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Under the cover of the night, hiding in the shadows cast by the pale moonlight, a gentleman thief executed his plan. The territory was uncharted, putting him at a disadvantage, but he made up for it with his seasoned experience. He'd been in risky situations before and had come out victorious; this time would be no different. He was a man on a mission—the most important mission of his life. He couldn't fail; he had to reach the most precious of treasures that awaited him deeper into the maze that were the Kosei High School dorms.
The infiltration had been the tough part. He wasn't familiar with the security, so he had to pause and observe from afar, mapping out different routes in his mind and making up plausible scenarios. Going through the front door was a no-go from the start, as he didn't possess a student identification, and waltzing through the front door would be too high-risk. Going through a window was the best option. He chose his entry point at a distance from the front door, making sure no one would hear him come in and out.
He ended up in a dusty storage room and, with silent steps, made his way out into the halls. Most of the lights were off, giving him plenty of hiding spots in the darkness.
Once inside, the maze began. He'd never visited the room in which the treasure was, so he had to rely on the tip a fellow thief had given him. The first step was locating the girls' dormitory. From what he picked up on, the side of the building from which he came in was the boys' dorm. Most students were inside their rooms; he could hear their voices when walking past, but there were a few boys that were still up and roaming the halls, which posed a threat. If they saw him, they would immediately realize he was an intruder. Holding his breath, he pressed his body flush against the walls and looked for an alternative path.
With each turn, he got a little more confused. The same darkness that provided hiding spots also prevented him from knowing where he was, if he'd already traversed the same hall twice, or if he was getting further away from his objective in an attempt to avoid the students in the halls. But he wouldn't give up. He was willing to do anything to get to the treasure.
As he walked around the building, he stumbled upon the yard. It was his salvation. He carefully opened the door and made his escape from the boys' dorm. Making his way to the girls’ dorm was way simpler through this path, although it left him without a cover as the moonlight followed his every step.
He felt a bit like a creep sneaking into the girls' dorm. It made his heart pound against his chest, because if he got caught now, it was truly over. Not only would he be kicked out but also labeled a pervert when, in reality, he had good intentions. He wasn't here to steal away the treasure—even though it sounded appealing—just to look after her.
The treasure, Kitagawa Yusuke, was his beloved girlfriend. They have been dating for a couple of months, and yet, during all that time, he hadn't had the chance to visit her dorm. The attic was a bit more private after all; otherwise, they were out in the streets of Tokyo or hanging out with friends. Ann had visited once to help Yusuke with some undisclosed lady stuff, and she had given him, although vague, directions to reach Yusuke's room. But from the outside, he couldn't exactly read the room numbers, and peeking through other girls' windows didn't sit well with him.
Texting Yusuke would be the smart thing to do, as she would help him reach her, but Ren wanted his visit to be a surprise.
Since the curriculum varied from school to school, Yusuke was drowning in assignments at the moment, while Ren and their friends from Shujin were having a relaxed couple of weeks, meaning their schedules didn't line up at all. They still texted, but it wasn't the same as hanging out in person, and it was driving Ren insane. He missed his girlfriend so damn bad! He was going through a love withdrawal, and after two weeks of misery, he’d decided to do something about it. And that something was paying Yusuke a visit late at night.
According to what Ann said, Yusuke's room was on the first floor—a massive win for Ren—and near the end of a hall. She remembered the room number: 11, but that piece of information didn’t help in his current situation, as he didn’t have a way to read the numbers outside the doors. Maybe he should’ve brought Morgana along. Morgana would have a much easier time sneaking in and roaming the hallways without looking suspicious… Alas, Ren didn’t bring him along. Not that Morgana would have agreed to third-wheeling anyway. So his only option was to play the guessing game.
Silently, he asked for forgiveness before taking a quick look through the window of a room that had the lights on. In record time, he scanned the room and realized it wasn’t Yusuke’s. There weren’t any painting supplies on the shelf, so it couldn’t be his girlfriend’s room. Ren quickly looked away and made his way to the next room that had the lights on. He knew for a fact Yusuke was still awake, which helped narrow down the options and spared him from the awkwardness of peeping into strangers' rooms.
