Just Friends

"Perhaps I should go?" He didn't say anything. Naoto glanced at him, before looking away. She saw the exit and sighed. "I'm sorry, Tatsumi."

Kanji's fingers twitched as she rose from her seat. He bit down on his lip, trying to stop his mouth from speaking. He failed. "Going to go run into his arms?"

"W-what did you say?" Her eyes fell on him again, and they saw the fire in his own azure orbs.

"If I was him, you'd probably be all over me, huh?" Kanji stood up, soaring over the detective. "Is it cause he's smarter than me? Better looking? Or do you just like liars?" His hands were fists and they were trembling. Anger and rage that usually resulted in fights had nowhere to go. He couldn't raise his hand against the blue-haired detective. No matter how angry he was, he couldn't do that to the one he loved.

All he could do was spit venom and jealousy. "If you like liars, then why don't you like me? Why the hell do you like him of all people?!"

Naoto's confusion shifted between emotions. A glimmer of hurt was seen in her eyes before it vanished, replaced with a steadfast temper. "Narukami is my friend. I understand that you are upset, Tatsumi, but I don't understand why you have to lash out at someone unrelated to-"

"Unrelated?!" He mocked. "Are you seriously saying you don't get it? The way he looks at you? The way he talks to you?!" The way I look at you… "Naoto… Just… What's wrong with me?" he growled, pleading for an answer. "Why can't you like me like, like how I like you?"

An answer that Naoto simply couldn't answer. No, that was wrong. She could answer. She just didn't know what the right answer was. "There's nothing wrong with you, Tatsumi. I simply do not return that level of attraction. I admit, you are an interesting boy, but-"

"But what?!" he raged. People were staring now. Naoto felt her cheeks burn hot under their many stares.

She wished Tatsumi didn't created such a scene. The attention was embarrassing and embarrassment was a fuel for her own anger. Guilt was another fuel, one that she felt more and more the longer she saw into his eyes. It wasn't a sight she was unaccustomed to. Heartbreak, confusion, and rage were an awful concoction. It was just painful seeing her friend look at her that way.

"I'm sorry." It was all she could muster to say as she turned to walk away. Kanji was left alone, the center of gossip and even laughter as other students stared at him.

Don't do something stupid.

Don't… just don't… Just-

Kanji let out a booming bellow, kicking over the table he and Naoto had sat at. Some people screamed. Some people flinched. Others just watched as the enraged delinquent walked out, huffing and panting.

Letting out his anger was supposed to help. Whether it was on those dumbass bikers who kept his mom up or a metal chair he'd swing until it broke or he didn't have any strength left, letting it out was supposed to help.

Tonight, it didn't.

Yu and Rise sat on the bench in quietly contemplation. Rise rested her head on his shoulder as he left his arm hanging on hers. Both wished the other was someone else, but they didn't say anything. It was just nice to have company. Just nice to sit there with a friend.

But to one ignorant of their recent heart-to-heart, the scene looked like one of romance. A pair of cobalt eyes fell upon them, and for reasons Naoto couldn't understand, she felt a pang of anger. The sight of Rise, so comfortably resting herself on the shoulder of her partner, her best friend, it made her stomach twist.

She considered leaving them be. She wanted to just leave the festival, and lay in bed until exhaustion carried her to sleep. She took a single step back, but failed to lift up her foot high enough. The sound felt deafening as Rise lifted her head off of Narukami and both turned to see her standing there.

"Naoto?" she heard him gasp.

"Narukami. I apologize. I was merely…" Staring? Ogling? Making a fool of myself? Damn it, you stupid girl, control yourself. She never had a chance to finish her sentence, interrupted by the copper-haired girl.

"Where's Kanji?" Kujikawa asked, rising up from the bench with Narukami. The two walked over and Naoto's eyes darted down, noticing the inches between their hands. In the back of her mind, she wondered about Kujikawa referring to Tatsumi by his first name, but disregarded it. The idol always was informal.

"Tatsumi is…" She didn't know how to answer the question. She didn't know how to explain it. It seemed like she didn't need two as the older boy and her classmate shared a look. They spoke without words and again, Naoto felt that pang of frustration.

She reasoned that she was merely jealous of their camaraderie. The ability to share a sentence with only a glance. Anyone would seek that level of friendship.

The sleuth saw Rise whisper something to the silverette. He nodded and whispered back at her as the two separated. They stared at one another for a moment longer, before turning their attention to Naoto.

"I should probably head home. I'll see you tomorrow, Senpai. See ya, Naoto." She smiled as she bid her goodbyes. It was a charming, winning smile that warmed the hearts of most who saw it.

As fake as her Risette persona, Naoto bitterly thought.

But is it as fake as your 'Prince' persona? A little voice mocked. She stomped it down and ignored it as Yu waved goodbye to the idol.

"You headed home?" he inquired, placing his hands into his pockets and leaning on one leg. She nodded in response, her face reflecting her frustration and annoyance for tonight, despite her best efforts to remain calm and collected. "Mind if I tag along?" He didn't bother giving a reason, but Naoto could guess.

"I like your company."

"I'm tired."

"I'm bored of Rise and want to be with someone smarter."

