AN: So, Yuu is pretty sneaky isn't he? He'd make a damn good politician! Hopefully he doesn't end up making enemies of his friends. You'll have to read on to find out…

Also, sorry about the long hiatus.

"Chie….." Yosuke called, short of breath from climbing the stairs to the roof of the High School. He had spent most of his lunch break searching for her and had nearly given up hope before experiencing a moment of clarity. He realized that she'd most likely have gone to the roof; that was the place she would find seclusion.

He found her seated on the vent that protruded from the school with her back towards him. She refused to acknowledge his presence. She continued to look straight ahead toward the horizon.

Yosuke took a few brisk steps towards her, and then halted. He considered his situation, and decided that brashness was the wrong course of action. He slowed his pace, making sure to keep his distance.

"Chie, I came to say I'm sorry...for being a jerk," he murmured.

She remained silent.

"I said I'm sorry," Yosuke croaked louder.

Chie continued to play deaf.

"Come on Chie, I really mean it. Do you forgive me or what? Me and Narukami need you to come back downstairs so we can win this stupid election," he begged.

Chie pouted and released a deflated sigh. She wanted to continue ignoring Yosuke, but the fact that other people were relying on her made her feel guilty.

"So what do you say, will you forgive me?" Yosuke pleaded. In that instant he was sure Chie's kind nature would pull through and she would rejoin them downstairs.

Chie however had no intention of letting him off the hook so easily. She stiffened up and became a stone. Silence once again loomed over them.

"Chie….I want you to hit me," Yosuke finally choked.

Chie's ears perked up. She pondered whether she heard him correctly.

"Yeah…I want you to hit me, "He stated again. "It'll make you feel better. To be honest, I kind of deserve it after all the dumb things I've said and done. I shouldn't treat you like that. I haven't been a very good friend lately."

"What is this idiot saying now?" Chie thought to herself. "He wants me to hit him?!"

Yosuke opened his stance and planted his feet firmly. He huffed up his chest, opening himself up for a blow. "Come on Chie, you know I deserve it! Besides, how often do you get to use your martial arts on anything but shadows? It'll be good for you," he encouraged, sounding excited about the prospect of getting punched in the gut.

Chie bit her bottom lip. She felt like telling him to shut his trap and grow up, but she found herself spinning around to face him.

Yosuke felt ashamed when he saw her face. He could tell that she'd been crying. He'd never thought of her as a person that cried.

As Chie stared on, Yuu's words rang in her head. 'An old married couple' he had called them. She'd been resistant to the idea that there was an attraction between them, but she'd slowly found herself unable to pretend otherwise. There was something that couldn't be dismissed. She wasn't sure how to classify it, but whatever it was, she was sure that it was the reason Yosuke's teasing upset her so much. The rumours she'd heard truly upset her, and he'd treated it has a joke. She felt betrayed by her own feelings.

Yosuke forced a smile and goaded Chie to strike. "Come on Chie, I'm wide open. This is your one chance at a freebie."

Chie looked on in disbelief. "What kind of person does this?" she asked herself."He's totally nuts."

Despite her better judgment, Chie hopped to her feet. She considered that perhaps her subconscious was now in total control, and forcing her body to seek sweet revenge against the boy that so often pushed her buttons.

"Atta girl!" Yosuke cheered. "Show me what ya got!"

Chie leered at Yosuke. "Am I actually going to do this?" she wondered, hoping that her conscience would triumph over her baser desirers. She took several steps towards him.

Yosuke braced himself for a solid punch, tightening up his core.

As Chie stepped closer, she began to feel sorry for Yosuke. She didn't want to hurt him. He probably didn't consider that. What if she did hurt him? She would be held accountable. The school didn't look lightly on violence between students, even if one student wanted to be hit. She resolved to hold back and not hit him with her full strength. That way, he would be able to give Yosuke peace of mind and she could sleep easy knowing he didn't have a ruptured spleen. She balled her right hand into a fist and drew back, low and near her waist.

She looked him in the eye before continuing, and Yosuke gave a single nod to indicate he was prepared.

She let the punch fly.

Yosuke stepped out of the way delicately, dodging the blow. Chie stumbled forward but found her footing without tripping to the ground.

Chie's eyes bulged as she turned towards Yosuke.

Yosuke stood pleadingly with his palms showing.

Chie glowered at him.

"What the hell….." she chided.

"Sorry Chie, but you scared me…" he stammered.

"You said you wanted me to hit you…"

"And I still do! But my survival instincts took over," Yosuke insisted.

Chie gritted her teeth. She had planned on pulling her punches, but Yosuke continued to tease her even while trying to apologize. She ruled that he deserved a proper sock in the gut for that.

Yosuke again opened himself up to attack. Chie moved in faster than before, but met the same result. Yosuke dodged the punch and she stumbled forward. She spun around to face him, clenching her fists the whole while.

The subtle smirk that appeared on Yosuke's face sent Chie over the edge. She let out a war cry and charged toward him.

Yosuke hadn't anticipated an all out assault, in fact he hadn't anticipated dodging the punches either. His instincts had been responsible and he reacted in the moment. With Chie bearing down on him he closed his eyes and readied for a potentially fatal blow.

