gettin-punks-bent replied to your post: M!A You are walking along the floodplain when suddenly your clothing disappears and you are naked.

[[ Mind if I send a starter in response to this? o: ]]

((Ah, it seems tumbr is finally allowing me to respond to replies. I don’t know if you received the ask I sent, but you would be most welcome to if you so wished. It would prove to be… interesting. Do let me know once it is posted.))

masterofpersona:

“But… I’m curious… How do you plan on catching your pray… when you don’t even know what you’re looking for?”

Minato blinked slowly, fingers interlaced together in deep thought, his body still throbbing with a dull pain as he placed his chin just centimeters away from his clasped hands. The question Naoto echoed repeatedly in his mind, the actual content not so important but the actual voice it was spoken in was. He inclined his head as he stared purposefully at the other’s calm and vaguely curious features, taking in the exhaustion underneath that existed with the detective’s naturally tenacious nature. The sleuth’s voice-the tenor of it was abnormal and forced when he listened closely, still shockingly effortless in how natural it sounded but nevertheless wrong. It was low, masculine, and somewhat deep like that of a young man but there was something more to it, like it could easily ascend to a higher pitch…to that of a woman’s. And that sealed it for Minato as he straightened from his inclined position, narrowing his calculating gaze on the door as he rose with the deliberate slowness of one in thought.

Naoto was in fact a girl.

It made sense to him; the suspicious voice; those softer facial features; and that slender form. It wasn’t the fact that she was slender-because he was quiet slender for a male himself-but the lack of prominent muscle mass was a key factor. He could tell she was in athletic shape but the places where she had muscles were different from that of a guy.

Immensely satisfied with his discovery even though it changed very little, Minato regarded the ever-so observant detective with a knowing look before exiting the room, not uttering a sound except for his labored breathing. He would return of course, but there was some minor things he needed to take care of…like rinsing the dried blood from his head and retrieving a rather important device from the main room. Weren’t it for the other occupant in the residence, Minato might have even humored himself with a shower to get rid of the all the sweat and blood. But the time for pleasantries had long past…he shook his head.

Sighing demurely to his self, the persona-user began to shuffle through his equipment bag, pausing as his limbs went completely rigid when his fingers brushed across the plastic, worn edges of an old photo. He had no recollection of ever packing it and he almost hastily put it away to avoid the sinking of his heart, but the contents of it were to powerful, the allure to great. On it was a child and his parents, building a rather prideful little sand castle, the sea behind them glistening as rays of sunlight kissed the blue surfaces. They were happy. The child was happy, smiling more brightly and jubilantly than his future counterpart, without a care in the world. It was painful…and for moment, Minato wandered if he was bleeding again from his head wound again, touching absentmindedly at his face to check.

When he pulled his fingers back, the moisture cascading down his face hadn’t been blood but tears. It was ridiculous.

He hadn’t cried since he was a child, and he reprimanded himself for even falling back into it, throwing the photo away from him in a calm fury, going back to his previous actions overzealously. This was stupid. The thought of his parents hadn’t ever crossed his mind, knowing that to dwell on the past was a terrible way to hinder one’s future. Yet…he couldn’t help but imagine their reactions to their son right now who was in possession of a captive; prepared to end the life of another; and covered in blood.

They would be rolling in their graves right now, Minato thought caustically, pulling out a white laptop and a rag. I mean I’ve already committed a large number of crimes and the next one might just seal the deal for me.

But it really didn’t matter anymore. If he allowed himself to humor these thoughts any longer, then…

Placing the laptop on the couch for later use, Minato traveled leisurely to the bathroom to wash his face, feeling a sudden amount of relief at the hot water pouring out of the faucet and using it to wet the rag. Gently, he dabbed at his face and began the tedious process of washing away all the filth and grime, hesitating anxiously as a stranger peered apathetically at him with the hard, fatigued eyes of a man who wouldn’t-no couldn’t be compromised with, lacking something…something vital that composed all human beings. Dazedly, his mind not making obvious connections as if his sight couldn’t communicate with his brain, Minato peered closer, letting out a surprised cry as he stumbled back till his back colliding with the wall, pain reverberating through him mercilessly. Was that him? Was that supposed to be him?

