A/N: Story so far: The team visited Naoto, repeatedly - leaving her convinced that ending up on a telephone pole might not have been that bad.
In this part: Kanji wants a fistfight, Yukiko wants a rainbow, and figuring out what Naoto wants is impossible.
October 4th, 2011
Boots pounding against the wet pavement, raindrops bombarding his umbrella, Kanji stormed down the street to Naoto's apartment and cursed Rise Kujikawa with every stride.
It'd been raining all day, the same steady downpour that meant fog was heading in. Not always the bad sort of fog - sometimes weather was just weather - but it'd been over a week since they'd pulled Naoto out the television. The timing was right.
No problem, though. She was safe, they'd done everything right, and maybe now he could--
He shook his head, squirming at the drops of water that slid inside his jacket collar and down his neck. For a guy trying so hard to not-think about someone, he let Naoto work her way inside his head far too often. Naturally, Rise was making things worse. Running out on him last week had been seriously shitty, and he'd almost torn her a new one over it - but she'd still never apologized. Wouldn't admit she'd set him up, either. Just pouted a bunch, insisted Kanji was paranoid, then pulled almost the same stunt today. She'd dragged him aside this morning and told him she wanted to visit Naoto - he should totally come along, Naoto-kun would love it - then called him while he was walking to the apartment and explained she had an errand to run, so she'd be just a little late - oh, and so would Yukiko-senpai, something had come up at the inn.
Fifth visit. Second time stuck alone in a room with Naoto, trying not to stare at her. At least he'd spent the other visits just trying to not get caught. Dammit, he'd expected Rise to screw him over, but Yukiko-senpai too?
...Then again, Yukiko was pretty clueless sometimes. On the other hand, Rise could talk a starving pig out a garbage can - and if the pig still said no, she'd just whine at it till it got desperate enough to jump. She'd probably been pulling strings on this all day. Kanji decided to give Yukiko the benefit of the doubt, and instead focused on cursing Rise as he walked up to the apartment lobby, folded his umbrella and heaved his bag back over his shoulder.
Maybe if he just decided he was over Naoto, he would be. Not that there was anything to get over. Only a dumb crush on someone who wasn't what he'd thought at all; someone who didn't even exist. Kanji had figured the thought would made him feel better, but the knot in his stomach, the one that'd been there since Naoto disappeared - hell, since she showed up in Inaba - only twisted tighter.
Stupid Rise. Stupid Naoto, too.
Kanji headed toward the elevator doors, glowered at them for a few seconds, then slammed his palm against the call button.
thumpthumpthump
He glanced up.
thumpthumpthump
The noise was coming from his left. A lot of noises, getting faster and louder.
thumpthumpthump
Sounded like they were coming from behind the stairwell door. Sounded a lot like somebody running.
Frowning, Kanji shoved open the door, took a long stride towards the first step - and smacked straight into Naoto, barreling down the stairs at high speed.
The impact barely shook him. Naoto yelped and almost tumbled backwards. Steadying herself on the stair-rail, she shot him a flustered glare. "Why are--move, now!"
His brow furrowed. "Why? Where y'goin?"
"Out," snapped Naoto. She looked much better. Had to be, if she'd sprinted down four floors - but she still had one hand pressed flat against the wall, and the knuckles of the other were white around the rail. "Move!"
"But you're s'posed to be sick!"
The only answer was an angry grunt as she tried to duck under his arm, until he swung it down and blocked the way. Naoto shoved at it with both hands, growling.
Stubborn little bastard, Kanji thought. "Stoppit! Go back upstairs."
She opened her mouth to respond, but whatever she had in mind - probably nothing good - was lost in the sound of a door banging open, somewhere on a higher floor.
"Naoto! Don't you make me come down there!"
Kanji blinked. "That Chie-senpai?"
Naoto's eyes widened, and she tried to shove past him a second time, smacking her palms against his shoulder. "Tatsumi! Will you just move?"
What was he supposed to do here? Push her away? Pick her up? Kanji settled on a frown as Naoto launched a volley of blows against his arms and chest. "I ain't lettin' you--"
"I swear, Naoto-kun, you try that again and I'll kick you down the stairs myself!" Chie stood on the landing between floors, her arms spread wide between the stair-rails. "Thanks, Kanji-kun," she added, then went back to glaring at Naoto as she jogged down the last flight of steps.
