Disclaimer: Persona 5 is a preexisting property, developed by P-Studio and published by Atlus, Atlus USA, and Deep Silver. I only intend to add my own little piece to the existing world, and seek no monetary gain or to claim the characters, world and setting as my own. I only wish to write, and have others enjoy Persona 5 as I have.
Additional: I've named my protagonist Ryuga Toshiki, and did so before I knew Ryuji existed. Sorry for confusion, but I'm sticking to the course and will be using this name in all my Persona 5 works. Thank you
Persona 5: Give your heart:
Inokashira Park, a quiet slice of serenity in Tokyo's otherwise endless hustle and bustle. It held quite a significant place in the heart of Ryuga Toshiki, leader of The Phantom Thieves of Hearts. Ann Takamaki introduced him to it when she began her training, Yuuki Mishima successfully changed his own heart there, and Yusuke Kitagawa and he went boating in its tranquil pond, just to name a few of his precious memories. Time and time again, Ryuga found himself returning there. He found it fitting to come here once more, in one last moment of peace, to enact his plans and profess his wishes.
"I know she's stopping by the crepes shop." Ryuga thought to himself as he stared out on the rippling water's surface. "But why is she taking so long?" He ruffled his hair, and chuckled to himself.
"I wonder if she's still picking which ones to get…no, we agreed on the big double chocolate ones."
He sat on a nearby bench, and pulled his phone from his pocket. No messages were there to greet him, so he decided to text Ann himself.
"Ryuga!" a blissfully familiar voice called out. "I'm so sorry! I hope you weren't waiting too long!"
Ryuga quickly slid his phone back into his pocket, and smiled warmly at Ann as she ran over to him.
"It's alright, Ann." He said as he took her into his arms and held her gently, carefully avoiding mushing the pair of crepes she eagerly held under one arm. Her head nestled into his shoulder; she fit perfectly in place. "What kept you, Ann?" he asked while placing a hand on the back of Ann's head. She did not answer, opting instead to nuzzle further into him. They both sighed contentedly.
Finally the pair dragged themselves to one of the park benches and sat silently, immersed in nature's song. Water gently splashed and trickled as ducks and boats paddled through it. A humble whistling breeze swirled through the trees and bushes, carrying with it a fiery tableau of leaves freed from their branches. The Sun cascaded several luminous rays through partitions in the wispy clouds. Ryuga felt a great relief that the stars had aligned so perfectly. He also wondered if Yusuke would have lost himself in a canvas were he there. He chuckled to himself when he remembered that Yusuke was always lost in a canvas.
"I'm really glad you invited me out today." Ann said, with her head still at home on Ryuga's shoulder. "It's been so long since we could just…stop and breathe, y'know?"
Ryuga grunted in affirmation, running his fingers through one of her pigtails.
"I've missed you," He said, "I'm glad you're here."
"Oh you…" said Ann, not even trying to hide her giddiness. She planted a long kiss on Ryuga's cheek, and then produced a crepe for him.
"Come on, let's eat! Let's eat!" She said with beaming eyes and a wide open smile. He accepted it happily, and sunk his teeth into the crepe. The soft pastry and creamy, gooey chocolate melted into his mouth and overcame his senses. The aroma, taste, and smell of the crepe were indescribable, and he wondered if that was how Ann felt at the Wilton Hotel buffet. He turned to ask her, only to discover her staring at her untouched crepe. Her eyes had lost their lustre.
"Ann…?" he asked, setting his food aside. He was met with no response, prompting him to place a hand gently on hers. "Hey," he cooed, "talk to me."
"I ran into Makoto on the way to the crepe shop." She said. Ryuga cocked his head in confusion. "We talked a lot, went over the plan some more and…" she paused for a painfully long time. Every outstretched moment of silence filled Ryuga with dread.
"Ryuga…" she resumed in a hushed voice, "…Can we do this?"
"Do what?"
"…Trick Akechi-kun…"she was struggling to form every single word. "Ryuga…do you really think we can fool him?"
Ryuga swallowed with effort, and gripped Ann's hand a fraction tighter. She stared up at him, conjuring memories of when she bared her soul to him in regards to Kamoshida. His heart fluttered wildly, and spurred him to action. He gently guided Ann into him, and embraced her tightly.
