August 13th, 2023, Ren and Sumire's apartment

"Hello? Amamiya-kun?"

"Hello, Dr. Takemi. Don't you mean guinea pig?"

Ren heard a stifled laugh through his phone.

"So it really is you. I assume you're not calling to catch up, am I correct?"

"Unfortunately not. My girlfriend has overworked herself, worried me sick, and nearly gave me a heart attack."

"I see. Can you tell if it's a fever? Does she have chills and feel constant pain?"

"It might just be. Normally, I'd have her just sleep it off, but she has a big competition soon and doesn't want to miss any practice."

"Right… She's a rhythmic gymnast. I've seen her perform live before."

"That's good to hear. I probably told you all about her in one of my medicine-induced stupors."

"You did." Takemi laughed. "I'd like to thank you again for heeding my requests to test my medicines, even if it was on rare occasions over the past few years."

"It was my pleasure." Ren placed his hand on Sumire's head, who was still sound asleep on their bed. "She feels pretty warm, and I don't really want to bring her all the way to Yongen-Jaya. Mind doing a home visit?"

"Feeling her where... I wonder…"

"Wh-" Ren blushed and frowned at Takemi's comment.

"I'm just teasing you, little guinea pig. I'll stop by. Call it a favor."

"Thank you." Ren sighed. "I live in the apartment suite in Odaiba near the Rainbow Bridge." He proceeded to tell her his exact address. " Would you mind stopping by multiple times a week?"

"Hmmm… Considering I get to see that Miwa-chan smile and watch her grow thanks to you, I can do that, sure."

"Great. Can you come now?"

"You always were greedy for more… Fine. I'll be there shortly."

"Thanks again."

Ren hung up his phone and took a deep breath. The last time he met with Takemi for a medical test was at some point last year… He thought.

"Nnngh…."

"Woah there cowpoke." Ren pressed Sumire down on the bed as she stirred herself awake.

"Too hot…"

"It is August in Tokyo."

"Ugh…." She groaned. "Just five more minutes Kasumi…"

"Talking in her sleep?" Ren raised an eyebrow and looked at Morgana, who had been listening the entire time.

"I remember seeing you like this some nights after a long infiltration session." Morgana sighed. "You constantly worked yourself to the bone…"

"Sumire's been working harder than I ever did."

"I just hope she's alright. Is Dr. Takemi coming?"

"Yeah."

"Sakiya… Gotta practice…"

Sumire slowly leaned up, pushing herself against Ren's arm, covered in sweat. Her hair was a complete mess as she slowly turned to look at Ren.

"Oh… I'm still dizzy."

"You need to rest, Sumire." He shook his head and grabbed her shoulders. "The doctor will be here to check up on you soon."

"Dr. Takemi…?"

"Yes."

"Can I have… some water?"

"Of course. Just lie back down."

"Okay…"

Ren couldn't help but smile at how cute she looked. Her face was completely red, but the part that made him the happiest was the fact that he got to take care of her. He felt bad that he was thinking that way, but she never wanted him to "take care of her" like he was now. She was so focused on paying him back, and didn't want to incur an even greater debt of being taken care of.

That was a dumb way to think, Ren thought to himself.

"Of course I want to take care of you, Sumire…" He murmured to himself as he walked to the kitchen and began pouring a glass of cold water. "Even after you win the Olympics… Sure, you can pay me back all you want, but I never want to stop taking care of you. I want to take care of you and the kids we'll have together…"

A warm, tingling blush crept up Ren's face as he overfilled the glass.

"Ren. The water!"

"Huh?" Ren blinked and saw Morgana standing on the counter, and then saw the water over pouring. "Oops!"

"Don't tell me you're sick too… I don't have the thumbs to help! I mean, I can kind of use the emergency dial, but that doesn't help too much!"

"I'm fine." Ren turned off the sink and poured out some of the water. "I just got preoccupied with some thoughts."

"You're getting sloppy, Ren!"

"Sorry, sorry."

Ren walked back into the main room and over to their bed with the water before putting it up to Sumire's lips.

"I'm not… that sick… senpai…" Sumire sighed, her face completely red as he held the back of her head.

"Uhhuh. Just relax." He slowly helped her drink.

"T-Thank you… I'm sorry for overworking myself." She took a deep breath as the cold water slid down her throat, rejuvenating her.

"Wasn't knowing your own limits one of Sakiya's top ten mind-boggling gymnastics facts?" Ren chuckled to himself and scratched the back of his head.

"This is different…" A pout blossomed on her face.

"It's just like any competition. You're going to do fine. Now stop arguing and lie back down."

"Mmmhmm…"

A few minutes later, Ren heard the doorbell. Upon walking through the kitchen and opening it, he saw the familiar face of the slightly shady, punk doctor Tae Takemi, wearing a dark green dress, a white lab coat, and strappy black platform boots. She sported a pair of dark, black-framed glasses and Ren noticed that her hair reached the back of her neck.

"Hey there, Dr. Takemi. Thanks for stopping by."

"Hello, my guinea pig. Where's your guinea pig?"

"My guinea pig?" Ren raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." Takemi replied with a smirk.

"She's on our bed in the living room. Follow me."

"Nice place you have here." Takemi looked around as they walked through the kitchen, taking note of Sumire's leotard, the coffee shelf, and displayed apparati.

"Turns out being a therapist nets you some decent cash."

"Oh right. I forgot about that. You graduated last year, right? I recall you mentioning it to me the last time you visited."

"Yup. I'm working at Tokyo Mental Health. Have been for a couple of years now, first as an intern, and now as a therapist."

"Hm." Takemi smiled and giggled. "I'm glad you found comfort in helping others in a realistic setting."

"So am I. I'm an officially retired Phantom Thief, so it's nice being able to help others in a different way."

"As charismatic as always." Takemi nodded as they stepped into the living room. They walked over to Sumire, who attempted to lean up.

"H-hello… Dr. Takemi…" She winced.

"Lay down." Takemi sighed and placed her hand against Sumire's head. "Mild fever… How do you feel? Muscle pains, spasms?"

"Yes… and yes…"

"You've been practicing rhythmic gymnastics every day? How many hours a day?"

"Between six to eight hours."

"Understood. That's good."

"It's… good? But I'm stuck like… this…" Sumire gave Takemi a confused look.

"It's a good thing because it means that you're simply exhausted. You're used to putting a lot of strain on your body, but even the most prolific athletes have their limits. If you ignore the warning signs that your body gives you, you'll end up like this. Since I started taking care of the people in Yongen-Jaya, I've met all sorts of folk. I've even helped the occasional athlete in the same position as you, although I'd double the amount of work that you've done over them. Simply put, all you need to do is rest."

"I… can't rest…" Sumire mustered enough strength to shake her head, staring adamantly at Takemi.

"Stubborn, huh? Just like your husband over there." Takemi scoffed.

"H-Husband…"

A deep shade of red overtook Sumire's face while Ren laughed.

"I'm not quite that yet, Doctor."

"I'll tell you what. Back when I first met my guinea pig, he said he needed my "shady drugs" to study for school and keep himself up all night. So, I gave them to him with the promise that he'd help me test out a new drug for an otherwise uncured disease. Thanks to his stubbornness, I managed to finish that drug and save a little girl's life. Since then, I've been working on new medicines while taking care of the Yongen jaya residents, like I mentioned. It's a simple life, but it's mine. When it comes to stubborn people I know... does this sound like someone you know?"

"R-Ren…?"

