2026-03-17: Emotional Rebound
- Log: 2026-03-17 Emotional Rebound
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Goro Akechi
- Where: Shinjuku, Tokyo
- OOC Date: March 17, 2026
- IC Date: Thursday, October 11, 2012
- Summary: Takes place during this scene. Considering they encouraged him to consider her romantically before, Ren calls Akechi to make absolutely sure he has no intentions of asking Makoto out.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
A call from a certain dark-eyed delinquent rings--or otherwise alerts--on Akechi's phone. It's Thursday evening, the week before midterms, but that's probably not important. The important thing is that it's Ren Amamiya, isn't it?
"Akechi. I don't have a lot of time, so I'm going to skip straight to the point," is their idea of a greeting. "I encouraged you before to ask Makoto out if you're interested in her. Are you interested in her?"
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Ringtone OST (The first few seconds) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTKelM1ojis
The week before the midterms. Most are quite stressed about them. Goro Akechi is not at the moment.
Instead, he's in a train station Unisex single stall restroom, after a foray into the Metaverse when it occurs. A sink faucet is turned off, and a glove is slid back on, before he places the phone to his ear.
"Amamiya-kun?"
And then he's listening to Ren say something hastily, about-
"I..."
He had thought about it at least, when it was presented as an option, and while in her company again, but he hadn't REALLY thought about it any other time.
Caught flat-footed, he asks, "...What brought this on?" He asks, but then understands that in Ren's state, given his stated need for haste, he ought not to pry in depth yet. "Well, since you're asking for a swift answer... it's not like I lack any interest in her. I just ultimately decided it's unwise to date the sister of my co-worker."
He then quickly tries to add, "It's not as if it couldn't potentially work out, mind you but we both are possessed of rather strong opinions, and I suspect that we'd be the type to quarrel in ways that would carry over to the workplace. I feel that would be rather unfair to Niijima-san, given her older sister's..."
Pause. An obvious search for a diplomatic word.
"...proclivities."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
By coincidence, Ren is also in a bathroom at the moment; Akechi might be able to tell by the acoustics on their side of the line. Ren has an inkling of that for Akechi, though that doesn't strike them as important in this moment.
It's reasonable for him to ask what's prompting this. Ren ignores the question for the moment, particularly since Akechi's skipping ahead too. They listen quietly. It's not an ideal answer, but it does seem straightforward. Certainly he's thought it out--even if he hasn't thought about it since he interacted with her last. Not that Ren knows that part.
"So you have zero intention of asking her out or otherwise pursuing any kind of romance with her. Is that right?" they press, just to make absolutely sure.
They want Akechi to say it before they explain why they're asking.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
He can at least get an inkling of where he is by the other end of the line, not that it necessarily matters all that much for the conversation.
"That's correct. I did consider it - and at one point thought that I might."
That much is true, at least. The thought did not last long, but it was there not long after Ren put it in his head.
"But ultimately I decided against it. Thus, I have no intention of asking her out."
He turns around, eyebrows furrowing, "I rather suspect that the reason you're asking has nothing to do with the rumor?" He questions.
Either Ren is asking because he intends to ask her out, an idea which surprises Akechi. After all, isn't he dating Minako? That doesn't make much sense to him with what he currently knows...
... or he's asking for another friend. Recounting the other Phantom Thieves, he ultimately decides it's unlikely to be one of them if so, unless it's some grand scheme to 'hook someone up' without their knowledge.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren is quiet for a few seconds after Akechi speaks. He thought he might, huh... They could leave it at that--but all considered, they should be transparent about why they're asking. They're the one asking out of the blue, and he's given them a clear answer despite that.
"Right," they reply. "Minako and I broke up. Makoto and I were talking about it, and I realized I have feelings for her. But I encouraged you before to think about her that way, so I don't want to make a move on those feelings unless you're okay with it.
"So I'm going to ask you one last time. You really don't have any intention whatsoever of asking Makoto out, ever? If you've got even the slightest doubt about that, I won't ask her out."
It is, in its own way, a challenge. If Akechi wanted to sabotage Ren's love life for reasons definitely unrelated to his own feelings for them, here is a prime opportunity. But considering Ren and Minako both thought that Akechi has a crush on Ren--Ren implicitly, Minako explicitly--isn't this also a chance to prove he definitely doesn't?
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Akechi makes a startled noise as Ren notes that Minako and him broke up. Did the secret really cause that much relationship tension? Certainly he tried to interfere but, he didn't expect it'd be so easy as that.
More likely it was something he doesn't quite understand, about the relationship between the two.
He tries not to let himself think about that one.
"... Well, that does prompt more questions, but I'll abstain for now. You're certain you wish to ask her out so soon after breaking up with her?"
He asks, pointedly, though it doesn't seem like he's trying to necessarily dissuade him, just, it's more thinly veiled concern.
Maybe not even actually veiled.
