As the first light of dawn crept through his window, Josuke groaned, stretching as he sat up. He ran a hand over his face, recalling last night's fiasco the accidental intrusion into Hinata's room, her scream, the barrage of thrown objects, and worst of all, Lily's flash capturing the entire moment. The memory alone made him cringe. Determined to retrieve that picture before it did any damage, he had no idea that Lily's work was already done.
Josuke stepped out of his room, only to be met by Ace leaning casually against the wall, grinning from ear to ear. The look on his face was enough to make Josuke pause.
"Jo-su-ke," Ace greeted, dragging out the syllables with a wicked smirk as he threw an arm over Josuke's shoulder. Josuke blinked, still groggy and confused.
Ace leaned in, his voice dripping with mock admiration. "So… sneaky, sneaky. Last night, huh? You were out like a light, and now I find out you had enough energy for a little… late-night peep."
Josuke's face turned beet red as the realization sank in. He clenched his fists, muttering under his breath, "Lily, you rat."
Ace, sensing his embarrassment, only doubled down. "Come on, don't be shy! Give me the details, man! What color was it? Pink, maybe?" He leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Were the straps lacey? Loose, snug…?"
Josuke was practically steaming from the embarrassment. He shook his head, unable to handle any more of Ace's teasing. "You're impossible," he grumbled, stomping off down the hall as Ace continued to snicker behind him.
The walk to the dining room felt longer than usual, every step weighed down by the anticipation of what awaited him. If Ace knew, it was likely everyone knew. Josuke steeled himself as he pushed open the door to the dining hall, only to be greeted by a strange silence.
Kyle and Lily were huddled together in the corner, chuckling to themselves, barely containing their laughter. Arthur looked over with a raised eyebrow, his expression a mix of curiosity and mild amusement. Maya, on the other hand, was glaring at Josuke with open disdain.
But it was Hinata's reaction that hurt the most. She sat at the far end of the table, her head down, cheeks flushed a deep red. She refused to meet his gaze, and Josuke's heart sank.
"Ah, there he is!" Kyle announced, his tone far too cheerful. "Our brave explorer of… uncharted territories."
Josuke winced, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on him. He hadn't even sat down, and the teasing had already begun.
Lily leaned over, a wicked glint in her eye. "Caught in 4K, huh, Josuke?" she teased, tapping at her camera with a satisfied grin.
Josuke covered his face with both hands, groaning. "I'm never living this down, am I?"
Ace, still snickering, clapped him on the back. "Not a chance, buddy. But look on the bright side now you're a legend around here!"
Finally snapping out of his embarrassment, Josuke glared at Ace. "Like you're one to talk," he shot back.
Ace laughed, a glint of mischief in his eye. "At least I wasn't caught looking at a young girl, buddy. Besides," he added with a wicked grin, "I've only got eyes for Miss maya ." He winked over at Maya, whose face immediately twisted into a cringe as she visibly recoiled.
Arthur's voice cut through, cold and judgmental. "You're just a creep, Josuke. Honestly, sneaking a look at Hinata? She's probably the most innocent person here." Arthur's eyes narrowed, a rare disapproving look directed right at him. "I never expected this kind of behavior from you."
The comment stung, and Josuke opened his mouth to protest, but he knew there was no explaining his way out of this. Hinata, still blushing furiously, looked even more uncomfortable, as if Arthur's words only added to her embarrassment.
Kyle, shaking his head but clearly entertained, added, "Josuke, let's keep things… professional, alright? Next time, maybe check your surroundings first?"
Josuke looked up briefly, catching Maya's glare and Arthur's barely concealed disdain. Even Kyle was shaking his head, though with a hint of humor. Hinata, though, was still staring at her plate, her hands clenched tightly around her fork and knife.
He sighed deeply, realizing just how thoroughly defeated he was. There was no recovering from this, at least not anytime soon.