"Yes. Now, given that you two share the same stubborn attitude, I'll let you keep practicing." She raised a finger. "However, you need to cut down on the amount of times you practice per week. Why are you practicing every day anyway?"

"The Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship is in a few weeks. She wants to win the gold." Ren answered.

"Ah. In that case…" Takemi cupped her hand under her chin. "I don't want to see my guinea pig's guinea pig out of commission. I'll check up on you a few times a week, but after this big competition, you need to take a break for a few weeks. If you push yourself like this nonstop, you could permanently damage your body, and that won't help anyone."

"I understand… Sumire took a deep breath. "Thank you, Dr. Takemi."

"No problem." Takemi stood up and looked at Ren. "You've got quite the wife."

"W-Wife…" Sumire felt herself become dizzy as her red face turned redder.

"Please, Takemi." Ren waved his hand. "We're not married."

Yet, he told himself after the fact.

"You sure act like it." She shook her head. "In any case, text me her availability and I'll stop by every few days. Deal?"

"Sure thing. Thank you again."

"Still have that cat, huh? Good to see he's doing well." Takemi raised an eyebrow as she spotted Morgana emerge from the back closet.

"He's as spic as ever, that one."

"Maybe I should get myself a black cat…"

"Pet's are great for mental wellness, you know."

"I'm not a pet!" Morgana whined. "I'm the guardian of this home!"

"Does being a pet owner really suit me, though?" Takemi scratched her head as they left Morgana be and walked back to the front door. "I let my guinea pig loose all those years ago…"

"Very funny." Ren sighed. "Thank you again."

"You're welcome. I'll stop by again soon. Don't let her overwork herself, all right?"

"Already planned on not letting her."

"Good. I'll see you then."

"Goodbye, Takemi."

"Goodbye."

"Husband and wife, huh?" Ren chuckled to himself.

"It's nice to see that Takemi hasn't really changed at all." Morgana stood at his feet, glaring up at him.

"Yeah. Makes me want to see what the others are up to."

"The others?"

"Yeah. Shinya, Mishima, Yoshida, Ohya… My old confidants."

"I thought you did keep up with them, though?" Morgana tilted his head, confused.

"Well, I sort of do. The occasional text message hardly counts, though. I want to actually speak with them."

"Why haven't you yet?"

"I hadn't thought about it, and I've been busy with work. I mean, I'm not going to visit them all in a day."

"I see. Sometimes I only remember things I wanted to do the day after." Morgana licked his leg.

"Like choosing where to sleep? Cat tower, bed or couch?" Ren chuckled.

"Hey! It's important!"

"I know, I know. Once the World Championship is over, let's start reconnecting." Ren bent down and held out his hand, which Morgana laid a paw upon.

"Let's do it!"


September 20th, 2023

Ren took a deep breath as he stepped out of his car in the Kanda Church parking lot. He had texted Hifumi to meet him here, but received no response. She was a professional shogi player these days, after all. The last time they saw each other face to face was over a year ago, but like most of his former confidants, he did his best to send some text messages.

Keeping track of all your friends was hard.

Someone of her fame was probably constantly busy traveling and competing. It was a long shot to ask her to meet with him out of the blue at the church where she taught him how to tactically outsmart his enemies, but it was the perfect kind of shot for him. The sun eclipsing Tokyo slowly set as he stepped inside.

"Welcome." A familiar priest stood at the altar of the church, a crucified statue of Jesus behind him. The pews were empty, with one exception.

Peeking her head above the front, rightmost pew was Hifumi Togo, sporting her signature long, brown hair and a checkered pattern red and white dress.

"Hifumi, you made it!" Ren quickly walked up to her, a bright smile on his face.

"Hello, Ren. It's been quite some time."

Hifumi's dark green eyes sparkled as she looked up at him, emanating both a fiery, competitive spirit and one of familiarity and nostalgia. She was as stunning as ever, but Ren knew she chose to play the part of a dignified, beautiful shogi player of her own accord, not her mother's.

"Please, take a seat."

Like clockwork, Ren silently sat down, and the two began playing a game of shogi. Each one of their moves were slow and calculated, although Hifumi still had her anime-eque, outrageous names and movements.

"You still have all those fun names for your shogi pieces and moves." Ren chuckled as he made his next move. "How has being a queen been treating you?"

"I've been well." She nodded, spinning a piece on one finger. "You already know how the first few years went, though."

"It wouldn't have been as rewarding if you didn't fight your way to the top, right?"

"No, it wouldn't have been. Once my mother's veil was lifted, I quickly learned my place in the shogi community. I was an awful player, but thanks to you, I put on a brave face and began training, so that I could win using my own abilities. I started from the beginning after quitting the Ladies Professional Shogi Players' Association… It was an uphill battle, but I managed to re-earn the respect of my fellow shogi players, and now I compete globally. I believe that next year will be mine!"

"That's what Sumire believes, too. Actually, it's not even that she "believes" it, she knows it."

"Sumire?" Hifumi gave him a confused look.

"My girlfriend. The rhythmic gymnast… I've mentioned her to you before, but that was probably a long while ago."

"Ohhh, I remember!" Hifumi slammed down another piece. "Sumire Yoshizawa. She's been making headlines recently!"

"The one and only. Not only is she a top-tier rhythmic gymnast; she's an Olympic-bound one. Just over a week ago, she placed first in the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championship, won a gold, and qualified for the Olympics."

"That's wonderful, Ren-kun. Both her and I are aiming for the top!" She clapped.

"I'll try and keep up." Ren nodded. "I've seen a few of your competitions over the past few years. I'm sorry I didn't actively keep in contact."

"It's fine." Hifumi shook her head. "We're both adults. And I didn't contact you much, either."

"True enough." Ren leaned his head back and thought about his next move. "So how's your life outside shogi?"

"It's all shogi, Ren-kun." Hifumi giggled. "I am dating a wonderful man, though. He's a digital artist! He's so wonderful, in fact, that I plan to ask him to marry me soon."

"Marriage, huh?" Ren sat for a minute before looking back at her. "I…" He gulped. "I'm going to ask Sumire to marry me when the Olympics are over."

"I know you can do it!" Hifumi clapped her hands and smiled. "I've never seen you nervous before!"

"Nervous, me? Not at all!"

Ren coughed and adjusted the scruff of his shirt while scratching the back of his neck. "It's been a long time coming, but I feel like I'm ready to ask her. Almost."

"You have nothing to worry about! Now… back to my life outside shogi… I went to university for business, met my boyfriend, and graduated in March of 2022. He likes to draw me from time to time, especially when I get competitive!"

"I graduated around the same time. I'm a therapist, now. Got my degree in psychology."

"A therapist? Hmmm…. Now that I think about that, it suits you. The nights I spent here with you were indeed therapeutic."

"I hear that a lot." Ren chuckled. "Ah… This is nice."

"What is?" Hifumi tilted her head and made her next move without even looking.

"Catching up with you. There are a lot of people I haven't kept up with. At first, I tried to, but eventually, you start to forget to keep track of everyone, and at the same time, they don't really try to keep in contact with you. It's a vicious cycle."

"I understand how you feel." Hifumi closed her eyes and placed her last piece down. "Now, concede."

"I concede!"

"Hehe… There's nothing we can do about the time we've lost, though. We just have to keep moving forward, right?"

"Yes. Now... " Ren picked up a shogi piece. "I want to beat you at least once before we leave."

"Ohho…" Hifumi cupped a hand under her chin and smirked. "I'd love to see you try!"


