The Greatest Friends
It was obvious to Rise that something terrible had happened between Naoto and Yu. She had no idea what had happened, but the two refused to talk to each other. She almost wished they were arguing around the group. At least then they'd be talking, but they just avoided each other and refused to talk unless they had to.
There was clearly a tension between them. Neither could even make eye contact with the other. They just avoided talking to each other, only speaking when they had to.
Rise just wished she knew what she could do to help, but every time she tried to speak to one of them, they'd change the subject or just ignore her.
The atmosphere around dinner that night was painful, to say the least, and as soon as the group returned to their cabin, Yu and Naoto walked into their respective bedrooms and closed the others out.
As the two slept, their six friends assembled in the living area, looking at each other for answers to what was going on.
"So… Are we going to talk about what happened?" Yosuke asked, sitting on a couch. He spoke quietly, glancing at one of the doors as if expecting to see one of the two burst out to yell at him.
"They both seem so upset," Teddie whimpered. "I wondered what happened to make them so angry at each other…"
"I'm not sure if it is anger," Yukiko thought aloud. The others looked at her, and she blushed under their eyes. "Well, I mean, I don't think it's just anger. They seem more sad than angry to me."
"It's up to us, guys," Rise declared. "What are we going to do? Neither of them are talking. To us, or each other…"
"Do you think Yu tried confessing to her and that's why she ran away?" the raven-haired girl asked.
Rise visibly cringed at the question, and most of the group looked at her in confusion. It was clear that to really help Yu and Naoto, Rise was going to have to betray her brother's trust. She mentally apologized to the man, before explaining.
"Um, actually, they're already dating."
"They really are our Team Mom and Dad?" Teddie gasped.
"What? Why didn't they tell us?" Yukiko's eyes widened, before looking away. It was clear she was more disappointed than angry. She opened her mouth, before closing it again. "I thought..." Rise could finish the sentence for Yukkiko. The older girl thought Yu trusted them, or rather, her.
Yosuke smiled for a moment. "I knew it," he grinned, only to flinch as Chie glared at him.
"Hey, don't be mad at him." Rise was quick to defend Yu. "He didn't even want to tell me. Yu said that Naoto wanted to keep their relationship a secret," she explained.
"Really? Why?" Chie inquired.
"She was probably scared," Kanji commented. "She's pretty shy when it comes to her feelings."
"Well, I can understand that," Yukiko muttered. She sighed quickly and looked at the others. "So what's the best way for us to help them? If they're a couple, and fighting, it's even more important we help get them back together. Love is at stake," she declared firmly.
"Maybe we should wait?" Kanji suggested. "Like, maybe we should wait until we're back at Inaba. A place they know might make them feel more comfortable. Plus it'll give them both some time to cool off."
"Dude, when did Kanji get so smart?" Yosuke joked.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Kanji growled, only to blush as Rise patted his hand.
"Kanji's a genius when it comes to matter of the heart," she explained, before pecking her boyfriend's cheek. He blushed in response as the others smiled at the couple.
"I think Kanji-kun is right. Nao-chan looked like she wanted to bite my furry head off when I tried to make her feel better." The bear groaned, rubbing his round head.
"That's because you tried hugging her," Yosuke sighed.
"Who doesn't like bear hugs?"
"Alright, we wait until we're back in Inaba. But what then? Do we trick them to talk to each other?" Chie inquired.
"Maybe we should talk to them ourselves first?" Yosuke thought aloud. "You know, help nudge them to each other? Maybe find out what happened?" The young man paused, before crossing his arms and sighing again. "I remember when we were trying to get to Namatame. After we almost died, Yu tried going into the other world by himself."
"He did what?!" Teddie gasped, before being shushed by Yukiko. The bear quickly covered his mouth, glancing at the doors.
"Why would he do that?" Yukiko questioned, clearly just as confused as Teddie was.
"Because he was going to try and save Naoto himself."
"B-but that would have been suicide…"
"Yeah, I think he knew that," Rise muttered, staring at the ground. Kanji squeezed her hand, holding her slender fingers in his.
"Point is, he and I talked, and it was only after I set him straight that he tried talking to Naoto. Maybe this is something similar?"
"Maybe we should split up?" Chie wondered. "Like, Blue Team goes to talk to Naoto, Red Team talks to Yu?"
"Shouldn't Red Team be Silver Team?" Yukiko asked.
"I think Chie-senpai has a point," Rise agreed. Yukiko pouted, and the Rise corrected herself. "Uh, no, you're right about the name, Yukiko-senpai, but I'm talking about splitting up. They both need to know their friends are looking out for them."
"I'll go talk to Yu." Kanji volunteered. Rise looked at him, silently asking if he was sure, and he nodded his head.
"Alright. Then I'll go see Naoto," she replied. "Let's decide how we'll split up and plan our next move."
Rise, Yosuke, and Teddie stood outside Naoto's apartment, waiting. Rise had knocked on the door, hoping for a response from the detective, but after a few minutes of waiting, the group looked at one another.
"So, what's plan B?" Yosuke wondered aloud.
The young girl sighed, frowning as she began to knock on the door again. "Naoto! Naoto, we know you're in there!" No response again. "Open up! We just want to talk!"
The three waited for a response, but the detective had yet to open the door. Rise sighed, and looked at Teddie. "Alright, Teddie. It's time. I need you to go bear wild on this door."
"Right!" The small bear unzipped his suit and popped out, glaring at the door. He then began to bang his hands on the door, calling out for the detective. "Nao-chan! Nao-chan! We need to talk! Please, open up! Pretty please with bear-ries on top!"
Rise stepped back and she and Yosuke shared a look. "How long do you think she'll last?" he wondered.
"Not long."
"I just hope the neighbors don't mind," he muttered.
The two watched Teddie to bang on the door for what felt like forever. The blond boy had energy comparable to Nanako on a sugar rush. After a few minutes of his incessant knocking, the three heard a lock turn and the door swung open.
Naoto glared at the three, leaving only a crack so the the three could only see her eye and disheveled hair. She was scowling at them, shaking in anger.
