9/04/17 – Sunday
Ann lounged about on her bed within the confines of her lovingly furnished room. The girl held the phone to her ear and spoke to Shiho diligently as the girls recounted their days.
"Mom and Dad still keep spoiling me," Shiho said. "Buying me expensive clothes and jewelry, taking me out to dinner wherever they can." The girl sighed on the other end. "Anything they can do to try and move past the Kamoshida incident." Ann twirled the end of her pigtail thoughtfully over her friend's words.
"It's the only way they know how to cope, I suppose," Ann replied. "They feel guilty."
"I know," Shiho huffed glumly. "It hurts to see them like this, though. It wasn't their fault what happened, but I just can't seem to get it through their heads."
"They're your parents, Shiho. They'll blame themselves for what happened no matter what. That's what good parents do. They worry about their kids."
"Their gifts and outings are wonderful, but all I really wanna do is just spend time with them. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. I just…" There was a pause on the other line, with Ann able to hear to shaky exhale. "They just look so sad when their focus isn't on me. They don't think I notice, but I do." Ann's heart ached for Shiho and the turmoil her family was going through. Immediately, her thoughts turned inward to blame herself once more for not allowing Kamoshida to have his way with her. But Akira's and Shiho's words echoed in her mind. They wouldn't want her to bear the blame for what happened.
"Maybe you could…" The blonde's mind wandered around in search of a solution. Anything to alleviate her best friend's troubles. But Kamoshida's actions and Principal Kobayakawa's enabling it had created wounds that will never truly heal. Though she hated to admit it, there was no fixing this. Ann sighed in defeat, blue eyes gazing glumly down towards the sheets. "I don't know."
"I'm not asking you to try and fix it for me," Shiho said. "Don't trouble yourself over it. You're doing all you can."
"But I wanna do more, Shiho!"
"Ann, all I want is someone to listen to me. Listen to my problems, even if they can't fix them." Ann suppressed an annoyed huff. Not at her but rather at herself. The uselessness she felt in light of Shiho's situation. What she wouldn't give to be able to cure Shiho and her family of their melancholy like the Phantom Thieves did with Futaba. But no such palace existed, as Ann had checked personally. This was all she could do, and it frustrated her to no end. But her meager contribution seemed to suffice for Shiho. This was for her alleviation, not her own. Ann rubbed her brow with a sigh.
"Anyway, how's school been?" Perhaps a suitable subject change would soothe the tension, and it seemed to work as Shiho's tone picked up immediately.
"Oh, it's wonderful here," the girl replied. "Not as grand in scale as Shujin, but that's why I admire it. It's a welcome change of scenery. And everyone here is so nice."
"Does anyone know about Shujin?"
"They know about Kamoshida but not about me specifically. Although I think the teachers do because they're much nicer to me than the others."
"Maybe it's because you're new."
"I hope so. I don't want any special treatment. All the students treat me like a regular person. They do ask a lot of questions about Shujin though."
"If any boys up there give you trouble, I'll be over in a heartbeat to kick some ass." Shiho let out an ecstatic giggle, prompting Ann to laugh in return.
"Now that I would love to see," she said. "But enough about me. How are things back at Shujin?"
"Nice and quiet," Ann responded. "School's still a drag as usual, but we get to go to Hawaii soon."
"Ooh," Shiho said with admiration. "Nice. We're going to Los Angeles for our school trip."
"Oh, hey! Yusuke's going there for his. Say hi for me if you see him."
"Isn't he the artist? The one that asked to draw you nude?"
"Shiho!" Her cheeks burned a bit as her friend cackled. She could feel the embarrassment seething from the blonde through the phone. Ann pinched the bridge of her nose. "I should've never told you that."
"Hawaii looks so beautiful on TV and in all the magazines. It would be such a romantic spot to spend time with you know who~" Ann's cheeks flushed even harder from the teasing tone in Shiho's voice. She had been so wrapped up in seeing the sights and all the food that she hadn't considered the amorous aspect of it all. An exotic land far away from the familiar city of Tokyo, she and her boyfriend on a beach in their bathing suits. Ann hoped the two of them could steal away from the rest of their class and have a moment all to themselves.
"Wh-who would that be?" Ann asked, feigning ignorance.
"You know exactly who I mean, Ann Takamaki," Shiho teased. "Akira! Come on, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to ask him out! You two all alone on the beach in swimsuits in a foreign country." Shiho let a dreamy sigh slip past her lips. What an opportunity for memories. "It's obvious you like him. He's been really nice to me. And you, from what I've heard. We literally cannot go a single night without you bringing him up once. Go for it, girl!" Ann held a hand to her mouth, pursing her lips as she smiled at the thought of Akira. And at the thought of Shiho's ignorance to their relationship.
"Umm…" she said between shaky laughs. "I-it's funny you should say that…"
"You didn't." Ann bit down on her bottom lip, her smile widening and an excited giggle rising in her chest. "Ann Takamaki, you did not!"
"I did," she confessed. "We're dating now." Shiho let out an excited squeal from the other end, causing the giggles to escape from the blonde.
"Finally! Ann got herself a man, and the mysterious transfer student, of all people. Ann dating the criminal. Ooh, I never knew you had a thing for bad boys."
"Pfffffft!" Akira was a lot of things, but a bad boy was not one of them. Shiho knew this good and well, but she was absolutely living for the opportunity to tease Ann further. "You've gotta be kidding me."
"You gotta tell me everything! When did you guys officially start?"
"Wednesday." Had it really been that short a time? It felt like they had been together much longer. Given all they had experienced.
"Have you guys kissed yet?" Ann's face went beet red as she bit down on her bottom lip. The blonde couldn't force herself to say it out loud. Her flustered silence forced Shiho into another enthusiastic squeal, which elicited bashful giggles out of Ann in response. "Ann getting that PG-13 liplock!"
"Shut up!" Ann stammered in response, covering her reddened face. Shiho's fangirling giggles continued for a good while. The happiest she had been in months.
"Real talk, Ann. I'm so happy for you. I hope the both of you guys have a great time in Hawaii."
"Me too," Ann beamed with a giggle. "I wish you could be there with us to hang out."
"And be your third wheel? Not a chance, this is the time to get your man."
"I figured you'd want to inspect him. See if he's up to code. And if you find any guys over there in LA, they gotta get my approval first."
"Pssh! Of course." Ann had rather high standards when it came to men, especially concerning Shiho. Not just any Joe Schmoe on the streets would do for her best friend. He had to be someone resourceful and caring as well as charming and capable. Someone who would never hurt her but also treat her as an equal, not someone to be coddled. Like Akira. Ann's eyes darted to the clock on her end table. Was about that time.
"Speaking of men, it's time I get ready to head over to Leblanc." The blonde rested the phone down on the table while she set to work applying her makeup. A light coat for tonight. She normally didn't turn to using makeup outside of her job. Akira had always described her as a natural beauty. But he was cooking just for her tonight so she needed to look better than her best.
"Akira has a special evening planned out?" Shiho asked, the giddiness in her voice palpable.
