Chapter Text
The cold breeze shook Ren’s very core, his first instinct being to practically leap into Ryuji’s chest and nuzzle his head in. The warmth that he emanated should’ve puzzled Ren. With supernatural escapades well-acquainted to him, he could’ve temporarily convinced himself that Ryuji was not a mere human of this world’s powerless mold.
But Ren was cold and Ryuji was warm, and that was all that mattered to Ren. Though Ryuji was spouting few-syllable questions and incoherent protests, and Ren could’ve sworn a few passerbys had looked back to them in confusion, he couldn’t bring himself to say aloud he was freezing. He certainly wouldn’t back off voluntarily, either—Ryuji felt cozy to latch onto, and Ren craved a heaping mass of heat.
“Dude, c’mon!” Ryuji finally pushed Ren off his body. He realized too late that, closed over Ren’s chattering teeth, the ends of his lips dipped into the most despondent frown known to all of mankind.
Despite the clinging being so uncharacteristic for Ren, Ryuji felt pity well up within his chest cavity. It gnawed right from where he had pushed Ren away.
As if the other boy, whose ebony locks were lightly dusted with snow, had commanded the heavens to be right on cue, a gust of wind lanced through Ryuji at that moment, tensing up his entire being. Now he was starting to freeze, too. He sighed wearily, reaching his arm out to beckon Ren towards him.
The other young man eagerly embraced him again, his lips curving back upright into a sheepish smile. Ryuji could feel Ren’s body racked with little shivers, and wondered if they should probably crash at some place indoors soon. It had grown far too cold to be window shopping any more than they already had been. Morgana had gone out alone, then dashed back to them just twenty minutes later. Ren haughtily claimed that he and Ryuji would be fine with more wandering about. So Morgana slowly went about his lone way again, albeit not without some squinted glances back at them.
And now, another five minutes after Morgana had left, here they were, looking to the arcade entrance beside them, and the unnecessarily tall theater further ahead of them. But without the beady-eyed cat around to verbally force them indoors, they had to find their own solution.
“Maybe we wanna see a movie?” Ryuji inquired aloud, perplexed that his voice rang even somewhat clear through his teeth’s rapid-fire chattering from the cold. “I think they’re playin’ Clean Hard, Pach Saw, some Christmas flicks…”
Ren chuckled in a notably higher register. “I heard that Haru had fun with Pach Saw .”
“Wait, Haru?!” Ryuji gawked, before promptly sealing his mouth shut in correction. “I mean, maybe Noir would like those movies.”
“From the way I see it,” Ren reasoned, his head collapsing on Ryuji’s collarbone, “she’s just not easy to read from a bump-in and staring-at on the front steps of Shujin.”
Ren could hear his blond escort emit a low, animalistic growl—and that only fueled his acting as he lazily leaned further into him, smiling at the idea of them toppling over and making public jesters of themselves. “It was such a beautiful day for her to water the plants, and you tell me how ‘fine’ she was, willing to betray our code of secrecy just to—”
“Okay, okay!” Ryuji barked, his hands scrabbling to detach Ren from himself. “Now you’re just gettin’ all dramatic and shit for the hell of it!”
But the gentle vibration in Ryuji’s pant pocket was just enough to steady him. He felt Ren’s own phone in his coat pocket—squished right between their bodies—give off a similar shockwave. With a merciful snicker, Ren straightened his spine, and he realized for the millionth time that his two inches towering over Ryuji’s height—which was already fairly above average—made a huge difference.
He liked those little details of Ryuji, all of which contributed to the tried-and-true story of deceiving looks. Ren found himself amused by how the former Shujin athlete could present a cold, boorish façade from a distance, only for conversation or mere further observation to unveil someone not quite the malevolent gangster of rumors and tall tales. Ren liked to think he knew better, being able to see the boy’s soul for what it truly was.
In actuality, Ryuji was clumsy and fiery but altruistic, more like an ever-growing puppy trapped inside a wiry human body.
…well, okay. Ren himself was now weaving together his own hyperbole. But at least it was closer to the truth than the whispers of Ryuji being the likely candidate for the next Shujin Academy yearbook’s “Most Likely to Join an Evil Cult.”
Despite the trail his stream of consciousness went down was getting wilder by the second, those thoughts vacuumed up and away the cold air around them and perked up Ren’s smile. The deceivingly cheap lenses of his glasses grew a blurring coat of white fog. Nevertheless, his charcoal eyes could still pierce through them to behold Ryuji gazing down to the street, just as his hand was coming up to his face with his sleek, yellow cell phone—
…oh right, Ren caught himself. His eyes darted down to his hand, whipping his own phone out of the fuzzy coat pocket.
“Huh…” Ryuji mumbled. “There’s a group thing for just Ann and us.”
The two glued their eyes to their respective cell phones, thumbs hovering over the screens and at the ready:
Ann: Hey! Are either of you busy for a while?
Ryuji: Nah, just hangin’ on Central Street.
Ann: Oh, really?!
Ryuji: Yeah. Just hangin’ out. Why?
Ann: Nothing, really. Just curious.
Ryuji: Yeah, nothin’ serious.
Ann: Hehe, I guess I’ll take your word for it, Ryuji…
Ren looked quizzically at Ryuji, and it seemed the illumination of Ryuji’s own phone screen couldn’t mask his rather sheepish visage.
Feeling just a dash of insecurity rock the inside of his chest, Ren’s eyes returned to his phone screen:
Ryuji: Huh? We’re really just chillin’ for a while.
Ren: Literally. It’s freezing out here.
Ann: Okay okay, LOL! Let’s change the subject. I actually wanted to talk to you guys about something.
Ren wasn’t sure what to think when he picked up the sound of Ryuji’s sigh of relief. It was as though he successfully masked something—or maybe was completely oblivious to what he was masking in the first place.
Only then did Ren realize that his confidant really wasn’t on the same page as him. It was a heinous act of neglect, even after they hung out on the rooftop during the Shujin Academy Festival Party.
Though it disheartened Ren that his companion was oblivious to the implications of what they specifically did up there that night.
But no matter for now. He could feel the incoming texts give off vibrations against his reddened hands:
Ryuji: Sure! ‘Sup?
Ann: Sooo…guess who’s coming to visit Shibuya this Christmas?!
