Ryusui's boygirlfriend

He still didn’t really know what brought about this change of heart.

When Lupin and Matthew first started dating, Lupin insisted that marriage be off the table. Matthew agreed, content with a more casual relationship, and all was well. But the longer they were together, the more Lupin’s heart stirred. He started thinking about being called a husband, and calling Matthew a husband. It frightened him more than he cared to admit.

Was Lupin the Third actually settling down?

No, he thought, nothing about him was settling down. He would still go on adventures and get caught up in mischief. The only thing that would change is he’d have a title that sounded more serious.

And with that, Lupin made plans to propose.

Of course, no ordinary ring would be enough for Matthew (not that he would mind, of course). Lupin was a thief by trade, and a good one at that; the ring needed to be adorned with a priceless gem, the band itself beautifully intricate. Although it wasn’t his style, no calling card could be sent out. Matthew was a sharp man; any news regarding stealing a ring could get his gears turning. No, not even Zenigata could know about this heist. It would make it easier, but certainly not a walk in the park.

Before any heist began, Lupin needed to do surveillance. He chose a nearby museum, something that wouldn’t require any travel to another hideout, and concealed himself as a patron to peruse the gallery. There was an entire section dedicated to jewelry, which Lupin looked through, scrutinizing each and every ring he saw. Too garish, too lowkey, this one’s way overdecorated.

“Um… excuse me, sir?” a security guard asked Lupin. “What are you doing?”

Lupin changed his voice in an instant. “Ah! Just thinking about which one of these rings I’d buy if I had the money. Really, it’s such a bad habit of mine.”

The guard laughed. “I do the same thing!” she said. “I’ll look at mansions online and judge their tastes, even though I can hardly afford my apartment!”

Lupin struck up a small conversation with the guard, asking about her job. She told him a little about the security of the place, and Lupin’s gears started to turn.

Suddenly, an alarm went off. The guard’s relaxed expression hardened instantly, as she ran to the sound of the alarm. Lupin followed, to see what caused the commotion. As they made it to the paintings section, it was clear: a thief of a lower caliber tried robbing the museum in broad daylight. He had gotten a hold of a painting, but hadn’t gotten far before authorities pinned him to the floor.

“Let this be a lesson to you:” the guard turned back to Lupin, “crime never pays. Try to take a ring and you’ll end up like this fella here.”

So they have that alarm system for every exhibit, Lupin thought to himself. Thanks, lady!

Lupin went back to where him and Matthew were staying, flopping down on the couch.

“Huh,” Matthew said. “There was a failed robbery at the local museum.” He gave a small laugh. “Well, I know that’s not where you were, at least.”

Lupin laughed, then excused himself to the bedroom to work on plans.

When night fell, Lupin returned to the museum in all-black attire. He snuck into the museum quite easily, with the lack of guards around. Perhaps if they knew he was planning on robbing the place, they would have prepared better.

Lupin snuck back to the jewelry section, where he looked through the selection of rings again. He still hadn’t decided what to get for Matthew, seeing as none of the choices felt quite right. He scrutinized each and every one, now that he didn’t have that guard breathing down his neck. He looked, and looked, and looked, until finally… he found it.

Lupin’s eyes fell on the perfect ring. The diamond was brilliantly big, but not so much that it would be an eyesore. Its band was a lovely gold with intricate engravings, made with the love and care that Matthew deserved to have. It was absolutely perfect in every way, and so Lupin plucked it from the display and pocketed it.

Of course, the alarms blared the moment he disturbed the placing of the little ring. Footsteps approached, and Lupin dashed back the way he got in. Sure, the occasional horde of guards would block his path from time to time, but he made quick work of them as he pushed through. The game was over the moment he hopped in his car, speeding away from the scene before anyone could hope to catch up to him and heading back to Matthew.

It was still night by the time he got back. Of course it was, the job wasn’t a hard one by any means. The hardest part of it all was playing the waiting game now as Matthew lay dormant, his chest rhythmically rising and falling. Lupin placed the ring in his pant pocket and sat on the bed, looking at Matthew’s peaceful face as he slept.

Dawn broke, and Lupin started to get breakfast ready. He hoped the commotion and scents from the kitchen would stir Matthew awake. Sure enough, while the eggs were cooking, Matthew’s sleepy groans came from the hallway entrance.

“G’mornin, Lupin.”

“Good morning, my dear!” Lupin left his spot in front of the stove to plant a kiss on Matthew’s forehead. “I thought I’d make some breakfast for us this morning.” He went back to the stove, turning it off and scraping some eggs onto a plate. “And you woke up just in time! It’s ready!”

“Mmm.” Matthew turned on the TV, and the channel was broadcasting a report on the museum’s stolen diamond ring.

“Experts say the daytime heist might have been a front for another group to come in that night with their updated information,” the reporter said.

“Huh,” Matthew said. “Looks like someone stole a ring from that museum.” He laughed to himself. “Wasn’t you, was it, Lu… pin?”

As Matthew turned around, Lupin had kneeled down, presenting the ring he held in his pocket.

“Oh, my god,” Matthew whispered. “Oh, my god.”

“Listen, I’m not that good with sentimentality,” Lupin said, “so I’m gonna make this quick. I love you, I really love you, and it’d make me the happiest guy in the world if you were my husband.”

Matthew’s eyes watered. “I didn’t… I thought you… aren’t you more casual?”

Lupin frowned. “Is that a no?”

“No, no, no, it’s not!” Matthew grabbed Lupin’s hands. “I’d love to be your husband! I’m just surprised!” He wrapped his arms around Lupin’s body and squeezed. “Oh, Lupin, I love you!”

This was all incredibly pointless, in Senku’s eyes. The goal of humanity’s revival was to get thousands of years of science back to where it was before the petrification. That meant they were trying to rebuild everything to exactly how it was before.

But Tsukasa just had to go and revive a reformist before becoming an ally of the Kingdom of Science.

So now, here he was. Sat as a member of a board with Taiju, Ukyo, Chrome, and Kinro, listening to inane squabbles between the reformist, Hara Baru, and the capitalist, Ryusui Nanami.

Hara spoke first. “I say that a capitalist society will only hurt the poor while making the rich richer,” he said. “I’ve seen plenty of it in my time: famine and disease will consume the poor, who can’t pay to survive. It’s something that a rich boy like you has never seen firsthand.”

Ryusui spoke immediately afterward. “And I say that a capitalist society breeds innovation and productivity,” he said. “Unlike the old world, where we lived entirely different lives, we’ve both seen how money has gotten people more motivated to work. It’s why our boat’s building timeline is right on schedule.”

“That’s only because these people have only known a world where monetary value is everything!”

“And what about the people of Ishigami Village? They seem stoked to work for money, despite having never seen it before.”

Tch. Hara looked down, scowling, and racked his mind for another talking point. “And what about the elderly who can’t work? What do they do? Will they just have to starve now that we charge for food?”

It was Ryusui’s turn to scowl. It took a few moments of gripping the table before he looked up and snapped his fingers. “Their younger family members will take care of them, of course!”

“So you agree that those who can’t work should be taken care of despite their uselessness in a capitalist society?”

Ryusui went completely silent. Senku couldn’t help but chuckle. He got you there, Ryusui, he thought to himself.

“But how will we provide for all of those people?” Ryusui asked. “We don’t have a government yet.”

“We’ll get to that when it’s time,” Hara answered. “But for now, the conditions I want are that free food and shelter are set aside for those who need it. And not any of the shitty leftovers, I mean food and shelter that is good. I’ll accept the rest of your conditions if you abide by that.”

Ryusui thought for a few long moments. “Then my conditions are that we continue using Drago as currency, and that finer accommodations are bought with those.”

“Then if the quality of those finer accommodations improves over time, the baseline for free necessities will, too,” Hara said.

Ryusui finally broke his professional demeanor with a “Ha-ha!” and a snap of his fingers. “It’s a deal!” he exclaimed. He extended his hand to shake Hara’s.

Hara also relaxed, shaking Ryusui’s hand with a grimace. “I still don’t like you,” he said, “but I’ll respect your conditions so long as you respect mine.”

Ryusui shrugged. “I suppose I’m not for everyone,” he said. “But I will do the same for you.”

The room was filled with unenthusiastic clapping from the five board members as Hara took his leave through the door. Well, it was more like a door hole with a curtain for privacy.

“Well, that was quicker and more productive than I thought it would be,” Senku said, walking up to Ryusui. “Turns out I’m actually glad this peace conference was held.”

Ryusui wasn’t listening. His eyes fixated on the distance, a sign he was dreaming of grandeur. “I want him,” he muttered.

Senku looked over to the man. “Huh?”

Ryusui didn’t hesitate to clarify. “That confidence! That kindness! That authenticity! That Hara Baru! I want him!” His face erupted in a smile, his gaze fierce.

Senku hummed in agreement. “Yeah, he’s a pretty good ally when he’s on your team,” he said.

“Not like that,” Ryusui said. “This might be the first time in my life where I feel as though I don’t want someone to work for me. I want him. I want Hara as a partner, a lover!”

Senku let out a laugh. “Yeah, I figured you meant it like that,” he said. “But trust me, you have no shot with him.”

“Don’t you know me, Senku?” Ryusui put his hands on his hips. “My greed knows no limits. If it wants the impossible, it gets it. And there’s only one way to earn the affections of Hara Baru!”

Ryusui stormed out of the room, confidently walking towards his crush. “Hara!”

Hara stopped, turning to Ryusui with a nasty look. “What? We already shook hands, you can’t back out n-”

Hara’s words stopped as Ryusui grabbed his hands. “Hara, I must admit, I’ve taken quite a liking to you. I know it shouldn’t work, but love can sprout from the most unusual places. I’d love to take you out sometime, if you would be willing.”

Hara stood, dumbfounded, for no shorter than five seconds before shouting, “Excuse me?! Let go of my hands, you creep!” he snatched his hands away from Ryusui’s. “Didn’t you just hear me say I don’t like you? What made you think that changed in the minute we were apart?”

Ryusui simply smiled. “I had a feeling you would answer like this,” he said, “but that’s okay. Now that you know my feelings for you, I’ve no reason to hide it. And Hara Baru, I swear to you, I will make you love me. When the time is right, you can confess to me.”

“Get your head out of your ass!” Hara exclaimed. “I can confess to you?! What a load of shit! If you make me love you, then you’ll have had to become an entirely different person! Good luck with that, dumbass!”

Ryusui said nothing as he flashed a playboy-like grin to Hara and walked back to Senku.

“So, how did it go?” Senku asked.