Persona 5 © Atlus
As the de-facto leader of a group of vigilantes, being perceptive is one of Amamiya Ren's characteristics. Having been faced with many dangers that threatened his life, he's been learning on how to be more attentive to other people, should they ever pose another threat or maybe even the opposite.
Changes are easier to notice when they happen to those dear to him.
Morgana and Ryuji fight less. Ann has been eating less sweets and puts a huge effort on holding back. Haru slips in sharp jabs here and there whenever she's stuck in a conversation with people who are less than pleasant—with a sweet smile on her face. Futaba has a different gleam in her eyes when Sojiro's making his signature curry, something Ren suspects as an interest in learning. Yusuke is, well, still himself. He hasn't seen Sumire in a while, so he can't say a lot about her.
And then there's Makoto.
Their team's one and only adviser, their Queen. Always the caring one, her sincerity makes up for her awkwardness. She's strict, but in a lovely, charming way. She pays close attention to her friends, and tries to be there for them whenever they need her.
Yet, the same caring person has been keeping her distance specifically from him, always trying to cut their conversations short, limiting her visits to Leblanc, even after their impeccable teamwork during the Eiko debacle, her opening up to him about her dreams, and especially after they put Shido down and Maruki after that.
Ren feels hurt, to be honest. Makoto acts normally to their other friends, maybe she even spends more time with Morgana than with him now. He wonders if he's done something to earn her ire, be it on purpose or not. Racking his brain for anything that could've irked Makoto, Ren's attempt ends in vain. He has no clue on why she's been avoiding him.
By sheer luck, during one of his casual strolls around the town away from Yongen-Jaya, Ren spots a familiar brunette sitting by the window inside a café, concentrating on her books with her eyebrows furrowed, blissfully unaware of the effects she has on him.
Ren decides he needs to make up with Makoto.
Entering the café with his eyes focused on her back, Ren politely responds to the waiter, letting him know that a friend of his has taken up a spot and he is about to join her.
"I see you're on your way to betray Sojiro and Leblanc, Makoto."
Ren swears Makoto almost jumps at his sudden appearance, and if she hadn't recognized him, he might've ended up being a victim of her aikido. The way her eyes widen and an emotional glint directed at him make Ren's stomach churn.
He is not used to seeing her look at him with such gaze—he dares not to interpret what goes behind it, what disturbs her mind, but Ren wants—needs—to know.
"You caught me off guard." Makoto exhales slowly, trying to calm her nerves. "I don't see you often in this part of this town, Ren. Did you have some business here? Maybe I should leave to give you some space?"
"I was just strolling around, and no, Makoto, you're don't have to leave." Ren isn't about to let her slip away. "Is it okay if I join you, though?"
He can see Makoto hesitates, but breathes a sigh of relief when she nods. "After accusing me of betraying Leblanc? But sure, suit yourself."
Ren ends up ordering a cup of coffee, and after the waiter leaves their table, silence looms over. Ren rests his chin on his palm, eyes never leaving Makoto who's already focusing on her books and notes again. The sun light from the window illuminates her facial features perfectly, the slight creases between her eyebrows when she's concentrating, her red eyes that threaten to burn him in emotions he has yet to voice out.
The waiter returns with Ren's coffee, and he wastes no second to sip it. "Hm. Sojiro's coffee still suits my tastes better."
"I agree." Makoto nods, and even such a simple response makes him happy, showing how little interaction he and Makoto have had for the last few weeks. "The Boss has magical hands."
"Which makes me wonder why a certain patron of his, the Miss President, hasn't been visiting for a while." Ren crosses his arms, shaking his head in disbelief. "And now I found her finding a new haven, burying her nose in her difficult textbooks and notes."
Makoto's shoulders tense.
"Makoto, I'll be direct with you, okay? I notice that you've been avoiding me, specifically. I'm suspecting you even want to adopt Morgana now, with how you'd rather spend time with him compared to me. Did I do something to offend you?"
