Kanji - Comrade

Kanji took a deep breath. The first time he had ever stepped into the TV World and it looked like he was about to die. Damn it, he couldn't believe this! What would the others think? They trusted him, they brought him into their gang, and here he was, fucking it all up!

The group had been attacked by Shadows on what was supposed to be a simple training mission. Instead they had been ambushed and attacked by a squad of Shadows. It hadn't been too bad at first, definitely wasn't easy, but it wasn't impossible. Both sides were locked in a stalemate, with the Persona users destroying the Shadows as quickly as they could summon reinforcements.

Just like always, it was stupid Kanji who messed it all up.

Yukiko was in danger. The Shadows had gotten the bright idea to target her, their healer, first. They all ganged up on her, surrounding her and trying to overwhelm her. Konohana Sakuya was doing her best to protect the girl, but every spell she wasted to incinerate a Shadow meant the others couldn't be healed, not to mention she was running out of magical energy.

So Kanji tried to help her. He stomped on the ground and shouted at the top of his lungs. "Mazio!" His Persona, Take-Makazuchi, appeared in a blue flame, obeying his master's commands. The echoing clap of thunder filled the air as lightning fell from the Heavens. It hit the Shadows, electrifying them so hard they all froze in place, paralyzed.

Somewhere behind him, Teddie cried out. "Kanji, no!"

But it was too late. The Shadows attacked Yukiko again, faster than ever. She cried out in pain as she was knocked to the ground, barely conscious as the Shadows surrounded her.

"No!" Kanji charged forward to save her, smacking the Shadows aside in a flurry of guilt and rage, but this was nothing like he'd ever seen before. It wasn't like fighting a person. The Shadows were savages, brutal and primal in nature. They didn't care if you smashed one of them into the ground, they just kept coming.

He was going to die. He had let his friends down, he let himself down, and his parents? He failed them... He wasn't a man, he was just a stupid, dumbass brat...

It was only thanks to Yu-senpai that Kanji and Yukiko were saved. He came charging in, slashing at Shadows with Izanagi, cutting them down before his Persona changed. A healing light formed over Yukiko and Kanji, saving their lives.

"It's okay, I've got you!" Yu grabbed Kanji's hand and heaved him up, helping him stand as the older boy's Persona fought off the wave of beasts. "You okay, Kanji-kun?"

"I... I nearly got us killed," the blonde groaned, holding his bruised ribs. Another healing spell and it was gone. "Senpai, you-"

"It's what friends do, Kanji. Now come on, let's show these Shadows they attacked the wrong men."

"Yeah... Y-yeah! Hell yeah!" Yukiko's Persona rained fire down on their enemies, before Kanji and Yu charged forward, side by side. He wasn't scared. He knew Senpai had his back.

"'I'm going to help you be a better person!' Damn it, Rise. Make it sound so easy," sighed Yu as he cleaned Naoto's counter. It had been mere hours since their conversation and Yu had about a dozen separate trains of thought going. Okay. Stop. Let's categorize what's going on and we'll work it out one by one... I will work it out. Shit, it's been a long day.

First up? Rise. When I first met her, what did I think of her? Well, I thought she was a brainless bimbo, so you know. Might have been off there. Yu bit his tongue, scolding himself as he sprayed the counter and wiped it down with some paper towels he had bought. She's smarter than I thought. A lot smarter. She's nice. Forgiving. Patient. How else could she deal with me being such a jerk to her?

He remembered the things he had said to her clearly. It didn't make him feel good about himself, in fact, he was beginning to get a very good understanding of guilt thanks to Rise and Naoto. I feel like an asshole... I was probably a bit harsh with Rise... Not to mention what I was considering when I fought her Shadow... Yu sighed and began working to clean Naoto's windows, leaving the counter sparkling and spotless.

"Should probably apologize for that. 'Hey, Rise, thanks for helping me! Did you know that I was considering killing you to save my own skin when we first met?' How do I even begin to apologize for that?" He grumbled, spraying the windows before wiping them down. I'll think of something later. Let's just work on being a better person, right now...

"Well, I'm cleaning Naoto's house for her while she's unconscious. That's a good deed, right?" Yu asked the silence. He received no response as he finished cleaning the windows. "Then again, I'm only doing it to get good with Naoto... Does it still count as a good deed then?" He shook his head as he began putting the cleaning supplies away. Good deeds aren't exactly my specialty. Maybe I should ask Rise for help with them...

