It's Enough
Naoto saw it every time she closed her eyes. Yu Narukami laying on the ground, his eyes wide as he struggled to breathe, his blood washing over the white floor like a crimson wave. His eyes were locked with hers as he trembled on the ground. Her mind felt like it was moving through mud, slowly moving from disbelief to absolute horror. She wished it was a nightmare, but the simple truth was that Yu had been shot...
He had taken a bullet meant for her, saving her life, but possibly damning his own.
The thought made her stomach churn, and her mouth taste like bile. It burned her mind and it churned her stomach.
Her eyes opened, and what she saw sparked a wide range of emotions. Joy to see her friend alive and well. Relief to see him smile, even if he was on a hospital bed. Guilt as his brow flinched from the pain of moving.
And anger.
Ugly, repulsive, illogical anger.
She couldn't find the words to convey what she wanted to say. She couldn't find words strong enough to carry the emotional weight. All Naoto Shirogane, the 'great' Detective Prince, could do was tremble as she stood by his bedside.
Naoto mentally damned the others, cursing them for leaving her with Yu. She wasn't an idiot, she knew they wanted her to speak to him, but where was she supposed to begin? A simple lapse in judgement, a rookie mistake, had caused her closest friend to nearly die, and it was all her fault.
"You know..." Yu Narukami began, almost singing the words. "If you were in a nurse outfit, this would all be worth it." His lips curled into the impish smirk he was known for, arrogance and desire sparkling in his eyes as he resembled the snake she had met all those months ago.
She saw right through it. Some calmer, logical side of her mind told her it was his way of helping her, goading her to say something, to help her try and voice her feelings. It was stupid, and reckless, and it was so like him. Maybe she should have been thankful, because his words, and those accursed eyes, brought the truth out from her.
Logic and rationality were like pebbles. They couldn't hold back the flood as Naoto finally found the words she wanted to say.
Yu Narukami stared into Naoto's eyes. It was almost like she was looking right through him. Like he wasn't even there. All she could see was his injury. The blood and bandages, and nothing more.
He wanted her to stop. He wanted to go back to Halloween, or even the night of Namatame's trial, just so he could hold her in his arms and see her smile. He wanted nothing more than to comfort her, to help her, but even shifting in his bed caused his body to scream in pain.
So Yu did what he did best. He talked out of his ass, hoping it would get her to look away from his wounds and talk to him. He made a comment about a nurse outfit, and he saw her eyes twitch. He struck again, while the iron was hot.
"You know, they say anger and lust are two sides of the same spectrum." Yu tried to maintain his plastered grin, even as her eyes caught his. Her voice was like a sledgehammer against clay, shattering his mask.
"Don't. Do not do that." His smile crumbled as her cold, cobalt eyes glared at him. He remembered the last night, and how Namatame was being put to death by the group. Naoto's eyes gleamed like they did that night. They were like ice, and like ice, he felt chills going down his spine.
"Naoto-" He opened his mouth, but her voice silenced him.
"Stop treating this like it's some kind of joke!" Naoto's sapphire eyes glared into his. Her voice was hoarse, raw with rage and frustration "Don't you realize what happened to you?!" Her hands rested on the metal railing around his bed, trembling as they squeezed the bar until her fingers turned pale.
"I got shot, but I'm o-" Yu tried to calm her down, but his demeanor only served to further enrage the young woman.
"You were shot?!" She scoffed at his words, spitting them out like venom. "What an eloquent way of putting it. Then allow me to give you me version of what happened!"
She tore her hat from her head and slammed it against the railings. Yu could tell her more logical side was barely in control. She was infuriated, and he didn't know what to do. In truth, he wasn't sure if he had ever seen her so enraged. Even the night of their first kiss seemed to be a lit match in comparison to the inferno she was spatting out now. The night of Namatame's trial was close to this, but it was still very different. Her anger wasn't directed at any supposed murderer. It was aimed at him.
"Three inches! Did you know that?! The bullet was three inches away from hitting your spine! Three inches and you would have been paralyzed!" Naoto screamed. "If the bullet had hit your spine, you would have never walked again!"
"Naoto-"
"How could you ever be so stupid?!" Naoto paced along the outskirts of his bed, and Yu could see the shimmer in her navy eyes. Tears were pooling, and she was desperate to hide them. "I don't know what's worse. The fact that you were shot, or the fact that you practically ran towards the bullet! If you had just moved to the side, you would be the one standing here and-"
"And you would have been shot." Yu's voice growled, the very thought sending a shiver down his spine. "Like hell I would have let that happen." His voice hardened like steel as his eyes glared at her.
"Why?! You were always selfish, why couldn't you be selfish again tonight?!" The words stung to hear, and he could see the regret in Naoto's eyes as soon as her lips uttered the words. Yet she wiped the regret and tears from her eyes, and glared at him. "Why couldn't you just let him shoot me?"
