A/N- This one shot is supposed to take place during the Casino escape, as the others are escaping as Joker draws the Police's attention. It's NOT a companion piece to Chapter 17, which covered similar ground, as here Ren and Makoto are already a couple.


"For once, just believe in him, Queen." Ryuji says firmly, and Makoto feels the tears building up in her eyes. She still wants to help Ren…leaving him there with all of those guards to fight alone is too much for her heart to handle it all, but her friends are telling her to believe in him

"You're the anchor that keeps him tied down. Without you, he would have already failed. You have held his heart in his chest." Yusuke tells Makoto. He watches as a strange warm look appears on her face, with a hint of a smile.

They know! They know I'm in love with Ren! I want to believe in Ren, but even more than that I want him to live. If he dies to save me, I'll never forgive myself

As they flee, she ganders at her female friends, and the look on their faces, It must be hard for them. She's long suspected that all three of them are also in love with Ren.

"Ann...Futaba...Haru...I'm sorry." Makoto says, as she grabs her own arm, in order to apologize for any heartbreak that they experience because of her.

"Don't be sorry." Ann tells her in a low voice, and that lets her know that she has her friends support, even if Ren fell with Makoto instead of her. She feels a tear fall down her face which she quickly wipes away before anyone sees. "He chose you..."

Futaba tries to say something, but she can't get it out. She turns her head so they don't see the heartbroken expression on her face

"As long as you're good to him, I won't interfere..." Futaba finally manages to say under her breath. Makoto's crying so hard that she doesn't hear the last part of what she said.

"The way he looks at you...I never had a shot with him, really" Haru says, she tries to play it off as a joke, but she can tell that Haru is devastated.

"Thank you…" Makoto says, moved that they support her relationship with Ren, even though they all wish that they were the girl he loved.

"There's no need to thank me either." Haru tells her with a smile. Makoto is her best friend, she's only wanted for Makoto to be happy. If Ren makes her happy then there's no way she'll hold it against her.

Makoto feels more tears falling as she accepts the comfort that her friends are offering her right now.

"I don't want anyone to die for our sake." Makoto finally mutters to him, and Ryuji just scoffs at her.

"He doesn't want you dying for his sake either." Morgana informs her.

"Do you really think he can win…?" Makoto finally asks Ryuji, tearfully, as they eye Akechi ahead of them

"We swore on our souls to save your Sister and stop whatever it is Akechi's planning. He's been training like a madman in Mementos for this day, damn near 24/7." Ryuji replies in a firm voice, and Makoto's eyes widen at that bit of information.

"He had?!" Makoto utters in complete amazement.

"He worked…like a man obsessed to be able to obtain the power necessary in order to be able to save your Sister. He's much more powerful than he used to be." Yusuke tells her. Makoto knows this firsthand. She watched him destroy his opponents in the battle arena.

"It's insane…how much power he has. I could also easily see…just how much he loves you." Ann tells her in a low voice, and Makoto's mouth falls open a little at that. She hates how her heart seems to have started flip flopping around in her chest.

"He's special to a lot of people, his time to die isn't now. We'll put our own lives on the line to ensure that." Ryuji tells her with a comforting grin.

Ryuji looks down at her and sees the doubt in her eyes. He doesn't know what else to say to make her feel better. He remembers watching Ren train in Mementos…and Ryuji knows that if she had seen that, she would understand, exactly why Ren did what he did.

As they finally reach an exit however, a large shadow spawns before them. The thieves sigh

"Zorro!" Morgana cried as he summons the swordsman

"Believe in him" Ryuji repeats his earlier line as he summoned Captain Kidd

"Should any harm come to you, he will rip up asunder" Yusuke smirks as he summons Goemon

"Mako-chan…your life means far more to him than his own ever will. I know just how deeply he loves you, even if he never said those words to me." Haru says as he draws her axe.

"He wouldn't have gone through such hellish training if you didn't mean the world to him." Ann says, summoning Carmen

"So don't you dare die. Got it?" Futaba shouts from Necronomicon

Makoto chokes up as she bites her lip. She squeezes her wet eyes shut. The approval and support of her friends mean more to her than words can describe. He opens her eyes and glares ahead at shadow.

"That goes for all you too!" Makoto shouts as Johanna appears beneath her

Wait for me Ren...once this is over, I'll be right there, in your arms.