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Today had been exhausting for Ren.
Hanging out with his friends at the school festival, followed by nearly being outed as the Phantom Thieves by Goro Akechi in front of the whole school, then being blackmailed into working alongside him for whatever he was planning, along with the realization that he has some ulterior, malevolent motive.
Getting to hang out with Makoto in the aftermath of the festival raised his spirits considerably, but they were brought back down when he and Futaba got back to Leblanc.
Sojiro had found the red-and-black calling card in Futaba’s room, and he was not happy about it.
Seated next to a still-sobbing Futaba, shakily making her way through an explanation, Ren couldn’t offer much comfort besides acting as a firm, supporting presence at her side and letting her clasp his hand on the seat between them – she was gripping really hard at this point, and it was beginning to hurt, but he would not begrudge her this. He interjected where he could when she struggled with speaking, but aside from that, it was all her.
Luckily, and to Ren’s great surprise and relief, Sojiro was surprisingly accepting of their situation, once he understood what was going on. He clearly did not approve of the danger they were putting themselves into, and was understandably shocked upon learning that he had been sheltering the leader of the Phantom Thieves for the past six months (Futaba hadn't meant to expose that fact and had tried to backpedal, but unfortunately, Sojiro had heard it loud and clear), but his main fear had simply been that the infamous group of outlaws had somehow hurt his daughter.
With the misunderstanding mostly cleared up, they eat dinner in tentative silence. Sojiro finishes first, and after Ren assures him that he’ll clean up, he leaves after a short exchange of good-nights. Futaba finishes shortly afterwards, but instead of following Sojiro, she runs up the stairs without a word.
He should probably check on her.
After washing the dishes and hanging up his apron, Ren heads up to his room. After so much stuff in one day, even ascending the stairs feels like a chore. If he’s this tired, he can’t imagine how tired Futaba must be. He finds her standing by the window at the far end of the attic, and she averts her gaze when they make eye contact.
She had seemed particularly down after everything that just happened, and he expects it was because of all the emotions that had been running rampant, and perhaps also because of how Sojiro had initially been very reluctant to accept what she was telling him.
Standing in front of her now, he opens his mouth to speak, but she cuts him off, still avoiding his eyes.
“I’m sorry… It’s all my fault.” … Huh?
“What do you mean?”
She seems to close in on herself even more, if that’s even possible. “Well… I-I kept the calling card, and I left it in plain sight, and Sojiro found out, and then I even let slip that you were the one who saved me, and now he knows everything and he probably hates you and-” she stops rambling, instead squeezing her eyes shut and speaking just above a whisper, “I’m so sorry, Ren. P-please don’t hate me.”
… What?
“Why would I ever hate you?”
She looks up at him, regarding him with a look equal parts apprehensive and incredulous. “Because I ruined everything! Sojiro knows everything now, and what if he reports you to the police? What if he decides to kick you out! It’s all my fault, a-and you have every right to hate me for it,” she balls her fists at her sides, and her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “And I know I have no right asking you this, but please don’t… Just please, d-don’t hate me. I always mess everything up, and then people get mad at me, and th-then I get left alone again, and…”
Ren’s eyes widen with realization and disbelief with each word that passes her lips, but she sniffs and continues on, unaware. “And it never mattered before because there was never anyone I really cared about for a long time, but… b-but…!” She hiccups as tears begin flowing freely from her eyes, and she furiously rubs at them from beneath her glasses. “But y-you’re important to me, and I don’t want to l-lose you, so p-please…”
His heart pains to see her like this, and to realize that this whole time, she was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Being passed from one uncaring relative to another right after her mother’s death, all the while blaming herself for it, and having no one to lean on for support… From what Ren had seen, it was only after her change of heart that she even began interacting freely with Sojiro without the barrier of the speaker of her phone or the door of her room.
She had become so used to being treated as nothing more than a burden. Something to be blamed for problems she had nothing to do with, or an object to be thrown out the moment it lost its novelty. And seeing that fills Ren with a burning anger at those who made her feel this way.
But they aren’t here right now – Futaba is.
Gently, he grasps her wrists and pulls them away from her reddening eyes. She keeps her gaze locked to the floor.
“Futaba. Please, look at me.”
Slowly, and with a look that breaks his heart, she obliges.
“There you are,” he smiles, voice soft. She looks like she’ll shatter into a million pieces if he so much as breathes wrong, so has to choose his words carefully. “Futaba. I don’t know exactly what you went through these past two years. But what I do know, is that you didn’t deserve any of the shitty feelings you’ve had to deal with. And the rotten people who made you feel unwanted, unloved, and unsafe, never deserved to have someone as awesome as you in their lives.”
He brings their hands down to rest between them, gently but firmly holding onto hers. He needs her to understand this part.
“I don’t care what you do, but I will never hate you.” She looks like she’s about to object, but he doesn’t give her the chance. “You could do the shittiest things in the world, and I might be upset with you, and I might tell you off for it, but I will never hate you. And neither will Sojiro.” He pauses for a moment to look intensely into her eyes.
“With that said… What happened today wasn’t even your fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. Sometimes, stuff just happens, and there isn’t always someone to blame. And hey, it all worked out fine in the end, right? Sojiro said he’s on our side.”
“But,” she weakly shakes her head, “He was so mad… he said he wouldn’t kick you out, but what if he changes his mind later?”
“Sojiro was only mad he was worried about you,” he shakes his head. “And he doesn’t seem like the type of person to go back on his word. Also, don’t tell him this, but…” Donning a conspiratorial, cheeky grin, he goes on, “I think he was kind of worried about me, too. He tries to act all tough, but I can tell he’s really just a big softie. Can’t you?”
