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“Is it justice to forcibly change a person’s personality?”
Ren stood behind the counter at Leblanc, hands moving nimbly as they prepared coffee. He stared blankly on a stain, thinking ah, I need to clean that.
“Steal your heart.. hmm, it all paints a very distorted picture of the truth with all the glitter and glamour…”
Ren set the coffee in front of the customer, who barely noticed, and got to scrubbing the counter.
The hum of the coffee machine, the thrum of rain outside, Futaba tapping away on her laptop in a corner. Soft music was tinkling from the speakers he had gotten help to install.
And Akechi Goro monologuing.
“People love a hero, draped in silk, appearing before them bathed in light and saving them. Sure, it’s an age old tale, but it is in that fantasy that they find solace. Ah, but there was that quote, yes? Never meet your heroes?”
The bell jingled, Ren cast a look and was meet with Ryuji dripping water everywhere. An involuntary smile broke out across his face.
“For our heroes, they’re never the same in rea-“
“Yuji!”, Ren called. “Hold on a second!” The droning that had kept Ren company for what felt like years abruptly stopped as he quickly jogged upstairs to get some extra clothes and a towel. Ren hurried downstairs, haphazardly slung the towel over his best friend and started patting his blond locks dry.
Ryuji beamed at him, slightly lowering his head.
“Renren! I missed ya, my ma had to head in for work so I thought I’d stop by but it started raining suuuuper heavily.”
Ren softly mussed up his best friends hair, watching him chatter on. Futaba and Morgana were probably making gagging motions behind him, but so what if he was absolutely smitten with his puppy-like best friend?
As Ryuji left to properly dry himself and switch clothes in the bathroom, Ren slid a bag of snacks to Futaba. It was previously kept hidden in the kitchen, and kept for occasions just like this.
“Oh mannn, you usually roll a nat 20 in coolness but when mister golden retriever comes by...”
“Gremlin-san, take pity on this foolish mortal. I even brought your highness a gift.”
Futaba all but cackled as she sifted through her newly acquired bag, “very well, you big softie. Proceed.”
Morgana’s intense blue eyes focused on his, making Ren whisper “you’ll get sushi later, okay?”. Appeased and at peace once more, the cat closed it’s eyes. Ren softly ran a hand through Morgana’s fur, an achingly soft smile spreading across his face.
“I must apologise, Amamiya-kun. Perhaps I should take my leave?”
Oh. There was that. Well if Akechi was offering.. but the look Futaba cast him made Ren hold in a sigh and change plans.
“Please don’t leave on my behalf. You haven’t even finished your coffee.”
A thin smile that didn’t reach the detectives eyes appeared. “Very well, I shall continue to impose on you.”
Just then Ryuji came strolling out, now dry, holding a bag with his clothes.
“Renren, what d’ya wanna eat today? It’s the perfect weather for good food and a movie…”
Ren moved behind the counter, considering the question while making hot chocolate for Ryuji and Futaba, while said two started arguing about... something.
He caught the tail-end of their conversation while rounding the counter as he slid the beverages over.
“… which is why you should watch an anime.”
“Sick argument, still wrong.”
“Why you..! You didn’t even listen to a word a said!”
“Big words for a tiny geek.”
Ryuji let out a grunt of pain, probably having being kicked or stomped on. He cast a sad look Ren’s way, hoping for help. Ren simply patted his head, shaking his head no. Life sure wasn’t easy when you deliberately stepped on land mines all by yourself, all the time, continuously.
“You trying to get help from your nerdy little boyfriend? You know my sister rights go first though?” Futaba added, smirking at him.
While Ryuji’s ears turned red, he pushed on. “You keep talking about your rights, you sure that applies to midgets?”. He copied the detective princes thinking pose, adding in a conspirational voice: “would you have half-rights because you’re half-sized?”
Futaba shook her head. “Fool. I have you on tape acting up. What’s your big plan now?”
“I plead the fifth?”
Akechi turned around in his seat, adapting his thinking pose seemingly without having noticed Ryuji was shortly before badly imitating it. “What an interesting conversation. Haha, I do have to add that Sakamoto-kun doesn’t need to plead the fifth because he isn’t being interrogated by the proper authorities!”
An awkward silence appeared.
And continued.
And stayed some more.
Ah, shit.
Ren was just about to add something when Morgana lifted his head, questionably calling out “m-meow…?”. A beat passed without anyone saying anything. Ren stared at Morgana, and Morgana closed his eyes with his ears laying flat before promptly bolting upstairs.
Ryuji choked on air. Futaba slammed her hands against her mouth, clenching her eyes shut as her frame shook.
“Ah, was it something I said? As I thought, I should take my leave. Have a nice day, Sakamoto-kun, Sakura-kun.” Akechi was already standing up, a blush sitting high on his cheeks. “I’ll see you again, Amamiya-kun.”
The door jingled shut behind him as Ryuji and Futaba burst out laughing, with the blond almost falling off his seat.
Ren shook his head. “You two are incorrigible. You force me to be polite and listen to him for hours, and you guys get to ruin it just like that?” He got up and started cleaning where the detective was sitting, adding “Monamona really came in clutch, what a champ.”