Chapter Six: Hush Hush

"What the hell is wrong with you, kid?" Sojiro asked as he went back inside the café after serving lunch for Morgana and what appeared to be a companion of his own – a fluffy white cat. Akira had heard the expression enough times before to know when Boss actually felt perplexed. His knowing, slightly mocking tone dispelled all ambiguity on the matter – he knew exactly what was going on. And it took only a little teasing for the young man to give himself away.

"Boss… please don't do that again." Akira nearly choked on the milk he gulped. It was customary for the café's owner and his best apprentice to avoid keeping ingredients in the fridge if little remained. It was basic space optimisation. At the moment, they were preparing LeBlanc's fabled curry and Akira helped himself to what little remained at the bottom of the carton after using the appropriate portion. His throat was quite dry from anxiety about the hours to come, and now – after a sudden, unforeseen question – the milk had gone back up through his nostrils, leaving a milky mess over his apron.

Sae and Makoto were coming for dinner later that day. The elder sister called early in the morning to request that they all had a talk. She also said something else: that in lieu of meeting Akira's parents, she wished to talk with his guardian, Sojiro Sakura, on an important subject. The motive, yet unknown. Uncertainty when it came to the Niijima sisters was never a trivial matter. Sojiro's question could not have come at a more delicate time.

"So, is that rubber yours?" Boss repeated the question, visibly amused at Akira coughing milk and mucus. "Kudos if it is, kid. Birth control is basic responsible behaviour." The man leaned back on the counter and waited for Akira to regain his composure. He chuckled at a thought that he would rather keep to himself: that the brand was the same he used at Akira's age.

"Y-yeah…" Akira crouched to pick his glasses from the floor. "Please, let's not go there, Boss." For all his devilish confidence, some things could still evidence the fool inside of him.

"Fair enough, kid. You'd do well to relax, though. I don't want you messing up the curry you'll be serving your girl and her sister." He knew he was sprinkling salt on the young man's open wound but the young sadist from Sojiro's younger years was getting a rare chuckle. He could allow himself this, and Akira certainly needed to unwind his tension, even if at his own expense.

"Thanks for the reminder, Boss." Akira straightened himself at last, going over to the sink to clean his apron.

"You're doing fine, kid. Whatever Niijima-san's got planned, it can't be bad." Boss sounded very secure. "But if I were you, I'd be more worried about overcooking the food there. I'll gut you, I'm not even kidding."

"That's grim, Boss." Akira smiled, finding no sliver of humour on Sojiro's face. Despite wiping the levity in his face, the young man still harboured some amusement within, mostly concerning Yuuki and however he would manage under Boss' tutelage.

Akira was yet to make a mistake on the curry. The preparation was one of the few things in which he did not allow bouts of creativity and showmanship. Every step was a close measure, a part of meticulous formula. It made sense to think of the dish in terms of scientific method. Its key nuances, after all, were conceived in the brain of cognitive researcher extraordinaire, Wakaba Isshiki, Futaba's mother. That day, the stress added to his strict care while cooking. A mistake may well represent more than Sojiro's subtle threat.

An hour later, two familiar silhouettes walked through the café's door. The young man had long lost count of the times he has seen Makoto enter the scene, but every time still summoned the same juvenile enthusiasm she stirred in him the first time. Even the tension Sae represented could not dull the shine in his eyes. In due time, however, the preoccupation on Sae's request to talk created a very palpable heaviness in his stomach.

Akira stepped outside the counter and greeted both sisters with a formal bow. Makoto seemed rather taken aback, but Sae seemed to be expecting it. Even after witnessing her strange, often hilarious means of breaking the ice, the former prosecutor could wear her commanding aura like a cloak, and that also never lost its shine.

"Good afternoon to you too, Akira." Makoto bowed as well, to then approach her boyfriend and plant a kiss on his cheek. Though Sae knew of their relationship, open displays of affection such as this were kept to a minimum in her presence. Makoto was not blind to Akira's unease. In fact, she guessed beforehand he may feel somewhat anxious when hearing what her sister had planned. This open, though innocent, gesture was her way to reassure him while keeping a little decorum.

