2026-03-15: No One Is Happy About This
- Log: 2026-03-15 No One Is Happy About This
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Minako Arisato
- Where: Back Alleys - Leblanc Cafe
- OOC Date: March 15, 2026
- IC Date: Wednesday, October 10, 2012
- Summary: Minako and Ren get together with their new study guide to get some studying done--theoretically--but when an Evoker falls out of Minako's bag, that's the last domino for the end of their romance. Although the two agree to stay friends, they ultimately break up.
(|======================== Back Alleys - Leblanc Cafe ========================|)
-======================================================= Tokyo/Yongen-Jaya ====-
Tucked into one of the alleyways of Yongen-Jaya is a yellow shop with a
red-painted awning and doorway, and several pot plants flourishing in a nook --
coffee&curry Leblanc, according to the lettering above the entry. Prices for the
cafe are hand-written on a chalkboard propped up on a wooden chair, while a
green welcome mat labelled 'Leblanc' calls visitors in.
Cafe Leblanc is a cosy, intimate dining affair, with three tables for groups and
several high chairs at the front counter to let visitors enjoy coffee or curry
whilst chatting with its proprietor, the stern yet deeply kind Sojiro Sakura. A
yellow pay-phone lets visitors call for anyone they might need, while several
blends of coffee are featured on the walls behind the counter, alongside a
kitchen tucked away from visitors. There's a sink and a TV on one side of the
room, near the toilet and stairs; on the other side of the room, by the
entryway, a lavish potplant and pendulum clock are further decorated by a
beautiful piece of fine Japanese art -- the woman's portrait, 'Sayuri'.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Yesterday, Ren went over to Tatsumi Port Island to join up with Minako for a study date, including buying a study guide for them to share, reading it together at Naganaki Shrine, buying exclusive, popular seasonal beef bowls afterwards on the way home, getting accosted by Akechi...
...in no particular order, that is.
Today, although presumably Minako's still aching from her "fall," she offered to be the one to come over to Tokyo this time so they could study at Leblanc. She and Ren had a brief argument about that before Ren ultimately conceded. They meet her at the train station and walk with her to the cafe.
The cafe itself is actually a little busier than usual--there's three whole booths in use. That technically still leaves space for Ren and Minako to take one up, but it'd be (marginally) quieter to go upstairs to their room.
Sojiro observes this with raised eyebrows before giving them both a knowing smile. "Take your time," he encourages them.
"We're just studying," Ren protests.
"Mmhmm."
So there's a touch of red in their cheeks as the two of them ascend the steps. They offer Minako a hand to help her up if she needs it--or at least to carry her bag, if she hasn't already given it to them at the train station. When you're that banged up, it must be heavy.
"Sorry about that," they tell her. "I'm not bringing you up here to, you know..."
Minako might not care about that very much. This is her first time in their room, isn't it? It's about what one would expect an attic room to be, i.e. dusty and non-insulated, but they've managed to make it their own. There's shelves to the left full of boxes of clothes and other things, a potted plant to the right that's doing remarkably well for not sitting in direct sunlight, another bookshelf of souvenirs, a table with an old cathode TV on it, a couch next to that, and along the far all, a desk and chair to the left and a bed to the right. There's more decorations and plushies that they've won from crane games over the desk and along that side of the wall.
Morgana's nowhere in sight. Discretion is part of being a gentleman.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako is still moving slow. By now, she's on a couple of days of pain medication and icing at night -- it's better but it isn't there yet. The result is she is a little slower than usual on the walk there, and there's the occasional hiss of pain. She glances at Sojiro -- and then at his suggestion, she laughs.
It's sheepish, though.
She gave Ren her bag; it does hurt to carry it, and while her ribs took the worst of it, her shoulder is sore from a rough landing too. "No, no, it's cool," she says as they enter their room.
"Nice place," she says, with a smile. "I like the plant, too -- and the plushies." She looks around, not spotting Morgana, then she walks over to Ren. She looks up at them, a smile playing on her lips.
"So..." She looks around. Maybe, she thinks, it will be fine. They're terribly cute -- and her doubts about lying to them, her doubts about the things that Akechi said... those feel more distant. Maybe, she thinks, they can make this work.
"Studying, huh?" Her cheeks flush, too, but she grins.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren carries her bag, then; since they came from here only ten minutes ago at best, their bag is already here. No need to bring it just to walk to the station and back. They set it down on the TV table, in front of the TV and next to the couch; there's not a ton of space there, but it should be fine as long as nothing jostles it.
"Thanks," they reply, relaxing. They know perfectly well it's a big deal to bring a girlfriend into one's room, and they don't want Minako to think they've got an ulterior motive. (...Even though she's the one who insisted on coming here and might well have an ulterior motive of her own. But that doesn't occur to Ren just yet.) They look over at the plant. "That came with the room, actually. It was here, half-dead, when I moved in, and I felt sorry for it so I nursed it back to health. Not hard with some good quality fertilizers and a lot of water and care."
They look over at the plushies. There's a Jack Frost, a Burger-kun (the mascot of Big Bang Burger), and a Wanna-kun doll. "I got those playing the crane game at this arcade in Akiba," they add, Akiba being the nickname for Akihabara. Then they look down at the desk itself. "There's only one chair, but we could move it out of the way and push the couch in front of the desk..."
They look back at her as she grins. She's cute too--and so mischievous. That spice is part of what appeals to them about her. Studying, huh? There's something about how she says that and the color in her own cheeks that makes them pause; then they smile back, just a bit coyly. "...Unless you've got a better idea in mind?"
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako insisted because... she isn't entirely sure why. Get away from Port Island for awhile, maybe. She feels cooped up. Maybe she also doesn't want to think about the problems there -- and the last couple times something awkward happened with Ren, it was at Port Island.
Maybe she wants to break the streak.
"You did good work, then!" Minako says. "I've got a friend who's good with plants--uh, Fuuka Yamagishi, actually." She looks at them, sideways, and smiles. "I love the plushes -- and sure, we can move the couch."
Then, though, she laughs. She tilts her head to the side. "Maybe," she suggests. "A little kissing. Then studying. If our grades can survive."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Thanks," Ren repeats, smile deepening a hair. They still haven't met Fuuka personally, but--so she's into plants, huh? That's nice. They nod and make a noise of acknowledgement.
But then Minako suggests that studying can wait until after some smooching. Ren grins. "Normally, rewards are supposed to come after the hard, unpleasant work," they point out. "But I think it might be wise to do it the other way around. Maybe. We sure wouldn't want to get distracted once we're at the desk."
And this definitely isn't distracting them right now.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
One day, maybe, Minako will introduce them.
But she has other things on her mind. "See, this is another reason I like you." She winks at them. "Problem-solving skills! You're a natural at that~"
She walks to them, after they sit on the couch; she looks down at Ren, one hand up, fingers idly playing with some of her just slightly messy hair. Then, she sits down -- and smiles back when they get that half-smile.
Then she leans over. There is just a moment of hesitation -- her heart is pounding, still -- before she leans in and kisses them. She puts her bag down with a moment's thought, next to her.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Minako's compliments earn her a full grin, and Ren runs a hand through their frizzy hair in (what they hope is) a cool, sexy way. When that arm comes down, it's to settle around Minako's waist after she's sat down next to them. They shut their eyes and she leans in and stroke her back as they kiss her back.
Their heart's also pounding, but out of excitement. Sure, maybe this is a bad idea for a variety of reasons, but what a wonderful bad idea it is.
They reach up their other hand to gently stroke her hair and the side of her face. They have a lot of experience with kissing, but (in full meta disclosure) less so with girls than guys. They encourage her with the light press of deft fingers to sit closer, to lean into them--
It would be easy to, say, knock over a nearby bag with each of them so focused on the other.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako's hesitation fades. It's the usual hesitation she feels at being close to someone. The little doubts and worries -- the fear she doesn't deserve this. But it melts away, because this is very nice and very fun. She leans into Ren, sighing, and her arms come around them.
Which entails moving her legs onto the bed. Which means her feet kick her bag and knock it off the bed. She doesn't think much of it, at first -- she laughs, actually, because it is kind of funny.
But then she hears a clatter.
Minako used to keep her Evoker at the bottom of her bag, to avoid precisely this. Then, Strega attacked the dormitory -- and the idea she might need it occurred to her. It clatters out, onto the floor. She turns to look at it. Her crimson eyes go wide.
Her face goes pale.
The first thought through her mind is that her secret is out -- that, truly, there isn't any keeping that part of her life separated. The second, though, is that an Evoker certainly looks like a gun.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
At first, Ren laughs with her, because her laugh is so musical and infectious, they can't help but laugh along with her. This is very fun, and they feel so light in their heart. Maybe their grades will suffer, but who cares about a bunch of numbers anyway? They brush her hair back and move in to kiss her again--
*clatter*
Ren looks down at the floor with Minako. They'd been carrying her bag earlier, but obviously they hadn't looked inside--that would be rude and an invasion of her privacy. Their own dark eyes widen at the sight of the Evoker, though they don't go pale.
"Uh," they utter. "Is that... a model gun?"
Thanks to the experience they've been accruing at Untouchable, they know it's not--or at least, if it is, it's modeled off no real gun. They can tell just by a glance that this thing would never fire any bullets. In fact, it looks very similar to...
...but no. It can't be, right? One of those weird guns that certain Persona Users use to summon, like...
...like Yukari and Akihiko...
Ren stares back at Minako, blank-faced, waiting for an answer with an increasingly anxious heartbeat.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako hates lying to them.
She has beaten herself up about it for weeks, now. About all of the times that she had to give a lame excuse -- about why she was tired, about why she was hurt, about what she really did the day before. And when she panics, she tends towards truthfulness instead of obfuscation. So, what comes out of her mouth is a simple statement:
"...no."
She pulls back and stares down at the Evoker. "It's... it's not a real gun, either." She looks at them, and she opens her mouth. Then she closes it. "I..."
She looks down. "...I'm sorry. I can't... I can't tell you what it is. I..." She bites her lip, and her face tenses up. She looks like she might start crying. "W-We're about trying to find the good things, about what makes us happy, right? And that's..."
She looks down. "...that's not going to make either of us happy."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
'...no.'
Ren's insides feel like they freeze over, ultra-chilled to the point of numbness. Sure, she clarifies a moment later that it's not a real gun either, but they could tell that already. Which can only mean...
Their lips part, but they suck in a breath without releasing the thought carried on it into the world.
You're a Persona User.
Their lips purse.
"....."
They can only stare as she apologizes, that she can't explain. In retrospect, it should've been so obvious. Just because they've never sensed her Resonance doesn't mean she doesn't have it. Maybe they just didn't want to sense it--? No, even now that they're focusing on it, they can't really tell... But then, their Third Eye is not really for that, either. Is she just that good at masking her Resonance?
No, no, that doesn't even matter. As her face scrunches up like she's about to cry, Ren reaches up for her cheek again, leaning forward half an inch. "Hey, what're you saying? Whatever this thing is, I don't care. I am happy when I'm around you. That's what matters to me," they tell her, low and urgent.
Of course, that's not the only side of the equation in a relationship, and they know that. They hesitate, because the dread inside them whispers they won't like the answer--but they can't leave it unasked. Not when she's already said this much.
"...Are you happy when you're around me?"
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"Yes," Minako says, immediately.
But there is a very clear 'but' in her voice. She stares at them, as she tries to process what goes through her mind -- what she has been thinking about for awhile, now. Her eyes drift to the Evoker on the floor, like an accusation. She swallows.
"But I hate lying to you, Ren. I--I can't keep doing that," she says. "When I get hurt, I can't tell you why. And... and little things, like everything I did the other night, pieces of my life, they're... I can't tell you about them. I can't... I don't even know where to start."
She looks down.
Her voice becomes quiet, as she forces out a resolve she wants to flee from. "You deserve someone who... who doesn't hide things from you. And I--I'm not strong enough to tell you the truth, because of what it would do to me if I lost you."
She doesn't mean lost as in a relationship. Her knuckles are white with how tightly she squeezes her fingers.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren wants to be reassured by the immediacy of that 'yes.' They aren't. They can't be, not when it's so clear that it isn't the end of it. When they had their--not really a fight--their disagreement?--Morgana asked afterwards if they thought they'd actually resolved anything. Looking at her now as she stares at them, then down at the not-gun on the floor, they think with a void deepening in their gut that they're paying the price for that now.
So they don't interrupt or protest as she goes on. Understanding now what they do, it makes perfect, awful sense. After all, they're doing the exact same thing to her.
The only difference is that they're okay with it.
Their jaw clenches as their fingers curl over their school uniform slacks, mirroring her own tense, agonized gesture.
This could be resolved if they just said, I'm a Persona User too. They wouldn't have to lose her. They could work things through--find an understanding, maybe even work together on missions in the future.
...but that would be selfish of them. It could endanger the team. Ryuji didn't tell Ichika his true identity, even though he really wanted to, because Ren told him to hold back, at least at first. And Ichika at least was coming to the Phantom Thieves for help, to cooperate with the team. It would be the height of hypocrisy for them to reveal themself as the leader of those infamous rogues just so they got to keep their girlfriend.
Which means she deserves someone who doesn't hide things from her either. Who's been unbothered by hiding things from her until just this very moment, when she revealed how much it's been tearing her up inside.
They bow their head.
"I... don't know what to say," they murmur, because that's true. "I don't want to accept this. But...
"I...
"think I have to."
No one is happy about this.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako looks back up at them as they speak up. And they understood what she meant -- even as a part of her hoped, really hoped, that they wouldn't understand. That maybe some misunderstanding would give her an excuse to walk that back, as she felt her resolve start to crumble. But they do, and she feels a distance forming between them.
It becomes real when she scoots backward, just a little, because being halfway to kissing them again would be a terribly unfair thing to do now. She looks at Ren.
And she smiles, sadly. Her eyes blink -- then sting. She wipes at them, a couple of tears streaking in her make-up.
"I'm so sorry, Ren," she says. She exhales. "I--I don't want this to be goodbye. I still care about you. You're... you're more than someone I have fun with. I still want to be friends, and--and maybe some day, I'll be... be better at this."
Her voice chokes up then and she quickly glances away.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Even if they didn't understand, how could they tell her she doesn't feel what she feels? That would go beyond selfish--it'd be cruel. Ren wouldn't and couldn't do that to her or anyone they were dating. They have to respect her decision, and that includes staying still when she scoots back and rubs away a few tears.
No matter how awful it makes them feel.
At least this isn't the end of their relationship, period. They loose a low, slow breath when she says that much. "I... want to stay friends too. I still have a lot of fun with you, and I'd hate to lose that because..." They trail off, unsure of how to end that sentence; then they weakly gesture at the air. "Uh. But." They stare down, hand creeping onto the back of their neck. "...I think I need to mentally... reset. Before we get any studying done. If we do get any studying done. And I'm guessing you do too."
They set their hand on their knee and stare at the floor for a moment. Then they suck in a breath and let the momentum buoy their head. "...Hey, are you hungry? I can... get us both some curry, and we can... figure out what we're doing after." They try and fail a weak smile. "Would hate to send you home so soon after you came all this way."
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"I'm... I'm glad of that," Minako says, as she looks up at Ren. And she doesn't find it makes her feel better -- she isn't even sure that she feels like it was the right thing to do. Isn't it supposed to be more obvious? She hesitates, for a second.
"Yeah," she says. "Y-Yeah, I do--um, I'd like... I'd like some curry," she says. "And I could use a second to--to, you know, um--" She motions at her face. She still has some tears.
She hesitates, before she leans down and reaches for the Evoker.
"We, um. We can see how we feel, if we want to study?" she offers -- and knows she is, a little lamely, just looking for something to say.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Maybe, once the two of them have had some more time and distance, they'll be able to feel better about downgrading to "just friends." Unlike some, Ren prefers that to being cut off entirely; Minako started out as a friend, and now that she's made it clear she can no longer be their girlfriend, they'd rather have the 'friend' part remain rather than lose that too.
That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt in the moment. That doesn't mean they aren't questioning if they're really doing the right thing by accepting her uninformed decision and not telling her the truth about themself.
Right now, though, they nod. "Yeah. Of course. Uh." They look towards the TV. It has a built-in DVD player. "...Uh, I've got some movies I rented recently. Check them out and put something on, if you want," they offer lamely, gesturing towards it. "We can eat while we watch. Unless you'd rather not."
Either way, they'll head downstairs to fetch a couple plates of curry from the kitchen. A couple cups of coffee, too--they brew those themself.
It feels like the least they can do for giving up on her.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"S-Sure, a movie sounds great," Minako says, and it comes out just as lame. When Ren leaves, she lets out a long sigh. Then she looks at the DVD's -- and really, she only sort of gets a feel for what's there. Her mind is racing; but she settles, ultimately, on a comedy from 2008. It isn't the smartest or deepest thing...
...but she wasn't lying to be nice. A movie does sound great, as a way to get their minds on something else and do that mental reset.
After that, she gets out some tissues -- and wipes her eyes and cheeks both.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
As it turns out, the movie is mindlessly funny, which means it can tease out some laughs even with them in this state, and the curry and coffee are both delicious. Ren moves the couch so Minako can have it to herself, then pulls up the desk chair and sits on that. The dirty dishes and cups, they stack on their desk, and by the end of the movie, they feel...
...well, still not good. But better. On an even keel, as opposed to like their insides are collapsing into an event horizon.
When the credits start rolling, they get up to turn the lights back on. Then they look over at her. "...So, how're you feeling?" they ask. Their own tone matches the upward change of their own mood. They laugh a little and add, "Studying's probably a bust for tonight, huh."
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
Minako laughs a few times -- and one time, she laughs hard enough that she says 'ow' after. (Ren may now have a better idea of how she hurt her side.) As the credits roll, she feels...
Well. They ask.
She looks sideways at them -- and she smiles. It's smaller than usual, but she nods. "I'd say so. I'm... okay," she says. "I'll be okay. I'm still... I feel pretty sad about it. But--um."
She swallows. It's more vulnerable than she wants to be, necessarily, but brushing things off seems wrong. "...I didn't want to lose you as someone in my life, and--and getting to watch a movie and laugh. And... talk, after. That helps, you know? It doesn't feel like the end, Ren."
A beat. "Ren-kun?"
Another beat. "...Ren-chan?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren sits back down, leaning their hands on their thighs as they slouch and look over at her. "...Yeah. Me too. On both counts," they murmur. "I know you've got some serious things going on, and I hope you've got someone to talk to about them. But if you ever just want to hang out, you know how to get in touch. And I'll do the same, too."
Ren-kun? Ren-chan? They smile, muted but sincere. "Either way is fine."
That said, if she's shifting how she addresses them like that, she probably doesn't want to be just 'Minako' anymore, huh... Ren also calls their friends by just their first name, but those are people who fight alongside them in the Metaverse. "...Is Minako-chan better for you, or...?"
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"Yeah. I... I need to work on that," Minako admits, a little quietly. She looks sideways at Ren -- she smiles, then she nods. "Yeah. And... I will, I promise. I'll text you about that soon." Then, she smiles back at them and considers.
"Sure. I'll see which feels right, and... if you want me to use the other one, sometimes, let me know, okay?" she asks. She pauses, then she grins. "Minako-chan is great."
She hesitates for a second more. "If... um. If you ever need someone to talk to, or--or anything else. Let me know, okay?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren rubs the back of their neck again. "...Guess we're both bad at talking about personal things, huh," they joke half-heartedly. No, it's not even a joke, they realize. It's just true. And it's why they weren't going to work out long-term. As long as neither of them are willing to share about their secret life with the other, it was always going to end this way.
Their chest squeezes painfully tight. Something to remember for the future. They... wouldn't want to lead anyone else on like this, however unintentional it was.
At least they can smile when she leaves it open for them to tell her if they do want a specific address sometimes. "I will," they say, and are glad they can mean it.
Especially since they don't know if they can take her up on her next offer. It's why they didn't make a similar offer to her just now, even though they'd wanted to. "Thank you," they reply. Sitting up straight, they stretch, then look out the window. It's well past dark. "We should probably get you to the train station. You're still hurt." They look back at her, expression sober. "I'll walk you back to the train station, if you want. And if you're ready to go. We could technically do a little studying if we stick to one subject."
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"A little," Minako says, with the sort of self-effacing smile that says it isn't a little bit. Even if she doesn't know the extent to which Ren has their secrets, she knows they have them. One day, though, she might be able to.
She smiles -- and then she nods at them. They don't offer the same, but... Minako told them that she can't tell them some things. "Thanks, Ren-kun. I... yeah. I should probably get back. We, um. We can do some catch-up, later, on studying."
She laughs, softly. "Don't think I'd be any good for it tonight."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
'A little.' Yeah. That's a good one. Ren gives her their own rueful smile that says they get the punchline.
"There's only half a week left 'til midterms, so we probably won't be doing any catch-up. But yeah. Let's leave it for another day, each of us," Ren says in agreement. If they tried studying tonight, they'd probably just immediately forget everything they tried to review anyway.
They stand up again. Assuming Minako's already got her things together, they'll pick the bag up for her and walk over to the stairs. "Would it be awkward to help you down?" they ask. They at least offer the crook of their elbow rather than their hand. That's less awkward, they think.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.
"Yeah," Minako says with a nod. "I'll get on it... uh, maybe tomorrow. Definitely the day after, if not." Even if they have a break-up, they have to keep with their studies.
She smiles again -- and does, indeed, have her things together. She smooths out her school jacket -- and then she looks at Ren. She considers, before shaking her head. "Naw... I mean. I am hurt."
She slides her arm through theirs, then smiles -- and it's a little wider than before.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Yeah. Same here." Good thing they've gotten a little better about studying consistently since the last exams. If this week turns out to be a wash, Ren won't be completely out to dry. ...It really would be good if they could get some solid studying time in, though...
The biggest thing that will help with that going forward, though, is how Minako accepts their offer. When she slides her arm through theirs and gives them that smile, that's the first time they fully get the sense that the two of them really will stay friends after this.
They might spend some time being depressed later, and they'll certainly give her her arm back at the bottom of the stairs, but for right now, it's a relief. That'll stay with them all the way to the train station, where they'll see her off for the night.