October 15, 2023, Night

"You'll never see it coming…"

Ren hummed to himself as he idly browsed through his DVD collection. Sumire had sprawled herself out on the couch, relaxing after a relatively calm day of practice. Since the World Championships, she scaled back on how much she trained, per Takemi's orders. Regardless, Ren still had to work, and she still wanted to practice. Those were the only things they could do as the 2024 Olympics approached.

"Stealing Hearts: A Phantom Thieves Documentary…" Ren picked up the DVD case and looked it over. "I almost forgot about this…"

"Didn't your friend Mishima-san make that?" Sumire leaned up slightly, pressing her elbow against the couch.

"Yes he did. I haven't kept in contact with him, though… Damn. There are too many people to have to keep track of." Ren sighed.

"Don't beat yourself up over it."

"I know." Ren pulled out his phone while walking up to his PS5 and taking out Dad of Boy 6 before putting in the DVD. "Care to watch?"

"Sure!"

While the DVD loaded, Ren made a call.

"H-Hello? R-Ren-kun?"

"Hey, Mishima."

"Ren! It's really you!" An excited voice yelled through the phone.

"Yup. Sumire and I are about to watch your documentary again."

"Yoshizawa-san? Oh, right! She's pretty famous now, huh?"

"Only to those that follow rhythmic gymnastics."

"True… I only know because of our previous affiliation at Shujin."

"I don't think you ever spoke to her."

"Hey! C'mon…"

"Anyway…" Ren cleared his throat. "Want to meet with me and catch up?"

"Of course! Where would we meet?"

"Wilton Buffet. My treat."

"Really? You can afford that?"

"Don't underestimate the retired leader of the Phantom Thieves!"

"Retired…"

Ren heard an audible sigh.

"We can't live in our glory days forever, Mishima. I'll see you, let's say, tomorrow night."

"Right! Okay! See you, Ren-kun!"

"Mishima-san made this documentary, right?" Sumire looked over the case quizzingly.

"Yup." Ren put his phone away and sat down next to her as she adjusted herself.

"It's actually pretty good, considering how we operated." Morgana laughed, jumping onto the couch between them. "There wasn't much to go off of, so considering he managed to make a two-hour documentary is impressive!"

"He covered the origins of the Phantom Thieves, the criminals they took down, their rise to fame, how they were innocent regarding Okumura, everyone's belief in us, and our ultimate disappearance."

"Do people even remember Yaldabaoth and the merging of Mementos with reality?" Morgana perked an eyebrow.

"At this point? No." Ren shook his head. "Nobody except Mishima and the other confidants, that is."

"That doesn't still bother you, does it?" Sumire gently took his hand.

"Not anymore."

"Phew… Good."

"I've forgotten some of the finer details, so let's get watching!"


October 16th, Night

"Ren-kun!"

Ren looked up from his phone as he stood outside the Wilton Buffet and saw Mishima walking up to him. He had gotten a bit taller, but looked relatively the same, and was wearing a casual green jacket and blue jeans.

"Hey, Mishima. Let's head inside."

"Mhm!"

Ren led Mishima into the buffet, paying for their hour-long reservation. They both gathered up several plates of food before seating themselves.

"We rewatched your documentary last night."

"What'd you think of it, after viewing it through a different perspective?"

"Different perspective?"

"Yeah. You're an adult now, with job experience. We're not naive high-schoolers anymore."

"Ahhh. I see. It's still quite informative, and captures the message the Phantom Thieves were trying to send, even if we're just an urban legend at this point."

"Public interest is so keen on moving from one fad to the next…" Mishima sighed and absentmindedly stirred his food. "No one even tried to remember the Phantom Thieves."

"To be fair, we haven't made a move since December 2016, at least in the eyes of the public."

"Are you saying you did something after that? I can't quite remember."

Ren took a deep breath. Time dilation. Lavenza. "Things happening as they should have."

How could he even explain that? There wasn't much point to it.

"To sum it up, yes, we went on one final heist. The target was not evil, per se, so I can't really say anything else. It's all in the past, anyway."

"I see." Mishima nodded and didn't pry any further, which surprised Ren.

"Anyway, you finished the documentary in what, 2019?"

"Yes. It was quite the undertaking, especially since it was just me working on it. I got so engrossed in it, though, that I went to university to study film, so I could make it the best documentary possible!"

"It seems to have paid off." Ren nodded.

"I'm really glad to hear that from the original leader."

"Hah. Thanks."

Ren and Mishima spoke some more and caught up in one another's lives. Mishima told Ren how he was on his way to actually start directing more documentaries, focusing on real, contemporary issues in Japanese society. The topic he was focusing on now was sexuality in Japan, with a bill having been signed into law in 2022 that legalized gay marriage. He went on to say that even though it was a law, there was still the stigma of being LGBTQ+, and many, many conservative people were still against it. The documentary, he hoped, would shed a new light on the sociopolitical and cultural issues that would need to be addressed for Japan to move forward.

Ren told Mishima about his studies in psychology, how he had an internship for several years, and how he was now a licensed therapist. Mishima commented that it suited him, to which Ren replied that he heard that often. Lastly, Ren told him about his plans to marry Sumire, to which Mishima congratulated him. After their hour was up, Ren promised to speak with Mishima more, who said the same. After that, they went their separate ways, with Ren thinking about who he'd try to find next.


November 20th, 2023

Ren looked up at the sign outside the Akihabara arcade. It had been months since he last spoke to Shinya, so what were the chances that he'd pick up his phone right away?

"Hello? Ren?"

"Hi, Shinya."

"Holy crap! It really is you!"

"Sorry for calling out of the blue." Ren laughed. "I'm outside the Akihabara arcade where we played Gun About and wondered what you were up to."

"I'm a real pro gamer now!"

"Esports, right?"

"Yeah!"

"I'm guessing that keeps you pretty busy, huh? You wouldn't happen to be able to slot in some free time for one last game with me, would you?"

"Are you kidding me? Of course I can! The arcade is basically all VR now, but it still plays the same pretty much. I can be free this Saturday!"

"Count me in. I'll see you then."

"Sweet! Bye, Ren!"

"Goodbye, Shinya."

With a smile, Ren made his way home for the evening.


November 25th, 2023, Afternoon

Ren idly browsed on his phone while he waited for Shinya. The only thought that crossed his mind was…

"Yo." A young man as tall as Ren waved his arm as he approached him, wearing a red hat that read "GET SMOKED" on it along with a blue shirt that read "NOOBS" under a black, plain jacket. It had been little over two years since he'd seen Shinya, though he was one of the few Ren texted a bit more than the rest.

"Shinya!"

Ren outstretched his fist, which Shinya happily bumped.

"Some little bro you are!" Ren chuckled as he looked him over again. "Jeez, you're a full-fledged adult now!"

"I guess so! You're still like a big bro to me, though."

"Thanks." Ren nodded. "Let's head in."

As the two stepped inside, Ren immediately noticed that everything was indeed VR. Every single crane game had some sort of virtual reality interface, as did the revamped Gun About arcade machine. How one would play a crane game in VR made no sense to him. Then again, the only time he really interacted with it was at Futaba's.

"So you're an esports player now, huh?"

'Yup. Basically, I compete with a bunch of other pros from Japan against other nations."

"Playing for fun, or to win?"

"For fun."

"Good." Ren lightly patted his back.

"Don't worry, Ren. I remember what you taught me. It's a lot more rewarding to play and have fun doing so instead of always playing to win. I still like to win, but if I try too hard, it ruins all my enjoyment, and I really just don't play as well. If I have fun with it, I actually can focus better!"