Ryuji: IDK.
Ann: Oh, come on! Guess! Who’s an athlete that could totally kick your ass?
Ryuji: Uhhh…Yoshizawa-san?
Ren: Dude, she already lives in Shibuya.
Ann: And still goes to Shujin with us. Well, even if the higher-ups there are so nasty about her sports scholarship.
Ryuji: I ain’t surprised. The dumbasses think that good grades and overworked athletes are gonna make up for the shit they pulled?
Ann: No kidding. But, we’re getting off-track. So, um…
Ryuji: ‘Sup?
Ann: …do you still not know who’s coming BACK to Shibuya for Christmas? Who USED to go to Shujin with us?
Ryuji: IHDK! Maybe Suzui-san? Unless she’s busy.
Ann: Actually, it is her!
Ren’s smile perked up a bit. It seemed that promise Ann and Shiho made on the rooftop was coming to fruition sooner than he thought—and that brought him some elation as the conversation continued:
Ren: How cool! Happy for you, Ann!
Ryuji: Yoooo, that’s awesome!
Ann: Yeah! Shiho’s parents are letting her stay here from Christmas Eve until Monday the 26th. So no, Ryuji. She’s been good, LOL!
Ryuji: What? IDK what she’s been up to!
Ann: Of all the things for you to NOT pry into, haha!
Ryuji: Shuddup! But hey, I’m happy about it.
Ren: Same. Hope your plans go well!
Ren had sent the last text a millisecond too early, as he quickly realized that something was up with Ann texting just the two of them.
First things first, however, the boys needed to remove themselves from the outdoors, before either of them got frostbite or even the flu. With little fuss, he pulled himself and Ryuji out of the actual sidewalk and through the first entrance door to the arcade. Waddling into the small alcove between that and the next pair of doors into the actual facility, the contrast as they slowly warmed up proved to be just enough of an improvement.
Ren finally returned his attention to the smaller group chat, realizing that he’d forgotten to admit his inability to realize Ann was onto something:
Ann: Actually, that’s why I’m talking to you two! I need your help, guys. I’ll make it worthwhile for you both, too!
Ryuji: ‘Kay, we’re inside now. What’s the plan?
Ann: Wait, have you two been walking around outside before now?
Ren: Well, we just stood outside the arcade before now. We’re just past the doors now.
Ann: Both of you better be! It’s COLD!
Ryuji: Relax, we’re good! Plan, please?
Ann: Alright then…so I know that everyone’s meeting up at LeBlanc on Christmas Day. But, would Sojiro let the four of us hang out for a while the night before? I think a Christmas Eve Double Date would be really cute!
Ryuji: Wait, what?
Ann: Don’t worry, guys! If we could do the shopping today, I can pay for the tree and the decorations. I’ll even cover the Christmas cake, I promise! Unlike Ryuji, I pay people back, hehe!
Ryuji: Shuddup! That ain’t even what I meant!
Ann: What’s the matter, then?
Ryuji: Whaddya mean by a double date?
Ann: …really?
Ren felt his cheeks, probably already glowing red from the cold, flush with an antsy heat.
Ryuji: What’s that supposed to mean?!
Ann: What’s with the denial, Ryuji?! I’m happy for you and Ren! You oughta be proud that you love someone at all!
Ren’s heart was seized by palpitations as Ryuji yelped and backed into the wall behind him. Of all the potential times for Ryuji to be publicly dramatic today…
Ryuji: WHAT WOULD YOU EVEN KNOW ABOUT US?!
As the shock of Ann's sharp revelation faded, Ren was starting to enjoy this…somewhat. Though he could’ve gone up to silence Ryuji by himself, he found an almost sadistic pleasure in watching him fumble over his phone…sort of.
Ann: Well, you two have been hanging out a lot. But sure, at least THAT could mean anything…
Ryuji: Yeah, we’re just BROS!
Ann: So…do “bros” kiss each other on the rooftop during the after party of a school festival?
And there it was: the single mystery of that night was solved, and it didn’t even plague Ren with anxiety long after. It certainly didn’t now, when he has long trusted Ann (though apparently Ryuji didn't, not with this).
He recalled hearing the doors swing open as soon as his lips were locked with Ryuji’s. But in that instant, Ren’s eyes had already sealed shut. He was sharply focused on the warmth of Ryuji’s lips. Even Ryuji Sakamoto himself, the most rambunctious—even feral—boy Ren Amamiya had ever known, was willingly rendered calm and immobile, his lips being all that seemed to keep a pulse. He didn’t even turn back around to check, nor could Ren bring himself to open his eyes and peer over him.
Ren wanted to throw Ryuji under his spell, and Ryuji probably desired the same for Ren. But both accomplished their intentions in that single kiss, and there was nothing the other could do to free himself. Not that they minded when it felt so good, and their world’s troubles of dangerous double lives and conspiring real-world assassinations were ripped away in that moment.
It wasn’t until five seconds had passed—maybe seven minutes, or ten years—before the doors clicked shut again.
Their mouths breaking apart again was just another few seconds after. It was slow, and their faces stayed close to let them bask in each other’s dark eyes.
Ren treasured that rooftop meeting ever since—but it seemed the implications scared Ryuji until he chalked it up to “just being bros.”
“DUDE!”
Feeling himself jolt back a bit from his reverie, Ren turned his line of sight to Ryuji—and he couldn’t even vocalize a small “urk” when Ryuji’s beet-red visage shot daggers at him.
“She knows, man!” he wailed, careless that visitors could walk into the frivolously dramatic swings of his arms. “Not even that! Why the hell’d you even… DO THAT …with me up there?! All I did was give you a hot dog!”
You mean THE Ryuji Dog, Ren mused in his mind. He realized his phone was warming up in his hand, and he looked back down. He’d have to charge the battery in just—
“Don’t effin’ ignore me now!” Ryuji barked.
“I’m not!” Ren groaned. Okay, so perhaps Ryuji was starting to grate on his nerves, but only because his rebutting was getting to be quite rude.
Then the contradiction struck him, and he returned the piercing glare with an overpowering sneer.
“Then again,” Ren scoffed, “why did you go along with it, Ryuji? You seemed to like it, and we just called it a night a few minutes later with no questions asked.”
