Persona 5: Shots Through the Heart
Shot 6: Say It Again
Tuesday, July 19th, 20XX
Less than a week remains until the end of Shujin's first term and the beginning of summer vacation. In Mr. Ushimara's (a.k.a. Mr. Chalk Chuckster's) class, Akira isn't staring off into space thinking about his night job like he usually does (and probably should do right now, considering his group has been targeted by the international hacker group known as Medjed.) Instead, he's uncomfortably staring intently at the back of Ann's head with a tinge of red in his cheeks, thinking about his talk with her best friend at the hospital the other day.
She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, inside and out… There's no way I couldn't… love her.
He pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head in frustration, thinking about those words.
"God damn it, Shihooo~!" he mumbles to himself. "Now, you've gone and made it feel so reaaal~"
Every since that day, Akira has felt more self conscious about his bond with the young Vague model. His composure weakens when his with her, he feels slightly hollow when they're apart, and she's on his mind 24/7. If there was a time when he was at his least composed, this would be it.
The love sickened rebel lets his head drop to his desk and sighs deeply.
"... I'm doomed~" That's his when he his phone vibrates. He sneaks a peak at it to see Ann's picture tagged on the message boxes.
Ann: Doomed? Is something wrong?
Akira panics a little inside.
Shit! She heard me!
Akira: Nothing! I'm fine!
Ann: You sure? I didn't really wanna bring this up, but you've looked kinda out of it lately. :\
So, she noticed, he thinks. When it comes to people's emotions, she's as perceptive as I am.
Akira: Don't worry. I'm fine. Thief's honor. :)
Ann: Alright.
- But if you need something, you can chat me up about it anytime. ;)
- It's only fair. I mean, you've been there for me when I needed it.
Akira can't help but smile warmly at her text.
Idiot... Don't say things like that. You're making it worse.
Ann: Hey. Speaking of which… Can you make some time for me today?
- There's something I really need your help with, Akira.
Akira: Ask and you shall receive. I'd be glad to help.
Ann: Thank you so much.
- The truth is… it's Shiho's Moving Day today.
Oh! So that's happening today, Akira thinks.
- Before she goes, she wants to talk one more time up on the rooftop.
- But I think it's still hard for her to go up there…
Akira: You take left, I'll take right. ;)
Ann: Thanks. :) Meet me at the gate after school.
"OW! Son-o-va-!" Akira rubs his forehead after being hit with a piece of chalk.
"Kurusu! Are you listening?!" barks Mr. Chalk Chuckster.
"Yeah, yeah! Laws are passed by majority vote among the Diet, right?!" The teacher shoots a dirty look and turns back to the chalkboard.
"Top student or not, you'd best pay attention. Eyes on the board." The entire class snickers at him as Akira groans and glares at his phone.
Akira: Mark my words! One of these days, I'm dodging that effin' chalk, goddammit!
Ann: LOL XD
- You pull it off and I'll give you a reward! ;)
Another tease that strikes him in the gut.
xxx
The school day has ended.
Up the stairway from the third floor to the roof, Akira and Ann are towing Shiho up the stairs as she tries to walk up.
"C'mon, Shiho! Three more steps!" Ann urges. Shiho, clenching her teeth and dripping with sweat, glares up the stairs and nods.
Look at this girl go, Akira thinks in admiration.
"Okay. Again," Akira says. "One, two, three!" Shiho grunts as she lifts her heavy swollen right leg up the next step with Akira and Ann's support. Succession without incident. Ann smiles and nods.
"Good! That's it! Two more!" Shiho takes as moment to catch her breath before nodding.
"Again. One, two, three!" Shiho tries to lift her left leg, but she stumbles. The two catch her.
"Shiho!" They stand her up, returning her foot back to the step.
"Ugh, ugh…. S-Sorry," Shiho gasps. Akira shakes his head.
"Don't be. You're doing great," he says. "Can you keep going?" Shiho takes a deep breath and nods.
"Alright. Steady now. One, two, three!" Shiho tries to lift her left leg again. This time with succession.
"There! Just one more! You can do it!" Ann cheers. Shiho nods again.
"Okay. Get both feet up there," Akira says. "One… two… three!" Shiho gives it all she's got to get to the top of the stairs. She proudly plants both of her on the last step.
"Alright! You did it!" Ann exclaims. Shiho heaves a deep sigh of relief and smiles.
"I'm getting better," she says. "You two can let go now. I'll be fine from here. Just open the door." Akira nods and proceeds to open the door and let Ann through as she walks beside her bestie. When she finally waddles her way outside, she stops to catch her breath.
