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Despite the reputation the infamous trio has, even the rest of the school who knows them can agree that it’s weird seeing Ann and Ryuji without Rin at school. Always one for gossip, it doesn’t take long before rumors start as to where she could be, before they all quiet down when it’s revealed Rin is just home from school with a fever.
Then the students, especially the ones in Ann and Rin’s class, have the gall to act concerned for their classmate. It makes Ann scoff, their audacity.
Sadly save for calls and texting, neither Ann nor Ryuji were allowed to go and visit, neither Rin or Morgana would allow it. Both because they wanted them to attend school without any worries, and even more so on Rin’s part because she didn’t want to risk getting them sick.
Ann’s phone vibrates in class, and a quick glance shows a text from Ryuji.
Ryuji : yo, i was thinkin, should we go see rin on the weekend?
If there’s one thing Ann is sure of, it’s Ryuji’s blatant worry over their leader. He was the one most upset about not being able to go visit Rin when she fell sick. Heh, Ann knows Rin would absolutely love to hear that, considering…
Ann : Yeah I was thinking the same. I know Rin will love that.
Her fever definitely had to have gone down a bit since the start of it, so it should be safe. If not, Morgana is gonna turn them away.
Ann : Do you think Yusuke can come?
Ryuji : nah, isn’t he busy with some art project or whatever
Ah, he’s right. Yusuke has some art project for school he’s been working on. He sends his best wishes for Rin, but Ann knows he’s just as worried too.
Sometimes it really does suck going to different schools…
Ann : I can text Rin and let her know, what time do you think we should go?
Ryuji : uhhhh i dunno, sometime around the afternoon? I was hoping to hit up the arcade so I could just go and visit rin after
Ann : Get your priorities in order.
Ryuji : what???
Ann puts her phone away. Going in the afternoon doesn’t sound so bad, it’ll give Ann some time to go buy some things for Rin beforehand.
Shaking her head, Ann focuses on the rest of class. She has some time before the weekend to still think about what to get.
Before long, it’s Sunday. Ann had messaged Rin prior, letting her know they’d finally be visiting, and Rin seemed more open this time to them coming over.
Ann wants to tease that Rin must be very happy that Ryuji can finally come visit, but decides to be nice, she’s sick after all.
Arriving at Leblanc, Sojiro allows Ann upstairs, and when Ann sees Rin, she can’t help but feel bad.
Laying back in bed is a flushed Rin, a wet rag atop her head. Morgana is lounged on the floor to give Rin her space. There’s a fan plugged in, blowing air at Rin, and medicine resting on the floor, beside an empty glass.
“Hey Rin, how are you feeling?” Ann calls out softly.
“Lady Ann!” Morgana calls out happily, jumping to his feet.
Rin, who had slowly been nodding off, jolts lightly from the voices and looks over at Ann, smiling. ‘Oh hey, you came.” Rin takes the rag from her forehead, and slowly sits up. “Better than before. My fever hasn’t gone away, but it’s better than it was at the start.” Her black curls are all over the place, a horrible intimidation of a bird's nest. There’s bags under her eyes, and her skin still has a dark flush to it.
Ann nods, and steps closer, but not too close. She pulls up a chair, and plops down on it, smiling. “I’m glad you’re taking medicine though, I had been worried you didn’t have any, and was debating whether or not to get you some.”
Rin laughs lightly. “Sojiro had bought me some. He’s a worrywart when he wants to be. “She recalls the first night she was here, Sojiro threatening to not take care of her if she got sick.
When Rin all of a sudden didn’t come downstairs at the usual time she did to go to school, and then Morgana going down to get his attention, meowing like crazy, she can only imagine how Sojiro scrambled out from behind the counter to go upstairs, judging by how out of breath he was when running up to her room, and seeing her a crying mess, twisted up in her sheets with her skin burning hot enough to probably melt metal.
Though her memories were a bit hazy from that morning, Rin vividly remembers the way Sojiro swore, opening her window and wrenching her heavy comforter off her body, going back and forth from her room to bring a basin of water and rag to cool her down, digging through a storage closet to fish out a plug in fan, closing shop for a bit so he could go and grab her medicine..
