raspberrylemonaid | Post canon college stuff

Post canon college stuff

It was after everything with Sho that Yosuke decided 100% that he was going to go to school after graduating. Of course he decided this during his third year- but thanks to Yu the year before his grades weren't THAT bad. And, well, having a GOAL made forcing himself into cram classes and studying all night much easier to swallow.

And in the end he did it. By the skin of his teeth, but he did it. Sure it was for general courses... but he was still figuring out what his major was going to be. But he wasn't the only freshman doing so, it wasn't a big deal just yet. He could try a few things and see what stuck.

But there was no decent school anywhere near Inaba (his dad suggested Okina- all he'd need for a simple business degree. Yosuke had managed to weasel out of that at least) so it meant he was going to be living in the dorms. With a roommate. Not that he didn't have experience with that kinda thing after Teddie, but...

Well who knows, maybe his roomie would be cool? Someone he could totally become friends with! He was practically jittering with nerves as he was unpacking, waiting to see what this Tachibana guy was going to be like...

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He nods a little to Yosuke's offer, folding his arms over his chest. Thankfully for Yosuke, Makoto is as far from a Teddie-type person as you can get. He's probably lucky it's him and not Nagisa, or else this would be a different picture entirely.

As Yosuke says that second admission, however, Makoto glances over at him out of the corner of his eye. It's starting to sink in for him as well. Somewhere, far across the ocean, Haru is settling into an apartment with Rin. He'll probably be meeting with a trainer from his school within the week, both of them would. He wonders if he'll be too busy to really talk, at first. And Nagisa and Rei will be busy with the swim team, recruiting new members in preparation for the new season...a whole new team.

He doesn't allow himself to dwell on those thoughts for long, though, his own smile taking on a similar feel.

"This is going to be a whole new experience. A new chapter. It's exciting, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is. Scary as all hell too. But hey, wouldn't have put in the work if it wasn't worth it, right?"

He laughs lightly, as much to convince himself as Makoto... but knowing there was someone else feeling similarly made him feel better. With a nod he turns to his new friend with a grin.

"In fact, I think we should celebrate, Tachibana-kun."

"Celebrate?" he echoes, drawing a hand briefly to his chin. That's an appealing thought, thinking on it...he'd much rather not do anything else today that requires too much heavy lifting, anyway.

"It's probably gotten a bit late by now, but...what should we do?"

"I say we go out. I heaven't been able to actually GO anywhere in Tokyo in YEARS... just showing up here to do paperwork. Though crap, it'd have to be somewhere close. I have my bike but only one helmet."

Yosuke don't even SUGGEST going double on your motorcycle Matoko probably wouldn't fit on it ALONE.

"B-bike?" Oh, god, he didn't mean to say it like that. But that's...a bit of a sudden thing to be asking, though it's less that he wouldn't want to go, and more that he's not sure how well he'd do on a motorcycle of all things. The very rare occasion he had to ride Coach Sasabe's moped for an errand or something was bad enough.

"Well, ah...did you just want to go for a drive, or actually go somewhere specific?" he asks after a moment. If they went to an actual place, maybe they'd be able to find somewhere that would be close enough to just walk to, assuming it isn't dark out already.

"Nowhere in specific. We can just walk. I mean, we're gonna end up eating in the campus store and caff all the time before long, right? Might as well eat nice for a night before we're too busy with classes."

He offered Makoto a loose grin. "My treat."

Just walk. Okay, walking sounds good. Makoto relaxes a little with a slight smile of his own, his brows raised at Yosuke's offer.

"That's very kind of you, Hanamura-kun. I think that sounds like a great idea."

Of course, Makoto will very likely offer to pay for at least some of the meal before all is said and done, but he isn't going to brush off Yosuke's kindness either. They've only known each other for a few hours, but so far he's pleased with how things have gone with his new roommate so far.

"Pssh, don't even worry about it." he flaps a hand at the other young man, playing it off as best as he can. "Just means I can pester you for lunch later."