That can’t be right. Have I truly changed that much?

Change is inevitable. And through it…we find our true selves.

Minato head snapped up at the spectral voice of the Temperance Arcana, wearing a tight-lipped grimace of displeasure and slight pain. That isn’t me. I hardly recognize myself.

Not everyone is pleased with the end results…

 But…!

The sooner you accept it, the more unnecessary strife you will be able to avoid.

The Wild Card’s grimace transitioned into an unpleasant frown, resuming his actions at ridding himself of the blood that clung to him like a second skin, thoughts laden with an excessive amount of abjection. Was it true that he changed so much? Those eyes that gazed back desolately at him, the same shade of ashen-grey eyes like his; the face with same pale complexion as his…couldn’t be him, right? It wasn’t possible for anyone to go over such an extreme transformation like that. It was frightening…a coldness sinking in his gut unbearably as he exited the bathroom and grabbed the laptop, heading back to the room with his almost forgotten guest. Was it because of his actions that changed him so dramatically? Changed him into that cold, emotionlessly motivated man?

No. He refused to accept that.

Minato’s return back to the dark room was a silent one as he reclaimed his seat and opened the laptop, acknowledging Naoto with a quick, perceptive glance, finding her quite unchanged. Of course…he wouldn’t have put it past the crafty detective to have formulated the foundations of a plan during his short absence. Strangely enough, he couldn’t find it inside himself to care too much, the glow from the screen highlighting his face, various maps of neighboring towns flickering across the screen.

“You’re a bit more valuable to merely be considered bait Shirogane-san,” he began conversationally, never taking his eyes off the screen as his fingers flew across the keyboard. “But yes…I suppose it is very interesting to think about how I will attain my prey. Shall I explain my theory to you?”

Minato paused in his rapid typing, passing a cursory glance over the monitor of the laptop.

“As you know, Seta-san and I possess the ability of Wild Card. Where perhaps the only two in existence to have this power so that leads to me believe that when we meet face-to-face, our Arcana will resonate with each other. It will be like, “he searched shortly for the right words, smiling lightly when it came to him, “finding a long-lost brother. Perhaps we might feel a sense of familiarity with each other. These are all guesses of course and I have no concrete evidence to back this up. But what remains absolute is the fact that I have you.” Minato fully shifted the force of his gaze upon the other, humming a sad, cheerless tone. “If he truly cares for you, then Seta-san will without a doubt turn up, possibly without the assistance of the police if fortune is so kind.”

Idly he returned back to the computer screen, smirking in gratification as he found what he was looking for: a suitable place for relocation. “Seeing as we won’t be staying here for much longer…are you hungry? Thirsty?” Storm-grey eyes passed over questioningly over the white bandage covering Naoto’s wound. “Do your bandages need to be changed?”

It wouldn’t hurt to be hospitable, especially seeing as he carried no ill-will towards her. Souji was whom he would have to be the unmerciful to, expecting the same from the other Wild Card.

After all…I have one of his precious friends…

To say Naoto was faintly disappointed with her situation was an understatement. Had Minato not returned to the room, breaking out of the tape bindings, at least those of which were on her legs, would have been much easier. At last if she’d been able to work her legs loose, she would be able to get the dagger currently hidden against her leg, and with that, free her arms and middle section. Escaping would ultimately prove useless. Despite the fact that she currently had a tracking device planted on her, she had no idea where she was, and running out blindly into a terrain she knew nothing about when it was very likely Minato knew it up and down was foolish.

Frustration was beginning to build in the back of her mind, but the sleuth made it a point not to let that show on her face or in her body posture. There was only so much she could do in this situation regardless. Her arm — her firing arm of all things — was injured and that put her at a disadvantage already. Not to mention she didn’t have a revolver. Her’s had been lost at the shrine, and her spare was with Souji in order to give the silver-haired teen an advantage. Sure, she wasn’t completely sure that he would know what he was doing with the firearm, but at least Minato wasn’t aware of that, and he’d straightened up a decent amount when he’d realised he was at a disadvantage. While Naoto excelled in long-distance combat, Souji was talented with close-range fighting. Hopefully, once her partner arrived, together they’d have enough of an overbearing advantage.

