Chapter 10

Before Naoto knew it, it was New Year's Day. She was surprised when she bumped into Souji-senpai by the river. "Oh, hey, Naoto-kun! Great, you just saved me a bus ride. Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year, senpai," Naoto responded.

"Are you alright? You seem a little bit down," he commented. Naoto sighed.

"I am fine. You know, senpai, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."

"Oh yeah? Go ahead," he insisted.

"When we fought with Namatame, my persona and Kanji's did a combination attack." Souji nodded, and she continued. "I was under the impression that our teammates have only executed combined attacks with people who they are very close to. Why do you think that my persona and Kanji's would work together like that? We have barely even fought together."

Souji tried to hide his smile. It had sort of a sad edge to it, like he regretted not being able to tell her something. "I think that you should probably ask Kanji about that," he said.

"But senpai -"

"No," he cut her off. "This is between the two of you. I can't give you any answers," he said kindly but firmly. Naoto nodded.

"I understand, senpai. I'll let you get back to your New Year's greetings." Souji left with a wave and a smile. Naoto knew he was right, but she wasn't sure how to even bring up the subject with Kanji. It seemed she had a lot to talk to him about, and lacked the courage for any of it.

A few weeks later, once Nanako-chan's health had been officially cleared, and she and Dojima-san were back at home, the team planned a last big outing before Souji-senpai had to move back to the city. Unfortunately for Naoto, they were going on a ski trip, and she had no idea how to ski. By the time they arrived at the lodge, Naoto was having an anxiety attack. "I-I don't think I can do this, I really don't know a thing about skiing," she admitted to the others.

"Don't worry, Naoto-kun! Kanji-kun can teach you!" Rise declared loudly. Naoto looked at her in alarm. "Isn't that right, Kanji-kun?" Rise added with a smile.

"Uhh, yeah, sure. I mean, if you want," he said.

Naoto turned pink. "I wouldn't want to prevent you from having fun, Kanji-kun."

He shrugged. "It's fine. Not a big deal.

"A-Alright, then," she answered shyly.

"Great!" Rise chimed in. "Senpai will be helping me since I'm still a beginner, too!" She clung to Souji's arm possessively.

"Really? Yosuke asked Souji. Souji just shrugged. The teens all got ready and headed to the slopes for their first day of skiing. Naoto was completely terrified, even with Kanji's help. And when she fell over right on top of him, she felt completely mortified. It was rather interesting being that close, though, she thought. After hours of skiing and snowboarding, the group was tired and hungry. They ate in the lodge's restaurant before heading to their private suite. It had a living area with a fireplace, and two large bedrooms. One for the boys, and one for the girls.

After resting for awhile, Hanamura-senpai decided it would be fun for them all to go back out and do some night skiing. Most of the others seemed excited and started getting ready to go. "Come on, Naoto-kun!" Rise exclaimed cheerfully.

"I think I am going to stay here. I'm rather tired after today," she insisted.

"Oh. Well, I guess that makes sense since you're a brand new skier. How about you, Kanji-kun, aren't you going to get ready?"

"Nah," he answered. "I'd rather rest tonight so I won't be tired when we go back out tomorrow." Rise grinned and then ran off to the girls' bedroom to change.

Naoto took a breath before speaking. "You should go… have some fun without me holding you back."

Kanji looked at her, then picked up a magazine and started leafing through it. "Rather stay here if that's ok."

"Oh," she said, brightening slightly. "Sure." She picked up the detective novel she had brought and pretended to read until the others all left for their adventure. Her heart was pounding so hard that she couldn't concentrate on any of the words, anyway. Kanji put down the magazine he had been pretending to be interested in, and sat down beside her on the couch in front of the fire. She set her book aside and turned to face him. "There's… something I've been meaning to talk to you about," she began slowly.

"Yeah? What's that?" he asked, focusing on a loose thread on his sleeve.

"Kanji," she said, and he looked at her. "I.. I like you." He said nothing. Nothing at all. He just kept searching her face. "I-I mean… I like you, like you. Not… not just as a friend."

His face broke out into a huge smile. "Really? I mean, you're sure?" He took her by such surprise that she laughed.

"I am most certainly sure," she said. She felt relief when his smile came back.

"I like you too, Naoto." Wait, what?!

"Y-You do? Since when?"

"The whole time," he admitted quietly. This would certainly explain the combined attack.

"W-Why didn't you say something?" she asked.

"I didn't think you'd like me that way… so I kept it to myself. Senpai knew, but nobody else did. Wait, how long have you liked me?"

"Since… the day I met you," she said with a slight blush. His smile grew so big that it reminded her of how he had looked at the boy with the bunnies, only better. Before Naoto knew what was happening, his arms were around her and they were kissing. "I… would have told you sooner had I known you would react like this." Kanji laughed and kissed her again.

"Hey, Naoto…" he began. "Valentine's Day is coming up in a couple of days."

"Is it?" she asked, snuggling into his side. He was even warmer than the fire.

"Do you want to do something together after school that day?"

"I would like that," she said, sighing with content. Naoto spent a long time with Kanji by the fire, until they heard their friends returning, and ran off to their rooms on opposite sides of the suite.

On Valentine's Day, the team gathered in the senpais' classroom at the end of the school day. The other girls had brought small boxes of chocolates to pass out to their friends. Yosuke-senpai kept whining about only receiving "friendzone" chocolates. He failed to notice that while they were store bought and not homemade, the box Chie handed him was a bit larger than the ones she gave to everyone else. "Hey, I have an idea!" Chie exclaimed, changing her expression from sad to excited. Why don't those of us who don't have a Valentine's date meet up at Junes this afternoon!"

"Oh, that sounds like fun, Chie. I'll come for sure," Yukiko said.

"I'll send Teddie a text and tell him to meet us at the food court!" Yosuke said brightly. Neither Rise nor Souji said anything at all.

"How about you, Kanji-kun?" Chie asked.

"Umm… I have… plans," he said. Chie frowned at him, then turned to Naoto.

"Naoto-kun? Will you come?" she asked.

"I.. can't make it either," Naoto answered. Chie was quiet for a moment before switching gears again.

"I knew it!" she exclaimed.

"You did not know it!" Yosuke shouted back. "You're the only one who didn't know it!"

"That's not true! I at least knew before Yosuke did!" Chie retorted.

"I've known for months! You've known for a second!" he shouted back. Naoto shook her head, laughing at her friends.

After they left school, Naoto and Kanji walked to the river together. They sat next to each other in the gazebo. Naoto slipped a shiny, blue, heart-shaped box from her bag and handed it to him. He opened the lid to find handmade chocolates in the shape of penguins. This made him smile happily. "Thanks."

"I hope they're alright. I've never made chocolates for anyone before."

"They're perfect," he insisted. "I know guys are supposed to wait until White Day to reciprocate, so I hope you don't mind that I brought you a little something, too." Naoto raised an eyebrow. "It's actually been done for awhile. Thought about giving it to you on Christmas Eve, but I lost my nerve and you ran off before I could get it back." He pulled something from his bag and handed it to her. It was the blue and cream scarf she had seen him working on months ago.

"It was for me?" she asked. Kanji nodded. "I love it," she said, holding the soft scarf to her cheek. It still smelled like him. "Thank you," she said, leaning up to kiss his cheek. They spent the rest of the afternoon together, and every afternoon after that. Naoto was so glad that she had finally told Kanji how she felt. She didn't want to miss a moment more with him.