"Leave me alone. I don't-"
Rise suddenly lunged forward, quickly followed by Teddie and Yosuke. Naoto's eye widened in shock, and before she could stop them, the three all charged against the door, putting their full weight against it. Naoto struggled to brace it, but she simply wasn't strong enough.
The door opened, and the three teens spilled onto the ground. Naoto stepped away from the door, glaring at them. Rise groaned, buried under the two boys, but they quickly got off of her and stood up, staring at the surprised detective.
"Yay! It worked!" the blond cheered, throwing his hands up.
Yosuke didn't share the boy's enthusiasm though. He looked around the room, eyes widening at what he saw. He helped Rise up as he gawked. "Yeesh. Naoto, what happened?"
The idol followed the brunette's eyes, and her jaw almost dropped. The small apartment was a mess, with papers strewn about all over the room. Files were messily stacked on a table, with three large boxes filled with more files sitting on the couch. There were plates with half eaten food laying on the floor, clearly forgotten about.
Rise's eyes moved from the room to look at Naoto, and it was clear the room was a reflection of the detective. Naoto's hair was a mess, curling in all the wrong places, and sticking to her skin. Her top, a long-sleeved white shirt, was stained with coffee, and Rise could still spy a similar mess on Naoto's black pants. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion,like she had stayed up all night.
"All of you, out. Now." the sleuth demanded, glaring at them.
"No way! We want to help you, Nao-chan! We're worried about you!" Teddie argued.
"Yeah!" Yosuke agreed, nodding his head. "I mean, look at this place! It's a mess! Haven't you only been home for like a day?" he wondered, raising his brow. "What are all these papers, anyways?"
"Cases. I asked some neighboring police stations, if they had any cases they didn't have time for, and I volunteered to help,," Naoto answered. "I was working on them. Each of them is a crime that needs proper attention and-"
"This one's for a missing shirt," Yosuke commented, holding up an open file.
"Do not read that!" Naoto marched forward to take the file from the older boy, only for Rise to stand in the way.
"Naoto, you know why we're here." Rise saw Naoto's eyes flinch, and she looked away from the idol. "And we know you're dating Yu."
"He told you?" Naoto's eyes widened, before she sighed. "Of course he did." Her eyes narrowed, glaring at the ground.
"Hey, he only told me by accident! And I told the others because we saw the way you two were acting!" Rise stepped forward, and Naoto watched her. The copper-haired girl sighed, relaxing her body. "Naoto, we're your friends. We want to help you both. We're just here to talk."
"Rise, I don't want-" But Rise interrupted the detective.
The idol moved forward, and she embraced the shorter girl with a quick, tight hug. "You may not want to talk to us, but maybe you need to talk to us. We're your friends, Naoto. We want to help. Just let us." Naoto didn't say anything at first, and Yosuke was the next to plea with her.
"We should at least know what happened between you guys. Can you tell us that, at least?"
The detective didn't move for a moment, before she slowly pulled out of the hug. Rise let her.
"We can talk, but there isn't much you can do. What happened is between Yu-" She hesitated, took a quick breath and resumed. "Narukami and I, and it only happened because of my own ineptitude." Naoto turned away, and she walked over to the open kitchen by the living room. "If you all intend on staying, so be it. I'll make us some coffee."
Rise quietly sighed in relief. The first part of the plan was a success. They were inside, and were able to at least talk to Naoto. She motioned for the boys to help her move the boxes on the couch, and they followed her.
She tried to put on a confident front, but worries still racked her mind. She hoped things were going better with Kanji and the others.
Kanji, Chie, and Yukiko were outside of the Dojima Residence. Teddie had given the three his spare key, and Chie held it in her hand. Dojima and Nanako were still at the hospital, meaning the only person inside would be Yu.
"What if he isn't home?" Yukiko wondered.
"Then we'll search the town for him, but it ain't gonna hurt looking here first."
"Think we should knock first?" she asked.
"Can't hurt," Kanji replied, loudly tapping his fist against the door several times. The group waited for a response,but nothing came. "Well, guess we're using the key."
Chie unlocked the door, and the three stepped inside. There was no one in the living room or kitchen, so the three made their way to the stairs.
"Narukami?" Yukiko called out to the young man, but there was no answer.
"He's probably in his room. Come on." Chie was the first to walk up the stairs, motioning the others to follow her.
The small group walked up the stairs, before stopping outside their friend's door. It was open slightly, just enough for them to peek inside if they wanted. Kanji knocked on the door, slowly pushing it open.
"Senpai? It's us. Um, we're coming in." Kanji pushed the door until it was open all the way, and the three stared at their silver-haired friend.
Yu was on the ground, a foot away from his bed. He was laying on his stomach, facing away from the three so they could only see the back of his head. The trio's eyes widened, and they moved forward, rushing towards their friend.
"Yu!" Yukiko was the first to touch the body, placing her hands on his shoulders. She shook the man as Kanji and Chie talked about what to do.
"W-what happened to him?" the brunette girl gasped.
"I don't know, I don't know! Oh, man, please be okay, Sen-"
"Ugh… Stop yelling," Yu groaned. "I'm trying to sleep."
"You're okay?!" Yukiko's eyes widened, and she sighed in relief. "We thought you were hurt!"
"No. Just sleeping." The silverette sat up, rubbing at his eyes.
"On the floor...?" she asked.
"It's where I ended up." He stretched his arms up, rolling his neck. His dull eyes looked at the group, and each of them could see the irritation in his eyes. "Alright, go ahead. Say what you came to say. Let's get this over with."
"Huh, get what over with?" Chie inquired.
"I'm not an idiot, guys. I know why you're here. It's about Naoto and me, right?" Yu dusted himself off, wearing a simple white shirt and long, grey sweatpants. "You're going to tell me to not give up on her, and that everything will be okay, or something."
His grey eyes looked at Kanji, and the blond saw subtle bags under the older boy's eyes. "Let me guess. Rise told all of you, huh? Yosuke, Teddie, and her are over at Naoto's, right now?"
"Y-yeah. How'd you-?"
"You're all pretty predictable." Yu shrugged his shoulders.
"Okay, so if you know all that, then why don't you just go talk to Naoto? You know, cut out the middleman!"
Yu turned his head to look at Chie, and the scowl on his face twitched. "I never said you were going to succeed in convincing me. You'll try, but I don't see it mattering." His fingers curled into fists for a moment, before relaxing. "Naoto isn't going to talk to me, but I know none of you are going to believe me, so let's just get this over with..."
Chie growled, clearly growing frustrated with Yu's passive-aggressive comments. "Then what's your plan?! Just stay cooped here and-?"
"I'm not staying cooped up anywhere, Chie. I'll go out. I'll just leave Naoto alone... Better that way. No point in pouring salt on the wound."
"You can't say that! You make-!"
"Make her what? Happy? Yeah, cause she was so happening during the trip, Yukiko. " Yu rolled his eyes, and Kanji felt one of his veins pop. The blond clenched his jaw and ground his teeth, trying to maintain his anger.
"Why won't you just talk to her?" Chie asked.
"Because I don't deserve her," he replied, glaring at her. She stepped back, shocked by the harsh glare, and he sighed, shaking his head. "Sorry. It's simple, Chie. I was a selfish prick, even when we were dating. I was her best friend, her boyfriend, and everything was great, but I fucked up." Yu took a step back, distancing himself from the group.
"It wasn't enough. It never is for me. She kept giving, and I kept demanding more. She trusted me more than anyone else, but it wasn't enough for me. That is why we broke up. It was my fault."
"You can't believe that," Yukiko argued. "You've changed. You're a good person now."
"You're half right. I have changed. But I'm still not good enough to date her. I just…" He sighed, burying his face in his hands. "This isn't her fault. It's mine, and I… I don't want to ruin things anymore than I already have. So I'm going to give her space, instead of suffocating her."
"And how long are you going to give her space for? Narukami, you have to talk to her eventually!" Yukiko exclaimed.
"As long as I have to! As long as I can give, because I can't keep hurting her!" Yu shouted. He ground his teeth against one another, before exhaling. "I'm done hurting the people I care about."
"Alright, that's enough!" Kanji grabbed Yu's collar with one hand, before shoving the shorter man back. Yu stumbled, before falling onto his bed. He looked at Kanji, just as shocked as Chie and Yukiko were. "We get it, you fucked up, but come on, man! You're smart enough to know how shit your answers are."
"I get it, man. You hurt her. You two had your first fight, am I right?" Yu's silence was more than enough to answer. "Well, shut up and listen to me. I'm about to educate your ass."
Kanji sat down on Yu's table, glaring at his friend. Chie and Yukiko looked at one another, before turning back to the blond.
"It was the day before New Years. Rise and I were talking about the upcoming year and all the stuff we wanted to do together." Yu opened his mouth, but a glare from Kanji quickly silenced him. "She told me she wanted to become an idol again. Get back into the business. Do you know what I said about that?"
Again, Yu opened his mouth, but this time he didn't need Kanji glaring at him to stop. He just closed his mouth and shook his head as Yukiko and Chie listened to the story.
"I told her I hated the idea of her being an idol again." His voice lost that fiery tone, and he sounded more… exhausted. Like even recalling their fight was enough to exhaust him.
"I hated it for like a dozen different reasons… I hated the idea of her having to go on long trips across the damn country. I hated knowing that she'd be pressured by jackasses into putting on a show, or faking it for her fans. And I hated knowing guys were going to be ogling her every time she showed up. It pissed me off, and I told her so."
"Not to mention idols aren't supposed to have relationships, so you'd have to hide it from the general public..." Yu trailed off, and Kanji just peered at the silverette. Yu expected to be yelled at, but instead Kanji just chuckled.
"Yeah. That too."
"What happened next?" Yukiko inquired, clearly invested in the story. Kanji blinked at her, surprised by the reaction, before smiling.
"She hated me for hating it. Said I had no faith in her. Said that I didn't trust her. I told her that she left that world for a reason. How was supposed to act? I mean...She told me how being an idol felt. She lost sight of who she was, and it made me pissed to think she was going back to those people."
"She and I went our separate ways pissed at each other that night. I spent the whole night thinking about that fight. Our first fight… When morning came, I ate breakfast and left to go talk to her. Ended up finding her right outside my front door, about to knock."
"Aww, that's so cute!" Yukiko commented.
"Yukiko, you're interrupting the story!"
"Sorry!"
Yu couldn't help but laugh at Yukiko's flushed face. Kanji wondered if Yu even realized he was smiling.
"So I found her outside my door, and we just look at each other. We both tried to apologize, but we kept interrupting each other. We decided to take a walk together, and just talk shit out."
"Then what happened?" Yu asked.
"We worked it out." Kanji smiled at Yu's dumbfounded face. "It wasn't easy, but we owed it to each other. We talked all morning, and even into the afternoon, but afterwards we understood each other better. She's gonna go back to being an idol, but she's gonna make it clear she wants me as her personal tailor."
Kanji's cheeks were almost glowing red, and the fire in his voice was replaced with a warm glee. "She's gonna have to come back to Inaba to get most of her clothes fitted right, or I'm gonna have to go to the shows with her. Either way, I'll see her as much as I can, and we'll be together."
"And your relationship?" Chie asked, eager for an answer. "Are you guys gonna have to hide it?"
"Well, Rise talked with her manager a couple of weeks ago. Guy says an idol with a boyfriend might be a good angle for a lot of folks. Hard to work, but unique, he said. Folks love a love story," he grinned.
"I told my ma this a while ago," Kanji admitted. "Know what she told me? She told me that the first fight is always the hardest. Cause you think, now that we're dating, everything's gonna be perfect. It ain't. Ma said that even the best couples fight. It's the ones that don't that you have to worry about, cause they're probably bottling up what's wrong."
