[While he could easily guess what this is about, the most forefront thing on his mind is the other Persona group and regrouping. So he doesn't hesitate or even have a single ounce of anxiety]
[Oh. Ooooh fuck. Okay there's the anxiety. He stares at his Leaf for a long minute or two. Fuck. He was kind of hoping the surprise of the other Persona users had been a good distraction and they wouldn't have this conversation, and they could both move on with their lives never thinking about it again. (At least. Souji never thinking about it again).
The silence of his response probably isn't helping Souji is it? Shit.]
If you want to There's probably a lot to talk about
[True to his word, Souji will be in the kitchen when Yosuke arrives, stirring a giant pot on the stove with an outward calmness that masks the turbulent mix of emotions hidden underneath. Inside the pot is a stew cobbled together with a mix of meat and vegetables Souji was able to find in the kitchen. It’s almost done, so it probably smells pretty good.]
[Yosuke stops at the entrance to the kitchen and watches Souji for a second. Shit. It does smell good. He's only had Souji's cooking a couple of times when his friend shared his lunch, and it's always been delicious. It smells like stew, and Yosuke knows he's in very real trouble since ...it's still one of his favorites.
Well. Souji's probably going to gently turn him down like Yosuke's seen him do for everyone else that's confessed to him. Which isn't the worst thing. As long as their friendship is still in tact; it would be too awkward to be stuck here as the only person Souji knows from home.
(Of course, there's still that little petty, nasty, ugly voice inside him reminding Yosuke that he's betraying the memory of Saki-senpai. Being turned down would only be right after everything that happened.
He takes a deep breath and waltzes in like he isn't a storm of anxiety and thinly covered nervousness underneath.] Yo-hoooo smells good! You always had a knack for making good stew.
[Yosuke leans against the counter a reasonable distance away. Not too close that it's too familiar and presumptuous. Not too far away to make it awkward and seem like Yosuke doesn't want to talk. He crosses his arms casually, like he always does and is a totally normal thing to do, watching Souji work.]
How'd you manage to find good ingredients in this place? I can barely find anything close to a good TaP.
[There is a process to mentally bracing yourself for the pain that comes from being left behind. You learn to expect the loss of people who’ve been present in your life, watching for it like an oncoming train derailing on the horizon. Souji has gone through it so many times it’s second nature at this point, and he spends the time waiting for Yosuke to arrive preparing himself mentally for what he expects the outcome of this meeting to be - another lost friendship.
It’s ironic, he thinks, with a note of bitterness, that this is happening after all with the one person he realized (too late, once again he was too late) he truly wanted to keep in his life.
A cruel voice in the back of his mind whispers that it’s what he deserves.
Yosuke arrives acting so aggressively normal, and Souji forces his face to produce a tired smile despite how much his heart aches in the moment.]
Just lucky, I guess. [He shrugs. Ha, right. Him, lucky.] Perfect timing, though, it’s just about done.
[He turns the stove off, gives the stew a final stir, and sets to work dishing up a bowl for Yosuke, along with a second bowl of steamed rice.]
[If he's being honest, sometimes Souji's a little difficult to read. He's only known the guy for a couple of months now. And while Yosuke would like to say they're close enough he can figure out what his friend is thinking, most of the time that calm even-tempered demeanor is a thick velvet curtain hiding the guy's thoughts off from everyone around him.
Normally, Yosuke doesn't think too much about it. Sometimes, it's a little anxiety inducing.
Right now, Yosuke feels like his insides are winding up too tight trying to guess at what Souji's going to say.
He can already guess how this is going to turn out, but his nerves are shot as he takes both bowls as they're handed to him. Shit. Now he can't even get cold feet and run if he changes his mind suddenly. Instead, he moves to take a seat at the nearest table, bowls on the flat surface and hope he can stomach something. Anything.]
It's... probably better to do this now than later, right? A-anyway, look. I- I know what you're gonna say. And it's fine. I wasn't really expecting anything, all that got messy and that was probably the worst way you could've found that out. But we're still friends. To the end, no matter what, unless you don't want me sticking around then I understand that too.
[His own habit of nervously prattling on takes hold and he can hear how he sounds, wishing he could stop. Please make him stop.] I just don't want you to think this changes anything between us, it doesn't have to, and I'll get over it-
[Souji takes the seat next to Yosuke while his friend rushes through his words, settling sideways in the chair so he can face him for this conversation. When it becomes clear he’s starting to stray off the rails verbally, Souji holds a hand up to signal him to halt.]
Yosuke … calm down, OK?
[He directs another smile at the other boy - small, thin, tired. Then, as if leading by example, he slowly inhales a deep breath and folds his hands in his lap.]
You’re very important to me, Yosuke. I don’t think I realized just how important until recently.
[It’s crucial to get that part out first. Maybe it will help dampen his friend’s anxiety.]
When I left Inaba, I didn’t really expect that we’d keep in touch. You know how moving away from your friends changes things. You may have the best intentions, but stuff comes up. You drift apart.
