With You (Souyo)

Sweet & Sour

Yosuke's POV:

"Maybe we should... I don't know... Just leave him be..." Kanji suggests, as we scurry down the shopping district.

"You can't be serious," I scoff, checking every alleyway as to where he could be. "He'll kill himself at this rate."

"D-don't say shit like that," Shin scolds. "I'm... sure he's okay."

It's getting dark out, and there's still no sign of him. We've been looking for hours on end. He won't even pick up the damn phone.

I had to call Dojima-san to tell him that we were going out, and that we wouldn't be back until late. I know I shouldn't have lied to him, especially when the truth is far more serious. But I couldn't have Nanako worried about her big brother.

What the hell was he thinking!?

I hate it when he does this. He's right: it's not fair. I know asking him to stop is a lot, but he's not even trying to get better.

I can only think of the worst for him at this stage, and it's eating me alive. Where the fuck is he?

~~~

Yu's POV:

I stumble into the shadows, sitting myself down under the trees.

I can't remember how I got here.

But it's cold.

The outlook on the river is nothing compared to Samegawa. But it's enough.

I feel like I've just been ran over by a bus twice in a row. It's awful.

I lay back on the grass as a lone leaf falls into my face.

I gently pick it up, looking at it carefully.

Weird.

I release it into the air, listening to the wind pick it up and wash it away.

Funny. It's gone, now, isn't it? No hesitation.

~~~

Yosuke's POV:

Kanji and I run back into each other at the shrine.

"Any luck?" I ask, panting. I've been running around like a freaking madman trying to find him. I just wish he'd call.

He shakes his head. "Nah. Shouldn't we call the girls? Y'know, as extra eyes?"

"No," I say. "We... can't let them know. We can't worry them."

"But—"

"He didn't want you finding out, no doubt," I scoff. "He doesn't need anyone else to know."

"...Where's Shin?" He asks. "Thought we were meeting back here at eight."

I check my cell. It's just after 8pm.

"Shit..." I groan. "Where the hell is he?"

Kanji dials his number, but to no avail.

"Asshole," I mutter. "I bet he's just went home."

"He won't have," Kanji disagrees. "There's no way he'd leave Yu. Especially in a state like this."

"...Let's just... Keep looking, okay?"

"Maybe we should call it a night," he suggests.

"Are you fucking insane?" I snap. "He might not even be here in the morning!"

"You're stressing yourself out, dude." He puts a hand on my shoulder. "You need to have your mind straight for him."

"Kanji—"