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So you're sayin' it was more than just feelin' the dude up, that you think you got feelings for Ren?

[Look... this is a tough topic for Ryuji, too, considering light of recent events. He's leaning on his very instinctive way of trying to make Yusuke be as completely detailed as possible since he has trouble understanding him sometimes. He loves Yusuke a lot, of course, but he... just wants to make sure.]

Edited 2018-07-15 14:41 (UTC)

Yes, I do. I am just not certain what those feelings are. I have never felt this way before, about anyone or anything

[pause]

Except this one time when I was taken to the Hiroshige museum in Shizuoka and I began weeping at the sight of such masterful works of art and I was inconsolable for about a week

[another pause]

But this is probably different.

[It's hard to judge what Yusuke's intentions are a lot of the time, but his gut feeling here is that this looks like the inklings of a crush unfolding right out into the open. Which is... well, it's surprising? In a way. He never doubted that Yusuke had the potential to form that sort of human connection, but, still, it's kind of surprising. And a little weird. And mostly? He wants Yusuke to do whatever makes him the happiest. He never got the chance to take him out for that beef bowl.

But it's also Ren.

That's.... sheesh, it's complicated. If he encourages Yusuke to do anything, then would it look... right? For him to do that. Why is all this shit so effin' confusing.

Just support your friends, dude. That's what you're actually good at. Worry about all the other stuff later.]

Yeah, I'm gonna say that the love for art ain't really the same as gettin' butterflies in your stomach for someone

And if it is Ren, then, shit, you couldn't have a better person to have them for, y'know?

Sorry, honestly I'm not that experienced in this stuff that much either. But maybe some advice like "follow your heart" is kinda the best I can give.

It is true that Ren is perhaps the best person I could be having these feelings for. He is, after all, kind and generous and handsome and charismatic and clever and athletic and brave and insightful and

Ahhhhhhhh

Heh

Sounds like you got it bad

But surely everyone has felt this way towards him at some point? That is just the sort of person he is. He draws others to him like moths to a flame... or weary travelers to an oasis.

Have you truly never felt like this before, Ryuji? Towards anyone, not just Ren?

["just", he says, like he's assuming ryuji's in the same boat he is]

He's kinda got a way of breaking himself up into segments that always fit the missing puzzle pieces of all your edges, no matter who you are, so I guess I kinda get that? Like, I dunno, he's a really good person. The best kind of person you could ask for.

But... maybe it's not the same kinda feeling you have. Which is cool, 'cause like. Yeah. He fits everywhere, but you're a different puzzle piece than I am, so my nooks aren't the same, right?

I dunno. You're askin' if I've ever had a crush on someone before? Yeah, of course, dude. It's part of just... living, I guess.

What did you do with it?

[GOD, YUSUKE???]

Huh?

You can just go and ask that of someone??????

Goddamn you're so effin' brave

Well, uh. Nothing, actually.

This is the first time such a thing has ever happened to me, so I want to know what my options are.

["sheltered" may not be the best word to describe yusuke's adolescence, because that implies some level of protection or safety, but he sure was absent for a lot of experiences]

Why not? Did the feelings leave you? Or did you simply learn how to live with yearning?

[a long pause, and then, oh hey]

Was it Ann?

Your options are pretty much a yes or no kinda thing. Yes, you tell him how you feel and you go for it. Riskier? Definitely. If it's no, then you just keep it inside and let it run its course, whatever that'll be

[This conversation is actually

Killing Him Softly.

He's not going to answer the yearning thing, though.]

Ann? Nah, we'd get under each other's skin way too much. I don't really think I could date any of our friends tbh

You're all like... a family of superheroes to me

[is that really it? yusuke wonders, but keeps it to himself. he has some things to mull over.

like that superheroes comment.]

We are all quite exceptional in our own ways, aren't we? That includes you too, by the way.

[He's not really lying to Yusuke, here. He looks up to his phantom friends like they're the ones who saved him.]

Hahaha, me? Yeah, man, I have the best super power of them all, I know what you're talkin' about

Good. We may chide you for your behavior sometimes, but I am glad you realize how important you are to this "superhero family".

[he took it at face value.]

[Thank god.]

The backwards conditions also hold true man. I hope you realize how important you are to me, too

[yusuke smiles at his phone]

I had suspected, but reading it has a different effect entirely. Your candidness suits you, Ryuji.

Huh? I literally suck at lying so what's the point of trying? I mean, you know that right? It's pretty easy to take advantage of that sorta shit lol

NOT THAT YOU WOULD

I mean

I'm just sayin'

What are you saying?

Man, I barely know half the time, cut me some slack

Like, you said candidness was something that looks good on me and I'm sayin' that I'm not that great at hiding shit anyway, so baaaaaaasically you're sayin' I look good all the time.

That's cool

I like it

Let's go with that

It's true that you possess very handsome features, both physical and personal. So if that is the message you take from my texts, that is perfectly fine.

Is that why you were gettin' naked around me

Shit man I'm starting to see it all clearly now

At the pool? No, that was for swimming, obviously.

[wait.]

Did my being nude bother you?

Are you askin' me if your dick floppin' around like a candle in the wind got to me?

Yes, I am.

[were you LOOKING]

[IT WAS HARD TO IGNORE, OKAY?!]

Yeah it was like

Smacking me in the face practically

Leavin' mushroom imprints on both my cheeks

What the hell else was I supposed to look at

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