[Souji knows Yosuke understands this. They talked about it.]
But finding you here … it made me realize that it would be a mistake to let you go like that. And I didn’t want that for us.
[Yosuke feels his heart racing. He almost doesn't hear Souji's worse, but sees him making the motion with his hands and stops talking. He feel like he can't even breathe but ...It's just like his friend, his leader, to anticipate it and mime following the motion to take a deeper breath.
Breathe. Right. And not feel like his insides are going to bottom out onto the floor under them.
You're very important to me, which is better than the worst option of Souji ending their friendship. If they can end this conversation still being friends, Yosuke will take it. That's what he really wanted anyway, for nothing to change between them.
It's kind of wild, he thinks, I'm worried about him not wanting me around for liking him, and he's probably worried about me thinking he's a murderer. He's got to get his head on straight.]
I- don't want that either. After everything we've seen so far, the TV world and here?
[Souji nods, but it’s not just that he and Yosuke are bonded through the conflict and combat they’ve faced, both here and back in Inaba with the TV World. It’s the fact that Yosuke was the first friend he made in Inaba, his first Social Link - the first person he made a truly deep connection with, ever. Yosuke left an indelible mark on Souji’s heart, and Souji recognizes that he already nearly broke their connection once before.
He is so afraid it will happen in a way that can’t be repaired if he screws up again.]
I don’t really talk about this much, but I’ve never dated anyone before. My parents … well, they didn’t forbid it, but they didn’t need to. You know how parents can be about making their expectations known.
[It's a good reminder that this isn't entirely about himself. It's just as equally about Souji's feelings as Yosuke's. Yosuke lets the cold shower of the reality check wash over him and steels his nerves.
Souji hadn't ever really talked much about his parents before. He listens intently. Boy...]
Parental expectations huh... Yeah. I know. [His father had never needed to say as much. Being who they are in Inaba, Yosuke could feel those expectations every day.] Did they push a lot on studies and grades?
Not just good grades - excellent grades. And with how often we moved … I decided a long time ago that there was no point to even thinking about dating, because it just wouldn’t be realistic to imagine as part of my life until I was older and finished with school. So I never considered who I’d want to date, or have feelings for, or what “my type” was.
[In other words, he cut himself off from the possibility entirely. Better to keep that aspect of teen life at arm’s length, just like how he conditioned himself to never get too close to anyone he met in all of the various towns and cities and schools over the years of constant flux.]
None of that matters anymore. My parents aren’t here, and I’m not going anywhere.
[It occurs to Yosuke at this moment that he really has no idea how many times Souji's moved around. Moving even once from one town and school to another is hard, but how often has Souji had to? He's curious but not enough to break the thought Souji's telling him.
He nods as Souji says he's never considered what kind of person he'd want to date or be interested in. But even Souji can see the light surprise on Yosuke's face when the other boy announces his parents aren't here and he isn't going anywhere.]
Yeah? I mean - I'm still not a hundred percent sold on this place, but it is giving us some time we probably didn't have back in Inaba.
I don’t think the court rulers are trustworthy, and I don’t like that they brought us and are keeping us here against our will … but I don’t really believe what they said about everyone at home being gone, either. [He shrugs lightly.] The truth is that we don’t have a way to leave, so until we find a way, it seems best to make the most of the situation we’re in.
[There’s more to it for Souji, of course. Being brought to another world with no way back is an escape from his past, from the guilt of the deaths he caused and the crushing pressure of returning to an ordinary life with his parents. Sure, this world may be dangerous and strange, but he isn’t alone. He has a friend, a true friend he trusts with his life.
… Maybe more than a friend.]
What I’m trying to say is … I don’t know if I feel the same way about you, Yosuke. I’m glad you told me … but I’m not sure what to do now. [He pauses, lips pursed, carefully choosing his words.] I’m surprised you can stand to be in the same room as me, after what I told you.
[Yosuke isn't always the immediately rash reactive one. He takes his time to think this over. He knows how he feels. And he does regret terribly not telling Saki-senpai how he felt despite knowing how she thought of him; in the end, he wishes he could have simply gotten the words out and in the open rather than kept to himself.
In a turn of events, he's said what he wanted to Souji. Souji knows how he feels. It's still a fledgling feeling after only a couple of months, not the longer time he spent with Saki that gave those feelings room to breathe and grow as they spent more time together. He could easily move right on past this crush spending more time with Souji either here or back home.
And more than that, he doesn't want to lose his friend. Their friendship matters more to him than any other building feelings. Souji was the first real friend he made in Inaba. The first person that reached out and made a genuine connection and followed through on it instead of saying one remarkable thing that changed his view and then putting distance between them. On top of that, Souji's now seen the worst of him twice and is still sitting next to him, saying he doesn't want to lose Yosuke.
He looks down at the bowl of stew in front of him. That Souji cooked and prepared to share with him. Whether it was because Souji genuinely wanted to do that, or to soften the blow of saying no, it doesn't matter. It's the actions that matter, and Souji just... did it.
