Author's Note: Alright, you perverted weirdo fuh-reaks! I've had this chapter ready for about a month and a half and now I can finally publish it. I know a lot of you have been waiting for this (Yes! I'm talkin' to you, Zindakku Hirokai! Lol XD) so here ya go!

Warning: The following chapter contains content that explains why this fanfic is rated M for "Mm Mm Mmmm!". The paragraphs containing such content are labeled with (XXXXX), so reader's discretion is advised. But hey! I won't tell if you won't! *winky winky*

Enjoy!


Persona 5: Shots Through the Heart

Shot 27: The Day of Hearts


All was as quiet as can be after everyone went home satisfied with the outcome of the party celebrating Akira's release from prison party, as well as Phantom Thieves' disbandment. Morgana's return, good food, and more importantly, the long awaited, heartwarming reunion with his best friends and his love. Even though there was a mention of his returning home in March, everyone was just happy he was a free man, so there were bright and cheerful smiles at the end of the day.

xxx

Akira sighs as he falls back on his bed in the attic, which was bliss compared to the steel trap he slept on in solitary confinement.

"Phew! I don't think I'll be able to eat again til I go home next month," he groans as he smack his stomach. Morgana leaps onto the bed beside him.

"Delicious food, fluffy sheets… I've graduated from the life of a stray cat," he says. "I guess home is what you make of it… even in this abandoned building of all places." Akira chuckles and nods in agreement.

"Home is where the heart is. And a piece of mine will always be here." Mona pads over to Akira's head and looms over his face.

"Hey, take care of me like this back home too, okay?" Akira pets his cat friend along his back, making him purr.

"No problem, Mona."

At that instant, Akira's phone goes off. Akira sits up, pulls it out of his pocket, and looks through his chat messages, Mona padding over to look.

Ann: Hey there, my little bad boy! Hehehe! ;) Let's hang out tomorrow!

- It'll be part two for the celebration of your release from prison! Just you and me!

- There's something I wanna give you too. Is it OK if I come by your place?

"Speaking of where my heart is…" Akira chuckles.

"Oh yeah, that's right," Mona says. "Of course she'd wanna come over. Tomorrow's Valentine's Day, isn't it?" Akira sits up in shock.

"WAIT! IT IS?!" Akira checks the calendar on his phone and sees that today is indeed the thirteenth of February. He excitedly stomps his feet on the bed and snickers with glee.

"WOO HOO HOO! I! Got! Lucky!"

Akira: Oh! My! GOD! I completely forgot tomorrow's Valentine's Day! I seriously got out just in time! LOL XD

- Definitely come over! I'll be waiting! ;)

Ann: Awesome! I'll come over late in the day.

- Night, baby! Luv u! XXXXX"

"You never change, do you?" Mona sighs.

"Not for anybody!" Mona finds his place on the bed and curls himself up into a ball.

"Come on, lover boy. Let's go to bed. You're helping out in the shop from tomorrow on, right?" Akira quickly pulls the covers over himself and hastens to slumber, anxiously awaiting his romantic evening with Ann tomorrow.

xxx

Today is officially February fourteenth, Valentine's Day, when love struck woman offer sweet chocolatey gifts and their love and affection to their desired male counterpart.

During lunch break at Shujin, a number of couples are being lovey dovey to each other, the girls especially since they have to give gifts to their boyfriends or crushes. It was a time of joy for couples, but an eyesore for single guy. One, in particular.

"First, Christmas Eve. Now, Valentine's Day." That's what the blonde monkey groans as he leers at all the couples fawning over each other in the halls. The chocolate giving, the high pitched giggling, the new relationships forming, the hugs, the kisses… oh dear God, the kisses. The sight of it all made his single man blood boil so hot, he could survive the worst blizzard.

As he angrily wolfs down the bento meal his mom made him, he sees Makoto walking his way and sees a bit of hope.

"Yooo! 'Sup, Ms. Prez!" he bellows with a big smile. "Ain't it a great today?! Gotta love all this snow, am I right?" Makoto stops and looks at Ryuji with an emotionless face.

"My sister wouldn't approve and neither would I," she says. Ryuji hangs his head.

"Ha… Thought so…"

"Good afternoon, you two." Haru comes strolling down from the other way.

"Same to you, Haru," Makoto says with a smile. Ryuji finds hope again as he turns a smile to Haru.

"Haru-senpai! 'Sup! Ain't it a great day to-" Haru shakes her head.

"I've already been through an ordeal with one vulgar man," she says deadpanly. "I'd rather not go through another." Ryuji hangs his head again.

"Now that just straight up hurt!" The three suddenly receive a message on their phones at the same time. It's from Yusuke.

Yusuke: Would any of you like some chocolate? A large number of female classmates at my school keep showering me with boxes of treats and I can't eat it all.

Ryuji's soul grows colder at the sight of Yusuke's message.

Ryuji: … Okay… Y'know what...?

- FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!

"Ryuji!" Makoto scolds. Ryuji stomps his foot and pulls at his hair in seething anger.

"AGGGGGH! What the hell?!" he roars. "Are perverted weirdo freaks in high demand or some shit?! Seriously! Why ain't I gettin' any chocolates?!"

"Yusuke-kun certainly does have good looks, now that I think about it," Haru admits.

"And I don't?! Plus, I know I ain't your types, but we were on the same team! You could've at least gotten me some kinda friendship or teammate choc-" The former track star suddenly catches eye of something that he thought was impossible.

"... You're shittin' me…" The two senpais turn where their underclassman is looking and see Mishima receiving a big box of chocolate from a cute blushing brunette otaku girl with glasses and a long braid. After a short conversation, the two exchange contact info, the girl excitedly runs away squealing, and Mishima starts doing a little victory dance. It's safe to say he got lucky.

"Oh! Good for him!" Makoto says with a smile. "He's a really nice guy and he deserves it." Ryuji slides down the wall, feeling utterly dejected and unloved.