Suddenly pulled from her thoughts, Naoto listened to Minato explain his plan in dull interest. For someone who’d just been shot and acted as shaken as he was, he certainly knew how to hold himself together and put forth an air of confidence. While she couldn’t say she was thankful for this, the sleuth would admit she was impressed. There weren’t many who would be able to stay as collected under pressure as he was; it was admirable in a sense. But now really wasn’t the time to be admiring her captor. She had to stay ahead of the game; she had to be prepared.

The question about food manages to surprise her, and for a moment, Naoto can only stare at Minato in faint disbelief. For someone who was meant to be holding her captive, he had odd waves of chivalry — or maybe there was a gentleman hidden somewhere within his seemingly unstable mind. Before she can form a response, her stomach makes it a point to answer for her and growls audibly, making the sleuth lower her gaze to the floor. Could she trust any food this boy offered her? What good would poisoning her do him? If she was already dead, then that would only work as fuel to set Souji off in the most negative of ways and render Minato’s plan useless. Would he drug it? Put something in there to render her useless? A tranquillizer? It seemed unlikely, but not completely out of the question. She would have to proceed with caution.

“…Admittedly, food and a drink would not at all be unwelcome.” Naoto picked her words carefully, not wanting to lose the ‘privileges’ she’d been offered. Asking for too much might be dangerous. “However, at the moment, I’ve no use of my hands and I’d much rather not risk choking or spilling sustenance upon myself by having another feed me or reading without utensils and only my mouth. As for my arm…” she glanced at it and sighed, feeling it throb in protest. “At the moment, the position it is currently in is doing little to help the injury. Being pulled behind my back is only causing the gash to stretch, which does very little to help stop the bleeding. As you can see, it is already stained red. If we are not able to put it in a position that allows proper sealing, then it is quite likely I will simply continue to bleed out and possibly suffer anaemic effects before your… target is able to arrive.”  

Movement would, admittedly, be nice. It wasn’t as if she could run anywhere, but while she was far used to being stuck in a chair for long periods of time, that didn’t change the fact that the one she currently sitting in was uncomfortable. Being able to walk around and at least have the choice of being able to sit or stand was something that would keep her mind busy. Besides, even if she did know their location, Souji was most likely tracking her at that very moment — leaving the area risked confusing him.

shadowraygun:

There was millions of questions rotating through the Shadow’s mind, each flashing only for a short period of time before another entering her mind. And one by one, each left it’s mark in the form of doubt. They were all questions she had avoided up until now. Questions which left her questioning herself, questions that was coloured dark and marked as terrifying. Questions she can’t answer.

She thought she can deal with them. Stamping them as terrifying, as something unwanted, not needed. Dumped to the very back of her mind and piling up trivial matters to hide it all behind, distracting herself from their existence until she forgot she ever asked those questions.

But evidently, she didn’t forget. Not one bit.

Before she start deciding a course of action, she heard a cry. A familiar call, one that she had grown used to. Her reaction was to look up, only to find herself almost toppling backward as a body all but dived at her. On reflex, she wrapped an arm around the body, stabilizing herself with her other arm against the ground.

“N-Naoto…?”

She looked up at the perfect replica of herself, eyes widen as she took everything in. The stillness of the night, which had caused her all the misery so far, was shattered. She watched closely, watched Naoto lips move but the sound all but inaudible. The way her other self panted, breathing harshly. The movement of her arms, the way her eyes moved. She watched all the motions, unblinking, an irrational fear that if she do, all will return to the same grey stillness.

As the other wrapped her in the black peacoat, she finally remember how to breath. And it took just one inhale to crumble every resolve she has built up to that point.

Without warning, she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Naoto’s waist and buried her against Naoto’s shoulders. The cold sharp feeling that had previously occupied her mind and throat was dissolved by the mere presence of another being.