As much of a hard ass as he is with her, he clearly cares, and that comforts Rin more than she can ever admit, having a positive adult in her life who cares for her wellbeing…
Rin is pulled back from her memories as Ann holds up a plastic bag. “I went shopping and got some stuff for you!”
“Well prepped as always, Lady Ann!” Morgana purrs, rubbing up against her ankles.
Ann digs through the plastic bag. She pulls out a few bottles first.
“I got you some drinks with electrolytes in them, I heard that helps when you’re sick.”
She puts the bottles to the side. “How’s your appetite been?”
“I can manage eating now, just nothing too heavy, or I throw it back up.” Rin still mourns the plate of curry Sojiro tried to feed her, only for her to throw it up and make a mess. Sojiro didn’t fault her for it.
Ann nods. “Okay so I got you a bowl of soup,” Ann pulls out a wrapped, premade bowl of some chicken soup, “some sandwiches,” a few sandwiches of different types are next out of the bag, “and some soft ice cream. It’s a little melted but I figured you would want something cold.” Next is a small personal carton of ice cream. Vanilla flavored, since Ann didn’t know what flavor she liked, so she ended up going with something simple.
Rin doesn’t have much of an appetite, but seeing what Ann had brought causes her stomach to rumble.
Rin digs into her soup first, and manages half of it before she reaches for a sandwich, a premade egg sandwich, and dips it into the broth before taking a bite from it. She tries not to eat too fast, but finally having something light while running on an empty stomach has her eager to finish everything.
Broth drips from her lips, sauce from the sandwich smears on her face.
It’s okay to get a bit messy, right? It’s just Ann with her, until Ryuji-
“Woah dude, you must be super hungry, huh!?”
Oh god.
Rin puts her food to the side and turns away, using her wet rag to clean her face.
Ann stands and faces to see Ryuji. “There you are! What took you so long?”
“I told you I wanted to hit up the arcade first!” Ryuji shakes his head, but then looks at Rin, who had begun to discreetly fix her mess of a hair, slamming her hands into her lap when she notices him directing his attention towards her.
“Hey Rin-Rin, how ya feeling?” He asks, concern written all over his face. He uses the playful nickname he has for her, and it makes her stomach flutter.
“Better, now that you’re–the both of you are here.” Rin quickly catches herself, offering a smile. “It’ll still be a bit before I can go back to school, but…I’m being taken care of.”
“Sweet! Once you’re better, let's go get some ramen!”
Rin is all too quick to agree. Spending quality time with Ryuji is something she always looks forward to. Ryuji may see it as a simple outing between friends, best buds, a couple of dudes, but Rin always has her own selfish thought of it being something else.
“I can’t get any beauty sleep now that he’s here…” Morgana grumbles. “I’m gonna go hide downstairs until you guys leave.” He yawns, stretches, and proceeds to walk down into the cafe. He found a great napping spot downstairs, the customers won’t even notice him!
Ryuji seats himself at Rin’s workbench, and the three engage in simple conversation, more or less about Ann and Ryuji’s week more than Rin’s, she’s been bedridden after all.
That’s not to say Rin hasn’t been feeling antsy, she can’t wait to get stuff done in the Metaverse once she’s fully recovered, she can only imagine how rusty she is after a week…
“Oh, that reminds me!” Ryuji suddenly shouts, making Rin jump, and Ann looks at him in annoyance.
“Keep it down, Rin is still sick, you know?”
Ryuji ignores her, digging into his pocket. “I almost forgot. Ann, here.” His hand emerges from his pocket, clenched into a fist, holding onto something. He tosses it at Ann, who has to lean forward to catch it, clasping it between both hands.
As she sits back in her chair, Rin leans forward to see what it is.
Ann moves her hand, to reveal a small Jack Frost keychain.
It looks like the regular Jack Frost products they’ve seen before sold in stores, but instead of the usual dark blue, it’s a glittery bright pink, clearly meant for a more female demographic. Ann holds it up by the chain, letting it dangle.
