9/01/17 – Thursday
It was official.
Ann Takamaki and Akira Kurusu were a thing. In secret but still a thing. Boyfriend and girlfriend. Neither of them could get much sleep that night on account of the sheer rush of passion that clutched their hearts. A euphoria that ceased to quit, even as they returned to school. Second term already upon them. Akira took a small comfort in its return as the monotony would allow him to remain busy when the Phantom Thieves had downtime and would give him an alibi in the event someone came snooping around. Though, it would come at the cost of his time with Ann. They would have less time and opportunities to explore their relationship as lovers, and school proved far too risky with all the prying eyes of their friends and fellow classmates. Fate seemed to grant him a stroke of luck, as next Wednesday would be the school trip to Hawaii. The others seemed quite excited, although Ann and Akira were a touch apprehensive at the thought of no Phantom Thievery at work. Tokyo without them to protect it seemed rather vulnerable.
The school day passed by regularly, a slow burn as the teachers had not left them with much work on their first day back. A generous notion as both of them would've struggled to focus. Back and forth throughout the school day did they message one another with proclamations of love and adoration. Mushy and almost nauseatingly cute. Akira was saying things he could never have imagined himself uttering. What he wouldn't have given to be able to say them aloud right then and there. Ann was reveling in all this silent affection, her lips trembling as she bit back the bashful and joyous coos he was kicking up inside her. But the best was yet to come when school ended. And they got to meet Mika yet again. Both of them were in for quite the surprise.
"And don't pull a stunt like that again, okay?" the agency employee lectured. All while Mika stood before him and pouted with as much pity she could muster. In typical fashion, the guys were immense pushovers. Suckers for any girl that they fantasized about getting inside the pants of. "Ah, Ann-chan. Good to see you. We'd like to apologize."
"What's going on here?" And thus the agency made it known. Mika had been using underhanded trickery to establish her presence in the workforce. By posing as managerial staff and lying to them about shoot location changes. The models wouldn't arrive for the correct shoot which resulted in Mika staking her claim. As though Akira couldn't despise Mika even more. But he kept himself composed for Ann's sake. He hadn't forgotten his promise. But she was really good at twisting the knife with her phoned in apology.
"What I did was terrible. I caused so much trouble for everyone… But I'm gonna start working even harder from now on, I promise…" Akira felt like barfing. The agency rep was eating up her crocodile tears like candy. He shuffled off to prepare the upcoming shoot with his metaphorical tail between his legs. What a pushover.
"You really did something that lame?" Ann pressed. Any anger she might have felt was replaced with utter contempt. How desperate could one person be?
"What are you calling lame?" Mika spat. "This industry's overflowing with models. Without an in, your career will never even get off the ground. Chances don't come to those who wait. You have to make your own luck if you want to succeed."
Akira let out a silent sigh. Another bully claiming victim like clockwork. Mika would've made a great villain to steal the heart from. Too bad she was just petty instead of absurdly corrupt and evil.
"You really are something…" the blonde commented. Mika turned her nose up at Ann's contempt. She felt too good to be looked down upon by some high schooler.
"It's your own fault for getting the boot. If you can't crawl your way back up, you may as well go home. And either way, it's not like I'm not talented. I just needed my shot, and now I'm selling like crazy." The excuses just kept flowing. For someone with as big an ego as her, Mika really did need to justify a lot to some mere teenagers. Akira could taste the insecurity in the wind.
"You talk big, but they still found out about your fake emails." The older girl scoffed at Ann's rebuke.
"Sure, but all I had to do was offer a teensy apology. It would've been dumb to try and hide it from them. Desperate guys eating up my little act so easily. It's kinda pathetic, really. Anyway, they can't sack me now. I'm gonna get even more popular, even if it means being detested for my actions."
It was such a circus act to make sense of. Headstrong, doing what it took to secure her foothold, not caring what others thought of her, honing her skills. Ann should've been angry. She should've been upset at all the underhanded trickery Mika had pulled off to get what she wished. And yet she found herself giggling. Tickled pink by such a display.
"Wow, you really are just like the villains I used to admire when I was a kid! Beautiful, strong… and wicked. You're really smart to be able to pull something like this off. You may have done some despicable things, but I gotta respect your resolve and dedication." Akira was positively dumbstruck. Even Mika herself was put off by Ann's cheeriness. This was amusing to her. All the things Mika had done and Ann could only laugh. "Honestly, I just can't bring myself to hate you.