Ryuji’s shifty head and voiceless teeth-gritting proved that his king was in check. If this was all a game of chess, then he wasn’t good at playing his pieces right.
But why should he have to be? Ren couldn’t help but ponder. Did a romantic love scare Ryuji when he was the direct recipient of such? Was it because they were both guys, and Ryuji wasn’t bisexual after all?
“I mean,” Ryuji whimpered amidst flailing arms, “well…um…you know what, I really don’t know! Okay?!”
With that, the game was settled by checkmate. Ryuji didn’t even concede with grace, much to his “bro’s” disheartenment. But, Ren’s phone was already vibrating again:
Ann: …hello? Guys? Hey, look. I’m sorry about that. I was just hoping for some alone time when I caught you two. And I mean…it was cute, TBH. Nothing to be embarrassed about. But I get it, you guys want to keep it private. That’s fine, really. And I haven’t told the others, I swear!
Ren texted back:
Ren: It’s fine. Maybe we can meet up in a few and buy what we need?
Ann: I’d love that! The underground mall should have pretty much anything and everything we’d need. We could also split up for a bit to get presents for each other and Shiho.
Ren: Great! If we keep everything out of the way of the main floor, we’ll be fine to hang out at LeBlanc. Sojiro was already aware of our Christmas Day get-together.
Ryuji: Just please don’t say a damn thing to the others, Ann. PLEASE!
Ren’s eyes darted back to Ryuji, who had dramatically plopped onto the hard floor, his limbs slack from defeat. His eyes sadly stared into his phone screen.
Ann: Don’t worry! Only Shiho really knows. See you two in a bit!
“Suzui-san knows already?” Ryuji weakly whimpered.
“She would’ve known by Christmas Eve, at the latest,” Ren chuckled.
A pause followed as the doors slid open, and a plucky girl, a tiny teddy bear held close to her coat, recklessly pranced out into the cold. The mother hurried behind to catch her.
The doors slid shut when they were out of sight.
Ren looked at Ryuji’s final text in the chat. If they were all together already, Ryuji may have gone as far as to crumpling to his knees and throwing his arms around Ann’s leg.
“Are we really a thing?” Ryuji asked meekly, still slumped on the hard floor and back against the golden wall.
Ren noiselessly smiled. So long as it would be remedied soon, Ryuji’s denial was cute—even if it still injected a small sting into Ren’s heart.
But, for just a moment, Ren clung to that angst.
“Don’t be scared of it, Ryuji,” he sighed. “I wouldn’t hurt you.”
Realizing too late he said that out loud, the dark-haired boy expected his fair-haired confidant to mutter a “Huh?” or even a “What’s that mean?!”
“But, why me? What can I ever do for you?”
Though Ryuji’s voice trailed off in favor of further silence, the shock from his actual response crashed onto Ren. It took all of his will power to stay standing.
And yet, when Ryuji had already done so much…what could he not do?
“Okay, then!” Ann exclaimed, whirling around to face the two boys. “That’s gotta be everything for the attic itself, right?”
She peered down at the more careless purchase in her clutch in front of her chest, the small box boasting of the content inside as a new-and-improved Bluetooth speaker model from some (hopefully) top-notch company. Ren prayed the sound quality and mint condition were worth the ¥11,500 she threw out for it.
Otherwise, Ren held the cardboard box for the big Christmas cake in one hand. The handle for a big, cylinder plastic package—supposedly brimming with assorted maroon and gold ornaments, long ribbons, and a big star—was lifted by the other hand. Poor Ryuji sacrificed his left arm to carry the boxed Christmas tree. Even if it was a PVC product, stark white lights included, only as tall as Yusuke (who, admittedly, was also taller than the three of them), it seemed to have his whole frame droop to the side just enough for shoppers strolling by to feel his ache.
Ann looked over everything and giggled like a tiny schoolgirl when she seemed satisfied. Considering she frequents the Shibuya Underground Mall on a semi-daily basis, Ren thought she’d be used to any good trip through the entire place.
“Yeah, I’d say we’re good on the party end!” she beamed.
“Uh-huh,” Ryuji replied. It was as though the initial text conversation made his voice constantly express his wariness of the blonde girl. “So, what now?”
“I actually don’t know,” she pondered, her lips pursing in a strange need for deeper thought. “I guess, since we got the time, we’ll split for a bit to buy presents for each other.”
“Gotcha,” Ryuji proudly beamed, his caution finally letting up. “I’ll knock the three of you out with what I’m pickin’ up.”
“Honestly, please do,” Ann snickered. “You don’t seem like the person who gets people anything good for Christmas.”
Here we go again, Ren thought to himself. But, as with every bit of light bickering amongst the entire Phantom Thieves group, he couldn’t help but lift his face into a calm smirk.
“The hell’s that supposed to mean?!” Ryuji huffed, the tree’s box seeming heavier than it was a second ago. “I’ve got some good ideas. And just be grateful I’m doin’ anything!”
“Easy there, Ryuji,” Ren finally chimed in. “You two shouldn’t be fighting with each other when Shiho gets here in a few days.”
“Uh-huh,” Ryuji replied, his sneer gleaming. “Don’t wanna embarrass your girlfriend , right?!”
Gone was Ann’s smile, instantly dropping into a vehement scowl.
“She’d only be embarrassed if I was, you know, denying us dating,” she hissed, her words calculated to hit the other blond where it hurt most. “Speaking of which, I bet Ren really thought you were being an asshole over at the Central Street Arcade!”
Ren’s smile perked up when he noticed Ryuji breathing loudly through his nose, pumping his shoulders up and down. It wasn’t surprising to see him struggling to restrain himself from screaming or lunging at the poor girl.
But was Ann wrong? Ryuji didn’t mean to be an asshole (or did, but didn’t want to). Still, he was trying to put up a front that would serve none of them. Unlike his claims upon meeting Yusuke in May, it was Ryuji who was as readable as a children’s book, whatever the masks he plastered on his face. In this case, he finally had someone’s love, but he clearly didn’t know what to do with it after almost two months since the rooftop kiss.
“But, why me? What could I ever do for you?”
Ren steadied himself at the memory of those words. As it turns out, maybe it really was hard for Ryuji to love and date and romantically cherish…anyone. Ann didn’t know that, but Ren did. So the latter had to retract, lest he was just as crude as Ryuji was earlier. He didn’t even know where his companion’s insecurity was coming from, but he could venture to understand.