“Ahh, it’s so cute…” Rin says in awe, staring at the keychain. She’d love to have an accessory like that to hang from her bag or her keys…
She ignores the twist in her gut, blaming it on the food Ann brought her. It would be nice to be given a keychain that cute from Ryuji though.
“It totally is!” Ann begins to gush. That is, until she sees the way Rin looks at the keychain, and she remembers.
“Not that I’m not grateful, Ryuji, but why did you give this to me?”
Ryuji blinks. “I won it from those little capsule machines at the arcade. I had no need for it, so I decided to give it to you. Don’t girls like cute stuff like that?”
“No, I mean, why did you give it to me ?” Ann puts a big emphasis at the end of her question. “And not Rin?”
Rin is startled by Ann’s question, and holds up her hands. “No Ann, it’s okay, I really don’t mind-.”
Rin is cut off by Ryuji’s sudden laughter.
Ryuji scratches the back of his head, grinning. “Well, I’ve never really seen Rin as a girl, so I didn’t think she’d like it!”
Silence.
Ann gapes, eyes darting between Ryuji and Rin, who’s face just absolutely falls, her hands going to her lap.
“What?” Ann asks, shocked.
“Rin’s like one of the dudes, ya know? It’d be kinda weird to see her as a girl, wouldn’t it?” Considering all they’ve been through together, seeing each other at their weakest, all the times they’ve hung out, doesn’t it make sense for Ryuji to think like that?
“You…” Ann doesn’t have the words to say. He doesn’t see Rin as a girl, doesn’t think she likes cute girly things?
Rin, who’s currently sitting in bed with a pink cherry blossom patterned blanket? With white flower tangled LED lights above her window? With her small pink fluffy rug she bought second hand? The ribbons for her hair and lip gloss tubes scattered about on her workbench she props a tiny mirror on top of and sits at to use it as a vanity table when getting ready to go out? The fashion magazines she likes to flip through to gush over clothes?
Ryoji doesn’t see their leader, who’s never shied away from expressing her femininity, as a girl?
“You’re kidding me…” Ann can’t believe it.
Rin’s face heats up, this time not from her fever. She slowly lays back down, facing away from the other two teens to look at the wall. She tries to blink away the tears in her eyes.
“Rin?” Ann calls worriedly, seeing her friend laying back down.
“Dude, you alright?” Ryuji asks, trying to lean over to get a better look at the sick teen. Of all the ways he could address her right now…
“Sorry, I…I’m not feeling too well right now.” Rin, despite her fever, pulls her discarded blanket up and over her head.
“I think you should go.” Her voice is small, muffled.
Ann briefly ponders reaching out for Rin, to comfort her, but decides against it, not with Ryuji around. Sighing, she stands.
“Yeah, we should head out before it gets too late. Call if you need anything, okay?”
No answer.
Ann glares at Ryuji,snapping her fingers and then pointing. “Outside. Now.”
“Owowow, hey, what the hell!?”
Ann gives Sojiro a polite smile as she drags Ryuji out of the cafe by his ear. Sojiro raises a brow, but doesn’t comment.
Morgana comes out from his hiding spot, and follows the two teens out, curious as to what the commotion is all about.
“Seriously man, what’s with the harsh treatment, I didn’t do anything!” Ryuji complains, holding a hand over his ear once he’s let go outside.
“What did the numbskull do this time?” Morgana asks, stretching. A million reasons for Ann being upset is already coursing through his head.
“He’s an idiot who doesn’t know how to keep his mouth shut.” Ann grumbles.
“What do you mean!?!” Ryuji asks, almost whining. “Clearly I’m missing something here!”
Ann stares at Ryuji long and hard, before she lets out a deep exhale, dragging a hand down her face.
“How dense can you be…?” Ann looks down at Morgana, who’s waiting impatiently, his tail swishing back and forth.
“Ryuji said he doesn’t see Rin as a girl.”
Another silence similar to back in Rin’s room envelops the three, before Morgana turns on Ryuji, hissing.
“You what !?”
Ryuji just looks dumbfounded. “I-is that what you’re so upset about? What’s wrong with that, it’s the truth!”
“Stupid, moron, idiot!” Morgana throws insults at the faux blond. A vein pops in Ryuji’s forehead, and he grabs Morgana by the scruff of his neck, shaking him.
