*Chapter 16: Two Proposals*
*One year later*
"Yu! Chie!" Yosuke yelled out as he saw the two approaching Yosuke and Yukiko as they were standing outside the pub in a bar in Inaba. The two had gotten back from Tokyo again, Yu continuing his studies at college, but now on summer break, and Chie now almost done with her training, she had gone through the academy and passed with flying colors, and now was gaining field experience in Tokyo as per the requirements for her graduation. Chie couldn't visit all that often, but whenever she got the opportunity, she and Yu jumped on the train for Inaba. It was later in the summer, the two coming out to Inaba and hanging around with everyone as usual, except for Rise and Teddie. The two had gone into show business after graduating earlier that year, working on an album together, Teddie somehow magically gaining the ability to sing beautifully and the two now touring together. Kanji and Naoto had graduated as well, Kanji still living at home and Naoto travelling around for work and coming back and staying with Kanji whenever she could.
"You guys like being twenty… oh wait, Yukiko isn't twenty until December and Yu isn't twenty till November!" Yosuke sarcastically remarked, "But me and Chie…"
"I get it," Yu groaned, "You two are old enough to legally drink now."
"Then let's go get wasted," Chie said, "Yu and Yukiko are buying!" Yosuke and Chie jumped into the air and high-fived before running into the bar.
"How are you doing?" Yu asked Yukiko, "You two are obviously still madly in love."
"Oh we are," Yukiko said, "In fact… I have my suspicions that the two of us might be man and wife soon."
"Really?" Yu laughed, "Yosuke married? How would you know that?"
"Yosuke's been saving his money and we've been talking about marriage, or I have… but he seems open to it!" Yukiko said in a slightly higher jubilant voice, "What about you and Chie? I guess since she's the breadwinner now she'll be proposing to you!" Yukiko laughed.
"Trust me," Yu reached into his pocket pulling out a small box, "I got it covered." Yukiko gasped as she looked around making sure Chie wasn't looking before opening the box.
"It's beautiful," Yukiko said, "How could you afford that!"
"It was my grandfather's," Yu said, "His wife gave it to her son, my dad, and my mom gave it to me."
"Traditional," Yukiko laughed, "I like that. When are you going to do it?"
"I have an idea, I was going to do it by the riverbank the two of us use to hang out at all the time," Yu said, "I was going to do it next spring back when the two of us first met… you're a woman, is that romantic?"
"Completely," Yukiko said, "You're secret is safe with me. Now let's make sure those two don't get too drunk."
The two walked into the bar where Chie and Yosuke were already seated at the bar eagerly awaiting their drinks. Yu and Yukiko sat down on sides of them as the bartender hand them two large pints of beer.
"Race you," Yosuke said.
"You're on!" Chie smiled as the two clinked there glasses and began to chug down the delicious refreshing ale. The two were neck in neck until Chie pulled a quick one and tipped her glass as far back as it could and finished right before Yosuke.
"I win," Chie laughed.
"Bullshit!" Yosuke slammed his glass down, "I had you!"
"Did not!" Chie said.
"Did so!" Yosuke said, "You are such a little brat!"
"I may be a brat, but I'm a brat who won!" Chie joked.
"What can I get you two?" the bartender approached Yu and Yukiko, but before they could say anything Yosuke immediately jumped in.
"These two, will have water because they are under the legal age," Yosuke proudly declared, "And as for me and her, two more beers. Rematch?" he looked at Chie.
"You're on!" Chie growled as she pumped herself up for another contest.
*2 hours later*
"BUM BUM BUM BUM BADADADADA!" Chie was singing loudly as she was being carried out by Yu, Yosuke stumbling out with the help of Yukiko.
"Yukiko baby… I'm a little drunk," Yosuke slurred.
"I know," Yukiko said, "Let's get you home and into bed."
"Let's go to AIYA'S!" Chie proclaimed, "I want the beef! STEAKY!"
"Steaky? No, come on, we should take you home," Yu, "Or on second thought, maybe you should come back home with me, I doubt your parents wanna see you like this."
"Oh!" Chie said, "You want me to eat your steak skewer!" She grabbed his head, trying to kiss him as Yu kept tugging his head away from her horrible drunk breath, "GIMME THE BEEF YU!"
"GIVE HER THE BEEF!" Yosuke said as well, falling down into the street as he tried to run over to Yu.
"Yosuke, you're drunk," Yukiko picked him up, "Let's go home." The two began walking the other way from Chie and Yu. Chie still drunkenly singing songs as she was carried back to The Dojima household. He pulled the door open, everyone still up in the house.
"We're hoooooommmmeee," Chie said as she stumbled into the house, Yu chasing her to make sure she didn't fall.
"Uh," Dojima was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee. Nanako sitting by the television as usually, watching a quiz show, but her attention now diverted to a loud and drunk Chie who was now at the fridge.
"There we go," Chie said pulling out one of Dojima's beers and opening it and started to chug it before Yu ripped it away from her.
"Chie's twenty by the way," Yu said, "So she's legally drunk before you say anything."
"I'm twenty, I'm drunk, and I'm… drunk!" Chie declared as she leaned up against the wall and closed her eyes.
"Chie, let's put you to bed," Yu said before Chie's eyes shot open as wide as possible, "Chie?" Chie quickly tried to run towards the bathroom, but ended up falling over in the living room, and proceeded to vomit all over floor.
"Ew!" Nanako yelled as she began to gag, "Dad!" Dojima quickly ran over and grabbed Nanako and took her out of the room as Yu tried to pick Chie up, she continued to vomit all over the living room. Yu managed to drag her to the bathroom, but Chie had projectile vomited all the alcohol up and she passed out on the floor.
Dojima walked back down the stairs after putting Nanako to bed, looking at the living room.
"Holy shit!" Dojima said shocked as Yu came over to assess the damage. There was vomit everywhere, the floor. the couch, the wall, and even the television. Dojima looked over at Yu, "You're cleaning this up," Dojima stated as he turned around and headed upstairs to bed.
Yu continued to look in silence as he turned around and looked at Chie, who was peacefully curled up on the floor of the bathroom.
"I'm going to kill Yosuke," Yu said, "'Hey Chie! Let's do a couple more shots! We're not buying'… dumbass. "
*The next morning*
Chie's eyes opened up, light hurtfully pouring in as she began to stir out of bed.
