Catch-22: The Moment We Ask
By: M14Mouse
Summary: Sojiro never really asked because it wasn't his business. Now, he will because now it is his business.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
"We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools." ― Martin Luther King Jr.
Sojiro heard voices as they came down the stairs. Few moments later, he could see the pair walk down the stairs. Ren was looking at his phone then looked up.
"So apparently, Futaba has pizza?" Ren said as the cat popped his head out of his book bag.
"Yes, go and get some before she eats it all," He said with a grin.
"Pizza is only second best to your curry, boss," the kid said cheekily.
"Comments like that will get you nowhere. Now, go on you, heathen," He said with a laugh.
The kid laughed then waved as he disappeared out of the door. He could swear that the cat was meowing up a storm behind him.
"Can…you stay for a moment, Yu?" He grumbled.
Yu paused for a moment then nodded. Yu took a seat at the counter and he set down two cups on the counter. It took him a bit of time to figure out Yu's order. The kid didn't react to any of his coffee that he served. He would hum then drink what he put in front of him. He had one single tell. He would drink the coffee just a moment longer than the other brews. He poured the coffee into the cup and added his three sugars and cream. He poured the coffee into his cup before setting the pot to the side.
"I didn't teach anything illegal if that is what you are worried about," Yu said.
He snorted.
"That is the last thing that I'm worried about," He said.
"Then why….?" Yu said with the wave of his hand at the cups.
"I didn't want the kids or customers to hear our conversation."
"Ah…"
He remembered Dojima's words about Yu well.
You will find my nephew to be the most self-sufficient, self-contained person that you will ever meet. He doesn't ask for help or money or really anything. I had to learn to ask him. Not just surface questions like how was your day? Because those are easy. The real questions…those are harder because his short and to the point answers.
The mistake is taking those answers at face value.
Don't.
The man was right. He saw it with the kids. He was a rock for them. The kids try to do the same (even if they shouldn't and the damn man told them as much), the kids still try.
Yu isn't much older than them but hell, if he didn't seem older than a man in his 20s. Sometimes, he even felt old in his presence.
"I'm not going to bite you," He said with a small grin.
"I know. If I was in trouble, I would have known about it by now," Yu pointed out.
He let out a little chuckle. Okay, he has a point there.
"So, what do you want to talk about?"
"This," He said.
"This?" Yu asked.
"The kids aren't just your responsibility. I'm here too. Let me help," He said with a sigh.
"Sojiro…you do help in more ways than one. You keep them, especially Yusuke and Ryuji, which is an amazing feat. I should know because I have seen them eat. You give a place…a safe place. How can you believe that you aren't helping?"
He shook his head.
"That is nothing."
"That is everything. My students meet in random places when they talk about palaces before you and I stepped in. I'm really surprised that no one caught on to them. I'm still surprised that only Adachi caught on to us. Our meeting spot was the food court at Junes. No one has space for us. Maybe Yukiko but her family ran the inn and people were constantly going in and out. We had no choice. To have a safe space means everything. Trust me."
Damn it…Damn it…
He felt his face flush. Honestly, it was nothing.
Deflect
That kid is one of the most honest people that you will ever meet but…hell, if he didn't master deflecting. All those kids couldn't lie their way out of a paper bag. Yu? He won't lie but he won't tell the entire truth either.
"No, I mean…you don't have to carry what you do alone."
Yu gave him a blank look.
Okay, he is going this wrong way.
"When do you sleep?" He asked.
"Last night?" Yu said in confusion.
He huffed.
"Okay…the time before?"
"The night before that? Theo makes sure that I have a rigid sleeping schedule."
He almost threw his arms up.
Almost.
"Yu…you run around worse than the kid. I don't want you to collapse and then I will have to deal with overdramatic teenagers. Two are enough."
"I have excellent time management, Sojiro. Although, I do thank you for your concern," Yu said mildly.
He did throw up his arms this time.
"You're like the kid! Hell, he is going to grow up to be you!" He said.
"I hope not."
"Damn it, Yu. You don't have to do this all the damn time. You have others…hell, you have Theo, that weird chick…"
He sighed.
"And I'm graceful. You don't understand…."
"Don't give me that bullshit about being a persona user. I know the research just as well as you. That is only part of it. It is about you running yourself to the ground. You don't think that I don't know about my new lawyer or how Futaba's family has suddenly dropped their requests for custody. You don't think that I don't hear about you playing shadow to Ann and Ryuji or making sure that Yusuke has art supplies funds. Let's not forget school and work. You don't think that I don't hear the conversations between you and Theo…or you and Lila!"
