The Mystery of Ren Amamiya - Lightning99

Stream 11:

Sumire Yoshizawa and Takuto Maruki

Sumire stood quickly, rolled her chair back, and leaned toward the glowing monitor. Her ribbon-tied, scarlet ponytail flopped up and down as she nodded.

'Yes, exactly right,' Sumire said. Her voice sounded both passionate and intense. 'Gymnastics is not just about your physical ability, even though having good flexibility, core strength, balance, and other such skills are essential. It is about dedication, discipline, mental focus, and a lot of commitment. I, personally, have been doing gymnastics for years. It is not something you can do professionally on a whim.'

'I guess that's like any other sport, right?' Ann asked from beside her, reclined in her chair.

'Yes. Any sport requires such commitment and focus. How long have you been doing gymnastics, ACrobat?'

ACrobat: Three years last week.

Sumire clapped her hands together.

'Excellent! If you keep to your training schedule, you'll get to where you want to be in no time,' she said. 'Out of curiosity, what is your current skill level, would you say?'

ACrobat: I'm not sure. How would I judge that?

'Well,' Sumire said, stepping into the centre of the room where there was more space, 'can you do this?'

Ann watched, eyes gradually widening, as Sumire lifted her leg up and up until it was perfectly vertical, her ankle and toes pointing above her head. Now, if she weren't currently wearing gym leggings, Ann imagined she may have had more trouble completing that stretch, but that was a secondary thought to the main thing grasping Ann's attention. She found her gaze focusing moving to a certain of Sumire's assets that was now in clear view of the camera.

'Can you do this yet?' Sumire asked casually, telling Ann that she genuinely had no idea.

'Um. Sumire. I think you should be more careful. I imagine a lot of the viewers are staring at your… umm…' Ann said, pointing while looking over at the chat box, which was starting to fill up with laughing faces.

'O-Oh, yes.' Sumire lowered her leg, her cheeks pink. She sat down and stared at her lap, pressing her palms into her thighs. 'I'm sorry, everybody.'

'Somehow, I don't think they are too bothered,' Ann muttered.

RyujiSkullington: All of the viewers, huh? I saw that peek you took, Ann, don't deny it.

And then Ren typed.

Ren_Amamiya: Ann…? :'(

'Oh, shut up, you two! I was admiring my friend's physique,' Ann said, folding her arms.

RyujiSkullington: Yes. I was admiring my friend's physique too.

'Ugh. Touché,' Ann said, dropping her head. She looked at Sumire. 'I'm sorry.'

'Not at all. I can't say I haven't done the same to you or Ren-senpai on occasion.'

'Uhh…' Ann flicked her eyes between the chat and Sumire. 'You have?!'

'That's what friends are for, no? To admire when you look good and build you up because of it?'

Ann smiled, nodding. 'I suppose so.'

'Thank you for pointing out my mistake.'

'What are friends for?' Ann said, smiling. 'Anyway. You were saying?'

'Oh, yes. Since I shouldn't try to demonstrate any more stretches, I suppose I will move on to the next key component of an athlete's life. An athlete's normal diet.'

'Sumire–' Ann tried, but she lost her. She could do nothing to stop the redhead from listing her extensive breakfast, lunch, and dinner in full detail, going so far as to explain the recipe she used for each piece of food. By the end, Ann felt like she'd put on several pounds just listening to her.

ACrobat: I should eat all that?!

'Yes, I think–'

'No, no, please don't listen to her,' Ann said, blocking Sumire's face from the screen with her hands. Sumire giggled as Ann pushed her out of the camera shot. 'Yes, athletes have to eat more than normal to account for the exercise they do, but Sumire is an exception. Her metabolism is insanely high, and she is constantly training.'

'Yes, I train plenty,' Sumire said.

'To give you an example, pretty much all Ryuji eats is ramen, and he's still in athletic shape. Same with Ren. He only seems to eat curry, and yet he's… Anyway. I think the point is that you need to manage your nutrition according to your body. Bigger people need more food than smaller ones, so find what is right for you.'

