Chapter Text
One brief phone call later Yosuke learned that as much as Junes and the Inaba police department had tried to keep Mayumi Yamano’s assault under wraps word had started to spread like wildfire among the residents of the town. The police were interrogating everyone who had worked at the store that day so it was only natural that nosy customers were packing the store. Due to that, it was all hands on deck at Junes and Mr.Hanamura was none too happy that Yosuke had neglected to bring his bike; preventing him from getting there sooner. At least that finally gave him time to text Yu on his way there.
Yosuke winced at the double text but he hoped Yu could forgive it. After a minute of waiting for a response he slowed his walking speed through the weirdly sparse main street. Then he considered getting a snack before work. Then he thought about how to greet Saki in the morning tomorrow. He should probably do something funny. She looked like she needed a laugh. Problem is, he couldn't really think of a joke. His phone buzzed before he could think of one.
All that waiting for a one word reply? And what did he even mean?
Yosuke dragged his feet. He was almost in sight of the Junes building at this point. He couldn’t put off clocking in much longer.
Huh?
Yosuke took his eyes away from the phone to ground himself in reality again. Unfortunately, that meant he saw the Junes parking lot. The corporation had spared no expense on getting a massive parking lot, reminiscent of what you’d see in the US. It seemed excessive to Yosuke, a clear violation of Japanese values, until he saw this day that not a single spot was unfilled.
---
Retail is hell.
---
The initial wave of nosy customers passed once they realized that the employees knew very little of the situation and the night grew closer. Yosuke thought he had made it when the level of customers lowered to just under “bearable” and was going to take a break when he rounded a corner and almost bumped into a camera. Specifically, an extremely expensive TV camera. A male reporter he didn’t recognize immediately shoved a microphone under his nose.
“Hello, we are with NHK News 7. We are currently trying to gather information for a news segment about Mayumi Yamano’s alleged assault and we need local knowledge. Do you consent to our interview?” He said without missing a beat. He certainly was eager.
“I-uh.”
“We might not even use the footage and we’ll blur your face!” He claimed. Yosuke wasn’t sure if he should be looking at the camera or the reporter.
“Huh?”
“Perfect! So, we see you’re a Junes employee, how do you feel about Junes trying to push under the rug the fact that they did not properly install security cameras on the premises?” The reporter asked.
“They what?” Yosuke blurted out. He hadn’t even realized he’d have to worry about security cameras last night. The reporter leaned in closer with a glint in his eye sensing he had found a malleable subject.
“You didn’t know? All Junes stores have security cameras installed in every nook and cranny of the premise and the footage feeds back to headquarters. Only headquarters can view the footage and they declined to provide it for the police investigation citing technical difficulties, therefore they don’t have it. Do you feel safe working here knowing that you could have been assaulted on the premises and no one could be held accountable for it?”
“Um.. I… no?” Yosuke said, in the back of his mind thinking that he had already technically been assaulted on the Junes premises… By a certain transfer student.
“Did you know that there were over 30 assaults reported in a Junes in the last 5 years alone?”
“No…” Yosuke replied. He wasn’t sure what that had to do with an assault that didn’t even occur in the Junes. Not that he wasn’t going to tell the reporter that.
“Finally, did you see anyone suspicious last night?”
“I...um.. only worked the afternoon shift yesterday.”
“I see… Well, thanks for your time!” The reporter said, retracting the microphone and signaling to the cameraman that it was time to roll out. Yosuke stood there, stunned, as they shuffled their equipment out at record speed.
---
10 minute breaks be damned, Yosuke needed to take more time, especially after that disastrous interview. He went to the calm oasis of the empty electronics department. He unconsciously drifted to the widescreen tv where that ever-present cut-out of Misuzu Hiiragi still stood. No matter how he looked at it, it was a normal tv, just bigger than average. He tentatively reached out his hand as if to touch the surface.
“I see, so the culprit returns to the scene of the crime!” Came a voice from behind him. Yosuke spun around to see… Detective Adachi Tohru. His blood ran cold. Adachi strolled into the aisle casually. The man who was responsible for Mayumi’s critical condition was approaching him and… smiling.
