Note: I apologise for not being able to update this sooner. I'm in the home stretch of my degree and it has a nasty habit of cutting into my writing time :'(. Thank you all once again for the love!


An expanse of lush greenery stretched before Ann's eyes, amplifying the excitement that had been culminating inside of her. Being stifled by the confines of the classroom for a majority of the day had heightened the thrill of being outdoors and in Tokyo's closest offering to nature, enveloped by the endless cherry blossoms and fresh unspoilt air. Inokashira Park had always been something of a sanctuary to Ann, her local haunt where she would meet Shiho and they would while their days away discussing the multitude of trivialities attached with teenage life whilst consuming any sugary treat that had taken their fancy. It was also her refuge in times of despair and isolation, finding the sublime ambience highly therapeutic to her dour moods. Now, it would act as an ad hoc training ground, an arena where she would commission the aid of Akira Kurusu in assisting her endeavours to strengthen her heart.

She spied her partner, his slouched figure propped atop a knee-length split rail enclosure fashioned out of lumber taken from Japanese magnolia. He surveyed her with curiosity, his steel-hued eyes locked on hers as unkempt strands of his midnight black hair blew lazily amidst the mid-afternoon breeze. The gust had styled his locks into a windswept look and with nothing obscuring his angular face, the full measure of his comely features had been unveiled. His lips, ordinarily fashion in their usual smirk, were stretched across his face in a hard line as he continued to scrutinize her, patiently awaiting her explanation for hauling him here immediately upon the conclusion of their afternoon class.

Like usual, he wore a placid expression, not offering her entry into the ruminations Ann knew were swirling around in his mind. But Akira never did reveal much, always opting to cloak his reflections behind stony silences, witty repartee or audacious stunts that vindicated his position as leader of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. Gaining any kind insight into Akira's genuine thoughts and temperament had become a privilege for Ann, small bounties for all of the effort she eagerly invested into figuring out the enigma that was Akira Kurusu.

She swung her arms from side to side excitedly, captivated by the radiance of the day. "Man, big open spaces like this are great!"

"Mhmm and what am I doing here again?" he asked.

"I was getting to that…" she pouted, throwing him a disapproving glare. "Remember what I said before about wanting to strengthen my heart? Well, I came up with a way to do it!"

"Oh I can't wait to hear this," he answered, an impish glint flashing across his eyes.

A smile slowly crept to his features as he awaited her response. He leaned forward in a show of eagerness, balancing his elbows above his knees. He peered at her with a look of boyish amusement, almost as though he were a child and she just suggested they play his favourite game. It was this side of Akira that rendered him utterly irresistible to her. This playful and understatedly wicked persona he masked with his unassuming spectacles and meagre mannerisms. She often wondered if his glasses were corrective or just another form of trickery he employed to deceive unsuspecting individuals.

"I think having a strong heart means that you don't let anything get under your skin. So basically, I want you to say really crazy shit to me, and I'll try not to get fazed by it."

His smile erupted into a full-blown grin, affirming his willingness to answer her challenge. "Okay, so what kinda stuff should I say?"

Her grin mirrored his and she winked at him triumphantly. "We've already started, Kurusu! I won't let that hesitation shake me."

He smirked and extended his arms above his head, simulating pre-workout stretches. His readiness to meet any challenge issued to him, no matter how trivial, had always been one of his most admirable traits.

"Let's do this," he said confidently, craning his neck.

"C'mon!" she cajoled. "Hit me with your best shot!"

"You're stupid."

Wow, didn't expect him to come out swinging.

She camouflaged her shell shock with a resolute frown, startled by Akira's immediate show of brusqueness. "Yeah, yeah, yeah! And?"

"That response was annoying."

Fair enough. Hell, even I'm annoyed.

"Uh huh, uh huh. What else?" she exclaimed, pleased that he hadn't manage to crack her composure yet.

In one fluid motion, he rose from his seat with the same grace he ordinarily reserved for their forays into the cognitive world, executing some of the most visually stunning acrobatics Ann had ever witnessed.

