Chapter Text
Haru walked into the conference room on the ground floor of Okumura Foods as steadily as she could. She filtered out the noise of reporters clamoring all around her with questions—Miss Okumura what do you have to say about the upcoming Q3 report, Miss Okumura what are the next priorities for growth in your company, Miss Okumura…
Haru made her way to the podium at the front of the room and cleared her throat. Eventually the clamor died down and the conference room settled into an uneasy silence interrupted by the occasional camera shutter.
“Thank you for coming, everyone,” Haru said. She went to tug on her sleeve and remembered how starchy the skirt suit she was being forced to wear was. She was going to donate them to a secondhand store as soon as she got the chance. Makoto would know a good place to take them.
“Today I am announcing my official resignation as CEO and owner of Okumura Foods.”
The room erupted as everyone leaped out of their seats. Haru had known this would happen, but the constant stream of questions, the satisfaction in the faces of the board members at the back room, the cries of Miss Okumura, Miss Okumura, Miss Okumura—it was an ocean she was sinking into. She could feel her lungs filling with fluid. It was only a matter of time.
Makoto promised she was watching. Makoto is here for me.
Haru steadied herself against the microphone stand.
“This has already been in the works for several weeks and will be finalized by 5 PM today. This was a personal decision unrelated to the financial performance of Okumura Foods.”
Miss Okumura, Miss Okumura, Miss Okumura—
“Any questions about the company should now be directed to the chairman of the board, who will announce the new ownership and CEO shortly. Thank you.”
She stepped down from the perch and kneaded her hands—her knuckles were white from gripping the podium. She started to walk towards the conference room exit, ignoring the questions surrounding her from all sides.
One reporter, however, caught her attention. “Miss Okumura, what are your next plans in the business world?”
She turned to look at them. A question about her instead of Okumura Foods. Maybe one she could answer truthfully?
A thought flashed inside of her head, and Haru said, “Well, I was thinking of opening a cafe in the suburbs.”
She walked away and let the people in the room process the answer for themselves.
“A cafe in the suburbs, huh?”
Haru was wrapped in Makoto’s arms in her bed at Sae’s house. Haru’s mansion was bound to be swarmed by papparazzi for a few days at least, so she had asked Makoto if staying at her place wouldn’t be too much of a problem. Makoto had only laughed in response.
The ex-billionaire turned slightly towards her. “You know I’ve always wanted my own cafe. I tried to start a chain of them at the company, but…”
“Those stuffy suits don’t have an appreciation for quiet moments, do they.”
Haru giggled. “I doubt it.”
“They probably haven’t even cuddled a girl before.”
Makoto nuzzled her girlfriend’s shoulder softly and the two of them giggled even more.
“But in all seriousness, Haru, you should do it. You’d be amazing at it.”
“Thank you, Mako-chan.” Makoto felt Haru shift around slightly. “It’s how my grandfather lived his life, after all. Getting to know customers, making food with love and care…”
“You could even have a garden on the premises.”
“Exactly.” Haru sighed contentedly. “The only problem is that it’d take a lot of work for one person to run it themselves.”
Makoto took on a fake air of indignation. “I’m right here, Haru.”
“I didn’t mean you couldn’t,” Haru said quickly, turning around fully to look at her. “I just figured you’d be busy with law school.”
“Haru, I was the student council president and a Phantom Thief during the same year. I don’t think anything could make me busier than that.”
Haru smiled. “You have a point.”
“I will need you to do one thing to get me to sign up as your co-owner, though.”
Haru raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”
“I want us to live together above the cafe.”
Her girlfriend’s smile broadened. “Even if we have to sleep in a room dustier than Leblanc’s attic?”
Makoto reached over and planted a kiss on Haru’s cheek. “Anything for you, dear.”
Phantom Thieves group chat, a few months later
Haru: Big announcement everyone!
Futaba: oh shit
Makoto: Language.
Futaba: I’m an adult now don’t tell me what to do
Akira: language
Futaba: ...fine
Ryuji: anyway what’s the announcement
Yusuke: I’m positively quaking in anticipation.
Makoto: I passed the law school entrance exam!
Ann: OMG CONGRATS :D
Zenkichi: Top-notch stuff, Niijima!
Akira: expected as much
Ryuji: poggers
Sumire: But wasn’t Haru the one who said there was an announcement?
Ryuji: c’mon sumi they’re in lesbians together, they definitely did it that way on purpose
Haru: That’s because I also have an announcement!
Ryuji: oh shit
Haru: We finally bought our location for the cafe!!!!!