"Screeew hiiim! I have no true friends in this stupid, crazy, ridiculous world!" he cries out.

"Come now, Ryuji-kun," Haru sighs.

"It's true, dammit! First, Akira breaks the Bro Code and lies about for freakin' months! Now, Mishima of all people is getting some action!" The three hear someone's loud giggling echoing through the halls and getting louder, meaning the one having the giggle fit is coming their way.

"Speakin' of Akira breaking the Bro Code," Ryuji groans. "Here comes the girl he broke it with..." The blonde Vague model skips and dances through the hall with the biggest smile on her face, flush flooding into her cheeks to bring out the perfect shade of red.

"I think I can see all the hearts she's flooding the halls with," Haru giggles. Makoto smiles and nods as Ann joyfully approaches the group.

"Hiii, everyone!" she cheerfully shouts. "Isn't today the best day?!" Ryuji groans and Makoto laughs.

"Well, you seem to be the most positive you've ever been today," Makoto says. Ann holds her face in her hands and start pacing back and forth as she enters deep deep thought.

"I can't help it. I'm have like, the worst case of being in love ever. I mean, yeah, it's an emotion; a feeling and you can't exactly define like, technically, how you know when you're feeling it, but since I never felt it before this year, how do I know what I'm feeling is even it all, ya know?" When Makoto tries to talk…

"Except, of course, for the fact that I'm feeling all these things I've never felt before, like in my stomach and in my chest and in my throat and in my face and even in my ears… I mean, it's gotta be true love, right? It has to be, considering I only feel it when I'm with Akira or thinking about him, which is 24/7, 365… I-It's just simple, unconditional, uncontrollable, uncontainable love, right?" Haru tries to talk, but…

"Cuz I'm feeling all these things that I've heard about in songs and seen on TV, but never completely got. But now, I get it SO much! I do! And now I'm listening to all this music and seeing all these shows in a whole new amazing way cuz I'm thinking about Akira all the time, so it's gotta be love! What do you guys think?!" Ryuji gets up and covers his senpai's mouth, knowing she's still not done.

"And I can't stop thinking about him, guys! I never, ever, for-never, ever wanna cuz he's the greatest, coolest, sweetest, strongest, funniest, handsomest, cutest guy ever and treats me like a princess and he has the most adorable laugh and his arms feel like heaven and his kisses are the sweetest things I've ever tasted and I know I look and sound like the biggest blonde airhead right now, but I… I…!" Ann starts squealing and spinning around, unable to contain her overflowing happiness. Her senpai laugh as the grab her arms to keep her still.

"Hey, calm down!" Makoto chuckles. "You're gonna make yourself explode before your date if you don't keep it all under control!" Ann puts her hands over her heart and nods, taking deep breaths to calm herself.

"Y-Yeah, yeah! Sorry! M-My heart's been r-racing since last night, so… yeah!"

"Hehehe! You really love him, don't you, Ann-chan?" Haru giggles. Ann shuts her eyes and nods as Ryuji rolls his eyes.

"For the record, I'm having sooo much fun listening to this," he groans in absolute disgust. "Wheeeeee~! UGH!" Ann pulls out two small boxes of chocolate and gives one each to her senpai.

"Oh! Before I forget! Here's some treats for you two!" She pulls out another two and gives them both to Ryuji.

"And these are for you!" Ryuji, surprised by her generous gift, takes the boxes.

"Both of these?! Why?!" Ann wraps an arm around his shoulder and lightly punches his stomach once.

"Cuz Ryuji, you big stupid knucklehead, I want you to know that you're like my annoying brother and I love that you're in my life!" The school bell rings, signalling the five minute warning before class starts.

"Welp, better get going! See yaaa~!" The three watch Ann joyfully skip away to her classroom.

"See, Ryuji?" Makoto says. "Ann gave you chocolate."

"That's only cuz Akira's making her explode happy firework shows! Ugh! I'm goin' to class!"

xxx

Ann rushed straight home to freshen up and change clothes for her night date.

Her bathroom door opens and she emerges from the thick cloud of steam in nothing but a towel after taking a good long shower. As she walks to the mirror on her door, the bounce of her noticeably large bosom makes the knot on her towel come undone.

"Kya!" Her face turns red as she catches her towel and hurriedly does the knot over. She sighs in relief, as well as annoyance, as she stares at the two lumps on her chest.

"Haven't you two ever heard of the phrase "too big"?" she asks her constantly growing breasts. Looking at them suddenly reminds of the time she was willing to let her boyfriend touch them during their Hawaii date.

Thinking back, that was one of the stupidest ideas I've ever had, she thinks. … Still… I would've been okay with it…

She recalls all the times he's playful bullied her. The merciless tickling, the tight hugging, and the verbal teases. They were all lustful, but they were just the right amount of lustful to leave her wanting more.

All the memories suddenly lead back to something that happened yesterday during Akira's Welcome Back party.

xxx

While everyone was enjoying themselves, Ryuji waves at Akira to get his attention.

"By the by…" Akira turns Ryuji, who then glares and points at him.

"BRO CODE VIOLATION!" Akira rolls his eyes.

"Oh boy, here we go…" he sighs. Ryuji then points at Ann.

"I can't believe you were lyin' to me about not havin' a girlfriend for almost a year! And it's her, of all people!"

"I told you I was into her when you, me, and Yusuke went to the bathhouse after that hot pot dinner, didn't I?" Akira asks.

"Yeah, but you lied straight to my face when you said you didn't have a girl back in Hawa-" In the middle of his rant, Ryuji suddenly gasps when he recalls something.

"Wait… I saw a couple chillin' on bench while watchin' the sunset… The girl had blonde hair and the guy- DAMMIT, THAT WAS YOU TWO!" Akira glares at his bro.

"Yeah! Cuz it was way better than having my pride killed again by another failed Operation Babe Hunt!" he says. "Don't lie! I saw you!" Ryuji directs his rage at everyone else.

"And I was seriously the only one who didn't know?!"

"We all agreed that it was something you didn't need to know," Futaba says.

