Chapter 21
The second midterm exams were scheduled to begin on July 13th, the last exams before summer break.
The study group, consisting of two third-years and four second-years, had persevered for a week, managing to cram some knowledge into Ryuji and help Ann fill in some gaps. As for Yusuke, the art student, he spent his days sketching the cafe’s patrons from the stairwell.
He called it “life drawing.”
He was almost kicked out by Sojiro, and Ren, intervening on his behalf, nearly got kicked out as well.
Before the exams, everyone exchanged encouraging messages in the group chat, hoping their hard work would pay off.
Ryuji, in particular, had been filling the chat with his anxieties since the previous night.
To ensure good grades, Yu had paused his part-time job, diligently reviewing his material every evening.
Perhaps due to the tense atmosphere surrounding the exams, Akechi’s usual entourage of admirers was absent, and he, too, remained in the classroom after school, studying quietly.
“I won’t let you take first place this time,” he declared confidently when Yu spoke to him.
Yu continued twirling his pen casually. “Aren’t the exam questions quite easy this time?”
“…If other students heard you say that, half of them would probably want to punch you.”
“I don’t think they could beat me,” Yu replied after a moment of thought.
Akechi: …
Wasn’t the point that people would want to hit him? Why was he focused on whether they could beat him?
After silently complaining inwardly, Akechi had finally learned to ignore Yu’s occasional naive remarks.
He closed his book, looking at Yu. “The exams are over today. Want to go out?”
“No,” Yu refused without hesitation.
Akechi, dropping his usual gentle facade, looked at Yu curiously. “Why? Do you have plans with Ren? We could all go out together.”
“No,” Yu sighed. “I’m working towards my dream. If I don’t work, my plans, my goals, will all die.”
“To maintain my vitality, I must work.”
Akechi: …
“Who are you quoting?”
“Oh, I saw it in a movie trailer today. The protagonist said that. Everyone said it was very cool.”
“What’s the movie called? I need to avoid it.”
Yu: …
That was hurtful.
After the exams, there was a short break. On his way to work, Yu saw the Phantom Thieves complaining about the difficulty of the exams. Even Makoto, the student council president, agreed they were challenging. Yu wondered if they were truly that difficult.
Anyway, work was more important.
Besides his part-time job at the flower shop, Yu had also taken on another job, the same translation work he had done in Inaba.
This job could be done online, so he worked on it in the evenings. Thanks to his excellent performance last year, the translation company offered him 1.5 times his previous rate. At this pace, he would soon have enough money for Nanako’s gift.
While the students anxiously awaited their results, Yu immersed himself in his work, and finally, the results were posted.
One morning, Yu arrived at school, still half-asleep, and saw a crowd gathered around the bulletin board, realizing the results were out.
But he had stayed up late working on translations and was incredibly tired.
So he went to class without checking the results, not noticing Akechi standing near the board.
Akechi stared at the third-year rankings in silence.
[First Place: Yu Narukami; Second Place: Goro Akechi.]
The same ranking as last time. Not only did it silence Akechi, but it also silenced those who had dismissed Yu’s previous first-place ranking as a fluke.
Who could be lucky enough to get first place twice in a row?
Turning around, Akechi plastered a smile on his face, placating his fans. After they dispersed, he dropped the act and returned to the classroom.
He had assumed Yu wasn’t there yet, but as he entered, he saw Yu slumped over his desk, eyes closed, seemingly asleep.
Yu hadn’t been in the classroom when Akechi left earlier. So he had arrived and gone straight to his desk while Akechi was checking the results. Was he truly that unconcerned about his grades?
The thought annoyed him even more.
Just as Yu was drifting off, he felt a sharp surge of killing intent, jolting him awake. He instinctively reached for his Persona, then realized he was in the classroom.
He turned to see Akechi leaning against his desk, staring at him.
“Akechi?”
Akechi stared at him for a moment, then clicked his tongue. “Congratulations. First place again.”
“Want to go out after school today?”
Yu thought for a moment. “What for?”
“To assassinate you,” Akechi said darkly.
Yu: …
“Just kidding. Let’s go to Leblanc for coffee. I’m not satisfied with these results.”
“I’d love to, but I can’t. I have to work,” Yu yawned. “Just a few more days, and I’ll be free from this part-time job hell. I can’t give up now!”
Rejected again.
What was with this guy? Repeatedly rejecting his invitations. Had his charm stat really plummeted that much?!
So, at Leblanc, Akechi complained to Ren while sipping his coffee.
Ren, having finished washing the cups and seeing no customers, asked Sojiro if he could leave.
