The Mystery of Ren Amamiya - Lightning99

Stream 7:

Yusuke Kitagawa and Futaba Sakura

'Where is he?' Ann asked, checking her phone for probably the fifteenth time. She sighed and dropped it onto the desk, sitting back in her chair.

'It's Inari,' Futaba said, slurping a noddle into her mouth from a pot of ramen she held between her knees. 'He's always late.'

'I guess I shouldn't be surprised,' Ann said. She sat forwards again and fiddled around with the stream. 'Are you ok to start now?'

'What, on my own?!' Futaba asked, reeling dramatically. Ann considered saying something, but Futaba giggled her memorable hehehe and bounced forward, grinning. 'Kidding! Yeah, that's fine. What's the plan, boss lady?'

Ann started the countdown.

'The same as usual. Just talk about anything that comes up. Oh, and please try to avoid mentioning Ren. That is if you don't want the stream to lose all sanity.'

'Sure thing.'

Ann smiled. 'You seem much more comfortable than you were a few years ago. It's amazing to see.'

'Hehehe! I'm finally at level 100! I know I said I was a few months ago, but I've grinded and levelled up a lot since then!'

Ann knew which conversation Futaba was referring to, the very same one that had generated her desire to start her stream.

The Phantom Thieves had gathered to catch up a few months back, and the room had been abuzz with too many conversations to follow. So, Ann had zeroed in on the one closest to her between herself, Futaba, and Ren. Well, it had been more Futaba ranting at nobody, but they had been there too.

Futaba's rant had concerned the live streaming channel she ran, on which she streamed video games. Ann had watched a few of her streams and enjoyed them too, especially the ones where Futaba faced off with cocky people from social media because she needed to 'crush some noobs.' Most of all, she enjoyed seeing Futaba's improved confidence since their high-school days. When Ann had said as much, Futaba had said she was at level one hundred.

Futaba had been deliberating on how to diversify her streams. She had wanted to interact with her viewers more and had been toying with the idea of doing some 'just chatting' streams. Then she vetoed the idea because she had, in her own words, crippling social anxiety. She had groaned, flopped over the table, and claimed she was wrong, that she was still at level fifty.

But rather than let her wallow in her probably exaggerated self-pity, Ann had asked Futaba what a 'just chatting' stream entailed, and now here she was, a few months into her live streaming career.

Ann and Futaba chatted for the rest of the countdown, rehearsing a few topics they wanted to discuss. They made a few jokes and wondered where Yusuke was, and then the countdown hit one minute.

'By the way,' Ann asked, 'who did you ask to be the temporary moderator for today?'

'Oh, a combination of Ren and Mishima,' Futaba said. 'Which means one of them will try to do a good job, and the other… well.'

'Amazing,' Ann said, huffing a laugh.

The countdown hit zero, and with a click of the mouse, Ann and Futaba appeared on the stream. Ann waved. Futaba threw both hands into peace signs, grinning widely.

'Hi, everyone!' Ann said, and she reeled off a few names she recognised. She checked in on each person and awaited their replies, but she didn't receive many since most people were preoccupied with something else.

TrueLord: FUTABA!

MidnightSword: YEEESSS, Futaba!

Golden-Guy: Futaba-sama!

TheLocalFlorist: Who is she?

SilverDuck12: Is that Alibaba?!

'As many of you are already pointing out, one of my guests for today is Futaba, otherwise known as Alibaba. She is a mod of my stream and a very good friend. Say hi, Futaba.'

'Hihi,' Futaba said, waving frantically and practically leaping at the monitor. Looking at her, Ann could no longer even imagine the girl they met locked up in her bedroom. She was, indeed, nearing level one hundred.

'This stream is a little earlier than usual, but that's because we both want a good night's sleep. Futaba will be streaming tomorrow night when it gets dark. I'll join her, and we'll play some scary games.'

'I can't wait,' Futaba said.

'I can,' Ann said.

FrozenFire: One of?

'Yep, one of my guests,' Ann said. She glanced at the door. 'Another of my friends is supposed to join us, but he seems to be running late. In the meantime–'

The door gently clicking open cut Ann off. She turned, and Yusuke wandered casually into the room, a box in hand.

'Inari!' Futaba snapped, jumping up from her seat and throwing her arm out to point at him. Her empty noodle pot bounced along the floor. 'Where have you been?'

'I apologise,' Yusuke said, pushing the door closed. 'I decided to walk to save money. It was a longer walk than I had anticipated, and along the way, I saw the most exemplary formation of a flock of birds. As such, I chased them down to capture their image.'

Futaba hunched forwards, her hair falling over her shoulders. 'Of course you did.'

