The Phantom Thieves of New Game+

a collection of Persona 5 one-shots

Chapter Nine

"Dinner and a Show"

(A/N: I know the OVA shows the date taking place on February 14, however for timing and to make it work with this fic I'm pushing it back a day. Also, has some Third Semester spoilers for P5R, including major endgame spoilers about the last Palace.)

Once again, it was Valentine's Day. Just like every loop before, he helped out Sojiro around Leblanc, having come to the conclusion several loops ago that Valentine's Day had more traffic than the rest of year combined. Granted, he had zero intention of ever bringing that up with Boss. Even if that was the way out of this loop, he'd rather spend an eternity trapped in it than risk saying that.

Then again, just like Maruki told him, it's not like he'd have long to wait to find out if he screwed up something.

The male members of the Phantom Thieves had already left for the evening, promised a nice meal and tips on getting a girlfriend by Boss. They had been a bit concerned when he had shrugged off, claiming to be tired after working a long shift right after getting out of solitary. Eventually, though, they relented and left the store in his care, with Boss switching the sign on the door to "CLOSED" on his way out.

He made himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the bar, slowly drinking it. He let his mind wander to everything that had happened over the past...fifteen years now? Sixteen? Fourteen? He sighed and shook his head, putting the coffee back down on the saucer. He had lost complete track of how long it had been since he started this nightmare.

A small knock on the door brought his attention back to the present. He turned his head, wondering if he should tell whatever couple had shown up that the sign they were ignoring said the cafe was closed or if he should serve them and make Boss some more money. Instead, he saw Sae standing there, bundled in a long coat and smiling softly. He stood up and walked over, unlocking the door to let her in.

"Sae. Welcome." he said as he opened the door. She nodded to him as she walked in. He closed the door and locked it behind her. "Can I get you anything? On the house, considering at best I'd still be sitting in solitary and at worst in a freezer had it not been for you."

"I'll have a cup of whatever you're having." she said, nodding toward his drink. He walked around the bar and began to pour her coffee as she sat down in the seat next to his.

"So, what brings you here?" he asked, looking up at her before going back to his coffee prep.

"With what the day is, I was hoping for some peace and quiet." she replied as he put the cup of coffee in front of her. She picked it up and inhaled the fumes from it before taking a sip, letting out a small sigh after swallowing. "I figured Leblanc would be the best place for that."

"It's a good thing I like you." he said, turning away to walk out from behind the bar. "Boss gave me orders to throw out anyone who says anything that implies Leblanc is always empty."

"Is...is that so." she said, giving a nervous laugh. He turned and started walking back to his seat, noticing a slight hit of red of her cheeks.

Is she...blushing?

"Yeah." he said, sitting back down and taking a drink from his cup of coffee. "That was right after being given the order to kick out anyone who claims that instant coffee is better than his coffee. So far, I've only heard of one couple who would probably say that. No idea when or if they will ever come here, though."

"So...with today being Valentine's and all," she started, clearing her throat slightly, "I figured you would be with someone here. After all, you mentioned quite a few women during your interrogation."

"Yeah, I did." he said, looking back down toward his cup. "They're all great people. I just never really got the vibe that they were all that interested in me."

That was, obviously, a lie. He knew all of his female confidants would gladly go out with him, even Ann. Hell, Haru and Sumire outright confessed to him first. He just, in a way, wanted a break from them. He wanted a year to try and reset, to see what he could try and change next to end this loop, especially after the living Hell that came with Maruki's offer the last two times through. If that meant he went a loop while being single, so be it.

"I don't know if you'd be interested, but..." she trailed off, getting him to look at her. Her cheeks were red as she was looking away from him. He couldn't believe it. She really was blushing. "I...have two tickets to an opera for tomorrow." she continued, looking over at him. "I was wondering if you would like to come with me."

Is...is Sae asking me out on a...

"Of course, I'd understand if you would prefer not to go." she said quickly, turning back to her coffee. "It must seem strange, I'm sure. I don't even fully understand it myself, why I'm...attracted...to you."

"Why me?" he asked, getting her to look at him.

"Honestly?" she asked rhetorically. "You're maturity. You seem much older than your age says. During the interrogation, the meetings, even when I asked you to turn yourself in, you acted with a maturity that those twice your age hardly ever show. Even those twice my age rarely show such maturity."