“Who are you calling a moron, you stupid cat!?”
Morgana tries to give Ryuji the one two with his paws, missing by only a hair’s width.
“I’m not a cat!”
Ann groans. She stomps her foot to get their attention.
“Ryuji, you don’t say that to a girl, you have to be considerate of her feelings. No girl wants to hear a guy say that, especially if it’s a guy that…” that the girl really likes. Ann mentally shakes her head, she’s not spilling her friend’s crush, it’s not her place to tell Rin’s secrets.
Ryuji looks confused. “What’s so wrong if it’s the truth? Rin’s my best friend after all.”
“You’re too thick headed to get it.” Morgana wiggles himself out of Ryuji’s grasp, gracefully landing on his paws.
“You honestly think that Rin all of a sudden started feeling sick again?” Ann asks, crossing her arms. “Think long and hard. You hurt her feelings.”
Ryuji stills, processing her words.
He…hurt Rin’s feelings?
Ryuji rubs his neck, looking at the floor. It wasn’t his intention to…
“I didn’t mean it. I just thought…she didn’t mind that.”
Ann sighs. She realizes she may have come on too strong in reprimanding the blond, but in the moment, seeing Rin looking so vulnerable because of what Ryuji said sparked a need to protect her.
Kind of similar to her overprotectiveness of Shiho.
“Well, you better start thinking about how you’re gonna make it up to her.” Ann starts to walk, ready to head home and call it a day.
“Yeah…wait, how am I supposed to do that?” Ryuji calls, a bead of sweat forming on his brow.
“Figure it out!” Ann yells before she turns a corner, now out of sight.
Ryuji sighs. He looks down at Morgana, who shrugs. Well, it looks like a shrug.
“Don’t look at me. I gotta go clean up your mess. Don’t underestimate a lady’s heart, it’s just as fragile as it is fierce.”
Morgana turns towards the door to Leblanc, and scratches at it to be let in. Ryuji sighs and walks off, just as Sojiro opens the door to let the cat back inside.
“Oh, I was wondering where you went.”
Ann : Do you want the keychain?
Ann had texted Rin close to midnight. With her eyes puffy and swollen, it stung a bit to stare at her bright phone screen, but she doesn’t want Ann to think she’s upset with her in any way for what had happened.
Rolling onto her side, Rin is careful not to jostle a snoozing Morgana as she types a reply.
Rin : It’s fine. It was a gift meant for you after all, so
Rin : treat it with a lot of care.
Rin had managed to conclude the feeling she had when Ann was given the keychain was plain old jealousy. She can’t help but feel guilty having felt that, knowing Ann doesn’t even swing that way, and Ryuji had never shown an ounce of romantic interest to the blonde.
Ann : Hey, once you feel better, how about we go shopping? If you want, I can get you some cute clothes that’ll make that idiot think twice before he says anything.
Rin giggles. The offer is sweet, but…
Rin : Thanks, but I want Ryuji to see me as I am. I don’t want to have to force an image of myself to get him to think otherwise.
Rin likes to go out with Ryuji and get sweaty while exercising. She likes to go with him to eat, stuff her face until her stomach feels like it’s about to pop.
But at the same time she worries about standing too close to him after a workout, not wanting him to smell how sweaty she gets.
During eating, she worries about making a mess of herself.
Those activities are fun, but Rin also loves the quieter moments she spends with Ryuji. When they go to watch a movie together, and Rin sneaks a glimpse at Ryuji, seeing the way his eyes sparkle with interest, or the boyish grin he has whenever something happens on screen.
Or the times they take the train together. They’d share a pair of earbuds, as Ryuji plays videos on his phone for them to pass the time. They sit close enough to each other so no one pulls an earbud out of the other’s ear, and the contact always has Rin’s heart racing. His warmth and laughter always eases her mind.
Rin sighs.
It sucks to like both girly and boyish things. People will always end up deciding to place you in one category moreover the other, so much so it surprises them when you act differently.
Though in Ryuji’s case, Rin doesn’t think he decided who she was. More or less he just…didn’t see the other side of her.
