candybox | OPEN POST: Makoto Niijima

[She lets out a quiet laugh, setting down her cup.]

They're both sweet, so I guess it's fitting. [Him being flustered, and the coffee, that is.] So, um...

[He's getting a little close now that he's leaning on the counter like that, uh oh. Still, she soldiers on.]

I just wanted to clarify... You said that when we're pretending to date, it's not just an act.

[He can't help but smirk at "They're both sweet." Considering how skittish they both were a moment ago, that was actually kind of smooth.

[Then, of course, she asks the question at the heart of the matter ... but somehow, answering it isn't quite as nerve-wracking as it was a moment ago now that the conversation's actually started.]

Well, considering you asked me to so I could help keep an eye on Eiko and Tsukasa, it technically is, but ...

[The grin softens into something a little more genuine.]

I really like the idea, yeah.

I do, too. Well-- maybe you figured that out already.

[She wouldn't have come all this way to talk about it if it were otherwise, but maybe admitting to writing such an embarrassing text with Ren in mind was a final nail in the coffin.]

So, um... You've taught me a lot of things. But there's still more I want to know, so... [Her eyes are lowered to her coffee, and so she forces them up to meet Ren's.] I think this is something we can learn about together.

I had a feeling.

[Even before the text, but, yeah, that made things a whole lot less ambiguous. Either way ... he's really, really happy to see that he'd been right, and this wasn't just going to make things awkward between them.]

I'd like that, though.

I knew I could count on you.

[She lets out a light laugh, trying to remain casual, but her heart is pounding faster in her chest. Closing her eyes, she leans forward a little, hoping he'll reciprocate.]

Always.

[Her eyes drift shut, and his pulse quickens ... but he closes his eyes and leans the rest of the way over the counter to kiss her.]

[His lips are warm, and soft. The kiss, at least on her part, is inexperienced, a lingering trace of coffee on her mouth, and she finds herself gripping the edge of the countertop before relaxing. Something about this just feels right, like she'd waited a long time for this without realising.]

[There's a bit more experience on his end - a little more confidence in the slow, gentle rhythm that he sets.

[He knows what she means, though. About this just feeling right. He's not exactly in the most comfortable position in the world, leaning over the bar with the workspace behind the counter pushing into his stomach, but it's so easy to stay there - lingering in the kiss until he needs to break for air.

[When he does lean back, he doesn't go far.]

I could get used to this.

M-me too. [She's breathless, smiling, as they break off the kiss. But she doesn't lean back, either, staying close to Ren. There's butterflies in her stomach, and she feels lightheaded and giddy at the same time.]

Um... Should we close up for the night? And go upstairs?

[She wants to be alone with him, with no interruptions.]

[For a brief second, Ren's eyes widen slightly. It was ... more forward than he'd been expecting from Makoto -- and faster, too -- but the surprise fades quickly.]

Your sister's not going to be worried?

[It isn't an attempted dodge. The smile playing at the corners of his mouth and the glint in his eye makes it clear that he wants her to stay. But he knows that her home life is as complicated as his is -- if not more so. He just wants to be sure that coming home late won't cause any problems for her.]

[The smile slides from her face and she shakes her head, looking down at her fists bunched in her lap.]

No. She didn't even come home tonight, and when I texted her to let her know where I was going, I didn't get a reply. I guess she's really busy right now, so...

[She's trying not to sound bitter about it. But she really was lonely, and frustrated, which started the whole conversation with Eiko in the first place.]

Well, she knows where I am if she does get concerned, anyway. But with all of you... I think that's where I belong right now. [And especially, as it turns out, with Ren.]

[She might not see it with her gaze turned down, but Ren's smile fades away just as quickly.

[Given what Makoto had told him about Sae, he knew that was a possible answer, and right now, seeing the pain and frustration on her face ... he's almost sorry that he asked.

[He's sure that Sae cares about Makoto deep down, but the reality is that Makoto gets put under mountains of pressure. She gets left alone at home, sometimes for days on end. She gets blamed for things she can't possibly control.

