With You (Souyo)

Coming & Going

Yosuke's POV:

Yu and I sit on a park bench somewhere, watching the birds float by.

Neither of us have said a word since we sat down. My sandwich goes cold in my hands.

"Hey," I say, breaking the ice. "What was up with Shin before?"

"Hm? Oh... That..."

Usually, I hate bringing up Shin in conversations with Yu... But I can't help it. It's clearly bothering him, too.

"I dunno," he sighs. "Maybe I did something to upset him."

"Like what?"

"I don't know," he shakes his head. "I didn't say much to piss him off."

"Maybe he's just in a bad mood," I suggest. "It's probably not even your fault."

"Yeah... I hope you're right."

"What's after this?" I ask, changing the subject.

"I think we're going to a theme park."

"Oooh, seriously?!" I grin. "You better come on the roller coasters with me."

"Oh, I will," he chuckles.

"And, if you get scared, you can hold onto me," I tease.

"Shut up," he smirks. "Hey... Yosuke?" He says, after a couple of moments.

"What's up?" I ask, my mouth full of breadcrumbs.

"You fully broke things off with Miura, right?"

"Yeah?" I swallow. "Why?"

"Sorry," he groans. "I know it's none of my business."

"Don't be stupid," I smile. "You can ask me anything."

"...That must have been tough."

"Well, I guess," I shrug. "I mean, we were friends, after all. But, at the end of the day, you're my partner. And I know you'll never leave me."

"It must suck, huh?" He frowns. "But... Why did you pretend to date him, though? Isn't that a bit cruel?"

"I've already told you: it was his idea," I sigh. "But... somewhere along the line..."

"...He fell in love with you," Yu finishes for me.

"Yeah," I breathe. "And, maybe I did hurt him when I cut him off."

"Doesn't that bother you?"

"I did it for you, okay?" I frown. "And, yes, it bothers me. Losing a friend isn't exactly easy for me. I used to think that my friends just wanted to go, but maybe it's just that I wanted them to leave me."

"...Do you want me to leave?" He asks, quietly.

"No," I whisper. "I'm... sorry, Yu."

"I had no idea how this would affect you."

"Dude, don't blame yourself," I sigh.

"You're sick of people coming and going, aren't you?"

"I just don't want to be alone."

"You're not alone." He rests his palm against my thigh and looks at me.

"I think I miss him," I admit.

"Oh." His face falls, and he quickly retracts his hand.

"I'm sorry," I mutter. "I shouldn't have said that."

"No," he says. "You're allowed to miss him."

"But, you--"

"This isn't about me," he shakes his head. "If you miss him so badly, just unblock his number."