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For better or worse, Makoto Niijima could remember things said, almost exactly as uttered in the moment. Back in her third year at Shujin, her older sister Sae said something that punctured her heart. At that time, those words stirred a violent, painful reaction in the college student’s heart - one that would eventually lead to Makoto’s rebirth as Queen, of the Phantom Thieves. Sometimes, those same words came back still as a distant echo during moments of insecurity and perceived inadequacy. She could handle well enough by now.And again, something her sister said came back to haunt her in this moment, for entirely different reasons. It happened on one unassuming night at Makoto’s apartment. Everything was quiet, though a sense of feverish expectation lingered in the air.“He’s coming home for Christmas!” Sae had said two nights ago, with flushed cheeks and an unexpected, whimsical twang. A successful case was always reason to celebrate, though the silver-haired Niijima rarely indulged during her triumphs. Her girlfriend, Dr. Tae Takemi, would not have it this time. The two women met halfway, settling on drinks and karaoke - it turned out more than enough.Makoto was completely bewildered, not only by her sister’s state of inebriation, but by what her words implied. Had Sae somehow become fond of Ren Amamiya, the boy who stole her little sister’s heart? Or was she simply having the time of her life, teasing Makoto over the date she had marked on the calendar?“Sis!” Makoto hurried towards her kitchen counter, filling a cup of water with a panda-spotted glass pitcher. She placed the cup right in front of Sae, hoping she would begin to sober up. Alas, her older sister was only getting started.“Makoto!” The defendant attorney smacked the cup away in her careless excitement. “You see... Ta-chan and I have come to a shared conclusion, you see. You have done phenomenally, consistently, unfailingly, for so many years. But you overwork yourself so much, you see? You risk developing the worst possible habits a professional could, you see?”“I... I see.” The younger Niijima arched an eyebrow, puzzled at her sister’s current command of the language. “I’ll keep that in mind.”“Easier said than done. And even easier to forget.” Sae went on. “When that boy is around, though... you loosen up. I have noticed. Your posture goes like this!” The woman mimicked what was probably an accurate assessment, though not flatteringly so.At this point, Makoto noticed Dr. Tae Takemi lounging at the door, visibly amused.“Thus! To prevent those habits altogether... we ought to keep him near you! We could help him move in when he comes!”“I’m pretty sure Ren has living accommodations already, Sis.” Makoto looked at the floor, trying to avoid her sister’s gaze. “Was it alcohol alone what you had?”“A modest helping of sake. No more, no less.” Sae responded. Dr. Takemi nodded, as if to imply she was telling the truth.The night continued, loud though harmlessly. Makoto made sure to have everything at hand for what surely would be a disastrous hangover for her sister. Despite it all, however, she reckoned the truths Sae spoke; truths that would echo in her mind for the days to come. Makoto still retained some bad habits in terms of over-performance. Ren was indeed coming back, something she heartily looked forward to. And lastly, she drew from something she heard once from an acquaintance of her father.If there was one thing Niijimas likely could not do - it was handling alcohol.[ ]Two days later, Makoto Niijima left her apartment with a spring in her step, ready and itching to meet him once more. Ren Amamiya, her partner in crime, in justice and in love. They have been in constant communication throughout their year apart, never letting the distance factor in their affection for one another. But as the days went by since his departure from Tokyo, turning to weeks and months, she discovered a peculiar type of solitude, a yearning. She was not one to jump to conclusions. She thought it might be her own reading of their latest conversations. But she suspected the feeling might be mutual. In any case, she would warmly welcome the very sight of him.She rode her other half - a bike she fatefully named Johanna - to the bus stop coming into the city from the countryside. The young cadet waited patiently, stealing glances at the tinted glass on the bus windows. True to character, he was the last one to climb down the stairs, with a cat atop his shoulder, yawning as they went.“Hey.” She said, trying to keep her cool. “Love seeing you two.”“Niijima-san.” Ren smiled, keeping his enthusiasm in check. “It’s gracious of you to come meet us here this afternoon.”“Drop it, you.” She placed one hand on his chest, the other on Morgana head. The young woman noticed he was ever so slightly taller, and more muscular; things to be expected, yet he still looked the same as the day he left Tokyo. “I hope the trip wasn’t too long, or uncomfortable.”“Five minutes more, Niijima-san.” A half-asleep Morgana uttered while stretching.“Not you too!” Makoto flicked a finger at the feline’s whiskers.“I missed this.” Ren chuckled. “I missed you too.”“Me too.” She smiled, handing him a helmet as they rode into the city.[ ]Along came the sights, some familiar, some drastically changed. Wherever Makoto rode, there was something for Ren and Morgana to see. In truth, this was due to her careful planning of how to welcome her significant other. Their friends could not perfectly synchronise their schedules to give Ren and Morgana the ideal welcome on the day of their arrival. But at the very least she could map out a route to get them reacquainted with their second home.There were occasional stops along the way. Sometimes they would run into friends made on the year he first came to Tokyo; most of these ended up fellow comrades outside of the Phantom Thieves unit. It was a suitable entrée to the proper welcome party the next day.The ride winded down towards sunset by the time they got to LeBlanc. The owner and coffee connoisseur, Sojiro Sakura awaited along with his daughter Futaba; both of them looked forward to this day as much as Makoto. However, the scenery behind the entrance door was not as expected.As per tradition, Ren, Makoto and Morgana imagined Boss, hard at work behind the counter, perhaps idling over a newspaper or a crossword puzzle. The café’s landscape shifting between its usual clientèle and curious stray souls in search of a new taste. The vesper lighting pouring its charm over Sayuri, hung by the entrance. But misgivings stirred as the trio approached, looking at the sign on the door, with word CLOSED facing outward. Makoto wondered if Boss might have planned a surprise himself, but he surely would have told her something about it.The welcoming ambience at LeBlanc was nowhere to be seen or felt. The place was quite deserted, safe for Sojiro and Futaba, who looked too busy to even notice the bell ringing above the door. And all over the counter, tables and cushions lay heaps of boxes.