2026-01-27: Savour the Experience
- Log: 2026-01-27 Savour the Experience
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Ryuji Sakamoto, Tsubasa Seki, Haru Okumura, Ichika Kawase, Ann Takamaki, Makoto Niijima, Yusuke Kitagawa
- Where: Lotus Plaza, Rengedai Ward, Sumaru City
- OOC Date: January 27, 2026
- IC Date: Sunday, September 16, 2012
- Summary: At last, the Phantom Thieves all get together to celebrate the successful change of Eiji Kamiya's heart and the joining of Ichika and Tsubasa to the team. Ren comes out as X-gender/genderfluid, and Ann INSISTS on going shopping with Makoto for a ~makeover~.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Gatten Sushi didn't always used to be in Rengedai Ward; it originally was a Hirasaka restaurant. One day, though, the owner got his fortune told through Wang Long, and it told him he'd have great success if he moved the place to Rengedai. He did, securing a spot in the local Lotus Plaza mall, and lo and behold, the fortune was right: Gatten Sushi is now the go-to spot for some very well-to-do businessmen.
It's an elegant restaurant even without that, though the head chef is not himself an elegant man. The interior has a classic vibe: the floor is styled like cobblestone, the counters, tables, doors and columns are done up in wood and bamboo, there's old-style Japanese art hung up on the walls, and there's bamboo mats for the tables, which are low enough that one needs to kneel, not sit, on plush red cushions. The counter seating is actual chairs, but they're also plush and red.
Perhaps most impressively of all, there's a massive aquarium in one corner of the restaurant where you can admire fish swimming languidly within--never knowing that the next admirer might be their last.
Makoto took care of reservations here. Thus, when the team arrives, they've got two tables pushed together and cushions enough for eight. They'll have to squeeze in a bit, but they'll manage. It won't be hard for Ren to sneak their shoulder bag and its black-and-white occupant under their side of the table, either. With as big of a crowd as they've brought, and with them having table seating instead of counter seating, Morgana will go cleanly unnoticed. Probably.
Ren does precisely that, kneeling down on a spot next to the wall where they can keep an eye on the chef and any servers, including the one who sees them and their friends to their table(s). It's Sunday, so they're dressed in their typical summer casual outfit--glasses, wristwatch, white unbuttoned shirt with rolled-up sleeves, black undershirt, blue jeans and black shoes--and while jeans are a bit tough to kneel in, they make do. Morgana, on top of lurking under the table, will guard their wallet.
They spent the morning working out in various ways, the early afternoon bathing, and now, after a long train ride to Sumaru, they are ready to eat. The proceeds they got from selling off a solid gold photo frame will be able to cover everyone's food and then some. This is their celebration of changing Eiji Kamiya's heart and formal introduction of Ichika and Tsubasa to the team. They've got to go all out.
Whoever else has arrived and sat with them gets a quietly anticipatory look as they check out the menu, written down on paper slips on the wall. It's a limited one, but these are clearly some prime cuts, and there's no denying how fresh the fish will be.
Menu: Tuna (¥300), Squid (¥300), Sweet Shrimp (¥400), Eel (¥400), Sea Urchin (¥500), Salmon Roe (¥500), Fish Fin (¥400), Fatty Tuna (¥400).
"Reeeen! I want fatty tuna! Toro, toro!!" Morgana whispers excitedly from under the table.
A heavyset but bright-eyed salesman chowing down on fish fin at the counter turns around, expression puzzled, as if he'd heard someone call his name. Then he shrugs and returns to his meal.
"Yeah, yeah," Ren whispers back amiably as he does. To the others, at normal volume, they say, "I'll start with the fatty tuna and the salmon roe. What about you guys?"
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Sushi is something Ryuji loves but can seldom justify the money. So when the Phantom Thieves were talking about a Sushi celebration, Ryuji was pretty hype. So hype that he is currently watching the aquarium with his face pressed against the glass. "oooo...I want to eat this one."
When the ordering starts, Ryuji makes his way over to the tables, grinning widely. "Ooo get me some eel and some squid to start out with!"
Attire wise, Ryuji was in his usual distressed pants and loud t-shirt. He looks back to Aquarium, wondering if that fish in the Aquarium was fugu. If so, did he have the guts to try Fugu? The punk yawns as he plops down in his chair, looking around. "Nice place."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa broke into the old Gatten Sushi restaurant location, once. Long story short: there's this Sevens girl who was convinced busting in there was giving her bad luck.
They'll totally body-block for Morgana, though. (Lance, on the other hand, is too big, and will have to live with leftovers.)
They're in a magenta and green wig today, their orange-deep tan painted with cyan and white makeup alongside all the concealer. They're wearing a checkered tank top which doesn't really go far enough in hiding the binder underneath it, and a pair of cargo pants; their high-top sneakers have a half-dozen patches sewn on, which, in context, is clearly associated with youth crime.
They come in with Ichika -- they both live close enough that it just makes sense to travel together, especially with public transport being what it is -- and sit themself down. "Yo." They examine the menu for a moment, and immediately discount the salmon; they like salmon just fine, but they have an image to keep up, y'know? "... gotta go with th' fish fin," they decide, instead. "And... th' squid."
Ichika and Ryuji, at least, know that they're unlikely to order any eel. It's the one thing they and Ichika could never agree on...
