Hmm, it's been a while since I wrote a story for Halloween.

So Labrys and Sho are gonna be DLC for Dancing in Moonlit Stardom or whatever they're called.

...Hmm...

"Hi, Boss."

Sojiro technically had Leblanc closed for the holiday, but he kept the door unlocked. Akira's friends were the only ones who knew this - otherwise, it just seemed as though the place was taking a day off. Because of this, he didn't bat an eye when the student council president strode in. "Hey."

He turned the TV volume down and turned in his seat at the bar to greet her properly. A smile appeared on his face when he saw her costume, as much as he wanted to avoid it. "Ah. So you're as dedicated to the holidays as much as your schoolwork, then."

"Aah...hahaha. I guess so. Is Akira here?"

"Upstairs. He was running all around town looking for 'the perfect materials'. For his costume! He doesn't even put as much effort in keeping his room clean. I swear, with all that junk he collects, he's gonna be a hoarder."

"I've been trying to set him straight, sir. If you'll excuse me?"

"Right. Sorry, I was rambling a bit. Go on up."

Makoto ducked her head politely and headed upstairs noiselessly, despite all the permutations on her costume. Sojiro checked the door, sat back down, turned the TV back up, and brought his coffee mug to his lips. Upon tasting it, he set it down with a grimace, grabbing the coffee recipe Futaba had given him that morning off the counter. He fixed it with a menacing glare and muttered, "Pumpkin spice. Pfft. What was that girl thinking?"

[- - -]

"Akira?"

"Upon stepping into the attic-turned-bedroom Makoto quickly found that Akira was missing in action. "Did he go out…? His shoes are still here, though."

With nothing better to do, Makoto took in the room. Whether she knew it or not, a small smile was present as she noted that he had thrown in a hundred and ten percent to decorating - there were paper cobwebs and fake little spiders scattered all about, and that was only what she gleaned from a quick glance. She grabbed the Jack Frost plush he had won from one of their dates to the arcade off his desk and clutched it to her chest, sitting on his bed and exhaling softly. "I guess I'll wait for him."

She looked up, tilting her head curiously at the little plastic bats hanging from the ceiling. How long that must have taken…

Suddenly, before her eyes, she witnessed a much larger shape dwelling up there with the fake creatures. Confident that she was seeing things, she squinted and took a closer look...until it moved. Makoto froze in shock and squeezed the Jack Frost securely to her, as it it would be taken first.

The shape seemed to be hanging upside down like the others, unfurling from the ball it had been curled in until it was at eye level with Makoto. Gleaming gray eyes opened to stare at her, but Makoto was rooted to the spot. The figure slowly inched its head closer and closer, until Makoto was able to hear it whisper, "Boo."

It was rather impressive that Makoto's scream managed to carry quite nicely throughout the cafe. Sojiro looked up from his coffee and groaned. The only reason he wasn't bounding up the stairs with something to throw at intruders was because Akira had given him fair warning that this would happen. He mentally apologized to poor Makoto, deciding to carry out his punishment with a long pull of pumpkin spice coffee.

"Are-...are you crying?"

Makoto's eyes widened upon realizing that she was hearing Akira's voice, quickly grabbing his desk lamp and switching it on. There was her boyfriend, hanging by his legs from the ceiling beam he always used to work out at home. The intense stare he was wearing gave way to a merry twinkle as he waved his hands and chirped, "Surprise! Happy - oof!"

The Jack Frost doll hit him square in the face. Of course, it being plush, there was no effect. She pointed at him, hand still shaking and all, and managed to say, "You! Youuu...you are cruel."

Makoto hopped off Akira's bed and slapped his stomach. "How long were you up there just for the sake of scaring me?"

When he didn't answer immediately, an oddity given how witty he liked to think he was, Makoto turned to look at him again. She smirked knowingly when the blush on his face gave her the answer. "Ah-ha. I see."

"I'm super sore…"

"Well, come down from there, you goof."

He complied, turning neatly during the fall so he landed on his feet. He paused mid-rise, however, to hold his gut carefully. "Hoo boy, that was...so worth it."