Naoto silently cursed her exhausted mind as she led the two towards the school's entrance. There was no need to be so hostile towards her teammate, her friend. She didn't know why her subconscious bit and hissed at her.

Lashing out from stress. It's been a long night. I'm desperate for someone to take it out on. that's all... How immature, she thought to herself. She scolded and reprimanded herself as Yu fell into step by her side, offering quiet comfort and solidarity.

It typically wasn't hard to find Kanji. The young man usually made his presence known, either with his own boisterousness or how others feared or gossiped around him. Despite this, Rise couldn't find the young man anywhere in the festival.

She walked into their classroom and found his things sitting at his seat, and when questioned, the other students replied that they hadn't seen him. She sighed as she walked out of their classroom, her schoolbag hooked onto her shoulder. She glanced down the hall, but found no sign of the blonde delinquent.

Kanji has to be around here somewhere, she thought. Where the hell are you, Moronji?! Think... Where would I be if I was him...? By Rise's side. Rise bit her lip, glancing left and right for the boy. Damn it. Stop that. Just... just focus on finding Kanji. That's all that matters right now.

She wanted to be focused. She wanted to be serious. Like how Naoto could be... But all she could think about was what she saw, and everything it meant. She saw Naoto alone. What did that mean? What had happened to Kanji? What did they say? She could only imagine...

Did Naoto reject him...?

It was the first guess she had come up with. How could she not? Kanji was supposed to tell her he liked her, that he wanted to go out with her again. If she rejected him, that would explain why they were apart. Why she looked like she was in such a hurry to get away from the school...

The idea that Naoto rejected Kanji, after all the weeks of helping him muster up the courage to tell her, left a bad taste in Rise's mouth, and a churning in her guts. She felt something bubble inside her mind. It was disbelief mixed with rage, with a dash of relief and regret. How could Naoto reject Kanji like that?! The boy probably poured his heart and soul to tell her how he felt, and she rejects him?

If the positions were reversed, she'd-

Rise stopped when she reached the end of the hall. The doors leading outside were propped open with a large room, giving her a clear sight of the school's gym. The basketball court was being used to store extra goods and products that the classes might have needed. It was probably full of random junk, just sitting there in the dark.

The doors to the gym were opened.

It could be anyone, she told herself. Maybe Kanji already went home and just forgot his stuff. Maybe it's just someone getting supplies. Maybe someone just left the door open.

But what if he's hurt? I need to find him. If he's in pain, I need to help him...

Why? So you can get him to fall for you? She asked herself the question, but it almost like her shadow was alive and speaking again. Maybe she was. But Rise wouldn't let it get to her this time. She wouldn't let it scare her.

No. Because he's my friend. Because if he is hurting, then it's my fault. Rise was already walking towards the gym, purpose guiding each step. Maybe I don't love him. Maybe I do. But he's still my friend.

She came to the open door of the gym and gazed into the waiting darkness. The only light came from the moon, through the windows. Tiny, silver beams in an ocean of darkness. She didn't hesitate any longer, she couldn't afford to. She walked into the dark and called out for her friend.

"Kanji?"

The walk back was blissfully quiet. After all the excitement and stress of the festival, a quiet walk home under the cold nightly breeze was calming. Narukami hadn't said anything since they left the school. Part of her feared she was boring him, but whenever she glanced in his direction, he had a smile on his face.

Not a smirk that dripped with arrogance, not a grin laced with erotic thoughts and perversions, but a smile that put her fears at ease. She wished she could understand how he was able to affect her in such a way with so easy a feat...

Perhaps this is simply his ability to speak without saying anything? But it that were the case, why can I not do the same? Naoto let out the quietest of sighs as she continued walking, Narukami by her side. She wished she could quell her curious mind. She wished she could push aside the feelings or regret and guilt that plagued at her heart, pricking and stabbing at it like thorns.

The cold air bristled her face, no longer as comforting as it was before. It felt harsh. It felt spiteful...

That's when Yu's voice interrupted her thoughts. She glanced at him again to find his lips sealed in a wryly smile. "I-I'm sorry?"

"I said, it's okay." Naoto rose a dark brow, silently motioning for Yu to continue. "Whatever happened. I won't ask, and you don't have to tell me, but it's okay. Everything's going to be alright." He shrugged his shoulder lazily as his smile fell from his lips. "I don't know what you and Kanji talked about. I won't ask. Just know that I'm here for you. You and me? We're still friends. Unless you don't want that. Then I'll probably go home and cry like a little bitch." His voice accented the last word, drawing it out slightly.

And despite the crassness of his words, Naoto couldn't hold back a small smile. She brought her knuckles to her lip as she snickered at the hyperbole. Then that light snicker turned into a giggle. Her eyes closed as she laughed at the imagery. Yu Narukami, their leader and her senpai, eating away at a tub of ice cream over such a slight thing such as her?

It was rather comedic.

"I'm glad the idea of me suffering brings a smile to your face, Detective Prince," chuckled Yu.

"I-I apologize," she gasped between laughter. "It has simply been a long night."

"I didn't think my joke was even that funny."

She met his grin with a tiny, uneven smile of her own. "It wasn't," she admitted. "But I needed it. Thank you, Narukami."

"No problem, babe."

