The Enemy Within Part II

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points: Persona 4 Playthrough Mild AU
Chapter Summary: They deal with Chie's problem.
Word Count: 2,573
Rating: K
Note:  ...Relatively spoiler-free, actually.  Aside from who's in the team and stuff.  Naoto's shadow spoilers (brief, but still there).  Souji/Yosuke definitely a thing this chapter, and possibly pre-Chie/Yukiko?  Also, JJBA reference.  So, I guess, maybe kind of spoilers but not any more spoilery than the opening for Battle Tendency?

 

            Naoto listens calmly to his explanation of the whole training on their own thing and then quietly nods.  “I will help, senpai.  The situation is not ideal, but I understand the necessity.”  She’s hard to read, but he’s pretty sure she’s pleased at the thought of getting stronger and helping senpai.

            When they meet by the electronics section, there’s a hint of tension that’s not usually there.  They’ve gone in without Souji enough that’s it’s routine, too, but Chie’s nervousness is enough to set them all on edge.  “Okay, since we’re mostly here to talk to Chie’s shadow, we should probably go to Konishi’s.  Her Shadow probably won’t attack her, but just in case, we don’t want somewhere other Shadows frequent.  And I didn’t ask Yukiko this time.  I thought you’d deal with it better if she wasn’t here to hear this, Chie.”

            She nods, once, but is too tense to actually reply.

            “And, yeah.  We’ve gone in a couple times without Yukiko, but it’s better to play it safe when we don’t have our healer around.”  Just in case, he extra stocked up on healing items.  “Naoto, any questions?”

            “You’re serving as leader, correct?”  Yeah, knowing the chain of command is probably a thing.

            “Yeah, kinda.”  He rubs the back of his neck.  It’s nice knowing he can do things for others, that he can be useful and stuff, but he’s still not completely comfortable in the role of leader.  Second banana, indeed.  Still, he’s more of a lieutenant than anything.  When Souji’s there, there’s no question of who’s in charge.  “If Yukiko’s here, she gives the orders if I get a status effect or something.  But she’s not, so.  And if anything seems off, if it seems just a little too dangerous, we head straight back.”  The fox has joined them every single time, but for a magic fox that understands human language, it stopped being surprising a while ago.

            “I’ve always wondered whether it’s too dangerous wearing headphones in the TV World,” she admits.

            “I don’t have them on that loud, sheesh!”  Chie laughs at his reaction, and he sticks out his tongue before turning back to Naoto and her curiosity.  “I guess music helps put me in the mood?  I pay more attention with them, and it’s not like I can’t hear things.”

            “He thought that the Shadow broke his music player once, and he was super angry but he wasn’t as good at fighting and Sensei put him back in reserve.  He was sulky all the way home!  But then, it started working again!”  Teddie shares proudly, and Yosuke rolls his eyes.

            “Having Ted or Rise also keeping an eye out helps.”  Yosuke shrugs.  “I’d take them off to make you more comfortable, but I’d do worse, so they stay on.”

            Naoto nods.  “Thank you, Yosuke-senpai.”  And they enter the TV.

           

            They reach the Konishi Liquor Store without incident.  It’s a little crowded, fitting everyone in, but eventually the team squeezes in, and the door closes soundlessly.  It, and the odd chill that’s more mental than physical have them on edge, but even Yosuke, who faced his Shadow here, is a little more tense than normal.  On the first indication that Chie’s Shadow has shown up and is going to attack, they’re all supposed to either take a stand and deal with it quickly, or make a run for it.  If they can’t figure it out, running is the first option.

            “What’s supposed to happen now, ‘Leader’?” Chie asks.

            “I told you not to call me that,” Yosuke grumbles, buying time to form a response.  “Uh, well, mine just kind of showed up.”  Naoto starts, but doesn’t ask questions yet.  He’s sure she’ll interrogate him later.  “I didn’t actually have to go looking for him.  And it’s possible that she’ll only show up in the castle, but we’re not going there.”

            “Without Yukiko?  Y-yeah.”  Chie nods, but she’s definitely getting more nervous every minute they’re here.  “U-uh, Tomoe!”

            “Y-y-y-yosuke!  Something’s happening!” Teddie suddenly yells over the connection, and instantly Naoto and Yosuke summon their Personas.  They honestly didn’t need the warning, given the sudden drop in temperature.

           “You can’t even figure out your own feelings alone, can you?”  The Shadow’s sneering.  Chie looks repulsed, and Yosuke remembers something else vital.

            “Remember, Chie, no matter what it says, you can’t deny it.  It’s a part of you.  But that doesn’t mean that what it’s saying is the whole truth, or isn’t exaggerated.”  He’s got his kunai and Susano’o out, just in case, but this is what they came here for.