<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
It's celebration time for the Phantom Thieves! This time, Haru doesn't even need to offer to foot the bill - what remains of the Treasure has them all covered. It's quite the classy restaurant - perhaps one she'd have visited with her family once upon a time during a business trip to Sumaru City.
Now, she's here to make some memories with her best friends and comrades. She's dressed nicely enough - in one of her usual blouses and skirts for the early autumn weather. Haru finds herself quite enamoured with the aquarium, perhaps because she can appreciate the dark irony in having one inside a seafood restaurant.
"I'd like to start with the sweet shrimp, along with some tuna, please." Haru says, when it's time to order. The sweet shrimp looks plenty tasty, and the eccentric side of her thought it was interesting that this one is served with the head intact. It won't make much of a difference after she's finished eating it after all. As for the tuna... she can share that with Mona if he's still not satisfied.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika loves sushi! And she loves celebrating. And she also loves not having that god-damned photo or its frame anywhere near her!
...It's a little complicated.
Ichika's nails match Tsubasa's wig, magenta and green. She is not in cargo pants; she's in a short skirt and a layered tanktop set, with tights and light shoes. Her usual dark makeup makes her stand out, as does her considerable height, and... also, the fact that she's with Tsubasa.
"Hey," Ichika says to everybody, and smiles at Ryuji in passing. When he says he wants to eat one, she laughs. "Cute."
Public transport, at least, is not Ichika's problem today; she took the van over with Tsubasa.
Ichika grins at Morgana. "A gentleman with good taste," she approves.
Then, "I'll do... eel." Pause. "And fish fin. But eel's my favorite!"
She nudges Tsubasa. "If you get any by mistake, I'll eat it for you."
She smiles at Haru, and at Ren, too. "Thanks for inviting us," she says.
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
The Phantom Thieves have been through a lot. Between Kaneshiro and Kamiya, and everything that happened in the Principal's Palace (don't even get her started)...
It's been exhausting. Wonderful, liberating, rewarding. But exhausting. Palaces are rough.
Thankfully, victory doesn't have to be its own reward now, because they have
"SUSHIIIIIIIII~!"
This is the triumphant cry of Ann Takamaki as the gang arrives at Gatten Sushi, fist pumped into the air and eyes squeezed shut with her triumphant excitement. Sushi, at these prices, with this selection?? What's there not to be excited about! Dressed down in a white button up tied off just above her abdomen with a cute pink crop tank decorated with red heart outlines bubbling out from the left side of the chest and a pair of denim cutoffs, red wedge heel sneakers and a few pieces of jewelry and accessories here and there (including some chic heart-lensed sunglasses perched on her head), Ann is practically - no, no, literally, she's literally skipping to their seats and all but bouncing onto her cushion with a big grin and gusto to spare.
Kneeling comfortably, palms pressed to the tops of her thighs, Ann regards the menu with a thoughtful stare. Pensive. Considerate.
She pauses, for a moment, to look Morgana's way, lifting a finger to her lips. "Shhhh -- they're gonna hear you, Morgana!" she whispers, because she is not having this immaculate moment ruined via being uncovered as illegal cat smugglers, which she isn't sure is a thing, but she's not taking her chances.
And with that, she returns to the menu, hand to chin -- and her expression brightens in realization of her deep-seated desires.
"Ooo, I wanna try the eel," she declares.
"Oh! Oh!! And the Sweet shrimp!" she continues with enthusiasm.
"Oh, I gotta have the squid too, and the sea urchin?? So tasty! And..."
Is she.
Is she just going to list every item on the menu.
"... mmmmmmm, it's been soooo lonnnng since I've had salmon roe..."
Is that where we're at now.
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
Booking ahead seems to have been a good idea- even if Makoto had planned to get the counter service, it was apparently all taken up. It's fine though, the large group they had now, the counter wouldn't be enough anyway.
Makoto had made a whole plan for the day, however- morning Aikido practice, get the weekly meal prep done early, do her usual study, have some dinner in the fridge for Sis in case she comes home before Makoto gets back (unlikely, given her case load), finish the housework and be at the station early for everyone who wanted to travel from Tokyo to Sumaru together. You know, a normal preplanned organized approach to the day. Now she could take it easy and enjoy the evening!
Unfortunately, to what will surely be Ann's chagrin, Makoto is once again wearing the same damn casual outfit of a white long-sleeved tunic-style blouse, 3/4 length black leggings, a thin black belt, and short black closed-toe heels, and that french braid hairband she is almost never without.
This does feel like the first time everyone's been together all at once- because it is. And it's honestly the biggest gathering of friends (new and old) that she's ever had.
"You don't have to order everything right at the start," Makoto comments to Ann as she goes into *must try everything* mode. "Besides, at a restaurant like this, you really want to take the chance to savour it."
There's a moment though as she remembers someone else at the table. "I mean, we don't have to hold back either. We're supposed to be celebrating" Damn it's like she could be staring directly at a certain starving artist right now, Yusuke.
Still, Makoto's happy to be on one of the outer positions at the table, as a few others take positions with full view of the restaurant. "I think I'll have Tuna and Salmon Roe, personally." Makoto decides, after a quick glimpse at the menu.