“You’re here.” She whispered, muttered out as her eyes stung, and at the next inhale of breath, it returned as a sob that rocked her body. “You’re here. You’re here…” She repeated, and her arms refusing to let go.

There is a warmth she don’t quite understand spreading across her chest. Which is baffling, as the questions in her mind, not quite as loud as before, was still sending chills down her back. But that doesn’t matter. Not at this moment.

“I-I…” She tries, and find her throat all but dry. How can she explain herself? What she saw, what happened, and the mysterious mechanic that drove her to dive out of a random portal rather than return where she came from… how can she explain that? “I’m sorry.” She settles for at last, burying her face against Naoto’s collarbone.

“Please don’t go…” She muttered, so quietly, the other may not even hear her. She said it all the same though. “Please stay…please.”

She’s pleading, begging. Some part of her mind that haven’t been caught between the warring emotions told her the irony of her current action. Haven’t she done this before, back in the TV world when Naoto do not and refuse to understand the true nature of her being? Have she made absolutely no progress within all the time she had been out here?

She smiled wryly, sadly, despite tears still gathering at the corner of her eyes. And maybe, just maybe, the smile will hide the feeling of terror that has once again start gnawing at her mind.

“I… what?” Naoto blinked as her expression of concern was quickly replaced with one of confusion. Noir’s disappearance had filled her with a decent amount of fear, which was something she’d never expected to feel when in regards to her Shadow, at least, not like this. Only a few months previous she’d looked upon the other in fear and contempt, the Shadow represented every part of herself she hated after all. Sometimes it was difficult to imagine just how far they’d come, and how dramatically their relationship had changed. If she had been told several months ago that she’d be living with Noir as she was now, she’d have called them daft.

Slowly wrapping her arms around Noir’s shoulders, Naoto stroked the others back in what she hoped was a comforting gesture and listened to the Shadow speak. Her voice was very off, and the fears she was voicing only made Naoto’s worries grow. The sleuth couldn’t begin to imagine what was going on, and her fears that something had occurred in the TV World were only growing with each passing minute. Had she been hurt? Had she run into one of the other Shadows and they’d put bad ideas in her mind? Was she attacked?

“Noir… What happened? I’m… not certain as to what is going on. Where would I go? I’ve no reason to leave nor disappear. Why would I not stay?” Digging through the pockets of the coat she’d slipped over Noir’s shoulders, the young Shirogane produced a navy blue cloth and began using it to dab at her replica’s eyes. The situation had gone from terrifying to utterly confusing in a matter of minutes, and now that she’d finally managed to gain her breath back, the original wanted nothing more than to understand what had upset the other as badly as this.

“What happened while you were in there…? What caused… this?” Naoto gestured vaguely to where they were sitting, taking care to keep one hand on Noir’s shoulders at all times. “You know I wouldn’t simply leave you behind.”

shadowraygun:

The Shadow looked up at her with her dully glowing eyes. They remain unchanged, but it was meant to be disapproving. She made a noise meant to sound unconvinced as she focus on the others arm.

Stitches. The other need stitches, that’s for sure. Reaching into the small box again, Noir start searching for items she would need. The wound isn’t life-threatening, fortunately, but it require closing and quickly. Pulling out more disinfecting gel from the pile, she opened the tub and apply some on the arm, her other still searching for the right material.

Needle, thread and bandages. This is going to be a hasty job, the Shadow can just tell. Focusing as best as she can, the threading through the needle took more tries than she would have liked. Her hands wasn’t as nearly as steady as she had liked, but taking a deep breath, she try to calm her body down. It clanged lightly in response.

“C-lose your eye-s.” She try to sound stern, but it came out broken and slightly hitched. She will have to take care of that later. After Naoto, of course.

Making sure she have everything she need, she took another deep breath, her body made another like thump before settling down. Her robotic eye, while working on at 30-40% of it’s normal functions, is working enough to let her enter a robotic mindset: unflinching, detail-orientated and quickly.

