[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

"Hey Ryuji, I need your advice on something important." Akira asked.

In the middle of one of the Phantom Thieves' Meetings in Leblanc's attic, Akira suddenly blurted this out, causing severe alarm in the immediate vicinity.

"Wait wait wait, did you just say you want RYUJI'S ADIVCE?!" Ann blurted out in shock as she stood up and gave Akira a glare of disbelief.

"WHAAAAT?!" Futaba yelled out as she grabbed her head with both hands, trying to figure out if this was a nightmare of her own concoction.

"This is… unnerving." Yusuke muttered in his usual composed tone.

"Hey, are you feeling okay?" Morgana asked Akira who had a stern gaze on his usual composed face.

Makoto didn't say anything but she gave Akira a clear look of concern.

Haru sighed despondently since she was hoping for Akira to ask her for advice considering all that he's done for her.

Even Ryuji looked a little taken aback as he slightly staggered back from his seat.

"Aren't you guys overreacting just a little?" Akira asked the group.

" Overreacting?!" Ann slammed her fist on the table. "Why would you ask this dumbass for advice on something important?!"

"Hey, give some me some credit here! I'm not a dumbass... right?" Ryuji asked for clarification.

"You are." Everyone minus Akira responded in unison.

"Anyway, let's go somewhere private Ryuji. The matter I have to ask you about is rather… grim." Akira requested.

Ryuji gave a confused gaze while everyone else looked legitimately concerned for Akira's wellbeing. However, Ryuji complied and followed Akira down the stairs.

"Um… isn't someone going to eavesdrop on them?" Ann asked the remainder of the group.

"Sorry I can't. I have a meeting with the National Art Association soon so I have to go." Yusuke informed the others as he quickly gathered his belongings and left.

"And Sojiro is taking me to the vet soon." Morgana said tiredly.

"Huh, Sojiro really prefers you over Akira-kun huh?" Futaba smiled.

"So… does anyone have any ideas?" Ann asked once more.

"Shouldn't we give them our privacy? It isn't right to eavesdrop on others." Makoto said determinedly causing the others in the room to shiver.

"B-but, if it's so grim, why wouldn't he ask all of us?" Haru retorted.

"I don't know, maybe it's a guy thing." Makoto suggested.

"Well I for one believe that there is no harm in listening to the problems of one of the teammates! Isn't that right guys?!" Futaba blurted out loudly.

"…Do what you want." Makoto relented and sighed.

"Do you have a plan Futaba-chan?" Ann asked. Her one track mind was fully invested in this hopeful resolution.

"Hehehe." Futaba laughed and pulled out her laptop. "There's no need to fear because I hacked his phone's GPS signals!"

"But that's a crime!" Makoto interjected.

"When has that stopped me?"

Makoto rolled her eyes.

"Oh they're not far. From what I see here, they're at the diner on Central Street." Futaba told the others.

"Have fun with that guys." Morgana said somewhat callously as he ran down the attic's stairs.

Ann, Haru and Futaba were already getting ready to go.

"Are you not coming with us Mako-chan?" Haru asked with a frown.

"….Fine."

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

When the girls reached the diner, they saw Ryuji and Akira at the other end of the diner in one of the corner tables.

"That's fortunate; they're not going to see us from this angle." Ann mentioned.

The girls came in with some rather sloppy disguises. All they did was put on shades and hats. They took the table right behind Akira and Ryuji.

The waitress gave them an odd look but she disregarded her nerves and took their orders. Instead of giving away their voices, the girls merely pointed to the orders they wanted on the menu and the waitress wrote them down.

As soon as the waitress left, they remained dead quiet. Akira and Ryuji seemed to be having an intense conversation.

"Akira, you're the one who called me out here so can you tell me what's going on already?!" Ryuji exclaimed noisily, attracting some attention from the other denizens of the diner.

"Sorry, let's just pretend this never happened." Akira shook his head and a look of shame crossed his face.

"Come on man… you're killing me here!" Ryuji begged.

"….Okay okay I'll tell you what's going on." Akira said in a hushed tone.

The girls tried their best to not give themselves away as they leaned towards the wall that held the two males behind it.

"So ever since I came here for my probation, I've had some trouble appeasing my… sexual desires." Akira muttered

"Oh boy." Ryuji's gaze of annoyance transformed into one of pity. "I was actually expecting something like this."

The girls all had varying reactions but they all resulted from astonishment and embarrassment. However, they somehow managed to prevent their vocal reactions and listen intently.

"Look, I just don't know how I'm supposed to beat my meat when I'm never alone. Morgana is constantly with me and I can't do it during shop hours because of Sojiro and the customers." Akira ranted.

"Have you tried doing it in the bathroom or the shower?" Ryuji suggested.

"I would but Morgana slips into the bathroom to talk to me sometimes so I'd rather not."

"Hmm, can't you call Kawakami-sensei and ask her for-"

"What?! Are you crazy?! I can't ask my teacher for this!" Akira interrupted furiously.

"I guess you're right but she's your maid isn't she? And don't you two have something going on? She should be willing to help you out." Ryuji explained.

"…You know Ryuji, that's actually not that bad of an idea. Morgana gives me privacy when I hang out with people and I would be in the comfort of my room! It's ingenious!" Akira thanked Ryuji wholeheartedly and began to happily devour his meal.

"No worries man, I'm always here to help." Ryuji smiled and ate as well.

The girls were frozen in shock.

When the waitress came with their orders, none of them responded so their drinks were placed without their noticing.

'I- I never realized that Akira was keeping something like this from me! Aren't we dating?!' Ann thought with disbelief.

'To think that Akira-kun was hiding something like this from me, I feel disappointed yet relieved. We never got physical in our relationship yet so maybe this is the time.' Makoto thought surprisingly calmly.

'This is the least I can do for Akira-kun…my boyfriend…' Haru thought with resolve.

'Hehehe, to think that Akira was keeping something so vital from his girlfriend. How irresponsible!' Futaba thought with her ditzy frame of mind.

Somehow, the girls didn't hear the part about Kawakami 'helping him out'. That was most likely due to the shock of Akira's initial outburst.

However, one thing was clear though.

Akira was screwed. Literally.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]