Still, beyond the briefly confused businessman, there's been no evil eyes given- even if they might have had the briefest of 'can you all afford this' moments. They do certainly look like an odd bunch. A sliding scale of honor student to delinquent if you put them in a lineup.,
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Having taken the train from Port Island, Yusuke manages to find Gatten Sushi and join his friends in relatively short order. He's getting used to this 'meeting friends' thing. Dressed in a pinstriped tan jacket over a white-and-pink shirt with black slacks, his not-a-hair-out-of-place fashion sense is perhaps the polar opposite to Tsubasa's. As he approaches their table, he brings up his hands to frame it between his fingers. So intent on this is he that he actually forgets to greet the others for an uncomfortably long moment, before he seems to recall that he's not alone and offers the others a faint smile and a nod.
This is an excellent opportunity to steal the seat he may be planning to take.
"It's been a while," he says, as he finds the best compromise to sit at the table before studying the menu. Perhaps to nobody's surprise, he begins with an order of squid.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Fortunately for Ryuji, this place does not serve fugu. He does not need to risk death to prove his manliness in front of his main squeeze(s). The fish within flit back and forth for him and Haru both, at least until it's time to sit.
Morgana appreciates the additional body-blocking from Tsubasa! He has been looking forward to sushi for what feels like ages. It would be awful if he couldn't join in for petty reasons like cats not being allowed. The nerve!! But that's not a problem today, especially with Ichika complimenting him on his good taste. That :3 face isn't just how his face looks naturally!
Of course, then Ann shushes him, and Morgana wilts, ears turning back on his head. But he does keep his mouth shut. For Lady Ann's sake!!
"Of course you're invited. You're part of the team now," Ren tells Ichika. This get-together is to celebrate her and Tsubasa joining, in fact! It would be weird not to invite her in light of that. But, well, politeness is as politeness does.
Someone who does not stand on politeness: Ann, whose enthusiasm makes up for Morgana's deflation, particularly as she essentially makes her way through the limited menu. Ren gives her a fond smile. They might end up sampling their way through too; there's only eight items anyway. Best to pace themself at the start, though--as Makoto takes it upon herself to point out to Ann. Ren nods in sage agreement.
Yusuke's the last to arrive, and naturally lifts his thumb and forefingers to frame the sight of his friends. Ren pretends not to notice, though there's an instant when they glance over their shoulder at him; they opt to stay natural and watch the others order and chat fondly. When Yusuke remembers himself is when Ren nods back.
"How was the trip from Port Island? Not too bad?" they ask; he's the only one from there, after all.
Everyone's orders are taken in short order, too--though it'll be a bit before the food comes out. Until then, they do have time to chat. And, for all that there's a wide range of styles in how each of them dress, they are good for the check. Whatever that frame sold for? It's Enough.
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
But Ryuji is all about death defying acts. Oh well. The Fugu arc is delayed for a future day.
Ryuji leans back in his chair as he waits for his food, bouncing slightly as he is eager to get that good food.
Ryuji blinks when Ann practically orders all the fish in the ocean. "Uhhh...leave some for the rest of us, Ann!"
"Yo Yusuke!" Ryuji waves from his spot, putting an arm around Ichika as he settles in.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"My hero," Tsubasa cracks a grin, briefly, to Ichika, when she offers to bravely eat any eel which ends up on their plate.
They're not entirely sure Ann is dressed down, though. "Nice fit," they aside, to her. "Dig ya glasses."
Ann proceeds to just -- order everything, and Tsubasa's blue eyes slowly widen as they realise the scope of her stomach. "You, uh... gon' eat all that...?" They ask, a touch stunned.
They don't know 'bout Ann's stomach.
Tsubasa... definitely doesn't plan their day like Makoto does, any more. (Middle school... well, you know, it was middle school.) They can imagine all the effort Makoto's put into it, though. "Thanks for organisin' shit, man."
And Yusuke... also gets a firm nod from Tsubasa. "Sweet jacket." Tsubasa appreciates the effort people put into their fashion even if it's not their type of fashion, apparently.
Honestly, Tsubasa would probably eat the fugu right alongside Ryuji, so, like, it's for the best.
"So, uh... thanks for welcomin' us so warm-like," Tsubasa starts, after a moment, rubbing at the back of their neck before they bow their head down. "I'm lookin' forward to demolishin' this sushi with you!" And the firmness of their statement is both literal and one step removed from it; it's not at all difficult to imagine them actually looking forward to stealing more Hearts with them.
But of course, they can't say that out loud in the sushi restaurant!!
And of course, Tsubasa's a little intense about it...
<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
Haru waves enthusiastically when the others filter in. "Hehe. It's so kind of Ann-chan to order for all of us, at once." She giggles, as Ann proceeds to order every single item on the menu. In all seriousness, though, she can kind of envy her for throwing politeness to the wind and staying true to herself.
Makoto too - shares some wisdom, no need to hold back. "I agree, Mako-chan." Haru smiles. "We've earned this... so it's time for an All-Out Attack." That doubly applies to Yusuke, who is probably about to have more food than he does in a week.
Haru nods to Ren, as he affirms that Ichika and Tsubasa are fully-fledged members of the team, and gives Ichika an encouraging smile. She laughs warmly when Tsubasa thanks them for having them and looks forward to their dinner. "As do I.~" Haru's smile turns slightly more ominous. Of course, she's most looking forward to demolishing Shadows together with the two of them, but the sushi comes first. "Let's enjoy.~ As a team!"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ann's enthusiasm, as always, is infectious. Ann's triumphant cry brings a smile to Ichika's face. And the fact that Ann wants to try everything, well--Ryuji may complain at her, but Ichika just laughs (softly, but definitely laughing). When Tsubasa asks if she can eat all that, Ichika thiks back to crepes at the mall...