Without missing a beat, his eyes locked with hers and his demeanour sobered.

"I love you," he told her, his countenance exhibiting no signs of faltering.

She felt herself spring back reflexively after the last syllable left his tongue, akin to the way her hand instantaneously recoils upon coming into contact with extreme heat.

"Wait, wh-what!?" she cried, no longer concerned with retaining her poise as a fire erupted inside of her, sending her insides into a tailspin as they began to somersault on their own accord.

The air surrounding them became impregnated with a heavy silence, with Akira refusing to even blink in fear that it would pierce the mounting tension. The wind lapped harshly against Ann's frigid stance as she continued to eye him with incredulity, begging him for a follow-up to his pronouncement.

He permitted a few more moments of silence to pass before the corner of his lips began to curl upward ever so slightly. He hovered over her, triumphant and cocky in his stance as his electric stare continued to send ripples of anticipation through her. His features soon broke with unabashed laugher as he brimmed with pride once again, peering at her with the same impudent expression he ordinarily reserved for cowering shadows.

"Well, well, well," he jeered, his tone laced with mirth. "I haven't lost my touch."

"W-w-what?!"

"You had me worried for a second there but it looks like I'm still number one at tripping people up!"

Her eyes stayed wide and glued to his features, equal parts terrified and astonished by how handily he managed to toy with her.

"T-that's cheating!" she cried, stomping her boot into the grass. "You're disqualified, Akira!"

"All's fair in love and war, Takamaki. Don't be angry just cause I beat you at your own game."

She sighed, marvelled at how spent she was by this one interaction. "You are a menace, Akira Kurusu. But I suppose you're right…I did tell you to rile me up."

She wore a determined expression, craning her neck from side to side before plugging her ears and screwing her eyes shut as she brought herself to the ground. "Time for round two! Bring it on!"

She heard him chuckle in response. "You're such a goof, Ann. C'mon, I don't think your heart can take anymore of this."

She sighed dejectedly, eyes focused on the grass as she bashfully plucked a few blades from the dirt. "Yeah… I don't think this is helping my persona too much at all."

"Wanna make me feel better?" she pouted, peering up at him expectantly from underneath her lashes.

He shrugged, the afternoon sun colouring him charcoal as it cast its shadow over his tall frame. "Sure, what do you need me to do?"

She raised her hand, beckoning for him to assist in her ascent from the ground. He obliged of course, with Ann taking note of how impeccably their hands fit, perfectly clasped in a manner more effortless than Akira himself. He expended almost no effort in bringing her back up to her feet, revealing the wonders the metaverse had worked on his strength.

"Was that all?" he grinned, plucking an errant leaf from her shoulder.

"You wish," she teased. "You're gonna treat me to some – "

"Crepes?"

"See, this is why you're our leader, Akira. You're a quick study!" she winked, shoving her bag in his arms before leaving him with a view of her bouncing pigtails as she bounded onward toward her sugary utopia.

They had ventured partway through the park when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, stopping her in her tracks. Liberating the device from her coat pocket, she hastily scanned the email notification that flashed across her screen.

Akira stopped behind her, peering over her shoulder to ascertain the interruption.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Sorry, I just got an email from my agency," she responded half-heartedly, eyes darting side to side as she read the email. "The next shoot is… really far. Wait! What's this at the end?"

"It's a notice saying to pay extra attention to the time and place they tell you," she continued. "Apparently some models haven't been showing up at all lately."

"That's…kinda flaky," he shrugged.

"That's a bit rich coming from you."

He clutched his mid-section in jest, feigning outrage. "Please, Takamaki. If I had a yen for every time somebody called me 'reliable'…"

"Yeah, yeah, you're great. Anyway, it sounds like shoots have been real hectic with all the scrambling they've had to do for substitutes."

"That's odd."

She nodded. "It's a total mystery. It must really confuse the staff to see a sub showing up too. Though actually, my first modelling gig was as a sub!"

His shoulders perked up. "Oh yeah?"

