Chapter Text
Yosuke decided to let Teddie stay with him for the time being.
Until when? Well, he didn't really think about that, but he's sure it’ll be fine. He ended up having to make up some lie to his parents, like how Teddie was a foreign exchange student who didn't have anywhere to go right now.
Which somehow worked, either because they already took a liking to Teddie due to his natural charm, or they really just didn't care. Either way, now Teddie had somewhere to live.
Yosuke opens the door to his room, letting Teddie explore as he looks around in awe. His room wasn't that interesting. Mostly just idol-related items and magazines scattered around on the floor. Along with his own TV, desk, and gaming console, like any other teen would have at his age, along with the mess.
"Whoa~~ Yosuke, your room is sooo cool!! It’s so big!" Teddie exclaims in amazement, walking around and looking up at the multiple posters of J-pop idols. Then, curiously, Teddie bent down and picked up one of the magazines lying around on the floor and started flipping through the pages, eyes widening at the images.
"Wait- Teddie—!" Yosuke quickly snatches it up with a slight blush on his cheeks, flustered, "Maybe not that one.."
Teddie giggles, "Okie-dokie! You’re so silly sometimes, Yosuke he-he," he says as he continues to look through the other ones, sitting on the floor as Yosuke started to wonder if this really was a good idea and if he should've just left Teddie with Yu.
He’s sure the Dojima family would've been more than welcoming to Teddie, considering how close he is already to Nanako and Yu.
Still, he can’t just go back on his word now so guess he'll have to deal with it. Yosuke sighs as he starts setting up Teddie’s futon in his closet, deciding that having Teddie in his closet would be kinda odd but not as odd as having to see Teddie every night while he’s trying to sleep. Plus, privacy for the both of them.
"Alright Teddie." Yosuke huffs as he sets down the blanket, finishing setting up the last of Teddie's futon. Teddie looks back up at him from the floor, spread out, getting up with stars in his eyes at the sight of his own bed "woww Yosuke~!! You’re so cool!" he giggles into his fists.
"now it’s like we're roommates! I’m so excited to wake up with you every day. We'll make breakfast together and everything!" Teddie squeals, suddenly hugging Yosuke tightly, bouncing up and down.
"wha-" Yosuke starts, surprised, not expecting Teddie to be so excited at just his bed. Guess it really wasn't a bad thing to take him in after all; it felt nice having someone be thankful to him.
"Yeah, yeah, i get it.. now get off! You’re hugging too tight!" "Ah- oops! Sorry Yosuke!" Teddie smiled, unwrapping his arms from around Yosuke. "Y’know.. this is kinda the first thing I’ve got to call ‘mine’" Teddie softly confesses with a smile, looking down.
"Jeez, Teddie.." he crosses his arms. "Way to put a damp on the mood.. but hey- I’m glad you have that now at least." Yosuke ruffles his hair as he heads to the door. "gonna make breakfast, okay? Feel free to do-… uh- don't touch my stuff. Got it?" Teddie suddenly stands upright, saluting Yosuke, "Sir yes sir!"
Yosuke scoffs lightheartedly, finally leaving the room as Teddie suddenly starts jumping around the room excitedly, giggling, happy to finally have something special to him, with meaning, something he can share with someone real.
Maybe now, he won’t be so lonely anymore. Now he’ll have a friend to talk with every second of the day as soon as he wakes up. Teddie beamed before turning around, deciding on happily following Yosuke to the kitchen.
"Yosuke!!~~ wait for your favorite bear ever~~!" excitedly running down the stairs.
Yosuke sighs as he hears that from upstairs, wondering if Teddies already gonna be the clingy type.
"Teddie, what are you doing here? You can’t even cook" Yosuke remarks. To which Teddie’s cheeks grow slightly pink.
“I know that, silly! I just wanted to be with you,” he smiles, looking up at him. Yosuke blushes and immediately looks away, continuing to wash the dishes, stuttering. "T-Teddie.. you can’t just say stuff like that!”
“But why? It’s how I really feel, Yosuke” he confesses, hugging Yosuke from the back and closing his eyes, leaning into him.
oh god.. is this what I’m gonna have to live with? It’s nice but.. with Teddie of all people? Yosuke complained. Hating how warm he felt at the action.
Only couples between man and woman were supposed to be in this position, not two males! Jesus, if the rest of the group could see them right now, Yosuke would never hear the end of it. He always thought the first person who would do something like this to him would be his future girlfriend. Not- Teddie! A literal bear from another world that just suddenly turned into some pretty guy!
Not to say he was pretty, but — God, whatever. Somehow, Teddie never fails to drive him insane, whether intentionally or not. All he can say is how glad he is that his parents aren’t home to witness this.
He’d probably be looked at weirdly, even though Teddies the one initiating all this. Thinking about it now, he’s very glad he placed Teddie’s bed in the closet, with how clingy he’s being right now, he’d probably sneak off in the middle of the night into Yosuke’s bed and cuddle him. Well—technically, he could do that anyway…
Yosuke starts, “If you want… I can teach you how to make pancakes tomorrow— y’know, just in case I’m not home and all…" trailing off awkwardly.
