A/N

Woof. This one exhausted me. I tried to develop all 3 relationships through Ryuji's perspective. I have no idea if it worked. Love any feedback on my attempt.

Thank you to UltimateCCC and CrimsonDemon666 for reviewing. Thank you for the follows. All reviews welcome!

Ryuji knew.

He fucking knew.

How could you not? Did they really think they could hide it from him?

Ryuji Sakamoto was a lot of things, but stupid was actually not one of them.

If Ren Amamiya and Makoto Niijima thought they could hide the fact that they were clueless about darts from him, they were the dumb ones.

Ryuji also knew they had the hots for each other but that shit was more sad to watch than anything. Ren was attempting to be smooth but just came off like a tryhard. Makoto acted like an alien confused by human courtship rituals. It was like watching a three-legged dog teaching a blind one to walk. Cute, but tragic.

Ren needed his boy Ryuji to get his fly honey.

They were at Penguin Sniper. Ren was looking around observing the place and Makoto was reading the laminated rule handout at their assigned dart station.

Ryuji spoke authoritatively. "Guys, I looked up the rules online last night. I've got this. Let's start!"

They played 01 and Ryuji did a very good job explaining the rules. At least that's what Ren and Makoto told him. He wished they left out the parts about school though.

"Bro, you're actually doing a really good job teaching me. Maybe you could apply some of this energy to studying."

"Agreed, Ryuji is summarizing complicated concepts in an easily intelligible way. Now that I know you can do this, I'm going to expect more from your academic performance."

Goddammit. Shoulda just let Makoto read the rules.

He was looking at the flier while Ren and Makoto were taking their turns. Darts is a party when you play in pairs.

Hmm.

"Aww, one point. Ryuji made this look easy."

"I think you have to straighten your arm out more, Ren." Makoto looked over at Ryuji. "Ryuji, what are you looking at?"

"Ah, I was just reading this flyer." Ryuji turned around to show them. "It says 'Darts is a party when you play in pairs.' You team up with someone and alternate throwers when it's your turn. You still use the same rules I told you, though. I'd love to do this with you Renren but my leg's acting up right now. I think I need to take a bit of a walk. Give me a sec, guys."

Ren nodded solemnly. "Of course, man. Take all the time you need."

Makoto rifled through her purse. "Do you need any ibuprofen? Acetaminophen? I have a heat compress too."

"Thanks I'm good. Just need some time to stretch it out."

The blonde made a bit of a show limping his way to the front desk. When he was sure his friends weren't looking, he did his best Keyser Soze impression and corrected his gait.

He walked up to the front desk and waved at the attendant. "Hey man, can you do me a really big favor? My friends are crazy about each other, but they're awk as eff. I'm hoping you can do some darts promotion that forces them to work together and like…find out they like each other. You know, like in shitty romcoms."

The attendant gave a smile that was far too big. "How wonderful! Young love finding its true expression in darts! Bringing people together through games is why Penguin Sniper was started. Did you know penguins mate for life?"

"Sure, dude. So can you do it or not?"

"Absolutely. This will be such good press too! Where are they?"

Ryuji pointed over to where Ren and Makoto were throwing darts. Makoto laughed at something Ren did and he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

The attendant's smile widened even more. "If I didn't know better, I would have already thought they were dating."

He went to the microphone. "Alright ladies and gentlemen, in honor of our first week open we will be holding a darts promotion. We are going to select a station at random and have the players compete for a fabulous prize!"

He hit a button and some weird slot machine sound effect rang out over the loudspeakers. "We have our winners! Station 1 over there!"

The lights at Penguin Sniper went out and suddenly two searchlights turned on and were trained on Ren and Makoto. Ren looked like a cornered mouse swiveling his head all around and ready to jump. Makoto did another statue impression.

A confetti cannon went off and purple confetti slowly started to rain down on the two.

Oh shit. Maybe this is too much.

"We have our two contestants! So you both will be playing a game of 301 as a team! If you win, you get a fabulous prize! You also get to compete in front of the whole lounge! All our eyes are on you!"

Ryuji's eyebrows shot up. This is not what he had in mind. "For real?! You're just gonna freak 'em out! They've never played darts before!"

The weirdo's rictus grin didn't falter. "No no no, the added pressure will crack the shell of their friendship and allow the love to emerge into the wider world! Like a baby penguin hatching!"

I fucked up so bad. This is why I don't plan shit.

Ryuji walked back to try to salvage his attempt at matchmaking.

Play it cool. Play it cool.

"Hey dudes, I heard you're playing 301 to win some prizes and shit?"

Ren and Makoto turned to him and he saw their abject fear that appeared to lighten once he came into view. This was one of the rare times people had relief when seeing Ryuji. Faith even, that Ryuji would figure out a plan to make everything better.

Hooooly shit…..what have I done?

