July 23rd

Drumbeats mixed with cheers as the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo formally began. Ren, Sumire, Sakiya and Futaba sat together, watching the opening ceremony for the 2020 Olympics. Yusuke, Ann, Shiho, Haru, Makoto and Ann were all busy, but swore they'd make time to watch Ryuji and Hanako on TV or a livestream. Shiho and Ann were overseas due to an important modeling gig that conflicted with the Olympics, Haru and Makoto were busy in Kyoto, having ramped up on their internships after their honeymoon. Yusuke was actually hired by the Olympic committee to paint several pieces for Tokyo 2020, so he was extremely busy.

Surrounding the core group that made it were hundreds of thousands of people, and all throughout the ground floor of the stadium were fans, separated into two large groups on both sides. They left a large, middle lane clear, and it was in this lane that athletes from the different nations walked with flag bearers at the front and musicians playing instruments at their flank. All of the athletes were well dressed, and all of them held a small flag of their home country and a Japanese flag. The procession continued with a group of athletes from every single nation walking, all while a massive projection of the iconic pop idol Hatsune Miku waved at the crowd around the stadium. The atmosphere was joyous, bombastic and exciting.

"I can't believe they got Hatsune Miku to host the 2020 Olympics!" Futaba yelled, eagerly shaking Sumire by her shoulders.

"I'm not sure if she's doing that…"

"They even have a Gundam projection! Now, everyone can see the beauty of Japanese culture!"

"Japanese culture isn't strictly delegated to iconic cultural figures and entertainment!" Sakiya scoffed. "We have an expansive, rich history!"

"Ooooh, like what? Tsushima? The Samurai?" Futaba gawked at her.

"That's a part of it!"

"I bet Ryuji's excited to have so many eyes on him, finally." Ren smirked and leaned back.

"Heh. Yeah, he deserves it." Futaba added. "I just can't wait to see Hanako! I gotta wait till the 7th, though! Damn that's so far away!"

"There are so many other performances to watch, Futaba."

"Quiet, Sakiya! We all know you're here for Ryuji."

"I do want to watch him, yes." Sakiya turned her head away from Futaba, hiding a blush.

"Exactly! It's not my fault Hanako lives in my head rent free!"

"Lives in… What?" Sakiys gave her a befuddled, confused look.

"How come nobody understands internet lingo! C'mon, don't you all have phones?"

"That was a pretty massive dub, Futaba." Ren held up his fist.

"Heck yeah!" They fistbumped.

The ceremony continued, with all of the nations eventually finishing their walk. Ren noticed Futaba gripping the side of her head and consoled her.

Once the walks were over, a group of around thirty men and women walked out carrying large, rectangular, four-sided mirrors. They danced around one another, creating a miniature lightshow on the stadium floor. The lights in the stadium dimmed, creating a beautiful scene. Slowly, they all positioned themselves as they danced, eventually coming to a stop, with the group standing in a formation of five circles. As the music climaxed with the high note of a flute, miniature cherry blossom trees sprouted from the top of the rectangular mirrors, forming the symbol of the Olympics. To add to the spectacle, cherry blossoms shot out the top. At the same time, hundreds of fireworks went off above the stadium, forming the same symbol above everyone for a brief moment.

Applause filled the stadium before it went dark. A few more seconds passed, and the central platform lit up, with the names of the representatives for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Organizing committees being announced. They stepped up and all made several speeches, saying each sentence once in English, and once in Japanese. After they all finished speaking, the Olympic flame was brought in by a series of relay runners, with the final runner lighting the Olympic torch. The torch was in fact a massive cauldron, lifted by a series of wires to a central structure, formally beginning the Olympic games. Several more rounds of fireworks went off, formally ending the opening ceremony.


"This scheduling is gonna be the end of me…" Ren tugged his pajama shirt down after changing and fell onto their bed, having just arrived back at the apartment. "All the stuff we want to watch happens so late."

"Thank you for coming with me." Sumire finished changing before lying down next to him and pressing herself against him. "It's so exciting to finally be at an Olympic event. I might not be participating, but everything gives me a good idea of what to expect for when I will be."

"Mmmm… I'm glad that you're confident. I'll admit, it was quite the show. I felt like a part of something."

"We got swept up in the crowd. I feel like I'll learn a lot from watching all of the rhythmic gymnasts."

"All of them… I don't even know any apart from Natsuki-san."

"I know a little bit about the others. Linoy Ashram-san, Kaho Minagawa-san, Dina and Arina Averina-san... I should do some more research when I get the time."

"Feel free to use my PC. You never seem to want to, for some reason."

"I feel like I'd get confused with all those screens…"

"It's actually really nice." He kissed her forehead. "I'll show you how to use it effectively."

"There's an "effective" way to use it compared to just... Using it?" She giggled.

"According to Futaba."

