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The school day was over and Akira and Ryuji were hanging out at the ramen place they tended to frequent.

As Akira was eating his ramen, Ryuji brought up something that he was sure the rest of the team pondered on.

"I wonder what the rest of the team thinks of our outfits in the Metaverse." Ryuji wondered aloud.

"Hmm, me too. I feel kind of self-conscious about it though I think mine looks pretty cool." Akira admitted.

"Huh, I feel like that too. Mine is pretty rad though so I'm not worried." Ryuji agreed as he set his finished bowl of ramen on the table.

"I don't know…" Akira said skeptically. "I overheard Ann and Makoto talking about how your mask makes you look like a thug."

"What?!" Ryuji yelled out louder than he meant to, causing the other occupants of the restaurant to glance over in annoyance and confusion.

"S-sorry." Ryuji apologized and sat back down. "But I don't look a thug!"

"As much as it pains me to admit it, I kind of agree with them." Akira sighed.

"You do?!"

The server gave Ryuji a foul stare, prompting Akira to suggest they leave the establishment.

When they left, Akira questioned Ryuji's overly aggressive mood.

"Why are you that upset over this? Does it really matter that much to you?"

"Of course it does! Our Metaverse outfits are a part of our identities man! If we look like trash in it, then our masculinity is gonna be trash too!" Ryuji spat out with contempt.

"I don't think those two things have anything to do fighting Shadows…" Akira responded though Ryuji wasn't listening.

"That's it! I'm gonna give those girls a piece of our minds!" Ryuji stormed off but a part of he said caused Akira great worry.

"Wait, what do you mean by 'OUR minds'?

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"Excuse me?!" Ann slammed her fist on one of the tables in Leblanc.

"You heard me! I called you a slut!" Ryuji replied while Akira just face palmed from behind him.

"I'm surprised you even know what that means…" Morgana said quietly though no one heard him.

Makoto and Haru were there as well. They had appropriate reactions.

"Ryuji-kun! Watch your mouth!" Makoto scolded.

"T-that isn't very nice." Haru said softly. The rage emitted by those around her was difficult to bear.

"C-calm down Ryuji." Akira tried to resolve the pointless dispute.

"Come on, you were thinking the same thing weren't you Akira?"

"What?!" Suddenly, Ann was eyeing Akira with a vile glare. "I didn't say shit, what are you talking about Ryuji?!"

"Is this true Akira-kun?" Ann asked quietly yet fiercely.

"N-no…" Akira backed off, the tenseness of the atmosphere causing him to feel trepidation.

"I knew it! It is true! You're stuttering!"

"Huh?! What kind of basis is th-"

Akira's complaints were cut off as Ann ran towards him, causing him to run out of the café.

Sojiro would usually complain about a ruckus like that but he was so amused that he just watched it happen and lightly chuckled.

"Was that your plan Ryuji? Would you say that it went off without a hitch?" Morgana asked amused.

"Yeah, he's dealing with the fallout just like I planned." Ryuji snickered.

Makoto and Haru gave the two confused stares.

"What are you two talking about?" Makoto asked in mystification.

"Oh just think of it as payback." Ryuji smiled. "You see, I feel like Akira has been getting too close with the girls in our party lately. I think it's time for his just deserts."

"W-what?! That's ridiculous! Me and Akira-kun aren't-"

"Heh."

Makoto's retort was cut short by a quiet yet disturbing chuckle coming from the female occupant sitting next to her.

"H-Haru?!" Makoto asked wearily.

"W-what?!" Haru replied a bit too loudly.

Ryuji and Morgana looked a bit frightened too.

"Why did you just laugh?" Makoto asked.

"I-I didn't laugh! W-what are you talking about?! Hahaha…ha." Haru denied terribly.

The other Phantom Thieves in the cafe suddenly felt scared for their lives.

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"Akira-kun, get back here!" Ann shouted amidst the bustling crowd of shoppers in the underground area of Shibuya.

Akira didn't respond and continued to run for his life.

Ann was having enough of it though so she took out a pen from her pocket and threw it at the back of Akira's head.

"Ow!" Akira instinctively reached for the back of his head, unfortunately giving Ann the time she needed to reach him.

The few officers around didn't pay much mind.

"Man I envy those kids." One of them sighed.

"I know what you mean. We can't get into exciting scuffles like that with our lovers anymore." The other officer reluctantly agreed.

"L-listen Ann-"

"I trusted you Akira-kun. I can't believe that you'd say something like that behind my back." Ann pouted.

"Do you seriously believe the bullshit that Ryuji spouted out back there?!" Akira retorted.

"You looked super nervous; I could tell that you were hiding something!"

"Now that's just-"

"I know that I may come off as a bit unapproachable because of how the public looks at me but I'm not like that I promise! Don't think I'm ugly because you think I slept with a bunch of guys!" Ann swore.

"I-I didn't even think that!" Akira insisted.

"Really? Then tell me Akira-kun…" Ann's voice got softer. "What do you think of me?"

Akira was put on the spot. The people around them heard the outbursts and were watching the scene unfold. The police officers got some takoyaki and watched the scene in excitement. It brought back memories of their younger days.

"I think that you're uh…" Akira hesitated.

'Why the hell is there such a huge crowd of people watching us?!' Akira thought anxiously.

"I knew it! You don't think I'm attractive do you? I like you Akira-kun and I thought you felt the same but I guess I was wro-"

"I do!" Akira declared.

The underground mall was silent.

'S-shit…! Did I just say that aloud?!'

"Y-yes!" Ann blushed and hugged Akira who was still flustered by the recent events.

"W-what?" Akira asked whilst in a daze.

"I knew that Ryuji was lying about you thinking that, it was so obvious but I just had to find out if you liked me or not…" Ann admitted bashfully.

The crowd around them cheered them on and yelled out their congratulations.

Akira smiled. He would have to thank Ryuji for this later.

Back at Leblanc, Ryuji and Morgana felt as if their mission had failed.

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I have a Mother's Day special planned but it's going to most likely come out after tomorrow.