Hello, everyone, I'm back and with something a tad bit different this time around. Yes, this little number is a Ryuji/Ann piece, perhaps my first take at doing a "side pairing", though I love them together as much as I love Akira with Kawakami and Takemi respectively. It's really a repeat of Yosuke Chie in that I think they make a cute couple thus I've decided to tip a toe into writing them as such. First up, this is post-game so they'll obviously have a few things to talk about, and some feelings to sort out. See for yourselves!
I do not own anything.
Chapter 1-What Are We Now?
"Are you sure you don't want to take a jacket? According to the forecast it's supposed to rain and the last thing I'd want is for you to catch a cold. Remember, this is the sort of weather where you can catch a cold if you're out at the wrong time."
Upon meeting him, it wasn't strange to form a…certain first impression of Ryuji Sakamoto. Most of the time, the conclusion one came to was right, but it only scratched the surface of who he was. Sure, he had his rougher edges, but he also had a kinder side. That could be chalked up to the petite woman standing before him, her face one of worry as he attempted to talk away her doubts. Generally speaking, most people would have had a tough time connecting the dots between him and his mother.
Were his hair not dyed yellow, it would have been the same sable black as hers'. Though he wished he hadn't inherited his father's spikes, Ayana Sakamoto always told her son that his spikes were cute and would one day attract pretty girls. For a while, he believed that, but then he stopped caring, especially after he decided to dye his hair blond. Though she'd put up some protest, she'd eventually come to accept his choice, especially after learning of a certain…reason for his decision. Ryuji was grateful his mother never brought up such reasons, at least in public anyway.
"Well, if you're going to go running, would you mind doing your dear old mother a little errand?" She offered with the light smile she knew he loved so much. As usual, it was impossible for him to resist. "Great! Now listen, you know how I told you I received a few personal requests to wash certain items? Well, they're all done and I'd like it if you could personally deliver them to their owners. Don't worry, there's nothing in there that'll give you cuties."
Ryuji practically stumbled back into the wall at his mother's teasing tone and her wink. "M-M-Mom! Come on, really!? You had me at you needed me to do something, now you've got me second-guessing doing this!"
"Hm, even if it means a bump-up in your allowance?" Leered the shorter Sakamoto. "Last I checked, there was this new-"
"I'll do it! I'll do it! You don't need to bait me or pressure me with anything!" Cried the former track star racking his hands through his hair in mock irritation. On the inside, a part of him took a mental photo of his mother's giggling face and filed it away. There once was a time when he never thought he'd see his mother in a such a jovial mood; to see such a thing seemed no more than a distant dream. Still, it was a dream he'd steadily worked towards making a reality. He wasn't quite sure if he'd succeeded; personally, he felt time had simply done a better job at healing the scars his father had left than he ever could.
"Great! I'll go get the clothes! Oh, and take a jacket when you go out! The sky's looking pretty nasty so best be careful!"
Even if it did rain, it wasn't like it was going to be the first time he was caught in the open when the bottom fell out. One day that had been hammered well into Ryuji's mind was the fact that he lived in one of the biggest, most heavily developed cities in the world. There was always a place to duck in and take over when the weather turned nasty. Most of the time anyway, and if said place's owners didn't have a problem with it. Whenever forced into a situation such as that Ryuji tried to look as placid as possible since he wasn't like his teammates, barring Akira perhaps. Even now, some said he still walked with an air of trouble around him that warred people off. But thankfully, not everyone.
Ryuji looked to the sky the first minute he stepped out of the door, a bag slung over his left shoulder. The clouds were growing thicker and grayer with each passing second furthering his mother's words. He could practically taste the rain in the air while he bathed in the rays of the summer sun. From clear and sunny to dark and stormy, quite a change, but one he'd grown accustomed to. Ryuji glanced down at the blue and gray-colored bag that hung at his left side hip. Common sense told him to deliver the clothes first and foremost before he could start his run. The last thing he wanted was getting pulled over and someone questioning him on why he had a bunch of freshly cleaned and folded clothes in his back. Never mind that there wasn't anything too incriminating in them, it was just the stigma of it all. A stigma he'd grown too used to.
Somehow, he believed he'd grown better at carrying the stigma, and even taking steps to wash it away. There was no mistake it was at its strongest whenever he was at the school, where his past reputation weighed heavily. In the outside world though, the vibrant, bustling world he was now walking through, he seemed just another person at first glance. The fact that he was a former Phantom Thief most likely flew completely the heads of onlookers and those he interacted with.
