Chapter Text
"Aw man, who knew Mementos would be extra tough today." Ryuji said. The other Phantom Thieves were stretching out their limbs as well. Their leader, Joker, stood in the back and was talking to their metaverse advisor Morgana.
"So many requests." Ann complained. "I think I was really close to losing almost all my SP."
The other girls groaned in agreement when Yusuke and Ryuji finally relaxed. "Well no time like the present to rest. I suppose you guys are going home now."
"Actually, Ryuji could you take Morgana on the train with you?" Ren asked. Morgana looked a bit annoyed, but went with it. "Just let him off when you pass my station."
"Uh, sure, I guess. Why can't you do that?"
"I got plans." Ren said. Yusuke noticed all the girls suddenly perking up as he said that. "Something came up and I can't have Morgana come."
"You say that, but I think as Phantom Thief and your partner, it'd be best if we kept going together." The cat said.
Ren shook his head. "Sorry, but tonight I'm running solo."
Morgana puffed as Yusuke looked at his wallet. "Uh, Ryuji. Perhaps I could ride the same train as you. I appear to have left my wallet back at the dorm."
"For real? You paid with pocket change again?"
Makoto cleared her throat. "Yusuke, remember what we said if this happened again?"
The artist clenched up nervously. Ren smirked as he remembered the plans for Yusuke. In the event someone on the team had to cover for him, Yusuke would have to endure a budget lecture. Now the lecture would allows go in one ear and out the other, but they were annoying enough to prevent Yusuke from doing any art and in turn became a punishment.
"I...understand, Queen." Yusuke mumbled.
"Come on, Yusuke. Let's get you home." Ryuji dragged a despondent Yusuke as he was trying to mentally prepare himself for tomorrow. Morgana gave one last look at the group as Ren pushed up his glasses before turning to the girls in his company.
The trio were down in the seats with Morgana being grumpy. "Hey Mona, what's with the sour expression. You look like one of those dropped cats."
"I do not! I'm simply thinking."
"Thinking?"
"Unlike Ryuji, I have attained some information and it has been verified by our leader's actions today!"
Yusuke and Ryuji looked at each other before turning to Mona in surprise. "Well what is it?"
"Our leader has something planned and I believe it would be in our best interests to check it out. At the Wilton Buffet!"
"What?! The buffet!"
Yusuke's eyes sparkled. "A buffet! I never imagined Ren would be there. And alone!"
"Yeah except for the alone part." Morgana said. "Now normally I wouldn't really be too worried about him being alone. A few of his activities have a strict policy against...partners so I understand when I'm not needed. But this time it's different. There's something going on with our leader that he's hiding!"
The two boys gave a worried glance when they came to their stop. Yusuke and Ryuji sat still as the doors closed.
"We'll go to the Wilton Buffet then!"
Almost an hour later and the trio were sitting down at a table nearby. Just an order of coffee, coco, and water were on their table.
Ryuji groaned, "We've been here for awhile now. Are you sure he said it'd be the Wilton."
"Yes, I'm sure!"
"Hm regardless, I do enjoy the nice ambience here. It's very relaxing although the coffee is nothing like the boss's." Yusuke said. Ryuji almost slammed his head on the table when he spotted their target.
He got Yusuke's attention as they turned to see Ren standing in a somewhat more mature outfit. "Dude, what is he wearing?"
"A casual outfit that exudes maturity. Combine that with his lax attitude...maybe I should-" Yusuke reached into his bag.
Morgana scuffled in Ryuji's bag. "Don't! He'll definitely spot us if you go asking him to pose for a sketch!"
"Ren!" A voice called out. The boys turned and their eyes widened to see Ann wearing a dress. Nothing fancy, but something she wouldn't really wear in a casual sense. "There you are. Sorry, the train wasn't on our side today."
"I get it. I just arrived myself. Shall we?" He gestured to a table. Ann blushed, took his arm, and the two walked in.
Ryuji, Yuske, and Morgana stood still as statues at the sight as Morgana's soul almost seemed to leak out of his body.
"L-Lady Ann…"
"Is this for real?" Ryuji said. "I knew they were close, I guess I should've seen this coming. But when did they hook up!"
"I...suppose it isn't outside the realm of possibility. This is our leader we're talking about and Ann is a valued battle companion. Love is sure to bloom among those we spend the most time with."