Glares, Kanji had learned over the past few months, were ten times more terrifying when they came from girls. Especially girls that could kick you into orbit if you pissed them off. "No worries," he mumbled - noticing that Naoto had stopped beating him with her fists.
"What's wrong with you?" Chie snapped. "Why'd you run?"
Naoto made a sort-of-indignant, sort-of-frustrated noise and tugged at her cap. First time Kanji had seen her wear it since the rescue. Made her look like usual, even if he couldn't see her eyes.
He turned to Chie. "Somethin' happen?"
"Nothing! Yosuke and I were just talking. Next thing, the door slams, I hear footsteps hammering down the corridor and there's no Naoto!"
"Yeah, but she didn't get far. Told you we didn't need to run after her." Yosuke strolled down the stairs, hands shoved in his pockets, the tinny rattling from his headphones growing louder with each step. "Good catch, Tatsumi!"
With a low growl, Naoto gestured dramatically toward Kanji and almost smacked him in the chest. He wasn't certain he'd have noticed. "He did not catch me! I was--"
"Like you'd run anywhere, Hanamura," Chie snapped, hands on hips. "Naoto-kun would've made it to Okina by the time you reached the street."
"Right," Yosuke deadpanned. "Because you're way faster than me in a fight."
"At least I didn't fall down the strip club stairs!"
Naoto, about to make her fourth attempt at starting a sentence in the past fifteen seconds, suddenly stopped.
"Hey! No fair, the lighting there sucked!"
Kanji looked down at her. "Uh... you, you gonna go back to your apartment?"
Before Naoto could answer, Chie jumped in. "Yep, she sure is," she said with a grimace, then turned to Yosuke. "Wait here, I'll be back in a minute."
Kanji and Yosuke watched the two girls walk back up the stairs - or rather, Chie drag and scold Naoto, who was trying to start sentences again and kicking her feet against every step.
"So… visit went good?" Kanji asked, as the stairwell door slammed three floors above.
"Oh, just great." Yosuke rolled his eyes. "All those glares and awkward silences are really helping us bond as a team."
Any visit from Yosuke and Chie wasn't likely to involve silence at all, awkward or otherwise. They'd come by the shop together back in May and argued themselves stupid. Nearly Kanji, too. "Why're you here with Chie-senpai?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Kanji shrugged. "Dunno. Figured you'd visit with Souji-senpai, I guess."
"So, what, I'm his extra head?" Yosuke snapped, scowling. "Look, Chie was at school and I was gonna come here anyway and I figured I might as well go with somebody instead of just sitting around not-talking with Naoto." It came out in one burst, and by the end he'd almost tied his headphone cord in a double knot.
"Just askin'. Don't get shitty."
"Yeah, well." Yosuke's lips curled into a smirk. "Guess Naoto-kun's getting on great with you, though. Seeing as you visit her all by yourself."
Under Rise and Chie's poking, Kanji had tried to get used to Yosuke's innate talent for being an ass. Hadn't worked. "Shut it, idiot."
"I dunno, Kanji, kinda think I should send Yukiko along as chaperone. Wait a sec, maybe you're not into Naoto anymore, huh? Since she's not--" The rest was lost in a yelp as Kanji lunged forward, grabbed Yosuke's jacket collar and shoved him against the wall.
"I said shut it!"
"Hey! Chill, Kanji! I'm just... c'mon, you get it, right?"
Kanji's hands fell to his sides. Shit, he hadn't meant to do that. "No, an' neither do you."
"Dude, I swear I was just kidding." Yosuke tugged his jacket back into place, watching Kanji carefully. "Naoto's not a guy anyway."
"Still the same person." Kanji had no idea if it was true, but any lie was better than letting on that he still had the same doubts as before, maybe always would.
Yosuke shrugged. "Yeah, but it's different, you know that."
"Quit bugging him, Yosuke." Chie jogged down the last flight of stairs. Distracted as he'd been, Kanji hadn't heard her footsteps. "Naoto's all yours, Kanji-kun. Good luck."
Kanji nodded, mumbled a half-apology to Yosuke, then climbed the stairs to the fourth floor two steps at a time. When he reached Naoto's apartment, the door was already closed. He raised his hand to knock - wondering why his knuckles hadn't left dents in the surface, he'd been here so often the past week - but it swung wide open before he could finish the motion.
