Thursday, 6/2 - 12 Days Until Deadline
Ren awoke to a sharp pain in his stomach. He rolled over to face his clock.
6:30 a.m… damn. When's the last time I ate?
His eyes caught the bag of bagels on his nightstand. He quickly reached his arm out and grabbed the bag, before opening it and withdrawing a bagel. He devoured it, not caring if he got crumbs in the bed. It's not like he would notice them while he slept anyway.
The only thing that stopped Ren's consumption was the sound of his apartment door opening. He looked up from the bagel. Although he couldn't see into the main area of the apartment, he still watched the door to his bedroom. The new sound of footsteps got closer and closer to his door.
Makoto? Who else would it be? I'm pretty sure she has the key.
Ren's eyes narrowed as his doorknob slowly rotated and the door creaked open with it. Makoto entered the room, unaware of Ren being awake. She had her back to the bed as she slowly cracked the door behind her. She wore her school uniform.
"Hey, Makoto," Ren said. He didn't want her to turn around and freak out when she realized he was watching her.
Makoto flinched before turning around anyway. Now that Ren fully knew who was in his apartment, he resumed eating his bagel. Makoto slowly approached the bed, letting Ren see the dark bags under her eyes.
She hasn't been sleeping well.
"Hello, Ren. Are you feeling better?"
"I guess. I'm able to think straight," Ren bluntly delivered.
Ren actually classified that as a problem. While he was able to think straight, his memories of the most important day of the past few weeks were fractured. He had thoughts and opinions on events that lacked context and outcomes, and that troubled him. If he wasn't aware of everything revolving around an event, how could he know he was right?
At least Makoto's here. She can answer some questions.
"That's great. Perhaps you'll be able to go back to school soon." Makoto did her best to sound optimistic, ultimately failing, at least from Ren's view.
Silence overtook the two, giving Ren a chance to ask the questions he desperately needed answers to.
"Makoto, what happened at the club?"
Makoto immediately looked downward. It was obvious that she didn't want to look Ren in the eye. That only made his questions burn more in his head.
"We were assaulted by Takata, Shirai, and several other volleyball players in the alley. I was taken to the club, and I believe Ryuji brought you after he found you unconscious. There… we… no, I owe Kaneshiro twenty million yen. If I don't pay him by the fourteenth… he'll need to make his money back with f-force," Makoto shakily said. She still couldn't look Ren in his eyes. "A-and he'll release photos of all of us with illegal substances."
It hit Ren like a truck. Makoto was going to have her life taken away from her because of him. If he had never provoked Yoshiro all those times, if he hadn't argued with Makoto in the alley, if he hadn't gone to those study sessions with Makoto. If he never told Makoto about Kamoshida's deeds and pressured her to take action, everything would be okay. If he had just kept to himself, everything would be fine.
He'd be a normal student, albeit a student with an assault on his record, but a normal student nonetheless. He'd hang out with Ryuji after school, enjoy his part time job at Leblanc, and play video games to waste time. The most he would have to worry about was his grades.
But was that true? Ren didn't know. Kamoshida's assault on Makoto proved that he already had an interest in the girl, and if she hadn't come back to Ren in the student council room that fateful day, would she have been okay? Would she have made it home that night? Would she have had the strength to tell her sister, leading to Kamoshida's arrest?
There was the possibility that Kamoshida would still be at Shujin if Ren had kept his mouth shut. But what did that matter to Ren? Kamoshida showed almost no interest in Ren, other than forcing Mishima to leak Ren's record. Ren could've been normal. He could've fulfilled the lesson that society gave him earlier that year with the drunk man: keep out of other people's business.
Now, sitting there in his bed, with a distressed Makoto standing in front of him, Ren felt inclined to agree. If he got through this, he could never intervene in the ways that he had previously. No more provocations. No more standing up for what he thought was right. No more reckless protection of others. Everything was off the table.
If I get through this… eh, what am I kidding myself. I'm such a narcissistic piece of shit that I make this about myself. I'll get through these next two weeks no matter what happens. What are they gonna do if a picture of me with drugs comes out? Put me on probation? This is about Makoto. She has to make it through, and it's up to me. It's my fault that everything turned out like this. I need to make things right, then shut my fucking mouth for good.