"Thank God you're here. We need your help. Your leg doing ok?"

"We don't know the first thing about darts! How are we expected to succeed at this task?"

Being an ex-athlete, the blonde actually had some experience coaching. He used to mentor some of the younger students in middle school. He kept in touch with some of them when he still ran track at Shujin and tried to give tips to help with their form. He winced thinking about them, like an old wound opening up again.

I should text Koichi and Sadao later. I hope they're doing ok.

Another thing Kamoshida took from him. Another thing the Phantom Thieves gave back to him.

Ryuji refocused his attention on his friends. He knew what they needed. He called out to the attendant. "Hey! We need five minutes! Got to get these two into playing shape!"

The eternally smiling man gave Ryuji a thumbs up.

Ryuji brought his charges away from the searchlights and assessed them. He had them do a few practice throws to see where they were at.

Ren was too impulsive. He operated on instinct and didn't take the time to check his aim or his form. He seemed jittery too. Whether that was due to game-day nerves, beginner nerves, or impressing-a-girl nerves, Ryuji didn't know but his boy needed to get his shit together.

"Ren, you need to get your shit together. You need to focus on what you're doing and get outta your head. Double check your form and aim before you throw." Ryuji demonstrated the form and aim check for Ren to see.

"Also, you're way too nervous, man. I think that's making you just react without thinking. Can you do that breathing thing to chill out?"

"Breathing thing?" Ren's eyes shone brightly with recognition. "Oh yeah sure. I'll give it a shot, Coach."

Makoto had the opposite problem. She was way too stiff and robotic. It was like she memorized a book on darts form and was focused on going through the steps exactly as described. It was making her throws awkward and Makoto responded to this by becoming even more rigid.

"Makoto, you ever had to compete in something like this?

She nodded. "I train in aikido and I've had to demonstrate my expertise in order to advance in belt color.." He thought he saw a teeny-weeny, smug little smirk.

Ryuji's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open slightly. "Badass. So how'd you prep for it?"

Makoto looked off to the side. "I practiced constantly. Usually 2 hours a day. 3 hours a day the week before a test. That's probably not helpful right now."

"Well, how didya feel after you practiced that much?"

Makoto's eyes met Ryuji's and he thought he saw a little fire in the smoldering redness. "Like it was a part of me. I didn't even have to think about it."

The blonde smiled. "Exactly. We got to getcha back to that headspace. I bet you're awesome when you're not trying too hard. Sometimes that can make things worse, you know." Makoto bobbed her head slightly and smiled back.

"Let me give you a pointer. When I was on the block, I would imagine myself running in a beautiful field to the end of a huge rainbow. I'd even say 'To the end of the rainbow' right before the shot to get myself in that frame."

Makoto blinked several times and took a few seconds to absorb what Ryuji said. "Did…did that work?"

"Fastest times on the team when I started doing it. Blew through all my old PRs."

It was Makoto's turn to look surprised. "O-ok. I will give it a try."

I think we got a shot here. These two are way more coachable than I was.

"Woooooh! Everyone's hands in the middle! Say 'Free Prizes' on three, team! One….two…. THREE!"

"FREE PRIZES!"

Makoto and Ren both laughed and looked more relaxed. The psycho smiler signaled to Ryuji that their time was up. The first person up was Makoto. All of Penguin Sniper had ceased playing their games and were watching to see how the teenage duo would measure up under the spotlight. A semicircle of people surrounded their station, silently murmuring to each other.

She was in the center of the searchlights and Ryuji could see her tense up again. He whispered loud enough to get her attention.

"Makoto! Remember!" Her head snapped in his direction. Ryuji mimed the gentle arc of a rainbow with his arm.

"To the end of the rainbow!" Ryuji saw her grin and she turned back to the dart board. He saw her whisper something faintly to herself and the tension in her body slackened. She threw the dart.

"15 points!" The Jester wannabe called out.

Makoto threw another dart. "10 points!"

She took a little longer with her next throw. "20 points!"

The brunette seemed disappointed with the last throw. As she walked back to the two boys, she clarified. "I was trying to get the bullseye. Sorry, guys."

Ryuji almost jumped with glee. "For real?! You got 45 points! We're off to a great start. You'll get it next time." Makoto looked surprised at his words of encouragment.

"Ryuji's right. I hope I can keep up the standard you set." Ren stated warmly. Makoto's cheeks turned slightly red and she wordlessly gave him a thumbs up. Ren chuckled and responded in kind.

Ryuji rolled his eyes. I've totally got to text Ann about this later.

Ren walked up and took position in front of the darts board. He mimicked Ryuji's form from earlier and threw the dart.

"19 points!" Ren readjusted his glasses and gave Ryuji one of his patented Joker looks.

"Don't get cocky, Renren! Focus!"

