Hey, everyone. After a months' long break of attending to other projects, I'm back. Last chapter was Sadayo-focused so this one will be centered on Akira hitting Tokyo after being away with some familiar faces. I'll save the author's commentary for the end. Enjoy!
I do not own anything.
Not What You Were Expecting
Chapter 7-Good to Be Back
Leblanc, 1:05 PM…
Even while they were a block away from Leblanc, Akira could inhale through his nose and swear he caught a whiff of the trademark coffee smell. He lost track of precisely when he personally began to smell like coffee, not that he ever minded too much. When he got back to Meguro, almost everyone around him commented how the smell of coffee seemed to stick to him; part of it was no doubt due to the fact that he'd quickly established himself as a master-class brewer. His parents had certainly taken note of it and praised him, especially his father who he walked beside.
"So, how's it feel to be coming back to Leblanc after all these years?" Asked the younger Kurusu with curiosity.
"It feels strange as hell, I can tell you that. The neighborhood's changed a bit since the last time I was here…it was almost four years ago, back when you were still in your first year of junior high." Kunihiro responded, a twinkle in his eyes. It glistened like a diamond as he looked to his right and left, it was the shine of nostalgia. Several times, he came to a subconscious stop and stared around him, lost in what he saw. Akira had a gut feeling that he was also trying to put himself in the former thief's shoes. He was patient in giving him the time he needed, even if he didn't ask. Something in Akira's gut also told him that he was likely still adjusting to the news of who it was he'd been seeing in Tokyo.
Kunihiro raised a brow when he began guiding them down an alternate route. Even though it'd been years since he'd been to Leblanc, his intuition told him they weren't going down the ordinary path, in order words Akira wasn't going to take them through the front entrance like normal people. Upon coming to that realization, he looked to his son, who merely grinned at him in response. Kunihiro let out a sigh and continued to follow Akira's lead. He did want to spend more time with him and get to know how he'd lived his life here in Tokyo, this was just a part of the experience.
He wasn't surprised in the slightest when he pulled out a key to the café's backdoor. About a week after returning from the big city, Akira told his parents that he had a key to get into Leblanc if he ever came back. Scratch that, when he came back. It was all but certain that one day he would return to Japan's capital, no doubt to continue whatever life he'd led there in one form or another. As Kunihiro and his wife were learning, that life was more…eye-widening than they originally believed. Bit by bit they were seeing how the city would eventually lure their son back, albeit they weren't exactly against such a thing happening.
Already, Akira had a gut feeling as to who would be at Leblanc at this time. First and foremost, there would be Sojiro and Futaba, the former working and the latter killing time. Next up, he believe he heard something about Mishima stopping by. Leblanc was just as much a sanctuary for him as it was for the rest of the team. Hell, Akira would say it was a sanctuary for everyone affiliated with the Phantom Thieves, it made the café a truly special place. He'd been eager to return to it, eager to sit in one of the booths and stand behind the counter taking orders and preparing them. He had every intention of doing that, but first, he wanted to see who was there at this time of the day. As he guided his father through the back, he listened to the voices that reached his ears. The acute hearing and vision and sense of smell he attained from his time with the Phantom Thieves hadn't left him, they probably never would.
A smile formed along his fac e within seconds.
Kunihiro looked between his son and the barely shut door that stood before them. "Um, Akira? Are you…"
"Waiting for the right moment? Yeah, dad." Snickered the teen. He was clearly enjoying himself.
The architect sighed. "You know, I'm beginning to think you might have a future in acting. You've definitely developed the dramatic flair for it."
"I have, haven't I?" Grinned the teenager to which his father laughed. They were both rather good at keeping their voices down, fittingly enough, because they sometimes discussed topics that that weren't meant to be heard by others. Or they were trying to be as stealthy as possible. One could say it was a trait unique Akira and his parents. Some of his Phantom Thief tendencies had been born from habits he'd picked up from them. Turning his focus to the barely open door, he glanced through the crack and found the café was moderately packed, and with familiar faces to boot. His heart fluttered as he recognized the voices to go along with the faces. He could hardly contain himself, but Akira did. His father was right when he said he'd developed a flair of the dramatic. Making his entrance what he felt was the best time had become a little habit of his.
"Someone seems like they're in a good mood, I take it the kid's back?" Sounded the amused voice of his former employer at "Untouchable".
"Lucky guess?" Replied Sojiro in a jovial tone. "You kids have something planned for the afternoon?"
He had called up Ryuji and a handful of others the night before, his way of letting them know he was back in town. Ryuji had practically blown his ear out when he answered his call; Akira had a smile on his face hearing his booming voice. After that, it'd been a short order in calling up everyone else. Haru, Ann, and Yusuke were happy to hear from him, albeit when he brought up the idea of getting together on Saturday they had to turn him down. He was sadden, but not completely surprised, what he was a little surprised at was Makoto being free since she was perhaps the most committed to her future career path. Thinking about it, Akira wondered if talking to her would clear up some of the confusion he felt about his own career path. There was some humor to be found in the fact that he'd come back to Tokyo to meet with two father-figures who'd outright offered him a job when he became of age. Both of their young charges were in the café, he could tell by the fast typing of Futaba's fingers and Kaoru's voice, Mishima's voice occasionally came through as well.
Akira took comfort in hearing their voices in person instead of just over the phone. The comfort he felt caused him to linger behind the door a few seconds longer than he intended. Luckily for him, his father was understanding and patient. He could feel his gray eyes on him, patiently waiting for him to reveal himself, he'd wait as long as his son needed.
"No clue, but Akira told us that he'd let us know." Sounded Kaoru, excitement evident in his voice. It was almost enough to get Akira to step out of his hiding place. Almost.
Through the gap in the door, he saw Iwai take his seat with his son. He was now surrounded by him, Futaba, and Mishima, all of whom were busy chatting it up with each other. The former Yakuza looked a little weird out at being surrounded by the three teens, all of whom fell under the blanket term if "innocent" when compared to the usual crowd of people that he hung out with. That was good, part of his relationship with the former Yakuza had been helping him out of his darken past and stepping into the light, where he could raise his son. That son now had friends, and was about to meet someone he was sure he was going to take a liking to.
So engrossed in the conversation, particularly centered on the recent changes that had been going on around the city for the last half year, none of them noticed Akira gently push the door open and slip out, his father following behind them. Sojiro failed to notice either as he was half-listening and half preparing some more customer orders. This was the Leblanc that he remembered and the one he longed to return to. He was back.
"Yo, boss, you wouldn't mind a little help, would you?" Akira called out.
Immediately, almost all activity in the café stopped as all occupants registered his voice. The first to turn to hi was Sojiro. There was an instant twinkle in his eyes, the shine growing brighter as he briefly looked up and saw another set of stormy-gray eyes. Kunihiro waved at his old friend, whose smile brightened upon seeing him.
"About time you showed up, here I was thinking you'd have forgotten about little 'ole me." Joked the former government worker with a hearty chuckle.
