Ren Amamiya (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jokersonyou) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
insideoflight2020-05-01 03:58 pm
jokersonyou) wrote in insideoflight2020-05-01 03:58 pm
(no subject)
[After the eventfulness that had been Ren's year in Tokyo, finishing up high school in his own home town had been nothing short of dull and tedious. Despite being back where he had grown up, and his criminal record expunged, he fit in no better than he did in the early days in the city. Unsurprisingly, rumors still followed him around, and he had no particular interest in putting more effort than needed to dispel them. His mind was already made up even before the initial meeting with the school's academic counselor about college options. Home wasn't this little town that had turned his back on him. Home was a busy city that was huge and cramped at the same time, a dusty attic atop a coffee and curry shop, a booth surrounded by people he'd considered more family than his own parents.
He'd spent the year focusing on his studies to make sure he'd get into his college of choice, and it'd paid off. In just about a month, he'd be Makoto's underclassman once more. While not everyone was in the city (Ann was still overseas, Ryuji was still on the outskirts in a town finishing up his physical therapy), that was fine. It didn't have to be perfect. It just had to be better.
Until it was time to move into the dorms, Sojiro was more than happy to let Ren stay in his old room. Heck, part of him wondered if he should save money by just commuting from the cafe rather than dorming, but he still had a little to finalize that decision. After getting his belongings settled in for the moment, spending some time with Sojiro and Futaba, and updating the group chat that he was back in town, he'd gone to sleep lulled by the comforting scent of coffee and curry.
The next morning, he'd lazed in bed for a little while, chatting with the others and starting to form a potential meet-up soon. With no particular plans for the rest of the day, he'd gotten up, showered, and headed over to Kichijoji with the intention of picking out some clothing from the secondhand store he'd become fond of. Maybe check out a few old haunts. Hopefully, his favorites were still open.
The first stop after getting off the train would be the cafe he'd been to a few times, because why not? Some waffles sounded like a good energy source for the day's shopping. He hums as he walks down the sidewalk, absently browsing his phone, and glances up as he approaches the cafe. It's open, which is good, and his eyes flit about to see if they've got empty seating. While they do, it's not that which captures his gaze. It's an all too familiar figure sitting by himself. A ghost. His heart seizes with some kind of indescribable feeling, a mix of relief and terror and confusion and happiness and even anger, and--he blinks, and the figure it still sitting there, it's not a dream, or is it--
Ren nearly walks facefirst into a telephone pole, only catching himself a few inches from impact. He stands there, frozen as he continues to look, before taking out his phone again. Nothing unusual, no Metaverse app. He very nearly tries to call Muraki to see if somehow he'd managed to screw with things again, even after they were all fixed and settled and normal.
He swallows hard. Maybe...maybe he was just seeing things after all, but he has to look back up to confirm, and for all his bravery, part of him is scared to.]
He'd spent the year focusing on his studies to make sure he'd get into his college of choice, and it'd paid off. In just about a month, he'd be Makoto's underclassman once more. While not everyone was in the city (Ann was still overseas, Ryuji was still on the outskirts in a town finishing up his physical therapy), that was fine. It didn't have to be perfect. It just had to be better.
Until it was time to move into the dorms, Sojiro was more than happy to let Ren stay in his old room. Heck, part of him wondered if he should save money by just commuting from the cafe rather than dorming, but he still had a little to finalize that decision. After getting his belongings settled in for the moment, spending some time with Sojiro and Futaba, and updating the group chat that he was back in town, he'd gone to sleep lulled by the comforting scent of coffee and curry.
The next morning, he'd lazed in bed for a little while, chatting with the others and starting to form a potential meet-up soon. With no particular plans for the rest of the day, he'd gotten up, showered, and headed over to Kichijoji with the intention of picking out some clothing from the secondhand store he'd become fond of. Maybe check out a few old haunts. Hopefully, his favorites were still open.
The first stop after getting off the train would be the cafe he'd been to a few times, because why not? Some waffles sounded like a good energy source for the day's shopping. He hums as he walks down the sidewalk, absently browsing his phone, and glances up as he approaches the cafe. It's open, which is good, and his eyes flit about to see if they've got empty seating. While they do, it's not that which captures his gaze. It's an all too familiar figure sitting by himself. A ghost. His heart seizes with some kind of indescribable feeling, a mix of relief and terror and confusion and happiness and even anger, and--he blinks, and the figure it still sitting there, it's not a dream, or is it--
Ren nearly walks facefirst into a telephone pole, only catching himself a few inches from impact. He stands there, frozen as he continues to look, before taking out his phone again. Nothing unusual, no Metaverse app. He very nearly tries to call Muraki to see if somehow he'd managed to screw with things again, even after they were all fixed and settled and normal.
He swallows hard. Maybe...maybe he was just seeing things after all, but he has to look back up to confirm, and for all his bravery, part of him is scared to.]
no subject
He happens to glance up just as Ren nearly slams into the telephone pole, eyes going wide with astonishment, not prepared to see him.
Amamiya. His heart seizes in his chest, watching him attempt to save face before he shakes his head.
Goro pulls out his phone. ]
Join me?
no subject
Steeling himself, he heads into the cafe, giving the hostess a nod to signify that he can take care of himself for the moment. Ren makes his way over to where Akechi sits, taking a seat across from him, and just...staring for a bit. The former detective looks alive and healthy, words he didn't think he'd ever be able to ascribe to him again.
He opens his mouth, closes it, and realizes that he can't figure out what to say first.]
no subject
[ He finally speaks after letting the silence hang in the air. There's so much left unsaid after-- after everything that came to pass between them and the rest of the Phantom Thieves. Goro takes a deep breath, lifting his cup of coffee to his lips as he carefully looks away. Just looking at Ren was difficult, because what can he say? What could he possibly say right now? ]
no subject
[And a good chunk of it wasn't particularly the greatest, not back home, though it could have been a lot worse. It was more discontent than anything. He knows back in Tokyo, he's going to be a lot happier, though he didn't expect this.
Eventually, the only other word he could think of comes out of his mouth.]
How?