2025-10-20: Your Captive
- Log: 2025-10-20 Your Captive
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Minako Arisato
- Where: Naganaki Shrine, Tatsumi Port Island
- OOC Date: October 20, 2025
- IC Date: July 29, 2012
- Summary: Finals are over, and so Ren and Minako have a long-awaited discussion about their romantic future.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<REN> Hey there, just finished up exams. How about you?
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<MINAKO> Me too! I survived... somehow ;_;
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<REN> Same here, haha. I did worse than I hoped but better than I feared, I think. The last couple days were rough...
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<REN> Are you doing anything after this?
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<MINAKO> I know exaaaactly what you mean. Nope! I was at Naganaki Shrine with friends earlier but I'm all free now.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<REN> You want to meet up and talk?
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<MINAKO> Oh my gosh yes that'd be great.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<REN> Great! Are you at/near the Naganaki Shrine still? I can meet you there.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
<MINAKO> Yeah I went to a konbini around the corner. I'll meet you there!!
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<REN> See you soon!
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako has found her way back to Naganaki Shrine.
She wants to say she isn't nervous -- but even for someone as outwardly smiling, as outwardly cheerful as she is, she has an idea of what Ren wants to talk about. She trusts him to give her an answer respectfully. But if he says no, it will still be something to be sad about.
But, the ball is in his court, so to speak.
She is seated on a bench at Naganaki shrine. She has the white blouse and skirt of Gekkoukan's summer uniform on, still. Minako sits there, with a bottled water -- chilled -- from the konbini next to her. She has a sip, and is sitting where she can be seen from the entrance.
And see the entrance, too.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Though it's hot out as is typical for a July afternoon, Ren's feeling refreshed. The last of exams are over, and after chatting with his friends for a bit, he's taken his school bag, gone to the train station, and... changed clothes in a bathroom. Sure, they could have gone home for that, but this morning they decided they didn't want to have to wait longer than necessary and brought a change of clothes for after class.
This way, they can take the train from Aoyama-Itchome Station straight to Iwatodai Station. No Morgana today as a result; he made the gentlemanly offer to stay home, since school is only a half-day anyway.
After a text conversation to confirm Minako is OK to talk today, Ren makes the rest of the ride to Tatsumi Port Island. They don't have a lot of clothes--when they packed to move to Tokyo, they were in a decidedly dire headspace and so didn't bother much beyond the basics--but they don't want to wear their typical casual outfit for what might be their first date with Minako, so even though it might be a bit too warm for this weather, they're wearing a short-sleeved white T-shirt with a 25TH logo, tucked into black slacks belted in brown and layered with a long-sleeved navy button-up pinstriped in yellow, left open at the chest. Ankle socks hide under a pair of sneakers, and he has his usual thick-rimmed glasses, metal fashion wristwatch, and of course his shoulder bag, which has his school uniform inside--along with a little something extra.
They've been to Naganaki Shrine before, thanks to Minako. When she showed them around the area after they met by chance at Bookworms, that was one of the places she showed them. It's a nice shrine, combining traditional with modern, and Ren finds their way there without any problem.
As they climb the stairs up past the torii, they spot Minako sitting at one of the benches. A smile naturally blossoms on their lips, and they raise one hand to wave to her. "Hey!" he calls, picking up the pace to jog over to her. "Thanks for waiting for me," they add as they sit next to her. They pause for a second--they can't say they aren't nervous either--and shrug off their bag to set it down further down the bench, out of the way. That water Minako's got looks refreshing... They didn't think to buy a drink on the way here, and they're honestly getting kind of thirsty. They suck it up for now.
"...So, I've kept you waiting long enough, so I'm going to get right to it," Ren says. "I want to talk about us... going out." They pause, watching her with gentle eyes. "...I've been thinking about you a lot these past couple of weeks. I told you before, yes, I do want to go on a date with you, but I'm not sure it's a good idea. I'm still not totally sure, so I want to settle that first before we move forward. Okay?"
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako looks up when Ren approaches. The designer shirt, the slacks, and the jacket make her stare for a second -- and her cheeks heat up, as she watches them approach. She smiles, then she stands up off the bench with a hop. "Amamiya-san!"
She still says his last name, that otherwise formal greeting, with a certain casualness. She looks at Ren, and she walks up to meet him. "Yeah, of course!" she says, with her water in her hand. It takes some willpower to not start squeezing it when he says he kept her waiting long enough.
She nods.
It isn't a yes or a no. It's a 'talk more about it.' Minako swallows, then she smiles. "Sure--yeah. Of course. Uh..." She hesitates, looking like she wants to ask a question. Then, she laughs softly. "I think this is where I let you say your piece."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ahh, she's really cute... Ren wasn't sure if this outfit would hit, but look at her blush like that... Their smile grows into a grin, just briefly.