'Sorry for trying to force my eating habits on you,' Sumire said, bowing her head. Her ponytail slipped over her shoulder, so she flipped it back. 'Ann is right, of course. I'm starting to think appearing on a stream like this is not my forte. I'm sorry.'

ACrobat: Not at all. Thank you for the help.

'No problem,' Sumire said, grinning. Then she laughed, and when Ann asked what was wrong, she scrolled back through the chat, pointing to a particular exchange.

RyujiSkullington: Stop making fun of my eating habits!

Ren_Amamiya: She's not wrong, though.

RyujiSkullington: Yeah, yeah, I know. At least I eat better than Yusuke does. I don't get how he's still alive.

TheMasterArtist: How dare you!

Ren_Amamiya: Oh, hi Yusuke. It's rare to see you here.

TheMasterArtist: Hello, Ren. Indeed, I thought I'd tune in. I am loaning one of Futaba's laptops. Fortuitously, I overheard my neighbour saying their Wi-Fi password aloud and thus have been able to connect.

RyujiSkullington: Don't treat me as if I ain't here!

Ann flicked back to the newest comments, laughing alongside Sumire. Then, in the next moment, she wished that she hadn't.

RenFan101: What were you saying, Ann? What is Ren? What were you going to say?

PhantomThiefRai: RenFan101 A PHANTOM THIEF!

RyujiSkullington: Yeah, Ann, what were you gonna say?

'Huh?' Ann asked, flicking her eyes from the chat to Sumire to the windows, slightly frosted over, the sky outside flecked with white, falling snow. Although, her cheeks were anything but the cold of winter. 'I-I just meant that he's in great shape too.'

RyujiSkulligton: Uh huh. Suuuure, you did. I think another word was on your mind, but let's leave it there.

TheMasterArtist: It is true that in terms of beauty, where Ann is the female definition of perfection, Ren is the male equivalent. He used to be on the childish side, but his emergence into adulthood has increased his attractiveness tenfold. They are both beautiful from a technical standpoint. Truly, as a couple, they are magnificent to behold.

'Yusuke, shut it!' At the same time as Ann shouted that, Ren also sent a message:

Ren_Amamiya: Please stop, Yusuke.

TheMasterArtist: I am merely speaking the truth.

Thankfully, the chat's attention went to a short exchange just below, giving Ann a moment to breathe.

AnnFann101: RenFan101 Hey! You copied my name! That's copyright infringement!

RenFan101: Who cares about that?! Tell me how amazing Ren is some more!

'Anyway,' Ann said, shaking her head to the sound of Sumire's laughter. 'Your diet is essential when you're an athlete. It's also the key to staying in shape as a model. I wanted to ask a friend of ours named Tae Takemi to join so we could talk about physical health in more detail, but when Ren asked her… well. She said no. It makes sense. She's not the most social butterfly.'

Ren: I didn't know some of those swear words…

'Oh my!' Sumire said, giggling.

'But it's fine. Physical health isn't all that goes into being an athlete,' Ann said. 'You need to take care of your mental health too.'

'Oh, definitely,' Sumire said. 'As some of you might know if you follow gymnastics, I am currently in my final year of a gymnastics academy. I have won several trophies, but it is more difficult than you might think. I have to manage my workload, training, caloric intake, sleep patterns, and so on. You have to take care of yourself in all aspects of your being. Sometimes, mental health is even more important than being in perfect physical shape.'

Sumire paused, her red eyes looking a bit more rounded and open.

'There was this time during my high school years in which–'

Sumire was cut off when the door to the streaming room creaked open. Both women spun in their chairs to find one messy-haired Takuto Maruki standing in the doorway, a lab coat draped over his shoulders, glasses askew, and a large bundle of snacks in his hands.

'Oh,' Maruki said, glancing at Sumire, then at Ann. 'Sorry, the younger Niijima-san let me in. Have I come at the wrong time?'

