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As Yosuke spoke he couldn't help feeling choked up. A small voice in his head felt as though when Yu left, it would truly be goodbye… still, he reminded himself that they would keep in touch. They'd meet up and some day be together again. "There's a lot I'm grateful for from this past year, but the biggest thing…" Yosuke feebly choked out his feelings. "I think it was that I met you. If you ever lose your way, I'll go knock some sense into you. It won't matter if you're at the ends of the earth or in somewhere dark and bleak. That's what partners are for, right?"
"I'll be counting on you, partner." Yu returned, a smile that simultaneously told Yosuke everything and nothing covered his face.
It had been a couple of years since they last saw each other. Going about his normal life, Yosuke still felt something was missing. A small flicker of regret lied in his heart, reminding him consistently that he never told Yu one thing… That now it'd be weird to say it. His phone went off unexpectedly, making Yosuke jump in his skin. Who would be calling him at this hour?
"Hello?" He picked up not even reading the name.
"Hey partner." A familiar voice greeted him. "I'm returning to Inaba next week. I've talked it over with Uncle and I'm staying with them for a while."
"R-really?" Yosuke asked, disbelievingly. "You're not pulling my leg?"
If Yosuke could see Yu, he was sure he'd have one of his signature grins. "Of course. Who do you think I am? Ask Dojima if you don't believe me!"
"It's not that I don't believe you-" Yosuke hastily tried correcting himself.
"I'm just teasing. I'll be there, don't worry. Don't tell the others though, okay? I want it to be a surprise." Yu chuckled.
"Oh? And why did you tell me, then?"
"Cause I can trust you to get everyone together. Hey, if I email the time I'm gonna arrive, could you get everyone together?"
"Y-yeah. If they're all free." Yosuke stuttered slightly. Yu trusted him? Of course he knew Yu would but it still seemed unreal. This was an important job, one for Yu's best friend to accomplish.
"Alright. Well uh, I'll see you then okay?"
"Wait-" Yosuke spoke before he could think.
"What is it?"
"I… I'm glad you're back, partner."
In a week's time all of the Investigation team had been gathered in Aiha's, all except the leader.
"Yosuke-kun? Why did you ask us all to come here?" Yukiko wondered.
"Well it's nice to have the team back together, right?"
"Yeah but…" Chie didn't have to finish her sentence. Everyone knew what she was hinting towards.
Kanji, seemingly on Yosuke's side, spoke up. "Just because senpai isn't here doesn't mean the rest of us can't get together! Come on, we can still have fun. I mean, we're all friends anyways!"
Rise nodded. "Kanji's right. Let's try to have fun regardless. Senpai might not be here, but the rest of us are. We can at least try to."
Naoto glanced at the doorway and froze. "Speaking of… look."
Everyone followed their gaze, spying Yu enter almost silently. "Hey." He greeted nonchalantly.
"Yosuke! Is this why you brought us here?" Teddie asked in his whiny tone.
"It is." Yu answered for him, sliding into the seat next to Yosuke as he tried not to think about how close they were. "I told him to get everyone together so I could surprise you." Yosuke nodded wordlessly.
"Wow, I -" Chie started but was quickly cut off.
"SENSEIIIIII!!!!" Teddie cried, practically jumping across the table to hug him. "You're here! I can't bearlieve it!"
"Woah, hey, sit down!" Yosuke told him off. "We all missed him, I know, but you're causing a scene!" Teddie didn't even acknowledge what Yosuke said beyond sitting back down.
"I'm glad we met at Aiha's!" Chie spoke. "Let's celebrate with some food!"
Yukiko chuckled. "You're always thinking about food."
"Am not!" Chie pouted.
"The one thing that'll never change," Yosuke teased. "Chie's always going to be a carnivore."
Yu looked between the members of the group, seemingly relieved he didn't miss out on much.
"Yosuke," he suddenly addressed, "what have you been up to since we last met up? We didn't really get the chance to talk."
Everyone's attention now fixed on the foux brunet as he stumbled over his words. "Oh uh- not much really? I mean, I've just been kinda exploring, trying to figure out who I am still. You know?"
Yu nodded wisely. "I get it."
"Self discovery is a journey that never truly ends." Naoto added as though they were quoting something. "I learned that the hard way."
"God, everyone being together kinda has me worried." Chie spoke, calling everyone's attention back to her. "Every time we get together like this, something happens. You know? The concert, the arena, the murders…"
"I'm sure nothing will happen this time." Yukiko assured her. "Even if something does, we'll deal with it."
"Yeah! I'll be all like, 'BEARSONA' and I'll freeze all the shadows to death!" Teddie announced too loud for anybody's comfort.
"Er, well, the point is, we'll handle anything that comes up. We always have." Yosuke agreed with the others.
Everyone departed from Aiha's, agreeing to meet the next day. That left only Yosuke and Yu, alone. Why was he so nervous? He's Yu's best friend! They've been alone together many times before, and yet now… He knew the difference, that now he was aware of his own feelings… but it was annoying how quickly his heart sped up and face grew red once they were alone. If this keeps happening, it could become a problem. "Hey, uh, Yu? Can we… Can we chat somewhere quiet?" He cursed himself for sounding so nervous, but the look of concern on Yu's face said that Yu took his words seriously regardless.
"Of course. How about the hill?"
"That works." Yosuke gulped down whatever nerves were frayed as the two walked together towards the hill overlooking all of town. The place where he originally told Yu that he was special to him… that memory only made his heart quicken more as he was sure he'd go into cardiac arrest. Once they reached the top, Yu looked towards Yosuke expectantly.
"Well um, Yu, I just… W-Well, I wanted to tell you something I figured out pretty recently." He started. Yosuke's heart went from beating too fast to almost stopping entirely. "I… I think I might be gay." He admitted.
"Oh, that's all?" Yu smiled, relieved. "I'm glad you figured that out about yourself and that you trust me enough to tell me that." Yu turned towards the view over the town, light reflecting off of his eyes. "Honestly, Yosuke, I kind of hoped you were."
"Huh? What, why?"
"Well," Yu adjusted his hair. "I… I really liked you, back in highschool. I just never said anything because of-"
"Because of how I treated Kanji?"
"Basically. Every day I would think about how much easier it'd be if you were gay. Maybe I manifested too hard." Yu laughed.
Yosuke took a breath. "You said you liked me in highschool, right?"
"Yeah…"
"How about now? Do- do you still feel that way?"
"Do you?" Yu returned the question.
"Yu, I… You're the reason I figured that out. I did like you back then too, I just didn't want to admit it… Looking back made me realize that… and… if you'd be willing to, I wouldn't mind giving us a shot."
"That's a lot of words for 'I like you too.' " Yu laughed.
"Whatever. Do you like me or not?"
Yu faced Yosuke, a soft expression covering his face. "Yes. Of course I do."
Yosuke couldn't help the smile that spread across his face, tears starting to fall out of his eyes. "Can I kiss you?"
Yu nodded wordlessly as their lips crashed together. A desperation flowed from Yosuke, a sort of desperation you only feel after denying yourself something for years. It was by no means a sweet or tender moment, it was raw and full of emotion. The many times he'd eyes Yu's lips, wondered what they'd feel like… finally those thoughts have come to fruition.
Finally, they pulled apart, both grinning from ear to ear. "Does that mean you'll be my boyfriend?"
"Of course."