August 6th, 2016: Saturday.
Akira had never been to Meiji Shrine since he had come to Tokyo. There was never a reason to. He really wasn't one for prayer to begin with, and his experiences late last year had ruined what little desire he had to partake.
To say he was surprised when Ann of all people asked him to come to the shrine and pray would be a bit of an understatement. She never came across as being particularly traditional in that regard. Went to show how even your closest friends can still catch you off guard.
Akira wiped the sweat from his brow as he and Ann stepped up to the gate.
Ann said, "So you know how people will pray before they start working on movies so that everything goes well?"
"I do now," Akira admitted, taking off his glasses and wiping the fog off them. He was getting tired of wearing these things, but they had their uses. "Is that why we're here?"
"Mhmm!" Ann nodded. "I was thinking we could pray! It could be about us."
Akira grinned. "I'm flattered, Ann, but won't Shiho be jealous?"
Ann barked out a laugh and slapped him on the shoulder. "I meant about the team! It's important to think about the future, right?"
He nodded. "Yeah. So, where do we go?"
"Hm? You don't know?"
"Not really. I know we go to the shrine, but I've never done it."
"Oh." Ann twirled one of her pigtails. "Uh… I was kinda hoping you could show me?"
"Wait, you've never done it either?"
"I thought you of all people would know how to do it!"
"Is that why you invited me? Because you thought I'd know?"
"Well, obviously Ryuji wouldn't have known what to do," Ann reasoned.
"Way to judge a book by it's cover."
"Would you have trusted him to know?"
"This isn't about my trust issues, this is about yours."
She crossed her arms and huffed in irritation. "Well, I mean, someone around here's gotta know. Hmm… Oh! Excuse me, miss!"
Akira cast a look over his shoulders and saw the woman Ann was addressing… only for his heart to skip a beat as he saw Takemi come to a stop in front of them.
"Yes?" She noticed Akira sinking in on himself. "Oh? I'm surprised to see you of all people here. Bit of an odd locale to pick for a date, though."
"N-No, it's not like that!" Akira stuttered. He didn't notice Ann doubling taking at his fumbling. "We're just friends."
"You know each other?" Ann asked.
"First you ask for my medicine, then you come to a shrine to pray for your exams? You know, guinea pig, you wouldn't have to go through all this effort if you just picked up a book and studied."
"'Guinea pig?'" Ann parroted, giving Akira a look he could only describe as morbid curiosity.
He waved it off. "Long story, I'll tell you later."
Takemi said, "Shake the bell twice and put in your offering. Then bow twice, clap twice, and bow once again. I'm guessing that's what you wanted to ask, right?"
"Yeah, thanks. Amazing as always, doc," Akira praised.
"I know. Don't let me keep you."
She turned and headed towards the shrine, leaving Akira and Ann behind.
"Wait, she's a doctor?!" Ann asked.
Akira nodded. "Yep. A damn good one, too."
Morgana said, "She's the one that's been helping us with the medications. We never would have made it past the Castle if it wasn't for them."
"Oh, so that's Takemi, huh?" Ann nodded. "She's interesting. Wait… Mona, you've been here the whole time?!"
August 7th, 2016: Sunday
"I'm a little surprised, you know," Takemi said while going over the results of the most recent clinical trial.
Akira raised a brow from the bed. "About what?"
"I was certain that blonde you were with was your girlfriend," she teased, throwing a smile back at him. "Young guy like you would be lucky to get a girl like that."
He shook his head. "I don't feel that way about Ann. She's a good friend, but that's it. Besides, I don't think she's into guys like me. Or guys in general, really…"
"Shame," Takemi noted absently. "You two would have made a cute couple. Good news for me, though."
"Oh," Akira said, a note of disappointment slipping through his voice, but he tried to bury it down to be supportive. "Well, I wouldn't be too excited. I'm pretty sure she's already going out with someone, so I don't think-"
"Not that kind of good news," Takemi said, rolling her eyes. "You being in a relationship would make our medical trials difficult."
She leaned, dropping her voice to a husky whisper. "And I don't like to share my things."
Akira could feel his heart skip a beat. And he's pretty sure all the blood from the next beat rushed up to his face. "Uh…"
Takemi held his gaze for a long moment that felt like it was going on for an eternity before letting out an amused snort. It was possibly the most beautiful thing he's ever heard.
"You should see the look on your face," she said through barely concealed laughter. "I'm kidding, obviously. Let me know when you do get a girlfriend - or boyfriend, I don't judge - because I'd love to meet the person who stole my guinea pig's heart."
"Right, I'll keep that in mind." He let out a deep sigh.
Thankfully she didn't take his pulse after that. He wasn't sure he would have been able to keep it down to a normal rate.