While her hands moved, her mind remaining worrying. The colour of Naoto skin is pale, and suggest a serious blood loss. How was she going to treat that? The only quickly available solution she can think of was to carry the other to a hospital…

Almost immediately Naoto felt dead shoot through her system as she stared at the needle. Part of the sleuth wanted to jerk her arm back and hug the limb to her chest, sufficiently protecting the limb from being touched by the needle. She gulped, nervousness clear on her face as she absently pulled out another bundle of leaves and chewed one nervously. Despite knowing that she required this, it didn’t do anything to help cheer her up.

“It’s just a wound,” she tried to reason, not daring to move her arm back. She trusted the other, she did. But neither of their conditions were particularly good at the moment. Every few seconds her gaze would shift to the needle and something in her stomach would flip uncomfortably. It would be a lie to say the sleuth really, really did not wish to see this happen.

Inhaling sharply, she shut her eyes, wishing and praying that, wherever he was, Souji would hurry it up and appear. At least if he could summon a healing-capable Persona there was a change Noir might be in less pain. “…just be careful,” Naoto murmured, turning her head in the other direction. It was going to hurt — she knew it was going to hurt, yet when she thought about how much agony the Shadow had gone through in the past hour, her will to complain died.

(Source: fortunesrevolver)

rise-chan:

Ah Grandma I’m home!

/It was a pleasant spring afternoon in Inaba and Rise had returned home from school. Kanzeon hummed pleasantly, matching Rise’s mood.

Ah it appears that she is out again.

Read More

One of the most useful perks of being a detective outside the job was perhaps the information network that came with it. Information wasn’t the hardest of things to obtain on an informal level, and there were times in which it came to her when she hadn’t even asked for it. Of course, there were times when the amount of frustration one would build-up from a lack of information could be taxing on ones mental state, but overall, Naoto could easily say she was satisfied with the connections she did have and how quickly she was normally able to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Pipipi, pipipi!

The shrill ring of her mobile pulled Naoto sharply out of the text-driven daze the thickly-bound novel sitting in her lap and cast her into. She blinked slowly, rubbing her eyes as she tried to bring her brain back up to speed with the world outside of her book. Frowning, she reached for the device and tapped the screen, waiting only a moment for the smartphone to activate and flicker into life, showing a new notification which had alerted her to the arrival of a new SMS Message. Tapping the screen a second time, the sleuth waited for the message to open and brought the phone up to a better angle for reading.

TO: Naoto Shirogane FROM: Yakushiji

Naoto-sama, I believe something has come up with Kujikawa-san. I just…

The rest of the message was all but lost to Naoto as she abruptly stood up and began digging through her desk. Her wallet, fortunately, had been in one of the top drawers and several minutes later, the young female had rushed out the front doors of the Shirogane Estate. According to what Yakushiji had told her, a train ticket and already been purchased and was waiting for her at the station, and more information would come shortly as the secretary looked into what could have sent the idol into the emotional spin. Fortunately, it didn’t take very long for a taxi to arrive at the Shirogane Estate, and within the hour, the sleuth was at the train station and waiting for her’s to arrive.

Soon after, Naoto’s ride arrived and she sat in the train with her phone in her lap and eyes glued on the screen, waiting for a message alerting her to where her friend might be. Even if she didn’t get the message in time, there were only so many people in the world who held similar facial structures to Rise, and only one that could claim the name and face of the former idol. As long as she had a picture (most fortunately of which she had several saved in her phone) it was more likely than not that someone had seen her in the city. Iwatodai couldn’t have been that oblivious to people moving around it.

By the time she reached the city, it was already late afternoon and the sky was starting to grow bleak and grey. It didn’t at all give the sleuth hope for her current mission. Tugging her coat more tightly around her slim frame, Naoto stepped out of the station and into the busy city street. People bustled to and from and from their places of business and destinations, pushing the young detective right and left as they passed. As she made her way down the street, a small convenience store caught her eye and she hurried up to it, slipping inside the protective it offered from the weather outside.

Pipipi, pipipi!

