Chapter Text
Late spring stressed Ren Amamiya out every year. Never mind the hustle and bustle of people going outside more due to the weather improving, or the fact people prepared for summer break. He always had another objective to complete: finding a birthday gift.
Normally, Ren found gifts easily. He relied on his intuition and knowledge of people close to him to select the best gifts he could salvage. He knew his friends like the back of his hand. And it made sense, considering he had known them since he was sixteen and that was seven years ago.
Damn, he was getting old.
Over the course of those seven years, one person still challenged him when it came to birthday gifts. Ren knew him better than anyone else, so why did he want to pull his hair out every year?
Really, this particular individual was a pain in the ass. He always told Ren “do not concern yourself with such trivial things,” and “Ren, I do not give a flying fuck about my birthday. It’s just another day for me.”
And because of that stubborn attitude, he never told Ren what he wanted. Even his intuition struggled with figuring something out.
In previous years, he had gotten a coffee maker, a mini fridge, and a better microwave since this shithead couldn’t cook to save his life. But this year, Ren hit a wall. A roadblock.
“What should I get Goro for his birthday?”
Ren stood behind the counter as he poured some coffee into two cups. He loved his job, at least. Something to keep him grounded when he was scrambling so much.
The energetic blonde, sitting in a chair across from Ren, twirled her pigtails with her fingers, lost in thought.
“Ren, he’s your boyfriend, not mine.”
Ren held back a cackle. This entire situation was simultaneously annoying and hilarious.
“That’s why he pisses me off, Ann. He won’t even give me ideas anymore. But I figured since you two are besties now, you could help me out. Since you and I are also besties.”
Ann beamed so brightly that it caught Ren a little off guard. He was used to her smiling all the time—that’s just how she was. But he wasn’t sure he had ever seen her smile so wide.
“Of course! Got any leads?”
Ren set her coffee down and gently passed it in her direction. Ann took a few sips as she maintained eye contact with Ren, waiting for him to speak.
He kept her waiting for a solid minute, and he felt a twinge of guilt. It’s not like he didn’t want to answer—he just didn’t have an answer.
“No, not really.”
It was the most accurate response he could muster.
Ann placed her coffee down to her right, and resumed twirling her hair. This time, her eyes darted downwards. Ren knew she fell into her zone.
He followed suit, and held a hand on his chin, in full thinking mode.
Leblanc had never been so silent. Anyone used to the quiet clatter and chatting would be astounded.
“Alright Ren. I have an idea.”
Ren glanced in her direction but maintained his thinking pose.
“Enlighten me, my dear.”
Ann grinned with all the cheekiness in the world. She was up to something now, Ren knew it.
“So, you know how Ryuji and I figure stuff like this out when we don’t have any ideas?”
That’s right. Ann had been with Ren’s best bro for two years. He had been enthusiastic to see them finally get together. And he couldn’t lie: he wanted to know how those two tackled this.
“Not particularly. You two function differently than Goro and I do, though. So, please humor me.”
Ann laughed and pulled out her phone.
“We literally pull up each other’s wishlists on Amazon! Well, not literally. But we just take screenshots and send them. Though, you and I both know Goro won’t make it that easy for you.”
If he did, Ren wouldn’t be so desperate. He decided to keep that thought to himself.
“Ren, you two have always loved competing with each other, right? Even since you started dating, the whole ‘rivalry’ thing hasn’t stopped. I literally am best friends with both of you, so there’s no point in denying it.”
Ren conceded without a second thought.
“You’re right, Ann. But how am I supposed to make this a competition? Send him my wishlist first or something?”
Ann nodded.
“Bingo! Don’t make it so obvious by saying something stupid like ‘hey babe, I want something here.’ No, you gotta do something like ‘hey, I got all these ridiculous things compiled in a list. What stupid things have you found lately? Whoever has a stupider list wins.’ I’m sure Goro would get a kick out of that.”
Would he? Ren had doubts.
“Stupid things list? I dunno, Ann. Goro just mocks things he finds stupid.”
More laughter from Ann, as Ren expected.
“That’s the point, dummy. He’s a tsundere, and he probably has stuff on his wishlist he doesn’t want you to know about. He’d play it off by saying it’s stupid, and therefore you win the game while he thinks he has.”
Ren was dumbfounded. This idea was so stupidly crazy it might just work.
“Besides, if you give him something like that, it’s something he wouldn’t expect. And that kinda sounds funny, doesn’t it?”
Suddenly, Ren felt a large mischievous grin spread across his face. Ann was right: this could be hysterical. And Goro would lose, and maybe fucking realize Ren will never give up on giving him a great gift. If he could succeed with this, Goro would have no other choice but to admit defeat.
“Ann, you’re a fucking genius. I’ll text him later. For now though, why don’t we enjoy our coffee? I need it.”
Ann chuckled lightly under her breath.
“Yeah, you do. Cheers!”