After all... first they need to figure out if turning this relationship romantic is right for them. She seems nervous too... understandably, and obviously, considering she asked them out first. They nod once, then square their shoulders as they stand up straight--something they don't often do.
"So... again, I do like you. You're fun and sweet and I enjoy being around you. I want to get to know you better, and so I do want to go on a date with you. I'm just worried that... dating me might cause you trouble." They pause a second. "You know why. And I'm pretty sure I know you're going to say that doesn't matter to you, but..." They rub the back of their neck. Minako might notice as they do that their nails are painted rose pink, something she wouldn't have seen as they approached with their hands in their pockets. "To demonstrate what I mean, let me tell you about something that happened yesterday.
"You might've heard about this already, but your friends Takeba-san and Sanada-san came by to check me out. Apparently Takeba-san asked around about me with some friends of hers at Shujin Academy, and... you can guess it wasn't good news. But apparently they went so far as to tell her I'd held someone up and broken their legs or whatever."
They let their hand settle at their side as they gaze at her, unsmiling. "Of course, that's not true. But that's the kind of thing people continue to say about me. If we go out, they might start talking trash about you too. I don't really... want you to have to deal with that. I don't like the idea that I might make your life worse just by getting closer to you."
They avert their eyes for a second. Then they force themself to look back. "...At the same time... it's stupid to just--never be with anyone because of what other people might say. I just want to live my life, and... I'd like to live it with someone special, if I can. Someone like you. So... let me make sure.
"Are you really sure you want to go out with me, Arisato-san? Even if it might mean you get bullied or pitied? Even if it means your friends and family might freak out over it?"
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
When Ren says that dating them might cause Minako trouble, she opens her mouth to protest. The fact that Ren has an argument, though, makes her quiet down. She listens -- and then her eyes widen. She hadn't heard it yet from Takeba or Sanada -- and there's moment where she frowns. Does she need to have a word with them?
But...
They are looking out for her. That gives Minako pause; she isn't quite used to having someone look out for her.
She steps forward, at the question. Almost close enough to touch him -- and one hand comes up, like she might. But she hodls herself back, not sure they want her to. She looks up at Ren, and Minako swallows.
"Yeah," she says, with a smile. "I do. You're... you're funny, you're charming. You're kind and you look out for people--like how you were worried about Yamagishi. I know people might say things. And they might say things about me."
She exhales a soft sigh. "I can live with that. It's not true, and... even if it bothers me, not doing something because of what people might say would bother me more. And, besides."
She tilts her head, then cracks a smile. "I don't think you'll make my life worse. You haven't -- and I trust you. And I care more about what we want than what other people think."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
In fairness to Yukari and Akihiko, this was only yesterday, so they might just not have had the time to let her know. There was Ikutsuki's whole thing with the gardening planters on the roof, then the last day of finals, then the shrine visit... It's understandable that they haven't said anything to her yet. And, as she's already realized, they did it because they were trying to look out for her.
Ren doesn't say that much--but they do see the look in her eyes when they bring those two up. "For the record, I talked it out with the two of them and we're cool now, I think. Takeba-san in particular is a really caring friend of yours; she basically said she more or less believed me, but she was going to keep her guard up because it'd be too late if you got hurt." They quirk a brief smile. "That's a good friend to have."
It hurts to be treated like that, sure, but it's a dull sort of pain. It's more important that Minako have friends who'll look out for her no matter how nice her would-be boyfriend might seem. Not everyone in Ren's situation is going to actually be innocent, something Ren knows keenly well.
It's Minako's turn to speak, though, and she says what she likes about them--that she acknowledges maybe she'll get shit for dating them, but she doesn't want to get held back by that. Ren ducks their head, color rising in their cheeks as they smile. "I feel the same way," they say quietly.
But that's not quite the end. After all... "But I should warn you about something else--something that might not've occurred to you." Their smile fades. "Because I have a record, sometimes authorities hassle me too. I try to keep my head down, but I'm not the kind of person who can ignore when someone's in trouble. That's what got me arrested in the first place. So I..." Their lashes flutter half-shut. "...can't guarantee I won't get arrested again at some point."
After all, they're a Phantom Thief. They've got people actively looking to find and arrest them. If anything ever goes wrong...
"If that happens, you could get in trouble with the authorities too. That goes beyond just getting trouble from your peers." They pause, searching her eyes. "Are you still sure?"
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"That sounds like Takeba-chan, all around," Minako says with a laugh. "Yeah... I'm lucky to have a friend like her." For a moment, her expression is just slightly distant -- the surprise at realizing it, that they've become closer friends after a rocky start. Then, she smiles, as she thinks of it.