"Oh my god," Chie groaned as she put her hands on her head and closed her eyes, "My head…"
"Oh you're up!" Yu said as she turned over to see Yu sitting on the couch watching television, "Good!"
"Shhh," Chie said, "My head feels like its split open… did we go out drinking last night?"
"You don't remember," Yu spoke very loudly as Chie put her pillow over her head, "Let me recap: You and Yosuke got drunk, I had to carry you home, and then you vomited all over the place and I had to clean it all up," he went over at sat right next to Chie on the bed, "Then you woke up and I had to bathe you like a child and dress you in clean non-vomit covered clothes and put you to bed."
"Thanks," Chie said.
"You want breakfast?" Yu asked turning up the television to annoy Chie.
"I wanna sleep…" Chie cried softly, "I'm sick."
"Well if you want breakfast, or more like lunch since it's noon, come on down," Yu got up and pulled Chie's pillow off her face, giving her a kiss on the cheek. He turned and left with the pillow.
"Shut the light off," Chie said as the door closed and the light still on, "Goddamn it Yu. Why do you hate me?"
*A couple days later*
Yu was walking around the shopping district with Chie, the two holding hands as Chie was wandering around and looking at the flowers people were selling. They were hanging around with Kanji and Naoto who had recently returned to Inaba.
"Look at these," Chie squealed to Naoto as she picked one up, "Smell it," she held it up to Naoto and Kanji.
"It smells great," Kanji said, "I should put these in the shops!"
"Yu, smell it," Chie looked at Yu.
"Huh?" he asked as she held it up to his nose, "Uh, yeah, it smells good."
"Hey it's Yosuke, isn't he suppose to be at work?" Kanji asked as the four saw Yosuke rushing towards them.
"Sup?" Yosuke said as the looked around, "Are you guys busy?"
"Not really, we're just flower shopping," Chie said, "Is there something we should be doing."
"I wanna show you something," Yosuke smiled as he reached into his pocket and showed a small box to Yu, opening it and revealing a ring.
"Are you proposing to me?" Yu smirked, "I'm sorry partner, but I'm not like that."
"I'm not proposing to you, I'm proposing to Yukiko, tonight at the firework festival!" Yosuke said, "Pretty romantic, right?"
"You're proposing?" Chie gasped, "Yukiko is going to be thrilled!" She and Naoto went over and looked at the ring.
"Wow, it's quite beautiful," Naoto said, "Yukiko is a lucky girl."
"Good for you," Kanji said, "I'm sure you guys will be happy together." The two girls were still swooning over the ring.
"Okay ladies, that's enough," Yosuke put the ring away, "You guys better propose soon, these girls are getting all riled up."
"Kanji and I are already engaged," Naoto said.
"Wait, you two are engaged?" Yu said, "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Well it's not really engaged, more like engaged to be engaged," Kanji said, "We got a plan."
"A plan?" Chie asked, "What plan?"
"Kanji and I are going to save our money, then when we are both 25 we'll get married and then for the next five years we are going to travel the world and when we come back we're going to start a family," Naoto explained.
"You've got your entire twenties planned out?" Yosuke asked, "That's messed up."
"Not really, we're still going to be around for the next few years," Naoto said, "We've just got a life plan, I'm sure Yu and Chie have some sort of timeline for the next few years."
"I'm going to be a cop and Yu's going to graduate college… and we'll live our lives," Chie said, "I mean… we're going to get married, right?" the group all looking over at Yu.
"Someday," Yu said, "In the future."
"Define future," Chie said, giving Yu an angry look.
"You know… future!" Yu was getting nervous as Chie stared him down, "Quit putting me on the spot!"
"You don't wanna get married!" Chie gasped out, "I can see it in your eyes!" Chie was in shock.
"No!" Yu tried to calm her down.
"You… jerk!" she ran off crying away from the group.
"No! Chie!" Yu said as she continued to run off, "Damn it Yosuke!"
"What the hell did I do?" Yosuke said, "Don't you wanna marry Chie?"
"Of course," Yu said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a box as well, "I was waiting, I had it all planned out you idiot!"
"Oh!" Yosuke said, "I'm sorry man, I didn't know."
"I was going to do it the day we met next year," Yu groaned, "Shit man, she isn't going to forgive me if I don't do it soon."
"But then she'll just think you're doing it because we pressured you and you still don't want to get married," Naoto explained, "Your now stuck in a relationship catch-22."
"Give me your advice!" Yu ran over and shook Naoto, "You're a woman; how do I fix this?"
"I don't know, talk to Chie, you know how she gets about stuff like this, just go calm her down," Naoto explained as she broke free of Yu, "Go!" Yu quickly ran off to go find Chie. He ran and caught up with Chie who was still slightly crying.
"Hey," Yu said as he hugged her.
"Why won't you marry me?" she said to him, "Don't you love me."
"I do, I love you more than anything," Yu said, "Just, let's get our priorities straight, you've got a new job to settle into and I've got college," Chie was still crying, he held her in his arms as she continued to let it all out. Some time passed and Chie eventually calmed down as Yu predicted.
"Feeling better?" Yu asked.
"Totally, I guess I kinda freaked out back there again," Chie said, "Sorry I'm being stupid again."
"No, you're not stupid," Yu said as the two walked off, "You're just being you and that's what I love about you."
"I love you too," Chie smiled.
*Later that night*
"Where's Yosuke?" Chie asked as she with Yu, Kanji, and Naoto all stood around looking for him.
"He said he was on his way with Yukiko a few minutes ago," Yu said to Chie, "Are you excited?"
"Totally! I can't wait to see the look on her face when Yosuke proposes," Chie smiled, "She's going to be crying."
"Why would you want to see Yukiko crying?" Kanji asked, "That's just cruel."
"Not like sad crying, happy crying," Chie said, "Idiot."
"They're coming over here, we better be quiet," Naoto said as she saw the two approaching, holding hands.
"Hey guys," Yukiko said as she went over and hugged Naoto and Chie. The four remaining quiet, not trying to ruin the surprise Yosuke had planned.
"Shows going to start pretty soon," Yu said, "Are you guys ready?"
"Yeah," Yosuke said, "Hey Yukiko, why don't you go find us a spot over there," he pointed as she nodded and left.
"How are you feeling?" Naoto asked.
"I'm going to faint," Yosuke said, his face flushed red, "My heart is beating so fast right now, feel it," he grabbed Yu and Naoto's hands and placed them on his chest.