Yu sighed again as he walked over to the microwave, popping it open and taking out the microwaveable container inside it. He popped it open and took in the aroma of the stew he had made. The hot air tingled his faced as he smiled. Perfect. He allowed the stew to air out a bit more, before putting a cover over it to help keep it warm. He then grabbed it and a cup of water and made his way to Naoto's room.

As he walked, his face shifted, donning different masks. He faked a charming smile and gave a smooth, gentlemanly laugh. "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. Enjoyed the kiss?"

He threw that mask aside and donned another, turning stoic and stonefaced. "Shirogane. We have a lot to talk about." His voice was firm, in control, and... utterly fake. He disregarded that mask and tried one more.

"H-hi, Naoto! Um... I-I made you stew! I hope that's okay!" The poor-me act had tricked a lot of people in the past. He'd suckered boys and girls alike into loving him with this act.

But Naoto wouldn't fall for it.

He pushed open the door with his shoulder and peeked inside, finding the young girl fast asleep on her bed. She looked incredibly peaceful laying there. Rise must have helped her change, because now she was wearing pajamas, instead of the cute, light blue outfit she wore during her kidnapping. Her iconic hat was gently placed on a nightstand, allowing her blue locks freedom.

Yu suddenly found his trademark confidence, some would argue arrogance, gone as he watched the dozing detective. He scolded himself, but his own thoughts fell on deaf ears as he stared, a warmth growing on his cheeks as only one thought rang through his head. God, she is beautiful... The natural sheen of her cerulean hairs, the symphony of her every breath that traveled past those succulent, kissable lips, her moonlight skin, the gentle rise and fall of her chest...

Wait. Yu's blush intensified as he began to put the puzzle pieces together. Naoto was a girl who disguised herself as a boy. Girls have breasts. Even if they weren't that big, she would have to find some way to keep them hidden. So she used a sarashi. When she was taken home and changed, Rise must have taken that sarashi off to help her breathe. Meaning Naoto's breasts were free, covered only by her thin, blue, button up shirt.

The hell is wrong with you, man?! You've seduced girls naked before. This is nothing! Yu told himself. His eyes glanced over Naoto's sleeping frame, admiring how snugly the blanket wrapped around her, before coming to her chest. His cheeks flared up again and he looked away, his knees quivering as he walked beside the bed and placed the container of food on the nightstand.

He took slow, shallow breaths, trying to calm his racing heart. "H-hey, Naoto," he muttered to her sleeping form. He should be trying to wake her up. There was food to eat and he had to make sure she got her strength back. "T-time to wake up." His voice was so quiet, he barely heard it. This wasn't an act, and that was the worst part. He was actually scared of waking up Naoto!

Damn it! I'm acting like Kanji! I can barely talk to her, barely look at her, and... Shit... Kanji. The first year student, Kanji Tatsumi, was in love with Naoto Shirogane. Anyone with an average IQ could see that, well, average IQ and basic people skills, meaning Naoto was probably oblivious to the fact. If Yu was going to do this, this whole 'be a better person' thing to try and win Naoto's heart, what was going to happen to Kanji?

Kanji's dumb as rocks, but he's been good to me. He's trusted me, and I've made a good meat shield out of him... most of the time, thought Yu, remembering that horrid nightmare months ago. He shook his head and looked at her sleeping body again. She was so beautiful, not just in body, but in mind. She saw the real him, she destroyed his masks, even now, and he loved her for it. Kanji doesn't even know the first thing about her! I want her! I deserve her! I-

He bit the inside of his cheek. Yu stood beside Naoto's bed, staring at her blue locks with a scowl on his face. He felt sick. He opened his dry mouth and let out a sigh. "Shit." Damn it, Kanji. You freakin' bastard. Yu's train of thought crashed as he heard the groan of moving springs and the soft moan from Naoto's harmonious voice. She was waking up.

Naoto groaned as gravity itself seemed to pin her body down. She struggled to get up, but her body felt so sore and at war with herself. She lifted a throbbing arm to her nightstand, reaching for her clock with closed eyes. Instead of finding her clock, she found a plastic container beside her, warm to the touch.

She let out a hoarse, scratchy mumble as she forced her eyes open. What...? She pushed against the soft sheets of her bed, forcing her sore body to sit up. She looked around the room, her vision hazy.