"No. I mean, thank you for the offer." Narukami paused at that, raising a silver brow as she explained with a soft smile. "I promise, I will explain what happened tonight to you another day, but for now-"

"Hey. Like I said, Naoto. No problem." He smiled back at her, his features laced with trust for the detective. Confidence in their bond. Naoto adjusted the rim of her hat and quickened her pace, hiding her scarlet cheeks from his eyes.

I was so fucking stupid.

Why would she want to be with a dumbass like me?

God damn it, I'm so fucking dumb.

Damn it!

"Kanji?"

His eyes widened at the voice. What the hell is Rise doing here?!

"Kanji, are you in here?"

He was, but he couldn't her know that. He couldn't let her see him sitting in the dark, squeezed between cardboard boxes, acting like such a bitch. He had to be strong. He couldn't let her see him like this, acting like some pussy...

He considered meeting her head on, scowl on his face, but that wouldn't work. She'd find him and ask why he was there, and then what? No, he had to hide. Hide and hope she wouldn't find him. He'd text her and tell her he was on his way. It'd be fine.

He just couldn't let her see him...

He pushed his body deeper between the cardboard boxes, quietly trying to push himself deeper into his hiding spot. The corner of one dug into his scalp, making him shuffle and twitch in discomfort. His shoes squeaked against the basketball court and he let out a muffled cry of pain as a coat hanger stabbed him in the side. "Shit!" And then a box fell from its' place on another and landed on his head, electing another curse. "Fuck!"

"Kanji?"

"Damn it!" He picked up the small box that fell on him and threw it through the air like a bullet. It hit the wall and fell against it, bouncing on the floor harmlessly as its' contents spilled. Chalk up another fuck up...

Rise was walking towards him. Despite the darkness of the room, he could see her basking in the moonlight from a window. She stared at him with pitiful eyes. The same kind of pity that Naoto and the rest of the world looked at him with. Because why would Kanji Tatsumi be good at anything?

"Kanji..."

"Fuck off, Rise. I'm not in the mood." His words were nasty and spiteful, but they didn't slow her down. She approached him closer, still looking at him with those large, almond eyes. It pissed him off. "Didn't you hear me?!" He threw a box off of him and snarled at the smaller girl. "Get away from-"

She ran towards him, throwing her arms around his body and squeezing it. She was so much smaller than him, but that didn't stop her. She linked her arms together behind him and held him there as he froze. The hesitation only lasted a moment as he grabbed her shoulders and tugged at her, trying to rip her off.

"Let go!"

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry!"

What? He pulled her far enough back that she was just barely holding onto his shirt; her fingers wrinkling the purple cloth. Her chocolate eyes were wet, shimmering with tiny tear drops. She's crying? Why the hell is she crying? She leaned forward, hiding her face in his chest as she tried to hold back her tears, biting back tiny sobs.

"I'm sorry... I-if I had given you better advice, or if I had helped you more, than she wouldn't have-"

She knew? Of course, she knew. I wouldn't be in here, acting like a little bitch if Naoto told me she liked me too. Shit...

"Kanji, please... I'm sorry. I-"

"Stop it."

"What?"

He pulled her off of him, but before she could speak again, he pushed her down. She sat him down in front of her and he joined her. He sat down in front her, hands massaging his head as he sighed. His voice was gravely and hoarse. "Just stop. This shit ain't your fault." He remembered his classmate. That little girl who he he wanted to make smile.

He remembered seeing her cry.

He remembered how much he hated it.

"Kanji...?"

"I'm fine." He shook his head as he sighed. "So stop crying, will ya? Can't stand seeing a girl cry, alright?"

"Kanji."

"I'm fine, Rise." He tried standing back up, but her hands clamped onto his sleeves, latching onto them. "Let go of me," he demanded, firmly. "I'm going home."

"Kanji, please. Talk to me."

"I'm fine." He wouldn't let her see. She couldn't see. So he tried to force himself up again, but she just pulled him back down. Now his temper was rising. He glared at her as he demanded, "Rise, let go."

"No."

"Why the hell not?!"

"Because you're not fine!" She yanked him back down for the third time, and he was shocked to see the melancholy in her eyes turn into a fire. "Being a man doesn't mean you don't feel anything, Kanji!"

"And how the hell do you know how I feel!?" he shouted, finally forcing her hands off of him.

"Because I'm not buying your 'I'm fine' crap!" The inferno in her eyes didn't back down. He didn't know or understand where it came from, but her jaw clenched as she glared at him. He had never seen her so man. "Don't you understand that I care?! Don't you get that you're not alone?! You can talk to me, you stupid, dummy!"

"I ain't stupid!" He tried to shove her away, gain some breathing room, but she shoved back, meeting his wrath with her own. "I don't need your help to do shit! I understand things just fine on my own! Naoto doesn't like me, and I don't like her! I... I hate her guts!" He wished he sounded more convincing when he said that. Instead, he just sounded like a whiny bitch.

She bought it about as well as he did, but her anger was at least waning. Her determination and stubbornness did not though. She planted her feet firmly as she spoke, softly, but with a steely edge. "I know that's not true, Kanji. Denying it will just hurt more..."