"Ann… Akira-kun… I'm pretty heavy, huh? Thanks for the help." Akira puts his hands in his pockets.
"It's no big deal," he says. CI'm just happy to be of service." Ann beams at Akira.
"Isn't Akira just super reliable?" she asks Shiho with a giggle. Akira miraculously suppresses his blush as he laughs sheepishly.
Dammit, Ann! Don't smile at me like that when you say that stuff, he thinks. Shiho giggles back at her.
"Mm hm. Just like you keep telling me over and over," she says. Ann's eyes widen a bit, not expecting her to say something like that out loud.
As Shiho waddled her way towards the fence and looked down, Akira couldn't help but feel anxious, considering what happened here.
"We're so high up…" she mumbles. Akira walks towards her.
"Okay, I'll bite," he says. "Of all the places we could've taken you, why did you want to come here?" Shiho places her hand on the fence.
"I think… to settle things…" she says. "To tell you the truth… I wanted to reenact that moment… Wearing these clothes, standing here again… I wanted to know what it would feel like." Shiho is wearing her Shujin uniform today. The same clothes she was wearing when she jumped from here the night after Kamoshida raped her.
"...What about back then?" Ann asks. "What were you thinking?" Shiho looks down and frowns, recalling the fear and pain she was feeling back in April. All of the screaming voices in her head shouting at her to jump.
"I… I didn't want to die," she mumbles. "I just needed to escape… It was like another person inside of me was screaming, telling me to come up here… It almost felt like that person was trying to kill me…" All Akira and Ann could do was let her talk, no matter how troubled Ann became by the sound of her words.
"But I know that person was a part of me too… My weakness. So, I wanted to see if she would show up again now." Akira crosses his arms.
"She's gone, right?" he assumes. Shiho smiles at Akira and nods.
"Yeah… She doesn't exist anymore." Ann looks down and smiles in self pity.
"You're so strong, Shiho," she says. "The only reason you're standing here now is because of how hard you worked for your rehab." Shiho redirects her smile at Ann.
"Maybe… but that was all thanks to you, Ann." Ann looks up at her bestie with a surprised look.
"Me…?"
"Because I saw how hard you were trying too. Trying to be strong, to be cool… Wanting to be an action star… Striving to be a better model… You were so positive… Your eyes always shined like stars with motivation. With you putting that much effort in, I couldn't just let my life go to waste in a hospital bed." Akira smiles at Ann.
"She's right, y'know," he chuckles. "You have a great knack for being super positive." Little tears started forming in Ann's eyes as she stands there listening to Shiho tell her why she went through her rehab.
"That's why I wanted to stand again," Shiho tells her in with gratitude in her voice. "It was because of you. Being able to stand up to adversity, follow your own path without falter, and inspire others to do the same… That's what I think true strength is." Ann's body begins to shake.
"Shiho…" She doesn't even try to hold back her cries as she rubs her eyes. A familiar sight that brought Akira heartache every time.
"Ann…"
"I-I'm not strong at all…!" Ann sobs. "I'm… I-I'm nothing without you here with me…! I'm just… a scared little girl who gets lonely so easily…!" Shiho feels the guilt of leaving her best friend, who had no one before, behind.
"Ann… I'm so sorry… for deciding to transfer schools…" Akira walks to Ann's side and wraps an arm around her shoulder.
"C'mon… It's alright," he tells her. "She might be leaving, but she's standing now when she couldn't before. That means she's healing, getting better… So, you should be happy, shouldn't you?" Ann finds the strength to smile through the waterfall of tears.
"... I am…! I-I am, really…!" Shiho smiles at Akira, knowing she made the right choice in leaving her in his care. After calming down a little, Ann smiles at Shiho.
"Shiho… I-I'm… I'm going to become a real model!" she declares. "That way, you'll be able to keep seeing me… and giving life your all… I'm gonna be in a bunch of magazines… and say tons of good stuff in interviews… So…" Ann takes a second to calm down before continuing.
"So… stay healthy. Work hard, but not too much… and keep in touch… Just… take care of yourself… O-Okay?" Having said her peace, Ann let herself cry again. Akira steps aside as Shiho waddles over to her and gives her a hug.
"Ann…" she says. "I love you… Once I can smile again from the bottom of my heart, I'll come visit." Ann hugs her back and nods. As the two best friends share their last hug, Akira gets Shiho's attention with a wave and puts his hand over his heart. She smiles as he whispers exactly what she wanted to hear.
"...I promise."