"Are you having a heart attack or something?" Yu said, "That's scarily fast."
"He's just nervous," Chie laughed as she placed her hand on his chest as well, "Oh god, that's horrific, calm down!"
"Like you said, I'm nervous!" Yosuke chuckled, "A guy can't be nervous when he's going to propose? Now let's go do this," Yosuke began to stutter as he got light headed and almost fell down.
"You okay dude?" Kanji asked.
"Yeah," he said licking his dried lips, "I guess the seriousness of what I am doing just set in… am I crazy?"
"No, just in love, now go over there and do it!" Chie smiled and gave him the thumbs up, "We'll be over here waiting for here to say yes." Yosuke smiled and turned around, walking over to the spot where Yukiko was standing.
"Hey, where are the others?" Yukiko asked as Yosuke stood next to her.
"They'll be here soon," Yosuke said, "Uh..." Yosuke was trying to find his courage as he reached into his back pocket where he kept the ring hidden. "Yuk…" as soon as he spoke the first firework went up in the air. There were several families around them, a few kids oohing and awwing from the fireworks.
"They're beautiful," Yukiko said.
"Not as beautiful as you," Yosuke smiled as he looked at Yukiko. He never felt more in love as he watched the happiness on her face as the light and noise of the fireworks faded away. Yukiko looked over at Yosuke, smiling as she too felt the same way.
"Yukiko," Yosuke said as he brought the box out, "I love you; I want to be with you the rest of my life," he spoke softly as he began to get down on one knee, "Will you marry me?" Yukiko put her hands over her mouth as tears began flowing from her eyes.
"Yes," she said as she held her hand out for Yosuke as he slipped the ring on, she pulled Yosuke up and the two locked lips. A few people began applauding them as they celebrated their newly found engagement. Yukiko and Yosuke were completely lost in the moment; everything except for the two had disappeared from the world.
"I take it she said yes?" Yu said as the four approached the two who were still kissing, Yukiko looked over at them, a few tears still rolling out of her eyes and she held up her hand with the ring on it.
"It looks so beautiful on you," Chie smiled, "I can't wait to tell Rise and Teddie, they'll be so excited."
"I can't wait to tell my parents," Yukiko said still crying.
Yosuke let out a couple chuckles, "They, uh, kinda already know," the group all looked at him, "I went and told them I was going to do it earlier today to get their blessing. I know your family is traditional so I thought it'd be a good move."
"They don't know if she said yes," Naoto said, "Although one would assume so."
"My parents don't know," Yosuke said, "We can surprise them tomorrow…"
"I guess you have to take Yukiko's last name now!" Yu smiled, "It's not like you own Junes."
"Well Junes is a bigger store!" Yosuke defended himself.
"You don't actually own it... do you?" Chie laughed.
"Well, no, but..." Yosuke was panicking.
"Say it," Yu crossed his arms.
"Say what?" Yosuke asked.
"Say your new name!" Yu was smiling.
Yosuke let out a huge sigh, "Fine... I'n Yosuke..." Yosuke muffled out the last part.
"What was that?" Kanji asked.
"Fine! My new name is Yosuke... Amagi," Yosuke said, "This is emasculating."
"Come on, it has a nice ring to it!" Yukiko cheered him up.
"Guess that's two rings," Chie said making Yukiko go into one of her laughing fits. The six hung around for a little while longer, several people coming up to Yukiko and Yosuke and congratulating them and looking at the ring. After some time, two left for home, Yosuke looking forward to a wonderful treat no doubt.
*A couple days later*
"How is the wedding planning coming along?" Chie asked Yosuke as the two along with Yu were walking along the riverbanks, enjoying some peace and quiet.
"About that," Yosuke said with a pained expression on his face, "Yukiko and I had a talk with her parents and they'd prefer if we had a traditional Japanese Shinto wedding rather than the type Teddie and Rise had."
"Why?" Yu asked, "They didn't enjoy it?"
"No, it's just a tradition in their family and they'd like for it to continue on with us and with our children," Yosuke said as he crossed his arms, "I really don't mind that much, but it still kinda sucks."
"You guys already talking about kids?" Chie proclaimed, "That didn't take long."
"No! Neither of us wants kids yet, but you know it's going to happen," Yosuke said, "The implication of marriage is starting a family."
"And Yukiko is going to bear your young, or as Teddie would put it… bear your young," Yu said unsuccessfully making a pun, "I swear I had something for this."
"Something about cubs I'm sure…" Yosuke remarked, "It's my duty to carry the torch of The Hanamura family into the next generation," Yosuke proudly declared, "Besides, with my good looks combined with Yukiko's brains our children will be the greatest things to ever grace the Earth."
"The Earth doesn't need a bunch of mini-Yosuke's running around it," Chie laughed, "One is enough."
"Like the spawn of your loins is going to be any better, they'll be silver haired little ninjas that eat all of all the world's beef, causing global famine," Yosuke said as Chie kicked him in the shin, "Ow!"
"Idiot," she said walking off leaving the two guys behind.
"Tell me, on a scale of one to ten, how amazing was the night you proposed?" Yu asked, "And you know what I mean by night."
"Didn't sleep till sunrise," Yosuke laughed, "I would propose every day if I could have nights like that."
"Really?" Yu smiled as he looked over at Chie who was messing around a tree, "Now I can't wait."
"You still are going through with your plans?" Yosuke asked.
"Next April," Yu said, "It'll be romantic, plus I'm sure it'll be close to your wedding."
"April-Mayish sounds nice," Yosuke said, "The only downside is that it's gotta be all formal and shit, I really liked Teddie and Rise's wedding."
"On the bright side you'll be able to get drunk at this one," Yu laughed.
"We all will… excluding Kanji," Yosuke laughed as well, "He'll probably be able to drink at his own wedding… and your wedding… man, who would've thought that we'd all end up marrying each other back in high school."
"You guys were so awkward around women," Yu said, "Don't get me wrong, I had my moments too, but man was it bad, lucky us."
"Lucky us," Yosuke smiled as the two continued on their way and met up with Chie.
*November*
Beep. Beep. Beep. The loud and familiar sound of Yu's alarm went off through the tiny apartment. Yu rolled over at slammed his hand down on the alarm as Chie sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes.