Ren looked up to Makoto, wanting to analyze her feelings. While Ren couldn't see her eyes, the body language she gave off made it look like she was on the verge of tears. Ren wanted to assure her that he would fix things.
"Makoto, as soon as I'm able to, I'm gonna call a GRAVY meeting." Makoto looked up at Ren and his suspicions were confirmed. Her watery red eyes looked down at Ren. "I don't care if it takes an hour or a whole fucking day. We're gonna get you out of this."
"Ren..." Makoto sniveled.
"No, you're supposed to agree. Everything will be alright. We'll put our heads together and come up with something. Got it?" Ren said with slight frustration. He didn't care if he came off too forceful, as it was something that Makoto needed to understand.
"O-okay," Makoto quietly said.
"Good. Focus on school for the time being, I'll focus on getting out of this bed. Before you know it, I'll be back in action and you'll be living a normal school life."
Makoto somberly nodded. From there, she said her goodbyes before leaving for school. Ren replayed the scenario in his head, wanting to make sure he said what he needed to say.
Ren had informed Makoto of what he planned to do but left out something that was lurking in the shadows of his mind.
I still gotta get revenge on Yoshiro Takata.
"Niijima!" The teacher yelled, pulling Makoto out of her nap. "What did Nietzsche call his concept of the superior human?"
Makoto groggily pulled her head off her arms.
"Übermensch," she flatly said.
"Very good. Now, class, what was Nietzsche…" the teacher continued their monotone droning and Makoto rested her head back on her arms. Now that she was awake, there was plenty to think about.
Makoto hadn't slept the previous night. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt the cold surface of the club table pressing against her cheek. The claustrophobic atmosphere enveloped her, even when she was in her own bed. She couldn't escape it. Instead of sleeping, Makoto had resorted to reading her school textbook and occasionally looking at the window to see the cityscape that was Tokyo.
However, she hadn't been able admire it. It was the same city she would soon be swallowed by, and she found no joy in admiring any city that could do that.
She found no solace in her textbook either. The words began to bleed together as the clock ticked closer and closer to the time she was supposed to be waking up, and to the day she would become Kaneshiro's property. Eventually, the words in the textbook began to resemble her own thoughts. She could've sworn she read something about 'it's your fault' and 'worthless bitch.'
She had closed the textbook and curled up under her sheets. She was so alone in her apartment. So alone in Tokyo. So alone in the world. In Makoto's mind, no one would ever know if she was taken in the night by Kaneshiro's men. While she still partially doubted that thought, there was one thing she was sure of: no one would care if she was kidnapped.
Sae would be relieved of the burden that was Makoto. Ren wouldn't have to deal with the annoying student council president, and the other members of GRAVY wouldn't have to deal with the attention-whoring girl that took their leader away from them. Haru would certainly be happy to not have to constantly talk about Ren, and Ann would be relieved that the girl who was partially obsessed with her boyfriend was gone.
Ryuji's words from the previous day were an obvious counter to everything that had gone through Makoto's head that night.
"We wanna help."
It comforted her. But just as she had closed her eyes, feeling temporary peace, the blaring of her alone made her flinch. She had started waking up earlier so she could check on Ren. Like everything else in her life, the fact that Makoto's alarm disrupted her sleep was her fault .
Checking on Ren that morning had been strange. He had assertively told her that he'd make things go back to normal, but Makoto couldn't help but doubt him. Her thoughts from her investigation into Ren resurfaced.
All he's doing is lying to me, Makoto had thought to herself as she stood next to Ren's bed.
She hated herself for believing that. It was the reason there was no one to stop her from being alone. Her suspiciousness of anyone around her was the most obvious indicator of her social ineptitude. It made her hate herself, her life, and even Ren for making her feel like that. Makoto tried her best to let go of that hatred but ultimately failed.
Everything will be alright."
It was what truly told Makoto that Ren was lying. Although those were the four words that she wanted to hear most, so much desire for the words had led Makoto to doubt the validity of them when they were actually spoken. That, in turn, led back to Makoto hating herself for her own suspiciousness. Not just of others, but of anything.