"Actually, yeah," the blonde confessed. "He wanted to make breakfast for me. French toast, eggs, bacon."
"Breakfast? Ann, it's like eight at night."
"He likes breakfast at night. He's weird like that." Ann and Shiho giggled to themselves as they gossiped like middle school girls.
"You sure know how to pick 'em, Ann."
"Hey, he's making me breakfast without being asked so who's laughing now?"
"Mmm, I could actually go for some breakfast right now, to be honest. I'm really jealous.
"Haha," Ann remarked teasingly.
"Ah! Goddammit!" A stray droplet of grease had leapt off the pan and singed Akira's arm. Foolishly had he decided to sport a short-sleeved t-shirt instead of a long one. Now, he was paying the price for it. Ever so gingerly did he withdraw his arm to inspect the damage. No visible markings, just a mere sting.
"Are you seriously going to cook the whole slab?" Morgana asked, lounging on the countertop.
"Goddamn straight," Akira remarked before snapping his fingers. "And I told you before. Off the counter." The cat grumbled to himself and climbed onto a barstool, watching his human companion operate two pans at once. One was cooking up the French toast, dipped in his special blend of milk, two eggs, cinnamon, sugar, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Each side being flipped at quick intervals to keep them from burning. The other pan was sizzling with bacon, six pieces frying in the hot metal. Three-quarters of the slab rested on a plate covered by a paper towel, absorbing all the grease to reduce the strain of cleaning. Cautiously would he flip the pieces with a fork.
"Remember that Lady Ann doesn't like hers too crispy," Morgana stated.
"I know what she wants," Akira said with a satisfied smirk. "I'm the master at reading women." A romantic evening of the two of them – and Morgana – sharing a home cooked meal in a dimly lit coffee shop. It sounded positively picaresque to Ann. The aesthetic, the romantic gesture, the free food. Though it was a decision Sojiro wasn't entirely thrilled to have sprung on him so out of the blue. But when Akira bought all the ingredients himself with his hard-earned money, he relented. His only demand was some leftover bacon as payment. It felt so good to be cooking again. Even better when there was someone else to feed. And who better than his girlfriend? Though their courtship would be hindered slightly by the presence of the cat. They would need to remain composed, as difficult as that would be. "Whatever bacon we don't eat, you can have, Morgana. Just leave some for Sojiro, alright?" As the last piece was removed from the skillet, Akira cracked an egg and gently dropped it into the bacon grease to fry. He used a metal spoon to ladle the grease on top of the yolk, accelerating the cooking time. "Sunnyside up. My favorite-augh, dammit!" He withdrew and nursed his wrist, a tiny splatter nipping at his skin.
"Uh huh," Morgana said apathetically. He slumped on the barstool and stared out the window with a melancholic demeanor. Akira eyed him worriedly from his peripheral.
"You still concerned about the trip?" He lifted the finished piece of French toast off the pan and onto the plate with the others in the microwave. Keeping it inside helped contain the heat. He wanted it fresh for his darling dear. "I told you. Futaba will take care of you while we're gone. I gave her some money to buy you some fatty tuna. I'll be back on the twelfth."
"But that's so far away," Morgana said solemnly. "You and… Lady Ann…" His pride had been dealt a serious blow yesterday. Though he hated to admit it, her skills far surpassed his, even with his ability to transform into a car. The Phantom Thieves had been his idea, and now he had been replaced as both strategic organizer and navigator. Even more insulting was Ann's innocent comment. "Cute…" It felt positively humiliating under the circumstances. She was supposed to see him as a dashing tragic rogue trapped within an anthropomorphic feline body. A heroic handsome swashbuckler with a heart of gold. Not cute. Such a simple description made him feel like nothing. Like a mere cat. After everything he had done, it felt unbelievable to be viewed in such a simplistic manner. The words of a month's old conversation between him and Akira late at night came back to haunt him.
If you insist on doing this, Morgana, just be yourself. Don't force it, and be direct. Let her know how you feel.
He also remembered his flustered response, something to save face about his uncertainty.
Don't be ridiculous! People chase after me when it comes to love!
It had been the truth. Or rather, it used to have been. After his failed attempt to woo Ann resulted in staining a vintage dress, he had backed away significantly out of fear. But the feelings he had for her never died, the fire of passion in his chest only having grown stronger from being stifled for so long. And soon she would be off in a foreign country, lounging on the beach in a swimsuit. Surrounded by men in swimsuits of their own. His eyes widened in shock and fear at the implications of it all.
"Akira!" he cried. The boy turned to face him after placing another egg yolk onto the skillet. "Do you think Lady Ann will find love while overseas?" He stared in silence at the cat, mouth slightly ajar.
"Morgana, what the hell are you talking about?" he asked flatly.
"Come on, Akira. Have I taught you nothing? Think about it. Lady Ann in a foreign country on a tropical island, soaking up the sun and cool salt water of the Pacific. Her gorgeous slender body being kissed by the sun as dozens of testosterone-driven men try and vie for her affection." He tugged on his ears frantically. "Someone might steal her away from me!" Akira had turned back to the stove, placing another finished piece of French toast into the microwave.
"We're still on this, I see," he said, shaking his head disapprovingly. "Morgana, Ann isn't shallow enough to fall for some dude on the beach because he's a beefcake. Plus, if that were true, it would've happened the last time we were at the beach."
"But a tropical getaway is such a romantic scenario. Anything could happen!"
"Don't you think you're being slightly irrational?" Akira asked.
"Five days is a long time," the cat noted. "What if I lose my chance?" Akira peered at him over his shoulder.
"Chance to what?"
"To win her heart!" Akira shook his head, flipping the bread slices onto their opposite sides. In one ear, out the other had his words gone. It was tempting to just reveal the truth right then and there to him. Perhaps that would get the cat to drop it and leave Ann alone. But Morgana was already in a dreary enough emotional state as is.
"Look, just don't try anything stupid during dinner, alright? This is supposed to be me and Ann enjoying some late-night breakfast." The cat narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the young chef.
"How come you invited Lady Ann and no one else?" A cold sweat descended down Akira's neck just then. By itself, it was nothing unusual. Two friends eating some breakfast food. But Morgana's paranoia and the nature of their relationship put the boy on edge.
"Both Ryuji and Futaba eat like a couple of goddamn horses," he said. "I would like to have some food for myself." A half-truth. Though they did eat tremendously, it had not been the reason why they weren't invited. Guilt began to set its way into his chest for not inviting the others. It felt like Ann was getting special treatment. Which she technically was. She was his girl, after all. A knock on the door drew Morgana's attention off him. None other than Ann stood there, beaming sweetly and waving. "Come on in." With a wave of his hand did Ann enter, the bell jingling as she closed the door. "You don't have to knock, you know."
"I just want your permission to enter," she said, watching him work behind the counter. The apron he sported was a cute touch.
"It's a public coffee shop, Ann," Akira said with a playful smirk. The blonde sniffed the air and the smell of freshly prepared food riding on it.
"Smells good. You almost done?"
"Bacon and French toast are finished. Just two more eggs, and we'll be ready to eat."