"Well, I don't have any trouble hating you," she rebuked. The blonde's giggles and smiling face had her eyes twitching with disdain. The confidence and cheer were eating her alive. Mocking her. Where was the outrage and ire from before? Mika could take some joy in that, in seeing her rival squirm. But this? What was to gain?
"Sorry, Mika…" The blonde turned and locked eyes with her secret lover. That fierce determination and dedication he found comfort and resolve in stared back at him through those blue pools. Assuring him she knew what she was doing. And that he wasn't to interfere no matter what. This was her fight. "Your hard work is only gonna get you to second place. I'm going to be the number one model. You might be popular right now, but I'll take that spot from you fair and square."
Mika was seconds away from bursting into laughter. Was she for real? This little holier-than-thou act had her eyes nearly rolling out of her head. But if there was one thing she lived for, it was a challenge.
"All right then." A snake-like grin wormed its way across her face. "I won't pull any more tricks. I'll beat you with beauty… fair and square."
"Sounds good to me!"
And thus, the gauntlet had been thrown down. It all went by so quickly, Akira had developed whiplash. He couldn't even bring himself to react at the parting wink Ann had delivered him before going to change. Here Mika was, openly admitting to being a lying, egotistical, insecure, underhanded shrew. And Ann wasn't angry. Were it not for Ann keeping her cool, Akira certainly would've unleashed a tirade of vicious insults against her person. He'd have dragged her down off that ivory tower by her hair. How Ann could be so calm and collected was beyond him.
"I just don't get her sometimes," he said aloud to himself. But he held his tongue and watched the woman of his dreams strut her stuff for the camera. Ann was all dressed up in a gorgeous summer outfit that turned the heads of man and woman alike. A blue-grey dress with a black leather jacket worn over it, a belt adorning her waist, and sleek black leggings that held her closely. Akira envied those leggings at times. The outfit was sleek and stylish, far outclassing Mika's dress. But the outfit alone was nothing compared to the crown jewel: Ann. Her grace and beauty were unmatched, with Mika side-eyeing her disdainfully as she hogged the spotlight. Akira could see jealousy in her eyes, a notion that brought him smug satisfaction. The shoot ran its course, and the two of them conversed while Ann's managers talked amongst themselves.
"Man, this is so fun!" Ann said with a happy giggle. "Today has been really great so far!" Akira couldn't fight the smile on his face even if he wanted to. Her enthusiasm was infectious, causing his heart to flutter in his chest. It took all his energy to not coo and shower her with affection. But God did he want to, more than anything. Ann bit her bottom lip and fiddled with her foot shyly. "So… how was I?" Akira gave her a soft dreamy smile, the love he felt enveloping him like a warm blanket. A soft wondrous feeling that made him feel all cuddly inside.
"You really gave it your all," he said, that low grit seeping into his voice. Ann pursed her lips with a smile when it graced her ears. "You were the belle of the ball. The apple of my eye." Her face exploded into a blush, hand held to her mouth to suppress the overjoyed giggles threatening to leak out as he built on the compliments more and more. "I couldn't take my eyes off you, even if I wanted to. I just…" He grew silent before letting out a sigh, holding a hand to his cheek as he gave her a sleepy smile. "God. You're so… beautiful. In every way." He shook his head, grinning bashfully to himself. Now his cheeks were as red as hers. "I wish I could articulate it better."
"Well, start thinking of ways to do it, you nerd." The blonde giggled and poked the tip of his nose. Ann stuck her tongue out playfully at him, earning an excitable cackle from the boy.
"You seemed to hit them with full force today, Ann. Even greater than you normally do."
"Well, yeah!" she said with a nod. "I had to work extra hard with you watching, Akira!" She clutched her arm and looked out towards the cityscape. The sun was growing low in the sky, bathing the buildings and the river in a pool of orange. Sunsets had always been appealing to her, but they brought her an extra feeling of warm comfort in her chest knowing that she was watching it alongside him. "I know I said I want to be the number one model, but I'm okay with that not happening just yet. For now, I just want to keep improving, one step at a time. Then someday down the line, I'll be able to look at myself with pride. Hopefully, people will see that confidence and draw strength from it." She pointed to the sky, a hand on her hip and a beaming smile on her face. "I'm gonna be a ray of light for the people of this planet." She shelved her hands into her jacket pockets and felt the blush come back in full force as she caught Akira staring at her with an entranced adoring look. He felt himself tingling all over from her speech. A selfless caring soul with a heart of gold, too pure for this world.