[It isn't fair to her, and she's got every right to be upset about the way that things are. Even though she isn't alone anymore - even though she has him, Ann, Ryuji, Yusuke, Mona, Futaba, Haru - she has every reason to feel that way.]

Hey.

[Ren speaks softly, trying to coax her attention upwards so that he can see her eyes. At the same time, he leans forward, reaching over the counter and placing one of his hands over one of hers.]

I've got you. [He smiles, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.] We all do.

Edited 2020-05-19 00:39 (UTC)

[She looks at the hand on hers, and places her other hand over his, smiling softly. Just that little gesture is enough to ease those feelings of loneliness and frustration.]

Yeah. I know you do. I don't know what I'd do without any of you... but especially you, Ren.

[Her cheeks tinge a little again at the admission, but it's the honest truth.]

[He can tell. He can hear it in her voice, he can see it in her eyes, and it brings this warmth bubbling up in his chest that washes away the discomfort from a moment ago.

[His smile start to return, slowly working its way back across his face as he just ... lingers there for a moment, before giving her hand another squeeze.]

That goes both ways. You know that, right?

Right. [She can feel tears springing in her eyes, and she reaches up to brush them away quickly, still smiling.]

Sorry, I'm just really happy. I never guessed things would end up like this.

[A short, breathy laugh escapes. It's not directed at anyone - he isn't laughing at her - he just ... he really knows how she feels.]

Me neither.

[Being sent here, away from his friends, his parents ... it felt like everyone had written him off.

[He didn't think he'd find people here that he cared about, and who cared about him.

[He didn't think he'd meet someone like her.

[He gives her hand one more quick squeeze.]

Let me go lock up, okay?

Then I'm all yours.

[A thought that makes his heart beat a little faster.]

Okay.

[She smiles, squeezing his hand in return, and finishes her coffee while he goes to close up. It feels like a weight's been lifted off her shoulders, somehow, in the same way as when she first made a contract with Johanna.

Of course, now she has all new nerves to worry about with how to navigate a relationship (gosh, that's a scary word) from here, but she trusts him.]

[He's feeling those same nerves fluttering in his chest ... but they're a lot quieter than they were before.

[Maybe they'll be back later on, when they've gone upstairs and they're alone in his room, but now that they've talked? Now that everything's out in the open, and they've made the decision to start that relationship?

[He just feels good. Content and relieved as he quickly rinses out the chemex and crosses the room to the front door.

[The sign flips over to 'CLOSED', the lock clicks shut, and he makes his way back across LeBlanc, wordlessly extending his hand with a playful smile.

[Is it a little bit extra? Absolutely. But hopefully it gets a laugh out of her.]

[That does earn a laugh from Makoto, seeing a bit of theatre that's more Joker than Ren -- though of course, they're really just one and the same. She takes his hand, blush deepening as she plays along.]

I didn't know you could be such a gentleman.

[An invitation to perhaps show her a little more.]

When the mood takes me.

[He replies with a jokingly understated shrug of his shoulders.]

I have to do something about that delinquent reputation, right?

Maybe you just need a little help from the student council president.

[She laughs. People are going to be surprised if gossip spreads that they're dating, that's for sure.]

[Oh, the rumours will be flying, there's zero doubt about that.]

You sure people won't just think she's fallen for the bad boy?

[He cocks head to one side, arching his eyebrows above his glasses as if the idea is just utterly scandalous.]

Well, maybe she has.

[She gives a coy smile, before she grins and breaks character.]

Seriously, though, people can gossip all they like. The only opinion I care about is yours.

[The playful edge to Ren's smile softens at that - quite a bit actually.

[He knows what that means coming from her, and it's hard not to ... well, melt just a little at that.

[So, yeah. He breaks character too, and the hand holding Makoto's adjusts, shifting so that he can interlace his fingers between hers.]

Let 'em talk, then. They're doing it anyway, this would actually be a nice change of pace.

Yeah. [The feeling of Ren's fingers laced with hers is so simple, but nice. She's a little shy again when she suggests:]

Can we... go upstairs? I doubt anyone will be looking through the windows at this time of night, but...

[It still wouldn't hurt to have a little privacy.]

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