A Day In Their Shoes
Ryuji Sakamoto x Ann Takamaki; Part Two
2 Weeks Later, After-School
Shujin Academy's halls bustled like any other school, brimming with lockers being slammed, gossip being shared, and in this particular instance, a pair of two particularly important young men taking a load-off from their hard work. Ryuji giggled. He had been waiting to tell Ren for weeks! He finally had permission! As the words escaped his mouth in excitement, what came next only sullied his proud manner:
"Meh. I thought it was obvious."
"Oh come on man!"
"Sorry, but you and Ann are pretty predictable as far as couples go."
"And you and Makoto aren't?!"
"We're not dating!"
A sudden groan could be heard from within Ren's bag, the sound of wincing internal pain growing louder and louder as the navigator of the Phantom Thieves tossed around as if dodging some inescapable force.
"Lady Ann...how could she…?"
"Mona, shut up!"
Ryuji admittedly enjoyed Morgana's agony. He had taunted Ryuji and teased Ryuji and begrudged Ryuji and embarrassed Ryuji and, and- You get the picture. He had also subsequently swooned over Ann for all that time, making this a delicate slap to the face that he would take his time in enjoying.
On the other end of the school, Makoto's reaction was much more reserved. When the words of awkward happiness exited Ann's lips, she simply let out a slight laugh before turning, offering congratulations, and then continuing her monotone dialogue.
"So...you never told me how you did on your English exam."
"Congratulations?! That's all you got?!"
"Well it's a bit...how do I put this…"
"If you say predictable, I swear-"
"Well I wouldn't want you to swear."
Makoto's subtle pride in the moment only playfully infuriated Ann more. She smiled, realizing that she had taken the bait. However, it was what she decided to say next that truly made her entertaining to mess with.
"Hmph. Maybe I should tell Ren about your secret little notes. The ones I see you write but never pass him? I'm sure he would love to know."
Her smirk coincided with Makoto's blush, and the words that exited her mouth became incomprehensible. Ann pressed, continuing to rub salt in the metaphorical wound.
"Then again, he might already know, since it's a bit…"
"If you say predictable, I swear-"
"Well I wouldn't want you to swear!"
Makoto's face went blank for a moment, before the two made eye contact and began to laugh hysterically at one another, each one obsessed with boys who were obsessed with them and no one until recently seemed to have the guts to say anything. The irony was...fantastic.
"Haha...I hope Mona's not jealous-"
"ATTENTION-"
The intercom was infamous for being loud, annoying, old, and clunky. The sound that came out was like that of scratching a fifty year old piece of silverware against a chalkboard.
"WOULD RYUJI SAKAMOTO AND ANN TAKAMAKI PLEASE REPORT TO THE GUIDANCE OFFICE?"
Sometimes a couple is so intertwined with one another that they have the same thoughts and feelings. Sometimes they can complete each other's sentences or desire the same food. In this case however, anyone who had just made out in the storage closet three hours with their partner who heard both names on the intercom would be thinking the same thing:
"Oh shit."
Doctor Maruki was an extremely understanding man, one which the Phantom Thieves had actually become quite fond of in the past few months. He found that he didn't want to give the information he had in his possession over at all, especially since it would likely only traumatize these poor children more. Their happiness was more important than anything. Conversely, when Ryuji and Ann peeked inside the office and discovered that he would be the one engaging in their interrogation, there was a sigh of relief from the couple that was near indescribable.
"Okay good...if it's Maruki, then we can just say it was an act of passion in the moment."
"Uhhh...isn't that the truth?"
"He's the only one who would see that as a good thing."
The door swung open, and the pleasantries began.
"Doctor Maruki! It's good to see you!"
"Th- Thanks Takamaki-kun. And Mr. Sakamoto, it's good to see you as well."
"Thanks Doc...so...uhhh...are we gonna talk about the incident?"
"Incident? Did you two do something wrong?"
The pair looked at each other, before looking back at Maruki's puzzled face, and then gazed at each other once more before chuckling and sitting down with even further relief.
"Nothing at all...but...we figured there would be a reason that you brought us here."
"Well actually...there is. Umm..."
"Spill it."
Ann's giggle only made Maruki regret the words that came out of his mouth next more:
"Suguru Kamoshida goes on trial next week. The police have asked me to relay that they wish for you two to testify."
The reactions from the pair couldn't be more different. Even upon hearing his name, Ryuji's blood suddenly boiled in wrath. He still couldn't help it; the man had nearly destroyed both of their lives. If not for the interference of Ren and Morgana...he very well may have. Ann on the other hand simply gasped, raising her hand to her mouth silently out of shock.