"Because I care about you, Naoto," Yu growled.
Naoto scoffed once more, shaking her head. "Enough jokes! Enough! Do you think this is some kind of game?! Don't you realize how stupid you were?!" The detective tossed her hat aside, letting it hit the wall and quietly fall to the ground with a low 'thud.' "You almost died! If Adachi's bullet had moved just a few inches to the side, you wouldn't have been able to even walk out of here! You should have just let it hit me, damn it!"
"Stop. Saying that," Yu demanded, his teeth grinding and fingers digging into the palms of his hands.
Yet his warning couldn't reach her. She ranted and raved, sweeping her hands through the air as she bellowed. "You're always doing this! Always trying to prove how stupid you are to me! Flirting with me, calling me ridiculous pet names, acting like...like...!" She failed to finish the sentence, her frustration leaving her to just groan in exasperation. "You always act like an idiot around me, but this?! This is easily the dumbest thing you have ever done!"
"Naoto, calm-"
"I'm a detective. An excellent detective, yes, but the mystery is solved. Out of everyone in the group, I am the least important team member now! I'm useless to you, and the others now, so why did you do it!?"
That question. That single question. He had the answer to it. He had many answers. She was still a member of his team, she was still a person, he owed it to her, it was the right thing to do, et cetera. There were so many reasons for why he couldn't let her get shot, yet one reason laid on the tip of his tongue. He closed his eyes, strained his mind to keep silent, but the venom she spat at the two of them still burned at his ears and heart.
Useless? Naoto, you're not useless. The very thought of the woman he loved, the person he needed most, being called useless made his heart writhed. His vision blurred as he took in a slow, haggard breath. Naoto. He saw the way her sapphire eyes gleamed when she noticed something seemingly insignificant, the way her cheeks blushed when he complimented her genius intellect, the way she actually chuckled or laughed at his jokes, the way her lips curved and stole his breath away.
All the little details that made him fall deeper and deeper in love with her.
"Narukami. Answer me! What drove you to nearly kill yourself?! Why do you always have to be so reckless?! Why couldn't you have just let him shoot me?!"
"Because I love you!"
His voice was, ironically enough, like a gun shot. It made the room go quiet and neither could muster the strength to speak at first. There was only the harsh, timely beeps of the heart monitor beside him. Yu chewed the inside of his cheek, staring at Naoto as her eyes widened and her body shook. He opened his mouth and the words fell out.
"I love you, Naoto Shirogane. You... You are the single most important thing in my life. I can't imagine a life without you. I can't stand the idea of letting you get hurt. I can't... I can't be selfish when I look into your eyes, because I... I love you with every ounce of my heart. I love you."
It felt good to say it. He chuckled, despite the tears that were now falling from his eyes. Revelation set in as he stared through the haze of pooling tears. He almost died this night. If he had, Naoto never would have known how he felt. How much he needed her. How much he loved her.
"I love you." The words tickled his tongue like drops of sugar. "I love you, Naoto." The words felt natural. "Every time I hear your voice, every time I think of you, I just... I want to be with you." He couldn't believe he was finally saying it. His own eyes widened as the words naturally slid off his tongue.
It was like the dam that controlled his true feelings had shattered. The floodgates were open. The truth had fallen out of his own mouth, and now it hung in the air like the fog outside. Yu stared at Naoto, and his heart suddenly ached. Naoto...? There were tears cascading down her cheeks. Her hat laid on the ground behind her, letting him stare into her eyes without hindrance. She was crying.
"N-Narukami, t-that isn't..." Her voice wouldn't stop trembling. She took a deep breath, before forcing the words out, slowly. "That isn't funny."
"I'm not trying to make a joke." Yu was shocked she could even consider him going that far. He wondered if she was just that desperate to deny that he had feelings for her. "Naoto, I really do love you."
"How can you say that?!" She shook her head, trying to scoff at the words. "How could you possibly believe that...?"
"How could I not...? I love you, Naoto." He said it again. It was nice to say. It was addicting, honestly. He wanted to go on saying it for the rest of his life. "I love you. I love the way your eyes light up when you figure something out, I love how clever you are, I love the sound of your laughter, the way you look when you smile, your desire for justice, your-"
"T-there are a million reasons for why you shouldn't feel that way about me! You aren't that type of man, I'm not that type of girl, I-I shouldn't even be thinking about such things at my age, I have to focus on my career, my family's legacy, the case, I can't-we can't, I..."
"Naoto, I'm not trying to make you into anything you aren't. I'm not trying to take anything from you. I just... I love you. I don't care if you're a boy, or a girl. I've felt this way for months. Hell, before I even knew you were a girl, I loved you." And he meant it. He remembered seeing her at Junes, knowing he found her cute, but not realizing the Pandora's Box he was opening.