"Good. I'm starving!" Ann took a seat at the barstool in front of Akira, leaning on her hands as he diligently worked under her watchful eye. His heart quivered with anticipation at the thought of her trying his food. Never had he been so excited about cooking before. Two cold cups of orange juice sat at the bar, awaiting them.
"Um… L-Lady Ann." The blonde tilted her head towards the cat in the barstool opposite her. She reached down and scratched his chin as she normally did. A gesture that once brought joy and warmth to Morgana now felt cold and wrong. "I… I need to confess something."
"What is it?" The cat gulped nervously before her. The bravado he predominantly thrust forward around her had withered into nothingness. His words about letting women come to him taunted him from the past. This couldn't happen to him, of all people. Not when they were so close to solving the Mementos mystery and returning him to human. He just needed more time, another chance. She would for sure see him as the cunning gentleman deserving of her adoration. The cat looked to Akira, tending to his eggs without a care in the world. He had always been a composed smooth operator. How Morgana envied his natural aloofness, especially right now. With a deep huff, he strung his words together and began to speak.
"Lady Ann, ever since I laid eyes upon you, I've been enraptured. It may have been Kamoshida's cognition of you I saw first, but it opened my eyes!" Ann blinked at him in stunned confusion. "Your beauty and grace are unparalleled, your strength fiery and uncompromising! You're the most beautiful girl in the entire world, and it's been tearing me apart that you don't see the real me! The dashing hero worthy of your hand. I might look like a cat, but if you just give me a chance and more time, I can be your man! The human you deserve to have court you! I can be everything to you and more! Just give me the chance I deserve!" An awkward silence hung in the air. Akira had turned the stove off and was glancing at Ann, who had turned to him for answers. The boy shook his head in exasperation. In one ear…
"Morgana, what are you trying to say?" The cat pulled at his ears in frustration. His face was already burning hot underneath his fur.
"Do I seriously have to spell it out for you?" he asked. "I love you, Lady Ann!" Ann's eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks flushing from the awkwardness she felt. A fine heat had built upon Akira's neck as he turned back towards the stove. The anxiety foretold what would happen next, and he dreaded it. Though, neither of them felt as anxious as Morgana did. He had laid everything on the line, and now was the moment of truth. She had to accept him now… didn't she? "So, what do you say? Lady Ann, will you be my girl?"
"Ohh…" Ann held a hand to her face as her cheeks burned greatly. The mortification she felt on both of their behalves was palpable. Morgana looked up at her with expecting shimmering blue eyes. A pleading desperate look in them, a desire that burned hotter than the blush on her skin. Ann looked towards Akira, who merely tugged on his shirt collar. "Morgana…" She took a deep breath to gather her thoughts, prepping herself for the uneasy rejection. "You're really sweet and nice and kind and funny. All sorts of things. Any girl would be lucky to have you."
"I don't want just any girl," he said, tail wagging with anticipation. "I want you. You're like no one else in the world, Lady Ann. I can be the gallant knight you deserve. The one you need. And you're the girl that I need." She sighed and chewed on her bottom lip.
"Well, that girl you want… will just have to be someone else." Morgana's heart sank into his furry body, the sheer weight of it feeling as though he would sink into the earth and pull Leblanc with him. "You're a sweet cat-" Akira made a vicious swiping motion with his hand across his neck, wincing painfully. Ann pursed her lips and reevaluated her statement. "You're a sweet guy. But I'm just not interested. You're my friend, but that's all you'll be. Just my friend." The cat's mind raced feverishly in an attempt to salvage this uncomfortable situation. To turn it around and make her see the error of her ways. That he deserves her.
"Wait, Lady Ann! If it's because of my feline exterior, then we can fix that! We're so close to returning me to my body! Just give me time, please! I can prove I'm the guy you need!"
"Morgana, it's not just looks," she said, rubbing her brow. "It doesn't matter whether you're actually human. I'm not interested in you romantically. I'm sorry, but you'll only ever be a friend to me." Morgana could hear the sound of splintering glass as his heart shattered onto the floor. He couldn't bring himself to believe his ears. After everything, there was no way this could be happening to him.
"But… but why? What did I do wrong? Lady Ann, I can change into whatever you want me to be. I can be the man for you if you just give me one chance." He sounded positively devastated. Akira's heart ached for his dear friend, but it was a lesson he had to learn. Now, he seemed poised to dig himself deeper into despair.
"No, I don't want you to change yourself for me," Ann said, pinching her brow. "You'd just be pretending to be someone else, and that's just fake. You're better than that, Morgana. Just be yourself."
"But I'm not the man you want. What good is being myself if I can't have you?" It just grew more and more painful by the minute for everyone involved. Akira had heard from television that the first love was always the one that hurt the most. Well, Morgana was hurting severely.
"Morgana…" Ann reached out to pet him, but he sharply withdrew, leaping onto the floor.
"What kind of man do you like, Lady Ann?" he bargained. This couldn't be the end for him. A Phantom Thief mustn't go out like this. Not with a whimper but a bang. "I can be that man, I swear!"
"Morgana, please. Stop begging. Why can't you just accept this?"
"There has to be something I can do. Something I can do to win you!"
"I am not a prize to be won!" Ann huffed indignantly. Morgana ducked down, ears folded cautiously. "I'm sorry that you're heartbroken. I truly am, but you need to respect my decision, okay? Stop trying to barter or beg because it won't work. Please stop."
"But… Lady Ann…"
"Morgana." The cat turned to see Akira looking at him over the counter. "No means no. Listen to her." He stood there in utter silence. Any sort of excuse or plea stagnated and withered away. "Now please, can we just drop this and accept Ann's word? If you can't do that for me, can you please head upstairs and let us eat in peace?" Slowly, the cat's head drooped to the floor. He stared down at his paws in utter defeat. A soft sigh escaped him as he retreated up the stairs. Never in all his life had he felt this low, this directionless. The bed in Akira's room would offer no sleep for the cat this night. Akira and Ann exchanged glum looks, both leaning against the counter. "That could've gone better." Ann sighed and leaned forward on her palm.
"God, I feel terrible," she said solemnly.
"Me too," Akira replied, placing the finished eggs onto the plate with the other two. "I should've tried harder to get through to him. He's just so damn stubborn about it though."
"You think we should've told him about us?" Akira shook his head.
"Would've just made things worse." It was Akira's turn to sigh, rubbing his eyes behind his glasses. "This is not how I wanted the night to go." She rested her cheek glumly against his shoulder.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault." He reached for her hand and cradled it. "You made your choice. He couldn't come to terms with that."
"I know. It just doesn't make things better."
"You still hungry?" Ann folded her arms and leaned back in her seat. Her melancholic pout was actually quite adorable. He leaned in and smiled. "We got all this food. Let's take our minds off this." She didn't feel much like eating anymore. Morgana's resistance and her own confession had upset her too much to properly enjoy a good meal. The feelings were worsened with the guilt of Akira working so hard to prepare it. "Come on." Akira's words snapped her out of the miasma of negativity in her mind as he tilted her head up to face him. He tilted her head up to face him, cradling her cheek against his thumb. "Where's my happy girl?" Despite her resistance, a smile made its way onto her face. Her raven-haired boyfriend stared longingly into the pools of blue looking back at him. The clearness of them felt as though he'd be transported to another world.
