A/N - A bit of a fast update. But I wanted to get this out before ShuAnn week next week…

So… here it is!


Chapter 8 - Trust vs Mistrust

"She's pregnant..."

Ren's eyes must've shot a mile wide. He must've heard that wrong. Ann was... what...?

...WHAT!?

"She's... what?" he asked again, feeling his stomach drop.

"She's pregnant," Makoto repeated, still avoiding his gaze.

He stood frozen, his world practically stopping in place. Pregnant...? She's... pregnant? Pregnant!? By... him? Him!? No way! That had to be a joke!

Apparently, Ryuji was just as shocked, his jaw practically dropping to the ground when he let out a dazed, "H-Holy shit..."

The paramedic looked at Makoto, then to Ren, then to Makoto again.

"Oh. Thanks for the information, Miss. That's very important to know. Thank you."

The paramedics wheeled Ann up to the back of the ambulance. Then, one of them asked, "Do any of you want to accompany her?"

Had Ren not been so stunned speechless, he would've offered to go, pressing and demanding answers the moment she woke up. What was going on? Was it true? Was she really pregnant—by him? Was he really going to be a father? If so... why? Why didn't she tell him? Was she planning on handling this herself? Was she insane!?

Makoto raised her hand, saying, "I'll go." and then turned to the group."I'll message you guys the details once we arrive. Meet you guys there," she told them, and then made her way into the back of the vehicle.

"Alright," Haru said with a firm nod, looking at one of the paramedics, who was making his way around to the front of the ambulance. "Which hospital are you guys taking her to?"

"Tokyo University Hospital," he answered as he entered the vehicle, strapping his seatbelt and then saying to her before shutting the door, "It's the closest one we can take her to."

"Thank you." She gave a brief bow, watching the ambulance drive off before she turned to Ren and Ryuji. "Okay. Come on, guys. Let's go."

"Haru..." Ren said, still in disbelief over everything that just unraveled right in front of him. "Did you already know?"

His bouffant-haired friend looked a bit nervous to answer, and then said, "Yes."

"Am I... the father?"

She nodded.

He really couldn't believe what he was hearing. This couldn't be happening. Ann's pregnant... by him—and he never knew!? Seriously—why didn't she tell him!? Shouldn't he know something like this? Wasn't this a big thing?

"Why... Why didn't she tell me?" Ren asked, feeling a mix of confusion and anger. Did she not trust him enough to tell him this?

"Ren..." Haru said, looking down at her feet for a second, then looking back up at him. "I think... this will have to be something you and Ann need to discuss together. Right now, let's just find where this place is at."

"But—"

Ryuji laid a hand on his shoulder. "She's right, dude. Come on. Let's get goin'."

Reluctantly, Ren conceded, knowing that's the only option for now. With that decided, he walked alongside his friends, trying to make sense of what he had just learned while figuring out where this place was.


"Ugh..."

Ann woke up on her left side, an array of medical supplies and monitors being some of the first things she noticed in her vision. Wires were all over her chest and limbs. She winced as she sat up on the gurney, feeling the most thunderous ache in her head.

Makoto jumped in her seat. "Ann! You're awake! Thank god!"

"W-Where am I?" asked Ann, the oxygen mask sealed around her nose and mouth fogging up with each breath she took.

"The back of the ambulance, Miss," said a man across from her brunette friend, hanging up a bag of fluids on a pole nearby that would connect to the IV in her hand. "How are you feeling?"

"A bit dizzy..." she replied in a daze, rubbing her forehead.

"Are you having any pain right now?"

"Just my head. Everywhere else is fine."

"Your blood pressure is low and your pulse is a bit high." He pointed to the numbers on the monitor screen next to her. "We're going to administer some fluids to help bring that up a bit."

There was a moment of quiet, then Ann looked to the paramedic.

"Umm... I'm not sure if anyone told you... but I'm pregnant."

"Ah, yes. This young lady informed me here earlier," he mentioned, craning his head toward Makoto.

There was a look of contrite on Makoto's face, which Ann could not decipher. Did something else happen at the festival she wasn't aware of?

Ann went on anyways, looking back at the paramedic. "Is... my baby okay?"

"Well, unfortunately, we won't be able to confirm that until we get to the hospital. But don't panic. There's no bleeding or signs of anything going wrong with the pregnancy. That, I can assure you."

It wasn't the answer she was hoping for, but it wasn't negative news. Hearing that there were no alarming signs was fairly reassuring. As long as her baby wasn't injured or harmed as a result of her fall, all was good.

