Work Text
Monday, July 24: Evening
Café Leblanc
Ren Amamiya leaned back as a satisfied smile stretched from one ear to the other. He’d envisioned this day for months, now—the day he’d return to Tokyo and reunite with the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. Although Ren’s imagination was vivid for a man his age, it simply paled in comparison to the scenes unfolding before him: the happiness lighting up his friends’ faces as they savored hot pot, the warm coffee Makoto had brewed just for him, and now, the warm breeze filling the cafe as Futaba returned with a handful of bags hanging from her arms.“Took you long enough, Four-Eyes,” Ryuji jeered. “What’d you and Boss have to do at home, anyway? Binge watch Two Piece?”Futaba pouted, strands of orange hair stringing over her glasses. “Give me a break, Skull! I was only gone for twenty minutes!”“For twenty minutes, that’s an awful lot of stuff you have,” Ann said.“Ren hasn’t been here in a while, so we’re going all in tonight!”Haru faced the ginger girl in interest. “And how would that be, Futaba-chan?”Futaba sneakily moved behind the serving counter and quickly emptied each of her bags. A motley crew of items plopped on the narrow table one by one: plastic cups, a half-empty bottle of whiskey, cases of alcopops, and six liters of orange soda.“Wait a minute…” Ann’s blue eyes widened in shock. “Is that…?”Futaba beckoned to the counter with glee. “Yep! It’s a big ol’ booze stash! Hope you guys like it!”“Where’d you even find all this?” Ryuji asked.“Great question, Skull. Normally, Sojiro keeps his booze locked up tight. But one day, I snuck off with the key to the liquor cabinet and got to work. Two hours later, I 3D-printed my own secret copy. Perfect for a nightcap at two a.m., right? Mwehehe!”“Futaba… you know better than this.” Makoto’s voice embodied the tone of her older sister. “None of us can legally drink yet.”“Oh, I know. But that's what makes it fun!” Futaba’s mischievous grin grew even wider. “We’re all gonna try alcohol sooner or later, so we might as well do it right now!”“Besides, we're the only ones here,” Ryuii said. “It's not like anyone’s gonna know.”“Even if we were to avoid detection, underage drinking will spark additional quandaries,” Yusuke said in a dispassionate tone. “If one of us enjoys the taste and the effects of the drinks, it will only urge us to partake in it more often. Sooner or later, we risk a run in with the law.”“You all have great points, everyone.” Haru ran a hand through her hair. “I’ve had a couple drinks with my family over the years. My father wanted me to know my boundaries and not feel pressured to drink later in life.”“True,” Morgana said. “At the end of the day, though, I think the final choice should rest with our leader.”Ren thought for a few moments, shifting his glasses forwards when he had decided on his answer.“If anyone wants to try alcohol, it should be their decision. No one should feel pressured to drink so they can have fun. Is that fair, Futaba?”“Sounds pog to me!”“Let’s be real,” Morgana said. “If anyone finds out, it'll definitely be because Skull couldn't keep his mouth shut.”Ryuji balled his fist in annoyance, scowling down towards Morgana defiantly. “Put a sock in it, Cat!”“Feisty today, aren’t we?” Morgana stretched out his back and moseyed over to Futaba. “In all seriousness, as long as you splash some whiskey in my milk, I won't complain.”“Consider it done, Mona!” Futaba shouted, lifting a blue-colored bottle into the air. “Now, who wants an alcopop?”“An alco… pop?” Haru asked.“It’s like a soda, but with booze in it instead of caffeine. I’ve always wanted to see how they taste in real life. They’re all the rage on the Internet, you know.”Ryuji threw his hands in the air. “Wait, you've never drank before? How would you know they're any good, then?!”Futaba propped her hands on her hips. “You know Scarlet Steer? The energy drinks my favorite streamer likes? It's the hard version of that, so it’s gotta be good!”“Sweet!” Ryuji said with a smile. “I'm more of a PopSun fan, but I might as well give it a shot, too.”The blond extended his hand towards the counter expectantly, only to feel the sting of Futaba slapping the back of his hand.“The hell?! What was that for?”She stuck her tongue out, clearly annoyed. “I get dibs! I’m the one who brought the goods!”“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.”Futaba snaked in front of her friends and popped the cap from her alcopop theatrically, raising the bottle high into the air.