If you keep reading my works, you'll be seeing me say this a lot, but this one ended up bigger than expected. I had fun with it though, I think. I've got like, 3 more chapter ideas in my head I feel compelled to do, though I'm also seriously considering doing the Hawaii trip, which would probably put me at like another 6, as there's so much potential there. Anyway, enjoy your reading.

"An arcade, huh? I've never actually been to one." Makoto said, furrowing her brow in thought. Akira watched her quietly, assuming his usual stance of a slight slouch with his hands nestled in his pockets.

"I'm not sure it'll broaden my horizons, per se, but simply studying won't get me anywhere." She said, her face relaxing as she seemed to warm up to the idea. Akira nodded silently in reply.

"So, do you think you could take me? I'd be completely lost if I went there by myself." Makoto said. Akira bowed his head. She'd already changed quite a bit since awakening her Persona and changing Kaneshiro's heart. The girl who had been following him around the city just a few weeks ago would never have admitted to a weakness, no matter how small, that easily.

"Of course. Do you want to go right now?" Akira asked. Classes had finished about fifteen minutes ago and everyone was heading home. Akira himself would've likely been at the train station right now if Makoto hadn't been waiting for him outside his class and asked him to talk in private.

"Yes, that sounds great." Makoto said, shooting him a beaming smile. Akira couldn't help but find it infectious, a small smile forming on his own lips. Makoto turned and began walking toward the main building, eager to be off. Akira, after hanging back a few seconds, followed closely behind.

As they rode the tightly packed subway to Shibuya, Akira mulled over Makoto's request in his mind. She had pulled him aside and stated her request simply, she felt out of touch with the student body, the group she as student council president is supposed to be representing, and wanted his help in better connecting and understanding with them. As someone who has spent so much of her life focused on her studies and as of recently, student council duties, she just felt a disconnect from them, something she felt was hammered home hard during the incident with Kamoshida.

Akira felt for her, though deep down he doubted he could really do much to help her. Not that she was a lost cause, or anything, he just wouldn't exactly describe himself as "in touch" with the student body. He'd always been a bit of a loner back in his hometown, and since he'd moved here, well… He didn't exactly "mesh" well with the rest. But all she had asked of him today was where do people go for fun, and that, he felt like he could answer at least.

Plus, quite frankly, he wanted to get to know her. They hadn't exactly gotten off to the best start, but everything they went through in Kaneshiro's palace had quelled any animosity between her and the rest of the thieves. The amount of ass she kicked there probably helped, too.

"S-sorry, Akira-kun. It's… So busy today." Makoto said, trying to reposition herself so that her head wasn't pushed against his chest.

"It can't be helped." He reassured. Makoto still looked awkward.

"Good job I left Morgana at home today, eh? He'd have been a catcake by now." Akira said, gesturing to his bag that was being squished into the wall behind him. Makoto rolled her eyes at the awful attempt at a pun.

"That joke didn't really work like you thought it would…" She muttered. Akira grinned to himself, satisfied by his own humour.

Now arriving at, Shibuya.

Akira looked up as the voice blared over the intercom.

"That's our stop." Akira said. Makoto nodded, joining Akira as they pushed their way through the mass of bodies.

A short walk later, Akira and Makoto entered the arcade in Shibuya Central Street together. Makoto looked around wide eyed, as if she had entered some alien place.

"So this is the arcade… I've passed here so many times, but it honestly never crossed my mind to come in." Makoto said. She cast her eyes over the students, most of them wearing Shujin uniforms, chatting and playing games.

"There are more girls here than I thought there'd be." Makoto murmured. Akira smiled to himself.

"You really are out of touch aren't you?" He said in a light, playful tone. Makoto scowled at him.

"Don't tease me like that!" She quickly snapped. Akira felt a tiny stab of guilt. He knew she hated being teased, but he couldn't help himself.

"Alright, I'm sorry. So, Miss President, what attraction in this fine establishment catches your keen eye?" Akira said theatrically. Makoto hummed to herself, looking over the various games available.

"I'm honestly not sure what most of them do. Wait, what's this one?" Makoto asked, walking up to a light gun arcade game and reading the game's name out.

