[Why did she have to word it like that? Why did his stupid body have to be like this? He knew it was the pheromones but it was also definitely because of his attraction to Rise. He had been here long enough to be able to deal with people's pheromones he felt like.
This was on a whole new level.
He suddenly felt her warmth near him and he chances to lift his face, reveal him to be very, very red when he sees her scooting closer and saying his name like this. His eyes widen, a thrill going through him that went straight down to his arousal and he let out a rather unmanly squeak.]
[Sure enough, about an hour passed and Yosuke walked into the tea shop. Because he had the headβs up this time, he got to at least be a little more presentable than last time. Especially because she didnβt ask to meet at his or her place. He located her easily enough and after ordering an iced green tea, he walked over and sat across from her, offering a smile.]
[His eyebrow went up, clearly confused. He sipped the iced tea as it arrived. He was pretty sure Chie didn't have much to "slip" to Rise that would cause a seemingly similar conversation. Nothing he could think of anyway.]
[He couldn't help leaning away from her, heart pounding and he was pretty sure he was getting lightheaded as all the blood in his body went to his face and between his legs.]
You're n-not... not being f-fair, Rise! If you kn-know then why a-are you...?
[She wasn't supposed to be like this with him. But with... with someone else. Right? He bit off a whimper, squirming harder in his seat as he struggled to figure out how to get out of this. Her first shouldn't be with him! Right?]
He did a literal, god damn spittake that you only see in the movies. He was mindful enough to not do it in front her. But it did get the table as he coughed.]
[He managed to get his coughing in order, his nose burned a bit, but that's what napkins were for as he listened to her explanation. Of course Chie just took a turn to angryville and used him to make a point.
But what point?! Okay, yeah, he liked her, what else was new? A ton of people did, right? His cheeks were flaming at this, even if she said she was flattered. Once the table was cleaned up, he proceeded to faceplant it. Okay ow, that hurt his nose. His face tilted to the side, bangs and hair covering his face and allowed him to keep his eyes not on her.]
[She fights the urge to pat him on the back, since that would probably freak him out all over again. Instead she helps him gently dab up the mess with her napkins as well.
Oh sweetie.
She frowns down at him a little.]
Yeah but not all of them are actually someone I know. Someone who's my friend and who helped save my life.
[She gently pokes his forehead.]
I kinda like you too, okay?
[It's big to admit it, since he already knows how she feels about Souji, but she's learned a lot about this place since she's been here and how maybe it's okay for her to finally admit that, and to do something about it.]
[Well, yes, but she already has that conversation all squared away. She already knows where she stands with Souji. She thought she did with Yosuke, too, until this new information came to light.
She honestly feels a bit silly for overlooking it, but such is the way of bias.]
I like you too, Yosuke. Honestly a lot more since I got here, so that made it twice as much of a relief that this place isn't gonna demonize me for it.
[It wasn't sinking in. It really wasn't. Nothing about it made sense to him. She had latched onto Souji since day one. He leaned back in his chair as he still struggled to compute this. 'a lot more since I got here' also meant that she liked him before coming here.
You make me feel safe and supported, you're a really good listener, you're really brave. I mean you're one of the people who saved my life, you know? And you've been taking care of me since I got here.
You're nice to look at, and especially cute when you're embarrassed.
[She smirks sideways at him. Yeah she latched onto Souji day one, but if she could have been in the middle of a senpai sandwich without losing her entire reputation? You bet she would have.]
[He sounded so disbelieving as he parroted her words. It just didn't make sense to him, that's all. Even if she did name off the things he had done. She wasn't lying, that much he could tell.]
[Straight to the jugular, why don't you, Rise? It wasn't a secret anymore that she had returned his feelings, but that didn't make this any easier, despite their talk.]
[Of course. Okay. So she liked the both of them. But that just... made this feel like it was a lot more difficult now.]
I didn't say you weren't allowed, Rise. I just... you didn't say anything. A-And I mean... it's not like I wasn't obvious about my attraction I just... assumed you didn't...
[So he never said anything. His fingers played with the used napkins, leg bouncing with restless energy. He took a breath.]
Rise, I'm not like Souji. [He made sure to look at her when he said this. He needed to make this clear before they went any further than these... confessions.] I'm not like a lot of people here. I don't...
[He paused, he needed to say this right.]
I don't want to share. Not when it comes to relationships. Hook ups I can deal with but... anything more serious than that and I... I can't.
[Rise wouldn't lie to him, not about this. And honestly, the throbbing between his legs was getting painful. So, he reached over to take her by the wrist, to tug her onto his lap. If she was really insisting then... who was he to say no?]
Page 3 of 20