"Hello?" Her voiced strained. She coughed a bit, finding a glass of water beside the container. She reached for it, quietly sipping the drink as she sat on her bed. Did Rise or Yukiko-senpai make this for me? She wondered, opening the container after putting the cup down. She picked up the utensil left for her as the fresh aroma of the food touched her nose. It smelled amazing, and the warmth stroked her insides pleasantly.

She quietly ate, wondering where the cook who made the delicious meal had ran off to.

Meanwhile, Yu Narukami was on his way home, texting Rise as he sprinted, the faintest hints of crimson still on his cheeks.

"You didn't talk to her?"

"No, Rise, I didn't! Okay?! I was scared, alright?!" Yu growled, biting into his lunch as he and Rise ate on a bench by the Fox's shrine. He had even went as far as to make Rise her own bento box, which the retired idol enthusiastically ate away at. "And if you were wondering, yes, I am angry. Before Naoto came around, I was a playboy! Guys, girls, hell, even a teacher once! I was the King of Woo, the Conductor of the Yaoi Train, the God of Seduction... Then Naoto comes around, and I'm terrified of even looking at her."

The young man let out an exasperated growl, scratching at his head violently as Rise watched him. "Senpai! Senpai!" The young man stopped and looked at the girl with a glare in his eyes, only to take a deep breath and exhale. He tried to calm himself down as Rise thought about what she should say next. "It's okay to be scared. I mean, that means you must really like her, right?"

Yu was silent as Rise's feet kicked the stone, tiled path below them. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, curiously staring at the reminiscing girl. "I mean, I've flirted with guys before, but when I met you... When I thought I liked you that way, it felt... harder to be that kind of girl."

"You mean Risette?"

"Yeah..."

Yu gave a sympathetic nod, before hesitantly lifting up his hand. He gently placed it on Rise's shoulder. "Hey, um... Sorry I turned out to be such an asshole," he chuckled. She gave a tiny smile in return, nodding her head.

"You're getting better."

"I'm working on it." The two quietly resumed eating, before Yu spoke again. "And I think I have another problem on my hands," he sighed, shaking his head. "Kanji."

"Kanji? Why is he a... Oh." She physically cringed at the revelation, mentally smacking herself for forgetting such a major obstacle.

"Yeah." Yu finished his food and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Don't even know why I'm worried. I'm me, and Kanji's... Kanji."

"Meaning what, exactly?" inquired Rise, though part of her feared his answer.

"I'm perfect at everything, and Kanji's, well, not," Yu stated with a shrug. "I mean, he's a nice guy, but he's no Yu Narukami."

Rise watched with wide eyes, shocked at the callous comment. "Hey, that's mean!"

"Yeah, yeah." Yu shrugged her accusation off. He looked at her and his silver eyes moved up and down, as if taking in the sight of her for the first time. She blushed, and was about to ask him what he was doing, but he spoke first. "I don't suppose I could ask you to have sex with him, could I? You know, comfort him with your body or something?"

Rise's slight blush suddenly exploded into a blazing inferno across her cheeks. "Senpai!"

"That's a no." Yu smirked at her, showing his teeth with flash and arrogance. "Calm down, Rise. I'm just getting a rise out of you." The boy chuckled at his own joke, but Rise didn't find it so humorous.

"You're acting like a jerk." Rise stood up from the bench and shot an accusatory glare at the young, surprised man. "Not like someone trying to sound better." The words hit their mark, wiping the arrogance off of his face and replacing it with quiet contemplation. He chewed on the inside of his cheek, before letting out a huff of air.

"Alright. What do you think I should do, instead?"

"You act like I'm an expert," sighed Rise. She sat back down with a pout, before giving a timid shrug. "Talk to Kanji?"

"Talk to him? You want me to talk to Kanji? And what, tell him I'm sorry for the fact that I'm stealing his girlfriend? Apologize that I'm me, and he has the misfortune of being not-me?" Yu bitterly spat. "Great idea, Risette."

The idol didn't take his venomous words sitting down. She leaned over and poked the man's shoulder, glaring at him. "Okay, here's an idea. Stop doing that." Rise stomped her foot on the ground to emphasize her point, scolding the silverette again. "Stop being such a jerk to me and stop insulting Kanji! You said you're trying to be a better person, well act like it!" His eyes widened at the outburst. "Maybe you're scared because, somewhere in your heart, you're afraid Kanji is better for Naoto than you are?"

"Hey! I-"

But Rise didn't allow him the chance. "Think about it. Kanji is sensitive, sweet, and honest, not to mention tough too. Maybe a bit rough around the edges, but he's just a big teddy bear deep down! You know he'd treat Naoto well if they got together."