Without looking or speaking, or acknowledging him in any other way, Naoto turned on her heels and stalked back inside. Kanji followed, equally silent and hoping he'd piss her off just as much as she did him.
Naturally, the first thing he noticed after kicking off his boots was the sheaf of papers still stuffed under the closet door. The second was the pile of books on the floor, which led to the third - a vase of flowers on the middle bookshelf. Same flowers Rise had made him deliver after standing him up. "You, uh, got a vase."
"I requested that Hanamura-san purchase one at Junes on my behalf."
He frowned, poking at one of the petals. "Thought y'said flowers were pointless."
"They are," was Naoto's quick retort. "But keeping them in an orange juice container is inappropriate."
Kanji had figured it was a neat idea, given a lack of alternatives. Garish as the flowers were, he couldn't have just left them lying around in the kitchen. But maybe Naoto thought he was weird for even caring. Hell, maybe Rise'd let on that he'd wanted to help pick the flowers out. Jaw clenched tight, he skulked off to the kitchen and dumped the bag on the counter. Naoto appeared in the doorway moments later.
He hoped she'd say something to keep the not-conversation going - Rise would've, girl never met a silence she couldn't fill - but instead she just watched him unpack the bag. Inside were a few extra sheets of class notes, a couple of plastic boxes and some more juice (seeing as he'd wrecked her last carton, expired or not and no matter how little she appreciated the reason). Kanji decided he'd have to pack three times as much if he ever came back, because with the bag now empty there was no reason to keep looking at the kitchen counter instead of at Naoto.
Moments passed.
Kanji's patience finally snapped. "Whass'matter with you?"
"You were here two days ago."
"An' now I'm back," he muttered, fingers clamped around the edge of the counter. The others had come by more often than him, right? Senpai'd probably been back and forth all the time.
"Alone?"
"Nah. Rise and Yukiko-senpai, they're gonna show up soon."
He finally dared to look up. Naoto was staring at the floor and toying with her collar. Kanji kept watching, trying to gauge her expression under her cap and figure out whether she'd rather have Rise and Yukiko talk her ears off than deal with him - but when her gaze snapped up to the two plastic boxes stacked on top of each other on the counter, he quickly turned away.
"You brought more food," she pointed out.
"Chicken mizutaki. That okay?"
No answer. A nod, maybe?
Damn, this was awkward.
Kanji grit his teeth. "So... feelin' better?"
"Yes." Her voice shifted, suddenly cold and clipped. "So you should have moved."
"What?"
"The stairs. You blocked them. I simply wanted--"
Kanji twisted round, swinging his hand toward the door. "Wanted t'what? Run out into traffic?"
"We have a killer to locate. My idling here achieves nothing!"
"You ain't gonna get anything done 'till you're better!"
"Why does everyone think I'm--I am fine, I have things to do, the case isn't..." She trailed off, pinching the bridge of her nose between two fingers. "...We need fresh leads. More information."
Kid had a point. Save for knowing who wasn't the killer, they'd crashed back to the start. "I know, alright? We got nothing."
"Indeed," Naoto muttered, then let out a long breath. "How did you handle this in the past?"
He shrugged. "Waited till somebody vanished, I guess."
"Ridiculous. We must be proactive about this."
"Senpai's decision. He's the boss," Kanji said - watching as Naoto's shoulders tensed. "You rushed off last time, look where it got you!"
"It 'got me' proof that the police have the wrong man."
"Big deal!" Kanji stepped closer, fists balled. "You seriously think that was worth gettin' yourself killed for?"
"I am alive and well. A fact you all seem determined to completely disregard!"
"Dammit, are you a complete idiot?"
Naoto instantly bristled, eyes flashing dangerously. "I do not value your--"
"Practically throwin' yourself in, never even telling us! Shit, Naoto, we almost didn't make it, took us a whole week just to figure out where the hell you were!"
He'd stepped forward again at some point, leaving him towering over her. Naoto just leaned toward him in turn, chin tipped up, one finger pointing square at his chest. "I took the most reasonable course of action to achieve my aim, I had approached you all previously and none of you were willing to divulge any useful information! I asked you directly, and you offered nothing but evasion - what else could I have done?"
"I dunno, how about anything except throwing yourself in a television?!"
"Listen, Tatsumi, at no point did I--"
"No, you listen! You coulda told someone, left us a damn note, just swaggered on up and said you'd figured us out - screw it, I don't even care, you got no idea how I felt!"
