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Makoto never imagined her life could change so drastically when she became part of the Phantom Thieves.
She never really had friends before, due to her preoccupation with her studies and wanting to be perfect in all the subjects she took. She grew up with a fear of failure and the stereotype that any misstep she made would make her worthless. These insecurities made her work harder but also kept her from interacting with other students and developing meaningful relationships.
When she first joined the Phantom Thieves, Makoto was surprised by how open and inviting the group was. Despite never having shared an interest in their hobbies, they immediately welcomed her into their fold as if she had been one of them for a long time. The dynamic between each member was so unique yet unified that it quickly became clear why they called themselves a family. With the Phantom Thieves, Makoto had finally found an outlet for her innermost thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment from others.
And then she met Haru Okumura.
The more Makoto spent time with Haru, the stronger these feelings grew inside of her, swirling within her like a tempestuous storm. The stolen glances and accidental touches sent electrifying shivers down her spine, igniting a fire in her heart that she couldn't extinguish. Makoto was captivated by Haru's gentle nature, her unwavering kindness, and the way she saw the world with a unique blend of innocence and wisdom. Their interactions were filled with shared laughter, meaningful conversations, and unspoken understanding. Makoto discovered a confidante in Haru, someone with whom she could bare her soul without fear of judgment. Haru, in turn, embraced Makoto's determination and unwavering sense of justice, finding solace in her unwavering support.
They had been living together for a while, and when she told her friends their relationship was strictly platonic despite her obvious feelings, they couldn't believe it. Exasperated, they planned a sleepover at Leblanc in a few days in the hopes of getting her to make a move.
--
It was already 8:00 p.m. when Makoto made her way into the café with a grocery bag in hand. Futaba had already claimed a booth, typing away on her laptop while Morgana sat next to it. Akira was behind the counter, brewing coffee with a grin on his face as he greeted Makoto.
"Where's Haru ?" Morgana inquired, noticing that Haru wasn't with her.
"She's got a meeting to attend. It should be finished by now, so she will be here soon." Makoto replied, settling down on a stool. Akira handed her a cup of coffee, smiling as he saw the brunette's face instantly express gratitude. Soon it was Ann and Ryuji's turn to get into Leblanc, and then Yusuke, all cheerfully greeting their friends as Ryuji showed Akira a can of beer with a smug smile on his face.
"Aren't you underage for this ?" Makoto asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I never said it was for me !" The blonde boy exclaimed, "I was thinking it could help you relax !" He handed it to Makoto. She wasn't down for it at first, but seeing Ryuji's expecting look, drinking one wouldn't kill her.
"So, what's the matter ?" Ann asked, looking at Makoto. The latter sighed and started to explain her situation to them.
As Makoto spoke, her friends listened intently, nodding their heads in agreement and understanding. They could see how much she cared for Haru and how much it pained her to keep her feelings bottled up.
"Well, have you thought about telling her?" Akira asked, his voice laced with concern.
"I don't want to ruin our friendship..." Makoto replied, her voice barely above a whisper. However, as her friends shared amused glances at each other, she looked at them confusedly, "What ?"
"We love you, Makoto, but you can be so dense sometimes." Ann told her, holding back a laugh.
"Excuse me ?"
"Do you really think you two would be THAT close if she didn't like you back ?"
Even if it did make sense, Makoto was still doubtful. "Isn't she like this with everyone ?" She asked.
"Nuh uh, I've only seen her this way around you. I really thought you two were secretly a thing until you told us the other day you weren't." Futaba replied, not looking up from her laptop.
Yusuke nodded in agreement with Futuba and smiled slightly. "The two of you seem to share a strong bond, I can only agree with everyone."
Makoto's mind raced as she considered her friends' words. Could it be true? Had Haru been feeling the same way this whole time? The thought made her heart race with excitement, but also with fear. What if confessing her feelings ruined their friendship? What if it wasn't true and Haru didn't feel the same way ?