Yu's face flinched and contorted into jealous disgust. He looked away and grabbed his own hand, squeezing it as he spoke. "This conversation makes me want to throw up..."

"I'm being serious!" Rise snapped. "Maybe that's why you're so hung up on all of this? You're insulting Kanji so much because you're insecure! Like, you think Kanji would be a better boyfriend than you!" I am nailing this advice thing! she thought to herself, smiling in her head despite the look of anger on her face.

"So... What? Do I just give up my own happiness so Kanji and her can get together?" He scowled at the thought. "I want to be happy too... Naoto's the first person to make me feel... real. Content. She sees through all my crap, and I feel like if I stay by her side, I could actually become a better person."

"There's nothing wrong with wanting love, Senpai..." Rise comforted. "Everyone wants to be loved by someone. You're not a bad guy for wanting her love."

Yu nodded, hanging off every word as he sat beside her. His face was unreadable to the young woman, but she gave him the space and time he needed. After a few short moments, he turned to her with a grimace on his face. "Do... do you think Kanji would be a better boyfriend for Naoto than me?"

Rise was the silent one for a moment. She had to play this carefully. She answered hesitantly, "I think that all three of you need to grow up a bit more before I can answer that. I think you should just try your best to be you and let the pieces fall where they will..."

"That's a really good non-answer, Rise," he laughed, bitterly shaking his head side to side. "But I guess you have a point." They sat there, in a quiet peace, the only sound being the chatter of people in a completely different world than them and the soft howl of the wind. Yu chuckled. "I've seen this cliche in a couple of books I've read. The love story, where there's the perfect guy and then there's the 'loser,' and the girl has to pick one. She always ends up picking the loser. She doesn't care if the other guy is smart, or strong, or good at everything."

Rise could hear the older boy's voice tremble as he spoke. There was a shudder in his bones and a chill that crawled up his spine. "The girl picks the 'loser,' because he's a better person. A decent human being." Yu hung his head, numb to Rise's comforting hand on his shoulder.

Kanji took a deep breath, analyzing the doll's careful stitching. He gently placed the doll to the table, before picking up a nearby spool of thread. He looked it over and nodded in acceptance of the color, only to stop as he heard a familiar ring.

Pipipipipipi

He kept his eyes on the doll as his hand aimlessly reached for the vibrating cell phone. He grabbed the phone and held it to his ear as he looked the doll over. "Hello?"

"Kanji?"

"Senpai? Hey, what's up?"

"Can... I need to talk to you. You free?"

"Huh? Yeah, I got time. Where are you? We can meet up." What's with the weird echo? Don't tell my phone's busted...

There was a pause as Kanji heard his mother talking to someone at the front door. He turned in his seat, hearing footsteps growing louder. "I'm outside your room." Yu pushed his door open and entered the room, greeting the young boy with his free hand. He ended the phone call and scanned Kanji's room, as if looking for something.

"Huh? S-Senpai? What's up? Y-you feelin' okay?" The blonde boy watched as Yu walked past him, plucking Kanji's wallet from his desk and looking through it. "S-Senpai?!"

"Give me a minute, Kanji." Yu reached into his own pocket and pulled out a wad of yen from it. He shoved the bills into the wallet, before closing it and placing it back on the desk.

"Senpai, what the hell are you doing?" Kanji asked, not really angry at the sudden gift, but deeply confused. He stood up from his chair and walked towards his friend, who finally looked at him. Yu opened his mouth, but nothing came out as his eyes fell to the floor.

The hell's up with Senpai? thought Kanji. "Is everything okay, man?"

Yu's silver eyes glanced at him again, and he let out a silent sigh. "No. Everything is not okay, Kanji." He chewed on the inside of his mouth as he began to pace back and forth in front of the young man. "Kanji, I-" He bit his lip and kept pacing, rubbing his hand against his face in frustration.

"Yeesh... I ain't ever seen you so..." The blonde took a moment to pick the right word, before shrugging. "Emotional? What happened, Senpai?"

"I just said, no! Everything is not okay!" Yu let out an uncharacteristic snarl, surprising Kanji. He was glaring at the artisan, his eyes sharp as he began to walk towards him. "I'm angry and upset and pissed off!" The blonde delinquent stared at the older boy with wide eyes, like a son who had just been yelled at by his father. Yu cringed and rubbed his forehead. "Shit, I'm bad at this."

"Never heard you swear before..."