"I don't need anymore of your advice." The words hit like a hammer, but Rise proved stronger than he'd gave credit to. "I don't need your help. I'm fine," he lied. Despite what he said, they both knew it was denial. He wanted to say he hated Naoto. He wanted that to be true, but no matter how hard he tried... He couldn't change the way he felt about her.

Kanji still loved Naoto.

Even after she broke his heart.

"I-"

He was silenced by a tiny weight on his chest, pressing against him. It reminded him of that night after the hospital. When Rise first offered to help him. Except this time they were facing each other when he hugged her. She buried her face against the soft, violet cloth. He didn't know what to say when he heard the broken pleads of the idol.

"Shut up, Moronji. Just- just shut up."

He tried, for just a second, to push her off. She didn't let go. She just embraced him for what felt like hours until he gave her what she wanted. He hugged her back.

She was so small in his arms. Kanji was scared he'd break her in two, but every time his grip began to weaken, she only hugged him tighter. She held his firm body in her dainty arms for what felt like hours, never weakening, never wanting to let go. If she was in pain, she didn't say a word. She just held him. She held him until he stopped protesting. His arms crushed her against him as he buried his head in her hair.

"It' okay, Kanji. It's okay..."

He sure as hell didn't feel okay. He felt like his heart had been ripped out. He felt like he'd be shot and was bleeding all over the damn floor. He felt like he was a little bitch as his fingers dug into Rise's back and tears grew in the corners of his eyes.

He felt stupid. Stupid for thinking Naoto would ever like him the same way he likes her. Stupid for actually trying to ask her out. Stupid for thinking Rise would just let him go without trying to help. Stupid for rejecting her help...

"I'm a freakin' idiot," he wept as his vision blurred. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to stop the flow of tears but again, Kanji failed. Rise just quietly shushed him, letting him brush the tears away in her hair as she consoled him.

"Shh. You're not. You're not, Kanji..."

"Narukami."

The silver-haird boy glanced at his compatriot, not missing a beat in his step. She had a far off stare in her eye, glancing over the horizon to see her apartment building. She may have been staring at it, but she wasn't truly looking at it. She just needed something to focus on so she didn't have to look at him.

"Yes, beloved?" he teased, his features twisting into something more arrogant and malevolent. Naoto would have been intimidated, if she couldn't plainly see through the act.

"I have a question for you. A serious question," she clarified, immediately wiping the smirk from his face.

"Oh. Sure, shoot."

"Why did you lie?" Naoto betrayed her own plan, glancing at the face of the older boy. She saw the genuine surprise in his eyes, the dull light of confusion playing in his eyes. He had stopped walking and she stopped with him, watching him from the corner of her cobalt eyes.

"Is this a specific moment, or..."

"No. In general. You lied to me, to the others, even to your uncle and cousin, I imagine. I understand you learned from your parents, but that is merely how you learned to lie. I am asking you, why?"

Narukami didn't answer at first. He pondered the question, showing cautioun and hesitation uncharacteristic of him. Naoto did not rush him. She merely stood by his side, awaiting a response. The night's air seemed just as still as they were, as if awaiting his answer as well.

"Because I chose to." He smeared a smile on his face, taking a step forward. "My parents never loved me, you see. My father would beat my mother whenever he drank too much, and he always drank too much, and when mom wasn't around, he'd beat me. It was a dreadful living."

"I said, it was a serious question," she chided.

"I know. Doesn't mean I can't give a non-serious answer," he replied.

"Why? Why will you not tell me, Narukami?" Perhaps she should have respected his boundaries, but her curious mind hungered for an answer, an understanding of the silver-tongued conman. To her surprise, she got one.

"Because I thought a lie was easier to live with." He looked around them, finding a patch of grass by the sidewalk ripe for the sitting. The town's river was not too far from them, she realized.

He motioned her to follow him as he sat down, falling onto his back as he gazed at the night's sky. Her gaze fell upon the shimmering lights that the river held. A moment of peace before they walked down memory lane. "When you asked me about my past, I reacted like a dick. I knew that then, and I know that now. I've been 'mulling' over it," he explained, using air quotes when he used the word. Naoto assumed it was meant to be teasing, but said nothing in response.

"And I think I'm ready to tell you about it, if you still want to hear."

"I do," she quickly answered. "I just... I want to understand you, Narukami." I want the distraction. The company. The truth... And in a quiet, darker part of her mind, a portion of her mind added, I want to understand what Tatsumi meant...

"My parents were liars. I mean, my mom's a lawyer. That should be enough of a sob story to explain how I got here," he joked. She didn't laugh, but that just seemed to ease him further. "My mom and dad also cheated on each other. A lot. They rarely had sex with each other, but with other people? I've lost count of how many guys have probably fucked my mom..."

Naoto should have expected something like that, but the bluntness still left her with scarlet cheeks and wide eyes. "N-Narukami, I'm sorry..."

"Why? Are you my mom?" His tone wasn't biting or rude. It was too light and friendly to be that. It wasn't a joke either, though. He sounded too cynical and uncaring to be that. He just stated it like a fact to her. Narukami turned his head to look at her and he gave her a weak, sympathetic smile, a gesture simply meant to show her he was okay. "Don't apologize for things that aren't your fault, Naoto."