"Of course I needed to know! My best friend's been rockin' the sheets with one of hottest girls in our school!" The couple's faces turn into red light bulbs.

Ak+An: "WE HAVEN'T DONE ANY OF THAT, DUMBASS!"

"Oh, like I'm gonna believe that after this long!" Sojiro shakes his head.

"No. They really haven't." Ryuji turns to the old man.

"Huh? How do you know?!" Sojiro gives him the usual smirk.

"He he. An experienced man can tell at first glance." The word "experienced" sends a chill down Futaba and Akira's spines.

Ak+F: "Ewwwwwww!"

"Well, that explains so much," Ryuji groans.

"Don't go getting pissed at me cuz you get any when it's your own damn fault," Akira says. "Unlike you, I don't think a girl's looks alone make up for their "overbearing personality" like you do with Ann." Ann jumps from seat in outrage.

"He said what about me?!"

"Yusuke's a witness." Yusuke raises his hand as he quotes Ryuji.

"In her case, her looks totally make up for her overbearing personality, he said." Ryuji starts to fear for his life.

"Hey, what the hell?!" Ann slides out of her seat and marches towards him.

"Ryuji, c'mere!" She ends up chasing him upstairs.

"He does realize that's a dead end, right?" Futaba asks.

"And she said we're not supposed to be fighting," Mona sighs.

xxx

The part that got to Ann the most was when they pointed out that they've yet to do any of the seriously physical stuff couples do. Then she remembers the conversation he had with Morgana that she overheard on the night she stayed over after his escape from the police station.

Can't say I haven't had those thoughts. I mean, just looking at her takes my breath away. But I didn't fall for her just for that. Out of all the hearts I've stolen, hers is the one I wanted the most. If a situation like that comes up where we both want to, it'll happen… but I'm not gonna force her to do something she doesn't wanna do. Besides, after Kamoshida, I'm pretty sure that's the last thing on her mind.

While those words warmed her heart back then because he's retraining himself out of respect for her, she couldn't help but feel like she's made him feel scared to make the move at all. Granted, she wasn't ready when they started seeing each other because of what happened with Kamoshida, but that fear was completely erased after their first kiss. But how is he supposed to know that? She obviously couldn't just come out and say it.

Ann checks herself out in the mirror, running her hands down buxom curves in deep thought. Her looks, from her hair and eyes to her body, have caused no end of hardship, but they've also been a great asset to her. Not to mention they brought the man of her dreams right to her door to help her through her greatest life problems. She wants to trust him with her everything. She's already given him her heart… which means there's only one thing left.

Ann's face turns slightly pink as she covers her mouth to hide her gentle smile, finding the thought of giving him her innocence strangely wonderful. After all, his gentle touch always made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. She stares at herself in the mirror again, takes a deep breath, nods at herself then discards her towel as she dived into her closet to get ready for the big night.

"... Okay!"

xxx

Late into the evening at Leblanc, it's closing time as Mona is sleeping on the stool he usually slept on while Akira studied, Sojiro is cleaning up the counters, and Akira is at the sink washing dishes in his grayish green apron.

Sojiro recalls something as he stares at the cafe door.

"Oh right! Today's Valentine's Day," he says. "No wonder there were so many guys bringing girls in here." Akira flicks the water off his hands, having finished his task.

"I'm betting this was one of your busiest days in a long time, old man!" Akira jokes. Sojiro laughs, shoots his usual smirk at Akira, and pushes up his glasses.

"Ha ha ha ha! Punk! Hey, don't you and Ann-chan have anything exciting happening? I mean, you've known each other for nearly a whole year. Y'know, when I was young… hoo boy!"

"NOPE! Nope! Uh uh! Shuddup! I don't wanna hear that shit!" As the two are conversing, the bell on the door rings, followed by a cheerful voice.

"Hi there!" Akira cracks a big smile as he walks from behind the counter and past an awoken Mona as he approaches his girlfriend.

"There she is! My sight for my sore eyes!" Ann blushes as she returns the smile back.

"Do you have a minute?" Akira turns to his guardian.

"Eh, that depends. Boss?" Sojiro, realizing what this situation calls for, chuckles and rubs the back of his neck.

"Ohhhh. Haha… You should've just told me…" he says. "Here. I'll leave the store to you." Sojiro walks towards the door, then stops to smile at the couple.

"Enjoy yourselves." As the couple nod at him, Mona pads over to the door and stops to sigh. Not because he's upset at Akira for taking Ann from him, but because he admits that Akira and Ann are most likely meant to be together. So, he chuckles as he walks out the door.

"Have fun, you two! Mewhehehe!"

Akira smiles as the door closes, leaving him and his lover alone in the shop.

Glad to see you're finally okay with this, Mona.

Ann, with her face colored the perfect shade of red, walks up to him with extended arms that she wraps her boyfriend's neck.

"Good evening." Akira wraps his arms around her and gives her a peck on her lips, noticing the low, intimate, and sincere tone in her voice. Considering that they've been apart for almost two months, it's not surprising.

"Have a seat. I'll make you some coffee," he says.

"...Thanks."

xxx

Ann takes a seat in a booth while Akira heads back behind the counter to make coffee. She didn't know what it was exactly, but there was something super hot about watching him at the counter.

The boy in the apron notices her giggling as she tilts her head from side to side in her hands.

"And what're you giggling at?" he asks with his signature smirk.

"My stud muffin at work," she says in a playful tone. He chuckles as his finishes her cup.

"I appreciate the honesty. And the bold compliment!"

"You know I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true." Akira strolls up to the booth Ann is sitting in with coffee in both hands and sets her order down in front of her.

"And here you go, milady~! One special house blend with sugar and creme, just the way you like it." Ann teasingly brushes her hand on his arm.

"Ooooh! You're such a gentleman!" He teasingly tickles her chin with his finger.

"And you're extra bubbly today." Akira sits down across from her as she takes a sip and smiles at the familiar taste.

