5/12
The diner pulses with the murmured conversations of exhausted students, spent salarymen, and worn waitresses with laminated smiles.
Akira sits in a stall, head tucked into the crook of his elbow. His eyes slide across his notes, but nothing gets past the retinas. "Morgana," he says. The name escapes his lips in a groan.
The cat perks up, rested from a day of doing nothing but monitoring the pudding Principal. "Nothing to report," he had said.
"Yeah?" He asks.
"I need a favor." He tilts his head until the cat appears in his peripherals. "It may be the most important thing I've ever asked you."
Morgana's ears straighten, and he squirms out of the bag, arches his back and says, "I'm ready! Lay it on me!"
"I need you," Akira whispers, "to take tomorrow's exams for me."
Morgana's eyes narrow. His tail droops. "You suck."
Akira smiles. "It's vital, Mona. Think of the Phantom Thieves."
"I think I'm gonna smack you at three o'clock this morning, just to spite you."
He yawns. "Tests should be illegal. We should change the Minister of Education's heart. He's probably got a Palace, right?"
The cat wiggles in a shrug. "Use the app."
He shakes his head. "Too tired."
By the time he'd gotten home from Shinjuku, it had been late. Sojiro had gone home, and LeBlanc had been silent and dark. He'd gone to bed, but his mind had raced with the many conversations of the day. Especially Takemi's and Ohya's.
Yusuke Kitagawa.
Akira had no idea who that was.
He hadn't even gotten a chance to rendezvous with Ann or Ryuji, as he'd overslept and gotten to school late. Then, after the tests were finally done, Ann had left for a modeling gig, and Ryuji cited his mother's bad back, and took off to help her.
I didn't even get a chance to tell them what I told Takemi. He could've texted them, but the burner phone was for emergencies only, and a Phantom Thief text on their regular phones was a no-go.
He'd retreated to the diner, in an attempt to study. And a chance at brief normalcy. There were still more exam sessions to go. Ann still hadn't told him what her 'in' with Madarame was. And now he had these extra threads with Takemi and Ohya. Maybe I should go back to Lala Escargot and just vent. It sounded a lot better than reading about chemistry.
"Pssht," Morgana says.
"Huh?" Akira asks, turning his attention back to the cat. His friend is standing on his hind legs, eyes peeking over the top of stall's back. "What're you doing?"
"Am I crazy? Or is that Makoto?" Akira sits up, and starts to turn when Morgana swats his arm and hisses, "No, don't look!"
"How am I supposed to tell you if it's Makoto if I don't look?" Akira asks, eyes on the table.
"Just, I don't know, do it casually, like you're looking around!"
Akira lets his gaze drift up to the ceiling. Then he shifts around in his seat, as if basking in the strange decor of the diner.
"You're turning around too fast!"
"Oh, for God's sake," Akira blurts. "I'll just pretend I'm looking for the waitress!" He raises his hand, turns in his seat and runs his eyes over the room.
There.
Over by the stairs leading to the street. She sits at a table, a small teacup set before her. At least, Akira is pretty sure it's Makoto. She wears a Shujin uniform, and he recognizes the top of her head. The rest of her is hidden behind an overlarge manga.
What the-?
The waitress comes over. Morgana slips back into the bag. Akira orders another coffee. The waitress leaves. Morgana pops his head out and stares up at Akira. Akira stares down at Morgana. "So, does she think she's hiding?" Akira asks.
"I don't know what she's doing. But that's a big book she's got."
He nods. "Yeah, it is." Then, he takes a moment, before he asks, "This is going to sound crazy, but do you think she's following us?"
"Like that?"
"I know. It's very..." Akira searches for the right way to put it, but can only settle on, "Not smooth."
"So, what'd we do?" Morgana asks.
Akira shrugs. "Why do we have to do anything? All I'm doing after this is going to the flower shop. If she wants to follow us, it might actually work in our favor." A frown breaks across his face. "Although, the fact that she's following us at all makes me worried. I know she called Mishima in yesterday, but I was hoping our little stunt from the other day would've fooled her."
"Well, we're not doing anything suspicious today," Morgana says. "But if she wasn't tricked, and she keeps following us, eventually she'll follow us on a day when we are doing something suspicious. Like, when we're going to Takemi's to get medicine. Or Iwai's to get... other stuff."
Morgana is right. Akira knows this. Something kicks through his veins. He's no longer slouched over. No longer tired. The gears in his mind start to turn.
"That is a big book she's got," Akira says.
"So?"
"So, I wonder if she's hiding anything in it."
#
Shibuya's Central Street and side alleys are the same cluttered mess they always are. The pedestrians schlep their way down the sidewalks, eyes dead ahead, or shifting along with the screens of their phones.
Makoto navigates these waters with her manga held open before her, small notebook tucked inside.
Akira had spent a significant amount of time in that diner, then, had promptly paid his bill, shouldered his bag, and left. She knows it's nearing the time he'll need to be at the flower shop, but he'd headed in the opposite direction, once outside.