"I see. Let's do it another time. I don't want to keep you up any longer. Goodnight, Ren. I love you."

"I love you too. Goodnight."


July 25th

As Ren stepped into his apartment, Sumire was nowhere to be found. The lights were off in the central hallway, with the exception of a little bit creeping through the door at the end, which was barely ajar.

"Hello?"

"Welcome home, Ren!" Sumire opened the door after a second, wearing a violet t-shirt and black shorts. Morgana sat next to her.

"Hello, Ren."

"One of you usually waits for me at the door." Ren smirked and rubbed the back of his head while approaching the two.

"I've been doing research into the rhythmic gymnasts that Hanako is competing against! I, um…" She poked her fingers together innocently. "I may have gotten distracted."

"Sakiya's rubbed off on you in more ways than one, huh? Hanako too. I didn't imagine you'd start researching other gymnasts."

"They really have!" She giggled. "I want to try and personally get to know just who else is at the top of the rhythmic gymnastics world right now; Who will take the crown this year."

"I see. You've seen them perform, but you really want to know them as a person." Ren kissed her on the cheek lovingly.

"That's it, yes. I'm especially interested in Dina and Arina Averina-san, the twin gymnasts."

"I've seen them perform…"

"I've done some research in regards to their past victories and history with rhythmic gymnastics, but I never looked into why they're performing, or who they're performing for." Sumire walked over to the desk, where she sat down and pointed at the central monitor.

"Enjoying my setup?"

"It's really hard keeping track of three screens, but it's really handy, too!"

"I want to see you going back to one now that you've seen the truth!"

"You sound like Futaba!" She poked his nose.

"She taught me well…"

"Anyway…I've been reading and watching videos about their lives together, and their relationship as sisters."

"You've met them in person before, right? I watched some VOD's of your performance at… Brno, I think?"

"That's right. I've only seen Arina Averina-san up close. Dina Averina-san didn't attend Brno. I'm not sure if I can put their performances into words. They're incredible."

"I've been watching them alongside her." Morgana jumped up onto her left shoulder, rocking back and forth. "She's serious when she says they're incredible. When you all acted in the Metaverse, your agility was enhanced thanks to your cognition of being a thief. These two move like that all time. Of course, Sumire does too, but they're on a different level entirely."

"I can only imagine…" Ren looked at Sumire and at the screen, where he saw a paused video of the twins speaking. "Twins, huh… Why research their personal lives now?"

"Because they're going to be performing at the Olympics, and I want to know why they are."

"Sumire…" Ren gave her a concerned, but reassuring look. "Do they make you think of your time with Kasumi?"

"I feel like that's a part of why I'm so interested in them. It makes me think about how far Kasumi and I could have gone; If we could have been the ones going to the Olympics this year."

"Sumire." Ren rested a hand on her shoulder. "You're not…"

"Don't worry." She shook her head. "I'm not letting this hurt me. It's just an idea that I couldn't help but think about."

"Okay." He gave her a resolute nod.

"She's been entranced by them, if anything." Morgana added.

"Morgana-senpai is right. I hope that I can find some strength by watching them together. They're twins, best friends and maybe even rivals… It reminds me of all the time I spent with Kasumi."

"Do you admire them?" Ren leaned down and placed his chin on her right shoulder, pressing one knee to the ground. "You've got me curious."

"Right?" Sumire smiled, a slight sparkle in her eyes. "Both of them look alike, but they say if you stay with them for more than a week, you'll realize just how different they are! Arina Averina-san feels like Dina Averina-san is always ahead of her. She says that Dina Averina-san is driven, and when she has a goal, she sets herself out to do it."

"That sounds a lot like Kasumi."

"Right. All Dina Averina-san wants to do is practice and perform. She hates interviews in the morning, and she says it's almost impossible to talk to her when she's hungry!"

"That sounds like you, though!" Ren laughed.

"I don't get angry, though!" Sumire pouted and blushed.

"I'm not too sure about that…"

"That's not the point!" She sighed and turned his head back to the monitor. "Both twins have stated before that they want to perform at the Olympics, and to see what would happen after that. That's their main goal, just like me."

"I guess it makes sense that a lot of gymnasts would share that dream." Ren paused for a second and gave her a serious glare.

"Does that make it any less important to you?"

"Of course not." Sumire adamantly shook her head. "Our dream to take the world stage is Kasumi's, mine, and yours alone. It doesn't matter if others want to do it. What matters is that I want to do it for us. I want to do it for Kasumi, who lives on in my heart and this ribbon I wear." She gently touched the bright, red ribbon that tied her hair into a small ponytail. "She's a part of me."

Ren smirked and laughed. "You've grown so much, Sumire. There wasn't a hint of doubt in your voice. Is there anything else about the Averina twins that inspires you?"

"Hmm… They've mentioned that they had to get used to being separated. It's not like they can attend every event together."

