2026-03-25: That's Love, Baby
- Log: 2026-03-25 That's Love, Baby
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Goro Akechi
- Where: N/A (phone conversation)
- OOC Date: March 25, 2026
- IC Date: Monday, October 15, 2012
- Summary: After the first day of midterms, Ren calls Akechi to check up on him. Akechi continues to be surprisingly supportive about them breaking up with Minako and immediately asking Makoto out after, but never mind that--the Orionids meteor shower is coming up right at the end of midterms. Akechi invites Ren to go see them with him to celebrate, and they enthusiastically accept.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Midterms... The first day is over, but there's still a week left of those. Ren's managed to get some studying in this past week, despite Minako, despite/thanks to Makoto, thanks to Umie, so they're at least confident they won't do /worse/ than last time.
They're not sure they'll do any better. Still, they should hopefully not embarrass themself, as they told Makoto the other day.
There's a number of people they could call right now as they lie in bed, post-review for tomorrow's exam subjects, Morgana curled up at their feet. Makoto is first in their thoughts. But... as tempting as it is to call her, there's a second person that comes to mind fairly close after--someone whose feelings Ren cares about, especially after how supportive he was to them. Someone they'd like to check in on.
So, after pressing the CALL button: "Akechi? Hey," they say into their phone as they stare out their darkened window. "How were today's midterms for you? Aced it like usual?"
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Midterms. The first day, Akechi's mind wandered such that he wasn't the first person to put his pencil down. Or even the second, or third.
He was the fifth.
He's certain that he made a perfect score but it was notable enough that his home room teacher, Saeko Takami noticed.
And took him off to the side after they were finished.
Of course he waved it off, all smiles and easy-going excuses. But she wasn't quite convinced.
Exam week is just about the only time that Shido puts him on 'light duty' so to speak. He's still on call, so to speak.
And today he spent hours upon hours in Mementos, regardless of that. He's back home now, at his apartment. Taking a long shower after.
When-
Ringtone OST (The first few seconds) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTKelM1ojis
There's surprise enough that he almost turns too quickly in the slick shower, steadying himself, as he turns off the faucet. Then stepping in a gait that will less incline him towards accidents, he hits the accept on the phone, and almost simultaneously- the speaker.
"Amamiya-kun, Hello!"
For whatever reason, he feels self-conscious enough to wrap a towel around his waist, despite the fact that he's alone here.
What a mystery...
"Oh certainly so. Today was Calculus and English. Math is my best subject... and well... not to brag but, <<I speak English quite fluently.>>"
His English is accented, but he's not simply playing it up, he's definitely someone who'd have no trouble responding to a tourist on the street.
"How about yourself? How do you think you did?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Is that a touch of breathlessness as Akechi answers the phone? It's hard to tell, considering how quickly he recovers either way. Ren makes a noise of acknowledgement when he confirms he did well, then smiles at his definitely-not-a-brag. "<<So I see.>>" (Between their love of literature, including foreign literature, and their friendship with Ann, Ren's quite good at English too. Not fluent, but they'd manage well enough with a tourist on the street too.)
"I think I did pretty well. I got a little more caught up in things compared to summer finals, so I didn't study as much overall, but I also picked up better study habits since then," they reply. "Just finished a review for tomorrow."
They pause for a moment. They of course can't tell that Akechi interrupted a shower to answer their call, or any aspect of his self-consciousness, but there is a reason why they called--a reason he might not be willing to state outright first.
"So how're you doing in general? Anything on your mind, or...?" they prompt in an attempt to be delicate.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Must be your imagination, Ren!
"Haha... <<Excellent. Perhaps we should go see a Western film together sometime.>>"
Ren however begins to answer how he thinks he did. "I 'think' there's no question you did well." Akechi says with a certain confidence, "Well done. That is certainly the best way to improve."
He agrees, and there had been the pressure he exerted before, but all he wanted Ren to do was strive to catch up to him, like a proper rival would.
Though is that all it is now?
"Oh my - it's still early enough in the evening. You must truly have the content mastered."
Now Akechi has the content mastered enough that he doesn't need to study, but he understands most students study late into the night before the mid-terms. It's not meant to be condescending when he says it though. Merely... like he's expecting great things because Ren has.
However, he then asks that question, and Akechi thinks about his homeroom teacher asking... well not quite the same thing, but the same idea.
How to answer...
"Well, I won't pretend as if nothing is weighing on me... with the Old Maid still on the loose... in addition to my other cases. But I am trying to disengage with it... some, during Midterms. It's not as if I can spend as much time as usual on such matters as I ordinarily would."
Translation: He's been fucked up ever since the last call, but he's trying not to let on how fucked up he is by it.
