Take your heart

Akira Kurusu was always charming, to those who were stuck-up and for those who weren’t. He always treated everyone the same, not lashing out or back talking anyone, regardless if they were in the wrong. He carried the aura of mystery over him and with his past being more than just speculation at Shujin, it was no wonder he caught your eye.

You decided to do a bit of poking, just watching him during class or as he left, accompanied by the boisterous ball of flames, Ryuji.

You didn’t spy, just admiring from the distance, curiously. 

Your actions soon found yourself in a dire situation, being thrown into an unknown world, held captive by suits of amours with ghoulish looks on their face in the castle painted red with blood and lust. It was a flurry of you screaming for help as they chained you down, only to be saved at the last minute by a trio of goons, the rock hard Ryuji, a scrawny cat and the polished man in black, Akira.

He released you, carefully supporting your shaking frame, the edges of his pure white mask bordered by licks of his raven-like hair. He licked his pink lips in concern, “Are you hurt at all...?”

That’s when the bud of love was placed in your heart, soon to grow into a monstrous flower that would destroy you mentally and physically.

---

Living life as a Phantom thief- tough. Living life as a phantom thief while in love with the leader? Even harder. 

It’s hard fighting shadows with the threat of death on the line when all you can think about is how closer you want to be with him, and how you crave for him to give you a command or to prove yourself useful to him. 

You found yourself wanting to spend more time with him, wanting to stop by Leblanc for little or no reason. You definitely wanted to tell him but the idea of exposing yourself to someone made you dizzy. Not wanting to confide in the other members, you slowly worked up the courage as the months went by.

The school festival was going to be happening in a few weeks, the group had just announced that Akechi Goro, even if he could make it, was to be the special guest at the festival.

The timing wasn’t perfect, but you decided that if you got rejected now, it wouldn’t be so bad because the Phantom theives would all continue on as normal, and you two would still be friends.

In theory, and as you stood outside of LeBlanc second thoughts began popping up in your mind. You forced your panic aside, walking in with the small bell announcing your arrival.

Sojiro was busy in the back, cigar clenched between his teeth as he dug under the sink for something, mumbling curses under his breath.

You assumed Akira was upstairs, he had left school saying he had wanted to study and headed home early. You heald two drinks and a bag of burgers, wanting to at least pretend like you had a reason for being here

You left Sojiro to his own demons, creaking up the wooden steps of the stairs. On the final step you hesitated, knowing you could just walk back down and out of the cafe and pretend like this never happened. But that was stupid, you wanted to get this done right here and right now. 

You pushed yourself up the final step before you could change your mind, opening your mouth to announce your arrival.

And just like that, your heart shattered into a million pieces right in front of your eyes. 

---

You laid in bed, tomorrow you knew you would have to drag your sick and dying body out to the festival, where Makoto Nijima would grill Goro Akechi for the hour allowed until one of the two broke.

You cringed, rolling over and burying your face into a pillow. The thought of Makoto Nijima sickened you right now. 

Your phone had been blowing up daily since the night of the occurrence, yet you didn’t have the courage to answer them. Even at school you clung to Ann and fled at any sign of the student council president or Akira showing up. 

You knew you should be online, supporting and talking with your friends on the plan tomorrow, sharing the same anxiety and confiding in eachother. 

Yet you selfishly couldn’t bring yourself to, instead wallowing and forcing yourself into doing nothing.

It’s going to be awlkward if you say anything to Akira but at the same time the longer you wait the longer it will become apparent that you have feelings for the man. 

You bounced between ideas and what to do for a few hours until the familiar tickle in your throat forced you into a coughing fit, spewing blood and roses into your hand. You grimaced at the mangled mess.

Brilliant.

You shut your phone off, slipping between states of slumber and laying in silence for the rest of the night.

---

It had been 5 days and you had yet to talk to Akira or Makoto directly. It was another day in Sae’s casino, the conflict between the couple and the new member Akechi only made things more awlkward trying to navigate through the palace. Most of it being in hushed silence, especially in break rooms where Akechi would attempt to interact with the group while Ann tried to get everyone into a conversation. Though after most of it’s members didn’t participate, the efforts died off.

Makoto was a wreck, she was off of her game and kept nervously twitching, biting her nails or fussing with her hair. The stress of her sister, police, school and the interaction in Akira’s room weighing her down. 

Akira was more passive, though he was still quiet he was more jerky and less flamboyant, feigning calmness while still trying to lead the team. 

It was unfair to the both of them and you knew it, but fuck you were in a lot of pain as well, satirically and metaphorically. It made you want to let yourself go, float into the void of your mind alone forever and never stop. It was like you were underwater, still breathing but everything was muffled and numb and you can’t feel anything except for the pressure against your head and the rushing of water.

When you think you’ll be ok, or whenever you’ll have it out of your mind, each time you look at him the scene in the attic replays in your mind.

-They didn’t notice you at first, only a few seconds later they noticed how greatly you had paled, dropping the bag onto the floor. Akira quickly covered Makoto’s baren body with a blanket, not even worrying about himself as words rushed out of his mouth in a babel, caught off guard.

