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Ren walked out out of the Diet building.
With a small smirk playing on his face, he briefly looked back at the once intimidating building (which was still like that, of course, but just in different ways now) before turning away, slowly moving away as flashes of Shido's Palace crossed his mind in an absent manner, as they tended to do since he came back, finished university and started working here. The place where it all both began and ended. And yet...
Briefly, he caught a glance of one of Yusuke's newest art works, the piece perfectly capturing the feeling of desire that once evaded the now well accomplished young artist, albeit in a different form than usual since Yusuke didn't really do ads as often as other forms of art. Next to his art, stood the smiling face of Ann's latest movie poster, the blonde having gone into actress waters with the support of her girlfriend Shiho. Truly, Ren couldn't be more proud that they finally confessed to each other, it was only nearly ten years in the making after all...
Perhaps he should go and pay Yusuke and Ryuji's new ramen shop a visit, he was hungry after a tiring day...
Lost in his thoughts about his work and friends as he was, the young man didn't register that he bumped into someone before ending up on the ground, the gentle pitter-patter of rain (so like that day, only this rain was normal and not...) as it began to fall not hiding the grunt he released at the situation.
"Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was..."
The rain quietly grew in intensity, just enough for an umbrella to be needed, as Ren stared up at that face he never thought he would see again, speechless as his only answer to his trailed off apology was that same smirk. Sure, now older, somehow even more guarded and pained, but it was him.
Goro Akechi.
The one who got away all those years ago, slipped by with an echo of the doctor's words, Ren at the time registering only about half of the things the older man was saying then.
"... you are supposed to be dead."
"Really, Ren? We are doing this again?" that was definitely an amused grin on the other's face, a gloved hand cautiously reaching down to offer him help. "I thought we went over this already? How did Futaba-chan once put it? Im like a roach that wont stay put or something like that?"
He tried not to laugh in response to Goro's statement and memory of what the then redhead was talking about, taking the head and getting himself back up.
"She would have so much to say right now, you should be happy that she's away for one of Sumire's competitions..."
"Oh?" the brunet looked intrigued, still not letting go of Ren's hand. The black-haired man didn't move either. "Yoshizawa-san is still doing gymnastics? My bad, I thought those had age restrictions of some kind...?"
"They do, yeah. Sumire told me a while back that she would keep doing them until she couldn't anymore, you know how she is." Ren continued to stare at Goro, not being able to look away for even a moment at this point. "Futaba went with her to support her, since this competition fell during a break in her PhD program... but I'm not here to talk about that."
"Then what are you here to talk about, Ren-kun?"
The politician was back to being amused now, shaking his head.
"Goro, it's nearly a decade, hasn't it? Don't you think we have some things to discuss?"
He watched as the older man remained silent, something passing through his eyes a bit too fast for Ren to get a read on, even with all his learned skills since the last time they talked. Goro Akechi. The man who would seemingly forever remain a mystery to one Ren Amamiya. But it didn't matter. As long as he was here...
... as long as he could hold his hand... be near him merely...
"Ren-kun?"
This time, he wasn't letting go. No more goodbyes.
"Come on, I know an amazing ramen place where we will have privacy to... talk."
Before Goro could say anything, Ren began dragging him away from that building where it all happened. Some days, Ren wished he had chosen a different career in life, wondering if he was doing the right, making a positive change in people's lives without the active power of Persona.
For once, he didn't second guess himself.