"Do you think you would have been able to do that?"

"I hate to say it, but whenever I traveled to a meet or competition with Kasumi, I always expected to place below that. We were only performing at the junior level when she passed, so I'll never know what it would have been like to perform alone while she was doing something else. Of course, I know now."

"You don't let that stop you though."

"No. I'm going to perform both alone and with Sakiya."

"Good."

"They remind me so much of Kasumi and myself…" Sumire looked up at him. "They do everything together. Eating, sleeping, practicing… They even have a ritual they do right before they perform. They stare one another down, determined… I think the most important thing I learned from them is that they support one another, regardless of who wins. They don't say they're rivals, but I can tell that they are. It's an unspoken truth between them, just like it was for Kasumi and me. Dina Averina-san used to get upset when Arina Averina-san won, and now they're both world champions. She didn't want to lose to her, and sees her as a rival."

"Now it's just getting uncanny…" Ren chuckled.

"It's an amazing coincidence. Kasumi and I made that promise when we were very young. It sounds like Dina Averina-san and Arina Averina-san did something similar."

"Personally." Ren smirked. "I think you're going to pull it off better."

"I'll make sure I do." Sumire spun around and stood up while he took a step back. "And you're going to watch me."

"Yes, I am."

"Just knowing that you're going to be watching me makes my heart beat so fast… Not only that, but I'm going to watch Dina Averina-san and Arina Averina-san closely."

"You think you'll find your final answer by watching them?"

"I'm sure of it. They're both so much like Kasumi and me." Sumire answered with a firm tone, her eyes burning with determination.

"That's what I like to hear!" In a flash, Ren wrapped an arm around Sumire's waist and picked her up. Their lips met, and the couple passionately kissed. As Ren released her, he smirked. "I can't wait to see what you become."

"I know!" She smirked back at him. "That thought makes me feel like I can take on anything!"

"Because you can." He set her back down, and her stomach growled. "Maybe after you eat. Did you really get that distracted?"

"..."

"You're so cute."

"I'm hungry too!" Morgana loudly announced while yawning.

"Sure thing, buddy."

Ren laughed, patted Sumrie on the head, and made his way into the kitchen. He made them a simple curry dinner, while giving Morgana the tuna he always deserved. Once Ren was finished with preparations, they sat down together at the dinner table.

"So what are you going to do between Ryuji's races and Natsuki-san's performance?" Ren asked before eating a spoonful of curry.

"I'm going to continue practicing with Saki-chan and focus on burying my inner demons."

"I'm sure you'll be able to, Sumire." As for Sakiya, I bet she's excited to watch Ryuji." Ren let out a chuckle.

"She's very excited to watch him." Sumire replied with a cheerful smile.

"I think we all are. One of the Phantom Thieves is an Olympic athlete. It's just… It's amazing."

"I have to hand it to Ryuji." Morgana waved his tail excitedly. "He's grown a lot."

"I'm happy you two get along more."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Ren!"

"Morgana-senpai, be honest about your feelings!" Sumire puffed her cheeks.

"Honest? I'm always honest!"

"If you are, say it out loud, then!"

"Well… I am proud of Ryuji, b-but he only made it to the Olympics because he met me! So… He's gotta do his best out there!"

"When he wins, I bet you're going to be the happiest cat in the world!" Sumire giggled.

"Heh… Maybe…" Morgana sighed, and the couple continued to tease him while they finished eating. As the night came to a close, they went to sleep, anticipating the coming events.


The days leading to the first of Ryuji's events was uneventful, with Ren and Sumire continuing to work and practice. When they had free time, they worked on making a banner for Ryuji. While Sumire practiced, she watched, with an extreme fervor to her movements, Sakiya leap, jump and pivot more fiercely than Sumire could ever recall her moving before.

"She must be excited for Ryuji's sprints." A smile crossed her face as she watched her rival doing exactly what she said she couldn't do. With spruce to her own steps, Sumire stepped onto the mat as Sakiya finished her practice with the ball. Holding her arms above her head with the clubs crossed, she placed her left foot in front of her right, and began practicing.

On August 1st, Ryuji's competitions began. He made it to the finals, which began on August 2nd. Sumire, Sakiya, Futaba and Ren shuffled into the Olympic Stadium along with a large crowd of people. The schedule for the competitions was sporadic but very organized. The sky above the stadium was light, but by the time Ryuji would race, it would be dark, with only the stars in the sky, the moon, and the hundreds of lights in the stadium keeping everyone from immersing themselves in darkness. From what Sakiya told them, nearly all of Ryuji's competitions took place at night. Some of them didn't, and some happened on the same day. They took their seats in the massive stadium, placed near the front row at the bottom. At 8 PM, the games began, with a series of different competitions, consisting of many unique Olympic athletes competing. Sumire looked around with an ecstatic look on her face.