Despite trying his best to look composed, Ren can't stop his heart from beating faster. He has no clue on why Makoto has been avoiding him, and if he can be honest a tiny bit of fear looms in his chest. What if Makoto is distancing herself from him, and would rather not have anything to do with him in the future?
Ren can't have that. Spending his days without Makoto sounds terrifying.
"…promise me you won't ridicule me."
"I wouldn't dare risking my life against the Fist of Justice."
"Perhaps you do want to experience getting hit by my fist, after all?"
"I'm joking, Makoto. Sorry." Ren chuckles, trying to lighten the mood. He knows he's succeeding. "I promise. I know you have your reasons, and I'd like to hear that."
He watches her take a deep breath, putting down her notes. "What happened to you at the police station still bothers me."
Ren's eyes widen, not expecting that answer. Makoto continues. "When you showed up at Leblanc, all bruised and battered, not even fully conscious, I…I don't know how to describe how I felt. It felt horrible. All the regrets welling up inside when I saw you like that..."
"I was terrified. If worse came to worst, I would've regretted even thinking about that idea…" She doesn't meet his eyes, understandably so, with her voice shaking.
"Makoto? Please, listen to me." Ren says, all the playfulness gone from his voice. "You don't need to beat yourself over that. That was the plan we all agreed to."
"I'm aware, Ren." Makoto closes her eyes, massaging her temple. "I know we agreed to it, but it still doesn't change that my plan put you in so much danger you almost your life."
"Makoto." Ren calls out softly. Makoto still refuses to look at him in the eyes. "I knew how the plan would work. I knew I'd be put on Akechi's gunpoint."
"But it all worked out in the end, right?" Ren says, voice so soothing and a light tap on Makoto's hand sends warmth throughout her veins, replacing the anxiousness and guilt that have been haunting her for the past few months. "I'm here now, free as a bird. Also fully healed from all the injuries."
As if a heavy burden's been lifted from her chest, Makoto slowly exhales, slowly turning to face Ren. "You don't know how relieved I was when my sister brought you back."
She doesn't know that he knows. He remembers seeing her breathing a long sigh of relief when he returned, and he remembers seeing tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't show anyone if she cried, though. That remains a question he needs to ask someday.
"So, we're good again?" Ren asks, a mischievous grin makes its way to his lips. "Not gonna avoid me again, especially since I'll be leaving soon?"
"Ah." Makoto looks like she's startled by the fact. "Right. Of course. I apologize for keeping my distance from you, Ren."
"Just don't do that again, please." He pleads. "It feels lonely when someone you truly care about refuses to spend time with you."
Makoto freezes, and Ren is grateful that she isn't holding anything now because he is sure she'd drop it. "Makoto? Hello?"
"Ye—yes!" Makoto clears up her throat. "I'm not going to do that again, okay? Seriously, Ren, you should pay more attention on how you choose your words. Some may misunderstand your intention."
"Oh? Please elaborate on how they would misunderstand?"
From the look of disbelief she shows, Ren can guess that Makoto is probably thinking, 'Are you really asking that?'
"Listen, Ren."
"Yes, Queen."
"Ren." Ren chuckles at Makoto's tone. "Goodness, I don't know if you're just teasing or not, and I can't believe I have to explain this to you, despite me being the complete novice I am in the topics of—of, uh, this…"
Ren hides his grin behind his hand.
"With your choice of words, one might interpret that as you having some kind of, uh, special affection towards them, that goes beyond friendship. Since it's me, it's fine, but I suggest you to think more about you choose your words."
"Why is it fine when it's you?"
"Because I'm your friend and we care about each other?" The way Makoto replies quickly amuses and hurts Ren at the same time. "I won't misunderstand your intentions, but you've got to be careful when speaking to other people."