———————————

The graveyard, much to Naoto’s distaste, had taken far longer to find than expected. By the time she’d reached the main gate it was already raining steadily and she’d been forced to make use of the small umbrella she’d managed to find in the store she’d occupied a short time ago. The text message from Yakushiji had come faster than expected, but she wouldn’t have been able to come up with a reason to complain. 

Much to Naoto’s relief (though there was little relief that could be felt when in the location she was) it wasn’t difficult to find the person she was looking for. Rise’s hair stood out against the darker colours of the graveyard and attracted the detective’s careful gaze. Walking as quickly and quietly through the various rows as she could, the dark-haired female stopped behind her friend and glanced at the gravestone she was knelt before. Without giving the gesture much thought, she shifted the umbrella forward, covering the former idol instead of herself and waited silently for her presence to be noticed.

deliverygirlaika:

It seemed like the question took Naoto off guard, since it took quite a while for her to answer. Aika wondered, why was that? Did she ask something she shouldn’t have? Did she bring bad memories back to Naoto? The girl thought about many other things, but kept them to herself.

As she heard Naoto’s reply, she looked at her with a caring look for a brief moment, before quickly replying to cover up her look. “I see…” She said, but felt like she had to say something to change the atmosphere, it was… turning a bit bitter.

“I can teach you how to prepare it.” She suggested inmediately.

“I’m sorry?” Naoto blinked, surprise melting onto her features at the question. Her chopsticks froze over the bowl, the piece of meat she’d just grasped fell gracelessly back down. “You… wish to teach me how to prepare it?”

In truth, Naoto had been trying to better cultivate her talents in the kitchen through the very rapid and thorough study of the Good Eats DVD set she’d been given for her birthday. While she was confident enough to be able to make food that was both edible and of decent taste (and not at all deadly or prone to emitting colourful fumes), but to be taught by a chef of Aiya? Tempering, perhaps. The detective was always willing to learn…

“That’s quite alright… I’d hate to distract you from your duties to the diner. Your parents likely wouldn’t take well to that.”

(Source: fortunesrevolver)

fortunesgolfclub:

Souji, in turn, relaxed his grip on Naoto and sat back slightly, nodding along as Naoto spoke. It seemed as though she was clutching at straws slightly, it seemed very unlikely the creature that chased them was a hologram of any sort, creating one of that quality would be incredibly difficult to pull of with any degree of success.

Though, Souji remained quiet on the subject of his thoughts and simply nodded in agreement. Given how shaken Naoto was just a few minutes ago, it seemed kinder to allow her to cling to that hope for now rather than squash it.

“That could be it, we should investigate more and find out.” He spoke before standing up with Naoto and standing to the side of the door. Once Naoto finished speaking Souji nodded before he slowly opened the door, just enough to see into the room. Thankfully, he was not greeted by a face looking back at him, and slowly opened the door further before stepping out into the room.

“It seems it’s gone for now.” Souji spoke quietly looking back at Naoto again. “We should move on before it turns up again.”

Following Souji out into the study they’d taken refuge in, Naoto glanced toward the door and felt relief wash over her as she realised that the door she’d blocked with a chair was still intact. Be it that the monster lost track of them or couldn’t actually make it through the door, she didn’t care. They were safe, at least for now, and that’s all that mattered. For how long that safety would last, however… that could be anywhere from hours to only a few minutes. It was best to make full use of what time they did have.

“It appears this room is much more functional than the rest we’ve come across. For now, let us make use of the time we have and investigate this room for now. Perhaps there is something useful.” With that being said, the sleuth crossed the length of the room and approached a desk she then began searching through.

(Source: fortunesrevolver)

weak-to-fortune:

When Kanji looked up again, his eyes had happened to fall on the shadow form.  The scantily clad copy of him stood there, in the same curled up positioning as him,  staring back.  

This is the perfect opportunity for screwing me over, and yet you’re quiet… Why?

What is ruining your relationship with her going to do for me?  The shadow’s high pitched tone echoed inside of Kanji’s mind. I am not here to simply hinder you… I am here to help you get rid of those fears as much as voice them.  This Naoto has nothing more for us.