"It's incredible to see so many people from all over the world, both competing and spectating."

"There are 153 National Olympic Committees, with over 11,000 athletes." Sakiya added.

But Hanako-chan is number one!" Futaba proclaimed excitedly. "Ryuji could be number two, I guess."

"I'm guessing that's the fancy term for nations?" Ren smirked at her.

"Basically."

The four turned their attention back to the games as they formally began, absentmindedly watching until the Men's 100 Meter Final contestants appeared. While they waited, Ren pulled out his phone and found the other members of the Phantom Thieves sending text messages.

Ann: Go, Ryujiiiiiiiiiiii!

Haru: I believe in you, Ryuji-kun!

Makoto: Good luck, Ryuji.

Yusuke: I know you can do this, Ryuji.

Ren: Futaba, Sakiya, Sumire and I are all right here, buddy.

Ryuji: Thanks guys! Gotta hide my phone!

After a few more races, the group, whether in-person or virtually, watched Ryuji step out with the other athletes, honing their focus on him. The sprint began and was over in seconds, with Ryuji placing 8th. Ren felt a sharp twitch in his chest as he saw Ryuji finish last.

He was getting worried, but from what he understood, Ryuji had some more chances to win. On the 4th, Ryuji competed in the Men's 200 Meter Rounds and Semifinals, earning a place once again in the Final. On the 5th, they all gathered to watch him compete again, and lose, placing 5th. Now, Ren was getting worried about him and Sakiya, who appeared to have a conflicted look on her face. Futaba tried to comfort her but found herself unable to, with Sakiya storming off before Ren or Sumire could get a word in. The next day, the 6th, Ryuji competed in the first round of the 4 x 100 Meter Relay, placing 2nd and earning a place in the final.

"I hope Ryuji can win this one." Ren sighed as he set down his bag, from which Morgana peeked his head out.

"He saved us on Shido's ship… This should be nothing for him!"

"I'm sure Ryuji-senpai will do great!" Sumire gave the two a reassuring smile, clasping her hand on Ren's shoulder.

"Yeah… I'm just worried he's pushing himself too far. Maybe I should call him."

"Trust him like you trust me."

"Hmmm… I should do that."

"Let's get to sleep, okay?"

"Right." Ren nodded, and the two prepared themselves for bed. After lying down and finding himself restless, Ren looked over at Sumire and found her asleep. A few seconds after that, he felt his phone buzz. Cautiously, he placed his feet on the floor and snuck into the kitchen, barely making a sound.

"Ryuji."

"Hey, Ren. Sorry for callin' so late. I can't sleep."

"You're not gonna win without some sleep. This isn't high school."

"I know, I know. That's why I called you!"

"Right. So, what's up?"

"You already know what's up, man! This relay is my last shot to steal Sakiya's heart!"

"Right… We talked about this. You still have a few more chances, right?" Ren tried to comfort him.

"I gotta win, Ren. I'm scared outta my mind. I felt so close when I got to the finals in the other sprints. Losing sucks!"

"Stressing yourself out won't do you any good, Ryuji. I'm sure you'll be fine. Morgana's cheering you on, you know."

"Don't joke around with me, man! This is serious!"

"I am serious."

"Morgana... Haha…"

"We're all cheering you on, Ryuji. All of us Phantom Thieves… Sakiya more than any of us. Hell, her voice is louder than all of ours combined. You can do this."

"Sakiya's… cheering me on?"

"You didn't notice? Actually, she wasn't screaming and yelling, so I guess it was easy to miss."

"Sakiya's cheering me on! She's cheerin' me on! Man, now I'm pumped up!"
"That was a quick shift." Ren chuckled.

"I didn't know she was cheering me on! I knew she was watchin', but I… Man, is this how Sumire feels when she knows you're watching her?"

"It's pretty similar to that, I think. She always says her heart flutters when she sees me watching, and then she'll blush, maybe blow a kiss, wink…"

"Quit braggin', dude."

"She's just so cute!"

"Yeah yeah. Anyway, Ren."

"Ryuji?"

"Thanks. You always manage to screw my head back on straight."

"You're welcome, Ryuji. I'm looking forward to that win. Sakiya is, too."

"Count on it! I've got this! Just like the Phantom Thieves kept losing till we stole the world, I'll steal the world and her heart with my running!"

"That's the spirit. Go to sleep now, you have a big day tomorrow."

"I plan on it! Goodnight!"

The smirk on Ren's face grew wider as the call ended.

"I've still got it…"

"Ahem."

"Uh…" Ren turned around and saw Morgana standing in the kitchen doorway. "Hey, Morgana."

"Shouldn't you be asleep right now? You have work in the morning, and Ryuji's relay final is tomorrow. The rhythmic gymnastics qualifiers are in the morning, too."