Akira laughed. "Forget about you and this place? Never. Besides, it's possibly where I'd like to spend my sunset years-serving coffee just like you." He meant it. While managing Leblanc was definitely something that Akira could do and even wanted to do, there was…more to it. Preparing coffee and food was fun, but he knew deep down there was more he could do with his youth. Perhaps once he was in his fifties or sixties, he could see about managing Leblanc, provided Sojiro gave him his blessings, and Haru was willing to work with him. Akira wanted to believe that was still a long ways' off, perhaps a good thirty years or so. For now though, he didn't want to look that far ahead, he wanted to bask in the present.
"Akira!" Shouted a trio of voices from beyond the counter. Again, the former knife-user laughed as he recognized all three. In response, the gray-eyed teen only waved at them as if he were passing them on the subway.
"W-When did you get in? How?" Questioned Mishima with genuine amusement in his face and elation written all over his face.
The infamous Joker winked. "Well, I lived here for a year so I naturally know the ins and outs. Housing secrets that I'm afraid I won't be surrendering anytime soon." A round of laughter echoed from everyone in the café, even muted laughter from the likes of Iwai, who looked no less happy to see him in the flesh. It wasn't long before some were getting up out of their seats and marching over to him. Akira whole-heartedly welcomed their embrace.
Mrs. Ayakawa was a retired nurse who lived just a few blocks from Leblanc, she now ran a sowing shop that Akira and Sadayo had stopped by once or twice. She always offered the finest fabrics she had on hand for Akira to buy, provided when she stopped by Leblanc he was there and willing to serve her. Likewise, the Furuki brothers owned an electronics store that he'd become well-acquainted with thanks to Futaba. The twin redheads were surprised the day they watched her walk into their store for some spare parts, clenching firmly to Akira's side; he smiled and waved at the twins, who regarded him with shock before grinning back at him. Single Hamasaki had stopped by with his two daughters, Kotori and Chiyoko. The little girls were practically ready to climb over the counter top to hug him, though with the way Futaba was beaming a him, Akira had a feeling that she'd beat them to it.
Far to his right, closest to the back door that he and his father had walked through, set an adult brunette. What immediately caught Akira's eye was the very visible baby bump she was sporting, something she didn't have the last time she visited Leblanc. What she did have was an American boyfriend whom last he heard had popped the question…after some subtle encouragement from Akira and a handful of others. He was glad to see that the subtle encouragement had worked, in spades apparently. Her caramel-colored eyes found his and a wink followed along with a raised glass. "And so the prodigal son returns!" She shouted with glee.
"So he has." Akira somewhat sheepishly responded while everyone continued to beam at him, including Futaba. Unable to contain her excitement anymore, she jumped from her seat and raced around the counter, much to Sojiro's relief, pushing past the two adults to hug him. Akira quickly wrapped his arms around his surrogate sister and returned her affection. It was good to be back. "This answers the question of rather or not I've been missed." Shooting Mishima a grin, he reached out and high-fived the boy across the counter, then did the same to Kaoru.
His father stood off to the side with Sojiro, the two men quietly conversing amongst themselves while he did the same with his old friends and regulars. It was an odd thing, but it was a happy oddity. A part of him had always longed to get his father in Leblanc, his mother too, though for the moment he was happy with his father. Maybe some time later on in the week he could get his mom to come by when he was working.
Of course, one way or another his mother would be setting foot in Leblanc…and his girlfriend would probably be there too. Without him. The thought sat in the back of Akira's mind, but he did his best to curb it. Now wasn't a time to think about any of that, he had customers he had to attend to.
There wasn't a need to ask Sojiro, but he did so anyway just for the hell of it. The answer was obvious, in seconds he was wearing his trademark apron and back to doing what he did best, or one of the things he did best-serving customers at Leblanc. He was happy to be back, and so too were his customers, some of whom decided that they'd stay longer than intended.
Little Kotori and Chiyoko jumped from their seats and hugged his legs when he brought their servings of juice. Experience had taught Akira had to keep a close handle on the orders he was preparing when getting physical with customers. To his credit, he hugged them back once he sat their drinks down and bowed in respect to their father, who told him it was nice to have him back in Tokyo, at least for a little while. Akira was happy to see Hamasaki looking better and doing well for himself and his family, he'd needed a little help to get there, help that he and his friends had provided as their alter egos. Corrupt bosses were a frequent target of theirs.
In the recesses of Akira's mind, he thought back to the characters of those they'd targeted while he served out orders and chatted with the café patrons. Some of them could have been reached through legal means…but if that route would have been taken, would it have worked? That was a question he'd kept on asking himself over the last few days, specifically since his talk with Oshiro-sensei.
Everyone was happy to see that his skills hadn't diminished in his time away from Leblanc. He'd cracked a grin and told them that such skills had become a point of pride, he wasn't going to let them slip away that easily to which there was a round of cheers.
As he correctly guessed, Satoko Akutsu was now Satoko McCray, happily married and expecting a baby, a boy to be precise. Akira couldn't be any happier for the news staff worker. She'd walked right into Leblanc looking like a zombie, something that wasn't too uncommon, especially on rainy spring day. That day had turned into a chat between a high schooler and a middle-aged woman who could have used a break from her job in the newsroom. At first, Akira thought he could create another potential information source, but in the end he'd just went with being a listening ear and providing the best brewed coffee he could. Ultimately, his decision had been the right one as Satoko had kept on coming back, finding a bit of sanctuary in Leblanc like so many others…and finding a boyfriend turned husband I a young American mechanic who was working at the moment. Satoko laughed as Akira gently rubbed his hand against her baby bump. It wasn't his first time doing such a thing…but it had been at least two years since he'd known a woman well enough for them to allow him to feel their baby bumps. Back in Meguro, he couldn't help but noticed how some mothers clenched at their kids a little tighter whenever he was around. The reasons why weren't hard to figure out, but it made his time back here in Tokyo all the sweeter.
"I'm about three months along, so by next spring me and Ryan and a mini-Ryan should be stopping by." Satoko laughed.
"I'll be looking forward to serving all three of you." Responded the small-town native. "Alternatively, I might not be the only one serving you." He added turning his gaze sideways to his three teenage friends.
"Oh no, we already talked about this, Futaba is not to be left alone in the kitchen." Sojiro called, annoyance evident in his voice.
"Geez, how many I supposed to learn how to fend for myself if you won't let me learn!" Called back the hacker in a catty voice.
"Eh, Futaba, I…think what he means is your home kitchen is a place for that." Mishima offered, a pained smile on his face. Akira knew that look, there was a story behind it, one that he could possibly get latter on tonight when they hit the town. "Eh, Leblanc is best left to the professionals."
"In other words, yours truly." Proudly proclaimed the secret leader of the Phantom Thieves of Heart. "Ahem, since he's here, allow me to introduce all of you to my father, Kunihiro Kurusu." With a grin, he gave a mock bow and pointed to his father, who'd stood off to the side with Sojiro quietly observing things. Now the spotlight had shined on him, and he was clearly shocked and a tad uncomfortable by it…which was exactly what Akira planned.