Futaba: OH SHIT
Sumire: HARU OMG
Ryuji: LET’S FUCKING GOOOOOOOO
Akira: two stories?
Makoto: Bottom floor for the cafe, top floor for our living area.
Akira: please keep it cleaner than I kept Leblanc’s attic
Zenkichi: Congratulations, Haru! And exactly how dirty are we talking, Kurusu?
Futaba: you don’t want to know
Haru: We’ll keep it clean enough for visitors. There’s a guest bedroom and an extra-large living room.
Makoto: We could probably fit the entire team up there.
Ann: CAFE SLEEPOVER
Yusuke: Tell me if you’d like me to paint any decorations for the cafe. Sayuri is in Leblanc and I’d hate if it looked like I was choosing favorites.
Haru: I’ll make sure to commission you generously with some of the money leftover from Okumura Foods.
Yusuke: Please, this would be a gift for a friend.
Akira: take her fucking money bitch
Yusuke: ...I’ll accept a small commission.
Makoto dropped a heavy box onto a table on the ground floor of the cafe and leaned over to catch her breath. She was willing to bet that was the heaviest box in the room.
Ann set another box down next to Makoto and wiped her forehead with her arm. “How much kitchen equipment do you need to run a cafe, anyway?”
“I asked the same question,” Makoto said between gasps.
“This is a pretty average amount,” Akira said as he came out from the inside of the kitchen with a full dustpan. “Boss has less, but that’s because he makes exactly two dishes.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Makoto said with a weary smile.
He shrugged. “Just a Boss thing.”
“Comin’ through!”
Makoto stepped out of the way as Zenkichi, Ryuji, and Sumire squeezed past her with a leather couch in their arms. “You two need help?” she asked.
“Nope!” Zenkichi said as he struggled to adjust his grip around the couch.
“We got this,” Sumire said as her face slowly reddened from exertion.
Makoto sighed. “I shouldn’t have made that a question. Let me help you get upstairs at least.”
The four of them managed to get the couch up the stairs after some serious negotiation involving who would turn the couch around, who would lift it, and so forth. They set it on the ground as gently as their exhaustion allowed them, then immediately flopped onto it.
“I’m never getting a house with multiple stories,” Ryuji said as he sprawled out and nearly hit Zenkichi in the head with his hand. “Oops, sorry Gramps.”
“You probably have the right idea,” Makoto admitted.
“Oh, glad to see everyone made it!” Haru walked over to the couch with a tray full of lemonade and set it on the coffee table set askew in the middle of the room. “I felt guilty about coming over before everyone else and not being able to help with the packages, so I made some drinks.”
“I came over to find the best place to put a painting and assisted with the drinks as well,” Yusuke said from across the room as he was eyeing up a wall with a look of concentration.
Sumire’s eyes opened when she heard the word “drinks.” “I’ll get everyone up here!” she said as she hopped up from the couch.
Haru giggled in Makoto’s direction. “She’s still so sweet, isn’t she?”
Everyone quickly filtered upstairs and stood around the couch in the dusty upstairs room. Ryuji was chatting with Futaba and Zenkichi about a new game he just got, while Yusuke and Sumire were discussing an American gymnastics performance from the other day. Morgana was purring after getting a few back scratches from Ann while Akira watched with a small smile.
Haru sat down next to Makoto on the couch and put her arm around her shoulder. “It’s so nice to have everyone here,” she said. “It feels so happy.”
“That’s because you just fed them,” Makoto said. “Take away the food and there’d be a fight within minutes.”
“It’s called planning, Mako-chan.”
They laughed with each other for a few moments. When they finished, they noticed Akira had walked over to them. “You two figured out what Yusuke is gonna paint for you yet? He’s been eager to get started.”
“I have,” Haru said with a nod. “A portrait of me, my father, and my grandfather. I want a way to remember the real things they gave me, not the money or that old house.”
“What about you, Makoto?”
Makoto frowned. “I haven’t. I’ve never really asked for a painting like this before. And my feelings about my father are more… complicated.”
“You’ll figure it out, dear,” Haru said. “I’m sure Yusuke can wait.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Makoto said as she watched him glance around the room anxiously while talking with Sumire. “I’m surprised he didn’t bring a paintbrush.”
“He did,” Akira confirmed. “I just took it from his pocket, actually.”
“You what?” Yusuke said from across the room.
Makoto turned to her girlfriend as Yusuke approached Akira threateningly. “We’re a fucking mess.”
“Oh, but you’re all my mess,” Haru said brightly. “You especially.”
She leaned in and gave Makoto a kiss on the lips, and at that moment Makoto could forget everything else on her mind.