He shouted as he slammed his cup on the counter. He felt his heart racing inside of his chest and…why in the hell was he having trouble catching his breath?
Yu just stared at him.
And be prepared that he can read you better than you can read him.
He should have become a detective and not a damn shadow hunter.
"You have been talking to my uncle, haven't you?" Yu asked.
He sighed.
"Yes, because you think that I don't notice that you are overworked. The kids…they…. they didn't take your disappearance well. They wouldn't take your loss well either."
They look like they lost something precious. He heard the whispers…the plans…. he knew about Futaba cries at night and the cat not moving from her side. He knew that look on Ren's face…the guilt…the determination. Hell, he saw it on all the kids' faces.
"I know."
"Then why?"
"It boiled down to being their teacher. If they fall, do you want the blame…the angry…the rage directed at you? The same rage and anger that you directed at me some time ago?"
CLUCK.
He dropped the cup in hands onto the floor. The only thing that he could do was stare at Yu.
"I'm willing to take that burden, Sojiro. I know better than anyone how this could end."
It could be easy. He could walk away…turn a blind eye.
Funny thing, he has done that already. He ran…and ran…and ran until he couldn't anymore.
He hid in the shadows…in this little café.
In life…in everything.
Not anymore…not for these kids…his kids.
"And you are willing to do this alone?" He asked.
Yu nodded.
This…no, this man was willing to lay down and fight for these kids.
"Well…tough. You aren't doing this anymore. You and me? Like the kids say these days…we ride or die," He said.
"Futaba would be highly amused," Yu said with a soft chuckle.
"Hey!"
"Although, what changed your mind?"
He paused for a moment before answering.
"I'm done running. I'm done hiding. These kids…they gave me strength that I didn't know I had. Courage that I thought left me years ago. Hope that I die with a friend. Friendship…I suppose that you aren't too bad…even if you're a pain in the ass."
"Ah…it is nice to know you like me, Sojiro."
He snorted.
"We call each other by our first names. If that doesn't speak of friendship, I don't know what does. So, how are we going to make this work?" He asked.
"This will be their safe "house." I could always work at your café as a business write off especially if you keep it open for other persona users. We always need more of those," Yu said.
"Safe houses? Why? Isn't your company worth more than most countries?" He said with a laugh.
"It helps blend us into the community that we are trying to help. Oh, these are my friends from such and such. It makes gathering information much easier. Of course with this new little perk that we prove a monetary donation for your services."
"Gotcha keep those kids fed and you…you are skinny too. Will I know if someone is a persona user beside the kids?"
"Of course…we don't leave our people blind. We will send you over the paperwork and IDs tomorrow. By the way, my students have a backup location. I will leave you the address later if something happens here."
"And you think something will?"
He nodded.
"I believe so. Shido is unpredictable. What are your feelings about Akechi?" Yu asked him.
He hummed.
"Strange…nice enough kid but something is off about him," He said.
"Keep an eye on him. I don't think that he would make any moves toward you but Akechi is a bit of a wild card at the moment."
"Thinking that he works for Shido?"
"We think so but we aren't sure of the connection."
"It wouldn't be surprising that Shido has his claws in the kid. Seen enough. The kid doesn't say much while he is here. Make some comments about the weather and such but I will keep an eye on him. I assume that you know about the ladies. While I'm impressed, he is too young and they are old enough to know better."
"That has been handled."
He laughed. Of course, the kid would know about that.
"Yusuke is going to need new clothes soon. One of your friends has been teaching him how to sew…which has been the strangest conversation that I have ever had."
Yu chuckled softly.
"That sounds about right. Lost and found perhaps? Yusuke has trouble taking money from me even as his patron."
"Sounds like a good idea. Anything else?"
"For now…that is it but they are at a crossroads of sorts."
"From what I heard, I can believe it. Be safe you idiot. I can't take care of these kids myself." He said with a scowl.
"Ah, you will miss me."
"Never, brat."
"Okay, old man."
He paused.
"Should we tell the kids to stop listening?" He spoke.
"Maybe we can tell embarrassing stories about them," Yu said with a small smile.
The moment of silence where he could almost hear the kids get off.
He laughed.
But once you get past those walls….
You see who he truly is.
End of The Moment We Ask.
A/N: Next part, we go back to Sae's palace.
My thoughts on Golden as I play: Yu isn't a damn toothpick…he is damn built. And he has balls of steel. (It makes me love his Chad energy even more).
Read and Review if you wish.