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This was supposed to be a cordial arrangement. How did it ever come to this?
Just a month ago, Akechi met a fairly quaint and unassuming young lady who just happened to be at the same television station as he was. Whilst their goals were completely different - his being a live guest appearance and her being part of a student-oriented after-school activity, never could he imagine shaking hands with her would lead to…well, unofficially dating her. Ren Amamiya was her name, and she went to Shujin.
Considering how many fangirls swamped the both of them at a cafe in his usual haunts one time. The world quietly came to understand - Goro Akechi had a girlfriend already. Despite retaining complete professional courtesies, Ren took it seriously.
It helped dissuade even his potential schoolmates from approaching him. Nevertheless, however, fan letters came professing infatuations by stuffing his locker full of mail. Sometimes, he’d get jealous letters expressing discontent from men - politely asking he refrain from ever interacting with their girlfriends, too.
Per Akechi's usual purges of his locker on a day-to-day basis, one letter came with a distinct coffee fragrance, mixed in with some gentle spices reminiscent of curry. It was the only letter he could afford to read, knowing full well who it was from.
And now, after reading it, Ren had declared that she wanted him to take her out on a date at the summer festival coming up, and to meet her at their usual spot. He had another television interview around the same time - and perhaps, simply because they hadn’t been able to see each other in a while, he cancelled his public appearance at the very last minute, and shut his phone off.
As the afternoon turned into the early evening hours, Akechi arrived at Shibuya station and headed his way towards the main walkway. He didn’t know what else to wear aside from his summer uniform, and all things considered, he’d probably miss their meetup if he came back home to wear his yukata.
A part of him hoped no girl would approach him and ask to be taken to the festival by his hand. The absolute downside of having an identity known to the public, of course, was keeping a low profile.
To boot, the station was way too hot. At least 32 degrees celsius and climbing, even with the sun down. It probably didn’t help that so many people were flocking to Shibuya as is. Fortunately for Akechi though, he didn’t have to bask in the sweltering heat. He felt a gentle breeze blow into his neck, just to catch his attention. Having been caught by surprise, he smacked the back of his neck and turned around - right into the figure of Ren herself.
“Gotcha.” Ren sweetly chimed with a wide grin. “Hopefully I didn’t take too long?”
If it were anybody else, Akechi would’ve likely marked them for observation later. But it was her, and instead, he felt a soft flush as he subconsciously examined Ren’s yukata - distinctly black with the occasional white and red traditional floral patterning. Her hair was in a neat bun in contrast with her usual messy hair, and this time, she wasn’t wearing any of her signature frames.
“Ah, hello.” Akechi softly spoke as he politely bowed, trailing some of his fingers behind his neck, touching the uncomfortable drip of sweat down from his hair. “I only just got here, and it’s very distressing it's this hot…”
Softly, Ren gave him an affirming hum and twirled around. “How do I look?”
Akechi gave it some pause as his lips quivered. Insulting her would be utterly disrespectful, yet being completely polite might come off as too strong.
I could wax poetic for how much she’s the mark of Japanese beauty, but…
It was the top compliment he wanted to give, and it was true to an extent, especially considering how her yukata paired well with her deeply smokey colored eyes that glinted better under lights.
But that was something he couldn’t quite admit, only nervously swallowing and chuckling. “Quite pleasing, I must admit.”
“Only that? Is that so?” Ren smirked, tilting her head to the side. “What do you like about it?”
There were more pressing matters to consider, such as the fact the longer he’d stayed here the more likely he would’ve been spotted. He didn’t want that, and thus Akechi gently tugged on Ren’s sleeve and helped her along. “Let’s discuss this at the venue, shall we?” He said, still unaware he was blushing.
“It’s my nape, isn’t it?” Ren giggled, rushing ahead just to show off the back of her neck even more. “Are you one of those guys, Akechi-kun?” She asked, almost pressing her back into him. “The fireworks aren’t even starting, you know. Tell me what you like.”
Still, he did not respond, only halting in his tracks. Softly, she gasped until Ren lightly blushed. “Or, maybe…you’re imagining what I look like underneath all this?” Another giggle, just before Ren pushed herself off him and twirled around again. “Maybe all your reliance on coffee and curry just means you want to see me more?”
Clicking his tongue, Akechi turned his cheek and stood up straight, not looking at her lest she tease him further. “I’m wildly curious, what provoked you to proclaim these things? Your heart can be a little too carefree sometimes, you know?” He chuckled to himself, sighing. “Is this a date or an interrogation?”
“It could be both.” Ren smugly said, extending her hand out - enough for Akechi to reach out and attempt to grab, but she pulled back temporarily. “Maybe I just like hearing your thoughts. Did Detective Akechi ever deduce that, I wonder?” Another giggle escaped before her hand stretched out again, and this time she had no intention of pulling it back. Hand in hand, Akechi spent some time interlocking their fingers together, walking past tourists, couples, and other passersby on the way to the venue.
