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Ryuji hasn’t seemed right all day.
He didn’t bicker with Morgana, nor seem particularly enthusiastic about being called to the front line in their first battle with the shadows, and he grimaced for most of their bumpy rides in the Mona car. Strangest of all, he refused kisses from Akira and Ann—and considering how clingy Ryuji is with his partners, it was very odd to see him turn his head and come up with blatantly fake excuses for why he wasn’t in the mood.
After studying him for over an hour, Makoto has come to a conclusion: there is definitely something wrong with Ryuji. And considering the things he has done since they met up, she can deduce the most likely cause of his strange behavior.
He must be sick. Nothing else explains why Ryuji looks so nauseated as the Mona car bumps along the subway tracks, or the way his hands keep conveniently resting on his stomach. But despite feeling awful, he hasn’t told anyone. And Makoto has a feeling why that might be; Ryuji, in her experience, has a real issue with needing to feel useful. He hates being left out of things, even if it’s for his health, and seems determined to prove he isn’t a burden.
Luckily, it seems like Makoto isn’t the only one who worries about Ryuji. Ann and Akira looked puzzled the moment he refused a kiss or other physical attention, and Yusuke, with all his usual tact, pointed out that Ryuji looks sickly today. But before any of them can take Ryuji aside and tell him to take it easy… Ryuji’s body betrays him.
---
Makoto is driving the Mona car at the time, so she doesn’t notice until Ryuji gasps out, “Pull over…”
“Shit, are you okay, Skull?” Ann asks.
“Skull?” Haru says.
“Is everything okay back there?” Makoto calls, not taking her eyes off the twisting subway tracks in front of her.
“I think Skull’s gonna puke!” Futaba shrieks.
“Don’t throw up in me!” Morgana yelps.
“Please pull over,” Akira says. His voice is as quiet as ever, but she senses the fear he tries to hide.
“Got it!” Makoto says, steering the car past a shadow that thankfully doesn’t notice them. And, pulling the car right to the side of the tracks, she slams the brakes on.
The back doors to the car burst open, and she hears groans and scuffling. And then the revolting sound of Ryuji emptying his stomach on the subway tracks. Makoto jumps out of the driver's door, rushing around the back to investigate. Ryuji kneels on the ground as he vomits, Ann and Akira crouching on either side of him, rubbing his back as their boyfriend chokes and groans.
"Skull..." Makoto whispers. Well, this explains why she has worried about him all day.
When Ryuji finally manages to stop being sick, he gasps for breath. "Fuck... that was..."
"Feeling any better now?" Ann asks.
“Little bit, I guess." He lets out a long, shaky sigh. "I'm sorry, guys…” Ryuji mumbles, slumping against Akira. “Are you mad?"
"Why would we be mad?" Akira asks. "You're sick."
"'Cause I hid it from you like an idiot."
"You're not an idiot, Skull," Akira says.
Ann smiles sadly, helping Ryuji adjust his mask. “We wish you’d said you feel like this, sure, but… we’re not angry.”
When Makoto takes a water bottle from her bag and passes it to him, he accepts it with a grateful nod. "Thanks, Queen."
"Now, I think we should go back home for today," Makoto says. "Skull isn't well, and Joker and Panther will probably be too distracted to do well in battle."
She expects an argument from Ryuji, but he just sighs and nods his head. He must feel even worse than she thought.
"Fine..." he mutters.
And as Akira and Ann help Ryuji back into the car, Makoto gets back behind the wheel. They can return to Mementos another day. Their teammate's health is more important than that.