"Bottling up, huh?" Yu muttered, looking away. He fidgeted on his bed, a frown on his face.
"How long?" Yukiko inquired.
"Over a month," the silverette muttered.
"The first fight's always the worse," Kanji repeated. "But ma said, and she's right, that a couple has to talk things out, or it'll just get worse. If you really love someone, you owe it to them, and yourself, to try. You understand me, Yu?"
Yu didn't say anything. He just rubbed his hands together as his mouth opened and closed.
"I know it's hard to talk to the people you care about sometimes." Kanji and Chie looked at Yukiko, who walked over to Yu. She sat by his side, and she placed a hand on the shoulder farthest from her. "Do you remember the night at the Amagi Inn?"
Yu looked at her, nodding his head. He stared at her as she turned scarlet with shame. "I had seen the way you and Naoto looked at each other. I saw how happy she made you, how comfortable you were with her, and I hated it. I would stay up some nights, just… hating it. I was jealous. I loved you. I wanted you to look at me that way," she quietly confessed.
The silverette's hand found hers. He squeezed hers as he muttered, just loudly enough for her to hear. "I'm sorry…"
She smiled at him, before continuing. "Sometimes you have to let out a little fire to avoid something worse. I didn't, and I did something I never should have." Yukiko's hand trembled, and Yu remembered finding Naoto's face discolored. Yukiko had hit the detective in her rage, and in return, he got so damn mad...
"I should have said something sooner, and because I didn't, I almost lost both of you," Yukiko confessed. She pulled her hand out of Yu's grip and wiped her eyes. "But you forgave me."
"Hey, you forgave me. Eventually." Yu smirked at Yukiko, and she nodded her head.
"I suppose I did… The point is, you need to talk to Naoto, Yu. She needs to talk to you, and you need the same."
Yu nodded his head, before noticing Chie walking closer. She sat on the other side of Yu, her hands firmly planted on her skirt.
"It isn't easy, I bet," she muttered. Her fingers pinched the fabric of her clothes, and she sighed. "I'm not in a relationship. I'm not even really good at talking about my feelings. I'm…" Yu's other hand found its way to her, and he held her nervous fingers. "You know, I thought about how useful I'd be here. I thought, 'not very, probably.' But you know what?"
"What?" Yu chuckled.
"I'm here. I'm here because you're my friend, and I want you to be happy, and Naoto makes you happier than anything!" she declared. Chie gave him a toothy grin, and he chuckled at the sight. "So here's my advice. A relationship is like a muscle. You've got to work it out to make it stronger!"
"Oh?"
"Yeah! It needs love, like muscles need protein, and sometimes it's gonna hurt and feel sore. It's bound to happen to any good muscle," she explained. Yu could see her mind racing to make the analogy work, and he had to hold back a laugh as she continued.
"So you gotta work it out. You have to give it everything it needs, because if not, it won't be strong enough for you."
"My muscles won't be strong enough, or the relationship?"
"Both!"
Yu laughed, unable to help himself. Yukiko found herself joining in, giggling and snorting as Chie blushed. Even Kanji chuckled along.
"H-hey! Don't laugh. I'm serious! I-"
The silverette took his hand off of Chie's hand and slipped it around her, pulling her into a tight hug. "You're smarter than I give you credit for, Chie." He released her, and the smile on his face made the brunette beam with pride.
It didn't last forever, sadly. Yu stood up, pulling away from the two girls and looking at Kanji. "I… Everything you guys have said makes sense, but I just don't know… I'm terrified of failing. I'm scared I'll hurt her again."
"Here's the thing, Yu. If you talk to her, and she still is upset at you, you two will be just friends. But if you talk, and things work out, you're dating again. Do either of those options really sound that bad?" Kanji asked, and he could see the gears turning in Yu's head. "Or you don't talk to her, and you two aren't even friends afterwards. Either way, talking to her gives you the best options."
Yu didn't say anything at first. He just stood there, eyes on the floor. "I can't hurt her, guys. I'm done hurting people. I just…" For a moment, the three friends saw Yu's bravado melt away. His pride, his confidence, everything crumbled, and they saw the same man who begged for forgiveness after the case was closed.
"It's okay, man. It's gonna be alright. We're here for you." Kanji squeezed Yu's shoulder, and the silverette nodded.
Yu slowly pulled Kanji's hand off of him, and he looked at the three. "How about we get something to eat? I'll cook us all something for lunch, how about it?"
The three knew this wasn't him trying to avoid the problem. It was him needing time to go over what they said. For them, it was a victory. They didn't know what Yu would do tomorrow, but they had faith he'd do the right thing.
All they had to do was wait.
Naoto held a small cup of coffee in her hand. She sat on the couch with Rise by her side, and Yosuke and Teddie sitting on the floor, looking up at her. She glanced at her front door, quietly contemplating a plan to escape, but when nothing came to her, she sighed and accepted her predicament.
She didn't want to be here. She didn't want to be interrogated by her friends. Worst of all, she didn't want to think of him, of what they had, and how she had ruined all of it.
"As you know, Narukami and I have been dating for a few weeks now. Since Christmas, actually." The others nodded, silently. "We kept our relationship a secret at my request."
"Why?" Yosuke asked.
"I feared how our relationship would change our group dynamic."
"Change it how?"
"Ah, well I didn't want any of you to feel like I was stealing Narukami from you. Each of you are close to him, so I was worried that you would see our relationship as a betrayal." Naoto explained it, but looking at it now, she wasn't sure if even she believed it.
"Naoto, come on, you know none of us would have felt that way. I've been hoping you two would get together for a while," the brunette smiled, but his gesture wasn't returned.
"I knew it wasn't a very convincing argument, but if Narukami saw through me, he didn't say anything. He simply agreed, enjoying what our relationship was in privacy." Naoto stirred her drink, watching the hazel concoction swirl in the white cup.
She felt that familiar sense of self-loathing bubble inside of her. Narukami was given so little, yet he accepted it with a smile because he was foolish enough to love her.
"Did he make you happy?" Teddie inquired.