He smiles a little, probably familiar to Souji now.] I told you before. It couldn't have been your decision alone. I probably agreed with you. So if you think you're a murderer, then so am I at that point.
[It's as simple as that.]
Edited (my grammar upon waking... fixing that) Date: 2025-10-01 02:20 am (UTC)
[Souji doesn’t tell Yosuke that he did in fact agree with him, and not only did he agree, he was the loudest to advocate for pushing Namatame into the TV and leaving him to die in that other world. Someone close to me died … her killer can’t be convicted … and now I’m gonna let the same thing happen again? There’s no way I can do that! Souji remembers how angry Yosuke was during that confrontation, how distraught he was when Nanako died. He can’t make Yosuke go through that again.
(Souji can’t bear to see Yosuke go through that again.)
There were others from the team who agreed, and some who disagreed. It wasn’t a unanimous decision. They all looked to Souji to make the decision for them as their leader, and Souji is the one who gave Namatame his death sentence: Push the bastard in. Yosuke and the others may be complicit in the murder, but in Souji’s mind, he’s the one who bears the brunt of the blame.
But he doesn’t want to argue about this again. It was hard enough confessing to it in the first place, and for some reason - loyalty? the rose-colored glasses of having a crush? - Yosuke doesn’t hate him for what he’s done. That’s better than Souji thinks he deserves, and his expression settles into a small rueful smile.]
I don’t know if I’ll be any good at dating, or - being a boyfriend, or whatever you want to call it. But I think … unless you’ve changed your mind, I think I’d like to try.
It's okay, I understand. Like I said, I don't want you to think this changes anything about our friendship and I'm not upse-
[Wait.
Yosuke blinks a couple times in confusion looking over at Souji. His expression teeters between surprised and disbelief. After a minute of waiting for Souji to say "just kidding" or something similar, his lips quirk up in an unsure smile.]
Heh. You... really mean that? I mean. I'd- like to try to? I haven't dated anyone before either, so... We can figure it out together?
[Souji nods, and his smile warms. He would never joke about something so serious as Yosuke’s feelings. Hearts can be fragile things, and after sharing such a sincere secret, it would cruel to give Yosuke anything less than full honesty.]
I’d like that too.
[They’re partners, after all. Doing things together is how partners operate.]
If I do something wrong, you’ll tell me right away, right?
[There is just something small that shifts in Yosuke's eyes, like a nearly-imperceptible light that shines through as the realization sets in. Souji's not only okay with Yosuke like this, but also wants to try dating him? Maybe Yosuke won't completely screw this up.
He'll always have that soft spot in his heart for Saki Konishi, a part of him that won't ever forget the change she made in him and what he wishes could have been. But Souji's place in his heart is just as big, if not brighter for all the things Souji's done for him as his friend.
His smile spreads a little wider.] Absolutely. You gotta tell me too, all right?
[That almost undetectable way Yosuke's eyes light up sparks a gentle warmth in Souji, in a place he forgot existed, a place that went cold last December. This decision - to be together - is the first thing that's felt right in a long time.]
[OK, so drinking the punch was probably not the smartest choice Souji could’ve made, but in his defense, he has consumed plenty of questionable things in his life and none of them have killed him yet. (Yet.) However, the thing he failed to consider tonight was that the food and drinks might be laced with something nonlethal.
Something like whatever was in the blueberry-flavored punch, which has given Souji a terrible case of wandering hands. Oops. Luckily (?), Souji’s hands have only been drawn in one direction tonight, and that’s toward Yosuke.
Through extreme force of will, Souji has managed to keep his hands from roving over his boyfriend in a manner that is inappropriate for public encounters, but his willpower quickly began to fade not long after the effects first started. A light pat on the shoulder or gentle rub on Yosuke’s back began to shift lower, toward the small of his back, and lower still, toward his hips. The impulse to touch grows into the impulse to hold.
Leaving the party when they did was a good decision. Relocating to Yosuke’s room? Even better. There’s no roommate, so no navigation needed. They can just be alone together.]
How long do you think it’ll take for this to wear off?
[He should have guessed there'd be something fishy with all the food and drink. He'd barely even paid attention to what flavor he grabbed, more distraught by the very... very revealing clothes the moths left him in. And the fact Souji was in the same wardrobe-boat.
What really caught him off guard was Souji. Or, more directly, Souji's hands. Since neither of them had ever really thought about Souji dating before, it's hard to imagine what kind of boyfriend he'd be. Handsy and big on PDA was not on Yosuke's list of ideas. He manages to keep his cool as he feels Souji's hands wandering all night. Which was especially hard when he started to feel a little too warm. Maybe the skimpy clothes was a blessing in disguise when by the time they leave, all he can feel is how badly he wants to cool off.]
God. I don't know. Kinda wish it'd hurry up. [He makes sure the door is closed and secured properly before starting to tug at the collar of his not-shirt.] How're you feeling?
[To be fair, “handsy and big on PDA” isn’t Souji’s idea of good boyfriend behavior either. Ordinarily, he’d hesitate to even hold hands with Yosuke in public, unless the other boy made it extremely clear it was a gesture he also wanted.]