The blonde looked at her crestfallen friend, wondering why she looked so remorseful. "What's wrong, Makoto? You look upset."

"He knows…" she finally said, her voice low and meek.

Ann bobbed her head to the side.

"Who knows… what?"

"Ren…" Makoto fumbled with her hands nervously. "He knows you're pregnant."

The blonde's heart nearly stopped.

"W-What…?" Ann said, her eyes wider than saucers. "But how—"

"I'm sorry, Ann. I had to," Makoto interjected, her hands no longer fidgeting. "What if you hadn't woken up and they did tests or give you drugs that's harmful to the baby?"

Ann said nothing, still stunned speechless.

"The people here need to know these things, Ann… Not only so they know how to treat you, but so they could also pass it on to the hospital staff when you get there," she rationalized, then bowed her head deeply. "I'm sorry, Ann! I know you wanted to tell him when you were ready—but I couldn't risk yours and the baby's health. I'm so sorry!"

The blonde looked at the brunette in silence for a while, mortified that the secret is out, but understood why it had to be told. Ann didn't blame Makoto for what she had to do—she certainly had noble intentions. If there was anyone to blame here, it was Ann herself for not telling Ren in the first place. Some of the drama here could've been avoided had she been more honest with him.

She reached out for her distressed friend's shoulder, giving it a gentle pat. "No, Makoto. Don't be. I would've done the same too if I were in your position."

"Ann…" Makoto looked up at her, her expression still full of remorse.

Ann smiled. "You had good intentions, and I appreciate you watching out for my baby. You saved my baby from harm... Thank you."

"But… what about—"

Ann shook her head. "No. He had to find out sooner or later. Haru was right. Ren deserves to know the truth. I've been delaying it for too long…"

"I…" Makoto paused, tearing her gaze away from Ann again. "I just wish he didn't have to learn all of this under these circumstances. If there was someone he needed to hear the pregnancy from, it was from you. And I just potentially ruined your guys'—"

"Please, Makoto," Ann tried to reassure again. "You did what you had to do. Please don't beat yourself over this."

Makoto said nothing for a moment and then...

"I just hope he doesn't get too upset over this."

"What goes on between Ren and I is between us," Ann stated emphatically, looking in her friend's crimson eyes. "And... whatever happens after all of this is on me. No one else but me… So don't worry about it, Makoto. Please stop blaming yourself for what happened, okay?"

"Ann…"

"I don't know how he'll react—and I have a feeling it won't be good." Ann looked down at her lap for a moment, then looked back at the brunette with determination. "But, I'll face him head on and accept the consequences of my actions. I can't keep delaying this. It's time he learned the truth."

Makoto smiled at her resolve. "Right. Let's hope for the best."

"Mhm." Ann hummed with a firm nod, returning a reassuring smile to her friend.


It was a hellhole when Ren, Ryuji, and Haru arrived at Tokyo University Hospital's Emergency Room. From patients with broken limbs, to confusion and delirium, to chest and body pains, all sorts of people awaited in the waiting room to be evaluated.

"Only two visitors are allowed at a time," said the triage nurse behind the front desk. "There's already one in with her right now, so one more could go in."

"I'll go first," Haru said, looking over at Ryuji and then to Ren. "Is that alright with you guys?"

They both nodded, Ryuji chiming in with that wide toothy grin, "I'll keep him company while you girls talk. I'm pretty sure Ann wants to see you ladies first before us dudes."

Haru smiled with a brief nod, then went on her way toward the back.

The guys found two empty spots at the back, taking a seat there amongst the crowded area.

"Why didn't she tell me…?" Ren let out as soon as he sat down, leaning over with his hands digging through his tousled locks. "Why would she hide something like this from me?"

Ryuji placed a hand on his back. "She was probably scared."

"Of what?" His head shot up, a glint of anger in his eye. "What could she possibly be scared of exactly?"

"Hey, man. I get it. I know you're upset," Ryuji empathized. "But you gotta calm down."

"How!?" he snarled, earning a few stares from curious strangers around them. "Here I am trying to be honest with her. Here I am worrying sick about her. I've lent an ear to her problems—I've done nothing but supported her as a good friend. And she pulls crap like this and lies to my face the entire time? Does she not trust me enough to tell me these kind of things? What did I do to make her so doubtful of me?"

"I know, dude. But calm down. Until you hear Ann's part in this, you gotta stay calm if you want her to open up to you."

"Granted… I'm afraid too," Ren admitted, continuing on. "I don't know anything about parenthood or being a good father. But don't I deserve to know this? Don't I have a part in this? Does she not want me taking part in caring for this child—our child?"