“Feast your eyes, everyone! Your friendly, neighborhood Oracle is about to have her first drink ever!”She exhaled dramatically before thrusting her head back and drinking with tremendous gusto. The seconds ticked by as the citrus-haired hacker polished off a third of the drink without breaking a sweat. Futaba then parted from the bottle, letting out a refreshed sigh as her face took on a playful expression.“And that's how it's done!”“So, how's it feel to have had your first drink?” Morgana asked.“My tummy’s all warm and fuzzy, I'm kinda flushed, and… woah.” Futaba’s eyes widened as her face was caught somewhere between surprise and enthusiasm. “I feel really relaxed and stuff, too! This is awesome!”“I take it you’re liking your drink, Futaba-chan?” Ann said.Futaba beckoned to the others excitedly. “You betcha! Now, who wants to join me?”“Come on, you losers!” Futaba shouted, setting down a half-filled bottle next to a stack of four empty ones. “More Jokewhip! More Jokewhip!”Ryuji slumped back into the booth, eyes fixed on the ceiling in disbelief. His fingers white-knuckled around a cup of whiskey and soda.“M-More?! For real?!”“Mwehehe! What’s the matter, Skull? Can’t hang with the pros?”Ryuji gritted his teeth. “No way, man! I'm just getting warmed up is all!”“Oh, you mean, the last five games?” Futaba teased. “All of which I won?”“And drinking like a distillery is going to get you warmed up… how?” Ann asked, setting down her soda.“It helps me lock in!” Ryuji insisted. “You’ll see! Just start up the game already!”Futaba clicked a button on her controller, setting up another round of the Thieves’ favorite party game. As she, Ryuji, and the others prepared their latest roasts and sarcastic responses, Morgana perked up, having finished the last of his milk-and-whiskey bowl.“You gonna have another drink, Joker?” he asked.“I'm good,” Ren said. “A small one was enough for me.”Unlike the others, Ren had decided to forgo this round of Jokewhip in favor of seeing who would win in the epic battle for first place. A smile soon emerged on his face as Ryuji—who had chosen “Mike Oxlong” for his screen name—suggested “the seventh inning shit” as a baseball tradition he’d like to see. As the game continued, Ren became progressively engrossed, coming to understand the many ways the different Thieves chose to display their festive side. Just before the game’s conclusion, however, an unusual sensation quickly captured his attention: the gentle tap of Makoto’s fingers against his shoulder.“Ren, does Futaba seem a little… off to you?” she asked.Ren stifled a trademark laugh. “Of course. She's wasted.”“More than just that,” Makoto insisted. “I haven’t noticed her submitting any new answers for a couple of minutes now. That’s out of the ordinary, especially seeing how loud she was just a minute ago.”Ren’s eyes found Futaba through the dim light of the cafe. Instead of the carefree self she was earlier that night, she seemed preoccupied, swaying in her chair with a pensive expression on her face. As the final round’s scores came back, and Ryuji claimed victory, she remained unusually mellow, in spite of his excited hollering as he pumped his fists excitedly into the air.“Hell yeah! About fucking time, too!”“A true upset by Skull, here,” Haru said.“You know what, guys? This calls for a shot!” Ryuji raised his cup triumphantly. “Hey, Futaba. As runner-up, how about you fetch it for me?”Futaba leaned back in her chair, saying nothing as she left the game running on the credits screen.“Uh… Futaba? Anyone home? The game's over, dude.”She sat up gingerly, grimacing as she did so. “Give me a minute, Skull. I gotta get my bearings, first.”Haru’s expression softened. “Futaba-chan, are you okay? You look really pale.”“I'm… I'm fine,” Futaba said through clenched teeth. “I’m just feeling hot right now.”Makoto whispered into her lover’s ear. “Ren, something's definitely going on with her. I’m going to help her out.”The brunette made her way over and kneeled down softly to meet Futaba’s eyes. Makoto then took Futaba’s hand in her own, helping her to her feet and walking her towards the bathroom several steps away. The instant the two women disappeared from view, Ryuji’s sense of victory surged even higher.“Ha! Looks like Four-Eyes couldn't hang after all!” he boasted. “Looks like I've got this night in the bag!”Morgana looked up and leaped straight into Ann's lap. “Oh, really? If you're such a badass, Skull, why don't you catch up with Oracle, then? Given your size, it would probably take three more shots to get you on even keel.”“Bet!” Ryuji sloppily poured the whiskey into his cup, ready to prove his victory to the world. “Here's to Jokewhip, and to Ren-Ren!”A golden spark twinkled in Morgana’s eye. “Trust me, Lady Ann. Ryuji will be down for the count after this one.”Ryuji grimaced slightly as his drink ran dry, prompting him to slam his now-empty glass down in celebration.