Chapter 26
After spending the afternoon with his friends, Yu walked each of them to their doorsteps, waving goodbye.
His uncle, Ryotaro Dojima, was working late at the police station, leaving Yu and Nanako alone at home. Yu gave Nanako her gift.
“Wow! It’s Witch Detective Loveling!” Nanako’s eyes sparkled as she hugged the gift, refusing to let go. “Thank you, Big Bro!”
“I’m glad you like it,” Yu smiled, ruffling her hair.
“Oh, and there’s this too.”
Yu took out the hair clip Ren had given him. Nanako took it, her initial joy replaced by concern. She looked at Yu worriedly. “Big Bro, can you really give Nanako so many gifts?”
“Daddy said we shouldn’t waste money.”
“It’s not a waste,” Yu said gently. “This is from a friend of mine, an older brother named Ren. He asked me to give it to you.”
“Huh?” Nanako looked at Yu, surprised. “Big Bro’s friend? Gave Nanako a present?”
Yu nodded. “I kept talking about you, Nanako, so my friend thought you were cute too. He asked me to give you this gift when I came back, so you have to accept it. Otherwise, he’ll be sad.”
Hearing that someone would be sad, Nanako quickly nodded. “Okay, I’ll keep it!”
She carefully clipped it into her hair.
While Yu had been away, Nanako’s hair had grown longer, and she no longer wore pigtails, making her look even more adorable.
“Big Bro!” Nanako twirled around. “Does it look good?”
“It looks good.”
Yu took out his phone and snapped a picture. “You’re so cute, Nanako.”
Nanako blushed, her eyes filled with happiness. Yu’s return and the gifts had made her day.
After Nanako put away her gifts, the familiar Junes jingle played on TV, and Nanako happily sang along: “Everyday! Young life! Junes!”
Yu sang along as well, and Nanako clapped her hands in delight.
It was getting late, and Nanako, being a child, couldn’t stay up too long. Despite her excitement, she was getting sleepy. After bidding Yu goodnight, she went to bed, leaving Yu alone in the living room.
Yu opened the sliding door to the garden and sat on the porch, looking out at the night. The warm glow of the streetlights illuminated the darkness, the gentle breeze bringing a sense of peace.
Unlike the bustling metropolis of Tokyo, Inaba was tranquil.
He wondered if Ren’s hometown was also this peaceful.
Thinking this, Yu opened his chat with Ren, calculating the time difference and assuming he wasn’t asleep yet.
[Yu Narukami: Nanako loves your gift. She said thank you.]
Meanwhile, in Mementos, the Phantom Thieves were stuck on a floor, unable to find the exit. They had circled the area three times, defeating the same Shadows repeatedly, but they couldn’t find the path to the next level.
Mona said this sometimes happened, that the path would be hidden, requiring them to carefully examine the walls, but the walls all looked identical.
Just as they were getting frustrated, Ren’s phone chimed. It was the custom ringtone he had set.
Ren took out his phone, accidentally stepping on the gas pedal as he looked down. With a roar, the cat bus accelerated, crashing into a Shadow, then smashing through a wall.
Behind the wall was a new path.
However…
The leader’s excellent driving skills sent his teammates flying.
“Joker!” Ryuji peeled himself off the back window. “Can you drive properly?!”
Ren calmly replied to the message before saying nonchalantly, “Well, we found the way, didn’t we?”
“Whoa! You’re not even remorseful!” Ryuji pointed at him. “You’d get arrested for texting and driving!”
Ren remained calm. “There are no traffic laws in Mementos.”
And now that even the Velvet Room no longer had a cell, he wouldn’t be tricked into going to jail again, even if it happened again.
He was done with prison!
Ryuji: …
Yusuke picked up his fox mask from the floor, straightening his clothes. “I’m more curious about who sent that message that our leader risked his life to reply to.”
Makoto and Ann finally managed to sit up. “That was rough.”
“Following the usual pattern…” Makoto helped Ann fix her hair, continuing Yusuke’s thought.
“Our leader only reacts like that when it’s that person.”
“Oh, that person.”
“Yes, that person,” Ann agreed knowingly.
The three of them shared a knowing look, while Ryuji remained clueless. “Huh? Who are you talking about? Joker, who were you messaging?”
Ren turned off his phone, not bothering to satisfy their curiosity.
“Who wants to drive? I’m going to sit in the back. Texting and driving is against the law.”
