DISCLAIMER: "Shin Megami Tensei" and "Persona 4" and all associated characters and likenesses are the exclusive property of Atlus. Used here without permission. This is a fictional story made for purely entertainment purposes. Any relation to events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

The question comes from nowhere, jumping from Yousuke's mouth thoughtlessly, as most words tend to do:

“Who's your favorite?”

Souji stops walking, turning his gaze toward Yousuke. “Hmm?” he asks in that steady tone that Yousuke both admires and despises.

Yousuke rolls his eyes. “The girls,” he says irritably, not quite believing that Souji didn't understand the question. The guy is the smartest among them, after all.... Plus, it always feels like he can read Yousuke like a book.

Souji smiles, resumes walking. “Oh,” is all he says.

Yousuke watches him for a moment, then runs to catch up. “Come on, dude,” he says, leaning close conspiratorially. “You can tell me.”

With a witting chuckle, Souji faces forward again. “Why do you ask?”

Yousuke stands straight again to feign disinterest, his fingers knitted behind his head, though that feels wrong, somehow. Because Souji's answer is important. Maybe the most important answer to the most important question Yousuke has asked, since the end of the case.

“Well, you know,” Yousuke mutters. “You're leaving soon, and I...wanna watch your back, is all.” He forces a grin, even though his pulse is pattering so loudly that he almost doesn't hear himself speak. “Make sure nobody muscles in on your favorite girl while you're away.”

Souji doesn't stop, but he does raise his dark grey brows with something like amusement. Yousuke thinks for a moment that that expression isn't quite complete without glasses to peer over, although Souji hardly needs a prop to make him look superior. Finally, he chuckles again. “You don't need to worry about that,” he says, as they come up to the soda machine. “She's strong enough to look after herself.”

Yousuke drops his shoulders, watching Souji buy some sodas, but not watching at the same time. Because Souji's words hit him harder than even that last punch down by the river.

So there is a girl. One girl whom Souji favors above the others – the ones on the team as well as all the girls he's been seen with around town, at club meetings and after-school jobs. Pretty, flirty, shy girls who fawn over him, like everybody does (and here Yousuke has to bite his tongue a little, because he knows he curries for Souji's favor, too; has since that first day when they fell into Mayonaka).

But there's only one girl who matches Souji's description, and that's what makes Yousuke's stomach knot.

“Strong, huh?” Yousuke echoes softly.

There's only one girl among them all who could be called that. The one with the short nose that wrinkles when she laughs, and the warm brown eyes that flash when she's excited, and the bright green jacket that he's learned to pick out at a glance even in the fog, or in the glooming dark, or in the bright beating sun, just to know that she's close, and safe, and all right.

Yousuke briefly considers putting on his headphones and cranking the angry techno playlist that he always queues up when he doesn't want to think. Because, right now, he really doesn't want to think about Souji's words.

Why didn't he say something to Souji before now? Souji's a good guy; he would have understood. Would have understood that there's no way Yousuke has a chance with any girl – not even that one, the one who always pairs up with him in the TV world, who always asks him to pick up her tab at Aiya or Souzai or Junes, who always picks him when she wants to vent her frustrations – to whom Souji offers even the least bit of preference.

His hands are actually on his headphones – he'll tell Souji he has to go to work, which is true, and maybe they can hang out some other time – when, abruptly, he changes his mind.

Souji is not his best friend for no reason. He's smart and compassionate; he listens to everybody's problems without complaint; he's patient when he helps with studies, and conscientious when he helps with work. Yousuke is envious, of course (and Souji knows that, too), but Souji is so friendly and supportive, so faithful, so cool, that any girl whom he chooses as his favorite would have to be damn extraordinary in her own right.

And she is. Friendly and supportive; faithful. Cool.

Just like Souji.

And that's what stops Yousuke from putting on his headphones and sulking away. Because that one girl deserves somebody great, like Souji.

“Well,” Yousuke mutters, kicking at a stone in the street. It doesn't go far, at least not so far as she could make it go; she can send Shadows into orbit with her kicks.... “Just because she's tough, that doesn't mean that, you know, you shouldn't still take care of her. I mean...she'll be sad when you go.” He sucks in a breath, shrugging one shoulder. “So, you know. Just...treat her right. At least while you can.”

There's a long, silent pause between them. Then Souji nods, passing him a Ribbon Citron. “You're right,” he says softly, and smiles. “Maybe you could...do me a favor, and look after her for me?”

Yousuke blinks. Fuck, that's all he needs – stay close to the one girl who can't be his, because Souji chose her first, and Souji makes her happy.

But what can he say...?

Souji shrugs. “Nanako-chan's a capable girl, but she-”

Yousuke suddenly drops his soda. “Wh-? Nanako-chan?!”

Souji nods. “Yeah. She's close to the others, but...I think I'd trust her most with you.” He tilts his head. “Kind of a...surrogate ani.” The irrefutable smile returns. “Some girls are just...extra special, you know?”

Yousuke chuckles, feeling stupid as he stoops to pick up the can from the ground. “Yeah,” he mutters as he rises, and offers Souji an embarrassed smile. “Yeah, I'm starting to get that, myself.”