Naoto didn't respond immediately. She just sat like a statue, eyes slowly blinking, before she sighed. "Yes. He always treated me with respect, and-"
"Naoto." Rise placed her hand on the detective's shoulder, squeezing gently. "Drop the formal attitude for a minute. Just be yourself, and tell us how he made you feel."
There was just something about the request that infuriated the sleuth. It just felt like salt on her wound, and she ground her teeth, quickly pushing Rise's hand away from her. "What is the point of this exercise? Why do you need to know about how he treated me? I-"
"You know exactly why." Rise replied, firmly. Naoto glared at her, and Rise returned the sharp look. "We need all the information if we're going to solve this case. The mystery is what's keeping you from being happy with your boyfriend."
"Rise," Naoto began, and the others waited for a response, but she didn't continue. She just sighed, placing her drink on the table in front of her. She brought her gaze back to it, unwilling to stare her friends in their eyes.
"Yes, he made me happy while we dated. I was…" She rubbed her forehead, and bent forward. "I was happy with him. It wasn't just nice, it was amazing. It was everything I could have asked for in a friend. The moments we spent together made me feel like I could be anyone I wanted to be. I had no standards to live up to. No role to fill. I was just Naoto Shirogane..."
The memories came like a waterfall. Naoto tried to put her walls back up again, but they crumbled against the flood. Her vision blurred as she felt that same horrible ache in her chest. She took a long, slow breath. Her body shook as she tried to calm her racing heart.
"So what happened?" Yosuke finally said.
"I did," growled the dark-haired woman. "I ruined our relationship. I drove us apart, and I broke his heart!" She raised her voice, and Yosuke's eyes widened as he leaned back. "I made a mistake, and it cost me my best friend..." Her voice shuddered, and she fought it like hell. She fought to keep her emotions under her control, clenching her jaw as her eyes glistened.
"So you made a mistake! Lots of people make mistakes, Naoto!" Rise pulled on Naoto's sleeve, trying to turn away from Yosuke. "I know if you talk to him, things will work out. You two can start dating again, and-"
Naoto pulled her arm out of Rise's grip, before standing. "I appreciate what all of you are trying to do, but I am asking you to leave. I know you're trying to help, but your services aren't required."
The dark-haired woman fought desperately to recreate her emotional walls, keeping her eyes aimed at a wall. She refused to let them see her. She refused to be seen as weak… Memories of her childhood stung at her mind like a hive of hornets, reminding her of the past.
I am not weak. I will not cry and be seen as some child! I am not weak! She screamed in her mind.
She saw Yu Narukami in her mind, and she ground her teeth, as if she wanted to file all of them into a white, chalky dust. Naoto told herself not to cry over him. She begged herself to stop being so weak.
He would have left her anyways, she told herself. Better to have control over the why and how...
"It's easier, isn't it?" Teddie asked, his voice lower and more subdued than the others usual. "Pretending that no one cares. Accepting that people have better things to do than be your friend." Everyone stared at Teddie, each expression carried shock and confusion in it, most of all Naoto's. "What's the point on making friends if the bond is going to fade away anyways, right?"
"Dude, we're trying to make her feel better, not-"
Teddie stood up on his own two feet, his bright, cyan eyes staring into Naoto's, peering into her soul as he uttered something in a low, almost rumbling tone. The words he was saying made sense, but they were so unlike the bear Naoto knew, it didn't seem possible for a moment.
"The truth is unattainable. It will always be shrouded in fog. Though you reach through the murk and the gloom to grasp something, you have no means to know it is the truth. In which case, why...? What sense is there in yearning for truth? Close your eyes. Lie to yourself. Live in blissful ignorance. It is a much smarter way to exist."
"T-Teddie, what are you…?"
"That's what my Shadow told me, Nao-chan, and honestly?" Teddie chuckled, his voice returning to normal again. "I still have a hard time with some of the words!" He smiled at the joke for a moment, before continuing with a sad smile on his lips. "But I think I understand what he meant, and so do you, right?"
Teddie tilted his head. "Why form bonds with people who are going to leave? Why make friends with people who might not even be your friend a year from now? Why take that risk? That's why you're scared to fix things with Yu. You know he's still going to leave, and the pain you feel now isn't as bad as the bad of him leaving you, but still loving you, right?"
No one spoke for a moment. Everyone just stared at Teddie as his eyes bounced from person to person. "What? What is it? Do I have something on my snout?"
"Dude. What the hell?" Yosuke muttered, before shaking his head. He looked at Naoto, pity and concern in his eyes. "So, how much of that was true, Naoto…?"
She didn't answer, which was more than enough to answer the question.
"Naoto…" Naoto had a long, deep grimace on her face, her fingers combing her hair as she struggled to control herself.
It was a futile attempt, and her childish outburst came out all the same. "They told me they had to go out on a case, that they would be home within a few days. A few days became a week, and a week became two... When my grandfather told me there was news about my parents, I thought they were finally coming home… That was the night I found out about my parents' death..."
Naoto stumbled back, trying to stop herself, her mind begging her heart to stop, but it refused to listen. "I realized how easy promises were broken, and how easy bonds could break. Whether by time, or distance, or just death itself… I know all bonds are finite. They will end, and… and I realized I wasn't strong enough. Eventually Yu would have grown bored with me, o-or distance and time would have separated us. I realized losing him was inevitable, and I-"
She hated herself. She truly, truly despised herself, because in the end, she was the reason they broke up. Not him. Her. Naoto Shirogane.
"Those fears plagued me to the point that I was what drove us apart." Naoto closed her eyes, hands tightening into fists. "There is no one, but me to blame."
She felt something wet travel down her face, and she quickly wiped her face with her sleeve. Naoto begged for the pain in her chest to stop, but it only seemed to intensify.
"Naoto-" Rise opened her mouth to speak, but Yosuke placed his hand on Rise's. She stopped, and looked at the older teen. He silently looked back at her, asking for the chance to talk to their friend.
