Chapter Text
This is gonna be really awkward if she already has plans or if Haru misremembered, Ren thought as he waited for the student council meeting to end. Before he could continue his thoughts the door opened and the members of the council began walking out,
"I'll see you all on Monday for the next meeting, now enjoy your break." He heard Niijima say as the last member walked out before staring at Ren and Turning back to the president,
"Pres it seems you have a visitor."
He heard footsteps approaching, "A visitor, who- oh it's good to see you Amamiya-Kun."
"What's the delinquent doing here?" The member asked.
"That is his business not yours." She glared at the man causing him to bow his head and walk away. "He does have a point though, I thought you said you were doing better?" She asked in a concerned manner with a small frown.
"I am, I just wanted to thank you again."
"There's really no nee-"
Here goes nothing. "Let me take you somewhere!" He blurted out. Shit not like that she's gonna get the wrong idea!
"Huh?" Her face became red and she started stammering.
"I meant as thanks, I know you said you don't need it, but please, it wouldn't feel right to me after what you said."
She ducked her head and pursed her lips, as if to consider his offer, "I don't know..."
"I heard a rumor that it's your birthday and since you helped me out I figured maybe we could do something, assuming you don't already have plans with family?"
"He knows it's my birthday? I knew some people were whispering about it but I didn't think anyone would care." She furrowed her brow before checking her phone to see that Sae messaged her, her heart skipped a beat until she read the message.
"Won't be home tonight, keep up with your studies." Sent 1:57 PM
She forgot? Makoto hasn't had a big celebration in years but sis always texted her at least. She looked up at Ren and smiled "Alright wait for me at the gates, I still need to take care of a few papers."
"Will do" He smiled back and walked away.
About 20 minutes later she came running to the gate, "Sorry for keeping you waiting." She said.
"It's no problem, now let's go."
"Go where exactly? You haven't said anything about where we're going." Makoto pointed out with a raised brow.
"I was thinking maybe something simple like the arcade and maybe a small dinner afterwards. If that's alright with you?"
"I've never been to an arcade before actually." She said sheepishly.
"Really?" Ren asked, surprised. Makoto just nervously nodded. "Well then think of it as trying something new then." He suggested.
She raised a brow, "So like, broadening my horizons?"
"Exactly."
She let out another small smile "Alright then, after you."
The two didn't talk much on the way there, just about some school work. She seemed surprised to hear he was actually better at math than her. Though she was better in every other subject of course.
Finally they arrived.
"Alright, how about you pick something first?" Ren suggested.
"Really? I wouldn't know what to choose." Makoto responded nervously.
"Whatever looks fun"
She hummed to herself while looking around, thinking about what to try first, before looking at a machine with surprisingly realistic guns. "What about that one?"
"Gun About? Nice pick, I knew you had good taste." He teased, causing her to grow pink in embarrassment.
"W-well I just thought it looked fun, that's all!" She stammered out before continuing, "So what do I do exactly?" She asked.
"Well you grab the gun, aim at the targets on screen, and pull the trigger. That's about it."
"O-okay then, let's get started shall we?"
A few rounds passed by
"Wow, these models are pretty realistic."
"There's so many, I have to reload!"
"Oh no we lost!" She said after the fourth round.
"Yeah these games are meant to be hard to drain all your change." He pointed out, "How about you go a round by yourself?" He offered.
I think I saw something she might be interested in, over in the claw machine. I just need to get her distracted for a few minutes, Ren thought to himself
"I'm not sure I'll be much good by myself." She frowned, "But I suppose it's worth a shot."
"Alright I'll be just looking around if you need me."
She didn't reply, already setting her focus back on the game. Ren walked to the claw machine and saw a Giant panda plush. She'll love it. He thought, smirking to himself before he started his mission.
That took longer than I thought and way too much change but It'll be worth it Ren thought as he glanced back at Makoto who was luckily still engrossed in the game, and snuck behind her, waiting patiently for her round to be over.
Not long after he heard the noise which signaled a game over. "I actually did a lot better than I thought I would." She mused.
"You sure did." A voice suddenly came from behind her, causing her to whip around and face a smirking Ren holding a giant
"BUCHI-KUN!"
"That's what it's called? I saw this in the claw machine and since you had a panda on your pencil case I thought you just liked pandas."
Makoto was shocked, "Y-you got that f-for me?"