"Come on. Ann's an idiot for not tellin' you sooner, but I'm pretty sure she didn't mean on leavin' you out in the dust for that long. She probably just needed time to sort out her thoughts before comin' out clean to you."

"I don't know." The fuming man gave a doubtful look. "She seemed so hellbent on avoiding me."

"I know it seems bad right now. But try to hear from her side of the story before jumpin' to conclusions," Ryuji stressed, turning toward him more. "I mean, think about it—put yourself in her shoes and imagine you're her for a sec: You two aren't even together yet, and yet were foolin' around in the past few months as fuck buddies—or whatever you call it. Then suddenly, you get pregnant with his kid? You're supposedly just friends and it wasn't even planned. How do you think he's gonna take it?"

Ren quieted for a moment, the crease between his brows easing a bit.

"Look. I get it. I'd be pissed too if I were in your position." His blond friend continued, leaning back into his seat. "But I guess, in a way, I could also see where Ann might be comin' from. Doesn't mean she's in the right, but I can kinda see why she'd be reluctant in tellin' you."

Yeah. Maybe Ryuji had a point. Ann probably had her reasons of not relaying the information to him. But still, the fact that Ann tried to hide something big like this from him not only angered him to no end, but disappointed him greatly. What was she thinking, in trying to handle this all herself? Did she not trust him enough to be reliable, after all the sacrifices he had made in the past for not only her, but his friends too? Did spending months in juvie those years ago to protect her and his friends not demonstrate his loyalty enough?

Children. Fatherhood. He wasn't ready, of course. Hell, he didn't know what to expect out of it. The thought of someday having kids crossed his mind a few times in his life, but it never dawned to him that it could've happened sooner than later. However, he still deserved to know this, despite her fears. How long did Ann plan on keeping this from him? Better yet—was she ever going to tell him at all?

He took off his glasses for a moment to rub the area between his tired eyes. He was so tired of all these secrets and lies. When he tried to be honest with her, she ran—she refused to hear him out and ran away. Why did she have to make things even more complicated when the simple solution was just to communicate with him?

He loved Ann, but… why couldn't she see that? It was obvious he would do anything for her—that he cared about her to no end. But, why did she have to be so blind to all of it? Why would she think that them having a baby was going to push him away from her?

Perhaps... she wasn't ready to open herself up to him. She didn't trust him enough to tell him about the baby—perhaps she didn't trust him at all. Why? Did their friendship mean nothing to her? All those years of ups and downs they went through together—the Phantom Thieves, Kamoshida, Shiho, their successes, their break-ups—did they mean nothing to her?

He loved her. He truly loved her. But... was loving her the right thing—if she can't trust him at all?

Ren let out a long sigh. This was all too much for him.

"God. Why are women so complicated?" Ren finally managed to say, slumping back in his seat.

Ryuji laughed. "You're tellin' me, dude…."


"How is he?" Ann looked at Haru as soon as the doctor left the room.

"Hm?" Haru bobbed her head to the side.

"Ren," she clarified, swallowing a lump coiling in her throat. "Is he okay?"

"He's fine," Haru replied. "He was pretty shocked by the news though."

"Yeah... I bet he's mad too," the blonde added ruefully.

"To be honest... I'm not sure. He didn't say much during the trip here."

"I see..." Ann's gaze went to her own hands, fidgeting with each other in great unease.

"But... now that he knows, this is the time to face him head on and talk things out with him," said Haru, placing a hand over Ann's. "Be brave, Ann. You can do this. We believe in you."

"I-I know... It's just... I'm nervous..." Ann admitted, fretting over the possible scenarios that could befall the moment he walked in the room. "He's probably so angry at me right now, and he has every right to be. I should've told him at the festival when we were alone—no, I should've told him sooner. But I couldn't because I was so indecisive!"

"Ann..."Makoto chimed in from the other side of the bed, placing a hand over her shoulder. "Ren might be angry. But whatever happens, know that we'll always be here for you if you ever need anything. You're never alone. Remember that."

Ann looked to Makoto with a small smile. "Thanks, Makoto. I'm so glad to have you girls as my friends."

Both Haru and Makoto stood up.

"Well, are you ready? Should we go get him now?" Makoto asked.

Ann gave a firm nod, knowing what needed to be done. "Yeah. Have to face him sooner of later..."

With that said, the ladies left the room, leaving Ann to internally prepare herself.

There was no turning back now.