What did I do to deserve such a girl? he thought to himself. He just wanted to scoop her up in his arms, hold her tight, and smother her with kisses. That kindness – that purity and goodwill that she possessed – made being a Phantom Thief all worth it. To give someone their life back after it was unjustly ensnared by someone in a position of power, exploiting and choking the life from them. And to see them rise from the ashes and strive forward with their head held high, goodness in their heart even in the face of so much pain and torment. Kamoshida couldn't stifle that light. Neither could Mika. Anyone who dared doubt her strength was a fool.
"A ray of light…" he repeated. She took center stage in his eyes, the rest of the world feeling like background noise. Static. She nodded graciously.
"Just like you and Shiho are for me…"
"I'll be with you, Ann. Every step of the way." Since confessing his feelings, she had only grown more beautiful in his eyes. His admiration for her strengths and charm had quadrupled overnight. He had always been told that the first love is the one that always sweeps you off your feet the hardest. Well, he had been swept up and was now floating in the stratosphere. And he didn't ever want to come down. "As long as you'll have me."
"Akira…" Gingerly she took his hand in hers, running her thumb against his soft skin. It tickled ever so slightly under her touch. One thing Ann always liked were hands. Something about them drew her in. Hands told a story and brought her a sort of comfort when looking at them, and Akira had great hands. Soft skin but also possessed a firm grip, meaning he could hold her tightly and gently. Just the way she liked it. Her eyes scanned the area around them through her peripheral. No one to be seen. She planted a soft kiss against his knuckles. "You're my light." A simple statement but one that brought up absolute giggles of joy in his chest. No one had ever said such a thing to him before. To be cared for and wanted by someone who brought him mutual joy, to light up someone's world just by being there. It was almost too much to handle.
"And you're mine," he softly purred. That grit had taken over his voice now, earning an audible shudder from the girl. He lifted her hand and planted soft kisses along her skin. "You are my light and my stars and my sun and my moon. The wind beneath my wings, the ground upon which I stand that takes me higher." Ann thought she might cry then and there from the sheer passion in his voice.
"Alright, break time's over! Ann-chan, you're gonna be the main focus for this session!" Reluctantly did she withdraw her hand to look back towards her managers. As much as she wanted to take center stage for the photo shoot, it would require sacrificing spending time with Akira. She turned back to him with a conflicted look.
"Go ahead," he said with an understanding smile. "Knock 'em dead, babe. I can wait." The two embraced warmly, Akira taking care not to mess up her hair.
"Hey, let's hang out a little more once the shoot ends, okay?" Akira nodded and watched as his girl went to work. The cameramen were all over her as she struck a myriad of poses, captivating their hearts and their eyes. But only one in attendance was hers, and he stood to the sidelines, letting her soak in the glory she deserved and had rightfully earned.
With only a couple of hours left before it would grow dark, Ann took advantage of the setting sun to take her boyfriend on a Ferris wheel ride. A cliché notion if there ever was one, but she was in the mood for clichés. Especially ones she could share with a special person. Though upon entering the car and being wheeled to the top, she began to feel quite sheepish. Being in such a confined space with Akira had her growing quite flustered.
"W-wow, we got on here really quickly." She fiddled nervously with her ponytail while Akira nonchalantly sat back and watched her. Her mind had been active all day with all sorts of dates and ideas she had for the both of them. Though it had never really occurred to her that she hadn't been on a real date. The girl found herself at a loss as she struggled to recall what couples did in the movies and romance manga. Akira merely gazed longingly at her, just happy to be in her presence.
"Nervous?" His soft silver eyes helped damper the apprehension in her chest. A shy smile did she reward him with, leaning on his shoulder.
"Not anymore." The boy rested his head upon hers and closed his eyes. This was heaven on Earth for him. Ann, however, felt her mind receding into the past. It was still so difficult to believe. After everything she had undergone, here she was. With a goal, a future, and a man. "It's so weird to think that before I met you, I could never imagine this happening."
"You would've found someone," Akira said, nuzzling her head.
"If I did, he wouldn't be as cute or caring as you." He chuckled lowly, kissing her forehead.
"You give me too much credit."
