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Studying without Makoto’s guidance seemed to be as tumultuous a task as giving Morgana a bath. With their honor student class pres away at college alongside Haru, homework was already hit or miss with the Phantom Thieves remaining in Tokyo.
Despite Akechi’s return a few months prior, he wasn’t putting his brain to use here either by helping the thieves study. Instead, he idly sipped his second coffee and did his crossword puzzles at the counter. Surely no one needed a high school dropout on account of failed assassination attempts as their English homework buddy, and no one wanted to press their luck.
“Guys, I’m gay,” Akira had revealed approximately two weeks ago on a group call, to resounding approval.
“We been knew, Joker.”
“We’re here for you, man!”
“Same!”
“I’ve been dating Shiho for five months, it takes one to know one.”
“So many gays in this chatroom tonight!”
“Oh! Uh, I don’t know if I’m that, but happy for you, senpai—“
“Also I found out Akechi’s kinda alive and we started dating almost immediately,” he added, knowing this was probably the dealbreaker.
“What the hell.”
“Is selective homophobia a thing? Can we make it a thing?”
“I’m not homophobic, I’m just Gorophobic.”
“I thought that was the fear of crowded places?”
“Oh my god, I forgot he had a first name—“
“GUYS.”
All this to say, no third years could save them from their homework. Fortunately, for once, Ann could. Fashion, desserts, and women aside, she had one claim to expertise, and that was English. Even if no one else in cooperation could say the same.
Such as right now, while they attempted to translate and comprehend the American Constitution.
“Dude, America’s crazy,” Ryuji commented as he gazed upon his English homework with a bug-eyed expression. “I think they legalized steroids!”
“I beg your pardon?” Yusuke gasped. Akira couldn’t resist looking away from Akechi’s pour over coffee, his deft hands still keeping it from spilling. Futaba looked as well, Ann was already placing her face into her palm, and Akechi refused to look away from his crossword puzzle, though his body language conveyed his nosiness.
“It says here they have the right to bear arms,” said Ryuji. “That’s gotta mean steroids, right? Or something like that?”
“Ryuji…” said Ann despairingly. If her palm pressed any further into her forehead, they would probably merge into one body part. “Bear arms and bearing arms are two totally different things.”
She pointed at something in his textbook with her pen, and Ryuji gawked. “Why would anyone need that many guns?!”
“It could be worse,” said Akira. “They could give guns to bears.”
“You’re killing me,” Ryuji mumbled.
“I know a website if you want to see some hot bears with nice guns!”” offered Futaba with a sly smirk. Akira shockingly looked disinterested (probably not his type), Akechi hadn’t budged (clearly not his type), and the joke flew over Ryuji and Yusuke’s heads (questioning and Yusuke Kitagawa, respectively).
“Futaba, I did not realize you’re a member of the fursuit community!” said Yusuke. “Their artistry is admirable, you’ll have to send me that website sometime.”
“Yusuke,” Ann despaired. “I think she’s talking about gay men—“
“There’s nothing wrong with being a gay dude!” Ryuji said a bit too loudly. “Akira is right here! We said we’d be supportive, even if it’s Akechi—“
“Ryuji, I’m also gay—“ said Ann, but Futaba interjected.
“So is Yusuke! Isn’t everyone here gay?”
“Wait, am I gay?” asked Ryuji genuinely.
“Intelligent crowd tonight,” Akechi muttered as he penciled pretentious into his crossword puzzle.