“Whoa, you don’t have to look so surprised. I was just kidding, Yosuke.” Adachi said. Yosuke willed himself to get further away from the big TV as naturally as possible which unfortunately brought him closer to Adachi. Every step he took to the unkempt detective felt like torture.
“What do you want?” Yosuke asked, trying to mask his fear under a bit of gruff.
“Is that how you’re supposed to talk to a loyal customer?” Adachi joked. When Yosuke didn’t respond, not missing a beat, Adachi continued. “We’re investigating all the Junes employees that worked yesterday and you’re on my list.” If he noted anything strange in Yosuke’s behavior he seemed to be trying to ignore it under a lazy smile at least.
“I didn’t work the night shift.” Yosuke said.
“Hmm, eye witness reports say that you were se en exiting the premises shortly before Ms.Yamano was found.” Adachi countered. Damn, of course people saw them even if the cameras hadn’t.
“I was showing my friend around Junes after work.”
“Friend?”
“Yu Narukami, he just moved here recently. He’s Dojima’s nephew.” Yosuke saw no reason to lie when Dojima had no doubt already told Adachi about his new ward.
“And you guys didn’t see anything?”
“Nothing.” Yosuke said. Adachi pondered that for a moment.
“Y’know, it’s funny I found you here.” Adachi said.
“Huh, why?”
“Where you were standing earlier, that’s exactly where we found Ms.Yamano. We didn’t tell that to the news. It wasn’t even included in any of the preliminary police reports yet.” Adachi remarked, Yosuke followed his line of sight towards the massive TV.
“Are you sure that’s something you should be telling me?” Yosuke bit out, praying that Adachi wouldn’t notice the wobble in his voice. They both heard a buzz. Adachi reached into his pocket.
“Probably not! Anyways, I gotta get going. Dojima says we have a long night of paperwork to fill out. Thanks for letting me know about Narukami, no one recognized him so that really helps me out. I’ll have to ask you about Ms.Konishi later! Seeya!” Adachi said as he stuffed his phone back in his pocket and turned around, waving a lackadaisical hand to bid his farewell.
---
Yosuke was startled to hear his ringtone. Yu was calling?
“What do you mean you were on TV?” Yu asked as soon as Yosuke picked up. Yosuke could hear background noise. Yu must have still been at the hospital.
“The national news cornered me to ask about Junes and the assault.” Yosuke answered. Yu let out a tinny groan of frustration on the other end.
“I should have figured this would happen.” Yu practically sighed into the cell phone before continuing, “Anyway, I probably don’t have to say this but don’t let that guy catch you unaware again. I’m currently at the hospital red string is being kept at to make sure he doesn’t come to finish what he started.”
“He’s going to come for you next. I gave him your name.” Yosuke admitted.
“That was inevitable. Don’t worry about it, Yosuke. I have to hang up now. Cell phones aren’t allowed in the hospital.” Yu said, not even giving Yosuke a chance to respond before ending the call. Come to think of it, what the hell kind of job did Yu get at the hospital? They don’t hire 16 year olds, do they? Yosuke tried to imagine it and his mind only unhelpfully supplied an image of a brightly smiling Yu with a white coat and stethoscope. He’ll have to ask him later. For now, he’s going to find some way to clock out without his father noticing.
---
His father did notice.
Yosuke ended up working until 9 PM, closing time. Normal class, with all the expectations of keeping his grades up, resumes tomorrow. He won't have to be doing these night shifts until next break at least. Yosuke managed to sneak a meal out from the convenience food section that would have gone into the trash at the end of the night anyway. They were out of pre-cooked meals from Mrs.Hanamura. The car ride home was quiet, both of the Hanamura men were exhausted. Mr.Hanamura dropped off Yosuke and mumbled something about heading to the local pub to meet up with some co-workers before walking away into the night without taking the car.
Yosuke unlocked the door. Chie told him it was actually uncommon to lock doors in Inaba. The town was so small people didn’t have to worry about much besides the occasional biker gang who only swept through the main street anyway. He removed his shoes at the entrance and hung up his apron. He turned on the lights because he still couldn’t move through this house in just the dark. He got himself settled on the cushion with his meal on the low table and turned on the modest TV. Not out of any particular interest in watching something but mostly because he felt unnerved by the emptiness of the house.