As it turned out, the third time was the charm. The second room had been empty, even though the lights were on, and when he peeked into the third room, his eyes immediately fell upon Yusuke’s figure. She was sitting at her desk, poring over a book Ren was almost sure was math. His shoulders felt so much lighter just from looking at her through the window. He could’ve stared at her back all night, engraving the scene into his memory, but that was kind of creepy, so he forced himself to snap out of his trance.
Ren crouched down, hiding just in case Yusuke looked out the window, and opened his bag. He sighed in relief when he took out a small bouquet of roses, which he'd made at his part-time job earlier in the afternoon. The flowers were in good condition, despite being stored inside his bag. Swallowing hard, he grabbed his phone and began writing.
Check outside your window ;). [Sent]
As soon as he hit send, he put his phone in his pocket and got down on one knee while holding up the bouquet of roses. He was a gentleman thief on a mission; of course he had to go all out on theatrics.
His heart skipped a beat when the sound of approaching steps reached his ears. He knew Yusuke wouldn’t be uncomfortable with the impromptu visit, but that didn't stop him from getting nervous and needing to take a deep breath to calm down. Yusuke was the light of his life; he didn't want to mess up or inconvenience her.
Ren heard Yusuke gasp, and as she slid the window open, he pushed the bouquet forward and said, “Special delivery for Kitagawa Yusuke!”
“R-Ren! What are you doing here?” A bright blush adorned Yusuke’s cheeks as she took the bouquet in her hands. Despite the eye bags, messy hair, and paint-stained clothes that were a testimony of how hard she was working, she was glowing under the moonlight. She was breathtakingly beautiful.
Rising from the ground, he smiled, masking his nervousness. “May I come in?”
“Of course,” she giggled, stepping aside for Ren to step in through the window. Despite being the leader of the Phantom Thieves, it was the first time Ren did something like this in the real world. It was something out of a cheesy romance movie, and he loves it. The thrill of sneaking around to see his girl was amazing.
As he took off his shoes, he took a quick glance around Yusuke's room, which was small and cramped with art supplies, books, and little trinkets, some of which were gifts from Ren. It made Ren's chest feel warm and fuzzy. He knew she cherished every little thing he did for her, but seeing it with his own eyes was different. If it were possible, he would give her the entire world just to see her smile. Anything Yusuke wanted, he would give it to her.
“I've missed you…” he confessed, closing the distance between them with a soft hug, being careful of the bouquet. Having Yusuke between his arms felt right. It was like finding the missing piece of a puzzle — of his soul.
Wrapping her arms around Ren's broad shoulders, Yusuke melted into his embrace. Stress and fatigue left her weary bones. “But… Isn’t this too much? Seeing me can’t be worth all the risk…” She didn’t understand how important she was to Ren. Through his eyes, she was the sun that brought back the colors into his monotone life, and without her, he would be lost in the darkness. Hopefully, his love and devotion would reach Yusuke, letting her see how precious she was.
“Totally worth it. Besides, I have to make sure you’re taking good care of yourself! When was the last time you took a break?” Yusuke tensed up at the question. “That's what I thought… Take a break?”
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt,” she mumbled, nuzzling the crook of Ren's neck before pulling away to set the bouquet of roses on her desk and close her books.
Ren placed his bag on the ground, as there wasn't any other place for it, and sat on Yusuke's bed. The bedframe creaked under his weight, but the mattress was comfortable. “Come here. Let me take care of you.” Opening his arms, he invited Yusuke to join him for some well-deserved cuddles. She needed to relax, and he needed to have her near. “You've worked hard.”
Once Yusuke climbed into bed, Ren held her close to his chest and tangled their legs. The bed was just as small as Ren’s, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. They were used to sharing such a small space, and if he was being honest, Ren liked it. He liked having Yusuke close, pressed against his body and sharing body heat. She ran cold while he ran warm. It was the perfect balance.