“Boss? What’s going on?” Ren asked. His eyes darted towards the shelves behind the counter. The young man felt alarm rising to see them vacated.“The botch of a lifetime, kid.” Sojiro Sakura replied, picking up a stack of boxes from a counter.“A tainted batch, boy.” Futaba spoke with a cartoonishly gruff voice, a candy bar in her mouth like it were a cigarette, and a smaller stack of boxes in her arms. “That coffee couldn’t see the light of day.”Ren and Makoto understood enough to join them, carrying the coffee from one end of the café to the other. Morgana, unable to help them, noted that there were more boxes around than needed. He pawed at one to get a feel for its contents, sensing several bottles within.“Is there something wrong with the coffee?” Makoto asked.“Plenty. We got the batch this morning. It’s a damn disgrace. Couldn’t bring myself to serve it.” Boss said. “Knew something was sketchy about it from the smell alone. Thought I might be going old. Couldn’t possibly be this bad, I said to myself.”“Haru came for breakfast. She confirmed all of his fears.” Futaba added.“Girl was too gracious to make a scene. A godsend, I tell you.” Boss continued. “She was all discreet.”“She also did this face when she tried the coffee.” Futaba mimicked a flagrantly disgusted expression, which was evidently too far off from what Haru must have expressed. But the assessment rang true, as Makoto dared a whiff.“Understandable.” She admitted. “But what are these boxes?”“Something to ‘tide us over’.” Boss took out a paper cutter and sliced along the tape seal on one of the newer boxes. “’Tide over’, my ass. They had none of my blends available. All they had was a load of this.” The older man pulled out a tall bottle, with a bright yellow, milky substance inside. On the surface, the sticker of several cartoon nuns, ducks and a frog. “Guess we’ll be doing desserts for a while.”“Egg nog?” Makoto arched an eyebrow.“Good stuff!” Futaba perked up from her seat. “Maybe. I don’t know, the supplies guy tried really hard to sell it.”“Man’s never let me down, until now.” Sojiro shook his head. “I’m sorry, kid. Not the welcome you were expecting. Definitely not what I’d have wanted. How have you two been?”“Very busy.” Ren chuckled. “No worries, Boss. I’m just happy to see you all again.”“We’ll make it up to you, kids.” Boss added.“Boy will we! Right, Queen? Right?” Futaba flashed a wide grin while pulling on Morgana’s whiskers.“Um, yes. We will indeed!” Makoto was taken aback by Futaba’s approach, who seemingly never got tired of teasing her, even after their relation became known.Boss and the rest continued working to replace the shelves with egg nog. Their labour went on into the night. Futaba went back to the Sakura residence by then, and Sojiro camped outside the café, waiting for his supplier’s truck to take back the coffee. Morgana took his accustomed spot at one of the booths, ready for a long nap. This left Ren and Makoto at another booth, spent and aching from the impromptu task.“This feels familiar.” Ren smiled at Makoto from his seat.“We never do seem to escape it, huh?” She replied.“Would you want to?”“Not for anything in the world.” Makoto put her hand over his. “You probably already know this by now. We were meaning to throw an actual party for you tomorrow night. But we simply couldn’t manage to get everyone tonight. Ann insisted it had to be all 8 of us, and I happen to agree.”“I figured something like this might happen.” He mused. “We’ve all become such busy folks. Can’t really complain, if we’re all chasing our dreams. It’s certainly strange, seeing it happen. All the same, I do get to be with you alone a little longer.”“Yes, you do...” Her voice began trailing off, as she glanced back to Morgana. Her concerns were written on her face. “Do you think he...?”“Listened to us, at some point? Impossible.” Ren shook his head.“Are you just saying this to retroactively make me feel at ease?” Makoto squinted.“Yes, but only by half. Morgana is a much heavier sleeper than you’d think.”The couple continued to talk the night away. Sojiro was content with leaving them to close the café after the supplier’s truck left with the coffee. The situation was reminiscent of countless nights before, when long meetings and study sessions found saw Makoto practically chasing after the last train home. But there was hardly any pressure to make the ride tonight, since she lived on her own. If within the boundaries of the moment, they had all the time in the world.And seeing Ren in front of her - the subtle differences in him and the unmistakable budding sensuality - her mind wandered ever so slightly towards restless thoughts. She caught herself staring. And rather than look away, she wondered if it was a distinctive shine she was seeing in his eyes. Perhaps it was simply the fact they have not seen each other, face to face, in a year. For all she knew, she might be completely misreading the situation.“Can’t much relate to that, these days...” Makoto said.“College and work keeping you up?” Ren smirked.“Well, yes. But not just that...” The young woman caught herself quickly, noticing the sound of her own voice and his reaction.