It might have been okay, had Akira not been totally nude. And if you didn’t look down at his crotch, you knew you shouldn’t have but it was impossible to resist, fucking fate was forcing you to do it. 

His dick, slick with pre-cum and curled towards his chest.

The dick that was aroused by Makoto Nijima, not you.

One that didn’t care about your text, telling him you were dropping by.

One that cared more about his girlfriend, fucktoy, bitch, whatever he called her.

One that lied to you. Wanting to study, to be alone, when really he came to relieve that loneliness that he never shows to anyone, that he only shares with the ones he loved.

One that clearly, didn’t love you.

Then you were running, out of the cafe and down into the streets, oh god oh god oh god, your mind playing those words like a broken record over and over as the world swirled and crunched and came at you under your feet, carrying you away away away from the place where you’d never be loved.-

Each time you so much as thought of him the memory stirred up again.

You quickly rounded a comer, isolating yourself as you violently coughed up more petals, stems and thorns cutting the inside of your mouth. 

You cleaned yourself up and joined everyone again, letting your thoughts eat you alive.

---

Makoto finally snapped.

“What’s your problem?” She slammed her hands down on the table of the saferoom. The group was discussing whether or not they should send Akira into the battle areana or not, with every time Makoto insisted something you always were against it. 

“We shouldn’t send him-”

“It’s the only way.” you said coldly.

“We can find another way-”

“There’s no time.”

Thus resulting into Makoto raging at you.

“This whole time we’ve been in here you’ve been nothing but a bother, not talking, not even looking at us.”

“Oh I’m being the problem here.” You were growing angrier every second, angry and Makoto, angry and Akira and everything for making you love someone who didn’t fucking care for you.

You knew deep down he did, but he wouldn’t care like he would for her, pushing her out of the way in Futaba’s palace, Makoto sticking to his side like glue. 

You were sick and tired of it. Of Makoto being the star of the show. “I come in here and work my ass off without complaint and listen to your boyfriend’s orders because I want to help you and your fucking sister and you’re telling me I’m being a problem!? Well news flash Mrs. President, not everyone can be as perfect as you I’m terribly sorry!”

Her eyes widened, she nor Akira had told anyone of their relationship and you could tell you hit a nerve. “Ever since that night where you were the one who barged in without so much a word, you’ve done nothing but cry to yourself and mope and now your’re being rude and just saying what you want because you’re not getting your way?! You don’t even have half of the responsibility I have!”

“Yeah I wonder why?! I wonder why little mrs. does everything perfect, who aces school and leads the phantom thieves half the time because the leader is mute and doesn’t say a fucking thing, had responsibilities! I’m sorry being born into a wealthy family and every opportunity of success! And I’m also so sorry for you getting the love of your life before you’ve graduated! I’m so sorry that your ‘responsibility’ counts and letting your boyfriend’s dick slide into you but I’m really sorry because your sister is a nutcase and is the reason we’re in this fucking mess-! ”

“Shut your fucking mouth!” She stamped her foot on the floor. “If you’re going to act like that then just leave, go get out of here- I don’t care about you or if you get killed in here or even if you’re a phantom thief just go! Get the hell out of my face! Never ever come back here again!”

The remaining thieves stood in shock, too afraid of Makoto or the situation to do anything.

“Fine.” You spat, opening the door and turning to wave in mocked flourished. “Good fucking bye.” you slammed the door, ran out of the palace alone, hit the ground of the real world running and didn’t stop until you collapsed.

---

You withdrew from the phantom thieves that day, not caring if you got caught or not, no if they succeeded with the treasure or not. You knew they had a plan for Goro, and that they didn’t trust him but no one decided to tell you much ever since you backed away from them all. 

Weeks passed, anger slowly, yet surely dulled then faded, realizing how alone your life was, how cold and lifeless it was.

Bitterness, and guilt, for the things you said and the ones you didn’t say. You didn’t even tell Akira a proper apology or so much as looked at him as you left, and would probably never see him again.

The months grew cold, you threw up blood and flowers daily, as your world and everyone else’s ticked closer to the end.

The day before it all changed, before the new world, you laid half dead, caked in dried blood and teary eyes, sorry for everything that had happened, for the future that was never there.

You whispered your love’s name, a petal passing through your lips as you slipped into the dark void.

.

.

.

.

You were awake for a month now, the surgery to remove the flowers being a success.

Though with it, came with the price of forgetting, forever. 

Whatever you did forget though, will be a mystery, as you had no memory of anyone or anything to worry about.

So, you went to School, as the crime rate was raised to the maximum, and the phantom thieves grew more and more popular, you wondered what would happen next, if you’d fall in love again or if you’d just go about the rest of your life, living with no memory of regret.

The phantom thieves grew more famous and corrupt, you continued your daily life, without them. 

The two of you headed in vastly opposite directions, traveling to opposite ends of the universe.

The memories tiny tiny planets, millions of light years away and the people rocketships going in oppssite directions. 

With each passing day they grew farther and farther, until you could no longer see or touch them any longer.

Akira Kurusu was devilish.

Not to quote superhero anime’s, but during the day he was a not-so-normal-on-parole student who had the ability to sense dangerous intent from the teachers throwing chalk at him while at night he was the luxurious, dapper and practically dripping with arousal Joker. Hell, even his name emitted shivers.

“Joker.” Mona purred, from some direction as the man himself was driving the van through the depts of mementos, the rest of the phantom thieves loaded in the back.

“What is it?” Joker asked, one hand on the wheel and the other propped on the sill of the open window.

“When are we gonna break for dinner...? I’m starving....just because I’m a car doesn’t mean I don’t get hungry....” He whined.

“We ain’t got any tuna for you cat, I hope you’re happy with cold curry and coffee.” Ryuji grumbled, from his seat at shotgun.

“Rrrggghhh...” Mona grumbled, sending the entire car into an annoyed state.

“Oh quit whinning you two we’ve only been in here for 2 hours.” Ann huffed, Makoto, shook her head, “What did I expect.”

Akira calmed the beginning feud between the two boys.“Alright, we’ll stop the next safe spot we can get.”

He drove the car to the next platform. Mona de-transformed with a twist, shaking his fur off afterwards.

“Ahh...that feels so good....” he purred, arching his back.

Akira dug into his bag, tossing a salivating Ryuji a pre-wrapped hamburger, Yusuke a bag of chips and taking out other various items, the groups sitting against the wall in a half circle and eating.

Ryuji was finished his burger within a minute, grasping his stomach in pain. “Ah god...I should have ate slower....” he hissed out through the pain.

“What did I tell you...” Panther shook her head, munching on some fries.

“You just swallowed some air, just relax and you’ll be fine!” Haru diagnosed, using chopsticks to scoop grains of rice into her mouth as she sat cross-legged.

The next half hour was filled with idle chat combined with the whispers from Mementos and the guttural groans from Ryuji in pain.

Akira packed up the leftover containers and trash, letting everyone take a breather before Mona transformed and everyone hopped back in, the next half hour was spent driving over shadows and quickly scooping up loot that was lying on the sides of the road.

“You’ve been awfully quiet , Joker.” Queen pointed out. “Is everything okay?”

“Huh? The dude’s naturally quiet, what do you want?” Ryuji interjected. “Well quieter than usual.” She sighed.

“Nothing, just thinking, and taking care of two boys.” he patted the hood of the car and guested towards Ryuji.

“What? Dude come on, don’t say it like that! You’re a guy too y’know!” Ryuji pouted.

“Nah.” Joker hummed, running a red glove through his hair. “I’m a man.” he shifted his rear-view mirror, looking back directly at Makoto.

“A boy speaks, while a man uses actions.”

Your phone buzzed twice, echoed by the chime of Futaba’s phone. She placed down her controller, pausing the game the two of you were playing simultaneously. 

“Did Makoto just send a message to the group chat?” She asked, laying on her back, her orange hair fanning out. 

“Yeah.” You opened the group chat and your heart skipped a beat at the name.

Makoto: I got a message from Akechi-kun.

Makoto: He wants us to gather at Leblanc tomorrow after school.

“What!?” Futaba in real life said, sitting up and furiously tapping. 

Instantly everyone was typing at once, but Futaba, (being the most skilled a this sort of thing, responded first. 

Futaba: Who does he think he is, trying to boss us around like that!?

Though Haru wasn’t the best with technology she kept her texts short and to the point.

Haru: Tomorrow...? That’s sudden.

Yusuke: This is directly after the reward announcement. There must be a calculated reason for this too.

You: ^^ 

Ann: We’ll be okay right?

Akira: We’ll manage. 

Haru: Yeah we’re going to overcome this, together.

Makoto: Regardless, I don’t want anyone disturbing our pace anymore. 

Makoto: Let’s go about this calmly. Well, see you all tomorrow. 

It didn’t seem like Ryuji saw the news yet, either that or he didn’t have the words to deal with Akechi. You put your phone down.

“That Akechi....” Futaba muttered, rolling off of her bed to slide into her computer chair. “Always...high and mighty.” She continued to mumble things under her breath, typing away furiously into her computer. 

Your phone buzzed, again, once from Akechi and another from Ryuji.

Akechi: I assumed you heard the news from Niijima-san yes?

Akechi: Ah, Makoto Niijima that is.

You: Yeah, guess I’ll be seeing you tomorrow. 

Akechi: Yes, just wanted to let you know, I’ll see you tomorrow.

You: One more thing, Akechi

Akechi: Yes?

You: What’s your deal? What does this mean?

Akechi: I’m certain you’ll find that out tomorrow.

He was offline, you didn’t bother trying to get more out of him. You sighed, Akechi was difficult, first calling you out as a phantom thief and then going about pretending things were okay between you two. You had wanted for the two of you to be friends, not for him to just use you to accomplish his task, whatever it was. Was he good or was he bad? Did he really believe that much in his sense of justice to overlook them or not. Or perhaps he had a different motive, and everything you’d been working up to was just for him to use you as a stepping stone.

The only thing you could conclude in the end was that you didn’t know anything about Goro Akechi, the man that you-

Ryuji was texting you non-stop, thirteen messages and counting. 

Ryuji: (name)

Ryuji: (name)

Ryuji: (name)

You: why are you writing ‘name’ over and over?

Ryuji: Something Futaba taught me, if ya put it like (name) the person reading it will automatically put in their own name

Ryuji: Please tell me you said your name reading it 

You: No 

Ryuji: Aw 

You: What’s up, why the need for 30 texts?

Ryuji: I need and 2 do somethin, can you meet up?

You: It’s almost 10 and there’s school tomorrow.

Ryuji: Skip.

You: I never said no

You: ofc i wanna go, let’s do this

You: i wont be able to go to school with the whole akechi thing.

Ryuji: Yeah that’s why I wanna get out, you’re at Futaba’s right? Can she come with?

You: Idk

“Futaba wanna hang out with Ryuji and me?”

She spun around in her chair, stopping the clicking of her keys. “Like now? It’s 10-”

“Yeah we know, that’s the whole point.”

She bit her lip, “Not to be rude but, I don’t think I’m ready to handle sneaking out at night and being with friends, sorry.” She paused. “Take Akira with you though, I’ll cover for all of you, it’s the least I can do.”

You texted Akira. 

You: Get your ass up we’re picking u up in 10.

Akira: but, morgana

You didn’t even bother to question the fact that he was on board already. It was just the inner rebel in him. 

“Futaba can you watch morgana for the night?”

“Yeah, sure.”

You: Send him over to Futaba’s. And be ready !

Now back to Ryuji

You: Ryuji meet at Leblanc in like idk 10 or 20

Ryuji: I’ll make it in 5.

You: Bet.

You shut your phone off, grabbing your stuff and heading for the door. “Thanks, Futaba.” 

She waved her hand, not once turning away from her screen. “You owe me one.”

You crept down the stairs, noticing Sojiro passed out on the couch with the T.V on. You were pulling your shoes on when the door opened and Morgana padded in.

“Is futaba upstairs?” “Yeah.”  “I know you guys are doing, I wouldn’t do - if there’s ever a time not to draw suspicion on us it’s now.”

You pursed your lips, you knew morgana was right. With 30 million yen for your heads and potential death awaiting if you messed up.

“I need to act like a normal person for one night at least. Especially since.”

Akechi. Your charming knight Akechi that you want more than anything to just grab with your hands and-

Morgana’s fur bristled, he knew he couldn’t bring himself to dampen your spirits even further.

“Just...be safe.” He walked past you, tail swishing as he climbed up of the stairs.

You threw on a coat, hoping you wouldn’t have to break that promise as you slipped out into the night.

---

Half an hour later you, Ryuji and Akira were walking by the fishing under streetlight. The moon cast beams of light to reflect off of the water, neon hazes from the distance were seen over top of buildings as all of Tokyo seemed to be quiet. Akira and Ryuji pushed together a makeshift table with various crates as the three of you sat down to talk.

“Arg stupid effin fish!” Ryuji cursed, reeling in his line for the umpteenth time, bait gone, no fish.

Akira had his hand in his palm, trying not to laugh, failing as he shoulders shook with each time Ryuji came up empty handed. 

Finally Ryuji stomped off, angrily putting his rod away before nearly falling off of the crate as he sat back down. “Why do I have the worst luck?”

“It’s all about patience.” you softly spoke, holding your fishing rod between your thighs. 

“Well I don’t have any, and if I did I wouldn’t spend it on amphibians.” “Fish aren’t amphibians, they’re just fish.”

Ryuji reddened, cursing as Akira snorted. His line bobbed, and he picked up his rod, reeling in a treasure trout. 

Ryuji’s eye twitched, you whistled. “Is that lunch for tomorrow?”

“I’ll salt it then give it to Akechi when he comes over.” Akira smiled, yet unhooked the fish and threw it back in. 

Ryuji had a wicked grin on his face, the idea of Akechi’s refined palate smelling day or week old wish, nose curling in disgust, was enough to make him cheer up. 

“Ahh, but speaking of Akechi.” Ryuji propped his leg up, his bad one. “That bastards’ coming over tomorrow yeah.”

“Don’t remind me.” You sighed. “What? I thought you of all people would be happy yeah?” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Well I’m just saying he’s your boyfrien- oi, hey!” Ryuji put his arms up in defense as you threw leftover dirt in the Styrofoam bait container at him. He scuttled off of his crate, shaking dirt from him. 

“Ah fuck- dammit it’s down my shirt!”

You shook your head, flustered, Akira was just laughing.  “Want to get mulch down your shirt as well Akira?” “You wouldn’t.” “I would- but I just ran out using it on him.” You guested to Ryuji who was knelt down by the edge scooping water in his hands. 

“Okay okay, I’m sorry.” The blond reclaimed his plastic seat, putting his arms up in truce. “You two are so buddy buddy though, Haru thought the two of you were dating when she first joined.”

“I’ve just known Akechi for a while, that’s all.” You huffed, “He’s not romantically attracted to me anyways.”

“Mhhm that’s what the always sa- ” He stopped mid sentence, seeing you  getting into attack mode again. 

“Where did you meet Akechi anyways?” He asked, too curious to let the topic slide.

“You don’t know?” Akira asked, suprised.

“Nah, just always assumed they got to know each-other through business shit like Makoto inviting him to the festival, until I found out you’ve known each-other longer.”

“It was one of his first times being on T.V” You said, knowing you’d be here all night if you didn’t say so otherwise. “Before any of this ‘Prince Detective’ shit was happening. I was working part-time assisting with tasks, getting water, food, making sure papers were in order. Normally workers like me wouldn’t be allowed to talk to a person like him but after he kept coming back he started talking to me. Though I guess it was just to be nice, I don’t know...since I worked there he requested my number and I wasn’t in a position to say no.”

“Romantic.” Ryuji mocked . “Love at first sigh.” He absolutely detested Akechi, and was always salty whenever time was taken from you to talk to him. He was just protective, you had basically been the first one to help Ryuji out at Shujin, it was understandable that he had wanted to protect you. 

“Oh lay off Ryuji,” Akira reeled his line in, packing it away before turning to you “And I think he has the right to dirty talk Akechi, seeing as he’s in the middle of blackmailing us - we’re all a little frazzled after this week.”

He stacked his tackle box away, leaving you to bite your lip. “Do you think the reward announcement was caused by Akechi?” You asked your leader, he didn’t even freeze in his movements,kicking the crates back together in a clump. “I don’t think he caused it, but it’s suspicious.” 

“Obviously,” Ryuji mumbled.

“Come on,” Akira nodded towards the exit, “Let’s get something to eat.”

“Please don’t let it be Big Bang Burger.” Ryuji groaned. 

“After Haru? No.” Akira furrowed his brow, dropping off his fishing gear at the entrance, thanking the man before jogging to meet up with the two of your.”

“Let’s go to Mc Donald's.”

----

The time on your phone read 12:34 am, just as Ryuji set down one (of two) trays of food. 

“Oh man,” he moaned, rubbing his hands, “This looks so good.”

Akira sat down next, opposite to you and beside Ryuji in the booth, carrying the next tray. 

You blinked, “...What exactly did you get-”

“Probably a quarter of the whole menu.”

“Jesus Christ-!”

“We’re teenagers, it’s past midnight and we’re the only people in this restaurant, of course we’re gonna get a shit-ton of food!” 

“I trusted you guys and you’ve back stabbed me.” Your voice was laced with sarcasm, a bit of glee and adrenaline rushing through you at the spread of food.

“So as they say in France- Bon Apetite.” Ryuji clapped his hands together, before diving in and gobbling down a big mac.

Akira himself opened up a cheeseburger, eating slowly and maliciously, even though he could probably eat 4 burgers at once (You’ve seen him do it himself before.)

You shook your head, beginning to eat as well. 

“Oh right, has Mishima texted ya, dude?” ryuji asked, though bites of meat. “Y’know, about the whole announcement thing?” 

“Yeah, he hasn’t stopped.” Akira sighed. “I had to mute my phone just to get some peace.”

“Sometimes I worry, it seems like Mishima is more invested in the phantom thieves than the phantom thieves are themselves.”

Akira shrugged, Ryuji nodded in agreement. “Mishima man, mishima.” 

“You do have to give him credit- he’s a good person with good intentions, and usually, reliable.”

“Uness it’s dealing with anyone of the opposite sex or maids.” Ryuji snickered.

“Maids?” You questioned, reaching over to take a brownie from a bag.

“Oh, fuck, uh.” Ryuji turned to Akira for help, who immediately threw him under the bus. “Your fault, your turn to tell the story.”

“No it’s okay, I think... I have an idea.” Ryuji shuffled nervously, shoving the rest of his burger in his mouth while Akira gave a sheepish smile.

“There’s a difference between the meaning “boys will be boys” and sexual desire.” not that you’d think they’d do anything non-consensual, but you’d be damned if they didn’t have those thoughts. “Speaking of which how’s the relationship going for you Akira?”

“Imagine that, the student council president and the criminal on probation bonenin’.” Ryuji smiled, nudging the male next to him with his shoulder. 

Akira rolled his eyes, yet smiled as he slipped three fries (with no ketchup, “How do you not like Ketchup dude?!” Ryuji had shouted in agony) “It’s good, really good.”

“Like third base good? Or-”

“I think we should talk about this elsewhere, Ryuji” he sighed.

“Aw.” You pouted. While it did intrigue you, Makoto would flip if she found out, but at the same time there was no way she would ever tell the girls about the private sequences that occurred in the attic of LeBlanc. 

The talk of relationships made your mind drift back to the thought of Goro, the chestnut brown hair, overflowing charisma that made butterflies pop up, not because you were charmed, but entranced with the show he put on for the public, and it made you want more.

You slapped the warm thought before it could grow, grinding up a fry between your teeth.

“We haven’t really shown any PDA, and apart from the occasional trips to the arcade or the spying secions on students- we don’t go on dates.”

“Speaking of which,” Ryuji interupted, “That chick- eriko was it? Did you guys finally find prove that her ‘boyfriend’ was a sack of shit?”

Akira nodded, “Yeah, a few weeks ago...it was that day actually that we got together.” though he didn’t look happy about it, nor sad. You stared it at, entranced. He noticed you looking and twitched a bit.

“Man you just don’t waste any time.” “I can’t really afford to, seeing as I’m leaving next April.”

Ah, right.

A awlkward silence stretched out for a few seconds, no one wanting to even think about Akira leaving- or what would possibly happen to the Phantom Theives if this issue wasn’t resolved by then.

“Hey man, focus on the now, and the fact that we’re meeting with Goro Akechi tomorrow.” Ryuji finally said.

“Yeah, sounds good man.” Akira smiled.

You let yourself get lost with their conversations, the three of you for once getting the chance to act like normal teenagers, the part of the day where you could forget about being a phantom thief and just worry about living. Not that you hated being a thief, it was just...well, shitty, how teenagers had to clean up the mess that adults made, it pissed you off.

By the time you guys decided to leave it the food was long gone, and the night darker than ever. 

“It’ll be daylight in a few hours.” Akira hummed, rubbing under his eyes, pushing his glasses up.

“Yeah, don’t really wanna go anywhere though.” Ryuji sighed.

“The trains are closed for the night, our best bet is to just head back after this.” 

“Yeah yeah, I know...doesn’t change my mind though...” 

“You’re the one half asleep Ryuji.” You laughed.

“Mhhm ...yeah...”

“Come on.” Akira half dragged and half lead Ryuji out the door, discarding the trash as he went. “You guys can rest at LeBlanc’s until the sun comes up.

“Sounds good to me.” You all stumbled through the glass door of Mc Donalds, and into the neon-lit streets of Tokyo.

The walk home was, very nice, to say the least. Everything seemed to be relaxing, soft glows from neon lights and streetlights guided you back through the winding streets and alleys. On the main roads there was the soft chatter of electronic music, a mix of calming jazzes and base thumping into your ears. It made you feel warm, and right, but there was a oddness to it, almost like the calm before a storm. You had a feeling why.

The wind kicked up, cooling your arms and ruffling your shirt, looking up the stars were invisible, the haze from the crowded city overpowering it. You stopped , the sight was oddly breathtaking.

You wanted Goro to be there, to hold your hand, to just smile and put hair behind his ear, hand clutching his briefcase or maybe not. You craved him.

Goro, Goro.

“Go to bed.”

Your eye that isn't pressed up against the pillow shifts over to the boy laying next to you.

“You've been on your phone for hours. I can tell your eyes are sore.”

Ok. Well they are, but sleep is for the weak.

…...annnd your eyes are dropping again.

“Naw im...fine….”

Akira takes the phone from your hands, receiving a small ’ah’ from you.  He sets it on the desk beside him, turning back and petting your hair. “sleep.”

“But I don't wanna….” your eyes are closed already, body finally becoming exhausted.Akira rolls his eyes. Scooching close as you mumble incoherent things in your half sleep.

Akira Kurusu:

You loved Makoto with all your heart. She was caring for you and was there, female to female whenever you needed to talk. 

Yet the fact that she seemed to be better in every aspect for your boyfriend drove a spear into your pride each time, guilt flushing over you each time afterwards.

Akira tackling her to save her from a pillar in Futaba’s palace (She was about to die you fucking bitch and you’re jealous over that?)

Or him helping her out as the student council president, (She’s busy and you certainly aren’t as useful as her)

The dark thoughts even crept as far as wondering if she could please him better in bed. How she’d use her mouth and-

Needless to say these thoughts made your more angry with yourself than anything.

When Akira found out well...he wasn’t happy.

You don’t think you’ve ever seen him look so...disgruntled. He’s asking if he didn’t show you enough love or attention or if he wasn’t acting the best he could, all of which you insisted wasn’t the problem.

He’s constantly telling you that he adores you, that he wouldn’t want anyone, anyone else but you.

To prove it, he drags you up to his bed and presses you tightly against the sheets, with a ferocity and purpose that wasn’t present before.

He kisses along your jaw, gripping you close to him as he whispers.

“Let me show you how much I love you.”

Ryuji Sakamoto: 

Of course with how much Ann and Ryuji were around each-other, either in each-others faces or just the fact their lightweight personalities floated with one another, you were jealous of how close the two were. 

If the definition of ‘close was 50% of the time chewing the other one out

But when they did get along, they clicked so naturally, Ann waving him/ flipping him off as he tried to look up her skirt as she was stretched across the bench of Akira’s room. Late night talks in Hawaii, both seeming comfortable with the other sharing the same sleeping area. 

And Ann was beautiful, beautiful. For fucks sake she could get any guy (at least for a one night stand) because of her looks.

You were positive Ryuji would just fuck her if she asked.

Annnnd then you realized as he stopped eating his bowl of noodles that you said that last part out loud.

He drops his entire bowl, enraged, or, passionate?

“What the eff?! I’d never babe! I’m in a relationship with you aint I!?”

“So you don’t deny that you’d uh...have sexual intercourse with her?”

He wrinkled his nose, “Dude she’s hot yeah, attractive, I find a lot of girls attractive.” Ah here it goes, you really were right all along- “But I love you.”

“...huh- but-”

“I’m sure you are not just attracted to me, I’m sure you find a lot of guys, girls, whatever- hot! It’s just the same for me!” He wiped his mouth, “What I mean is- yeah there’s a lot of girls but you’re the one I love. The diamond that shines the prettiest. And I’d never wanna do anything with another person, especially when I’ve got you.”

And just like that Ryuji has just said the most sweetest thing to you without realizing, take pictures because it won’t happen again. You gape at him for a few seconds.

“What did I...say somethin wrong?”

You pull him in quickly for a fast and strong and rough kiss, which he gets into, gripping the back of your head in the middle of a beef bowl shop.

“Guess I said all the right things.”

Yusuke Kitagawa:

With him always talking about the beauty of the human body, wanting to still paint Ann nude, or just talking about how ‘all women are his type’

Yeah hard to wonder why you’d ever feel like you’re less than average.

You didn’t bring it up with him at first, not wanting to bring it up at all because you didn’t want him to get caught up with your concerns.

It was an endless unhealthy cycle of growing rigid around him, then making excuses to not hang out with him and when you did feel more uncomfortable and avoid him less.

He was so clueless he eventually talked to Futaba about it.

“I believe s/o is slowly getting sick.” he murmured as she mashed the plastic buttons on her controller. 

“Why do you say that?” she mumbles back.

“They’re always unavailable when I ask for us to hang out and when I’m with them she always seem distant whenever we do hang out.”

“Do you think maybe it’s because of how much you talk about the other girls.”

He blinks, confused, “Why would she feel bad about that?”

Futaba put down her controller “Oh Inari.”

And thus started an hour long argument about Futaba telling him that talking about nude women with his girlfriend would make them uncomfortable.  

Later on that week Yusuke confronted you.

“S/o. I have to talk to you?”

“Um, sure?”

He gets straight to the point- telling you that he knows about your self esteem issues and all that.

He apologizes for running his mouth about....his artistic point of view. 

He never intended to hurt you or to make you feel any less than what he thinks you are.

“You’re the most beautiful person I’ve met, mentally and physically, and that’s why I, a beautiful person, are dating and love you.”

He offers to make it up to you by hanging out with your more and praising you more and also offering to paint you nude.

Goro Akechi:

As a famous high school detective he’s constantly surrounded by media outlets and despite his hatred for it, he’s constantly asked about his love life and/ or asked about his opinion about other women.

With Akechi’s tendency to keep to himself and his fear of getting super close with people, it made you have doubts to say the least. 

You’d watch all of his interviews or sometimes if you were lucky, go to the recordings themselves, which he doesn’t like.

For the longest time you never knew why, you just always assumed that he didn't want you being around because it threw him off his game or sometimes your mind went to worse places (he didn’t need you, he was cheating on you)

His fan girls make things hard, always screaming and blushing and approaching him at every opportunity it makes your stomach churn.

And he’s always so so nice to them, never turning someone down and being like the prince he always is, how he always treats you.

It just makes you wonder how you’re supposed to know he loves you when he treats everyone with the same amount of affection.

One day you had made dinner for the two of you, when you got a call from Akechi saying he had a few things to do, so he’d be home late and you shouldn’t wait up for him.

And so you ate alone, his words gnawing at you until he came home in the early morning.

You just had to ask him.

“Do you really need me.”

The look on his face is panicked at first, before he rubs it away. “Why would you say that.”

“It just...feels like you could like anyone, anyone. I know I’m not nearly the best you can do, so why?”

He was tired and you felt guilty for keeping him up like this.

He kept it together at first, praising you and insisting with that fake smile that you were amazing.

“Don’t give me that shit- don’t tell me what you’re trained to do.”

His smile fell apart, like glass shattering and you felt horrible, but kept going.

“I want to know what you’re really feeling Akechi, I want to hear something that’s true and what your heart thinks- I don’t want you to always just be telling me what you think I want to hear, because I don’t.”

He rubbed his eyes, realeasing a shaky breath. He took your hands into his gloved ones, then thinking better he removed his gloves before taking your hands again.

“I need you, I need you more than I can possibly put into words or more than you can possibly imagine.” His eyes were glassy, his gaze downcast as he spoke quietly. “I never wanted you to view me as anything but perfection, I always wanted you to see me at my best and for you to feel like you’re the best.”

“You’re not forced to be anything around me, and I don’t want you feeling you’re forced to be with me if you want someone else.”

“No,” his voice strained and panicked. “I don’t want you to leave.”

“I won’t, so long as you want me.”

“I do want you, I want you more than I...” He trailed off, you released one of your hands to turn his face up to look at you.

“Akechi- I want truth. I want the ups and downs and the good and bad of this relationship, I want to know your sorrows so I can help you, .”

He nodded, a hiccup in his throat. “I love you, thank you.”

It will take time to peel behind the mask of Goro Akechi, a lot of time and patience and at the end it might all just be cut short because of Akechi’s actions.

Akira sat in exasperation, reading the label of his frappuccino in the middle of  ‘New Treat Coffee’ cafe tucked away in a backstreet of Shibuya. It wasn’t his intention to come here, and if he needed coffee he always had Leblanc, the only reason he stepped foot in the multi-colored building was because of you. It was the same reason why he had something in his hand that had at least 10 toppings and 4 word alliterate name. Normally something like this would have shaken him, he’s used to warm browns, blacks and reds if he’s in the mood. So stepping into something that was exploding with tints of blues, pinks and yellows. He assumed the ‘new treat’ in ‘new treat coffee’ refereed to the fact that they sold frozen yogurt, organic veggies, soups, club sandwiches, it was like someone mixed a family diner with a Starbucks, if Starbucks happened to be a vegetarian, but only on the frozen yogurt.

All in all, it was an odd place in Akira’s mind, but he could see how you admired it.

Though he wasn’t fond of shying behind you, especially when it came to ordering food, every item on the menu was coded (A chocolate chip cookie was called a ‘Chewy Chocolate Circumference’) So he let you ordered for the two of you. 

You returned back to his table just as he took a sip of his drink, choking in surprise as it tasted of chocolate and peppermint.

“Hey this is- spearmint? And Chocolate- but the label says coffee-”

You giggled as his cheeks flushed. “You really need to drink more than just black coffee, Akira.”  “I would except Sojiro thinks spending even a penny on another cafe is betrayal.” “Then I’ll pay.” “Not a chance.”

Now it was your turn to sheepishly smile and flush, rubbing your thumb against his hand. Soft sounds of ambient music thumped throughout the room, sat by the window was a fountain that trickled water through it’s spout. Akira was so out of place here but he’d do it again and again to be able to hold your hand and see you smile. 

“Well you’re too late, I already paid, I have to pay sometimes, Akira.” “What can I say? I enjoy spoiling you.” he smirked when your smile curled upwards further. It just fueled him to do it even more. 

“Here.” You cleared your throat, handing him a paper bag with the store’s logo on it. “Try this.”

“What is-” He slid the pastry from the bag onto a ceramic plate, staring at it. “This will give me diabetes with one bite” he mused, flicking some of the crystal sugar, and powdered sugar, and caramel, from the pastry, causing sugar to flake everywhere on his plate.

“You don’t have to eat it if you don’t like it.” “Have you seen me eat before, babe? Specifically at big bang burger.” He teased, thinking back fondly of when him and Ryuji tried it together, you recording the whole thing- Ryuji will never live that day down.“I’ve got a stomach of a horse, or better yet a kelpie.”

Ahh persona metaverse jokes, harmless ones that at least didn’t touch the topic of how the police would have your heads if they ever found out- no more coffee shops, no more 4-worded drinks and no more sugar X3 pastries. 

That’s something he won’t allow, he promises himself as he takes a bite only to regret it. 

“Fuck that’s sweet.” He takes a sip of his drink, only to regret it further. “Arg- is there anything here that isn’t coated in sugar?”

“Frozen yogurt, sandwiches and soup?” You offer. 

Then why didn’t you get me those..? he thinks to himself. Only to realize this is you. 

Sweet like the food you eat, soft like the colors you like and cotton cardigans that rub against the tips of your fingers as you hug him. Your world isn’t bitter coffee, plastic-crate beds and meaty burgers. 

And it’s not to say that your pastel, soft tastes means you have a soft, easy life, he knows better than anyone. But the desire to paint the world in a softer light to sooth your heart spreads, contagious to those hardened like his. His tastes are more leather chewing and silky black aesthetics, to match the darker type of world and personality he hides. Yet it’s touched, by his own pastel, the greatest one he could have- you.

“You know,” he sighs, “I really am in love with you.”

And when you turn a different shade of red, and when you whisper those words back to him over and over, it’s then he realizes that he’s got color spreading throughout him, painting his black soul with patches of pink and blue.

He pulls you closer, so that you can taste the sugar on his lips and the peppermint on his tongue. Your touch on his arm making his blood flow, his heart race, his whole body melting like fondue.

He loves the colors you’ve injected him with,  the thoughts you leave him with at night and the anchor you’ve thrown in his heart, making you a permanent resident.