2026-04-15: An Absurd Sort of Coincidence
- Log: 2026-04-15 An Absurd Sort of Coincidence
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Goro Akechi
- Where: Electric Town - Alice's Apron
- OOC Date: April 15, 2026
- IC Date: October 25, 2012
- Summary: An emergency at Alice's Apron sees Ren offering to step in and help out--by becoming a maid waitress themself. This is all well and good, but then Akechi comes in on the tail of a suspect patronizing the place.
(|====================== Electric Town - Alice's Apron =======================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Akihabara ====-
Off the streets of Electric City, up stairs decorated with a cute shadow-faced
maid, one can reach Alice's Apron, a cutesy maid cafe decorated largely in pink.
The tables are round, rich wood, surrounded by comfortably curved plastic
chairs. The walls are adorned with framed photos and posters of top maids and
their lucky clientele, with alcoves sporting potted plants and occasionally more
framed photos.
Once seated, one will be attended to by a waitress in a frilly English-maid
style outfit, who will call them "master" and act out various cutesy gimmicks,
such as the clumsy maid or the tsundere maid. The menu is limited to coffee,
tea, pancakes, and omelets, which are all frankly mid, and the cutesy service is
sometimes outrageously incompetent, but that's okay. You're not there for the
food. You're there for the /experience/. The *cutesy* experience.
Go there enough times, and you'll be able to fill up stamps on a stamp card to
net a chance to take a photo with the maid of your choice. You might even end up
on the wall if you're loyal enough. Doesn't that want to make you come back
again and again, "Master"?
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
After an afternoon of touring a museum with Yusuke, Ren finds themself still thinking about Futaba and what her Shadow said. She is the one who killed her mother... They won't be able to know the truth of it without delving deeper into her Palace, but they can't help but ruminate on it.
So for now, they do something a little different: they drop by Akihabara to check out some electronics and Featherman figurines. They got a retro Featherman game from this area before, so it might help them do some research on her, considering her Shadow listed Featherman figurines as a treasure to her. They do spend a little time playing at the arcade and even get a new plushie to decorate their room, and stop by an electronics store and browse, but... not much luck on gaining any new insight.
Now it's getting dark. They head out, but on their way back to the train station, as they're about to pass by the maid cafe, Alice's Apron... there's a yelp, and the sound of someone falling down stairs! Ren rushes forward in time to catch one of the maids before she hits the ground, but she's banged up, and her ankle looks twisted...
It turns out her ankle had bent the wrong way as she'd been coming down the stairs to invite customers into the cafe. Ren sticks around out of concern, to make sure everything's okay. That turns out to be a fateful decision. One of her co-workers leaves with her to help her home, leaving the last maid, who turns out to be co-manager and the only maid left for the day, in a panic.
"We have an important customer coming in tonight!! I can't handle the kitchen and the floor all by myself!" she frets.
"Do you have anyone you can call in?" Ren asks.
"We have customers waiting right now! I need to get back--I don't have time to call around!"
Ren considers this. "What if you had someone who could start right now?"
"Huh? Well..."
~ * ~
And that's how Ren has ended up changing into an English maid uniform in the back room of Alice's Apron, with the intent to head out onto the floor as a maid-waitress. The uniform she's wearing is a little small for her, but luckily, she doesn't have much of a bust.
"You still look good! Clothes are all about how well you wear them!" Morgana reassures her from his spot in her shoulder bag once she's put it on. "That poor girl isn't going to have time to train you, so I'll teach you something good: how to curtsy. You'll really look like an elegant lady then! So what you do is..."
Ren listens to his instructions; then she daintily lifts her skirts an inch or two and sinks into a curtsy.
"Ohhh! That's my protégée for you! You nailed it your first try!" Morgana cheers. "Go knock 'em dead!"
The head maid comes in a moment later, after Morgana has ducked his head into the bag out of view. "Okay! The floor's settled for right now, but we'll have a VIP coming in soon," she tells Ren. She looks her over, then nods in approval. "Mmm, not bad at all. Let me give you some hair extensions and some make-up and then no one will be able to tell you're a boy."
Ren doesn't correct her. Soon, she has a pair of black pigtails and demurely applied cosmetics with long lashes, subtle blush and eyeshadow, and shiny soft lips--what's called the "natural" look. She admires herself in the mirror with a growing smile.