“I think I probably relate.”Makoto’s gaze darted towards the counter. A strange prospect popped into her mind, but something still gave her pause. She silently scolded herself for the awkwardness of the moment, They have already been intimate several times before, inviting each other past respective boundaries. She had not actually thought on that wavelength, upon hearing that her boyfriend would be in Tokyo for the holidays. But that was beginning to change, almost with urgency.And now, she was hearing Sae’s remark from days ago in her head, teasing.“Boss, forgive me.” She walked out of the booth, debating whether she should stay or run out of the café. Instead she reached for a bottle behind the counter, unscrewed it open and took a long swig. It was too sugary for her taste, but the spike quickly drowned it out, washing over her throat and shooting up to her head.“Makoto!?” Ren rose up from the booth, worried.“Ren, please. Let me just ask you one...” She interrupted herself with a sudden hiccup. “Do you still... think about me?”“Of course I-”“No.” He put up her index finger against his chin. “I mean... do you think about me?” Her words were almost silent, yet she knew he heard her clear. She dodged his eyes as she awaited for his response, heat rising up to her cheeks.“Yes. Always.” Ren reached for the same bottle and drank. “Have I done something to make you feel... unwanted?”“Not at all. I simply want to make sure I’m not misinterpreting anything.”“I think we’re long past that...” He grinned.“I can never be too sure.” She said as she pushed him gently towards the table. A jolt ran up her back, slowly as she felt his hand pressing against the back of her waist.The sweet wisp of the open bottle flared up to her nose, intoxicating by smell alone. She grabbed the bottle and drank a little more to drown her inhibitions. She remembered Sae’s hangover the day after, and thought it the ultimate cautionary tale. Makoto knew she tempted fate, but she would not turn away.“I appreciate that you ask.” Ren said. He approached slightly and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, leaned in a whispered. “I appreciate that you care about what I think, what I say, what I want.”She fixed him with a distinct look of want; only the briefest moment before she pounced. Her drive took him by surprise, pinning him against the table, but he did not fight it. He simply let the tide carry him, wherever it might.“Please tell me -” She hiccuped again. “- if you want me to stop.”Though she expected a verbal response, it was quite physical. As he pulled her back into the kiss, she tasted not only the sweetness of the drink, but a peculiar inherent sweetness in his lips. It was like tasting flowers, blooming in his mouth. The passing of seasons, from the last time they shared a kiss up until this moment. Their farewell and the long ensuing wait were such a bitter taste - turned completely meaningless in the space of a few seconds.Little by little, the pair began to roll towards one end of the table, bound for a sloppy fall against the booth cushioned seats. Ren bumped his head on the way down, but he barely noticed, entranced either by the drink’s effect, or by Makoto hungering lips. Neither minded any outside stimuli, whether anyone could hear or see them. Even the fleeting impression of a bell ringing somewhere could not stop them; it went as quickly as it came, anyhow.The couple parted if only to catch a breath, seeing one another equally flushed.“You really did come for Christmas...” She giggled.“Not quite yet? It’d be about you in any case, but...”“It’s something my sister said a few days ago. I marked the date on the calendar.” Makoto braced her partner tight as he cast a loving shadow over her frame. “Wouldn’t have forgotten it for the world. All the same, I needed to see it expressed somewhere, something to remind me...”She began toying with his hair, coiling her finger around the soft, unruly black on his head. “I want to have you, all to myself, in my apartment, and wash this hair of yours.”“Huh?” Ren was taken aback by her words. His expression prompted a laughing fit in the young woman.“I swear I’ll tame it somehow.” She said, flashing a ferocious grin.“If anyone can, it’d be only you.” He chuckled along, happily indulging in the winding down of their passionate burst.Both Ren and Makoto knew where this night could have taken them, how easily their want could guide them. It has been a long time for their desires to take root, to manifest and soar. But a chance for catharsis could come easily, and soon. For even if he only would be here for the holidays, it felt like they had all the time in the world.They held each other, cradled in the booth, where the night would see them sleep towards a new day. Sometime in between, Morgana woke up and visited them with a thick blanket between his teeth. He was none the wiser to the moment they shared hours ago. In fact, he expected they might spend the night together in some fashion. Before going back to his cushion, he looked at the opened egg nog bottle, emptied by one third.“Non-alcoholic, huh?” The feline said, reading the label on the bottle, before going back to sleep.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The year that Makoto Niijima and Ren Amamiya met, was a strange but joyous one. It started with awkwardness and friction, leading a most uncanny love confession, and a promise to nurture their bond, wherever life may take them. The pair cast themselves freely into uncountable avenues to convey affection, with curious eyes and hearts, almost as if to make up for time lost. Like any art or school subject, it was a dynamic of constant, devoted honing. Fortunately for the two of them, both Makoto and Ren were voracious learners.The first person to know of their relationship was one of Makoto’s friends, a young woman named Eiko Takao. She had at first misjudged Ren as Makoto’s boyfriend; the rumoured delinquent seemed to be around the Student Council President quite often, with a subtly eager disposition every time. She had a few words for Makoto, once the feigned relationship became a genuine one.