Trash Squad Day 2: Yusuke Date

[truthstranger]

[This is actually a pretty lucky date assignment, overall, since Shuichi is pretty comfortable around Yusuke and the greenhouse is really a pretty good date location. Relatively. Shuichi has also brought along some rice balls and tea.

He still looks a bit nervous, though.]

Well... it looks like its just the two of us. What should we do?

Comments

[artisticliberty]

Indeed. I did not realize how much more enjoyable certain activities could be with a partner until I met Akira.

[truthstranger]

Ah, did you mostly... work alone, before then?

[artisticliberty]

Yes. I... did not have any friends before that. There were others at Sensei's atelier, but they all left eventually.

[truthstranger]

I see... Akechi-kun was like that too. Ah... though i know that was a more complicated situation.

He's pretty amazing, though. Kurusu-kun, I mean.

[artisticliberty]

He is. He has touched our lives in tremendous ways, and I do not know where I would be now without him.

[truthstranger]

Me too. Ah, that is...

[he tries to figure out what words he wants here]

When we were here before... it was pretty bad for me. Ah, that's an understatement, obviously. I knew I had to continue playing the game, but I wasn't sure how I could possibly do it, after... everything. He... supported me, even when it was at the worst. And he encouraged me to get close to Akechi-kun. To support him, too. So... haha, I suppose I literally don't know where I would be, without him.

[artisticliberty]

[that sounds like akira, alright]

I see... if it helped you, then it is good you and Akechi grew close that way.

[truthstranger]

Mm... spending time with Akechi-kun was... something good, among everything.

[“spending time”]

[artisticliberty]

I wonder what it is like to see him the way you do.

[truthstranger]

...He makes it hard, I know. I think it’s only because... he was in such a vulnerable state, that he was willing to open up to me. I wish he would do it more, but... I think he still thinks that if he does, no one will like him. So he pushes people away himself, so he at least has control.

[artisticliberty]

He seems very insecure to me. I do not know how to approach him sometimes.

[truthstranger]

...Neither do I... I guess.

[frowns.]

Sorry... we had a bit of an argument, earlier. We don’t have to talk about Akechi-kun.

[artisticliberty]

Oh. I am sorry. I do not mind changing the subject.

[truthstranger]

Mm, it just seems a bit rude for me to focus on that during our date.

[artisticliberty]

I would not consider it rude to talk about your feelings, but it is your decision.

[truthstranger]

[he sighs, and sips his tea while he considers]

...He mentioned to me once that Kurusu-kun was the sort of person who cares about everyone, makes friends with everyone... while he was the first person Akechi-kun had who was anything like a friend. So, he couldn't... be everything Akechi-kun wanted him to be for him. That's why Kurusu-kun encouraged me to spend time with him, more or less.

But... I was on the top ten list, and someone I know is here from an alternate reality where I was dating him... and all the rest of my friends too. I think Akechi-kun feels like I'm the same. That I gain other people's affection easily, and eventually I won't be there for him anymore.

I don't... know how to reassure him, though. It's true that he's not the only person I like.

[artisticliberty]

[oh god what is with all this timeline bullshit]

That is... to be fair towards Akechi, that is a highly unlikely scenario to find oneself in. I assume.

[truthstranger]

Y-Yes, well. It's not like I really know how it happened either...!

[artisticliberty]

I am afraid I do not have any answers for you, as I suspect you know him much better than I do. I would have been quite fed up by such childish behavior.

[truthstranger]

You think it's childish...?

[artisticliberty]

Perhaps 'childish' is not the correct word. But jealousy... it may be a natural feeling, but choosing to be insecure and fearful just seems so foolish. He is a detective--surely he has already figured out that there is nothing you can do to completely reassure him. The burden is his own.

[truthstranger]

If anything, he's making it too much his own burden. I don't think he knows how to deal with it.

[artisticliberty]

What would you do, if you were in his situation?

[truthstranger]

...I'm not sure. It's hard to imagine.

[artisticliberty]

Yes, it is. Even I am having difficulty imagining it.