"Lady Ann." Morgana bemoaned. "At least you're not with that monkey."
Ryuji almost smacked the bag. "What the eff, you asshole! I don't like Ann in any way besides platonic! Physically, maybe but still!"
The blonde crossed his arms as Morgana still hasn't registered what happened. He groaned before seeing Ren walk out again. He looked quite pleased with himself and before Ryuji could call him over, a few more recognizable voices popped in.
"Yo Ren, we're here!"
"Futaba slow down! Haru, her heels!"
"I got her."
Ryuji's jaw dropped when he saw the rest of the team drop in. Each of them were dressed nicely for the occasion and each one shared a special look with Joker. Their leader gave them his classic smile.
"Don't you all look beautiful tonight." Yusuke, Morgana, and Ryuji watched each girl have a varying degree of red on their cheeks similar to Ann's. He led them all in as Ryuji was shaking. From rage to pride in his boy, the entire spectrum between him was going wild.
Morgana was sputtering his words while Yusuke was drinking his coffee. "It seems our leader is hosting a dinner."
"With all the girls in our team! Not only that, but it looks like a damn panel from a harem manga!" Ryuji was crying tears. Whether of joy or anguish, it made no difference though it did mean one thing. "That asshole! He had moves to pull in so many chicks and he never gave us any pointers!"
Yusuke and Morgana exchanged a look.
"To be fair Ryuji, you were pushing the girl hunting on our beach day." Morgana said.
"And Hawaii." Yusuke followed up. Shock never really got to Ryuji, but this was a close equivalent. "Still it's hard to imagine all the girls would be falling for Joker at the same time."
"Weren't you the one who said love can bloom among battlefields or whatever." Ryuji countered.
"Among each other. Besides we've got our answer. Joker is treating the ladies of our team to a nice night out." Yusuke said. "Though I suppose it's strange he's never gone out of his way to treat us to dinner. Unless it's me."
"Dude, we almost always cover your meal regardless. And you got to go through Makoto's financial lecture tomorrow too." The artist's light in his eyes died at the reminder while Morgana popped out the bag.
Sneaking through the crowd was easier today since not that many people were in attendance. Popping around the tables, he found Ren's table. The girls were chatting as Ren was indulging himself in some tea.
"This was awesome Ren. I can't believe you went through covering the table. Are you sure we can let you pay?"
"We came across quite a few treasure demons. It's my pleasure to treat you all. Besides, Boss told me to treasure the women in my life." Ryuji could almost see the background turn pink with all the blushing going on. Makoto and Ann turned to the side while Futaba and Haru kept their gaze on their leader. "So eat up."
The girls followed his order and indulged in the meal in front of them. Morgana walked back with a confusing set of pride as a gentleman and his own desires for romance were severely reduced.
"I think we should go." Ryuji said. Morgana was reduced to small babbles as Yusuke put down his cup.
To boys, having charm to the opposite sex spoke highly of their abilities. Those who carry that charm are almost on another planet. It was even more confusing when it was a guy you call your best friend.
You've seen their weak points, their high points, you share so many things with them and yet their stats speak differently.
"It seems our leader has quite the charm on our female teammates."
"He says he wanted to treat them out and remembered the chief's advice about appreciating the ladies in your life." Morgana finally answered as they got onto the train. "Such a gentleman yet...DAMN IT!"
"Calm down, you damn cat!" Ryuji smothered him so as not to draw attention. "I guess we can ask him later on about it or…"
"Or?"
"How about we ask the girls around him? He never shared his answers on this before and knowing he held back from all other ventures let's me know about all things he would have taught us. We should learn what our leader's got that we don't!"
Ryuji turned to his companions.
"He's an admirable student?"
"He can wield multiple personas?"
"The rest of us don't carry his relaxed composure?"
Ryuji groaned. "Aside from all that! I mean we can use this opportunity to learn more about him outside of us. He's bound to be different with none of us around him. Like what is he like with the others?"
"Ah, you wanted to know what kind of mask he wears in front of others. Not bad." Morgana said.
"Still it does seem prying to find out what our leader does with others. Yet this might yield some inspiration on the different facets a man could carry among others."
"Hell yeah! Let's do it!"
Morgana chimed in one more thing. "Aren't most of the girls in your school Ryuji? Doesn't that mean you'll be doing most of the snooping?"
"I'll figure something out." Ryuji said.