"Mr. Sakamoto is believed to be one of the worst victims as far as Kamoshida's physical abuse was concerned…"
Damn straight. Those on the track treated him like a social outcast...and his leg still bent every single day as a reminder of what that man had done.
"And as for Ms. Takamaki...if it wasn't for his sudden confession...we believe he would've started sexually abusing her the same way he did to Ms. Suzui."
Shiho...the sole source of her regret. Her regret that she couldn't save her. Her regret that she couldn't tell her that she avenged her. Her regret that she even had to avenge her at all. Tears welled in her eyes as he continued, only demotivating the kind doctor even more.
"I know this is all quite a bit of information...you have no idea how much misery it brings me to reveal this to you...but the city needs your decision by tonight...so you have to stay here until you make it."
"Would it be at all possible for me and Ann to have a few minutes alone?"
Ryuji had already sensed something was off in his partner, her subtle movements had demonstrated a phantom of the drowning she had experienced just months before. He wouldn't allow it to take her twice. It appeared that Maruki had noticed the same thing.
"O- Of course! Please...take your time."
The doctor quickly exited the guidance office, waiting out in the hallway for as long as they needed. Ryuji turned, grabbing Ann's hand quickly (with very little grace), yet the way he squeezed it was clearly impactful.
"Ann…"
"We should never have to think about that son of a bitch again...so why does he continue to enter our lives again and again?"
"I-"
"What did we do to deserve this?"
"It-"
"What did she do?
Her misery was one he couldn't fathom. It was true that he had experienced his fair share of abuse, but even from the exterior, it appeared he had no idea what kind of monster Kamoshida could truly be. Or at least, so she thought. She sobbed, thinking of the friend who no longer walked the halls with her, a bond that nearly no one could replace.
Nearly.
"Nothing Ann...we went inside his mind and I still don't understand why he did what he did...but we gotta stay strong."
"For what?"
"To prove we're better than him...that we're stronger. That his abuse doesn't affect us anymore...I can't begin to imagine what you went through under his thumb...but he destroyed my life just like yours and you don't see me cowering in fear of his name."
"You're not helping."
"I'm...trying really effing hard to...because I think this is something that we should do."
Ann's head cocked over to see caring eyes on his temperate face. He held her hand tightly as he spoke, continuing to make her feel cared for, to make her feel loved.
"But...don't you want to forget about him?
"We can't keep running from Kamoshida...it'll only make things worse. We saved everyone under his thumb by destroying his palace...but we have yet to truly take the reins ourselves and finish this."
Suddenly, Ann's eyes stopped, looking up and turning back to the boy in front of her. He was right. Ryuji was right for once! She couldn't continue to let this eat her...and if he believed this would be good...then she would show the same determination that she did as she fought the shadows side by side with the one she held dear.
"You're right!"
"HA! Now that's the Phantom Thief I know!"
The office door suddenly flung open, hitting Maruki's back as he turned in shock.
"We accept Doc."
"Oh...great. Are you sure? It may be damaging."
"Positive. If it's how he'll get his just desserts we're all for it."
"Well...brilliant. I'm glad you two are looking at this through rose lenses...it makes me proud of your growth."
"Thanks Doc."
Ryuji's hand lowered, holding onto Ann's own as they moved towards the school exit confidently; together.
"Just one last thing before you go?"
"Yes, Dr. Maruki?"
"Maybe...don't make out in the storage closet next time."
"...busted."
The late-afternoon sun beat down on the pair as they exited the gates of the school, turning to one another before heading towards their separate train routes.
"Thanks Ryuji...I appreciate the help...what you said was actually kinda wise."
"Maybe I got some smart after all."
"Don't push."
A sudden bump to the chest didn't deter Ryuji's smile at all, and only enhanced Ann's more. Their features enhanced as they looked at each other, their eyes pulling one another into an infinite web of emotion. They may have been simple, but the emotion they felt for each other in the moment was anything but. As he clenched her cheek and she leaned in, the kiss that followed would solidify the two as one. His hands moved, grasping onto whatever her could to enhance the moment. It was clearly working, as by the time they were finished, she was blushing even more than she was with Makoto...Makoto!
"Oh my god...Ryuji!"
"What?"
"We have to get Ren and Mako together!"
"I was just thinking the exact same thing!"
The laugh of agreement prompted a call to them both that they would spectacularly welcome and the reader of this story would hopefully; pity.
Fin