He remembered the night of the King's Game, and how addicting her lips felt. How soft she felt. How it hurt when she walked away. How he realized Yu Narukami, famed lover and thief of hearts, had fallen for the detective.
Yet she couldn't understand it. She couldn't meet his silver eyes as she paced back and forth by his bedside. "Rise, and Yukiko would both be more fitting matches for you. They're feminine, a-and both are very beautiful. They're not me, and-"
"And I don't love them. The only person I love is you. They're not as smart as you, or as fun to be with as you, or as beautiful as you. They're not you, so I don't love them." He wiped his tears away, and he took a deep breath. His nose felt clogged. His cheeks felt hot. He quietly laughed at himself. He used to be so cool. Such a heart breaker. Now look at him.
"Beautiful? Narukami, you can't honestly think..." She bit her lip, silencing herself. "You're delirious. You... I should go." She pulled away. She made a break for the door, and he felt desperation clawing at his heart.
"Naoto!" He called out to her, and he was disgusted with himself. He sounded utterly pathetic. Completely, and utterly pathetic. Needy. Whiny. Weak. He couldn't help it, though. She always brought out the real him. "Don't go..." The words fell from his mouth, and regret and bile stung his tongue.
She stopped mid-step. She was facing the door, staring at it like it was her only hope.
Does she really want to leave that badly? he thought. "I'm sorry." He wasn't sure what he was apologizing for. It just felt like the right thing to say.
"T-there's nothing you need to apologize for. I just... I-I have to go, Narukami."
Why? He didn't know what to say. He wanted to stop her, but was that the wrong thing to do? Was it selfish to make her stay? But he wanted her. Yu needed her. He had almost died, and he could barely move. Was it wrong to want some company?
Yu's fingers dug into the sheets of the bed, and he tried to smile. He wiped away his tears and he nodded his head. He tightened the mask against his face, and when he spoke, his voice had no hint of sadness in it. "Alright. Goodbye, Naoto."
Naoto stood in front of the door, staring at the wooden frame for what felt like eternity. She lifted her hand to push it open, but her fingers fell, dragging against the smooth, cold surface.
Just push the door open, she told herself. Just go. She lifted her hand again, but her knuckles just gently tapped the door. What's wrong with me...? Why can't I leave!?
Her mind raced as her heart pounded like a drum. None of this was how it was supposed to be. Yu wasn't supposed to feel this way for her. He couldn't. He was lying. He was just lying to her for the sake of his own entertainment! That was it! He couldn't love her, she told herself.
She wasn't beautiful. She wasn't strong. She wasn't even smart! She was a failure, and no matter what she felt, they couldn't be together. No matter what I feel... Naoto told herself to just walk away. To leave the room and forget this ever happened. Forget the words Yu had said.
Him? In love with me? Impossible. I... He's just lying. Maybe some part of her wished they were true, but they just couldn't be true. Even if they were true, what was she supposed to do? Tell him she loved him back? Did she love him back? Yu Narukami is the greatest friend I have ever made. H-he's helped me, and I have helped him, but...
"Naoto? You can go. I promise."
He was trying to disguise his voice. She easily heard through his attempts. Yu didn't want Naoto to hear his heart shatter.
She couldn't walk away. To leave Yu's side now would be selfish. She couldn't bring herself to do such a thing to her best friend. Whatever feelings either of them may have had, she couldn't just abandon him.
Narukami. Yu Narukami... The name sounded odd, echoing in her head. She had heard his name so many times, yet it sounded peculiar now. Even after taking a bullet, you're trying to make this as painless as possible for me. She stared at the door, trembling where she stood on legs that felt too weak to hold her. He said, I can go. I should just go. She knew what she should do, but something told her different. How long am I supposed to make him suffer for me? I can't... I won't. Naoto felt her legs stepping away from the door, slowly dragging themselves away from it.
"Naoto? I said-"
She turned her body to face him. Neither of them looked presentable, she imagined. Narukami's eyes were turning red, her face felt hot, dried snot and tears laid on his arms from wiping his face, and she felt as though she was ready to collapse from fatigue. Despite all of that, she walked forward and embraced him, and his eyes widening as he felt her tears shatter against his neck. Yu was clearly stunned at her touch, and his silence only made the sound of her wracking sobs all the more pronounced.
Naoto couldn't stop the tears from falling. She couldn't stop her voice from wailing. She must have looked so childish... But Yu would never call her that. No, he'd tease her, but she knew he would never actually insult her. After all, he loved her. The damn fool...
"I-it's my fault you were hurt..." she confessed. "It's my fault you're here. I should have seen the gun. I should have kept my eyes on him. Because of me, not only did Adachi escape, but you..." She was crying. The tears flowed from eyes to his neck as she gasped for air, hiccuping and sobbing. "I'm sorry..."