Dead silence fell. Naoto's hand froze, locked mid-point.
"Uh - how all of us felt. The team," Kanji quickly added, silently willing the kitchen floor to collapse beneath his feet.
She stared at him for a beat, expression blank - then tugged at her cap and folded her arms in what seemed like a single movement. "Your assumption is incorrect. Rise-san has already stated that you were concerned for my well-being."
"W-we all were, y'know?" He made a mental note to do more yelling at Rise later that day. "Course we were."
"Pointless. Do you really believe I'm--I, I am not incapable and I do not require anyone's pity! Something I wish all of you would recognize," she added darkly.
Dumb as he knew it was, Kanji had hoped for an apology, or at least some sort of acknowledgment of how damn stupid she'd been. Wishful thinking. "It ain't that I'm not happy you're back," he said, running a hand through his hair. "The team, y'know. We're all glad."
"Double negative," Naoto muttered.
"What?"
"Saying that something isn't not the case. Double negative. What you should say is, 'I'm happy that you're--" The sentence stopped short, and Naoto unfolded her arms then folded them again a moment later. "You understand."
Kanji wished intently that they could just settle this with a brawl instead. Worked for everything else. "Whatever. I, I ain't the only one to think it, alright?"
"I know. Satonaka-san made her opinion perfectly clear. To the point where even Hanamura-san began to defend my actions." Naoto hesitated; mouth twitching with what almost looked like a wince. "At high volume."
No wonder she'd bolted. Kanji might've jumped out the window. "Yeah, they're real good at that. 'Specially if they get to do it loud."
She nodded glumly, then turned and walked back into the living room. Kanji followed; the mizutaki could wait.
"S'probably no consolation," he offered, "but after I got pulled out, they came by almost every day. Third time round, Ma threatened to throw all of us out in the street." And with Ma, that took a lot. "But they're good guys, y'know?"
"Yes." Naoto paused in front of the couch, one hand on her hip, and stared at the floor by his feet. "Which is why I..."
"Uh... which is why what?"
Again, Naoto didn't answer. Out in the living room, Kanji could hear the rain beat against the window; maybe the extra sound was why this silence didn't feel so taut.
"Tatsumi." Soon as she'd begun, Naoto hesitated and shook her head. "Kanji-kun. I... I ought to... demonstrate gratitude. Express regret."
It sounded like a robot reading a foreign language textbook. Kanji still blinked.
He'd definitely missed something. Maybe an entire conversation. "Uh... for what?"
"For... for my behavior, I was--you see, Seta-san has... informed me of my failings as regards your group. That I must make amends and, and accept this new situation." Her shoulders slumped slightly. "I may as well start now."
Kanji's fingers snarled in the hem of his shirt. "S'right, he already talked to you." More than that, he'd actually got her to listen.
Naoto nodded. "Twice. And provided me with a very thorough explanation of your group's actions thus far. He's an intelligent man. It's no wonder he's led you all so successfully."
"You... he said you guys talked a while."
"I suppose," she said, with a small shrug. "Why?"
Figures. Both smart, probably had tons to talk about. Kanji wanted to ask what was so damn special about Senpai that Naoto had listened to him - but the answer was obvious. Instead, he settled for a noise he hoped she'd take as indifference. Naoto, meanwhile, contemplated the floor.
More moments passed.
"Uh… s'good," Kanji eventually managed. "Y'know. Wanting to be friends." Friends with him, he let himself think, heat starting to creep over his cheeks.
"Perhaps. I had intended to... explain my new stance to Satonaka-san and Hanamura-san, but... well." Naoto frowned. "Um… what was that about strip--"
"Y'can tell Rise and Yukiko-senpai instead," Kanji said hurriedly. "They're gonna be here any time." Or they were supposed to be. Rise could've just as easily gone to gawk at Souji-senpai across a library table all afternoon instead. "They, uh, they wanna see you."
Naoto opened her mouth to respond - then instantly closed it, jaw tightening. "That's.... kind of them."
It was a nice try, and a complete failure. "Ain't what you're thinking at all, is it?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Why do you pres--" She stopped, mouth clamped shut again, and took a deep breath. "We simply have little in common."
"So ask 'em to leave. Say you're tired."