Ann averts her eyes as her family comes to take her back down the stairs to the car… and drive away, leaving her and Akira alone on the roof.
xxx
Akira gives on some breathing room as she wipes away her tears.
"...You gonna be okay?" he asks her. Ann doesn't say anything. She just takes a deep breath and stares at the door, eyes red and swollen, but burning with determination.
"... I need to be the number one model around," she declares. "I made a promise with Shiho, so there's no turning back now." She turns her determined face to Akira.
"I'm gonna study how to exercise properly, and even relearn how to walk the runway. I want to pick up some other languages and cultures too so I can start doing overseas events. Because, well… the only way I can help Shiho now is to show her how hard I'm working." Akira can't help but admire Ann's incredible growth. She went from modeling as a hobby to wanting to be an action star to becoming top model. Not just for Japan, but the entire world. How could he not support a goal like that?
"Well… you already have my belief," he says. "If anyone can do it, I know you can." Ann smiles and nods at him.
"Yeah! If I can do that, Shiho… she'll… she'll definitely…" Akira's face flood with concern as Ann's body trembles again and she feels herself about to break.
No… No, don't cry.
Ann buries her face in her hands, trying to hold back the waterworks.
"D-Dammit…!" she sniffs. "I-I told myself I wouldn't cry…! But it just… won't… stop…!" Akira reaches his hand out to her.
"Hey, please don't-" Unable to keep herself together, Ann finally starts bawling out loud, screaming in agony as if her heart had been smashed to atom sized pieces, which makes him retreat.
Akira just stands there, stunned and aching at the sight of her in devastation. Seeing her smiling, laugh, and overflowing with positive energy always brought the light to his days. Seeing her broken like this, crying worse than he's ever heard her cry before… it's unbearable for him.
Come on, Kurusu! You have to say something! he thinks. ... But... she just lost her best friend... What can I even say to her?
Akira's heart quickens, fretting over how to help this girl smile again.
Ann... what can I say to make you feel better? What can I do to pick up all the pieces and heal your broken heart? ... I'd do anything...
Ann's crying slowly settles back down to sniffs.
"I-I guess… I-I'm alone again, huh...?" Akira closes his eyes to calm himself, remembering that he made a promise to Shiho too. He promised to be the person she laughs with, her shoulder to cry on, and the person who would always be there for her when she needed it. Although, he didn't really need a promise between someone to do that… He's wanted to do that from the very beginning.
... I know exactly what to say.
Akira opens his eyes and slowly marches up to her.
"... That's not true at all." He grabs her wrists and gently pulls her hands away, revealing her tear soaked face.
"You… have someone who can't stand to see you cry… Someone who always wants to see you smile… Someone who will do whatever it takes to protect you... Someone who wants to be with you, no matter what…" Ann stares at Akira, listening to every single one of his words and feeling the sincerity of his voice warm and heal her broken heart.
"... Akira...?" He smiles as he brushes his right hand past her cheek, wiping away a tear, and places his hand on the back of her head.
"You don't have to be scared anymore…" he assures her. "You don't have to feel lonely anymore either… Cuz now…" Her eyes widen, her body freezes, and she lets out a light gasp as he pulls her head onto his shoulder, then wraps both arms around her waist, closes his eyes, and whispers in her ear.
"... You have me… Always…" The warmth of his snug embrace, the love in his voice, the beating of his heart, the faint scent of coffee beans on him. All of it surrounding her made her knees tremble and her completely healed heart feel like it was going to burst. It was very subtle, but she was sure.
He just confessed his love to her.
"... Akira…"
The tone of her voice was a mix of surprise and disbelief. It's as if she was asking, "You mean it? You really want to be with me?" She was at her most vulnerable point just a second ago, but now it feels like she's the happiest she's ever been.
Her body starts to relax and her eyelids start to drop as euphoria flows through her. For the first time ever, she completely forgot about Shiho. She forgot her suicide attempt that temporarily paralyzed her. She forgot that she went through painful rehab. She forgot that she had just left for another town. All she was thinking about was the "criminal" who broke into her life in April and the words he spoke to her in the past.
When she was crying and tried to convince him there was nothing wrong…
That's not what your body said when it curled up into a ball… That's not what your voice said when it trembled… That's not what your eyes said when they leaked…
When she was walking home after they talked about Kamoshida…
If you ever need someone to talk to… my door's always open.
When she was wondering how she was going to find the answer to what true strength of heart is…
Well, how bout we find it together?