His father shot him a somewhat cross look as all eyes in the café went to him. As usual, he recovered quickly and stood tall and at attention. He stepped out from behind the counter and stood in front of the doorway that led up to the attic, his former room. Akira knew his father would want to see it for himself, but that was for later. He enjoyed seeing his father ins his "business form", that is when he stood tall and proud, eyes focused and determined to set an air of professionalism. Some would say it's a tad excessive given he was speaking to a group of average café goers, but from Kunihiro's perspective, there was more to it than that.
He looked at each of the occupants, eyes glistening, and then bowed his head. "It's nice to meet you all, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for looking after my son."
Even if he knew it was coming, Akira was slightly taken back by his father's words. The shock was momentary, fading fast like a drop of rain on the pavement. A warm, comforting smile spread along his face while the rest of the café descended into warm-hearted acceptance, albeit there was some confusion from Kotori and Chiyoko, the two black-haired girls asking their father while his was thanking them for looking after him. All the single father did was smile at them and say they'll understand in time. Hamasaki looked to his father and smiled, a silent understanding passing between them. Practically the adults knew as every one of them were parents, including Iwai, who merely tipped his hat at the man.
"It's nice to have you back, it's nice to have you both back." Whispered the café owner, affection in his voice.
"It's damn good to be back." Akira whispered back with a grin. With his path free, he watched as Iwai stood up and walked in front of his father, who gave another respectful bow to him. He'd already came clean about…most of his activities in Tokyo, including who he'd worked for and the friendships he'd made, many of which had left his parents with gaping jaws. It was hard not to be surprised to find that one's offspring had been working under a former Yakuza…who was also running weapons for him. That part of the "confession night" had been so intense his parents had to take a break, not that he could blame them.
. "Suppose I should introduce myself too…and thank you for rising one hell of a son. Muneshisa Iwai, former employer of your son."
"And one of the people who looked after him while he was here, for which I thank you, Iwai-san." Responded the dark-haired office designer looking the former yakuza in the eye and returning his handshake. "Akira, um, told me about you. He promised me a look around your shop."
"He's a model geek." Chirped the teenager from the sidelines, a smirk on his face as his father became flustered at the statement. At the proclamation, Futaba hopped atop his shoulder and looked to the elder Kurusu with wide and interested eyes. "He's also were I get my eye for detail from. And most of my book smarts."
A bright blush spread along his father's cheeks, it got a laugh out of practically everyone in the café.
"Like I said, you raised one hell of a capable young man. So, is it true that you're…into models and the like?" Repeated the airsoft shop owner with a glint in his eyes.
"I, well, I dabble. I-I mean I've had an interest, a-and I've been working with my hands since I was a kid." Admitted the goateed man nervously brushing the back of his head. It was a bit unconventional, but he was happy to have met a fellow model enthusiast, even if his choice of models was rather…eyebrow-raising.
Behind the counter, the four teenagers were watching the talk with thinly veiled amusement, especially Akira. Beside him, Kaoru was watching the exchange like it was a star showering; it wasn't surprising considering that in many ways he was taking after his adoptive father. He'd spent several afternoons helping Akira around the shop, slowly but surely gaining a knowledge of models and firearms, something that Iwai wasn't entirely pleased about, but grew to accept. Akira eased his fears when he told him that the young boy was branching out past guns and onto other projects, such as building construction and car models. The former criminal had not been the only one grateful for that, so too had Akira as those times reminded him of his father, whom he missed during his year in Tokyo.
"Your dad's kind of…does he usually act like this?" Futaba whispered from the sidelines, and behind her surrogate brother.
"I think he's kind of cool. Think he could give me some design tips?" Karou questioned with an upbeat tone.
"You're free to ask him, you know when the time comes up." Whispered the former Phantom Thief.
"Speaking of time, Akira! You're officially on the clock!" The teenager gave a mock salute accompanied by a smile. "Now, um, Kunihiro, I'm pretty sure you want to…"
Akira caught the look Sojiro was giving him, followed next by his father. There was no betting around the bush between the three of them. In his heart he knew the moment he and his father had left the hotel what was going to end up happening when they got to Leblanc and met Sojiro. Of course, that discussion was going to be between the two adult men, not out here in the open while he was serving customers. Speaking of which, two new customers walked in, two more familiar faces who expressed shock in seeing him. He gave a courteous wave back and a welcome to the two college girls. While he did so, his father and Sojiro slipped out through the backdoor, the same door that he'd snuck in through.
Well, that's that. Nothing more I can do but hope for the best. By that, Akira met he hoped his dad wouldn't be too angryat his old friend for keeping his teacher-girlfriend a secret. After all, it wasn't like that sort of thing was easy to explain, was it?
All too quickly, Akira lost himself in the happy daze of being back at work. This time though, instead of the shadow of his Phantom Thief affairs hanging over his head, there was only the looming phantom of his secret relationship with his now former teacher. Comparing the two was rather funny as Akira in some ways felt a longing for the former over the latter. One could have said it was a testament to how he felt about his relationship with Sadayo. While criminal activity and the fate of the nation were no small feats, affairs of the heart always hit on a personal scale. The hit was only magnified as he watched the happy couple who'd just walked in and greeted him get down and enjoy themselves just like everyone else was doing this fine autumn afternoon. In addition to that, Akira could see that romance was indeed in the air.
Both Mishima and Kaoru were competing for Futaba's attention. Neither of the boys were subtle about it, at least not to Akira's trained eye. Lucky for him, he had many reasons to smile thus he was able to keep his observations hidden behind a light smile and hum. He couldn't quite say he was surprised, especially by Mishima. In spite of the…rather poor first meeting between the two, it was clear that the hacker had caught the young man's attention, it was rather hard for Futaba not to draw attention to herself; quick ironic for a recovering hikikmori. Sure, it was a tad cliché, but sometimes life was closer to fiction than people would have liked to believe. Akira's eyes moved between Iwai and the backdoor, he could only imagine what sort of talks he and Sojiro could end up potential relationship. With Mishima, well, Akira knew for a fact that the "power trio" of him and Mishima and Ryuji would be getting back together a lot more often. And Ryuji would be at a crossroads between playing protective big brother and encouraging friend; Akira would be in the same boat as well.
His attention was drawn to the mounted TV as another news breaking news broadcast interrupted the programing already in session.
"Well, I can't quite say I'm surprised. It might be another year before the trickle down stops." Stated Mrs. Ayakawa in a rather mournful voice.
"I would like it if by then we had an actual prime minister, but with the number of reveals there's been…well, I never thought I'd consider certain people eligible to be in charge." Replied Taro Furuki with a heavy sigh. "Still, to think a political scandal this big, it's like the plot of damn political drama!"
If all you all knew. Mournfully thought the black-haired teenager. As he scoured the café, his eyes locked with Mishima, who stared intently at the TV screen. They were both on the same wavelength, and in some ways both were grateful that the truth would forever remain within the Phantom Thieves and their circle of associates. His gaze flickered to Iwai, who gave him a short but understanding nod. Sadayo had told him that she'd been keeping up with politics since he left town, practically everyone had as though the Conspiracy had been decapitated at the head, the body was still flailing about. Over the last half year, that flailing had held a place in national news, and even international news. It was hard to overlook what was revealed to be almost an entire quarter of the Japanese government being investigate for various felonies which were ending careers, permanently maiming some, and in some cases prompting people to flee the country…or commit suicide to avoid scandal.