As she sat there lost in thought, the door to Leblanc opened, and in walked Haru, looking as elegant and serene as ever. Makoto's heart leapt in her chest as their eyes met, and she couldn't help but feel her cheeks flush with heat.
"Hi, everyone," Haru said, taking a seat next to Makoto. "I'm sorry I'm late."
As they chatted and caught up on each other's lives, Makoto found herself stealing glances at Haru whenever she thought no one was looking. She couldn't help but feel drawn to her, captivated by her beauty and her kindness.
--
The evening passed like a whirlwind, faster than Makoto had expected. Her can of beer was almost empty, but she definitely saw Ryuji or even Ann sneakily taking a sip or two. The alcohol had made her feel tipsy enough to not scold them about it. They were all gathered upstairs, first playing some party games together and then watching a movie. The room was awash with the flickering light of the television, casting shadows on their faces. It was near one in the morning when they all got tired and decided to call it a night. Now they were in their futons, chatting about how they planned their futures and sharing funny stories about themselves or their friends.
Everyone drifted off to sleep except for Makoto. She lay there, staring up at the attic's creaky wooden ceiling, lost in thought about Haru and many other things that weighed heavy on her mind. An hour passed before she finally got up from her futon and crept downstairs to fill herself a cup of water from the kitchen sink.
"Are you okay, Mako-chan?" The voice came from the stairs entrance, making Makoto jump in surprise and almost spill her cup, especially since it was coming from the source of her current nervousness.
"Y-Yeah, I’m fine, I just had a sore throat, that’s all." She replied, fidgeting with her hair. But her friend wasn't convinced.
"Oh, are you feeling unwell? If you need anything, I can make something warm for you!" Haru offered worryingly.
"No! No, really, Haru, I'm okay!" She nervously declined. Yet Haru remained unconvinced.
"Makoto, we've been living together for some time now; I know your habits when you're not feeling alright." Haru said it sternly, which was out of character for her. This made Makoto's heart nearly skip a beat as Haru called her by her full name instead of the usual nickname. Soon after, though, her gaze softened. "Do you want to talk about it?" She asked.
A part of Makoto wanted to turn down the offer, but she couldn't run away from her feelings any longer. With the last drops of alcohol still coursing through her veins, Makoto felt a bit more relaxed and decided to finally tell Haru what had been on her mind lately.
"I...have something I need to tell you," Makoto finally spoke up, "Someone has been a lot on my mind recently... Like, romantically."
"Oh! I see...Who is the lucky one ?" Haru tried to keep her voice light and friendly, not wanting to add any more pressure on Makoto.
"It's...uhm..." Makoto hesitated. She breathed in slowly to ease up the lump in her stomach, and went on, "...It's you.'" She finally admitted, and Haru was momentarily stunned by the confession. The quietness of the café seemed to amplify their heartbeats as they both grappled with what had just been said.
Makoto waited anxiously for Haru's response, almost fearing the worst. But then, the look on Haru's face softened into one of hopefulness as she locked gazes with Makoto, "You mean...you love me?" Haru asked tentatively, her cheeks tinting pink.
"Yes, I'm in love with you. I understand if it's too much for you. I just wanted to te-"
Before Makoto could finish speaking, warm lips met hers in a sudden burst of passion. She gasped in surprise before melting into the embrace. Her arms instinctively found their way around Haru's waist, pulling her in closer as they lost themselves in the moment.
All the pent-up emotions that they had been harboring for so long finally came pouring out in a flood of passion. Their kiss was deep and meaningful, conveying all that they had been feeling for each other. Makoto could feel Haru's hands traveling down her back, caressing her skin and sending shivers down her spine. She arched her back, deepening the kiss as her hands roamed over Haru's curves, exploring every inch of her body.
As they broke apart, panting for breath, Haru looked at Makoto, with eyes full of love and adoration. "I love you too, Mako-chan." she whispered. "I have for a long time."
Makoto felt her heart soar with happiness as she gazed into Haru's eyes. She couldn't believe that the woman she had been secretly in love with for so long had just confessed to feeling the same way. It was like a dream coming true.
Makoto's life changed, and only for the better.