Ann felt her chest tighten, stomach turning as she waited for Ren's visit. She knew he was going to be mad, so she braced herself for the worst. At worst, he'd say he'd want nothing to do with her and that she was on her own. If that's the case, then Ann would have to respect that. He had every right to be upset—she lied to him over something so big after all.

A few minutes later, the curtains slid open and there he was, sharing a look with her for a brief moment before shutting them for their privacy. He seemed surprisingly calm, but Ann definitely felt the tense aura from him as he walked over to her, taking a seat on the stool nearby the bed. The air grew heavier—taut—and the pulse sounds on her monitor hastened as she felt her heart panicking. There definitely was no turning back now. Ann took in a deep breath, then out, having no choice but to face the inevitable.

"How are you feeling?" was the first thing he asked, still stoically calm.

"I'm okay… just dizzy. That's all," she said, still keeping herself on the err of caution.

He clasped his hands over his lap. "Makoto told me that the doctor said it was just anemia and exhaustion. Is that right?"

"Yeah..." Ann replied. "Told me I'm going to need to take an iron supplement for the time being."

"I see," said Ren, looking down at his hands. "At least... you're okay."

Silence lingered between them amidst the tumult noises coming from outside the room. People shouting orders nearby, carts and equipment rushing from down the hall, a monitor going off the hook from the room across from hers, something announced on an intercom that prompted even more disarrayed noises coming from the said room...

This definitely wasn't the place to have a long and serious discussion with him about her pregnancy, but what could she do? She hoped the person across from her was okay though.

"I heard you're pregnant," he said after a while, setting Ann's anxiety at its peak.

"Y-Yeah…" the nervous blonde replied, the monitor picking up her quickening heart again.

"I'm…" He slowly looked up at her, looking like he needed confirmation. "...the father, right?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"Is the baby okay?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied. "The doctor said the baby's alright."

Silence lingered between them for another moment before Ren went on.

"How far in?"

"11 weeks."

He crossed his arms, knitting his brows. "So... You've known for this long and didn't tell me?" he questioned, his voice now stern.

"Well… Technically, I've only known for about three weeks," she said, knowing that it probably would not ease the anger obviously building up in him.

"Three weeks is still a pretty long time to ponder..."

Ann said nothing, tearing her gaze from his.

He quieted for maybe about ten seconds, and then finally asked, "Were you ever going to tell me...?"

Ann finally looked at him.

"I wanted to tell you, Ren. But—"

"So, why didn't you tell me?" His tone sharpened, laced with embitterment.

"I… I wanted to…." she answered meekly, grasping the blanket over her lap. "But I-I was scared."

"Of what?"

"Of how you'd react. That you'd be upset—angry..." she said, feeling herself tremble under his intense gaze. "...That you'd blame me for being so irresponsible... That you'd want nothing to do with me..."

"Why would you think that?"

"You said that you didn't want kids..."

His brows raised. "Huh? When did I say that?"

"When I asked you at the diner, I wanted to tell you, but didn't know how to bring it up, so I wanted to see your take on the topic before telling you," she explained, releasing her grip on the blanket after a while. "But... when you told me you didn't know, and that it was too early for you to tell, I got scared."

Ren said nothing in response to that, looking as if he were contemplating on it for a bit before his expression softened. He then uncrossed his arms.

"Ann..." he said as he leaned forward, his tone a bit softer now. "I said I wasn't sure if I wanted kids... not that I 'never' wanted them."

Ann blinked a few times. Oh. Right. That's what he said. She quieted, feeling like a bigger idiot than she was.

"Regardless..." he went on, "You should've told me. I deserve to know this too, you know?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she had to be strong. She wasn't allowed to cry. No excuses. She placed this upon herself, so she had to face the consequences of her actions.

"I know... I... I'm sorry," she apologized meekly, choking on the words. "Yell at me all you want. Tell me I'm stupid and selfish. Please—I deserve it!"

Ren shook his head. "I'm not going to yell at you and call you names. But, I will say that I'm very disappointed, and extremely upset that you'd think I'd leave you out in the dust like that," he spoke genuinely, silver eyes now saddened. "What have I ever done to make you doubt me? What kind of man do you think I am?"

Ann said nothing, still trying to hold onto her tough facade.

"I've done nothing but shown that I care for you over and over. That... I've been a loyal friend. What about the sacrifices I've made for you and the team in the past? Do they not matter to you?"

Ann couldn't hold it in any longer, his honest words tugging at her heartstrings. How could she have been so blind to it all? Of all the things he had done for the team—for her. It was as if she had completely forgotten them all. A tear drop fell, then two, then three. "I know... I know, I'm so sorry... I..." she began to sob, feeling ashamed of working herself up over something so ludicrous.