Of course, he somehow caught the tail end of his interview with the NHK News.
“.. only worked the afternoon shift yesterday.” Said his blurred image with a distorted voice. His hair and uniform were still distinctive though. Ugh! That was so obviously him! He quickly changed the channel, too horrified to watch the rest. Everyone was going to be talking about him. He might get in trouble with his job. He wondered if Saki was going to catch some flack for it too. Morooka already was calling her a floozy just for walking with him this morning. And.. Adachi! What the hell was that guy playing at? Yosuke was ultimately powerless to stop the police officer from questioning Saki, or Yu.
Yosuke shook himself to stop his swirling thoughts. Yu seemed to know what he was doing. Maybe he had an idea? Not that he could really communicate with him about something like this through an insecure method like a phone. He knew someone in the police could easily get access to phone records. He could only hope that Yu actually showed up to class tomorrow to have an in person conversation.
---
April 13 2011
Yosuke made damn sure that Trial of the Dragon was in his book bag first thing in the morning before anything else. He would sooner forget the monstrous Shadow Mayumi’s swipe than the pain he felt yesterday from Chie’s wrath.
Knowing his chances at having children in the future was not in peril anymore, he checked his phone.
Well, if Yu was telling him to check it, maybe Chie wasn’t spewing nonsense yesterday after all.
Then why was he checking it again? He decided to finish getting ready for class instead of responding right away. He didn’t want to come off as too desperate. It took him a solid 10 minutes with the styling gel to get his hair just right. He did have to walk Saki to school after all. God. HE was walking SAKI to school for the 2nd day in a row. How lucky was that? Speaking of.. He really needed to get going if he wanted them to get to school on time. He picked up his phone and noticed a new text that wasn’t from Yu.
Yosuke’s mind raced with possibilities as he double checked for the Trial of the Dragon DVD in his book bag. He could theoretically contact Saki anytime he wanted now. That would be good for making sure she was safe of course but... She wouldn’t mind if he wanted to text a little right?
Yosuke texted his affirmation and left the house, barely remembering to make sure to lock it through his giddiness.
If Yosuke squinted, he might be able to see a sliver of blue sky through the clouds rolling through the sky that morning. The fog had decided to lighten up a little and it was hard not to think that it wasn’t just for him. He could even see Saki’s frown looking down at her phone well before she noticed him walking up to her position. She was in front of a hedge that desperately needed trimming. Her knuckles were white on the handle of her navy blue bookbag.
“Bad news?” He asked. She twitched, jerking her head up from her phone and plastering a neutral face on.
“No. My b-... brother ate my cream puffs so I didn’t have any breakfast today.” Saki answered, halfway through her sentence she started walking along the path so quickly Yosuke had to scramble to catch up.
“Naoki-san, right? Haha, he’s just saving you from getting fat.” Yosuke said as he fell in step beside her.
“Hana-chan, the only reason you’re not fat is because you can’t even cook instant noodles.” Saki said sharply. Yosuke found himself secretly delighted. She remembered the story he told about starving for a night! His parents had to attend the birth of his cousin right before final exam night in middle school. Left to his own devices he managed to burn not just the instant noodles but his pinky finger as well. He still had a scar from that.
“Ok, but seriously, cream puffs for breakfast?” It just seemed like way too much sugar right at the start of the day to Yosuke. Saki glanced at her phone, the frown made a brief return. Jeez, having a sibling seemed like a pain from the way Saki was experiencing it. She closed her phone and looked at Yosuke.
“What did YOU have for breakfast today?” She asked. Yosuke’s stomach chose at that moment to gurgle extremely loudly. Saki let out an amused “Pft” as Yosuke clutched his traitorous stomach in shame. He knew he had forgotten something.
---
They made it to school without much incident. Yosuke made sure to tell Saki about the Midnight Channel (leaving out the soulmate part) and to check for it tonight. Saki let Yosuke know that she could totally tell it was him on the news much to his chagrin.