"Graduation day!" Chie smiled. Today was indeed Chie's graduation date from the police academy. Today she would officially become and officer of The Tokyo Police department and would get a full time job with benefits and a new paycheck. Chie was excited and couldn't wait to start her exciting new life as a police officer. She could picture it now, fighting against crime and corruption as Yakuza mob bosses sent hitman after hitman that she would foil with her kung-fu.
"Yep, graduation," Yu smiled. Yu was only a sophomore by college standards and halfway through his degree. He had decided that he wanted to become a teacher, inspired by some of his previous teachers from previous schools. He wanted to shape and help young minds. In retrospect, maybe he was too hard on people like King Moron, he really only wanted what was best for his students, despite being a dick about it. He could see himself as a high school teacher; he was a good tutor to Shu back in Inaba. Yu just didn't want to be an elementary school teacher.
To be honest about everything, Yu was not a fan of small kids. Nanako was really the only exception to this, he was very weary and uncomfortable around her at first, but quickly grew to love her as she was so mature for his age. The one thing he hated more than anything was that stupid job as a daycare attendant back in Inaba, he loathed spending his time there. He was in it for the money, and as soon as he found other available jobs he quickly left. Thankfully, Chie and him were not planning on having kids any time soon so Yu didn't have to worry.
Chie was already naked and jumping into the shower as Yu stirred out of bed, Chie was always so energetic in the mornings, getting ready to go to the academy. Yu turned on the small television and watched the morning news from across the bed as Chie came out of the shower in a towel. Yu quickly threw his clothes off too to get in the shower as Chie was already getting dressed.
"So my graduation is at 4!" Chie said, "My parents are coming out here for dinner with us afterwards!"
"Okay," Yu was scrubbing his armpits, "I got class till 3 so I'll go straight from the campus to the ceremony."
"Great!" Chie was pouring herself some cereal.
*Later that day*
Yu hurried across the busy campus after his final class of the day. People were everywhere talking and playing and studying, a true college campus. Yu hadn't really made too many friends since coming to college, not that he was completely alone, he had a few friends. However, he spent as much time as he could either heading back to Inaba, or hanging out with Rise and Teddie whenever they were in Japan. In fact, the four of them hung out in their recording studio a lot.
Yu ran on over to the nearest train station near the campus, heading across the city to where Chie's graduation was being held. The train was so crowded, Yu use to being scrunched up against the door. Whenever Chie and Yu would head back to Inaba, their train was usually empty besides them so they got a lot of personal time together.
The train eventually arrived at his stop, Yu popped out of it as quickly as he could and headed to the direction of the police academy. Yu felt underdressed for the event, but then again it was only a graduation and he wasn't graduating. Eventually, Yu arrived at the police academy.
The police academy was very large; there was a huge track and field in the back, much like the ones at his college. There was an archery range and even a gun range; did they really want Chie running around with a gun? Regardless, Yu was sure she would be responsible with the authority given to her, he hoped.
Inside, Yu was met with a large crowd of parents and siblings who were there for the graduation as well. There was a large lable with all the photos of the graduating class set up for everyone to see. Yu went up and found Chie's, wearing navy blue buttoned outfit with a white tie and a hat. Chie looked like an actual adult for the first time Yu could think of, very mature and complacent.
Yu made his way into the auditorium, nice fine theater like seats for him to sit in. "Is this seat taken?" he heard a familiar female voice say to him. He looked over to see Chie's mother smiling at him with her father looking around the auditorium behind her.
"Hey there Mr. and Mrs. Satonaka," Yu smiled at them as Chie's mother sat next to him, much to Yu's relief because he was worried he would have to sit next to Chie's father through the whole thing. Constantly worried he was going to cave in his skull or something worse.
"How is school going for you?" she asked him.
"It's going good, still hanging in there," Yu responded.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it, I know you and Chie have worked really hard with both of your educations and we're glad you two are so happy," she smiled. Chie's mother was such a pleasure to be around, so patient and nice to Yu and made him feel welcomed around the house and so understanding compared to her father. What was she even doing with a man like that, but then again, what was a girl like Yukiko doing with Yosuke, and Teddie and Rise, and him and Chie, and Kanji and Naoto. It all seemed odd to Yu, but maybe it was something that couldn't be explained, "You're like a son to us."
That made Yu jump a little bit in his seat, she thought of him as a son? Yu knew that someday he was going to marry Chie, next April to be precise, but to be honest he was having second thoughts. Their relationship wasn't perfect, they had their differences and arguments, but he loved her and she loved him, but he worried that one day he would wake up and this feeling would be gone and she would leave him. Maybe this was the sign to truly marry Chie and spend her life together.
"I… think of you like a mother," Yu smiled and looked over at Chie's dad, "And you as a father."
"Oh god," Chie's dad let out a disgusted sigh as he got up and left. Okay, now he definitely was going to marry Chie. Eventually, everyone took their seats as the graduation class marched onto the stage and took their seats. Chie was dressed in her police uniform, the same from the photo. Chie really hadn't changed her style over these past couple of years. Her hair was still short and she wore the same stuff she always did. Yu told her that she should grow her hair out like Yukiko or Rise, leading to an argument about Yu wanting those two over her, but regardless, the graduation droned on and on as usual, just like the high school graduation. After all was said and done, the three went out and met Chie in the lobby.
"Mom! Dad!" Chie ran over and hugged the two, "Thank you so much for coming!"
"We wouldn't miss it for the world," Chie's dad said, "Now come on, the four of us are going out for a nice dinner together."
"Don't you wanna look at the academy a little bit?" Chie asked.
"No, I'm starving," Chie's dad said as he hurried off, "Come on, I'll get the car!"
*Two weeks later*
"Goddamn this is boring," Chie strolled along downtown Tokyo in her police uniform. Needless to say the life as a cop she imagined was not as glamorous as she thought it'd be. There were no crime bosses or hitmen or any action at all. All she had done was help tourists locate where the bathrooms were and where other stuff was. It was so boring, the only thing close to action she had seen was a robbery in which every cop in the city managed to make it to before her.
"Excuse me officer," a young woman with her little boy ran up to Chie.
"This is it!" Chie thought to herself, "My big moment! Here comes some action!" Chie straighten up and asked, "Yes m'am?"
"Can you tell us where the nearest restroom is, my son has to go," she smiled as Chie's inner child was squashed yet again.
"Yes, the nearest one would be that Peace Diner over there," Chie pointed.
"Thank you so much officer," she ran off with her son.
