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[ there’s a sigh during those type dots. ]

fine. ill keep the door unlocked.

[ aside from getting up to do just that and wash up a little (just scrub his face with some water and brush his teeth since it was already evening anyway) he’s curled up in bed when rise comes over, headphones over his ears playing soft music so he could still hear her come in. ]

thank you

[ For trusting her, for letting her in. She doesn't really have a plan, she just doesn't want to leave Yosuke alone when he's so upset.

She still knocks politely at the door before she opens it, shutting it quietly because making too much of a racket just feels wrong, right now. She slips out of her shoes and finds her way to his bedroom, just letting herself into the bed, under the covers, and lays down next to him. She reaches out a hand just to rest it lightly on his shoulder. ]

[ he was really grateful for rise, to be honest. like more than he realized until now. granted, he also spent the day with keigo which helped him a lot. but now that he was alone with his thoughts, it had been hard not to let them run. thinking about every interaction with his friends and how he’d acted throughout the year. the stuff with kanji aside, he didn’t see what chie meant still. and he apologized to kanji and they were in a much better place now regarding that friendship so even if he had messed up, he’d helped mend it.

he pulled the headphones down, letting them lay awkwardly around his neck and being squished into the pillow. his ears were sore from the constant pressure and there was a slight ringing from the lack of noise now. he closed his eyes when she rested her hand on his shoulder, taking a breath and sighing through his nose. ]

Hey.

[ Rise doesn't really know what happened between Yosuke and Chie, but considering the way Chie has been acting toward her, Rise guesses it was something like that. Clearly the girl is hurting, and needs help, but neither of them can do anything for her if she's determined to twist the truth to fit facts she's already decided are true, and to blame them for things they can't control. Or to hate them for doing perfectly normal, stupid teenager stuff.

Rise, at least, mostly let what Chie said roll off her back, but Chie doesn't know Rise as well as she knows Yosuke. If there was any doubt that what she said really hurt him, they're gone now. Rise scoots in a little closer, trying to comfort him with her presence. ]

Hey. I don't really know what to do, but I can be here. We can just listen to music and sleep, whatever you want.

[ he took her hand from his shoulder, threading their fingers together as she scooted closer. the warmth was nice and needed. he let out a huff of a laugh, completely devoid of amusement. ]

Don’t know if you can do anything. I don’t even know what I did.

[ the last sentence came out strained and his face looked pinched as he struggled to not let the emotions get to him again. he’d cried enough today, thanks. he let out a slight hiccuping sigh, his free hand going to his forehead to rub for a moment, as if smoothing those furrows out of his brow. ]

I understood where she was coming from, you know? But it was like nothing I said mattered, because ultimately I was never her friend? Or something like that, I don’t know.

[ She rubs her thumb over his palm, frowning just a little. ]

I don't know what you did, either. Probably not what Chie seems to think you did, though, if what she's been saying to me is anything to go by. I don't know what world she's living in but it isn't the one I'm living in.

[ She sighs and readjusts her face on the pillow. ]

That's kinda how it felt for me, too. The first time, after I stormed out and then came back, and then earlier today. She had just come to conclusions already and nothing I said would change them. I guess I can understand her doing that to me, but we were never as close as you and her were. I would have thought she'd trust you a lot more.

[ Guess not? ]

What has she been saying?

[ he let his arm drop and he curled up a little, careful not to bump his knees against her. ]

I thought so too. But apparently she thinks all I did was put up with her when I was bored and Saki wasn’t around for me to, and I quote, moon over.

[ he’s still a little bitter about that tidbit. chie has no idea what saki was really like and how he really felt about her, clearly. ]

What you said, mostly, that you just "put up with her" when you're "bored".

[ What kind of bullshit. ]

Stuff about me that sounds just as hard to believe and is what first made me think she's not quite in reality with the rest of us.

[ But this isn't about Rise's feels, it's about Yosuke's. She frowns, giving his hand a squeeze. ]

Chie's never really been the best at knowing what other people are thinking or how they feel, but this is a whole new level.