She did, however, feel tempted to be as bold as they usually were.
"We've been expecting you two." Sojiro made his entrance, gruffly placing his hand on Akira's shoulder, slightly startling the young man. "Good afternoon, Niijima-san… and good afternoon, Niijima-san."

"Good afternoon, Boss." Makoto bowed.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet us, Sakura-san." Sae's demeanour was such that one could never have guessed some of her previous visits to LeBlanc were less than pleasant. Back then, she came in the full persona of the ruthless prosecutor. The antagonism was such that Sojiro broke into a cold, wrathful sweat following her visit. Now, a year and a half since, Sae was dressed as casually as her sister. Affable, but still resolute.

"We hope we're not being an inconvenience." Makoto added.

"Bah, an inconvenience? Never." Sojiro took off his apron and set It on the counter behind him, thus ceasing to be LeBlanc's owner for the occasion, and presenting himself as Akira's legal guardian. "Just ask this boy here."

Akira could not help but smile, sensing that the blood was running his cheeks red.

"Please, have a seat wherever you like." Akira was also without his apron, but the air about him inspired a sense of service beyond courtesy.

"Thank you." Sae nodded with a sober smile. Both sisters took seat at the booth by the window, closest to the door. In the meantime, Sojiro excused himself to brew four cups of coffee while Akira stirred the curry a little before serving.

Everything went without a hitch. Akira expected at several moments that something terrible and embarrassing would happen. Either he would trip as he served the curry, bathing Sae, or a hiccup would make an unwelcome intrusion. The possibilities were limitless when it came to the worst things occurring at the worst times. To his relief, all four were seated after a few minutes with food and drink, and no error made.

However, Sae's words were fresh in Akira's mind. She wanted to talk with Sojiro, the latter on behalf of his parents. Things could yet go wrong. Despite his usual Joker confidence and wit, unease ate away at him. Sojiro seemed unperturbed; from the way he managed himself even when quiet, he looked a few decades younger.

"Well. As I said earlier, I have an important matter to discuss today." Sae began with little humour in her voice. "That said, I don't see why we should let this curry get cold. Let's enjoy it and ourselves a bit, why don't we?"

"That's a woman after my own heart." Sojiro smirked devilish.

"Food has always been joy to me." The elder Niijima sister looked to be in a particularly good mood today. Akira had come to know a softer side to her since surviving his interrogation. Regardless, the contrast between then and now was astonishing. Judging by Makoto's nonchalance, this was no surprise to her – rather it seemed like this was the sister she sorely missed.

The four started eating. There was little in the way of chatting around the table at first. It was only when Sae tasted the curry that conversation began.

"Makoto praises it often. I can see why." Sae washed the mouthful with a sip of coffee. "I don't suppose you'd let me in on the secret ingredient, would you, Sakura-san?"

"It's not that much of a secret, really. Ask me at the end of a cigarette after coffee, though. I may just spill the beans all over." Boss chuckled. "I taught this boy here, by the way. He's pretty much the one to thank for the meal today."

"Is that so?" Sae gracefully arched an eyebrow. This was a gesture of complicity only Akira could read. This was not the first time she tried the curry. The young man had already cooked for the sisters on his early return.

"Don't praise him too much, though. His head is big enough as it is." Boss' comment got a laugh out of Makoto, who certainly thought so herself. Though the sound of her laughter was like air to Akira, it was not quite enough to set him serene. Choosing to present himself cordial and polite, he gave no indication of his worry. Or so he hoped.

Dinner went on in good spirits. In between the pleasant, casual conversation, and the glances Makoto shot his way, Akira finally managed to relax a little. The mysterious motive that brought the Niijima sisters to the café that day was but a distant echo. Later on, by the time that the plates were almost wiped clean, a sad thought came into Akira's head. He wished his own father was as close to him as Sojiro was. That relation was mended, but it did not change the fact that the price Takahisa paid to provide for his wife and son was a scarce presence.

Then, as if having read his thought, Sae cleared her throat and steered the conversation to her purpose.