A thin smile tugged at his lips at the thought. Though their fame had begun to fade, Ryuji always enjoyed looking back on the memories, both the good and the bad ones. Rising up into his chest was a warm feeling at the thought of all the mishaps and achievements they'd made. As he passed by several billboards overlooking the street, he looked up to them with an ever-blooming smile. Almost the entirety of the Tokyo police turning the city upside down and he and his teammates, his friends, were going on with their daily lives right under their noses.
And somehow, he and all his friends had gotten away with it. Mostly.
Now all that is over, at least…for now. The thought surprised him, in both the fact that he actually conceived it and how he voiced it in his head. Ryuji knew anticipation when he heard it, it was practically written in his DNA. Before him, the street light turned green giving him and those around him the ago ahead to walk forward. He waited, an uncharacteristic act. For now…am I seriously hoping all that hell in the Metaverse starts back up again? Am I SERIOUSLY hoping for that? Suddenly, his mouth tasted like sandpaper and an uncomfortable tremor shook his gut. What was he saying? Sure, roaming the Metaverse alongside his friends had started out as fun, but after Okumura's Palace things had become…well, Ryuji could say without a doubt he wasn't ever going to forget the series of events from October onward. Even as old age took him, he would hang onto the memories of the events that followed.
The good, the bad, and everything in-between.
Seriously though, do I…do I really wanna relive all of that? Whispered the dyed blond, his gaze directed down at the ground. Slowly, his gaze drifted skyward. The sun was still out, shining bright and castings its warm rays across Tokyo. Right about now, we'd be risking our lives fighting some shitty demon sitting on a toilet or something. Instead of that I'm…here…at the very least I don't have to worry about getting killed or something. Not to mention I don't have to worry about Ann or the others getting… At the thought of his pig-tailed friend, Ryuji's mind came to a sudden and screeching halt. All previous thoughts were wiped away as he pictured the natural-blonde girl who'd he grown unexpectedly close to over the last year. Closer than he'd ever thought possible really.
"I wonder what she's doing right about now. Probably at a photoshoot or something." In other words, something he couldn't begin to wrap his head around. Oddly, it was just her he focused on as his mind turned to thoughts a photoshoot. For most guys, guys like him, rather than one girl multiple girls might have came to mind. The sort that guys spent time fantasizing about, often in…less savory ways. Ryuji wasn't as proud or hypocritical as to omit himself from such groupings. It was just lately one girl in particular had been the focus of his thoughts. He'd seen Ann in a bikini before; needless to say, it was a sight he wasn't going to be forgetting any time soon, nor did he ever want the memory to fade.
Scratch, he didn't want his relationship with her to fade.
"Maybe when I get the chance to I should-uh?" Immediately, his right hand went to his cheek where he felt the drop of moisture touch his skin. Another quickly followed, and then a third and then a fourth. As if for the first time, Ryuji looked up to the sky and saw that the sun had gradually been obscured by a blanket of black and gray clouds. He couldn't help but groan in annoyance. "Seriously? This early? Huh? What the-?" It finally dawned on him that none of the people he was standing with were the same he'd been waiting with a moment ago, or what he thought was a moment ago. Quickly, he pulled out his phone and checked the time. "For real?" Groaned the teen again in annoyance. He'd left his home at twelve-thirty, it was now one-twenty. His home was less than three blocks from his current location meaning he'd been standing in the same spot for almost twenty minutes. Most of that time being spent thinking about his past and his future, and what roll a certain girl might be playing in it.
Bustling with a mixture of annoyance and anxiety, Ryuji waited for the light to change, again. As soon as his eyes spotted the go ahead light he nearly took off in a speed walk that would have caught a few eyes if everyone had not already been preoccupied. All around him people were either pulling out umbrellas or pulling up their hoodies. He would do the same as soon as he caught a moment to himself. And clear his head while he was at it.
She's got better things to do then listen to you yap and complain about how much you miss being a Phantom Thief. Forget about and focus on the fact that…oh, F it! I can still run in this weather! I've done it before, I can do it again! Mentally snapped the teenager. His mind was racing as two demands struggled for dominance in his mind; or maybe it would have been more accurate to say that there was one demand that the logical side of him was trying to shoot down. As his feet stopped through puddle after puddle, he his mind gradually drifted to Ann. Having spent more time than either were willing to admit apart, he'd gotten to see her in a lot of different lights, physically and mentally.