Truth be told, perhaps Ren should’ve been more forward himself. As soon as the kiss ended—the doors shutting behind Ann’s apparent retreat long before then—they just mingled like always. It wasn’t even like Ryuji turned him down, which Ren would’ve respected. But rather, they just talked as they would any other day, and left the building like nothing happened.
And now, Ren was left wishing he was honest and direct, or that Ryuji pushed past his apparent anxieties. Or maybe both. Perhaps they really needed to meet halfway.
“Ren…” Ann slowly inquired, “are you alright?”
Another fugue finishing its course, Ren returned to the present reality with a shrug.
“It is what it is,” he replied. “We’ll figure it out later.”
“Good point,” Ann calmly affirmed.
Ryuji, however, seemed really quiet. The other two could feel his eyes struggling to not look at them.
“Actually,” Ann relented, “I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t be prying into this.”
“It’s cool,” Ryuji murmured hesitantly.
“But still,” Ann happily commanded, “the Christmas Eve hangout is on, and we can’t look back when we’ve already bought so much! Let’s split up and get our presents for each other! You two got your own money?”
Ren and Ryuji, the latter of whom was slowly regaining his confidence, nodded eagerly.
“Coolio!” she exclaimed. “So, each of us can just buy something for the other two, and then something for Shiho. It’ll be great! I, for one, am definitely knocking everyone’s socks off!”
If Ren was going to prove something to Ryuji, the first start would be to buy him those sleek new tennis shoes. It was only a supplement to what Ren would have to say to him, but it would be welcomed wholeheartedly. Ryuji constantly eyed these sleek, comfy-looking beauties for athletic footwear. But the excitement of the places he could go with them was downsized to distant longing when he saw the price.
But with the abundant Metaverse treasures that he stowed away from Sojiro, Ren was going to remedy that. Even Ryuji’s current set of special shoes, though reserved for P.E. class and gym visits, had long been ragged and worn. It seemed that not even his forced resignation from the track team shattered his spirits—and that’s only a good part of what Ren liked about the boy.
He even requested the one plastic bag with the shoebox be covered by another two, just to heighten the surprise for later.
Going to another shop, he added onto his gift a ruby-colored robe. At first, he had a feeling that Ryuji would be disconcerted by the gesture of wearing a sexy robe from Ren, whatever their relationship was. But now was not the time for the Phantom Thieves’ calculating leader to backpedal. In addition, he was just far too enticed by the soft silk, his fingers craving more when he let the polite staff lady neatly fold the purchase and pack it into a perfectly opaque paper bag. It took him all his strength to let it sit under the pink wrappings inside.
Still, with this double-whammy for a Christmas gift package, Ryuji would be feeling good as new in his subsequent workouts, and also have a touch of elegance when he woke up, took a shower, went to bed, and…well, that was all Ren should’ve thought about it for now.
Ren had enough savings afterward to buy Shiho a blush-pink smartwatch, and throw on that new eyeshadow palette Ann had rambled about to him a few days ago. Plopping gracefully onto a wooden bench, newly installed just outside the flower shop, Ren texted the other two of his accomplished gift haul.
Ren: I have my gifts for the two of you and Suzui-san. No hints!
“Shit, already?!” Ryuji cried, apparently too loud to not have a few heads turn to him.
Ann: Aww, already?!
“Exactly what I’m sayin’,” the blond boy sighed, his whisper just a hair above complete silence. He chimed in:
Ryuji: Where’d we meet after this?
Ren: There’s a new bench over here at the flower shop. You two can make your ways here when you’re done. No rush.
Ann: Okay, see you two soon!
Ryuji: Just you wait, guys! I’m gonna get y’all some real GOOD shit!
Ren: For real?
Ryuji: Hell yeah, for real! Later!
Without hindsight, that could very well end up being a lie in the end.
“Crap,” Ryuji growled. He could’ve sworn he was still pretty quiet, but a bypassing woman’s face blankly glanced back at him.
As Ryuji leapt out of the grocery store, bag hugged tightly against his chest and quickly approaching the tree he stowed in the hallway corner, he felt a flush of anxiety when he thought he recognized the fair-haired head that whizzed past him and into the store. He couldn’t bring himself to look back, in case it was Ann. Maybe she’d recognize him and think he was being cheap with some of his gifts. But he wasn’t even being cheap at all, or so he convinced himself.
Reminded of such, he craned his head down to look at the paper bag. The cashier had these types at the register instead of the common, clear plastic bags. Ryuji didn’t want to resort to mere “Boyo-Choco” for the girls—at least not the usual two tiny squares, one for each of them.
So, he settled on two hefty, heart-shaped boxes of assorted Boyo-Choco. It’d at least appease Ann’s ever-demanding sweet tooth.
But still, that left Ren’s gift, for which Ryuji decided to check out a shop that just opened in the underground mall. Even if he was struggling—even terrified—to wrap his head around what was going on between him and Ren, he should at least be more creative for this third Christmas gift. Be it as “bros” or whatever more there could be, Ryuji was pushed further by a primal desire to prove himself.
Eagerly plopping the boxed Christmas tree before the side of the store entrance, he peeked at the new shop that stood parallel to the jewelry store. The chalkboard held high above read “LUCKY CHARIOT’S GIFT SHOP” in neat katakana, and the walls inside the shop were painted a calming, but vibrant cyan.
Ryuji crept into the shop, his line of sight not lining up with any staff members. Still, the assorted trinkets, gizmos, and treasures ranged from pleasant to look at, to something that Ren could really like…maybe.
He was completely at ease until a small voice jolted him back around. Though possibly around her forties or fifties, the lady that crept up behind him was rather lovely; she reminded Ryuji of his mom, even. And of course, Ryuji’s alertness subsided twice as fast when she spoke again.
“I’m so sorry, my dear boy,” she softly giggled. “I didn’t mean to scare you. My manager is out getting some errands done, so I’m watching the store by myself. Have a look around, or even let me know if you’re looking for something!”
“Yeah, sure,” Ryuji smiled back, glancing around at his multiple options. “Just lookin’ for a Christmas present.”
“Then perhaps,” the woman pondered, “you might just find something that will be far worth the price.”
“I mean,” he inquired, “got any pointers?”