Street food lined the event area alongside a brilliant display of lanterns as far as the eye could even see. Taiko drums beat, performers chanted, the ambience in general shifted from a bustling city into a truly festive outing. So much so, Akechi was glad they came early, lest crowd sizes swamp the venue and reduce foot traffic to a snail’s pace.
Ren stopped over at a throwing darts game near the center, peering over at the prizes in question. Pop all the balloons, win anything from the top shelf. In came Akechi, who ended up peering at the prizes himself. “Anything catching your eye?” He asked, gently glancing back down towards Ren’s figure. Almost as if a light had ignited within him, he acknowledged it and impishly smirked. “Perhaps I could try my hand.”
She said nothing, only pointing up to the very top of the display - pointing directly at a Black Frost plushie. Without questioning it, Akechi stepped up to the plate, raising his hand up. “I suppose, if it’s for you, of course.” He affirmed, smirk curling into a smile as he was handed six darts.
“How should I go about this…” Akechi muttered to himself, lining up the first dart with his left arm.
“As you would,” Ren chimed in again, brushing up against him.
“As I would…?” Akechi repeated, maintaining steady sightlines. “Care to elaborate?”
“Like a detective.” She giggled again, sticking parts of her tongue out. “Come on, Akechi, It’s not that hard!”
…What the hell does she even mean?
He already lost focus, blinked a few times. “I beg your pardon, but perhaps you meant --”
He felt a soft smack on his arm from her fist punching him. “I know that you know what I know. So go, you know?”
It was best he did not ask. Suffice to say, if Ren was around, it was best he hold his tongue on it unless she wanted to bicker his ear off. The only way to get her to ease up was to not hold back. Impressions mattered after all - if he wasn’t at his A-game, even more rumors would spread that a girl by his side was holding him down instead.
One dart landed squarely against the balloon, the rest, despite his best efforts, were either close enough that he was for certain they popped, or they had pierced only one balloon. By the end of it, he only popped two-thirds of the balloons. Slacking his shoulders, he exhaled, feeling somewhat disappointed. “Regretably, I did not know.”
How embarrassing…
“Let me try.” Ren beckoned to the booth attendee for a second attempt, and they gave her the same darts. It would take a few minutes to reset the balloons. In the meanwhile, Akechi leaned up against the pillar and fanned himself, up until he felt an arm coil around his shoulder and a soft pair of lips peck his cheek. “Could you be a dear and find some snacks for us?” Ren asked politely before smirking. “Your pick, of course.”
Propping his chin, Akechi gave it some thought as he scanned the shops again. Takoyaki sounded nice. But then there was cotton candy as well, or perhaps shaved ice that could cool them down…could ramune also work? Nevertheless, he set off and explored the stalls. What about chilled dango, or even dango-flavored milk? Something cold, but not too much.
He took a spot lining up for something light and refreshing, at least before they dived into more. Nothing between them was in a rush, after all - the whole night could be theirs, or however long Ren wished to be here, and whatever he could feed her would surely be up to her standards.
As he took up position behind another couple with their inability to keep their hands off of each other, the thought mere moments ago gave him pause. He never quite fantasized about feeding Ren before, much less anybody else - and it almost made his heart shudder in a way he wasn’t quite certain how to parse properly. The more he pondered upon it - seeing her soft, homely smile at him for any small thing…
“Sir?” The vendor cashier called out to him, beckoning. “You’re up next! Please don't hold up the line!”
That disruption shook him out of that mentality, fleeting as it might’ve been. This was a professional courtesy. No more, no less. It was best he not consider such things.
Inevitably, Akechi returned back to the game booth, bringing back two bottles of original lemon-lime flavored ramune and a candy apple - just in time to witness Ren expertly throw the dart with such precision, she managed to curve enough to blow up two balloons and land somewhere out of the intended dart zone. She had won.
Because of course she did. As Ren took possession of Black Frost in her arms, her eyes lit up brightly once Akechi came back. “Goro! Goro-kun, look!” Her arms extended out, almost shoving the plushie into his face. “He’s so cute!” She gleefully cried, squeezing the plushie only to interject herself. “I mean, not as cute as you, but granted!”
That wasn’t what got to him. In some ways, he knew Ren would win if she ever put her mind into something - she’d done it before when he took her out for a game of pool at Penguin Sniper and the ensuing game of darts she partook in, even if he was holding back for her sake.
No, what shocked Akechi more was the fact Ren called him by his first name…
That thought from standing in line for drinks crept back up to him again, fluttering heart and all. The only thing he could do was give her his signature smile with his eyes closed, feeling his hand bounce up and down with Ren gripping his hand. In time, they made a quick swap - the ramune and candy apple in exchange for Akechi to be holding onto the plushie in her stead.