Narukami closed his eyes. He looked so peaceful, laying on the dark, emerald blades. He looked ready to sleep, and Naoto found herself smiling at how content. "It's a beautiful night," he muttered.

"I suppose it is, yes."

"Hm." His eyes opened, and she saw his iron-colored eyes staring past her, reliving a memory long buried. "Dad cheated on mom, not that she cared. I'd see him making out with dozens of women, even a couple of guys if he was bored enough. I'm sure they did way worse behind closed doors." She didn't say anything. She merely sat beside him, staring at the glimmering waters...

"Narukami..."

"Don't apologize, Naoto."

"I won't." Her cobalt stared at his hand, calmly left on his chest, gently rising and falling with each breath. She lifted up her hand to grasp it, but reconsidered at the last moment. Instead, she gently placed it on his shoulder. A motion of solidarity. "I merely wish you had a better life."

"I have better now." He smiled at her when he said that, finally looking at her again. "Much better company, at least."

"I'd hope my company would be be more preferable," she replied, meeting his gentle smile with one of her own.

"Was that a joke, Detective Prince?"

"A humorous observation."

"Heh. I'm sure." The corners of his smile dipped as he sighed. "My parents lied. To each other, to me, to everyone. Growing up around that, lying just seemed so easy. Eventually, I realized if I lied to people, I could get them to like me. If they liked me, they'd do things for me. They'd fall for me, fight for me, cheat for me, even die for me... Lying seemed so much better than the truth."

Lies better than the truth... Is that what Tatsumi would have preferred? A lie? Telling him what would make him happy, rather than how she honestly felt? The very idea is baffling! But Narukami grew up in an environment where my reality would have been seen as childishly optimistic, at best! "Your parents did not reward you for the truth, I imagine."

"They didn't care. Didn't care if I was good, didn't care if I was bad. So I decided to myself, might as well pick what's more fun." He shrugged his shoulders again as the night air gently brushed his hair. "And honestly? For a time, I didn't care. I just... went with the flow. Town to town. I'd lie to people, never caring about them, and then I'd ditched them in an instant. Looking back, it was a pretty empty life. Fun sometimes, but no substance. Just flash. I didn't care what my parents did, or what people thought of the real me. It was just so much easier lying..."

"What made you stop?"

Narukami was quiet, but his mind was active. She saw it in the way his eye flinched and darted away. The way his body tensed and his cheeks burned against the cold breeze. Whatever the catalyst was, it was not one that would be easy to coax out of him. Again, a part of her mind wondered if she should have stopped. Instead, she squeezed his shoulder in another silent gesture of trust.

"I met you."

Naoto felt a familiar fire in her chest. It burned at her insides, from the bottom of her curling toes to her scarlet cheeks. "I-I made you change?" she stuttered.

"Yeah. Meeting you was a catalyst for... well, a lot of changes," he sighed. He sat up from his place on the grassy plain and dusted himself off. "Can I tell you something? Honestly?"

"O-of course," she stammered, rising up to meet the boy. He looked away and Naoto could see a familiar glint in his irises. She recongized it because she had seen the same light in her own eyes. Shame.

"This guy's killed two people. He's tried killing several more. He's a piece of shit, no doubt there." He paused, searching for the words as his eyes fell to the grass beneath their feet. "And I'm almost glad he did. If he never did, you would never have come here, and I never would have changed." He let out a breath through his teeth, shaking his head side from side as he thought aloud. "I'd still be the same guy I was before, and I wouldn't even be upset. I liked being bad. I liked being a scumbag. It was so easy to just lie to people and get them to do whatever I wanted."

"So why stop?" a voice asked. It took her a moment for the detective to realize it was hers.

"I told you. I met you."

"But how?" He tried walking away from her, but her fingers found themselves wrapped around his hand. "Narukami, that doesn't make sense. How could I have had that effect on you?" How wasn't the real question on her mind. It was why. Why me? Why not Chie-senpai? Yukiko-senpai?! Rise-san!? Unless... No. No, that cannot be. Not again.

Her mind recalled that fated kiss. At Port Island, when their had met, both of their breaths reeking of alcohol and foolishness. They took in each other's scent and their tongues... Their tongues were not just touching. They had been smacking against one another, tasting each other. His mouth had been dominant, controlling, whisking her mind away to a new horizon.

It was the exact kind of scenario she wanted to avoid.

It was the kind of moment a girl experienced when her first kiss was stolen. It was the same fleeting, hormonal stupidity that was so common among people their age. It happened to most girls. Normal girls. But it wouldn't happen to her. She couldn't let it. She was meant to be a detective, like the ones from her books, like her mother and father! She wasn't meant to be in a situation like this where her best friend...

When Narukami didn't answer, she released his hand, as if it burned her. Guilt chilled her soul when he saw his eyes stare at her. They reminded her of Tatsumi's. Please, not again. "N-Narukami? Do you... do you harbor feelings for me?"

The amount of people who saw Kanji crying could be counted on one hand. Tonight, Rise was added to that short list. She and Kanji sat on the floor together, the retired idol comforting the broken-hearted youth with kind words and gentle hands. He was crying still, though the flow of tears was on the verge of stopping at this point. He scratched at his face with the sleeve of his purple shirt, wiping his snot and salty tears on it as he let out stuttering breaths.