Nodding, the petite employee gingerly wrapped her arm around the blond boy’s shoulder, much like a comforting friend who’d known their companion for almost a lifetime. Any other stranger doing the same gesture would freak anyone out, and they wouldn’t be wrong. But something about this gentle woman, guiding him slowly towards the back, healed Ryuji’s soul of his anxieties of Christmas, Phantom Thievery (or lack thereof) after the Masayoshi Shido heist, and whatever was happening with him and Ren.
Well, okay, that was probably Ryuji being hyperbolic. Still, he felt he could forget about his troubles if he stayed within this human angel’s mere line of sight.
“Well, do tell me,” she cooed. “What’s this person like?”
Ryuji wrinkled his forehead, and his brain underneath seemed to grind for millions of adjectives by the second.
“He’s really an upstanding guy,” Ryuji rambled. “He likes cats, too. He owns one who’s…kinda mean. But I guess he keeps him safe and healthy. His name’s Ren, by the way. Ren Amamiya.”
“Ren Amamiya,” the woman recited effortlessly. “Ren for ‘lotus,’ and Amamiya for ‘rain palace.’ Well, your friend has a handsome name!”
Ryuji was never good with deciphering or even looking up the meanings of different names. Nevertheless, it got his gears grinding to hear that his confidant’s name could make a badass music album title.
Lotus of the Rain Palace…The Rain Palace’s Last Lotus…Rain Palace Lotus…Lotus in the Rain Pal—
“Now, what else can you tell me?”
To this question, Ryuji gingerly scratched his neck with his arm opposite of his store companion’s. “Oh yeah. Um, he also likes video games, and makes coffee and curry at this cool cafe. He’s chill, smart, brave…um, charming…good-lookin’ and, uh…uh…”
Though his speech had resigned to mere stutters, the woman nodded as though she was still learning something from just his stammers alone. Ryuji trailed off as the woman chimed in, clasping his hand between both of hers.
“Cats, video games, cooking…” The lady recited slowly, shaking the hand trapped between her own two. “Well, that’s a good start. But you see, my dear boy…his interests and likes are just a part of finding the perfect gift for him.”
Ryuji’s eyebrow perked up. Oh God, she wouldn’t ask if—
“Where I come from,” she clarified, “the best gifts for friends and loved ones at Christmas time are what appease what the recipient likes. But in doing that, you also have to make it a sort of ‘homage’ to what that awareness means for you and your recipient at this point in time in your lives. What does your knowledge of Ren Amamiya’s fostering of cats and great cooking symbolize to you?”
Ryuji…wasn’t following. Maybe her dulcet voice was slowing his train of thought, but he just didn’t seem to have a start on the right next response.
“Perhaps he’s a friend?” the lady inquired. “Or perhaps…he’s something more to you?”
Wait…oh no, she did ask! Ryuji could feel his posture freeze stiff, and his guide’s sharp eye noticed the near-yelp in his voice.
“Oh dear, it’s alright!” she quickly hushed him. “Please forgive me, I shouldn’t be so rudely upfront. But even so, despite my generation being very unfamiliar with such relationships, I at least take it upon myself to welcome it. A lot of people should.”
“I mean, it’s like…” Ryuji started, feeling a heat wave of shame creep over his jaws.
But this woman had been so kind to him—easing his tension in a minute flat—that he figured he owed her clarification.
“I’m kinda an idiot, to be honest,” he sighed. “I hang out with Ren a lot, and we hit it off really well. Like, I don’t get how he puts up with me. I really wish I knew what he saw in me. But anyways…”
The woman listened, ever attentively, her thumb gently rubbing the side of Ryuji’s wrist.
“We’ve been through a lot together,” Ryuji started to lament. “But so have the rest of our close friends. They’re all good-lookin’ and smart and fun in their own rights. I guess…being in the same places as Ren and them made me think nothin’ of just us two. Even when…well, he ended up kissin’ me one night.”
The lady nodded slowly. It was a wonder that no one was walking into the store right now.
“Maybe I love him after all,” the blond murmured, his voice slowly fading to fight his heart’s tugs and pulls. “But I just don’t know why he would love me. And now that I know he really does, I just…I don’t know.”
“I see,” his guide said firmly, but calmly. “If I’m hearing you correctly, though, I think you will always have a relationship to treasure in Ren. Maybe it’s just good friends, or maybe it’s something more. But always remember: love is something you should never, ever be scared of. Especially when their love for you comes from what you already have, and what you’ve done for them before. Usually, that’s enough to start, and you can only do more if you continue to work together, and love one another. If he picked a handsome, sweet young man like you, even out of all of those beautiful and charming people, then you’ve done something right.”
Ryuji could’ve sworn he felt the piling weight on his heart topple over as she spoke, until his whole body was left almost floating in place. But at the same time, he felt a mental push, now supplemented with full clarity.
“Yeah,” he affirmed, almost chuckling in his smile. “Yeah, I love him. I love Ren.”
Quickly, Ryuji and the store employee located three items that Ryuji could afford. The first and easiest pick was a plush doll of a black cat with big anime eyes and a golden crescent moon bald spot. It came with a second item, a pair of cat-themed measuring spoons that probably screamed “too cute” for Ren and Cafe LeBlanc, but could still suffice in usage.
At the register in the back, the benevolent woman added a tiny, rose-gold box as a free purchase for Ryuji. He was perplexed as to what a square box like that could hold, but this kind stranger had already won over his trust. Apparently, it was supposed to be a “jewelry box,” too? Ryuji didn’t know, and it never crossed his mind to check inside it.
When they parted ways, good wishes offered to the other, Ryuji was already thinking of what he wanted to say to Ren. He’d make it up to him, whatever it took.
Ryuji might not have noticed Ann walk past him and into the grocery store. But Ann noticed Ryuji.
When the realization hit her after a few seconds, her head whirled back around to face the sliding doors. She scanned the outside window for the familiar purple hoodie to find he was already scurrying along, huge box and smaller bags in both of his hands, to his next stop. Ann’s tension lifted and she resumed her own search for something delectable.
Oh sure, if she could get Ren a cute cat mug, she could get something similar, but still thoughtful, for Ryuji. Ann remembered eyeing other mugs along the shelves of the store, some boasting zany “go-getter” graphics, others having prints of different dog breeds. However, Ann had already made her one purchase in that other alley of the mall, and the other blond wasn’t a fan of coffee in the slightest.
