⚠️PART 4 SPOILERS-ISH⚠️

Ever since you were little, you've been best friends with Josuke. He was your first friend when you moved to Morioh. He styled his hair kind of funny, but you got used to it because you know he'd get mad. You care about him—a little more than normal, that you start acting like his caretaker.

"Josuke! What happened to you?" you exclaim as you run to him while he's about to enter his house, blood dripping off of him. "You can't heal yourself, you know! Go inside." you order him.

"Y/N, I can patch myself up." he insists.

"No. Go in." you demand.

You open the door, and Tomoko gasps at the sight.

"What happened?!" she hurries to Josuke.

Josuke waves his hands in front of him. "I'm fine, mom. Just got into a fight."

"Fighting is never the answer." you say, bringing the first aid kit to him.

You help him take his jacket and shirt off, and to be honest, the sight made you a little flustered.

"It is when they're talking about you when you're not there."

You freeze and clear your throat. "You don't need to stand up for me." you clean his wounds with alcohol.

"Ow!! And yes, Y/N, I do. We're best friends!"

You smile and patch him up.

You were hanging out with Josuke at the pond. You spot a turtle and sit next to it.

"Awesome!" you squeal, "It looks like it just woke up from hibernation!"

"Oi, first year!" you hear in the distance. "What's your name?"

The boy responds with, "Koichi Hirose, good morning!"

You sigh. "Josuke, the third years are coming around."

"Ignore them," he replies as he tries to pet the turtle but fails due to fear.

"You're not afraid of getting hurt but you're afraid of turtles," you tease.

You continue to pet the turtle as the third years approach you two.

"Oi!" one of them shouts.

You two ignore them, but things escalate.

"The hell are you two doing, love birds?"

"Who do you think you are?!" Another one scowls.

You and Josuke's faces are as calm as ever. "What am I doing? Well, this turtle just came out of hibernation, so we were watching it. I don't handle turtles really well, so I'm afraid to touch them, and I was thinking I could get over my fear..." Josuke tries touching the turtle again, but fails.

"Well? Stand up you two!!" The leader of the group orders.

"Josuke, don't start a fight." you whisper and nudge him as 3 upperclassmen are trying to intimidate you two.

"I'll think about that, Y/N. We'll see how far it goes. I don't want them hurting you either." he mutters back.

You both stand up as calm as you can.

"Before you start dressing like that, you need to talk to us first!" The upperclassman picks up the turtle and holds it in front of Josuke's face.

"H-hold on, I'm not a fan of reptiles!" Josuke stutters and laughs nervously and you start to worry.

The upperclassman slaps Josuke, "What the hell are you smiling at?!"

You see blood come out of his mouth. "Josuke!!" you glare at the upperclassman and clench your fist. "You..."

"Aww, what's a young woman like you to do about your boyfriend~" they tease, and throw the turtle to the ground, injuring it.

"HEY!!" You shout, "You didn't have to harm the turtle!!"

"What are you gonna do about it?" their bus arrives and they turn back to Josuke.

"Josuke, take off your jacket and give us your wallet." they demand. "Or else we'll have to shave off your Astro Boy hair."

You gasp, and the aura around Josuke is now spiking. "Hey, Senpai. What did you say about my hair?!"

You step in front of him, bowing your head. "Sorry, he didn't mean that. Forgive him."

Josuke pulls you towards him. "Y/N, you're not my mom!! Let me do this!" You frown and step away.

"Y/N, why don't you bow more? It gives us a nice view if yaknow what I mean." one upperclassmen smirks.

You cover your chest. "Incels..."

"What was that?!" Josuke becomes more enraged than ever.

"J-Josuke! Stop!" You shout, but it was too late.

"You're not my mom!!" he repeats.

The upperclassman is on the floor, and his nose is now deformed. They run away and you let out a sigh of relief.

"Sorry Josuke. I didn't mean to be overprotective, it's just that I don't wanna see you hurt b-because you're my... best friend." You pick up the turtle and put it back into the pond after Josuke restores it.

"I'm sorry too, Y/N. I didn't wanna see you hurt because you're protecting me. And you know how I get when someone insults my hair."

You grab his face with your hands and ask him to open his mouth. "No teeth lost, just bleeding. Are you okay?"

"It was just a slap, so yeah, I'm okay. I'd rather get hurt than you," he assures.

"Technically I should be the one getting hurt because then you can just heal me!" you grin, making Josuke grin as well.

"I might have to consider that... on second thought, I kinda like you taking care of me." he offers his arm, and you take it.

"Thought I wasn't your mom." you say.

"Well, like a best friend! Or... girlfriend?" he blushes and looks away from you.

"Josuke Higashikata, are you asking me out?" you ask.

"Well, who else?" he shrugs.

"Maybe..." you smile and he pushes you softly, "Okay, okay, yes."