And here Akira stood, having helped bring it all about, having spearheaded the movement that brought it all crashing down. Rather than being on talk shows and giving interviews, he was here, working in a quiet little café in an exceedingly residential part of Tokyo, his biggest fear being how badly his actual father was grilling his surrogate father over his secret relationship with a high school teacher. It was so ludicrously bonkers no one would have believed it. And yet, it was the life that Akira was ultimately happy with. He was happy to serve up café and food, he was happy to laugh and talk with customers and wave them farewell when they were finished, and greet them when they returned, he was happy to be able to see the faces of his loved ones again.
Akira, I can sense it, that hunger inside of you. Quite a paradox, you hunger for the infamy you know this path will bring you, yet you know that anonymity is your closest ally. Such a contradiction, I wonder…which one will you choose?
Arsene had asked him that question the night he and Ann and Ryuji and Morgana had decided to form the Phantom Thieves of Heart. It was a fair question, especially since Arsene was voicing the concerns that Akira himself held within him.
"…Maybe I can try to do both. After all…all everyone will see will be the mask, so long as I can keep the face behind it a secret, I've got a shot, don't I?"
Heheh, taking a third option, eh? I knew that the slumbering flame within you would ignite. How long will it burn, and how bright shall its luminous be? Such questions I look forward to seeing answered in the uncertain but exciting future that awaits us, my other half.
He glanced at the backdoor that Sojiro and his father had disappeared through. It'd been almost ten minutes since they'd left. So far, he hadn't felt the earth shake or heard an explosion of some unknown origin, that was a good sign, right? Oddly enough, Akira felt an odd sense of calmness that lasted for the next couple of minutes. Finally, he heard the sound of the backdoor opening and footsteps, two sets of footsteps. Holding onto his composure, he craned his head to the side and saw his father and Sojiro re-entering the café. To his immense relief, they looked the same as they had when they'd left. Or almost the same, the latter looked like he'd lost maybe about two years of his life. Ultimately, the two men caught his gaze and smiled, reassuring him that he had nothing to worry about. For now at least.
What would you have to say now, Arsene? Would you say I've succeeded in walking the third path? Mused the gray-eyed teenager. For all intents and purposes, he'd made it through relatively whole…on the surface at least, but not it wasn't over with yet. Akira's eyes silently moved along the booths, many of which were now occupied. After closing time tonight, one of them was going to be occupied, and by a very special trio of people. One of them would be his father, who sat just a few feet from him. Beside him would be the woman who brought him into the world, and odds were, across from them would be the woman who made the world living in, and worth fighting for. What would happen when the two women met? Akira knew his mother was…quite intimidating when she wanted to be, nor was she someone who stood for lies when they involved the people she cared about. Matter of fact, the only times Akira had ever really seen her upset or even furious was when he or his father were directly threatened. It wasn't a pretty sight, and it was one he feared Sadayo might find herself facing.
But he had to have faith in her, in his parents to be reasonable and thus willing to listen.
Quietly chuckling to himself, he laughed at how when it came down to the most important things in his life, faith was what he ended up counting on. That and his own stubbornness to see something through to the bitter end. That hadn't changed, and it probably never would.
Yoyogi Park, 6:13 PM…
"Yo, Akira!" Shouted the jovial voice of the Phantom Thieves strongman, his best friend. In seconds he was out of his seat and jogging over, arms spread out and his face beaming with excitement.
"In the flesh!" Shouted back the knife-user, meeting the dyed-haired teen half-way in a youthful hug. The excitement and joy that had been welling up within Akira exploded, just as it was in Ryuji. Half a year of talking through the phone and video chats had been nice, but both secretly longed to see each other in the flesh. It felt like they had so much to talk about, and they most certainly did.
The brotherly moment was witnessed by the rest of the group, who looked on with naked joy. Makoto shook her head in motherly approval, as she almost always did. For the night, she was going to be the designated "adult" of the group…but she was also a member of the Phantom Thieves who was happy to have their leader and friend back. It felt a lot like having a missing piece of her soul returned to her, something that went for Ryuji as well, maybe a little bit more so.
It was growing harder and harder to remember when the dyed-haired blonde was just another school delinquent, or at least that's how he'd looked on the surface. Makoto had to admit she was guilty of believing him to adhere to the stereotypes and not thinking beyond them. As with many things, that had changed when Akira had came to Shujin and practically revolutionized the entire school. I wonder…tonight will I finally be able to tell you how I-
"It's about time you showed up! Come on, hurry up or else we're going to run late!" Exclaimed Futaba, practically bouncing on her feet.
"Hey, if you're worried about being atop one of our shoulders." Akira chirped. Ryuji grinned and made a flexing motion with his free left arm. Like an unsheathed knife, the former Wild Card's eyes flashed. "Or, you could ask Mishima or Kaoru to do it. I'm sure neither of them would mind giving you a literal leg up."
Both dark-haired boys flinched at his statement, then did so again as the orange-haired hacker looked to the two of them. Her eyes shined making it seem she really was weighing asking them to do that. Futaba wasn't exactly tall herself, nor were Mishima or Kaoru…they weren't that strong either, well, Kaoru in particular. Mishima had hung out with Ryuji enough that in spite of his somewhat lanky form, he hand a bit of muscle on him. He also had absolutely no trouble exerting himself if it got him close to a pretty girl…which he considered Futaba Sakura to be. The gears in his head were already turning, and from what Akira could see, he was preparing himself for such a task. All with a growing grin on his face. Kaoru, in contrast, had a growing look of horror on his face.
"Ahem, as…interesting a sight as that would be, we won't be doing it. Come on, people! Hustle!" Barked the younger of the Niijima sisters in her usual commanding voice. Spinning on her heel, she began to walk fast, practically run with the rest of the group following suit.
It wasn't long before they came upon a larger crowd. For a moment, it looked like their progress would cease, but Akira, Ryuji, and Makoto all looked to each other and merely grinned. The first took hold of Kaoru with Ryuji and Makoto doing the same to Mishima and Futaba respectively. Together, they pushed through the crowd, their ears drumming with the rhythmic beat of the music ahead of them and their hearts thundering with excitement. It nearly exploded as they finally pushed their way up front, to where the group of six dancers were masterfully performing in front of an audience that was quickly growing into the hundreds. Three boys and three girls, all perhaps five years or so Akira and Makoto's age. In spite of the rather chilly night air, the group of six had worked up a sweat which shined beneath the lights of the park. Their bodies moved in perfect synchronization with each other, and the music. The music was blaring loud from an personally set stereo.
The music was in a dead heat with the roar of the crowd around the six dancers, none of whom lost their rhythm as they continued to dance before the crowd. Smart phones and even a few old cameras were out recording every second of their coordinated performance. Mishima and Futaba were among them, both have their phones out and recording every second of the show unfolding before them. Like the rest of the crowd, they were watching with excitement etched onto their faces.