As she sauntered through the corner of the store with flower bouquets and chocolates, the idea struck her.
On a display table, she eyed a hefty, heart-shaped box of assorted Giri-Choco, right next to blatantly identical products with the tacked-on “Boyo-Choco” title.
But believing Ryuji should permit himself at least one sweet treat this holiday season, Ann snagged the first box and called it good. It wasn’t even cheap; if Ryuji got Ann “Boyo-Choco,” Ann would gladly take it. Sure, she’d devour the entire box that same day. But that just proved that they were fine chocolates for any holiday year-round, not just on Christmas and post-Valentine’s Day.
Walking out of the store, Ann halted her walk to think long and hard—for the millionth time that whole day, really—just what gift would make Shiho tick. What would knock her socks off?
A few seconds passed, and Ann forced a quiet sigh. Knowing she had to start looking around, Ann resumed a quiet stroll through the mall. It was going to take some thought, so she needed to start now, lest her companions be forced to wait for a good few minutes too long.
Heedless of Ren and Ryuji only possibly dating, Ann was definitely dating Shiho. Ann loved her friend, through thick and thin. She admired Shiho’s strength, kindness, beauty, and even her clumsy quirks.
To Ann’s surprise, it had turned out that Shiho loved Ann for all those same qualities. It was incredible to recognize that their possible kiss this Christmas happened because Shiho criticized Ann’s art class painting all those years ago. Binging anime with sexy villainesses, and even compiling a cornucopia of romantic comedy flicks, could not prepare Ann for the day someone she really loved would love her back.
Because, really, Ann didn’t realize that Shiho’s visit to the rooftop with her and Ren was, for all intents and purposes, her initial confession. It didn’t even sink in, because her friend’s moving preoccupied her mind. It wasn’t until a FaceTime call, just two days later, that Shiho had to help Ann make the connection. Shiho had to calm herself from her phone-shaking cackling, and Ann could only make a mental note that she really had the cutest hysteria-induced laugh in modern existence. In the end, though, it all clicked. They hit it off from there, once and for all.
Ann’s feet came to a slow halt in front of the jewelry store. Thinking of her initial shock then, maybe she shouldn’t be so hard on Ryuji, after all. Oh sure, him sticking to his denial, all in front of Ren himself, was pretty frustrating to see—but was his crass attitude any different from Ann’s own ignorance?
Both pairs—on the Shujin rooftop during different days, no less—had a chance to kick off romantic relationships with people they’ve already admired for so long. But the connection wasn’t ever made then. But also, it was just the first opportunity, not the only.
Thus, Ann had a full-fledged date for this Christmas. Perhaps Ryuji and Ren would end up the same soon…
But, all in good time. Ann already made an oath, even if in somewhat casual remarks, that she wouldn’t snoop on the boys. In any case, the familiarity of the jewelry store compelled Ann to slowly walk in. When her entire frame was enveloped by the dark neon walls, her eyes reflected the sparkles of diamonds, sapphires, gleaming gold, and sheening silver.
As she caught an amethyst pendant, Ann remembered that there was that one necklace she had in mind.
“Good afternoon, Ma’am!” the young lady at the back register nodded. “Can I help you with anything?”
Shiho and Ann shared rubies as their favorite gemstones.
“Hi!” Ann warmly returned, tall handwave and all. “I’m good, thank you.”
She returned her attention to a nearby display case, its glass boxes of treasures towering just over the others.
“Actually,” she thought aloud, “there was something I’ve been looking at, if you still have it. It’s a ruby necklace. The pendant was heart-shaped, and a little bigger than most pendants? It was set in silver with, like, really teeny-tiny diamonds…um, sorry if that doesn’t ring any bells.”
“No worries at all!” the woman chuckled, already approaching the blonde customer. “Sure, we have a lot of ruby necklaces like that, but we can narrow it down if you say it was ‘a little bigger.’”
“Got it!” Ann chimed in. “I mean, I don’t remember the ruby being a huge thing, but it wasn’t small, either.”
“I think that’s how most people would like their gemstones to be,” the employee shrugged, Ann nodding with unabashed giddiness.
Whirling to face the remainder of the store, Ann looked to the nearest case on her left, then to another on her right. Another red sparkle caught Ann’s eye, but this felt familiar. With wide cerulean eyes, she pranced forward, trying to not let her fingers press against the clear glass—and there it was.
The pendant, be it the ruby itself or with the silver and diamonds outlining it, only encompassed a half of her palm. But the jewel was so rich and deep in color, its outline just heightening the dazzling effect.
“Would that be what you’re looking for?” the woman’s voice inquired eagerly.
Ann could only nod, already daydreaming of how a lovely girl such as Shiho would only look even prettier with such an elegant treasure.
Though it already cancelled the rest of her shopping sprees for the month, Ann’s dopey grin wouldn’t dissipate as she scurried to the trio’s meeting spot. The speaker, chocolate box, mug, and boxed necklace never fell or broke in her carelessly fast pace.
Ann and the boys were puzzled as to the lack of near-overfill on their subway ride. But at the same time, it was definitely for the best. When Ryuji plopped onto his seat, the boxed Christmas tree dropped on one side (its vertical uprightness towering over the seated trio) and his gifts on the other, he slouched back in loud huffs and puffs through his mouth.
Ren looked at him with warm twinkles in his charcoal eyes. But since Ryuji wasn’t entirely out-of-shape, he could reciprocate. And, to Ann’s surprise, she could see that he actually kept his head turned up to his ebony-haired…whatever.
Ann, sitting cross-legged and pretty with her shopping haul, knew she had pounced on him enough for the day. With her pink-lipped smile plastered on by genuine contentment and eyes narrowed in amusement, she reached a dainty hand around, behind the boxed tree, and…just gave Ryuji a few soft headpats.
The blond athlete could’ve predictably snarled at her. But, it seemed he was done nagging at her, too. His subsequent sigh was more of appeasement than annoyance.
Ann’s hand retreated as the subway announcer’s jazzy voice decreed their approach to Yongen-Jaya.
“Huh?” Ryuji’s upper body leaned forward and around the tree. “Who’s singin’ right now?”