"I hate to change the tone of the evening, I really do." Sae's tone stiffened a little, ever so slightly to still be warm. "But I did ask that we met today for a reason."

"Is the kid in trouble?" Sojiro asked.

"I don't see a reason he would be. This is mostly to set my own mind at ease. And…" Sae turned to look at her younger sister. Makoto looked briefly hesitant, as if weighing the meaning and history of every word. She turned to Sae, and nodded. "Our family is big on tradition. I realise the… context is not ideal." The very word appeared to taste bitter foul in her tongue. "But I want to be secure that the future will look favourable for my Makoto, and Akira-kun too."

Sae took a moment to check on her sister. Makoto's eyes were down, and her lips were a straight line, as neutral an expression as she could manage – yet there was still sadness in her face, subdued but very present. That is when Akira realised where this conversation was going. His eyes did not leave his girlfriend. He realised this situation was entirely different from the conversation Sae and he had on the night of his return, but it nonetheless demanded the same security he showed then. Thus, the unease that took hold of his heart before now turned to fortitude.

"Makoto probably told you about our father. He died under grim circumstances." A quick grimace. Sae felt her choice of words was unsuitable for what she tried to convey. Much of what she truly wanted to say, she chose to keep to herself, for Makoto's sake. "I know, had things been different, it would be him sitting here tonight, with his daughters at his side to have the talk with this young man. He would want to know that whomever walked alongside either of us was a good, industrious, reliable person. Naturally, he would also want to meet the parents…"

Sae took Makoto's hand and gently squeezed.

"Things don't always go as they should, as we wish they did. Sometimes they go terribly bad." Sae's voice rang with a sad candour. "But we still have to give our all and look out for tomorrow… I know I put you through an interrogation before, Akira-kun. This time, I will do the right thing, and ask you. Could you answer a few questions for me?"

"Yes, Sae-san." Akira replied without a second thought.

"Thank you, Akira-kun. Then let's begin."

The so-called interrogation did not feel like so. In truth, it was more of an interview. Sae showed herself to be very patient, but also highly meticulous. She asked Akira to speak at depth on his plans for the future: what he intended to do with his education, his job prospects, and so on. She also asked him about his health, whether he exercised and if he slept a minimum of eight hours each night. He heard Morgana scoffing somewhere in a faraway corner of his mind. She went on to ask him if he had picked any habits, such as smoking or drinking. Akira denied so, but this was a lie – he did start smoking, but one pack was likely to last him a month. Up until this moment, the possibility of being caught in the act did not bother him.

All of the questions were centred on Akira alone. Sae made a mental note of everything Akira said. He intended to graduate from culinary school and start working full-time in LeBlanc to gain work experience. Depending on the potential from those prospects, he may enter a business relation with friend and fellow Phantom Thief, Haru Okumura. If his financial outlook was lacking, he had no qualms about taking on a second job, something he has already done in the past. Sojiro also seemed observant of the young man's answers.

"Does Sakura-san give his blessing to you working as a paid employee under him?" Sae asked.

"He does." Sojiro answered. Akira's expression lit up upon hearing it.

"Very well." The elder sister nodded. "I think that would be it. Thank you for agreeing to this, Akira-kun." The woman spoke with moderate demeanour.

For a moment, Akira was at disbelief. It was not that his anxiety proved far cry from the actual event. Rather, it seemed as if Sae had neglected to ask the most important question. The feeling was shared by Sojiro and Makoto.

Did Akira intend to, eventually, marry Makoto? The silence on the matter unleashed a myriad questions in both heads. The topic has already come into conversation at several points between the two. The desire and willingness to commit were there already: all it took was for the question to take flight.

It was yet a bit early to call it a night, so the dinner went on with a second serving for coffee. Sojiro and Sae took the conversation to more casual matters, but Akira had no ears for it. All he could apprehend was Makoto and how she looked away every time their eyes seemed about to meet. He berated himself in silence, as all day he had thought of the pressure this talk could represent to himself, but he did not think to reflect on what may be in Makoto's head. One thing was clear: She wished her father were with them this evening.