“Called it.”Since that moment, Eiko appointed herself as Makoto’s confidant. She gleefully asked for details on every outing, no matter how small. It seemed at times that she was looking out for Makoto, in a similar fashion as how Makoto did for her. She also liked to fill Makoto’s head with ideas, some of them outlandish, some of them charming. But one such idea clung persistently, ringing in Makoto’s thoughts even as she said goodbye to her beloved partner.What was their song? The way Eiko spoke of it, every couple had one - except for them, apparently. Something had to be done about it. So Makoto weaved a plan for the third night of Ren’s visit: snatch him away to Karaoke, and decide what their song was. Early on, it seemed such a succinct, secure idea. But somewhere along the way, the plan derailed unexpectedly. At noon, she thought of letting Eiko in the know; in the blink of an eye, Eiko became part of it.[ ]Evening swung by. Ren held on tightly to Makoto’s waist as they rode towards Shibuya. The shifting city lights were truly a spectacle, that yet did not take from the stars’ beauty above. Along the way, Ren noticed Makoto was suspiciously silent, avoiding even small talk at the red lights. He could picture a rare cheeky smile behind the tint of her helmet’s visor. Surely this night reprisal of their ride would lead somewhere special.“Ren...” She spoke as they neared their destination. “I think we’ve had a delightful time together, since that afternoon at Crossroads. All things considered, we’ve seen so much, you and I. But there’s one thing we never did discuss...”“Colour me intrigued, Officer Niijima.”“I’d like us to decide...” Makoto’s wandered into bewildered silence as a familiar figure hopped and waved at them ahead.“Is that... Eiko?” Her partner squinted at the upbeat young woman. Judging by Makoto’s sudden silence, he figured Eiko’s appearance tonight was neither expected, nor wholly an accident.Behind the helmet’s veil, Makoto began sweating cold.“Guys!” Eiko called out loud. “Are you ready for a double date?”[ ]The three sat in the lush red cushions of the room, with Makoto and Ren across from Eiko. She looked brightly pleased and completely oblivious to the awkwardness radiating from the couple. Strangely, despite Eiko’s earlier comment, there was nobody with her that night, nor did it seem like she was expecting anybody. Fortunately for the pair, she did not notice their eyes on her as she was occupied browsing through the beverages menu.“Oh, Eiko.” Makoto tiptoed towards the subject. “I might have misheard earlier, but did you say double date?”“Yes!” The young woman said, not bothering to dig herself out of the menu.“Will he be joining us later tonight?” Ren asked.“Oh, he’s already here.” Eiko pulled out her phone without missing a beat.Makoto went pale. She wondered ruefully if Eiko’s previous experience with Tsukasa might have left deeper marks than she thought. Considering him and various unsavoury acquaintances, she could not blame Eiko for having a ‘virtual boyfriend’ - one that would never lie or take advantage of her.Ren noticed Makoto’s expression and quietly comforted her while an oblivious Eiko placed the orders. She then looked at her phone for a few seconds. Her eyes lit up, reflecting the light of her phone’s screen.“Eiko. We’re here for you.” Makoto said. “Whatever you need to express, we’ll never judge you.”“That’s so cool of you guys.” Eiko smiled, placing her phone on a stand, with the screen facing towards the couple. “Now, let me introduce my boyfriend to you both. His name is Kazuya.”“Good eve- good e- good...!” An oddly nasal voice stammered, cut by a loud, wet sneeze. “Good evening. Eiko-chan has told me a lot about you.”Makoto and Ren looked on with blank expressions, finally realising what was happening. It was a video call. On the other side sat a slender young man with chestnut hair and flushed face, struggling and failing to hold back another sneeze. If perhaps not in the way anyone imagined, this was indeed a second date.“Kazu-chan caught something at work, so he couldn’t come with.” Eiko said, tapping her phone. “But you two have managed long distance for almost a year now. This is nothing.”“I see.” Makoto blinked her shock away. “Well, that is good, that your partner has managed to be here tonight.”“Quite, yeah.” Ren added. “Will he be singing with us as well?”“You bet!” Eiko and Kazuya burst in unison. The two resembled each other for the briefest moment, revealing the affinity with each other. Makoto was silently pleased to see it, a far cry from what Tsukasa had been.“Alright.” Ren turned towards his girlfriend. “You know what that means, right?”“Yes. We will give it our all.” Makoto’s words earned a joyful response from Eiko, as she practically bounced up and down in her seat.[ ]The first round of songs was slightly awkward on all four, including Kazuya, who proclaimed himself a karaoke connoisseur - although his endlessly running nose might have been a factor. Once they washed the rust away through soft drinks, mistimed lyrics and laughter, they could focus on actually putting on a good performance.Makoto sang decently enough. Her choices were safe, nothing too challenging for an untrained voice. She kept bolder songs for later in the night, as Ren and Eiko would likely convince her to take chances at some point. But no matter whose turn was it at the mic, the young woman was observant of each tune and their potential. Any one of them just might become their song.Only Eiko was privy to Makoto’s design, and she was considerate enough to keep it a secret. Less subtle were her choices when her turn came. All of them were stronger contenders to become a couple’s song, high in energy and colourful metaphors. Her boyfriend’s choices followed a similar trend. The saccharine lyrics hardly suited the state of his voice, but that did little difference. Kazuya still sang his heart out - his spirit practically rushed past his congested nose, and even if another sneeze suddenly crept up on him, he would quickly get back on track. Karaoke was quite clearly second nature to him.Ever the showman, Ren himself was no slouch. Once he found his footing, he made sure to seize the moment. His songs were daring and sensual, romantic by the sheer quality of his performance. He compelled Makoto to remember the first time they went on a karaoke date, and his heavily accented evoking of British icon David Bowie. The young man’s voice might have become a little deeper since, but his drive retained the same luster. He sang as if to steal everyone’s