"I don't think you give yourself enough." Akira placed his arm around her, drawing her closer. The blonde wrapped hers in turn around his torso. A comforting embrace between the two love-struck teenagers high above the Japanese skyline, bathed in an orange glow. "I never thought I could have this. I always thought Kamoshida would have me under his thumb for the rest of my life." Her eyes rose to meet his, adoration shimmering in the deep blue pools. "You changed all that."
"We changed it," he said, cupping her cheek. Akira leaned forward to rest his forehead against hers. "Together. There's no way we could've defeated Kamoshida without you." He opened his eyes and smirked at her wryly. "Now who's not giving themselves enough credit?" She giggled and buried herself into the small of his neck.
"You're so kind. And humble."
"Guess that's why we work off each other so well, huh?" She squeezed herself against him warmly. "Ann, people like you are what make being a Phantom Thief worth it."
"Oh, stop," she said, leaning into him further to hide her blush. His lavishing of compliments and praise upon her never failed to make her a gooey mess of emotion. And he loved it.
"Nah." With a cheeky smile did he toy with her ponytails, twirling the hair around his finger.
"Back when I met Shiho, when she saved me, I realized that personal relationships are something to be treasured. For a while, it seemed like I had forgotten that." The months before Akira wandered into her life came back to her mind. Kamoshida's grip over all of them had nearly drowned their spirits. Ann wanted desperately to escape it all, to flee the confines of this world in any way she could. In a way, she could relate to Shiho's decision to jump. But she could never go to such a length herself. Perhaps she was not as broken emotionally as Shiho, or perhaps she was too afraid. "I wanted to get out of this place and be done with everything." The girl leaned forward and kissed his jawline gingerly. "Then I met you." Now Akira was the blushing mess, biting down on his lip to fight the jubilant smile trying to escape. "Because of you, I found a way to become strong."
"You were always strong, Ann," he purred. "You just needed an opportunity."
"And you gave me that opportunity." She climbed onto his lap and hugged his neck. "Take the damn compliment, silly!" Their noses touched as they giggled childishly together. "That's why I'm not going to run away anymore. I'll face myself head on. This time, it's my turn to help someone."
"You have helped someone, Ann. Plenty of people."
"That's different," she insisted. "I was a Phantom Thief. I want to do it in more ways than just that. I want to help them on this reality too, as just me." Akira nodded with understanding. Though their work had changed and even saved lives, not every issue on this side could be solved with such endeavors. The power of their Personas provided such possibilities within the Metaverse, but outside of it, they were just normal high school students confined to the laws of reality. He smiled as she once more impressed him with her resolve to grow. "But I'm still kinda worried. It's a lot of pressure to just be me, but thinking of you cheering me on makes me feel easy. Do you think you could help me, Akira?" He chuckled and gently patted her head.
"You have to ask?" he answered, kissing her forehead. "Of course, I will. Anything for you."
"And you can lean on me too, if you need it."
"Of course," he said with a nod. "Although it's hard to lean on you when you're on my lap." Ann giggled and returned to her spot at his side, head upon his shoulder once more.
"I feel like we finally see each other eye to eye, Akira," she voiced with a satisfied nod. "I'm so glad I met you." He lowered his eyes longingly at her, running a finger along her cheek and leaned in. His whispers were low but tingled the hairs on her neck with his confession of how much he appreciated her. It was charmingly peculiar to whisper such a feeling when it was only the both of them in the Ferris wheel. But it added an allure to the situation, as though he were sharing a secret kept even from the wind and rain. "Promise me that you'll stay by my side, okay?"
"They'll have to pry me off," he assured her, earning an amused snicker.
"You're such a nerd."
"Yeah," Akira replied, sporting a smug smirk. "But I'm your nerd."
"Damn right." Selfishly did she lean in to take a kiss for herself. Those pale cheeks of hers were glowing from the blush she sported, which did not go unnoticed from her lover. By God did she captivate him so.
"Thank you for enjoying our Ferris wheel experience. The gondola will arrive at the platform shortly."
"H-huh?" Ann opened her eyes, mere inches away from Akira's lips. The warmth that permeated over her from the blush and love nearly went up in smoke. "It's over already? We went all the way around, but I didn't see any scenery." The romantic rendezvous atop the Ferris wheel had not panned out this way in her head. She had imagined the both of them making out for a while as the warmth of the sun enveloped them, gazing down at the cityscape that was just starting to stir with neon lights. "All I saw was you…" Her chest fluttered, and a bashful blush sprang forth and spread over her face. Akira gulped back a coo that threatened to slip out, and if he let it, he would dissolve into a giggling blushing mesh. Instead, he did what he knew best: played it cool.