Futaba thinks for a moment, then nods. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” She sniffs again. “But, what if I did something really bad on purpose, and then tried to reason my way out of things? Wouldn’t you hate me then?”
She really likes to focus on what-ifs.
“Well. If something like that really ever did happen, I still wouldn’t hate you. I would definitely be upset, though.” He thinks for a moment before continuing. “But as long as I see that you understand what you did was wrong and that you’re trying to make up for it, and that you know what you’re telling me is a reason, and not an excuse… then I would still forgive you for it.”
“But… but why!?” She pleads, desperate to understand, and another lone tear trails down her cheek. “How could you still forgive me after that?”
“How could I not?” He tenderly wipes away the tear. “We may not have known each other for very long, Futaba, but… you’ve become someone very important to me, too. You’re like the little sister I never had. I want you in my life. I want to see you laugh and grow and learn and live.” He grins. “Because you’re my awkward, brilliant, nerdy little sister.”
He expected a laugh after that last comment, or maybe even a playful punch. What he did not expect was for her to crash into him hard enough that he nearly fell over, and to latch onto his torso tightly enough that it was a little hard to breathe.
He also did not expect the new tears, now soaking into the front of his shirt. He feels a pressure behind his own eyes as he gently wraps his arms around her, embracing her sobbing frame. But beneath her cries, he can hear her murmuring thank-yous into his shirt, along with the faint undertones of joy – she was laughing, too, and it fills his heart with warmth.
It wouldn’t happen overnight, and there would surely be times when she’d need to be reminded. And of course, there's still their remaining business as the Phantom Thieves to deal with.
But perhaps now, Futaba could finally live her life without fear of the rug being pulled out from under her. She could be happy, and after so long in the dark, she could finally love a family who she knew truly loved her back.
-----
By the time Ren locks up the store and returns to his room in his pyjamas, he expects her to have gone home – after all, she’s been alongside him for most of the long, eventful day. To his surprise, however, she’s still here, sitting somewhat tensely on the couch. She looks up at him hopefully.
“Do you think Sojiro’s asleep yet?”
Ren’s pretty sure Sojiro wouldn’t hit the hay until he was sure Futaba was safe for the night. He’d probably stay up all night waiting, if he had to.
Without waiting for a response, she goes on, “I think things would be kind of awkward, and I’m totally pooped after everything that happened today, and I don’t really have the energy to do any more… big feelings.”
That elicits a laugh out of him, and he thinks he has an idea of what she’s getting at, but. “So…?”
“Uhm... Well, could I, maybe sleep over, just for tonight? You can say no, if you want to…” All of a sudden, she stands up, making towards the stairs. “Actually, forget I said anything, I’ll just-”
“Hold on,” he cuts her off. “You can take the bed. There’s a futon somewhere around here. Or, there should be – we brought it out once for Yusuke.”
Her eyes light up in excitement. “I can?! Yesss! I’m so glad I asked!” Then she gets a confused look on her face. “Wait, Inari slept in your room before?! No fair! No one ever told me about that!”
“It’s kind of a long story, and it’s probably not my place to tell… but anyways,” she’s so reluctant to ask for the things she wants… “You really don’t need to be so hesitant about asking for stuff. At least, from me.”
“Really? Then…” She makes eye contact with him before averting her eyes again, pressing the fingers of both hands together. “You remember that time I finished a promise on my list, and I asked you to pat my head as a reward, and I kind of freaked out?” He just barely manages to make out the rest of what she says, with how she practically mumbles it. “Could we try that again?”
“Sure, but…” He thinks back to the incident she’s talking about, and remembers how it didn’t go at all as he thought it would. “Did I do something wrong, last time?”
“N-no, you didn’t do anything wrong. I just wasn’t expecting it. It wasn’t bad, just… different, from what I was used to.” She straightens up and dons a very serious look. “C’mon Ren, pleaaase? I’ll, uh, work even harder with my navigation from now on!”
He stifles a laugh at her enthusiasm. “Futaba, you don’t need to do anything to earn affection. I can give you headpats whenever you want.” She grumbles something that sounds vaguely like an embarrassed ‘I’m gonna hold you to that offer.’
Nonetheless, he obliges her, lowering his hand very slowly towards her head. She tenses up ever so slightly as it nears, closing her eyes as she braces for impact.
… It lands softly on her head with an unceremonious plop.
For a few seconds, nothing happens. Then, she imperceptibly relaxes into his touch. At least she didn't run off this time.
It's kind of awkward just holding his hand there, so he pats down again once, twice, before ruffling around her hair. After a while, she lets out a contented sigh, and he hopes that means he's doing something right.
Suddenly, as if just now recalling that the hand was attached to a person, she opens her eyes and jolts backwards, embarrassed. "Th-thanks, Ren. That was… nice.”
She looks like she's considering something for a moment, then she suddenly reaches her arms out and hugs him again. Before he can react, she detaches herself and runs off downstairs, calling out something about getting ready for bed as she closes the restroom door.
…
My little sister…
So, that’d make me an older brother?
He does quite like the sound of that, if the corners of his mouth pulling up into a smile are anything to go by.
He then remembers that Sojiro is probably still waiting for Futaba to get home. He should call him and let him know.
As the phone picks up on the first ring and the older man’s deep, concerned voice comes over the speaker, Ren wonders in his heart of hearts if Sojiro would be open to the idea of adopting a son, too.