Akechi slightly stammered, rubbing the back of his neck again. “H-here we are…as you requested. I only picked ramune because, well…there’s a lot more ahead of us, wouldn’t you say?”
Yet another embarrassment. He hardly ever knew how to talk to a woman outside of a business setting, and that alone was a complete failure on his end. Sae wasn’t exactly the best speaking subject considering her workaholic nature - and any invitations for her to soften up were met with either getting shot down or something he couldn’t bear.
And in comes Ren, who seemingly only existed to get underneath his skin in a way he couldn’t quite fathom either. He never thought he’d get this far, truly.
More of the venue continued as they bumped past an increasing amount of foreigners coming in, speaking a language they did not understand. Akechi dragged his feet somewhat, still trying to process how he felt.
Goro…
Why is my own name making me so riled up when it’s coming from her?
Ren gave it some pause before gazing back at him. “Oh? Is something the matter?” She inquired, getting close up to him. “Am I witnessing Goro being flustered at this very moment?”
“Please, stop that,” Akechi murmured, trying to hide his shameful features behind the back of his palm. “I don’t recall giving you permission to call me by my name.”
All it did was make Ren giggle further, leaning into his ear. “Goro,” she whispered closely, that sweet tone of hers inciting him further. “Goro-kun,” she teased repeatedly, turning her voice low. “Go, go, Goro!”
…Damn her.
Even his ears were growing hot at the incessant teasing, feeling her breath tickle parts of his exposed skin until she backed off. “Come on, we’re buying all the food here.”
Down towards another street food vendor, Ren pushed the little marble ball inside her bottle and took a big gulp out of it, followed up by a big bite of her candy apple. No sense of demure or proper, lady-like behavior here - she intended to devour, and mean it.
But Akechi…he certainly didn’t mind. In fact, he found it somewhat endearing against all odds, just how carefree she seemed. Cute, even, retaining his warm smile while he held onto Black Frost and slowly sipped his own soda bottle.
Put simply, it was getting harder for him to brush those thoughts of Ren away with something so deeply stirring in his heart, beating ever faster any time she so much as stole a quick glance from him and vice versa.
Ren pulled out her purse, and the slight panic set in for Akechi’s thoughts. Should he step in and pay for her? But then, he hadn’t gotten paid for his detective work until a few days later…but then it would look insensitive to have her pay - except this would also be too forward, she might take it the wrong way.
Until it was too late, and she already made the purchase with her own money, and so on and so forth did the same logic unfold for all the other venue’s food stalls - yakisoba, fishcakes, cotton candy, all of it in a big to-go bag. In the end, Akechi could only accept it. It’s her money, she was free to spend as she wished, and only when he was called upon should he consider buying something for her.
It wasn’t too heavy to lug around all of her to-go food alongside what he imagined would be their shared dinner together.
Dinner. Together. Am I truly this smitten…?
By the end of the venue, Akechi stopped hesitating about any pretense between them. Holding himself back on something he was meant to enjoy - and frankly, was enjoying, only hurt him. No longer did he hesitate in keeping up with Ren, holding her hand so that they wouldn’t get lost or separated in the crowd, up until they found themselves elsewhere. Close enough to the venue, but far enough that they wouldn’t get disturbed.
Taking another sip from his ramune, Akechi sighed deeply, rolling his ankles and hearing light crackles. A reprieve away from how dizzying the crowd was would suffice, with Ren taking a foam container out from the to-go back and opening it up. Every now and then he’d steal glances her way, watching Ren eat all of her food like she hadn’t eaten in weeks, up until she effectively cleaned the container.
“...This was nice.” Akechi said eventually, breaking their shared silence. “You’ll have to forgive me, Amamiya-chan, for not understanding your intentions…”
He opened up his own small container of food - fried rice with squid and abalone, splitting two wooden chopsticks as he did so.
Her presence brushed up against him again as she smirked, angling her head in a way that she felt would get Akechi’s attention focused on her nape again. “Call me by my name, Goro.”
Not even the first bite in, and Akechi pursed his lips, giving another direct pause. He could hardly look at her, feeling those lips quiver. “Ri…” He mumbled, breath almost hitching. “R…Ren.”
Taking another sip from her soda bottle, Ren smacked her lips and put up a chipper hum for him, enough for Akechi to parse it like a moan instead. “Is my boyfriend flustered again?” Her gaze closed in on him as he felt a slap on his thigh, meeting her attentive eyes with his own.
Don’t look at me like that…!
