Mystery Food X

[madimpossibledreamer]

Well, uh, hey series that I haven't posted since *checks dates* 2016, how have you been?  Time flies.

Main Points: Persona 4 Playthrough Mild AU
Chapter Summary: Yukiko's still deadly, but she's attempting to be intentional about it in certain aspects of her life and not others.
Word Count: 445
Rating: T
Background Souji/Yosuke.

         “Yosuke-kun? I was wondering if you could help me.” Yosuke glances upward to see a soft-spoken as usual Yukiko holding…not another Mystery Food X!!!
         “Nope! Sorry! I’ve got…Junes. Work. See ya!” He doesn’t think he’s ever packed up so quickly, but even then, he’s not fast enough to escape the clutches of the heiress of the Amagi Inn. The firm hold on his collar reminds him of the terrifying steel he’s seen in her when she’s actually attacking, not healing. Still, though, she’s not the strongest of the group, so if he struggles enough he should be able to get away…
         “I know it’s not lunch from your boyfriend,” Amagi says in her softest, most deadly voice, “…but really, I’ve been working at it! I’ve gotten better. I’ve had Souji-kun as my taste tester.”
         “Oh, man, you tried to poison my partner? That doesn’t make me feel any better.” Maybe he’s whining a little, but any other fate would be preferable.
         “He said it was pretty good and that I’d improved a lot!” It’s unusual for Yukiko to snap, but Yosuke’s pretty sure she just did. And he’s seen her fight. She’s scary.
         “Uh. Have you seen the things he’ll eat from the fridge?” For example, the time they tried to study at the Hanamura residence, and Yosuke’d gone upstairs to get a notebook and returned downstairs to find him eating a moldy carton of strawberries, then acting like spending hours in the restroom as a result of that decision was perfectly normal. That’d been more than a little concerning, but Yosuke still wasn’t sure how to talk to Souji about it.
         Yukiko, startled out of her growing temper, is just staring at him, open-mouthed. “...Guess not.” He can’t believe he’s actually considering this. There is something really wrong with him. “Fine, lay it on me, but if I die you’re the one who has to explain to Souji, so. Just keep that in mind.”
         “I am actually following recipes now,” she sighs, which, uh, yeah, explains a few things. “And getting help from the inn’s cooks.”
         He might as well get this over with, so he grabs a piece of what looks like tempura, and—huh.
         “You weren’t kidding,” he states in surprise. “It’s a little mushy and bland, but given that, y’know, it’s actually edible, you have improved.”
         “I told you!” She’s pretty much glowing with excitement, and...honestly, he’d still be beating himself up about this, which is why he hasn’t touched his guitar in literal years, not that he’s going to bring that up. She’s genuinely happy about this, so he shouldn’t be the cloud of insecurity that rains on her parade.