"Domicile of the Dead 2…"

"That's a light gun game. You take the gun from the holster there and point it at the screen, then shoot the enemies." Akira explained. Makoto pulled one of the plastic guns out of the cabinet's holster and looked it over.

"That's… Surprisingly realistic." Makoto murmured to herself.

"So, wanna give it a go?" Akira asked. Makoto looked up from the gun at him, seeming slightly apprehensive.

"Okay… There's two guns, so that means you can have two players right? Will you play it with me?" She asked. Akira smiled and nodded.

"Okay. As Miss President's Bodyguard and escort, it wouldn't do to let my skill with a gun get rusty now, would it?" Akira quipped. Makoto rolled her eyes, but this time he did get a small chuckle from her.

Akira walked beside her, pulling out a gun of his own. They each inserted a coin and began playing the game.

15 minutes later, they ended up dying to the second boss. Makoto seemed eager to keep going but Akira had decided that was a good place to leave it. They'd ended up attracting a small crowd due to Makoto's… Spirited play style. Between the woops of joy when they beat the first boss, her cries of terror when an enemy managed to damage her, and the fact she seemed to sway her body as she was shooting in an attempt to dodge attacks, she was quite a spectacle. To preserve her dignity more than anything, Akira had decided it was best to stop, as much as he enjoyed watching it.

They walked away from the machine, coming to a stop near the entrance. Makoto's eyes were closed and she was smiling happily to herself.

"I didn't think it would get so… Intense." Makoto said. Akira still couldn't keep the smile from his face.

"Yeah, you were uh… Really into it, weren't you?" Akira said. Makoto nodded her head slightly.

"Mhm. It was certainly fun." Makoto said. The smile faded from her face slightly as she pulled out her phone and checked the time.

"I was going to go over some Asian history tonight… I guess we sho-" She began to say.

"How about we try another game or two first?" Akira interjected. Makoto looked up at him.

"But…" Makoto began. Akira pondered making a joke about how history wasn't exactly going anywhere. Whilst it no doubt would have been one of his finer works, he could see it in her eyes, she was genuinely stressing over this. Despite herself, the pressures put on her by her sister still weighed down on her and demanded she go home and study, even if she herself wanted to stay.

"Makoto. It's okay." Akira said. Makoto looked up at him and smiled gently.

"Hmm, you've never called me Makoto before." Makoto smiled. Akira glanced aside and began twirling a stray lock of hair.

"Huh. I guess you're right..." He replied.

"S-so! What other games would you recommend, Akira-kun?" Akira was pulled back to attention and glanced around the arcade. From where they were standing, at least half if not more of the games available to them were hidden. Gesturing for her to follow, Akira took off, walking for no more than 10 seconds before he saw something that made him grin. Why hadn't I thought of this? He chided himself.

"What have you seen?" Makoto asked. Akira pointed right at the back of the arcade. A motor bike game, controlled by replica Motorbikes you can sit on and ride. Makoto blinked in surprise.

"Is that what I think it is?" She asked. Akira looked at her and patted her shoulder.

"Indeed it is. So, how about it?" Akira asked. Makoto's eyes seemed to sparkle with childlike wonder. She looked at him and nodded her head enthusiastically.

"I can't believe you got the third best lap time in the entire arcade." Akira said, still in shock. Makoto had transformed before his very eyes, from giddy excitement to a grim determination, the moment the race begun. It was like she was riding Johanna again.

"I-It was nothing, seriously!" Makoto said. Akira shook his head.

"It seems even in video games you drive with reckless abandon." Akira said. Makoto bowed her head in embarrassment.

"Oh, come on…" She pouted. Akira smiled and apologized.

"I'm glad you had fun though. So, what do you think, horizons broadened at all?" Akira asked. Makoto put her hand on her chin and hummed in thought.

"I can certainly see why people like to spend time here. I also feel like the games here could help me in the Metaverse, especially the shooting practice." Makoto said. Akira nodded in agreement.

Bling

Akira felt his phone go off and reached into his pocket. It was a text from Ryuji.

Yo, man. Wanna head to Ogikubo? I'm so hungry. Plus we gotta catch up, that Kaneshiro stuff has kept us real busy. I'm in Shibuya now.

Akira quickly text back.

Sure. Can it wait about twenty minutes though? I'm a bit busy. Send.

"Do you need to go do something?" Makoto asked.