Naoto's fingers moved to her shirt collar, then fell away and curled into a fist at her side. "That would be counterproductive. As I have stated, I must accept these things, since I intend to join your investigation."
Kanji blinked. "You serious?"
"Having spoken with Seta-san, I believe it the only rational course of action. Combining our resources would be a mutually beneficial arrangement."
A bunch of big words, spouted in a rush - but from the bits Kanji could decode, Naoto had just made teaming up sound like opening a joint bank account. "Huh... you mean we'll kick more ass, right?"
She raised an eyebrow. "...I suppose that's one way of phrasing it."
"Coulda signed up before, if you'd just said you'd figured us out." He wasn't sure how true that was - maybe Senpai would've denied the whole affair to someone without a Persona - but it would've been worth a try.
But if things had gone that way, none of them would know who Naoto Shirogane really was. Or what.
Hand on hip, Naoto stared at the ceiling and started tapping her foot against the living room floor. The rhythm jarred with the rain outside. "I had originally thought--well, before, I had anticipated that your group might require--"
"We didn't not want to tell you everything, yeah?" At least, he hadn't.
"Double negative. Again. You struggle with composition."
Kanji swore his face would burst into flame, and tried to head it off with a scowl. "So? Ain't like you don't--ah, shit." His cheeks flushed hotter. "Fine, laugh, whatever!"
"I was stating a fact." Naoto looked away, foot still tapping. "If you require some assistance. With schoolwork."
Deciding he needed something to stare at that wasn't Naoto, Kanji swiveled toward the bookshelf. "I don't want t'copy your stuff. Ain't right. 'Sides, Senpai'd freak."
"No. I meant... I would help you. Instruct you. Rise-san has informed me that Amagi-san does the same for Satonaka-san, and Seta-san for her and Hanamura-san. She also declared it beneficial and suggested I do the same for you."
Kanji didn't have the heart to explain that Rise was less interested in improving her work and more in improving her chances with Senpai; also, in making Kanji's life as difficult as possible. Besides, he was busy convincing himself not to run out the door. Shit, study sessions? With Naoto? Fastest way in the world for her to figure out what a moron he was.
"So. This would, would appear appropriate. Since Seta-san has instructed me to... adapt." Naoto's voice quickened. "Of course, if you do not wish to--"
"Uh, no, I... I mean, maybe not now, but later, yeah? Once you're back. Everything settled." Kanji swallowed hard and glowered at the bookshelf. Stupid books. "Just... don't expect a lot, alright?"
She'd laugh at him. Admittedly, he'd never seen her do that before, but this would make her start. She'd probably read all these big books, too, not only the pulp detective stuff. Just reading some of the titles made Kanji's eyelids heavy. His eyes drifted to the thickest volume on the shelf, which he figured was some police textbook - until he realized he recognized the name. The Daijisen. Same dictionary the school principal said all good students should own - except even the kind of useless students like Kanji knew you just looked that crap up on the internet if you really cared, because who the hell kept books?
...Naoto, of course. Which was why he'd meant to buy himself one of these for home, teach himself enough words to hold a conversation with her. Him, back then. Some hope. Vocabulary had never been the problem.
"You are interested in dictionaries?"
Kanji nearly jumped. Naoto had snuck up on him. She now stood at his elbow, peering up from under her hat.
"No. Just looking. Thought... y'know, maybe get one someday." He swallowed. "Good for reading, all that crap."
"You read?"
"I--I used to. When I was a k-kid," he stammered, his mind pointing out that if he told her what, he'd be obliged to kick his own ass (and sounding way too much like Take-Mikazuchi as it did.)
Naoto's eyes narrowed. "That contradicts your earlier statement outside the bookshop."
"Yeah. I know. Just..." He hesitated, both weirded-out that she remembered and wishing he'd learn to shut his stupid mouth. "Like I said, a kid."
"What genres?"
"Usual. Y'know."
"No," Naoto said flatly.
Kanji was about to make something up - books about dinosaurs in spaceships, maybe - when the door burst open. "Hey, guys!"
Crap. He'd hadn't closed the door. Naoto-induced absent-mindedness. "Rise?"
Rise barged into the room, a pigtail whirlwind with Yukiko in tow. "Yep! Honestly, Naoto-kun, you need to remember to lock up, someone could just waltz on over and kidnap you again." She twirled toward Kanji. "Hey there, Kanji-kun. Having fun?"