"Naoto..." Yu embraced her, pulling her closer against him as he laid his head on her shoulder. He didn't seem to care how badly it hurt him, and as long as he could keep embracing her, she didn't want to let go. "Listen to me. You are so much more than a detective. You're a fighter, a genius, a person, and my friend. You belong with the Investigation Team. Mystery or not, we are so much less without you. Hell, I'm less without you..."
His arms felt nice, Naoto realized. She felt a warm sensation crawl up her arms, warming her skin. His words only poured gasoline on the fire. Her cheeks turned hot as she pressed her body tighter against his, taking in his scent and savoring his embrace. Part of her wanted to stay there for the rest of the night. She knew she would have to make due with a few more moments.
She pressed her face against his neck, wiping the last remaining tears against against his skin as her haggard breaths began to slow. He had almost died. Her closest friend, and he had almost died. Anger gave way to guilt and sadness, and tears doused the enraged fire in her soul.
"I was terrified I'd lose you," she admitted. "I..." The thought of never hearing his voice again. Never hearing another stupid, flirty comment, followed by that trademark smile. The thought brought more tears falling down her face. "I'm sorry..."
"It's not your fault I got shot, Naoto," he chuckled, laughing through his own tears. They fell down his face, gently landing on her head, into her blue locks. "This is all on Adachi. He did this, and we're going to put an end to it."
"I should have been better. I should have-"
"Shh..." His voice was soothing. His touch comforting. He gently stroked her back, carrying her to a better place. "Naoto, it's okay."
"No, it isn't. You almost died." She spoke again before he could. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, clearly you know what happened, I just... I was so close to losing you." She tried to pull back, but she could feel his hold on her keep her there. "Narukami." It felt odd to call him that now, she realized. "I'm sorry for so many things. I'm sorry for what happened to you, but I'm also sorry about... about trying to leave. I just don't know how to react to this! I-"
"I know, Naoto."
The two embraced one another for what felt like forever. Both were terrified of the empty space the other would leave behind. The very idea that this could be the last time they see each other would be the last time. Eventually, Yu's hands began to slowly fall off her back and he pulled away from her. One hand was on her hip, lingering there, before falling off. "Naoto." His eyes met hers, and she saw a reflection of herself.
His eyes were red, lacking his characteristic energy and spirit. They were also puffy, with his cheeks a sizzling crimson. His hair was a mess, and he struggled to breathe through his nose. She imagined she looked very similar. "I love..." Yu stopped himself, and Naoto felt a pang of guilt for his hesitation. "I forgive you. None of this is your fault, but if you need to hear it, I forgive you."
"Thank you." His words, both the ones he told her, and the ones he kept buried in his heart, hung over her head. "About what you said earlier, I... I want you to know you mean the world to me. You are my greatest friend."
"You sweet-talker, you," he joked, earning a small smile from the sleuth.
"I just... I need time. I don't know how to comprehend this, and-and there's still the matter of Adachi, and... I just need time," she sighed, head hanging low.
"I understand. Take as much time as you need. I'm not going anywhere," he joked, the corner of his lip rising slightly..
"That isn't funny," she huffed, yet her own lips twitched at the comment. It almost felt like nothing had changed.
"Yeah. I know." Despite that, he continued to chuckle. "Hey, Naoto?"
"Yes?"
"You should get some food, babe."
Food felt like the last thing on Naoto's mind, yet her stomached nearly growled at the thought of sustenance. Yet Naoto felt her feet rooted by Narukami's side. "Narukami, are you sure?"
"I'm sure. You need food, and I should probably get some sleep." His lips smiled at her, before he let out a sigh of exhaustion. "I promise. I'm okay. Just tired. You need food, and rest. Go home. I'm going to be here for a week, so you don't need to worry."
"R-right." She nodded her head. "I'll come by tomorrow after school." He nodded in return, and she stood straight. "Well, goodbye-"
"This is enough, you know."
"What?"
Three simple words that confused the infamous detective. Her brow furrowed as he held his hand out to her, motioning for her to touch him. She placed her hand in his, trusting him wholeheartedly. He held her hand, which had never looked smaller or plainer than it did today, and kissed her knuckle. A familiar spark of electricity coursed through her, and part of her screamed to pull her hand back. Naoto felt her body stiffen as Yu placed another kiss against her skin, before he pushed her hand back towards her. Yu gently pushed her hand against her chest as he spoke.
"I won't lie to you. Not again. I love you, Naoto, but if you don't feel the same way about me? Fine. This is enough. Your friendship is enough." His thumb caressed her palm, before he released her. "This will always be enough for me."
"Yu?" He was such a strange person. Obnoxious, flirtatious, yet kind and compassionate. Didn't he once say that this change in personality came from her? That she inspired him to be different? Perhaps that was love in its purest form. The desire to improve in honor of another. Naoto sighed, exhaustion weighing her mind down. A mystery for another day... Despite her fatigue, she smiled at Yu, and bowed her head. "Thank you..."