Embarrassed, [he deadpans, once again drawn to wrap his arms around Yosuke’s torso as he stands behind him and sighs in frustration.] If this keeps up much longer, you may need to tie me up.
[Oop there's Souji's hands and arms around him again Yep door is doubly closed and secured before he kind of just. Leans back into Souji. It feels right, but he knows that's the effects getting him too.]
I'm not gonna tie you up. [It's the easier thing to say, even as he considers atually tying him up for the briefest moment before deciding that is not a thought process he wants to go down. His own skin feels hot to the touch despite how little clothes he's stuck in already.]
We'll figure something out to pass the time until this all wears off.
[Maybe Souji would enjoy being tied up. We just don’t know!]
Hmm … could try sleeping? Maybe it’s like being drunk.
[As if Souji knows what it’s like to be drunk, other than what he’s seen from his uncle. Gently, he brushes Yosuke’s hair to the side so he can place a kiss on the back of his neck.]
I feel like I should've guessed there'd be something wrong with the drinks. Seems pretty obvious, after the fact.
[And it's well noted for any future "parties" thrown by the fae rulers, of which Souji assumes there will be more to come.]
Mm. Sounds good.
[Yet despite his suggestion to cure their respective statuses with sleeping, Souji doesn't seem to be making any moves toward that end, content to keep holding his boyfriend close as they stand in the middle of the room.]
Your hair's gotten long. Are you thinking you'll keep it that way?
There's always something wrong with it, we just never know what it is.
[Yosuke sighs a bit dramatically at it all. Of course they can't have normal food and drink. Has to be fucked up somehow and make them act... different. (Two months ago, he would've thought 'weird', but that isn't the case anymore now, is it? No. "Different" is what it is now.)
Souji doesn't seem to be moving either, which is. Fine? It's fine, Yosuke decides. He kind of likes being held close like this, making his skin feel really warm-]
Huh? Oh- I mean. Not like there's a barber or anything here to cut it for me.
[Morgana saunters in as soon as Yosuke lets him, not worrying about being polite. He finds Yosuke's bed by the smell (easy), and hops on it. And then he drops the kitten down.]
[Akechi has been feeling entirely off since the return of his memories and the wave of grief, trauma, and fury that pulled him under immediately after. In the end, it's a good thing to have them back, but that doesn't make any of this easier to re-adjust to after nearly a year without them.
So maybe Valentine's day is just the distraction he needed, even if it's a holiday that Akechi's never cared about in the past.
But even with the disaster of their last attempt in the kitchen, Akechi and Yosuke return with a new mission this time: Valentine's Day chocolates for their boyfriends. Surely this will be easier to make than the curry.]
There's considerably fewer ingredients to manage this time - it's only chocolate and cream. Anything else we add after is just extra.
[Yosuke is still not entirely sure about this after the last attempt. Yeah, he ended up with some curry for Souji, but it was after a complete disaster.
Still..... It's a good distraction from the fact he has a roommate (WHO IS A GIRL) now and he no longer has any privacy. So maybe this is the right thing. And getting to make chocolate can't be that difficult, right?]
[But, like, let him just go rummage through the available ingredients real quick, just to be certain.
It doesn't take long for Akechi to emerge victorious with a few bars of chocolate and a jug of cream, laying out a few extras - nuts and dried fruits and salt - that might be added in later.]
Here. [He'll just shove one of the bars of chocolate over the counter towards Yosuke.] Chopping the chocolate is the most time consuming part. After we finish this step, it should be simple enough.
[And Akechi will just get started in on his own, unsurprisingly handy with a knife.]
The two of you are together, aren't you? Officially, I mean.
[Why even ask? Otherwise they wouldn't be doing this. Yosuke watches him with the knife for a moment before starting to take up the work himself on his own chunk of chocolate.]
[Akechi doesn't shy away from meeting that look with a scowl of his own.]
I was only curious, you hadn't stated as much before and I hardly care to keep up with all of the relationships that happen in this place. I try to not make too many assumptions in this place.
[It can get dangerous if you do.]
Does he despise that you've spent time with me considering the fact I killed you before?
[It's an irritating enough answer - why does this boy speak with so much uncertainty about everything? - but if Yosuke is hardly bothered, there's no reason for Akechi to care either.]
[After Souji’s attempt to bail on Group Chat 2: Electric Boogaloo, he’ll just be hanging out in his room, alone, trying - and failing - to focus on folding some paper into envelopes. The flaps keep not centering how they’re supposed to, and Souji ends up crumpling this particularly poor paper specimen into a ball, scowling as he tosses it toward the trash can - and of course misses it.]
[Yosuke doesn't hang out in his own room for too long after the group chat. Once the conversation there seems to die down a bit, Yosuke takes a breath and makes his way to Souji's room in the other court dorm.
He gives the door a couple raps with his knuckles but.]