"It's okay. Let it out." Rise didn't know what she was supposed to say. She'd never been in a position like this before. The closest thing she'd ever experience to it were letters from fans who told her how Risette had changed their lives and made them so happy... But those letters were for Risette. Not Rise Kujikawa.

It was nothing like they movies portrayed it. It wasn't a single tear traveling down the side of an actor's face. It wasn't pretty and quiet. Crying was loud, with snot dripping down your face, struggling to gasp for air as your eyes turn arid and red.

No movie ever broke Rise's heart like this though.

"I can't believe I was so stupid..."

"You're not stupid."

"What the hell do you know?!" he bellowed, glaring at her through the tears. His eyes were a bloody crimson, matching his rage. She returned the stare with compassionate, almond eyes. "You're the one who calls me Moronji. Why the hell would a girl like her want a guy like me...?" She saw him digging his nails into the palms of his hands, and without missing a beat, she grabbed his wrists.

"Give me your hands."

"What?"

"Give. Me. Your hands." She did her best to put emphasis and force behind every word, even behind her chocolate irises. He stared back with azure pupils, unsure how to react for a moment, before he uncurled his fists and offered both to her. He looked away, stubbornly rebellious, yet reluctantly willing. He felt her hands land in his palms as she ordered him again. "Squeeze them."

"Rise, what the hell-"

"Squeeze. Them." He rolled his crimson eyes and did so, firmly holding both of her hands. Her smooth brow wrinkled as she commanded him again, "Harder, Kanji. Like you mean it."

"Rise-"

"I'm not going to just stand by and do nothing! I'm not just going to sit aside and let you hate yourself! Squeeze my hands." He scoffed at her words, looking away with a scowl on his face. "I can take it." She squeezed his larger, yet surprisingly gentle hands in her grip. "Please, Kanji..."

"..." His scowl faded away as he just stared at a nearby box. He glared at it with weakening, heartbroken eyes. Whenever he opened his mouth, he just bit his tongue and squeezed her fingers a little harder. "I'm stupid."

"No, you aren't." Naoto's stupid, her mind hissed, but she pushed that thought aside.

"Then I'm too angry. Or not manly enough. A coward. A wimp! I'm just a fuck-up!" he raged, his voice growing louder and more hoarse with every declaration. "I messed up! She chose him, and I fucked up!" His hands were squeezing tighter now. She disregarded the pain and put on a compassionate smile.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Kanji. Naoto's the one who made the mistake."

"Then why am I the one feeling like shit while she's off with Yu?" he croaked, unable to hide the tremble in his voice and body.

"Sometimes, things just don't work out." His hands squeezed tighter. Rise hid the pain behind a gentle smile. "You can, but you can't force love. Love just happens. It happened for you, and it happened for Yu, but... it just didn't happen for her."

"Happened between them," he growled.

"You keep saying she chose him. Did she say that?" His scowl provided all the answer she needed as Rise continued. "And even if she did pick him, if it makes her happy, can you really blame her?"

"Yeah!" He spoke with a fiery heat, but the fire began to wane as soon as he saw those knowing eyes. "I... I wanted her to like me."

"And she does. Who could not like you? You're like a big teddy bear," she cooed, using their linked hands to gently poke at Kanji with his own elbow. "Kanji, I can't even begin to imagine how much you're hurting right now, but believe me when I say, it isn't your fault. The pain goes away. You could... even find someone else." She tried to shrug her shoulder nonchalantly, ignoring the slight discoloration of her cheeks.

"I wanted to be with her." The blunt honesty of his words stung at her chest, like tiny needles Rise's heart rolled in. She ignored it again as he opened up. "Do you think they're going to be together?"

Rise's jaw clenched as she searched for an answer. Her hazel eyes drifted shut for a moment as her mouth opened, but nothing came out. "It's possible. It's more about them than either of us."

"Yeah..."

"If they did, would you try to stop them?"

Kanji ground his teeth, but the fires of anger went cold once again as he sighed. Just a single breath took the fire out of him. "I...I don't think I could." "I wish I could," she almost heard him say.

"Spoken like a true man." Kanji blinked, almost unable to understand the words. He lifted his head up, finally facing her with a bewildered look in his azure eyes. He looked like he was about to say something in response, but his eyes shot down to their locked hands. "S-shit! I-I'm sorry!"

Her hands looked so pale in his, probably because of how tightly he was squeezing them. He pulled his fingers off of hers, but wasn't able to tear his hands from her grip. She was holding his hands. Kanji... The thought of admitting her interest in the blonde delinquent bubbled in her mind. She popped the thoughts and brushed them aside.

"Kanji, it's okay. I'm okay. You and me...? We're okay, right?"

"C-course we are..."

"Good." I want to take it slow. For the first time, a boy doesn't care about Risette. He cares about Rise. He cares about me...

"Um... T-thanks, Rise..."

She squeezed his fingers back, knowing her own strength paled in comparison, yet she didn't care. She smirked as he blinked in confusion. "Anytime, Kanji-kun. That's what friends are for."