"Eating does help calm my nerves," she said. "And it would be a shame not to eat after you worked so hard."
"Excellent." Akira retrieved the plate of French toast from the microwave. "How many pieces, babe?"
"Three, please." He nodded and the transferred the three pieces to her plate, lathering them in butter, syrup, a blend of powdered sugar and vanilla, and some strawberries. He applied the ingredients to his pile of toast and placed it in front of the seat next to her. Ann stared at the mountain of French toast on his plate. "Six pieces?"
"I eat a lot." The next plate to reach the counter was the one loaded with bacon.
"That's a lot of bacon…" An entire slab's worth of the choicest cut. Handpicked by Akira himself from the store.
"Goddamn straight," he said, dining on one of the succulent pieces of meat. "Mmm, mmm, mmm. A touch of crisp but ultimately tender. Just how you like it."
"You shouldn't have," Ann said with a giggle.
"Why do Americans have such an obsession with bacon?" Akira asked he went to retrieve the eggs.
"Because it's good, obviously."
"I'm not disputing that," he said with a chuckle. "But why Americans specifically?" He placed two eggs on her plate, and two on his. "Cooked to perfection and topped with ground black pepper and sea salt. A little bit of lemon drizzled over them for a citrusy sweetness to offset the salt and spice. Little custom thing I do, throwing in some lemon here and there." Ann's eyes lit up as she surveyed all the food. It was way more than she could eat herself, but luckily her boyfriend was a living garbage disposal. She had heard of his legendary completion of the Big Bang Burger challenge. How he put it away and remained as skinny as he was, she'd never know.
"This is all really sweet," she said, beaming at him. Her man cooking a late-night breakfast dinner in a coffee shop. He just kept finding new ways to outdo himself. Akira sliced a piece of her toast and held it to her mouth, feeding her. Such a cute gesture elicited happy giggles from the girl. "Mmm, sooo good!"
"You like?" Akira asked eagerly.
"This is the best French toast I've ever had!" The boy sighed with relief as pride coursed through his body. "I had no idea you could cook so well!"
"I tried my hand at it after Sojiro showed me how to brew coffee. After all, I'm feeding myself here, and you can't just eat boiled ramen over and over." Ann gingerly sliced into her egg and dined on the delicious cooked yolk.
"Delicious," she complimented. "My dad prefers his yolk to be a little runny. I'm funny about how my food is cooked, though."
"I took great care to make sure the eggs were done." He inspected his handiwork. As expected, cooked and seasoned to perfection. "Same with the bacon. Don't want any underdone pieces." Ann dined on a strip and marveled at the taste.
"A slight crunch, but overall tender. My favorite. Dad prefers his bacon crispy." She turned her nose up at the thought. "It's like eating charcoal."
"That's how Sojiro is with his bacon. Runny eggs, too." Ann leaned on his shoulder while he nibbled a piece of his toast.
"Thank you so much, Akira," she said softly, gazing at him with a sleepy longing look. "You're the best boyfriend I've ever had." He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Ann, I'm the only boyfriend you've ever had." She snickered and leaned into him before he fed her a piece of his toast. "I got a couple other recipes I wanna try for you. There's one that's ramen boiled in some sliced vegetables and a seasoned chicken breast." The blonde found herself growing hungrier as he went on and on. A Phantom Thief and a master chef. It's like he grew more and more perfect with each passing day. But her expression then soured as her mind drifted back to Morgana. Her pain had not gone unnoticed by Akira, who wrapped an arm around her comfortingly.
"I didn't know how hard this all would've affected him," she said glumly. He nodded as she leaned into him for warmth.
"Whether you were single or not is irrelevant," Akira reasoned. "It still would've hurt him the same regardless." She sighed and nuzzled the small of his neck.
"I wish there was something we could do for him, you know. Maybe find him a girlfriend when he becomes human. Or find him a lady cat if he really is a cat." Akira contemplated Morgana's rather unique situation. If he was merely just a cat, then there was really nothing they could do for him. A regular cat wouldn't do for him. Morgana would need a woman to talk and engage with him, treat him like a person. All they could do now was plunge deeper into Mementos when they had the time and solve this mystery.
"We're doing all we can. But there are some things only he can do for himself." Ann nibbled absently on a strip of bacon, earning a small smile from her lover. "Perhaps this was the right time for this. In a few days, we'll be off to Hawaii and take a break from each other. Morgana can come to terms with it in our absence."
"I'm just worried about him is all," Ann said. "He's never been away from us this long before. I don't want him to get lonely." A heavy sigh escaped Akira's lips.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm worried about him too. But he'll have Futaba, and I gave her money to treat him to fatty tuna once while we're gone. And they'll be doing recon work around town to keep an eye on any Metaverse activity. It'll keep them busy. Plus, he's gonna have to learn eventually how to be without you."
"It doesn't make any of this easier," she replied despondently. Akira nodded, squeezing her against him. A notion that she responded with in turn.
"Things will be okay. He just needs time. Trust me." In typical fashion, Akira's words gave her hope. Nothing could be changed now. Her feelings were made known to Morgana, and it had broken his heart completely. Now all that could be done was let him heal. Some comfort could be gained in that Akira shared her pain. "At least we're looking forward to the Hawaii trip more now, right?"
"I guess," she smiled sadly. "It'll be a nice distraction from Mementos and… this."
"We should find a way to spend some time, just the two of us." A small giggle escaped the girl as she fantasized the both of them on the Waikiki beach. Two young teenagers in swimsuits, lounging on the sand privately underneath their friends' noses. Secret lovers. Her heart soared at the fact that she was living this fantasy.
"Shiho was saying the same thing." Akira turned abruptly towards her, blinking in surprise.
"You told her?" Ann inhaled sharply at her inadvertent reveal. She bit down on her bottom lip apprehensively. So much for keeping it a secret.
"Is that… bad?" Akira chewed on the inside of his cheek as he thought it over.
"…Nah." A sigh of relief escaped the girl. "Shiho's your best friend. I wouldn't want you to keep secrets from her. Plus, I trust her. She'll respect our privacy. Not to mention she lives far enough away that there's no chance it'll be revealed accidentally to the others." Ann wrapped her arms around his chest and held him tight.
"Akira, you're the fucking best, you know that?" He smirked with satisfaction as he petted her hair.
"Yeah, I've been told that before." Pursing her lips into a smile, she nudged his ribs with her elbow.
"Ass," she muttered, trying not to laugh.
9/05/17 – Monday
The Phantom Thieves spent their lazy Monday after school doing nothing of note, in typical fashion. The school was uneventful in typical fashion, with everyone far too focused on the trip Wednesday to care about their studies. Except for Makoto, of course. They had been graced with nice weather and decided to lounge about in town, frequenting the picnic tables in Central Street. A spur of the moment decision, but time was of the essence as the school trip was fast approaching. The lot of them had grown quite hungry, and they began purchasing delectable morsels to dine upon. Futaba had brought her staple food, consisting of her staple food that earned envy and desire from those around her. Yusuke gingerly sniffed the fumes wafting off in his direction.
