Chapter 62: Utopia
Saturday Dec 24th, 20XX Morning
Ren's eyes snapped open, fully awake. Rolling out of bed, he crouched, waiting for an attack. "Maruki! I-I gave him…"
As his surroundings solidified around him, Ren slowly stood up. Reaching for his bedside table, he grabbed at his phone. The memories had felt so real, so immediate.
Releasing a pent-up sigh, Ren ran a hand through his hair. The unkempt mess resisted him. With his nerves settled he stared at his phone screen. A little after eight in the morning. That was fine, it was a Saturday without school. It was the date that Ren couldn't believe.
"C-Christmas eve? But it's just… Just early December still, right?" But no, Ren remembered the past few weeks. He'd gone on a couple of dates with Sumire, been running with Ryuji, and… "Went for dinner with… who?"
Stumbling down the stairs, Ren made to question Sojiro but he halted. Futaba was sitting at the bar with the woman in his memories. That was odd. She looked oh so familiar.
"Ah Ren! There you are. We were hoping to catch a family brunch before you head off for your big day."
Futaba sniffed and wiped away a fake tear. "They grow up so fast, don't they?"
"Big… day?" Ren muttered to himself, but he did have an idea. He wasn't totally oblivious to the date. While drowning in manual labour in prison, he had plenty of time to fantasize about what he would like to do for Sumire if he got out again.
To them, Ren smiled. "You're shutting down the cafe on a Saturday morning? You really have given up on making money."
"Hey!" Sojiro protested.
"Anyway, I have to pass. I still need to buy a gift for Sumire."
"On the day of," the older woman gasped. "Sojiro has been a bad influence on you I see."
"Tsk, boy learned nothing from me, Wakaba." Sojiro was still talking as he pulled out his wallet but Ren couldn't hear the words. Wakaba. Futaba's mother. The Sphinx in Futaba's palace. "Here boy, 20 k. Make sure it's a nice gift."
"I-I will… Thank you, Sojiro." Bowing his head, Ren was moved by the gesture of sincerity.
"Ahh, I remember those days. Boy, I had to work myself to the bone at part-time jobs to pay for the dresses and the meals and the tickets… It's an expensive life being good with the ladies."
Futaba snorted. "Yeah right. You can't even treat mom right."
"H-Hey," Sojiro bowed his head, looking genuinely hurt by the comment.
"Oh dear, you have no idea," Wakaba gave Sojiro a sultry smile that told Ren all he needed and more about their relationship. "You'll want to stay away from people like him. It's a shame Ren there is already claimed."
Ren jerked. Futaba and me? The thought was alien. She had always seemed so young. Malnourished and sickly from stress it was taking her body time to start the puberty it should have nearly finished. Despite that, she was technically Sumire's age–only a year younger than him.
Coughing, Ren hoped to end that thread. "I'll be going then. Enjoy your meal. I'll make sure I'm free next time."
"Bye!" Futaba waved back as Ren opened the door to LeBlanc. "Don't forget to wrap it!"
Ren gave her a confused look back before the double meaning hit him. Face blushing, he fled. Sojiro started berating while Wakaba laughed. A perfect family with their rebellious teenage daughter.
Outside, the chill in the air bit into him. It wasn't snowing, but Ren suspected that it wasn't far off. They may get a white christmas. Rubbing his bare hands together, Ren almost turned around and went back in. Thinking about Futaba's next joke about him wrapping the wrong part of his body stopped him. Thrusting them into his pockets, he walked to the train station.
Nothing had changed from what Ren knew but… the air was different. Or rather, the people's expressions were different. No one was frowning or rushing around at their jobs. Ren watched as a man pushing flyers for a nearby gym had a jovial chat with a couple walking past. Ren was pretty sure he had never seen such an interaction before.
Shaking his head, Ren took the train to the Shibuya underground mall. There were a lot of things Ren was considering purchasing. Glasses, a scarf, maybe a necklace or bracelet. Maybe it was the weather, but Ren found himself drawn to a women's clothing shop. Besides, Valentine's day was only a couple months away with Sumire's birthday a couple months after that.
Ren stopped in place and blinked in surprise at the two women standing around and chatting. They appeared to be only browsing. On the left was a true beauty with long blond hair draping down her back. Ann Takamaki. A member of the phantom thieves and one of Ren's best friends.
It was the girl on the right side that drew Ren's gaze. He had spoken with the women only once. She had a curvaceous figure and wore a tight fitting shirt that accentuated her bust. With dark brown hair tied up in a ponytail, she had a pretty face and smile.
"Shiho…" Speaking her name, Ren walked over in a daze. Ann noticed his approach and waved. Both of the girls greeted him. "I-I didn't think you were walking yet. How are you?"
Frankly, Ren thought she looked fantastic. Her skin had a healthy glow, and she was walking with her chin up, a light in her eyes. There was no gloom or remnants of illness that he could see.
"Hmm? You didn't know? I suppose I did transfer schools anyway. But my injuries were fairly minor. I landed in a soft patch of grass. Lucky me that the sprinkler had broken there that day."
"O-Oh. Ann never told me."
"Ann," Shiho gasped smacking her friend on the arm. "You can't let people live in suspense like that!"
"I-I could have sworn I did though…" Ann frowned, her face darkening. She looked pensive. Then, it disappeared. "Sorry Ren. I'm sure Ryuji will tease me about this forever once I tell him."
"Yeah, Morgana too I bet."
"Morgana?"
"Yeah, you know…" Ren stopped talking, glancing at Shiho.
The brown-haired girl snapped her fingers. "Oh, that's your cat isn't it? But… umm, I thought he passed away?"
"Passed… away?" Ren mumbled, thoroughly shocked by the words. But Morgana was with us in the depths… What the hell? Ann said nothing, staring off in the distance with hooded eyes. "Sorry Shiho, can I speak with Ann privately for a moment?"
"Oh, umm… sure."
Grabbing Ann by the arm, Ren leaned in and whispered fervently to her. "You remember right? Where is Morgana? What happened to the world, Ann?"
She looked away, refusing to meet his eyes. "I don't know what happened to Morgana. You'll have to ask Maruki. But Ren, this world is better. Surely you can see that."
"I… I don't know yet." Ren admitted. He wasn't ready for the sheer hostility that entered Ann's being.
She grabbed his shirt, pulling Ren's face right next to hers. To everyone watching they probably looked like a couple. "Do not screw this up for us. We fought hard for this happiness. Shiho deserves this!"
Does she? Ren couldn't say the words–they were too cruel for him–instead nodding mutely.
Ann became aware of the situation and quickly let go of him. With one final warning glare, she swiftly walked away and caught up to Shiho.
Alone, Ren shivered and continued with his shopping. He picked up a nice red scarf made of a soft material that felt warm to the touch. Ren thought it would match Sumire's eyes perfectly. The clerk gave him a knowing smile and put it in a festive bag for him.
With that done, Ren went to a chocolate shop and bought some of the recommendations to add in. Just to double check, Ren made sure that he had his reservation for tonight. The restaurant wasn't exactly fancy, but it served large portions of chinese food and had a good view of the bay. Ren was sure that Sumire would love it.
Trapped in his mind with all his tasks taken care of for the next five hours or so, Ren found himself wandering. Back out in the frosty air, he lounged around the statue of Hachiko. Around him, crowds passed in a peaceful blur. No loitering, no arguments, not even a politician talking.
"Weird…" Moving on, Ren entered a subway line mostly at random. Halfway down in a messy hallway, Ren froze. It was a man he had seen before. Ren assumed him homeless as he always sat around here in an oversized worn brown coat surrounded by alcohol. "What are you doing here?"
"Huh?" The man looked up at him through squinted eyes and then smiled broadly. His teeth were broken and brown. "Ha! Would you look at this, someone actually talking to me!"
"I-Is it really that rare?" Ren asked, shifting nervously.
"Like you wouldn't know, boy. See, if they recognize me as a person, then they might feel guilty for not providing money."
"Do you need money?" Ren asked. He poked one of the empty bottles with his foot. "This stuff is expensive, isn't it?"
The homeless man unleashed another one of his broad smiles. The expression created a series of wrinkles so deep they looked like caverns. "Busted, huh? Government keeps giving me enough to live. Crazy how little money one needs when all of your expenses are food."
"And what about Salvation?" Ren asked urgently, moving in closer. "Hasn't Dr. Maruki done something for you?"
"Huh? The hell you blathering about? I will tell you though. This Winter has been fucking weird. Too many people walking around with no life. The little bit of fight left in our dommed ass country seems to have gone out."
"W-Why would you say that?" Ren was aghast at hearing the man's words.
In response, he sneered and popped the lid of a full bottle Ren hadn't seen. After taking a long draught, he sighed. His wispy white mustache and beard now had specks of the beer left behind. "I fought in my youth, boy. Real wars. Real stakes. The assholes in this country only know how to punch fucking numbers in on those computers of theirs until they die. They waste their lives! At least some were upset at their lot in life before. Now they all seem happy about it. Fucking idiots."
"O-Oh…" Ren felt a sudden rising respect for this man. He couldn't condone public intoxication but… Hasn't Maruki failed him? Feeling awkward, Ren got out a one thousand yen note and tried to hand it over.
The man laughed and waved him away. "I told you I don't need it. Thanks for living, boy. Don't let them steal it from you."
"I won't," Ren whispered. Turning around, Ren strode away, bringing out his phone. He had messages to send.
Saturday Dec 24th, 20XX Noon
As Kasumi stretched, she watched one of the two rings in the gym. Upon it, a girl was doing a hoop routine. Well, doing was a generous descriptor. She was a few years younger than Kasumi and had started too late to ever become elite. Her flexibility was lacking, she didn't have control of her prop and her timing was off.
Kasumi winced and looked away as the girl dropped her hoop and had to run after it. As she did, she noticed her coach walking towards her.
"Hey, Kasumi, good news!" Coach Hiraguchi said.
Pausing in her stretching, Kasumi stood up. "What's up?"
"Get a load of this, the scoring system for all official tournaments is changing!"
"Huh? But it's standardized to international competition currently. What are they doing?" Kasumi couldn't see how a scoring system that left one unprepared for international competitions was ever a good thing. Anxiety increasing, she waited for details.
"The Japanese body will push for everyone to take up their new system. It's a system where everyone gets a score from one to ten."
"One… to ten?"
"That's right," Coach Hiraguchi nodded happily."You see, we dropped the difficulty component and converted the execution into effort."
"I-I don't understand."
"Hmm…" Coach Hiraguchi stroked her chin. Then, she pointed at the girl who was trying her hoop routine again. "You see her? Previously, she would score at the bottom of any competition. The difficulty is only a three or so, and her execution maybe a five. Eight out of twenty."
"I agree."
"On the new scale though, she's probably an eight out of ten."
Kasumi jerked. "Stop pulling my leg coach. Very funny."
"Hmm? This… isn't a joke though? How aren't you excited? You've been here almost every day practicing. I just know you'll get a ten out of ten at the upcoming tournaments!"
"Me and how many others?" Kasumi asked sarcastically. Looking into her coach's eyes, however, her fear started spiking. Oh god, she is serious.
"Well, probably… a quarter? It's hard to say at this point. Probably won't know until the first tournament is judged."
"Oh? So I'm tied with the top quarter of the field?" Kasumi growled.
Coach Hiraguchi gave her a pained expression. "Why are you upset? You sound like you want to make girls cry when they lose. This way, everyone who tries their hardest will get the results they deserve. It's a perfect solution."
"It removes skill and talent!"
"You should do some self-examination, Kasumi. This is the only way you'll have a real chance of fulfilling your dream. You should embrace it."
Kasumi stood there, dumbfounded. She couldn't reply as coach Hiraguchi squeezed her shoulder and walked away to deal with her other students. "I can't believe this…" Kasumi couldn't stay here anymore. She had to do something. Change it somehow. Running over to the exit, Kasumi slipped into the locker room. quickly entering her combination, Kasumi threw the door open and extracted her phone.
A quick search brought up the press release that Hiraguchi had referenced. Moaning, Kasumi ran a hand over her face. Knowing she wouldn't be able to focus for the day, Kasumi packed up and marched home.
The cool air felt nice on Kasumi's sweaty face. The heat in both body and mind were slowly dissipating. By the time she stepped up to her front door she was calm and composed. Taking a deep breath, she entered her home. Sumire was in the kitchen, humming to herself as she cooked something.
"You're eating? I'd think you'd want to hungry for supper."
"Oh, Kas!" Sumi greeted her with a beaming smile. "I don't want to get hangry before the food comes. It's just a small snack. Got to keep my body in tiptop shape after all!"
"Don't bother," Kasumi cursed, throwing her bag to the ground. "You haven't heard then."
"Heard what?"
After Kasumi explained, Sumire didn't reply, finishing her brought it to the table and put it between the two of them. It was mostly roasted vegetables. Tasty low calorie snack food to crave an urge.
"So?" Kasumi asked, picking up a sliced bell pepper piece.
"So… I think my answer will aggravate you."
"Sumi?" Kasumi asked uncertainly. "You can't mean…"
"I think it makes sense," she replied quietly. "I can understand why someone like you with so much talent would be opposed. But this will make so many people happy. We can finish first together. I've… I've dreamed about us tying before you know? Standing together on the podium, trying to stick our heads through the lanyard at the same time… Laughing after we bash our heads together."
"You'd be laughing," Kasumi muttered in reply, "I'd be crying from getting hit by your hard head."
Taking a deep breath, Kasumi released it in a sigh. "I as well considered it. It would be fun. Both of us trying our hardest and not managing to get an edge. Two sisters, perfectly matched…"
"See! This will be great then!"
"But this isn't that. The fact that I have to explain that disappoints me." Taking one more vegetable, Kasumi pointed it in Sumire's face. "Take your participation medal and leave me out it."
Unable to find solace here either, Kasumi fled from the house. Before she slammed the door on her stunned sister, Kasumi gave a final, bitter parting. "Enjoy your date."
Saturday Dec 24th, 20XX Noon
"Hey man! Good to see you!"
Ren waved back to Ryuji as his friend approached. Ryuji was wearing his school sportswear and had clearly been working hard. Behind Ryuji, there was a group of men running around an outdoor track at the local university.
"Didn't expect you to be here," Ren smiled in answer.
"Ahaha, my times have improved to the point that running with the highschool boys is pointless. Got an invite to run with the college kids."
"That's amazing!" Ren replied honestly. Especially since you were struggling to walk… From crutches to elite level running. The intervening weeks were a blur in his mind, but things had begun to solidify. Ren had the homeless man to thank for that. Now, Ren could clearly remember the times he had run with Ryuji this month. He had gotten smoked.
"Anyway, you sent a message about Morgana?"
"Yeah, do you know where he is?"
Ryuji frowned. "Hmm, you know I haven't seen him since that day."
"That day?"
"You know the one," Ryuji said awkwardly, his eyes not meeting Ren's. "The one that healed my leg."
"So you remember it too." Ren questioned, insistent. Ann had seemed to have forgotten until Ren reminded her. Leaning on the chain link fence that separated them, Ren let his desperation show.
"Well, a bit. I guess I hadn't really thought about it until you mentioned Morgana. Huh. Well, whatever. I'm sure he's happy and where he should be."
"How can you say that?" Ren asked incredulously.
"Because we're all happy," Ryuji replied with a goofy grin. "Maruki has turned the world into a marvelous place."
"Then why is your hair still blond?" Ren pressed, voice insistent. "You only dyed it after Kamoshida betrayed you. If–"
"What the fuck is your problem?" Ryuji growled, glaring at him. "You have a hot girlfriend and the chance to do whatever you want. Don't ruin this shit for us. We earned it."
Ren blinked. As his mind whirled, Ryuji glared at him. "True, I would probably be fine without Maruki. Ann and I had something good going on. But we were the ones that were well off. I didn't really understand that until I saw Futaba. Kamoshida and I wasn't a problem worth fixing. If you understand that, then stop digging and enjoy life." Having finished his speech, Ryuji turned on heel and ran away.
Left alone, Ren stuck out his arm to stop his friend but didn't say anything. Not even grazing the back of Ryuji's jersey, Ren allowed his arm to fall limp. Sighing, Ren bowed his head. Taking off his glasses, he rubbed his eyes. There was a deep mental exhaustion inside of him that Ren couldn't dismiss.
Putting his glasses back on, Ren turned and began to head for home when his phone vibrated. He was surprised by the sender. "Kasumi? Wants to meet me?"
After a brief flurry of messages, Ren continued to his destination. He had an appointment with someone else first. I have to approach this differently. He had thought that a direct confrontation would work best with Ryuji. Ren that the two of them understood each other. He had been mistaken. Ren had an inkling that he had known the old Ryuji. The one that existed before getting hurt at Shido's yacht.
A few blocks away, Ren found the person he had searching for sitting in one of the nearby cafes with a couple. She noticed Ren as he entered and waved excitedly. "Oh, Ren! I've been wanting to speak with you for awhile now!"
Plastering on the best smile that he could, Ren approached. Haru was wearing a fashionable winter jacket and matching black toque that settled primly upon her curly hair. With black leggings and slight platformed shoes she looked every bit the CEO she was.
No, she isn't. With his memories back, Ren knew that she no longer had the position. Looking across the table, Ren locked eyes with the CEO of Okumura foods. Okumura Kunikazu. He was dressed in a full suit. The only indication that he held a position above the average salaryman was the expensive cut and quality of the material. It was the woman beside him, with a fond hand resting on Kunikazu's hand that Ren hadn't been expecting. He knew that his woman, Mariko had been aiding Haru but Ren had rarely interacted with her.
"Sit, boy, please," Kunikazu said. His tone was almost fond.
With a strong sense of disconnect, Ren settled in beside Haru. As the four of them sat around the small table, Ren found all three sets of eyes upon him. "Thank you for allowing me to join you."
"Oh, please," Mariko laughed. "What would you like to drink? These two are trying to figure out the mysteries of this place's secret blend, but feel free to order anything."
"That's very kind…" Ren thought about holding back, but did as advised and ordered a cup of the secret blend as well.
"Hmm, good posture, polite, willing to accept small favours, and still thankful. A shame he's already taken, ehh Haru?"
"Father!" Haru gasped, blushing a little. "You have no idea how much effort Sumire had to put in to get this result."
Blinking at the sudden insult, Ren was slow to object. "Hey!" But the rest of the table was already laughing at him. Sighing, Ren took a sip of his hot cup. It had a hearty aroma. Despite the luxurious smell though, the flavour profile was shallow. It would be good enough for the average poor and tired college student but wouldn't fool the normal coffee aficionado.
"Ahh, and he knows his coffee too," Kunikazu nodded, a proud smile turning his lips. "That face is the same one I made."
"Yes, our trip was disappointing," Haru agreed with a sigh.
Ren tilted his head. "Why is that? It's important to know your clientele. This store certainly does."
"Hmm? But what use would we have for such shallow coffee?"
"You could search to improve the taste," Ren allowed. "But the aroma is important here. Look around us. Most of these are students, books open studying. More so than the caffeine, the aroma is what is supporting them. And that is what is top-tier and keeps them coming back."
"A brilliant mind too," Kunikazu sighed. "Maybe you could try dating Haru as well?"
"Kuni-kun!" Mariko admonished him. "You shouldn't advise your daughter to get two-timed. If she wants him she should take him properly."
"You two…" Haru muttered, her cheeks hotter than the coffee Ren sipped.
Taking a deep breath to settle himself, Ren tried to redirect the conversation. "A-Anyway. Haru, I was hoping you could help me out with something."
"O-Of course!"
"I'm looking for Morgana and no one has seen him. If you don't know either, do you think it would be possible to get me an appointment with Maruki?"
It seemed he should have considered the words a bit further as Haru froze in place. Any embarrassment fled as a cold terror filled her eyes. She pasted on a fake smile as she looked at Ren. "I… don't think that is possible. If you have a specific wish of Salvation, you'll have to wait until the healing dome is open fully to the public."
"Oh, okay. Thank you." Not pressing, Ren shrugged and took another drink. As he did, Haru relaxed visibly. Her shoulders sagging, she appeared drained of energy.
What is happening here?
Ren wasn't listening as Kunikazu and Mariko started talking again. Morgana appeared to be a taboo subject. Did that mean Haru knew what had happened? The others had shrugged it off. Growing restless, Ren took a larger sip of the coffee. Yes, this drink really was far too weak.
Another possibility for an opening occurred to Ren. Leaning closer to Haru, he tugged on her sleeve and whispered. "Can I talk to you alone for a moment? It's important."
Haru gave the others a brief glance then nodded. Standing up, she said, "I want to show Ren the fountain outside. We'll be back shortly."
"Of course," Mariko chuckled, sending her a conspiratorial wink that Ren ignored.
In the nearby plaza, a central fountain sent water careening a dozen meters in the air. People were milling the around, many of them clearly on dates. However, with the bite in the air, people were walking quickly.
Sticking his hands in his pockets, Ren walked up to the fountain's edge. A moment later, Haru joined him.
"Sorry about earlier. I didn't want to talk about Morgana in front of my father. Is he truly missing?"
"Yes," Ren confirmed, once again taken aback.
"That's unfortunate, but it must be for the best. I just wish I knew why."
"For… the best?"
"Indeed," Haru nodded. "I have spoken to Maruki once since the day of change, you know. He told me that our wishes had been given top priority. Every one of us had our happiness granted immediately as a special thank you for trusting him. From there, he is now expanding to fully remove sorrow from the rest of the country, and then the world."
"I see…" Ren murmured. "Seems complicated."
"It is," Haru admitted, her cheeks turning red again for some reason. "I am happy. He did fulfill all of my wishes. All of the ones that were possible at least."
"What do you mean?"
Haru hesitated. When she did answer, her face was turned away from him. "I have always been interested in romance and having a partner I liked and respected. The one I wished for was already taken."
Ren had no reply for that. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Haru murmured. "I like Sumire. I want the two of you to be happy as well. In this, Maruki seems unable to maximize both of our happiness. Regrettable, but I understand. It is still far better than what I had been living through."
"Is your umm, ailment better?" Ren asked. It hadn't been a problem even on that day.
Haru nodded. "My heart is at peace now. I once watched a thriller and only felt sickened. Now I have become the daughter my father always wanted and I have the parents I wanted. Ahh, I can see the future so clearly."
Ren stared hard at Haru. That ditzy smile, the glazing across her eyes. She had been so ambitious to the point of brutality. A driving motivation that allowed her to target her own father. The ability to assume control of a sinking company and correct its course. There were a limited number of people who could have worked the hours she did and done the work so well. With the good and come the bad. A reckless disregard for the safety of those around her as she hyperfocused on the goal. Her taste of blood and pain when fighting.
All of that was gone in this girl standing beside him. The good and the bad. It was impossible to remove one and not the other Ren suspected. "What future do you see?"
"I will attend college in the spring, studying business and finance. There, I will find another wealthy man and fall in love. We will get married and have children around the time when my father will begin to step back. I will become CEO of the company as he advises me. My children will grow up with doting grandparents and Okumura foods will thrive in various industries. The company will become what both my grandfather and father envisioned. Two separate paths that will both be completed."
And Ren had no doubt that it would happen. She spoke with the certainty of one who knew the future was no longer a nebulous thing but a book that could be read. Maruki was its author and was still writing in all of the characters. Haru's was one of the first he had finished.
"That sounds beautiful," Ren replied truthfully. "Do you know of anyone that would target Maruki?"
Haru whirled on him, grabbing at Ren's jacket. "Someone is trying to kill him!? No! We can't let that happen!"
"C-Calm down!" Ren pled, his hands raised in a sign of surrender. "I was just wondering if anyone was upset and looking to take him down."
"Oh, thank goodness," Haru sighed, releasing Ren. "No, I haven't heard of anything."
"Isn't that strange?" Ren pressed. "A discontent billionaire or a corrupt politician?"
"No," Haru laughed. "Maruki will finally make those greedy pigs happy somehow."
By snuffing out their desires probably, Ren thought. On the outside he smiled and grabbed Haru's hand. "I'm glad you've gotten the family you always wanted. You deserve it."
To Ren's surprise, she started to cry. In those wet eyes, he found the girl he had known. "I-I always wished my father would slow down and laugh with us. H-He, I, t-that is…"
Haru's words broke down and she launched herself at him.
Ren grunted from the force of the hug. Haru hadn't lost her demonic strength. Awkwardly he reached around and patted her on the back.
She whispered in Ren's ear. "Thank you for this. I-I'm so happy."
"Ahh, and I'm happy for you." Awkwardness fading, Ren pulled her tighter. In his heart, guilt pounded against him. It was a knife shredding him open. The questions he wanted to ask were kept inside. The complaints he could make were pointless.
When Haru pulled back, her eyes were dry. With a quick wipe with her sleeve, she looked perfect again. "Come on, my father will want to wheedle you a bit more."
Ren couldn't do it. Shaking his head, he tried to keep his smile composed. "Sorry, I have more people to talk to. Thank you so much for the coffee."
"Busy person," Haru sighed. She glanced at the present bag that Ren was still holding. "I guess that makes sense though. Give Sumire my best."
"I will." With a wave, Ren ran off. He managed to remain upbeat until the train. Collapsing on one of the seats, his face collapsed. Tears brimming in his eyes, he held his head in both hands. "Oh god, I understand! I do! But… But he's right!"
Muttering loudly to himself, Ren drew the stares of the others. Rocking gently back and forth, Ren pulled his hyperventilation under control. By the time the train announcer called out Yongen-Jaya, he was able to rise.
A short trip from the station on foot and Ren found a beautiful girl leaning against the entrance to LeBlanc. Either Sojiro hadn't made it back yet, or he was keeping the store closed for the whole day. Either way, Kasumi stood out as always. Her hair was not the magnificent shade of Sumire's but Kasumi still turned heads as she passed.
"Hey."
"Hi." Kasumi replied dully. "Thanks for meeting me."
"No problem…" Mustering the smile from before, Ren pointed over his shoulder. "Want to go hit some balls? I've heard you're good at it."
"No. I… Yeah, sure."
Ren seized the admission before it could be withdrawn. Leading Kasumi to the batting cage, Ren paid for both of their entrance fees. The center booth that had a straight line to the target was filled. Ignoring the line, they proceeded to the two stalls along the edge. Any ball hit even slightly to the right from here would end up in the side netting. Hitting the target from here would take skill Ren knew he didn't have.
Getting their equipment on in silence, Ren spared Kasumi a brief glance. She didn't look particularly distraught. However, there was a seriousness to her expression that Ren hadn't seen today from his friends. Every one of them had greeted him with wide smiles and exclamations of how great their lives were in Maruki's world.
Biding his silence, Ren stepped up to the plate and took his first swing. The ball tinged off the top of his bat, spiraling upwards. Kasumi beside him drove her ball across the ground. Neither hit was good, neither of them spoke.
Again, the soft emission of air as the machine fired the baseball. The thwack of fake wood smacking it midair. This time their shots were opposite of their last. Overcorrecting.
A third swing was little better.
As Kasumi's ball rolled to a halt right in front of her, she sighed and began to speak. "Sorry. I'm wasting your time on Christman eve. I know my sister is excited about your date today."
"I'm glad," Ren replied. "And this isn't a waste of time if you need to talk."
"AHHH!" With an exasperated yell too loud for pitching practice, Kasumi smacked her forth ball hard. It shot back striking the pitching machine. If that had been a person, emergency services would have to be called. Instead, they just had to wait a few seconds for the other people present to look away.
"Feeling better?" Ren asked as he hit his fourth. It was solid and straight, but it didn't have the speed of a great hit.
"No. My dream is dead. I'll likely never feel better."
"I see. I assume the rules of your sport were changed as well?"
"Sumire messaged you?"
"Not at all. I just read on the subway that a lot of sports were re-evaluating their method of determining the victor."