"That's how it works, Shinya. You can apply that philosophy anywhere. Lately, I've been doing it at my job. At first, I was trying so hard to help everyone, and I found myself unable to help anyone, really. I couldn't even help myself. Then, one day, I met someone that reminded me how to love what I did. It's a good mentality to have."

"Yup!" Shinya smiled brightly, still a kid on the inside. "I've made a lot of friends, too!"

"I'm happy to hear that. You really have grown up."

"Thanks to you, Ren!"

"It was nothing, really. You did that all yourself."

The two laughed together before putting on the VR headset and picking up the arcade gun.

"Welcome to Gun About!" An announced, seemingly omnipresent, announced. "Whether you're here as a beginner, or a returning player, you can compete your way to the top and create a new high score!"

A leaderboard popped up within their field-of-view, showcasing the top three placements. One of them was "The King" and the other was…

Alibaba.

Ren smirked as he input his name, "Joker," and the two began to play. Within seconds, Ren found his footing in the virtual space, though he lagged exponentially behind Shinya. They shot and blasted away at virtual targets for several rounds until Ren found his head swirling.

"That's… enough from me today. So dizzy… I wonder how Sumire managed to spin around so much…"

"Sumire?" Shinya gave him a puzzled look after taking off the headset.

"My girlfriend. She's a rhythmic gymnast."

"Ohhhhh, so you have a pro girlfriend?"

"You could say that, yeah. She's going to the Olympics, actually, to fulfill our dream. So far, she's one nearly 10 golds!"

"Sick!"

"Indeed, I think I'm going to be sick…" Ren wobbled slightly.

"Don't get too disoriented, Ren!" Shinya put his hand on Ren's shoulder. "Sorry for pushing you so hard!"

"I just got into it, that's all."

"An Olympic rhythmic gymnast… I knew my big bro would find an awesome girlfriend!"

"She's more awesome than you can possibly imagine…" Ren smiled. "I'm going to ask her to marry me, soon."

"Really? That's amazing! Good luck!"

"Thanks, Shinya. I say soon, but the time is still a ways away… I have a lot of things I still need to do."

"Well don't let me keep you distracted!"

"Don't worry about it." Ren rotated his neck. "I'd love it if you watched her at the Olympics next year. I'll try and catch some of your esports competitions."

"Sure thing!" Shinya excitedly nodded. "You'll get to see how much of a fun pro I am!"

"I look forward to it. "

A brief moment of silence passed before Shinya's phone buzzed, and his face morphed into a shocked expression. "Oh! Crap! I gotta go practice! We've been here for three hours!"

"You practice?"

"Well yeah! You can't be a pro unless you practice and keep yourself up to speed!" Shinya jogged over to the door. "Today was a lot of fun, though! I'll be sure to call in the future!"

"I'll keep in contact!" Ren waved. "See you around!"

After Shinya exited the arcade, Ren stretched out his arms and cracked his hands before donning the VR headset once more.

"Just you wait Futaba…"


December 26th, 2023

Time continued to fly by as Ren found himself constantly busy taking in clients and meeting with those that repeatedly came. Since the law regarding gay marriage was passed, many of his clients came out to him, which, as a third-party therapist, he was perfectly fine with. They spoke of how happy they were to finally be able to just be themselves, though they often came back talking about the pervading issues that still plagued the LGBTQ+ community. He gave them the best advice he could, but even he knew that, as a lone therapist, he couldn't change Japan's deep-rooted cultural "norms." It was going to be a long, slow process, but he knew that one day, soon, it would be more widely accepted.

After celebrating Christmas with Sumire and trying several… Many new ugly Christmas sweaters on, she returned to practice with Sakiya and Hanako. From what Ren saw and heard, the duo had long since surpassed Hanako, though she kept up in her hoop performance. In a technical sense, Hanako knew the rules inside and out, though, so they still relied on her for precise information regarding their routines. The three had a symbiotic relationship of sorts, and no matter how much Sumire shined above Sakiya, Ren was pretty sure Sakiya would dig her way out of a hell frozen over to keep competing. It made him happy to see how close the two had become over the years.

While he thought about Sakiya, he thought back to one of the few times they all drank together. In her stupors, she usually yelled about how excited she was to move forward after the Olympics and become a teacher. This inadvertently made him think of Kawakami, who he last heard from through a text at his graduation… in 2022.

Ren's phone rang as he waited for Kawakami to hopefully pick up, sitting on the couch in the apartment, while Sumire made him some late-night coffee. She was too sweet. It made his heart melt when she came back, sat down next to him and handed him the cup, a heart sirred from the blend of creamer and coffee.

"Hello?"

"Don't you mean 'Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii'?"

"Very funny, Amamiya-kun."

"Sorry, sorry. How are you doing, Kawakami-sensei?"

"Just call me Kawakami-san. I haven't been your teacher for years."

"Then call me Ren."

"Deal. I've been well. How's adult life treating you?"

"That's a conversation best saved for the bar, don't you think?"

"True… Are you asking me on a date?"

"No. Did I get your hopes up?"

"No. I know you're dating Yoshizawa-san. I just wanted to see if you were still a delinquent."

"I never was!"

"I know."

Both of them laughed as Sumire gave him a loving smile, taking a sip of her hot chocolate.

"Want to meet at Crossroads this Saturday night?" Ren took a sip of his coffee. Columbian 100% Typica.

"Crossroads, huh? You sure know your bars. I'll see you then."

"See you later, Becky."

"Ugh…"

Ren heard the call end, and he looked up at Sumire.

"Becky? I thought you were talking to Kawakami-sensei?"

"Don't worry about it." Ren laughed and wrapped his right hand around her left. Gently, he rubbed his finger over her ring finger. "Ready for 2024?"

"Absolutely!"

The bright, determined smile on Sumire's face told Ren everything he needed to know. It was a simple gesture. A nod.

But Ren could feel a fire in her heart, a blazing inferno that couldn't be extinguished any longer. Through the years they had been together, he'd seen that fire dim over and over, but since they reaffirmed their promise after the 2020 Olympics, not even a tidal wave could put it out.

It made Ren incredibly happy to see Sumire chasing her dream with no shackles or chains holding her back. They were free, together.

"I can't help but think back to how much time has passed."

Ren slightly lowered his head, a solemn expression appearing on his face. "We've been dating for over six years now, and I've never felt my love for you fade at all. If anything, I love you now more than ever."

"I feel the same way." Sumire placed her hot chocolate on the small table in front of them and perked his chin up. "Don't worry about the time that's passed, Ren. We're exactly where we need to be. In a few months, after I win, I'll finally be able to take care of you, like you have for me this entire time."

"I'm looking forward to that day more than anything, trust me." A warm smile crossed his face. "We've done so much together, but I feel like the Olympics is only the beginning."

"It is."

Sumire's affirmative tone made Ren's heart skip a beat, and his cheeks turn red.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too, Ren."

The couple held one another in a warm embrace as time slowly passed and the night came to a close.


December 30th, 2023

Snow gently fell as Ren waited outside Crossroads in Shinjuku. He originally planned to visit Chihaya while he waited, but her booth wasn't set up. Without anything else to do, he browsed on his phone.

...

"Hey."

Ren blinked and saw Kawakami in front of him, wearing a dark brown jacket, completely buttoned up. "It seems you haven't stopped zoning out."

"My bad." Ren clapped one of his cheeks. "I've been waiting here too long."