"Always." She walked towards the door, and this time, she found the straight to leave her best friend alone. He needed rest, and she needed time. She hesitated, noticing something. Her hat laid on the ground, resting against the wall. She picked it up and dusted it off with careful, steady fingers. "Narukami?"
"Hm?"
"Will you hold onto this for me?" She held her hand out to him, and he stared at it as though it was a glittering diamond. "Until we see one another again?" She didn't know what possessed her to come up with the idea. This was her father's hat, passed down to her. It was a symbol of the Shirogane legacy that hung over her, yet she was giving it to a man she once hated?
Yu took it, and she watched as he held it with bated breath. His eyes were wide, and he took deep, steady breaths as he stared at it. He placed it upon his head and he smiled at her. It was perhaps the brightest he had smiled since waking up. "With pleasure."
Kanji watched as Naoto finally return to the group, and he immediately saw something was wrong with the young woman. She looked like she had gone through hell, with something heavy on her mind. She gave a halfhearted wave to the six as they sat at a table together, before walking away to get her own food. Rise watched the girl, before glancing at Kanji.
The two stared in silence, speaking without words with one another. Both knew something was wrong with Naoto, and both wanted to help their dear friend. Kanji nodded his head and Rise nodded right back.
The group made an agreement to have someone come after school to visit Nanako, Dojima, and Yu each day. Naoto volunteered to be the first, and she was met with no arguments. Chie suggested the group say goodbye to Yu, but Naoto commented that they should let him asleep. Once more, no one argued. Teddie was uncharacteristically quiet for the most part, only speaking when Yosuke placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Come on, Teddie. You can crash back at my place while Yu gets better, okay?" Yosuke spoke warmly, like an older brother to the blond bear, a fact that broke Teddie's grimace.
"Thanks, big bear-ther."
"Ugh." Yosuke rolled his eyes as he waved goodbye to the others. "See ya, guys."
"Bye, everyone!"
The others all bid their own farewells, leaving the hospital's entrance. Kanji and Rise were the only ones who didn't move, watching the others go their separate ways. Kanji glanced at Naoto, before noticing Rise's eyes on him. Her concern mirrored his own.
"You gonna talk to her?" she asked.
"I was planning on it, yeah..."
"You want me to come along?"
"Nah. I want to talk to her on my own..." Kanji could see the hesitation in Rise's eyes, but he knew she trusted him. Her hand brushed against his, both cold from the foggy, winter night. Rise's lips curled into a small smile, and she nodded her head.
"Okay. Just be careful. I'll wait here for you."
"The hell you will. Rise, it's late, you should just head on home without me."
"I know, it's late. That's why I want you to walk me home." Rise's smile never left her face. It illuminated the foggy night, and Kanji sighed with a hint of amusement.
She sure is stubborn... But he always kind of liked that about her. She had a fire behind those hazel eyes, and that fire could either be warm and comforting, or hot and invigorating. "Alright. I'll walk you home. Just give me like five minutes." She nodded her head, before watching the taller boy walk away from her. His eyes were on the detective slowly walking away, not on the idol who stood behind him, staring at her phone.
Kanji reached Naoto quickly, and he greeted her with a wave of his hand. She seemed to stare at him as though he were a Shadow, clearly surprised to see him following her.
"Tatsumi? Is there something I can help you with?"
"Nah, I mean... No, I'm alright. I just wanted to talk to you."
"Ah. I see. I'm sorry, Tatsumi, but tonight has been a rather draining. I don't think I have the energy to talk much..."
"Alright, then just listen." Naoto was clearly taken back by the firmness Kanji spoke with. The young man, in return, tried not to grin at her surprise.
"Look, I don't know what Yu-senpai and you talked about, and you ain't gotta tell me. I just wanted you to know that I'm here for you." Naoto's brow rose slightly, and Kanji went over the words in his head before speaking them. He didn't want to mess this up. "You and I haven't really talked since the night of the Culture Festival."
Naoto's eyes darted away from Kanji, glaring into the fog-infested streets of Inaba. She inhaled the thick mist, before sighing through her nose. "Kanji-"
"Just listen, alright?" he asked. "I just want you to know I'm sorry for the way I acted. I know I could have done things better than night. Not have said some of the stuff I said, y'know?" Naoto blinked, as the blond scratched at the back of his neck. "I messed up. I said things I shouldn't have, and I lashed out at you like some kind of idiot or something. I mean, I ain't the brightest bulb, but I still should have known better, right?"
She didn't answer back. He chuckled at her silence, slipping his hands into her pockets. Man, this is weird. It's... Man, what's that word? Ironic. "I just wanted to say sorry, and I hope you and I can be cool with each other again."