"It's Ryuji, wants to go get some ramen. Told him I'd be about twenty minutes." Akira said.

Bling

Sure. You on a daaaate? Akira read the reply and smirked, quickly replying.

Na, dude. Bodyguarding the president. Send. Akira looked back at Makoto.

"Sounds nice. Well then, shall we be off?" Makoto asked. Akira wasn't sure, but there was a very faint hint of disappointment in her voice.

"I'll walk you to your platform." Akira said.

A short walk later the pair was waiting on the train, due to arrive any minute.

"Got any idea where you want to go next?" Akira asked. Makoto nodded.

"Kind of. You went to the red light district when you were after Kaneshiro, right? I'd like to go there." Makoto said. Akira liked to think of himself as fairly unflappable. Even he couldn't do anything but gawk in surprise and stare at her. Makoto immediately carried on.

"N-No! Not, not for my own purposes. I received a report that a Shujin student, a girl, so not you or Sakamoto-kun, was spotted there. I'd like to go confirm this for myself. Do you think you can come with me?" She asked. Akira nodded straight away. He'd have helped her regardless of the location, but there was no way he was letting her go around that seedy shit hole on her own.

"Of course. Just let me know when you're free next, we'll head over." Akira said. The sound of Makoto's train approaching could now be heard.

"Thank you." Makoto said, glancing at the oncoming train.

"I had a really nice time. Thank you for coming with me." Makoto said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Anytime. I enjoyed myself as well." Akira said. Honestly, he had. The train pulled to a stop and the doors opened.

"I'll see you tomorrow in school then, I guess." Makoto smiled. Akira nodded.

"Text me when you get home safely, okay?" Akira requested. Makoto nodded.

"I will. Enjoy yourself with Sakamoto-kun." With that, Makoto entered the train. Akira stood there for a minute, watching the train disappear into the distance, before exhaling heavily through his nose, turning on his heel, and pulling his phone out to call Ryuji.

Just under an hour later, Akira was tucking into his ramen with Ryuji. He was always partial to ramen, but the food here was something else. He could never thank Ryuji enough for bringing him here.

"I say it everytime, but God damn this is worth the journey." Ryuji laughed. Akira had to agree.

"So, you were out with Makoto then? How'd that go?" Ryuji asked. Akira explained their trip to the arcade to him, leaving out the parts about Makoto's enthusiastic game tendencies, mostly for her sake. Ryuji grinned when he told him about the motor bike game.

"Man, wish I could'a seen it." Ryuji said, slurping at the broth.

Bling

Akira's hand shot into his pocket instantly, pulling out the phone and reading the text.

I'm home.

Makoto...

Akira let out a small sigh of relief. It had been a distracting thought at the back of his mind, even though he'd been enjoying himself with Ryuji. His recent experiences these last few months had left him with very little trust left. His run in with Kaneshiro and his goons, knowing what they'd threatened to do to Makoto and her sister if the debt wasn't paid back, destroyed the rest. Kaneshiro was dealt with now, but it didn't help much. When he saw Ann off at the train station the other day, he'd felt a similar sense of dread. He knew the two girls could handle themselves… But still… Knowing the kinds of shady people out there...

"That Makoto?" Ryuji asked. Akira nodded.

"Yeah. She got home safe." Akira said. Ryuji nodded and finished slurping the rest of his ramen.

"Thought you seemed a bit distracted 'bout something. Don't think you'll ever need to worry with her though, dude. That chick kicks ass." Ryuji laughed. Akira nodded, the last bit of tension leaving his body.

"So, you like her then, eh?" Ryuji asked with a grin. Akira frowned slightly, but was still smiling.

"I thought you were supposed to be bad at reading people." Akira said.

"Bro, I saw the way you were looking at her after she joined the group, especially in the Palace." Ryuji said. Akira exhaled sharply out of his nose. He wasn't at all embarrassed that Ryuji has figured him out. He just didn't like the fact he'd been such an easy read.

"As soon as it comes to girls, you're suddenly an expert, eh? I'm honestly not surprised." Akira chuckled.

"Come on, who else am I gonna talk about chicks with? Mishima? Yusuke? You can't take this away from me." Ryuji said. Akira finished his own ramen and began to text Makoto back.