"Friends, huh?" He scoffed. His hands finally freed themselves and Rise tried to ignore the urge to catch his hands again. He rubbed at his eyes, wiping away any lingering tears. He let out a melancholic sigh, before the corners of his lips curled upwards. His eyes had a spark in them again as he chuckled. "You're a real bro, y'know that, Rise?"

It was her turn to look dumbfounded, but she just sighed and brushed it off with a smile. "Thanks, Kanji-kun. You too."

"Do you... harbor feelings for me?"

Yu felt his heart stop at the question. He felt like he was having an out-of-body experience as he imagined himself just looking like a statue to the detective's inquisitive stare. He tried to open his mouth, but he couldn't even get that right.

Say something, stupid! "I consider you my best friend."

"And that is all?"

"No. It is not." Yu felt a pang of heartache at the way Naoto seemed to cringe at the words.

"I'm sorry, Narukami, but I'm with Kanji-kun now. I hope we can still be friends." Yu crushed his imagination under his heel and sat up, resting both of his arms on his knee as he looked at the detective.

"Naoto, I won't deny a certain level of attraction to you," he admitted. What am I doing?! His silver pupils glanced at her dark-blue eyes and he felt his breath being stolen away. He swallowed, pushing aside the piling anxiety in the pit of his gut. "You're incredibly smart, an amazing detective, and you... You didn't believe my lies. That may not sound like much, but when you're a liar who everyone believes, being told to shut up was kind of a crazy thing."

He let out a nervous chuckle as she continued to stare at him, mouth agape. He continued to talk, enjoying the confession before she had the chance to break his heart. "You led to me becoming a better person, Naoto. No matter what you think of our relationship, that's a simple fact. You were the catalyst that changed my life. There's no way I couldn't have a certain level of attraction to you."

"But- You... and Rise!" Naoto stuttered. "Naruakmi-"

"Wait, hold on a second." Yu's brow vanished underneath his hair. "What about Rise?"

"I thought you and Rise would have... You revealed your true self to her first. I would have though that she was the catalyst, and-and that she would be the one you had feelings for!" Naoto's cheeks were on fire, and he almost laughed at how endearing she looked. The great Detective Prince, turning five different shades of red, because of some stupid boy.

"Rise?" he repeated. "She's nice, and yeah, she's my friend, but she wasn't the reason I changed. She may have been the first person I showed the real me too, which is debatable, really, but you were the reason. I wanted to change because of you. Because of how you saw through me. Through my lies. How you didn't like me. I wanted you because I couldn't have you at first, but as time went on, you just... I found myself attracted to you. I realized that the night of the King's Game."

The King's Game... The memory of their kiss sent shivers down his spine. He wondered if it did the same for her. "That was also the night you punched me," he teased, hoping to lighten the tension in the air with a weak grin. The attempt fell flat as the bluette just cast her eyes away.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled.

"Don't be. I deserved it." There was a field of silence over them again. The cold breeze sent a chill down Yu's spine, or perhaps that was the memory again. The way their lips felt against one another. The passion and heat between them. The silver-tongued liar had kissed many, many people in his life. None compared to Naoto.

"I can't... Narukami, there are so many reasons why you shouldn't, why we shouldn't-"

"Yeah. I know." She looked at him with wide eyes, gaping at the thin, knowing pools of silver.

"You know...?"

"Of course. I mean, you told me that you weren't interested in dating." With a silent glance, Naoto saw his smile hide more than was said.

"And yet...?"

"I like you. You're the smartest person I know, and you put your smarts to good use, actually helping people. You never thought to abuse it, like I did. Not to mention how determined you are. You get such a passion in your eyes when you find another clue. You don't give up, not even when we caught Mitsuo and got him arrested. You'd move mountains to solve this case, if you could. How can I not be amazed by your spirit? By your mind? I-"

"Stop!" She stomped her foot onto the ground and moved her fingers through her azure locks, knocking her hat to the ground. It laid there as she gnashed her teeth against one another. "You can't be serious. Surely, you must be joking. This is nothing more than a fickle, infatuation! Hormones! It must be! You can't honestly be saying you feel that way!"

Another pang of heartache. Narukami tried not to think about how easily Naoto wrote off his feelings. He ignored the festering sting in his gut and calmly replied. "Naoto." I love you. "Calm down. You're acting-"

"I am not acting like a child!"

"I was going to say presumptuous." Naoto's cheeks flared red as Yu shrugged his shoulders, lazily. "Besides, it's a moot point."

"What?"

"Moot point. It means it doesn't matter." He smirked, as smug as ever, at the cobalt glare she gave him. It was especially annoyed this time around, and even cuter because of it. "I'm not asking you to marry me. I just want to ask you out. I have every intention of respecting your desires, Naoto. I mean, I didn't wake up this morning planning on telling you about my attraction to you, but hey, done's done. Don't treat this like me telling you that I want to marry you. It's just me being honest."

"You- What?"

"I respect you too much to disrespect what you want. I care about our friendship too much to force it to be something it isn't. I mean, you're my best friend. You made me change, and I've fought too hard to just ruin everything," he sighed. "That, and I'm just a coward. I mean, I'm just talking out of my ass right now." He looked down to find his hand mindlessly plucking blades of grass. "I may try to look cool and confident, but I'm actually horribly insecure. Empty inside. Hollow. Etc." He shrugged again. "I'm probably not making sense anymore."