Rin would even chalk it up to first impressions playing a factor in it. The stuff going on with Kamoshida, and finding his palace for the first time, would be a horrible time to start talking about getting her uniform dirty.
Rin’s phone pings. She thinks it’s another message from Ann, but when her screen lights up, Rin swallows when she sees Ryuji’s name.
Ryuji : her rin-rin, feelin okay?
Ryuji : oh shoot, you’re probably sleeping
Rin lets out a huff, feeling her hurt feelings halfway shift into something more fond, seeing him still taking the time to check on her.
Rin : No, I’m awake. Just laying down on my phone.
Ryuji : oh!
Ryuji : cool beans
For a moment, Ryuji doesn’t send anything else. But Rin sees the familiar bubble of him typing.
It goes away for a second. Then pops back up.
Ryuji : about earlier. I’m sorry for what I said
Ryuji : i know i can be stupid sometimes but i really messed up
Ryuji : i didn’t mean for it to come off as an insult or anything, i really am sorry
Ryuji : i get it if you’re mad at me
Rin stares at the messages. She can perfectly imagine Ryuji’s voice saying it all.
Rin’s not mad, per se. Not at Ryuji. She’s just…hurt.
His words hurt, but even more so when realizing any potential hopes for their relationship would stay as dreams. Because who would want to date their best bud?
Rin : I’m not mad at you, Ryuji. Honest.
Rin can just imagine the way Ryuji’s squinting at his phone, trying to find a deeper meaning to her text.
Ryuji : I don’t believe you, you don’t have to lie to me, it’s okay.
Rin suppresses a sigh. Shifting more comfortably on her back, Rin opens the camera on her phone, and, with both hands, holds it above her.
It takes a bit to get the angle right, but thankfully, with enough light coming through her window, she snaps a quick picture.
Her hair is still a mess, and the flush from her fever is still present on her face. Her pajamas are wrinkled, but she manages a tired, yet heartfelt smile up at the camera. It’s a smile she couldn’t fake even if she tried.
Without thinking twice, Rin saves and sends the picture to Ryuji.
Rin : See? Not mad
The response is instantaneous.
Ryuji : whhawauuuit dude!!
Ryuji : you cant send stuff like that so suddenly!!
Ryuji : especially to a guy!
Rin blinks. Was there something wrong with the picture? She opens the photo to take another look at it.
…Everything seems fine, what’s the problem?
Rin : ??
Ryuji : a-anyways
Ryuji : you’re really not mad?? That’s a relief..
Rin : If I really were mad I probably would have plotted with Morgana and sent him to scratch your face in your sleep. He’d do it too, no hesitation.
Ryuji : you’re telling me. Still
Ryuji : its a relief hearing that from you. That you’re not mad.
Rin : Yeah, so let’s not let what happened make things awkward between us, okay? You’re still my best friend.
Ryuji : hehe, yeah.
Ryuji : same here.
Rin turns off her phone, holding it to her chest.
Just a simple exchange of texts between her and Ryuji helped ease any lingering pains she felt. Above all else,she still cherishes their friendship, and she doesn’t want to lose that.
She brings a hand to her forehead. The lingering heat makes her reach out to wet her rag for her forehead to help cool off.
Even though she’s still not recovered, at least she feels like she can sleep a bit better tonight.
Ryuji, on the other hand. Can not.
His mouth is dry as he stares long and hard at the picture of Rin. His thoughts jumble between trying to say sane and falling into degenerate territory.
Sure, Ryuji’s never really ogled or glanced at Rin’s body in any way. Hell, they’ve hung out in public baths together, but after today’s events, his eyes can’t help but wander and stare at the exposed skin.
Rin’s flushed face, a light sheen of sweat making her skin shine. The long, pale expanse of her bared throat. Her full, pink lips stretched into a sweet smile. The dip of her shirt, revealing just enough cleavage to make one’s nose bleed. The way she has her arms up to hold her phone, but…it’s almost like she’s reaching up, beckoning, pleading for Ryuji to…
Ryuji physically slaps himself, leaving a bright red mark on his face. Pull yourself together man! That’s Rin! That’s your best friend!