Ren was in the process of doing the same as before when a man in the crowd loudly coughed. Ren's head whipped around trying to determine where it came from and he almost dropped his dart. He recovered quickly and went through his form and aim check before throwing.

"20 points!" Ren's face was pure arrogance at this point. He made a show of cleaning his glasses and joked with the crowd.

"Gotta thank my doc for the new prescription."

The crowd laughed. Ryuji groaned. Makoto looked….well…

She looked fucking thirsty.

Ann's going to be so pissed she missed this.

Ren was getting ready for the next throw but then something disturbing happened. Another confetti machine went off a few feet behind Ren.

BLAM!

Ren dropped to his knees and hugged himself tightly in his arms. The dart clattered loudly on the floor. His face was screwed up in apparent pain and his eyes were squeezed tight. After a few seconds, the crowd started to murmur. Ren slowly opened his eyes and looked around as if he just realized where he was. He got up with a start. He sensed the discomfort from the crowd at the little scene they witnessed.

"Sorry everyone, my confetti-phobia is acting up again. I should probably ask my doctor about that too."

A few awkward laughs but the murmuring quieted down. Ren prepared himself but Ryuji noticed his hands were shaking. The dart was wobbly in his hands and his aim was off.

"1 point!"

Ren made a face and sulked back to where Ryuji and Makoto were. Makoto put her hand on Ren's upper arm. "Hey, are you-"

"I'm fine, Makoto. Just some nerves. Thank you for asking though." Ren gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Makoto didn't have time to press the point. She walked to the throwing position and started her routine, but would steal glances at Ren when she could.

Ryuji nudged Ren from the side. "Bro, do the breathing thing with me."

"I'm good, Ryuji."

"Don't eff with me. You look like a Parkinson's patient with those hands." Ren shoved his hands into his pockets. Ryuji turned to look his best friend in the eyes. "Do the breathing thing with me."

Ren met his bro's eyes and gave a wry little laugh. "Fine, I'll do it. So we inhale on the count of…."

Meanwhile, Makoto was not making it to the end of the rainbow. She was barely making it halfway.

She forgot to say "To the end of the rainbow" at the first throw.

"10 points!"

She then freaked out and said it five times in five different intonations.

"5 points!"

On the last throw, she didn't even look at the board and stared at Ren the whole time.

The last dart didn't make it.

"Uh….0 points!"

Makoto walked off with her head hung low. The crowd started to gossip furiously.

"What's going on? They're doing so badly now!"

"Did that dude have a psychotic breakdown? Is she having a mental shutdown?"

"Promise me we won't end up like them, honey. This is unbearable to watch."

This was going south. Ren was up next and Ryuji needed to make sure he was in the best mental state he could possibly be for this turn. They didn't need Ren Amamiya, delinquent transfer student. They needed Joker, the leader of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.

Ryuji placed his hands on Ren's shoulders. "Ren, this turn is do or die bro. It's us against the wall. We're running out of moves. Everyone is gossiping about us. The deadline is coming and we've got no other choice but to do whatever we can. Show these fucks our rebellion." Ryuji leveled him with the steeliest glare he could.

Ren was overcome with emotion. "Ryuji…you're right. It's showtime." Joker emerged, ready to ravage this game of darts.

"Hell yeah! That's cause we're the Phan-hmphpmhk" Ren's mouth covered Ryuji's.

"Goddammit Ryuji. You can never stick the landing."

Makoto walked over and softly spoke, knowing she was interrupting a brotherly exchange of their truest feelings. "Ren, I think they're ready for you."

Ren walked over to the throwing position. Ryuji whispered over to him. "Do the breathing thing!"

Ren gave him a curt nod and proceeded to do his breathing thing. He let loose the first dart.

"Bull! 50 points!"

He threw the second.

"Another bull! 50 points!"

He threw the third.

"Hat-trick! 50 points!"

The crowd erupted. A small chant of "Ren, Ren, Ren" broke out. Another confetti cannon went off, but it was much farther away this time and the confetti framed his heroic figure. Ren allowed a small smirk to grace his face. He put his hands in his pockets and sauntered over to Makoto and Ryuji.

Ryuji grinned. "Alright man, that you can be cocky for."

Makoto had that thirsty look on her face again. Ren was happy to let Makoto enjoy herself. His smirk slowly grew into a massive shit-eating grin. It took her a few moments to realize the object of her gaze was right in front of her, but once she did she slapped her hand over mouth and blushed furiously.

"Ren, I'm so so sorry!"

"Nothing to be sorry for. I'm glad you're having fun."

Ryuji rolled his eyes.

Bro, just ask the poor chick out. Seal the deal. I'm not putting up with this bullshit again.

They were in a very good position after Ren's last round. The king and queen of unresolved sexual tension only had 51 points left.