"Life's full of surprises, Kanji-kun," Yu sorely mumbled. "Alright. It's like a band-aid," muttered the silverette.

"Senpai, whatever's going on, just tell me! Did somebody do something? Do you need my help? Cause I got your back, man!" Kanji put on his tough guy face and flexed his chest, making himself even larger and more imposing as he stood in front Yu. "Whatever happened, Senpai, I got your back!"

Not making this any easier, Kanji, thought Yu. "I love Naoto." Just like a band-aid. Rip it off, fast as possible. But it didn't feel fast. Instead, it felt slow and painful for both of them. Kanji's tough, angry expression was shattered, smashed into the ground by the three, simple words.

He opened his mouth, unable to say anything as Yu stared at him. The older boy saw every detail on his face, every wrinkle as Kanji's face changed between shock, to pain, to anger. The blonde's Adam Apple bounced as he gulped. Yu saw the slight tremble in his shoulders, and the wrinkles as the younger boy's eyes were squeezed shut.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Y-yeah. Okay. I mean... Don't know why you're even telling me," muttered Kanji. He tried to force his lips into a smile, but they twitched and wavered too much, eventually falling flat. "C-congratulations, I-I guess."

"..."

"Anything else you need, Senpai?" He looked away, pretending to act tough.

Yu's scowl, which had softened in the last few moments, returned with full force. He grabbed Kanji's shoulder and shook him. "Don't bullshit me, Kanji."

"Let go..." Kanji tried to pull away, but it didn't work. Yu's grip was tight and the anger on his face was clear.

Yu squeezed his shoulder tighter, before declaring, "That's it? You're not even going to fight for her?!" Kanji kept facing away from him, but Yu shook him by the shoulder until he looked him in the eye. "You know damn well why I'm telling you this! You like Naoto too!" Yu felt his insides retch, but he still stated the obvious fact, or rather, he admitted it. Both of them needed to hear this... "You love Naoto."

Kanji smacked Yu's hand off of him and glared down his older friend. Kanji was taller by a couple of inches, but at the moment, both of them stood like titans, an air of tension and betrayal heavy in the air. His nostril flared as his hands tightened into fists. "Stop it."

"You love her, and I love her. You gotta say something to that! I'm throwing all my cards on the table, the least you can do is return the favor!"

"Just leave it, Senpai." The younger man pleaded, silver eyes met light blue ones. Yu could see the fire behind those aqua colored orbs, and he was determined to hear what Kanji really had to say.

He didn't stop to think, maybe he should have just kept his mouth shut. "You could make her happy!" Yu couldn't believe what he just said, but he ignored the nagging voice in his head like how he ignored the churning in his gut. "You could make her happy!" He felt his heart being skewered on a spear and thrown into a freezer, but he kept going.

"Senpai-"

"You could be the one for Naoto, and you aren't even going to try to fight for her?!"

"I-"

"Maybe you're the one for her, maybe I am, maybe neither of us are, but are you really just going to stand back and let me walk over you?!" Yu questioned. There was anger and exasperation in his silver eyes, sharpened to a point as he demanded the blonde to speak. Some part of Yu's heart told him to stop; warning him that he was going to far, but his head had been swarmed with so much fear and dread before. He glared at the shrinking Kanji, growing more and more frustrated as the younger boy tried to lie to him. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Come on! Be a man!"

Something snapped in Kanji's head at that moment. He felt all the frustration and anger he had caged in his heart break out, ripping the bars apart and come charging out, screaming and roaring. His eyes widened as he lunged forward, slamming the older boy into the wall, hands squeezing his collar. "What the hell do you want from me?!"

Yu flinched in pain as the back of his head hit the wall, before his eyes widened as he was stunned silent. Kanji screamed in his face, shaking his collar every few words. "You come into my room out of the middle of nowhere and drop that shit on me?! You wanna know how I feel?! Get the hell out of here!" Kanji spun around and released Yu, flinging him to the ground.

The silver haired liar hit the ground, his head banging atop Kanji's desk. Normally the young man would have been eager to help, who he thought, was his best friend. He'd never intentionally hurt Yu, and somewhere deep in his heart, a voice pleaded for Kanji to calm down, but rage and heartache were excellent silencers.

All Yu could do was stare, wide-eyed, utterly stupefied by the bellowing young man. He slowly got up and held out a hand, his lips moved as he tried to speak. "K-Kanji, I-"

"Get the hell out of here!" He demanded, shoving Yu and knocking him onto the ground again. "Get out! Just leave!"