Ren smirked, "Of course, it's hardly a birthday without a gift after all, right?" He then offered the bear to her, and watched as her face lit up as she hugged it gently.
"Thank you for this Re- I mean Amamiya-Kun."
"Please, you can call me Ren all you want." He offered.
Makoto smiled, "Oh alright Ren, But only if you call me Makoto."
Why does her saying my name make me feel so damn happy? He thought suddenly, "O-of course Makoto." He cleared his throat before continuing, "I believe I promised dinner as well?"
"If you're sure then I'm up for it" She replied, "But where are we going?"
"What about the diner in Shibuya?"
"That sounds nice."
"Well then let's get going."
I just hope they have something resembling cake on the menu, Ren mused.
After a few minutes of walking they arrived and placed their orders, Ren whispering to the waiter which Makoto failed to notice. Thank god, they do have small cakes for stuff like this. Ren thought as they began their dinner. After a few minutes the two finished their meal before Ren gestured to the staff, which made Makoto suspicious.
Suddenly an employee sat down a small cake on their table. Did he really go through all this for me?
Ren noticed her eyes got wide. "Happy Birthday Makoto." He said, waiting for her reaction. I really hope she likes it. He thought not for the first time, before noticing her eyes getting wet. He sat up and looked at her in concern. "Is everything alright Makoto!?" He asked, panicking inwardly.
She looked back up at him with tears in her eyes and smiled. "Thank you so much for this, and everything you've done today." She began. "I haven't really celebrated my birthday in years, the last time was before my father..." Makoto trailed off, Ren caught the implication but didn't say anything, sensing she had more to say. "Still my sis always at least sent me a text or got a cupcake or small gift, but today she... forgot."
That's why she was so disappointed when looking at her phone. Ren realized.
"Well I'll never forget okay? Here I'll prove it." He pulled out his phone, and went to his calendar app, setting a permanent reminder every year on April 23rd, Makoto's Birthday! "Now I'll always remember." He said, smiling at her.
Makoto was floored, "Really? But you don't even know me... Besides, don't you return to your hometown after this year?" She asked, frowning.
Ren just made a dismissive gesture, "Well I always planned on coming to the city for college anyways. Besides, we can always call, that's what friends do after all."
Makoto frowned to herself. "Friends?"
"If you don't mind me being one, yeah."
Makoto let out a small smirk. "I'd love that Ren. Here's my number so you can call me like you said." She pulled out her phone giving her information to Ren.
"I promise I'll call as much as you like." He said with a smile, which she returned.
"Now how about we eat this cake before turning in for the night?" He offered, to which Makoto nodded as the two began to dig in.
After the two finished their cake and paid for their food (Makoto tried to have him split the bill, but he refused.) They walked to the station together.
Before heading their separate ways, Makoto looked back once more and smiled, "Thank you so much for tonight Ren." She said once again.
"It's really no problem."
Makoto looked to the ground for a second before looking back up and letting out a bashful smile, "I wouldn't mind doing this again sometime actually" She paused realizing what she just said, "I-i just meant today was nice, and I wouldn't be.... opposed towards hanging out again sometime." She stammered out with a red face.
Ren merely smiled. "I'd love that Makoto."
With one last look she walked into her train as the two separated for the day.
As Ren walked into Leblanc he heard a voice, "Where the hell have you been!?"
Oh shit I didn't tell Sojiro I'd be out tonight.
"I-i well there was this girl and-"
"A girl?" Sojiro interrupted him with a raised brow.
"Yeah it was her birthday and I owed her." Ren replied sheepishly.
Sojiro gave him a sly smirk before asking, "Did you get her number at least?"
Ren merely nodded, causing the older man to chuckle. "Well next time just let me know next time you go out on a date okay? Now I'm gonna close up, you should get to bed."
"Thanks Boss." Wait, did he say a DATE? Before he could correct the man, he heard the door close and saw he was already gone.
It wasn't a date Ren thought as he started putting his stuff away. Sure he took Makoto out to dinner and got her a gift but that isn't necessarily a date, right?
"Oh my god I hope I didn't give her the wrong idea. Then again she seemed willing to continue going out. Did she see it as a date? No, I doubt it. Besides, there's no way a girl like Makoto Niijima would ever go out with someone like me and it’s not like I even like her that way."
At least that's what he told himself as he drifted off to sleep, hoping it wouldn't be interrupted by Igor and the twins.