"There! Now you look like a shy, sweet maid. Lean into that!" the head maid instructs her. "If you mess up an order, you can just apologize and your client will forgive you. That's the expectation!"
"Got it," she replies.
"That's 'yes, Master!'"
"Y-yes, Master?"
"Better! Okay!! I'll show you the kitchen and the menu real quick. Don't worry about the VIP, I'll take care of him. You just handle the run-off!"
"Yes, Master..."
"Great! <3 But save that for the clients. Right now, you and I are equals. Now let's go!"
~ * ~
And so, after a quick tour of the kitchen and the menu--the coffee is instant, the tea is from teabags, and the pancakes and omelets are both pre-made and need to be heated up in a microwave--Ren peeks out to watch the head maid greet an incoming guest--that VIP, from the sound of it. It doesn't seem too difficult, really, with their background in customer service.
The bell rings over the door to admit a second customer. Ren's gaze shifts over to...
"Akechi?!" she whispers to herself, heart skipping a beat.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Detective - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hMdL9SX3nE
It would be easy enough to attribute Akechi being here due to Ren being here. After all, there have been too many coincidences along those lines.
But look closer.
He doesn't have his briefcase with him, and he's in his sweater vest and slacks which scream 'boy next door who has no time to shop for clothing' vibe. Instead, he's utilizing another more humble bag which looks like one someone might carry to school.
He looks upon the Head Maid with a smile.
"I know this might be an unusual request. But I'm rather particular about my dining experience. Might I have that booth over there?"
It's close, but not too close to the VIP's table. At an angle which gives him a view, but makes it difficult for them to see him in return unless he slips up.
And just who is this VIP?
Shuusei Yamamura, the Vice-President of Matsunaka Foods. A man who frustratingly, did not have a Shadow in Mementos. Indeed, he was becoming a thorn in the side of Okumura, for continuing not to fold under pressure as the stock prices fell. With a business plan that the shareholders had recently approved, rather than authorizing the takeover.
His mission? To find the means to take him out of the picture. Fortunately, that might be easier than he expected- few people reached the position he did without getting their hands dirty.
Settling down at the booth, Akechi neatly unfolds his napkin, placing it on his lap. Then he reaches sidelong to his bag, and activates the device inside.
A portable stingray.
Handy in part because the man was right now talking on a burner phone. "... understand you don't like it. But there's a need for precautions. I suspect there's an inside man who's providing him with the information..."
And within seconds, he had all the data he could ever need about the conversation. All neatly within his fake little school bag.
He then picks up the menu, and smiles, as he looks it over.
He certainly doesn't LOOK as if he's clocked Ren being present here. This isn't the behavior of someone who has.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Why, of course, Master~!"
So the head maid responds brightly to Akechi, not recognizing him without his iconic briefcase or Seven Sisters uniform. She seats him and hands him a menu and tells him his own personal, private maid will be by to take his order.
She of course attends to the VIP, Vice-President Yamamura, directly. There are other customers to handle, but with two maids, it's at least a manageable load.
Ren slips swiftly back inside the kitchen as Akechi is seen to his seat, her heart still pounding. Part of it is the frustration that it's him of all people she knows; part of it is that she's wondering if he'd still be attracted to her if he saw her in this get-up... She likes the way she looks right now, so if he were turned off...
And, of course, part of it is: what if he is still attracted to her. What if he gets a maid fetish and wants her to dress up like this and call him Master all the time!!
Ren tries very hard to not think of how her own feelings enter this equation.
The head maid returns. "All right! Everything's good for now," she whispers. She gestures back into the dining area. "You'll take care of him," she says, indicating Akechi, because why wouldn't she? He's the most recent customer. "But in between, I'm counting on you to heat up the customers' orders so I can take them out."
"U-um, okay," Ren replies, sneaking another glance out into the dining area. Akechi's looking over his menu with one of his polished little smiles.
...It sure would be fun to see how she jars it out of place once she comes to take his order.
"So on top of our menu entries, customers will also sometimes make requests of you, like drawing a heart in ketchup on their omelet or what have you. You can just play it straight. It's actually harder than it seems to mess up on purpose," the head maid continues, voice low and rushed. "If you mess up anyway, it's fine, just shed a few tears."
"Fake tears?"
"What other tears would I mean?" A couple of microwaves beep, and she turns her head. "On that note!! Start brewing up a cup of tea for our VIP! I'll take those orders out right now! But keep an eye on the floor--when your 'Master' sets his menu down, that means he's ready to order!"