"None of your business," he snapped. On one hand, Rise had saved his ass, or at least saved him from having to kick it. On the other, she was a conniving brat and he wished she'd gotten lost on the way to the apartment.
Meanwhile, Naoto had worked up a serious glare. "I intended to be kidnapped, Rise-san, I am perfectly capable of def--"
"Kidding, Naoto! Besides, you've got Kanji-kun here to protect you." Rise threw her arms around Naoto's shoulders, turning the rest of the indignant response into something wordless, high-pitched and unhappy. "Right, Yukiko-senpai?"
Yukiko had been wearing the same vague look of confusion since she'd walked into the room. "Hmm? Oh... that's right. Kanji-kun's quite strong." She hesitated, brow delicately creased. "Although... I remember in middle school, he--"
"Yeah, that's great, you wanna siddown or what?" Kanji snapped, then stormed off into the kitchen to make some tea.
October 5th, 2011
The rain still hadn't stopped. Sitting cross-legged on the floor of the store, planning out a winter hat and scarf display, Kanji listened to it hammer against the window and wondered when the fog would hit. Yosuke had sworn up and down it'd be tonight, Senpai never got it wrong.
Only a few hours before it got dark, though. Maybe Senpai hadn't called it this time. Not everyone was perfect; not even him. Hell, definitely not Naoto, who Kanji still couldn't shake out his head - especially knowing that, even though they'd spoken about five times ever, Souji-senpai had still managed to--
Scarves. He'd hang them by color. Neutral for the adults, primaries for the kids. No, split them up by fabric too, women usually asked. Which left the hats, but there wasn't one of those to match every scarf and they wouldn't all fit on the rack. Maybe he needed to dig the mannequin heads out of storage, set a couple of them up near the window?
The shop door opened, ringing the bell on the frame. Kanji barely noticed, too busy figuring out what to do with the damn hats and trying not to wonder whether Naoto looked better with or without hers. He definitely didn't hear the footsteps; no surprise, once he heard the voice and knew who'd made them. "Kanji-kun?"
Kanji twisted round. "Oh, s'up, Yukiko-senpai."
"Scarves? Isn't it still too warm for that?" she asked, looking at the half-finished display rack.
Wait. She was wearing a kimono and haori. Meaning she was here for the inn.
He jumped to his feet, a flurry of scarves following. "Crap, sorry! Wasn't paying attention. Thought Ma had the counter," he added - trying to figure out if he'd seen her kimono before. Wasn't one from the store, but it still looked really well put-together. Good quality silk, and hand-sewn, of course; most machines wrecked that stuff off the bat. Design was nice too. Classy. Pale lavender, with white flowers sewn into the fabric - or blossoms, maybe, looked like there were a few small branches in there too. Not quite right for the fall, though. If he could see the petals, then--
"Um... what are you staring at?" Yukiko asked, staring at him in turn.
"Uh. Sorry," he mumbled. "Your kimono, it ain't one of ours. Where'd you get it?"
"Oh! My grandmother. She sends me at least four a year." Yukiko let out a quiet sigh. "This one came with a matching umbrella."
"She got good taste. None of that city store crap. Man, they don't even use silk!"
"But you get your shirts from the city, don't you?"
"A t-shirt ain't a kimono," Kanji said weightily - not mentioning that she was wrong and that he'd finally figured out exactly the right printing technique to make a heart-eyed skull survive a full year's worth of wear.
"Grandmother wouldn't like it, but... I thought about asking for some brighter designs, like I've seen online," Yukiko whispered, glancing round the store like her grandma might be hiding behind a shelf.
Kanji shrugged. "Eh, leave the garish stuff to Rise. She makes it work."
"Ah, Yuki-chan!" Ma stepped through the stockroom door, a roll of fabric under her arm. "I wondered who Kanji-chan was chattering with. My, you look lovely!"
Yukiko bowed politely. "Thank you, Tatsumi-sama."
Ma hummed approvingly. "You came to fetch the paperwork for your mother, correct? I'm sorry, we've been so busy lately, I haven't had chance to pass it on."
"That's no problem at all, Tatsumi-sama. I'm happy to deliver it."
"Oh, you're a helpful girl! Kanji-chan could learn a lot from you. Usually he'd help with the backlog, but he's given up sewing in favor of cooking lately." She shot him a stern look, then turned back to Yukiko. "Do you think your mother could find him a kitchen job at the inn?"