Well, he thought bitterly, I guess it helps that mentally I'm twice my current age.

Still, despite trying to have this happen for two loops, he knew he had to pick his words carefully. The last thing he wanted to do was have her run off on him.

"So...let me just confirm something." he said, taking a sip of his quickly cooling coffee before turning to look back at her. "You're...asking me on a date, correct?" he asked. Sae blushed slightly before nodding her head.

"Yes." she said firmly. "I know I really shouldn't, since you're still a minor and I was your defense attorney, but..." she trailed off, looking away for a moment. She took a deep breath before turning to look back at him. "Honestly, I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't ask."

"I'll do my best to not embarrass you." he said, smiling. "It'll be my first opera, after all."

"So you'll go with me?" she asked, a smile starting to spread on her face as well.

"Yes." he answered. She smiled at him before reaching into her bag. She pulled out a box of chocolates with an opera ticket being held by the ribbon. He noticed it was the same box of chocolates that she always gave him the day after Valentine's Day.

Was this all he really needed to do to go out with her? Not date anyone and spend Valentine's Day alone in Leblanc? Was it really that simple?

"I...I got these for you." she said, placing them on the table. "I know they're store-bought, but..."

"Thank you." he said, taking them with a smile.

"I should be going." she said, standing up. She looked at him for a moment before bending down to kiss him quickly. "I'll meet you there tomorrow." she said, turning to hide the blush on her face as she walked over and unlocked the door, heading out into the cold.

For his part, Akira sat there looking shocked. As his brain slowly started to reboot, he pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number. It rang a few times before being picked up.

"Yeah, Kid?" Sojiro's asked.

"Hey Boss...I need some help." he said, a smile spreading across his face at the thought of what he was about to say. "I have a date tomorrow at the opera."

"The opera!?" he heard him say aloud. "I didn't even know you were dating anyone. Who are you going with?"

"Sae." he replied. There was silence on the other end for a moment before he heard Sojiro laugh.

"Good one, Kid."

"I'm serious, Boss." he said, turning to look at the chocolates again. "She showed up with chocolates for me and everything."

"So she asked you?"

"Yeah, she did." he replied again.

"...hoo boy..." Sojiro said, the amusement still in his voice. "Alright. Tomorrow, Leblanc is opening late. First thing in the morning, we're going and getting you something respectable to wear to the opera. I'll be damned if a kid of mine goes to a high-class event looking like a punk."

"Thanks Boss." he said, before realizing just what Sojiro had said. "Wait. A kid of yours?"

"I mean...well..." Sojiro said, stammering. "Don't read too much into it. You're my ward, so I'm technically in charge of you. Same as Futaba. Just because I say you're a kid of mine doesn't mean you get to read too much into it. Got it?"

"Hey Boss, what about us!?" he heard Ryuji ask. "You're helping us just like we're your kids as well."

"I guess the same goes for all of you punks as well." he replied with an exaggerated sigh. "Jeez, Kid, it was hard enough to keep up with one when she was shut-in. Between her coming out of her shell and you helping to wear me down, I've grown soft."

"Thank you, Sojiro." Akira said sincerely. "Honestly, you're more a father than my real father."

"You damn punk." he said softly. "Anyways, tomorrow morning. We will make sure you have the best tuxedo possible to help woo your Ms. Prosecutor."

"Wait, fo'real!?" he heard Ryuji yell. "He has a date with Queen's sister!?"

"They would make a striking pair together." he heard Yusuke say, adding his thoughts.

"Just make sure you don't stay up to late, got it?" Sojiro said, getting Akira to let out a laugh.

"I'll make sure." Akira said, smiling. "See you tomorrow, Dad."

"You damn punk." he said again, even softer than last time. "See you tomorrow, Kid."

As Akira hung up, he waited a moment.

As that moment turned into a minute, he let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding.

Nothing reset.

He really did have a date with Sae tomorrow.

(A/N: As my sister can attest, I was hoping there would be an option to date Sae in P5R. I know there was one they were working on for vanilla P5 that was scrapped, and was honestly hoping that their adding her to the "A Magical Valentine's Day" OVA meant that she was being added as one for the game. Obviously, that didn't happen.)