Futaba Sakura was currently rolled up in blankets, playing a videogame on her phone while waiting for her Key Item to appear. She couldn't help but be comforted by the burrito style she was using the blankets in. Soft, warm and cozy, she could probably have drifted off if not for her phone. The only issue she was having, were the cat hairs that occasionally drifted up into her nose and mouth from inhaling. Of course Akira would let Mona sleep on his bed with him.

Were it any other person, Futaba would never even dream of being in her current position. But she was in her Key Item's room, waiting for said Key Item. It's not like he would mind either way, all he did was sleep in it. He was out like a light as soon as he touched the bed from what she had maybe seen through the security cameras she had maybe set up after she found out a boy with a criminal record would be staying at Sojiro's shop

Her Key Item lead an intensely boring home life. Literally all he did was study, sleep, tinker, rest and talk with various people he had over. Not once had Futaba caught him doing more… Adult activities. Futaba's pale cheeks flushed as she thought of catching Akira in the act. But no, the man apparently had the resolve of steel. Not letting hormones control him in the slightest. She hadn't seen even one hint of any physical copies of adult material, and she knew for sure he didn't use the internet for such a thing. His browsing history was squeaky clean.

Even with "Becky", Akira remained chaste. Even Futaba recognised the "services" that the company offered from it's maids.

Of course she had disabled the cameras and stopped monitoring his internet usage as soon as she realised how good of a person her Key Item truly was.

Closing her game, she switched apps to view the group chat. Ryuji and Ann were having a conversation, she didn't bother reading it. Futaba really didn't want to remember everything that those two would talk about. Exiting that chat she moved to the private one she was in with Akira was in, who was under the nickname of "Key Item". There was no better nickname for him. She frowned as she saw that she was still left on the dreaded "read" status with no reply. It had been twenty minutes since she sent the message, and fifteen since he had read the message. But no reply.

Futaba rolled around in the bed out of frustration, wiggling inside her burrito of warmth and cat fur. Stupid Mona. Stupid Akira. She threw the covers off of her and sprawled out over the bed, trying to find a better position. Unable to, she started kicking her legs in the air and began humming one of her favourite battle tunes. But then she heard Sojiro talking to someone downstairs.

Pausing in her motions, she frowned in thought. Who would Sojiro be talking to? The store was closed for the night and they were both only waiting for Akira to show up and spend time with him before leaving for the night. Futaba shrugged to herself and resumed kicking at the air, at least she wouldn't have to talk to whoever it was.

Even if she was making progress thanks to Akira, she wasn't very comfortable talking to anyone outside of the Phantom Thieves, Sojiro and Kana-chan. So some random person apparently ignoring the fact Cafe Leblanc was closed, well that was something Sojiro could handle.

That was Futaba's thoughts until she heard light footsteps making their way up the stairs, towards the attic. Futaba froze like a deer in headlights when it finally processed what was happening. In her panicking mind, she did the only thing she could think of.

Hiding herself behind her Key Item, or rather, inside her Key Item's blankets.

Sojiro smirked to himself. Exposing Futaba to a new person who seemed quite nice, and probably getting Akira into some sort of troubles. Win-win. That'll show the cheeky kid who ignored his messages for so long.

Hifumi slowly made her way up the stairs, lost in thought. It seemed Akira was yet to return and his boss had allowed her up to his room, saying that a friend of Akira's was a friend of his. Looking back on the events that occurred two days ago, she did realise she was overreacting. It was only a single hair on the back of his blazer. It could have come from any number of girls Akira walked past during the day.

But she couldn't help but feel somewhat insecure. Akira was… Akira. Amazing, intelligent, charming, attractive and so much more. She was just good looks and shogi skills. She held none of his social grace, his underlying confidence, his seemingly unending talent for anything and everything. But yet he chose her, and she more than happily chose him.

Pausing just before the top of the stairs, a thought ran through her mind. It was the first time without Akira that she had been in the room and the idea brought a smile onto her face. There was an odd feeling of accomplishment about being allowed into his room alone. Like she had earned it.

