[Sure enough, about an hour passed and Yosuke walked into the tea shop. Because he had the head’s up this time, he got to at least be a little more presentable than last time. Especially because she didn’t 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 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.]
[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 sighs, deflating a little from her earlier elation.]
No, I didn't. I got... caught up in a lot of things and tried really hard to pretend I wasn't that kind of girl, or whatever... I'm sorry, Yosuke-senpai.
[It's complicated.] I did know, at first, I just... I assumed it was because I was Risette, and then by the time that wasn't a reason anymore...
[She'd dug her own grave. But that's not the only important thing happening, here, and not the only thing that's leaving her disappointed. She meets Yosuke's eyes, and bites the inside of her cheek.]
Right. Okay. That's fair.
[It's fair, but it really sucks. There's a lot to unpack there, for her. Not the least of which being the thought that he's implying he would potentially be serious about me. Which Rise can't even begin to handle, right now.]
I don't really know what I want, yet. I want the chance to know for sure what I do what? And not just what I was told to want. I guess I don't really want anything serious yet, either.
[He nodded to her apology. He wanted to be mad about it, he was a little upset, but he couldn't really fault her either. She was an idol, it was probably scandalous enough with Souji, hiatus or not.'
It just wasn't worth the energy to actually do anything about it and it was better to move forward. He pursed his lips a little.]
I mean, my crush started because of Risette. But even after seeing your true self and getting to know Rise... it just. Never really went away. I like all of you, always have.
[He lifted his shoulders in a small, barely there shrug and his gave her a lopsided little smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. What can ya do? But he was truthful with his words, because she was being honest too. A relationship with her wasn't out of the question.
But it was also clear that now was very much not a good idea.]
You only just arrived, it's fair that you get your chance to figure yourself out too. I'm fine if you wanna keep it light and not serious. I'm still figuring that part of myself out too, so. It's probably good that we don't jump in.
[A little blush rises to her cheeks, and Rise can't help but smiling.]
I was a little blind to it, back home.
[ It's nice to hear it now, though. Her heart does a little flip in her chest. ]
Yeah? It's okay if that's too weird. I mean, I'd like to at least get the chance to flirt with you now... I'll be sad, but I'll understand, if you gotta tell me no...
[But he isn't saying no. He's saying it's not serious. Her eyes flash, wanting to see that smile of his reach his eyes.]
We did have a lot going on back then, aside from normal high school drama.
[On any other day, Yosuke would have been ecstatic to hear that Rise wanted to flirt with him, that she liked him and all that. But things quite easily got complicated really fast and all he could do was simply nod.]
[He silently points to her, then to himself, then to the table as a gesture of their date place...all the while looking incredibly confused and thinking hard to work this out.
And then, he promptly turned beet red and held his face.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
im at the tea shop up the street. take ur time.
Action
Hey Rise, so what’s up?
Re: Action
[She's glad things are smoother starting this time, at least, because Yosuke is going to need the extra grace to begin with.
She at least was clever enough to choose a table on the patio with nobody else sitting around it for some slight privacy.]
Chie let something interesting slip when I was talking with her earlier.
Action
[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.]
Am I in trouble?
Action
No, I wouldn't say that.
[Then why is something dangerous flashing in her eyes?]
Is it true you like me?
Action
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.]
Wh-What? She-?!
[That's what Chie let slip? Of all things?!]
Action
I'm sorry, [She's trying not to laugh but she is just a little sorry.]
Chie got kind of upset and took a left turn into angryville and sorta used it to make a point...
[She doesn't really want to talk about that part, though.]
It's really okay! I'm really flattered! I'm happy about it...
Action
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.]
Not like it's unusual, Rise. Lotta people do.
Action
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.]
Action
He lifted his head, squinting at her a little.]
...what?
[He couldn't have heard right, could he? She likes Souji, not him!]
Action
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.
Action
But-]
Why?
Action
[She shrugs, sips her drink.]
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.]
Action
[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.]
B-But I... what about Souji?
action
I like him too. He knows it. We're working it out. He has more than one girlfriend already, though, so why am I not allowed to like more than one boy?
action
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.
action
No, I didn't. I got... caught up in a lot of things and tried really hard to pretend I wasn't that kind of girl, or whatever... I'm sorry, Yosuke-senpai.
[It's complicated.] I did know, at first, I just... I assumed it was because I was Risette, and then by the time that wasn't a reason anymore...
[She'd dug her own grave. But that's not the only important thing happening, here, and not the only thing that's leaving her disappointed. She meets Yosuke's eyes, and bites the inside of her cheek.]
Right. Okay. That's fair.
[It's fair, but it really sucks. There's a lot to unpack there, for her. Not the least of which being the thought that he's implying he would potentially be serious about me. Which Rise can't even begin to handle, right now.]
I don't really know what I want, yet. I want the chance to know for sure what I do what? And not just what I was told to want. I guess I don't really want anything serious yet, either.
action
It just wasn't worth the energy to actually do anything about it and it was better to move forward. He pursed his lips a little.]
I mean, my crush started because of Risette. But even after seeing your true self and getting to know Rise... it just. Never really went away. I like all of you, always have.
[He lifted his shoulders in a small, barely there shrug and his gave her a lopsided little smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. What can ya do? But he was truthful with his words, because she was being honest too. A relationship with her wasn't out of the question.
But it was also clear that now was very much not a good idea.]
You only just arrived, it's fair that you get your chance to figure yourself out too. I'm fine if you wanna keep it light and not serious. I'm still figuring that part of myself out too, so. It's probably good that we don't jump in.
[It's fair, but it really sucks.]
action
I was a little blind to it, back home.
[ It's nice to hear it now, though. Her heart does a little flip in her chest. ]
Yeah? It's okay if that's too weird. I mean, I'd like to at least get the chance to flirt with you now... I'll be sad, but I'll understand, if you gotta tell me no...
[But he isn't saying no. He's saying it's not serious. Her eyes flash, wanting to see that smile of his reach his eyes.]
So it's cool that we're on a date, then?
action
[On any other day, Yosuke would have been ecstatic to hear that Rise wanted to flirt with him, that she liked him and all that. But things quite easily got complicated really fast and all he could do was simply nod.]
Yeah, it’s... I mean, I guess it’d be-
[Wait, what?]
...we are?
action
[Thanks for giving her the excuse there, buddy.
Rise smiles wryly and sips her drink.]
Aren't we?
action
But brb, Yosuke’s starting to blue screen.]
I-
But-
[He silently points to her, then to himself, then to the table as a gesture of their date place...all the while looking incredibly confused and thinking hard to work this out.
And then, he promptly turned beet red and held his face.]
This is a date?! Why didn’t you tell me?!
action
Well I had to mention the other thing first, right?
[He really does like her, doesn't he? Rise preens like a peacock.]
action
[It wasn’t even that he didn’t want to be on a date. But he spit tea out of is nose! And they were talking about totally not date things! And-And-!
He sank into his chair, still holding his face.]
This can’t be your idea of a good date.
action
[Sure it's partly that she's kind of a sadist and watching Yosuke embarrass himself brings her uncountable joy, but that's not the point.]
I found out a really good-looking boy likes me and maybe wants to casually go out, everything's coming up Rise.
action
From:action
From:Re: action
From:action
From:Re: action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:Re: action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From:Re: action
From:action
From:Re: action
From:action
From:action
From:Re: action
From:action
From:action
From:action
From: