A month had passed since Kanzaku Okurama's mental shutdown. Before meeting up with Haru, he was at the movie store, with his hood up trying to conceal his identity. "You should go with something scary. How about a horror movie? " Morgana suggested. "If there's a girl you like, you should scare her enough to make her want to hold you. That's how I plan to win Lady Ann over when I'm human. " Morgana said as she dragged over the perfect movie for him.
Sometime later, as Ren met up with Haru, her father's death was still fresh in her mind. Haru told herself she needed to be strong and learn to think for herself. Today was a meeting with Takakura. She had finished grinding her home-grown coffee beans. "Don't be nervous, " Haru said to herself. As the kettle let out a whistle, she poured the hot water across three cups perfectly filled. Takakura had just shown up as Haru sat the cups down in front of them. She had taken a seat next to Ren, still feeling nervous. "What business did you have with me? " President Takakura asked.
"Sorry to drag you away from your important meetings, " Haru mentioned. But he saw it as no problem. "The thing is, I don't trust anyone at Okurama Foods anymore. " She continued, as Ren reminded her he was there for her. "What do you think of the coffee? " She mustered up the courage to ask.
Takakura had taken the first sip of her coffee. "You grew these beans yourself? " he then asked. "Yes, my goal is to open up my own small café. " Haru began. "Interesting. " Takaura observed. As Haru began to feel even more nervous. "I was planning on modeling the business after your grandfather's café. "
"I'm here for you, Haru, " Ren reassured. "Oh! Umm.. yes, " Haru continued. "This flavor and aroma reminds me of your grandfather's small café. " He continued, "you have done well. Your grandfather and father would be proud. " "Really?! " As Takaura nodded his head, "and I do believe several apologies are in order. " He continued, "first I thought your late father's shares would have been a burden on you. I was wrong, especially considering the public image of Okurama foods. " Haru nodded, "we will work together to restore public trust. " Haru reassured him. "And second, what are your thoughts on Sugimura? "
"My thoughts, well I think he's a good person, but I don't really like him like that at all. " Haru responded, "I only agreed to the arranged marriage to please father. " Haru hung her head, "but he said he had a contract, and if I didn't fulfill it, the company would be in shambles. "
"Besides, Sugimura doesn't deserve a beautiful girl like Haru! " Ren added. 'Huh! Did he just say I was beautiful? ' Haru thought to herself.
"Have you ever seen this contract? " he then had to ask. "No, I haven't, " Haru responded. "Well, I thought that you two would have been happy together. But I was wrong; it seems you prefer the company of this young man next to you. "
"W…" What?! " Haru said in shock, "if that's true, then I'll make arrangements to call off the wedding. "
"Thank you! " Haru exclaimed in excitement.
"No, thank you for the coffee, and I would be happy to take on this future business venture. " As they both watched Takakura take his leave. "You did well, Haru, " Ren said, barely able to contain his excitement. "Thank you! " She responded, "and I'm beginning to think about what Takakura-san said. Not only that, but what you said. Do you really see me that way? " As Haru found herself blushing. "I do, I really like you, and I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to LeBlanc for a date? " Ren asked.
"Of course, because I really like you too. Looking at you, I get butterflies in my stomach. " Haru said while still blushing and smiling. "I don't know how much the maids here heard or know. " Both Ren and Haru make their way to the station, bound for Yogen-Jaya.
Ren opens the door, "ladies first, " he said.
"Thank you, " Haru said. As she takes a seat in the unoccupied middle booth, "going to spend some time with her? " Sojiro asked with a smile, Ren nodded his head. "Well alright, I'll let you two be then, " as Sojiro closed up early, and Ren prepared two plates of curry. He started looking at the coffee, and he saw the blue mountain beans "Sojiro would turn me into my parole officer faster than my head would roll if I even touched those beans. " Ren said to himself, and instead settled on two house blends.