'Indeed. Ann, to make up for my lateness, I bought you a rather delectable-looking cake. I hope you enjoy it,' Yusuke said, passing the box to Ann. She peered through the circular, see-through film on top of the box and deduced that it was one of the more expensive ones from her nearby supermarket, coated in white icing with swirling writing that read, 'Happy Birthday'. It wasn't her birthday.

'Thank you, Yusuke, but–'

'But what?' Yusuke asked, blinking.

'You didn't buy a train ticket to save money, but you bought a cake?' Futaba asked.

'Precisely,' Yusuke said.

'Your logic astounds me.'

'Thank you,' Yusuke said.

Futaba sighed, slumping back into her seat. She draped her arms over the armrests and placed her feet on the edge of the chair, knees reaching above her head.

'Well, chat. I guess we don't have to wait. Here is my second guest, another friend of mine, Yusuke Kitagawa,' Ann said. She looked at Yusuke, hoping he would get the cue and introduce himself. Instead, however, Yusuke looked about the room as if he had just been mortally wounded.

'Ah!' Yusuke gasped, grasping his chest. 'No, no, the layout is all wrong! The shoddy aesthetics, the mismatched decorations, the colour scheme! What happened to my masterful arrangements when you required my expertise not half a year ago?! Did I not suggest painting the room a different shade?!'

'Yusuke,' Ann said.

'I cannot look at this any longer. It is a travesty,' Yusuke said, covering his eyes.

Ann, for what seemed like the millionth time on stream, sighed. But she couldn't exactly blame Yusuke for his antics. She had changed the room around, after all. After a lot of hassle. That hassle was named Yusuke.

After Futaba had explained to Ann the gist of a 'just chatting' stream, she had been immediately fixed on the idea. It was the birth of an unstoppable desire, so she had set to work right away, collating information and planning and gauging her fans' interest via posts on her social media. When she had started a poll asking who would watch such a stream, more than eighty per cent had said yes; when she had asked people for topics to discuss, people had answered seriously and thoughtfully; without her even asking to, her fans had shared her posts and promoted the stream for her. All she had to do then was set up the room and get started.

Ann had taken Futaba's advice when buying her equipment, which means the best of the best had arrived at her door by the end of that particular week. The best of the best within her budget, at least. After coaxing Ren into helping to clean, dust, and declutter it – which he had absolutely no gripes in doing – she had set up the room in a way that suited her. Then Yusuke had appeared at their door one rainy day – as Yusuke did – soaked and armed with several art supplies. He had set up a few of his oddities, stared at the result through a square made by his fingers, then rearranged the entire room because, apparently, their sense of aesthetics was as tacky as Madarame's Palace – which was hurtful. Ren had to tell Yusuke he couldn't move the desk because it was bolted to the floor more than once.

They had changed the room back after Yusuke left. Well, they had changed it back after they fed him, and then he left. That man was seriously going to starve one day. But, Ann supposed, that was just Yusuke.

'In any case,' Futaba said, tugging Yusuke's sleeve to pull him around, 'look at the camera. We're live.'

'Oh, we are? Excellent,' Yusuke said, completely forgetting his grave plight from moments ago. 'Shall I introduce myself, then?'

'Please,' Ann said.

'Here, you have this seat,' Futaba said.

Yusuke eyed the seat Ann had brought in from the dining room table, frowning.

'Why do I get the wooden chair?' He tilted himself over, looking at the underside. 'Is it from IKEA? Their craftsmanship is truly shoddy.'

Futaba just yanked him into the seat and pointed at the screen, telling him to get on with it.

'Well then. My name is Yusuke Kitagawa, and I am an artist constantly aspiring to achieve true perfection in my craft. I wish to uncover all of the mysteries and techniques concealed within art so as to paint a masterpiece to triumph over all others one day.'

'And Futaba?' Ann prompted.

'You all know me, but I'm Futaba Sakura, gaming prodigy, studier of cognitive pscience, and I may or may not work part-time for the Japanese government as a hacker,' Futaba said. She started cackling when the chat proclaimed their outrage and disbelief.

'I'm kidding, I'm kidding. If I was, I wouldn't be able to tell you that I am,' Futaba said. She paused a moment, then smirked. 'Or is that what I want you to believe, and I am, in fact, working for the government? You'll never know.'

'How very cryptic,' Yusuke said, folding his arms. 'Could you not spare us the mystery and tell them you do not work for the government?

'Inari!' Futaba said, slapping his arm.

'How dare you!' Yusuke said, turning away from Futaba and grasping his arm. 'What have I done to warrant such violence?!'

'You ruined my joke!'