Ryuji turned to Makoto. "You've got this. Not a doubt in my mind. Totes Makotes."

She scrunched up her face. "What did you say?"

"I'll tell you later. Gotta win first!"

Makoto walked over to the center of the searchlights. She stood there quietly and seemed to be analyzing the dart board. She was very still.

And she stood there.

And she just kept standing there. Like a statue.

Ryuji shook his head.

We broke her. We broke the student council president. How the eff are we going to finish this game?"

The adhoc coach was about to walk over, but was stopped by his star dart thrower. Ren placed his hand on Ryuji's shoulder while he passed him by on the way to Makoto. "Leave this to me."

Ren walked right up to her. Ryuji held up a finger to Smiley McGee who gave a thumbs up and motioned to a few of the staff to give Ren some room.

He gave a small wave to the literally statuesque brunette. The glaze began to dissolve from her eyes once she saw his sharp outline.

"Ren?" He could see the panic was starting to set in again.

"It's ok. Just breathe with me." As Ren coached her through the movements, the worry began to fade. By the time Makoto finished exhaling, it had completely disappeared.

"Thank you."

"No worries. You've got this. We believe in you." Ren smiled and took his time walking back to Ryuji. Ryuji mimed the gentle arc of a rainbow again for Makoto to reference.

She didn't disappoint.

She threw her first dart.

"Bull! 50 points!"

Holy shit. 1 more point.

Ryuji turned to look at Ren to celebrate prematurely but….

His boy looked fucking thirsty.

He decided to let him enjoy the view.

The dart flew majestically to its target.

"1 point! That's it! THAT'S THE GAME!"

The searchlights went out and the regular lights went on. The crowd roared in approval. Makoto blinked several times as her eyes adjusted just in time to see Ren and Ryuji charge towards her.

"Makoto!" Ren enveloped her in a big hug, picked her up and swung her around in a wide circle. Their increased proximity was not lost on either of them and Ren quickly but gently placed her down. They faced each other with beer red faces and made some feeble attempts at communication.

"I-I-I'm sorry I sh-should have.."

"N-n-no it-it-it's fine-"

Makoto was interrupted by a hand flying towards her face. She grabbed the hand, pivoted her right hip into the assailant's torso, lifted and extended the arm to her left, ducked down and the unlucky fellow toppled over her.

That's how Ryuji ended up on the floor staring at the ceiling with the wind knocked out of him.

He smiled.

Makoto did not.

"Ryuji, oh my God are you okay? I'm really really sorry! It was instinct, I swear!"

He jumped up, no worse for the wear.

"Effing badass! That's why you're Totes Makotes!"

"Ryuji, what does that mean?"

"You ever heard of totes magotes?

Silence. Ren leaned over and clarified for her. "It's a stupid saying meaning totally or absolutely."

Ryuji went on. "Well, you're Totally Makoto so that's why you're Totes Makotes."

Makoto was still confused. Ren waved his hand. "Don't worry about it. This is a sign Ryuji likes you. He started calling me Renren after we had beef bowls together."

"Oh shit, do you think they caught that on video? I gotta see." Ryuji looked around for anybody with a phone and once he found one, he discovered that they had miraculously taken a video of the whole encounter. "Holy shit dude, send that to me."

Ryuji rushed back to his friends. "Dudes, check this out!" The video played and it showed Ren coming in and giving Makoto a hug and twirl followed by-to her horrifying realization-Ryuji coming in for a high five and then being thrown to the ground.

The blonde doubled over in laughter at the end. "I gotta make an effing GIF of this! Yo Renren, do you think this could be a meme?"

"Sure man, why not?"

Makoto looked hesitatingly between the boys. "Ryuji…aren't you mad at me?"

Ryuji seemed genuinely perplexed by the question. "Why would I be? I know you didn't mean it. You said sorry. Water under the bridge, like I said before. Most importantly, it was badass."

Ren turned to Makoto and snorted. "This is why Ryuji is my best friend. I've honestly never met anyone like him."

Ryuji was touched by the sentiment. "Back at you, bro."

Makoto raised her hand. They both looked at her. She fiddled with her phone. "Ren, Ryuji….this has been one of the most fun nights of my life. It's been truly enlightening and exhilarating. So…."

She took a deep breath.

"..can we take some photos to commemorate it?"

The boys then smirked to each other before turning back to Makoto.

"Totes Makotes."

"What Ryuji said."

They took photos all over Penguin Sniper. They made sure to take a victory photo for Makoto in front of the dart board. They took another photo of Ren and Makoto holding their darts and posing back to back. Ren took one of Ryuji posing with a hat and toothpick in his mouth, looking like a coach.

Finally Makoto asked to take a selfie with all three of them. It was a heartwarming picture, three teenagers having the time of their life. Except for the bunny ears that Ryuji gave to both Ren and Makoto.

They both laughed.