Souji on the train leaving Inaba...]

[Author's note: This one is based on the ending of Truth in Someone Else, another souyo fanfiction of mine. This will make more sense if you read that first!]

Day 8 - Travel

The train started moving, and the Investigation Team waving at Souji from the train platform were all too quickly out of sight. Reality sunk in a moment later: he was leaving Inaba. He'd known a year ago that this was how it'd end, that his stay in Inaba was only a temporary thing. But instead of going home, it felt like he was leaving it.

It couldn't be avoided, however. Souji took a seat at random and closed his eyes. What an early train. Dojima's reasoning in buying such an early-morning ticket had been that he would end up arriving at home early enough in the day to start unpacking. It was a nice idea, but Souji was sure he wouldn't have the energy for it. Packing all his memories had been hard enough. Unpacking them into a room unlived in for a year would be worse.

If it had been a normal day in Inaba, he'd be getting up about now. He'd go downstairs to find Nanako making breakfast like she always did. He was going to miss that. He'd miss the way she always arranged the eggs into a smiling face. There was that one time the eggs didn't turn out right so they'd joked the face was smiling through tears. Thinking of that now, it was... relateable.

He missed everyone and he'd barely been gone a few minutes. Teddie with his un'bear'able puns, Chie with her enthusiasm, Yukiko with her humor...

And of course he'd miss his partner.

He and Yosuke had just started getting comfortable as a couple, too, and then this happened. Long distance would be so hard.

It couldn't be helped, he told himself for the nth time. His parents loved him but hardly listened. It was part of why he rarely spoke up. Why speak if you aren't going to be heard?

It had been a year, though, and—

Souji's phone buzzed in his pocket. He smiled and then frowned and then smiled again as it kept buzzing. Inaba missed him too, it seemed. His friends were bombarding him with texts already. He didn't want to admit it, but it made him feel a little better.

He flipped open the phone, but the texts turned out to be all from the same number.

Always at ur side, partner.

Souji couldn't stop the goofy grin from coming to his face. Yosuke had followed it up with several lines of emojis that didn't show up properly on his ancient phone, but he appreciated the sentiment. Winky winky winky blush, huh?

He began to type out a reply before realizing he could call instead. He was alone on the train, after all. No one could glare at him for this.

Yosuke answered on the first ring. "Yo! I was just about to text you."

"Was it another blushy emoji?" Souji teased. "I'd accept that."

"N-no," Yosuke said. "...Maybe."

"Is there a kissy emoji? I want a kissy emoji."

"I-I don't know if there is one," Yosuke claimed. "But speaking of... well... us... Did you hear what I said before the train left?"

"Hmm..." Souji thought it over. Since everyone else was there to see him off too, it was hard to remember. The atmosphere had been too heavy. "You said I was amazing? Something like that."

"No, that's not..." Yosuke's voice went quiet. "I mean, I did say that, but there was something else, right when the train was going."

"Sorry," Souji said. "I didn't hear anything."

"Hey, don't apologize. It's my fault for waiting until the last minute to try and tell you something like that anyway. I really am a dumbass sometimes."

"Sometimes," Souji echoed.

"You weren't supposed to agree!" Yosuke sighed loudly. "Oh well, I guess... it's not important."

"You can tell me now."

"No way. Not over the phone."

"Then," Souji said, "the next time I see you."

"Yeah, that's the plan."

"I will see you again, right?" Souji's voice was quiet.

"Dude, you're my boyfriend!" Yosuke said firmly. "Distance doesn't matter. You'll be back for Golden Week, and I'm totally gonna visit you there sometime. I mean, I wanna know where you live, partner. I wanna see where you hang out for fun, and where you like to eat, and where you do your shopping, and..."

"And meet my parents," Souji suggested.

"And meet your—no way! That's scary!"

Souji laughed. "They're not that bad," he said. "But... yeah. I can't wait to see you again."

"I know," Yosuke said with feeling. "I'm going to send you pictures every day. Until you get tired of seeing them."

Never, Souji thought.

Unfortunately, the train was beginning to pull into a station. Since there were people waiting on the platform, they had to wrap up the call.

"I-I should let you go," Souji said regretfully. "I'm on the train, you know, so... but we can still text."

"I hope you have unlimited texts," Yosuke said, "because you're totally asking to go over."

"See you there, then," Souji said. The train doors opened and people began to board. With a sigh Souji began to pull his phone away from his ear.

"W-wait!" Yosuke said right then, his voice tinny from the receiver's distance. "U-umm... uh... I like you!"

Souji immediately brought the phone back to his ear. "Yosuke?" he whispered.

Instead of answering, the phone buzzed.

did u hear it this time?

Souji wanted to burst out in astonished laughter, but there were too many people around. With a determined grin Souji texted back. Somehow, he said, I don't think that's exactly what you said back then.

Yosuke's response was a dozen blushy emojis.