So when she had first rested her head on her arms in class that morning, she was surprised that she actually felt herself slipping into sleep. Makoto knew that she should stay awake, her grades demanded it. Makoto wasn't even sure if she cared about her grades anymore. After all, in two weeks, her paying customers wouldn't care about what she got on her spring midterms.
Makoto closed her eyes and let herself fall back asleep.
Lunch brought the onset of Makoto's investigation if she even wanted to call it that. She couldn't properly investigate a teenager having alcohol in his fridge, so who was she to take on a Yakuza boss and his adolescent underlings? Anyway, at the start of the lunch period, Makoto notified Yuriko Kuramoto's homeroom teacher that Yuriko should report to the student council room at lunch. Makoto had chosen to speak with Kuramoto and Takao separately. If they actually knew of their boyfriends' actions, they would surely try to create a cover story.
Makoto didn't have to wait long for Kuramoto. A knock on the door and Makoto sprung to her feet to open the door. When she did, she recognized Kuramoto. While she never knew the girl's name, Yuriko was in a few of Makoto's classes.
Yuriko had long, flowing black hair that went past her shoulders. She wore the normal Shujin uniform. There wasn't much else that stuck out to Makoto. Yuriko just seemed like a normal person.
Hopefully, she's nice, Makoto thought.
"Hello, Niijima-san," Yuriko said politely.
"Kuramoto-san. Please, come in." Makoto moved out of the doorway to allow Yuriko to enter the student council room.
Yuriko did that and quickly took a seat. Makoto shortly followed after shutting the door.
"You wanted to see me?" Makoto was thankful that Yuriko decided to start the conversation.
"Yes. I have a few questions regarding Yoshiro Takata."
"I'm happy to answer them," Yuriko said with a smile. She had gotten noticeably happier at the mention of her boyfriend.
This might be easier than I thought. She's been agreeable so far, Makoto thought to herself.
"Before I begin, I would like to remind you that you have no obligation to answer," Makoto said. She wouldn't have said it if Yuriko hadn't been so nice. Yuriko nodded. "Are you aware of what Yoshiro does in his free time?"
Yuriko pondered the question for a few seconds, her gaze shifting upwards.
"Hm… not really. When he's not available, he usually just says that he's hanging out with his friends."
Makoto, while not confidant in her ability to read people, believed what Yuriko said. The girl had been genuine to Makoto so far, a rarity among the student body.
"May I ask where?"
"Sometimes he mentions the Big Bang Burger in Shibuya. He doesn't tell me much else."
"Could you elaborate on that?" Makoto saw something interesting. Yoshiro lying to Yuriko could be an opportunity. Makoto could turn Yuriko against Yoshiro, and then use the girl against her boyfriend.
No, that's far too devious… but it may need to happen. I'm running out of options. Kuramoto doesn't know anything. If Takao is clueless as well, I'll have exhausted my leads with few results, Makoto contemplated.
"Well… when I ask him to come over, he usually just says that he can't or something. Sometimes I ask why and he gets a little defensive. The most he ever says is that he's with friends," Yuriko said. Makoto detected a little sadness in Yuriko's voice.
"Okay, thank you. Moving on, has Yoshiro ever mentioned names of people? Maybe in an angry way?" Makoto probed.
"An angry way… oh, there was the other day. That delinquent was rude to me and my friend. I told Yoshiro and he got really upset. Hey, you know that kid, right?"
Ren was rude to Yuriko? I need to know when. And why. It could be the motive behind the attack. But then why would they kidnap me? Wouldn't they have wanted Ren if he was the one to upset Yoshiro? Makoto asked herself.
"Niijima-san?" Yuriko reminded Makoto that there was still a conversation to be had.
"Oh, yes. Sorry," Makoto said as she nervously brushed her hair behind her ear with her hand. "Yes, I do know him. When was he rude to you? What did he say?"
"He, um… he told me to fuck myself," Yuriko sheepishly said. "And this was at the cleanup on Monday."
Monday. They wouldn't have had enough time to plan the attack, right? And still, why would they take me rather than Ren? More importantly, why did Ren say that?! Just to provoke her? Makoto was quickly developing more questions for Yuriko.
"Why did he say that?"
"I mean, I may have been a little rude first, but he knows his reputation, right?"