'It was hardly a joke worth prolonging. Ouch! What was that for?!'

Ann shook her head, choosing to read the chat to avoid the argument starting beside her. It took a little while for the pair to calm down, as always, but they eventually did, and Ann handed them some questions she had been answering.

Per the chat's questions, they discussed Yusuke's and Futaba's careers, how each of their industries worked, and what projects they had worked on up until then. Yusuke talked about an exhibit that was to open soon, in which a few of his works were to be displayed. On the other hand, Futaba delved into a deep, passionate discussion about cognitive pscience and its intricacies. Of course, she phrased her studies as speculation and avoided any possible hint towards the Phantom Thieves.

And, of course, nobody understood a thing either of them was saying. Ann could let it slide in Futaba's case, but Yusuke had no excuse other than being Yusuke.

'It's actually one of the reasons I stream,' Futaba said. 'I'm passionate about gaming and the streaming industry, but my biggest interest is cognitive pscience. Thing is, I can't really make any headway into the industry without some monetary backing, so while I'm still studying, I'm building up as much money as I can while doing something I love. It's a win-win.'

'Quite admirable,' Yusuke said. 'Indeed, it would seem both of our futures have been paved by the legacy our mothers left behind.'

'Yeah,' Futaba said, and suddenly, all Ann could hear was the whirring of her computer. She decided to peruse the chat rather than say anything.

Poké-Master: I'm sorry if this is insensitive, but what do you mean?

Ann watched Futaba and Yusuke. They shared a long look, nodded, and both turned to the camera.

'Our parents died a long time ago,' Futaba began.

'Indeed,' Yusuke said. 'Futaba and I were both children to single mothers, Futaba for much longer than myself, who were invested in the worlds of cognitive psience and art respectively. Several years ago, we learned of the events that led to their untimely departure from us, and that only ignited the flame in us to follow in their footsteps.'

'Yep, it's as Inari says if you understood all that,' Futaba added. 'My mother's legacy is why I'm researching cognitive pscience. Simple as that.'

It was a given, at this point, that the chat soon filled with emotional emojis and stickers, something Ann had seen many times over. A few people even thanked them for sharing their stories, claiming they had also lost their families. It was a rather upsetting topic, but Ann couldn't repress her smile when she read the comforting, kind comments throughout the chat. None of them had anything negative to say, and no messages were being deleted.

Yusuke and Futaba responded to some more comments on the subject – some of which were to comfort and console others in similar positions. But it was not long before they were all smiling again, and this time, it came in the form of a rather interesting question.

All-Hail-LL: Yusuke, how do you view things like anime as an artist? Do you critique how they look all the time?

'It's not just anime,' Futaba said. 'Yusuke critiques everything. Your house, your clothes, your family. Nobody's safe. I even heard him critique a baby's chubby cheeks before. If I recall, his exact words were 'a little less flabbiness, and they would be perfect.''

'While it is true that I have a careful eye,' Yusuke said, 'I find that anime is an interesting avenue of visual entertainment. Yes, many can be animated more basically, but when you find one that captures the true essence of facial expressions, and colour scheme, one that is teeming with passion and life, it is a rather excellent viewing experience. Of course, I only watch anime for research purposes.'

All-Hail-LL: And what about live-action?

'I hold a similar view, of course,' Yusuke said. 'I mostly watch only for research purposes.'

'Have you not started watching Phoenix Ranger Featherman with me recently? Purely for entertainment?' Futaba asked.

'That is different,' Yusuke said. 'I had no say in the matter. You practically forced me into it.'

'Whatever you say.' Futaba looked away from Yusuke, grinning.

She paused.

'Feather Pheasant is the worst.'

'Lies!' Yusuke shouted, jumping up from his seat. 'I shan't accept such slander to the good name of Feather Pheasant! He is the single best ranger of them all! Not only do his attacks possess such precise, blissful finesse, but his appreciation for the natural world is to be admired! Revered, even!'

'You just like him because he's an artist,' Futaba said.

'And what of it?!'

'Phoenix Toucan is better.'

'How dare you! Fine, then! In what manner is Phoenix Toucan superior to Pheasant?!'

And so began yet another argument between the two centred around Featherman. Futaba argued that Toucan was smarter and that they wouldn't be able to get much done without her. Yusuke's counterargument was how beautiful real-life pheasants were. Ann just dug into a slice of the cake, cherishing the delicious, sweet taste of Yusuke's empty wallet.

After about three minutes, neither conceded their point, so they asked the chat for their opinions, and Ann started a poll. As she expected, Yusuke's opinion didn't hold much sway over the chat. Somehow, though, they ended up in a 50-50 split, leaving the argument at a stalemate. Ann suspected a certain temporary moderator had a hand in that.