"You're the one who arrived too early."

"Fair enough…" Ren led her inside, where a familiar face greeted them from behind the counter.

"Oh? Could it be?"

"Hey, Lala."

"Amamiya-kun! It's so good to see you again!"

Lala Escargot giddily walked around the counter and pulled Ren in for a hug. "I see you brought Kawakami-san-chan with you! You're not cheating, are you?"

"Of course not!" Ren shook his head. "We're just here to catch up and drown out our sorrows."

"Good, good!" Lala laughed.

"Give him a break, Lala. He's too young for me, anyhow."

"Now now, Kawakami-san-chan. That attitude won't get you any man!"

"Ergh…" Kawakami sighed. "Just get me a drink."

"Of course!"

Ren and Kawakami sat down at the bar counter while Lala served them.

"Say, Lala, have you seen or heard from Ohya lately? She hasn't answered any of my calls for texts."

"Ohya-chan's been busy with some investigations! Don't worry, it's not you!"

"I see. If she stops by, tell her that I'd like to speak with her."

"Sure thing!"

"So," Ren turned his head to Kawakami, "How's Shujin been?"

"Ugh… I love teaching and helping students, but some days it's very difficult. The higher-ups are still awful, though I recently got promoted to be the head teacher."

"Huh. How are the others?"

"Everyone is still there. Ushimura is still a grinch." She took a big gulp of her drink. "We haven't had a decent principal yet."

"I feel you when it comes to having difficult days." Ren chuckled lightly before sighing and taking a gulp of his own. "You know what I'm doing, right?"

"You got a degree in psychology, and now you're a therapist, right?"

"Yup."

"Are you going to charge for this session?"

"This one's on the house, just like the drinks."

"Ren-kun…"

"I'm doing a lot better than you are, Kawakami-san. I have Sumire to lean on, at least."

"Yoshizawa-san… I hear she's going to the Olympics."

"So you already know."

"I do my best to keep up with prospective former students, especially one as standout as her. She went from acting like her sister, who I only know of thanks to the student records, to herself back in January of 2017. That wouldn't happen to be the work of the Phantom Thieves, would it?"

"Right on the nose."

"I see. Well, she appears to be doing a lot better for herself now. It was incredibly strange that she always turned in papers written "Kasumi Yoshizawa" on the top. We were told to leave her be, as she was grieving."

"You did your best, given the circumstances." Ren looked down at his glass. "And trust me, she's doing great now. She's never been more proud to be herself."

"Good to hear!" Kawakami raised her glass, now slightly intoxicated. "To Yoshizawa-san's health and the Olympics!"

"Huzzah!" Ren clinked her glass.

A calm silence took over the bar as they drank.

"So what else have you been up to, Kawakami-san?"

"Same old. I'm not a maid anymore, of course, and teaching is a career that doesn't inherently change over the years. The students change, though, so that adds a lot of variety. Time flies when you're an adult, Ren. The years I've spent as a teacher since you left went by faster than I could drink this glass. You haven't married Yoshizawa-san yet, have you?" She looked at his ring finger. "I know you like to take your time, but cherish what you love before you can't."

"Thanks for the advice." Ren shook his head. "I'm waiting until she wins the Olympics before I ask."

"You always have been a show-off."

"It'll be worth it. I just need to be patient."

"You always have been good at that."

"Thanks."

Ren took another sip.

"I'm sorry for not keeping in contact with you much."

"Don't be sorry. If I tried to keep in contact with everyone I knew, I'd go crazy. I'm sure someone like you knows a lot of people, too." Kawakami laughed.

"Admittedly, I think I'd go crazy too. Over the past few months, though, I have been trying to contact everyone."

"Good on you, Ren." Kawakami set down her glass and waded in her seat for a minute.

"Lala-chan, could I get… a refill?"

"No."

"Aw…"

"What were you drinking, anyway?" Ren perked an eyebrow.

"...Liquor…"

"Oh."

"I need you to get home in one piece, Kawakami-san-chan." Lala tapped her finger on the table. "You're going to stay here until you sober up, okay?"

"Fine…"

"It's getting late, Amamiya-kun. Kawakami-san-chan seems tapped out for the night, so I suggest you go home to your fine lady."

"You're right, Lala. Thanks."

"It's my pleasure!"

"I'll keep in contact with you, alright, Kawakami-san?" Ren waved his hand in front of her.

"Mhmm… Yes master…"

"Right." Ren stood up and walked to the door. "Goodbye Lala, Kawakami-san!"

"Goodbye, honey! Tell the missus I said hello!"

"Will do!"

With a chuckle, Ren made his way out of Crossroads and to the train station.


January 6th, 2024, Afternoon

Ren celebrated the New Year with Sumire, with the two making the same resolution.

Win the Olympics and take the crown of the gymnastics world.

A few days after, Ren reserved a room at a hotel in Paris and sent a text message to one of the few confidants he felt would be the most difficult to get into contact with. To his surprise, the confidant agreed to meet with him at the Shibuya beef bowl restaurant in the afternoon.

"Hello, Amamiya-kun."

Standing in front of Ren was none other than Toranosuke Yoshida, the Deputy Prime Minister of Japan.

"It's good to see you, Yoshida-san, or should I call you Deputy Prime Minister Yoshida?" The two shook hands firmly. "Thank you for taking the time to come see me."

"Please, just call me Yoshida. You're more than just a random citizen, Amamiya-kun. We're still in recess, and it's not as though the Prime Minister has many responsibilities for me, anyhow. I'd like to thank you for inviting me."

"Let's head inside."

As the two stepped in, they found that the restaurant hadn't changed at all, and they both sat next to one another before ordering.

"People don't seem to recognize you immediately." Ren commented while looking around at the civilians absentmindedly eating their beef bowls.

"It's both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, I wish more citizens were politically involved and knew their own leaders. On the other, I'm grateful to just be another person, like I always have been."

"You came pretty close to winning this year. I voted for you."

"Thank you." Yoshida laughed. "Regardless of if I win or not, I'll keep pushing for reform, no matter what position I'm given. I'd like to ask you, Amamiya-kun, what have you been doing to bring about change? I certainly know you haven't sat around this entire time."

"I've been interning at Tokyo Mental Health, and I got my degree in psychology a few years ago. Just last year, I got my official license to become a therapist."

"That's wonderful."

Yoshida smiled and took a deep breath.

"I always knew you'd enact change wherever you went. I had hoped you'd become a politician, but I'm not so ignorant as to not know of the plight of mental health culture in Japan. You're fighting a tough battle, but I know that, like you always have, you'll come out on top."

"Thanks, Yoshida-san."

The two went silent as their bowls were placed in front of them, and they clapped their hands together before eating.

"Honestly, I thought I'd become a politician, or a barista. The idea of becoming a therapist came out of nowhere, really. It was thanks to another therapist that I was inspired to become one. When I started, I wanted to help every single person that came to see me. This quickly overwhelmed me, and thanks to my girlfriend, I realized that wasn't the right way to approach my job. I can't help everyone, Yoshida-san, but I can certainly help those that want to be helped."

"The political sphere is not the only place in which one much make difficult choices and sacrifice the well-being of some in favor of others." Yoshida spoke calmly. "Some become politicians for status and power, like I did when I first started. Other's come seeking to present their ideals, but they quickly realize that it is impossible to make every single person agree to one, uniform ideal. I'm glad you realized this, Amamiya-kun."