Yusuke traced random shapes on Ren's back with her finger, making him hum in satisfaction. “I missed you too… I missed you a lot,” she whispered. Hearing her confession made Ren smile. She had a hard time admitting to her supposedly “selfish” and “silly” feelings, so it meant a lot to him.
Words weren't enough to convey the happiness of finally being reunited. Gently tilting Yusuke’s chin, Ren sealed their lips in a slow kiss. Oh, how had he missed the feeling of Yusuke’s plush lips perfectly slotting against his. Yusuke's lips were chapped, a sign she had been neglecting herself in favor of studying and painting, but Ren didn't mind it at all. With a swipe of his tongue, he got her lips wet and asked for permission to deepen the kiss. Humming, Yusuke parted her lips, inviting him inside her mouth.
The taste of Yusuke's mouth made Ren crave more. His body was buzzing with adoration and desire, but he knew it wasn't the right time or the right place. He had to hold back.
Easier said than done.
He was a greedy man. He'd been craving Yusuke's lips for many days, and now that he had finally gotten a taste, it was difficult to stop. If he were a different man, one controlled by his desires, he would've swept Yusuke off her feet and into his arms before taking her somewhere far away, somewhere no one would ever find them, but he was a gentleman. He would never allow himself to lose control like that—not unless Yusuke asked him to stop holding back—but his self-control was running thin, and Yusuke didn't seem to want to stop kissing either.
Her slim fingers tangled with his messy hair, pulling him impossibly closer. As if she couldn't get enough of him. When her breasts pressed against his chest, he wondered whose heartbeat he was hearing. But then Yusuke's stomach growled, interrupting their make-out session and bursting their little romance bubble. Yusuke's eyes widened, and she slapped a hand over her mouth.
“I'm so sorry! I-It's been a while since I last ate…” she rushed to say, embarrassment turning her cheeks red. It was a cute reaction.
Ren couldn't help but chuckle as he shook his head. “It’s okay, I figured you hadn't eaten.” He wanted to lecture her about her bad habits and remind her she needed to take care of herself, but maybe later. He didn't want to ruin the soft atmosphere with a lecture. “So… I came prepared.” The bed creaked as he sat up, reaching for his bag on the ground. He zipped it open, revealing a couple of sandwiches and a thermos that smelled of coffee.
“For me…?” Ren nodded, and Yusuke's eyes lit up. It looked like she could cry. This made the risky mission worth it. “Thank you, Ren. You didn't have to.” As a way of showing her gratitude, she placed a peck on Ren's cheek, making his heart skip a beat.
“Don't say that. As your boyfriend, it's only natural that I take care of you.” He handed Yusuke the sandwiches and, as she unwrapped one of them, placed the warm thermos on her nightstand, being careful to not knock her little trinkets onto the ground. Expectantly, Ren watched as Yusuke took a bite of the sandwich, hoping she would like it. He considered bringing store-bought food but decided against it. He wanted to give her something he had made with love and care. “So, how is it?”
Yusuke closed her eyes, taking her time chewing and savoring the sandwich—experiencing it. After swallowing the first bite, her lips wobbled, and when her long lashes fluttered open, her eyes were glassy. “This is amazing… The best sandwich I've ever had!”
“R-Really?” Yusuke nodded while taking another bite. “I'm glad.”
While Yusuke continued to eat, they talked about anything and everything. After not seeing each other face-to-face for a couple of weeks, there was some catching up to do. Ren told her about his part-time jobs, the shenanigans their friend got up to, and how he'd been helping out in Leblanc. In turn, Yusuke told him about her assignments, classes, and daily life. Without her friends, the days were a bit boring, but she assured Ren she would soon be free of schoolwork, and they could spend all day together. Ren could hardly wait. There were so many places he wanted to take her.
Ren couldn't stop smiling. His cheeks hurt, and yet he couldn't wipe the smile off his face. Yusuke was his light. It was a mystery how he had survived two weeks without seeing her. He couldn’t pull his eyes away from her as she rambled, either. She was the most beautiful in the world, even when she had crumbs on her face. Without breaking eye contact, he leaned closer and brushed away the crumbs, making Yusuke stop talking. “You had a few crumbs there.”