gaze, especially Makoto’s. And much to her dismay, it was working; her concentration was beginning to falter. Everything note, every word made her want to pounce him on the spot, and carry him away to never let go.Whenever her turn came, Makoto would sing to clear her head and cool down. It was much like studying; she found recourse in both theory and practice. She reckoned her own songs of choice might suit the purpose that night, but as the first extension call came, she began to reassess. At first she thought the songs themselves did not quite do it. But upon her fourth tune, she considered she was being too analytical. It was as if she regressed into the earliest days of their relationship, when they were still testing the waters, when they were yet too shy to voice their wants and curiosities. But they had already crossed that threshold, as partners and individuals. She was lagging behind, and she needed to catch up. Makoto resolved to change her approach on her fifth song.After the next cycle, Makoto quite literally unburdened herself, taking off her jacket and loosening her back muscles. There was a notable change about her, one that Eiko and Kazuya started to see, but Ren knew quite well by now. There was a certain selection of songs in the menu, one that every karaoke bar had by virtue of reliability and escapism. Whether it be a tired salaryman or a rebellious delinquent, one could find release in songs from decades past, when the future seemed incalculably promising, only to be struck down by the reality of nationwide economic downfall. At that point, any song could be molded into the singer’s design; maybe a yearning hymn for lost youth, or a remorseful chant of collective heartbreak. For Makoto, these songs were plain liberation.
Old fashioned, perhaps. But this suits me just fine.
The fifth song began. Miki Matsubara became Makoto Niijima. The young woman rode down every line like it were a highway - her very own element. Soon, she would lose herself in the music. And if she peeked through the Midnight Door, it would be only to meet Ren’s eyes, to see him completely entranced. The break via saxophone solo gave her time to breathe and to think. This could never be their song, and it was useless to think she could find it by seeking. It would come their way, by its own momentum. From here on, her only mission was to sing her heart out. Thus, she elevated the bar for Ren, Eiko and Kazuya to meet.[ ]Twenty minutes to last call. Makoto and Ren laid down in one of the couches, bathed in the mood lighting in the room. Eiko left only a moment ago, off on a sudden errand. There was music still in the air, coming from somewhere, but neither of them could be bothered to find the source. After Makoto’s fifth song, everyone felt compelled to sing their heart out, including Kazuya who briefly managed to clear his own throat out by the power of song - only to fall prey to a long coughing fit. At that point, Eiko decided to make a house call, with hot broth and cough drops, leaving Makoto and Ren in the chaste privacy of the karaoke room.“Who’d know having fun could be so exhausting?” Ren spoke quietly.“Wouldn’t have expected it. Then again, maybe the temperature has something to do with it. It’s winter, and a rather cold night as well.” Makoto checked her phone.“It’s a good thing we brought coats. Thank you for this night, Makoto. I had a wonderful time.”“You’re welcome.” Makoto dodged his eyes for an instant, keeping her true motive to herself. “I think it was about time I brought something into the table.”“You did, and then some.” He smiled. “ Be thankful Futaba wasn’t around. She’d have recorded the whole thing.”“It frightens me to imagine what she could do with that.”“Heh. She probably would just...” Ren began trailing off, as exhaustion washed over him. “keep it as a ring...tone...”There was silence between them, only gently disrupted by the sound of soft snoring. Ren had fallen asleep, lulled by the light and the company. Makoto knew this was hardly an ideal place for him to sleep, still she tried to keep him comfortable by blanketing her coat over him. They would soon have to leave the establishment; at the very least, she probably ought to look for her phone to order a taxi. It must be somewhere on the table, in between half-finished drinks and napkins. After a moment, Makoto spotted a phone, but it was not hers - it was Eiko’s. She must have taken Makoto’s, by mistake, and in the mirth of the night, she also forgot to end the video call.But something gave Makoto pause, and kept her from ending the call. On first impression, it was the amusement at seeing that Kazuya was the true source of the snoring, having fallen asleep with a tissue rolled into his nostril. But there was something else. A tune, looping in the young man’s room like it were a lullaby. It sounded familiar - a thing belonging in an old movie that she could not quite place. All the same, it was mesmerising. The tender piano went on ad infinitum, retracing its paces with newfound vigour. Makoto cast her eyes back to Ren, as he slept.“Ren...” She said, out of instinct. “I found it. This is it.”
Our song. Just something for me think of you, of us. Our history together, and what days await us. It’s a little secret of mine. I hope you’ll forgive me for not having let you in on it. You know me, I sometimes go about things a little too complicated, only for the simple truth to stare at me blank in the face. I wonder, if you ever hear it, will you think of me?