Yukiko dissolved into giggles, while Kanji settled for a glare. "Ma! Shut up!"
"Midnight's such an odd time to make dinner, too," Ma added, sighing, as she walked back inside the stockroom.
"Old bat," he muttered.
"Tatsumi-san is your mother, Kanji-ch--I mean, Kanji-kun. You should be polite," Yukiko managed - then let out a laugh verging on a snort. "Oh, but I can just imagine you running around the inn in an apron!"
Nothing wrong with aprons, Kanji reminded himself. "She's exaggeratin' anyway! 'S not been that many times and it ain't always at midnight." Besides, she was old, shouldn't she have been sleeping?
Yukiko smiled, shoulders still shaking with laughter. "Let me guess... Chef Tatsumi's cooking for Naoto-kun?"
"Never said that," Kanji muttered, then flopped back down on the floor and started poking at a pile of hats.
"Doesn't Rise-chan mind? She was very excited about making food to take over."
"Been telling her s'all leftovers. Don't wanna hurt her feelings."
"I'm surprised Naoto-kun hasn't commented on Rise's cooking. It seems like something she'd--" Yukiko paused. "But... you know, she was very nice at the end of our last visit. I wonder if Souji-kun said something to her."
Kanji grunted. Very nice just meant Naoto'd thanked them for visiting on their way out the door, instead of folding her arms and ignoring them. Still, the noise must've sounded like agreement, because Yukiko kept going. "He's been distracted ever since Naoto-kun disappeared. I can't really blame him, it's like we haven't accomplished anything." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "All these months and we aren't any closer to finding out who the true killer is."
"Well, we know who it ain't."
She nodded. "After all that effort with Kubo. Ugh, I hated that dungeon quest thing, it gave me such a headache!"
No kidding. Everything Kanji looked at had turned into giant blocks for a whole month after. Screwed up his sewing completely. He shifted his shoulders, then gestured to an empty spot on the floor among the scarves. "You can sit down, yeah? Ma probably got sidetracked."
Yukiko carefully knelt down beside him, folding her legs in a way he couldn't quite follow. "You know, Kanji-kun, when we started all this... I did it for Chie, really. But I started to enjoy it. I'd never done anything like this before. And the fire..." She trailed off and stared down at her hands, slim fingers bunching in her kimono. "But it doesn't feel like fun anymore. It feels like we've done everything wrong."
"No way! Look at all the people you helped. Naoto, Rise." He jabbed a thumb towards his chest. "Me, too. And Senpai's on top of everything, he'll figure stuff out."
She nodded. "... You're right, I'm sorry. And I'm sure having Naoto-kun around will make Souji-kun feel much better."
"Whassat s'posed to mean?" Kanji snapped, grabbing a turquoise silk scarf and trying not to yell.
"Well... Naoto-kun's a detective, isn't she? She probably knows all kinds of investigation techniques." Yukiko frowned. "Why? What did you think I meant?"
Investigation techniques. Right. Staring at the wall, Kanji willed the heat from his cheeks. "Nothin'."
October 6th, 2011
Naoto hadn't moved in the last fifteen minutes.
From outside the window, Kanji could barely see her face - she had her head tilted down toward her desk, so her eyes were hidden under the brim of her cap - but her arms were folded tight over her chest and she hadn't looked up at all, not even when other students walked in the room.
What the hell was up?
A hand grabbed his elbow. Kanji, guessing who the hand was attached to, refused to look down. "Get lost, Rise."
"Oh, so you can spy on Naoto-kun through a classroom window?" Rise stood on tiptoes next to him and peered through the glass. "That's so weird, Kanji-kun. It's only her first day back."
"I-I ain't--" Except he was. No two ways. "Dammit, go bother Senpai!"
"Nah, this is way more fun," insisted Rise, then poked him in the ribs. "So, when are you gonna ask her out? Sweep her off her feet?"
"Whassit to you?"
"Duh. I'm your friend. And you gotta get in there before some other guy does." She shrugged. "Or girl, I guess."
She had a point. Kanji had already heard a few girls this morning lamenting that their favorite Detective wasn't technically a Prince. He'd also heard more than a few others claim that was a minor detail.
Rise rocked back on her heels, humming thoughtfully. "Shame Naoto-kun isn't really a guy. I thought she was kinda good-looking, you know." She sighed dramatically, one hand pressed to her forehead. "And now there's another girl I gotta fight off for Senpai!"