So she called him a criminal or something? That's odd of Ren to just snap like that. I guess the rumors are affecting him more than he lets on. I should ask, Makoto thought.
"Mhm. Kuramoto-san, did you speak to Yoshiro on Tuesday?"
"Hm… yes, I did. I asked if he wanted to get dinner that night and he just told me that he had big plans that night and couldn't."
"Did he ever mention wanting to hurt someone?" Makoto was keeping it simple. Even if she was starting to trust Yuriko, there was always the possibility that Yuriko would go running back to Yoshiro and tell him about Makoto's investigation.
"No, other than on Monday with that delinquent. Yoshiro was really angry and said he was going to find him, but when I talked to Yoshiro later that day he wouldn't tell me what happened."
Something happened at the park cleanup. I need to ask Ren about that, Makoto reminded herself.
Makoto had exhausted all of her questions. She learned little new or useful information. All the conversation with Yuriko had done was just give her new questions to ask Ren or new things to determine. She needed to find some use for Yuriko but didn't want to risk her telling Yoshiro about the investigation so soon. But time wasn't a luxury that she had.
Makoto then thought of Ren on Tuesday. He was upset with her for giving up Kaneshiro's name to the henchmen in the alley, effectively revealing her investigation to Kaneshiro himself. If Makoto directly mentioned Yoshiro's criminal activity to Yuriko, Yuriko was sure to ask Yoshiro about it. Yuriko was also sure to believe Yoshiro over Makoto, seeing as she was dating him. Makoto concluded that there was nothing else to be gleaned from Yuriko.
I didn't expect her to be this agreeable. Does she just want to be nice to me? Makoto asked herself.
"Thank you, Kuramoto-san. You may go."
"That's good, but I gotta ask. Is everything alright, Niijima-san? I saw you sleeping in class today. That's not like you." Yuriko looked genuinely worried for Makoto. Unfortunately, Makoto didn't have the time, trust, or confidence to appreciate that worry.
"Oh, you know. I've just been studying for entrance exams."
"Oh, okay. I can talk if you want. Anyway, bye Niijima-san!" Yuriko said before she stood up and left.
I hope Takao knows more than Kuramoto did. I just wasted time that could've been spent finding a way out of all this, Makoto told herself.
Makoto had told Takao's homeroom teacher to send Takao to the student council room after classes had ended. Makoto, for some odd reason, had found herself suspecting that Takao would completely ditch the meeting. She had expected the same of Kuramoto earlier, only to be proven wrong.
When the door opened, sending a jolt through Makoto, she was proven wrong again. Eiko Takao quickly walked in and took a seat and assumed the most casual position possible.
If that doesn't demonstrate the difference between Takao and Kuramoto, I don't know what will, Makoto mentally remarked.
Eiko hadn't even bothered to close the door. Makoto slowly stood up and walked over to the door. She looked down at Eiko. Eiko didn't notice, as she was content picking at her fingernails and popping her bubble gum. Makoto took her seat again.
"Hello, Takao-san."
Eiko looked up from her nail-picking. "What's up, Prez?"
Makoto opened her mouth, only to be cut off by Eiko.
"Wait, lemme guess. You wanna talk about my exam scores, huh?"
"Erm, no, that's actually not why I asked for you to come here."
"No way. You care about something other than grades?!" Eiko said astonishedly.
Makoto accepted the slight insult. There were more important things for her to think about.
"Takao-san, I have a few questions to ask you about Dai Shirai."
" Oh ." Eiko's mood immediately soured. She gave Makoto a harsh stare.
That's interesting. Did something happen between them? Makoto asked herself.
Eiko's attitude had made Makoto forget to tell the girl that she didn't have to answer the questions.
"Has Shirai ever mentioned what he does in his free time?"
"I don't know." Eiko was still giving Makoto the same glare.
"Takao-san, is there something wrong?"
"Oh, I dunno. Maybe it's that the criminal's little slut is trying to turn me against my boyfriend," Eiko waved her hand in the air to compliment her sarcasm.
Is that how the other students see me? Just some slut?! Makoto felt infuriated at the very notion of it.
"Takao-san, I can assure you that that's not-" Makoto tried to stay respectful but was cut off.