"I... Yes, of course." The sleuth nodded her head. "Your friendship is appreciated, Tatsumi, but what brought this on?" she wondered.
"Just felt like it was something I had to do. I haven't had the chance to say sorry since it happened, and with the whole team on break for a week, I guess, I just wanted to." He shrugged his shoulders as his hands slipped into his jacket's pockets. He felt something strange churn in his stomach.
It used to hurt to look at Naoto, because all Kanji could think about was that night at the festival. Now he was looking right at her, and she was avoiding his eyes. It still hurt remembering that night. It still hurt to think about what could have been. Regret was heavy in his mind, yet despite it all, he felt like he could finally drop the weights on his back. He stood tall as he continued.
"You're my friend. I hope you know that, and whatever happens, I'll still be your friend."
"T-thank you, Kanji." Naoto looked stunned. Kanji couldn't blame her. He didn't think he'd sound this 'okay.' But being confident was just something he had to be since he found about the real Yu.
It was funny. If Yu had never confronted Kanji about his feelings, the young man would have never started to break out on his own. Rise would have never helped him be confident enough to talk to Naoto, so he would never have the confidence to talk to the navy-haired detective here and now. It was like a bunch of dominoes, all falling on each other. One thing led to another.
"Kanji?" Her voice brought him back to reality. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure. Shoot."
"That night at the Culture Festival, you implied... That is to say, you-" Naoto sighed, massaging the bridge of her nose. "Do you think Yu has feelings for me?"
"Oh." Kanji's cheeks began to slowly turn red as he stuttered out a response. "I-I mean, that's not really for me to say, right? It's between you two, right?"
"Kanji-kun." Her voice was firm, and clearly demanding a straight answer. "Please. I need to know what you think," she sighed, her shoulders falling slightly.
"I..." He sighed, hanging his head low for a moment, before lifting it up to look at her. "I think Yu-senapi cares about you. I think you mean everything to him. I think you're the closest person to him, even after we've all seen his real self. I've seen the way he looks at you, and... And I know he has feelings for you."
It was strange for Kanji to confess this to Naoto. He couldn't deny that a part of him considered denying everything, lying about the silver-haired young man, but Kanji crushed the thought with a firm stomp. Despite everything, he could honestly say that Yu was one of his closest friends, and that the two were way more alike than Kanji could have ever imagined.
They both fell for the same girl, and that girl caused both of them to change. Naoto pulled Kanji out from his shell, and the same detective shattered the mask Yu had been wearing. They had both fallen for Naoto, but in the end the only thing that mattered was how Naoto felt.
"Do you have feelings for him?" He couldn't believe he uttered the question, but it just slipped out. The two blushed as Naoto glared a hole into the sidewalk below her. "Sorry... Guess that was too far."
"I-I have feelings for him, I just... don't know what they are," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. Kanji had to strain to even hear her speaking, and he wasn't sure what he was supposed to do after he heard those words.
Should I offer to help her? How the hell would I even do that?! No. No, this has got to be something she does for herself. Should I ask what she and Yu talked about? No, that's none of my business... Shit! What the hell am I supposed to say?! He glanced at the shorter girl as he chewed on his bottom lip. Think, stupid...
"Honesty's... the best policy?"
"What?"
Kanji wanted to smack himself in the head, but he held back that urge to try and explain himself. "Look, I'm not really good at this whole 'advise' thing, but I've had to do a lot of stuff I'm not used to lately. Fight monsters, talk to people, accept myself, and... well, other junk," he muttered. "The best advise I can got for you is that whatever you feel, make sure it's the truth. I know Yu-senpai. He's a lot of things, but whatever you two talked about, I bet he meant it."
"A simple belief," muttered the detective.
"Nothing wrong with simple," Kanji replied. "It's worked out pretty well with me, I think." He smiled at her, and that smile grew as she slowly returned the gesture. It was a small one, but it looked amazing on her. "I should probably get going. You gonna be okay?" He scratched at the back of his neck, still afflicted by his own nervousness.
"I will be fine, yes. Have a good night, Kanji-kun." She nodded her head at him, subtly bidding him farewell and showing a new level of respect to him. Least, that's how Kanji saw it.
"You too, Naoto." He waved goodbye to her, watching her leave him behind as the night's fog swallowed her up. Once he was sure she was gone, he sighed to himself. He began to make his way back to Rise, his thoughts a bittersweet mess.
Naoto sure is something, he thought to himself. Smart, cool-headed, and... pretty. His cheeks felt hot, but he tried to just ignore that feeling. He knew the chances of him and Naoto ever becoming more than friends was slim to none, but he accepted that with as much grace as he could. Naoto was amazing, and he was proud to call her his friend.
He took a deep breath of the cold, night air, before sighing one last time. He saw Rise on her phone, and called out to her. "Hey."