That said, he looks down at himself. "I should change into something noth covered in dust and sweat first though."

"That seems fair," he agrees, and then nods a little in response to Yosuke's second statement.

"Mm, me too. I need to make a quick phonecall before we leave, but it shouldn't take me long. I...promised that I would call my younger brother and sister once I got here and got unpacked," he explains, his tone fond. He can imagine Ran and Ren both sitting in front of the house phone right now, waiting for it to start ringing so they can fight over who gets to answer and talk to their big brother first.

"Oh, you have kid siblings? Yeah go call them man! I'll get cleaned up while you're gone." He rubs the back of his head, thinking of Yu and Nanako. He had called his parents the moment he stepped foot on campus, himself. But he needed to email the Team before he left anyways, so the chance was nice.

Once Yosuke heads off to get cleaned up and changed, Makoto decides to phone home before doing anything else. He had been texting his mother off and on, but he hadn't had much chance to actually talk on the phone. To his delight, a few texts from friends waited for him as well. Nagisa was one, excitedly telling Makoto about his plans for the new semester. Rei messaged him as well, informing him that he would make sure that all of their plans went accordingly, and that Nagisa kept up with his responsibilities as both a team member and senpai to their potential new members.

As expected, no message from Haru. But Haru never used his phone much anyway...he always got sidetracked so easily by more important things, like water and mackerel. Still, he can't help but tell his friend how he's doing anyway. Maybe he'd get a response later, if he wasn't too busy himself.

He finally gets changed once he gets off the phone with his excited siblings, both demanding that he call again as soon as possible. It tugged at his heartstrings, knowing he'd be away from them for so long. But at least he could come visit during holidays. Coming home on weekends wouldn't be feasible though...not with how far away campus was.

When Yosuke finishes with everything he needed to do, he'll find Makoto seated on the edge of his bottom bunk, cell in one hand before he moves to push it into his pocket.

"Are we ready?"

When Makoto returned Yosuke had already changed into some warmer clothing. His white jacket and a light long sleeved shirt. It was still a little cool once the sun went down after all. Oddly, his headphones were still on, just around his neck again. He was looking in the wall mirror, adjusting his hair and startling when Makoto spoke, giving him a sheepish look before sticking his hands into his pockets.

"I am, yeah." He takes his phone out and pushes a few buttons. "There anything you're in the mood for specifically?"

"Hm...well, it depends on what places are around that we could go to. I'm fine with most anything, myself," Makoto says as he stands up, tugging down the sleeves of his own jacket.

He does try to think for a moment though, just so this doesn't become a case of 'I don't know, where do you want to go?'

"...what are your thoughts on sushi?" he finally supplies. That seems like a pretty commonly enjoyed thing, right...?

His lips purse a little, but he hides it behind his phone. Sushi... well, as long as he ordered his own plate and not a shared platter he should be okay? But if Makoto liked something he couldn't stand to look at...? God he does't want to embarrass himself by having to flee.

"Well, if I can find some place not too expensive... you're not gonna spend 5,000 yen on Uni or Unagi or something, right?" He smirks, joking... but also kinda praying he didn't like anything more exotic like that. The very THOUGHT of Uni on his tongue makes him shudder.

Makoto shakes his head a little, halfway mirroring Yosuke's smile, "Oh no. We don't have to eat very expensive or anything. Like I said, I'm fine with most anything, myself." Unlike Nagisa, Makoto isn't the adventurous type, though he is a bit easier to be dragged into whatever the blonde wanted to try...as such, he's consumed some pretty unusual things before. But even his easy going nature will only allow his palate to be abused so much.

Even if his tastes were expensive, though, there's no way he'd make Yosuke pay for something like that.

"Okay, I think I found a place! It's a Korean BBQ buffet, but it has sushi and the reviews are decent so it probably won't be too gross. Sound okay?"