[He read that crash out on the group chat and just... Let it lie for an hour or so while he processed. He's trying to be better about not kneejerk reacting to things and making things worse; their time differences here, the things Souji's experienced, and everything else happening around them is making things more complicated than it feels like it should be.
So he stands on the other side, watching Souji's smile and how it's not reaching his eyes, Yosuke's own hand suspended mid-air from knocking.]
[Truly wild that it feels so weird that someone, anyone wants to check on him. Hyper-independence is a hell of a thing.]
I’m OK.
[He’s not OK. Those few comments from Akechi were enough to summon up memories Souji has been trying to get past - memories of watching Yosuke die bloody in the woods while he could only helplessly watch. Farther back, to watching Nanako die in a hospital bed that was too big for her tiny body.
Sophia made some good points, too. Partners do things together. Souji steps back and gestures to invite Yosuke to enter the room.]
["We should talk". Yeah there it is. Souji's always got such a strong mask on, he can't see through that 'I'm ok' like he can most other people. But he read the words Souji wrote, and then the extra argument with Akechi.
This will... Probably not be good for him. But he'd rather make things easier for Souji.
Yosuke steps inside the room and lets the door close behind him.]
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timeasmymeasure
post-mementos
Date: 2025-09-27 01:11 pm (UTC)Hey. Where are you?
no subject
Date: 2025-09-27 01:17 pm (UTC)In the Spring common area
What's up?
no subject
Date: 2025-09-27 01:24 pm (UTC)Did you still want to talk?
no subject
Date: 2025-09-27 01:27 pm (UTC)[Oh. Ooooh fuck. Okay there's the anxiety. He stares at his Leaf for a long minute or two. Fuck. He was kind of hoping the surprise of the other Persona users had been a good distraction and they wouldn't have this conversation, and they could both move on with their lives never thinking about it again. (At least. Souji never thinking about it again).
The silence of his response probably isn't helping Souji is it? Shit.]
If you want to
There's probably a lot to talk about
no subject
Date: 2025-09-27 01:43 pm (UTC)I’ll be in the kitchen for a while if you do want to talk. Or if you just want something to eat.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-27 01:50 pm (UTC)[He'll feel like throwing up but he at least won't do it in front of Souji and make him feel bad, or worse, like Yosuke doesn't like his cooking. ]
I can head over in a minute
no subject
Date: 2025-09-27 02:03 pm (UTC)[True to his word, Souji will be in the kitchen when Yosuke arrives, stirring a giant pot on the stove with an outward calmness that masks the turbulent mix of emotions hidden underneath. Inside the pot is a stew cobbled together with a mix of meat and vegetables Souji was able to find in the kitchen. It’s almost done, so it probably smells pretty good.]
no subject
Date: 2025-09-27 02:13 pm (UTC)Well. Souji's probably going to gently turn him down like Yosuke's seen him do for everyone else that's confessed to him. Which isn't the worst thing. As long as their friendship is still in tact; it would be too awkward to be stuck here as the only person Souji knows from home.
(Of course, there's still that little petty, nasty, ugly voice inside him reminding Yosuke that he's betraying the memory of Saki-senpai. Being turned down would only be right after everything that happened.
He takes a deep breath and waltzes in like he isn't a storm of anxiety and thinly covered nervousness underneath.] Yo-hoooo smells good! You always had a knack for making good stew.
[Yosuke leans against the counter a reasonable distance away. Not too close that it's too familiar and presumptuous. Not too far away to make it awkward and seem like Yosuke doesn't want to talk. He crosses his arms casually, like he always does and is a totally normal thing to do, watching Souji work.]
How'd you manage to find good ingredients in this place? I can barely find anything close to a good TaP.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-28 02:39 pm (UTC)It’s ironic, he thinks, with a note of bitterness, that this is happening after all with the one person he realized (too late, once again he was too late) he truly wanted to keep in his life.
A cruel voice in the back of his mind whispers that it’s what he deserves.
Yosuke arrives acting so aggressively normal, and Souji forces his face to produce a tired smile despite how much his heart aches in the moment.]
Just lucky, I guess. [He shrugs. Ha, right. Him, lucky.] Perfect timing, though, it’s just about done.
[He turns the stove off, gives the stew a final stir, and sets to work dishing up a bowl for Yosuke, along with a second bowl of steamed rice.]
I appreciate that you agreed to speak with me.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-28 03:18 pm (UTC)Normally, Yosuke doesn't think too much about it. Sometimes, it's a little anxiety inducing.
Right now, Yosuke feels like his insides are winding up too tight trying to guess at what Souji's going to say.
He can already guess how this is going to turn out, but his nerves are shot as he takes both bowls as they're handed to him. Shit. Now he can't even get cold feet and run if he changes his mind suddenly. Instead, he moves to take a seat at the nearest table, bowls on the flat surface and hope he can stomach something. Anything.]
It's... probably better to do this now than later, right? A-anyway, look. I- I know what you're gonna say. And it's fine. I wasn't really expecting anything, all that got messy and that was probably the worst way you could've found that out. But we're still friends. To the end, no matter what, unless you don't want me sticking around then I understand that too.