            “Yeah, that’s right.  You come talk to me and suddenly everything’s better.  You become perfect, like this guy and his relationship with Souji.  You’re not jealous at all.”  Chie’s Shadow comes closer, and Satonaka flinches, but she doesn’t actually step back.

            “I-I.”  It’s hard to say these words, the words that hurt, but Yosuke’s there, silently supporting her.  Yeah, it feels like somehow he skipped years and years, and suddenly he’s mature and out of her reach, and he’s just hanging out with her because of pity.  But no, that’s not the only reason for their friendship, right?  It can’t be.  “…How did Yosuke, of all people, become the guy who’s got it all together?”  She forces her way through.  It’s what she needs, right?  Somehow this’ll lead to a yes or no answer.  “I feel like I’m alone.  Like everyone’s moved on without me, and I’m the one left behind because I’m pathetic.”  That’s what she’d been hinting at the other day, when she’d asked Yosuke about why she wasn’t part of the main team anymore.

            Her Shadow looks shocked that she’s the one saying this, not it.  It doesn’t know how to respond, and that gives her strength.  “Even Yukiko.  She’s getting stronger.  She can fight and protect herself.  And she’s always so busy.  After the castle…”  Her voice breaks, and she starts at the encouraging hand on her shoulder.  It’s a Souji thing to do, but it’s Yosuke staring at her with an affectionate smile, silently supporting her.  He’s my best friend.  And I didn’t even notice.  The thought gives her strength.  “After the castle, we got closer.  But then that stopped.  She’s…she’s so distant now.  I don’t know if I love her, or if I just want to be close to someone.  I want to be important to someone.  I see Souji and Yosuke, and they’re always so happy.  But I was…”  This is awful.  Will Yosuke step away?  “I was happy when they were fighting.  When Yosuke was being an idiot.  Because I could be superior.  I could kick Yosuke for being an idiot and help them be a better couple, but now they’re happy and…and I’m useless.  I don’t have a role anymore.”  Yosuke doesn't flinch, doesn't even move.  He just stands there, an anchor in the storm.  How could he hear these things and still accept her for who she is?

            The Shadow looks like its heart is breaking.  “Yukiko’s amazing,” it replies softly, and who knew her Shadow could actually be soft and gentle?  “She’s so beautiful, perfectly feminine.  Everyone loves her, but I see a side of her that not many other people see.  Like her laughing.  I was mad at her, when she did that in front of everyone.  I wanted to keep that to myself.  I was selfish.  No, I am selfish.” 

            “I want to support her, but…she wants to leave Inaba.  And then she’ll be gone.  I won’t see her.  I could talk to her on the phone or email her, but there wouldn’t be sleepovers or anything.  I’d be alone again.”  She feels a sudden connection to her Shadow.  Yes, this is a part of me.

            “If I date her, then maybe she has a reason to stay,” it continues.  It’s not quite an answer, but it’s all the answer she needs.  She can figure out the rest on her own, and it’s like there’s a sudden weight off her shoulders.

            Which is good, because the next moment they hear a frantic communication from Teddie, which gets cut off.  “Y-yosuke, Sensei—”

            The door bursts open, and suddenly there’s a very angry Souji standing inside the door, sword held at the ready, Trumpeter hanging over his head like an omen of doom.  For someone whose face is normally unexpressive, he’s practically a raging thundercloud, and suddenly the choice of Izanagi for his Persona makes sense.  He takes in the scene, and he’s a little confused, especially since Chie’s Shadow is fading back into Tomoe without a fight, but he’s still furious.

            Suddenly Chie is glad that she’s not the one dating him, because while facing Souji’s wrath in general is kind of terrifying, at least there’s nothing to worry about on a romantic front too.

            “Out!” he practically barks, and for the first time Chie also sees the resemblance to Dojima-san.  None of them argue, following their Leader out.  Teddie looks ready to cry, but Yosuke pats him reassuringly to show there’s no hard feelings.

            If Yosuke can change that much that quickly, then surely she can do the same, right?  She quickly wipes off the cheerful smile before Seta-kun can see that and yell more, though.

            They head to the food court.  The girl from the drama club smiles and starts heading in their direction before taking in the general scene.  Wisely, she decides to slip off instead.

            Chie kind of wishes she could join her, but she’s kind of riding on the high of actually dealing with her Shadow that she’s probably not as scared as she should be.

            Souji is still glowering furiously.  For once, Yosuke doesn’t sit right next to him, instead sitting across from him.  Naoto and Teddie sit further away on the side facing Souji, but Chie sits right next to Yosuke.  If he’s being brave, so can she.

            “What were you thinking?”  It’s quieter, more menacing.

            Yosuke crosses his arms, but he doesn’t look like he’s about to apologize, either.  “It was my idea, so if you want to yell at someone, you can yell at me.  I just kind of strongarmed them into it.”