Makoto ended the video call to give Kazuya some needed privacy. She called for a taxi on Eiko’s phone, making a mental note to pay the fare back soon. The young woman sat in silence with her other half, held tight in a loving embrace. She committed the melody to memory, knowing she would identify it instantly if she ever found it in the airwaves again. And when that time came, this moment would come alive once more.Last call. The taxi arrived two minutes later. It snowed gently, all throughout the drive towards Makoto’s apartment. While Ren slept in her bed, Makoto huddled in a small couch in her living room, watching the snow fall to the slow tempo of their song.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Makoto Niijima was an intuitive woman. Through her tenure as a Phantom Thief, she had come to understand the sway of certain tides. How to measure risk and how to see a menace coming from miles away. At the same time, she could sense advantageous paths and potential boons at the turn of a corner. The dangers of the Metaverse were long behind, as far as she knew. But those skills never did seem to be at disuse. That same intuition rang in her head, as she looked in her mailbox after breakfast.Her boyfriend Ren Amamiya had spent the night at her apartment, following an impromptu double date at a karaoke bar. He woke up before sunrise, in her single bed. It was then that a frightful thought hit him. Quietly, he hurried out of her bedroom and found her asleep in a couch. Embarrassed, he carried her over to her bed, hoping she would have at least some decent rest. The young man looked at his phone for a few minutes, planning out the rest of the day. He needed to move quickly while the element of surprise was still on his side.An hour later, Makoto started her day. The aftertaste of last night still coloured her thoughts as she hummed the melody through her morning routine. Though her boyfriend left in silence, his presence lingered in the apartment still; as if he was just on the verge of showing up from thin air. She chalked it up as simply having missed him, as yearning that he just might move in soon. In any case, she went about her day, readying herself to go to the gym. But something halted her as she was about to exit the apartment building. A sense of expectancy somewhere behind her, specifically her mailbox, where a white envelope sat like a tightly guarded treasure.Makoto could tell even at a simple glance that something was due to happen, from the moment she looked inside. Before opening it, she took care to examine its weight and texture; years of watching Yakuza thrillers had left her a few peculiar habits. But she already knew who it was from. She could even imagine Ren stealing away in the night, flashing a cartoonish grin as he slipped the envelope into her mailbox. One thing she noticed immediately, it was not the kind of thing you could buy at a stationery. It was custom made, just like a Calling Card. Old habits die hard.
Don royally. Tonight. I’ll meet you downstairs.
She raised an eyebrow at Ren’s message - a thing as particular as it was vague, tailored precisely to his fondness for theatricality. Were it anybody else, she would suspect ill intent. But she knew his heart. For all Makoto knew, he might fly her to China so she could pet a real panda, in which case she might just wear her favourite pyjamas. Regardless, she went about her day, marking her evening engaged for whatever Ren planned that night.[ ]One small enigma was whatever Ren meant by ‘donning royally’. Such a word implied so much yet so little. Makoto was not particularly fond of opulent styling, and her salary left little aside for indulgences. After carefully going through her wardrobe, she settled on a smart black dress Sae bought for her birthday, a long coat for the cold and plain, moderate jewellery. It was a sober outfit, but one that could belong in any formal setting without drawing too many disapproving looks; same thing could not be said for the leather biking gloves she wore, thought that erred more on the side of practicality. It was winter, after all.Makoto climbed down the stairs of her apartment to meet Ren, who leaned against the side of a black sedan. It seemed he was of a mind with his significant other. He wore a simple grey suit, with a black turtleneck - a number equally as sober, confident and measured. This was not a far cry from his usual style, but all the same she could not take her eyes off of him, mostly for one particular reason.“Did you go through the trouble of taming that beast for the occasion?” She gently brushed the tips of her fingers against the side of his head, noting how he managed to style his hair, combed pristine.“It took a lot of time.” He admitted. “But look at you, my Queen.”“Am I successfully ‘donning royally’, as you said?”“And then some.” Ren held out his hand, aiding her to climb aboard the sedan.“Well, where will you be taking me tonight?” Makoto asked as she scanned the inside of the car and the middle-aged driver.“As you might surmise, that’s a mystery, at least until we arrive.” He reached into the pocket of his jacket, and pulled out a thick strip of black velvet. Carefully, he placed it over Makoto’s eyes, then tied it just firmly enough behind her head. “Just trust me on this.”“Ren...” She smiled nervously. “You aren’t taking me to pet a panda, are you?”“Someday. You mark my words.” He chuckled. “This is the second best thing I could come up with, admittedly on short notice.””You’ve always had a knack for improvisation.” Makoto said, instinctively following the muffled hints of light beyond the blindfold.“That’s a lovely, and very generous way of looking at it.” Ren placed a hand on her shoulder, drawing her closer ever so slightly. “You have been so gracious to me since I got back. Just seeing you, and seeing our friends again, that alone brings me so much joy. But you always go the extra mile. I had to reciprocate somehow. Pick up the slack.”“Ren, are you serious? I’ve never known ‘slacking’ to be in your vocabulary. But that’s not to say I’m not intrigued. I can only imagine what you’ve planned.”“Were I so lucky to know what you’re imagining.” He said, as he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.“Tease....” Makoto felt a small rise of heat on her cheeks. This was not quite what she would have expected concerning a blindfold and Ren. Still the anticipation grew slow and steady as they neared their destination.[ ]The car slowed down to a stop. There was a murmur of people in the distance growing louder as Ren helped her out of the vehicle.“Stand still, and hold your breath.” He said. She could hear the smile in his voice. She did as he requested, catching excited fragments here and there.Makoto opened her eyes slowly, after he removed the blindfold. She gave her eyes a brief moment to adjust to the street lights coming into view. Then came the crowd, all of them dressed in varying tiers of elegance; a few looked vaguely familiar, possibly public figures and journalists. The young woman felt her breath bundling in her stomach, as the scene almost resembled a gala. And she, in the subtly mismatch of her dress and biker gloves, felt somewhat intimidated.