"That's all you need to see, to be honest." She eyes him wryly and nudged his ribs, the giggles slipping out against his will.
"Someone's getting full of himself." Ann folded her arms and imitated the smug look he gave her mockingly, earning a tickled cackle from the boy.
"The only thing I'm full of is love. For you."
"PFFFFFFFT!" She held her chest and snickered at him. "Laaaaame."
"Whatever," he said, side-eyeing her teasingly. "You know you love the affection." She pursed her lips, smiling as she avoided his silver eyes. Ann watched the horizon begin to rise up while they slowly approached ground level. Their outing had proven to be magical in its simplicity. A romantic secret tryst they had all to themselves, to share with no one else. But Ann wanted something more. The moment. That one picaresque moment lovers had in every movie, show, and manga she had exposed herself to. Yet she felt an odd sense of nervousness as she attempted to ask him.
"Um, before we get off… sh-should we at least do one thing? You know… that couples do?" It felt positively embarrassing to stumble over her words before him the way she did. She shouldn't be so nervous around her boyfriend. They had kissed before, in a much more erotic situation than this. But she had never been in a relationship before, and they were in public. Unexplored waters were being mutually tread between them.
"Just one?" Her cheeks flushed furiously at the sound of his voice, gracing her ears with a playful purr. Akira was quite good at playing the smooth operator. It was one of the many things so alluring about him to her. Even when he gave in and showed his nervousness, the way he played the charismatic charmer always made her forget. Ann's flustered state of being always brought Akira great amusement. He got a thrill out of toying with her like this. Part of his catlike nature. She was positively adorable all bashful. But Ann leaned forward, gazing deeply with desire into his eyes. Silver and blue met, swirling together into a shimmering ocean of light. With soft breaths did she mutter her concerns about how to act and what to do during it. It would have to be a quick meeting their lips stole. Soon, they would be back upon the ground, and the eyes of the public would surround them. Though, as he met hers and they both melted under one another's touch, perhaps being caught would've been worth it. So what if the world saw? In their heads, they resolved to let them look. In their heads, they threw their anxiety to the wind and let people gawk on as they held and smooched. But as the doors opened, the two broke their kiss and returned to reality. Longingly did they eye one another, neither having wanted it to end. But they valued their privacy, and their love would have to remain secret.
The two lovestruck teenagers walked side by side and proceeded to walk home, eyeing the crowds through their peripheral until people became scattered and distant. Then their fingers locked and their eyes met, a confident sly look between them.
No one had a clue still. Though inconvenient to keep their relationship obscured from others, it made it all the more enticing and romantic. Kept hidden from the world, two daring teenagers operating as rogue vigilantes. Their little secret to share. Guarded closely like a dragon atop a hoard of gold and jewels. Akira imagined himself as the dragon and his lady the princess. Though, if she wished to reverse their roles, by no means would he complain. Quite the opposite, as a matter of fact.
"Well, well, well. What have we here?" The two teenagers were forcibly ripped from their little romantic escape by the familiar voice of an unwelcome guest. Mika happening upon them had sucked all the goodwill they had been fostering. "I knew I saw you over here. So this guy here really is your boyfriend after all?"
So much for secrecy. It was too late to unlock their hands now. All they could do was stand in the headlights. Ann glanced back and forth between Mika and Akira for some sort of eureka moment of realization. In hindsight, perhaps Akira should've been more distant whenever he attended a shoot. Or attended less of them. But it would've been hard to turn Ann down. He wasn't even sure he could have.
"Don't you have anything better to do than harass us?" he huffed in irritation. How she had managed to fly under his radar was beyond him. Her fragile ego alone he could smell a mile away.
"I wonder what the reps will say about you not being single…" Mika coyly tapped her chin with a solitary finger, languishing in their silence as her words set in. It wasn't exactly popular or approved for models to be in relationships. Single models were more desirable and marketable in the industry, a mentality having been carried over from the idol industry. Something Akira hadn't considered when he finally worked up the courage to ask Ann out. Now he felt great apprehension at the thought that he might cost Ann her career before it could even truly begin. "What's the matter? Nothing to say? You're supposed to be her boyfriend, after all. Not even gonna stand up for her? What kind of man are you?" As he opened his mouth to retort, he was cut off by none other than Ann. She shot him a look, and Akira recognized it all too well. That fire had been lit once more. He languished in silence as he felt the catlike smirk begin to form. Knowing full and well what was on the horizon.