"You…you asshole! Do you have any idea how worried we were?! We thought we lost you too!"
Perhaps proving some old proverbs, a boom of thunder sounded overhead causing Ryuji to wince. Hearing those words hadn't hurt as much the first time when Ann had spoken them in person. In the following days and nights as the full weight of his stunt sunk in, things began to change. Watching the girls cry had hurt, but Ann in specifically had rattled something in him.
Seconds after his raincoat was pulled on and his hoodie pulled up Ryuji heard another boom of thunder. He looked up to the blackened sky with a somber expression. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I'll apologize starting with Ann. You don't have to beat it into my head." At the moment, Ryuji was somewhat grateful he could no longer hear his Personas. Captain Kidd would have likely had a snide remark about making a "lady" like Ann cry, and then some. As for his Ultimate Persona…well, as wise-cracking as his initial Persona was, Ryuji could safely say that Seiten Taisei was worse. He'd pestered Ryuji nonstop to the point he could clearly remember spending an entire night feeling bad about it.
And all that wasn't even counting Akira, who merely gave him aside glances and little "pushes" every now and then. It was annoying.
But what made it really annoying was the acceptance that they all had been right.
"Alright, I'll admit it, you were right. It was sort of stupid for us to have a photoshoot on a day like today. There, you happy?"
Ann couldn't help but flash the gray-haired photographer a smirk. While she wasn't quite sure how many, she definitely knew she'd won most of the little arguments they had. Atsuji knew it too based on the near defeated look on his face.
"I am, but I'm willing to admit that it was a nice way to spend the first half of the day. Besides, I'm sure you got a kick out of it. You love summer, don't you?"
There was a light blush on the older boy's face that he didn't even try to hide. It was relatively useless as he'd learned that the quarter-white model had a keen eye. And one hell of a sharp tongue to go with it. Truthfully, it was one of the things that had drawn Atsuji to Ann in the first place. He respected those qualities of hers; once she'd realized that they'd been able to cross the boundary into a friendship that both were pleased with.
"While that's true, we're only in the early part of it. See, what I really would love are the swimsuit shots." Chuckled the nineteen-year-old with a light shrug of his shoulders. "Unfortunately, that can't happen when the weather's like this. Not that I'm against the rain. Some people can look quite photogenic in the rain. Like you for instance!"
Ann accepted his compliment with a roll of her eyes. "Yes, thank you, not like I haven't figured that out myself."
"Hey, I'm trying to be kind here, not offensive or rude. You seriously look good in the rain. In fact, I'm pretty sure you getting caught in the rain would look like a scene out of a movie or something. Just look out there." He motioned to the dark and dreary world outside of the subway car. While some might have called the sight a bit depressing, people like Atsuji looked at it in a different way. Ann liked to think it was part of being a photographer or something; Yusuke often expressed similar tastes. "The lonely maiden journeying through the rain-soaked city unsure of where she's going and just taking a moment to stop and bask in her thoughts. It'd make for a killer movie poster and draw-in!"
Again, Ann rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Uh-huh. For this hypothetical poster, would the 'maiden' in question be wearing extremely skimpy clothing? The kind that gets soaked easily making it see-through?"
Atsuji looked at her with a shameless grin. Respectable as he may be, Ann still remembered that he was a bit of a pervert. While an overall nice and admittedly friendly person, he was still a self-admitted pervert. Just one that she could tolerate most of the time. "Well, I did say it'd be a big draw? The scene could also be pretty iconic. Not to mention it'd make for a nice lead-up to the part where the romantic male lead arrives on the scene and swoops her up in his arms, telling her that she isn't as alone in the world as she thinks."
"You know, there are times I think you'd be better off as a writer or director instead of photographer." Sniped the blonde-haired girl.
"We are all artists working to create our own special brand of art, so you're probably not that far off." Rather her words were a compliment or an insult didn't seem to faze him. One other thing she had to give Atsuji credit for was his ability to shrug off most of what came his way, and help others in doing the same. It was yet another little talent of his that had landed him an internship as a photographer on their sets. While perfectly capable of doing so herself, he'd helped her through a rough patch or two. "You ever thought about meeting that perfect guy in a situation like that?"