“All right!” he shouted. “Now that's what I'm talking about!”In a matter of seconds, however, the winds of Ryuji’s fortune abruptly changed. The room, once stationary, began to spin inside the blond’s head. A high-pitched whine rang in his ears, like when he listened to his pump-up music much too loud. As he stumbled back towards Ann, he lost his footing, half-falling into the booth next to her as Morgana jumped clear to avoid being crushed.“Sorry…” he muttered as he came face-to-face with a disappointed Ann. “I locked in too hard.”“Joker…” Futaba muttered, her body shuddering weakly as she remained bent over the toilet bowl. “You're really glad you didn't show up two minutes ago. I totally barfed my guts out.”A concerned expression slowly formed on Ren’s face. “Are you feeling better, at least?”“A little, but I'm still super dizzy.”Makoto gently reached around Futaba’s head, pulling her glasses off and resting them on the floor beside her. “There. How’s that?”“Things are still spinning, but my eyes aren’t nearly as sore now. Thanks, Queen.”As Makoto and Ren continued tending to their orange-haired friend, Yusuke made his leave from the party and joined the three of them. He kneeled down behind his lover, his hand gently massaging his girlfriend’s back.“Futaba. I’m right here with you.”“Sorry, Inari,” she croaked in a meek voice as she turned to face him. “I know I way overdid it.”Yusuke gently reached out to hold Futaba’s hand. “Shall I take you home? Resting there would help you recover, especially after you—”Futaba shook her head. “Boss would kill me if he found out about his stash being gone. Let alone if he sees me like this…”“In that case, perhaps you could join me at Kosei.” Yusuke brought a hand to his chin. “I understand that only boys are allowed in my dorm. But it would be better than you drawing your father's ire.”“Perhaps there's another answer, Yusuke,” Makoto said. “I know you care a lot about Futaba, but I don't want you getting in trouble for trying to help out.”“Queen’s right.” Futaba wiped her reddened eyes with her sleeve. “That, and I don't think a train ride is a good idea when I'm still pretty queasy…”“Futaba could always stay here for the night,” Ren suggested. “Makoto and I will make sure she does okay.”“Are you sure about that, Ren?”“It's for the best. Futaba won't have to move anywhere, and she can be safe here and avoid getting in trouble. How does that sound?”“Given our current circumstances, I do believe it is our best course of action,” Yusuke said. “What say you, Futaba?”She nodded her head in agreement, a slight amount of relief present on her face.“While we’re at it, we should also let the others know what’s going on.” Makoto straightened out her jacket. “It’s not the best idea to continue partying when one of us isn’t feeling very well.”Yusuke stood up once more. “I concur. I will update the others on our situation.”“Our cab’s waiting for us,” Ann said, holding Ryuji’s hand as they stood up together. “We’ll see you guys later.”“Later…” Ryuji muttered, his gait uneven as his girlfriend slowly eased him out the door.Haru passed behind the counter, swinging the grocery bags Futaba brought over her arms. “I’ll give my chauffeur the rest of the alcohol once I’m home, Mako-chan. He’ll dispose of it for us.”“Thanks, Haru.” Makoto smiled lightly. “You’re a big help.”“I can also take Mona-chan for the night. That way, Oracle can make sure she’ll get some rest.”Morgana leaped up onto Haru’s shoulder, clearly enthused. “Sounds good to me! Plush king bed and fatty tuna, here we come!”Two short blasts on a horn immediately caught the auburn-haired girl’s attention.“Is that your ride?” Ren asked.“Yes.” Haru turned back to wave to her friends. “Goodnight, everyone. I’ll see you tomorrow.”Once Noir had departed, Ren and Makoto helped Futaba up the stairs and into the space which Ren used to call home. In short order, the modest bed was torn down and ready for the team’s sleepy and now-inebriated navigator.“There,” Ren said, gingerly tucking Futaba under the covers. “How’s that?”“It’s… really comfy,” she replied.“Glad to hear.” He flashed an inviting smile. “Anything you want to change about it?”“I could use some more pillows. I normally sleep on two of them when I’m back home.” Futaba’s face flushed red with embarrassment. “Also, could you get me a third one while you’re at it? I usually snuggle up with a body pillow at night…”Makoto sifted through the clutter in the attic, returning a few minutes later with pillows of just the right size for Futaba’s small frame. The brunette smiled pleasantly as she propped them in just the right places, making sure her friend would rest as easily as her situation allowed.