When she was crying and telling him that it wasn't not because she's kind…
Don't give me that bullshit. That's exactly why you're crying… When you see someone you care about suffering, you get the urge to cry… Just like me right now… I can't stand seeing you like this…
And when she asked him what she should do to help Shiho…
That's simple: Show her your own strength... The strength that I know you have deep down in your heart…
All those words gave her great strength, hope, and happiness.
"... Akira…"
She lets her eyes close and just let what was happening happen, entrusting herself to him completely with a soft smile and a bold blush blossoming on her face. That word made her heart jump every time she heard it. That was his name. The name of "criminal" that came to Tokyo for his probation. The name of the charismatic, rebellious, badass Phantom Thief leader, Joker. The name of the guy who changed her life for the better… And the name of the thief who stole her heart and made it stronger.
"... I love you…"
Akira's eyes pop open, dialated in shock. Shiho made him aware that Ann felt that way about him. She told him how happy she was when she mentioned him to her when she visited her at the hospital. She told him that if he made her aware of how he felt, she would change her mind about dating.
But it still surprised him more anything in his whole life that she would actually say those words.
Apparently, it surprised her too because she quickly pushes away from him, covers her mouth, and gasps with a shocked look on her face.
"W-Wait, what did I just say?!" she asks him. Akira quickly assesses the situation. He knows she's in a moment of weakness right now, so when he comforted her with that hug, she probably just let something slip out. The best course of action in his mind is to pretend he didn't hear it. Makes sense considering that it was almost a whisper.
"Huh? Oh! Uh… S-Sorry. I-I didn't hear you," Akira stutters as he scratches his head. Ann crosses her arms and cocks an eyebrow.
"Oh, you didn't? ... Huh…" What came after that was a long awkward silence. Akira didn't know how to proceed after pretending not to hear her unintentional love confession. The fact that he hugged her and said what he did made it worse.
Wait to go, you hopeless dumbass!
He suddenly notices Ann with an angry look on her face, her eyes closed, growling, and turning into a pink neon light.
"Uh… Ann?" Her growls start getting louder and her hands ball up into fist. Akira backs away a little, feeling that his physical health is at risk.
"U-Um, listen. I-I'm sorry about the hug. I-I just…" When she's taking a deep breath, Akira starts to feel safe again.
...
How shameful for Joker of the Phantom Thieves to let his guard down like that.
Ann suddenly glares at him, stomps her foot, and blows up in his face.
"GAAAAAH! PAY MORE ATTENTION, DAMMIT!" Akira shrieks and flinches. Obviously, his "not hearing her" plan was a bust.
"I'm only gonna say this one more time, alright?!" she shouts as she yanks her hair down. "I… I-I love you!" Akira blushes profusely as he backs away a little more.
"H-Huh?!" Ann's face gets redder and redder with each passing second.
"Yeah, I said it! And I mean it too! I really love you! Like, really really! I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH! UGGGGGGGGH!" Once she says her piece, she buries her burning red face in her twintails. Even though she was staring daggers at him, Akira couldn't help but smile. Hearing the girl you love say she loves you can definitely do that to you.
Akira chuckles a little before quickly glomping her, which, of course, makes her panic to high heaven.
"H-Hey... Wait a-" All Akira does is tighten his grip on her as she flails her hands about.
"Hey! Wait!" she yells. "Hold on! Wait! WAAAAAAIT!"
"NO! Four months, I had this huge crush on you! I've waited long enough, dammit!"
"WHA-?!"
"And I heard you the first time! I just wanted to hear you say it again!" Ann, unable to come up with anything to say, stops trying to resist and whines as she places her hands on his shoulders, her heart pounding like a thunder drum.
"Uggggggggh! GOD!" She couldn't help but find this whole scenario ridiculous. She's been waiting for this moment for a long time and now, she's super upset about it.
After calming down a little, she looks down at the ground next to her and sighs.
"I-I guess…" she mumbles. "Y-You and me… We're more than just friends now, huh?" Akira's heart starts warming up again at the sound of those words as he nods.
"Yeah…" he chuckles. "Yeah, I guess so."
"... This is so embarrassing…!" Ann suddenly feels Akira's grip tighten to the point where she can barely breath and pushes him away.
"... Lemme go!" she shouts. "Are you trying to kill me?!" Akira grips his stomach as he starts dying laughing for reasons he didn't know.
"Pfft ha ha ha ha ha! YOU ARE SO ADORABLE!" Ann's cheeks glow more red again.
"Shuddup!" Akira recovers from his laughter and scratches his head.