"No, because I don't think like my life is a TV show or a movie." If her luck held, Atsuji would never know the…irony that laced Ann's statement. Also perhaps the slight melancholy. Less than six months ago, her life had been like something out of a TV show or a movie, except it had all been real. Oh so painfully and horrifically real at certain points. Ann couldn't deny that it had been like an adventure; she'd seen what a real adventure had been like though, it was full of good and bad. Things she'd never forget. "If I ever meet the right guy…well, who knows when that'll happen. Maybe it won't ever happen. It's not like it's something I'll be broken up about. I don't need a man in my life to be happy."
The older male's bright green eyes fell upon her, a lax smile on his face. Once, that would have set Ann on edge, made her eager to move as far away as possible from him. Now…things were a tad different. Though a bit lecherous at times, Ann knew that Atsuji respected her personhood and boundaries. That, and she had a gut feeling that while he didn't see her in a romantic light, he did see her as someone he could confine in. Assumptions like that led to moments like this, the two of them taking the train together to a common location in the aftermath of a photoshoot, simply talking like normal coworkers. Idealistic as it may have sounded, a part of Ann wanted to believe her future held more moments like this in store for her. It was something she believed was worth hoping for.
In spite of the rain, life went on, which was perfectly natural for a city like Tokyo. One could argue that the rain seemingly brought out something different in everyone. For Ann, she liked the rain well enough. Raining met no outdoor photoshoots which meant she had some free time to herself. She was willing to spend it with Atsuji down in Akihabara. The otaku-centered district was always at its brightest whenever the outside world had darkened. Originally, Ann didn't spend much time there, but since joining the Phantom Thieves, she'd found herself making a trip or two there.
Ann was still a teenager, and she still had some parts of her youth that she could enjoy. And she had people who she could enjoy it with.
Bright in her face were the colorful lights of the district, and loud in her ears was the massive cacophony of voices going about their daily business.
"So, what is it you're looking for this time?" Ann began.
"You know, you don't have to come with me, unless there's something on your mind. Come on, you can tell me." Coolly shot back the photographer with a sly grin. "Is it a guy? It's a guy, isn't it?"
"Okay, now I'm thinking about leaving." Quickly fired back the high-school student with a scowl. "Seriously, is that all your mind is wired for?"
"Hey, I'm just trying to get to know you a bit better. Of all the possible girls that are on set, you're probably the most interesting one. You're pretty much a rising star and you have a head you keep firmly attached to your shoulders; guys can be attracted to all of that for the right and wrong reasons." Stopping dead in his tracks, he turned to look at her, completely ignoring the dozens of people bustling about around them. For the first time, Ann felt her body tense. "You have the look of someone who's either met the right guy and never confessed to him, or thinks she's met him but is too scared to confess your feelings."
His words were like bullets that hit her in the most sensitive spot imaginable. "H-H-Hey! W-Where the hell did that come from?! I thought I told you not to profile me!"
Atsuji shrugged, keeping a light smile on his face. She hated it, partially because it reminded her of Akira's, especially when he was "analyzing" her feelings on certain topics. Or certain people. "It's just a thought! I'm just saying, I've been around the block and I've learned how to pick up a thing or two about people! All of that is just my little opinion, no need to claw my head off!"
That's exactly what Ann was thinking about doing. Persona or not, she was still a force to be reckoned with. She absolutely refused to believe her "inner fire" was gone along with her Persona abilities. Panther was just a mask; it was the person behind it all that made it count for something.
Of course, she was still a teenage girl whose feelings could be rattled leaving her flustered. She remained in that flustered state all the way into a comics shop that she spotted Atsuji going into. Absent minded, she followed him in; she grabbed the first mildly interesting thing that caught her eye and thought no more about it.
Until she heard a familiar voice.
"Hey! I was, wait a second!"
Ann blinked once, then twice. "R-Ryuji? You're soaked!"
The dyed blond teen rolled his eyes. How typical of her to jump to that upon seeing him. Then again, he couldn't really deny the truth of her words. Unlike her, who'd managed to mostly stay out of the rain and dry off a bit, he'd bore the brunt of it. A natural conclusion of him deciding at least try to make a few of his deliveries in spite of the weather. For a reward, he'd gotten rather soaked.
"So, um…did the shoot get canceled or what?" He finally spoke seemingly having already moved on.
"Yeah, pretty much. I-"
"Yoh! Been a while since I've seen you, Ryu…Ryu…Ryoma?" Chirped a second male voice that Ryuji failed to recognized, but irked him none the less.
Quickly, the former runner swerved his eyes to Ann's left. From a single glance, he could tell the newcomer was college-age, perhaps a year or two older than him. He had hair the color of gray concrete which clashed with his green eyes, both of which cackled with amusement as he looked between him and Ann. For her part, the latter looked annoyed more than anything.