"Remember when it was next to impossible to get her to come out of her room?" Akira whispered as he leaned close to Makoto.
"Feels like another life time ago." She practically had to shout back for her voice to be heard over the roar of the crowd and the music. Looking to Akira, her normal blood-red eyes now looked like shining rubies. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For…well, everything really. For this." Looking back at the dance, Makoto kept the smile and most of her attention focused on it while still speaking directly to Akira. "If it weren't for you and everyone else, I would have stayed the same old teacher's pet who couldn't help anyone, who couldn't bring out of her own cage of self-doubt and anxiety. Thanks to you…I'm here, enjoying a nice Saturday knighting hanging out with my friends, and I couldn't be any happier for it!"
Chuckling, Akira joined the cheer that rose up around him. It was rather ironic to think about, Makoto had doubtlessly been the stereotypical teacher's pet beholden to a corrupt principal when Akira came to Shujin academy. He could see some inklings of a better person beneath the rather frosty exterior, a bit of a habit or even a talent of his; as usual, his suspicions had proved to be on the money and a potential obstacle became an asset. A friend.
That friend stood alongside four others, cheering with the rest of the crowd as the dance group continued to keep pace with the music, their bodies still moving in perfect coordination. Having spent quite a bit of time watching his mother and even practicing with her, Akira knew he was looking at six future professionals. To be more precise, he was looking at three pairs of professional dancing duos.
Samba was usually performed with two partners, but the world of dancing was open to experimentation, just like all forms of art. That's what this group had done, taken a traditional two-person dance and turned it into a six-person performance, all of them working in perfect cohesion with each other, which was one reason why they'd become so popular. The movements of the men and women caught and held the eyes of spectators. For some men, they were no doubt attracted to the sensual shaking of the hips and chest of the three females, especially the redhead and bluette; the two ladies were rather well endowed in the chest area, which certainly drew male attention. Granted, the third female, a brunette, was shining just as brightly. Her hips swayed with her partner's, whose hands occasionally glided over them, holding them in such a sensual manner they could compete with the bustier girls. Their partners were just as devoted and driven as evident in their movements.
Akira could tell in a few short glances that the men had been practicing as diligently as their partners; they kept their eyes on them, on their faces instead of their bodies. Catching the looks in their eyes, he nodded in approval as he saw nothing short of pure devotion tempered raw focus they danced to the beat of the song.
The six dancers were in their own little world, yet that world was a bright blazing star to the rest of them. It seemed the starry radiance would never fade, and no one seemed to have a problem with that. Akira was amongst them, and so too were the rest of his friends. Especially Ryuji.
Tearing his eyes away form the dancers, he caught a glimpse of his best friend. Like everyone else, he too was dazzled, but Akira could see more than that. He knew that look, it was the same look he had in class when he was honestly trying to listen and absorb the lesson being taught. In this case, the lesson were the dance moves of the guys; Ryuji was studying them with an uncharacteristic focus. At first, Akira felt a twinge of confusion at the unusual sight, but the pieces immediately connected. A sly grin spread over his face; thankfully, thanks to spectacle, it was easy to hide or shrug off.
As samba was originally meant for two people, couples performances came next as the current song winded to a close. The crowd broke out in thunderous applause as the six dancers came to a collective stop and bowed, basking in the praise their performance had brought them. It was also a moment to catch their breath as giving such a performance hadn't been easy. They'd more than earned their short break.
Almost five minutes later and very little of the large crowd had dispersed for they knew there was another show coming. Practically everyone was eager to what came next though those who'd pre-planned already knew. Glancing around, Akira saw several couples clenching onto each other. Looking down, he saw the two black-haired boys look between the dancers and Futaba, who was still too enamored with the show to take notice of either boy; perhaps that was a blessing for the two of them.
The first couple to take center stage was the busty redhead and her partner, a young spiky-haired youth with dark green hair. Both looked to one another with a smile and utter confidence showing the faith that they had in one another, faith that was once more shown as the music began and they took off into the spotlight.
Dancing to samba wasn't as easy as some made it out to be. Scratch that, it was never easy, dancing was something that required blood and sweat. The couple had most definitely put that in as evident by their impassioned yet synchronized movements, which succeeded in memorized the crowd just as the group samba did. Now that it was two people, the focus was entirely on the two, something that they knew and made the most of in their movements.
"Hey, uh, your mom's a dancer, right?" Ryuji whispered. Most people that knew Ryuji would have said that shouting volume was his "natural" voice. At times that was try, but he could be quiet, after all, he was a Phantom Thief after all.
"Gymnast, but she does teach dancing as well." Whispered back the black-haired teen. "If you want, I could ask her to take some time off to teach you."
Ryuji's eyes widen at the suggestion, even though internally he was probably sighing in sweet relief. "S-S-Seriously?"
"You realize my parents have been pretty eager to meet you, right?"
"F-For real?" He exclaimed, still in a subdued voice. If the rest of their inner circle could see them, their jaws would likely be lying flat on the ground from how quiet he was keeping his voice. "I-I mean, y-you're she would…"
"She wants to meet your mom too." Akira added. Again, Ryuji surprised him in merely expressing shock through facial expressions instead of screaming out in shock. It was enough to make Akira snicker in amusement. His gaze went back toward the samba dance, watching it was giving him some ideas. "I've seen you run, jump, and sprint, I'm sure that you can dance."
"Maybe not like that. No way in hell I could ever be that graceful." Muttered the former tracker runner. His brown eyes watched the movements of the male dancer with surprising closeness. He had speed and grace, the former he knew quite a bit about but the latter was something he'd always struggled with. Ryuji had never been a graceful person, hell, the very concept of dancing was something he'd never given a moment's thought to. It was something his mom had laughed over though, especially when one of the networks was showing some sort of dancing competition. Ryuji did everything in his power to avoid watching them; when he befriended Akira and Ann that changed a little.
"You don't have to be as graceful as that, what we're seeing before us, that's something you can only do if you're passionate about it. Like those two are." Akira responded. Even as he'd listen to Ryuji talk, he'd never let his attention waver from the dancers, their performance had been enough to keep the other half of his attention occupied. Almost perfect, the girl was off by a two beats, but he was able to recover quickly and adjust to them. He imagined he was one of the few in the audience who'd spotted the micro-sized mistakes that had been made in the performance. Overall though, it was worth the applause that followed. Looking closer, Akira saw the girl's expression darken as she was aware of her mistakes, but the boy tapped her on the shoulder and smiled. A few mistakes weren't enough to dent the stars' worthy performance they'd given, if anything, they'd set the standard for the next couple that walked up.
The Latin rhythm music stopped cluing Akira into what was going to come next. While it was going to be a couple's dance, it was going to be of a different tone, almost literally. His ears buzzed as the iPod began to play, his hands moving together in a quiet clap, the first of many to come.
It wasn't long before the next pair, the brunette and a young man with coal-black hair long enough it could be tied into a little pony tail. Brief as it was, Akira saw the blush that blossomed on the latter's face as he took the hand of his brown-haired partner. There was no denying that there was some romantic tension between the pair; it made the resulting swing dance all the better.