"Good food makes a girl more powerful," Ichika says sagely.
Makoto though, "True. I'm gonna do a good bit of savoring." A beat, "And not so much holding back!"
Ichika has her own seat, Yusuke!! ...But it's nice seeing him remember the moment.
Ichika looks to Ren too--and well, her thanks was't just for inviting them to sushi. She smiles back. "Yeah," she answers. "Good to be here."
Part of the team. It feels great.
And it seems to for Tsubasa, too. Ichika smiles. "Me, too," she says, and leans into Ryuji for a moment when he puts an arm around her. "I think we'll all get enough OK," she says. "This is gonna be great!"
Then she smiles at Tsubasa. "Let's relax, yeah? WE're among friends."
An All-Out Attack!! Ichika grins at Haru. They will demolish those shadows together, certainnly.
"I guess with this much food we have to have teamwork...!"
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
'Nice fit. Dig ya glasses.'
"Hee hee. Right??"
Were she standing, Ann would have taken the time to strike a little pose here. As it is, Tsubasa will have to settle for her wiggling those sunglasses up and down, Morecambe-style. (she does not, as ever, notice morgana deflate; look, there's a lot going on!!)
"I bought them last week at 37 Degrees," Celius, a designer shop at the Shibuya Underground Mall, "So cute. I bet you'd find a lot you like there too!"
Ann Takamaki - in-person shopping's most passionate advocate.
Of course, Ann is also binge-eating's most passionate advocate, which is why, when Tsubasa uncertainly addresses the elephant in the room that is her UNFAIR APPETITE, the blonde Second Year's response is, at first, a single owlish blink of doe-wide eyes. "Huh? I mean, yeah. I don't think they serve dessert or anything at the Gatten, it's a pretty limited menu n' all..."
Yes.
Ann one hundred percent construed this as Tsubasa wondering if this was all she was going to eat. Which, like. Duh! It's not like they serve cake here!
... and now she's hungry for cake--
Alas, Ann's cakey reverie is ruthlessly interrupted as others start to key into the fact that maybe, just maybe, she's ordering A Lot. First, of course, Ryuji, to whom Ann answers with an effortlessly deadpan, "Now I'm definitely gonna eat all of yours just for that." Teasing? Deathly serious threat...?!
"See? Ichika gets it. Like I'm gonna get your sushi--!"
The ominous uncertainty lingers in the air until--!
"H-huh?" Ann blurts out at Makoto's observation, and then Haru's warm teasing, drawn away from the EVIL EYE she's affixing on Ryuji so that sky blue eyes might fly wide in blinking alarm as she looks between her senpais. "Y-you think? But isn't 'variety the spice of life'? I'm pretty sure someone famous said that. Like, um. ... Homer*."
* it was william cowper who lived like 2600 years apart from homer and is in no way related to homer
Ann eventually relents with a "Fiiiine, I'll have... the sea urchin and the eel to start, then," which may or may not affect the flow of fate of whether she makes her dastardly and dashing attempt to phantom thieve Ryuji's squid later, "--and the sweet shrimp." For now, though...
"Sssspeaking of variety and spice," and here, Ann turns a slow, thoughtful squint Makoto's way. A damning one.
"... Do you need to go shopping, Makoto? This outfit is really cute but I think I've seen it like, so many times now."
Ah.
it begins.
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
"I'm choosing to savour this experience," Yusuke replies placidly to Makoto, "and pace myself, in preparation for the battles to come."
The battles in this case being servings of fatty tuna, probably. It depends on which of the others' dishes takes his fancy first - although he is still starting with the cheapest option first, no matter how much his stomach may protest.
He looks around the table, taking in the group together as Tsubasa expresses particularly intense fervour about their gathering and their induction into their group. "Our numbers have swelled in such a short time. I am pleased to have another artist in our company, too."
As Ann sets her deadly fashionista's eye on Makoto, Yusuke leans over towards their tactician, lowering his voice. "Takamaki-san once suggested I could become a model. Watch out."
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
Thank goodness for Ren backing her up on sensible ordering decisions. Otherwise that would just make Makoto a killjoy! (I mean she can be a killjoy but someone needs to keep like half of the group studying at all.) Makoto sends a smile Tsubasa's way when they thank her for organizing. "It was no problem, really." I mean it probably was a bit of work, but from Makoto's perspective it was practically nothing, and for a good cause! "I don't normally get to organize parties, so it's a nice change, and it's nice to get the chance to have a dinner with everyone."
Makoto is still getting used to 'Mako-chan' as a nickname, but she does smile- and blush ever so slightly, not that she's realized that. "Let's just not leave the restaurant like we leave our opposition," she responds, with a laugh.
What do they seem like to outside, some kind of co-ed rugby team? Roller derby? Roller Rugby???
Makoto nods at Ichika. "We should definitely eat our fill, but a lot of work goes into sushi this good after all. We need to appreciate the chef's expertise in both picking ingredients and preparing the sushi." ...Spoken like someone who does a lot of unappreciated labour- but that's a thought for a more introspective, less fun day.
"...I don't think that was Homer," Makoto says, quietly, as Ann gets like half a mark for history/literature.
"Just don't spend all your time focusing on the aesthetics, Kitagawa-kun. You should be getting as much of a share as the rest of the table, and our booking has a time limit." There's a slight sternness in Makoto's voice- not mean, but reminding him that he *needs to fucking eat* because someone has to.
