Work Text:
“Truly I LOVE YOU! I’ll send it to you. Surely YOU LOVE ME! I feel it. Let’s search for the glass slipper that fits you.” I pick up the tool I was using to cut into the tin clasp and start work on my fourth lockpick. “As two, STEP AND GO! Until the end. Even if it’s…”
The sound of the tin clasp snapping in two broke my concentration and upon putting the tool down and taking my earphones out, I hear Morgana chuckle from the spot on my bed. “Better luck next time, Joker!”
“Yeah, Yeah.” I sigh before stretching and rubbing the set of cat ears that sat on top of my head.
“I’m surprised that you’ve managed to keep them a secret all this time, Akira.” I heard Morgana say before he leapt upon the workbench and sitting down.
“Well, Catulus Syndrome is rare in men and with the delinquent tag that I’ve got at Shujin and us being Phantom Thieves rumours, I think we don’t need any more spotlights on us.” I said as I attempted another go at making a lockpick.
After a couple more broken tin claps, I had finally finished with lockpick number four and had made a couple more and I was glad that today was Sunday, and that I hadn’t made any plans with anyone else (hence why I chose to make some lockpicks) as wearing a beanie to hind my cat ears starts to hurt after a while and the fact the Boss had closed up early meant that my ears could be free for a couple of hours before our Thief meeting.
My ears twitch at the sound of the door being unlocked downstairs and Ryuji talking to Futaba about some manga that they both are reading. “Huh, that time already.”
Reaching above the workbench for my beanie as I put the tools away, but when I came up empty regarding my beanie, panic sets in tenfold.
“Morgana! Where’s my hat?”
“It’s where you normally leave, isn’t it?”
“I’ve checked there already and it’s not there…” I could hear the others downstairs and by the sound of it, there were close to the stairs. “run interference for me, Morgana.”
“On it.” He said hopping off the bench and beelining to the stairs. He caught them just as they got to the bottom of the stair. “Your gonna want to wait here guys, Akira’s changing right now.”
“We’ve seen him topless before, Mona and Makoto seen more, so what's the difference?” Ann said and while she was correct that Makoto has seen more, even she doesn’t know about my other set of ears.
I had emptied the toolbox and had cleared most of the workbench shelves off and I still couldn’t find it.
“I don’t know, he said to stop you before going up without any explanations…” Morgana said as I moved over to my bed and started my search.
“Well, if he is hurt, then we should help him out.” I heard Makoto say before I hear a couple of the stairs creak.
‘Don’t you dare let them up here Morgana or you won’t get any fish.’
“Mona-chan, what’s going on?” Haru said in that tone of voice that meant that she was going to get what she wants.
My bed was clear of any hats but I did find a couple of yen coins though, so… with my bed cleared, I moved over to my cardboard box in hopes that my other beanie was in there.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about… Nyah, get your paw off of me, Oracle.” The meows and hisses that Morgana was giving only meant one thing… my secret was about to be found out.
I left my box where it was and made my way over to the window with the plan of getting out of here.
“Hey Bro, what’s the deal with you?” Ryuji said as I heard him and everyone else making their way up the stairs.
I had the window open by the time they all made it into the room. I hung my head so they couldn’t see my ears.
“That’s quite a mess you made for simply changing, Akira, you sure everything is okay?” Yusukes’ calm voice was helping but not enough to turn around.
‘I’m going to have to face the music, aren’t I?’
As I felt Makotos’ hand against my back, I turn enough away. “Please… please don’t hate me.” I muttered just loud enough for her.
“Hate you for what?”
I could tell that the rest of them were asking the same question even if they didn’t voice it. Taking a deep breath before turning around. I realized that they had gathered somewhat around me.
At first, they didn’t seem to grasp what was happening as my cat ears did blend in well (I had my hair to thank for that,) but when I twitch an ear, it was Futaba to notice first by letting go of Morgana, who, as soon as his paws hit the floor, he took a couple of steps before hopping back up on the workbench.
“Sorry, Joker.”
“It’s alright, Morgana.” I pat his head before looking at my friends. Out of everyone, Ryuji was the last to notice my extra set of ears.
“You’ve got such cute ears, Akira-kun.”
“I have to say, Akira, they really do suit you.”
“Can I pet your kitty ears…”
“Why… why and how did you hide this from us..?”
“…Yeah, what she said!”
Feeling Makoto press up against me and her hand slide into mine. “Why do you think we’ll hate you because you have a set of adorable cat ears.”
“…I use to bullied a lot as a kid…” I said in a meek tone as I squeezed Makotos’ hand. “females are more prone to Catulus Syndrome then men are, as you guys know. They stopped bullying me not too long after I stopped giving them any of my time.”
“But why hide it from us though?” Ann said and by the look of things, she was either about to cry or she wanted to punch me.
“…I hide them as I wanted a fresh start, no judgement for me having these ears.” I said before sitting down on my workbench stool.
“Well, Ryuji did tell me that I should keep a low profile, so I assume that that extends to everyone as well?” Yusuke said as both he and Haru took the booth seat nearby, Ann and Ryuji moved to sit on my bed and Futaba had gotten behind me and was gingerly poking my ears, to which I was twitching them so she would miss every so often.