"Mmm… Looks like your skills didn't rust while you were away." Akira sighs and rubs the back of his neck.

"Well, I had all day today to get them back up to par, so." Ann looks down at her coffee in thought as Akira drinks his.

"Speaking of which… It's been awhile since we've had some alone time together." Akira gulps down nothing and purses his lips. He was super excited for when he would get to spend this day with his girl, but now that the time has come, anxiety made him its bitch. With two months of separation disorienting him, it was like their first official date all over again.

"Um… being completely honest," he mumbles. "I-I'm… kinda nervous…" Ann smiles and giggles at him.

"You mean now? That's cute~." Akira blushes and rolls his eyes at her.

"D-Do ya blame me?" She leans forward in her seat.

"Nope. I just love it when you're flustered." Akira crosses his arms and smiles at her.

"Okay. Since today is special," he says. "I'll put my guard down and let your teases slide this time." Ann nods, pulls a big orange box wrapped with a red ribbon out of her bag and, hands it to Akira.

"Oh yeah. This is for you." Akira examines the box filled with the traditional romance chocolate.

"Isn't it heavy~?" Ann asks in a playful tone while making a heart in the air with her finger. "I filled it with love~." He chuckles and nods at her.

"... Sure is. Thanks." She sighs and shakes her head, slightly annoyed by his stoic response.

"Couldn't you at least react to my joke?" she pouts. Akira gasps.

"That was just a joke?! Awww! But I was so happy thinking this was filled with your love!" Ann glares at him.

"W-Well I bought it, so I couldn't really fill- Wait! You totally just turned that around on me, didn't you?!" Akira snickers with pride.

"Hehehe! I didn't say I can't tease you back!" Ann covers her mouth and giggles.

"Good! I missed your little teases." Right after those words leave her mouth, Ann hangs her head and frowns.

"Hey um… You should've told me you were planning on turning yourself in…" A round of guilt bullets pierce through Akira's heart and regret floods his face. He rued not telling her the truth on Christmas Eve during all the time he spent in that solitary confinement cell. He would recall that last moment over and over again. Her back was to him at the stairs, her face as filled with concern, and those last words she spoke to him: I wish you had just told me.

The thought makes Akira shut his eyes and tremble.

"I… I'm so sorry…" Ann shakes her head and smile.

"It's okay… I'm fine-" Akira slams his hand on the table.

"It is not okay! You were right on Christmas Eve and you're right now! There's no excuse for me not telling you…" Akira pauses before continuing.

"It's just… You'd technically been through two losses already… Shiho had to move away… and we all thought Mona was gone for good… I knew it would break your heart if you knew what I was about to do… I didn't have the heart tell you… Still, it would've been better than… Ugh… I am so sorry…" Ann, feeling guilty for pouring salt in an open wound, reaches across the table to touch his hand.

"Hey, stop it," she says. "I've been with you long enough to know how big your heart is. You can't stand to hurt the people you care about. It's okay." Akira looks up at her.

"... Annie…" He feels her hand squeeze his tightly as she shakes her head.

"Anyway, that was mean. I-I shouldn't have said it like that. I'm sorry. I just… missed you… so much..." Akira smiles with sympathy as he turns his hand over and grips hers.

"I missed you too… more than you'll ever know." Ann hangs her head and sighs.

"T-That being said… Um… I-I don't wanna go home today…" Akira wasn't surprised at all. This is their first date after a whole month of separation, so of course she didn't want it to end.

"Well, you don't have to," he says. "In fact… I don't want you to."

"Alright! Then I won't! He he!" The first step of Ann's plan to give her man the okay to ultimate intimacy was completed.

Alright! I got the okay to stay over, she thinks. Now, I have to find a way to… invite him in... My god, that sounds so dirty.

"So… can I sit next to you?" Ann asks. Akira silently pats on the open space next to him as if to say "By all means." Ann gets up, walks over, and slides into the booth with her man, wrapping her arm around his and holding his hand. He tightens his grip on her hand, enjoying the warm feeling he hasn't felt in what felt like eternity.

"Hey…" Ann hesitates before addressing the massive elephant in the room with a sad look on her face.

"You um… Y-You're… going home next month, aren't you?" Akira eyes pop and he frowns. Another loved one is moving away from her in a month (and he just got back). No words could express how much he didn't want to leave her or the friends he's made in this city. Still, he has very important business to attend to back at his hometown.

xxx

During the long car ride back to Leblanc after his release, he and Sojiro had a long talk about he plans on doing now that he's in the clear.

"You know… if you really want to stay, you could just say so," Sojiro says. "I doubt you'll be that much of a pain in the ass now that you're done being a Phantom Thief. As long as you promise to help out around the store often, I've got no problem letting you keep your room." Akira smiles and shakes his head.

"I appreciate that, Boss. Really," he chuckles. "But I really wanna head home…" He sighs as he rubs the back of his neck.

"Or rather… I need to find out if I'm even welcome back there…" Sojiro groans.

"Come on. You realize I was joking when I said your parents got rid of you for being a pain in the ass, right?"

"Yeah, I know. It's just… I have reasons to believe it might be true…"

xxx

As much as he wants to stay in Tokyo, he needs to confront his folks and reevaluate where his family stands. If there is damage, he wants a chance to repair it, and if not, he wanted to make up for lost time. So like it or not, he has to go.

"... Yeah…" he finally sighs.

"... So… does that mean this is gonna be a long-distance relationship?" Akira wryly smiles at her.

"Guess so… Unless you wanna come with?" Ann's eyes pop.

"Really?!" Akira frowns, slumps his shoulders, and shakes his head.

"S-Sorry. Of course I'm kidding. I mean, it's not like we could just pack up your things and go. Not in only a month, anyway." Ann hangs head and sighs.

"... I see."

"... Sorry." The two sit in silence, fearing the day when they would inevitably be split apart when they promised they would be together forever. Could they really make it work with long-distance or would it be too painful? The uncertainty sent chills down their spines.