"W-What kind of dances do I like?"
"Yeah, come on, tell me!"
Sadayo had looked like she'd just been asked to give her bra size, something that Akira already had knowledge of, quite proudly at that. A fierce blush had consumed her face as she attempted to look away from him, but it was in vain as all she did was just cause him to stare more intensely at her. His fingers began to lightly drum against her hips causing a jolt of ecstasy to run up her. She knew that when he wanted an answer on her interests he kept on her until she gave him one. It was infuriating, yet at the same time something that made she found attractive and it kept their relationship humming along.
"Um…well, would you…laugh at me if I told you that…swing dance has always seemed kind of appealing to me?"
"You make it sound like there's something wrong with that. As it so happens, I'm kind of a fan of swing dancing too."
"R-Really? Y-You're not saying that just to make me feel better, are you?"
The way the couple before him were dancing was what Akira wished he could have done with his girlfriend. Alas, a shopping mall wasn't quite the ideal place to do that, the lack of jazz music was a real downer, but he'd silently promised that one day he'd take Sadayo's hand and have her moving her feet to the rhythm like he could. For now, he just felt happy for the couple swinging back and forth in front of him. Their footwork was impressive, but the looks of pure joy on their faces was what really sold it for him.
"Woah, so that's what swing looks like up close and personal." Futaba mouthed in awe, nearly dropping her smart phone thus interrupting her own recording.
"It sure is something, huh? Think you'd like to give it a try sometime?" Kaoru offered, a slight blush on his cheeks.
Akira, Ryuji, and Makoto all snickered as the hacker looked to the boy with a near scandalized face…and a little bit of a blush. Clearly she was considering it, even though dancing was…not exactly one of Futaba's hobbies. She had that in common with Ryuji.
Realizing that he was about to lose to his love rival, Mishima quickly interjected. "I-I-If y-you want to dance, t-t-then I'd make a great partner! I even practiced with Akira!"
"Huh?!"
The group's eyes looked to the dark blue-haired teen, who seemingly realized exactly what it was he'd said. His recovery was to be admired though as he stood up straight and proud, like his statement was the Bonafede truth. Naturally, their gaze swerved to Akira; the former Wild Card returned their shocked gaze with an impish grin that left them more baffled than they already were. With a shrug, he directed their attention back to the dancers. Now, Futaba was looking at Mishima instead of Kaoru, who was looking at the boy with slight annoyance. The young author had quickly stolen the attention from him. Not one to be outdone, he turned his head back and silently looked at his brother-figure.
"Can you…teach me how to dance?" He whispered in an equally quiet voice.
Having been close by, Ryuji could hear the future freshman's request, he looked to Akira with a curious gaze, their last conversation wasn't far from his mind, especially since it happened less than three minutes ago.
"I'll set something up." He winked. He'd probably have to clear it with Iwai first; briefly, Akira wondered exactly how the former gangster would react to learning his son wanted to practice dancing to impress a girl. Or just the fact that he was interested in a girl to begin with. Hey, it was a topic that was bound to come up at some point. The song came to an end, and with it another applause-worthy dance; this one had been even more spectacular than the last based on the excited roar that followed. Akira clapped pretty loudly himself, very impressed with the performance he'd seen; it also left him vaguely wondering if he could ever reach a level like that with the right partner. He couldn't deny that somewhere in the back of his mind, he'd thought about it, especially during his time with the Phantom Thieves where he saw his teammates performing their own acrobatic stunts, especially Goro. He probably would have made the best partner out of everyone on the entire team.
But the truth was, the person who he really wanted to perform such a dance with would probably be too nervous to ever attempt such a thing. A slight jolt ran through him as he thought the number of ways he could help crack her shell and help her step out onto the dance floor with him. Questions for another time, thus he filed them away into the back of his mind. Hopefully he could see about revisiting them in a couple of months, maybe in the spring.
"This song," Came Mishima's voice causing all attention to go to him.
"Wait, don't tell me you actually know this next one." Ryuji whispered, clearly taken back. All things considered, Mishima was actually a pretty smart person, beyond the typical teenage boy hobbies having some rather eye-catching interests. Ryuji raised an eyebrow and listened closely to the music that had begun to play. "I'm guessing another Latin number?"
Mishima nodded. "Yeah, it's bo…bo…"
"Bolero." Akira answered as the final pair took center stage before the audience. As befitting to the music now playing, the couple, the bluette and a rather round-bodied man began their slow dance to the baited breath of the audience. It was a stark contrast to the vibrant and fast-paced dance of the previous couple. "Think of it as a mix between the waltz and the rumba. It started in Spain then spread to the rest of Latin America, really hitting it big in Cuba and just kept on going from there."
"Uhm, is it…popular amongst couples?" Kaoru questioned with a slight pink tint on his face as he watched the two performers. Due to the faster-paced nature of the previous dance, there hadn't been much time to observe the more…sensual undertones of the dances being performed. With the Bolero, it was the opposite, thanks to the slow and steady rhythm, not to mention the extreme close proximity the pair kept to one another.
"Yep." Answered the teenager in a cheery tone. As always, while he was enamored with the dance, he also made sure to keep a close eye on his friends to gauge their reactions. Makoto was pleased with what she was watching, but Ryuji once again was the real eye-catcher. His deeply observant expression only confirmed the theory building in his mind. The dyed-haired blond wasn't the only one watching closely, Futaba, somewhat surprisingly, was as well. He'd heard as she stepped back out into the world her…interests had begun to expand as well. Sojiro was supposedly concerned…as was Makoto. It was obvious that she was paying just a tad more attention to the busty blue-haired woman. Of course, her gaze was focused on her partner; in a further contrast to the previous pair, the duo's faces were rather stoic as they fell away then leaned back in close to each other. There was the occasional slip-up though, when the stoicism crumbled and Akira saw a glimpse of emotion on their faces-tranquility.
That was the overall mood of the crowd as they quietly watched the couple slowly but sensually connect then separate from one another. Their time apart never lasted more than a few seconds, they were falling back toward one another or spinning into each other's arms where they were gently caught and held. Those few seconds seemed to hold the audience's attention as if the two were suspended atop some highwire.
Time lost its meaning until the girl was lifted off her feet and into the arms of her partner, who graceful spun her about. His face cracked as a small but warm smile spread; it was mirrored on the blue-haired girl's face. She was clearly enjoying being held in his arms meaning that as with the previous couple, these two had a relationship beyond simple dance partners. He softly let her down, twirling about behind her while she spun to face him. Her hands were on his face and his on her hips, they were close enough that from a distance they could have been confused for kissing, but they weren't. The kiss came after the music ended and the crowd erupted into applause for the third time. That was when the last vintages of control were lost and the couple happily embraced one another.