Rise nodded her head, and Yosuke stood up and walked forward. Naoto steeped back on reflex, turning her head away so that the taller teen couldn't see her red eyes, or her crimson skin.
"Naoto, I know I don't know Yu as well as you do, or hell, even as well as Rise does. But mind if I offer my opinion?" The detective didn't say anything. "I still remember when I saw the real Yu. It was when we we still thought Namatame was the killer, and you told me to stop him from doing something stupid. I found him in Junes, about to go and try to save Nanako himself. He was going to get himself killed, and he knew it."
The memories were painful. They stung at Naoto's mind, and her curious gaze turned into a fiery glare, directed at Yosuke. "Why are you telling me this?" she hissed.
"Because I saw the way you made him act. He was pissed at himself for letting you, Nanako, and Dojima down. He blamed himself for letting you get hurt. I've never seen him so angry. Every time you're in danger, every time something threatens you, he gets pissed and wants to either protect you or make it up to you. To me, that sounds like love."
Naoto's eyes widened, and Yosuke smiled at her, noticing she was looking at him again. "And when he's happy? He's happiest with you. It's obvious no matter what you two are doing. I still remember listening to you two flirt after we interrogate Namatame," he smirked. "He loves you."
"Even so, I… There's no benefit to us dating. We can remain friends. He knows how I feel, and I know how he does, b-b-but it is something that simply can't be."
"Naoto." Yosuke's voice was firm, if sympathetic. "I know it's scary, but days like this don't last forever. You're right. Things end, but…" Naoto's eyes strained, staring into Yosuke's almond eyes. There was pain in them. A familiar pain she hadn't expect to see in Yosuke's eyes.
"Look, I'm sorry for what happened about your parents, but this isn't the way to go about it. You know that…" There was a pain in Yosuke's eyes, and in that moment, Naoto and Yosuke understood each other better than they ever had. "If you love him, if you even think you do, you should try to pursue it. Because trust me, he does, and he wants nothing more than to make you the happiest girl in the world."
Naoto was dealt a revelation at that moment. A truth hidden under the surface of this last year. Both her and Yosuke had lost loved ones to a killer. A single entity that changed their loves with just a thought. Both of them knew what it was like to suddenly have a person they cared for deeply be taken away.
It hurt. Even after time had passed, the pain weighed on their hearts. They may not have felt the same way for those they lost, but it was the same kind of pain…
To love someone, and to suddenly have them torn out of your hands, no matter how much you begged or pleaded….
"If you love him, if he makes you happy, you should try and make it work. Maybe you two aren't meant to be, if not, fine. If things just don't work out, okay. But trying to make things work is better than not trying at all, right? Even if you don't know what answer you'll get in the end?"
Yosuke was speaking logically, and that almost floored Naoto. Then she heard his words, and she understood them instantly.
"Yeah!" Teddie beamed at Naoto, giving her two thumbs up. "Just because the question doesn't have an immediate answer doesn't mean it's bad! It's an adventure!" He walked closer to Naoto and grinned. "My Shadow said I don't know who I am. I know I'm Teddie Hanamura, and I know I have my friends right by my side!"
Naoto wasn't sure what to say. She gawked at the two boys, unsure what to say in reply, before Rise laughed. It was a quick, amused laugh, as she stood up with Yosuke. The two walked towards Naoto, smiling.
"I'm going back into the idol business. I've talked to my old manager, and he said it wasn't going to be easy. I'm going to have to devote a lot of time and energy to it, and that means spending time away from Kanji-kun."
"He knows?" Naoto quietly asked.
"Yeah. We spent a lot of time talking about it. It wasn't easy, but I think we found an understanding. And that's the thing. You're scared, Naoto, and that's okay. But you need to talk to him. How else will you two get back together?"
Naoto shook her head, and she stumbled once more. She stepped back and fell, landing on the ground as she shook her head. "I feel like I've disgraced my entire family. I fel sick. I… I don't know where I can begin."
"That's why you have friends, silly." Rise held her hand out to the sleuth, and Naoto took it, rising up onto her feet. "We'll figure this out, together."
Naoto nodded her head. Her mind was heavy was conflict and thought. She could barely scratch the surface, when exhaustion suddenly hit her like a truck. Her legs gave out, but Rise caught her, holding her up.
"Naoto! Are you okay?!"
"Yes… I'm fine. Just exhaustion. I… I might not have eaten anything since returning here."
"Wait." Yosuke looked at the cup of coffee on the table. "Have you just been drinking coffee? Did you even go to sleep last night?" Naoto didn't answer, looking away in shame. "Alright, come on. We're getting you some food."
"Yay! Food! And Yosuke's paying!" Teddie declared.
"Oh, like hell! There's four of us! I'm not paying for everyone!"
"In that case, I get a free meal!"
"No way. If anyone's getting a free meal, it's Naoto. Now shut your bear-hole!"
"Ah?! Yosuke, you're so mean!"
As the two boys bickered, Naoto looked at Rise. The idol smiled at her, and patted the sleuth on the back.
"You're never alone, Naoto. We're your family, and we're never gonna abandon you."
For the eight teens, tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.
School moved at a snail's pace for Yu and Naoto. The man's foot tapped against the floor as he waited for class to end, and Naoto couldn't even begin to focus on the teacher as she tapped her pencil against her paper. Neither could stand not seeing each other much longer, and their friends knew it.
Rise and Kanji shared a knowing, smiling glance in the classroom, while Yosuke, Chie, and Yukiko watched Yu fidget in his seat. Each of them silently hoped that their lovestruck friends would bury the hatchet and get back together.
Thankfully, lunch eventually came, and Yu made a quick dash out of the room. He only stopped when he noticed Yukiko, Chie, and Yosuke smiling at him. They looked relieved to see the silverette back to his old tricks, and eager to hear good news later today.
Yu gave a grin of his own back to them, before walking out the door and practically flying down the stairs.
As luck would have it, he ended up running into the very person he was looking for. Yu collided with Naoto at the bottom of the stairs, and the two almost fell to the ground together. Thankfully Yu was quick, and he wrapped an arm around Naoto's back to keep her from falling. The other hand caught the young woman's hand, tenderly holding her beautiful fingers.