Sojiro, unconcerned, waved him off.
Ren took off his apron. “Let’s go,” he said to Akechi.
Akechi looked at him, puzzled. “Where?”
“To find him,” Ren replied. “You should complain to him directly.”
That’s why he was complaining here! Because he couldn’t confront Yu directly!
Akechi wanted to say that, but it would damage his image. So he followed Ren out of Leblanc.
Dressed in casual clothes and wearing a hat, Akechi was less conspicuous. At least no one recognized him on the train. He watched as Ren led him to Shibuya, but instead of exiting the station, they descended into the underground mall.
Walking towards the rear, they finally spotted Yu working at the flower shop.
“He’s here,” Ren pointed at Yu. “You can talk to him now.”
Akechi: …
Before Akechi could approach, Yu noticed them, waving a bouquet in their direction.
“Akechi? Ren? What are you doing here?”
Akechi coughed, signaling Yu to lower his voice. There were so many people around. What if they were recognized?
Ren, unafraid of being recognized, waved back at Yu.
“Akechi wanted to talk to you,” he said, pointing at Akechi, as if he had simply done a good deed. “So I brought him here.”
“That’s not it,” Akechi said, exasperated. “I was just complaining to you, not asking you to bring me to the person I was complaining about.”
“Complaining?” Yu looked at him, puzzled. “About what?”
“About you rejecting his invitations?”
Akechi/Ren: …He really had no filter.
Before they could say anything else, a commotion erupted nearby. Akechi, ever alert, heard his name being called and turned to see a large group of fans approaching.
“I heard Akechi is here?!”
“Yes! Someone saw him at this flower shop! He’s buying flowers for someone!”
“Akechi-kun! I’ll buy you flowers!”
Seeing no escape, Yu quickly ushered Ren and Akechi into the shop, hiding them in the back room. The owner watched Yu’s actions curiously, but before she could ask anything, a wave of customers flooded the shop.
“Is this where Akechi-kun bought flowers? What kind did he buy?!”
“Where is he?!”
“Give me flowers!”
The owner was even more bewildered. Before she could speak, Yu stepped forward with a smile, grabbing a bouquet of expensive, hard-to-sell flowers.
“These are the ones,” Yu said seriously. “I personally arranged them for Akechi-kun.”
Instantly, the expensive bouquets were sold out, and the fans, unable to buy the same flowers, started buying everything else in a frenzy. The shop’s sales skyrocketed.
In the back room, Ren observed the scene, nodding seriously.
“The flower shop is going to sell out early today.”
“And it’s all thanks to you, Akechi.”
Akechi: …
Why was he taking credit for this?! He hadn’t even wanted to come here!
Within an hour, every flower in the shop was sold, the day’s sales far exceeding the usual amount. Yu finished his shift early, receiving double his usual pay. Satisfied, he released Ren and Akechi from the back room.
Akechi sighed. “Once is enough.”
“Not yet,” Yu said.
“What?”
Yu handed Akechi a carefully arranged bouquet of the same flowers he had shown to the fans earlier, complete with a perfect bow. Akechi looked at the flowers, puzzled.
“My payment?”
“Sort of,” Yu nodded with a smile. “Now take a picture and post it on your social media.”
Akechi understood, deadpanning, “You’re not only using my fame to sell flowers, you also want me to lie for you?”
“I’m not taking a picture.”
“Akechi-kun, please, for the sake of my part-time job.”
“Why should I do this for you?”
“Please!”
Ren watched their exchange, amused.
Somehow, Yu’s presence made everyone around him seem more lively and cheerful. Even Akechi, whom Ren had been wary of in his past life, was different now, more willing to express his annoyance and frustration.
Yu’s infectious energy was truly remarkable.
“Ren, what are you smirking about?” Akechi sighed, looking at Ren. “Narukami is truly outrageous. It’s your fault for bringing me here.”
“These flowers don’t suit my aesthetic. Stop giving them to me, Narukami!”
“But I think they suit you perfectly. Expensive and hard to sell, just like you.”
“…Are you insulting me?”
Half an hour later, Akechi updated his social media.
[Goro Akechi: Today’s bouquet. A single flower can brighten your day.]
The accompanying picture showed a bouquet of golden flowers, vibrant green leaves adding a touch of vitality. Akechi’s hand rested beside the bouquet, but a closer look at the reflection in the glass revealed two boys standing beside him, looking like ordinary friends.
Did Akechi truly desire friendship? If he did, did he realize that in this moment, he had experienced it?