"I thought we were friends, Ann. Or do you not consider me one anymore?"

"Of course I consider you my friend!" she cried out, voice cracking. "I—"

"But you don't even trust me enough to support you through something as big as this," he pointed out, cutting her off.

"That's not—"

"You can't even be honest with me..."

"I wanted to tell you, Ren...but—"

"But, you didn't," he cut her off again, looking away.

"I was going to tell you eventually..." she tried to explain again. "I just... I just needed time!"

"How much time is enough, Ann?" Ren's eyes shot back at her, frustration growing back in them. "I know you were scared. I get it. I honestly do. I'd be scared in your position too—to be pregnant under these circumstances, where it was unplanned, especially considering the status of our relationship," he empathized, but went on in disheartenment, "But still... It hurts that you'd keep something like this from me for that long. You'd always go on about how reliable I am, how trustworthy I am. You even told me that I was the one of the few who you could go to in a pinch, that I'm your light. Yet... you can't even tell me something as big as this? Which is it, Ann? Do you trust me or not?"

"I-I..." she stammered.

"Or..." he paused, his eyes dispirited, "...am I not man enough for you?"

"No, Ren! That's not—"

He raised his hand. "Enough of these excuses, Ann. I get it... You just don't trust me to be responsible."

"Ren..." she said as her sobs dwindled, wanting to say more but couldn't. Nothing she said could repair the damage she just made between them. So, she remained silent, knowing any attempt in reassuring him would be futile now.

Ren leaned back, letting out a long doleful sigh. Much to her surprise, he had no other words to vent, allowing another moment of silence between them. Eventually, he spoke up, "Well... what do you want to do?"

"I..." Ann stopped for a moment, looking in the distance, "...want to keep our child..." she finished with a firm resolve, wiping her eyes dry. "I'm going to do the best I can to support him or her with all I have."

"Okay." He gave a firm nod. "So, what do you want me to do?"

"It's... up to you," she said, adding, "But, whichever you choose, I won't hold it against you—especially after everything I've done."

He said nothing for a moment and then his face moved forward, inches from meeting hers.

"Alright then. Let me make something clear, Ann..." he told her in a stern tone, looking at her straight in the eye. "I'm going to help and support you as much as I can for you and the child—our child—regardless of our status right now. Not just because it's the right thing to do, but because I care about you and the future of our child. I can't leave you to handle this on your own because that's not the kind of guy I am, Ann."

Ann nodded.

"But... that's it. That's all I'm going to do. As for us—our relationship..." he stopped, backing away from her. "There's something obviously between us, and I... was hoping for something more, and I know you did too..."

Her eyes widened.

He then looked back at her, uncertainty in his eyes. "But now, I don't know. I think... I need some time to think about it, and you should too," he said, allowing another quiet pause between them before continuing, "However, I think our priority should be our baby. Let's focus on that for now."

Silence came again as Ann turned her gaze downward for a moment, then looked back at him with acceptance. "You're right... " she agreed with a firm nod. "I think that's the best thing to do for now.."

Ren stood up, making his way toward the exit of the room. Before leaving, he took another long glance at her and said,

"I just... wish you had a little more faith in me, Ann."

And with that said, he walked off, giving Ann some more time to ponder over everything spoken between them.

"There's something obviously between us, and I... was hoping for something more, and I know you did too..."

So, he did feel something for her.

"But now, I don't know. I think... I need some time to think about it, and you should too..."

But... she screwed up. Big time. What was she thinking—hiding her pregnancy from him? He had done nothing but shown care and support for her. He had always been a good friend to her. How could she forget all of that? How could she view him in such a disreputable way?

No wonder he's so doubtful now.

"However, I think our priority should be our baby. Let's focus on that for now."

Ann sighed, feeling a weight lifting off her chest at the conclusion of their conversation. He was right; their focus should be on their baby. All issues between them should be pushed aside for now.

Still, if only she told him at that moment in the festival—no—if only she told him sooner than that, they wouldn't be in this position now.

Well, she could regret all she wanted, but it wouldn't change a thing now. All she could do was move forward, accept the consequences of her actions, and do the best she could with what she had at this point...

Because that's all she could do for now.


End A/N - Ren might be upset, but he still decides to help her anyways, because that's the kinda guy he is.

As for Ren and Ann… Will they reconcile? Will they ever get together and make a happy family with the baby? We shall see in the next chapters ahead.

Until then,

RVK