"But Makoto, even if you interpret as such, you won't be misunderstanding anything." Ren is sure not going to miss this chance. The chance he hasn't taken ever since the problem with Eiko, since Christmas, since his imprisonment. "Because it is my intention to convey that I hold some kind of affection that goes beyond friendship for you."
If it weren't for her joints, Ren is sure Makoto's jaw would've reached the ground.
"Now you know why your antics lately hurt me more than you expected."
"I'm sorry…" Makoto's voice is barely audible, and Ren suspects it's because of her overflowing embarrassment.
"Okay, Makoto. Please hear me out now?" Makoto's nod is so subtle but Ren doesn't miss it. "I was physically hurt during our plan to trap Akechi, and seeing how it's eating from the inside hurts me. I know it's necessary for our plan, and I was confident I'd survive, but if I knew how much it'd pain you, I'd try to help coming up with a less-violent idea."
"It's because I don't want to see you hurt, and because I don't want you to think that you caused harm to me." The smile on Ren's face is subtle, but sincere. "Ever since we helped Eiko get away from that host, I've been having this thought, but the situation after that with your sister's Palace and Shido after that made it difficult for me to bring up, so I think today is the right time."
Ren sees Makoto slowly scoots further, and he wants to laugh because he knows how flustered she is.
Cute.
"I'd like to change our relationship to something more than friendship, which is something romantic, but I need your cooperation on this, Makoto." Ren leans in closer. "Do you mind lending me your hand in this plan?"
Makoto's face has turned bright red, and now she refuses to look at Ren again. He doesn't really mind this time, though, his subtle smile turning into a mischievous grin.
"Makoto?"
"Stop it."
"Please?"
"Oh my God, Ren, stop it!" Hiding her face behind one of her books, Makoto has completely turned away from Ren. The Joker just grins wider. "You can't just say that so casually! I—I don't know how to respond I mean this is so sudden I didn't expect—"
"Alright, I'm sorry, Makoto. Just breathe, okay?"
"I'm trying." Makoto complains. "Wipe that grin off your face. It's your fault for dropping such a bomb on me."
"I'm making up for that time after we solved Eiko's problem and I wasted my time by not offering myself as your romantic study partner."
And now even her neck is turning red. Cute.
"…you know you're leaving soon, right?"
"One of the reasons I'm telling you this right now. I don't want to regret not confessing to you alone in my hometown." Ren replies. "Although my main reason is that I have romantic feelings for you and would like to be involved with you in a romantic relationship."
"Help me, Sis…" Ren would've burst in laughter if not for the adorable sight before him. "…and you do know I'm going to take my entrance exams as well?"
"I'm aware."
"We'll be living in two different cities, with a lot of stuff going on, and after my entrance exams, you'll be preparing for yours…" Makoto slowly lowers her book, revealing her eyes. "Are you sure you want to take on everything, at the same time…?"
"Well, all of those stuff with exams and university are for the future, right?" Ren tilts his head. "You know, Makoto, I'd like to be a part of your future, and you in mine as well. That's why I'm asking you this now."
Makoto knows she needs Diarahan, soon. That's a jab right at her weak point.
"You're unbelievable."
"I know. It took me a battle against a God and destroying a false reality to confess my feelings. Unbelievable."
"Seriously, no one can win against you, Ren." She's not wrong, in many senses. "But I guess that's what makes you…you."
"What's that even supposed to mean?" Ren raised an eyebrow.
Instead of answering, Makoto puts down the book she was using to cover her face earlier. "Ren, I'm still clueless about the world. Sure, you've helped me a lot to broaden my world, not to mention our friends in the Phantom Thieves, even Eiko, but there are still things I'm unfortunately not adept at, including—uhm, romance and stuff like that, so, Ren, if it's not too much a bother for you, do you mind becoming my study partner in that field?"
Ren's grin widens it hurts his cheeks, but he doesn't care. "Of course. I'll be your study partner for life, even."
Amamiya Ren, that is akin to a marriage proposal.
A/N: I've loved shumako for years and yet this is my first ever contribution for this community..