Niijima Makoto put her best effort into appearing as boring as possible while opening Leblanc's door. All the while she imagined she was yanking it sharply and dashing for the stairs. Having finished preparations for their coordinated operation in Alice's Jail, Ren had finally summoned them.
She had been finding errands for herself throughout Yongen-jaya all morning, staying nearby so she could be the first one there when the team gathered. With police eyes on them, she couldn't spend obvious alone time with Ren, so these few extra minutes would have to do.
Futaba had waved her by on the way, saying something about not wanting to wait in a dusty old attic.
Once within the privacy afforded by the small café, Makoto quickened her pace, barely greeting Sakura-san as she headed for the stairs.
Though there were no customers to bother, she tried to be light on her feet as she ascended.
Ren was looking right at her when she arrived, as if he had been watching the stairs the whole time from his seat on the bed. His face seemed to question at first, but then his upper body swelled with recognition and a smile somewhere between happy and naughty filled his cheeks.
He was on his feet quickly.
They met at the center of the room, each wrapping their arms around the other's waist. Makoto felt his hands resting comfortably at the bottom of her back. Hers did likewise.
"I missed you," he said.
"We just spoke an hour ago," she laughed. "Outside."
He responded with an arched eyebrow and a lopsided grin.
"But I know what you mean," she conceded.
Though they had met just around the corner while preparing for the operation, that had been different. They couldn't be themselves, at least not fully, not in the way they were used to. Now, like this...
"Yeah." It was like Ren was following her thoughts.
A few clangs from downstairs caught her attention. Ren let his hands slip from her, taking a step back. His expression was neutral when she returned her focus to him.
"It's probably just Sakura-san preparing for the lunch rush," she said. She hadn't meant to chase him away.
"I know," he smiled.
Of course. He lived here for a year. She was the on who was worried. It was kind of him to be mindful, but it must be disa-
"The others will be here soon anyway and there's something I want to give you first," Ren took out his wallet, removing two billets. He stepped forward again, taking her hand, turning it palm up, and pressing one of the vouchers into it.
Makoto looked down at the small slip of paper. It read "Dragon: Like a Yakuza," "Toyo Cinemas," and "July 29" over a QR code. A smile she couldn't suppress came to her face. She knew she should be turning him down—it was too risky with everything going on—and yet, the words didn't come.
When she looked back up at Ren, he was flushed and rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. He was glancing away from her. "So you like it? I was worried you wouldn't want to, right now..."
"Well, I really want to go." Makoto also turned away bashfully. "But I can't say I'm not worried about the current situation..."
Ren straightened, like he was about to deliver a prepared speech. "If Ann can hide Ryuji from the paparazzi, we can slip by a few police tails."
Makoto weighed the argument. Ann and Ryuji certainly stood out, but Public Security might make up for that in numbers over the opportunists who might catch Ann rather than seek higher profile targets on any given day. Was it really okay to go out like this?
"It'll be like a heist," Ren added. The warmth in his eyes and his charming grin were ever so convincing.
––––– ––––– –––––
It was hard to believe the Phantom Thieves were so conveniently loitering in one of the most well-trafficked accessways of the Shibuya Station complex. When Zenkichi first got notice, he thought the Tokyo PubSec agents must have screwed up. Hanging out in public? In a place so easy to hide a tail? Right after he even told them they were being followed?
However, now that he was hiding among the tourists and commuters himself, he understood. While it was fairly easy to keep an eye on them, it was hard to get close enough to hear them over everyone else. On top of that, to most people they were fairly inconspicuous. They blended in, even with a natural blonde and two of them dying their hair. Shibuya was just like that.
He had just finished digging up the rest of their identities. The redhead was the adoptive daughter of Café Leblanc's owner, now a Shujin Academy student. The other three were Shujin students too. How they fit in, he wasn't yet sure.
That was for later though. He couldn't let this opportunity slip.
Zenkichi squinted, as if somehow that would enable him to hear better.
He sighed.
This wasn't going to work.
