A/N: This story will contain several vignettes attempting to further delve into Souji and Yukiko's relationship from both points of view. As I played the game, Yukiko seemed to be the most favorable relationship, which inspired me to write this. I plan to keep as true to the game's scenes as possible (so that includes re-using some of the in-game text) while adding in some of my own to flesh out their relationship. Hopefully, it'll give you a sense of playing the game again as well. Reviews are appreciated, and I hope you enjoy!

Warning- chapters will contain spoilers as the story progresses. Please don't read unless you've beaten the game!

"What is it which makes a man and a woman know that they, of all other men and women in the world, belong to each other? Is it no more than chance and meeting? No more than being alive together in the world at the same time? Is it only a curve of the throat, a line of the chin, the way the eyes are set, a way of speaking? Or is it something deeper and stranger, something beyond meeting, something beyond chance and fortune?"

- Robert Nathan, Portrait of Jennie

"I'm home!"

"Welcome back!" a voice called out. "How was your first day of school?" A little girl with pigtails stood up from her seat in front of the television and walked over to greet the older boy who had just entered the room.

"It was fine Nanako, thanks," the gray haired boy replied, setting down his backpack at the bottom of the stairs before striding over with the little girl back to her spot in front of the television.

Truth be told, Souji Seta's first day at school was more than just fine, it was great. In just one day, he had made acquaintances with a few of his classmates, and felt more accepted here in the small countryside town of Inaba than he had ever felt anywhere before. Because of his parents' job, he had to move constantly and he found it difficult to meet people he could really connect with- sometimes he wondered why he even bothered trying when he knew that he only had less than a year before disappearing from their lives just as quickly as he had entered it.

Perhaps for this reason, as well as some others concerning his own reserved personality, Souji had never seriously pursued a romantic relationship. His thoughts lingered on those he had called friends in the past, before eventually settling on the trio he had met today at school.

Yosuke Hanamura. He had also transferred from the city, and he seemed like a nice guy. Souji had felt genuine kindness from him when he first met him, and the feeling had not dissipated after talking with him.

Chie Satonaka. This girl was a bit of an oddity. Souji had to admit she was kind of cute, but what had grabbed his attention most about her wasn't the way she looked, nor was it the seemingly random triad of buttons on her jacket. No- it was the fact that she was holding a pack of something labeled "meat gum", and even more the fact that she was chewing it.

Yukiko Amagi. Daughter of the owners of the town's famous Amagi Inn. She had only introduced herself and conversed with Souji briefly before leaving the classroom, but she intrigued him the most. She was a bit of an enigma; a hint of sadness in her dark eyes belied the words she spoke.

Souji shook his head and tried turning his concentration to the quiz show that Nanako was watching, but to no avail; he found that his thoughts continually drifted to Yukiko. Earlier in the day after school, he had walked through the hallways and explored every nook and cranny of his new school, familiarizing himself with the locations of the offices and classrooms. It was in one of the hallways he passed through that he overheard two girls talking about the "Amagi challenge." From what Souji could understand through the chitchat and giggles, it seemed that Yukiko was quite a popular girl, and it was some kind of competition among guys of the school to work up the courage to ask her out. She had rejected every single one who had come up to her, some of who would even spend days or weeks reciting their pickup lines in front of a mirror. Souji had bore witness firsthand to two brave challengers- the first being an unusual looking boy, the second being none other than Yosuke. Souji had smiled inwardly after both challengers left with dejected looks on their faces- Yukiko Amagi was certainly an interesting girl.

Nanako's eyes lit up and she gave a sudden cheer as Souji gave a twitch of surprise in his seat. A catchy tune had begun playing on the television, and Nanako seemed to be completely absorbed by the commercial.

"Everyday's great at your Junes!" she sang happily, moving her hands and bobbing her head along with the theme song of the local supermarket. As she bounced up and down to the jingle, she looked expectantly at Souji with a huge grin on her face.

Souji smiled back weakly as he felt the terribly catchy lyrics push up his throat and through his reluctant lips.