Ann finally breaks the silence with a loud groan.

"Argh, enough of this! I came here to have fun with you! Even if it is gonna be long-distance, it's still a relationship, dammit!" Her agitation strangely lightens his mood like a light bulb.

"Y'know what?! Yeah! We'll still be into each other!" Ann rests her chin on her hand.

"And I've already waited this long for you to get released… so I guess long-distance is nothing~."

"And Kamakura's only a train ride or an hour drive away, so it'd be easy to see each other over the holidays." Ann shoots as narrow eyed look at Akira, then allows all of her weight to lean on him, resting her head on his shoulder and drawing little circles on his chest with her finger.

"Even so, you kept me waiting way too long," she pouts. "I'll smack you if say I'm too heavy." Akira smirks at her and rubs her cheek.

"Now why would I ever say that?" he snickers.

"Cuz you can be mean like that." He sneaks his hands onto her stomach and starts poking her.

"What? Me, mean? I have no idea what you're talking about!" Ann starts laughing and pushing him away.

"Ahaha! Cut it out, you!" Akira, being the monster he is, does the opposite and tickles her more vigorously.

"Take back what you said right now!" Ann successfully pushes him away and points at him.

"No more tickling! Seriously!" Akira chuckles and shrugs.

"Okay."

"Good!" He taps a finger on her forehead.

"Then I'm gonna give you noogies," he declares deadpanly.

"What?"

"Oh yeah. That's happening." Ann grabs her phone and lightly waves it around.

"Akira, I will call the police if you give me noogies. Then you're gonna end up back in jail. Is that what you want?" Akira smirks at her.

"Maybe… You ready?"

"Don't do it." He slowly leans in, invading her personal space.

"3… 2…"

"Akira, don't!" He quickly grabs her phone, gets her head in a hold, and begins the forewarned noogie time.

"1!"

"Hey, gimme back my- NO! AKIRA!" Akira maniacally laughs as Ann makes fake threats, complains about his sharp knuckles, and begs him to stop as she tries to break free, but he doesn't let go for even a second.

"MATURE PEOPLE DON'T DO THIS!" she screams. "STOOOP! Oh my god, Akira!"

"Your resistance only makes it worse! It only makes it worse!" The onslaught continued until he towered over her and got her on her back in her seat. He triumphantly laughs.

"Ha ha ha! Goddammit, bullying you never gets old! Ha ha ha- Mmph!" Akira's laughs are cut off when she grabs the back of his head and pulls him in for a kiss. She then pushes him away and turns her head.

"Why do you always have to do that, stupid moron?" Ann asks with slight irritation in her voice. Akira takes off his glasses and lowers himself down to press his forehead on her.

"... Don't try to act like you don't like it…" he whispers in a deep, seductive tone. She turns her head back to him with a tinge of red in her cheeks and an affectionate look in her eyes.

"... Moron."

Ann assists Akira as he dives down to let their mouths meet again. She instinctively wraps her arms around his neck to pull him down and he slowly allows his slightly rough lips to rub up against her plump, rosy, glossy ones.

Feels like it's been forever since we had a kiss like this, he thinks.

All of a sudden, the taste of strawberries stings his tongue. Obviously, she had put on strawberry flavored lip gloss, which was actually a first. These light make-out sessions were the couple's weekly tradition, but she's never put on any flavored lip balm for any of them. By no means did Akira find it weird though. In fact, it made his experience much better.

Akira allows his tongue to slip out to get more of the strawberry taste. That's when he notices mint tasting air blowing into his mouth from deeper in. He allows more of his weight to drop to let himself be pulled further into the kiss, letting his tongue rest on the bottom to let both tastes enter his mouth.

Suddenly, the sound of Ann's moaning and gasping reaches his ears and he feels her tongue rubbing up against his, along her ragged breaths. He quickly retreats, feeling her teeth pinch his tongue as it exited, and pushes himself with widened eyes. That was a full-on tongue kiss they just did! Out of all the times they've kissed, they've never had one like that.

Akira stares down at Ann, who, even more surprisingly, stares back at him with eyes filled with disappointment and longing. He assumed that she would be shocked at what they just did, but… did she want to do that and is she upset because he retreated?

She slides a hand from behind his neck onto his cheek.

"... What's the matter?" she murmurs. Those words confirmed it. Ann was really enjoying that kiss and he just cut it off. He chuckles, shakes his head, and presses his forehead against hers again.

"Nothing…" he whispers. "Nothing at all…" She smiles before he continues from where they left off.

At that moment, everything outside this room had disappeared from their cognition. Nothing else existed. They could only taste each other's air, feel each other's warm embrace, smell each other's natural scent, and hear the sounds of their own hot lip lock. If the Metaverse was still running and the couple shared a Palace, Leblanc would be the place they rule, the distortion would be Heaven, and the Treasure would be themselves.

Akira breaks off to let Ann sit up and take off his pesky apron, then yanks off her varsity jacket. Ann quickly tackles Akira against the wall to kiss him again. This time, they're all over each like savage beasts, panting and clawing at each other's bodies. Their brains were moving a Quintilian miles a sec as they strongly and subconsciously long for max intimacy. Akira's hands move on their own and slip through two openings in Ann's violet button up shirt, literally ripping it open and revealing her dark red bra. Ann starts tugging hard at his long sleeve shirt, signaling him to take it off. He throws his arms up to let her yank it off and she follows up by running her hands all over his moderately toned bod, sculpted through a year of intense battle. He then digs his hands under her shirt to runs hands along her exposed curvy stomach, the feel of his palms making her moan louder and heightening her desire more.

It's at that instance that Akira snaps out of his primal lustful trance and pushes her away in a panic.

"WAIT WAIT WAIT! HOLD UP! TIIIME OUT!" Ann's eyes pop in surprise, snapping out of her trance as well.

"W-WHAT?! WHAT'S WRONG?!" His face turns into a tomato as his eyes race around the room, not sure where to look.