"It's strange. No matter how many times I sample it, I cannot get over the intoxicating aroma," the artist commented. Futaba withdrew defensively around her meal.
"Hands off, Inari." Akira sat at the end of the table, patiently awaiting his girlfriend. Ann and Makoto were running a bit behind, and he was eager to give her what he had prepared earlier. Morgana lounged limply along the side of the bench, not so much as a flick to his tail. Ryuji returned with a box of chicken and fries, an ecstatic grin on his face from the meal he had garnered.
"Yo, Mona," the blond boy said, smirking at the cat. Teasingly did he lift the Styrofoam lid. "You want some delicious fried chicken?" Not that he had any intention of giving the cat any. Ryuji just wanted to taunt their feline companion.
"Not hungry." Ryuji blinked in surprise at the curt reply. Yusuke and Futaba drew their attention towards Morgana as well. It was dramatically uncharacteristic of him to turn down a meal, regardless of what meat it was. A twinge of concern shot up in the blond's chest.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "I mean, I don't mind." The cat was not swayed by the sincerity in his voice, instead turning his back and remaining silent. Futaba leaned towards Morgana searchingly.
"Is Kitty sick?" she asked.
Lovesick, Akira thought to himself before clearing his throat. "Morgana's having some personal issues right now…" Yusuke pondered his chin carefully.
"Ah. Concerned about our departure Wednesday, no doubt." He ruffled Morgana's fur, much to his chagrin. "Fear not, Morgana. It will only be a week, and Futaba will take care of you."
"Less than a week, technically. Think of it like a vacation," Ryuji said. "A break from bein' Phantom Thieves."
"We just had a break," the cat grumbled.
"That's not the whole story, but…" Akira stared down at his feline friend apprehensively before letting out a sigh. "I shouldn't say anything. It's probably best not to talk about it-"
"Why bother?" The question caught the shaggy-haired spectacled boy off-guard. "Not like there's a point in keeping it a secret." The cat rose to his paws and sat on the bench. "I confessed my feelings of true love to Lady Ann." Yusuke's brow twitched, a feeling of apprehension of what Morgana would say next. Judging by his tone, it could only have been one outcome.
"Ohh…" Ryuji said. Morgana sighed exhaustedly, just feeling completely and utterly defeated.
"I'm guessing she didn't like you back?" Futaba asked. The cat shot her an annoyed look.
"How did you figure that out?" he snapped. "Surprised you didn't already know considering you know everything. Surprised you didn't know before I knew." Futaba withdrew a bit, scooting away. Ryuji frowned at the cat.
"Dude, she was just askin' a question," he commented. "Don't have to be a dick about it." Morgana merely scoffed.
"I'm sorry," Futaba said. By no means did she intentionally mean to offend her feline friend or did wish to see him sullen and heartbroken.
"You have my sympathies," Yusuke said solemnly. "I can't imagine unrequited love is easy to deal with, but I applaud your attempt. That took courage, no doubt."
"Not like it matters. She doesn't like me back. I just… why not?" The cat's voice shook slightly, and Akira felt a twinge of fear spear his heart at the thought of Morgana breaking down in public. "Why not me?"
"Well…" Futaba said, scratching her head. "Maybe it's because you're a ca-" Her eyes switched to Akira, who was frantically swiping at his neck with a fearful look in his eye. The last thing he wanted was to push Morgana further into depression. "Ca-ca-cuh-"
"Cool!" Ryuji interrupted. "Y-yeah, you're too cool! Ann is intimidated by how cool you are." He smiled nervously, looking to Akira who had a bewildered squint on his face. Once again, Ryuji had proved he was not even remotely skilled in the art of deceit.
"Even for you, that was pretty dumb, Ryuji," Morgana said, flopping onto his side. "Why dance around it? I already know the answer. I'm just…" A sigh of bitter admission escaped his lips. "I'm just a cat to her." Akira sighed and placed his hands on his hips, shaking his head remorsefully. He had known the rejection would hit Morgana hard, but it still hadn't prepared him for the brunt of it.
"Hey, come on," he said reassuringly. "It's not the end of the world."
"Easy for you to say," the feline dismissed. "You're going on vacation Wednesday and get to have fun in the sun. I'm just stuck here." The guilt began to really sink in now. Akira had originally surmised that their break would give them time to heal. Now, it seemed just to be salt thrown into the wound.
"Well… you'll have Futaba with you. That'll be good, right?" Akira had to give Ryuji credit on how hard he was trying to lift Morgana's spirits, but his graciousness was lost on the embittered feline.
"Tck," Morgana scoffed. "Great. Maybe she can tell me more about how useless I am. She'll have to pick up your slack. Maybe in Hawaii, you can find someone to replace me as the getaway car to make me even more of a waste." Ryuji rubbed his neck sheepishly. His jests from yesterday seemed to have cut deeper than he imagined.
"Ahh, come on," the blond said, ruffling the cat's hair. "You don't take that stuff seriously, do you? I'm just funnin' with ya. Everyone else makes fun of me, and I don't take it personally. It's all jokes, y'know? You make fun of me, and I roast you back. That's our thing, right?" Morgana said nothing, offering only a disheartened sigh before flipping over onto his other side away from them. Akira felt a frown rise up on his face. Since meeting had the both of them possessed a rivalry of sorts, filled with banter back and forth. Never once had Ryuji complained. Now with Morgana feeling so sullen, suddenly the banter was uncalled for. Were he less sympathetic, he would lecture his friend on his blatant hypocrisy. Right now, he just didn't possess the willpower. The others looked to him expectantly.
"This is most unusual," Yusuke murmured lowly. "Nothing we try seems to reach him."
"Kitty's very stubborn," Futaba noted.
"Is there no way we can take Morgana with us?" the artist asked.
"To America?" Akira asked before shaking his head. "No chance. Airport security is tight going there. If they caught us with Morgana, we'd be detained for God knows how long. And I do not need that on my record too."
"It's true," Futaba stated. "Since the 1990s, the TSA has become increasingly strict and paranoid in their endeavors to make airline travel safe from terrorist attacks. Although, their methods are rarely effective, having never actually prevented an attack before. Plus, their network security really sucks. I hacked into it last night like it was nothing." The three boys eyed the spectacled redhead uncomfortably as she beamed with apparent pride.
"…You know, it just occurred to me that Futaba is probably on a watch list somewhere," Akira said, now suddenly feeling like he was being watched himself. "We can never take her anywhere."
"Eh," she dismissed. "I don't need to go to the U.S. anyways. Their video games suck. Who wants to spend sixty dollars on generic military shooters?"
"Yeah, not like here in Japan where our favorite franchises just become pachinko machines," Akira jested, smirking slightly as he felt the girl seethe under his gaze.
"Don't remind me of that," she hissed. Yusuke stood with a blank and lost expression upon his face, ogling the two spectacled teens.