Unfortunately, as Ann turns her deadly gaze to Makoto, Makoto has no idea what she's in for, or even that she's in danger at all. Even as Yusuke casts a warning her way. There's no way Makoto could be a model, after all.
"...I don't think so?" Makoto responds, with all the obliviousness of the dodo. "I have a few of these blouses, and I'm on top of laundry and nothing's needed repairing yet. I don't really need that much, it's not like I'm going out super often, and it's not really the sort of thing I'd wear to practice."
Damn, if only there were someone who knew her from middle school and knew about the fact that she wore the same blue overalls and white long sleeve shirt and red hairband every time she met up outside of school hours who could back up Ann's very blatant claims that Makoto is apparently blind to.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Of course," Ren tells Tsubasa, both of the warm welcome and of demolishing this sushi (and, unspoken, of stealing more hearts together). They're unbothered by their intensity; if Ren were going to be bothered by any of these weirdos after getting comfortable with them, they wouldn't be friends in the first place. (Ren can be an intense person too sometimes, anyway.) Ichika too smiles, glad to be here and ready to All-Out-Attack that sushi with Haru, Ann, and everyone, while Tsubasa calls out Makoto with gratitude for organizing this get-together. Yusuke's likewise pleased to have another artist in their ranks, and Ryuji stretches an arm around Ichika. Ren grins. "Yeah. We're all in this together now; you're both important friends."
They look around the group; although their neutral expression doesn't change, their pulse speeds up. This is it. They resolved to say this now, with everyone together... They clear their throat. "And... you've been an important friend to me in particular. By helping me be honest about a part of myself.," they say to Tsubasa, but raising their deep voice to make it clear this is for everyone to hear. They shoot a look over at Ann; she's the other person here who already knows what they're about to say, though she doesn't know they're about to say it to everyone. Morgana does, and he watches them with bright eyes from under the table. "We all know that Tsubasa's X-gender." It's something that was made explicit multiple times in Eiji's Palace, thanks to how Eiji's Shadow and various cognitions kept misgendering them, but also Tsubasa just says it when they meet people. That was inspiring to Ren--and it inspires them now to continue, "...Well, just so you all know, I'm X-gender too. In a different way, but... yeah."
An awkward pause. Then they shrug, because inspired or not, they absolutely don't know how to follow up on that admission. "No big deal," they conclude, tone deceptively casual. Maybe the others will notice their hands, nails painted black, shaking as they slip them off the table and onto their knees; maybe not.
They trust their friends, as they told Morgana once. At this point, it's silly to think anyone would have a problem with it. Just... it's hard to completely ignore the whisper of anxiety in the back of their mind.
So when Ann speaks of cake, they seize on the opportunity and say, "They don't. But we can grab dessert somewhere else if we want. And if we're not too stuffed once we're done here." Topic: changed. Especially when Ann moves in on Makoto's outfit! Which is cute, but is very much her standard. ...Much like how Ren's current outfit is their standard. They look down at themself, then over at Makoto, then over at Ann. "...Something wrong with that?"
There is, admittedly. Ren would like more outfits too, actually. They left most of their wardrobe back in Inaba when they moved at the start of the school year. But new clothes are hard to justify splurging on when you live in an attic and work seven different part-time jobs, not all of them paid. Makoto might have a similar mindset; she, like them, is also locked in.
As Yusuke says, though, Ann has an eye for beauty, and she's not one to be deterred--especially if someone else eggs her on...
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
Ryuji and Tsubasa Fugu arc, coming soon. Also Ryuji will fight for his squid, Ann!
Ryuji smiles at Ichika, laying his head against hers as he scans the room. He was already considering stuff for his upcoming blog, noting the decor and ambience of the Sushi restaurant. He wasn't going to review this place but it was nice to think about what he would say.
Ryuji looks over when Ren starts talking. He blinks as Ren reveals his gender identity before grinning. "For real? That's cool dude. I guess you're 'Extreme' gender just like Tsubasa! Kick ass!"
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
As a team...!
Tsubasa, luckily, has far too much makeup on for it to be obvious they're blushing, hearing Haru encourage them like that. Still, they straighten up -- as Ichika says, they really ought to relax -- and they're actually smiling, for once. "Thanks, Haru-chan. Thanks, Ren-kun. Thanks, everyone." Ren called them an important friend...!!
(Tsubasa's normal expression is kind of scowly by default. It's not necessarily that they're pissed, even though they're usually pissed at something, they just kind of have a thug mug. Their facial scarring is a little more obvious when they're smiling, which is why they save it for special occasions.)
But Ren has a good reason why they'd call Tsubasa an important friend, as it happens. They catch onto their lead-up pretty quickly, which is why their own voice raises a little to ask: "Yeah?" (The subtext, of course, is to go: 'hey guys listen to this!!')
Tsubasa grins, reaching a hand over to grasp Ren's. "Yeah. Glad I could help ya, too, Ren-chan." They switch up their honourifics! All while indicating that Ren helped Tsubasa realise a thing or two, too, though they'll leave it to implication. The important part is showing how it's a two-way street.
And if that grasped hand helps Ren show off their nice painted nails, well, Tsubasa's a bit devious that way.
"Supes extreme," they add, with a firm nod to Ryuji. "That's what th' 'X' stands for, y'know." Clearly they'd know!