She spies Akira a block or so ahead of her. He halts at the entrance to an alleyway, glances around, and ducks inside. Makoto frowns. Now what is he up to?
She picks up her pace, turns into the alley, and finds nothing. "Where'd he go?" She asks herself, lowering her book.
Then, she hears a soft little noise.
"Meooooowwwww!"
Makoto glances down and sees a black cat with dabs of white on his tail staring up at her, smiling. His tail stands up, and slowly sways from side to side, and his eyes are bright and happy.
"Oh," Makoto says, and smiles down at the cat.
The cat meows again, and then trots up to her leg. He begins to rub his face against her calf and purr.
"Awww," Makoto says, and crouches down. "You're cute." She reaches out a finger and rubs it across his head. The car purrs on. "I don't suppose you saw which way the thin boy with glasses went, did you?"
As she finishes her question, the cat leaps, snatches her manga in his teeth, and rips it out of her hands. "Hey!" Makoto shouts. From the pages of the magazine, her notebook drops. The cat halts, looking from the notebook, down to the manga in its jaws, as if unable to decide which to cart off. When Makoto moves for her notebook, the cat decides. It drops the manga, darts over, clamps the notebook in its mouth, and sprints off.
"Come back!" Makoto shouts after him. "What the hell?" She grabs her manga off the ground and charges after the cat, who whips around the corner ahead of her. She turns, and finds herself in another alley, this time shoved between two small cafes. The cat is already far ahead of her. She continues her pursuit, though she knows she must look ridiculous.
#
Akira turns the last page of Makoto's notebook, then tosses it back to Morgana. "Okay, give it back to her, but make it look like you just dropped it."
"Seriously?" Morgana asks, through the paper in his mouth.
"Yes, hurry!" Akira replies, and shoos him with his hands. Morgana rolls his eyes, but darts back into the alley.
Akira shoves his hands in his pockets and leans against the cold, concrete wall. Well, she doesn't know much, based on what was written in there.
The notebook had been disappointingly sparse.
Target is entering X. Target is exiting X. It made his activities sound downright boring.
But.
There was no question who 'Target' was meant to be. She knows I work at Raffelsia. So she must've seen Haru. I should let her know. She also saw me at 'Untouchable,' but apparently she didn't go inside. So all she could take from that is that Ryuji and I are gun enthusiasts. Not the best thing to be, but not the worst.
It still bothers him that she's keeping this notebook at all. If his plan to fool her failed, he'd like to know how. And how the hell was he going to throw her off the trail now?
He pushes his glasses up to his forehead, and rubs his eyes.
#
Makoto has all but given up on her notebook when she makes one final turn in the alley and sees the cat dead ahead, sitting still.
"Hey!" She shouts. Startled, the cat jumps into the air, drops the notebook, and bolts off into the shadows.
"Finally," she groans, and moves to pick it up. She dusts it off with a smack and wipes the cat saliva off on her skirt. Have to wash that later. Then, she stares up at the still clear sky. What the hell am I doing? She'd just chased a cat through an alley for a notebook containing her logs of her investigation into a fellow schoolmate.
Insane didn't begin to cover it.
#
Morgana's paw arches out, swats the fluffy substances, and curls back towards his belly.
"Stop that," Akira says.
"I can't," Morgana replies. He swings his arm out again, and bats his target. "It's so fluffy."
"You're bothering Haru."
Haru smiles over at him. "No, it's fine."
Morgana turns to him and says, "See?"
He takes another swing at Haru's hair. She giggles and scratches his ear. She holds him in her arms, and smiles down at him. "You're so sweet, Mona-chan." Then she grins up at Akira. "It's like you two are having a conversation."
Akira sets the box of plant seeds down and smiles.
"Sometimes I think he's the smartest person in the room." Morgana beams. "Sometimes, not so much." Morgana hisses.
Haru nods and deposits Morgana onto a nearby table. The two teens are in the back office of Raffelsia, organizing some shelves. Hanasaki-san mans the floor at the moment, and given that it's a slow night, they don't expect to return to the front.
Akira yawns, and turns back to Haru. "Oh, I need to tell you something."
"Yes?" Haru asks, cocking her head to the side.
"I think that Makoto Niijima knows you work here."
Haru's eyes widen. "W-why would you say that?"
He chuckles and rubs the back of his head. "Well, this is kind of embarrassing, but I think she's been following me the last few days. I think she was at Shibuya Underground the other night, and noticed the two of us here. It's just a hunch though. I know she's in your class. I wanted to give you a heads up. I'm sorry if I've caused you any trouble."
Haru's cheeks redden, but for whatever reason, she looks like she's trying to suppress a smile. "Do I take that to mean you don't like Mako-chan following you around?"
"Huh?" Akira asks.
She shakes her head, chestnut curls shifting under her baseball cap. "Nothing," she says. "But don't worry about me. Mako-chan isn't the kind of person who would blab about this."
"Alright," Akira says. "If you're sure. Sorry again."
"Don't worry about it." Then, a speculative look crosses her face. "Hey, Akira-kun?"
"Yeah?"