Teddie's eyes brighten, "Really?!! Y-Yosuke, you're so beary nice to me.." he says, backing off of Yosuke and pretending to wipe tears from his eyes. "I think I wanna live with you forever!" he beamed, eyes sparkling up at him.
"Dude- cut it out!" Yosuke stammered, Teddie never failing to say something unexpected, leaving Yosuke to short-circuit. Seriously, someone needs to teach him social skills, or at least what’s okay to say and what’s not. Which, by the looks of it, is gonna have to be Yosuke teaching him.
"Can't!" he giggles, heading to sit at the table, playing with the salt and pepper as he waits for Yosuke to finish.
Meanwhile, all Yosuke’s thinking about as he finished cleaning the last plate, moving to get the ingredients, is how he’s supposed to live with Teddie now for god knows how long. Well who knows, maybe it won’t be that bad.
…
"Wow, Yosuke! I can’t believe you're a good cook too!" he squeals, giggling in his fists as Yosuke sets the plate down in front of him, already reaching for the syrup to drown his pancakes in. Yosuke already knew he had a sweet tooth, but man..
Yosuke sits down, resting his head on his hand, staring at a Teddie who’s too busy devouring his pancakes to notice his gaze. Yosuke slightly wonders if things'll be different between them from now on.
A few hours pass with Yosuke relaxing on the couch, lying down with an arm under his head, scrolling through his phone as Teddies napping in his bed, probably charging up to annoy Yosuke once he wakes up. Suddenly, Yosuke phone buzzes, receiving a text from Chie.
Chie: Heyyy!!! Soo me and the others are thinking about heading to Okina City to check out some stores and stuff. Are you and Teddie coming? :P
Yosuke: Yeah sure. Not like I have anything better to do.
Chie: Awesome!! I wouldn’t know what to do if you weren’t coming haha since u have the money and all-
Yosuke: Wait, did you ask me in a “let’s hang out!” way or just a “be my wallet” way???
Chie: C’monnn, I’ll pitch in don’t worry! haha..Hope to see you there!!!
Yosuke sighs, figuring he might as well deal with it. Walking up the stairs to wake up Teddie, knowing how much he loves going out with them and all.
But honestly, these days it’s like Yosuke’s got two leeches sucking up his money instead of one! Chie always uses it in a “teehee~!” way, meanwhile, Teddie shows his big eyes at him, clasping his hands together, slightly pouting and dragging out his words.
Ultimately, Yosuke would feel like a bad guy if he still said no after all that. Especially with the way Rise always finds it cute, saying “don’t be a cheapskate, Yosuke!”
Considering that, he can definitely admit Chie is the least worst of the two. Teddie’s mind tricks are something he rarely wants to deal with. It gets especially bad if Teddie starts sulking just because Yosuke said “no” to buying him a whole-ass cake or something like that. Especially in public.
I mean, c’mon, it just made Yosuke look bad!
Yosuke opens the closet door, revealing Teddie. “Yo, Teddie, c’mon, get up. Chie just texted. Said we’re going to Okina City, and I already know you wouldn't want to miss it.” Teddie stirs in the bed, slowly sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
“Okina City? I haven’t been there before… Is it fun?” he asks, looking up at him.
“Uhh, no clue, honestly haven’t explored it much myself...” he admits, remembering the day he, Yu, and Kanji only really went there to hunt girls in their new scooters. Which didn’t go well for any of them—Yu got in trouble with a taken girl’s boyfriend, Yosuke experienced the trauma of Hanako, and as for Kanji... Well, he didn’t expect much from him, considering he’s... y’know, but still. At least Yosuke managed to get his scooter fixed after all that.
“Well, there’s plenty of stores so yeah, it should be fun? Just c’mon so we’re not late”
“hehe okay Yosuke!~” Teddie smiles brightly at him, making Yosuke immediately turn around, get his jacket, and walk out the room, trying to hopefully distract himself from whatever thoughts or feelings were about to pop up in that moment.
He didn’t really have to wait for Teddie to dress up since he was already in the same clothes as always. Teddie got on the back of Yosuke’s scooter, leaning into Yosuke’s back even tho he didn’t really need to. Which was obviously just an excuse to hug Yosuke for him.
“Yo!! you guys are here!!” Chie frantically waves at them as Yosuke parks the scooter.
“Sensei!!” Teddie shouts, immediately unwrapping his arms from Yosuke, hurrying to bear hug Yu.
“I missed you so beary much!!” he expresses, smiling into Yu’s chest as Yu pats his head. Yosuke raised a brow. “Were they always that close?” he wondered, not used to seeing them like this, or so he thinks.
Rise walks over, parfait in hand, spoon still dangling from her mouth. “Hey, Teddie, that’s way too clingy!” “Hmm?~ but sensei doesn’t mind!” Teddie says happily, now moving to hug Yu’s arm, looking up at him. “Right, sensei?” he asks with a slight pout of his lips. Yu laughs softly, “I don’t, but if you keep holding me like this, it’ll be hard to move..”