"So am I, Yoshida-san. Now, I help those I can. Down the road, I'd like for the broader society of Japan to recognize the plight of mental health culture, but we need to address these things one step at a time. This country is already changing rapidly."

"It's all thanks to you and other youth like you." Yoshida nodded. "Your generation refuses to back down, and I find that extremely admirable. Take a look at same-sex marriage in Japan. It's thanks to you, and those like you, that a bill addressing it could be passed. Just because we're meant to conform to tradition does not mean tradition is the right way to approach life."

"Thank you again." Ren smiled. "You wouldn't happen to have had a hand in that bill being passed, would you? A lot of my friends were directly impacted by that bill passing, and they're all thankful."

"No need to thank me." Yoshida shook his head. "I want to act as a vessel for the youth to speak. Until the day comes where we can successfully put a young, upstart politician in office, this is all I can do. Now, let's move on to a lighter topic. You mentioned you had a girlfriend?"

"Yes. She's a rhythmic gymnast, and she's going to win in the Olympics this year."

"Oh my." Yoshida laughed. "How admirable."

"She means the world to me, Yoshida-san. She's incredibly kind, funny, and selfless. Since I met her, she's been working tirelessly to make it to the Olympics, practicing day-by-day to get to this point. On top of that, she goes out of her way to take care of me between all of that. She's the hardest worker I've ever known, and I couldn't be a luckier man."

"Do you plan to marry her? I see you aren't wearing any band."

"Soon, yes." Ren held up his finger "After the Olympics."

"Very good, Amamiya-kun. Very good. Let your love push you further than ever before, and may the same happen for her at the Olympics."

"Will do."

Silence overtook them once more as they finished their beef bowls, ordered seconds, and ate those too. When they finished, they both paid and made their way out.

"Thank you, Amamiya-kun."

"Thank you, Yoshida-san. This was nice."

"Indeed it was. Speaking with you is still a thought-provoking experience, and I'd be happy to talk with you again any time."

"I'll keep that in mind." Ren pulled out his phone. "Things are going to get busy again."

"That they are. When the Olympics come around, I'll be sure to watch."

"Look forward to it!"

"I already am. See you later, Amamiya-kun."

"Goodbye, Yoshida-san."

Ren felt a calmness within his heart as he watched Yoshida disappear amongst the Shibuya crowd.

"Hmmm… Since I'm here…"


January 6th, 2024, Evening

"Yo." Iwai kicked his feet off his table and folded up the newspaper he was looking at. "Look who it is, Kaoru."

"Amamiya-kun!"

Ren looked to the right of Iwai and saw a young man wearing glasses, a loose black shirt that let his scar show on his neck, and blue jeans.

"Kaoru!" Ren walked over and shook his hand. "You grew up!"

"I'm nearly as tall as you!" Kaoru laughed.

"Nah… Maybe…"

"What brings you here, kid?" Iwai stood up.

"Remember that gun I ordered?"

"Hah! 'Course I do. It's been sittin' in the back for years! Years! You got the mind of a cat or somethin'?"

"I've been really busy…" Ren rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry. I did tell you it might be a couple years."

"Don't be sorry!" Iwai laughed. "You ordered it! It's just funny to think, since I could have gone out of business in the meantime!"

"Right…"

"Just kidding. I would have called you."

Iwai laughed as he walked into the backroom. Kaoru nervously looked around after he disappeared from view.

"Last time I talked with your dad, I think he mentioned you got a girl? Is this true?"

"Huh? Oh! Yeah, I did!"

"What's she like?"

"Uh… Well... She's really pretty, but also kind of pushy. She thinks I'm cute, I guess, and she loves my bad jokes!"

"I see. Well," Ren planted a hand on his shoulder. "Your dad and I are proud of you. Just know that you'll need to man up at some point. You treat your girl well, and she'll treat you back!"

"R-Right! Thank you!"

"Have I ever told you about my girlfriend?"

"Um… No."

"Alright!" Ren cheered. "Well, her name is Sumire, she's a rhythmic gymnast, and is going to participate in the Olympics this year!"

"Rhythmic gymnast... Does she have red hair?"

"Yes."

"I've seen vids of her!"

"Really? Rhythmic gymnastics isn't something most Japanese people are really into." Ren tilted his head.

"My girlfriend has actually been getting into it since your girlfriend and the other one… the blonde…"

"Sakiya."

"Right! Since those two have been making a name for themselves and Japan, the sport has skyrocketed in popularity for a lot of girls! I think they're making an anime about them, actually!"

"That's nice to hear." Ren smiled and nodded. "Well, considering that, I need to tell you one thing."

"What's that?"

"While she may have flexibility, you need to have reach. Catch my drift?"

Kaoru's face slowly turned red as Ren laughed and Iwai emerged.

"Talking about girls?"

"Yes sir!"

"Good shit. Here's your gun, by the way." Iwai placed a long, thin suitcase on the table. "It's fake, 'course. Don't go wavin' it around blah blah, you know."

"Of course. How much was it again?"

"Let me see…" Iwai pulled out a small logbook. "300,000 yen."

"Got it." Ren pulled out a check note.

"You really are crazy, kid."

"Don't worry, I know." A few more seconds passed. "There you go!" Ren handed him the check. "I hope that works, unless you want me to get that in cash."

"This should be fine. Bring me some of that shiny junk so I can make some actual yen."

"You have my word, and my wallet." Ren stepped back and bowed. "What do you think I'm going to do with this?"

"That's one hell of a present for a girl…" Iwai replied.

"It is, don't worry. I actually don't know what I want to do with it. Still need to marry her."

"Good luck with that." Iwai waved the blank check. "See you soon."

"I'll be back shortly!"

After Ren left, Kaoru told Iwai what he knew about Sumire, and Iwai connected the dots regarding Kaoru's girlfriend. About an hour later, Ren came back in his car, and with his bag of holding, exchanged a lot of the Mementos junk he still had.

Hopefully he didn't need to buy anything else expensive...


February 2024

Time continued to pass, and in the moments of solace he could find, Ren contacted the former Phantom Thieves and Chihaya, who he wanted to check in with. He and Makoto spoke about her progress in the police force, which was slow-going at best. She was determined to make her own form of justice known, no matter how long it took or stressful it might be. As it turned out, the force wasn't so kind and open to women as it was men. However despite all that, she managed to become a detective in her own right, working to root out organized crime in Tokyo. Sae faced some of the same problems as a defence attorney, but she was just as determined to help people in her own way. She even managed to acquit someone of a false charge, just like she did with Ren all those years ago. Haru was content with her work, slowly but surely transforming Okumura foods into a more family-oriented chain. As an international business, she couldn't simply declare that they would become a series of small cafes. Instead, Takakura guided her in introducing smaller changes that would make a gradual impact. Most of all, though, Haru wanted to run a small cafe of her own, but she didn't want to leave Okumura Foods behind until she knew it was the company she wanted it to be.

Ryuji successfully received his physical therapist license, though he still couldn't work on his own yet. He interned with the same therapists that helped him, and was content with his work. He had Sakiya, and supporting her was his primary source of happiness. Ann had become an internationally renown model in the years since graduating Shujin Academy, doing photoshoots of all kinds and traveling the globe with her partner, Shiho. In the same vein, Shiho completely recovered from the Kamoshida incident, vowing to become the best volleyball player she could, with Ann by her side. She was doing pretty well for herself, even if she still had nightmares and relapses.