"What kind of movies do you like?"
Akira feels his brows knit together. Morgana, from where he lazes on the table, looks over at him as well. "What kind of movies do I like?"
She nods. "Yes. I was just wondering."
"Oh, well, all kinds, I guess."
"All kinds? Surely you must have a favorite genre?" Her breath looks bated.
Akira feels his cheeks redden. What's going on? Why is she asking me this? "Action movies are fun. Mysteries. I'm not really into romances or horror."
"I see. You like action and mysteries, but don't like horror or romances."
"Yes." That is, indeed, what I said.
"Good to know."
"Why?"
"Hmm?" Haru frowns.
"I mean, why is that 'good to know?'" Akira asks.
Haru smirks and shakes her head. "I'm just curious is all. We're friends, yes? I was interested to know what kind of movies you were into. Oh, and what about books?"
"Books?"
"Yes, what kind of books do you like?"
Akira sighs. Now what's going on?
Akira sighs. "I don't know. The same, really. Mysteries and action novels."
"But, you don't read horror novels? Or romance books?"
He shakes his head. "I wouldn't be caught dead with a romance book. Have you seen those covers? And horror stuff freaks me out." He thinks of Caroline and Justine, and shudders. I get enough horror in my real life, thank you very much.
"Hmm..." Haru hums. "Akira-kun, are you up to anything this weekend?"
Morgana stands up and shouts, "Conference!" so loud that Haru jumps in her seat. Morgana jumps down off the counter and bounds over to Akira. He leaps and Akira barely has any time to catch him.
"Is he alright?" Haru asks, standing.
Akira, more than a little taken aback, asks, "You okay, Morgana?"
"Conference, idiot!" Morgana says. "Move away from the girl!"
Akira frowns. "Uh, Morgana wants a few moments of private time. Sorry, he does this sometimes. I'll be right back."
Haru nods, and Akira takes a few steps away and turns his back to her. "What's going on with you?" He hisses.
"Are you really this dense?" Morgana mewls in response. "Don't you know why she's asking you these questions?"
He shrugs. "I don't know. She said she was curious and-"
"Earth to Akira! Haru is trying to ask you out!"
The ground falls away from Akira's feet. A million thoughts vie for his focus. Haru? Ask me out? Impossible. Makoto! What will she think? What will she do? Does it matter? Isn't she investigating? What about the team? What will they do? The investigation! Madarame! Mementos! Haru?! Movies? Romances aren't all bad!
All he manages to say to his cat is, "Nu-uh."
"Yea-huh," Morgana replies. He shifts in Akira's arms and peers over the boy's shoulders. "Poor Haru. She's probably been pining after you all this time!"
Akira blinks. "No. That can't be right. She teased me all the time about Makoto."
"That's a classic diversion! Duh!"
He thinks about this, and then shakes his head. "I don't know, that still doesn't seem right."
"Oh, I'm sorry, are you wise to the ways of women now? I hadn't noticed."
"And you are?"
"I'm a third party. I'm being objective!"
"Um," Haru says. "Is everything alright?" Akira glances back and finds Haru with her hands clenched together in front of her, a worried look on her face.
"Yep," Akira replies, and gives her a smile. "All good. Just a sec." He turns back to Morgana. "What should I do?"
"Haru's great," Morgana says. "But things are complicated right now. A romantic entanglement would only put more stress on you. I would let her down, but gently."
Akira sighs, then nods. "Awesome. This won't make work awkward, at all." He sets Morgana down, and then turns back to Haru.
"Everything okay?" She asks, as he approaches.
"Yeah, we're all good," Akira replies, then sticks his hands in his pockets. How am I supposed to do this? I've never turned down a girl before. "So, listen Haru."
"Yes?" She asks.
"I'm, uh, flattered. Yeah, flattered. I really am. But, I've got a lot of things going on in my life right now, and I don't think-"
"Oh my," Haru says, turning red. Then she begins to shake her head, vehemently. "I'm sorry to interrupt. But I think you have the wrong idea. I wasn't-"
Akira blinks. "Wait, you weren't-"
"I wasn't-"
"Oh, good."
"Asking for me." Haru finishes her thought, pauses, and says, "Oh, oops."
Akira stares at her for a long time, then says. "Wait, you weren't asking 'for you?' Does that mean you're asking for someone else?"
"Ummm," Haru replies, by way of confirmation, then turns to the boxes. "Oh, Hanasaki-san is going to be mad at us. We've barely done any work back here! We should, uh, get on that."
"Wait, wait, wait," Akira says, moving in front of her. "What did you mean by that?"
"N-nothing," Haru replies, side-stepping around Akira. "It's just that I wasn't asking you those questions because I was interested. Not that I don't think of you as a friend, Akira-kun. I'm…um, well, I don't think I should really say anymore. Confidentiality and all that."
Confidentiality? He looks back at Morgana, and car shifts his legs around in a shrug. He lets out a long sigh and says, "Okay, fine. Whatever you say."
Haru flashes him a smile as she lifts up a box of seeds from the floor.