Yosuke opened his eyes after a few seconds when Chie's fists never arrived. Instead, Chie had a tight grip on his t-shirt, her arm cocked. She seemingly wanted to hit him, but it was obvious she could not bring herself to do it.

"So, are we cool then?" Yosuke asked.

Chie let go of his shirt and he fell down. A crunching sound echoed atop the school when he landed.

"Crap," Yosuke groaned, "I think I just landed on my phone. It was in my back pocket." While still seated on the ground, he dug his phone out of his pants and confirmed his fears. The screen was shattered and wires were exposed. Bits of plastic and several letters from the keyboard drifted away in the wind.

Chie groaned and squatted down in front of him. She was angry at herself for going through with yet another one of Yosuke's ideas. She knew beforehand nothing positive ever came of them, only humiliation and regret for her.

"Is it that bad? Can't we tape it together?" Chie asked.

"Tape?! No way, it's trash now," Yosuke moaned.

"Lemme see it," she demanded softly.

Yosuke dumped the wreckage into her hand. Indeed, it was totally destroyed. Chie stood up and offered Yosuke her hand to help him from the ground.

Yosuke grabbed her hand and she pulled him off of the ground with ease. Yosuke landed back on two feet, and found himself face to face with Chie. Their eyes inadvertently locked, and they both seemed to pause. It took a moment for them realize that they we still holding hands, yet neither let go. Their eyes remained glued together as they wondered who would let go first.

"Real people don't find themselves in contrived situations like this, do they?" both of them contemplated.

Neither had much experience with relationships or love so neither was sure what do to next. Each waited for the other to say or do something…to do anything!

Chie gazed at him with mixed feelings in her heart. "What..the hell? This is awkward…but something feels natural about it," she thought. "Yosuke?! Of all people, why is it Yosuke that is giving me a feeling like this? This guy? This total jerk? Why now? Him?! He acts like an idiot all the time around me. He's not like that around other girls. He's a major klutz around other girls. He's shy and awkward with them. With me, he seems like himself. I guess even if he is an idiot…he's MY idiot…"

Similar worries clouded Yosuke's mind. "Geeez…is Narukami right? Are we secretly attracted to each other? Are we really supposed to end up as an old married couple?! Yuu, why'd you have to go and say that!? Now it seems like I don't even have a say in any of it. But…isn't Chie the kind of girl I like anyway? She's fun to hang around, and she puts up with me goofing off. Isn't it natural to fall for someone who accepts you for who you are?"

Yosuke now knew what to do. He spoke.

"Chie, I really am sorry," he said gently.

An unfamiliar feeling swept over both of them, and they moved closer and closer together. It seemed inevitable that they would share a kiss. Their lips barely brushed together when the door in the corner flew open and the rowdy 'Friends of Inaba' mob spilled onto the roof.

The mob gasped in unison when they spotted Chie. Next, they collectively let out a cheer and chanted her name.

Still pressed close to Yosuke, Chie stared on in total confusion.

Yosuke was close enough that he was able to feel Chie's heart pound harder when the crowd approached.

When the crowd recognized Yosuke they all jeered.

'Minion of Junes!" the leader shouted. "Unhand her!"

Yosuke struggled to wrap his brain around what was happening. The crowd surged forward and enveloped him and Chie. He found himself being lifted and pulled away from her.

"What the hell are you guys doing?" Chie scolded the crowd.

"We're here to show how much we support your protest against Junes, Chie," the leader cooed. "You've got all of our support in the election too! This twerp, however, will never be elected as long as we live and breathe!"

"What are you doing with him?" Chie asked sternly.

"He's with Junes! He wants to destroy this town! We don't want him to be near you! He doesn't deserve to be close to you! We're going to put him where he belongs," someone within the mob answered.

The crowd held Yosuke over their heads as they hauled him away. Chie began to fear for his safety. They seemed to be heading towards the edge of the building. Her heart raced when she considered that they might throw him over the side.

Before Chie could scream the crowd took a sharp turn and tossed Yosuke, upside down, into a garbage can that sat on the roof. A grotesque squishing sound rang out; it seemed the can hadn't been emptied in some time.

Yosuke could be heard gagging from within the aluminum can. His legs beat wildly as he tried to free himself. Eventually, the can tipped over and he wiggled out of it, reeking of rotten food and garbage. He gagged again and gasped for fresh air.

Despite their claim that they had come to support Chie, the crowd departed after deposing of Yosuke. Chie trotted over to him to see if he was alright. She knelt down over him.

Despite being filthy and absolutely dejected Yosuke forced a smile and made a bold move.

"How do you feel about, you know, going for a coffee, or some steaks…or whatever, sometime? Just the two of us?" he asked.

"…Sure….idiot," she answered tenderly.

AN: That was probably the most fun chapter to write thus far. I love Chie's character, and really like how she and Yosuke contrast in the game. I think they'd make a dynamic pair, so I went that route in the story. A little fluffy perhaps, so consider it literary junk food :P Some darker chapters are in the works however.