"Shut it. She don't even like him." Even though every other girl in the school did. Maybe the whole town.
"C'mon, Kanji-kun. I'm kidding. It's great that Naoto-kun's a girl. You and her are gonna be so cute together!"
"I said shut it!" he hissed. "S'none of your business!"
First Yosuke, now Rise. It's cool, she's a chick, you were normal all along! As if his head had just thrown out all that stuff from earlier in the year; like everything came down to Naoto.
Lately, Kanji had wondered if it did.
Then he noticed Rise hadn't said anything for the past ten seconds. Which was definitely Not-Rise - and when he glanced down, she was biting her lip.
"You don't have to be like that," she said quietly.
"Ah… crap, Rise, I'm sorry. It's just… " Kanji scratched his neck as he fumbled for the right words, before deciding it wasn't worth the effort. "Didn't mean it."
She tipped her head to the left, eyes narrowed, then let out a breath. "Kanji-kun, you're gonna drive yourself crazy. Me too." The smile leapt back to her face in an instant. "C'mon, why don't we go in and talk to Naoto-kun? Maybe all the gossip's getting her down." Her eyebrows arched. "You wouldn't believe some of the rumors going round."
Kanji's first, primal impulse was to demand she tell him what each rumor was, who'd made it up and where he could find them. Naoto wouldn't appreciate the effort, though. Neither would the school principal. Grumbling under his breath, he followed Rise inside the classroom and over to Naoto.
"Hey, Naoto-kun!" Rise perched on the desk, one palm flat against the surface.
Naoto didn't look up. "Rise-san."
Kanji waited for his name. It never came. "Uh. Hey."
"Tatsumi."
He opened his mouth to answer, not really knowing what he'd say - but as usual, Rise got there first. "You look a lot better, Naoto-kun. Handsome as always!" she chirped, then winked. "I saw all those letters piling up while you were away. Almost as many as I get."
Naoto just shrugged.
A weird, awkward silence curled around the three of them, and Kanji started to wish he was back in Void Quest.
"Well!" Rise jumped down from the desk. "Guess I'll go now! Kanji-kun wanted to talk to you, anyway."
"No I did--" Kanji started, then yelped when Rise stamped on his foot.
"You sure did!" she trilled dangerously, with a pointed look. "Remember?"
"Uh?" Hold on. Was this another--
"Bye, guys!" Rise was already halfway to the door. "Gotta run!"
Kanji watched her run out into the corridor, his fist half-raised - then looked back at Naoto, who was staring at him with her arms still folded. "You had something to say."
"Uh," he repeated, eyes wide.
Naoto kept staring.
He swallowed hard and squared his shoulders. "Y-yeah. Yeah, I do!" Both his palms slammed against the desk; Naoto didn't seem impressed. "Whass wrong?"
"Nothing."
"But... you..." Seemed just fine two days ago and didn't make me have a conversation by myself. "So...uh, you're still wearin' the boy's--"
"There's no reason to change. I am accustomed to this," Naoto said briskly. Her shoulders tensed. "If there is a problem..."
"No, no! Whatever works, y'know?" The image of Naoto in a girl's uniform was both really damn cute and really damn weird. Kanji wasn't sure whether it'd leave him stuffing a tissue up his nose or break his brain for good.
"Then this, for now."
"Ain't nobody gonna give you trouble over it, don't worry." This was solid ground; Kanji cracked his knuckles for emphasis. "'Cause if they do--"
"Unnecessary," she muttered. "People talk. I... I am still myself. I am simply now open regarding my gender."
"Well... that's great, right? Secrets. Bad news," he added, trying not to feel like a hypocrite.
"I was... there was nothing wrong with--" The sentence stopped short; Naoto tensed her jaw and stared straight ahead. "Of course. You are right."
Two days since he'd seen her, that was all. Not for the first time, Kanji knew there was something crucial he was missing; not so much a piece of the puzzle as a picture telling him what the damn thing was supposed to look like.
"S'good you're back," he tried.
Naoto looked up, expression perfectly blank. "Tatsumi. If you will excuse me, I must catch up on my missed work before class."
Kanji considered several responses: you probably did it already, then where's your damn textbook, what the hell changed. He settled for the easiest of all: cursing under his breath and storming out the classroom, slamming the door behind him.