Knowing he would stick to his guns was simply part of his charm at that point. "I'm sure it was."

Makoto sighed and looked him over again. "I know you're going to ask me so I'm taking the initiative. What are you dressed as?"

"Phantom Thief of the Opera."

True to his word, he was dressed as exactly what he described...probably? He was wearing a remarkably faithful recreation of his genuine Phantom Thief jacket, which was enough for Makoto to ponder just who he knew that could work such magic. Upon closer inspection, however, it seemed like he had deliberately tried his best to make the rest look as odd as possible. He was wearing what looked like a spy's sneaking suit under the coat, an ornate-looking toy katana on his hip, and a blank white mask was on his other, waiting to be worn. "It's certainly very striking."

"Thanks!"

Makoto crossed her arms, giving the outfit one more scan. There were a few more odds and ends he had tacked on, and that revelation only made her more sure of her conclusion. "Boss was on your case again, wasn't he?"

"I plead the Fifth."

"We're not in America."

"I...choose to remain silent?"

"Close enough. Wouldn't a vampire have been more fitting? They hang from ceiling like bats, too, don't they?"

"You'd be right. I feel like the vampire motif is kinda last year, though."

"Hmm."

"Hmm, indeed. Well! Enough about my shenanigans, who are you dressed as?"

Akira's curiosity was clear in just how he posed the question. Makoto blinked and glanced down at her costume. "Oh, nothing special. Just...Road, um...Road Raider."

Akira cocked his head to the side and nodded appreciatively. The wonder in his eye was childish, but Makoto found it weirdly adorable. "Like from the movies?"

It was quite the costume. Makoto had thought of everything, from the leather jacket to the toy shotgun at her hip - he faintly remembered the very specific order she had asked him to pass on to Iwai a week prior. Akira smiled when he noticed that she had even included the titular character's leg brace. Looking up to see her face, he was further impressed by what looked like a light layer of dust on her cheeks. She had foregone her usual braided hairband, too, so her hair looked just a bit more disheveled. He whistled lightly, saying, "Wow. You really went the extra mile."

Makoto blushed, further endearing Akira to whole ensemble. "...I'm a fan of the series."

"I can tell! I was worried you weren't a huge fan of Halloween."

Makoto huffed, looking pointedly away from Akira in an exaggerated pout. "Hmph. I might not give off the impression, but I do know how to have fun."

"Oh, I know. I still remember the look on your face when I got you that game you wanted."

She smiled at the memory, embarrassing as it was. "I don't get gifts very often. Forgive me for being excited."

Akira shook his head. "It was cute. I'm glad you liked it."

The two shared a happy little look, until Makoto stepped closer and took his hand in hers. Leaning in , she gave him a light, simple kiss and stepped back - another 'thank you' for his enduring compassion. "Oh, no. I got something on your cheek."

She licked her thumb and made to wipe it off, only for Akira to catch her hand just as she finished. She smiled wryly and turned her gaze to his. "We seem to do this a lot lately."

"Is that so bad?"

"I didn't say that."

Just as Akira had put his hand on her hip and moved to kiss her again, loud footsteps stopped them both. "Heyooo! Boss told us you were upstairs with-"

Ryuji and Ann burst into the attic, and, if the smug grins on their faces were any indication, caught Akira just as he was taking a light step back from Makoto. "The student council lovebird!"

"Please don't make that a nickname."

"Are you two ready to go? Everyone else is already downstairs…"

Ryuji trailed off just as he got a good look at Akira. Makoto bit back a laugh when he saw that Ann was similarly stunned into silence. Predictably, the former was the first to recover. "Dude, what the hell are you wearing?!"

It was going to be a long night.

I was originally going to go with something more similar to Fist of the North Star, but Mad Max seemed a more simple medium to go with. It helps that the two are quite closely connected. Also, saw the Halloween costumes for the dancing game - they're alright. Like the Yakuza ones more, but that's more 'cause I love Yakuza.

Hope you enjoyed. Till next time!