"Oh, bullshit. Don't act like you don't want us to be happy. All anyone's ever done is try to split us up! First, it was Ren and now it's you!"
Ren tried to split them up? Why? God, there's so much I don't know. If Ren was here, he could probably calm Eiko down and get her to answer the questions. But why would that be the first thing that Eiko assumes? I want to break them up? Makoto asked herself.
"Please, calm-"
"No, I'm not gonna calm down! Everyone told me 'No, Eiko. Don't date the criminal.' Well fuck them! I'm dating the criminal. And he makes me happy. He's the only one who cares about me!" Eiko declared. Her eyes were getting watery.
Wait… she said criminal. She wasn't referring to Ren. So she knows and apparently "everyone" knows. I should look into it. Maybe the rumor mill knows something about Shirai that I don't. I'll have to ask Noriko about that, Makoto realized.
"Takao-san, I don't want to upset you. I just have a few questions. If you don't want to, you don't have to answer them. You're free to leave at any time."
"I-I… fine. Say what you wanna say," Eiko said with a snivel.
Makoto was sure that saying the wrong thing would send Eiko out the door. She was also sure that the criteria for saying the right thing was very narrow. She opted to just ask more questions.
"What do you mean people told you to not date the criminal?"
"Ya know, like my friends. Everyone kinda thinks poorly of Dai, but he's really sweet. I don't care about what he does on the side," Eiko said a lot more calmly than before.
I'm surprised she answered that. Although she did dodge the part that I really wanted to be answered, Makoto thought.
"What does he do on the side?"
The glare returned.
"Like I'd tell you. You know what? I'm done here," Eiko said before she stood up and left without saying goodbye.
Eiko leaving wasn't that bad. Makoto believed that she could easily get whatever information Eiko could offer from Noriko instead. Makoto already knew what Dai did on the side. What Makoto really wanted was a third party testimony or evidence of Dai's criminal activity. If the student body knew about it, they would surely have some evidence of Dai being a criminal. Even if the rumors that the student body spread were full of exaggerations, they all did connect from the truth. While Ren wasn't a serial killer, he had still committed a crime, at least by society's standards.
Makoto decided there was no time to be wasted. She quickly sent a text message to Noriko.
Makoto Niijima:
-Would you be willing to do me a favor?
Noriko Taira:
-Depends on the favor.
Makoto Niijima:
-Could you ask around and find out if and why people think Dai Shirai is a criminal? I promise that it's important.
Noriko Taira:
-What's in it for me?
Makoto hadn't thought of that. Noriko had been agreeable enough during student council meetings and had never requested incentive. Makoto began to think of what she could offer before another text came in.
Noriko Taira:
-Joking. It'll be easy enough. Ttyl.
While Makoto wasn't sure what 'ttyl' meant, she was sure it was something along the lines of 'goodbye.'
Makoto put away her phone. The school day was over, and she had a job to do. She had to check on Ren, as well as ask him a few questions.
Makoto opened Ren's apartment door to the same old sight. Clean apartment, closed-door to Ren's room. She closed the door behind her before walking across the apartment to Ren's room. Now that she had actually spoken to Ren, there was a possibility of him being awake. She knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Ren's voice sounded from the other side. He had something Makoto hadn't heard in his voice in while: energy.
Makoto entered. Ren was in his bed, eating a bagel. Morgana was at his side, staring at the bagel and softly meowing. Ren looked up at Makoto when she entered.
"Hey, Makoto. How was your day?" Ren said. Makoto could tell that he was only asking to be polite.
"It was fine. I spoke with Yuriko Kuramoto and Eiko Takao today."
"Who's the first one?"
"Yoshiro Takata's girlfriend. The one you told to fuck herself."
"Oh. My bad."
"She was nice, Ren. You didn't have to say that, even if she was rude to you."
"In my defense… ah never mind. Not much I can say."
It'd be best if we move on. We can't afford to talk about irrelevant past events right now, Makoto thought.
"I have several questions for you. Depending on your answers, it may help me determine Takata's motive and history with Kaneshiro."
Ren gave her a blank look.
"What does it matter? His motive was to get back at you. He blames you for Kamoshida getting fired and arrested. Makoto, this isn't what we should be focusing on."