"Guess so," Tsubasa marvels, when Ichika insists that food makes girls more powerful. "Man, I'm impressed..." Especially when Ann indicates she would eat more if it's available. "Uh, pre' limited, but like, you could go for seconds?"
They're impressed at Ann's fashion, too!! "That th' Shibuya joint? Sick. Gon' check it out." Tsubasa's street fashion aptitude is absolutely high enough to recognise trendy stores by name, even if they don't make it out there that often.
Though... they give her a sceptical look, when she says Homer said that. "Uh... like... Illiad Homer?" How do you even know what an ancient Grecian poet IS, Tsubasa.
"Yeah, man," Tsubasa grins, to Yusuke. "Oughta take ya out taggin' sometime. We do it in th' Dark Hour these days, since, uh... y'know." They gesture, vaguely. "But that ain't no crime hurtin' nobody, it's art."
But Ann insists that Makoto regard fashion, and Tsubasa slow pans over to her.
There is a long beat of silence.
"Nah, man. Takamaki-chan's right. You got like, one outfit, always have."
ET TU, BRUTE?! (tsubasa might even know what that quote's about...)
"Nothin' wrong with it if that's ya comfort," they add, with consideration to Ren, "but ain't bad to experiment some, neither. Might be ya jus' needed to find ya style 'fore ya felt good switchin' it up." Tsubasa definitely didn't dress like this in middle school...
... and they figure Makoto doesn't allocate a lot of time in her schedule to try on new styles.
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Tsubasa suggesting that they and Yusuke go out tagging actually has the boy visibly perk up, even as Makoto reminds the group that there is, horror of horrors, a time limit on the table!? He quietly adds a few more items to his order, at the urging of his less quiet stomach, as he engages in his special interest with Tsubasa. "Yes, I must admit, there is an ephemerality to it that fascinates me, since I'm more used to more... traditional, permanent pieces."
He has to visibly force himself to not run roughshod over Ren, however, as they in turn have something important to discuss... and their coming out is met with a blank blink, for a moment, as Yusuke looks between Ren and Tsubasa.
"'...x'..." He sounds it out, taking a few steps back to place things in order - the way Tsubasa was referred to in Eiji's palace, and their continued insistence against it. "... Neither?" Then he notices Ren's hand, and their painted fingers, and his frown deepens. "... both?"
And then Ryuji says 'extreme' and Tsubasa agrees, and the metaphorical driftwood Yusuke was clinging to disintegrates completely.
<Pose Tracker> Haru Okumura has posed.
Haru giggles ever so slightly as she notices Makoto blush a little, though she doesn't comment on it. Instead, she laughs at Makoto's little joke. "Yes, that's quite true. We ought to show enough class to clean up after ourselves, at the very least." She agrees, doing the group's image absolutely no favours.
"Quite so," Haru agrees, when Ichika points out that good food makes girls more powerful. "And we have plenty of strong girls among us.~"
She lights up, then, as Ann asks Makoto if she wants to go clothes shopping, only for it to fly over her head. "It's never a bad idea to get some new clothes before the winter season." Haru says, glancing over at Makoto. "Maybe we could make a day out of it?" Haru can hardly hide that she would really love to be a part of giving Makoto an adorable makeover.
Amidst all the banter and joking around, including questioning Ann's Literature grade, Ren has something important to announce. X-Gender! It sounds so cool and mysterious... though she was at least aware of the term thanks to Tsubasa. She finds herself laughing at Ryuji's reaction, especially when Tsubasa plays along with it. And then she turns back her attention to Ren. "I see! I admit, I'm not as well-read about it as I should be... but thank you for telling us, Ren... ah..." She hesitates for a moment. "Um, is there any way you would rather us refer to you?" She asks. Either way, it doesn't change how Haru feels about Ren. From the way they came out, she doesn't think Ren would want it to, either.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Maybe we should check that store out," Ichika reflects to Tsubasa of 37 Degrees. But food? Ichika gets it!! And so does Haru. Ichika ods firmly. "Sure do."
Some girls might be threatened by the way Ann is ready to STEAL RYUJI'S FOOD but Ichika isn't; Ann knew him first, and they're good friends! ...Besides, it's really funny to watch.
Until--
Homer. "Huh. Do you know a lot of famous people quotes?"
Yusuke... is savoring the experiennce. The battles... "You could," Ichika reflects of Yusuke, become a model. "But I guess you'd rather be on the other side, huh?"
Makoto... does't think it was Homer, though??? Ichika looks at her in confusion.
At least the matter of their sushi is easy. "Definitely," Ichika agrees. "Good experiences... you need to stop and savor them. If you rush through, it's never as good." She reflects, too. Organizingn parties... maybe one day she'll be more up for doing that again.
For now, it's nice to appreciate someone else's work doinng it. "You did great," she adds about that."
Geder, though?
"Oh!" ichika says, and blinks first in surprise--and then smiles. "That's great," she says. "I appreciate you being willing to tell us, too." More gennder! "Anything special we should address you by, say, anything like that?" she asks. Pronouns, she means in English, anyway. "If you think it's no big that's cool, but I think it's big enough to smile about, anyway." Yusuke... May not get it! Pause. Ichika chimes in helpfully(?) that, "With Tsubasa, it's that they want to be neither. But this is different? Either way, it's easy; they just... do't fit in the same box. Right?" Their own box! Wait, that's nnot how it is? Nobody tell Ichika. Anyway Haru has the same question as she does, so Ichika just ods encouragingly. "I really respect people who can embrace stuff like that about themselves... I'm happy being a girl, but... It's still cool."