"No problem," Chie sighed, "Damn it this sucks." Chie continued to walk along. She didn't even have a gun; officers at her level only had a night stick and some basic knowledge of self defense, as if she needed it. Chie also had to put up with tons of paperwork, stupid, long, paperwork. It sucked so much, there was nothing she hated more than paperwork. Name, Date, Date of Birth, Officer Number, and on and on it went.
Chie continued her patrol along Tokyo as she watched the people stroll along on their merry way. Naoto probably didn't have to put up with this. She was a detective and went off on those crazy adventures she dreamed about and traveled and had a gun. Chie looked at the clock and slugged her way back to the station as the other officers came to take her place. Inside, the station was as busy as usual with the sounds of phones and keyboards as usual. Chie made her way to her desk in the main floor. Her desk was extremely barren besides a photo of Yu and her and another photo of the gang back in Inaba. Chie laid her head down on her desk as she felt exhausted from all the work she had done, or rather hadn't done.
"Satonaka," a voice said to her. She raised her head to see a mail page with a large bag coming through the room, "Mail!" he dropped a couple of envelopes on her desk as he went on to other officers. Chie looked at the first one, addressed from her parents back in Inaba. She opened it to reveal a small congratulation card.
It read, "Chie, I hope you are having a wonderful time at your new job as a police officer. Please stay safe and do your best! We love you very much Love, Mom and Dad," Chie smiled at her mom's words, her dad clearly not writing something that loving. She sent the card in her drawer, empty besides a couple of pens and some sticky notes. The second letter was her check for her first two weeks of work, Chie put in the drawer as well as she booted her computer to get some more dull paperwork done for the next couple hours.
Chie slugged her way through it until it was clocking out time, making her way to the locker room and getting undressed to shower after walking around with the other female officers. Chie was probably in the best shape out of all the women, not that they were out of shape, but Chie was very muscular from working out so much. On duty she would occasionally dip off to an alley or a roof and doing some work outs to clear her mind. It wasn't the best habit, but it's not like she was missing anything important. Chie went and got dressed, grabbing her uniform to take home to clean and her paycheck.
The walk home was nice, Chie felt like an actual person again, nobody asking her stupid questions or directions. She walked around for a few more blocks until making her way to the apartment building, heading up the same old elevator to the same old hallway to the same old door to their same old apartment.
Inside, Yu was lying on the bed reading a book for class as usual. His back pack was thrown against the wall and the television on in the background.
"Hey," Yu looked over as Chie tossed her uniform in the hamper and sat down next to Yu, "How was work."
"Booooorrrrinngggg," Chie groaned, "The most interesting thing I saw was some old guy stumbling to the ground, that and my first paycheck," Chie held the envelope up.
"You didn't open it yet?" Yu asked.
"Well I wanted to wait to show you," Chie began to open it, "Not to brag or anything, but I figured we could talk about what we are earning now and what we can do with…" Chie looked at the paycheck number with Yu, "… that's so much more money than I was planning."
"That's not an error I hope," Yu said, "Chie… is that how much money you are earning now?"
"Yes… yes it is," Chie smiled, "We…We…"
"We can go grocery shopping and get food!" Yu smiled, "Real food!"
"And we can get some better stuff around here… and after a while we could save up our money and get a better apartment!" Chie was excited, "Yu! We did it, we made it! We're not going to be rich, but no more instant noodles!"
"Oh thank god, if I had to eat one more bowl of this crap I was going to vomit," Yu was smiling, "This is the best day ever. Chie, I can cook you steak when you come home from work now."
"…Let's have celebratory sex… twice!" Chie said to Yu.
"Best day ever," Yu grabbed Chie and the two began to toss their clothes off as Chie and Yu celebrated.
*Next Year, April*
Yu was standing in his room, it was the weekend and he was going to propose to Chie tomorrow. He had come home for the weekend, telling Chie he had some family business to take care of. He had been crashing at Dojima, he unknown to the reasons as well. Yu spent the entire day working on his little project, trying to figure out how to do it. He ran around town, making sure everything was in place for the big day.
Yu looked at his phone, speed dialing Chie's number.
"Hey there," Chie said over the phone, "How's it going?"
"Good, listen, there's something that came up," Yu said into the phone, trying to sound sad.
"What happened?" Chie gasped.
"Can you come down to Inaba tomorrow, I'll meet you there… something happened," Yu said.
"What, tell me?" Chie worried.
"It's not appropriate to say over the phone, just please come down here, for Yukiko's sake," Yu said, faking his voice breaking up.
"Okay, I'll be there tomorrow," Chie said as her voice sounded heartbroken, "Love you."
"Love you too," Yu said as he hung up the phone, "Forgive me Chie…and Yukiko."
"Big bro, lunch's ready," Nanako said through the door. Yu got ready, heading downstairs to the wonderful dinner that Nanako and Dojima had whipped up for Yu.
"How did your day go?" Nanako asked Yu, "Who did you hang out with?"
"No one actually," Yu smiled, "I actually spent the day working on a little project of mine all day." He looked over at Nanako, "Do you want to see it?"
"Sure," Nanako said as Yu pulled out a small box and opened it for the two, "Are you going to marry Chie?"
"Yes," Yu smiled as he showed the ring to Dojima.
"Well congratulations, I'm sure whatever you have planned for her is worth all the hard work," Dojima smiled, "I remember when I proposed to Nanako's mother."
"Was it romantic?" Nanako asked, "Like in the movies?"
"We were at a nice fancy restaurant, but what was worst was all the things Yu's father did to me," Dojima smiled, "He found the ring and he and your mom played keep away with it from me."
"That doesn't sound like my parents," Yu said, "All the stories they ever told me never had any of that."
"Your father used to tease and bully me relentlessly, much to the joy of your mother," Dojima grumbled, "Don't take it the wrong way, he's a wonderful man and he makes my sister happy, but the jokes were always on me. Your mom scares me sometimes."
"I'm more curious about this game of keep away, how did that happen?" Yu laughed.
"I told your mother and your dad happened to be there and he grabbed it and spent ten minutes throwing it around the house with me trying to get it until your grandparents made them stop," Dojima said, "Your mom couldn't stop laughing the entire time. She even threatened to throw it down the drain."
"Speaking of parents, I should go over and tell Chie's parents what I'm doing," Yu said, "Right? That's what Yosuke did."