The Emperor’s eyes widened with this realization, and he almost didn’t catch what the other had to say to him.  He looked over as if a deer in headlights, and nodded slowly.  ”So that Kanji’s with Rise-chan?” He shrugged. He personally never considered Rise then again, he never considered what happened if he could never be with Naoto in the first place.  He was lucky in that regard.  ”I hope everyone ends up happy.” He nodded, “And I’m fine.. I was just… Thinking. To myself.” He looked back over at the shadow, and sighed softly.

Kanji finally uncurled himself before relaxing on the bench.  ”We need to get you back somehow… I… Never tried to purposefully go out of here but… I saw about four Yosuke-Senpais together at once, and they were actin’ like it was casual… so… hmm.” He laid his chin on his hand.  ”Are you sure you don’t remember anythin’ weird about what happened today?  Maybe if you talk about it you’ll realize somethin’, seeing as I’m not sharp enough to wrap my head around this stuff myself.”

Opening her mouth, Naoto made to protest, then thought better and shut it again. She shifted uncomfortably on the bench, looking between the two Kanji’s before she stood up and walked over to a can on the ground, bending down to scoop it up. Her fingers wrapped around the aluminium tightly, causing the material of the can to crack and whine under her grip. It was something to distract her, something to keeper her mind off the uneasy atmosphere. “They seem happy. Rise-san and the Kanji-kun of my world. It is nice to see the two of them smiling again.”

“As for your question… No, I can’t think of anything of note I might have done to cause this.” Shaking her head slowly, the sleuth turned to the blond male and shifted her shoulder in a gesture of a light shrug. Her posture had gone unnaturally straight again, and she was starting to take on the stance she used when speaking with someone professionally. “In any case, it feels as if I’ve begun to overstay my welcome. I thank you for your willingness to speak with me despite not being the Naoto Shirogane you know. I do not wish to cause you any more discomfort… Perhaps I should figure the rest of this out on my own.”

magician-of-the-wind:

[Yosuke was more than a little surprised by Naoto grabbing him, enough so that he yelped instinctively by the sudden action. And he only became more surprised as he began getting dragged across the lobby towards a room he most certainly should not be entering into.

But, Yosuke was given no time to protest and soon found himself stood within the woman’s restroom. Somewhere he had never expected to enter into. However, he soon found himself distracted from that fact as soon as Naoto spoke and turned to face him.

All Yosuke could do for a while was simply stand and stare at Naoto. The sight before him just about broke the brunette’s heart. He had expected a response something like this if he actually made any progress in getting Naoto to open up to him, but what he hadn’t anticipated was the reaction it caused in him. Seeing Naoto like this, crying and in pain… For some reason he couldn’t place it hurt Yosuke a great deal more than he thought it would to see it.]

Naoto… [Before his mind even had time to process what he was doing, Yosuke had stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Naoto. The suddenness of his actions had surprised even him, all he could do was hope that Naoto didn’t react badly to it…]

There’s nothing wrong with you, Naoto… [The brunette spoke softly] You don’t need to be like Chie or Yukiko. You’re perfect just the way you. And there’s nothing wrong with how you feel either. It’s not childish or foolish to be upset over something like this…

[As soon as she felt the arms around her, Naoto’s body tensed and went completely stiff. For a moment, she forgot to breathe. Everything she’d just done in the bathroom — praise be to whatever deity had kept someone from walking in one it — caught up with her in a rush, making her cheeks burn with shame. How childishly had she acted just then? How utterly ridiculous… And of all the things he could have been doing, Yosuke was  comforting her. He could be laughing, scolding her for acting half her age, or even just walking away. But he hadn’t….]

I apologise… I hadn’t meant to throw a tantrum like this. [Contrary to her current self-insults, the sleuth had yet to pull away from Yosuke’s embrace. Unconsciously, she leaned in closer to the brunette and brought a hand up, using her sleeve to rub stubbornly at her eyes. She felt ridiculous and far more exposed than she’d ever felt around her friends before.] I must look ridiculous to you at the moment. I… I can’t remember the last time I’ve acted so childish.

(Source: fortunesrevolver)