Yu stared with fear in his eyes, watching Kanji tremble where he stood. He didn't know that he was shaking just as much. Yu had no masks to hide behind, no quick witted lies or fake words. It was just him and Kanji, both breathing slowly and deeply, emotion heavy in the air. "I'm sorry." Yu turned around and left, leaving Kanji alone in the room.

Kanji Tatsumi stood alone in his room, panting, hands crushed into fists, nails digging into his palms. He felt his heart ache, betrayed by his best friend, stabbed and impaled and left on the floor. His insides writhed as he walked towards his door and kicked it shut, ignoring his mother's terrified gaze. He turned around... and fell back against the door, holding his head as he cursed and swore.

Meanwhile, for the second time in two days, Yu walked away from someone else's home, dialing Rise. When she picked up the phone, she heard his quiet, shaky voice. "I messed up again..."

The next day, Kanji walked out of his house with hands in his pockets and a scowl on his face, which wasn't a particularly new sight in Inaba, but this particular frown was even worse than usual. His mother kept trying to talk to him, trying to get him to open up about what he and 'that nice Narukami boy' had argued about. Kanji couldn't stand it anymore. He grumbled to himself, needing to get away from his concerned mother before he said something stupid...

Like I always do, he thought, his voice bitter with regret and self-loathing. He shook his head and saw Aiya's down the street. With a shrug and mumble, he started walking towards the restaurant. Least he had the yen for it (and then some thanks to Yu). The blue-eyed bad boy sat down at an empty seat and just asked for his usual, not noticing the next person to enter the restaurant.

He sat alone, idly waiting for his noodles as the clicking of heels grew louder, and then stopped. Kanji saw someone standing next ohim in the corner of his eye and he sighed, nearly snapping the wooden chopsticks in his hand. "Buzz off. I just came here for a bite to eat, so if you got something to say to me, go screw yourself."

"Wow, you are in a bad mood."

"Huh? Kujikawa?" Kanji turned his head, surprised to find the retired idol standing there. She seemed to laugh, her pink colored lips forming into a small smile as she sat at his table, across from his own seat. "What are you doing here?"

"I was hungry, so I went to a restaurant, Kanji-kun."

Kanji nearly smacked his own forehead. "Oh... Right..."

There was an awkward silence in the air. Neither had really spoken to each other all that much since Rise's rescue. They hung out, but they were more acquaintances than anything else. Kanji still had a hard time talking to the girls, meaning he usually hung out with the guys on the team. Yosuke-senpai was alright, but he had a bad habit of being a total dick at times. Teddie was alright, really cute-looking and fluffy, but they still weren't close. Kanji's best pal in the Investigation Team was Yu, probably, and after yesterday...

Compared to Kanji, Rise was at ease socializing with Yosuke and Teddie, and she seemed to do pretty good with the ladies too. Err, not like that, Kanji mentally noted to himself. Then there was how she was around Yu... Kanji bit his lower lip as he thought about the silver haired man. What, an idol wasn't enough for him? Had to try and score with Naoto too...?

"Um... Kanji? You okay?" Rise's voice called out to him, dragging him out of his thoughts.

"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine," the young man muttered, shaking his head.

"You sure? Cause you've just been staring at me for like the past minute," giggled Rise.

Kanji felt a fire underneath his skin. It pooled around his cheeks as he cough into his hand and looked away. "The hell I was!" He thanked Aika for bringing his bowl over and began to eat away at it, loudly slurping away at the bowl as Rise gave Aika her own order.

Deja vu, the redhead thought, before clearing her throat. "You know, my grandma is friends with your mom." Kanji grumbled something as he scarfed down his food. "I heard you've been kinda grumpy lately."

He stopped for a moment, eyes down on the table, mouth open. He finished up the food that was in his mouth and downed his glass of water, before letting out an annoyed groan. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Kanji, you can talk to me."

Rise heard Kanji scoff at her remark, blowing air through his teeth. "I don't want to hear it, Rise."

"Kanji-"

"When the hell have you ever cared about me?" The words shot at Rise, and the glare his blue eyes gave her was heartrending. She tried looking away, only to look back at him when he spoke again. "We've barely spoken to each other, what the hell made you come here and try to act like my best friend? What made you think I'd even tell you anything?!" He slammed the palm of his hand on the table, shaking it and causing Rise to jump.

"... Yu asked me to be here."