As he clapped, Akira let his mind drift back to the past. Once he became old enough, he recognized that one reason why his dad enjoyed dancing even though he had next to no sense of rhythm was that it allowed him to be physically close to his mom. That it gave him an excuse beyond being her husband to touch and feel her. His middle school years were filled with fun teasing that often left the older Kurusu blushing a bright red and Akira and his mom chuckling or outright laughing their butts off. That was the past and it was always enough to put a smile on his face. When he looked to the future, he was still able to smile, but he couldn't help but question if the trend would repeat itself with him and Sadayo. Would they even make it far enough to be married? Children? Watching the three pairs of dancers performing for an audience of a hundred or so had kicked up all the questions he'd been struggling to keep contained in favor of enjoying his time with his friends.
Looking at Ryuji, Makoto, Mishima, Futaba, and Kaoru, he felt happy to see they were clapping and smiling. They'd all enjoyed the dance performances; Futaba's rather upbeat and bedazzled expression was nearly enough to melt his heart. Once again, he found himself looking back to the past, where she would cling onto his backside nearly every place they went, unsure and even a tad afraid to open up to new things. Now, well, he was perhaps being a bit optimistic in thinking that just maybe they'd all opened her up to something new.
"Mishima," He whispered leaning in close. His voice nearly caused the shorter boy to jump out of his skin. "Nice work."
"I-I got lucky, really, really lucky. Lucky like when I met you and became friends with you and Ryuji and everyone else." Responded the former doormat with a sheepish smile. "Really, if there's anyone to thank, it's you, Akira."
"Geez, you guys aren't going to turn this into some sort of competition, are ya'?" Sounded Ryuji. In a heartbeat, he had his arm wrapped around Mishima's neck. "Dude, you did pretty good this time! We got to witness one hell of a show and it's all thanks to you!"
"Yeah, I gotta say, this was one pleasant surprise." Makoto sounded.
"You make it sound like you were expecting something a tad more…scandalous." Muttered the former Phansite operator.
Kaoru couldn't resist taking the bait. "Well, given how you spend your time, I'd say everyone was right to be concerned." His snickering was rewarded with an aside glare from Mishima. "Still, that was pretty awesome. It was the first time that I ever saw dancing up close and personal, at least not when it's not on a game or something."
"Same here, though the last one was…well, I want to say boring, but…I've seen some dances like that in some of the shows that I watch." Pipped up the hacker with a thoughtful look on her face.
"Which is?" Questioned the former iron-masked Phantom Thief, her tone nothing short of motherly.
There was only one way Futaba could respond. "Secret!" Putting away her phone, she spun on her heel and then grabbed Mishima and Kaoru by the hands causing the two boys to near jump, especially the former. To Akira, this was quite a turnaround from when the two first met, what with her outright calling Mishima's lack of presence comparable to an NPC in a video game. It seemed in the time he'd been away from Tokyo, he'd "leveled up" in the eyes of the hacker. "Alright, boys, let's get going!"
Watching her push her way through the crowd, the three older teens couldn't help but chuckle.
"Is she on her way to becoming an otome protagonist?" Akira asked.
"If that happens, well, I pity the poor saps, starting with those two." Sounded off the former bludgeon-user.
"We're…well, we're just happy that Futaba's been getting out a little bit more. First it started with Mishima, speaking of which, what exactly happened between those two? I talked to him and he said that their first meeting and her first impression of her was…"
"Best left unsaid." Responded the black-haired teen in an almost sagely tone of voice which served to further intrigue his two former teammates. Secretly, Akira breathed a sigh of relief at the fact that his surrogate sister was now able to openly interact with people. With Mishima, well, the words "less threatening" came to mind. "Kaoru's a little bit of a surprise, though not too much since he's just as interested in models as her. Anyone know how their paths might have crossed?"
"No clue, but I'm not really complaining, especially since it gets her out of her shell." Ryuji stated with a smile on his face. To Akira's left, Makoto attempted to do the same, but he could tell it was somewhat forced. Ever the mother hen as always. Heh, I can only imagine what'll happen when you met someone you love and decide to settle down with them. There was no doubt in Akira's mind that Makoto would find success in her life, she was an extremely driven person. When it came to potential romance and perhaps a family, he had his hopes up. Though Makoto herself wasn't one who dwelled on the topic, her drive would no doubt attract admirers, just like as Futaba opened up she was beginning to do the same bit by bit. "So, how's everyone else doing? I heard that Ann had a photo shoot so she couldn't be here."
"Yusuke is taking some sort of special art course, so that rolled him out." Spoke up his best friend, a slight downcast look on his face. It was undeniable that Ryuji was a center of commandry amongst the team, including Morgana whose absence he'd been somewhat tight-lipped about. Akira imagined that would change later on into the night. "Some of his art has also started to pop up around town too!"
"I've seen some of it." His mind drifted back to the date he had with Sadayo and the sheer luck they'd had in coming upon his painter friend's artwork, amongst several others which gave praise to them as heroes. "He's keeping himself well fed, hasn't he?"
"Ryuji's been taking care of that." Makoto giggled while the dyed blond looked away, a light tint on his face. "After he came over, Ryuji's made it his mission to make sure that he's eating right, and to do that he's making sure that he's actually selling some of his artwork. He told me that it's thanks to you that he's even willing to consider such a thing."
"Guy really needed to find out that making art to make a living isn't such a bad thing. Hell, he's lucky he's got a hobby that allows him to make money at the same time." Proclaimed the former runner. Truth be told, a part of him had jealous of his friend's artistic talent. In time, that jealous had faded as he realized Yusuke had his hobbies and interests and he had his, there was nothing wrong with that, but what he should have been doing was focusing on his strengths. "Um, hey, Akira."
"Like I said, while my mom's in town she's open to giving a lesson or two." The former knife-user had a rather Cheshire smile on his face that belayed the joy he was feeling in catching up with his friends. Still maintaining his cat-like grin, he spoke to Makoto, "She's open to anyone willing to come and learn."
Like a flash of lightning, Makoto suddenly found herself the center of attention. Even Futaba, Mishima, and Kaoru had stopped and turned around to look at her, interested in what her answer would be. Needless to say, the aspiring police commissioner became a flustered mess.
"H-H-Hey, n-now wait a minute! I-I-I want to meet Mrs. Kurusu too, b-but s-surely it can be for something more formal!" Cried the brunette.
"Formal sounds kind of boring." Futaba sniped. Ryuji and Akira howled with laughter and even Mishima bit back a laugh. "Besides, if you're going to be some big-shot police officer, doesn't that mean you'll have to go to big fancy parties and dances and all that? That's what I read online."
"F-Futaba, you shouldn't believe everything that you read online!" Quickly countered the younger Niijima. She probably should have chosen her words better as Futaba, and even Mishima, fixed her with a dry stare that had her cheeks flushing red.
"Uh, Makoto-san, I don't think you're going to win this fight." Kaoru noted, having read the atmosphere incredibly well. "Besides, learning how to dance doesn't sound so bad, especially if you can do what those couples just did. That was awesome! Akira, have you ever danced like that with someone?"