“It wasn’t that bad though. I don’t think I would have fared much better with such a pushy reporter.” She said upon seeing Yosuke’s sheepishness.
“Hm, if you’re going to comfort me so nicely then maybe I should do more disastrous interviews…” Yosuke winked, already cheered by Saki’s reassurance.
“On second thought, it was terrible.” She said flatly in response, reaching for her phone again. Her brother sure was being annoying to her first thing in the morning.
Nevertheless, she bid him good luck at the school gate. He was going to need it. The people of this town were brutal gossips.
“Yosuke, word around town is that you know the transfer student?” Was the question that greeted Yosuke upon opening the door to the classroom. The gossiping students from yesterday surrounded him.
“...Yeah?” He answered, already looking helplessly for an escape route.
“Are the rumors true?” Said one of the guys. Yosuke’s eyes fell on Yukiko, she quickly cut eye contact and pulled out a book.
“What rumors?” He asked, staring pleadingly at Yukiko who pushed her head further into her book.
“That he’s gay?” The girl from yesterday this time asked.
“WHAT?!”
“Did you not hear? He confessed to a guy at the school gate in front of everyone. It’s the talk of the school.” She said.
“That was just a joke!” He sputtered. The gossiping students mumbled amongst themselves not looking dissuaded from spreading the rumor.
“I’m serious, he did it because that guy was gonna take on the Amagi Challenge!” He added, hoping that would be convincing enough. He had no idea why Yu had stepped in yesterday.
“Oh, then he’s protecting Yukiko then? Kind of a smart tactic if he wants to take on the challenge himself.” The gossiper finally concluded.
“Err, yeah…” Yosuke didn’t think that was it either but at least he had asserted Yu’s heterosexuality so he left it at that. That had to be some good karma, right?
“You’re standing in the door!” Chie said from behind, muscling her way through without waiting for a response.
“Hey!” He said indignantly. Chie paid it no mind and marched to her desk, the small group of gossips dispersed, not wanting to take their chances questioning Chie as well. She didn’t look particularly cheerful. It was kind of concerning actually. Yosuke decided to walk up to her against his better judgement.
“What’s got your panties in a twist?”
“They are NOT-ngh-I don’t have to tell you.”
“Did Yu do something? I know you and Yukiko went after him yesterday after.. Well.. you know.”
“No! He’s fine, a real great guy. He’s going to walk Yukiko home today actually because of the incident so she’s not going to be with us at Daigaku.” Putting aside that Yosuke did not remember also inviting Yukiko to free food, he felt the need to press onward.
“Then, why are you-”
“ALRIGHT CLASS, GET YOUR ASSES IN YOUR SEATS!” Came the irritating voice of his homeroom teacher. Yosuke scampered to his seat without a glance back, not wanting a repeat of yesterday. Morooka took to the podium, already looking irritated.
“For everyone who wasn’t here yesterday we have a new transfer student. Oh wait, the only asshole who wasn’t here was him. Now then-” He raised his voice even louder somehow as he continued. “Come into the classroom before I lose more of my precious lecturing time on your worthless ass!” At that Yu stepped into the room, unflappable even after the myriad of insults. He looked to Morooka who gave him a face that screamed “get on with it” then turned to the students. Yosuke tamped down the urge to hide his face and prayed Yu would not make eye contact as his gaze scanned the class.
“Hey, nice to meet you all. I’m Yu Narukami. I’ll be here for a year with my uncle because my parents are working abroad. I like to-”
“Alright, introduction over, your seat is over there.” Morooka interrupted, pointing his finger to the seat beside Chie’s.
“Didn’t your mom ever teach you to not interrupt people while they are talking?” Yu asked, making no move whatsoever to go to his desk. The class went dead silent as they contemplated the likelihood that the next year of their school life was going to be witnessing a morning dose of verbal abuse every day. Yosuke was just close enough to see the veins pop out on Morooka’s forehead.
“I can do whatever I damn please. Now take your seat, you buffoon. I have some important information that the class has to lear-”
“Let me finish my self introduction.” Yu said firmly.