'Umm,' Ann said, sharing a glance with Sumire. 'Didn't we agree to have you over for a stream next week?'

'Next week?!' Maruki asked, flinching back, eyes flying wide. One of the snacks cradled in his arms tumbled from the pile, clattering to the floor. 'I'm so sorry. It looks like I messed up my schedule. I'll come-'

'No, no, not at all! You're free to join if you want, Maruki-sensei,' Sumire said. Ann nodded her agreement.

'Are-Are you sure?' Maruki asked.

'Yeah,' Ann said. 'In fact, I think having you here for what we're talking about will be very useful for the viewers. Since Takemi disagreed… Let me get you a chair.'

Ann jumped from her seat and headed into the living room, searching for a suitable chair. As she did, Sumire turned to the chat.

There was silence, then a gentle thunk on the desk.

'Would you like a snack, Yoshizawa-san?' Maruki asked.

'Oh, yes, thank you,' Sumire said, taking one with a smile.

The only sound for the next few moments was the rustling of Sumire's snack and the crunch of her biting into it. Then, Sumire spotted a comment.

Ren_Amamiya: Hey, Maruki. Did you say Makoto's there?

'Maruki-sensei, Ren is asking if you said Makoto is here,' Sumire said, covering her mouth.

'Oh, yes,' Maruki said. 'She had a lot of papers strewn about that big coffee table of yours?'

'She's working on a case,' Ann said, carrying a chair into the room. She set it down for Maruki, who thanked her. They both took their seats. 'I just asked her about it. She said the tables in her house and office are already full, so she's borrowing ours.'

Ren_Amamiya: I see. Tell her to ask me later if she needs any help.

'I'm not sure how much you'll be allowed to help, but I'll tell her,' Ann said. She didn't think it wise to reveal, live on the internet, that Makoto consulted Ren rather often when something stumped her.

'You… didn't know Niijima-san was here?' Maruki asked.

'Nope,' Ann said.

'Then did she break in?!' Maruki asked, eyes flying to the door and his hairline.

Ann laughed. 'No, Ren and I gave our closest friends keys to the apartment.'

'Yep, see?' Sumire said, taking out her keys from the bag at her feet.

'Would you like us to make you one, Maruki-san?' Ann asked.

'Oh, umm. No, that's alright. Thank you for the offer,' Maruki said. He opened a packet of crackers. 'Now, what was it you were discussing before I interrupted?'

'We were talking about mental health and how, sometimes, maintaining good mental health can be more important than physical health,' Ann said. She turned to the camera. 'For those who don't know, this is Takuto Maruki. He's currently doing charity work, helping as many people as possible, but he used to be a counsellor. So, I hope he can shed some light on our discussion.'

'I can certainly explain what I know,' Maruki said. 'From my experience, mental health is important to maintain, but rather than one being more important, in most circumstances, both types of health work together. Unfortunately, I can't give a general overview of mental health because the field is complicated to navigate. That is because people are so different. We deal with things differently, so what's to say that one thing that is effective for one person works for another?

'There are a few specific areas that contribute to good mental health, including having good relationships, exercising, eating well, and being able to express and control your emotions when necessary. This is according to many studies. But here is where things are a bit more ambiguous. Even if you don't quite fulfil all those conditions but are content with who you are as a person, what's to say that isn't good mental health?

'Of course, this is only my take on the matter, and a more accurate description might come from people more knowledgeable than myself. As such, and while I was qualified to speak on this matter, please talk to a professional if you are worried about your mental health.'

Finishing his sudden speech, Maruki looked at Ann and Sumire, who were smiling at him.

'O-Oh, did I go too far?' he asked.

'Not at all,' Ann said, shaking her head.

'That was very insightful, thank you,' Sumire said. She turned to the camera. 'Actually, Maruki-san was my councillor when my sister died.'

Once upon a time, Ann would have whispered her guest's name when they started talking about their past, maybe placed a hand on their shoulder. But she didn't this time. Something about her stream, about these deep discussions, seemed to naturally draw such stories out of them. And also, she had more certainly learned over the weeks that her friends were stronger than they used to be. Maruki, instead, raised his sympathies with her.