He wanted, he needed to reach out to her – to know if she felt troubled.

There was no visible sign of them getting any privacy at the moment, until it mercifully came at Sojiro's initiative.

"I don't know about you, Sae-san, but I do enjoy a cigarette after a good chat. Would you like join me outside?"

"I haven't smoked since law school, and I don't plan on anytime soon." Sae smiled. "But I would like to talk curry."

"Curry-talk it is." Sojiro and Sae moved out of the booth. "You two behave."

Makoto and Akira both remained in silence for a while after Boss and Sae went out the door. Both minds were flooded with notions on the future, as a couple, and as individuals. Being Phantom Thieves, their social perspective was stripped from the prejudices and skewed views that collectively facilitated Yaldabaoth's rise. But at the end of it, they were still young adults, citizens bound to enter the professional world and the workforce – just like everybody else. They would inevitably be subject to the pressure and expectations that rusted the cogs.

Growing up, in practical terms, is a most daunting thing.

"I'll be right back." Akira blurted out. He wished to break the silence in a warmer fashion, but he needed to examine his own thoughts for a moment. Makoto made as if to respond, but the words died in her breath, and she simply nodded instead.

The air inside the small restroom felt drier than usual, stifling even. Sojiro had changed the light bulb two days ago, but the 60 watts light looked only a clumsy step above gloom. His own reflection stared back at him, every shadow on his features digging deeper into darkness – it was as if he was not seeing himself at all. He turned the faucet and let the water running fill the room with sound. It was tempting to splash his face, as if that could magically wash away all his worries, but was that not a measure too desperate for something like this?

It was not such a big deal, the future. He had competence, drive, and enough creativity to make it work. Whenever he turned to anybody he knew in Tokyo, he saw a footprint of the Phantom Thieves. So many lives changed, defended, each one a reminder of what they did. Society may or may not change thanks to their efforts. They did. Only that mattered.

Sae did not pry open a door he had not crossed himself already.

So, Akira made up his mind.

He would walk out this door, and ask Makoto to tell him what bothered her. And as always, he would go to any length in her aid. At once, Akira turned the faucet shut and opened the door, expecting to find Makoto waiting at the booth. Instead, he met her two eyes only centimetres away.

And as always, she would do the same for him.

"Makoto. Is there something wrong?"

"I'm not sure there is… well, there is, but nothing that can be helped. It's an old wound. I'll be fine." She tried to smile. "But, I think, I suppose maybe you needed some reassurance after Sis asked you all that. I'm sorry I didn't say anything."

"It's no problem."

"Are you okay?"

"I am. But, to be honest, growing up, or thinking of growing up can be a little scary." He admitted, acknowledging his vulnerability.

"It is." Makoto did not move, and neither did Akira. "Do you think we'll be able to pursue our goals without losing our way?"

"Yeah. We did a lot of things. I'd like to think we'll always have to remind ourselves if we're ever close to forgetting." Akira felt the words pushing through, and he found himself saying them before he could think of stopping himself. "And I'd like to think we'll have each other to remind us too."

Makoto's expression looked then no different than the afternoon at Crossroads, more than a year ago. Eyes open wide, lips slightly parted upon hearing he liked her. The innocent bud that was back then had bloomed into deep, intimate affection. Yet the spirit of found affinity and attraction had not aged a day.

"Can you hug me?" She said, looking into his eyes.

He nodded, wasting not even a breath before Akira surrounded her body with his arms, gently bringing her towards his chest. Makoto's hands found their spot of choice on his shoulder and the space below his ribs. In the closeness between the two, the temperature was no higher than their surroundings, but there was a warmth that rose at every second. They stood as one, kept under the quiet sound of their breathing and the soft lighting of the café. Then, without thinking, his lips sought hers, hungering.

The touch of their lips felt like biting on the ripest plum at the most whimsical hour of spring. They devoured, intoxicated, sucking on the juice. And before they knew it, their breaths were one and the same. The sensation was foreshadowed much the same on their first kiss. With time, their studying on the arts they craved to practice did away with the hesitation and the awkwardness. They came to know each other, inside out, a little more every time. And sometimes, they continued until they came upon a particular sort of intimacy; carnal, curious, wild though innocent in its refusal to judge or condemn. Giving.