Korean meant he could just order meat and not come off weird! Hanamura you are a genius.

You did it Yosuke. Now your ~~date~~ friend is none the wiser. Makoto nods as he moves to pull open the door, though he waits for Yosuke to exit before he does.

"That sounds perfect. How far is it from campus?" He doesn't mind a decent walk, wherever it may be. After all, he's got enough exercise under his belt to make most any trek not all that difficult.

"A little over a mile? But hey, that's probably nothing to you, huh Mr. Coach?"

He tucks his phone away once he memorizes the basic directions. Nothing too complicated- almost a straight shot in fact. It had been years since he lived in Tokyo (and honestly as a middle schooler he hadn't been allowed to go this far outside the residential area by himself anyways) but still, it was all pretty familiar, and once they are heading off campus there's a slight air of confidence to his movements.

Edited 2015-12-04 07:50 (UTC)

Makoto is content with letting Yosuke lead the way since he seems to know what he's doing. He's probably more familiar with this area than he is anyway, not to mention he's the one with the directions. So he walks along with him easily, letting his hands hang at his sides. He'd texted Nagisa back quickly before they left, telling him he was going to get dinner with his roommate and would talk later. He'll realize much, much later that that was a terrible move on his part, but...for now, he can just enjoy the crisp evening air.

"Hah...not really, I suppose. Swimming does tend to be more exhausting since you're using your whole body." Makoto can't help but wonder as he says that if there might be a place with a public pool around...and he's pretty sure that if the school had one, he'd have heard about it by now.

"Oh man, I bet. Like, I know HOW to swim but nothing like an actual sport. When I moved out to the country I had to get used to walking everywhere REALLY fast. I probably lost like 3 pounds.

Speaking of- you planning on keeping up with the swimming while you're here? I mean, this isn't a sports school or anything."

It actually takes Makoto a moment to answer as he glances down at the sidewalk for a second or two.

"I...I'm not sure, actually. I really don't want to stop, but with classes I'm not sure how much time I will have. I made time back in high-school, and on occasion we were given special opportunities to practice if we were on the verge of going to prefectures or finals. But otherwise...it might be difficult."

It's hard, knowing he might really have to give it up for a while. But he may not have much choice.

He laces his arms behind his head, looking at the darkening clouds, brow furrowed. "I've never really been in a sport, but I know how fast you can lose a skill if you don't keep up with it constantly."

Fighting again after even just the short time after Yu went home and when he returned for Golden Week proved that pretty fast. He was still as fast as he had always been, but his muscles had ached... and worse, his Persona have reverted back to it's most basic form.

"But I guess having your priorities in order is more important, right? Those who can't do, teach..." He pauses, then winces.

"Wow sorry that came off wrong. I mean, there's no point chasing after the sport side of it if it won't make you as happy. I dunno, I'm just pulling stuff outta my ass here."

"No, that's...actually pretty close to how it is," Makoto says softly, looking back over at Yosuke. "I never really thought I would be swimming professionally one day. Not like Haru and Rin...I swam because I wanted to be with my friends more than anything. And being able to teach...well, my skill won't be going to waste."

Remembering how he was able to help Kisumi's little brother get over his fear of the water is still one of the biggest things that drives Makoto. He made a difference in his life, and he could do it again with others.

"I would love to swim again, but if anything...it would be for the enjoyment of doing it at all."

"'Makoto', 'Rin', 'Haru'... if I didn't know better I'd think this was a shojo manga" He mumbles to himself slightly. But it's only a slight distraction from his new friend's melancholy.

"That might be for the best. I mean, if this is even HALF as stressful as all the cramming to get in, having a hobby could keep you from burning out."

Makoto doesn't hear Yosuke's quip, but if he had he probably wouldn't have disagreed. After all, they all seem to get that a lot.

"Mm, that's true. There might be a public pool somewhere in the city...maybe I'll try to have a look one weekend," he says as they continue on their way, moving to put his hands in his pockets.

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