Chapter Two

It's Sunday night. Chie did exactly what I said she would; she ate almost all of the food, including mine, she talked, she laughed, she smiled. It was a perfect day, almost.

When we were walking home, we met up with Yu and Yosuke. They were coming out of Yomenaido; Yu was carrying a set of new books, and Yosuke was holding a copy of "Forever Macho". It almost made me puke. Yu noticed us, and, of course, Chie started slobbering. I just can't understand her affinity for him. Yu's so quiet... it almost makes you feel cold, how calm and collected he is. He just sits there and listens to you talk, just sometimes adding some billiant input that he must've pulled out of his ass. I like him, I do. He's a good friend. But I just can't see him as a good fit for Chie... maybe I'm a little biased, I'll admit. But, she's so loud, and charismatic, and confident, and excited. That's who she is, she can't be with someone who's so different than her... like I am. Nevermind.

The boys came over, and we started chatting. Chie was kind of preoccupied with Yu's intense haircut, so I was left with Yosuke. Of course, he attempted the "Amagi Challenge" again. Ever since we started investigating the murders, he's seen it as an excuse to hit on me, every chance he gets. I never say yes to him, but he keeps on doing it. I was desperately looking for a way out. I was going to make up an excuse to leave when I saw someone pass by us on the street, someone familiar...

I saw his hair, and there was no mistaking it; he was a Konishi. I didn't know that Saki had a younger brother. He looked to be about 15, but he had the age of an old man seemingly emanating from him. He looked so tired. I knew that he was probably fighting something inside of him, something that was eating him alive. His sister died. I couldn't possibly understand how Saki's loved ones must have felt when she was murdered.

Then I remebered that I was supposed to be talking to Yosuke. I was zoning out there, but he seemed to have laughed it off and was talking wih the others. I saw him, laughing with Yu, and Chie, and I felt the same sadness from him. I recalled how he had feelings for Saki, how he must've felt when she was gone. He was fighting something within himself, just like her brother was, and him trying to flirt with me must've been his brave face, him trying to not let everyone worry, just trying to trick himself into forgetting her. When I saw that, I kind of eased up on him. I'd never let him know that I did, of course. I'll still reject him, keep teasing him. I think, that just maybe, he needs that. He needs to feel normal.

Chie finally got off of Yu's leg, and we resumed our walk. Chie started gushing about Yu, but I stopped her in time.

"Chie... what do you think about Yosuke?"

She looked a little taken aback. "I think he's okay, if he could get over himself, he'd be better. Why?"

"No reason, I was just a bit curious."

"You thinking he could win the 'Amagi challenge'?"

"What? No... Chie, I was just... nevermind."

"Something wrong, Yukiko?"

"No, I'm alright. Thanks... Thanks."