“There you are,” Ren said as he sat down on the side of the bed opposite Makoto. “I bet you’re comfy with all those next to you.”“Yeah, a lot.” Futaba gently relaxed further into the bed. “Hey, Joker? Queen?”“Hmm?”Futaba put one arm around each of her friends, pulling both of them into a sudden but tender embrace.“Futaba, you all right?” Makoto asked.“Yeah. It’s just… you guys are so good to me, you know?”Ren smirked. “I’m glad.”Futaba’s grip relented when the sound of gentle footsteps traveled up into the attic, followed by the blue-haired man who she called her beloved.“I apologize if I am interrupting something,” Yusuke said. “If possible, I would like to speak with Futaba before I depart.”Makoto adjusted her headband. “No, you’re fine. Take as long as you need.”“Sleep well, Futaba,” Ren said, standing back on his feet. “We’ll see you in the morning.”“Nighty-night.”Makoto and Ren returned to the main floor, settling into the booth closest to the stairs. No sooner did they take a seat, Ren sensed his girlfriend’s demeanor become more solemn.“Makoto?” he asked. “What’s eating you?”She hunched over, a somber expression written on her face. “It’s… it’s nothing. I'm just tired.”Ren gently set his arm on Makoto’s shoulder. “You don't have to hide from me, you know. I'm all ears if you want to talk about something.”She slowly relaxed into her boyfriend’s comforting presence, allowing her feelings to make themselves known at last.“Perhaps if I'd been more forceful when Futaba brought out the drinks, we could have avoided all this. This was supposed to be your night, Ren. You deserved a break after all those months of hard work back home. Not babysitting the other Thieves when they partied too much. I wanted to make things easier for you, even if it was just for a little while.”“Was the party we had tonight your idea?” he asked.“Yes. The rest of us tried our best to keep hanging out once the new school year started. Unfortunately, our commitments have made regular hangouts hard to come by. So, when we knew when you’d be visiting, I posed the idea for the surprise party.” Makoto turned away. “You deserved a proper homecoming, Ren—not a Phantom Thieves fraternity party. I’m sorry.”Makoto closed her eyes, a feeling of defeat filling her to the core. However, this depressing thought was soon interrupted as Ren placed his hand under her jaw lovingly.“Look at me, Makoto.”The brunette blushed visibly and opened her eyes, clearly embarrassed. Even after several months together, his touch always worked like magic on her.“I got to spend tonight with the people I care about most. With you. It may not have been the most put-together, but it was great where it counted. And even that is enough for me. Knowing you were thinking of me, that you cared about the team enough to set up this party, is really sweet. And when things got out of hand, you thought of the others long before yourself. Just like you always do. Futaba is in good hands right now, and it's all thanks to you.”“Ren, I… wow.” She blushed deeper, if such a thing were possible. “You always see the best in me, even when I don’t see it for myself.”“You deserve to view yourself as you truly are: a dedicated woman with a great heart. Not to mention, with motherly instincts that are beyond your years.”“I’m so glad you see that side of me, Ren. So many people are always asking for more, even when they know I’m doing all that I can give. To know that you and the others always see the real me… it’s amazing.”“Of course.” Ren leaned in and gently pressed his lips to her cheek. “I love you, Makoto.”She held him closer, nuzzling her head in the crook of his neck.“I love you, too.”Ren and Makoto held each other like this for a while, savoring the warmth of their shared closeness. In the unforgiving and demanding world they lived in, they were always their greatest respite. No matter how strong their adversity became, they could always depend on each other for strength—even when strength meant being vulnerable when the world demanded emotions to be kept at arms’ length. As long as she had Ren, Makoto knew, everything would eventually be okay.“Now then,” Ren said, gently whispering in his girlfriend’s ear. “Why don’t we check on Futaba before we turn in for the night?”Makoto nodded, joining Ren and tiptoeing carefully up the stairs and into the attic. Once they rounded the corner, both of them were greeted by an unexpected sight that filled their hearts with joy: Yusuke and Futaba snuggling gently in bed, savoring the warmth of their embrace in the calm of the night. Almost instinctually, a shared thought arose for both Ren and Makoto, cementing something their orange-haired friend had said many months before.“We truly are Team Mom and Dad, aren’t we?”