"I-I guess you're right, but I can't convince Kobayakawa to punish Takata and Shirai without solid evidence. I just assumed he wanted a motive, too," Makoto said softly.
"Fair enough. How's it going with the evidence?"
"No progress yet, but I might have something. There are rumors of Shirai being a criminal. We know that it's true, so the student body must have some evidence that we don't."
"Interesting…"
"Not yet it isn't."
A silence came over the two. Ren was under no obligation to speak, as Makoto was in his room. Because of this, Makoto felt the pressure weighing on her to make the conversation pick back up. Without thinking, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"So how's your head feeling?"
"A lot better, actually. I think I'll be ready for school in a day or two," Ren said with slight optimism.
Is the optimism because he wants to go to school or he's ready to figure everything out? Makoto asked herself, hoping it was the latter.
"Are you sure? Doctor Takemi said that you should spend a few days at home. It's only been two."
"I feel fine."
Makoto looked over at Ren's desk. If was truly feeling alright his schoolwork would have at least been partially completed. Makoto walked over to the desk and flipped through a few pages of Kawakami's makeshift packet. All the spots where answers should have been were blank.
"Ren, you haven't even started your schoolwork. How do you know you're fine without even using your brain?"
"I can just… feel it. Ya know?"
"Unfortunately, no, I don't. Just to be certain, I think I'll visit the doctor," Makoto asserted. She needed to make sure Ren properly recovered. It was her fault he was like this, and she was set on making sure she made up for it.
"No, I can just give her a call and-"
"Then you could just make up what she said. It's fine, I don't have anything planned for tomorrow. Besides, you shouldn't be using your phone anyway."
Ren just stared at her. Makoto wasn't sure what the stare meant, so she assumed it was guilt.
"You haven't been using your phone, have you?" Makoto suspiciously asked.
"Actually, no, I haven't."
"Then why're you looking at me like that?"
"I dunno. It's just kinda weird seeing you take control. You seemed kinda lost this morning, now you know what you're doing," Ren explained.
Is there a difference? It's probably because both conversations had different topics. This morning was about Kaneshiro, right now is about Ren's recovery. One is much easier to digest than the other. And for both of them, I can't fail. If Ren doesn't recover correctly, I'll be the reason why his life is messed up. If I don't find a way to escape Kaneshiro, then my life is over. I'll just be property , Makoto thought with a shudder.
"I couldn't tell you what it is, Ren. Go back to sleep. I'll visit the doctor tomorrow and come back here to tell you the results," Makoto said before she walked to the door to Ren's room. "Get some rest. Bye."
Friday, 6/3 - 11 Days Until Deadline
Makoto exited the station to the backstreets of Yongen. She had gone there directly after school ended. There wasn't a second to lose.
She swiftly made her way to the clinic that they had gone to that fateful night. Even being a few days removed from that day's events, Makoto still felt nervous walking up to the doors of the clinic as if Ren was still covered in blood next to hear with Ryuji on the other side. Makoto shook the image away and quickly opened the door. Doctor Takemi looked up from the reception desk.
"Niijima-san. What brings you here?" she asked plainly.
"I have some questions about Ren's concussions."
"Do you, now? Follow me to the exam room so we can have some privacy."
But why? There's no one here. It's not like I'll be here for more than a minute. All that I want to know is how much longer Ren should stay at home, Makoto mentally protested.
When Makoto opened her mouth to object, Takemi had already stood up and entered the other room. Makoto, seeing no alternative, followed.
The exam room hadn't changed since Tuesday night, other than the materials Takemi had used being put back in their places. Tae was already sitting in her swivel chair when Makoto entered. Makoto saw no other chairs in the room but figured that it didn't matter. It was supposed to be a quick visit.
"Ask away," Takemi instructed as she propped her shapely legs on her desk.
Surprisingly, Takemi's legs brought back Makoto's first memory of the doctor. Makoto had first seen the woman when they had burst through the clinic door on Saturday and gotten Ren onto the examination table. While Takemi had looked Ren over, Makoto judged the book by its cover.