Dessert...
"I brought the van," Ichika says, "So if it's a pain to get wherever I can take us."
"I'm down," ichika says of tagging too.
"I'll go," Ichika says of shopping, too. "A girl like you... Yeah. There's tons of cute stuff you could wear. Or maybe not cute? Hmmm, we'd have to see what you wanted for style..." Haru even suggests making a day of it! Ichika's up for that, too.
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
"Oh! Aheh, not really. I've just kinda picked things up here and there..."
Ann Takamaki: humble and aware of her low academic social stat. But not aware enough.
Ren thanks Tsubasa, singling them out for a particular kind of help. Ann blinks once, her lust for food and fashion (temporarily) abated in brief bemusement. Unlike academic things ("Wellll, maybe it was his friend or something?" she, for example, notes to Makoto, which is equally wrong and bad), she has a strong and sharp mind for social things.
She doesn't even need to catch that glimpse of black lacquered nails to have an idea where this is going. But it certainly does go a long way towards confirming it.
So as Ren makes their announcement, as off-handed and casual as they can try to make it, Ann just offers a little, supportive smile and an on-the-downlow thumbs up as if to say 'you've got this dude!!' without saying it. And of course, when they proclaim it no big deal?
"Nuh uh," is Ann's immediate response, shaking her head with the bounce of platinum twintails. "It's so not a big deal. It's a seriously cool deal!"
Yeah. Get appreciated, nerd.
As Yusuke attempts to grasp the implications, and Ichika offers her way of explaining, Ann is quick to add: "Mmhm. In the West they call it non-binary. Y'know? Like... it's not one of two things, it's its own thing. Sometimes that means neither, sometimes that means feeling more like a girl one day and more like a guy the other... like that."
She trusts the ones more versed in it all to explain better than she does; living abroad so much, especially in the fashion world, has broadened her horizons -- but she's still got limited experience with the entire idea at best beyond the abstract. And talking with Ren, anyway.
But!
They don't. But we can grab dessert somewhere else if we want. And if we're not too stuffed once we're done here.
Ren, as if to play the whole thing off so as not to feel too uncomfortable, cannily sets up an off-ramp. And Ann instantly takes hold of it, expression brightening and entire posture perking to alertness. "Oh, oh, seriously?? Mm, there's a great dessert place I know a few blocks down from here! It's sssoooo gooood~! Do we have that kinda money, though...?"
Yes, she is financially responsible!!
She'd muse further on their budget, but two things happen: one, swiftly resolved, is this: Uh... like... Illiad Homer? "Um. I guess? I don't know his full name... but definitely not Simpson Homer."
...
AND THEN SWIFTLY AFTER:
I don't really need that much, it's not like I'm going out super often, and it's not really the sort of thing I'd wear to practice.
"For real?!"
THIS happens.
This moment. Where Ann Takamaki just stares at Makoto Nijima, disbelieving. As Tsubasa, with past experience to bring to bear, notes that Makoto is basically a cartoon character with one outfit and that's it, always. As Haru rallies to her cause, noting the importance of getting new clothes before the change in seasons, instantly clocking Ann's Grand Design. As Ichika notes the fashion potential of Makoto.
As Ren utters those fated words:
...Something wrong with that?
"Ohmigosh, there's so much wrong with that!"
And seals Makoto's fate.
This is Ann, pointing a finger directly Ren's way. A second passes. She notes they have a similar issue. Her lips pull towards a pensive line. "--Like, there's nothing wrong with a signature outfit!" she begins, tactfully. "But fashion is like -- fashion is so powerful! It's your armor against the world! It's telling everyone what's in your heart! There's so many different ways to accentuate and bring out the best of yourself with the right clothes, and a robust wardrobe means you have even more variety to mix and match with. It's seriously important."
And this is when sky blue eyes turn upon Makoto. Full of the vast, blazing inferno of Carmen. Full of determination.
"Shopping day. Definitely. All of us." There is no time for argument. No force in this world that could move the adamantium will of Ann Takamaki.
"There's so many good looks you can do. It doesn't have to be cutesy or anything - you have such mature and stylishly refined energy, y'know? You're so graceful and scary strong in a really pretty way. I'd really want to bring that out. I've already got some ideas in mind just looking at you...!"
This is write in stone. The day has come.
"Hee hee," Ann wiggles in her cushion. "I can't wait! Makeover, makeover...~!"
It cannot be undone.
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
Ren has something important to share, evidently, and when Ren clears their throat and Tsubasa does the get everyone's attention 'Yeah?', Makoto looks across the table at Ren, waiting for them to speak...
And Ren's confession is met with a warm smile. "Thank you for telling us," Makoto says- one of many affirmations from the surrounding thieves. "What honorifics and pronouns would you like to use?" Look, after meeting Tsubasa again Makoto maybe went into a bit of a research overdrive. That's what she does sometimes, especially when something she feels she should know about- but she does notice Tsubasa using 'Ren-chan', though she won't act on it without Ren's okay first.
"I definitely don't think the saying goes back to Ancient Greece," Makoto confirms, as Tsubasa brings up the Iliad, possibly adding to Ichika's confusion. "...do I need to start organizing study sessions, Ann?"