Mi'ladyOkumura: Ann, will any cake be leftover after the stream? I would love to bring some tea around to enjoy with the cake.

Ann smiled.

'That would be lovely, Haru,' she said. 'But Yusuke and Futaba are here. Futaba eats too much, and Yusuke won't let anything go to waste. There probably won't be any left.'

Mi'ladyOkumura: I will bring one over later, then. See you this evening.

'Oh? Are we all getting together for cake and tea with Haru?' Futaba asked, peering over Ann's shoulder.

'It looks like it,' Ann said. 'Finally done flirting?'

Futaba jumped backwards out of her seat and yelped. Her body fell into an anime pose, and her cheeks were scarlet in all of one picosecond. 'F-F-F-Flirting?! With him?!'

'Perish the thought,' Yusuke said.

Purple_Dancer: I can see it.

AnnFann101: Purple_Dancer Yeah, definitely. The chemistry is insane.

Endlave2011: SHIP! SHIP!

While Futaba and Yusuke howled in protest, Ann scrolled through her phone.

'Should we invite all of the – everyone else, too?' Ann asked. She paused, pressing her phone between her chin and her lips. 'Hmm, I'm not sure if Makoto will be able to get off work, though. She's working on a pretty big case. I'll send her a message and ask.'

'I've got Mishima,' Futaba said. Yusuke squinted at her, and Ann couldn't exactly disagree with his look. She wondered when Futaba started messaging Mishima in her downtime, too. But Futaba waved him off. 'We're hacking, uhh, I mean, modding buddies.'

'How very convincing,' Yusuke said, shaking his head. 'In that case, I shall message Ryuji and Ren,' Yusuke said. Ann froze; she could almost hear her neck creaking as she looked at the chat. 'Morgana is with Ren today, yes?'

Yusuke looked up, taking in Ann's expression, which she imagined looked somewhere between panicked and dread.

'What is the matter, Ann? Have you realised you forgot to pay your bills and therefore will run out of electricity soon? If so, I have a work around for that.'

Then Yusuke followed her gaze to the chat, whereon Ren's name was pasted all over once again.

MidnightSword: You know Ren, too, Yusuke?!

'Do I know Ren? Of course, I know Ren. Why would they ask such a thing?' Yusuke asked, tutting.

'They're obsessed with him,' Futaba said. 'Some of 'em don't think he's real, some of 'em think he's the greatest human ever, and it kinda gets outta hand.'

'Of course, Ren exists,' Yusuke said. 'And yes, he is the single greatest human being imaginable. I strive every day to attain as much beauty as that man. Just last week, he posed for some artwork of mine. Unfortunately, he wouldn't strip entirely, but a bare-chested painting was sufficient for the idea in my mind. Truly, that piece would only have been as good had Ann agreed to be my model. In fact, having both of them together would have been perfect, and if they had both agreed to bare it all, well, I might be looking at a masterpiece.'

Ann felt like she was ready to die.

Akiharabaki: Do you know Ren, Futaba?

Ann watched as Futaba slowly and deliberately clicked her neck and stretched her arms. She suddenly regretted ever inviting these two onto the stream.

'Ren is the greatest. A lot of you have seen how OP I am at games, right? Ren is on my level, and he's beaten me a few times. That's no joke. He's really that OP. Not only that, but he's one of the people I bounce my cognitive pscience research off of whenever I need to share it with someone, and he always provides brilliant insight and, and he's the reason I'm even here today. He taught me how to function in society, how to interact with people, and how not to be nervous in public. He saved my life, and–'

And Futaba continued listing off all of the ways that Ren was amazing. She continued for so long Ann couldn't believe she had so many praises to give Ren. Yusuke joined in then. Ann just watched and listened, feeling a new crack in her sanity every time she saw some new theory about him. Among the chaotic comments, one, in particular, stood out.

PhantomTheifRai: I FINALLY MADE IT! I FORGOT TO SAY, BUT REN IS REAL, GUYS! I VISITED LEBLANC LAST WEEK, AND HE REALLY IS THIS COOL! I COULDN'T TELL YOU UNTIL NOW BECAUSE MY DAMN WI-FI DIED ON ME! I REPEAT! HE'S REAL! T_T

Ann knew she had lost control of the stream, but, honestly, a part of her didn't mind it. Hearing such praise about Ren, her closest friend and boyfriend, made her heart swell more than she felt her chest could contain. He deserved to be recognised like this, given everything he had done.

'Oh, your Wi-Fi died?' Yusuke asked. 'As I was telling Ann earlier, I have a fix for that.'

Hi!

I had fun with this one :)