"If you want, it's not really required, but it wouldn't hurt," Dojima said taking a sip of coffee, "you do whatever you think it best." The three ate lunch for a little while longer before Yu got up, dismissing himself and heading outside and on his way to Chie's house. He was insanely nervous, mostly due to the fact there was so much bad blood between Chie's father and himself. Sure, he had done some things that no father would ever want their daughter to do, but he wanted to clear the air. If he was going to join their family, he wouldn't spend every family meeting in fear. He took the scenic route on the way to Chie's house, still obviously nervous about the encounter. He eventually found his way to her house, walking up to the door and giving it a couple knocks. The door opened, revealing Chie's mother standing in the doorway.
"Yu!" Chie's mother smiled and gave him a hug, "Good to see you, is Chie here with you?"
"No, she'll be here tomorrow, but there's something I wanted to talk to you and Mr. Satonaka about," Yu rubbed the back of his neck, Is he around?"
"He's watching television, come on in?" she smiled as Yu entered the household. He walked into the living room, Chie's dad sitting on the couch browsing through the channels.
"Hey there Mr. Satonaka," Yu said as he received a dirty look from Chie's dad, "Can I talk to the two of you about something?" He let out a small grunt as Yu sat down in the chair opposite of the two on the couch.
"What did you want to ask us?" Chie's mom asked Yu as he took a couple of deep breaths.
"I wanted to clear the air, I know there's been some bad blood between us," Yu said, mainly referring to Chie's father, "Because, tomorrow, I plan on proposing to Chie and I would like your blessing." He pulled out the ring from his coat pocket, showing the two.
"Aww," Chie's mom said squealing like a little girl, very reminiscent to Chie, "Of course you have our permission, welcome to The Satonaka Family dear," she got up, pulling Yu off the couch and giving him a huge hug. Chie's dad was simply looking at Yu, a very blank expression on his face.
"Uh, are you going to say something?" Yu asked him as he just continued to look at him.
"No," he coughed out.
"Huh?" Yu said.
"I don't give you my blessing to marry my daughter," he stated bluntly, Yu's disappointment becoming viable.
"For god's sake," Chie's mom moaned over her husband's childishness, "Quit being so selfish and think of your daughter, she can make her own decisions."
"I know the two of us have never really gotten off on the right foot, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes," Yu said, "And I am going to marry your daughter, I love her more than anything else in this world."
"You'll do anything for my daughter," Chie's dad looked at him.
"Anything," Yu said with a smile on his face.
*15 minutes later*
"Anything," Yu mocked himself as he stood in the backyard of Chie's house. He had a pair of boxing gloves on that Chie's dad had given to him. He was standing opposite of Chie's dad who had boxing gloves on as well, already in fighting stance.
"I boxed for 12 years of my life, Captain of the boxing team when I went to college," Chie's dad proudly proclaimed, "If you can knock me down I'll give you my blessing to marry my daughter."
"And if I don't?" Yu asked.
"Then you aren't marrying her," he said as he began to approach Yu.
"Just stop it!" Chie's mom yelled from the doorway, "You are such an animal!" She had spent the last fifteen minutes trying to stop this stupid idea, but Yu knew how stubborn Chie's dad was and that something like this was inevitably going to happen.
"Okay," Yu said, "If you want a fight then you just got o…" Yu felt a huge jab in his stomach followed by a swift uppercut that knocked Yu back and sent him tumbling across the yard, "…one." Chie's dad was standing over him, watching as Yu pulled himself up. Quickly Yu tried to throw a quick jab at him, but he simply flowed around his hand, countering with another punch to the gut.
"That is enough," Chie's mom was yelling, but her husband was listening as he continued to taunt Yu with little punches all over his body. Yu tried for another punch as Chie's dad sidestepped him and punched him in the back of the head, causing Yu to fall face first into the grass. Yu knew there was no way to win against him, he had years of training on him, he remembered all those training sessions with Chie down by the riverbank.
"Boy you suck at this," Chie said as she tripped Yu. The two of them had been practicing martial arts for about an hour then, Chie surpassing all of Yu's expectations.
"Damn it," Yu said, "Why are you so good at this?"
"Because I'm disciplined," Chie smiled as she reached down and pulled Yu up, "I may be angry on the outside, but when I'm in battle, I keep a cool head. The main thing is to not get angry, because when you're angry you make stupid mistakes, like the time I ran after Yukiko on my own."
"That wasn't your fault, you were just looking out for her," Yu smiled as the two began to fight again. Yu's mind shot back to the present, remembering the lesson Chie had given him. Chie's dad never really liked him for obvious reasons, but he knew that if he could make him angry; or at least angrier than right now, Yu could get a few critical hits in and knock him down. Yu got up, wiping the spit off of his lip, just looking at Chie's dad.
"You fight well, just like Chie," Yu chuckled, "But there's one thing that Chie does better than fighting."
"What's that?" Chie's dad taunted him. Yu took a deep gulp, realizing that the next words would more than likely be his last if this didn't work.
"Screwing my brains out," Yu said. Chie's dad visibly shaken by the words, a vain popping on his head and steam pretty much coming out of his ears. He roared and took a huge diving swing at Yu, who simply ducked and with all his might delivered the biggest uppercut to Chie's dad head. Yu smiled as he watched Chie's dad finally fall to the ground, the wind knocked right out of him. Yu took the gloves off, tossing them at Chie's dad feet as he rolled over and looked up at Yu, "See you at the wedding," Yu said as he turned around and walked away.
"Hey!" Chie's dad yelled as Chie's mom ran over to comfort her husband. Yu turned around, a smile cracking on Chie's dad face, "See you at the wedding," he closed his eyes, Chie's mom checking to see if he was still breathing.
"Is he okay?" Yu said as he rushed back to Chie's dad.
"I'm just resting!" Chie's dad said in a pained voice as he still had his eyes closed, "Go! Before I change my mind!"
"uh…sure," Yu said as he quickly hurried away. Yu felt he had earned a newfound respect from Chie's dad, and that he now had to make sure that the proposal went off without a hitch.
"How are you feeling?" Chie's mom asked.
"I'm fine," he sighed.
"… You let him take that hit, didn't you?" Chie's mother asked.
He opened his eyes and got up perfectly fine, "You really think he could knock me down?"
"Are you finally going to stop torturing that poor boy?" Chie's mom pleaded, "He's family now." Chie's dad smiled as he began to walk away.