"Video games," he stated simply. "I… understand about those…" Futaba snickered at how much an old man he resembled when it came to the modern world, causing Yusuke to turn his nose up at her in disdain.
"Inari is so uncultured." An offended gasp escaped through Yusuke's larynx, his eye twitching manically.
"How dare you-"
"Hey, can we get back to the task at hand, please?" Akira interrupted, craning his neck in Morgana's direction. The two set aside their feud and diverted attention to their feline friend. None of them had any real experience with love or relationships, Futaba and Yusuke lacking social skills in general. Plus, with Morgana's unique condition, it was a strenuous sea to navigate. Yusuke sighed with great sobriety.
"I'm afraid I can provide no aid under these circumstances," the artist admitted.
"Ditto," Futaba stated. Ryuji huffed through his teeth while scratching the back of his head before he too relented.
"Yeah, I got nothin' too." His eyes darted to Akira's searchingly. "What about you, boss man? Anything at all?" Akira merely shrugged.
"Nothing I haven't already said." His response did little to inspire any of them, their eyes falling upon their forlorn feline friend. His white-tipped tail dangled limply over the edge without so much as a twitch. A heavy sigh made its way through Akira. "But I suppose it's worth repeating. They say repetition is supposed to help, right?"
"Couldn't hurt to try," Yusuke commented. With a nod, he gently ran his fingers along Morgana's neck and scratched it. He didn't respond but didn't swat him away either. So, he was at least listening.
"These things… happen, Morgana," he started. The cat sighed in anticipation of his response. "It's just something you have to accept. It stings, but you just have to move on. You know?" As expected, Morgana said nothing. He knew it was a far cry to expect him to listen to reason.
"…That's it?" Akira looked back at Ryuji, tapping his foot and hands on his hips. "You're just gonna tell him to give up?"
"She said no. That's the end of it."
"Come on, man! Girls play hard to get when it comes to guys so as not to look desperate or easy." Akira suppressed a look of contempt from forming on his face. It seemed as though he was the only one amongst them with any sort of understanding of women, and he and Ann had been together for less than a week. "Besides, it doesn't look good when a man gives up. Girls like determination and confidence. All that stuff, you know?"
"But… he's a cat." Akira hated to keep harping on such a sensitive issue, but Ann was by no means interested. The species difference was an incredibly large thing to overlook, and Morgana just couldn't grasp that. Apparently, neither could Ryuji.
"We just gotta turn him back to a human is all," the blond said.
"But-" Akira interrupted himself with a sigh, rubbing his brow in exasperation. He had lost count how many times he had undergone this conversation. "Ann has established she's not interested in him, whether he's human or cat."
"She just hasn't seen him yet. How can she know if she hasn't seen him?" Akira gave up and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. It was already enough of a labor to convince Morgana. He couldn't handle dealing with Ryuji now as well.
"Hey, guys!" Akira swiftly turned to see Ann approaching, a sweet smile upon her face in typical fashion. He turned back to the others and quietly shushed them down.
"Let's drop it for now." He rose from his seat to find Ann embracing him, a notion he graciously returned. "Took you long enough," he teased. She stuck her tongue out at him playfully before greeting the others.
"Hi, Morgana!" Ann said sweetly. The cat merely let out a sad sigh, only responding with a flick of his ear. Her smile faltered, glancing to Akira with concern. Ryuji, Yusuke, and Futaba met her gaze with a similar forlorn look.
"They know, Ann." Her eyes widened a sliver with fear at his words. "About…"
"About me." Ann looked down to Morgana, who still hadn't lifted himself up from his spot. "Morgana the cat. That's all I am." Her heart twitched with sorrow at his words. The girl felt a heat rise up on her neck from their personal affairs now on display for the group.
"Morgana, I'm really sorry to see you so heartbroken, but I had to be honest," she said. Akira tugged on his shirt collar, now feeling the same heat building on his neck. Things were growing increasingly more awkward, and they all felt it. The cat sighed and leapt off the table.
"I'll just go," he said, not waiting for a response as he trotted down an alley. Her presence was too much for Morgana to handle right now. His pride wouldn't allow him to stay. Ann felt her feelings hurt at his abrupt and aloof departure. Akira placed a comforting hand upon her shoulder, sharing her sentiment. It hurt both of them to see Morgana in such turmoil. But it was nothing they could feasibly fix.
"Should we go after him?" she asked. Akira merely shook his head.
"Some time alone will do him good. For now, let's eat. Alright?" Ann sighed and nodded reluctantly. Her shaggy-haired boyfriend surveyed the area behind her curiously. "Where's Makoto?"
"She's running a bit behind," Ann said. "She'll make it, though." Ryuji blinked in realization and swiftly began to wolf down his chicken. The presence of the poultry had utterly eluded him as his focus shifted to Morgana's romantic crisis. Coincidentally, so did table manners, it seemed. Yusuke turned his nose up at the apparent lack of dining etiquette.
"How barbaric," the artist scoffed before leaving to purchase himself some noodles. Ann snickered, a hand to her mouth. Her blue eyes fell upon Akira.
"I'll get us food," Ann said, retrieving her purse. "What do you wanna eat?"
"No need." Akira reached into his satchel and removed a bento box. "Check it out." He handed it to Ann, and she gingerly lifted the lid to peek inside. Within was freshly prepared ramen, littered with chicken, shrimp, green onions, mushrooms, pineapple, and eggs. Seasoned with soy sauce, lemon juice, and various spices that smelled like utter heaven. In the space next to it was fried rice, decorated with small vegetables and egg mixed in the grains, marinated in soy. "It's nothing noteworthy, but it's a free meal."
"Ooh," Ann commented, cradling the box. "Looks really good."
"Made it all for you, Ann." He beamed proudly and nodded. "Figured it would be the best way to hone my skills. Plus, you get to eat on my dime. Can't beat that, right?" It had been a spur of the moment decision. Rushing home after school to prepare the meal had been a laborious task, especially with the small time window. But had been totally worth it. Ann giggled at how proud he was of his handiwork. Between the late-night breakfast and the bento boxes, she felt she'd grow spoiled by all these free meals.
"Aww, thanks, Akira. That's so sweet, but what about you?" Truth be told, the boy had not even considered anything for himself. He had been utterly lost in meticulously cooking the meal to the closest he could achieve to perfection.
"Eh, not a big deal," Akira said. "I can grab food for myself-"
"Nonsense." She grabbed his sleeve and gently lowered him down to the table. "We'll share." Akira chuckled and relented. He had made the box for her sole enjoyment, but a meal prepared is always better shared. Ann dined upon the contents of the box while Akira sat across and watched her dine. "Mmm, this is really good, Akira!" The myriad of flavors that hit her tongue was incredibly stimulating. Salty, sweet, and spicy all intermingled, each perfectly counterbalanced. A soft sigh of relief escaped his chest. Cooking was a practice he frequently enjoyed, and he was quite sensitive to making an enjoyable meal. Anything he believed or was told was lacking would be something he would take hard. "Where'd you learn how to cook this?"