"Naoto!?"
"N-Narukami!? I-I was just looking for you..."
"Really? Funny, I was looking for you too," he replied, a blush lighting up his cheeks. He slowly released the beautiful detective, and she thanked him with a nod, both of them trying to ignore the stares their classmates were giving the two.
"Ah." Naoto nodded her head, and he did the same. Neither said anything. They just stared at one another. "W-was there a particular reason or…?"
Yu chuckled, rubbing the back of his head as he tried to ignore his warm neck and cheeks. This was the effect Naoto on him, and God, he loved it. "I think you know the answer to that question. I take it you were visited by three clowns yesterday?"
Naoto nodded her head.
"And you spent all night coming up with things to say. Things you wanted to talk about. That sort of thing?"
She nodded again.
"And now-"
"Now, I can't remember half of the things I wrote." She finished the sentence this time, and silver eyes peered into beautiful, navy orbs. "I believe we have a lot to talk about, Naru… Yu."
"Yeah. I think you're right, detective. Rooftop?"
"Rooftop."
Yu and Naoto sat on the rooftop of the school, staring out into the horizon. Naoto's hat sat between them, letting her hair blow in the gentle wind. The sun was out, blending with the cold breeze to warm the two. They spoke as soon as they sat down. Not about anything important at first, but simply to let the conversation flow.
"So, how was dealing with Rise, Yosuke, and Teddie?"
"Odd, but insightful," Naoto replied. "Teddie was surprisingly wise."
"We are talking about the same guy, right?"
"Yes. Trust me, I was as surprised as you are."
"Huh. Kanji kicked me. Anyone kick you?"
"What? No!"
"Ah, damn. Figures I'd get the tough love." Yu and Naoto glanced at one another. "Our friends are a bunch of dorks, you know that right?"
"Perhaps, but I wouldn't change them for anything."
"Yeah… Me neither."
The two chuckled. Naoto pulled her knees close to her chest and hugged them against her. Yu spread out his legs, leaning back and resting on his hands as the two stared at one another.
"I never meant to hurt you, you know," Yu muttered. "I'm sorry I did, I just-"
"Yu." Naoto reached a hand out to him, and gently placed her fingers on his. "Don't. This is my fault. I hurt you, and-"
"No, I'm the one who hurt you. I rushed us, something you specifically wanted to avoid-"
"You didn't rush us. I was the one who avoided you for so long, and for that, I am truly sorry."
Yu and Naoto looked at one another, both of their eyes heavy with apologies and regrets. The two chuckled, bitter laughter slipping from their lips.
"We're not getting anywhere, are we? We're just going to keep blaming ourselves," Yu remarked.
"It seems we truly are alike," Naoto commented, sighing.
"Alright, let's try this. I'll ask a question, then you ask me one, and we'll see how this goes from there, okay?" Naoto nodded her head, and Yu contemplated his next words. "Were you unhappy when we dated?"
"No!" Naoto was quick to shake her head. "When I was with you, I was happy. Happier than I have been in a long time. I was just… The truth is, I was terrified of how happy I was with you. The way you made my heart race, how much I wanted you… That was what scared me, because inevitably we will be torn apart."
Naoto closed her eyes, sighing again. "My parents' death scarred me worse than I was willing to admit. Even ignoring that possibility, we'll be apart in a matter of months... I was so sure circumstances would tear you away from me. Either you would find someone else, or-"
She was silenced when his arms wrapped around her. Yu hugged her tightly, kissing her navy locks. He nuzzled against her and Naoto melted in his loving embrace, hugging back with all her strength. The two fell, laying on the ground with Naoto on top of the silverette's body.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I wish I didn't have to go. I want to spend my life with you, here…"
"I know you can't, though." She took in his aroma, relaxing at the gentle sensation.
"And I could never love someone more than you, Naoto. I need you," he whispered.
And she believed it. She knew it was true, and the truth was that she needed him just as much. Guilt and shame burned at her heart, and tears pooled in the corners of her eyes. She rubbed face against his clothes, wiping her eyes as she whimpered. "I never wanted to tear us apart. I was just scared… I was a coward."
"No, you weren't. You're not a coward, Naoto."
"I should have talked to you. Instead of running away. I'm ashamed of myself, Narukami. You deserve better than me."
"Well, I won't lie. We should have talked about this at the resort."
He lifted her up, looking into her eyes. Shimmering silver eyes stared into glistening navy. Both were on the verge of crying, they realized, and they shared a quiet chuckle. Just looking into his eyes filled Naoto with peace… She felt safe in his arms, staring at him.
"But I should have tried harder to talk to you. I knew something was wrong… And I definitely shouldn't have tried to get on your nerves by flirting with those older girls."
They laughed together again, and Naoto nodded her head. "No, you shouldn't have, but it wasn't like I made it easy for you."
"You already gave me so much, though. You opened up to me more than anyone else… I didn't want you to think I wanted to force you to do something you didn't want."
"But you are my closest friend. M-my boyfriend," she uttered. "I knew you would never do anything to hurt me. I shouldn't have been scared to let you in…"
The couple began to feel felt heavy weights fall off of their body. They stared into each other's eyes, before Yu brought Naoto back into his arms.
"I'm sorry, Narukami. Please, forgive me," she whispered.
"I forgive you. Do you forgive me?"
"But you did nothing wro-"
"Naoto."
She sighed. "Very well. I forgive you."
Yu chuckled, kissing the detective's hair again.
Naoto's smile faded for just a moment as she looked away, muttering. "I was so hopeful that I had changed. That I wouldn't make such stupid mistakes such as this…"
"Hey, you have changed. You just stumbled a bit. So did I."
Naoto nodded her head, and the two laid there in blissful silence. It made her cheeks burn with embarrassment, but it was worth it. She cuddled against his chest, taking in his scent as he stroked her back.
She missed this...
"I love you," he whispered, and her heart soared.