Naoto didn't confirm nor deny the claim. Instead, all she could do was stare in bewildered astonishment. "N-Narukami, I don't... I don't even know where to begin. I don't know what to say..."

"The truth is you don't have to say anything. Naoto, you're my best friend. You mean a lot to me. Honestly, all I want is for you to be happy. Whether you're happy with me, someone else, or with no one, it doesn't matter to me. All I'm saying is that I want to ask you out when this whole mess ends. I think it'd be fun. Feel free to disagree," he chuckled.

"What if I say no?"

"Then I'll say okay." The two locked eyes again and Yu gave her a warm smile. He reached for her discarded hat, picking it up with the utmost care as he rose up from the grassy field. "Naoto, I don't want to scare you. I don't want you to treat me any differently. I just wanted to be honest with you."

"And I... I appreciate that," she admitted, with a strain in her voice that proved impossible to hide or ignore.

Yu turned his head away and glanced at the corner of the apartment complex. He then brought back his attention to Naoto with a lost spark in his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I don't know. Just felt like the right thing to say." He handed her the blue cap and she took it with a mumbled thanks.

"I just... This is a lot to take in," she sighed. Her fingers dug into the navy material, bending it and twisting it, only to let it shift back into place. "Narukami, I think I'd like to walk the rest of the way alone. It has been a very long night..."

Yu's smile was a centimeter off, more than enough for Naoto to see the pain it hid. "I understand. Have a good night, detective. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Of course."

"I wouldn't want you missing out on my performance." Yu flamboyantly flicked some silver threads aside. "I'm warning you, I look damn good in a dress." He wanted to see her smile, he wanted a sign that things were going to be okay. When Naoto didn't reply, he just nodded his head in acceptance. "Take care, Naoto. I'm sorry you had a rough night."

She nodded her head in acknowledgement. He didn't say anything more as he began to walk, brushing past her with his hands in his pockets. The crunch of grass underneath his feet and the whispering breeze was all he heard for a moment. Then Naoto spoke again.

"Did you mean it? That I am your friend? What of Yosuke-senpai, or Rise? I would have thought that you were closer to them. Of everyone in our group, you have known me for the shortest amount of time." She spoke like she was reciting facts off of a piece of paper. He didn't even turn to look at her as he answered.

"I'm done lying for the night, Naoto. You are my best friend. No doubt there."

"I have never had a best friend, not truly. It has always been my grandfather, Yakushiji-san, and myself." He wordlessly nodded his head, having not moved from his spot behind her. "Thank you for your honesty and understanding." He didn't look at her, but he could hear the slight shudder in her voice, the rise of heat on her cheeks. "If nothing else, you are my best friend, Narukami."

Then they parted ways, and Yu was alone. Alone, cold, and exhausted from the emotional hell the night had been.

And yet...

"You are my best friend, Narukami."

I'd never thought I'd be happy to hear someone tell me that. Yu's lips curled into the smallest of smiles as he stepped with a bit more life. He took in a steady breath and let it out in a loud sigh. It's a beautiful night...

END

Jesus, this came out longer than I thought... This was meant to be the second half of the last chapter, not as long as the last one. If not longer. Hrm. Hell, I even had to cut back on some scenes because of how long this way. I don't know what I'm going to do with them, as I do want to get to the pageant stuff, and I hate how how freakin' long I'm dragging out the Yukiko subplot... More likely than not, I'll add them to future chapters or make them Tales.

Anyways, let's talk about this chapter and what's what. A lot of things went through my mind for this story. Originally, Yu and Naoto's final conversation was never going to happen, but as I wrote things out, things just seemed to flow in that direction. I should clarify something and say that Yu isn't confessing his love for her. It'd be a bit much to tell a girl you love her, especially after that night she'd had.

Instead, Yu is just admitting that he likes Naoto and would like to take her out on a date after the case. Even that is enough to shake the girl though. Since this story was mostly told through Kanji, Rise, and Yu's perspective, we don't know how or what exactly the detective was thinking after his confession. Maybe we will later...? Who knows!? I do. I know.

As for Kanji and Rise, it was important to me that I did NOT rush their relationship. I hate the idea of Rise being the consolation prize for the boy, and hey, Rise doesn't want to rush things. Just like Yu, Rise is okay with just being Kanji's friend. For now, at least. I want their relationship to develop naturally and grow to the point where Kanji does fall for her. So yeah, for now, they're just good friends.

Anything else...? Hmm... Yu's changed a lot, hasn't he? From the cruel, psycho he was back in chapter 7, to now. A guy who is just happy when the girl he likes is happy. Even if it isn't with him. I truly hope the development he's gone through feels natural and is something you enjoy. I especially hope there's a smidgen of pride from you, dear reader. You helped him get this far, y'know. Good work.

Next chapter will probably be a lot lighter and less dramatic than the last few have been. If things go according to plan, next chapter will be about Yu and Nanako bonding, Kanji and Yu talking things out, and the crossdressing pageant. What does everyone's favorite delinquent have planned for the already ridiculous contest? Stay tuned to find out!

Next Chapter: Mistress Yasogami.