"It's actually-"
"Ryuji, Ryuji, Atsuji. He works as a photographer on set from time to time. You two should get along together. You've got a few things in common."
By reflex, the former strongman felt his nerves fire up. "Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Ah, so this is how she is around people she actually likes! Don't worry, Ryuji, she's just being a bit snappy because you were there to see her this time." Atsuji explained. In seconds, Ann's piercing gaze was leveled at him; all he did was laugh it off.
"I was not!" Exploded the pig-tailed girl. "Geez, now I'm really starting to regret this!"
"Yeah, and so am I, though I have a perfect idea of how I can make it up to you." Grinned the green-eyed photographer. "I'll leave you and your friend alone for the rest of the day! I've actually got some video editing I have to do so I really shouldn't be buzzing around a place like this anyway."
"Then why'd you come down here?" Snapped Ann with an angry knot slowly forming on her head.
"Hm, good question. I'll just have to explain all of this to my professor when he asks why I turned in a shady piece of work! Later, Ann, Ryuji!" Atsuji cheered waving at the pair as he headed for the exit. Seconds before he left the shop his umbrella was popped open and he was gone into the outside crowd.
Ryuji opened his mouth to speak, but Ann beat him to the punch. "Sometimes, that guy can be really, really annoying. Perverted and annoying." There was a beat before she turned to him, a light blush tugging on her cheeks. "S-S-Sorry! Sorry!"
"About wha-ahh…" Though he got more than his share of flake for being hard-headed, there were times Ryuji could be…rather sharp. This was one of those times, and one of those times he was able to keep a bottleneck on his emotions. "Hey, it's no problem. I've…I've gotten used to it."
"But you shouldn't have. You're better than that." There was a pregnant pause as she glanced at the door Atsuji had previously passed through. "Alright, and so's he. Yeah, he can be a bit perverted and wise-cracking, but Atsuji's one of the good ones."
Finally, the former track star smiled. In turn, Ann grinned herself.
There wasn't much more to be said after that, or rather, neither Ryuji nor Ann felt like anymore needed to be said. At least no in regards to their current situation. Together, they made their way through the store, commenting and critiquing on the other's choice of reading material when the opportunity arose. A little jousting match they always engaged in when they were in their own little bubble, in other words, whenever it was just the two of them. At times, Akira and Mona joined in.
Following a short talk, the arcade became their next stop. It was a decision that they came to with only a few short words, light smiles tugging on their lips. Ann stood in the doorway; her umbrella held out waiting for him. Ryuji briefly stopped, his heart beat slowing to crawl before picking back up again. On sheer impulse, he reached out and took hold of the umbrella, practically jerking it out of Ann's hand. The act caught Ann off guard, but it didn't anger her like he thought it would. As he held up the light red umbrella, Ryuji could have sworn that he caught Ann smiling as she stepped out first, protected from the rain.
"Um are you sure you don't want to wait this out at the café?" It was extremely rare for Ann's voice to sound…timid almost. Normally, Ryuji would have pounced on such a thing, but not in this case.
He could definitely understand how she was feeling-nervous as hell. Almost a whole hour spent playing arcade games for their own amusement more than anything. For the two of them, it was a sweet moment of relief that ended as soon as they grew ready to exit the arcade only to find the rain was still pouring. That's how they ended up broaching the topic of where to wait it out.
It went without saying that almost every high-school age, and college-age, male knew of Akihabara's famous, or infamous, maid café. As for the female students….well, Ann knew a handful of girls that actually worked at them. Some she was friendly with, and others she was decidedly on more hostile terms. When it came to the issue of the café in which, Ann made it clear that nothing short of the death would make her consider working at the place. Or even visiting it. That was the past though.
Ryuji glanced at his former teammate, his now most unlikely friend. "N-N-No, I-I mean there are plenty of other places for us to go!"
"I'm talking places that are within walking distance so we won't get soaked down to the bone." Explained the female blonde. "Ryuji, I'm serious. If you want to have a bite to eat there, then let's get going."
The male looked long and hard into Ann's eyes, slowly accepting the truth of her words. If they went to the maid café Ryuji could already see things playing out in his head. An uncomfortable rumble shook his gut. "I got a place where we can go. Follow me!" As he did with her umbrella, he took her head out of sheer impulse and began guiding her, their bags lightly tapping against their hips and backs.