"And I you." Her fingers dug into his clothes, and he let out a content moan.
"So is that it? Is everything okay between us?" The question made Naoto lift her head up, looking at the unusually nervous silverette. "I mean, are we-?" Her answer stunned Yu. His eyes widened as her lips pressed against his.
The kiss stole his breath away. He pulled her closer as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He loved it when she took initiative… Knowing that the Detective Prince, Naoto, the most beautiful woman in the world, loved him… It made him melt against her lips.
She pulled away, her face heavy with embarrassment. He was paralyzed, staring at the sky above. Naoto buried her face in his chest once more.
"It's my turn to ask a question." Her voice was muffled against his chest, but he could hear her clearly enough. "Valentine's Day is just around the corner…"
Yu's eyes widened. "Oh, shi-"
"No. I-I was thinking, w-well, I wanted to try and be a bit more spontaneous. To show you how much I love you. T-though I suppose this isn't really spontaneous, if we're making a plan. I just-"
"Honey."
She blushed at the pet name, burying her face against his chest again. "W-would you like to spend the day at my apartment? Just you and me next Sunday? T-that gives us over a week to plan what to do, a-and I was going to make you something, not that you have to make anything for me. Your company is enough. I just wanted to-"
"That sounds amazing." Yu rubbed his lips against her soft hair, taking in her vanilla scent. "Let's make it a date."
A date…? The thought made Naoto's heart explode with excitement, worry, and hope.
A date…! Yu's brain melted at the realization, and his heartbeat raced as he began to make plans.
The two laid there for a few more minutes, fantasizing about the date. Eventually Yu spoke up.
"Hey, Naoto?"
"Hm?"
"Do you want to get off me?"
Her answer brought a smile to his face. "No. Not yet…"
Naoto and Yu met up with the rest of their friends at the end of the day. The group assembled at the school's entrance, and even Teddie was there to greet the couple.
"About time you two showed up. We were wondering where you were," Yosuke commented.
"Sorry."
"We are very sorry for making you-"
"Nao-chan! Yu-san!" Teddie ran forward, throwing himself at Yu. The bear hug was bruising as Teddie slammed into the taller teen, squeezing him.
"Ack! Teddie! Get the hell off me!"
"Are you two back together?! Is everything okay?! I can't stand to see Mama Bear and Papa Bear fighting!" he whimpered. Yu finally pried the bear off of him, gasping for air.
"We're fine, Teddie. Everything is okay," he replied, dusting himself off as Naoto chuckled.
"So you two are together again?" Yukiko inquired, her dark eyes glancing between the two.
Yu and Naoto looked at each other, and their smiles reflected each others. They looked at the group as the young man winked and the detective adjusted her hat to hide her scarlet cheeks.
"We have no idea what you guys are talking about."
"I-indeed."
Yukiko beamed, and she ran forward to hug the two. The atmosphere and tension in the group faded away in an instance, and the eight began their walk out of the school. Things just returned back to normal, and Naoto realized how unfounded her fears were.
Things didn't change after the others found out about her and Yu. Things were just as good as before with her friends. If anything, they were better. Naoto glanced at Yu, and he caught her smiling at him. He flashed one of his classic smirks, winking at her.
She and Yu didn't hold hands. They didn't act particularly different, and that was okay. Maybe things would change in the future, but Naoto wasn't worried. She realized her mistake, believing her friends would inevitably leave her.
No. They never would. Yu and the others were her family, and this family would stick together, no matter what.
It seemed she truly found a reason to stay. A place to call home…
"Hey, Naoto?" Rise leaned towards the sleuth, staring at her neck. "Is that a hickey?"
Naoto's eyes widened, and her face turned a bright red. Judging by the smile on her face, Rise just found out why Naoto and Yu were late…
Perhaps things weren't exactly the same as they used to be...
Yu happily joined in teasing his girlfriend. He made jokes about how Naoto was a biter, or how beautiful she was, and he loved seeing her blush. It was all in good fun, and even when Naoto shot back with her own teasing remark, Yu was grinning.
"L-louse. D-don't listen to anything he says!" Naoto muttered, glaring at her boyfriend. She bumped into him, and he heard her whispered threat. "I'll get you for this, Yu…" He smirked at her, only to suddenly blush as he noticed the strange look in her eyes.
It was almost… predatory. He gulped as she smirked at him, his cheeks a light shade of red. She walked away from him, leaving him wondering just how she'd make him pay.
Yu felt happy. He felt happier than he had ever felt. He had everything he could ever want. Friends, family, love…
Things were good, and that made an idea form in his mind. A crazy, insane, some would even say stupid idea. A foolish idea that only a lovestruck idiot could have.
Yet it made perfect sense to him.
As Yu Narukami stared at Naoto Shirogane, watching her grin and talk with friends, he planned. First step of his plan? Figuring out what kind of ring he wanted to get…
END
So this chapter is… super late.
As some of you may know, my father passed away a few weeks ago. He died from liver failure due to a lifetime of drinking. I have done my best to make peace with his death, but it has still been a difficult transition.
I won't blather on about the details, but that is why this update took as long as it did. I hope to get the next one to all of you on time.
On a lighter note, I really wanted to make Rise, Kanji, and the others really shine this chapter. The Investigation Team is a family, and they love and care about each other through thick and thin.
I hope Yu and Naoto's make up was nice. I didn't want them to remain broken apart for long. I wanted it to be realistic. Sometimes people, even those you love, make you upset. It happens. Couples fight. But a good couple comes back with clear heads, and a willingness to patch things up.
Next chapter is gonna be like… almost all fluff. Lovey-dovey, happy-sweet fun times. Yu and Naoto pretty much spend the whole day in love, being cute, happy, and even a little sexy. Expect lots of love and joy from it, because after that, we're one step closer to the ending of this story.
After this, there's only like…(Counts) Four more chapters, I think. Look forward to it, folks!
Next Update: September 15th.
If you like my work, consider supporting me on Pat-reon, or just leaving a nice review. I'll love you either way!