Good. Enjoy the rest of your night. Send

"So, what's your game plan?" Ryuji asked.

"Eh? What do you mean, I never confirmed anything." Akira smirked. Ryuji protested this, pestering him for more details. His phone buzzed again and he read the text.

You too, Akira. Again, thank you so much for today. I can't wait to do it again.

Akira smiled deeply, not his usual small smirk, but a full on beaming grin. Suddenly remembering who was there, his eyes darted to Ryuji, who had a massive, shit-eating grin on his face.

"Shut up." Akira said.

"Dude, I didn't say anything."

Makoto placed her phone down on the dining room table and turned to the kitchen, looking to warm up dinner for herself. She couldn't remember the last time she felt in such a good mood. Who knew the arcade could have such a positive effect on your mental state? She thought to herself. As she opened the fridge to start rustling around, she heard the sound of Sae's bedroom door opening and footsteps coming to the dining room.

"Hi, Sis, I'm home." Makoto said, turning around. Sae's face was stern, yet she still looked quite awkward.

"You were out much later than usual. You okay?" Sae asked. Makoto nodded. There was still an air of tension between them ever since… Ever since that incident.

"Don't make a habit of it. You can't fall behind on your studies." Sae said. Makoto nodded again.

"S-sure, Sis." Makoto said quietly.

"I'm only here to pick up some clean clothes. They're working me to the bone there. This Kaneshiro incident has really been a massive hassle." Sae sighed. Makoto felt a stab of guilt, as if she was responsible. Technically, she was responsible. But still, Kaneshiro needed to go down.

"Okay…" Makoto said. Sae looked as if she was going to say something else for a moment, then walked away. Makoto suddenly decided she wasn't very hungry. Sae left five minutes later, with a fairly weak "goodbye", not even looking at Makoto. The younger Niijima sister grabbed her phone from the table went into her room, turned her desk light on and pulled out her history books. Studying would help clear her mind and focus her.

She opened the textbook and flipped to the relevant chapter, opening her notebook and readying herself to take some notes.

As you are now, you're useless to me

Makoto shook her head. She had to forget it. She'd found her place to belong, and she knew to them she truly was useful. Back to studying.

All you do is eat away at my life.

Makoto winced and turned to a different chapter, maybe starting there would help?

Nearly an hour had passed and she had written precisely two lines of notes. What was wrong with her?

That's a silly question She thought to herself I know exactly what's bothering me…

Makoto stood up and let out a deep sigh, walking toward her bed and letting herself fall face down on it.

Bling

Her phone buzzed. It was Akira.

"He sent a picture?" She asked herself. She clicked the text.

It was a picture of Morgana, asleep on a chair, sitting in what looked like a poor imitation of a human, with his paws resting on his belly. It looked like he'd been watching TV and fallen asleep. There was a caption with the picture.

"We should save this for blackmail purposes."

Makoto stared at the picture, before bursting out laughing. It wasn't even that funny, she thought to herself, but before she knew it, tears of mirth were in her eyes. Not just the image, but the mental picture of Akira, grinning his self satisfied grin he had when he thought he was being hilarious, just seemed to tickle her.

Bling

Another text. Makoto wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye and read it, still letting out small giggles.

I'm home safe by the way. So is Ryuji. Makoto smiled to herself.

Good. I'm glad. Send. Makoto looked over at her desk, to her abandoned textbooks. A single night off wouldn't be the end of the world…

Bling

Another reply.

Well, I'll leave you to your studies. Goodnight. Makoto typed out her reply quickly, but bit her lip. She didn't know why, but sending this made her feel… apprehensive? Well, what did it matter.

I'm taking the night off studying. If you'd like, want to keep texting? Send.

Bling The reply was within the minute.

Yeah. I'd like that. Akira replied. Makoto let out a small sigh of relief.

Bling Makoto opened the text.

So, what does Miss President do for fun in her own home, then? Akira asked. Makoto let out a small chuckle, and began to reply.

Before she knew it, hours had passed. It had gone way past the point where she'd usually sleep. A strict sleeping schedule was key to academic success after all, or so Sis had told her. Besides, she had to get up early, she didn't want to be half asleep the next day. She wished Akira a goodnight and placed her phone on her desk. For the first time in a long while, she fell asleep with a smile on her face.