Futaba was on the verge of publishing her independent research, having spent the past six years recovering what her mother had written and combining that with her own experience and research. Hanako successfully became a licensed rhythmic gymnastics coach and continued to happily support Futaba, Sakiya and Sumire every step of the way. Sojiro continued to cheer everyone on, content with running Leblanc, which ranged from busy to dead day-by-day, the regulars coming and going. On top of that, Alibaba was an elusive entity that only struck out against the most malicious of internet criminals. Yusuke had completely eclipsed Madarame's shadow, like a phoenix. He ran his own art exhibits, giving away most of his money to organizations that helped prospective artists like he had once been. He was not vain or greedy, he simply wanted to create art for the sake of it, and showcase it to those that wanted to see it. Of course, he was still eccentric.

Before he finished speaking with his friends, Ren asked each and every one of them to make some free time in August to watch Sumire and Sakiya. They all agreed, much to his relief. With that settled, he stepped into a small apartment outside of Shinjuku. It was a simple, modest apartment, with the occasional oddity placed here and there. Sitting at a kotatsu in the living room was his friend and fortune teller, Chihaya Mifune. She wore a dark purple sweater and a black headband which sat against her long, blonde hair, her violet eyes gleaming.

"Hello, Ren-kun!" She smiled as he sat down opposite of her. On the kotatsu was a dark globe that swirled with fog. Behind that, in front of Chihaya, were two dozen cards.

"Hello, Chihaya. Thank you for letting me do a house visit."

"Of course! It's far too snowy and cold for me to set up my booth, and I wouldn't miss an opportunity to speak with you!"

"Is that because of my arcana?" He snickered.

"Wh-" She lightly blushed. "Why of course not! S-Sure, you're fascinating in that regard, b-but you're also a good friend!"

"Thanks." Ren laughed, satisfied with her response. "Not just for that, but for allowing me to stop by so often. Sumire really appreciates it. If she wasn't busy practicing all the time, I reckon she'd be here every day."

"Sumire-chan is such a wonderful person! I'm grateful that she has so much faith in me and my fortunes!"

"Trust me, she loves it."

"I know! I've had a lot of fun following The World!"

"The World… You keep saying that." Ren tilted his head. "If I remember correctly, you said there was a third, but I didn't even know two people could share an arcana… Actually, there are a lot of things I still don't know."

"Don't think about it too much! You'll find out later! This is something even the fates aren't deciding, it's simply the path you wish to walk, yourself."

"Interesting…" Ren rubbed his hand under the scruff of his chin. Since he moved in with Sumire, the couple visited Chihaya frequently, with Sumire constantly getting fortunes and bonding with Chihaya. As time passed, they even began to call each other "Sumire" and "Chihaya" respectively. Of all the confidants he kept in contact with, he talked to Chihaya the most. That fact led him to his next question, considering how much both Sumire and him trusted her.

"What do your cards say about the Olympics?"

"Sumire-chan wishes to know about her destiny, hm?" Chihaya giggled. "Lets see…" She picked up one of the cards and flipped it, and Ren felt a brief vibration in the air. "That which you seek shall be found when you arrive at the destination!"

"Phew…" Ren leaned back and let out a sigh of relief. "She'll be glad to hear that."

"Just know, Ren-kun, that this is a fate that she made herself, just like you have the ability to change fate. As the trickster, you both possess that power."

"Changing fate… Hmmm… Thank you, Chihaya. Is there anything else you can tell me?"

"Not right now!" She replied with a wide smile. "The cards dictate that you should visit me again before the Olympics occur, but that is all I can say!"

"Okay." Ren nodded and stood up. "Thank you again. I suppose I'll see you in July, or around there."

"Mhm! See you, Ren-kun!"


March 17th, 2024, Night

Ren took a deep breath as he stood outside the familiar bar he had gone to Kawakami with but a few months prior. Lala texted and informed him that Ohya would only be available tonight, so he had to rush all the way to Shinjuku to meet her. This was important to him, though. He wanted to tell her, of all people, that he made up with his parents. To this day, he still couldn't think of a way to pay her back for going to his hometown and finding the woman that was forced to falsely accuse him of assaulting Shido. He had no idea how she did it, but he was forever grateful. Without any more reason to wait, he stepped inside.

"Hey kid!" Ohya cheerfully waved as she sat at the bar counter, without a drink, surprisingly. She had grown her hair out and wore it in a fluffy ponytail with a small blue sleeve. She wore a black jacket over top with her decaled, black shirt and blue jeans.

"Hi, Ohya." Ren sat down next to her.

"Gonna drink?"

"Just because I'm an adult doesn't mean I have to drink."

"Sure, but Lala-chan told me how much you love to!"

"Sorry, honey." Lala giggled. "Ohya-chan really wanted to drink with you."

"Fine." Ren sighed. "I'll have the usual."

"Coming right up!"

"It's good to see you again, Ohya." Ren turned to her. "I've seen your name in quite a few newspaper articles."

"I've been doing independent research here and there. Kayo is acting a lot like her old self, if you were curious. For the first few years since you returned to your home, I tried to keep doing research into mental shutdowns, but everything came up cold. Once Shido got put in prison, everything related to that just… stopped. Like it never existed. People quickly forgot about Shido and the Phantom Thieves."

"I know." Ren nodded. "Has Kayo been staying with you?"

"Yup!"

"Good to hear. I actually know someone who has been doing a lot of research into mental shutdowns over the past few years. Perhaps I could introduce you to her."

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner!" Ohya blurted out.

"You're the one who never picked up! I contacted you through Lala!"

"Ugh…" She sighed. "This is why I'm going to drink tonight. But only tonight."

"You sobered up?" Ren looked at her surprised.

"I did. Once I got Kayo back, I dedicated myself to finding out why mental shutdowns existed. I wanted to be an even better journalist, so I sobered up and got out there. But, like I said, the trail went cold. Nowadays, I spend my time trying to root out organized crime in Shibuya with Makoto Niijima. You know her, right? It's never been the same since Kaneshiro turned himself in."

"I'm surprised you know Makoto... and I can't even begin to think of what it's like…" Ren scratched his head.

"It's a mad scramble to the top, but I keep breaking the rings of the ladder."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Ohya looked at Lala. "Just one drink. Only for today. It's a celebratory one."

"A celebratory drink." Lala laughed again. "Sure thing. You only get this one."

"Say, Ohya… There's something else I wanted to tell you."

"Is it about your Olympic bound rhythmic gymnast girlfriend?"

"Well, yes and no. Wait, have I told you about Sumire?"

"Lala-chan has, and she's pretty famous if you look in the right places." Ohya laughed.

"You know what, that's fair. If you're curious about her, I plan to ask her to marry me after the Olympics."

"How exciting!" Ohya patted his shoulder. "Invite me to the wedding!"

"Sure." Ren nodded and went quiet.

"Now… about the other thing. I wanted to tell you that I reconnected with my parents. I finally moved on from my broken past, and am looking toward the future. If it weren't for you finding that woman in my hometown…"

"Don't mention it!" Ohya held up her hand with a smile. "You did me a favor, so I did you a favor! I'm glad you reconnected with your parents, though! It's nice to not be stuck in the past, isn't it?"

"Yeah. We're both moving forward, right?"

"Mhm!" Ohya picked up the glass Lala set down and took a gulp.

"Lala-chan, this is non-alcoholic!"

"You said a celebratory drink, not an alcoholic one." Lala snickered.

"You... Fair enough."

The three of them went quiet as Ren and Ohya drank together. They relaxed, taking in the atmosphere of the bar, which was otherwise devoid of customers. The night inevitably grew late, and Ohya stood up.