[His own habit of nervously prattling on takes hold and he can hear how he sounds, wishing he could stop. Please make him stop.] I just don't want you to think this changes anything between us, it doesn't have to, and I'll get over it-
no subject
Date: 2025-09-29 04:32 am (UTC)Yosuke … calm down, OK?
[He directs another smile at the other boy - small, thin, tired. Then, as if leading by example, he slowly inhales a deep breath and folds his hands in his lap.]
You’re very important to me, Yosuke. I don’t think I realized just how important until recently.
[It’s crucial to get that part out first. Maybe it will help dampen his friend’s anxiety.]
When I left Inaba, I didn’t really expect that we’d keep in touch. You know how moving away from your friends changes things. You may have the best intentions, but stuff comes up. You drift apart.
[Souji knows Yosuke understands this. They talked about it.]
But finding you here … it made me realize that it would be a mistake to let you go like that. And I didn’t want that for us.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-29 04:48 am (UTC)Breathe. Right. And not feel like his insides are going to bottom out onto the floor under them.
You're very important to me, which is better than the worst option of Souji ending their friendship. If they can end this conversation still being friends, Yosuke will take it. That's what he really wanted anyway, for nothing to change between them.
It's kind of wild, he thinks, I'm worried about him not wanting me around for liking him, and he's probably worried about me thinking he's a murderer. He's got to get his head on straight.]
I- don't want that either. After everything we've seen so far, the TV world and here?
no subject
Date: 2025-09-29 06:15 am (UTC)He is so afraid it will happen in a way that can’t be repaired if he screws up again.]
I don’t really talk about this much, but I’ve never dated anyone before. My parents … well, they didn’t forbid it, but they didn’t need to. You know how parents can be about making their expectations known.
no subject
Date: 2025-09-29 12:00 pm (UTC)Souji hadn't ever really talked much about his parents before. He listens intently. Boy...]
Parental expectations huh... Yeah. I know. [His father had never needed to say as much. Being who they are in Inaba, Yosuke could feel those expectations every day.] Did they push a lot on studies and grades?
no subject
Date: 2025-09-29 05:26 pm (UTC)Not just good grades - excellent grades. And with how often we moved … I decided a long time ago that there was no point to even thinking about dating, because it just wouldn’t be realistic to imagine as part of my life until I was older and finished with school. So I never considered who I’d want to date, or have feelings for, or what “my type” was.
[In other words, he cut himself off from the possibility entirely. Better to keep that aspect of teen life at arm’s length, just like how he conditioned himself to never get too close to anyone he met in all of the various towns and cities and schools over the years of constant flux.]
None of that matters anymore. My parents aren’t here, and I’m not going anywhere.
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Date: 2025-09-30 04:50 am (UTC)He nods as Souji says he's never considered what kind of person he'd want to date or be interested in. But even Souji can see the light surprise on Yosuke's face when the other boy announces his parents aren't here and he isn't going anywhere.]
Yeah? I mean - I'm still not a hundred percent sold on this place, but it is giving us some time we probably didn't have back in Inaba.
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Date: 2025-09-30 02:06 pm (UTC)[There’s more to it for Souji, of course. Being brought to another world with no way back is an escape from his past, from the guilt of the deaths he caused and the crushing pressure of returning to an ordinary life with his parents. Sure, this world may be dangerous and strange, but he isn’t alone. He has a friend, a true friend he trusts with his life.
… Maybe more than a friend.]
What I’m trying to say is … I don’t know if I feel the same way about you, Yosuke. I’m glad you told me … but I’m not sure what to do now. [He pauses, lips pursed, carefully choosing his words.] I’m surprised you can stand to be in the same room as me, after what I told you.
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Date: 2025-10-01 02:17 am (UTC)[Yosuke isn't always the immediately rash reactive one. He takes his time to think this over. He knows how he feels. And he does regret terribly not telling Saki-senpai how he felt despite knowing how she thought of him; in the end, he wishes he could have simply gotten the words out and in the open rather than kept to himself.
In a turn of events, he's said what he wanted to Souji. Souji knows how he feels. It's still a fledgling feeling after only a couple of months, not the longer time he spent with Saki that gave those feelings room to breathe and grow as they spent more time together. He could easily move right on past this crush spending more time with Souji either here or back home.
And more than that, he doesn't want to lose his friend. Their friendship matters more to him than any other building feelings. Souji was the first real friend he made in Inaba. The first person that reached out and made a genuine connection and followed through on it instead of saying one remarkable thing that changed his view and then putting distance between them. On top of that, Souji's now seen the worst of him twice and is still sitting next to him, saying he doesn't want to lose Yosuke.
He looks down at the bowl of stew in front of him. That Souji cooked and prepared to share with him. Whether it was because Souji genuinely wanted to do that, or to soften the blow of saying no, it doesn't matter. It's the actions that matter, and Souji just... did it.
He smiles a little, probably familiar to Souji now.] I told you before. It couldn't have been your decision alone. I probably agreed with you. So if you think you're a murderer, then so am I at that point.