Have his hands always been this warm? Thought the quarter-white girl as she allowed herself to be moved through the crowd at the behest of the dyed-haired delinquent ahead of her. In a way, Ryuji was like her lantern, a role that had served her and their former teammates well. Right alongside Akira. You're always taking up the front, smashing anything that gets in our way. She couldn't remember if she'd ever told him to his face how happy she was at that assertiveness. Or that she found it somewhat attractive. Ann definitely made sure Ryuji never found that part out, or anyone else for that matter. Granted, she was sure that Akira had been onto it during their time as Phantom Thieves. As much as she liked their glasses-wearing friend and leader, he was sometimes a bit too sharp for her liking. Ironically, it made him a perfect counterbalance to Ryuji.
"-you, right?"
"H-Huh? What was it you were saying?" Ann asked seemingly drawn out of her thoughts. She had to focus a bit to hear him over the pattering rain and growing thunder.
"That Atsuji guy," Perhaps it was due to her closeness to him, she could detect what sounded an awful lot like doubt and unease in his voice. "He…um…he hasn't been…harassing you, has he? I mean, you said he was one of the good ones so…"
Instinctively, she gave his hand a squeeze. "Hey, if I were having trouble, I could handle it, but I'd still let you know if there was. Don't worry though, things have been going alright. Thanks for asking me though. It…It means a lot."
Ryuji was happy that his face was directed forward, it helped hide his blush. "I-I-It's nothing, j-just helping out a friend."
"And thanks for that too."
He finally came to a sudden stop, nearly causing Ann to trip over her own feet. She couldn't blame him for being surprised, though she did take a bit of joy in seeing it. "Thanks for being a friend that considerate, it means a lot."
Within seconds, Ryuji was ready to open his mouth and speak again, but he couldn't find the willpower to move the words out. Knowing he couldn't trust his voice, he turned around and began to lightly pull Ann along with him through the streets.
Ann's blue eyes moved from building to building trying to pick out which one Ryuji was focusing on. She was given a definite answer when he came to a sudden stop before a circular-shaped building with an owl-shaped sign. Her eyes narrowed at the store's name, "Owl Reading", a three-story building that seemed a bit more…upscale compared to the rest of the stores and eat-ins that dotted Akiharabara's blocks. In fact, the closer they got the more Ann thought a place like this belonged in Jinbocho.
Not that she was complaining upon stepping inside and being blasted with a light gale of warm air. Next came the sweet aromas that were too numerous to count.
"Akechi showed me this place. Me and Akira hung out with him here during November."
Ann could have sworn she felt her heart stop beating then start back up again. She turned to look at him and slightly caught her breath.
Just as seeing her shy was a rare sight, so too was seeing Ryuji being downtrodden. Sadly, Ann had seen him in such a state before. Several times, namely after he'd been kicked off the track team thanks to Kamoshida's machinations.
Catching her glance, he turned to her with his usual upbeat smile. "Come on, the best seats are on the second flower. I'll show you."
And show her he did, which by itself Ann was somewhat taken aback by. A nice seat by the window with a nice view of the street down below, and the stormy sky to her right. All of it screamed of consideration and kindness, two things that most people didn't associate with Ryuji Sakamoto. But Ann knew him better than most people. Sure, he was loud and brash, but he had one of the kindest hearts Ann had ever seen. Maybe a bit too kind considering all he'd been through.
Over sandwiches and flatbread pizza they talked and watched the summer storm work its way across the city.
After several quick glances she was hoping he didn't catch Ann finally found the courage to speak. "You still think about him, don't you?"
"…Do you think it's stupid of me to keep thinking about a guy who framed us for murder, tried to kill us, then pretty much sacrificed himself trying to save us?" He spoke with an air of sorrow in his voice. Again, it was rare to see Ryuji in a state like this. "I don't know what I hate more, Akechi, the fact that Shido killed his own son, or the fact that I…I…"
Sucking in a deep breath, the up incoming model reached out across the table to grasp his hand. "He made you think of your own father, didn't you?"
Briefly, he tensed under the feel of her touch, then he began to relax a little. As he shifted through past memories it dawned on Ryuji that Ann was the only person besides his mother who could make him feel this way. He wasn't sure how to feel about it. "When we were fighting him, when he was using Loki, I looked into his eyes and…Ann, I saw myself when he was trying to run me through. I saw myself when my dad started beating my mom. I saw myself when Kamoshida pushed him too far. I saw…I…I saw what I could have became if I didn't stop. I was scared shitless…but I…I…making the two of them pay for what they did to my mother. That much…I could understand where Akechi was coming from."