"Saw it online," the boy said, leaning upon his hand with a confident smirk. "Modified the recipe at my own discretion."
"Was it expensive to make?"
"Nah. It's all relatively cheap ingredients that you let cook on medium-high for about half an hour. Mostly to get the chicken nice and brown. The last thing I want is salmonella." Ann savored the piece of pineapple she was chewing on and gazed in adoration at him.
"You've got this down to a science, huh?" Akira rubbed his neck and chuckled, a bashful smile on his face. It always tickled him pink to hear his work be praised.
"Well, I mean, it's nothing special, but I like to toot my own horn and say I did fairly well." Ever so humble. Something Ann always appreciated about him. Confident but not a braggart. Humble but not self-deprecating or dismissive. Yusuke returned and sat down across from Ryuji with his noodles. The blond craned his neck and sniffed the fumes wafting from the bowl.
"Eh. Not bad," he commented. Yusuke eyed him searchingly for clues as to the nature of his comment. Ryuji tapped the side of his nostril with his finger and smirked. "I got a nose for things when it comes to ramen. That corner store stuff might be cheap, but it doesn't compare to the high-quality stuff in Ogikubo." Yusuke nodded curiously while he dined on his noodles. His friend's rambling actually served to strengthen his appetite.
"It's just ramen," Futaba dismissed, earning an offended look from the blond. Never had he felt more insulted in his life than in that moment.
"It's not just ramen!" he insisted with a passion that caught Yusuke off-guard. "A lot of effort goes into making sure it has the right flavor and texture. Shit's very important."
"Texture?" Futaba repeated. "It's noodles! You boil them in water and-"
"No, no," Yusuke interrupted, holding a finger up to silence her. "He has a point." The artist leaned forward intently, hanging on Ryuji's every word. "I had no idea you were so passionate for the culinary arts." The blond beamed and lounged back, hands behind his head.
"Ramen's a big deal for me, dude. Since I was a little tyke, I was always eatin' and learnin' about it."
"Truly fascinating." Yusuke steepled his fingers and gazed upon him with a newfound appreciation. "Perhaps I had underestimated you, Ryuji."
"Damn right you did," he said with a wink, pointing at the artist and proceeded to click his thumb. "I treated Akira personally to the best ramen in town out in Ogikubo. Play your cards right, and maybe I'll take you under my wing. Akira knows me as a regular ramen connoisseur, don't you, bud?" The blond awaited an answer from his best friend, instead only receiving a laugh from Ann. Ryuji looked back to see Ann and Akira laughing to themselves. Both completely oblivious to their conversation.
"Okay, my turn." She lifted a fork with pineapple impaled upon the metal prongs over to his mouth. Akira opened his mouth and nibbled on the fruit. Akira smirked and attempted to take the fork for himself, but Ann was quick to pull it out of reach. "Nu-uh. I'm feeding you." After consuming the hunk of berry, he took the fork and fed her a piece of shrimp speared alongside a mushroom, both soaked in soy. Ryuji sat and gawked at the both of them, taking turns feeding one another and giggling. He had never seen either one of them act in such a way before. From Ann, he expected. But not Akira, of all people. Their composed smooth leader was acting so giddy all of a sudden. Yusuke and Futaba seemed to share his bewilderment, as they sat and observed the two in silence. After a while, the two finished their shared meal, with Akira making sure Ann got the last bite. Both of them still oblivious to their friends, rather lost in each other. Ryuji leaned over towards the other two and whispered lowly.
"Dude, are you guys seein' this?"
"Most peculiar," Yusuke noted, pondering his chin. Ryuji kicked at his seat from under the table.
"Come on, dude!" he hissed lowly. "Don't draw attention."
"You're one to talk," the artist retorted. "Declaring our status as Phantom Thieves to the heavens every other day and whatnot."
"That was like maybe two times, okay?" As the blond opened his mouth to retort some more, he was distracted by Ann and Akira rising from the table.
"Hey, guys, me and Ann are gonna head out, okay? Got something we wanna take care of before we gotta leave tomorrow."
"That cool with you?" The three exchanged perplexed looks, unsure of who should respond.
"Uh… yeah, that's cool," Ryuji spoke up. "We'll tell Makoto you said hi." Ann beamed at him and swung her purse over her shoulder.
"Thanks, Ryuji," she said with a smile. "You're a peach." Akira tucked the bento box away in his satchel and walked through the crowd of people with Ann in tow. Ryuji's mouth hung slightly agape in pure confusion as he turned to Yusuke and Futaba, still as lost as they were.
"I'm a peach?" he repeated. "What does that even mean? And why did they leave?"
"They were whispering to each other about something," Futaba said, narrowing her eyes at their figures disappearing in the crowd. "Before they left." Yusuke and Ryuji leaned in curiously.
"Well, spit it out!" Ryuji insisted. "What did they say?"
"I couldn't make it out. Couldn't hear it over your bickering."
"Damn."
"Regardless, their mannerisms were quite odd," Yusuke stated. "I've never seen them behave in such a way before. The way they interacted was quite…" Ryuji sat in silence, listening to his artistic friend before growing impatient. He drummed on the table with his fingers and nodded his head expectantly.
"Quite what?"
"You know. Romantic." The blond was taken aback by the unexpected choice of words.
"R-romantic?" he repeated. "Hold up. Ann and Akira are just friends. That would just be weird to date your friends."
"Friends these days get that close to each other?" Futaba asked. Ryuji awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
"I… guess?" Truth be told, he found himself at a loss for any tangible explanation for what they just witnessed. It was true that Ann and Akira were good friends, but such behavior didn't fit into the typical friendship dichotomy. "They can't be datin' because if they were, Akira would've told me first since we're bros. And bros don't keep secrets. Part of the code. Plus…" Ryuji grinned and pressed a thumb to himself. "I know how to read women. If Ann was into Akira, I would've known a looooong time ago." Futaba and Yusuke stared at Ryuji with a flat unimpressed look, both of them cocking an eyebrow in unison.
"…Doubtful," Yusuke stated plainly.
"Highly doubtful," Futaba assured. The blond deflated in front of the two, in total disbelief that their rivalry had subsided to unite just to roast him in such a fashion. A true act of betrayal, if he ever knew one.
Akira began locking up the store after Sojiro's departure. By this time Thursday, they would be looking out over the blue ocean in their hotel rooms. He had never been to another country before. Saw no need to travel as Japan had everything he could possibly have wanted. Then again, money and being a teenager were the major obstacles that kept him from traveling. Now, he was getting to travel on the school's dime. His mind was abuzz with what he could do there. Akira hadn't given it much thought like the others, fixated on Ann's happiness and Morgana's dilemma. He had accumulated enough money to eat like a king the whole time in Hawaii, but expensive and exotic seafood would by no means be enough to tide him over. The clear and cool waters of the beach would be a welcome invitation, but how different they were in comparison to Japanese beaches he couldn't say. It would give him an opportunity to see Ann in a bikini again. A chance he would relish.
