madimpossibledreamer

Main Points: Persona 4 AU
Chapter Summary: Junes is having a big opening, with a very special opening concert...
Word Count: 720
Rating: T
Note: The souji/yosuke tag is for vague references. Mostly includes team interaction, so mild spoilers for who's on the team. The title's probably ironic given that they don't actually know each other's names yet.

They’re discussing TV schedules the next time Souji makes a fool of himself. “I can’t go on Saturday, Senpai,” Rise shakes her head, smiling sweetly. “I’ve got a joint concert. Technically, I’m on break, so I shouldn’t even be doing this, but…” Her smile disappears a little as she shrugs.

“Damn bear! Stop getting Topsicle juice in your shirt!” Kanji’s yelling at the top of his lungs and completely ignoring the conversation. Aiya’s seems a little emptier than normal, but then, it isn’t really that much of a surprise. Tatsumi can be a little intimidating at times.

“Well, what band is it with?” Yukiko asks sweetly. “Is it for the big Junes opening on Monday?” At the stares, she blushes a little. “The customers at the inn won’t stop talking about it.”

“Mama Tatsumi will just do the laundry. It’s not claws-ing any harm, Kanji!” Teddie yells back, leaning further out of his ‘brother’s’ reach.

“It is, though I’m surprised they’re not marketing it as much as usual.” Rise’s wide eyes do, indeed, look surprised. “It’s the official Junes associated band, Arcana Li—why are you staring at me like that, Senpai?”

All eyes turn on Souji. He doesn’t have a cup to drop this time, but he looks as if one of the fish Shadows has smacked him in the face.

“The woman’s too nice…” Kanji mutters into the silence, not having noticed yet, but he does notice when Teddie’s too distracted to slip away again and, in fact, falls sideways out of his chair. “What’s up, Souji-senpai?”

The temptation is too strong, and Souji ends up burying his head in his hands. It’s easy enough to keep his cool normally, but somehow with Arcana Life that doesn’t seem to be an option. It’s even more intriguing now that he’s seen a certain blue room, and if anyone can be said to be living an Arcana Life, it’s him. He’d like to see the Prince again, to tell him that it’s not insanity, or if it is they’re both bound for straightjackets.

“Wooooah, I never thought I’d see that!” Chie sounds a little too excited, but he supposes that he doesn’t show vulnerability often, after all. As he doesn’t move, the tone changes to concerned. “Are you all right?”

“I think he just answered my question.” Rise sounds smug. That’s bad, but there’s probably no way around it.

“What question, Rise-chan?” Yukiko asks, sounding confused.

“The one about his favorite idol, I believe,” Naoto-kun contributes.

It’s slightly quiet. This is his chance to rescue the situation. Souji lifts his head from his hands and opens his mouth to give the affirmative, possibly explain, but a gleeful Risette beats him to it.

“It’s the Priestess, isn’t it? You’ve got a crush on her. That’s why you’ve never even looked at me.”

Souji can’t quite find it in himself to be surprised that the kohai’s actually excited about this. If she can’t flirt with him, teasing is just as good. Or something. That’s just the kind of girl Rise is. And she’ll probably still flirt with him as a kind of teasing, only maybe she won’t get a broken heart when he doesn’t respond.

Eventually, he looks up. “It is someone in the band, yes, but I won’t go any further into it. It’s…a hopeless crush. And a distraction. I want you to promise that this is as far as it goes.”

He’s bracing himself for a lot of arguing, which is why he’s pleasantly surprised when Naoto-kun stands. “I understand your situation. While I do not believe that this is the correct solution, I will honor your request.” He watches the cap bob out the door, a little in a daze.

Yukiko and Chie exchange a glance. “Yeah, you can count on us!” Chie punches the air, to demonstrate her sincerity or something. She means well.

“Well, I can’t bear with this! True love and scoring are—mph!”

Kanji slaps a hand over Teddie’s mouth, looking apologetic. “Sorry, Senpai. Maybe he needs to do a little more work for Ma. Guess I’ll see you later, then?”

Souji’s brain isn’t working enough to do anything other than nod, but luckily Tatsumi-kun doesn’t appear to be unhappy with that response, since he drags the bear out the door.

“Don’t worry, Senpai.” The hand on his arm is, perhaps, a little worrying, as is the chuckle she seems to be holding back. “I get it.”

“…Thanks, Rise,” he eventually says, watching her warily, and in response she puts on her most innocent smile.