"W-W-Well, I-I-I-I-I um…! T-This is uh…! W-We're kinda…!" She cocks her head slightly.

"Yeah? And?" He looks at her with sheer confusion.

"H-Hold up... So… you're not mad?" he asks. Ann giggles as she leans.

"No, silly. He he. Like I said, you're so cute when flustered-" Akira keeps her away with his arms, which starts to annoy her.

"Okay, what's with you? Seriously. I know you've wanted this for a long time." He nods his head vigorously.

"YES! Y-You're right! I do! God, I do! I really, really, REALLY do!"

"Then let me-"

"Hang on!" Ann starts getting more frustrated as he keeps pushing her away.

"Akira, you're killing the mood!" she shouts.

"I-I'm sorry! I just… wanna be sure you really want this…" Akira turns his head.

"I mean… I always figured this would be last thing on your mind after what happened with Kamoshida… and I know how much you hate to be objectified… Your looks caught my attention, but… they're not the reason I fell for you… So…" Akira sighs and looks up at her.

"Yeah… I really want to… And not just cuz of your beautiful body, but… because you mean so much to me… But the last thing I want is to make you do something you don't wanna do." Ann stares at him, then giggles.

"I think this is the first time ever I've had to tell you that you worry too much…" she says. "...You could've made the move anytime you wanted." Akira's eyes widen.

"Wait… really?" Ann nods and places her hand on his cheek.

"I know you're not Kamoshida… You're someone I've always be been able to count. Someone I can count on when I need help. Someone I always need in my life." Ann grabs his hands and places them on her shoulders.

"When I found out you'd be released just in time for today… I decided that… tonight… I was going to do something to let you know how much I love you… And this is it…"

"Ann…" Ann, with her face slightly glowing with red, takes a deep breath and rest her forehead on his, making his hands slide her shirt off. She then slowly moves to whisper in his ear.

"You don't have worry anymore… This is how I really feel… Please… I… I-I… I want you…" She cements her statement a long kiss on his lips.

The earnest look in her eyes, the tight grip of her hands, the intimate tone in her voice, and the loud thumping of her heart. All of them are clear indicators that she's dead serious.

Ann, embarrassed out of her gourd, looks away bashfully.

"God! You just had to make me say it, didn't you? You're such a tease- Mmph!" Akira cuts her off with a hot kiss, running his hands on her stomach again, and somehow he knew her bra unhooks from the front as he pries the cups apart. After taking a good look into her eyes, he breaks away to toss his apron at the switch at the other end of the room to turn off the lights, then embraces her tightly, their upper bodies rubbing against each other, and whispers in her ear.

"You gave me permission… so no take-backs." Ann warmly smiles as he lifts her up in his arms.

XXXXX

Ann, having been stripped of all clothing, including underwear, wraps her arms around Akira's neck as he slowly crawls over her and gently gets her on her back. She rests her head on its side and closes her eyes, calmly waiting for whatever may come. Like she said before, she had been steeled for this for a long time, so she was ready for whatever Akira had in mind.

It'll be fine… It's Akira, so… I'll be fine…

She soon notices that its taking way longer for something to happen than it probably should. She opens her eyes to look up and sees Akira quietly whimpering and averting his eyes from her with red radiating from his cheeks. She smiles at him.

"Hey… isn't it a little late for you to be nervous?" she chuckles. Akira gulps, refusing to say a word, as he continues to switch his eyes across the room and a bead of sweat runs down the side of his face.

What do you want from me?! he thinks. This is a major milestone of being a man! And it's with the girl I'd kill for! How the hell could I not be this nervous?!

He bites down hard on his lower lip as his thoughts become a chaotic maelstrom.

Face and palms, sweating! Brain and heart, bursting! Skull and ribs, might be cracking! "Pistol"... do I even gotta say it?!

Ann couldn't help but find it adorably funny. He can keep his cool in almost any other situation, but when it comes to racey stuff like this, he's like a scared little kid, even when he's wanted it for a really long time. Still, this is what she wanted and she's already nude, so there's no turning back now.

Akira shuts his eyes and grinds his teeth.

Maybe I should back out! I'm seriously not ready for this! I... I...!

The bullet train of his thoughts stops on a dime when Ann gently places a hand on his cheek.

"C'mon…" she whispers. "... Look at me…" The gentle, magic touch of her hand calms his nerves a bit and his eyes slowly lock onto her. Beautiful, smooth, flawless skin, a long vase-like torso… and the mounds. In his words, oh holy mother of lewd, perverted God, the mounds. He's stared at them, was tempted to grope them, and even dreamed about them in his sleep when he wasn't caught up in weird fantasies, like him being a nude model (Thanks a lot, Yusuke), countless times. But this is first time he's seen them exposed.

The sight of her naked body in full glory captures his full attention. The pulsing of his brain stops, his heart beat returns to normal, and only one thought is on his mind.

This… is the body of a real woman...

He feels her hand massage his cheek, bringing his attention back to her calm, smiling face and her dreamy, narrowed eyes.

"Go ahead…" she says calmly. "Whatever you want… It's fine." He stares at her and his nerves finally settle as he smiles at her and takes her hand in hers, his mind switching to put his inner feelings in the back seat and his inner desires in the driver seat. There's no need for thinking right now.

"... If you say so…"

With his hesitation thrown out the window, he lowers himself down and starts kissing her body. She runs her fingers through his hair, feeling his lips being pressed all over her as they travel from down her neck. She chuckles when she feels a little suction on a certain area.

"He he… How'd I know you'd go for those first? ... Ow!" He quickly pinches and twists the side of her waist and hovers over her with a narrow eyed look.

"... Shuddup." The two smirk at each other before slowly going into a another hot kiss. Sweet little moans sneak out of Ann's mouth as Akira gently massages her figure with his warm hands. His palms slowly glide down her curves to the side of her thighs and back up over and and over again.

