I was originally sort of ambivalent towards the DLC Personas and some of the costumes (gotta get me that Catherine DLC though), but then I saw you could get Asterius and Tsukiyomi. They even have some of their Ultimax skills.

...That's...that's not fair.

"I didn't know you bothered to work out outside of the Metaverse."

"Gotta keep up with...everything. Would be...ugh, embarrassing if I got knocked out while we were in a Palace, or Mementos, or...something."

Akira huffed as he pulled himself up, kicking out subconsciously as he lowered himself down from the beam he was hanging from. Makoto sat on his bed, quietly snacking on some of the donuts she had thoughtfully brought over as she chatted with Akira. "I suppose that would be detrimental to our operations."

"Mhm…"

Akira grunted as he managed another pull-up, blowing out a breath as Makoto idly licked some of the crumbs off her thumb. "I do wonder how you can march along without a care in the world even as the rest of us are floundering."

"Well!" Akira did another pull-up and lowered himself to his stepping chair, hopping neatly into its seat and picking his water bottle from the floor. "I wouldn't say you flounder. You have way more energy than I."

Makoto watched him take a few precious pulls from the cold drink, muttering, "Hmm...you're making me put serious consideration into buying a punching bag."

"Where would you keep it? I imagine your sister wouldn't be too into that."

"True...I could keep it here."

"Well, you already spend a decent amount of time here. Wouldn't want to distract you from your studies."

He winked and took another swig from his water, sighing in satisfaction and placing it back on the floor. "Y'know, as much as I do already."

He hopped back onto the chair and jumped to grab the beam. As soon as he affirmed his grip with another hand, Akira set right back to work doing pull-ups. Makoto tried to offer some topics of conversation, but he seemed to be too engrossed in his workout this time around. Any answers he actually gave were short or vague at best, and simple noises of acknowledgement at worst. "You failed your midterms."

"Gah, that's disappointing.."

Akira's comment was rather monotonous, leading Makoto to muse that he truly was focused on his workout. "Ryuji was arrested."

"Again?"

"I-...what?" Makoto paused, putting a hand to her chin in thought as Akira laughed breathlessly, pulling himself up on the beam and lowering himself in another rep.

"Heh, gotcha."

She sighed, brushing some hair behind her ear and airily remarking, "Marry me, Akira."

"Whoa, what?!"

Akira's arm twitched and slipped from the beam, and he fell hard onto his back in his shock, curling slightly into a ball and groaning in pain. Makoto was at his side in seconds, hovering over him in evident concern. "I'm so sorry! I-I didn't think you were listening."

She pulled his head onto her lap and brushed some of the hair off his face. Akira managed a chuckle, nuzzling against her lap and curling into himself a bit. "Well, you were right, I was kinda zoning out there."

"What was that noise?! Are you both alright up there?"

Sojiro rushed up the stairs, a mug clutched in his hand as he beheld the two sitting on the floor. He stared at Akira's balled up form and raised an eyebrow. "What the-...are you two fighting or something?"

"She ambushed me, Boss…"

Akira groaned again and buried his face in Makoto's lap, leaving the student council president to blush and mutter another apology. Sojiro relaxed, placing the mug next to Akira's school bag and dragging a hand down his face. "You two are ridiculous sometimes. Go on a real date or something."

He sighed and walked back into the cafe, leaving the two to their own devices. "...Why did he bring a mug with him?"

Makoto shook her head, absently playing with Akira's hair as he rolled onto his back. "He likely intended to brain any intruders with it."

"Lucky for them."

She nodded, leaving Akira to gaze towards the ceiling. Makoto closed her eyes as a comfortable silence settled in the room, smiling when she felt Akira reach up and caress her cheek. "Are you free tomorrow?"

"I can make time for you. Did you have something in mind?"

"Yeah, I read about this new park the other day…"