"Mika… don't be cranky simply because you're single and undesirable."
"Excuse me?" Mika looked like she had been shot. All while Ann still retained that calm smile on her face. Though a touch of smugness could be felt in her words. "Who do you think you are talking to me like that, you little brat? I've worked harder than anyone else in this business to get where I am, and-"
"I'm well aware. You've done what it took to get what you want and look out for your own self-interests. Crafty and pushing yourself to the limit to retain your spot. I admire your hard work like I said earlier. But I also kinda have to pity you."
"Pity?" she forced herself to repeat. The word made her want to gag.
"I don't think you're a bad person. I've seen bad people. You have a goal and want to better yourself. We're not so different, really. But look at where you are now. Sure, you're in the top spot and have the adoration of the agency. But you have no friends and no one to share your success with. You'll be all alone, left to just be bitter towards anyone else because of your jealousy and insecurity. And that's just really sad, to be honest. What's the point in having fame and fortune if you have nobody to share it with? A friend or a close loved one? I'll fully admit that I'm not at your skill level. You've worked a lot harder than me and earned your place, even if you pulled a few nasty tricks to do so. But it's not worth pushing everyone away. Maybe one day you can change. Be a nicer person and work to make yourself better because you love your friends, not because you're angry and bitter. But I'm not gonna fight with you anymore. You can drag yourself down if you want. Go ahead and tell the reps. See if I care. In the meantime, I have a date. With my man."
Twice today had she rendered him speechless. Ann had gone positively ham with this speech, no holds barred. Akira could hardly believe this was the same girl he had met all those months ago. Neither could Mika as she stammered and stumbled all over herself. Trying to find a way to get back at her. To show her up, make her squirm just like before.
"W-well, maybe I will! See you try to find any gigs with everyone knowing you have a boyfriend." But Ann just walked right past her, clutching her boyfriend's hand with pride. All she did in response was wish Mika a nice day and kept right on walking. Not once looking bad. Akira wasn't as stalwart and looked over his shoulder to see the woman as irate as can be. "Hey, don't you walk away from me! I'm talking to you, Ann Takamaki! You hear me?!"
"Damn. You really lit her up, didn't you?" Ann beamed bashfully at Akira's words. Mika's ramblings had become mere background static to the both of them, having left her way behind.
"I learned from the best, after all." Akira couldn't fight the giggles that rose up in his chest. She knew just how to turn him into a gooey amorous mess. "Thanks for letting me handle Mika. I know it must've been hard to bite your tongue."
"You have no idea." What he would've given to tear her a new one right then and there. Drag her back and forth for every single thing she had done to Ann and everyone else. But it wouldn't have been as satisfying as what he witnessed. To see his girl glow. "I really respect what you said back there. Not letting yourself be bitter and instead trying to be more constructive. That takes a lot of maturity. I'm really proud of you, Ann…"
The blonde thought she might pass out right then and there from his words. She had thought about what she had said to Mika for the longest time. It was something that needed to be said. But Ann had no idea how she would've pulled it off. But when she dragged Akira into their rivalry, she knew it was time. Despite how effortlessly and aloofly her words flowed out, she had been quite nervous in speaking her mind. She had to prove her strength to Akira. Not just as his teammate and best friend, but his lover now too.
"You don't know how much that means to me."
"You worried at all about what Mika might say?" The blonde merely delivered a flippant scoff.
"She won't. We made a promise to beat one another fair and square."
"You think she'll keep it?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
She nodded. That was all the assurance Akira needed. Ann believed in Mika more than Akira did, but he couldn't find faults in her words. It was a rather noble thing for her to do. Wish Mika a chance at recovery and growing as an individual. To find happiness, to not drag herself down to her level of bitterness. He wouldn't have done the same. And he didn't trust Mika even a single bit. Were they a less confident people, she could've extorted them. Maybe even driven them apart out of paranoia to keep Ann's career safe. But they stood their ground. Ann had thrown the gauntlet down before her. All he could do now was trust in Ann's judgment that Mika wouldn't be that type of person. That she wouldn't forsake her word out of pettiness.
And sure enough, she didn't.