"I… had to use the bathroom?"

"Get back to bed."

"I'm sorry…"

Ren hung his head and returned to bed for the night.


August 7th

As the morning sun lit Tokyo, Ren, Sumire, Sakiya and Futaba all converged at the apartment complex before making their way to the Ariake Gymnastics Center to watch Hanako. Her performance went swimmingly, and she placed 3rd in the qualifiers. Ren had to hold Futaba down in her seat as she went wild cheering for Hanako.

"Hanako-chan really made it to the finals…" Sumire thought to herself as she listened to the announcers. "Surrounded by people from all over the world… Millions of people are watching her on TV… I'll be there soon enough. Arina Averina-san got a higher total score than her sister, too. I was expecting Dina Averina-san to place first. This is so exciting! I hope Hanako-chan or her win! Wait… Of course, it'd be amazing if Dina Averina-san won, too! I just really want Arina Averina-san to win!"

Once the performances were over, the audience was led out. Ren had to hold Futaba, fearing she would try and break in to talk to Hanako. They exited the centre and found a vacant location to get some fresh air and space amidst the crowds of people.

"SET ME FREE REN!" Futaba squirmed in place, wildly flailing her arms.

"You're not going to run off?"

"...No..."

"That's the least sincere no I've ever heard."

"Come on! Sumire, Sakiya, help me out!"

"You'll just have to call Hanako-Chan, Futaba." Sumire sighed.

"I bet you want to jump right into her arms and smother yourself in-"

"N-N-NO!" Futaba's face turned red as Sakiya waved her arm, a huge grin on her face.

"Heh."

Futaba stopped squirming and hid her face in her shirt. Ren put her down and sighed.

"Hanako really made it, huh?" Sakiya took a deep breath. "Part of me is jealous, and part of me is very happy for her."

"You're not going to stop her, right?" Sumire gently grabbed her hand.

"Of course not." Sakiya shook her head. "If she wins the gold, that's that. I wouldn't ever stop someone from accomplishing what they set out to do. The fact that I'm not performing now is my own fault." She took a deep breath and smiled. "However, given the fact that the Averina twins are in first and second, and they Hanako doesn't care so much about the gold as she does performing for a certain someone… I'll be fine."

"Thank you, Sakiya." Sumire released her hand. "As for me, I'm extremely excited to see if Arina Averina-San can take the gold."

"Hanako's taking the gold! " Futaba yelled in a muffled voice.

"I'm rooting for her." Ren nodded. "She's finally doing what she always wanted to do."

"So am I!" Morgana popped his head out of Ren's bag.

"You brought the cat again!" Sakiya jumped back in surprise.

"Of course Ren did. He wanted to watch Hanako-chan, too." Sumire giggled.

"Ehh….."

While Sumire and Sakiya talked about Morgana, Ren closed his eyes for a moment and thought to himself. "There's only a few more things left for Hanako to do… After that, we'll have to move on…"

"We still have some time before Ryuji's relay, right?" Sumire pressed her hand against her chin.

"Yes. His relay is toward the end of the event, but it starts in about two hours. We should eat and make our way to the Olympic Stadium." Sakiya answered.

"I brought sandwiches!" Sumire excitedly reached into her bag and pulled out several homemade sandwiches.

"How am I supposed to wait a whole day to watch Hanako…" Futaba popped her head out her shirt, sighing.

"You'll be fine, Futaba." Sakiya laughed and patted her back. "Just watch Ryuji in the meantime."

"I am! It's just… Hanako's so close!"

"Hmmmm…."

"Are you alright, Ren?" Sumire wrapped her hands around his own as he absentmindedly hummed.

"Huh? Oh, I'm fine. I was just lost in thought. What are we doing?"

"We're going to eat and go to the Olympic Stadium. Are you sure you're alright?" She frowned.

"I am. Natsuki-san's performance really captivated me, that's all." He shook his head in response.

"Right!" Her frown turned into a smile. "I'm excited too! I finally get to watch Olympic-level performances in person! We still have some time, though, so let's go eat! Follow me!" Sumire pulled Ren along as the rest of the group followed her, wading through the crowds of people from all sorts of ethnicities and nations. Eventually, she found an open bench near the Bay Area, not too far away from where she had spoken with Sakiya and Hanako. Everyone except Sumire sat down as she felt her phone buzz.

"Ah- I have to take a call! I'll be right back!"

"Sure thing." Ren nodded and took her bag. She stepped away and left the four, who all gave each other curious glances.

"I wonder who's calling her… Maybe I should find out…" Futaba pulled out her phone, snickering.

"Cut it out." Ren karate chopped her on the head.

"Ack! My weak spot! When did dad teach you that?"

"A long time ago. Haven't I told you to get ol better with others' privacy?" He scolded her.

"I have! But aren't you curious if it's her Coach or maybe… her second boyfriend…?"