Ryuji huffs, rolling over onto his stomach, getting into a more comfortable position to keep staring at the picture.
He’s glad his apology went well, and that Rin isn’t upset with him, but…
Ryuji turns off his phone, and buries his face into his pillow. His thoughts begin to race, memories of his time with Rin coming to mind, in ways he never really thought of until after today.
It’s little, subtle things at first, that Ryuji realizes he’s never paid much attention to.
Rin always coming to school with different charms hanging from her phone.
The irritation on her face when her clothes get dirty in a way it could have been avoided, or her hair getting messy, her fluffy curls snagging and looking wild.
Her little butterfly hair clips she uses to clip back her bangs when she and Ryuji go out to eat.
Rin and Ryuji going into shops together, Rin immediately going to look at accessories or cosmetics or clothes, while Ryuji wanders to find stuff more his style.
Rin at one point dragging Ryuji to see a romance movie with her, red in the face. Ryuji wasn’t much a fan of that sort of stuff, but Rin was so engrossed, even teary at times, while she watched, that Ryuji didn’t want to ruin her fun.
A time in the Metaverse, after climbing out of the Monabus and getting off the tracks, Joker had gone ahead of Skull, hoisting herself up. She didn’t take into account the flaps of the back of her jacket to shift to the side, and her black skirt to hoist up her butt, revealing the panties she wore underneath.
Mortified, Joker scrambled up, her usual playful and rebellious facade she has while in the Metaverse crumbling away as she tugs down her skirt.
“Y-you didn’t see anything!”
Skull had blinked, crossing his arms and tilting his head in wonder. “ Huh, so it’s red down there too… ” He says, his reaction unlike his usual blown up responses he’d have if it was any other girl.
Joker’s face was as red as her gloves, her panties too, as she turned and stormed ahead, leaving a confused Skull behind.
“ Wait, you good? ” He called after her, only to yowl in pain as Panther smacks him in the head.
Looking back on it, Ryuji can admit he’s a bit at fault for embarrassing her.
There was also the time when hanging out, Rin’s loud squeals of excitement when a new song from a boyband she liked was released. Ryuji was right there as Rin listened to the song, and watched the music video for it, cooing and gushing over her favorite members.
He didn’t really get it, and simply put in his own earbuds to drown her out. But looking back, he can remember her full smile she only saves for the more special occasions, her gray eyes shimmering as she swayed and bounced to the beat.
Rin is as girly as they come, Ryuji just didn’t realize it.
And then he had to go and make her self conscious of herself.
It’s decided, he’s going to make it up to her somehow.
By the next day, Rin could safely say she felt much better than she did before. Sojiro had come to check her temperature, and hopefully, if she’s fine by tomorrow, then she can go back to school.
“Thank goodness. I don’t think I can take not doing anything much longer.” Rin sighs as she sits up in bed with Morgana in her lap, lazily stroking his fur. Morgana tries to act like he hates it, but his purring says otherwise.
“You definitely have a lot of schoolwork you need to catch up on, though.” Morgana points out. He has a point, but Rin does enough studying that she'll be able to catch up in no time. She’s mostly just worried about being rusty physically. Maybe Ryuji would want to go on a run with her.
Speaking of whom, during lunch hour, Rin had gotten a text from Ryuji, asking if he could come visit after school. Having already forgiven yesterday’s events, especially after their talk last night, she agrees.
Morgana had groaned as he read their messages that Rin showed him, specifically groaning when seeing the picture Rin sent.
“You know, sometimes I think you two were made for each other…” He murmurs, almost ominously. He merely shakes his head at Rin’s questioning hum.
“Whatever. Let’s just hope he doesn’t make you cry again. I’ll be downstairs if something happens.”
Rin passes the time watching videos on her phone. It’s an hour or so after school ends that Ryuji shows up.
She hears when Ryuji arrives more then sees him.
She can faintly hear the door open and close, and Sojiro speaking. Followed by Morgana’s surprised yowl.
“Welcome- oh, wow. Yeah, go on upstairs, that’s taking up too much space.”