"Yep, back when I was still living in Finland. My parents didn't have enough models for their event."

"Are they designers?"

"Haven't I told you? Yeah they are both fashion designers who put on some seriously extravagant shows. They jump from country to country, so I only really see them for half of the year. Maybe even less these days…"

He nodded, expression clouded as he stared past her into the horizon. "That freedom sounds nice."

"Yeah…" she answered, leaves crunching underneath her boot as folded her arms and shifted her weight onto one leg. "It is pretty great. Though, it was tough when I was a kid. It was just my live-in caretaker and me…I didn't really have any friends."

His gaze met hers, visage indecipherable as he studied her face as meticulously as he would hieroglyphics. She wasn't sure how to react and couldn't discern whether he pitied her or was just indifferent to her disclosure. He allowed the silence to build until it frenzied into awkwardness, finally fracturing with discomfort with a sympathetic smile.

"Wow," she laughed, desperately trying to alleviate the tension. "That got dark fast…"

"W-well…if it's any consolation…you'll always have a friend in me," he assured her, shuffling awkwardly in his spot as his cheeks reddened.

Ann couldn't help but giggle. When it came to facing down hoards of shadows and mastering the artistry of formulating the perfect quip, Akira's skills were second to none. But when it came to sincerity, or exhibiting candour that brought him that one step closer to wearing his heart on his sleeve, he didn't know how to cope, almost as though expressing any kind of emotion that wasn't satirical was such an onerous imposition on him. She could have poked fun at him, he had revealed a sliver of vulnerability and afforded her the perfect opportunity to reciprocate his earlier torment. But moments like this were scarce, and witnessing Akira be so candid with his sincerity engulfed her with a sense of warmth that she was not prepared to sacrifice for the momentary high of getting one up on him.

"Thanks, Akira," she smiled. "Same goes for you too, just so you know."

He cleared his throat. "U-uhhh…yeah…"

She giggled, sparing him the excruciating labour of having to change the subject. "Honestly, when I'm modelling it almost feels like I'm connecting with my parents somehow."

"That's great, Ann."

"Yeah…How about you? I mean… what are your parents like?" she questioned hesitantly, trying to gauge his reaction at her feeble attempt to pry into information he had yet to reveal.

Akira had never divulged any details about his life prior to coming to Tokyo, with Ann and Ryuji having to resort to idle gossip in order to ascertain even the slightest tidbit concerning his arrest. It was another factor that contributed to his status as an enigma and fed her determination to unravel the mysteries he left in his wake. His aloof and standoffish qualities constantly dared her to try her hand at unveiling as much about him as he would allow, without outwardly inviting her persistent attempts.

To her surprise, her question was met with an all-knowing smirk as Akira immediately detected the extent of her curiosity. "You don't need to be shy about asking me, Ann."

"Well you've never talked about them before!"

"No one has ever asked."

"Y-yeah well… I guess that's true."

He shrugged. "Everyone just tiptoes around it like they expect me to have been raised by these awful people because it gives them a justification for my 'crimes'."

"I-I didn't say that – "

"Truth is," he interrupted, his demeanour solemn. "I don't really talk about them cause there isn't much to say. They are just normal, loving parents who are disappointed at the situation their only son got himself into."

Ann bit her lip, jaw clenched as she discerned the melancholy in his tone. She didn't know what to say to comfort him, truth be told she hadn't expected his response. She was not entirely sure what she did expect but she knew that on some level, she had been ignorant enough to believe that his home life coloured his current circumstances.

"Thank you…" she muttered quietly, offering him a small smile.

He scrutinized her from his position, muddled by her words. "For what?"

"For telling me all that."

"O-okay…"

They stood quietly for a time, bathed in a peaceful silence that was only broken by the coo of a bird in the distance.

"I'm sorry your 'training' didn't really work out," he told her finally, shattering the tranquillity. "It was a valiant attempt."

She laughed. "I know, I know…it was kinda stupid. I just wanna get stronger."

"Yeah but…why are you so gung-ho about it all of a sudden?"