Takemi's… intimidating figure had confused Makoto. While Ren had never told Makoto what incentive there was for him to test the experimental drugs, the sight of Takemi told Makoto everything she should know. This was Ren's type of woman. Immediately after Makoto thought that to herself, she chastised herself. Ren was out cold, covered in blood, and inflicted with a concussion and there she was thinking about what kind of woman Ren liked. In Makoto's mind it was despicable of her to do so.
Makoto had been able to push her jealous thoughts away to focus on Ren getting Ren home that night. Makoto wanted to ask him about it, but there hadn't been the time or place. She wasn't sure if there ever would be.
In the present, Makoto felt a few of those thoughts bubble beneath the surface. She opted to just not look at Takemi and keep her eyes moving around the room before asking the question.
"How much longer should Ren stay home? Today he said that he feels fine…"
"But you don't want to rush it," Takemi finished.
"Exactly."
"Well, his concussion wasn't too bad. If he's feeling fine today, I'd say… Monday. A few days just to make sure," Takemi suggested.
"Is that a guess or a proper medical recommendation?"
"Doctor's orders."
Makoto couldn't argue with that. While she wanted to object, Makoto was sure that Takemi was the only doctor in Ren's life. She also had more medical knowledge than Makoto, so debating the more knowledgeable person would only be a waste of time.
"I see. Well, thank you, Doctor Takemi. I really must be-" Makoto said as she moved towards the door.
"Hold on one second. sit down, Niijima-san," Takemi said as she set her legs down from her desk.
Makoto cautiously did so, taking a seat on the exam table.
"Is there a problem?"
"There could be. How are things between you and Ren?"
Makoto was a little taken aback by the question.
Can she tell that Ren's concussion is my fault? Did he tell her? No, he couldn't have. But why else would she be asking? Makoto contemplated.
"We're doing fine."
"Just fine? Nothing special going on?"
Is she- oh my god she is! Makoto realized, feeling her face redden.
"No there is not, Doctor Takemi. May I please leave?"
"Looks like I'll have to help the kid more than I thought," Takemi said as she turned in her swivel chair to face her computer and type something. "Oh yeah, you can go."
Makoto quickly stood up to leave before she rushed out of the clinic. She wanted nothing to do with that conversation or its origins, but that exact thing that made Makoto think.
Why did she ask me about that? Does… does Ren talk to her about me? And what did she mean when she said that she has to help the kid? I would ask Ren, but I don't even want to know, Makoto thought to herself.
She began to walk through Yongen to the station when a memory came to her. It was of her and Ren walking together back in April. It was after they had gone to Leblanc.
Leblanc! Ren had to skip work last night. I should stop by and tell Sojiro why Ren wasn't there and that he won't be there on Friday, Makoto thought before turning to walk in the direction of the coffee shop.
She walked through the door to the coffee shop. Sojiro looked up from behind the counter.
"Surprised you're not here with Ren."
"That's why I'm here, actually."
"Hmm. Coffee?"
Did he not have anything to say or does he just not want to talk to me? And should I really be drinking coffee? I've barely been able to sleep. I suppose it's still early in the afternoon. If I time it right, I could crash during the evening and go to bed early, Makoto theorized.
"Why not," Makoto said as she took a seat on one of the barstools.
"What's up with the kid?" Sojiro asked while he started making Makoto's coffee.
Makoto nervously shifted in her seat.
"He has a c-concussion. His doctor wants him to stay home for a few days, that's why he wasn't here yesterday. He also won't be here tomorrow. I'm sorry if it's affected your profits.
Sojiro chuckled.
"Don't tell the kid this, but in no way does he contribute to this cafe. If anything, he's costing me money, what with how many coffee beans he wastes with his amateur blends."
"Then… why do you keep him around?"
Sojiro shrugged.
"I've got the money and I like teaching him how to make a decent cup of coffee. Even if it's crap, he's still improving."
Ren probably wouldn't want to hear that. Or maybe he wouldn't care. I'm sure he's figured it out. He must notice if he's not contributing anything, Makoto thought.
"So how'd he get his concussion?" Sojiro asked, still in the process of brewing Makoto's coffee.
I led him to it. It's my fault. Ren would be fine if it weren't for me. I deserve everything that's coming to me because I hurt Ren. I- Makoto forced the thoughts away. She didn't know where they were coming from but blamed it on her lack of sleep. Ren had been supportive when she had talked with him, and he obviously didn't blame her. The only person blaming Makoto for what happened was Makoto herself.