After lunch, he and Ann had departed for Inokashira Park and relaxed among the trees, the soft breeze, and the warmth of the sun. A romantic evening with just the two of them. One last intimate moment in Japan before their week-long second vacation was underway. Akira's mind was still troubled by the thought of the Phantom Thieves' absence. Even with Ann's calming words, the uncertainty still lingered at the back of his mind. Though things had remained quiet after Medjed was quickly deposed, Akira couldn't shake the notion that something was off. Both of the mysteries of Futaba's mother's involvement with the Metaverse and this mysterious vigilante operating alone were nowhere near solved. The boy felt something uneasy brewing on the horizon. The vibration of his phone quickly drew his thoughts away from the premonition he was having.
[Ann: I'm so excited for tomorrow!]
His worries dissipated as he imagined Ann's beaming face and typed his reply. He huffed with amusement through his nose at himself.
[Akira: It'll be a lot of fun. Let's make the most of it with everyone. We'll never know when we can go back.]
Perhaps he was being too paranoid, the Phantom Thief life getting to his head. The vacation would present him an opportunity to relax, and getting away from responsibility for a while would do him some good.
[Ann: I know you're probably still stressing about the Phantom Thieves, but don't lose sleep over it, okay? We deserve to relax too. Just have fun.]
Akira let out a content sigh and smiled at the phone. He couldn't pull one over her, it seemed. Sharper than the whip she donned.
[Akira: I'll be fine, you nerd. Don't worry about me. :P What you up to?]
[Ann: About to hit the shower. Can't wait to test out the hotel jacuzzies.]
[Akira: Make sure to wash behind your ears.]
An ellipsis appeared under his response as he awaited Ann's response.
[Ann: Might not be able to reach. Maybe you should join me. ;)]
Akira stopped and felt his cheeks redden. He chewed on his bottom lip as he attempted to concoct a response. It wasn't often that Ann managed to dupe him, but when she did, he was beyond lost. Though after receiving such a promiscuous response, it was hard to blame him. Tentatively did he begin typing his reply, thumb hovering over the send button as he carefully contemplated what he was doing. Akira ultimately decided to take the plunge and hit send.
[Akira: Maybe I should. Could get all those hard to reach places. /;)]
There was no reply from Ann for almost a minute, instilling a great fear in Akira. A knot had tied itself in his chest and obstructed his breathing. Had he overstepped his bounds? His response didn't seem any more out there than hers. Finally, the ellipsis popped up, which somehow managed to make him feel even more anxious.
[Ann: Maybe I'd like that. ;3]
The blush on his cheeks rose, accompanied by a heat building on his neck. Akira let out a relieved sigh and chuckled to himself. He had worked himself up in more ways than one. Ann liked to tease, but he had never imagined she would escalate to this level. A catlike playful smirk emerged onto his reddened face.
[Akira: Start behind the ears and then work my way down between your legs. ;P]
[Ann: Mmmmmm, you're a naughty boy, Akira. ;3]
[Akira: So bad. I deserve a spanking. ;p]
[Ann: Don't tempt me. ;)]
Akira wiped his brow and huffed, the sexual tension between the two had grown overwhelming. He sat at the counter and sipped the cool water he poured himself. Their lewd banter had generated a great thirst in more ways than one. The boy squeezed his thighs together, the hardon in his pants difficult to ignore. It was firmer than he had ever felt before, almost painful. He grunted and reached down, groping at his crotch. The boy couldn't remember the last time he had felt this aroused. Stress and anxiety from his run in with the police back home had depleted his sex drive to nearly nothing. Not since April had he done the deed. Too focused on school and the Phantom Thieves. Now, it had hit him full force, and it was agonizing. He let out a pained shudder, chewing on his bottom lip and rubbing his thighs together. Ann had an incredible effect on him, having never been harder in his life. And he needed relief fast. His eyes fell upon the bathroom door. With Sojiro gone and Morgana asleep, no one would interrupt him. But going at it in a public coffee shop seemed just wrong. He may have possessed a lecherous side, but he was by no means a pervert. Even so, he felt his inhibitions growing lower and lower by the second. Akira argued with himself the whole way over to the bathroom but had no intention of stopping at this point. In this state, he wouldn't even need porn to help. The bathroom door creaked open.
"Akira?" He gritted his teeth and winced as he heard Morgana's high-pitched voice upstairs. The boy held his breath and remained perfectly still. Perhaps if he remained quiet, Morgana would go back to sleep. The pitter patter of little feet descending down the stairs told him this wouldn't be a reality. His blue eyes poked around the corner at him with an expecting look. "Come on. Let's go to bed." The boy sighed through his gritted teeth and reluctantly climbed the stairs. Of all the nights for his sex drive to reactivate, it had to be this one. At least walking got the blood flowing elsewhere. Akira reluctantly changed into his pajamas and climbed into bed. Morgana lounged limply at the foot of the bed, dangling a paw over the edge. A forlorn look rested on the feline's face accompanied by a sad sigh. Akira looked glumly down at the heartbroken cat with deepest condolences.
"Morgana, I'm not gonna pretend to know how you feel," he started, placing his glasses upon the nightstand. "I just wish there was something I could do."
"Unless you can convince Lady Ann, there's nothing you can do for me," Morgana replied. Akira solemnly sighed and rested his hands behind his head atop the pillow.
"Come on, Morgana," Akira continued. "You can't fall apart because of some girl."
"She's not just "some girl", Akira. This is Lady Ann we're talking about. There's no one else in the whole wide world like her." Akira gave him a slowly deliberate nod of acknowledgment.
"Well, you got a point," he muttered aside to himself. A sad shuddering sigh escaped Morgana's throat.
"I just wish she could see me for who I really am. I can be the man she needs. All I need to do is become human again, and she'll see." Akira rubbed his eyes with his finger and thumb.
"Morgana, we've been over this, man," he replied, as sensitively as he could. "Ann doesn't like you romantically, and that's just something you have to accept."
"But…" The feline looked out at his paws. The furry black and white appendages with pink little toe beans staring back at him. Before, he had found them somewhat endearing, especially in the way they drew Ann's attention. Now, they seemed to mock him, a cruel joke. "Don't I deserve a chance? Isn't it fair to give me a chance?" Akira sighed and sat up, leaning his head into his hand as he continued rubbing his eyes.
"You gotta think about what the other person wants. A relationship is two people mutually agreeing to be together because they share a romantic connection. You can't just demand someone else feel that for your own gratification. That's just selfish."
"But I'm a really nice guy. I can make her happy if she just gives me a chance."
"I'm sure you are, Morgana. You're a good friend, and I'd bet money that you'd be the kind of guy someone would fall in love it. But it's just not Ann. She's not interested, and that's just something you have to accept."
"I just need to become human is all," Morgana muttered softly. "Then I can be what she wants. She'll see… right?" Akira sighed and turned over on his side. At this point, he was just repeating himself. Morgana was either too blinded by love or too stubborn to listen properly. All he could do now was hope he would figure it out himself. If not, then this mess would surely spell trouble for the Phantom Thieves down the line. And that was not something Akira wanted nor would allow to happen.