"Even discounting that. There is that rumor... and as you well know, with the nature of rumors as they stand in Sumaru City... there is a small chance that it is influencing your actions."
He delivers that with a sort of discomfiture. Part of the reason he deals with rumors so much is that he wants to make certain he isn't influenced by them, it's his manner of exerting control over them.
"I won't claim it's a large chance. People such as you and I are much more resistant to these effects... and outside of Sumaru City, the power of such rumors do seem much diminished."
Rubbing his nostrils, as he keeps the phone to his ear, "Nevertheless, that doesn't answer the question you asked. I can't predict the future, but as matters stand currently, no- I don't have any such intention of ever asking her out."
It's a fair response, in his own way, feelings can and do change over time. What decisions one would never make today, might change into a leap you could take on the morrow.
But he understands now that he does feel... a little sad, about this conversation. And it was Minako who forced him to finally confront it, if it were so obvious to her.
"I give you my blessing to ask her out, if that is more unequivocal. ...Though, I do not envy you facing greater scrutiny from Sae-san for doing so."
His tone indicates that isn't an implied threat either. It is merely the reality of dating Sae Niijima's little sister.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Akechi raises a good question. Is it really wise for Ren to ask Makoto out literally the day after breaking up with Minako?
Not unlike Akechi, Ren doesn't let himself think about that one. "Why wait?" they say firmly instead.
(Why indeed?)
"Yeah. I thought about that rumor too." Ren turns and paces a small circle in the Niijima bathroom. "I get your concern, but I don't think that's what's going on here. If anything, it just made me rethink some things I've been taking for granted up until now." (Well, that and the reason why they and Minako broke up. Ren doesn't see a reason to get that specific, though.) "If it were like that, I'd be more of a delinquent to fit the Beauty and the Beast narrative, wouldn't I? And I'm the same as ever."
Maybe a little more lonely and depressed than usual, especially with their birthday coming up in a few weeks. Maybe a little more worried about the fact that they weren't bothered by the secrets they've been keeping when Minako's had been tearing her up inside. But surely that isn't influencing them as they support Makoto through working through her trauma, any more than that's influencing her.
But Akechi gives a proper answer. On their end, Ren smiles. They honestly didn't know how this conversation would go, but they're happy he's being so supportive. Maybe they really are friends now. "...Okay. Thank you," they reply. Though Sae does seem scary from the limited interactions they've had with her, they add with confidence, "I can handle it."
A beat. "I gotta go. Talk to you again later?"
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
'Why wait?'
"... Well I don't know the circumstances yet as to why you and Arisato-san decided to part ways, but there is a concept known as the 'Emotional Rebound'. As in, quickly trying to assuage the pain of a breakup with another relationship."
Akechi is definitely not the person to TALK about this, and he knows it, but he understands it academically.
"But I suspect you're quite familiar with that yourself... and have already considered it."
Ren notes that he thought about the rumor, and Akechi listens to them as they go through it, "... You're correct that it's likely so. Or perhaps people would simply view your actions in that light, even if you were unchanged yourself."
Still, he doesn't like to think of the idea of some RUMOR changing Ren. That'd be the worst if suddenly the person who was to be his... Rival, who he has such feelings for were forced to be different.
In a sense, it's why he really recoils at the idea of the 'Change of Heart'.
It's difficult, in the moment, to say, "Well I can see you've thought this through. As such, I see no reason why you shouldn't go through with asking Niijima-san out."
His heart falls again, even as he says it. However, he's a well accomplished liar. It figures he'd be able to lie to support Ren.
He certainly lied to himself, long enough.
"You're quite welcome. I wish you the best of luck in receiving a favorable response. ... And I believe you can, at that."
After all, if he can fool Sae for years about who he is, he suspects Ren can too. So long as Sae doesn't go OVERBOARD.
... Actually that's a distinct possibility that she might...
"Of course. I'd like to hear more certainly but... it can wait until you're ready to talk again."
He waits until the call is disconnected, and then he leans against the wall, feeling heavier - and hollow all at once in his own contradictory way. "Fuck..." Before he then repeats it, with greater passion and volume, "... FUCK!" Quickly tapping through his phone, he switches to the Metaverse Navigator and-
"Mementos, NOW!"
The world shifts, he's only mildly fatigued, but he can endure another round. The one in the Black Mask immediately leaps onto the top of a speeding train, descending into the depths.
He really needs something to hit right now.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren is familiar with the concept of an emotional rebound. They remain uncomfortably silent through Akechi's suggestion. They hadn't... really thought about it, not properly.
But it's not like it was a bad break-up. They and Minako are still friends, and they've experienced attraction to Makoto before. (Queen's fists are a thing of beauty and might.) This isn't that. It can't be that. Not when they feel so happy about Makoto. Especially not when Akechi's encouragement makes them feel so much better about everything.
They push that thought away and say their goodbyes, and leave Akechi to his emptiness while they go to fill themself with joy.