Another karate chop. Harder.

"Not funny."

"Ow ow ow! Jeez!" Futaba rubbed her head.

"You two are close." Sakiya laughed to herself.

"We've gone through a lot together." Ren turned to her. "All of us have."

"Yeppers! Feels like so long ago since I was navigating you all around. I kinda miss it."

"I couldn't tell you if I missed it or not..." Ren touched his hand to his face, feeling the area where the domino mask once sat while he traversed the Metaverse. "On one hand, it was the most thrilling, unique experience in our lives… And on the other, it was extremely dangerous, and I can't count the amount of times I almost lost my life."

"I still wish I could have participated... " Sakiya ran a hand through her hair. "I can only imagine the adrenaline pumping through your veins!"

"Like I said…" Ren sighed. "It was extremely dangerous."

"So what?" She kept a plain expression. "Every time I perform, I'm taking a major risk. It's not easy for us rhythmic gymnasts. You've watched Sumire for a long while, right? One slip-up and you could injure yourself and… that's it. Your career is on pause. The same goes for poor dieting, getting pregnant, it's all risky. We live on a very thin line between every performance, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

"I see." A smirk crossed the former Phantom Thief leader's face. "You would have been a good part of the team, I won't lie. It's been four years, but I can remember everything vividly."

"What was Ryuji like?"

"Ryuji was the same as ever, really. He was bold, brash, and determined. If anyone got hurt, he got pissed off and went charging in. At first, he wanted everyone to know he was a Phantom Thief, but he realized down the line that we were supposed to remain unseen."

"Hehe." A satisfied smile crossed Sakiya's face, one that she couldn't hide. "I see."

Futaba, Morgana, Sakiya, and Ren all continued to talk about some of the Phantom Thieves past accomplishments, with Ren acting as Morgana's translator. Eventually, Sumire returned, and they all ate together. Soon after, they began another trek through the crowds of people, making their way to the Olympic Stadium to watch the Athletic events. Each one passed quickly, with the entire group waiting for Ryuji's relay. By the time he stepped out onto the track, it was past 10:30 PM. Standing tall, he appeared unwavered by the time. The Men's 4 x 100 Meter Relay began, and once Ryuji took a baton, Sakiya jumped out of her seat cheering, unable to hold herself back. As the relay came to a close, the event formally ended with the final scores being announced.

Ryuji and his team placed third.

A photo finish.

A bronze medal.


August 8th

"Wake up, Ren!"

Ren felt himself being shaken back and forth as he slowly opened his eyes.

"What's up…?"
'We have to go! The rhythmic gymnastics finals are in three hours!"

"I'd say he still has a good hour of sleep in him." Morgana laughed and jumped up on the bed. "Sumire has been psyched up since 6 in the morning. I told her to let you sleep in, but I guess this is all you get."

"That's still three hours… Damn these schedules for athletes…" He groaned.

"It's also one of the last days of the Olympics! It's still crowded, everywhere! Our best bet is to take the train!"

"Right, right…" Ren rolled out of bed, with Sumire pushing him as he walked to the bathroom.

"Wanna shower with me? It'd be faster!" He gave her a sly grin.

"Wha-" Sumire's face turned as red as her hair. "I already showered!"

"Aw… Fine, I'll be quick." Ren laughed to himself and closed the door. Once he finished showering, the couple quickly ate and made their way to the Ariake Gymnastics Centre, where they spotted Sakiya carrying Futaba on her shoulders. He figured Ryuji was celebrating with his team, for what the victory was worth. Sakiya appeared to be in a much better mood, though, so he assumed things worked out between them. Futaba's orange hair acted as a beacon that stood above the crowd, and they made their way over to them. While they walked up to them, Ren bumped into a silver-haired man wearing a pair of flashy glasses, and felt a strange resonance with him. Neither of them spoke, but they gave each other a silent nod as they passed each other.

"We didn't think you were gonna make it!" Futaba exclaimed. "We only got ten minutes! Let's go!"

"Sorry about that!"

"Is everything all right, Sumire?" Sakiya gave her a concerned look.

"Yes!" She smiled and nodded in response before grabbing Ren's ear. "Someone just wanted to sleep in. That's all."

"You guys SLEPT?" Futaba looked between the two of them, wide-eyed. "What kind of strange powers do you have?"

"Morgana." Ren pointed at his bag.

"Futaba, did you not sleep?" Sumire frowned.

"Sleep? I don't need sleep. EVER!"

"Futaba…" Morgana raised his head out of Ren's bag.

"Listen, kitty! This is serious business! Hanako-chan's about to give her biggest performance EVER! I couldn't sleep knowing that!"

"It still seems like I need to teach you all some things… But for now, let's head inside."