"Ann, I'm sorry," he said, "I know this is risky, but we can do it." Ann sniffled loudly, burying her head into Ryuga's chest; his heartbeat skyrocketed as she drew closer. "We know Akechi's plan, and we have the means to out-play him. Everyone has been perfect, and I know that together, we'll win. We've done harder things." There was no response beyond further sobbing. Ryuga felt his heart being wrenched and torn asunder. "It'll be alright, Ann-"
"You don't know that!" She yelled with a slightly muffled voice. "Anything could go wrong, Ryuga! Nijima-san may not believe you! You could…y-you could…" Ryuga felt his shirt growing damp as Ann's breathing became frantic. He kissed her forehead and held her tighter.
"I won't fail, Ann." He spoke with confidence, as a leader and as a lover.
"How can…" Ann spoke, sniffling as she looked up at Ryuga. "How can you be so sure?" Ryuga lifted her face towards him with his finger, and gazed into her eyes with his unfaltering conviction. "Because you're counting on me coming back." He couldn't help but smile when her cheeks turned scarlet and her eyes widened. "You and I, we need each other. I won't let anyone take me away from you. You were the first person I saw when I was coming to Shujin, the first person…" The wind danced through Ryuga's frizzy locks, and Ann's bushy pigtails. Slowly, he watched as light returned to Ann's gaze. And when she smiled, only then could he continue to speak. "…The first person to smile at me. I wanted to see you again, to know you. You were meant to become a Phantom Thief, Ann, because you stole my heart with one look."
Ann couldn't have stopped her wild giggling, even if she wanted to. "That's so cheesy, even for you!" she spoke, still unable to contain herself. The contagion spread to him shortly, and the two received many looks from passers-by. Neither of them had a care in the world. Finally recomposing themselves after many minutes passed, the lovers shared a tender kiss in the last flickering tongues of the sunset. The dying light trailed through the branches, and gave what remaining warmth it had to the pair. He was running out of time; it was now or never.
"The crepes have gotten all cold now." Ann spoke as she held hers up and took a bite. "I'm sorry that I took up all that time, Ryuga." She turned to face him, seeing that he was happily munching away. Without the time to be civil, he had to channel Ryuji and eat as though tomorrow was never promised.
"This is delicious, Ann," he said as he scoffed, "We'll have to get some more together when this is over."
"…Is that a promise?" she asked while smiling gleefully. Ryuga stuffed the last of the crepe into his mouth and vigorously chewed and swallowed before answering. "Hold that thought!" He reached into his jacket pocket and began to rifle around. "Oh, and close your eyes!"
Ann giggled and obliged, patiently humming as she waited.
"You know, it's rude to make a woman wait on a date!" She spoke with a playful tone. "I'm not modelling right now, I'm pretty impatient!" Ryuga laughed heartily, and stole a quick kiss. Ann jolted at the sudden peck, but melted into it quickly.
"Open your eyes." He spoke as he withdrew. Ann opened her eyes, and gasped loudly. Glinting with the last gifts of the Sun, sparkling almost as bright as Ryuga's eagre stare, was a beautiful ring made of rose gold, sporting a lustrous heart shaped ruby for the centrepiece. "This is for me?!" She loudly exclaimed, failing to hide her excited, ever-growing smile. "Ryuga, it's beautiful! I love it!"
Ryuga smiled as he reached for her hand and pulled it towards him. Ann presented her ring finger, and allowed him to slide the ring on. She held it to her face and stared lovingly at the stone, before turning her attention to her beau.
"I promise you, Ann" he spoke, "that I will come back. I promise that we'll go out for crepes again. I promise that we will make it back to Hawaii, just the two of us. I promise…that you and I will have so many more adventures and memories together."
Ann's response was swift, and passionate. She kissed him repeatedly, each subsequent kiss lasting longer than the last. The last kiss endured until the Sun finally bowed out from the stage.
"I love you, Ryuga. Thank you for today." Ann spoke with a warm joy.
"I love you too, Ann. Thank you for every day." Ryuga replied as the pair stood, reaffirmed in his determination to win the day and return to his home, his friends, and his dear heart.
Author's note: I hope you enjoyed reading, and I thank those who gave me their time! This story is a one off, but the events will tie into my ongoing work, A World of Choice. The established relationship is Ryuga (Akira/Ren) and Ann, and I may pair the others off in due course. I hope you all continue to read my works, and I thank you again wholeheartedly!