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What a Rendezvous (Part 2)
Monday—June 8, 2021
The group of Phantom Thieves eventually found themselves sitting in the cool sand, sharing memories and good times, feeling like they were on top of the world and a little (or very) intoxicated. The buzz from the alcohol lulled them into a more comfortable atmosphere, making it easier for them to talk amongst each other without barriers or strong walls to interfere.
Ann sat with her legs criss-crossed, fingers lazily tracing shapes in the sand rather absentmindedly. She had a beer of her own now, evidently over her dislike for its bitter taste. Ryuji sat beside her, gesturing wildly and laughing at almost anything that anyone said. He would occasionally turn to see if Ann was laughing, too, and if she wasn't, his attention would go to her. If she did laugh along with him, Ryuji would break out into the widest grin.
Goro chose to sit adjacent to the pair, leaning back on both hands while he kept his legs crossed at the ankles. The ace detective appeared much more at ease than they had ever seen him. He spoke slowly, words slurring as badly as the others, but for once not minding. Beside him, Sumire leaned against his shoulder, head resting on it. While she had nothing to drink, she was still enjoying the frivolity and high spirits, feeling tired as she spent the night ballet dancing with Yusuke. She had only just discovered that Yusuke was familiar with the French dance and was ecstatic to have that in common. She would flash him a smile every now and then, which he returned with a smile of his own.
Ren and Yusuke sat sideways, back-to-back; Yusuke had his head rolled back to rest on Ren's shoulder, humming a tune softly, just barely loud enough for Ren to hear. He had his legs sprawled out, eyes closing in bliss as two empty beer bottles lay beside him, and one open in his hands. His sketchbook lay neatly in his lap while he kept his favorite pencil tucked safely behind his ear. Ren sat up straighter, being the one who was supporting most of their combined weight. He braced himself on his right hand while his other arm was propped up on his left knee, which was drawn up to his chest. A beer bottle dangled loosely from his fingers, which held its neck, and his eyes were alert and bright, listening intently to the buzz of the conversation.
"Yo, remember that crazy chick? Uhhh...Ak..Aka-something?" Ryuji asked, waving both hands as if it would help him remember. "The one totally obsessed with the Phantom Thieves and Ren-ren? Like….uhh...more than Mishima obsessed…"
"Ah yes," Yusuke said as a grin slid onto his face; he picked his head up off Ren's shoulder and twisted his body a bit to look at the ravenette. "She was enamored with our dear, Ren. 'So mysterious and dreamy, the one in the middle. He's got to be the leader'."
"Screw that," the bespectacled boy muttered hotly, wearing a scowl that would rival even that of Goro's.
Sumire giggled behind her hand, evidently finding this piece of news amusing. Ren flushed a bright red and looked down at Morgana, who woke up from his fourth nap today, snickering.
"She was totally copying you."
"Her whole room was effing decked out," Ryuji said and shuddered dramatically. "I know ya said it was cool 'n all, but it was just creepy."
"Agreed," Ren said with a fervent nod, frowning. "Honestly...I was uncomfortable the entire time."
"That is what happens when you are publicized," Goro said with a shrug of his shoulder.
"True," Ryuji said with a shake of his head before perking up. "Oh! Oh! Remember when we were in Kyoto and we were in the hot spring?"
Yusuke let out a warm laugh that rang out. "How could I forget?"
"I don't think my head's been the same since Makoto pulled a Fist of Justice," Ryuji bemoaned and put a hand on his forehead. "We shoulda just hid under the water or somethin'."
"You guys were such pervs," Ann said with a sigh, waving a hand. "Hiding behind that stupid rock like you were back in the Metaverse...don't overestimate your incognito skills."
"Let's leave it in the past," Ren said.
"Well, let's talk about the future!" Sumire said, much to his dislike. However, the others did not seem nearly as bothered. "Now that it is your last year, what are you going to do after this, Ann? Are you going to keep modeling?"
"Yeah!" Ann said excitedly but frowned. "I want to travel for it...you know, model internationally, but I guess I'll wait and see."
Unfortunately, Sumire turned to Ren next. "What about you, senpai?"
Ren merely tipped the bottle to his lips, giving her a sheepish look that meant he was not going to answer; he was never one to talk about himself anyway.