"Were you able to talk to her?" Rise asked, finishing her text message, before slipping her phone back into her pocket.
"Yeah. You ready to go?" She nodded her head, and the two began their trek back home.
It was silent for the most part, with little noise beyond the hum of streetlights and the occasional passing car, before Rise broke the silence. "Hey, Kanji?"
"Hm?"
"I doubt it means much, but I'm proud of you." The blond hadn't been expecting that. He lifted a single brow as he looked at her. She smiled back at him, her hazel eyes glancing at him. "You've come a long way since needing lessons on talking to Naoto," the idol joked. "And you even stood up against Yu-senpai when he was mad at me. You really have grown since I met you."
"Yeah, well..." Kanji didn't know what to say. He didn't know why he was coming up with nothing. Was it because of what Rise was saying? Or because of who was saying it? He hoped the fog blocked her from seeing his rosy cheeks as he shrugged. "I guess I did alright..."
"Are you blushing?" she teased, causing the taller boy to mentally curse his luck. "That's so cute! You're such a teddy bear, Kanji," she laughed, trying to playfully poke at his cheek.
"And you're freakin' hilarious," he shot back. Yet despite the glare in his eyes, he grinned at her.
Naoto was amazing, and while Kanji Tatsumi would wonder 'what if,' he found himself content with life. He and Naoto were friends, Senpai and he were closer than ever, and he had the greatest friend he could ever ask for. Loyal, supportive, stubborn, tough as nails, and cute to boot.
Wait... Cute?
"Kanji? You okay? Your cheeks are really red now..."
"F-fine! C-come on! Hurry up! It's freaking cold out here!" Kanji's pace quickened, and Rise was left pouting as she chased after him.
Yu laid on his bed, staring at his phone as sleep slowly pulled at his mind. Naoto's hat laid beside him on his bed. Rise had sent him a simple message a minute ago, and he wondered about his answer.
'Senpai, are you okay?' he read, his eyes glancing over the text.
The funny part was, despite everything that had happened, Yu really did feel okay. He didn't feel hollow. He didn't feel empty. In fact, he felt content.
He loved Naoto Shirogane with all of his heart. Whether that stone was made of stone or gold, he loved her, and that love had begun something. He had forged bonds with people he once saw as nothing more than insects, and he felt stronger because of it.
Yu Narukami told Naoto he loved her, and despite everything, he didn't regret his feelings. He didn't think he ever would.
He texted back to his second closest friend, promising her that he was okay and that she should focus on taking care of herself for now. He hit send as his eyes began to fall shut. In one week, he and the others would finish this mystery with a battle against the murderer. Yu did not fear the coming battle. He was happy. He didn't fear Naoto's answer to his feelings. He was calm.
This is enough, he repeated to himself, with a subtle smile on his lips. He relaxed his body and let his eyes fall shut as he slowly began to fall asleep.
When Yu opened his eyes again, he was surprised to notice a figure in the room, sitting by his bed. His vision was blurry, but he could definitely see a small, blue blob beside him. He strained his vision, only for his eyes to widen as he found Naoto Shirogane in his room, a book in her hands as she sat beside him. She hadn't noticed he had woken up yet, and Yu was left wondering what he should do. Did he greet her like nothing was different? Ask her if she had an answer for last night? Flirt? Yu nibbled on the inside of his mouth for a moment, contemplating his next move.
He glanced at the blue hat by his head, and he slowly tried to sit up. His body still ached, but Naoto seemed too engross by her book to notice his quiet grunting. He picked up the hat and held it out to her. "I didn't expect to see you so soon," he admitted, catching her off guard. The look of surprise on her face brought a smile to his.
"N-Narukami," she greeted, closing her book, leaving only a single finger inside to keep her page. "Good afternoon."
Back to Narukami, huh? he thought, with a hint of annoyance. "Wait, did you say afternoon? How long was I asleep...?"
"Quite a while, I imagine. I only got here recently. We decided to have one of us visit you every day while you recover. I volunteered for the first day, and came straight here after school."
"Oh." Does that mean you do like me? Or don't? Do you even have an answer yet? Yu growled at the thought, trying to shoo it away. "Well, I appreciate the company."
Naoto nodded in response, her cheeks clearly rosier than normal. "I had some questions for you, if you don't mind me asking." Yu was silent, merely raising a brow and motioning for her to continue. "H-how do you feel about heights?"
"Huh?"
"Please, Narukami, answer the question." Her voice was firm, but he could still hear the tiniest tremble in it.
"I like them. I always enjoyed the view from the Tokyo Skytree."
"In truth, I have always had a preference for them as well. In fact, I... I used to climb trees when I was younger," she muttered, her blush intensifying. "I would pretend I was a secret agent, and that my secret base was at the top of the tree.