'It's alright,' Sumire told him. 'This was what I was going to say earlier, so I don't mind talking about it.'

'If you're sure,' Maruki said, dropping his hand from her shoulder.

'My sister died just before our first year of high school. I was so distraught over it that I attended counselling sessions with Maruki-san. However, I decided to ignore my grief instead of facing it. I acted as if I were my sister. It got to the point where I had convinced myself I was her. My mind was not in a good place, which was reflected in my gymnastics. I couldn't perform moves I thought I should have been able to. Essentially, I was lost as to who I was, and my gymnastics suffered as a result.

'This is a long way of answering your question, ACrobat, but many things go into becoming a professional gymnast or a sportsperson. Sorry, we dived a bit too deeply into the matter there,' Sumire concluded, having spoken eloquently and easily the entire time. She omitted the key, Phantom Thief-related information, of course.

ACrobat: Wow. That must have been hard. Thank you for sharing.

ShuGC: When you look at top-performing athletes, you often forget they're people too.

AnnFann101: ShuGC You're right. I know who Sumire is because she's won three big gymnastics tournaments in a row, but I never even considered she was normal, like us.

EnigmaticFish: Ann, you and your friends sound like you've been through a lot.

'Maybe EnigmaticFish,' Ann said, 'but that's a part of life.'

'Indeed,' Maruki said, leaning forward. 'Even I, someone who studied the subject, am not immune to life's difficulties. There was a time when, due to losing someone close to me, I wanted to save everyone in the world from suffering. It's a childish notion. I realise that, but that was my way of handling my grief. But I overcame it, and I am content with myself. I think that's a sign of good mental health. At the end of the day, life goes on, and we must go with it.'

Maria_2001: How did you get through it all? I just lost a family member and don't know what to do with myself. I've got coursework due soon, but all I want to do is watch your streams, Ann.

'How did we get through it all?' Ann asked. 'I think you both should answer this one. I've already explained how I did.'

'Please, you first, Yoshizawa-san,' Maruki said.

'Thank you,' Sumire said. 'Somebody close to me,' – she looked at Ann, who shook her head – 'a Senpai of mine helped me through it. He spent time with me when I pretended to be my sister and supported me when I returned to myself. He and his friends were there for me in my darkest time.'

'It's the same for me,' Maruki said. 'This same person Yoshizawa-san is referring to set his ideals against mine. He challenged my warped goals with his resolve and made me realise I couldn't save everyone. We even had a punch-out at the end, and he was the last one standing. He and his friends truly saved me. So, try to surround yourself with people who will support you in your time of need. It helps more than you realise.'

Ann had wanted to keep Ren's name out of the discussion, but then a message popped into the chat, and her plan failed.

RenFan101: Was this person that helped you Ren, by any chance?

'Oh? How did you know that?' Maruki asked, and it was then that Ann realised she hadn't given Maruki the Ren talk. She slapped a palm to her forehead.

PhantomThiefRai: OH SHIT! Ren 'set his ideals against yours' did he, Maruki-san?!

PhantomThiefRai: You see what I'm putting down here? Huh? HUH?!

EnigmaticFish: PhantomTheifRai I've picked up what you put down. You may have been right all this time.

Sumire giggled to herself while Maruki fiddled with his glasses and squinted at the screen.

'What is going on here? Why is everyone talking about Amamiya-san suddenly?' he asked.

'Just don't ask,' Ann said, sighing. 'More importantly, don't you think it's a little insensitive to talk about this when Sumire and Maruki just opened their hearts to you, chat? Huh?'

That, it seemed, was enough deterrent to delay their Ren ramblings for yet another stream. Ann let herself breathe a little easier, knowing she didn't have to play mind games for the day. But now that Ren being a Phantom Thief was in his head, she knew Rai would be more persistent than ever. She needed a plan.