            Chie gives Yosuke an incredulous glance.  He’s taking the brunt of the blame.  That’s not something he would’ve done even three months ago.

            “That’s not true!” she protests, and to her shock she’s not the only one speaking.  Teddie is flapping his arms, distressed, and muttering something none of them can make out, and even Naoto-kun, who’d they only just involved, is defending Yosuke more loudly and passionately than she would’ve guessed from the detective.

            Their leader is at a loss, not having expected any of that.  Eventually, he bites out, “You didn’t answer the question, Yosuke.”

            “We’ve never gone in alone.  Usually, we have Yukiko with us, but since she couldn’t make it this time,” thanks Yosuke, “…we didn’t even go to the castle.  The fox always follows to help, and we stock up on items.”

            “I wondered why the machines weren’t restocked,” Souji mutters, before glaring again.  “That’s really dangerous, Yosuke.  What if you got yourselves killed?”

            “We’re always really careful and don’t push ourselves at all.”  How is Yosuke managing to deal with a Souji this furious?  But then, he has support.  Friendship that matters.  “And I’d hope you’d have more faith in people who have your back every single time we come in as a group.”

            “And that was Chie’s Shadow I saw, right?  Why did it come out?  What on Earth possessed you to do this?” Souji’s disappointment, Chie decides, hurts the most.

            “She needed to talk to it.  It’s no big deal, I did it too.  If anything looked like it was starting to go wrong, we would’ve gone back to the entrance as quickly as a Goho-M could take us.”  From the look on Yosuke’s face, he hadn’t planned on mentioning the talking to his Shadow thing to his boyfriend.  Ever.

            “Y-you what?!” Souji yelled.  They were beginning to draw stares, but one glare from the usually calm grey-haired student quickly scattered the crowds.  “Y-Yosuke, you…why?  What possessed you?  What would happen if—”  The voice breaks, and suddenly all the anger drains from their leader, and he looks broken.  It’s just wrong.  “Wh-what would happen if it decided to kill you?  Or if another Shadow just got through and…If I lost you?  Any of you?  I-I can’t…”

            Souji’s crying.  Instantly Yosuke’s on his feet and around the table, hugging Souji in a display of affection that Chie hadn’t counted on seeing in public any time this century.  Their leader is bawling into Yosuke’s shirt, but it doesn’t look like the brunet even minds.  “I’m not Caesar, Souji.  I’m really careful, and I’m not alone.”  It’s a reference Chie doesn’t get, but by the fact that the sobbing gets louder, Seta-kun does.

            “You have many responsibilities, Senpai.  We’re just trying to ease your burden,” Naoto adds quietly.

            “Anything to help Sensei!” Teddie chimes in, unable to bear just sitting on the sidelines.

            “I-is that why none of you talk to me anymore?” he sniffs.  Chie’s brain stops.  Wait, none of them talk to him?  She’s pretty sure that’s not true.  They talk before class all the time, and sometimes during class depending on the teacher…

            Yosuke freezes, then starts chuckling.  “You totally weren’t taking that the way we meant it, were you?”  He forces Souji to look at him, and the loving look in his eyes makes Chie uncomfortable, like this is a moment meant for only the two of them.  “We’ve noticed that when we ask you to hang out with us after school, you look like we’re kicking kittens or something.”  The look that passes over Souji’s face definitely looks that sad, and Chie giggles.  Even Naoto looks amused.  “And I’ve noticed that you wander around the entire town before you decide what to do for the afternoon, and since we’re only standing out in the hallway if we have nothing better to do, I figured you’d know we were available to hang out if you could find us like that.  So there’s less pressure and you can figure out your schedule without any guilt.”

            Souji manages a watery smile.  He looks awful.  “We’ll discuss this later.”

            “I expected nothing else.”  Yosuke nods and takes Souji’s hand.  He stands up and then glances at Chie again.  “You’re okay, right?”

            Warmth spreads through her.  Yosuke definitely cares.  He’s her friend.  And if it’s not the most perfect friendship in the world, well, they can work on it.  “Yeah, thanks to you.”

            He glances at Teddie, who responds with a “Bearrrific!” and sparkles, and at Naoto, who nods politely.  “Thank you, Yosuke-senpai, but I am all right.  We certainly have more to discuss at a later date.”

            He doesn’t look like he’s looking forward to that, but responds with a, “Yeah, sure.  Take care of yourself, all right?” anyway.

            And when he walks to the elevator, teary boyfriend in tow, he doesn’t try to hide their entwined hands, step confident.  Maybe her Shadow was right, and teasing Yosuke about his disgustingly sweet romance was a way to hide her jealousy, but it was also kind of cute, too.  When she finds herself worrying about Yosuke and hoping she didn’t just mess his relationship up completely with her insecurity, she smiles.  It’s a step in the right direction.