Ren knows that, but she nods anyway. "Got it--I mean, yes, Master."
The head maid smiles brilliantly. "Wonderful~ We can do this! Thank you so much for your help!"
As she hurries over to plate two separate omelets, Ren fetches a teacup, drops a teabag into it, and pours hot water from an electric filter in. It's a basic black tea, so it just needs about four minutes to steep, and she sets a timer accordingly. When the head maid is gone, she takes a moment to wipe down the counters and the inside of the microwaves, then peeks out again. Is Akechi ready to order...?
God, midterms didn't have her half as nervous as this fiasco.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Even if someone did recognize him, it's easy enough to deny it. After all, would a celebrity really eat at an establishment like this?
Akechi skims the menu, folding it up, and putting it on the side of the table to indicate he's finished looking over at it before then taking out his mainstay for pretending he's not paying attention.
His phone. Tap tap tap.
Older men of course assume that teenagers are glued to their phone, oblivious to the world around them. Why would a teen whose thumb is scrolling through social media pay attention like that?
"...we have to be careful to avoid accusations of impropriety. Fortunately I have a third party in mind- hold on, my food is coming."
The Head Maid attends to him. While Akechi keeps on tapping on his phone. He's not really all that hungry, but it may begin to look strange if he doesn't order anything.
So he raises his hand, quite politely. Like he's looking for his server. "Excuse me..." His eyes trace around the dining room, searching for who's going to take his order.
Well it seems the newest maid is going to have to resolve this internal conflict of 'what he might think' sooner rather than later.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Mmmm, yes, that sure is Akechi raising a hand for a server.
Okay. Ren stands up straight, takes a deep breath, and brushes her fingertips down along her braids. Showtime.
She emerges from the back with hands clasped in front of her and face lowered demurely. Those braids match her frizzy hair, but the maid's headgear help make it look curly rather than unkempt. She steps carefully, one booted foot in front of the other, until she comes to a stop in front of Akechi's table.
She dips into a curtsy. "Good evening, Master," she murmurs, voice low as ever, but soft--velvety--to pitch it more feminine. As she rises, she clutches a hand to her chest--and lifts her chin to meet Akechi's gaze with a shy smile and sharp eyes. "How may I serve you tonight?"
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Akechi smiles as his server approaches, at first thinking nothing of it. He presumes it's possible they might recognize him and him having to defuse that- but that's just a matter of course. He already has his words picked out if so-
"Good evening!" He replies, cheerfully, "I appreciate your quick service - well, I'll have the Sincere Omelet with-"
Ren will see it, the moment he double takes, like he's truly seeing her features for the first time, "Why- excuse me, for a moment there I thought you looked like a friend of-"
The moment he makes eye contact is the moment he knows. Did you know the human eye can be quite unique? Unique enough that if you stare into it long enough that you might recognize such features.
"-mine..."
He can't mistake those eyes after staring into them long enough previously, that combined with the other features and-
Akechi claps a hand over his mouth and pinches his eyelids shut as smothered laughter snickers out from his mouth, his entire body writhing with the force of it, his shoulders shaking, everything trembling.
Just for several seconds - several LONG seconds for Ren. Finally, he takes the hand away, and swipes a hand at his eye, like the laughter had drawn a few tears.
"Haha- sorry, it was just so unexpected, you being here under these circumstances." He says, with a certain sincere cheer off the back of that restrained laughter. "You never fail to surprise me, Amamiya-chan." He adds, without there being even the slightest lilt of a joke at the change of the honorific.
"Certainly that's a good look for you. I feel you pull it off quite nicely." He says as he picks up his napkin to dab his eyes for a moment, and is it strange that he still doesn't sound like he's making fun of him in this moment?
He has a certain tone when he is, that he just lacks in this moment.
"Anyhow... as I was saying, miss. I'll have the Sincere Omelet and a black tea. As for what to write on it-" He smiles wider, now he's definitely taking a little advantage of this situation, "-why don't you surprise me?"
The next words out of Ren's mouth could be she was following him around to figure out what his game is, and he'd still be just as enchanted by the strange circumstances that allowed this to happen.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
It's a good thing that Ren's bangs cover her forehead, because the instant Akechi bursts into suppressed laughter, a vein bulges there.