She smiled, memories from her childhood seeping into her cognisance. "When I was little, I used to watch this anime where the main villain was a female thief. She'd lose to the hero every time, but I always thought she was cool."

"Oh?" he responded, cocking an eyebrow at her curiously. "How do you figure?"

"She wasn't a good person per se… But she was beautiful, strong, sincere and even sexy."

She stared up into the clouds dreamily, eyes trailing the canopy of cherry blossom above her as the crisp sunlight broke through the narrow divides left by the trees. "She always said whatever she wanted, did whatever she wanted… she knew what justice was for her and didn't care if other people didn't see it her way. I …wanted to grow up to be just like her someday."

She smiled bashfully, cheeks rosy. "I hope I'm getting closer now, if only just a little bit."

He smiled, warming Ann's core like the sun shining unrelentingly above her. In true Akira fashion, his hands slipped in his pockets and he edged forward, decreasing their proximity with deliberate steps. He stopped when he was beside her, their shoulders parallel as leaned forward to position his mouth as close to her ear as he could get without touching it.

"You are…" he whispered, his breath gingerly sweeping the nape of her neck. "On all counts."


Boys liked Ann.

Hell, even men liked Ann, and Akira could only assume that women of like persuasions who had come into contact with her, also held a desire for the blonde bombshell. This was not a fleeting introspection, nor was it a cursory observation or even a topic for debate – it was a fact of life, and one that Akira had been continuously confronted with since forming an acquaintance with the undeniably charming girl. It was evident in the copious amounts of effort people expended just to keep her entrancing visage in their sightlines and made apparent by the way that she caused them to lose their train of thought by the simple act of being in a room.

His fellow thieves could also be counted amongst those that had fallen a victim to her appeal, with Morgana constantly parting from his ordinarily snide and prideful demeanour to fall at her feet and offer her a never-ending bastion of compliments and adoration. Even Ryuji, who only ever appreciated the most base level of appeal that girls had to offer, was entirely endeared by not only her external attributes but also her internal qualities, despite obvious attempts at trying to conceal this with light hearted jabs and the provocation of antagonistic banter. The newest member of their outfit proved that he was also not an exception to this rule, with Yusuke Kitagawa forsaking all social etiquette just to shadow her all around Tokyo in a desperate bid to convince the girl to pose as his muse to further his artistic pursuits. He was adamant in his pursuit of beauty, and had deemed Ann as the quintessential subject to represent this ideal.

Admittedly, the boy had not been the most socially adept individual Akira had ever had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with. In fact, he would daresay that Yusuke did not even rank within the top fifty. Yusuke was almost statuesque in the way that he carried himself, standing at a height that surpassed even Akira's, who could already be considered quite tall in his own right, especially when compared against the average male Japanese teenager. Yusuke's luxuriant indigo hair sat daintily atop his head, with his fringe extending just past his dark eyes in an almost artistic flourish. It accentuated the angular bone structure that framed his narrow face, causing his elegant features to become the subject of appraisal for various females that he brushed shoulders with.

But despite his oddities, there was something about the boy that caused Akira to apprehend almost no hesitation in welcoming him into their fold. There was a quiet strength that dictated all of his actions, manifesting itself into a strong resolve to stand by his convictions and beliefs, despite how peculiar others may perceive them to be. Yusuke had been a Kosei High School arts student studying under the tutelage of famed Japanese artist, Ichiryusai Madarame, until the Phantom Thieves had successfully managed to uncover proof of Madarame's plagiarism, effectively turning his most loyal protégé against him. Madarame was a man who offered sanctuary to struggling young arists, only to prey on their talents for his own gain and discard them when the last ounce of their inspiration and ability to produce good art had depleted. His desire to constantly succumb to his own vain tendencies had resulted in the birth of his palace, which had now been reduced to rubble, courtesy of the Phantom Thieves stealing his treasure – the original Sayuri artwork, painted by Yusuke's deceased mother before Madarame capitalised on its beauty by claiming the masterpiece as his own.