As she entered the attic, Hifumi's smile died instantly.

Why was there a head of long orange hair quivering inside Akira's bed? Wrapped entirely in his blankets. On his bed. In his room. A girl. That wasn't her. On her boyfriends bed.

She narrowed her eyes in displeasure. She and this unknown girl would be having a talk and depending on how that went, she would be having a… Conversation with Akira.

Futaba continued shaking inside the blankets. Someone that she didn't know was in Akira's room with her. That person was currently standing at the entrance, staring at the pile of quivering blankets that she wore like a protective garment. She just knew it. Fumbling, she brought up her phone and frantically began typing on it.

"Key Item! Get back to your room now!"

"I'm on the train back Futaba. Is something wrong?"

"UHO! NEED YOU BACK NOW HURRY"

"UHO?"

"UNIDENTIFIED HUMAN OBJECT. HELP ME AKIRA"

"Uh… May I ask who you are?" A soft woman's voice broke the silence.

Phone falling out of her hands, Futaba panicked. She wasn't ready to talk to someone. She was meant to be playing video games with Akira. Having fun with someone she trusted. Someone who understood her, who didn't judge her for how she was.

She paused in her thoughts as a moment of rationality came over her. Sojiro had let this person up. It was someone he knew and trusted enough to allow into Akira's room. He might not say it, but Futaba knew Sojiro cared for Akira.

So this person was someone good. Someone that she could talk to. She'd made progress in conquering her fear. She would make Akira proud of her. Make Sojiro proud of her. As such, she slowly uncurled herself and timidly raised her gaze towards the person who was in Akira's room with her.

Her eyes then widened as she took in the figure before her. This girl was attractive, seriously so. Even Futaba could easily admit that. A slender figure which the school uniform complemented, slightly above average height, flawless face and startlingly dark green eyes.

This older girl was a natural, flawless Japanese beauty. And Futaba recognised who it was.

"Phony Princess?!" The title was squawked out by the younger girl who immediately covered her mouth with wide eyes.

"Yes, that is what I'm called." Hifumi blinked in surprise at the sudden and loud exclamation. "I'm afraid I don't know who you are however."

"Fu- Futaba Saku- Sakura." Futaba cursed her nerves. The second thing to come out of her mouth and she was already stuttering. It was only one person, she should be able to handle this by now. She could talk to any of the Phantom Thieves perfectly fine, even while they were in a group.

Hifumi's eyes and expression softened as she realised just how small and nervous the girl in front of her was. Already she could tell that Akira wasn't having some sort of affair with this person. The atmosphere of their meeting was nothing like what it would have been if her assumption was true. She was rather ashamed of herself for so easily doubting Akira.

"I take it you know Akira?" She tried easing Futaba's obvious nerves by initiating a conversation with a topic they both obviously had something in common with.

"Ye- Yes. He's my best friend."

Sadly the younger girl obviously wasn't any more comfortable, going by the stutter and how she retreated into the corner of the bed in an odd sitting position with Akira's pillow held in front of her.

"Okay… So how did you meet?" Hifumi tried continuing, while making her way to sit on the couch.

She still received no reply even as she sat down and turned to face Futaba. The other girl's wide eyes were tracking every movement she made, but Futaba made no effort to respond.

There was an uncomfortable silence for Hifumi, who was being stared at intensely. The older girl slightly grimaced, it was almost like her failure of a chess match again.

The small grimace sent the orange haired girl into a flurry of motion, scrambling around Akira's bed after releasing his pillow. Hands roaming over the mattress, she found her phone and brought it right up to her face, obscuring Hifumi's view of her and retreating to the corner once again.

The shogi player let out a soft sigh. It didn't seem that she would be making much progress until Akira arrived.