"Oh, my, Master, whatever is so amusing?" she asks, and under the pleasant cadence and polite wording, there is an unmistakable irritation.
She looks good, dammit. Don't laugh at her.
For all that she's mad about it, though, it's hard to stay mad. He's utterly overwhelmed by that laughter he's trying so hard to hold back, and when he manages to get himself under control, he has to wipe away tears. It's a genuine joy that's rare to see from him, and after he addresses her as 'Amamiya-chan,' her demeanor softens.
Yes, it helps a lot that he actually sounds sincere. All considered, shock and delight are two things she does like seeing in him--especially if she's the one who inspired them. Ren dips into another curtsy as a silent thank-you for the compliment.
"A Sincere Omelet and a black tea. Coming up at once, Master~," she lilts, just a tiny bit. "I'll be sure to compose a most heartfelt surprise for you..."
A third curtsy, and she returns to the kitchen, smiling the whole way. She didn't expect him to laugh, but now that it's passed, she's starting to have fun. It's a very different dynamic they're about to entertain, and there's something exciting about that.
Click, goes the electric teakettle; beep, goes the microwave. Ren sets up a tray and cutlery and prepares the plating; she also starts up a couple microwave orders of pancakes (there is a moment of temptation to bring him that instead, but she masters herself) as directed by a couple of order notes left by the head maid. She's having it tough, huh...
Ren needs to focus on her own 'master' right now, though. Five minutes later, her tray is set up, and she walks it smoothly back out to him.
"A thousand thank yous for your patience, Master," she says smoothly--maybe she's not a 'shy' maid, but this feels more natural to her anyway. "Now, as for your message..."
She picks up the ketchup bottle and trails a message onto the omelet. A simple heart would be acceptable for most, but this is Akechi. She has to impress him.
A moment later, she has written a wobbly but legible four-character idiom:
"JIYUU JIZAI"
A phrase that can mean "free" or "freely," "unrestricted," "complete mastery," or "completely in control." The characters are relatively simple, but the fact that she was able to fit the whole thing might be enough to delight Akechi a second time.
At least, that's what she's watching for when she sets the bottle down. "Is that to your liking, Master?"
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
He answers her question of course. Then as she curtseys and promises not just his meal but a heartfelt surprise, "Why thank you, Miss. I'll be looking forward to it."
As she leaves, he steeples his fingers on the table, hiding a grin behind it. What a strange, delightful turn of events. Now, he has to contemplate what it means that Ren is here dressed as a Maid. That she's comfortable with dressing as a woman? That goes without saying, he'd seen signs of it before, but not to this extent.
A bet from her friends? Something to do with the Phantom Thieves? Or perhaps this is simply a part time job of hers he hadn't yet clocked. Either way, it would be gauche just to ask right out of the gate. He's a Detective! Asking for a straightforward explanation is cheating!
He always did like a good mystery, and now Ren has served him one on a platter... literally.
"Why it smells divine. Did you make this yourself?" He asks, as if curious in regards to that aspect, given Ren's prior interest in cooking "I suppose I should feel honored to receive such ~*special*~ treatment from a diligent maid."
Now Ren knows that Akechi doesn't have all that much interest in food, but perhaps the same as the stars applies here. He has interest when she's serving it or when she's making it.
He watches her as she writes upon the omelet with ketchup, all smiles as he sees it, eyes lighting up. Though it is something he has to be careful with. After all- a certain someone in a Black Mask has spoken similarly about his motivations.
"It perfect. I feel <light as a feather> just reading it." He says that phrase in English, as if he were reading the phrase as 'Free as a bird' by returning a Western idiom. "Does one have to take lessons in calligraphy or culinary lessons to write upon food with ketchup? I'm curious about the learning process- is there certification involved?"
Okay he's just teasing a little bit now, "My compliments for the 'hand'-writing. Now- it occurs to me that I never quite asked what to call you, when you're working, miss?"
He did call her Amamiya-chan, but he doesn't know what their maid name is. He can't imagine most maids use their real name at work, given the possibility of harassment.
"How should I address the talented young lady offering who is so diligently working on my behalf?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Any of those explanations seems reasonable, doesn't it? Ren is a daring person who's dedicated to their friends, who would go to significant lengths for a mission for the Phantom Thieves, and who has at least eight part-time jobs they work to greater or lesser extents.