"Not just me then," Kasumi huffed. "Somehow… That makes me feel worse!" As she growled out her final line, she destroyed the final ball that was pitched to her. It soared straight for the center of the bullseye off to her left. Ren didn't even swing at his final ball as he watched with awe.
"That was amazing."
Panting, she turned her gaze to him. "This is a rather pleasant pastime, thank you."
"So basically, rhythmic gymnastics is no longer competitive?" Ren asked.
"Yeah," Kasumi looked back to the pitching machine as the second round started. "Everything I ever wanted is gone."
"You can find something else." Ren said. "I know that sounds dismissive, but you were going to be finished from competitive gymnastics by your late twenties."
"I was going to coach and start a family."
"And now?"
"I'm not even sixteen! I was supposed to have another decade! Instead I'm now stuck here, forced to decide immediately! I don't even want to coach anymore with the rule changes."
"Sumi and I will be there for you, Kas. You don't have to face this alone."
"Bold of you to say that when you're the reason why I no longer have a reason to live."
Ren inhaled sharply. Because of Kasumi's words, he completely missed the ball as he swung. "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean. You gave Maruki the power to do this. It's that doctor's fault that the world is screwed up."
"I know," Ren said softly. "Have you talked to the others? Do you know how they are doing?"
"I imagine they are starting to feel like me." Kasumi growled, scoring another hit against the target.
"Not at all. Futaba's mother is alive again. Shiho is healthy. Ryuji's leg has been fixed. Haru's father is the man she always wanted him to be." Ren locked in and destroyed the next pitch. It collided against the target with a loud bang. As their time in the booths was coming to a close, he tossed the bat to the ground and grabbed the netting that separated their booths. "Can you tell me to take that away from them? Yes, there is something wrong with this world but… I can't do it, Kas. I can't steal their happiness from them."
Kasumi deflated, her final ball whizzing past untouched. "Obviously I can't tell you to do that. Sorry, I've been childish."
"You aren't being childish. I'm glad you told me. Don't worry, we will find something for you. Don't give up hope, alright?"
Kasumi sniffed, wiping her eyes dry. "No, don't bother. Focus on my sister. Sumire depends on you a lot. She's your girlfriend, not me."
"But you're–" Ren couldn't finish as Kasumi bowed to him and walked away. "Thanks for the distraction. Have a wonderful evening."
Letting her go, Ren ran a hand through his hair. He felt like he had spoken poorly. A part of him had wanted Kasumi to push him. To tell him to take down Maruki anyway. "Am I really that selfish? Do I have the right to ruin this for everyone else?"
Sighing heavily, Ren left and got ready for his date.
Saturday Dec 24th, 20XX Late afternoon
Standing outside the entrance to the restaurant he had reserved, Ren watched as a car slowed next to the curb. The weather had gotten colder throughout the day and Ren's breath misted in front of him. The sun should have shined low to the west, but the thick clouds above obscured it. Ren stepped up next to the car as the passenger window slid open. Sumire was sitting inside, her father driving.
"Hey there Ren, you're looking good."
"Mr. Yoshizawa," Ren replied smoothly, bowing his head. "Thank you for driving her here."
"Just looking after my little girl," he answered with a smile. It quickly faded as he stared at Ren earnestly. "Sumire says she may not be coming tonight. I expect you to treat her properly."
"I-I will," Ren said quickly. His eyes flashing over to a blushing Sumire. They had not talked about her staying the night. But well… Ren's insides churned as he remembered the brilliance of their one night together.
"Thank you father and goodbye. I can handle Ren myself."
"I know you can," he sighed, giving her a side hug.
Ren extended a hand, helping Sumire from the vehicle. Slight looks at the dress beneath were revealed as her long jacket parted in places. "You look amazing." Ren said honestly as the car took off again. She was wearing a long sleek jacket that covered the ruby cocktail dress she wore underneath. It was very formal for the restaurant Ren had chosen.
Still, he had done his best to dress himself up. His curls had been contained and he was wearing brown dress shoes with black dress pants. On top Ren had a long sleeve dark blue dress shirt and was wearing his own winter jacket over it.
As he escorted Sumire into the restaurant, Ren had never been this close in height to her. Her shoes must have had heels longer than his forefinger. Checking in with the front desk, they were escorted to their table. When they took their jackets off, Ren almost whistled.
He spent far too long ogling his girlfriend. Seconds passed as Ren took in the dress. He had caught glimpses through her jacket, but he hadn't realized how much his girlfriend had matured. The cut of her dress revealed significant cleavage which was shaping the front of the dress. With the tight fit, it was an immaculate pairing that really showed off her legs.
"You'll have time to stare later," Sumire muttered as she sat down.
Ren wasn't sure if she was trying to be seductive, but the way she blushed was more cute than sexy. She sat with her shoulders folded in a bit, clearly uncomfortable with her clothes.
"Feeling cold?" Ren asked. "I have a present for you that may help."
Handing over the bag that he had brought, Ren watched as she unpacked the scarf inside with a gasp. "Oh, this is perfect, thank you!"
That brilliant smile made it all worth it. It didn't quite match the aesthetic of the dress, but she instantly sat up a bit straighter. As she grabbed the menu, her free hand was playing with the fabric. Ren could easily see the joy pouring off her. He couldn't look away.
"Oh, this sounds so good! Oh, and this one, and this one! Ahh, but I can't eat all that myself…"
As she looked up, pained, Ren sent her a steadying smile. "Don't worry. Just order everyone you want and I'll eat half of, err… a third of each dish."
Sumire didn't mention his obvious correction and nodded happily. "Leave it to me!"
Ren quickly grew more anxious as murmurs of 'this!' and 'Oh, that sounds amazing!' filled the air. Just as Ren was about to call out and put a limit on dish number, Sumire spoke to him.
"Okay, I'm ready!"