"Ha ha ha! My bad, my bad. I-I guess I'm just… really happy, y'know?" Ann uses her twintails to cover her mouth again.
"No, I get that!" she exclaims. "I-I'm happy too, but it came out of nowhere! And you were squeezing the life out of me!"
xxx
Akira sat alone with Ann on that roof until she calmed down completely. After a long period of silence, Ann was the one to break it.
"Didn't expect my day to turn out like this," she murmurs. "Right after my best friend in the world moves away… I-I end up getting a boyfriend…" Akira smirks at his new girlfriend.
"Understandable," he chuckles.
"M-My face is on fire… I can barely breath… I'm super anxious… But… really really happy…" Ann leans forward and turns to him.
"Hey… D-Does getting into a relationship always feel like this?" she asks.
"How the hell should I know? This is my first relationship too." Ann lightly punches his shoulder.
"Aw, c'mon! That's totally a lie! I know you had at least one or two girlfriends on your record before you moved here!" Akira shakes his head.
"Nope! Virgin heart, virgin lips, virgin everything! I mean, I did have a very few fangirls back home, but they were annoying as hell." Ann gleefully laughs.
"No surprise there! I've thought this for awhile now, but… I think you beat Yusuke when it comes to being a pretty boy." Akira blushes and pushes his glasses up.
"Aw, cut that out."
"I'm serious! Especially when you're not wearing those glasses!" Akira scoots up to her and boops her nose.
"Well… it's hard to believe a girl as gorgeous as you is actually real. Especially one who has never had a boyfriend. Seriously, you have no idea how surprised I was when Boss told me you've never had one." Ann blushes as she strokes her right twintail.
"Well, I wasn't for getting crushes until recently. And c'mon. You can find plenty of other girls prettier than me overseas." Akira shakes his head.
"Nah. I doubt I'd find anyone who's cuter than you. In my eyes, anyway."
"Tch! That's something any guy would say to a cute girl… But you're not just any guy, are you?"
"No, I'm not." The recently formed couple laugh together. Although their relationship went through a drastic change, everything after that gradually became natural to them. The air around them was filled with emotion: Joy, harmony, and peace. It was the same recipe as before, but with love put into the mix.
Ann giggles as she rocks back and forth.
"Hey… I think I'm gonna like this," she says. "This whole dating thing with you and me…" Akira slowly gets to his feet.
"Oh! Speaking of this dating thing with you and me," he says. "How about we keep it just between you and me? I know they wouldn't be as bad as when it was with Kamoshida, but the last thing we need is a rumor about something like "The Kira's Bitch" going around the school." Ann stands up with him and crosses her arms.
"I guess you have a point," she replies. "Like, I really wouldn't mind it cuz it's you and it's actually true, but I don't want it being everyday's news." Akira picks up his bag, which feels oddly lighter than what he's use to.
"Plus… if Mona finds out about this," he groans. "I'm liable to have my eyes clawed out." Ann frowns.
"True. He's not very good at hiding his crush on me. I don't feel like breaking his little cat heart either." Akira nods and looks at his phone.
"It's getting late… As much as it sucks, we should probably call it today."
"Alright." Akira opens the door and steps aside.
"After you, gorgeous." Ann giggles at his gesture.
"Oooh, what a gentleman!"
xxx
The two managed to miraculously grab two seats next to each other on the packed train to Shibuya. Ann stirs around in her seat, trying to find a comfortable position. However, it was her seat that was uncomfortable. It was the feeling of sitting next to her new boyfriend that made her anxious.
She quickly pulls out her phone to find something to distract herself. Maybe checking the internet for new about the Phantom Thieves or playing a mobile game. Anything that'll serve as a distraction.
But in her rush, the sight of her lockscreen stopped her in her tracks. It was a picture of her and Shiho, taken before Kamoshida even came to Shujin. A time when things were so simple. This picture was a cruel reminder that they were always together before, but they're far apart now.
Before reality could crush her, she feels something land gently on her hand. It was rough and big enough to wrap around it, but with a securing warmth. She looks down and sees Akira's hand rubbing over hers.
"... I... love you too..." Ann looks up at him as he scratches his pink cheek with his finger.
"I-I forgot to say it back to you properly back on the roof," he stutters. "So..." She gives him a loving smile, which he returns back to her, as if to say that he's right by her side, like he's always been.
Ann slides closer to Akira, flips her hand over, interlocks her fingers with his, and closes her eyes as she leans onto him. Akira chuckles and lies his head on hers, happy that the beautiful red "Panther" was now his and his alone.
Target: Hit