He'd have to get in close and play it by ear.
––––– ––––– –––––
"My planters!"
Makoto watched Haru jog over to the closest bed of flowers, just past the Shujin Academy gate. The others followed.
It wasn't what she had been expecting coming back from Alice's secret room, but with Sophia claiming the birdcage was now accessible, she supposed they weren't in a rush to be anywhere. Between their operation in the Jail earlier and battling that thing just now, everyone could use some down time.
Makoto still wasn't sure about entering the grounds, even with Futaba's "permission," but it seemed the choice had already been made.
"Oh, they're not getting enough water," Haru's brow furrowed as she shook her head.
"I dunno Haru," Ryuji scratched the top of his head. "They look fine to me."
"Really?" Yusuke rested his cheek in one hand, his elbow being propped up by the other. "They are lacking a certain vibrancy from what I remember."
"I don't think anyone is tending to the soil either," Haru continued. "This won't do. We'll have do it ourselves."
"We?" Ryuji's voice cracked.
Haru ignored his interruption. "Ryuji, Ann, Futaba, and Mona-chan will help me down here. Mako-chan, Ren, and Yusuke—you check the ones on the roof."
"H-help?" Futaba grimaced. "Gardening? Like... with those big heavy bags and watering cans?"
Haru responded with a pert nod and an over-sweet smile, the one everyone knew not to mess with.
"What kind of Showa era punishment is this?" Futaba grumbled.
"Let's get out of here while we can," Ren whispered as he tugged at Makoto's upper arm. They began walking up the stairs to the entrance of the main building.
Yusuke was not far behind them. "I second this tactical retreat."
Inside the building, the hallways seemed dimmer than Makoto remembered them. The scuff marks, the wear and tear... it all seemed to stand out more. Was it because school was on break and they were lighting it less or was this something she just didn't notice as much when Shujin was her day to day?
Even Yusuke seemed to find the place uninspiring.
There were a few students roaming the halls and an occasional filled classroom, most likely people who failed their first term exams and had to take remedial lessons. Makoto recognized a couple faces but no one she really knew.
They seemed to curiously regard her and the others as well.
Maybe they should have taken at least one current Shujin student with them.
Makoto walked faster.
Finding the staircase with roof access was still automatic to her. She considered briefly stopping by the student council room on the way up, to see if anyone she knew was there, but if there were she'd have to explain why she had returned.
At least, that was the excuse she told herself for not visiting.
Opening the door to the roof and taking in the fresh air felt especially freeing.
Was this the way Ren felt every single time?
His deep breath as they stepped into the sunlight was response enough.
He turned to her with a relaxed smile. The bright midday sun caught the edge of his cheeks and several of the haphazard locks of his haircut. He was the very advertisement of summer.
Of course an image like that would elicit a smile in return.
Smiles turned to light chuckles.
"What are you laughing?" she asked.
"Why are you?" he responded.
"Well, it seems silly," her gaze shifted. "Coming up here, like we're still in high school."
"I am still in high school." The look on his face said he was teasing her.
"You know what I mean," she looked back at him. Her laughter faded. "It seems so long ago now... back when we used to sneak up here for lunch."
A side effect of the school officials locking the roof was that it became only accessible to students with lock picking skills.
"Feeling nostalgic now?" he raised an eyebrow.
"It's a bit too soon for that," she said with a short laugh. She brought her arms around her, holding each elbow in the opposite hand. "In fact, I'm surprised how I already feel so out of place here. I thought about checking the student council room, but..."
"But?"
"I don't know," she exhaled. "I guess it'd be nice to say hello to everyone but it kind of felt like I'd be failing to let go, failing to move on. It's not my place anymore."
"Hmm," Ren closed his eyes as a warm breeze swept over him. Wisps of his hair caught flight. When he opened his eyes, his lips curled into a mischievous grin. "Well, this is still our spot."
He reached out, clasping her hand, his fingers lacing between hers.
She enjoyed the secure feeling of his hand. "Still?"