[It's as simple as that.]
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Date: 2025-10-01 10:59 pm (UTC)(Souji can’t bear to see Yosuke go through that again.)
There were others from the team who agreed, and some who disagreed. It wasn’t a unanimous decision. They all looked to Souji to make the decision for them as their leader, and Souji is the one who gave Namatame his death sentence: Push the bastard in. Yosuke and the others may be complicit in the murder, but in Souji’s mind, he’s the one who bears the brunt of the blame.
But he doesn’t want to argue about this again. It was hard enough confessing to it in the first place, and for some reason - loyalty? the rose-colored glasses of having a crush? - Yosuke doesn’t hate him for what he’s done. That’s better than Souji thinks he deserves, and his expression settles into a small rueful smile.]
I don’t know if I’ll be any good at dating, or - being a boyfriend, or whatever you want to call it. But I think … unless you’ve changed your mind, I think I’d like to try.
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Date: 2025-10-02 01:01 am (UTC)[Wait.
Yosuke blinks a couple times in confusion looking over at Souji. His expression teeters between surprised and disbelief. After a minute of waiting for Souji to say "just kidding" or something similar, his lips quirk up in an unsure smile.]
Heh. You... really mean that? I mean. I'd- like to try to? I haven't dated anyone before either, so... We can figure it out together?
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Date: 2025-10-06 10:49 pm (UTC)I’d like that too.
[They’re partners, after all. Doing things together is how partners operate.]
If I do something wrong, you’ll tell me right away, right?
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Date: 2025-10-08 04:23 am (UTC)He'll always have that soft spot in his heart for Saki Konishi, a part of him that won't ever forget the change she made in him and what he wishes could have been. But Souji's place in his heart is just as big, if not brighter for all the things Souji's done for him as his friend.
His smile spreads a little wider.] Absolutely. You gotta tell me too, all right?
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Date: 2025-11-03 03:49 am (UTC)[That almost undetectable way Yosuke's eyes light up sparks a gentle warmth in Souji, in a place he forgot existed, a place that went cold last December. This decision - to be together - is the first thing that's felt right in a long time.]
night of the horny winter party.
Date: 2025-12-14 05:51 am (UTC)Something like whatever was in the blueberry-flavored punch, which has given Souji a terrible case of wandering hands. Oops. Luckily (?), Souji’s hands have only been drawn in one direction tonight, and that’s toward Yosuke.
Through extreme force of will, Souji has managed to keep his hands from roving over his boyfriend in a manner that is inappropriate for public encounters, but his willpower quickly began to fade not long after the effects first started. A light pat on the shoulder or gentle rub on Yosuke’s back began to shift lower, toward the small of his back, and lower still, toward his hips. The impulse to touch grows into the impulse to hold.
Leaving the party when they did was a good decision. Relocating to Yosuke’s room? Even better. There’s no roommate, so no navigation needed. They can just be alone together.]
How long do you think it’ll take for this to wear off?
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Date: 2025-12-15 02:58 pm (UTC)What really caught him off guard was Souji. Or, more directly, Souji's hands. Since neither of them had ever really thought about Souji dating before, it's hard to imagine what kind of boyfriend he'd be. Handsy and big on PDA was not on Yosuke's list of ideas. He manages to keep his cool as he feels Souji's hands wandering all night. Which was especially hard when he started to feel a little too warm. Maybe the skimpy clothes was a blessing in disguise when by the time they leave, all he can feel is how badly he wants to cool off.]
God. I don't know. Kinda wish it'd hurry up. [He makes sure the door is closed and secured properly before starting to tug at the collar of his not-shirt.] How're you feeling?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-07 06:42 am (UTC)Embarrassed, [he deadpans, once again drawn to wrap his arms around Yosuke’s torso as he stands behind him and sighs in frustration.] If this keeps up much longer, you may need to tie me up.
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Date: 2026-01-10 03:32 pm (UTC)I'm not gonna tie you up. [It's the easier thing to say, even as he considers atually tying him up for the briefest moment before deciding that is not a thought process he wants to go down. His own skin feels hot to the touch despite how little clothes he's stuck in already.]
We'll figure something out to pass the time until this all wears off.
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Date: 2026-01-18 03:57 pm (UTC)Hmm … could try sleeping? Maybe it’s like being drunk.
[As if Souji knows what it’s like to be drunk, other than what he’s seen from his uncle. Gently, he brushes Yosuke’s hair to the side so he can place a kiss on the back of his neck.]
‘Msorry about all this.
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Date: 2026-01-19 10:57 am (UTC)[Both their faults, really. Or neither. They didn't know the drinks would be affected but they probably should have made a safe assumption.
The kiss to the back of his neck does a good job of stopping Yosuke's thoughts in their tracks.]
I-i think. Trying to sleep is best. Yep. Definitely that.
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Date: 2026-02-24 02:16 am (UTC)[And it's well noted for any future "parties" thrown by the fae rulers, of which Souji assumes there will be more to come.]
Mm. Sounds good.