"A-And how many dishes are we ordering?"
"Four."
It was such a reasonably low number that Ren blinked in surprise. "Oh, i-is that enough?"
Sumire flashed him with sparkling eyes and a keen smile that was very Kasumi-esque. "Are you trying to get me to put on weight?"
"N-No?"
"Oh, and here I thought you wanted to make sure I couldn't run away from you." Leaning forward, she grabbed Ren's hand and whispered conspiratorially. "You don't have to worry. I'll stay by your side."
Ren smiled back at her. For the first time since he had woken up this morning, things felt right. This was still Sumire. Maruki hadn't changed her to make her happy. "I'll keep that in mind. Next time I'll make sure my efforts are less obvious." As they shared their moment, the waiter showed up.
Coughing awkwardly, Ren gestured to Sumire. "We will split the dishes that she orders."
After a brief moment of ordering, they were left alone again. When the drinks came, Ren swished his straw through the boba tea. He had ordered a coffee flavoured one, Sumire had gotten strawberry. After taking a drink, he once again watched her. She held a hand to her cheek as she savoured the flavour with a childlike joy.
"You know…" Ren spoke slowly, not wanting to ruin the mood. He was too curious to stop, however. "I thought you'd be more like Kasumi."
Sumire cocked her head. "In what way?"
Ren furrowed his brow. "She's completely distraught about the gymnastics rule changes. Why aren't you in the same boat?"
"Oh, that." Sumire's nose crinkled like she smelled something disgusting. "She's being such a baby. I know you won't listen, but It's fine to tell her to grow up."
"Grow up?" Ren was astounded by the casual cruelty. "Sumire, this is her dream that's being crushed."
Sumire shrugged, blushing a bit as she wrapped herself a little tighter in the scarf. "I guess… It's hard not to see the irony in it. How many little girls' dreams did she crush just by being herself? Her casual mastery left her competitors in tears and led to many of them stopping gymnastics."
"Do you honestly think those two things are the same?" Ren asked.
"I… Not exactly, no. But Kas is being dramatic! She can still dance and win. Other people just won't lose now. A win-win."
"A win-win…" Ren chewed on that. He could see the argument behind it. What was the phrase? "Have your cake and eat it too."
"Cake is made to be eaten," Sumire agreed.
Ren gave her a forced smile. Taking another sip, he wasn't sure if he should push. Instead, he changed the topic. "Morgana isn't around. Have you heard anything?"
Sumire froze. "I… I have not. I'm sure Morgana is fine."
"A pretty large assumption." Ren pushed before he could stop himself. Stop! Don't ruin the date! Admonishing himself mentally, Ren waited anxiously for the reply.
Sumire's face fell. "I'm sure Dr. Maruki knows something. We can ask him."
"Yes… I have to ask him about this world," Ren agreed with a nod. Looking out the window, he could tell no difference between this nightscape and the one from before Maruki ascended to whatever semi-divine status he now possessed. Sitting on the third floor of the building, the ever-present dock lights cast an eerie aura of civilization intruding upon the unending darkness of the ocean.
With Ren having successfully ruined the mood, they waited in pensive silence as the dishes arrived. If one thing could cheer up his girlfriend, it was the presence of hot, delicious food. In a few more moments, she had a full plate and sparkling eyes. With each bite she was giving him dish reviews. Most of which were some variation on 'delicious', and 'there's so much!'. Both comments that let Ren know he had chosen well.
Relaxing, he gave her a few good-natured replies and began to eat himself. He didn't have much of an appetite. What he did have was awakened by the scents rolling off the food. Laughing and joking once more, thoughts of Morgana and Kasumi drifted away.
For a brief half an hour, Ren let himself bask in Sumire's radiance. She truly was a gem that Ren was lucky to have stumbled upon. The fact that he was the one she had chosen still baffled him.
Satisfied and feeling full, Ren leaned back and slurped up the remaining pearls at the bottom of his drink. They came one by one creating a satisfying rhythm and slight resistance as Ren popped them between his teeth.
"Hey Ren?"
"Yeah?"
"Have I… disappointed you?"
"Umm, no? Why?"
"W-Well, you expected me to be upset. Then I didn't show much consideration about Morgana…"
"Oh, I see." Ren shrugged. "I just thought you were more competitive than that. I remember how excited you were when you surpassed Kasumi at the last tournament. I thought you'd be sad for never having the chance to compete against her again."
"Hmm, I guess I'll need to see how the new tournaments are. I think Kasumi is overreacting. Maybe I will hate them."
It was a very even-minded approach. Ren nodded, supporting the calm line of reasoning. "Things are odd in this world, and I want to investigate a bit more, but Maruki is trying. I recognize that."
"Trying?" Sumire challenged. "Things are amazing!"
"Kasumi doesn't think so." Ren countered. "She's still grieving Akechi and now has lost gymnastics competitions. She's lost and needs support. We need to help her because Maruki won't."
"He will."
"He won't."
"He will!"
"Then why hasn't he?" Ren took Sumire's glare head on. "He helped the thieves first. All of us except Kasumi."
After a few seconds, Sumire sighed, eyes lowering. "You can ask straight out. It's fine. I won't get mad."
"Ask… what?"
"You keep bringing up my sister. You want to 'comfort' her. Just ask."
Confusion growing, Ren leaned forward, brow creased. "Sumire. Look at me. What do you think I want to ask?"
Sumire flushed, her eyes flicking between the tabletop and him. She hugged her new scarf to her. Curled up as she was, her adult maturity had faded into a child-like appearance. "I-I really have to say it? F-Fine. You can date both of us, it's okay."
Ren's stomach collapsed into a cold ball. The warmth of the dinner now felt like a distant memory as the winter storm crashed against him. "What… are you saying?"