She is somewhat comforted by Haru keeping her ruthless and destructive side to the metaverse, and not a nice sushi restaurant.
Ren, however, comes to Makoto's rescue by confirming her wardrobe habits are perfectly sensible and normal- only for Tsubasa to hurl her under Ann's Fashion Bus, and Makoto turns to Tsubasa with a shocked expression. "H-huh?" She's definitely confused, initially. "It... I mean, it wasn't that unusual, was it?" ...Because Makoto only had so many reference points back then.
Haru too? "I mean, my winter wardrobe is okay, Sis and I went clothes shopping a year or so ago to get things I needed, and she tends to hand some stuff down to me..." But Haru's talking about making a day of it and she doesn't want to say no she likes hanging out with her friends. "I mean, I would be okay with a day out..."
And a surprise swing from Ichika knocks Makoto off her conversational feet. "C-cute?" Why is the focus suddenly on Makoto?? They were supposed to be celebrating Ichika and Tsubasa joining, and then Ren coming out should have been the most important thing? "I mean, I'm fine, really, I don't want to put you all out..."
But the fiery passion of Ann Takamaki strikes down, and burns away any hope of escape. She is mesmerized as Ann unleashes the joy of fashion, in a sort of 'deer caught in the headlights' sort of way, stunned and unable to argue- especially as shopping day is suddenly and vehemently decided upon.
She looks to Ren, her usual anchor in the madness, for help- but even they cannot stop Ann's powerful invocation of the sacred spell of 'makeover'.
"O-okay...?"
She's done for......
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
God, Ryuji's so good at being a supportive friend. The tension in Ren breaks as they laugh at his earnest comment on their 'extreme' gender. "Yup, that's right," they say, a sparkle of mischief in their eye as they meet Tsubasa's gaze. It softens when they reach out for their hand; they let them take it and pull it up and out to hold it--showing off their dark nail polish at the same time.
It really is an immense relief to have everyone take their coming out (well, about their gender; they may have forgotten to also mention their sexuality, and more to the point, the fact that they have a girlfriend currently) fully in stride. That relief is palpable. For some here, this is the broadest smile they've ever seen on Ren's lips. Even Ann gets to revel in how they all but sparkle as she appreciates this nerd. How could they not, when basking in the joy of being seen, accepted and loved? Tsubasa will feel their shaking quell.
They glance quickly down at Morgana when he presses a paw on their knee, and the two share a smile of understanding. Then Ren squeezes Tsubasa's hand in silent gratitude. They caught that 'too' too, but they'll leave it as a subtle thing. That's just their way.
Though, Yusuke seems confused. "Right. Tsubasa's neither, and I'm both," they confirm. A beat. "...And also neither." They grin, that mischief returning. "That's why it's X-treme-gender."
None of it is a lie, really! But Haru, Makoto and Ichika all ask a relevant question, and they settle down. "Thank you for listening. The way I identify is more specifically called 'futei-sei.'" Literally meaning indeterminate gender, it maps more or less to the Western concept of genderfluid (which, in fairness, is a known loan word in Japan). Ichika calls it their own box, which Ann specifies is also called non-binary, and they nod, smiling slightly at that and her admiration. "Right. So if you want to call me he, she, or they... Ren-kun or Ren-chan or something else entirely... any of it's fine by me." A pause. Their expression sets with the neutrality of necessity. "...Probably safer to stick to 'he' when we're at school."
Plates upon plates of sushi arrive then! The server sets down everyone's orders in front of them--the initial orders, anyway; additional ones people put in will need more time--so that everyone has at least something to start eating. Ren slips their hand back to feast on their salmon roe, and slip the fatty tuna under the table. (They'll put in an order for sweet shrimp, squid, and another fatty tuna afterwards. Morgana must also feast!! Indeed, he's already making happy kitty noises under the table. Good thing everyone's talking over him...)
They also fall silent to listen thoughtfully to the fashion discussion as they savor their meal, like Yusuke and Ichika. Tsubasa has a point... It would be nice to experiment more with style. How does Makoto feel about that, though? They'll let her speak for herself on the matter--including if she does indeed want to go shopping.
Ann jabs a finger at them. Ren gives her a steady look back and watches her backpedal in real time. ...She does have a point too, though. They consider this and nod once. "Fair," they say. Shopping trip... They don't insert themself into that--at least, not until Makoto turns that beseeching look their way.
They smile. "Let me know how it goes," they tell her encouragingly.
There's no stopping Ann anyway, so best to be positive about it.
"Oh, perfect," they comment to Ichika when she offers to drive everyone to dessert, if they do that. Ann is clearly up for it, immediately offering up a nearby dessert place. Can they afford it, though? ...The only responsible thing Ren can say here is, "Let's see how it goes."
They have to see what the bill here comes up to before they can commit. That frame sold for a lot, though, so cake is almost certainly in the team's future.
Cake, and lots, lots more sushi.
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Yusuke listens intently as the others explain that apparently there are hitherto-unexplored frontiers of 'Gender'.
"..."
Give him a moment.
"So this is... clarifying a personal truth to you?" He asks Ren - and, thankfully, further explanation is forthcoming, to which he nods much more firmly. "I see. Thank you for trusting us with this." He offers that rare full smile. "I am glad that you are pursuing that truth."
... And that's that. Perhaps there will be more questions, later, but the conceptual frontier has been successfully crossed. For now: There is sushi to devour, and Yusuke Kitagawa is famished.