The palace was gruelling, subjecting the thieves to multiple traps and an onslaught of shadows ready to unleash the full extent of their powers at the elderly artist's whim. But despite all of the trials and tribulations the group had faced inside of the metaverse, Akira found that the true uphill battle had transpired in the real world, in their desperate bid to convince the blindingly loyal Yusuke that his mentor and the only father figure he had ever known was a complete fraud. The young artist had put them through their paces, frequently demonstrating to them the extent of his undying deference to Madarame. The conflict had escalated to the point where Ann had almost succumbed to Yusuke's numerous requests to paint her nude.

Nude.

The word resonated in Akira's mind, the mental images it conjured leaving a searing impression on all facets of his consciousness. Akira had always thought himself above of the all-consuming lust that seemed to govern the emotions and actions of male adolescents. Sure, he had been attracted to a plethora of females in his sixteen years of life, but he always thought to carry himself with a certain level of collectedness and ease when faced with female attributes that would drive ordinary teenage boys to emulate behaviour that was reminiscent of slobbering dogs. Sadly, if Akira had learnt anything over the course of their investigation into Madarame's crimes, it was that this train of thought and the pedestal upon which he had placed himself, amounted to nothing but complete and utter bullshit.

His recollection of his reaction when Yusuke asked Ann to pose nude for him, induced a grimace upon his otherwise placid features. It was as if the urgency of Yusuke threatening to report them to the authorities for trespassing, had absolutely no bearing on him and instead, his mind chose to fixate on Yusuke's risqué proposition to Ann. Of course he had felt guilty for even entertaining such lewd thoughts, especially given how distressed his female confidante was over the matter, not even remotely hesitant in expressing her vehement refusal to the request. He consoled himself by the fact that he at least had the presence of mind to mask his fluster, but the same could not be said for Ryuji and Morgana, with the cat practically bathing in his own drool after catching wind of the proposal.

Akira eyed Ann as the five of them convened outside of Madarame's shack back in the real world, drained from the gruelling battle they had just overcome. Even in her fatigue, she couldn't mask her concern for Yusuke, her expression sympathetic as she watched him stare longingly into the original Sayuri, his emotional connection to the piece stronger than ever. As much as it pained him to admit, Morgana was right. Ann's compassion for others was startling. It constantly exceeded his expectations, to the point where her stellar physical attributes had taken a back seat in hallmarking the blonde's defining qualities – not that he would ever admit that to Morgana.

His phone vibrated in his hands, the notification from the metaverse app startling him back to the present. Ann's eyes darted to his screen immediately, grimacing at the picture he had had set as his home screen.

"Oh god, are you ever going to change that, Akira?"

"Nope. Never," he jeered, appearing amused as he looked down into his phone at a photo of a puffed up Ann, donning dozens of layers of clothing and sandwiched in between him and a beaming Ryuji. He reasoned that despite all of the perils they had faced in their pursuit of Madarame, he at least managed to get a new screensaver out of the ordeal.

"Neither!" Ryuji guffawed, gleefully holding his device next to Akira's to reveal that he was brandishing an identical display.

"The destination has been deleted," interrupted an automated voice from Akira's phone, referencing the ostentatious gallery that masqueraded as Madarame's palace.

A listless sigh escaped him as he looked at his teammates, trying to gauge their moods after the ordeal they had just faced.

"Are you okay, Yusuke?" he asked, nodding his head at the flamboyant teen standing opposite him.

"Yes…" Yusuke replied quietly, his eyes still glued to the canvas clutched tightly in his hands. "I will triumph."

"That's… well… good for you."

He felt Morgana wriggle inside of his bag, pushing his head through the opening. "It would be bad if people started getting suspicious of us. We should leave at once."

"C'mon, Yusuke," Ryuji urged, beckoning to the young artist to follow him as he started on his way.