Kanji didn't say anything at first. He just scoffed again, shaking his head with disbelief. "He didn't have the balls to come himself?"

"He's scared, and he knows how angry you must be at him." Kanji tried standing up, only to stop as Rise attempted the same thing. "Please, just give me a minute! That's it! Just a minute..." He looked at her, his face wrinkled from the glare in his eyes and the furrow of his brow. He faced the front entrance, before sighing and sitting back down on the bench.

"One minute."

"Thank you." She took a deep, relieved breath, before starting. "Yu isn't the man you think he is."

"The hell's that supposed to mean? You saying his name ain't Yu or something?"

Rise sighed as she shook her head. This wasn't going to be easy...

Kanji's bowl was half empty and cold. He thanked Aika for the refill, before looking at Rise. His eyes were a storm, a mix of so many emotions. Anger's thunderous roar, a downpour of sadness and regret, and the crashing waves of frustration and confusion. "So what? Senpai's really a jerk deep down inside? The hell, Rise? How can... How could you say that?" Yet somewhere in Kanji's heart, it didn't seem so crazy...

"I'm not saying hes a bad guy! He's... He's like you. He's complicated, and he puts on an act because he's afraid people won't like the real him! So he lashes out and shouts at people until they leave him alone..."

"Senpai's... He's like me?"

"He's confused, and frustrated, and he doesn't know what to do. I guess, he's like all of us in that regard," sighed Rise. "Naoto... He told me that Naoto is the first person he ever really loved. He fell for her... hard."

It hurt to hear her say that. The heartbroken young man just tried to ignore the pain in his chest. He tried to distract himself from how much hearing those words hurt. No matter how deep he pushed it, no matter how much he tried to bottle it all up, it still stung to even think about. "Shit... That... That can't be easy. I mean, you liked him, right?" Kanji's voice was slow, even delicate. His eyes lost the thunder and rage...

"I thought I did." Rise's voice was forlorn, reminiscing of a simpler time. Her chocolate eyes had the familiar glimmer of tears, but she hid them well. She brushed them away. Funny to think how much can change in a few months. "But I'm over it." She forced a smile onto her face. She was good at that. "Right now, I'm more concerned about you."

There was a blush on Kanji's face as he looked away. When Rise realized why, she snickered, amused by his flushed features. "So Senpai... He likes Naoto? I mean, like likes her?"

"Yeah... He does."

"Shit..." He chewed on the inside of his mouth, turning his head this way and that, before just glaring at the table. "Fuck..."

"When Senpai... When Yu asked me to come and talk to you, he wanted me to make sure I did something very specific. He wanted me to tell you something."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"You should ask Naoto out."

"... Wait, what?" The heat on Kani's face intensified as he stared at her, gobsmacked by the statement. "H-he said... W-why would he-"

"Because, deep down, Yu wants Naoto to be happy. He wants to try to be the one who makes her happy, but he knows you could be the one instead. He says he's going to try to win her heart, but you should try too." Rise finished her drink and reached into her purse. She threw some money on the table as Kanji thought about the message. "He just wants you to try, if not for Naoto, then for yourself. It'll hurt a lot more if you don't try."

"I... I don't... I mean, I've never asked a girl out before."

"First time for everything, Kanji-kun. I'm with Yu, though. It'll hurt a lot more if you just give up now."

"Man... I just... I don't know what to do," he sighed.

"I think... you should just be you. I think you should just try your best to be you and let the pieces fall where they will..."

Kanji took the words with a perplexed stare, before he nodded his head, a faint echo of a smile on him. "Thanks, Rise. I think... I think I need to do some thinking on my own right now, but thanks." His eyes weren't perfect, but they lacked the crashing waves. There was a sadness to them, but it had calmed into a manageable rainstorm. "Uh... I think I might have given you more than a minute though." He lifted up his arms, silently reminding her he lacked a watch.

Rise giggled at the faint blush on his face, before she smiled back and gave a cheery nod. "No problem, Kanji." She rose out of her seat and walked towards the entrance, passing the blonde. She placed a sympathetic and gentle hand on his shoulder. "Good luck, Kanji-kun. If you need to talk..."

"I know where to find you. Thanks, Rise."

Yu looked up from his soda as Rise walked into Marukyu. He offered a melancholic smile as he lifted his drink at her. She greeted her grandmother, before falling into the seat across from him with a groan of exhaustion. Yu felt a pang of guilt, and he quietly slid an extra soda towards the girl.