"He was attacked," Makoto said solemnly.
"Attacked, huh? Did he win?"
Makoto thought of Ren's head hitting the wall and then him slumping over against the wall.
"No… no he did not."
"Shame. The kid could be a fighter if he really wanted to. He's got the passion, I can tell," Sojiro said as he finished brewing the coffee and began pouring a cup. "Speaking of passion, how's it going with you two?"
"W-what do you mean?"
"I mean, I haven't seen you two together since your date here. Didn't go well after you left?" Sojiro asked as he handed Makoto the cup of coffee.
It was quite the opposite. Makoto fondly remembered that day. It felt like it had been a lifetime since that day where they had made up for her birthday. But was it a date? To Sojiro, maybe. To Makoto, no. To Ren… Makoto wasn't sure.
"No, it went fine. We're just friends." Makoto accepted the cup.
"My condolences. That's worse than the concussion," Sojiro said with a chuckle.
"What's that ?" Makoto suspiciously asked as she took her first sip of coffee.
"The friend zone, Niijima-san. The friend zone."
What's the friend zone? Is that a place that friends go to hang out? Makoto asked herself.
"Did I ever tell you my name?"
"No, but your sister's a frequent customer," Sojiro said bitterly.
That makes sense. The coffee is really good, Makoto reasoned.
Makoto took a few sips of her coffee to fill the silence that came.
"Excuse me, but what is the friend zone?"
"Heh. I'll leave that to you to figure out. Best that I don't interfere anymore with you and the kid. Don't want to ruin his chances," Sojiro said with a hearty chuckle.
Makoto sighed. She would certainly look it up eventually, and she knew that she wouldn't like what she found. She finished drinking her coffee before standing up.
"Thank you, Sojiro. I feel bad for Ren not working. May I assist with any work around the cafe?"
Sojiro raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you feel bad?"
I can't tell him that everything's my fault, Makoto thought.
"I just… do."
"Eh. I got nothing for you to do. I'm sure the kid will be back soon. He'll just have to work a little harder and grow a little backbone. Maybe he won't get his ass beat anymore," Sojiro began getting lost in his own thoughts while speaking them aloud. "I should be teaching him how to give a beat down. Man, that takes me back. I remember this one time where…"
"Erm… goodbye?" Makoto said.
Sojiro didn't notice and continued his monologue. Makoto left anyway.
Makoto was laying in her bed, struggling to fall asleep. She had been home for a few hours after a quick stop at Ren's apartment to tell him the day he could go to school. He hadn't been happy but accepted the orders to stay at home. Makoto entertained that the thought that Ren wasn't feeling as good as he let on.
Trying to fall asleep was beginning to feel like torture to Makoto. She had indeed crashed from the caffeine that afternoon as she had planned, but now she just felt exhausted and her eyes hurt. Yet whenever she closed them, she saw Kaneshiro's despicable form in front of her.
"Twenty million by the fourteenth, Niijima-san. If you don't… you're mine. Shit, you're already mine. I might just have to take your sister as well…"
It was hellish. To reach the nightmares Makoto had to undergo nightmares. A sick joke is what it was. She almost wished that Kaneshiro had given her three days instead of fourteen. Every passing second was agonizing.
No, he couldn't give me three days. That would be merciful, Makoto thought.
What comforted Makoto a little was the thought of Ren assuring her that everything would be alright. He had sounded so confident in himself, so prepared to protect Makoto. Even if she had questioned Ren's intentions in that moment she still wanted to hear him say those words again. She almost called him until she realized that he was supposed to not use his phone. If she did call it would be selfish of her. How could she be selfish after what she had done? Her self-absorbedness had put her and everyone else into this situation.
Ren was going to be deemed a criminal for the rest of his life if those photos came out. He would be expelled from Shujin and sent to juvenile detention. He would never get a chance to truly live.
Ryuji would also be expelled. That would live with him for the rest of his life. He would have nowhere to go, nothing to do. His life might as well be over.
At least Makoto didn't have to worry about the school's reaction to the photos of her coming out.
She wouldn't be there to accept those repercussions. She would be preoccupied.