"Nope," Chie's dad laughed as she shook her head, giving up on trying to change her husband's mind.
*The next day*
Chie got off the train, the only person on it like usual. She checked her phone, not one text or phone call from Yu. She was worried, what was wrong with Yukiko. She had been calling all her friends and family all day trying to figure out, but none of them seemed to know and Yukiko and Yosuke said that they didn't want to talk about it over the phone. Just then, a phone call came in from Yu as she quickly picked it up.
"Hello?" Chie said, "I just got in."
"Great, I need you to meet me Dojima's," Yu said, "We can talk there."
"Is everything alright?" Chie asked.
"Just get there as soon as possible," Yu said as he hung up without saying goodbye. Chie quickly speed away from the station, running down the street at full speed as she made her way into Dojima's house. She knocked on the door a few times, Nanako opening it.
"Chie!" she hugged her as the two went inside the house. Dojima was sitting on the couch watching television as Nanako went over to a drawer and opened it.
"Is Yu here?" Chie asked with a worried tone in her voice.
"He wanted me to give you this?" Nanako said as she handed a small envelope to her. Chie looked over it, there was no writing anywhere on the outside; she quickly opened it up, revealing a small handwritten note from Yu.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be here, but I need to clear a few things up with you," it read, "First off, there's nothing wrong with Yukiko or Yosuke, I lied. I just needed to get you into Inaba for the day because I have a special surprise planned. It's a special occasion and I decided that I'd torture you a little bit. Consider this your first clue that will eventually lead you to the solution. Go to the place where you kept you shoes."
"My shoes?" Chie said as she looked around the house at all the places shoes could be kept, "Where in the hell…"
"Swear," Nanako said as she pointed to a half full jar. Chie grumbled as she pulled out a crumpled 100 yen bill and put it into the jar.
"I don't think he meant here," Dojima said.
"What?" Chie asked.
"I think he was talking about somewhere else in Inaba," Dojima said as he and Nanako continued to watch a quiz show.
"Wait… the shoe lockers!" Chie gasped as she quickly ran out the door, slamming it shut as she ran off towards the school.
"Chie isn't the smartest girl, is she?" Nanako asked Dojima.
"No, but your big bro loves her and that's what matters," Dojima said, "The answer is that they have bills."
"Laying eggs dad!" Nanako groaned, "Platypuses lay eggs!"
Outside, Chie was hurrying down the road again, going her old familiar route she always took a few years ago in high school. She was trying to think what the special occasion was, but couldn't think of anything. She must've forgotten an anniversary or occasion, it wasn't a holiday, did they do anything on this day or were they planning anything?
"Oh man, Yu's going to kill me," Chie said to herself as she continued her way to the high school, "After all the shit I gave him for forgetting my birthday last year, he's going never let this go." Chie found her way to the high school, students heading in for class. Chie felt out of place, looking too old to be in high school. She walked inside, looking for her old shoe locker.
"Bingo," she said as she reached in a pulled out another similar note. She ripped the paper out, reading it to herself.
"First off, if this isn't Chie Satonaka please put the note back, it's not for you and I already made a deal with the owner of this locker to keep the note here. If this is Chie, congrats, the next clue is pretty easy, go to where I ate those burgers with you and you burnt your tongue and we had to bail out of class and go get smoothes at Junes afterwards," the note read.
"How does he remember all this stuff?" Chie said, "Clearly he means the roof." She hurried up the steps, going to the roof and looking around. At the far end, another note laid taped to the fence for Chie.
"If this isn't Chie Satonaka, please put the note back or else face expulsion," the note read.
"Good to know Yu is a poet when it comes to things like this," Chie thought and smiled to herself.
"Chie, you've probably been running around a lot for a while now, right?" it read.
"A little," she said to herself, "Why am I talking to myself, I must look crazy."
"Go get your favorite dish at your favorite restaurant, it's on the house! P.S. tell them your name of else you're going to have to pay for It." the note finished.
"Free beef bowl at Aiya's here I come!" she declared as she ran off again, hurrying out of the school and on her way to the shopping district. Of course, she remembered her favorite food, and thankfully so did Yu. She made her way to Aiya's, going inside and sitting down at the bar.
"Welcome, what can I get for you?" the lady behind the counter asked.
"I'm Chie Satonaka and I was told to come here," Chie said.
"Ah yes! One beef bowl coming right up!" she smiled as she went to go get the food. Chie messed around on her phone for a few more minutes and eventually a beef bowl was brought over with a small envelope. She opened it up.
"Have a nice lunch on me! Then, afterwards go to the place where I asked you to be my girlfriend," it stated. She mowed down on her food quickly, not wanting to wait to go for the next clue. She got up, left and headed over to the place where he asked her. She remembered it fondly, how the two of them stood up to a bunch of bullies and saved that kid. It was a little back alley and a small note was taped to the wall.
"If this isn't Chie Satonaka please put this note back! Chie, I was so nervous when I asked you out, I thought for sure that you would say no, but you didn't," she read out loud, "These are supposed to be riddles, but they aren't very riddle-ish to be honest in retrospect, so I'll make this one kinda a riddle. You were here when you were at the end of your 'rope'."
"End of my rope?" Chie pondered, "Wait! The rope that I used on Yosuke when they went inside the television! I'm a genius!" Chie laughed as she ran off to Junes. She ran into the store, quickly heading into the electronics department. The place had been rearranged recently, and the layout was unfamiliar to Chie. She wandered around a little bit, looking for something similar to the television they used to go inside.
"Chie!" she heard a familiar voice say, she looked over as she saw Yosuke walking over to her with Yukiko.
"Hey!" she smiled as she ran over and hugged the two, "What are you two doing here? I figured you'd be busy finishing up the last minute details of the wedding! It's only three weeks away. Are you nervous? I'd be nervous! Sorry, I'm rambling, aren't I?"
Yukiko laughed as she pulled out a small envelope from her outfit, "Yu wanted us to give you this when you arrived." She quickly opened it up.
"This is the last part of these notes, congratulations on making it this far, I knew you could do it. I have a special surprise for you at a place we used to hang out together. Working out, cloud watching, and even a little making out." Chie blushed as she put the note away.
"I guess I'm headed to the riverbank the two of us hung out at all the time," Chie said, "Can I be honest with you guys, I have no clue why Yu is making me do all this, what am I forgetting? Am I a bad girlfriend?"