"... There are things I suppose that are on my mind otherwise after your last call, but, I feel it's best to let you speak on them in your own time."
Translation: WHAT THE H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS HAPPENED THAT YOU BROKE UP WITH MINAKO ARISATO?
"And of course, tonight being during the midterms, it hardly seems appropriate, even if you were inclined..."
Translation: I HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT WAITING PATIENTLY TO BE SUPPORTIVE BUT HERE WE ARE!
But as he takes a deep breath, the tension within him changes, from being coiled like a spring to instead, a certain apprehension.
"... so instead, I have a proposition to discuss with you. That being once exams are over, if you'd be up for a certain 'celebration' so to speak."
The 'Western Movie' he suggested early was a real idea, but it was also meant as a distraction from what he truly has in mind...
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"<<Okay. That sounds like fun.>>" It also makes Ren sweat a bit--they're not sure their English is so good they could follow an entire movie from beginning to end--but that's all the more reason to keep up those studies even after midterms are over.
The fact that Akechi thinks so highly of their ability to succeed motivates them to want to do exactly that. Between that and Makoto's general study-forwardness, they think their grades will continue to improve. That's heartening, even if it might be too late for midterms.
"Not so much," they do say wryly of their mastery of the subject. "But I have someone pestering me not to stay up too late at night."
Part of doing well at school and in particular at exams is making sure you get enough sleep beforehand. It's not just a meme!
When they prompt Akechi to talk about what's on his mind, though, they sober. They don't really anticipate that Akechi's going to admit to being upset about them still not having feelings for him, so it's enough that he admits that's something's weighing on him at all--especially after their last call.
"Yeah," they admit of midterms not being the best time, a little self-recrimination in their voice. "I guess I should've waited, but... I didn't."
It's an anticlimactic end to that sentence, but probably still better than I was thinking of you. They didn't even think of him first. It's just cruel.
"Anyway, I don't mind if you go ahead and ask, but you're right--we should probably save that for after midterms are over. Today felt long enough."
On the other side of the line, Akechi takes a deep breath. Ren glances towards their phone, despite it being pressed to their ear, as if they might get a better look at him in the process.
"Oh yeah?" They'd been thinking of taking Makoto out somewhere to celebrate, but... it's not like they can't do multiple things, depending on what they are. They've got more friends to celebrate with anyway, so they'd inevitably do multiple things, really. So: "What'd you have in mind?"
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Akechi of course, wants Ren to sweat a LITTLE. It is after all, motivating them to improve.
Ren's comment though does make him wonder, "Haha... I see. Well, it is sound enough advice I suppose, even if it's not something I could ordinarily take."
He suspects it's Makoto. Suspects. After all, who else would be that straight-laced and serious as to tell Ren to go to bed early during exams?
It's certainly not anything sexual he's thinking of either. From what he understands of Makoto, he'd be shocked if they'd even held hands yet.
"Well, there's no sense second guessing the timing now. You made up your mind and acted upon it."
Ren Amamiya certainly seems to understand what he wants at least, in Akechi's eyes, and goes after it.
Perhaps part of why he's feeling a little down as of late, at least until this call.
"No, I do think it's best to wait. The last thing you need is for that to be on your mind when you do turn in tonight..."
Akechi does hesitate however when Ren prompts him to go on, is this the right thing to do, to ask? Is it too much, after he just asked Makoto out for the first time? Will he take offense?
He decides to go for it anyway.
"Well you see, Sunday morning, pre-dawn, is said to be the best date to view a certain meteor shower... the Orionids. Would you be interested in seeing it together?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Hmm... Who indeed?
At the foot of the bed, Morgana's tail twitches. "Don't stay up too late chatting," he mutters.
...To which Ren sweatdrops. Busted...
What's not yet busted: their and Makoto's lewd, lewd hand-holding. Akechi would be beyond shocked and clear into scandalized if he knew how much they've held hands already! ...Fortunately, Ren doesn't plan on sharing the smutty details about their relationship.
"...Yeah." It is a little funny to Ren that the last time they had exams, Minako had asked them out, and now this time, they've asked someone else out. They hope this isn't going to end up being a jinx. It was already embarrassing enough when Kasumi teased them for being a playboy, for all that it was just a joke. (They're pretty sure she was joking, anyway.)
Since Akechi agrees that it's better to wait, Ren almost cuts the conversation off here. He's not doing great but he appears to be holding up, so no point in tormenting him further. However, they do want to hear what he has in mind for a celebration--and it's well worth the brief wait. Ren's eyes widen, and they push themself up on their free elbow.