Ann wrinkled her forehead in thought while bending over the nearby package of ornaments. Still in waiting, Ryuji nodded contently at the English singer’s beautiful, sweeping baritone voice. He recognized the melody of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” but this version’s whole composition had a mellow, bittersweet flavor. Not sad, but not too jubilant, either.
“This dude’s good,” Ryuji awed. “He’s gotta be a kickass jazz singer, maybe.”
“Oh, right!” Ann exclaimed, leaping back up with two spherical, maroon ornaments in each of her hands. “This is Frank Sinatra. He was this really good American singer during the 1900s. A lot of his songs were kinda…pop, jazz, swing, and maybe a few others.”
“Swing?” Ryuji repeated, returning to the branches before him. “The hell kind of music is swing?”
“It’s basically this specific form of jazz invented around then,” Ren clarified, stepping back toward the heater to warm his trembling legs.
“Guess you picked up on that during your jazz club nights?” Ryuji looked around again.
Like a prayer for comfort, Ren knelt down before the cylindrical machine and let its power wash over his wiry body. He violently shuddered once, and then his frame was still again.
“I guess you could say that,” he smiled reminiscently, before cocking an eyebrow back at Ryuji. “You can keep working on the ornaments. I’ll be back over in a bit.”
Hesitantly, Ryuji resumed his slapdash work. He started imagining the tree was Yusuke, who also happened to be a mere inch short of six feet in height. Though the dashing artist had only two arms and maybe some pockets in his different winter outfits, Ryuji ran amok with his fantastical daydream of poking the ornament hooks through his snow-white Kosei shirt. Given the man’s everyday eccentricities, though, he probably wouldn’t mind it at all. Perchance, he’d have instructed for it himself. Perhaps Yusuke would claim his shirt’s damage as a necessary sacrifice for artistic ambition. Maybe he’d liken the experiment to a metaphor for the philosophy of the holidays’ fellowship and unconditional love being overshadowed by commercialism and materialistic desires.
Ryuji snapped out of his overworked imagination when Ann craned her neck around to his side of the tree.
“You should start by distancing the ornaments on the different branches,” Ann advised. “Then, when you keep throwing on ornaments, it’ll come together even nicer.”
“Aw, damnit,” Ryuji groaned. “I thought you gotta squeeze ‘em together. Now what?”
“Here,” Ren said from Ryuji’s other side, his return from the heater ever so quiet. “You can just take what you got on the tree already and space them out more. We’ve got enough on us to fill up a lot of these branches.”
As fair hands moved this way and that with the ornaments already hung, Ryuji marveled at Ren’s swift work. His fingers made only soft swishes against the PVC branches, as the hooks hung the glittering opaque spheres over different branches, both high and low. Ryuji watched him modify what was already on the tree until, less than forty seconds later, Ren stepped back to brush the glitter off his hands.
“See?” Ren smiled warmly. “You’ll see what Ann was talking about. When you put up more stuff, it’ll close really quick without looking cluttered.”
“Huh,” Ryuji exhaled. “Yeah, this is lookin’ good.”
“It’ll be even better,” Ann squealed, “once we turn on the lights and add the ribbons and star. God, I wish I had something like this for my room!”
“To be fair,” Ren snorted, “you already got that speaker.”
“ And you said you spent all of your money for today on presents,” Ryuji giggled, perhaps a little too snidely.
“Yeah,” Ann sighed, before her smile perked back up with little trouble. “But hey, it’s gonna be worth it. I promise!”
Her smile dropped to a neutral flatline as she turned to the speaker, now playing what Ryuji could only assume was a new Christmas cover from Risette of “Jingle Bell Rock.”
“The sound on there isn’t bad, either,” she murmurs. “Just not worth the extra bit of yen it was sold for.”
When hooked to the outlet in the middle of the tree—just past a slew of ornaments and the ribbon that spiraled around and down—and then plopped on the single vertical branch at the peak, the star’s bright gold illumination was dazzling.
But Ryuji’s grin, oozing childlike wonder and an impossibly uplifted Christmas spirit, was what really made this finishing touch an instant treasure for Ren’s memory banks. His teeth were pearly white, and Ren could’ve sworn that the boy’s dark chocolate eyes sparkled. And yes, sparkled like he was the plucky anime student who moonlighted as a magical guardian of justice. Then again, that could very well apply to any of the human Phantom Thieves.
Ann enthroned herself on the couch in triumphant glee, her toothy smile just as optimistic and toothy.
Ren took in both of their beautiful grins, and lent his own smile at the elegant tree. He really didn’t think his Christmas under probation would come with such a festive display in the center of his own abode.
As Ryuji leapt off the higher ladder step, Ann hopped back up from the couch.
“Hold up!” she hollered, climbing the ladder the moment Ryuji regained his balance from his small leap.
As soon as her feet reached the second-to-last step on the frame, she brought her hands to the star’s base and twisted it in. Her glinting smirk came back as she took all the few ladder steps back to the ground. Ryuji’s squint and side-cocked head seemed to emanate innocuous confusion, rather than pouty malice.
“There now!” she proclaimed. “Just a little off before. You did good, though, Ryuji!”
Their ebony-haired host couldn’t help but chuckle behind closed lips. As cute as their sibling-like barking was, Ren truly loved it when they were working together without present grievances.
And yeah, when the three of them got everything together without freezing to death, their tree was set for the Christmas weekend. Not to mention that Sojiro was willing to store their cake until the 24th, and even make the quartet some curry, coffee, and hot chocolate by then (provided that Ren put in his fair share of help).
The three slowly drifted together, dropping gracefully on the ground between the loudly whirring heater and the blazing tree. Ren noticed that he and Ryuji were closer together than he thought the latter would allow for today.
“Suzui-san’s gonna love this,” Ryuji sighed.
Exhaustion stripping him of that previous guard, Ryuji’s head swayed until it ultimately collapsed into Ren’s shoulder. The taller boy motionlessly welcomed him into the shoulder that was now his pillow.
“You two can call her Shiho,” Ann cooed, her giggly voice hardly above a whisper. “But…yeah. She’ll really like this.”
“My parents’ package for me should arrive soon,'' Ren contemplated. “They decided to get me a Nintendo Switch with some games before Christmas.”