Her face turns slowly beet red and subtle bursts of heat spread through her body as he settles his hands on the lumps on her chest and gently kneads them like dough. For him, all of the questions he had about them when he was tempted to grope them back in Hawaii had been answered: 1. Yes; they barely even fit in his hand. 2. Slowly, but yes. And 3. A perfect balance of both; soft like memory foam, but springy like a balloon that forced his fingers back after every squeeze.

This... is... a whole other level of fluffy, he couldn't help but think.

For her, having him actually touch them wasn't as bad as she thought it would be at first. In fact, it was surprisingly blissful. Electricity slightly running through her, warmth flooding her heart. This sensation can only be felt if the person you love deeply is touching you this way.

Akira pulls away and takes in her scent as he kisses his way down her face and neck and back to her chest, sucking and gnawing at one of her love cushions like a baby being nursed by its mother while massaging the whole of other one with his hand.

Only God knows how long I've waited to do this...!

It was arousing enough by itself, but her chest growing gradually hotter, her sliding her back up against the wall to get more comfortable, her arching her back up, her hugging his head to keep him there, her running her fingers through his hair, and her ragged breathing piled it on so much more. Occasional shrieks break out from behind her lips as the intense pleasure of he chest being gnawed on, accompanied by the cool air surrounding them both, strike her hard in her core.

O-Oh god...! This is... way... too... good~!

In the middle of his long-awaited bosom munching, the light pushes on his lips make him halt. They pushed up on him twice, stop, then push again in a rhythm with an all too familiar sound. Ann's intense buzz suddenly starts to fade and she notices his pause.

"... H-H-Huh…? W-What's… wrong…?" Akira brings his face back up to her while keeping a hand on her beating chest.

"Nothing…" he murmurs. "Just didn't know a heart could pound this hard…" Ann smiles and brings her mouth up to his ear to whisper.

"You're the only who can make it do that…" Her squirming thighs rub up against his as he kisses her again. Every inch of her had become red and super hot to the touch as her slides his hands all over her. Thanks to all that time he's spent playfully bullying her, he knew exactly where her weak points were. Attacking her armpits tickled her, the sides of her waist made her quiver, the belly button made her shriek, and her breasts quickly turn her on.

A sudden shriek, louder than when he attacks her belly button, makes Akira retreat.

"Huh? What happened?" Ann bashfully looks down.

"U-U-Um… Y-You're kinda… y'know…" He didn't have to look down to figure what she's talking about. Frankly, he's way too embarrassed by the thought to even look. He instinctively gulps and nervously chuckles.

"Ah ha ha… Is that… not okay right now…?" Ann stares straight into his eyes and gives him a little smile, her legs opening up and locking around his waist. Akira takes it as his cue to begin the infiltration. No, it's not an infiltration at all. She's dropping her defenses and letting him in of her own free will with no hesitation at all. She's offering him her everything, and it's exactly what he wants.

Alright then…

Akira takes a deep breath, shuts his eyes, and grunts as he slowly pushes himself into her, her legs pulling him along to assist him. She shuts her eyes and whimpers as he slowly enters her, then lets out a loud shriek in reaction to the super sharp sting of pain, followed by a sweet moan in reaction to the surge of bliss through her body. Akira rests his forehead on hers as she wraps her arms around his neck and they both smile at each other. They've officially taken each other's innocence and become one… and it's an unbelievably intense, hot... and amazing feeling. So much so that they're before they've even truly begun.

"... Annie…"

"... Kira…" As a tear of sheer happiness streams down her face, Ann's lover lowers himself down to kiss her again as he starts to move.

You're as warm as always…

xxx

Sweaty and mildly exhausted, Ann lies on top of her boyfriend with her head on his shoulder as he happily pets the back of her head. He lets out a chuckle as he stares at the ceiling.

"Phew… Okay… I'm gonna just say it…" he says. "All the waiting? All the restraint? Sooooo worth it!" Ann giggles as she rubs his chest.

"Glad you liked it so much… I did too…" Akira looks down at Ann and notices her giving him a weird smirk.

"What's that look for?" he chuckles.

"Nothing… I'm just like staring at my naughty boyfriend…" Akira cocks an eyebrow.

"Who's the real naughty one here? You're the one who pushed this on me."

"Well, you're who started french kissing me first!"

"Really?! Well, you took something off me before I did it to you!"

"Yeah?! Well, you're the one who's been dreaming about this for months!

"Oh?! Well, you're the one who begged me for it! Please! I want you!" Ann burst out laughing at Akira's lackluster impression of her.

"Was that supposed to be me?! You sounded so stupid!"

"I don't care! You laughed and that's all that matters." The two share a laugh and a passionate kiss before Ann pulls herself up to his face.

"Still… This is… really nice," Ann whispers as she smooches his cheek. Akira nods in agreement, then frowns when he finally notices the planet-sized elephant in the room.

"Hey… y'know what would make this better…?" he says in a deadpan tone. Ann stops kissing him.

"You're not about to say my Panther suit, are you?" she asks. Akira sits up, Ann moving aside slightly, to look around the far from fitting setting.

"... How about doing this in my room and not on a booth in the store?"

"... Eh?" Ann gasps and pushes herself up when she realizes that they haven't moved from that booth since she sat down next to him… Which means they just had their first hanky panky right in the middle of Sojiro's shop!

"OHHH MY GOD! I completely forgot about that! Boss is gonna be so mad!" Akira slides off the booth, grabbing his clothes and using them to cover his nether regions as he walked over to the door to grab his apron, then proceeded up the stairs.

"That's only if he finds out," he says. "Sit tight and put your clothes in your bag. I'm gonna put my stuff away, then come back to get you." Ann stuffs her clothes into her bag as Akira goes to his room, then comes back downstairs in his skivvies and kneels down in front of her, avoiding staring directly at her.

"Into my arms, missy!" Ann giggles as she slides into his arms with her bag in tow and he bridal carries her up to his room, wrapping her arms around his neck and happily kicking her feet.

"I never get tired of this," she says.

"You and me both… I love your weight in my arms, no matter how light or heavy you are."

