Chapter 48
After promising to bring his “partner” home eventually and assuring his parents he wasn’t a player, Yu escaped further questioning. His parents still suspected a date when he left.
Fortunately, they were too busy to pry, relieved he was meeting friends.
Yu sighed, putting on a mask before leaving.
The weather was nice, but the winter wind was cold. Yu wore his white coat.
The city, restored, was bustling with families.
Yu smiled, wincing as his lip throbbed. He adjusted his mask and ran to Leblanc.
The run warmed him up. Arriving slightly sweaty, he entered Leblanc.
Everyone looked at him, including Sojiro and Sae Niijima.
Yu blinked. “You’re all early.”
“You’re on time,” Ren sighed, pointing to the seat beside him.
The others glanced at Yu, then resumed their conversations. Yu sat beside Ren, noticing Morgana on his lap.
Morgana nudged Yu’s wrist with his tail: Don’t worry.
Sae spoke. “Akechi has confessed. He turned himself in for the mental shutdown incidents.”
“I didn’t believe it, so I visited him. He confirmed it, showing me evidence of Shido’s involvement.”
The room fell silent.
They couldn’t believe Akechi was the culprit.
Ann looked at Ren and Yu. “You two knew.”
Ren, petting Morgana, was silent.
Futaba raised her hand. “I knew too.”
“What?! Even Futaba…” Ryuji frowned, then, remembering her mother, understood.
“We wanted to handle it ourselves, but Akechi said Shido would kill him,” Yu explained.
“We wanted him punished, but not dead, letting Shido escape. So we waited.”
“Shido would have silenced him,” Sae agreed.
“But was it really him? He had no reason…”
Yu shook his head. “Don’t make excuses. Confessing was the right thing.”
“Isn’t that why he confessed?”
They struggled to reconcile Akechi with a murderer, but they had to accept the truth, confirmed by Akechi, Ren, and Yu.
“People wear masks,” Sojiro said. “Confessing shows he’s changed.”
“The Akechi you knew was the changed Akechi.”
They looked at each other, smiled, and began their celebration.
Yu smiled faintly, hooking Ren’s finger under the table.
Ren smiled back.
He mouthed: I’m not good at comforting others.
Yu wanted to reply: It’s okay, I’m here. But remembering his mask, he just squeezed Ren’s finger.
I know.
Afterward, everyone left. Ren helped Sojiro clean up, then nodded at Yu.
They left together.
Sojiro sighed, patting Morgana. “Your owner left you behind.”
“I wouldn’t go! He’s not my owner!” Morgana retorted.
Sojiro chuckled. “I can’t understand you, kitty.”
“Meow!”
Yu and Ren walked side-by-side.
“Where to?” Yu asked.
Ren exhaled. “Your choice.”
Yu blinked.
“You’re not proactive. I’m giving you a chance. Be grateful,” Ren pointed at Yu. “Choose our date spot. Showtime!”
Yu: … He chuckled. Ren’s energy was infectious.
“Let’s go to the pharmacy!”
Ren was puzzled. “The pharmacy?”
“To get antiseptic for my lip,” Yu pointed at the bite mark under his mask. “Your turn to be proactive.”
Ren: … Checkmate.
They bought antiseptic, though unnecessary, then went to Inokashira Park. The pond was frozen, the path snowy, the park deserted.
They climbed the hill, finding a wishing tree, then a quiet spot.
“Finally,” Ren sighed.
Yu sat. “Antiseptic doesn’t freeze.”
“…Your focus is something else.”
Ren made Yu sit still, took out a cotton swab, and dipped it in antiseptic.
“Okay,” he said. “Let’s disinfect that.”
The words, in the quiet, felt intimate. Ren’s ears burned.
He held the swab to Yu’s mask. “Hurry up.”
Yu smiled, lowering his mask, revealing the swollen bite mark.
Ren remembered the previous night, the feel of Yu’s lips… He shouldn’t think about that.
He gently dabbed the antiseptic on Yu’s lip.
“So gentle,” Yu commented.
“Want me to be rougher?” Ren asked. “I was influenced, remember?”
“Haha, I believe you,” Yu said.
Ren disposed of the swab.
Yu spoke. “How proactive do you want me to be?”
Ren paused, and Yu grabbed his wrist, tracing the star pendant.
Ren’s hand twitched, dropping the antiseptic.
Yu smiled, pulling Ren closer, and Ren landed on his lap.
“How’s this?”
A warm kiss, the faint taste of antiseptic present. Their eyes locked, breaths mingling, Yu’s gentleness pervading the kiss.
Ren pulled away slightly, then intertwined their fingers with Yu’s.
Ren, still on Yu’s lap, their hands clasped, leaned against him, closing his eyes.
“Are we together now?”
Yu chuckled, hugging Ren.
“Ren Amamiya, will you be my boyfriend?”
Ren chuckled softly. “Of course.”
“Yes.”
In the Velvet Room, Margaret smiled as the Lovers card glowed. “A significant development. You’ve achieved a special relationship. Congratulations!”