"In junior high." He replied near automatically. It wasn't a lie. Except the kind of kind of passion that he'd seen between the second couple, the ones who'd danced the swing-swing, that hadn't been there in the junior high dance. It had been there when he'd taken Sadayo Kawakami into his arms and engaged in a slow but passionate dance that left the two of them feeling like they were breathing in starlight. He stopped and stared up at the stars, temporarily confusing them for the late summer sky that he and his girlfriend had danced under. They'd repeated the performance in early November, buddled up for the fall and their body heat combining into a radiant flame that kept the two shielded against the autumn air.
His spacing out didn't go unnoticed.
"First love?" Mishima questioned in an almost awed voice.
"First crush, calling it love is stretching it a bit." Akira responded with a light smile. "Especially since she kind of danced with me out of pity more than anything." If Morgana were with them, he was sure this was the part where he said Ryuji's name causing the blond to snap at the feline. As much as Akira missed his feline companion, he was a tad happy that the blue-eyed cat wasn't with him, if he was he and the rest of the group would be subject to the brotherly bickering between him and Ryuji. Never mind trying to explain it to Mishima and Kaoru, neither of whom would have been able to understand why Ryuji kept on getting into arguments with a cat. Or why said cat displayed a near human-like intelligence. "What about you boys?"
Light blushes spread across the two shorter boys, both of whom who looked at each other then briefly to Futaba. The hacker returned their glances with an almost bewildered expression. And if Akira's eyes weren't deceiving him…there was a little pink tint on her cheeks.
"Um, uh, come on, guys! L-Let's go or else we'll miss out train!" Mishima shouted.
"Come to think of it, exactly where are we going anyway?" Akira questioned to which he received a grin from the three younger teens. "Ah, I get it, a surprise. Well, lead the way, little ones."
"Hey, who are you calling little!" Futaba decried!
"I'm in the same grade as you!" Mishima added.
"Really enjoying being back in Tokyo, aren't you?" Kaoru responded with a dry smile. Ironically, he seemed the most adjusted to the gray-eyed teen's wit. He had seen him spar with his father, a feat that took Kaoru's breath away as he was well aware that very few people had the balls to speak more than a few words to his adoptive guardian. "For the record, you won't be able to keep on calling us kids, so enjoy it while you can!"
Grinning from ear to ear, the fuzzy-haired teen stepped forward and wrapped his arm around the hacker and the model enthusiast, greatly shocking both of them. "Ah, you're right! I've got to make sure to use all the time I can to gush over you two! Oh, and you too, Mishima!"
"H-Hey! Don't lump me in with them! Like I said, I'm in the same grade as you and Ryuji!" Shouted the aspiring writer with a flushed face. This wasn't how he thought the evening would turn out, but secretly he couldn't deny that a part of him was happy. "B-Besides, y-y-you may not know it yet, but I've moved up a little since last time!"
"Oh, has someone finally turned in their V-Card yet like they're always hoping to?" Ryuji baited with a devilish smile. Mishima's face turned bright red causing Ryuji to snicker.
"Neither have you!"
"Ahem, boys! That's enough for one evening." Commanded the red-eyed student council president, her voice cutting through the air like a razor. The other five teens tensed like they'd been cut themselves. Akira turned about and gave his team's analytical tactician a half-hearted joke; she wasn't amused. Not at first anyway. "Let's just drop this topic, alright? The last thing Futaba and I need to be doing is messaging your bruises egos."
"Well gee, Makoto, thanks. You're making it sound like our egos break like glass." Ryuji snorted. "We're men, we can be mature. Especially when it comes to women!"
"Shall I give exhibits A, B, C, and D?" Pipped up glasses-wearing girl.
Immediately, Ryuji's bravado faded. "You know, I'm starting to think you were better off as a geeky shut-in."
Laugher broke out amongst the group as they continued on their walk through Yoyogi Park. It was still fairly packed as one would have expected on a Saturday night; there were quite a few couples out enjoying a nice autumn evening. In almost an equal number, there were groups like theirs, sitting at benches and up against trees. The weather was pleasant enough, but it wasn't going to last forever so everyone was making the most of the time they did have.
Time. Akira repeated in his head. He didn't stop walking even as his mind began to turn to a different topic, the chatter of his friends becoming a distant echo in his ears. Time slipped backward, the cold breeze was replaced by a warm one. Flowers were blooming all across the ground while the trees held a number of blooming cherry blossoms instead of the red, orange, and yellow color palette they now wore. In his pocket, his right hand flexed, the residual warmth of a certain someone suddenly resonating. Sadayo, just…please, wait a little bit for me, okay. Pulling his hand out of his pocket, he felt like his palm was once again being caressed by the sweet feel of cherry blossoms on the wind. It was precursor to what came next-the soft touch of the woman he loved pulling him along. Akira wasn't a very pious person, but he did understand that sometimes the simple act of praying for another could sometimes pay off. It was illogical, but illogical was something he was good at.
So he looked up to the sky and prayed, prayed that the talk between his girlfriend and parents were going well. And he prayed that when spring came and Yoyogi Park was the host to next year's hanami, he'd be able to carve out some time to go see it with his girlfriend. He'd do what he'd have to, but he made a commitment to see her every season until he graduated and came back to Tokyo, and it was a promise he planned on keeping.
That seems like a good stopping place. A bit of a quiet and subdued chapter, especially compared to the last one. I had planned on Akira and company going to go to a speech given by a certain someone, but the more I wrote the more I realized it didn't quite fit, at least not at this moment. Instead, I decided to make the gang's trip down to the Yoyogi Park and the dance show the climax of the second half of this chapter. Now that I've established Akira's mom as a gymnast, dancing kind of seems like an easy reach. Dancing has never really been a thing of mine, but as I got older (and listen to my mom more), I've started to come around. Persona 5 is a classy game and Akira's a very classy character, especially when he's entertaining a lady he likes. Expect more dance-related scenes and topics in the future, especially at the end of this little arc I've got going on here.
Bolero is a solo or couple's dance that originated in Spain in the 18th century, it's a slow and often romantic rhythm dance where the lead dancer mimics a toreador in a bullfight while the other dancer alternates between moving like a bull or the matador's cape. It's rather opposite of the American Swing-Swing and the Brazilian-African Samba, but definitely on the romantic side when done by a couple. During the whole dance show I dropped some subtle hints at what's been going on with some members of the Thieves in Akira's absence. Next chapters will be expanding on it. Speaking of which, next chapter will wrap up Akira's night out on the town and have him meeting back with his parents to discuss their talk with our favorite teacher-maid, who I'll try to have make an appearance next chapter.
Yoyogi Park is a popular park destination located in the Shibuya ward. Sundays are usually when you'll see performers, cosplayers, and the like out and about, but I decided to bump things up and have something be happening on a Saturday night for the gang to see. In the spring, thousands of people come from all over for hanami, a traditional custom of flower-viewing typical done in the spring (late March to May). As you can imagine, viewing the hundreds upon thousands of sakura trees is more often than not the main attraction; it's a scene I'd love to write as Akira will be visiting Tokyo one or two more times. It's pretty clear on who he'll always come to see, or rather, who'll be the center of his visits.
Until then, stay safe and healthy, everyone! Also, on a closing note…RIP and thank you, RBG, for all that you fought for.