Teddie gasps, “Sorry, Sensei!! Then.. I’ll just stick next to you!” he smiles.
Chie groaned, bouncing on her heels. “Okay, enough of the reunion already! I swear, if I don’t get beef in me right now, I’m gonna die!”
The group broke into laughter as they started walking. Yosuke trailed behind, forcing a grin. But somewhere under it, a sharp pang twisted in his chest.
He and Yu had met Teddie at the exact same time. But watching the way Teddie clung to him now, nobody could mistake just who he preferred between the two. It made sense, I mean- who wouldn’t choose him?
“Yosuke?”
Huh?
“Silly Yosuke!” Teddie giggled. Suddenly pulling away from yu, walking over and grabbing Yosuke’s hand, pulling him towards the group. “Come next to me! Why are you back there all alone?”
“Oh… just was thinking.”
The group ends up getting a booth at some random beef place in the wall. The area is tiny but comfortable, almost familiar. Teddie sat between Yu and Yosuke, saying he wanted to be close to his two favorite people ever.
Chie was talking about how some new action movie that came out recently in theaters and how they just had to watch it. Honestly, Yosuke tried listening but his thoughts couldn’t stop drifting to Teddie.
He didn’t know why or when he started to care that much. Considering how Teddie is, he probably doesn’t even mean most things he does in… that way. He’s the same clueless bear as before even if he does look different. it’ll be safer to think of everything he does as just. casual. Nothing more.
Snapping him out of his daze was a piece of meat stuck between a pair of chopsticks, lifted to his face. Coming to find it was Teddie lifting it up for him.
“yosuke~~! open wide!” he sang, smiling up at him, holding a hand under so nothing would fall.
“Wh- what the hell are you doing?!?” Yosuke jumped back in his seat, flinching as Teddie leaned closer.
“Feeding you! since you were so nice to feed me this morning-”
“Yeah! N-not like this! Knock it off already!” Yosuke stammered red in the face, waving his hands frantically, leaning back in the seat as Teddie’s chopsticks crept towards him.
"Hmph..” Teddie backed down and sadly pouting, “Yosuke is so mean..” He sulked, chomping down on the meat he originally offered, a pout still plastered on his face as he looked away from Yosuke.
“Jeez Yosuke, you’re so dramatic” Chie yawned, stretching her arms above her head. “I mean- I wouldn’t refuse!” she proudly stated.
“Yeah we know that already— but what man eats from another man’s chopsticks?? It’s embarrassing..” Yosuke crossed his arms. “I wouldn’t be caught dead doing that!”.
Yukiko giggled behind her hand. “I think it’s cute! It’s sweet how Teddie tries to care for you.”
“Sure..” Yosuke slumped in his seat as the group laughed. Going to reach for a bite of his beef bowl when suddenly pausing, chopsticks halfway to his mouth. “Was- Teddie gonna use the same chopsticks he used… to feed me?” he thought, his cheeks softly blushing at the thought. Quickly stuffing the food in his mouth to shake the unpleasant thought away. Instead going to listen in on whatever the group was chatting about at the moment.
Some time after they’d left the beef place and wandered through a few shops, the sun dipped lower, painting the streets with a warm orange glow. Leading in the group parting separate ways.
With Rise waving them off saying she was hang around the shopping district a little longer. Chie and Yukiko heading off to the movie theatre together as they planned. And Kanji mumbling about how he needed to get back to Tatsumi Textiles to help his mom. Yu, of course, had some work to do. Whatever it was. Leaving for Teddie and Yosuke to head back home.
Once they got back, Yosuke immediately collapsed onto the couch with a heavy sigh, burying his face against a pillow. Closing his eyes for a bit before noticing the unfamiliar silence around the house.
Since he was sure he brought Teddie back home… it shouldn’t be this quiet. He thinks, peeking an eye open just enough to get startled by Teddie who was currently leaning over him, waiting for Yosuke to notice him with a smile. Yosuke jumped back.
“The hell are you doing?!?”
“Oh!” Teddie’s eyes lit up “well, I wanted to tell you something but I didnt know if you would get upset if I woke you up so.. hehe.” Teddie giggled with his arms behind his back.
“yeah..? so? what is it?” Yosuke rubbed his eye, now sitting up on the couch to properly listen.
“I’m really happy you let me move in with you. it means a lot” Teddie confessed softly, with a slight sense of blush on his cheeks, his eyelids lowered and a small smile on his face. “Even if sensei’s my sensei- you’re still really cool, Yosuke!”
He giggled, suddenly bringing his fists up to his mouth to hide his wide cheerful smile innocently.
“And I love you, Yosuke! Goodnight!” he added quickly before rushing upstairs to Yosuke’s room, happily humming as he went.
Yosuke stayed frozen on the couch, his face burning hotter with every second. His heart hammered in his chest, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t possibly twist those words into something purely platonic like he told himself he would.
It was just too sincere. Especially for someone like teddie..
Yosuke fell back onto the couch, hoping to atleast sleep these feelings off. Not ready to go back to his room where Teddie was.