The romantic evening of love continued in the store's attic… as well as the loud screams of passion.

xxx

The next morning, Sojiro is getting the shop ready to open and Futaba was in the mood for some coffee. Naturally, Morgana followed.

Sojiro yawns as he takes off his glasses and rubs eyes.

"Ugh… So tired… Hey Futaba, did you get any sleep last night? All these loud noises kept waking me up." Futaba shakes her head.

"N-N-N-N-No… N-N-Nothing at all…" Sojiro notices that his foster daughter's face is a redder than a beet.

"Huh? You all right? That's the reddest face I've seen."

Suddenly, everyone hears a loud shriek coming from the staircase. They all turn just in time to see someone quickly retreat back up the stairs.

"There's no way that was Akira," Mona says with caution in his voice.

"Hello?" Sojiro calls out. "Who's there?"

"S-Sorry! I didn't think you guys were here yet!" Sojiro's eyes widened.

"Oh, Ann-chan! You slept over?"

"Yeah. Ha ha. Sorry."

"No no. It's perfectly fine. Want some coffee?"

"Nah. I'm just gonna get ready in the bathroom and take off." Mona starts padding over to the stairs.

"Hey, Lady Ann, is Akira- Whoa!" Mona jumps out off the way of the shoe flying at him.

"DON'T LOOK!" Ann shouts. "I'M NOT… Y'KNOW… DECENT!"

"HUH?!"

"JUST DON'T COME UP HERE!" After about a minute, Ann came down the stairs while using the clothes she wore yesterday to cover her front, then slowly backs into the bathroom.

"Sorry! Sorry!" As the door closed, Mona turns to Futaba with a weird look.

"O-kay? What the heck was that about?" Futaba slams her hands on the table.

"I DON'T KNOW!" she shrieks.

"Geez! And what's up with you?!" Futaba shuts her eyes.

"NOTHING!" Everyone then hears Akira's groaning as he comes down the stairs. He stands in front of the bathroom as he nonchalantly puts his black shirt on.

"Ugh… It really does take so much out of you…" he groans in a heavy state of grogginess. Sojiro gives him the usual smirk.

"Mornin', Sleeping Beauty." Akira yawns and rubs his drowsy, crusty eyes as looks out among his pseudo fam, his body swaying because of severe fatigue.

"Moooornin… Oh… Hey, did Annie already leave…?" He hears a knock coming from the bathroom door.

"I'm in here, sweetie," Ann says. "Just getting ready to head out."

"Mmkaaay…" Akira stalks over to and plops down into the booth across from where his baby sis is sitting.

"Geez. What did you two do last night? Get drunk?" Sojiro sighs. "Either way, how bout a house blend to perk you up?" Akira slowly shakes his head.

"... I don't think even coffee can help me with this…" Mona leaps onto the table.

"Hey, is it just me or is your hair frizzier than normal?" Akira scratches his head.

"Um… guess it's too wild to be a bed head, huh?"

"If it is, it's the wildest bed head I've ever seen." Mona recalls just before Ann went to the bathroom.

"Wait… wasn't Lady Ann's hair kinda messed up too?"

After several minutes of prep, Ann finally comes out of the bathroom while frustratingly brushing her pigtails.

"Hope you're happy," she pouts at Akira. "I've been brushing for ten minutes straight and my hair's still all frizzy. And one of my shirt buttons is missing." Akira, still 90% asleep, points at her.

"It was wooorth iiit… Don't lieee…" Ann bashfully smiles and scratches her tomato red cheek with her finger.

"Ha… Y-Yeah… Well, I'm off." Akira struggles to get out of the booth and stand up.

"Huh…? Here… let me… take you…" Ann grabs his shoulders and forces him to sit back down.

"No no. That's okay. You just get some rest. God knows you really need." It didn't take long for Mona and Sojiro to understand the signs with the same thought in their heads.

They're not kids anymore!

Futaba, on the other hand, had already found out… the hard way.

xxx

Feeling a little mischievous that night, Futaba decided to eavesdrop on the two using her bug in the shop to get material to tease them with later.

"Mwehehehe! Let's see what they're up to tonight. Bet it's gonna be something like "Smoochie Smoochie Smoochie! Oh, I love you, Ann-pan, my sweet sweet sweetie!" "Not as much I love you, Akira! Smoochie Smoochie Smoochie!" Ha, this is gonna be good!" She works at her computer to get the bug program.

"And here. We… Go." She excitedly waves her finger and presses a button. The first thing to come blasting through her headphones…

"Nnn! Mm! Ahn! Nnn-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Futaba winces and grips her headphones as the scream pierces her eardrums.

"OW! What the heck?!" Weird sounds keep flowing into her head.

"Geez! What's all that screaming for?!" After a few seconds of careful listening, her face turns into a red light bulb, she throws her headphones across the room onto her bed, and curls and rocks back and forth in fetal position, traumatized by what she just listened in on.

I didn't need to hear that…

xxx

And it still disturbs her.

I really didn't need to hear that...

Ann smiles at Sojiro as she pats Akira's head.

"Hey, Boss, go easy on him today, okay? He had a… long night." Sojiro subconsciously nods.

"Y-Yeah…" Ann bends over peck his lips and nuzzle his cheek.

"Love you, baby!" she giggles.

"Mm. Love you too. Have a good day at school!" Ann smiles as walks out of the store. Mona sighs and turns to his troublemaker friend.

"... So, you finally made the move, huh?" he asks. Akira failed to respond as he just stares at the ceiling in a daze. Sojiro strokes his beard as he gives Akira the usual smirk.

"So… how does it feel to officially be a man?" This time, Akira responds with a goofy grin and chuckle, recalling all of the all feelings he experienced in that romantic evening. Both kinds.

"Ahahahahaha… It's so good… to be bad…"

"Heh… why don't you take the day off?" Sojiro asks. "I can handle it by myself today." Akira struggles to his feet and waddles back up to his room.

"... It's offish… Immamarrythatwoman… Yup."


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