"It's time for me to go!" She stretched her arms and back. "I can't keep Kayo waiting forever! Thanks for the talk, kid!"

"Thank you, Ohya, and the best of luck to us both."

"Send me the contact info for that informant, okay? We can probably help each other out!"

"I will! Goodbye!"

"Goodbye, Ohya-chan!" Lala yelled as she disappeared, closing the door behind her.

"Thank you so much, Lala-chan." Ren stood up and bowed.

"It was my pleasure, Amamiya-kun! Please bring in the missus next time you stop by!"

"Will do."

With another bow, Ren made his way out of Crossroads. Besides Maruki, who he actively kept in contact with, he had managed to visit every confidant. There was only one thing left for him to do...


July 9th, 2024

"Hello again, Ren-kun!" Chihaya cheerfully waved. "I knew you'd come today!"

"Of course." Ren sat down on the seat opposite of her on the small, Shinjuku side street. "We're nearly at the Olympics. Are you going to watch?"

"Of course! It was very exciting when we hosted the Olympics back in 2020!"

"It was. I'm sad Sumire couldn't participate in that one, but she was practicing." Ren sighed.

"Practice makes perfect, right?" Chihaya clapped. "I still have to practice with my fortunes, too!"

"You practice with something that can change the course of a person's life?" Ren's eyes widened.

"Um… Yes!"

"You know what, I'm not surprised." He laughed. "Your fortunes are scary accurate, though."

"Mhm! I try my best!"

"Sumire prays for you, you know. I'm not sure if it's her way of garnering favor, but she really does care about you."

"R-Really? She cares that much about lil' ol' me?" Chihaya lightly blushed.

"Yes. I hope you two can talk more once the Olympics are over." Ren nodded.

"So do I!"

"So… anyway, you were going to tell me who the third in The World is, right?"

"Not quite!" She giggled.

"Oh… Then what are you going to tell me?"

"The grand event that will shift the course of your journey will occur one month from now. You will find out who this person is after you conquer the world."

"Huh? Ren tilted his head. "So I have to conquer the world to find The World arcana?"

"Yes!" Chihaya clapped.

"By "world" you probably mean the world stage, which is what Sumire calls the Olympics. On top of that, she calls the gold medal the "crown" of the gymnastics world. Does your prediction tell you anything about a crown?"

"When the crown is placed on the head of la foi, your true calling will be heeded!"

"Cryptic as ever." Ren chuckled and tapped his hand against his leg. "This is what fate dictates?"

"No." Chihaya shook her head. "Don't you remember? This is a path Sumire-chan and you are creating yourself, outside of fate. Both of you desire the same thing."

"To win the Olympics."

"If that is what you believe, then that will become fate, for that is your power. Just know that there is something beyond that."

"Marriage… I do have to ask her to marry me…" Ren rubbed his hand under his chin.

"I'll leave it to you to figure out what comes after that! You're so close, Ren-kun! Just have faith!"

"Right… So that's all for today?"

"Mhm! The rest is up to you!" Chihaya picked up a card and handed it to Ren.

"This is… The World."

Ren looked over the card, which had a silhouette of a person holding two sticks, surrounded by a wreath with an angel in the top left corner, an eagle on the top right, a horse on the bottom left, and a lion on the bottom right. He closed his eyes and thought of when Lavenza gave it to him, and for a brief moment, felt his chest warm up, as well as the back of his ear.

"You've done well, Trickster."

"That's correct. Now," Chihaya stood up and puffed her chest. "Get going!"

"Right! Thank you, Chihaya!"


July 10th, 2024, Late Afternoon

Now arriving at Yongen-Jaya

A familiar train announcement repeated itself as Ren stepped off the train. He wore a simple black polo shirt over his broad shoulders, with a pair of casual blue jeans and a brown messenger bag. Out of the bag emerged Morgana, who he had left home while he personally reunited with his previous confidants.

"We're finally here!" Morgana exclaimed while perching his front paws on Ren's shoulder.

"I have no clue where to go from here, though." Ren chuckled to himself. His plan was to ask Sojiro for the perfect way to propose. He had something in mind, knowing Sumire best, but he wanted the opinion of an expert.

"Sojiro's got clout, Ren, he'll know what to do," Morgana assured him.

"Right…" Ren answered in a half-serious tone, making his way to Leblanc, stepping through time as he walked the same trail for the first time in ages. "I really should come back here more often." He sighed as he felt the nostalgia wash over him, the smell of coffee and curry potent in the air.

"You could make it a habit after work."

"Maybe, but then I wouldn't get to cook for Sumire, or have her cook for me."

"It's a trade-off, I guess."

Standing outside the door, Ren saw the sign, reading "OPEN," and gently opened the door.

"Welc- Oh. Hey, kid."

"Hey, Sojiro."

"What brings you here? Miss me?" Sojiro smirked.

"I do, yeah. But I wanted to ask you for advice."

"Oh? Considering that this is important enough that you'd visit me in person, so let's hear it."

"Okay. Once the Olympics are over, I'm going to ask Sumire to marry me."

"Well look at you." Sojiro chuckled and stroked his pointed beard, which was more grey than black now. "What do you need my help with?"

"I want to make this big. World shattering."

"Ha!" He laughed some more. "Sure thing. I never proposed to a woman, but I have enough experience to know when, where, and how to. I had plenty of chances, I'll tell you."

"I believe it." Ren walked over to the counter.

"Let's see… First off, do you have the engagement ring?"

"Pardon?"

"The engagement ring. The ring you propose with…"

"Oh…" Ren felt a wave of despair wash over him. "I, uh…"

We forgot the ring!" Morgana cried.

"You haven't changed at all!" Sojiro roared back in laughter. "Do you realize how much bigger this is compared to White Day all those years ago? What were you thinking?"

"I was so caught up in planning the proposal… I didn't know you needed a ring."

"Have you never watched a movie?"

"Listen, Sojiro! This is nerve-wracking! Before this, I was catching up with all my old friends, I've been supporting Sumire, and I have my job…"

"Jeez…" Sojiro sighed loudly. "Alright, Ren, come with me."

"Huh?"

"We're going to buy the best damn ring you can get. Let's go." Sojiro put on his fedora, walked around the counter and to the door.

Sojiro led Ren to his car, and they drove to a high-class jewelry store that Ren had no idea even existed. Morgana and him stayed quiet as Sojiro led them inside. He spoke to the shopkeeper briefly, who returned with a pristine diamond ring after a few minutes. The band gleamed gold, and light reflected off of every bit of the diamond.

"Thank you so much… How much is this?"

"Go big or go home, right kid?" Sojiro chuckled.

"That ring is 300,000 yen. We take checks."

Ren felt his wallet cry out as he thought back to the fake gun.

"Here you go." He pulled out a check and filled out the details.

"Thank you very much." The shopkeeper took the check and placed the ring in a small, black box. "Best of luck with the proposal, sir."

"Thank you." Ren nodded and took the box before following Sojiro back to the car. On the way back to Leblanc, Sojiro came up with the ultimate proposal plan, to which Ren and Morgana listened intently.

"I've taught you everything I know, Ren." Sojiro put his hands on Ren's shoulders as they stood outside Leblanc. "It's all up to you now."

"Thank you, Sojiro. For everything."

"You're nearly as bold as I was when I was your age…"

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"This is our real last job, Ren!" Morgana planted his front paws on his shoulder.

"Right! We're going to steal Sumire's heart!"