And Sanada -- him, too, if in a different way. She looks back up at Ren, and she smiles as she sees his cheeks flush.
When they hesitate, and raise another point, Minako swallows. She considers that for a second -- but then she shakes her head. "I am. Look... I like that you're like that. And I like talking to you... since sometimes, I'm dealing with some heavier stuff too. Things about my parents, about being back here, and..."
She smiles. "It's easier to deal with those things, when I'm around you. And I want to make things easier for you, too, if I can."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
For a second, it seems like Minako answers a little too easily. Does she really get it? But then Ren wonders if they're not giving her enough credit. She's not dumb, and even if she doesn't have experience with what they mean, she made an excellent point before about not wanting other people's opinions dictate her life. They feel the same way.
But then Minako admits--she's got heavy things of her own that she's dealing with. It's a good reminder to Ren, that they're not the only one going through things. Their dark eyes widen a bit as she says being with them makes them easier to deal with.
That she wants to make those things easier to deal with for them, too.
They give her a muted but sincere smile back. That's... a really nice thought, honestly. They love being a Phantom Thief, but there's absolutely a lot of risk that comes with it--a lot of anxiety nightmares they've had as deadlines drew dangerously close. It'd be nice to be with someone they can just... be a normal person around. Someone who knows about their arrest, who doesn't know about the supernatural, so they can just... enjoy life normally together.
"Then... if you really are sure..." they say slowly, reaching their hands out for hers. "...is it okay if I call you 'Minako,' and you call me 'Ren'?"
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako smiles up at him when she sees that muted smile. Her cheeks turn a little red again. It's a similar thought that goes through her mind: that someone who likes her for her, not in her connection to SEES or jer parents' money, would be wonderful. Someone where she can forget some of the troubles, the doubts, the fears, and the anxieties that grip her.
It might be pretending that her life is normal, but sometimes pretending is enough.
She turns red at the question. Then, she reaches out. Her hands slide into theirs, and her fingers squeeze lightly.
"I-um." She laughs, pushing past a little bit of shyness that surprises her. "I'd like that a lot, Ren."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Minako accepts their hands and their suggestion, and Ren breathes a faint but delighted little laugh. It's true that there are other things about them that she doesn't know beyond being a Phantom Thief--but they can take things slow, right? They can get to know each other over time. Hell, they've got all summer to do it.
But they do want to at least test the waters first. "Oh--one more thing I ought to ask..." As they squeeze her hands, they bring their own up so she can see their pink-painted nails. "What do you think of these?"
It's a lovely shade of rose pink. Maybe not the best shade for Ren, but the application of the polish is done quite well, actually--steady and even with shiny, streamlined coating and no stray polish on their cuticles or skin.
Of course, those are things to notice after one gets over the fact that a "guy" is wearing pink nail polish... Ren watches Minako closely for her reaction. It's probably going to be okay, but...
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako looks down at their hands, and there is a blink. There is a moment where surprise registers across her face -- this is (to her understanding) a guy wearing pink nail polish. But, that surprise quickly turns into delight. She laughs, in a happy way.
"Those look great!" she says. "You did a really good job, too, with applying them. And the shade of pink matches your eyes and hair."
She looks back up, and she beams.
"I love them," she says. "Honestly, I'm a little jealous. I have trouble getting them that even."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
When Minako laughs in a positive way, Ren smiles. "A friend of mine painted the one hand to show me how it was done. She's a model on the side, so you can thank her for how good it turned out." They rake one hand up through their hair. "You really think it goes with my hair and eyes?" Granted, everything goes with black, but they hadn't thought it matched them...
Still, they're happy to hear her say that. "Takeba-san mentioned you were just starting out trying make-up. Maybe that's something we can do together sometime? I've been wanting to give cosmetics more of a try--for fun, just to see how it looks." (It's deeper than that, but one thing at a time.)
"She--my friend; her name's Ann Takamaki--was actually telling me that there's this kind of glittery clear nail polish cover that you can put on other colors, and I want to try that with black. It'd look like a starry night sky," they add. "How would you want to paint your nails, if you did something like that?" They look her over, then add, "Maybe something in pinks and oranges--like the sunrise?" Their eyes crinkle. "Daybreak would suit you."
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"Oh-ho. You got advice from the experts, Ren," Minako says with a wink. Her cheeks flush a little, still, saying his given name like that. "And I do! Now... I might be biased. For one thing, pink's my favorite color. And for another, I'm a fan of your hair and eyes. But..."
She considers. "It's the contrast. The pink highlights them," she says. "Contrast, but not in a bad way."