Meanwhile Futaba was having a heated one sided discussion with her Key Item

"WHERE R U"

"I NEEDHELP"

"GIRL IS HERE"

"WHAT DO I DO"

"SHE'S STARING AT ME"

"SHE KNOWS YOU WHO IS SHE"

"SHE'S NOT IN YOUR SCHOOLS UNIFORM"

"WHY AREN'T U ANSWERING"

"AKIRA PLS"

"STOP LEAVING ME ON READ"

"I'LL GET U BACK FOR THIS"

"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME"

After frantically tapping out her messages she subtly raised her eyes up from her phone screen to view the Phony Princess that was somehow acquainted with Akira. Acquainted quite well, if she was visiting his room alone.

Futaba narrowed her eyes as that thought crossed her mind. Just what exactly was that girl doing here? How did she know Akira? Her reputation wouldn't help Akira move past his own "criminal" reputation. The Phony Princess and the transfer delinquent. She could already imagine all the rumours.

Akira definitely didn't meet her from his school. That was obvious. Futaba had never heard Akira mention playing shogi. She didn't even know her older friend was interested in it. So how...?

"How do you know Akira?!" Futaba's almost shouted question surprised herself as much as it startled Hifumi back into attention.

Hifumi's lips moved into a small amused smile as she watched Futaba almost fall over from her precarious sitting position. It looked like the younger girl herself didn't expect to have said that. This girl was adorably nervous, so much so that she almost felt bad for being amused over it.

"I met Akira in a church. He asked if he could play me in a match of shogi. We continued meeting from then on." Hifumi smiled ever so softly as she recalled their meeting. It wasn't the best.

She had originally thought that he was just another fan trying to make a move on her. After she got past that thought, she then assumed he was laughing at her for the strategy names she used. She'd been quite hurt after someone she saw as a new friend her own age was simply around her to laugh at her.

It had taken a few minutes of calming words from Akira to assure her that he simply found it cute and endearing rather than amusing and stupid. That was probably the first time she realised that she had developed slight feelings for the boy who found his way into her heart. Those feelings had only progressed the more time she spent with him

"Th- That doesn't explain why you're here."

"True. Would you rather wait for him to get here as well? He and I could both explain it then."

Futaba narrowed her eyes in suspicion but nodded. At least with Akira around she would be able to communicate with the Phony Princess.

Akira knew something was afoot as soon as he entered Leblanc. That self satisfied smirk Sojiro sent him spoke volumes.

"You better go upstairs. Futaba has been waiting all day for you. No need to work today." The smug tone also sent alarms off in Akira's mind.

Nonetheless, Akira merely nodded at the older man and made his way up the stairs to the attic, his room. He wouldn't let the man know he was slightly apprehensive of what was upstairs.

Futaba on a normal day was something else, so if Sojiro was hinting that something was bad now...

The Joker, leader of the Phantom Thieves, a stoic and usually unflappable man paused mid step as soon as he fully entered his room.

Futaba was huddled up in the corner of his bed, shielding her body with his pillow. Long orange hair in disarray and eyes wide open, darted to him. Hifumi was sitting sedately on the couch, looking as dignified and in control as ever. Scrolling through her phone, she seemed perfectly calm. She merely looked up and offered a smile and a nod to him. Contrasting with Futaba immensely. There was a brief silence until...

"AKIRA!" Futaba yelled out, dropping his pillow she dashed from her sitting position to his side, hiding behind him and wrapping her arms around his right forearm. She was shuddering against his back, her small frame bumping against his with a deathly tight grip on his arm.

Hifumi was clearly startled by the younger girl's way of greeting Akira and tilted her head in a questioning movement before verbally greeting him.

"Hello, Akira. Is little Futaba here one of your friends from school or such?" A small upturn of her lips accompanied her words.

Akira wasn't quite sure why, but the smile and slight emphasis Hifumi put on the word "friend" seemed rather dangerous.

AN: Hope it was enjoyable. Let me know what you think. The very first two reviews were highly amusing, the first was about Futaba being a "home wrecker" and the second about Akira being a "cheating scumbag".