Yu's eyes widened. Not at the mere imagery of a young Naoto climbing a tree, though he did find the image to be adorable, but that Naoto was telling him she did. Whether it was because of their similarities, or because they were simply close friends, Yu realized what she was doing. She wants to know about me, and to tell me about her. It's like this is a... a date, he realized.
His own cheeks were now aglow, and he found his throat turning dry. Is this a date? What should I do? Yu had been on many dates, and he had been in control for all of them. He manipulated men and women like they were sheep, but now, he found himself staring at someone smarter than him. He didn't have control over Naoto, and that sent a rush of fear and excitement through his body.
"Would you like to ask me a question now?" inquired the navy-haired woman. She was blushing still, and Yu found the sight to be comforting.
Leave it to Naoto to make a first date seem more like an interrogation, chuckled the silverette. "Sure," he replied, a grin forming on his face. Alright. I'll play along. "What's your favorite book?" A good question that Naoto would be eager to answer, he thought.
"While I enjoy several of her stories, I believe 'A Murder is Announced,' by Agatha Christie is my favorite," she answered, with little hesitation.
"Really? I was expecting something starring Sherlock Holmes," he commented, with mild surprise.
"While I am a fan of of Sherlock Holmes, his novels suffer due to their narrator." Yu stared at her in confusion as her brow wrinkled slightly. "Watson isn't as acute as Holmes is, thus Holmes has details the reader is not privy too. It's unfair."
"Wow, are you actually mad at Holmes from keeping clues from you?" Yu chuckled. "That's adorable." Her blush became a radiant pink on her face, traveling down her neck as she looked away. It was clear that she was embarrassed by her childhood antics, so Yu decided to confess one of his own secrets. "When I was young, I actually used to steal DVDs from movie stores."
"What?" It was her eyes that widened this time, staring at his smiling face as he explained.
"Yep. Just so I could watch Phoenix Rangers," he confessed. His smile turned into a mischievous smirk as she gawked at him. "What? My parents wouldn't let me watch it at home, and I was an addict for that stuff as a kid. Before you judge, I still remember how your Shadow was based on Kikaider."
"Y-you recognized that?! H-how?!" Naoto shouted, her cheeks as crimson as a tomato now.
"I loved tokusatsu when I was a kid," he explained.
"So that wasn't a lie...?"
It took him a moment to realize what she meant, but he remembered it. When they had first met, when he was blackmailing her to hang out with him, he made a joke about enjoying Phoenix Rangers. Originally, he had done it simply to get a reaction out of Naoto, but now... "Huh. I guess I did. That feels so long ago..."
"A lifetime ago," she agreed, with a quiet sigh. "We were both very different people then..."
"Yeah." Yu could feel regret burn the back of his throat, and a single glance at Naoto showed him that the past was plaguing her own mind as well. "So, you're a fan of Agatha Christie, huh? You know, I can't help but feel we resemble a couple of her characters." His voice took that arrogant, mocking tone it did when he wanted to mess with Naoto. "You just might be the Tuppence to my Tommy."
That lit a fire on Naoto's cheeks that burned her regrets away, and left her the perfect mix of impressed, embarrassed, and annoyed. "Louse."
Yu chuckled in response, before smiling much more naturally. "Next question?"
END
One of the funnest things about Yu and Naoto's relationship is how different, yet the same the two are. Both of them are geniuses, so they can follow what the other says, even when it's something obscure. They're also both geeks deep down inside. In a lot of ways, I like to imagine Yu as being Naoto's Moriarty. Clever, intelligent, and, in another world, a vicious rival.
For those curious, Tommy and Tuppence are a series of books by Agatha Christie. They're about a pair of detectives/spies who fall in love over the course of their adventures, becoming friends, lovers, husband and wife, parents, and finally grandparents. I like to imagine Yu and Naoto will one day follow a similar path.
This chapter was very scary to write, as you can imagine. It had that big ol' bombshell at the start! Beyond that, I wanted to make Naoto react accordingly. Obviously she ran from Yu in canon when he confessed, but this is a different setting. I felt it would have been kind of mean of her to run after he had literally taken a bullet for her. I dunno, maybe I'm crazy.
Not a lot of plot stuff this chapter, beyond that bombshell for Naoto at the start. Imagine this as the end of the calm. Next chapter is the storm, as Yu and Naoto lead their friend against Adachi, and Yu is faced with a dark reflection of himself, and the truth of his own nature.
Also, here's a crazy fact. There are only three or four chapters of Arc 2 left after this! After that, I'll take a break, we'll go to Arc 3 (which will probably be around fourteen or fifteen chapters, maybe less) maybe have an epilogue, and then... That's it. Just a Delinquent will be over. Ain't that a crazy thought? That's still a ways a way, but... yeah. Nuts.
Have a good day, everyone! Take care!