"Really? Yeah, I'd love to!" they enthuse in their deep voice. After talking through their parent woes with Dr. Maruki, Yusuke, and Akechi, they've made a measure of peace with their grief over losing their hometown, and so they'd be okay with just going to the planetarium again--but this sounds like Akechi wants to actually see the Orionids in real life. Ren hadn't really gotten the impression that he was all that interested in the stars, so this turnabout excites them.
"We'd have to go pretty far to get away from Tokyo's light pollution, though. The Orionids are relatively faint compared to some other meteor showers. Did you have somewhere in mind? Mt. Fuji or something?" they continue. The timing really is perfect, though--Sunday morning after exams means they can take a day trip after tests, spend the night stargazing overnight somewhere, then come back the next day. They smile, eyes sparkling, at the idea. They'd taken for granted that they wouldn't be able to stargaze at real stars while they're still living in Tokyo...!
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Is there someone else in the background there? Certainly it wouldn't be unusual for someone to be over to study. Well, if there is, Akechi can't hear them all that clearly. At least they're not talking about delicious pancakes for Ren to eat in bed.
Shock! Hand-holding! Akechi would definitely need a fainting couch, he'd get the vapors... right before he went to Mementos to try and implement a 'Genocide' route on Shadows.
That's LOVE baby.
It's funny though, Akechi spent so much time agonizing over what to ask him about - what to spend time over. It can't be. It shouldn't be.
But... he does enjoy the look on Ren's face, when he gets passionate about something. He enjoys listening to him talk about it. He wants... to do that again.
It's never been like that with him, with anyone else.
So when he hears 'Really? Yeah, I'd love to!' It's like a weight is lifted from his shoulders, of the past few days, as he smiles again. "Well, I was thinking... either we go to Sumaru City and take a hike into the mountain range... not Mount Katatsumuri, certainly."
He cautions. "Or, we plan a day trip to somewhere more rural... perhaps. If you happened to have a spot in mind... the only requirement is that it would need to have a clear view of the Southeastern sky."
He doesn't outright suggest Inaba because well... he doesn't want to press Ren in that direction, given his recent issues with his family.
However, he's given him plenty of wiggle room to choose alternate locations, for his comfort. After all, if he rigidly selected just one...
... he might worry he was taking him away from Tokyo to a convenient place to have him arrested. And he'd rather allay such fears ahead of time.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Don't be silly. Why would anyone be talking about delicious pancakes at this time of night?
A complicated, messy, contradictory emotion such as love suits Akechi, at least. Whether it can't be or shouldn't be, it is--with all the weights of their unique circumstances that come with it.
"Definitely not Mt. Katatsumuri," Ren says dryly. They haven't been there themself, but between the news reports and Tsubasa's note on what happened at Morimoto Sanitarium, they'd prefer to not go anywhere near there. Maybe they could do Mt. Fuji itself--it's only an hour or so by train away from Tokyo, if Ren recalls correctly, and they've never been.
"I'll look into it and text you back," they say for now though. Hopefully train tickets won't be that expensive less than a week out, but there's other mountains in the area. (Or rural areas, but a mountain would get them a clearer view anyway. Ren certainly won't be suggesting Inaba.)
"Damn, though. If you wanted to motivate me to ace my exams, that's one hell of a reward," they say with warm humor. "Now I'll really have to work hard not to embarrass myself."
Maybe at this rate they can squeak their way up to the top third--but for now, they really are super-motivated. While the thought does cross their mind that Akechi has essentially invited them out into the middle of nowhere to be alone together, it says a lot about how their relationship has progressed since May that they immediately dismiss the possibility of an ambush.
They may or may not be friends, but they're something like it, after all--right?
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Obviously they wouldn't be. Unless the pancakes were Curry. Curry Pancakes. Put that one on the menu, Sojiro.
"Definitely not." He echoes, before adding with a wry note, "That would pretty much make it a working vacation, now wouldn't it?"
He's still smiling though, it's funny before he met Ren, how little his smile meant... it was always fake after all, or smug - or wicked, but bereft of the feelings behind a genuine smile.
"By all means. I'll do my own research as well in the meanwhile on locations that might be suitable."
There's a chuckle at his response, "Well regardless of how you do, I have no intention of withdrawing my offer." Only now, does a light playfulness enter his tone, "However- it is true that you'd likely enjoy it more, if you managed to pull that off."
No one said that even if the offer stood no matter what, that he wouldn't at least try to be more motivational.
If Akechi knew Ren thought of him as a friend, it would be a contradictory mess of feelings. However, whether he can admit it or not...
... some part of him knows that it's true.
"Anyhow, I shouldn't keep you up any longer on an exam night, but- well, I'm glad I was able to give you something to look forward to."
It may be that it was for Ren... but... it still means a lot to him too that he was willing to accept the offer, after the Planetarium, after... everything.