Everyone: …
Wasn’t he the one who said there were no traffic laws in Mementos?!
Unaware of the chaos he had caused, Yu only received Ren’s reply.
[Ren Amamiya: I’m glad she likes it.]
[Yu Narukami: It’s so quiet here. Everyone’s gone, and Nanako is asleep. I’m sitting in the garden alone. The stars are beautiful.]
[Yu Narukami: Is your hometown peaceful too?]
Quiet and peaceful?
Ren, sitting in the back of the cat bus, looked at Yu’s message, pondering whether his hometown was comparable to the Inaba that Yu cherished.
But Ren didn’t have any fond memories of his hometown and didn’t know what Inaba was like.
[Ren Amamiya: It’s alright, I guess? Not exactly quiet, and I don’t remember it being particularly peaceful.]
Was that a bit of a downer? Ren wondered.
Yu was probably hoping to hear a heartwarming story about his hometown.
Had he brought up an unpleasant topic? Yu thought regretfully.
He had forgotten about Ren’s experience being falsely accused and expelled from school, exiled to Tokyo, his feelings about his hometown likely complex.
[Yu Narukami: Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring that up.]
[Ren Amamiya: I didn’t mean it like that.]
They sent their messages simultaneously, both pausing as they saw the other’s reply, understanding each other’s unspoken concern.
One’s mood often reflected in their words, unconsciously revealing their true feelings.
Yu suddenly chuckled.
[Yu Narukami: Do you want to come back here with me next time?]
[Yu Narukami: The breeze here is nice, and I want to share the starry sky with you.]
[Ren Amamiya: It might be difficult. People with criminal records have travel restrictions.]
[Yu Narukami: It’s okay. By the time I come back, you’ll have cleared your name. I believe in you.]
[Ren Amamiya: So you’re inviting me to your home?]
[Yu Narukami: Yes, I’m inviting you home.]
A flash blinded Ren. He looked at Yusuke, who was sitting beside him, snapping pictures with his phone.
Ren paused his conversation with Yu. “What are you doing?”
“Taking pictures,” Yusuke replied casually. “It’s rare to see the leader smile so genuinely. Sensei said contrast is an aesthetic.”
“I’m studying this aesthetic.”
Ren: …
He knew he shouldn’t have sat next to Yusuke.
“What’s going on?” Ann turned around. “Joker smiled? That stoic guy actually smiled?!”
“Huh? What’s the big deal about smiling?” Ryuji asked, confused.
Makoto, driving, desperately wanted to join the conversation, but as the daughter of a police officer, she strictly adhered to traffic laws, even in Mementos, refusing to take her eyes off the road.
She regretted volunteering to drive!
“It’s not just that he smiled, it’s why he smiled! That stoic guy actually smiled at his phone,” Ann explained. “So, who stole our leader’s heart?”
Ren: …
All three dialogue options were “…” today.
“Stole his heart?” Morgana, stuck in cat bus form, asked curiously. “Joker doesn’t have a Palace. How can his heart be stolen?”
“No romance talk for cats who can’t date!”
“Meow?”
Ren turned off his phone, denying everything. “Stolen heart?” Linking it to romance seemed strange.
“Don’t be ridiculous. It was just an invitation to hang out.”
Ryuji, still clueless, asked, “What? Stolen heart? Who? Joker, what are you talking about?”
Ah, single-celled Ryuji. His character was consistent. Would he ever get a girlfriend?
Seeing Ren’s refusal to divulge any information, Yusuke returned to his phone.
He nodded seriously. “Yes, a perfect composition.”
Ren’s phone chimed. He opened it and saw Yusuke had posted the picture in the group chat.
Another message followed shortly after.
[Yu Narukami: Are you in Mementos?]
[Yu Narukami: Huh? You’re in Mementos? Ren, impressive multitasking!]
[Ann Takamaki: You two!]
[Ann Takamaki: One of you is texting and driving in Mementos, and the other is sending private messages after arriving home. Are you two in a long-distance relationship?!]
[Yu Narukami: Ah, about that…]
Yu was stunned by Ann’s teasing accusation. He should placate her, apologize, change the subject.
But that wouldn’t be Yu Narukami.
So…
[Yu Narukami: I’m curious, why does it have to be a long-distance relationship and not a business trip? @Ann Takamaki]
[Ann Takamaki: …]
Ren: …
You naive idiot! Ann was talking about a romantic relationship, not a professional one!