“I see… Thank you,” she said, looking away, attempting to hide the blush on her cheeks. The plastic wrapping laid crumpled on Yusuke’s nightstand, next to the almost empty thermos. “Thank you for the food. I really appreciate it.”
“It’s nothing. I love cooking for you~.” He rested his hand on top of Yusuke's cold one, caressing her skin with his thumb. Cooking for her every day sounded nice, but for now, he would keep that thought to himself. He didn't want to spook her by coming across as too intense, though he definitely was.
Lately, he couldn't stop fantasizing about a future together.
A warm and fluffy feeling settled in Ren's chest. He couldn't contain himself and placed a kiss on Yusuke's cheek. The surprise made her turn to face him, and Ren took the chance, stealing a quick kiss from her lips. Yusuke gasped but soon recovered, and stole a kiss from Ren. It quickly turned into a game where they peppered each other's faces with kisses while giggling.
Ren wrapped his arms around her slim frame so she couldn't wiggle away from him as he kept kissing her. “R-Ren! Stop!” she laughed. Hearing his name mixed with her laughter was beautiful. “I need to go back to studying!” She grabbed his shoulders but didn't actually try to push him away.
“Don't say that~”
“What if we get caught for making too much noise?” Well, that was a valid concern, so Ren stopped kissing her. But he wasn't ready to let her go yet. He wanted to hold her just a bit longer. “And look at the time… I don't want you to miss the last train.”
Oh.
The clock showed how late it was, making Ren's heart drop. Yusuke was right. He had about twenty minutes before the last train departed and left him stranded. He had to leave soon, even if he didn't want to. With a heavy heart, he loosened his arms, letting Yusuke go, though she didn't move away. She looked down at her hands, fixating on her twiddling thumbs. She was sad too.
With a sad smile, Ren tucked a strand of hair behind Yusuke’s ear. “Hey, don’t be sad… You said we’ll be able to hang out soon, right? It’ll be fine,” he said, despite being the one so miserable that he had to sneak into Kosei’s dorms; otherwise, he might’ve died of loneliness and longing. “We just have to endure a few more days.”
Yusuke nodded, leaning into Ren’s touch with her eyes closed. “Just a few more days… Then we’ll go to an exhibition that opened recently.” There she went, dragging Ren across Tokyo to do whatever she wanted. Not that Ren minded.
“Of course.”
“It’s decided, then. Now, you must go, and I must return to my studies.” The promise of going on a date seemed to lift her spirits. She got up and grabbed the thermos on her nightstand and put it into his bag. Ren chuckled and followed suit, taking his bag from her hands and putting his shoes back on. Although short, the visit had been nice.
“Thank you… For everything,” she said as she opened the window for Ren. “Be careful on your way back, okay? Don’t get caught.”
“Wouldn’t it be embarrassing for the leader of the Phantom Thieves to get caught in such an uncool way? Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” He shot him his signature smile and winked, making her giggle. While she was distracted, he stepped into her personal space and stole one last kiss for the night, savoring the lingering taste of coffee on her lips. “You take care too, okay? Don’t stay up too late.”
The kiss stunned Yusuke. She stayed glued to her place as Ren dangled one foot out the window. It was cute. He waved her goodbye and was ready to jump into the ground below the window, but a hand interrupted him, grabbing the back of his shirt. “Wha-” He was cut off by Yusuke’s lips on his. His eyes widened, and he froze for a moment before snapping out of his surprise and kissing her back. It was intense and desperate. Yusuke was pouring all her unspoken feelings into it.
“Goodbye, my gentleman thief,” she whispered once they pulled away to breathe. Her face was bright red. “Until we meet again.”
“Y-Yeah… Goodbye, my treasure.” He tried to sound smooth, but the stuttering and breathlessness kind of ruined his whole vibe. “Until we meet again.” His feet were unsteady as he landed on the ground outside the window, and he couldn’t help but turn around to watch as Yusuke closed the window, waving him goodbye through the glass.
On his way home, Ren almost bumped into a pole.