"I'll never get used to this…" Sakiya shook her head and led them inside. They found themselves seated in one of the front rows, almost close enough to make out one of the judges panels. Before the performances began, the announcer described the format and schedule, and the eight finalists stepped out, standing side-by-side. Dina and Arina Averina stood next to one another, with Hanako next to them. Linoy Ashram and the other four contestants stood alongside the central three. Each of their names, nationalities, and all-around qualification scores were announced. After that, they shuffled back into the Warmup Hall.

Sumire intensified her focus every time Arina stepped out to perform. She wanted her to win. More than that, she wanted to be in her place, dancing as she did. Arina danced as if she was as light as a feather, graceful in every single one of her movements. Every time she stepped up with a different apparatus, her posture and movements directly contrasted Dina's. Dina's movements and performances were bold, impactful and forthright. Arina's were beautiful, graceful, and elegant. Even as they competed against one another, Sumire felt the love the sisters shared between one another, the inseparable bond that carried them to the top of the world.

Once the final performance of the 2020 Rhythmic Gymnastics All-Around Competition ended, the final scores were announced.

Arina Averina placed first, winning the gold. Dina Averina placed second, winning the silver. Lastly, Hanako Natsuki placed third, winning the bronze. The victory ceremony began, and as the three stepped up on the podium, bowing their heads and letting the medal be placed around their necks, it finally clicked. As the three leaned up, Hanako waved directly at Futaba, and the twins waved around the arena. For a split second, Sumire felt Arina's eyes meet hers. It was such a miniscule gesture, a nod that wouldn't be acknowledged by anyone else.

"You're next."
Sumire swore on every God she prayed to that Arina had looked directly at her. Her hands trembled with excitement. She wanted to be like Arina, the underdog sister that came out on top. Kasumi was gone, but Sumire was certain now.

"Hey, Sumire."

Sumire closed her eyes and saw Kasumi speaking to her. Behind her was a glowing, blue cell door. A door she had seen only once before.

"Are you coming? Your performance is next. This is our biggest meet yet! If we win here, maybe we'll be recruited into the senior league, and then we'll be one step closer toward our dream!"

"Kasumi…"

"Hold on… Have you gotten taller again? I'm surprised you're still wearing your glasses. I'm not sure if this is some weird trick, but I won't lose to you!"

Sumire felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she shook her head and clenched her fist.

"Kasumi."

"What's up? The clock's ticking!"

"I… I'm your rival. You won't want to lose to me, right?"

"Where's this coming from?" Kasumi laughed. "Of course you are! Did you think we weren't?"

"We're rivals… Right…."

"Yeah! We're gonna take the crown of the gymnastics world! At least, you are."

"I am… I am…"

Sumire gritted her teeth.

"That's right. I love you, Sumire. Now, get out there and do your best! You won't beat me if you don't!" Kasumi motioned toward the door.

"Kasumi!" Sumire wrapped her arms around her sister, but refused to cry. "Thank you. I thought I understood before, but I was still lying to myself. Arina Averina-san and Ren finally helped me realize this time. I'm absolutely sure of it."

"Arina Averina? Who's that?" Kasumi placed her hands on Sumire's shoulder and pushed her back gently.

"Ah… Nevermind. I'm ready, Kasumi. There's nothing holding me back anymore."

As Sumire spoke, she felt the chains within her own heart and mind dissipate once and for all. As they did, the blue door shimmered and opened, the chains around it exploding in flames.

"I know you are! Get out there and show everyone what we can do! I'll be with you the whole time."

"Yes!" Sumire opened her hand, and her personal ribbon, made by Ren, appeared in her hand. She boldly and gracefully took a step forward, and in a flash of bright light, opened her eyes.

"Sumire, are you okay?"

Sumire looked to her left and saw Ren giving her a worried look, his right hand on her shoulder. Sakiya and Futaba were gone.

"I-I'm okay…" She sniffled and wiped away a few tears. "I just feel so happy and relieved…"

"I thought you wanted to stop crying, though."

"I am done crying, silly." She took a deep breath and wiped her face clean. "These were tears from relief. I'll tell you later. Where's Sakiya and Futaba?"

"Futaba stated she had to use the bathroom and disappeared after the victory ceremony. Sakiya followed her."

"I see… That's fine. "I'd like to talk to you about something, but let's go somewhere else."

"Sure." Ren stood up and extended his hand. "Where to?"

"I'd like to go to Leblanc, actually."


Upon exiting the stadium, the couple found that the crowds had mostly settled down. It was past 6 PM, and they texted Futaba and Sakiya that they were making a brief trip somewhere and would be back in time for Ryuji's victory ceremony. Afterward, they made their way to the nearest train stations and made their way to Yongen-Jaya.

As they exited from the station, they found that streets of Yongen-Jaya hadn't changed, with many familiar faces giving Ren a nod of acknowledgment as he walked through the area. He had only been a temporary resident, but he left a good impression. The two stepped up in front of a familiar door, with the sign reading "OPEN."