For Ren's part, as she's preparing his order, she has time herself to consider why he's here. A maid cafe doesn't really seem like Akechi's scene, and he clearly isn't here for her. He doesn't have his briefcase here, so he's trying to be discreet about his identity, and he's not dismayed to see her, so he's not doing anything he'd be ashamed of getting back to a friend--and he did call her a friend, didn't he? Just before he realized she is the very friend of which he spoke.
Is he here to check out the restaurant because of its popularity? Or is he here for some kind of undercover work? Both of those seem equally likely to her. She doubts he'd tell her if she asked directly either, so...
Maybe this can be a contest to see who can figure the other out first.
She chuckles a little "ufu~" when he compliments her microwave cooking, hands clasped before herself. He might not care about food, but he did just recently say that he actually doesn't care about the stars, either. ...It feels nice to see his eyes light up like that because it's her, because it's something she's serving him, something she's preparing for him. That it might be perfect.
"Naturally, I prepared it just for you, Master," she says breathily, which is not quite the same as having cooked it. She stands at his tableside to watch him--it's not like she has any other customers to attend to, and is this not also the role of a loyal maid?--and although jiyuu jizai doesn't have any characters for 'bird' in it, Ren understands enough English to connect the dots between it as 'light as a feather.' "Certification? Oh my, Master. You think quite highly of us maids, don't you? Or perhaps your tongue is simply as <silver as a spoon>."
...which is not actually an answer to any of his questions. That is, of course, on purpose--particularly since the idiom 'silver as a spoon' refers to a polished, even reflective silver.
But before she can try to turn any questions on him, he asks for her name, and her eyes widen slightly as she's caught off-guard.
"R-Ran," she stammers, a touch of color rising in her cheeks.
...Not her best work, as far as undercover names go. She hadn't thought to think of one. She seriously hadn't thought anyone would ask--but then, the kind of clients who come to places like this would want to get intimate with their 'maids,' wouldn't they? Just look at how Mishima and Ryuji got about the maid service, at least at first. ...maybe she should've said Becky...
"Ran Umemura," she concludes more smoothly, to at least make it a little less similar to her actual name. (A very, very little.) She dips into another curtsy, hoping she isn't overdoing one of the only tools in her arsenal. "Your keen interest turns my cheek, Master." Indeed, she turns her head to one side to show off her cheek, now smiling a cryptic little smile to help cover up her slip. And, to try to put him on the back foot: "Someone as handsome as you would have no lack of eager maids, after all--for that alone, surely there's no need to come to a humble cafe such as this?"
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Ashamed of getting back to - or something he could easily lie away, one might say. After all. Even if he's specifically targeting this man for Shido, he's doing it by trying to find some crime he's committed! Or if he hasn't, then to frame him for one.
Either way, it seems like valid detective work, investigating a Corporate Executive for a crime. Anyone would believe that.
Her little chuckle elicits a grin out of him of course, "My- I didn't realize that I'd have food prepared for me with such care, today. This entire experience has been such a pleasant change of space."
Perhaps there's a little tease in that tone, but at least he's not making fun of her. It's merely that the whole situation has that sort of absurdist, coincidental quality.
"Most highly." He agrees, as he places a hand against his chin to prop it up, "Can I be blamed for entertaining the possibility? There are such professional institutions for Butlers after all in Europe. If you'd told me you trained in Paris, there's a good chance I'd have believed you."
He says with a wink, perhaps following up on the 'silver as a spoon' with more silver-tongued flattery, as he takes out a pen - and begins to scrawl something down on a small notepad.
And then, he takes her off-guard! There's a smile, as Ren stammers out their 'Stage Name' or rather 'Maid Name'. "Then may I call you 'Ran-chan'? I know we just met, but- well I don't want to be overly formal either." He chuckles, "Haha- after all. Aren't maids supposed to be close confidants to their masters' secrets?"
There's a look up at Ren's eyes, and well, she's already caught his discretion here, but he wanted to make it a touch more explicit.
At the same time he slides the piece of paper her way, 'The man over my right shoulder' to explain things more explicitly. Perhaps, since 'Ran' has offered a measure of trust here, he's offering the same back.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
That's that good old Goro Akechi plausible deniability at play again. Good thing that Ren's passed the point of being aggravated by it and come to accept it as part of who he is. Wouldn't the game between them be too simple if Akechi could be found out that easily, anyway?
It has been an absurd sort of coincidence, though. