2026-02-04: SMILE For Me
- Log: 2026-02-04 SMILE For Me
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Minako Arisato
- Where: The movie theatre on Shibuya Central Street, Shibuya, Tokyo
- OOC Date: February 04, 2026
- IC Date: Thursday, September 20, 2012
- Summary: Ren and Minako see horror thriller movie SMILE together--but Ren's reaction to the ending is a little odd. When Minako attempts to press them on why, they talk about Junko Kurosu's recent advocacy for gay rights and marriage, which segues into Ren coming out as X-gender to her. She accepts them, which makes them happy--but the fact that both of them are hiding something from each other, and Minako can tell, racks up a little tension in what should be a happy moment.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
@> Hey... you busy today?
@> If you're up for it, you wanna see a movie? If you like horror, I heard SMILE's good.
@> Don't worry about it if you're busy though, we can go some other time.
That's what Ren texted Minako earlier today. They'd been texted by the mysterious Alibaba earlier that day, who'd made it clear a) they know they're a Phantom Thief b) they want to make a request of them--one they didn't actually specify. Ren was unable to text them once they decided the conversation was over, so all they can do is let their friends know the situation and ask for their call, and... that's it.
They need something to take their mind off this. That's why they reach out to their girlfriend. They heard that the actress who plays the monster in SMILE started stanning gay rights to the government, and that's honestly more their interest than the movie itself, but Ren's heard good things about the movie itself. If Minako were to request a different movie, they'd be willing to see that instead.
Fortunately, she's been meaning to check it out too! The two of them agree to meet up that afternoon at the Shibuya Central Street movie theatre; since Minako's the one who came the longer distance, Ren buys the tickets and (sneaks in) snacks. (Minako can pay them back if she wants, but they insist it's no big deal.)
https:'www.velvetroom.wikiindex.phpSMILE_(2012)
It's a pretty spooky film. Ren's not that into the cops-solving-a-crime aspect--though they hate it less than they otherwise might--but the mystery itself is intriguing, and they've gotta admit: Junko Kurosu nails the killer role. Ren honestly ends up finding her character pretty sympathetic, blood-splattered murder rampage aside.
The twist at the end is a gut punch for a couple of reasons. The main one is the implication that murderer Miyako and survivor Misa are related--mother and daughter, maybe? It's an implication that's underscored by the post-credits scene, where Misa faces the scene, face overlaid with Miyako's, still sprayed with blood, and asks:
"Am I pretty?"
It's genuinely unsettling. (Definitely fodder for a sequel or twenty.)
Yet, when Minako looks over at Ren, she'll find that they're staring at the screen not with fear or revulsion or anything like that...
...but sadness.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
> Sure! I was curious about it!
> Let's do it. <3
Minako could use a distraction herself. She had been in Tartarus last night; it left her feeling tired today, and a distraction is good -- Tartarus can be frustrating at the best of times. Thus, she headed over that afternoon and met with Ren. And she accepted buying the tickets; her plan is to do it first next time.
Minako only heard a little about it. The terrifying plot does get a few yelps and cries of surprise. For all that she might be a focused, determined fighter in Tartarus... a good jump scare will get Minako in a movie theater. She grabs Ren's arm during one of Miyako's bloodier rampages, in the middle of the movie.
At the end, though, Minako gasps. She swallows, hard, before she looks sideways at Ren. She expects to see them looking frightened -- or disturbed -- or impressed. But they look... sad.
Her crimson eyes blink. Then, she asks, "Hey... everything okay? What'd you think?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Next time, Ren can take the train up to Port Island and Minako can buy the tickets. It's fair that way.
The arm-grab is definitely not unwelcome. Ren shoots her a glance, then slips their hand in hers and squeezes in reassurance. It's a good thing the popcorn is eaten and soda mostly drunk by then; they're both fully forgotten after that.
...of course, the splatterfest means they're not super interested in eating or drinking anything anyway.
At the end though, well... Minako asks them what they think, and they blink, startled over at her. "Oh--I'm fine," they say quickly. The lights are turning on; other movie-goers are getting up to leave. They grab their trash and their half-drunk soda and stand too.
"It's an intense movie. I didn't see the twist with Misa coming," they continue. "What'd you think of that?"
They're covering up some of their feelings. Part of why they were interested in seeing this movie was because of Junko Kurosu's recent actions, but they weren't actually expecting some kind of parent-child pathos. (Miyako and Misa may not be parent and child, but it's left open-ended enough, and they seem to be far enough apart in age, to be a mother and her adult child, anyway. At least, that's how Ren's interpreted it.) It reminds them of their own semi-recent parent-child drama...
...which is something they are absolutely not going to discuss with Minako, their girlfriend with two dead parents. That would be insensitive at best and triggering at worst. They're not doing that to her. Better to keep the topic about the movie.
They came here to forget about their problems for a while, anyway. That's the relationship they and Minako have.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako looks at Ren, her head tilted. There is a blink of her eyes -- a look that says, for all that she tries to play it off, 'yeah, right' -- before she smiles, a little more hesitantly. "Yeah.... I didn't either," she admits. "I'd expected it to be--well, I'm not sure, exactly. I think I expected the ghost to come back, but..."
She shakes her head. She didn't expect it to be like. She certainly didn't expect it to entail the reveal at the end.
She stands up, too; Minako gets her soda (finished) and an emptied plastic wrapper that had some candy she ate, earlier in the movie. She starts for the exit.
She hesitates, still. Something was bothering him. Maybe she can work up to it.
"The way the director did it, with the shot of Misa's face over Miyako's," she says. "It was a really clever way to point out their connection, I thought."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
The look in Minako's eyes as she blinks... is kind of uncomfortable. It's not like Ren is trying to lie to her. They just don't want to bring the mood down--more importantly, they don't want to hurt her with their stupid parental problems. When she smiles, they do too. Sometimes you just have to push through.
"Yeah, that kind of last-minute jumpscare is pretty common in horror movies. It's how they get you--right when you think everything's okay, bam! Here comes the killer with one last scare. But they really nailed the execution on this one, I think."
Together, the two of them join the crowd and exit the theatre. Ren tosses out their trash at the closest garbage can, then sips on their soda. The ice has melted, so it's kind of watery, but they hate to just toss it. (They may have snuck some snacks in, but the popcorn and soda always has to be an in-theatre experience.)
"Yeah, me too," they say of the overlay. "It's ambiguous if Misa's possessed or cursed or something, or if she's carrying on Miyako's will, or something else entirely. I think the director's definitely angling for a sequel." Sssip. "I hope they get Kurosu-san again. She was the standout role, in my opinion." They look away, gaze distant for a moment.
Then they smile back at Minako. "But then, she does play the killer. If they want to franchise this, they've got to bring her back."
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
There is a moment where Minako realizes that it's awkward and uncomfortable -- that they had a miscommunication, that she was put off and that they knew it. Even after they smile, there is a lingering disquiet.
"Mm-hm," she says. "They did! I really didn't expect it." She leans over, a smile crossing her face. "...and, you know. Jump scares always seem to get me."
She nods, as she follows them -- and hearing the response. Minako considers that for a second. "Yeah," she says. "I really liked her performance. She really stole the show. I bet they can find a way to bring her back. And, you know..."
She trails off for a second. "I really respect her. After she came out in support of LGBT rights," she says. "That's... I'd like to see her career take off."
It's easy for Minako to say. She hasn't thought much about LGBT issues as they relate to her -- ha, what's there to think about! -- but she wants people to be happy.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren laughs a little--just a huffy breath of a laugh--when Minako leans in. "You did grab my arm really tight that one time. You were really spooked, huh?" They smirk a bit, bump into her gently, and tease, "Or was that a little act of your own?"
There's always a way for slasher film villains to come back. Ren can even easily picture one: Misa is possessed by the Kuchisake-Onna, and gradually turns into Miyako more and more...
...a parent taking over the life of their child. It's the opposite of Ren's problem, but... it is another example of a child being treated like their parent's plaything. If it's going to be like that, they think they'd rather Misa be a murderer in her own right.
At least then it's her own choice. At least then it's her own life.
They manage to keep the frustration off their face this time. However, when Minako mentions Junko's campaigning for LGBT rights, Ren blinks at her in surprise. They didn't think she was against it by any means, but it's not really something either of them have discussed before.
"...Yeah, me too. I mean, she's been acting for a long while now, but I hope she gets more roles." And not, you know... get her career torpedoed because she loves her gay son. They look off in the distance again. "...I wonder what made her decide to do that now. I heard it's because of family, but... do you think they only just came out, or..."
...There's that tinge of sadness again. It's better masked this time, but for someone who's looking for it...
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"Mm, if it was an act... well, the best acts are genuine, right?" Minako asks with a wink. "But I was really spooked. In person, someone jumps around a corner or plays a joke on me--" If she runs into a Shadow in Tartarus. "--and I' m fine. Sitting in a chair, watching a screen... gets me every time."
She doesn't catch their frustration this time. Ren has a good poker face, after all -- and Minako doesn't quite see through it, or see that they're hiding something this time.
"Yeah," she says. "Me too. I... um, I'm not sure," she admits. "I... I heard that her son is gay. I... I mean, it's complicated. I don't know what to hope for -- that she just learned and it opened her eyes? That it took that to find the courage?"
Minako looks down, for a moment. She spots that sad look in their eyes. She hesitates.
"If this is personal for you..." she says, a little quieter.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
The best acts are genuine. Ren knows that well. They grin at her. That expression settles into a thoughtful look when she explains the difference between getting scared in person and getting scared by a movie. "Must be a good change of pace for you, then."
The two of them settle in near the front of the theatre, where other couples and other groups are chatting amongst themselves. Ren sips more of their soda as they turn to face Minako as she ruminates on the reason behind Junko's sudden campaigning--in time for her to essentially call them out.
Their heart freezes in their chest. Physically, they still, until they force themself to smile. "No, no, it's not like that--"
But then they stop. Because that is a lie.
They cannot tell her about their parents. They cannot. But... this does segue into something they've been meaning to tell her, now that they're out to their friends...
"...I guess it's a little like that," they admit quietly, lowering their drink. "Uh... I guess I should tell you. You're my girlfriend; you deserve to know. Um..." They look away for a moment. This is deeply uncomfortable for them, and absolutely not the place they would have chosen for this, but--no one's paying attention, and Minako does deserve to know. Thhey want her to know, even if this isn't the time or place they would've chosen. They take a deep breath and meet her eyes.
"...Do you know what the T in LGBT stands for?"
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako frowns, at first, when Ren says that it isn't like that. And she gets a sense of something being omitted -- maybe about their parents. It gives her pause.
But there is something that Ren admits. Minako's eyes widen for a moment, before she looks serious. Not disapproving, but serious and thoughtful. "The T," she repeats. She looks focused, as she tries to remember the English. Her lips move, sounding the word out in a whisper. Then, there's a quick nod.
"Yeah," she says, with a glance around. She doesn't want to draw attention -- suddenly quite aware that this might not be where Ren wanted to have this discussion. She pauses, as she considers.
"I know. So you're...?" she prompts. She doesn't know much -- but she knows enough that their explanation is more important than her guessing.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Minako forms her lips around the word. Ren finds their eyes drawn there. They haven't kissed yet... Depending on how she reacts, maybe they never will. They don't think she'll take it poorly based on how she's acting so far, but if she feels like they've been lying to her, or it turns out it's weird for her because she's straight, or something else...
"Trans," they confirm, nodding once. "There's a pretty broad spectrum to, uh, being trans. A lot of terms, too. A friend of mine uses X-gender, and I do too, but we're different types of X-gender. Uh... Being trans basically just means that you're not the gender you look like? Or, um... in my case... I'm not just the gender I look like."
They pause. "In other words, I am a boy, but... I'm also a girl... and sometimes both... and sometimes neither. Futei-sei, it's called." 'Indeterminate gender,' literally. "In the West, they call it non-binary, or genderfluid."
Another pause. Trying to ignore the knots in their stomach, they search Minako's eyes. "Um... are you okay with that...?"
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"Ah..." Minako makes a surprised noise. Her idea of being trans had been female-to-male or male-to-female. She hadn't considered the spectrum. But then, she realizes it is a spectrum. In several senses. "I--I think I understand. I heard about X-gender, and--"
She shakes her head once. That isn't important. She listens. "So... what gender you are, it changes with how you feel? That's..." Her crimson eyes meet theirs. Then, she smiles.
"Yeah," she says, though it is after a moment's thought -- a brief consideration of the questions it might cause. The questions it might raise about her, too. "I'm more than okay with it. I like you, and whoever you are today..."
She smiles up at them. "Then that's who I like."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
That idea of transness is the most straightforward--but it still adheres to a binary. You're either "male" or you're "female." That's just too limiting for Ren.
"Basically. But it's also always a part of me. It's like..." They pause, then smile a little, remembering things Igor's said. "I'm the 'zero' of infinite possibility. Sometimes it's at the fore and sometimes something else is. If that doesn't sound too dramatic."
She's taking it well so far. They dare to hope--and their daring pays off, when she tells them she likes them no matter what. Ren's dark eyes crinkle as they let out a happy breath and smile broadly. Taking a step closer, they take one of her hands in theirs.
"Thank you," they murmur. "That makes me really happy."
And that's fully true. So if they don't tell her about their parents, that's fine, right? This is something important to them too--and now that she's accepted them, it's a much, much happier topic.
That's why they started dating each other, right? To be happy?
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"The zero of infinite possibility...?" Minako says, with a blink. Then, there's a smile and a nod of her head. "That does sound like a good thing."
When they step closer, Minako smiles even brighter. She worried that she hadn't said the right thing -- it's still something new to her. Her hand squeezes theirs, whe they take it. "I'm glad. I want to do that. Besides... you make me happy, too."
She smiles back, and looks up at them. Her crimson eyes blink as she looks up at them. "And... you know, you can tell me anything."
She smiles.
Even if, inwardly, she flinches. She can't tell them everything. Would they -- could they -- ever believe the truth about Personas, Shadows, and the Dark Hour?
She doubts it.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Dramatics are a part of who Ren is, anyway. That's just another part of themself they don't usually show.
During the Dark Hour and in Mementos, though...
"Of course," Ren replies firmly.
They can tell her anything. But they won't, because it would be a bad idea. They don't want to put her in danger any more than they want to inflict emotional pain on her. It does mean that they're lying to her, but... some things you just can't safely share with others.
That doesn't mean they don't feel bad about it, though. Slipping their hand more fully around hers, they start slowly for the exit, sipping down the last of their drink. As they toss it in the closest garbage can, they clear their throat.
"So... there's a friend of mine I've been meaning to introduce you to. Her name's Ichika Kawase, and she also really likes outdoors stuff like hiking and camping. Her boyfriend, who's also a close friend of mine, suggested to me a while back that we all go on a double date sometime. ...Would you want to?"
Hopefully that'll make up for the things they can't tell her--and the things they could tell her but haven't yet thought to.
Like how they're not exclusively attracted to women. (They forgot to tell their friends about that too. Oops.)
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
They say 'of course' so firmly, so confidently, Minako thinks. But it also means that there isn't space to say more -- or to ask more. Something happened with their parents, she thinks. But... they don't want to talk about that with her.
Shouldn't she be okay with that?
She is distracted for a moment -- but then she feels their hand slip around hers, and she follows them towards the parking garage. She nods, then blinks. Minako hesitates for a second.
In that bastard's Palace... she saw a cognitive version of Ichika Kawase. "Oh!" she exclaims. Then, she brightens; she wanted to be sure Ichika is okay. It's a way to do two birds with one stone. "Sure, of course! That sounds like a lot of fun. And I'd love to meet some of your friends, too!"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Great," Ren says warmly. "I'll reach out to them and see if they still want to do that, and then we can figure out where to go and when."
'Two' of their friends is 'some' of their friends, right? That's good enough, right? It's not like Ren's hiding Minako from their friends, or vice versa; they just aren't very forthcoming about their personal life much of the time.
This is good and fine. They're having a good time again, and that's exactly what they wanted for both of them.
"D'you have to go back yet? If you can stay a while longer, there's a big public park nearby we could walk to... The Meiji Shrine's right at the heart of it." Their smile turns a little wry. "We could go pray for good grades? The semester just started, but it's never too early to get ahead of that."
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"That sounds great!" Minako says, with a smile. Two of their friends is absolutely some, in her book -- though she hopes it's the first of many. Even if she also hopes to learn about their personal life more.
But they also want to have a good time. And this sounds like a good time.
"Not yet," she says, with a smile. She gives their hand a squeeze. "Praying for good grades sounds practical and smart. And besides--there's someone I get to walk with, and that counts for a lot~"
She winks again at them.