“So insolent, are you such an idiot that you don’t know I can dole out whatever punishments I see fit to incompetant students? Especially ones who can’t even be bothered to show up to class?” Morooka said, leaning over his podium to sneer at Yu.
“Superintendent Ichiro Aisawa.” Yu stated.
“Huh?”
“Head of the school board of Yamanashi prefecture. Before my parents went overseas they would have dinner parties with him. Y’know, it’s currently 8 PM in Los Angeles, I can call my parents and ask them about him right now if I want.” Yu explained. Morooka’s face during that time went the whole gamut of human emotions and eventually settled on a new one Yosuke hadn’t seen before on him. Fear. And for good reason, Inaba was in Yamanashi prefecture.
“Are you…” Morooka started to ask, voice shaky. He took a deep breath and made the painful decision to shut his mouth for what Yosuke thought was probably the first time in his life. He made a weak gesture for Yu to go on. Yosuke almost felt sympathetic for him. He knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of veiled threats from the new guy. Luckily for Yosuke though, Yu had a high opinion of him for whatever reason. The visions Yu had of Morooka must have been ghastly for this kind of treatment.
“Ahem, as I was saying, I like to catch bugs and fish. I hope you all treat me well!” Yu finished brightly. He walked to his seat ignoring the awe of his peers and sat down. The moment only held so long before everyone was out of their seats to surround his desk asking questions. With Morooka defeated Yu had taken the spot of the king of the classroom. It dawned on Yosuke that he was not going to be able to have a conversation with Yu Narukami at school for some time.
---
“I’m starving…” Yosuke whined, stretching out head down on his desk at lunchtime. He didn’t eat any breakfast and forgot to bring money with him to eat at the cafeteria.
“If you think I’m going to give you any of my food, forget about it.” Chie said, unveiling a homemade bento in a surprisingly cute mint colored container. She and Yukiko had elected to eat lunch in the classroom since Yu had led the rest of the classroom out with him like he was some kind of pied piper. However, they did not account for Yosuke being a dumbass who can’t even manage to feed himself.
“I don’t want your food. Whatever your mom fed you turned you into a gorilla.” Yosuke said, mumbling the later sentence to himself.
“Excuse me? That’s not how you talk to a lady.” Chie slammed her Cinnamoroll chopsticks down and rose to her feet. Not only was Chie freakishly strong but her ears were good too, great.
“Chie, I have a headache. Can we eat somewhere else?” Yukiko intercepted.
“Can’t you go eat with your new boyfriend? I need to practice my suplex.” Chie responded offhandedly as she grappled Yosuke into a headlock.
“I told you he is NOT my boyfriend. Can you stop picking fights?” Yukiko closed her bento box with a snap. Chie proceeded to give Yosuke a noogie.
“Please, you’re totally into him. He even made you laugh yesterday! You never laugh around strangers.” Chie said, grinding her fist even harder into Yosuke’s delicate scalp.
“...I’m going to the bathroom.” Yukiko said in a way that indicated she would not be back until lunch was over.
“Seriously, what on earth is going on with you two?” Yosuke said, finally breaking free of Chie’s chokehold. Not for her lack of strength but more for her lack of will upon seeing Yukiko walk out the door.
“I don’t know.” Chie said with an edge to her voice.
“C’mon, this isn’t like you Chie. Did Yu say something?”
“No! Yes? Maybe. It didn’t actually mean anything though...”
“Chie if I have to be the punching bag for your frustrations over something that ‘didn’t actually mean anything’ I will never buy you food ever again. I have enough savings right now to put a down payment on a scooter that I will have to pay off for 2 years which will give me absolutely no spending money for anything other than 100-yen shop treats.” Yosuke threatened. Chie’s lips pursed into a thin line as she wrestled with that ultimatum.
“Fine! He offered to date Yukiko!” She let out.
“What?!” Yosuke exclaimed. Yu REALLY had taken on the Amagi Challenge.
“I mean, he offered to fake being her boyfriend so she wouldn’t have to deal with the Amagi Challenge anymore. You saw that guy yesterday right? What if more weird guys from other schools come to confess?” Chie picked up her Cinnamoroll chopsticks to fidget with as she rambled. Yosuke exhaled. Even though he had Saki in his heart only (he swears!) it was somewhat of a relief that Yukiko was still single.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“What if they decide to date for real?” The fidgeting had become even more frantic.