"Still," he affirmed. "Whenever we're both here, it has to be."
"Ah," she smiled to herself as she dipped her chin and scooted closer to him, close enough to feel the heat radiating off his body.
He let loose her hand so his could rest in the small of her back, coaxing her even closer.
Perhaps what made her feel so out of place was that the people had changed. The locations, the objects, even the organization she had built, they were all shadows of something that only existed in time. They had moved on without her, just as she had with them.
Her and Ren however...
"Behold!" Yusuke's exclamation drew their attention. When they looked over, his arms were spread out, fingers extended towards the planters.
Makoto felt blood rush to her face. The roof had seemed so familiar that she forgot Yusuke was there too.
"He wasn't paying attention," Ren whispered to her. "He basically disappeared behind the air conditioners when we got up here."
Yusuke, finally regarding them, took out a small sketchbook and a pen. "Wait, when did you two-"
"See?" Ren continued. He let go of Makoto and took a few paces towards their artist friend.
She did the same.
Yusuke frowned and put away his drawing materials.
Looking at the planters, Yusuke hadn't arranged them in any configuration Makoto remembered, not even the one he had designed specifically for Haru almost a year ago. Instead, they were now partially stacked so that the overgrown vines hanging from a few spilled over in cascades. Whatever vegetable that was seemed to be enjoying the summer rains.
The plants that did not take well to being left to the elements weren't hidden however. Yusuke had also given them a prominent position in the display. He did seem to enjoy contrasting motifs after all.
Makoto took a few photos with her phone. "I'm not sure Haru is going to like this..."
––––– ––––– –––––
"Hey, Ren?"
Ren stopped in place at sound of Sophia's voice. Yusuke and Makoto were had just stepped back inside as he took out his phone.
With messages alone, Makoto had managed to convince Haru that there was little long-term hope for her former vegetable garden. Ryuji might be willing to heft soil in the yard, but having any of the continuing students sneaking up to the roof on a regular basis wasn't reasonable.
Once he looked down at his screen, Sophia continued talking. "Why did Makoto seem upset when Yusuke announced his plant arrangement?"
Putting it in a way she would understand was challenging. Ren spoke slowly, carefully considering each word. "She was embarrassed that we were standing so close together."
"But isn't she your girlfriend?" Sophia's asked. "Why is that embarrassing?"
"Some people believe couples should limit activities like that in front of others," Ren explained. "They call it 'public displays of affection' when done in front of others."
Sophia's pupils rose. She seemed to use the expression to telegraph her online search.
"Oh. I see," she finally answered. "So is Makoto one of those people?"
Ren wondered. Makoto was easily embarrassed, but he hadn't observed her reacting to such a situation directly. "I think Makoto is more concerned about not making others uncomfortable."
"Why do 'public displays of affection' make people uncomfortable?"
Ren paused, again trying to compose an appropriate answer. "Some people consider the behavior 'private.' They feel like they shouldn't be seeing what they're seeing. Some even find it distracting, making it even harder to look away."
"Yusuke didn't seem bothered," said Sophia.
"Yusuke is less encumbered than many," Ren chose to side step the details. "But I don't think Makoto was aware of that in the moment. She was probably thinking that it's worse when out with friends because then these couple-only actions can feel exclusionary."
"Then what about me?"
"Then what about me?" There was a dash more worry in Sophia's voice than normal.
It might have just been his own projection.
If Makoto forgot about Yusuke, she most certainly didn't realize Sophia had been there the whole time. He couldn't imagine she would feel comfortable being watched by their new AI teammate. However, it wasn't like he could just turn off his phone, not when it was Sophia's only means of existence outside the Metaverse.
"I think that's something we're all going to need to discuss."
Authors Note: My new head canon is that Ryuji, sweet boy that he is, does maintenance gardening on the planters for Haru, incorporating it into his workout routine. They don't get the same attention they got from Haru, but it's something. Ann and Futaba help sometimes, though Futaba mostly to criticize his attempts.