Akechi almost choked trying to stay calm, saliva going down the wrong pipe. “...Boyfriend. I suppose.” He chuckled to himself, clamping a helping of rice and putting it in his mouth. When he finished swallowing again, coughing briefly, he sniffled and looked away. “It’s not like we’ve done much outside dating and meeting up together.”
Ren didn’t respond to it, instead only letting actions speak for themselves, witnessing Akechi continue on. “I mean, really, whatever this may be, t-this is a mere courtesy! This is something…couples do, am I correct?”
In time, Akechi could feel her bare touch against his arm, playfully tracing down towards the back of his palm. Gazing on over, he already saw her making a move - getting closer to him. Enough to caress his cheek, just as the fireworks began setting off in the far distance. Her tone lowered again as she giggled. “You’re so cute when you’re trying so hard to be a gentleman, talking big game. How about we put that mouth to better use…?”
Akechi’s heart skipped another beat as he caught his own breath, witnessing Ren brush up against him until he could once again feel the sensation of her breath tickle him. He was only distracted for a brief moment at Ren’s insistence on pushing this relationship further - just in time for a rain droplet touched his lips instead, forcing him to look up. The sudden clap of lightning flashed in the air, and the oncoming rain interrupted the moment.
In the distance, several citizens cried aloud and started taking shelter as Ren stopped what she was doing too, covering her own head with her arms. This time, he led the charge - taking her, Black Frost, and whatever else they purchased, and running to the nearest point of cover. They’d long become soaked in the rain by the time that ever came to pass.
Down the long venue corridor, past several others who were running in an orderly fashion, taking shelter at a nearby 777 Convenience store filled with others looking to escape the rain. Perhaps in the midst of the ensuing chaos, Akechi swore he felt Ren trip, or close to tripping. She made no noise to that effect, not until they were already in the safety of a solid roof and until he could check for himself. Alas, Akechi proved himself right.
Kneeling down to investigate, the strap to her heel had broken off from the friction, and she already sprained her ankle slightly, even when she was trying to hide it from him. Looking back up, he exhaled softly. “You’re injured...”
“It’s nothing.” Ren nodded and gave him an assuring grin. “I was sort of hoping my other friends would show up, too…”
Looking around, the rain splattered heavily against the convenience store walls as a muffled announcement blared, muffled by the insulation and the ever growing persistence of murmurs amidst the crowd. “I needn’t state the obvious, but…if you will, please stay here.”
“Where else would I go, darling?” Ren jested, propping her chin up to observe Akechi lightly pushing past the audience.
The door opened just for him as others backed off, one strong wind splashing his attire with rain and grime, yet he had to push though, listening to the announcement - something about inclement weather, an upcoming flood watch, and the rest of the festival being cancelled for the rest of the night.
Trains were also delayed if he heard it correctly, and this alone already caused others inside to start phoning relatives. Once more, he flicked his eyes over to Ren all the way at the back of the store, returning, admittedly not too happy he’d gotten wetter. “It would be improper of me to not help you get home at this hour. So, if it’s alright with you…”
She didn’t need to hear the rest, only laughing at his gesture - yet another mark of Akechi’s gentlemanly affairs. Instead, she merely nodded, just as Akechi nodded and turned away, lest she tease him further at his growing flush. Their next focus would be on finding a towel to help dry themselves off and easing her injuries.
It would be almost a full half hour until the rain would ease up, and with the courtesy of the convenience store, they enabled Ren to have a makeshift seat so she wouldn’t have to put pressure on her foot, alongside another bag to help protect the plushie and focus on Akechi’s grip for taking Ren home back to Yongen-Jaya.
Suffice to say, he was glad he kept up being athletic. Not that Ren was heavy or anything, but the trek from Shibuya to Yongen-Jaya was not one would ever willingly take unless it was an utter necessity. An hour-long walk in shoes not meant for distance meant nothing to Akechi, so long as Ren was happy.
And by the end of it, arriving back at Cafe Leblanc with heels begging for mercy, Akechi set her down and immediately took a seat in the booth, heaving like never before. The TV was on, playing the current news - all train services were annulled for the rest of the night due to flooding of underground stations. By default, Akechi was also trapped for the rest of the night.
Not that he minded, even if this wasn’t home, its atmosphere was cozy enough to consider it to be. Ren briefly stepped outside again, wringing out her yukata of excess liquid before coming back in and exhaling. “Looks like it’s just you and me tonight,” she announced, flipping the shop sign to be closed, and then locking the door. “Shall we continue where we left off, honey…?”
An impish smirk laced her lips as she licked the bottom of it, gracing her presence once more close to Akechi. He was too tired to care, and perhaps now, it was his time to be taken care of. “...If you insist,” he rasped, giving her an eager smile. “Would you like us to go upstairs and discuss this further, perhaps?”
She nodded, once more taking Akechi's hand, and for the rest of the night, Ren spent a long time together with her partner-to-be.