Rin perks up, sitting up straighter in bed. Since she knew Ryuji was coming, she made sure to run a brush through her hair, so her head looked less like a nest and more like the soft curls she took pride in having.
She hears the sound of something dragging, and Ryuji’s noises that lead her to assume he’s struggling.
“Ryuji, are you alright? Do you need help?”
“W-what? Oh, no, stay right there! I got it!”
Well, if he insists…
“Also, close your eyes for me!”
Rin can see Ryuji’s eyes peeking out through the banister, halfway up the stairs.
“Eh…”
“Don’t look at me like that man, just do it.”
Rin blows out a puff of air, and decides to play along. Her eyes drift shut, and she listens as Ryuji continues struggling up the stairs, whatever he’s dragging coming closer and closer, until he’s right in front of her bed.
“Okay,” Ryuji starts, excited, “go ahead and open them!”
Rin opens her eyes to see Ryuji, still dressed in his school uniform. There’s a plastic bag hanging from his elbow, but what really catches all of Rin’s attention is the enormous stuffed teddy bear that he has.
Bright beady eyes, dark red fur, a yellow bandana wrapped around its neck. It’s big and looks so soft and huggable, like the perfect cuddle buddy.
Rin is speechless as she stares at it, before her eyes trail up to a grinning Ryuji. There’s a hint of nervousness he’s trying hard not to let show.
“Ryuji, how come…?”
“Surprised?” Ryuji asks. “I went and bought it with money I had saved from Mementos. I know it’s not a keychain like you may have wanted, but…” Ryuji averts his eyes, bashful, “well, I still hope you like it.”
Rin feels her heart melt. Wordlessly, she holds out her arms, and Ryuji hefts the bear onto Rin’s bed. Rin wraps her arms around the thick neck and pulls it close, burying her face into its fur. Just as she thought, it’s soft, and…it smells like Ryuji from when he had been holding it.
It’s not a keychain. It’s much more than that, it means more to her. Ryuji had gone and bought this with her in mind. It’s a gift, for Rin , and Rin alone.
She tries hard not to cry.
“I love it. He’s adorable.” She sighs into the bear.
“R-really? I’m glad you like it, I…oh!” Ryuji begins to dig around in the plastic bag hanging from his elbow. “That’s not all!” Rin looks at him just in time to see him pull a dvd case from the bag.
“I, uh, I rented a dvd for us to watch. It’s one of the live concerts of that band you like, also kinda like, a documentary too, or something like that? I figured we could watch it together?” Ryuji hands the case to Rin, who takes and stares at the cover.
And lo and behold, it is the band she likes. She didn’t think Ryuji would even remember, it’s been a while since she’s talked about them.
Her heart swells.
“And and, I don’t know if you’re okay to eat them right now, but I got that candy you like, and your favorite soda. There’s some more snacks in here, so we can eat it while watching the movie.” Ryuji looks up at Rin, smiling. “Is that okay with you?”
Rin stares at Ryuji, trying to find the right words.
He did all of this for her…it’s clear this is him still apologizing for yesterday, but Rin had forgiven him. She wasn’t expecting anything else from him, and yet…
Rin’s grip tightens on the dvd case, her face heating up.
‘ I’m so happy to have fallen in love with him .’
Ryuji, seeing the color flooding her face, freaks out.
“Woah, are you okay Rin? Are you still feeling sick?” He reaches out, carefully pressing the back of his hand against her cheek. His hands are so warm…
Rin closes her eyes, leaning further into his touch.
“No, I’m feeling just fine.” Better than fine. She’s over the moon.
Ryuji’s own face goes a little pink at Rin’s movement, and slowly pulls his hand away.
“O-oh, if you say so. “ He clears his throat.
A moment passes before Ryuji collects himself.
“You feel up to watching the movie right now?”
Rin smiles, handing him the dvd case. She watches as Ryuji goes to pop it into the used dvd player she had purchased a while back. She leans back in bed, holding her new cuddle buddy close.
There’s no telling what the future holds, for her, for Ryuji, for their relationship as a whole, but…right now, at this moment, she couldn’t feel more happy with how things are between the two of them.
Rin likes to believe it’s only going up from here.