[Yet despite his suggestion to cure their respective statuses with sleeping, Souji doesn't seem to be making any moves toward that end, content to keep holding his boyfriend close as they stand in the middle of the room.]
Your hair's gotten long. Are you thinking you'll keep it that way?
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Date: 2026-03-22 01:21 pm (UTC)[Yosuke sighs a bit dramatically at it all. Of course they can't have normal food and drink. Has to be fucked up somehow and make them act... different. (Two months ago, he would've thought 'weird', but that isn't the case anymore now, is it? No. "Different" is what it is now.)
Souji doesn't seem to be moving either, which is. Fine? It's fine, Yosuke decides. He kind of likes being held close like this, making his skin feel really warm-]
Huh? Oh- I mean. Not like there's a barber or anything here to cut it for me.
action
Date: 2026-02-17 03:28 am (UTC)Morgana ends up at Yosuke's door, yowling.] Hey, are you in? Yosuke! I wanna talk to you.
Re: action
Date: 2026-02-22 10:20 am (UTC)He yanks the door open, looking a bit frazzled.] WHAT-
[Looks down.]
Oh. Hey, uh. Morgana, right? What's up, something wrong?
no subject
Date: 2026-02-28 02:58 am (UTC)Do you like pets? Too bad, now you do.
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Date: 2026-03-01 10:13 am (UTC)Hey! [That sure is a cat-plant. What the fuck.] Where'd this come from? And why me?
[action, day before valentines day]
Date: 2026-02-17 04:33 am (UTC)So maybe Valentine's day is just the distraction he needed, even if it's a holiday that Akechi's never cared about in the past.
But even with the disaster of their last attempt in the kitchen, Akechi and Yosuke return with a new mission this time: Valentine's Day chocolates for their boyfriends. Surely this will be easier to make than the curry.]
There's considerably fewer ingredients to manage this time - it's only chocolate and cream. Anything else we add after is just extra.
Re: [action, day before valentines day]
Date: 2026-02-22 10:20 am (UTC)Still..... It's a good distraction from the fact he has a roommate (WHO IS A GIRL) now and he no longer has any privacy. So maybe this is the right thing. And getting to make chocolate can't be that difficult, right?]
Right? Even we can't screw this up too bad.
...Do they have chocolate and cream?
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Date: 2026-03-02 06:32 am (UTC)[But, like, let him just go rummage through the available ingredients real quick, just to be certain.
It doesn't take long for Akechi to emerge victorious with a few bars of chocolate and a jug of cream, laying out a few extras - nuts and dried fruits and salt - that might be added in later.]
Here. [He'll just shove one of the bars of chocolate over the counter towards Yosuke.] Chopping the chocolate is the most time consuming part. After we finish this step, it should be simple enough.
[And Akechi will just get started in on his own, unsurprisingly handy with a knife.]
The two of you are together, aren't you? Officially, I mean.
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Date: 2026-03-09 08:53 am (UTC)Well. Yeah, we are.
[Why even ask? Otherwise they wouldn't be doing this. Yosuke watches him with the knife for a moment before starting to take up the work himself on his own chunk of chocolate.]
What's that mean anything?
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Date: 2026-03-14 03:35 am (UTC)I was only curious, you hadn't stated as much before and I hardly care to keep up with all of the relationships that happen in this place. I try to not make too many assumptions in this place.
[It can get dangerous if you do.]
Does he despise that you've spent time with me considering the fact I killed you before?
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Date: 2026-03-14 08:23 am (UTC)No, that's- totally fair.
Um. He hasn't really talked about it? [Shit he probably should talk to him about it.] So for now it's probably fine.
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Date: 2026-03-22 08:15 pm (UTC)So be it then. Consider my curiosity sated.
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Date: 2026-03-07 11:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-03-09 08:57 am (UTC)He gives the door a couple raps with his knuckles but.]
Souji? You there?
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Date: 2026-03-15 11:51 pm (UTC)A few seconds later, the door opens to Souji standing behind it with a gentle smile that’s only a little bit strained.]
Hey. What’s up? [he asks, like he didn’t just basically crash out in the group chat.]
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Date: 2026-03-16 07:55 am (UTC)So he stands on the other side, watching Souji's smile and how it's not reaching his eyes, Yosuke's own hand suspended mid-air from knocking.]
I- wanted to check on you.
[Very normal.]
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Date: 2026-03-16 09:41 am (UTC)I’m OK.
[He’s not OK. Those few comments from Akechi were enough to summon up memories Souji has been trying to get past - memories of watching Yosuke die bloody in the woods while he could only helplessly watch. Farther back, to watching Nanako die in a hospital bed that was too big for her tiny body.
Sophia made some good points, too. Partners do things together. Souji steps back and gestures to invite Yosuke to enter the room.]
We should talk.
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Date: 2026-03-22 07:34 am (UTC)This will... Probably not be good for him. But he'd rather make things easier for Souji.
Yosuke steps inside the room and lets the door close behind him.]
We should, yeah. It's- I get it. I'm sorry.