"He won't answer, don't take it personally," Ann said with a fond roll of her eyes. "Watch…"
Ren threw her an exasperated look.
"What are your thoughts on marriage, family, mortgage, taxes…" Ann rattled off, listing whatever she could come up with. "You know, adult stuff. Answer in order!"
"I don't know to all the above," Ren replied vaguely but truthfully. All of it was more than a question mark now. "Do any of us know?"
"I do," Ann replied confidently, only to speak in unison with Ryuji.
"Of course I want to be married, maybe have a family someday," Ann said, tapping her lips. "I'll take out a mortgage for a small flat in Tokyo, but I'll be traveling for my modeling, so maybe I will rent it out when I'm not home."
"You forgot taxes," Yusuke replied with a hiccup.
"Right," Ann giggled, pausing. "Okay ,maybe you don't have to answer that one."
"Only because you can't," Ren retorted.
Ann rolled her eyes again and turned to Ryuji. "What are your plans, loud mouth?"
"Nevermind," Ryuji said as he rubbed the back of his head. "I dunno, dude. I don't give that shit a lotta thought."
"You never thought about marriage or family?" Sumire asked curiously then shook her head. "I can't blame you. I haven't given it any."
"We're young!" Ryuji exclaimed with a grandiose gesture, nearly spilling the contents of his beer bottle. "It's too early to think 'bout it!"
"Yusuke-senpai?"
"Art," he replied simply. "Whatever my future holds, be comforted to know art will always be the center of it."
"I admire your passion and dedication," Sumire praised, beaming at him. "It inspires me to never give up on my dreams."
"Art strives to stimulate the creative mind," Yusuke said humbly, setting the bottle down and turning to Goro. "Are there any more?"
Goro tossed him another one though his aim was quite off.
"I'll take one," Ryuji called out, this time catching the bottle. "Thanks, man!"
"I wouldn't have guessed you could hold your own," Ann said truthfully as she eyed Goro and the number of bottles surrounding him. "I kind of assumed you would be a lightweight."
Goro did not respond; instead, he pulled out his pack of cigarettes and took one for himself before tossing it to Ren. Much to everyone's surprise, Ren caught it with a wink, which earned him an eye roll and smile. The ravenette pulled out a cigarette then held up the pack for anyone else. To his surprise, Ryuji and Yusuke both accepted the offer; they passed around the lighter, but Ren did what he always did and used Yusuke's lit end to kickstart his own.
"I used to share smokes with Makoto," Ryuji confessed as he played with the cigarette between his fingers, taking a faithful drag. "Bad habit I picked up from Dad 'n all…'bout the only thing he left me."
Yusuke stared at the smoke, fingers playing with it as he tried poking it. "There is almost something poetic about this deadly beauty."
"Sorry about your father," Ren said to his friend, blowing out rings.
"He was shitty," Ryuji said mournfully, trying to play it off like it did not bother him.
"Perhaps you and I have that," Goro said, pausing to take a drag and releasing it. "In common."
"Man, he always drank, blowin' my ma's money on booze and shit," Ryuji said, almost in shame. He punched the sand with his fist, only calming when Ann's hand rested on his knee. "I don't wanna be like him, ya know?"
"You aren't and won't be," Ren said with an affirmative nod of his head.
"Makes me kinda wonder," Ryuji said slowly, rubbing his hands on his thighs with a sigh. "Do ya think we'll always have our Personas? Like are we gonna be Phantom Thieves for the rest of our lives?"
Everyone else leaned in curiously, but Ren kept himself occupied with his drink, wanting no part in this conversation. He pushed his glasses further up his nose and drew absentmindedly in the sand, eyes only flickering up to exchange looks with Goro.
Morgana was poked in the back, which caused him to stand his fur up and hiss.
"Don't wake a sleeping dragon!"
"You're a cat," Ryuji said.
"I am not a cat," Morgana growled.
"Let's not talk about it tonight," Ren said, deciding to put an end to the conversation. He would most likely have to talk about it before their next trip to the Metaverse, but he would worry about it when he was not feeling so heavy and tired.
"Fine, until morning?" Ann asked although it sounded more like a statement than anything.
"Morning," Ren said, his ears ringing as he began to nod off.
Admittedly a filler chapter that was supposed to lead up to the next part of the plot, but it ended up...not...