She cracks a smile -- and then she nods. "Yeah. Takeba-chan's really helped me with make-up. I'd be happy to," she says. It's not quite what she expected to do with a boyfriend -- but that's not a bad thing. "The polish sounds amazing! I'd do that--let's see..."
She considers. "Daybreak, huh?" She grins. "Yeah. Maybe a gradient, so it's brighter pinks and orange at the top, and shifts to a darker color at the bottom?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"I did. If I'm going to try something, I want guidance from people who know what they're doing," Ren replies, smiling back. They're more than a bit rosy themself--especially when she does into how what she likes is the contrast of pink and black. They kind of like that too... "Then I'm glad I match your tastes... Minako."
She considers a theme for her own nails. Ren nods in agreement. "That sounds gorgeous. Maybe... a little beyond our skill level right now," they admit wryly. "But that's something to aim for. We'll have to keep it in mind."
They pause, and pull one hand away--but leave the other in hers. "For right now... where do you want to go on our first date?"
After all, that's what this is now. Right?
"Finals are over, and Sunday's tomorrow, so we can go wherever you want, for however long you want," they add. "I do need to get back before the last trains run... but that's a long ways away." They squeeze her hand a bit. "Right now, we can take our time."
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako grins at them, sunnily, at the remark about matching tastes. It's true -- and it's nice to think about. "You've got a point. I'll think of a simpler way to do it, so we can build up to it."
She turns, then; her hand squeezes Ren's, as she looks around. She considers the question for a moment. Where should they go for a first date? Not the mall, nor the shopping by either station -- she is by those all the time. Minako considers for a moment, her eyes narrowed in thought.
"Oh!" she exclaims.
"I know--there's this nice area, near where the shore is. There's a path along the seawalls, and there's a park behind it. And then you can see the sea and the windmills. Then... we can pick a spot to get some food?"
And from there, she thinks, they can see.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
That is the thing about dates, isn't it? Especially a first date. You want it to be fun, and exciting, and something outside your norm. Since they're here in Port Island, it's up to Minako to pick a place because she knows the area better, but at the same time, she can't pick a spot that's already too familiar that it doesn't feel special. Ren doesn't know what they'd do if they were down in Tokyo.
They wait patiently for Minako to consider the matter. Wherever she suggests, they're looking forward to it, just to see what it says about her. They're not disappointed by her pick, either. They grin and nod once. "That sounds fantastic. Let's go."
A place to see the best spots the area has to offer, to make the most of its best features... That really does say a lot about Minako. Just walking around and admiring the view together sounds like fun.
"Any food you're in the mood for?" they ask as the two of them get going. They'll follow her lead as far as heading to that spot is concerned, so they can at least take point on asking about lunch. Some of it might depend on actually heading to their date spot and seeing what's available, but still.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"Perfect!" Minako says, all smiles -- and it's not, like it sometimes is, a forced smile. "I'm glad I've got good taste."
She winks again, and she starts walking. She leads the way -- being the local, she knows it best -- but she considers the question for a second. "There's a nice seafood place, on the way."
She looks at him. Her eyes are bright -- the excitement of a pending date, of not wondering how he would answer her question, and something that went from hypothetical to actual. The anticipation is real, but so is the sense of accomplishment. "How does that sound?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren's all smiles back--and for all that their surface personality has become more subdued since their arrest and conviction, they all but sparkle with anticipation for the rest of the day.
Everything's been going so well lately, it feels like it can't be real. But why can't it be real? After the awful things they went through in the first half of the year or so, why shouldn't things be picking up? They've made some true friends and made real change in the world--and now someone who sees them behind their record and has faith in them even knowing what happened, wants to be with them romantically.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, as they say. Ren wants to accept this wonderful turn in their life for what it is, without worrying about how it could go wrong instead.
"That sounds perfect," they say warmly. "The seafood around here must be incredible; I can't wait to try it." They wink back. "And since you've got such amazing taste, you'll have to share a bite of what you get so I can try even more. In return, I'll share a bite of what I order with you. How's that sound?"
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako feels her heart skip a beat at the returned wink. She smiles a little bit more -- and has to remind herself, again, that this is real. She has to silence, too, the voices that whisper to her: that she'll mess this up; that she doesn't deserve this. She doesn't need to listen to those right now.
"It's sooooo good," she says. "They have some really fresh ingredients." She grins, then, at the offer -- maybe the challenge. "Deal!"
She laughs. "And if you like mine better... we'll talk~"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Yes. We will," Ren replies affectionately.
They'll talk all the way to the restaurant, to the park, far beyond what Ren usually does, well into the evening until, reluctantly, they have to part ways for the night.
But they've got all the time in the world to talk more and more going forward.