This evening, they could not study on as much depth as they would have liked. But without needing to say it, they made one thing very clear to each other. Neither had any intention of letting the other face the uncertainties of adulthood alone.

Just before hastily separating, Makoto accidentally pushed forward a bit too hard. It seemed at first like Akira would end up sitting on one of the leather-cushioned stools, but his behind slipped on its surface, and he ended up falling straight on his ass.

"S-sorry!" Makoto brought her hands to her mouth. And despite herself, she started laughing.

Akira laughed too, but only for half the same reason. On the moment, his behind smacked the floorboards, he felt the thin bump of the condom Sojiro found in his jeans' back pocket. He made no effort to start getting back up, engrossed by the sight of Makoto belly-laughing. The awareness that Sojiro and Sae could come back in at any moment only made it funnier.

[ ]

Outside, both adults could hear the contagious sound of Akira and Makoto laughing. Sojiro's fingers were stained from the ash of the cigarette he lit but neglected to smoke as he talked with Sae. Alluding to the topic at the table, he wondered if small-talk turned profound was a Niijima thing – he also would have liked to meet the girls' father.

"You know, Niijima-san. I think Makoto-chan is in good hands."

Sae turned to look at Boss with a sad smile. It was a bittersweet experience to see her little sister growing up, reaching this stage in which everything seemed so fast – and thusly, as if she had missed on so much more than she actually had. But the reason to her expression was another.

"I'm worried about those two, to tell the truth."

"How so?"

"They're not just sweethearts. Not really. They were also comrades, united in a single, important cause." Sae's dark eyes lingered on the waning moon's pale glow. "I can't begin to imagine what they went through. I fear it may have been worse than they let on."

"That's possible." Boss' pitch dropped a little. This was a thought he tried hard to push down since the moment Akira returned from the interrogation. Maybe it was long time to acknowledge it.

"They look – no, they are so happy together. I think they may have helped each other survive it all."

"Well, it was a pain we adults put those kids through. It was probably a good thing they met when they did. Who knows how things may have gone differently if they hadn't."

"True." Sae felt a pang of remorse.

"Tell you what. Let's make a deal. I'll look out for the kids. You'll look out the kids. Each from their own side. We kinda owe it to them." Boss stretched his hand out to her.

"You're not going to seal this handshake by spitting, are you, Sakura-san?" Sae smirked.

"People still do that?" Sojiro suddenly felt as old as he looked.

"Maybe. Wouldn't be such a stretch if some people still believe in hope and happiness." She shook his hand, sealing the deal.

[ ]

Sojiro and Sae came back into the café, finding Akira and Makoto in lively chatter. They looked as if a great burden had been lifted off their shoulders. Makoto's sister saw this as well, and shot a gaze of complicity at Sojiro. She agreed – they did owe it to them. But not only Makoto and Akira; they owed it to their generation whole. Through the image of the young couple, she gazed at the spirit of a generation that had little choice but to do with the lot they inherited, all the while pursuing their own dreams.

Two people alone could not alleviate the load for myriads. But if they could for two, then it was worth it.

Conversation went on for a little under an hour until time came for the Niijima sisters to be on their way. Sae smiled at seeing Makoto abandon all inhibitions and steal a kiss from her boyfriend as if nobody were looking. This joy could be just what she needed before undertaking the struggles of growing into adulthood. Perhaps it could also be her charm to ensure she would be her own person, better than those who came before.

Akira looked wistfully at his girlfriend as she left with her sister. The night was not over yet – there was still cleaning to do, and though this felt like a dinner hosted at home, the place was still a business, and it needed to be ready for the next day.

Something Sojiro said caught his attention for a moment. He turned to look at him to address it. But as he turned back for one last gaze to the girl he loved, he noticed something strange. The two sisters were stepping outside through a thick red curtain, parted in the middle. It had no end on either side.

But neither Sojiro, nor Makoto or Sae seemed to notice any difference.