“Ren... Where exactly did you take me?”“Oh? We’ve been here before a few times. I reckon they must have given the place a new coat of paint.”“Huh?” Makoto looked more attentively. And indeed, a sense of familiarity shone past the gallery of attendees. “Kichijoji?”“Yes. What say you, my Queen? Are you in the mood for some jazz?”“Always, but... this can’t be just some ordinary jazz evening.”“True. I admit I’m not much of an initiate, but I am pretty sure Ai Kuwabara is a big name in the scene.”“Hmm.” Makoto searched her thoughts. “The name does sound familiar. And this event looks exclusive enough. But...” She squinted. “Don’t tell me you spent all your savings!”“I don’t think that would have been enough, not even close.” Ren laughed. “Iwai did me a favour. He seems to be well connected, and he likely has an eye for a fun night out.”“I’m sure this is the most harmless favour in the context of Munehisa-san. We’ll make sure to swing by the airsoft store to thank him.” Makoto smiled and linked her arm with Ren’s. “Shall we line up?”The couple took their places at the end of the crowd. They waited for several minutes until people started slowly entering the venue. Around the time the pair was at the entrance door, something caught Makoto’s ear, a small voice crying out somewhere in the crowd. Ren heard it too, stopping right before the entrance door.“Do you hear that?” Ren spoke.“Yes. Is that a child?” Makoto tried to find the source of the cry.Behind them, several attendees were getting irritated with the hold up. A middle aged man voiced his protest at the couple, but they paid him no mind.“There.” Ren signalled towards a small figure across from the jazz club.“Stay here. I’ll see what’s going on.” Makoto hurried towards the child. As she approached, she noticed the tears and the desperation in the boy’s cries.”“Yumi! Yumi! Come back, please!”“Little boy.” Makoto crouched in front of him. “What is wrong? Are you out here on your own?”“I...” The boy looked at her with frightened eyes. “Please, I’m...” He struggled, stammering his way towards a response, but the grief destroyed his efforts with every word.“Don’t rush. Take a breath.” Makoto spoke to him patiently.“I’m looking for Yumi. My frie- my puppy.” The child continued his attempts at communicating. He dodged her eyes at every moment, as if ashamed to be seen crying. He expected her to pressure him into talking clearer, as his classmates and teachers at cram school often did. But Makoto stayed quiet, waiting for him to find the words at his own pace. “I wanted to go see my mum at the hospital. I brought Yumi along, but she ran off and then I- I...” He broke down once more, reliving the last hour anew.“I see. Is there any other relative we could call, so they might help?” The young woman asked.The boy looked down and shook his head.“I see. Is it only you, your mum, and Yumi?”He nodded in silence.“Okay. What is your name?” She asked.“... Keiichi.”“It’s good to meet you, Keiichi. My name is Makoto. Can you tell me where is the clinic your mum is at?”Keiichi looked up to meet her gaze in a panic. He turned in all directions, only to point in a vague direction. He did not seem confident in his sense of direction.”“I see.” Makoto pulled out her phone to get a lay of the land. Suddenly she heard footsteps coming their way. She stood back up and turned around, muscles tensing instinctively, only to loosen immediately by the sight of her partner.“Hi.” Ren said. “Could I be of help?”[ ]The couple walked through the Kichijoji streets in search for a clinic just outside the neighbourhood - workplace of Keiichi’s mother. The boy spoke little. What precious few words he could muster painted an unfortunate picture. His mother was a nurse, suddenly called in to work on Christmas eve, likely due to understaffing. Keiichi was to stay home, in the company of his only friend, a recently adopted dog. But the less-than-ideal conditions of their apartment and Keiichi’s solitude compelled him to go out into the streets in search of his mother, with Yumi as sole support. At some point, the dog became startled by a loud sound and ran off, leaving Keiichi alone in an unfamiliar setting. Neither Makoto nor Ren mentioned their suspicions, but Keiichi seemed to undergo some kind of abuse on a daily basis; perhaps classmates unfamiliar with the nuances of Keiichi’s person and circumstances. Despite his apparent vulnerability, Keiichi went out into the streets in desperation, mustering all of his fortitude just to make the trip.“Can you describe Yumi for me?” Ren asked, holding Keiichi’s hand as they walked towards the nearest medical facility.“White. Small. Short tail.” The boy seemed calmer now. The words still came out awkwardly, as if fighting to keep the tears from breaking out again.“We’ll be on the lookout.” Makoto smiled, with a gentle but firm grasp on the other hand.“Do you two play games? Fetch, maybe?” Ren tried to keep Keiichi’s spirits up.“I try, she doesn’t always like her ball... she sometimes likes it when I sing.”“Can you show us?” Makoto suggested, keeping a close eye on the maze-like streets and anything small and white.Keiichi hummed a melody. It was something that vaguely resembled a nursery tune, conveyed imperfectly through a child’s command of his own voice. The couple encouraged him to keep at it, a little louder in hopes that Yumi might hear it.“I think we’re close.” Ren looked ahead at the lit windows on a small building, still several blocks away.“Keiichi. Does that building look familiar?”“Yes! That’s where mum works!” The boy lit up, emerging from the slump of a few moments ago.“That’s one off the list.” Ren said. Makoto paid him a sad look, quietly acknowledging that may be the only good outcome that night. Neither of them found the grit to voice the fact, however. The fact that Keiichi was calmer and more willing to talk was a triumph in itself.After a few minutes, the three made it to the clinic, where a nurse lay slumped over the reception desk. She seemed spent. All other personnel in sight looked similarly exhausted, as they came and went about the halls.