After fifteen minutes had passed, the fresh batch of curry was ready. He made two plates. Then he brewed two fresh cups of coffee, using the same coffee skills Sojiro had taught him. And he served his date first, "thank you, " she said, and then himself.
She took the first sip, realizing it put the cup she brewed to shame. "This is a great cup of coffee, Ren-Kun, " Haru said. "I was always told it pairs well with the curry, " Ren suggested, "and a certain not-kitty suggested a horror movie. I don't know why. " He was also warning nervously.
"Hey! You know I'm not a cat! " Morgana said from afar. "Besides, I suggested it to help make your move on your date. " As Ren thought back to before, he had to meet up with Haru.
"I thought you went with Sojiro, " Ren deadpanned. "Mona-chan has great taste; I do like horror movies. "
"That's great because he and I both picked out the bloodiest, goriest, and scariest movie available. " Ren said, "you have my undivided attention. " Haru said, full of excitement.
'Oh my God! This curry is even more delicious than I realized. ' Haru thought to herself.
Ren noticed that Haru had curry next to her lip. He took a napkin and wiped Haru's lip. She expressed some disappointment, hoping the boy she liked would have come over and kissed her.
They both finished their plates and coffee. Ren took the dishes away. "I'll meet you upstairs, " he said. As Ren took care of the dishes, cleaning up the soiled plates and coffee maker, I make sure it's ready for use by Sojiro tomorrow.
With everything squared away and ready for tomorrow's business, he heads upstairs, where his date awaits. "Oh, I'm so excited for this, Ren-kun, " Haru said.
Ren popped in a copy of "Cannibal Holocaust" and immediately pressed play. "Why did I even suggest this? " Morgana asked, beginning to panic. "Does it have to be this bloody?! "
"Here, why don't you go and visit Sojiro, " Ren said. Sending Morgana off and rejoining Haru, still engrossed in the rescue mission to find the missing filmmakers. Haru is literally on the edge of her seat, enjoying herself with Ren. The blood bath scenes were giving her new ideas on how to fight shadows in the metaverse. After 90 minutes, the credits roll. "That was great, " Haru said. "Thank you for everything today, Ren-kun. "
Ren took Haru to the station. "I don't want today to end, " Ren said. "Well, there's one thing I've been wanting to do since I noticed you wiped the small curry spot off my lips. " Haru said, throwing herself on impulse into Ren's lips.
Ren returned her kiss, still tasting his curry and coffee on her lips. "I'll see you again soon, Ren-kun, " as she boarded her train back to her home.
As Ren made his way back to LeBlanc, his phone went off. "Hello, Ren-kun? " Haru said over the phone.
"Speaking, " Ren said. "I want to thank you for today. It meant a lot, between the meeting and our date. I believe that not only have I found my true purpose, but a chance at real love. " A brief pause, "these butterflies won't leave my stomach. "
"Well, are you free for a second date? " Ren then asked. "HUH! O…Of course! " She said, excitement overflowing her. "But take care and sleep well, Ren-kun, " as Ren and Haru hung up the phone. He entered the empty restaurant with Morgana strutting in like he co-owns the café.
"So Haru, huh! " Morgana asked, Ren nodded as they both headed upstairs. "I heard how well your date went while I was hanging out in Futaba's room. "
"I guess you can say 'Beauty Thief' stole Joker's heart. " As he scratched Morgana in her favorite spot.
Haru returns home and changes into her pajamas. As she was about to head to bed:
"So how was your date with that young man, milady? " the maid asked. "Oh, it was amazing. I can't explain it, but the curry Ren-kun served us. It was better than usual. " Haru responded. "So, I guess I don't need to prepare anything for you then? " As Haru shook her head and dismissed the maid for the night.
Buzz* Her phone went off. She opened the message and read it.
[Ren: Good night, Beauty Thief. ]
Haru's heart fluttered in excitement, seeing an old codename she had not used since joining the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.