She’s assumed so much and I don’t even understand where it came from. Saki-senpai has been gone well over a year now, what was the point of bringing her up now? I mean... without her to moon over then how could I just put up with her for that long? Or you guys for that matter if that’s all I ever did.

[ it was just so irritating, feeling like you messed up but so confused as to how and why and if it’s even something you could fix. did he mess up somewhere down the line? ]

It really wasn’t fair, y’know. To bring Saki into this when she’s not around to defend herself. So many people already did that back home.

[ Rise nods, being an attentive listener. ]

I don't understand either. We're still friends, after the case ended. Maybe we didn't spend every day together the next year like before, but I had to leave for my career, and everyone else had time to just be normal kids, right? But after that, you and Souji graduate... I think it's kind of unrealistic to think we'll still talk every day.

[ She fades away, playing with Yosuke's fingers. ]

But that doesn't mean we aren't still friends, either. That's just part of growing up, you don't hang around doing nothing with friends anymore. And, you're right, it's not fair.

Yeah, you did leave. Naoto did too as did Souji. It's just... even if we didn't talk everyday, the connection was still there. At least, I thought it was.

[ he hoped they would but if nothing else that they'd keep frequent enough contact.

her playing with his fingers drew his attention back to her and he pulled them to his lips, not necessarily kissing her knuckles but letting the touch linger a bit. ]

It sucks being told you don't understand something when you totally do. Or that you're worried and they just basically tell you off. My bad for worrying I guess, right?

Mmn.

[ She mulls that over, letting him pull her hand in closer. She extends a finger to gently brush against his nose. A tiny, playful gesture. ]

I know I'd think about you guys every single day, even if I couldn't get to a phone to call. or it'd come across as weird if I'm calling too many boys or something stupid like that. Maybe Chie needs more of a hobby, I don't know. We all have responsibilities outside of school and the investigation, except for her... Maybe that would have been good for her, I don't know.

[ A sigh. ]

If she doesn't want her friends to worry then she shouldn't act crazy.

[ It does finally bring a small smile to his face, nose scrunching lightly. ]

I doubt she'd listen if we suggested something like that. But I guess it's something she's gotta work out now. I can't really do any more now.

[ He's not sure he can handle whatever it was she would say next. ]

[That smile lifts her spirits and makes Rise smiles back.]

Yeah, it's out of our hands. We can help her again when she's willing to listen to us.

[She wiggles in closer, until she can press a kiss to Yosuke's forehead.]

Thanks for trusting me.

[ He closed his eyes when she kissed his forehead and he couldn't help but adjust himself so his face was pressed against her shoulder and neck, his other arm coming around to hold her. ]

Thanks for checking on me. Sorry if it makes things awkward for you at home, though.

[She encourages him to come in close, wrapping an arm around him in turn and making herself comfortable.]

Don't worry about me. Besides, it was already kind of awkward anyway, and that's on her, not on you.

[She'd rather spend her time and energy with someone who wants to listen to what she has to say and allows himself to be comforted.]

Edited 2019-11-04 02:09 (UTC)

Kinda hard not to worry when you're in this mess too. I don't even know how Souji's taking it, he's been... weirdly quiet.

[ And that wasn't really like him when it came to his friends. But Yosuke supposed that if Chie can act different then maybe... maybe his Partner can too. He was from a different-ish timeline, after all. ]

Things were supposed to get better after Izanami, not get worse. Geez.

I'll try talking to him.

[Rise sighs, agreeing with his sentiment without using words. He's right, and she's tired.

She leans in to kiss the corner of his eye, a soothing gesture that also brings her in closer.]

We'll find something fun to do tomorrow.

[ He makes an affirmative noise, sighing softly at the kiss. He snuggles in deeper in response. ]

I'm game. What d'you wanna do?

[Sharing a bed and blanket with someone is a new level of warm Rise never knew was possible. She's cozier than a bug in a cocoon. It helps.]

Dunno, go see a movie? Eat a stupid amount of food? Toss around at the beach?

[She yawns. The warms are making her sleepy.]

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