"Sorry. How'd it... How'd it go?"

"Well as could be expected, I guess." Rise gave a humorous grin and he flinched at the sight.

"That bad, huh?"

"No, no, I mean... He seems to be doing better."

"Really? That's great!" Yu sighed, his face relaxing into an expression of relief. "Shit, that is a weight off my shoulder." He held up his own drink as Rise popped open hers. They tapped the metal cans against each other, before gulping the bubbly nectar down. "Thanks, Rise. You know, you're really good at this whole... talking to people thing." He reached for his wallet, only to stop as Rise grabbed his hand.

"Do not pay me again."

"I-"

"Don't." He did as he was told, but he silently asked for an explanation. She crossed her arms and sighed. "Senpai, we're friends, right?"

"I... I think so. I mean, like I said before, you might be the first friend I've ever really made." Yu shrugged his shoulders, watching the girl with a curious glint in his eyes.

"Then as my friend, can you please do me a favor?" Yu's silence was a sign for her to continue. "The next time you hurt someone's feelings, apologize to them yourself. Don't ask me to do it for you." The demand hit Yu, surprising him and giving Rise the chance to explain. "It should have been you there, talking to Kanji and telling him he should still go after Naoto. Not me. I'm not going to be the one who apologizes for you... I'm here for you, and you can always talk to me, but I'm not... I'm not your babysitter," she sputtered.

The silver-haired man nodded his head, slowly at first, before he began nod more confidently. "You're right. You're right... I'm sorry, Rise."

"It's okay, Senpai. It's just... I still don't know about my own problems. I-"

"You don't need more problems. I got it." Yu sighed and rubbed the cold soda can against his cheek. "I'm sorry... I really mean it, Rise. I'm sorry. Thank you for everything you've done so far."

"No problem, Senpai... So, what's next?"

"Next?"

It was easy telling everyone a training mission was needed. The followed him into danger, trusting that he'd never leave them astray. The Shadows attacked the group, just as he thought, and it didn't take long for them to run into a pack that proved tougher than usual. They fought, of course, and he played his role perfectly.

He sliced through Shadow with grace and style, keeping a close eye on their newest member. He was the reason Yu led the group on this mission. Kanji was new, an amateur compared to them. The plan was to swoop in and save Kanji after he had been hurt by a few Shadows, and voila, another sucker would have bought the 'stoic hero' bit.

It actually worked better than that. Kanji was stupid and actually used his Persona to shock the Shadows, healing them of damage and giving them the rush they needed to beat him and Yukiko to the ground. Yu had the strength to deal with the Shadows, he had calculated how best to converse his own energy and when to waste the others, so he was still in a relatively good condition.

Heroes get glory from rescuing people from danger, not preventing danger. Yu allowed Kanji and Yukiko a moment to think they were doomed, before he summoned his own Persona. He charged forward, saving the day as always.

Kanji looked at him with such admiration. He was so easy to trick...

"Next, I talk to Naoto. Hope she believes me when I tell her I'm trying to be better..."

END

Sorry for the wait, guys, but hey! Longest chapter so far!

Phew. Tiring. What is there to say? Each 'character' chapter will feature flashbacks to Yu's past, as contrast between who he was and who he is. As you can tell, Past Yu was an asshole. Present Yu? Trying to be a better person. Hopefully the difference is obvious.

Rise was a hard character to write because there isn't a romance between her and Yu here, and that's such a big part of her in the games... I had to think how they'd react without her crush on him. I also didn't want her to come off as a Mary Sue or deus ex machina. I know there was some dislike of that earlier, which is why there's the scene of Rise telling Yu she won't be his middlewoman anymore. He messes up, he has to talk about it himself.

Kanji was also hard to write. There are so few Kanji and Yu confrontation stories, I feel... Hm. Weird.

For those curious, RiseXKanji are going to be a background couple, thus I'm changing the story's properties to show that. I think they make a cute couple together. They won't have nearly as much spotlight as YuXNaoto, but they're there. I also changed the story's summary to better match the story's focus. It really evolved from what I had planned...

Next chapter is a special one. Why? It's the end of Arc 1! Yu talks to Naoto about who he is and who he's trying to be! For those curious about the Arcs of Just a Delinquent, check my profile.

Have a good day! Take care! Please, leave a review, favorite, or follow if you can. Thank you so much for your support and hope you'll stick with me as Arc 1 ends and Arc 2 begins.

Special thanks to my Heaven for help proofreading the chapter.