Sumire's cheeks flushed brighter. "It's what I said. I don't mind if you date us both. I know it will make Kas happy, and it's what you want as well."
"Look at me, Sumire." Ren repeated his earlier command, more urgent this time. "Is Maruki making you say this? Is this his influence!?"
"N-No! I arrived at this decision on my own! Or well, you did."
I can't tell. Sumire had finally met his gaze and her eyes were swimming with emotion. Some mixture of embarrassment, acceptance, and a little bit of resentment. Ren didn't know which answer would be worse. His mind felt like it had been mired in mud. His thoughts were weighed down by it, none of them clean enough to speak.
"A-Anyway, that should solve the Kasumi problem. Now you just need to ask Maruki about Morgana."
"You're just going to say that and move on…?" Ren breathed out. He still couldn't process this, but he wasn't going to let this pass. He wasn't going to ruin the good thing that they had going. "Why? I told you I am content. Does Maruki think we will be happier this way? Where did your ambition go!?"
Sumire recoiled from his passionate words. "I-I mean… it's the logical answer isn't it? I want to live with you and Kasumi for the rest of my life. This is how we do it."
This is Maruki. It has to be. Taking out the bills from Sojiro, Ren tossed them on the table. "I need to get fresh air."
"R-Ren?"
Stumbling out of the restaurant, Ren didn't look back. Once outside, he stood in the falling snow, looking up. In his pocket, his phone buzzed.
Saturday Dec 24th, 20XX Evening
Kasumi sat at the outdoor table, her breath misting in front of her. Holding desperately onto the mug of coffee that the cafe waitress had left her, Kasumi stared out at the passing couples.
She was the only one out here on the veranda. All of the other customers had followed the restaurant's suggestion to dine inside. It was the obvious place to be during winter. However, the waitress had accepted Kasumi's request with only a single knowing nod. She was a regular here and knew Kasumi well. Kasumi and the person she had been with all those times.
This time, Kasumi sat alone, watching the world pass by. People with connections, people with purpose. Kasumi had neither. She had lost everything. After talking with Ren, she felt that more keenly than ever. Everyone had gotten something, everyone had something important returned to them by Maruki.
Kasumi had lost gymnastics. Had the changes been a result of Sumire's wishes? She didn't think so. That meant Maruki thought they were for the best? Kasumi was too despondent to do anything more than close her eyes and sigh.
A wave of melancholy settled on her shoulders, weighing her down. Back sagging, her head hung low over her mug, a few tears beginning to form. "Idiot. Why'd you have to go and die on me? Even after Ren made me save your life…" Here, mourning by herself, Kasumi allowed herself to admit it. She missed Akechi. The mysterious detective had caused pain and excitement, creating a thrill in her life that Kasumi now longed for. It would hurt, but Akechi would provide the thrill and purpose to drive back the endless mire Kasumi now saw for the future.
"Yes, and I am grateful for that."
Those sardonic, masculine words. Spoken with a voice that would have made an actor jealous. Kasumi's head snapped up. Akechi was sitting there, not changed a bit from what Kasumi remembered. The unknowable depth in his eyes. Staring into those holes, Kasumi remembered the rest. This man had tried to ruin her sister's life. Anger flaring, Kasumi spat at him. "Get away from me, traitor!"
Closing her eyes again, Kasumi wiped away her tears. As she prepared for his rebuttal, Kasumi tried to compose herself. None came. Slowly, Kasumi looked back at him. Akechi was gone.
"W-What!? What…?" Standing up, she stretched out a hand for the vanished detective. He had been sitting in his spot. So familiar, ready to argue the validity of his position. Now he was gone. Again.
In the face of Kasumi's plea, Akechi suddenly returned. He was holding out a hand to her. One moment gone, the next back. Again, the sight of him constricted Kasumi's chest. Longing for the past turned into a burning hatred. Recoiling, Kasumi screamed at him. "NO!"
As she yelled out, he vanished once more. Panting, Kasumi's anger cooled. Her heart hurt, and the old longing flared up once again. Her fickle emotions flipped and so Akechi returned. The detective's face had lost its cold mask. He scowled, that bottomless rage he contained within displayed for the world to see.
"What the hell is this!?"
"I-I don't understand," Kasumi whined, her heart being flayed by the impossible vision she was experiencing. Her heart however, the one thing that never lied, knew the truth. She had wished for Akechi and he appeared. That desire had turned to hate when she had seen him and he vanished again. Now, before her eyes, the detective entered a state of flux. His figure blurring in and out of existence.
Akechi's face was forming a rictus of pain and concentration. "I… AM NOT YOUR PAWN!" He was not looking at Kasumi. He was screaming at something beyond.
She no longer felt anything. Her emotions were numb as she watched the scene play out. Akechi initially began to solidify, his presence sticking around. Then as Akechi growled again, he disappeared. There was no sign that he had ever been there.
Kasumi fell to the ground, mouth open, fresh tears staining her cheeks. "This… This is all a game to Maruki."
Struggling to compose herself, Kasumi stumbled as she rose. Sniffing, she was sure her face was a disaster. Reaching out, she placed her hand on the table where Akechi's cup used to go. "It isn't real. None of it is. His help is an illusion. I'll do it for you, Akechi. One last favour. I'm going to end this farce. Even if I have to do it myself."
Kasumi forced out the last of the words. They weren't a lie, but they sounded impossible. She felt weak and vulnerable. Today had beaten her down into something almost unrecognizable. Kasumi could only hope that what emerged was stronger than what she had been.
Taking out her wallet, Kasumi tucked a few bills under her cup and walked away. She had a boy to convince. She may have said she'd do it by herself, but Ren would make it far easier. A quick message later and she was on her way to a train station.
Kasumi had a date to crash.