"Chie, calm down," Yosuke said, "Just go to the riverbank and relax."
"Okay," Chie took a deep breath, "Do you guys wanna do dinner later?"
"Maybe, we'll have to see what happens," Yukiko smiled as Chie ran off, "Do you think she'll be excited?"
"Of course, Chie is still a girl," Yosuke said, "Girls enjoy proposals. Remember how you cried during ours."
"I remember you crying with me in bed that night like a girl," Yukiko said.
"Love you too," Yosuke groaned. Chie had run out of Junes, heading down the road that ran parallel to the river. She eventually found her way to the old familiar spot; nothing changed after all these years. There was still the old bench and the trees and the river, of course it wasn't like those were going anywhere. She took a seat on the bench, waiting for something to happen.
"Hey you," Yu said as he approached Chie from behind. She shot up, running over and hugging Yu.
"Okay, why did you make me do all this?" Chie asked, "I can't remember."
"You don't remember?" Yu laughed as he grabbed her hand and walked along the riverbank with her.
"I can't. I'm sorry, I feel like an idiot, like when you forgot about my birthday," Chie was stuttering around like an idiot now, "Please forgive me." Yu turned to her, reaching into his back pocket as Chie continued to talk.
"It's the first day we met actually, you know, the first day of school?" Yu smiled.
"OH! DUH! How can I be so stupid?" Chie scolded herself, "I know I'm not the best girlfriend at times and I can be rude and messy and I can be mean and I can be forgetful and I…," Chie continued as Yu got down on one knee, popping open the box, "And I…"
"Chie, you are the best girlfriend a man could have, will you marry me?" Yu smiled. Chie was in complete unadulterated shock until she started sobbing loudly as Yu's smile disappeared from his face. "Chie?"
"And I…I wanna be your wife and I want you to be my husband!" Chie blubbered as Yu put the ring on her finger. She continued crying as Yu pulled her in tight, "I wanna get married and get a big house and…" Chie continued to break down into unintelligible blubbering.
"Hey, don't cry," Yu said.
"I'm not crying!" she continued sobbing loudly, "I…I…I'm j-j-just trying to express myself damn it!" Yu gave her a kiss, silencing the cries Chie was letting out. The two stood there for the longest time, just enjoying the moment. "I'm the happiest girl in the world," Chie laughed, "I can't wait to tell my mom and dad and everyone else… did you already tell them?"
"I pulled a Yosuke and asked your mom and dad, sorry," Yu said, "And Yosuke and Yukiko and Nanako and Dojima know because of the notes."
"What about Naoto and Kanji?" Chie said, "And Teddie and Rise, they're all in town aren't they?"
"We're all going to meet up at Dojima's for a celebratory dinner," Yu said as he took her hand, "Let's go tell them the good news."
*Later that night*
The group had all met up again at Dojima's that night, the girls all preparing dinner again with Nanako. Dojima along with all the guys were all sitting in the living room, all of them enjoying beer since they technically all of legal age, with the odd exception of Teddie who must have been three years old, but all his paperwork saying he was twenty as of April 2nd. The only two that weren't of legal ages were Naoto by a couple of weeks and Kanji until January of next year.
"Cheers to Yu and Chie," Yosuke said, "May your marriage be as happy as me and Yukiko's."
"But you two aren't married yet," Kanji said.
"Well you and Naoto aren't engaged yet," Yosuke shot back.
"Engaged to be engaged," Naoto said, "And all of you are putting a lot of pressure on Kanji if I may say so."
"It's your own fault," Yu said, "Engaged to be engaged? How old are you guys, twelve?"
"You know what I think?" Chie said, "I think Kanji is just afraid."
"I ain't afraid!" Kanji yelled.
"That's his afraid voice," Yosuke laughed, "I've seen that before."
"No it isn't," Kanji stomped his foot down.
"It's okay to be afraid Kanji," Yukiko smiled, "It's part of your character, it's cute that you're so scared!"
"Oh yeah, I'll show you afraid!" Kanji ran over to Naoto and pulled a ring out of his pocket, "Marry Me Naoto!"
"Huh!?" Naoto yelled as Kanji just stood there, "What?"
"Marry me!" Kanji was yelling as Naoto and everyone else stood in shock.
"That's not how you propose!" Naoto yelled back.
"It's how I'm going to propose! Damn it!" Kanji shouted, "Are you going to marry me?"
"Swear!" Nanako pointed to the jar.
"We already had this discussion once Kanji!" Naoto said, "Back at Christmas with the fake weddings and the ear rings!"
"Fake wedding?" Dojima looked over at Yu.
"It's this… whole thing," Yu said, "Don't ask."
"I totally forgot about that," Yosuke said, "Good times!"
"Well are you going to marry me or not?" Kanji asked, "The clock is ticking!"
"Fine!" Naoto grabbed the ring and put it on, "Just call me Naoto Tatsumi!"
"Fine!" Kanji said as the two locked eyes in anger, nobody not knowing what to say. Then, the tension was broken as Naoto jumped into Kanji's arms and the two began to make out right there in the kitchen, much to the chagrin of everyone in the room.
"Okay, that's enough!" Dojima said as he had placed his hand over Nanako's eyes do to Kanji's constant fondling of Naoto.
"Sorry," Kanji apologized as Naoto hopped down, "I… got distracted."
"Wait, so are you two engaged now?" Rise asked.
"Indeed," Naoto said, "It's not the most romantic of options, but I feel it represents Kanji's bluntness, rather poetic when you think about it."
"Beary!" Teddie jumped around in joy, "Me and Rise are bearried and Yosuke and Yukiko are getting bearried and Yu and Chie are getting bearried and now Naoto and Kanji are too! Nanako, are you going to get bearried soon?"
"Maybe," Nanako laughed.
"No no no," Dojima said, "She's not getting married for a long time."
"Father's intuition kicking in I see," Yu laughed.
"Don't laugh; you should know the wrath a father will unleash to protect his daughter," Dojima scolded, "Or did Chie's dad knock that information out of your brain?" The group all laughing at the reminder as Yu blushed.
"I gotta say though, my dad was surprising warm to our engagement when we went a visited," Chie pondered, "Very mature of him."
"I guess he realized his daughter's happiness was more important than his own feelings," Rise told Chie.
"Pretty much," Yu said, not talking about the boxing match he had fought earlier that day. The rest of the night the group celebrated their proposals together.