"So can I." He looked at up her, surprise coloring his face. Unable to help herself, she gave him a sad smile. "Remember when we you guys rescued me from Kamoshida? How much I wanted to kill him? If I had…I don't think I would have been able to come back." Outside, there was a flash of lightning followed by the beat of thunder. It seemed to echo the own solitary beating of her heart, and his. "If you guys hadn't been there…I probably would have and never would have been able to come back. So…thanks for that too."
"Hey, I wanted to kill him too. After everything he'd done…I'd…" Ryuji sighed and hung his head. "I guess I should just be happy that he's going away and never coming out, like Shido and all the others. It's just the-"
"Damage is done and never really heals, does it?" He knew she was talking about Shiho. Last he heard, she was making progress, albeit coming back to Shujin was looking less and less likely. Ryuji could hardly blame her for not wanting to come back, even if some of the teachers were trying to turn things around. "I…to be honest, I owe a lot to you guys. You, Akira, Mona, and all the others. Without any of you, I never would have been able to walk out of my house with my head held high. I think that's the biggest take away from our time as…you know what."
Right about now, most people would have expected Ryuji to absent-mindedly open his mouth and start talking. Most likely in a rather loud voice. That, or laugh at Ann's naked sentimentality. "Heh, here I was kind of thinking the same thing. How much I owe you guys for putting up with me."
Ann giggled. "It wasn't easy at times, but, Ryuji, we wouldn't trade you for the world. I probably wouldn't trade you for the world."
"W-W-What?!"
Her giggling became full-blown laughter as the dyed-haired teen nearly jumped out of his seat. It seemed the sky was laughing at him as well based on the continuous booms of thunder in the background. "H-Hey, d-d-don't go s-springing stuff like that on me! I-It's not like you!"
"What, so you're saying I can't be a little sentimental when I want to be?" Fired back the natural blonde. "I have feelings too ya' know!"
"I-I know that! B-B-But you talking about them m-makes me think I should come out with them too! I-It's not easy for me, alright!"
An eyebrow was raised, and a heartbeat kicked up. "Your feelings?"
"Seriously? You can have emotional feelings but I can't? Didn't I just spend the last couple of minutes airing my soul and all that?" She ignored his sarcasm and straightened up. A part of Ryuji wished she hadn't. It just furthered the bubbling desire to come clean, which he'd spent at least an hour trying to fight. "Do you…um…do you like ever…do you ever miss it?" Somewhat comically, he leaned in close, perhaps a bit closer than Ann would have liked. "Being a Phantom Thief I mean."
He's learned how to whisper, I guess small miracles do happened. She mused as he leaned back in his seat and waited for her to answer. Ann didn't blame him for looking a bit…fidgety as he did so. "At times, yeah, I do, but then I think about while we can't do all the cool and dangerous things we did before, we can take what we learned. Or at least…that's what I try to do."
At first, Ann was a tad bit scared her words weren't what he was hoping for. Seeing his light smile, her fears were just a bit relieved. "You know, this morning when I was out of the house, I…kinda thought about how cool it would be if the whole Metaverse suddenly came back and we got to go back to being Phan-I-I mean doing you know what."
Ann nodded, "Alright, I can't argue with you there. Be hones with me though, would it be because of the excitement or because you wanted to see me in my outfit?"
"Er, can't it be both?" She watched him silently brace for either a tongue lashing or a physical blow. When neither came he decided to continue. "I'm…kinda glad you got used to your outfit. You looked great in it."
It wasn't the first time he'd complimented her Phantom Thief outfit, but it was the first time she'd openly accepted the compliment. "You think I look good in red, don't you?"
Just like before at the streetlight, Ryuji felt like his mouth had sandpaper in it. Getting a single word out became next to impossible. Knowing what his odds were, Ryuji gave up and hung his head in defeat, which caused Ann's laughter to deepen.
"S-S-Seriously though, what…what do you think of me?"
Raising his head, Ryuji was somewhat taken back to see her sudden transformation. Ann had gone from laughing and confident to looking as unsure and standoffish as she did in middle school. It was painful to see. "Has someone been talking about you? That what's-her-name?"
She smiled at his sudden protectiveness. "It's more like a personal thing. Even…even people like me can get a bit down every now and then. You haven't come to any of my photoshoots lately."