“Uh-huh?” Ryuji’s light whisper was a mere shadow of his usual gusto. Yet, it was just as sweet of a sound to grace Ren’s ears.
“They got me a few good games, I think,” he continued. “Super Bash Bros. Penultimate was an easy first pick for them, since everyone loves that. They also got me Striking Goemon’s Wedding Expedition, Cute Island Life Simulator, and…I want to say Carmen 1 and Carmen 2. Makes me hope that Carmen 3 is getting some more announcements…soon.”
“Heh,” Ryuji snorted quietly, “you’re lucky, man. I know the Goemon game’s pretty good.”
Ren brought his hand up to the nape of Ryuji’s neck, giving him a tiny, light scratch. Ryuji’s exasperated sigh made it seem he was…a little too into it.
But Ren’s smile—which just wouldn’t go away, no matter what—parted to let his teeth shine in the attic light. Thank the fate’s design , Ryuji wasn’t freaking out about their relationship anymore. At least, not right now, when spirits were high, and Kanamin Kitchen’s “Let It Snow” cover had such a bubbly vocal harmony blaring over some rather juxtaposed jazz instruments.
Ann sighed from behind Ren’s vision of sight. But he couldn’t turn around, only hearing small floor creaks from where she sat, stretched slightly further towards the tree, and towards the heater. Wait, is she really laying down on the hardwood floor? When the couch was completely open and Ryuji already slouched over Ren’s body?
“You can rest on the couch, Ann,” Ren offered, his voice just above a whisper. But his eyes just couldn’t leave Ryuji, damnit!
“Don’t mind me, then,” she yawned quietly. “Thanks, Ren.”
Ren only noted her quiet tiptoes to the couch farther ahead. But looking at Ryuji’s down-tilted head, her noises of collapsing onto the couch, yawning, maybe snoring…all vanished in Ren’s own trance.
He quickly noticed his head was inching closer to Ryuji’s, whose eyes were closed and face thus rendered peaceful against his shoulder. Ren noticed that Ryuji’s shoulders slacked in vulnerable ease. His chest expanded and then deflated so subtly. Trapped behind sealed lips, the soft, low hum of his breathing was an angelic incantation that made Ren just want to smooch him. But Ren knew such a gesture wouldn’t be taken well enough for Ryuji to stay asleep, anyways. No, it’s likely that Ren could easily awaken his golden-haired prince. His panic would be so loud that Sojiro would hear it from downstairs. And despite the seething coffee brewers and customers’ chattering, his ears wouldn’t need to try to pick up the blood-curdling shrieks which would send him running upstairs.
But Ren also realized that he wanted this kiss from Ryuji—just as the blond sharply inhaled and lifted his head to Ren’s.
Oh no, no, no…
Even after slowly sliding open, Ryuji’s eyes drooped with weight—
Easy there, please…
—but there seemed to be a certain glint in those dark oak irises.
…oh.
Ren hadn’t seen it since the night of October 26th, when Akechi blackmailed the Thieves, the rest of the festival party was a mesh of anxiety and fun—and Ren and Ryuji ended up on the rooftop together. Alone.
Something was possessing Ryuji right now. Gone was his earlier demeanor of panic and hasty denial. Now, with his breath lightly grazing Ren’s face, the blond boy seemed to be neither too groggy nor too awake. Through his own eyes, Ryuji’s soul lanced through to Ren’s—and neither of them minded all that much.
They clearly didn’t worry anymore when their eyes closed again—and their lips were brought together. Another ten seconds—maybe minutes or hours—went by, but the separation of soft lips was just for a quick breath before locking back together.
How the hell did Ren go for fifty-seven days without this?
Another century—
“Ren? Ryuji?! GUYS?!”
Ren’s heart did somersaults as Morgana’s voice echoed from where the base of LeBlanc’s stairs was below.
Just a moment…with no one but—
“Wha—Morgana, is that you?!” Ann’s voice suddenly hollered from over at the couch.
Crashing back to the world around them, Ren and Ryuji pulled apart in mortified gasps. Their eyes were wide as they looked to the top of the stairs, their trance yanked away from their grasps.
The romantic glitter in Ryuji’s eyes was long-gone, but at least it was always that same dark color. Well, at least he wasn’t ever literally possessed by, say, Adonis or some other dead romantic’s ghost.
It was a mere few seconds before Morgana’s beady blue eyes and snow-powdered black fur lurked before the staircase.
His eyes shot daggers at the boys sprawled over the nearby floor, just raring to damn them for not meeting him at the arcade as they all promised.
“Really, you dimwits?” Morgana hissed, pupils switching between them and the no-longer-sleeping girl farther back. “You forgot about me and ran off with Lady Ann?”
“Oh, crap!” Ann yelped, jumping to her feet with just a slight imbalance. “Really, it’s my bad, Morgana! I thought you’d be with Ren and Ryuji, but we wanted to do a little shopping to be ready when Shiho came back to Tokyo for Christmas.”
Morgana’s glare softened.
“Wait, really?” he said. “That’s wonderful, Lady Ann! With exams done since yesterday, I’m sure you two will be able to celebrate your friendship during what seems to be the best time of the year!”
Friendship, as though that was all it was. Ren stifled his urge to cackle heartily. If only Morgana knew…
“Yeah,” she laughed, though certainly somewhat taken aback by Morgana’s phrasing. “Ren and Ryuji are joining us, too. You can go ahead and join us on Christmas Eve, if you want!”
Ren would’ve loved to have his beloved pet and part-time mascot, too. But he was already praying in his head that Morgana wouldn’t be hurt when it turned out Ann was dating Shiho now.
“Is that really a good idea?” Ryuji inquired, probably having a harsher idea that still rang true with Ren’s.
“It’ll be fine,” Ann shrugged, though it took her next sentence to really convince Ren and Ryuji of her confidence. “No doubts on my end: this Christmas is going to be great!”
“Yes, it will!” Morgana’s nasal meow, admittedly as adorable as ever, rang loud. He then cocked his head at the two sprawled bodies on the floor, tiny eyes furrowed at the sight of his caretaker towering over Ryuji. “But, uh…are you two good over here?”
Ren nodded in rapid quickfire—with a sheepish smile—but out of the corners of his eyes he caught Ryuji’s cheeks reddening.
Third time’s always the charm. Hopefully.