Akira didn't know what to do.

On one hand, the thought of the stone hearted, studious Makoto Niijima with Ryuji set him on edge. Akira mused it was somewhat wrong to think so, but so what? He was entitled to his thoughts.

He glanced back down at the phone, the glare of the electronic device shining on his face. The TV dimmed out, and all he could think of was the newborn "couple."

Shouldn't I be happy…?

He turned his head to look at the girl eating. She seemed so at peace, so content, lightly biting small amounts of forked food, chewing contently as her eyes glazed on the horizon.

The light seemed to shine around her; giving her an almost comical sheen. Her hair was free; no trace of makeup was found. Truly, this was Makoto Niijima in her home environment, at her most lax.

Makoto…

He resolved to fix this soon. However, he found himself in the now, walking over and sitting down, and simply observing Makoto as she ate.

Makoto took a while to notice. Her head snapped as she noticed him sitting, and a look of panic spread across her features.

"Hello, Akira," she said politely, "How was your day?"

Akira simply stared.

Makoto deflated a bit. "Uh, what's up?" she tried again. Akira gave no answer.

Makoto's eyebrows shifted together in a defensive, heated stance. "Look, if it's my manga collection you found, I won't apologize," she stated hotly. Akira reeled a bit in surprise but otherwise gave no indication about anything. Regrettably, though, he found it was appropriate for him to speak.

"Ann says you've been spending a lot of time with Ryuji," Akira commented casually.

Best way to get to the bottom of this. Directly indirect!

Makoto shrugged. "Yeah. He needs tutoring. His exam scores are pathetically low," Makoto said with a sorrowing sigh, "Somebody needs to help him, or he's going to fail."

Makes sense.

"So, what do you think of him?" Akira questioned. Play it cool. Become Joker.

Makoto appeared confused, her brows furrowing.

"He's fine? Akira, what's this all about?" Makoto questioned with a certain prose.

Akira shrugged in return. "Nothing, really. Just curious. What have you been tutoring him on?"

"Math, science...a little bit of anatomy." Makoto said. She went back to eating her food with intent, slowly but surely numbing away at the steak set before her. Akira found himself lost in thought, grazing over the details of the situation within his mind.

Soon, though, he heard a door open behind him, and footsteps followed what Akira guessed was Sae.

His thoughts were proven true when he heard a mature voice ask, "Akira? Makoto? What's this about a boy I hear?"

Akira should've taken the small living space into account.

Makoto turned a tinge red. "Nothing, sis!" She excused. "Just something Akira was curious about."

Sae's face twisted into a grimacing snarl aimed at Akira. The former thief almost turned blue in discourage; the menacing aura of the attorney began to eat away at him.

"Curious?" Her voice came out professional as always; but with Sae, her spectrum of "distaste" to "anger" was always a bit different, and Akira had learned how to pick up on her different ranges rather quickly.

Being interrogated by someone will do that to you.

"Yes, he um, just wanted to know about my tutoring excursions lately, sis." Makoto explained quickly.

"Tutoring excursions?" Sae's voice was high pitched in surprise.

Makoto nodded. "You know...for Ryuji. He's been struggling lately," Makoto said quickly, "And as a member of the thieves, a friend and comrade, I couldn't leave him to suffer."

Sae's shoulders sloped down a bit; a sign of visible relaxation. A sigh of breath seemed to escape her lungs. "Oh, well," she said studiously, "Just make sure you're keeping up on your own studies."

Makoto nodded in return. An uneasy air settled over the entire dining room.

Akira checked his phone again. He had an idea.

Akira: Let's go out tomorrow, with the rest of the crew.

Ryuji: Alright. But where to?

Akira: I'll let you know.

He glanced back at the table.

"Hey, Makoto, are you free tomorrow?" He asked casually.

Makoto nodded again. "Should be, why?" She questioned.

"Let's head out with the others." Akira supplied. Makoto nodded her response, her food now finished.

Sae regarded the two with a curious look. "You two need to head to bed," she commanded, "I know it's summer, but it's not entirely healthy."

"Oh, you're one of those," Akira teased. Sae looked on him with mild curiosity.

"One of what?" She asked carefully.

"I'm-the-oldest-so-im-in-charge sisters," he teased again playfully. Sae groaned.

"I pay for this house, you know. So you and Makoto can go have fun tomorrow. But for now, you sleep."

Makoto got the message and nodded.

She headed off to her bedroom quickly, the pitter patter of her steps echoing throughout the house.

It was just Akira and Sae now. The same sheen that had enveloped her younger sister now consumed her; her grey hair was wet from post shower dew, the strands slathered all over her shoulders and body. Her eyes shined with a furious determination; Akira knew that look. It was the look Sae had once she wanted to figure something out. Her eyes creased in anticipation, her eyebrows scrunched together.

In that light, with that look, Akira noticed something he couldn't believe he hadn't noticed before.

She's beautiful.

She regarded him with a curious look. "Akira, level with me here," she said, her tone passive. "Does Makoto have a boyfriend?"

Akira's mouth formed a small O. He decided to answer truthfully. There wasn't any evading Sae, anyway; she was onto his tricks. She knew his subconscious body language.

"No," he answered "But.."

Sae tensed. "But?" She questioned strongly, scaring Akira. He hadn't seen these tactics since the interrogation, and he didn't want to see them again!

"There's a guy who's interested in her," he said, vaguely, as if dismissing the subject casually.

"Who?" She questioned impatiently.

Sae wasn't having it. Akira didn't want to sell out his friend. Sae needed to hear it from Ryuji.

He didn't do it then, he won't do it now.

I'm sorry.

He didn't say anything.

Sae's face flashed many emotions; pain, anger, annoyance, and lastly, and indescribable one, where Akira felt his stomach sink.

"Fine," she spat, turning away and stomping towards her room.

Akira felt many things that day, but in that moment, he felt regret.

A/N- Sorry to pull another short one on you guys. But I swear chapter 5 is gonna be nice and long, no sexual innuedo intended.

Reviews:

version15: Thank you for your continuous support! I know this chapter might be a bit of a let down, but I promise I'm working on it.

Deliberatee: I know Ryuji and Makoto are a forbidden ship, but hear me out. There's gonna' be a good explanation, I swear. And besides, what's so wrong with those two anyway, huh?

Sorry if I missed any, I'm posting in a bit of a rush. Thanks for reading!