Ann's eyes found Akira's and his lips curved upward of their own volition, already fluent in her cues. He found himself constantly sporting an affable disposition of late, a natural consequence of the feelings of warmth he apprehended whenever any sort communication transpired between them, however incidental. He nodded as he watched her saunter toward him, the breeze causing her letterman jacket to sway loosely around her thin frame. They walked toward their station, their shoulders aligned as they chatted amiably about the Phantom Thieves acquiring a new member.

"So…" he murmured, nudging her. "Yusuke is rather…peculiar, isn't he?"

"Well, that's an understatement… But I'm sure he will make a great addition to our little team."

Akira nodded. "That he will."

"Right! You don't really need social graces to kick shadows asses."

"He's an excellent artist too. His work is really exceptional."

Ann agreed, bopping her head enthusiastically. "Seriously! The stuff I saw in his workshop was amazing."

Akira found himself smirking as he recollected their prior encounters with the young artist, chuckling at Yusuke's painfully candid nature.

"If it's any consolation… I think he would have painted an excellent nude portrait."

Ann growled, socking him in the bicep whilst Morgana hissed from his bag, conveying his blatant distaste at Yusuke's crude request.

"FORTY-TWO SECONDS!" she blurted suddenly.

"Huh?"

"Forty-two freaking seconds!" she reinstated, furrowing her brows in contempt. "It took you a whole forty-two seconds to bring up that stupid nude painting! I was expecting you to hold out longer than that, Akira Kurusu!"

She released an exasperated groan, wrapping her hands around his arm and holding it in place as she thumped her forehead repeatedly against his bicep. She buried her face in the fabric of his coat, with Akira saying a silent prayer in the hopes that his fabric softener was pleasing enough to her senses.

"Why couldn't it have been you?!" she moaned. "Why does this whole 'naked' thing have to follow me around forever?!"

"Actually, I'm rather offended he didn't ask. I'm quite proud of my physique," he mocked, flexing his arm whilst it was still in her grasp.

She pulled her head back, poking at the muscle curiously before she giggled. "Hey, not bad! Too bad ya look like a total string bean. You've gotta stop slouching! And start wearing clothes that are more form-fitting or something."

"Woah, calm down. I'd hate for you to start losing modelling jobs to me."

"We could always pose together," she sung, skipping past him to plant herself firmly in his path and strike her fiercest pose.

He grinned, applauding her showmanship. "Well as enchanting as I'm sure you'd make me look, that might give everyone the wrong idea, no?"

She winked, poking her tongue out at him mischievously. "Hmmm… you're right. Fancy that."

He averted his eyes and slipped his hands into his pockets, immediately feeling the rigid shift in his countenance as he tried to find anything other than her probing stare to focus on. He was trying to obscure the fervour welling up underneath his skin, the same exhilaration that always threatened to burst forth whenever they towed the line between friendly banter and coquetry. It alarmed him how receptive he was to the back and forth and how dangerously close they always seemed to overstep the bounds of friendship. For someone who had spent a majority of his life keeping his cards close to his chest, their interactions were met with the same amount of intrigue and excitement, as they were hesitance and trepidation.

What the hell is wrong with me, he chastised himself inwardly, walking past her frame, as she continued to stand there bewildered by his sudden reticence.

In a split second, he managed to catch her ordinarily congenial features shift and evince a poignancy that he had not seen on her face since the Kamoshida ordeal. He felt awful for dampening the mood with his apprehension, the pensive look on her face leaving him with the unpleasant taste of ash in his mouth. Soon, he felt her presence beside him again, ready to resume their walk. It had only taken a few moments for the awkward tension to abate, with Akira reverting the conversation back to idle chatter concerning the tedium of Mr. Inui's last lecture, a topic trivial enough for them to not be able to attribute any deeper meaning to the words they spoke.

They finally said their goodbyes when they eventually reached Ann's building, with Akira watching her give one final wave before the automatic glass doors shut behind her. Long after they parted, he found that her honeyed laughter and the glimmer of her alabaster skin against the brilliant orange hue of the sunlight were still tattooed in his brain. He smiled for the entirety of his trip back to Leblanc, inadvertently verifying the indisputable truth, that boys did indeed like Ann.