Ryuji felt an uncomfortable chill settle around him. "I thought you…I mean…Akira's one thing, but a guy like me-"
"You're both my friends! Dammit, Ryuji, you're my friend! Hell, you were practically one of the first people I was able to reach out to! All the way back in middle school when you…" She trailed off, fear and shock catching up to her. In a flash, she was back int that school white and blue school uniform. Compared to all the other students, she stood out like a sore thumb. And then Ryuji came along and suddenly, she wasn't the only blonde. Well, she knew he'd dyed his hair every now and then. Once or twice, she remembered catching his eye, and she remembered him blushing while trying to look away. Ann doubted that Ryuji remembered it thought. A lot of had happened since then. "Any time you want to come to my photoshoots I'll…I'm…you better not ogle any of the other girls, alright!"
"You're going on like I-I-I-I mean give me some credit! I'm better than that! Besides, it's not like any of those girls you're around would really notice a guy like me." Damn, that was one hell of a quick save. Mentally sighed the dyed blond.
That's because none of them know you the way that I do. And odds are, none of them would take the time to get to know you. Most of the models that Ann worked with would immediately write Ryuji off, some of them quite cruelly. The thought made Ann burn with a bit of anger, yet she felt a small spark of relief. She didn't like the thought of other women looking at Ryuji, less so since most of them would have seen him as a means to an end. It wasn't right for him, he deserved better. He deserved-
"Hey, look at that! You can almost see a rainbow!" Shouted the former track star jumping out of his seat.
Ann jerked her head to her left. Outside, the rain had stopped and the clouds had gradually begun to part, at least for the moment. The sun's warm lights were breaking through the previous gloom and casting golden light across the city. As Ryuji had so remarked, one could make out a rainbow or two across the sky. Without a doubt, the result of the gloom of the rain and the light of the sun mixing together to create something amazing. She watched Ryuji marvel at the multi-colored streaks like a child, a warm smile blossoming along her face.
He's thunder and I'm fire. Sure, I may not be the sun…but the two of us…
Ryuji looked to her with a wide smile that quickly faltered. "Huh? What is it? Do I have crumbs on my face or something?"
"Yeah, but that's not what I'm smiling at." Giggled the natural blonde. "Hey, you still have some clothes to deliver, right? Would you mind if I helped out?"
An immediate blush exploded across his cheeks. F-For real?! I-I mean d-don't you have things to do right now? I-I-I mean d-d-don't y-you have better things to do t-than deliver laundry?!"
"Last I checked, what I choose to do with my time is my business!" Fired back the olive-skinned beauty. "I want to spend it with a good friend of mine, so what's wrong with that?"
In trying to deny the frantic beating of his heart, Ryuji let his feelings show in the brimming smile on his face. Ann didn't seem to mind seeing it. "Alright then, let's get going!"
"After desert." Winked the former whip-user.
"Say what?" Blinked the former runner.
Ann gave a near feral smile. "What? I just listened to you air your heart out, comforted you, and made the decision to spend the rest of the day with you so I figure I'm entitled to a treat or two."
Ryuji opened and shut his mouth several times before once more hanging his head in sullen acceptance of where things were going. "Fine, I know better than to try to win against you at times like this."
"See, that's something else you've learned! That it's best to treat a lady as kindly as possible." Ann added in a haughty voice. "Now then, what about you?"
"Huh?" He repeated.
Ann playfully rolled her eyes. "We're here, so we might as well enjoy ourselves with a good meal, right?"
The smile that she'd secretly come to treasure returned as he sat back down in his seat. "Definitely."
Though the sun was out, the two teenagers had already been enveloped in a warm blanket of their own. It was one that they'd each unknowingly placed upon the other. In a way, it'd always been there, protecting one another through the highs and lows they went through. Neither of them seemed to notice it on their own, but when in the presence of each other they each seemed to respond to it. Never was there an effort to pull it off, only tighten it even further. As they walked out of the café, umbrellas folded up and hoodies pulled back the respective blankets surrounding them tightened.
Unknown to either of the former Phantom Thieves, a lone observer had secretly been watching their exchange, and their blossoming relationship. A thin smirk tugged at her lips before it was dropped seeing the duo stand up. Quietly, she watched them dup their trays then move toward the escalator then the exit.
"Huh, so he was right. There is something between those two." Mused the brunette putting down the romance novel she'd only half been engaged in. It seemed she was watching a real thing play out right before her eyes.
As usual, continue onto part two for the conclusion…and then some.