"Welco- Oh, it's you."

Sojiro perked an eyebrow and stroked his beard.

"What brings you here in the middle of the Olympic Games? Aren't you watching your friends?"

"My apologies, Boss-san." Sumire stepped in front of Ren and bowed. "I just wanted to visit while we had some downtime between the events."

"I see. Can't resist my coffee and curry, is that it?" Sojiro chuckled in response.

"Let's go with that." Ren unzipped his bag and let Morgana pop his head out. "Can we have the place to ourselves for a bit? We won't be long. In the meantime, you can talk to Morgana."

"Boss!" Morgana meowed. "It's been so long!"

"Heh. It's dead in here anyway, so I'll take you up on the offer. It's been a while since I've seen the little guy, anyway."

Sojiro stepped out from behind the counter and picked Morgana up. "Let's go buy you some treats."

"Boss, you're the best!"

"Hehe. He seems excited. Don't break anything, alright?"

"Of course not." Ren shook his head.

"Ah, what am I saying? I can trust you to watch the shop. Text me when you're done." Sojiro made his way out with Morgana. Ren walked behind the counter and made two cups of coffee, while Sumire sat down at the bar counter.

"I have a feeling I know what you want to talk about." Ren stepped in front of her after preparing the cups and placing them on the counter. "Is this 'later'?"

Sumire closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again.

"Yes. I wanted to tell you that I realized something while watching everyone perform, and to test my resolve and see how much I've actually changed since I confessed to you by telling you here, at Leblanc."

"I understand." He gave her a reassuring smile, his onyx eyes acting as a comforting, open expanse, taking in everything. "What did you realize?"

"Now, more than ever before, I want to perform for you on the Olympic level. After watching Hanako-chan perform for Futaba, and Arina and Dina Averina-san perform for one another. I want to be next. I know what it's like now, I've seen three other rhythmic gymnasts do exactly what I want to do."

"I'm honored, Sumire." His smile transformed into a smirk. "I can't wait to see what you do. Is that all you took from watching them perform?"

"There's more." She lightly shook her head and placed her hands on the table, motioning for him to take them. "I feel like I've finally turned the last of the pain within me into strength. I'm not going to cry anymore, no matter how difficult things get. If I fail at a meet, or lose my footing and fall, I'm going to get back up and keep performing, even if you can't always be there for me. I have Kasumi with me, and I know you'll always be watching me. I have Sakiya and Hanako, too."

"That makes me incredibly happy, Sumire." Ren lifted her hands a bit higher, tears forming in his eyes. "To know you can finally give it your all without the trauma or pain holding you back anymore… I've waited such a long time, hoping that this day would come."

"It's all thanks to you."

"I just stand around and watch you, though." He sniffled, and the tears gently streamed down his cheeks.

"You know that's not true." She shook her head, her expression brimming with a new resolve. "And even if it is, that gesture alone means the world to me."

"Then... I'm going to keep watching you."

"Good."

Sumire slowly lifted her hands and wiped his tears away.
"Just because I said I won't cry means that you can."

"Sorry…"

"I feel so relieved." She giggled. "The answer was always in my heart, but I couldn't accept it before now. I feel like there's absolutely nothing holding me back anymore. No pain, no anxiety, and no more pitying myself. I'm done with becoming a self-absorbed, depressed wreck whenever I lose to Sakiya. I'm going to devote myself to mastering the clubs, and from this moment on, I'm going to be the best Sumire Yoshizawa I can be, and I want you to watch me!"

Sumire looked at Ren with absolute determination, a confident, beaming smile on her face. Unconsciously, Ren's expression morphed into his Joker-esque grin, one ready to take on the entire world. The palpitations of his heart told him he felt the same away as her.

"Of course I will." He nodded, tightening his grip around her hands. "We're going to become the champions of our world!"

As Ren finished speaking, in a fit of passion and excitement, Sumire pulled him in for a kiss. Their lips met, as did their tongues, and they held one another in an embrace for what felt like an eternity. Once they began to calm down, Ren took a step back dizzily.

"This sort of feels like deja vu…"

"I kissed you for the first time in the same way." Sumire tapped her fingers on the counter, a satisfied smile on her face. "It might have been the second, if we count my time as Kasumi. I can finally say that, from the bottom of my heart, I'm ready to take on the world with you, Ren. There's nothing left to stand in our way. All I have to do is practice and perfect my routines. Once I finish with the clubs, I'll move onto the ball, and then the hoop. By 2023, I'll be ready for the World Championship, and after that, the Olympics."

"Let's do it, then."

Soon after their conversation, the two made their way back to their apartment, ready for whatever came next.

The 2020 Olympics were over for the two, and nothing stood in their way toward the next in 2024.