“I can see why he did that.” Ryuji spoke up after a couple of minutes of silence. “Who wouldn’t do that when moving? If that bastard Kamoshida didn’t get your recorded leaked then you would have been high and dry.”
“It still hurts that you didn’t tell us about them.” I heard Ann say and even though it was meant to be a comment full of hurt, it was hard not to hear the mirth in her tone.
‘See must be watching Futaba.’
“You being a cat would explain the acrobatics you pull when we are in Palaces and Mementos.” Haru said as she peaked around Yusuke.
“Wait!? How come you don’t them when we are in Mementos and the Palaces?” Ryuji asked and I would have answered myself if I wasn’t enjoying the massage I was getting from Futaba.
“Isn’t it obvious, Ryuji. The Metaverse can show one’s desires in different ways and even though we’re all Persona users, if our desires are strong enough, they can change how they look.” I heard Morgana say after stretching.
There was a collective ‘oohs’ and ‘aha’ as it seemed like everyone get the gist of how my ears don’t show in the Metaverse.
I let out a small hiss when Futaba grabs hold of them a little too hard. “Got them… wow, your ears are sooo soft.”
“Unlike most cats, I don’t mind water.” I said with a sigh as my eyes drift shut when Futaba started to rub them slightly.
“Careful Futaba, looks like Makoto is getting jealous.” I heard Ryuji say with a shit-eating grin. I felt Futabas’ hands leave at the mention of that.
“Don’t worry Futaba, it’s fine.” I felt Makoto squeeze my hand to let me know that she would have her fill soon. Futaba went back to playing with my ears.
“So, what other traits do you, Akira?” Ann said with missing a beat.
The urge to purr was close, but I don’t think I could live with knowing that my friends knew that I could purr. I cleared my throat before speaking. “Apart from the ears and the fact that I don’t mind water, unlike Morgana,”
“Hey, I don’t mind it, I… I just prefer not to get wet.”
“I can see in the dark and I have a good sense of smell.”
“And there nothing you are allergic to is there?” Yusuke said as I heard a packet of crisp being opened.
“Apart from not being able to drink milk in large quantities, then I don’t think so.”
“Right, I can I pet your ears know?” Ann said and before I could do anything, everyone was upon me trying to touch my ears.
“Gah… guys, come on, we’re meant to have a meeting… Morgana, help!”
“Sorry, Akira, it’s your turn to experience this.” He said as he sat there with a smug look.
I found safety on top of the wooden beams in my room.
By the time everyone had settled down and the messes I had created had been cleared (my beanie slipped down the back of the workbench as I found it there when we were cleaning up,) we had set the tables up for the meeting and discussed the plans for the Mementos requests that had come in over the last couple of days.
When everything was set in stone, it was getting late for us to really go into Mementos, so we called the meeting there with the goal of diving into Mementos the first thing after school.
Ann and Ryuji left were the first two leave as they were both worn out after today’s shenanigans, Yusuke stayed till the food was gone and Haru stayed to help clear up even though I said that she didn’t need to. Futaba spent most of the time on her laptop and didn’t seem to realize the time until I pointed it out and with the unspoken fact that Makoto would be staying over, she packed up and took Morgana with her and more or less bolted out of Leblanc faster than ever.
With everyone gone, Makoto and I decided to call it there for today and get an early night. It was then that I felt another one of my cat traits kick in, big time. As soon as Makoto slid in and pulled the covers over her, I pulled her into a tight hug and buried my head into her chest.
Feeling her fingers run through my hair and scrap by the base of my ears, calmed me down.
“I have to say Akira, this is a site I didn’t expect to see from you.” She whispered seeing as her lips were next to my ears.
“You can blame the cat side of me if you want.” I said and even though it was muffled, she still hears me by shaking her head.
“I think it’s cute seeing you like this.” She said as I felt her fingers start to stroke my ears.
“If you say so.”
“I do say so… I’m still hurt that you didn’t tell anyone about this.” Her fingers brushed the tip of my ear and a shiver ran down my spine. “It would have only increased my love for you.”
“It probably would have, but I just wanted you guys to see the human half of me instead of my cat side.” I said as our legs start to tangle.
“I understand that, you told us what you experienced back home, but I doubt we will truly know what it is like.” She said and as the silence engulfed the room, her attention to my ears was getting me closer and closer to purring.
When her fingers stop and started to gently tap my ears, I knew she had a question. “What do you want to ask, Mako?”
“Well… I was wondering… if you will not be wearing your hat when you’re at school.” I felt her tense up within my grasp, I run my hands along her back with the hope that it would make her relax.
When she does, I let a sigh pass between my lips before returning to our previous position. “I know it’s best to rip the band-aid off in one go than to slowly peel it off, but I don’t think I ready for the whole of Shujin to know about my cat ears.”
“I understand, I know that you didn’t plan on telling us about your ears, so going from that to being fully public could be taxing for you.” Se said before placing a kiss between my ears.
When her fingers return to the base of my ears, she starts to scratch the base just enough to set me purring. “Now this, I wasn’t expecting.”
I buried my face harder into her. “This is something that you’ve got to keep secret.”
Hearing her laugh brought a smile to my face as she continued her ministrations.
“This will be our secret then.”