“Excuse me. We’re looking for...” Makoto began.“Mum?” Keiichi approached the woman. He tugged at the short sleeve of her uniform.The nurse rose her head quickly. By the expression on her face, she was alarmed that any more patients were coming in. To her confusion, it was her son standing in front of her. A moment later, she registered Makoto and Ren’s presence with him.“Keiichi? What’s going on? Why are you here?”Faced with the inevitable questions, the boy retreated into himself again. He desperately sought for the words, and they kept slipping away. And the relief of seeing of his mother at the end of this road soon gave way to the grief for his missing friend. Breath came short, and tears would follow.“Allow us to explain.” Makoto cut in, summoning all of her tact to deliver the lengthy explanation.“I see.” The nurse said. She looked at her son, who still kept his head down so as not to meet her eyes. The woman was equally worried, upset and relieved. But more importantly, she was ashamed of having left her son alone on Christmas Eve, even if it were a situation outside of her control - brought upon by an automobile accident that evening. Thus, what was supposed to be a night of mirth, morphed into something dreadful.“Ijimura-san.” Ren said. “We’d be happy to watch over Keiichi-kun for the remainder of your shift, if needed.”“No. That’s fine.” The woman shook her head. “The worst is behind us tonight in the clinic. I’m very sorry that this happened. You two look like you were having quite the evening.”“It is no problem at all.” Makoto smiled. “We’re just happy that we managed to help Keiichi-kun, if at least a little.”“I’ll make it up to you, Keiichi. I promi-” The nurse trailed off. Her expression changed into confusion as something occurred behind the couple, past the clinic’s glass doors.Ren’s trained eye caught something bright, reflected in Miss Ijimura’s eyes. Something small, white, and fast.“Makoto!” He uttered instinctively.“On it.” Makoto declared abruptly, making for the doors before her partner even began to turn his head.The cadet in training sped out of the clinic, hoping to catch a glimpse of the tiny paleness that just went by. But even in such a dark night, there was no sight of what may be Yumi. Still, Makoto would not give up so easily, not if there was the smallest chance of turning the situation around. The young woman cleared her throat and began to hum, trying to resemble Keiichi’s song as closely as possible. She kept at it, as she slowly skirted the perimetre of the building. And then, a nigh-imperceptible sound, repeating itself in rhythmically: paws.“Yumi-chan?” She called out sweetly. “Here, Yumi-chan.”And there she was, at the turn of a corner: a thing that looked more like a cloud than a dog, small even for a pomeranian. Makoto slowly reached towards her snout to try and gain her trust. The dog eagerly sniffed the ends of her fingers. And all of a sudden, she she lunged and bit her gloved hand.“Damn it!” Makoto kept her hand still so as not to lose the trail. However, the tiny dog had a deceptively strong bite, wrestling the glove off Makoto’s hand.But once she claimed the glove, she did not bother to flee again. Instead she let it go, and stood there looking at Makoto with puny black orbs, tongue hanging out. A dead giveaway to canine thoughts.Makoto decided to take a gamble, by grabbing the glove on the ground and throwing it a short distance away. Without fail, the dog ran for the black biker glove, retrieved it and left it at the young woman’s feet.Minutes later, she returned to the clinic, with a small white pomeranian cradled in her arms. Even now, the four-legged cloud would not let go of the glove in her mouth.“Yumi!” Keiichi practically hopped on the way towards them.“This is she, right?” Makoto asked, desperately hoping for an affirmation.“Yes! Yes!” The boy held on to Yumi, smiling and crying.“Superbly done, Makoto.” Ren smiled brightly at her.“Thanks, Ren.” She responded. “Umm, Ijimura-san. Yumi has all of her vaccines, I hope?”“She does. But do let me take care of that.” The nurse spoke as she sanitised the bite and applied a bandage.“Makoto. Is that one of your gloves?” Ren asked, somewhat amused.“Yes. I think it’ll work for playing fetch. Yumi certainly seemed to like it.” She removed her other glove. “Here, Keiichi. You can have the other one too, just in case.”“Thank you, Makoto-san.” Keiichi said, wiping tears away. “Thank you too, Ren-san.”[ ]10 PM. The couple sat outside stood inside a convenience store, watching the snow beginning to fall.“It sure was lucky you manage to find Yumi-chan earlier. It would be impossible to find her in the snow.” Ren spoke idly, sipping coffee from a paper cup.“Luck was quite whimsical tonight, Ren. I’m just happy Keiichi-kun isn’t outside right now. I would hate to imagine otherwise.” Makoto drank, letting the caffeine soothe her nerves.“Indeed. I really hope he’ll be well.” Before parting earlier, Makoto left her phone number with Keiichi’s mother - a precaution should any problem arise. But even with these concerns, the image lingered in her thoughts. Seeing Keiichi smile and wave goodbye, with Yumi firmly in his arms, and his mother behind him. There were no guarantees, but she was compelled for hope. “I’m sorry to bring this up right now. But it’s a shame that we missed the event. Munehisa-san will be disappointed. He did go through the trouble to get us tickets.”“It’ll be fine.” Ren chuckled. “I’ll work some shifts to make it up to him. In any case, I don’t regret it one bit.”“Neither do I.” His partner leaned her head on his shoulder.Ren pulled out his phone and searched for Ai Kuwabara, picking a song at random for them to listen. Far from the experience that awaited them that night, this imperfect rendition was no less precious. Even in the enclosed, cumbersome space of the convenience store, Kuwabara’s piano was intoxicating. Ren held Makoto’s hand as they stood, delicately brushing his finger over the bandage.“You saved that kid’s Christmas, Makoto.”“Hush now.” Makoto blushed vividly, holding his hand tighter. “Let’s just enjoy this, love.”