“I don’t know why you’re so stressed over this.”
“...Forget it. I don’t know why I talked to you about this. I’m going to go find Yukiko” Chie said. She hastily put her things together and walked out but not before throwing out a quick, “Oh, and don’t think we have called off steak today!”
Yosuke sat there, stomach rumbling, and had a thought. Despite the conversation being a complete disaster by every standard, it was weirdly satisfying to think that Chie had opened up to him.
---
Yosuke spent the rest of the school day wondering how to reply back to Saki’s three word text but came up with nothing to show for it even as the school bell rang to end the day. He wondered why there were no cute little kaomoji he had seen other girls use in their texts. The occasion seemed to call for it.
“When did you get Saki’s number?” Chie said next to Yosuke’s ear.
“Gah! Don’t read over people’s shoulders you weirdo!” Yosuke swatted at Chie but she had already returned to her desk to pick up her things.
“I’m not the weirdo who put a heart next to Saki’s name in their contracts list.” Chie stated. She stuck her arm deep into the compartment of her desk and fished for a pencil.
“I don’t know, maybe you put one next to Yuk-” Yosuke was interrupted by Yukiko shutting the class door harder than necessary. Chie withdrew her hand from the desk. The pencil was forgotten as she watched Yukiko’s silhouette pass by in the window. It seems like they had not managed to patch things up during lunch. “-forget it. Let's go. Saki is probably already waiting.” Yosuke finished.
--
Of course, there had to be another commotion out in front of the school gate. Yosuke didn’t have to guess the cause for long this time because, as before, several students were gossiping loudly.
“Creepy guy is back to take on the Amagi Challenge!”
“Eh, but the transfer student is in the way again.”
“That uniform… he’s from Babirusu High!” That was the other prominent high school in Inaba. It had a strange name… Yosuke got closer.
“Let me speak to Yuki-chan.” The creepy guy demanded. The angry look on his face was really not doing him any favors as far as winning Yukiko over, Yosuke thought.
“You sure you didn’t come here to see me again Mitsy? My phone number is still available~!” Yu chirped. Despite his sing-song voice he was in a protective stance in front of Yukiko. It sounded like he was not changing his bizarre tactics for dealing with “Mitsy”. Yukiko seemed just as baffled as Yosuke felt about the situation which was reassuring at least.
“Stop calling me that!” “Mitsy” shouted, clenching both his fists.
“You want me to call you Mitsuo-chan instead?” Yu asked, feigning ignorance to Mitsuo's fury. Mitsuo looked stricken.
“How do you even know my name, freak?” He spat. Yu affected a contemplative look in response.
“Kubo-san then? That’s too formal though.” Yu offered, scratching his chin.
“Shut up!” Mitsuo yelled.
“Not. A. Chance.” Yu punctuated each word as he grinned wildly. Mitsuo glared one last time at Yu and stalked off.
“I’m not sure I want this to be a daily occurrence.” Yukiko said when Mitsuo was sufficiently out of earshot.
“It wont be.” Yu said with certainty.
“What are you going to do?” Yukiko asked, a note of suspicion in her tone.
“I don’t want to spoil the fun but if you insist I can tell you right now.” Yu still had the manic grin on. Yukiko’s nervousness grew as she noticed the crowd growing larger around them.
“On second thought… Just take me to the inn.” Yukiko looked back at the crowd and for a split second her gaze held on Chie’s before she ran to catch up with Yu.
“...Ready to go to Daigaku?” Saki asked from behind. Yosuke didn’t know if her evident amusement was because of Yu’s antics or the startled way he swung around to face her.
“Er, yeah.. I guess.” Yosuke responded. Saki looked over his shoulder where Chie was still watching the princess and the new king of the class walk off together.
“Chie?” Saki prompted.
“Huh? Oh... yeah. Let’s go.” Chie said, starting to walk ahead. Saki and Yosuke exchanged a look before following.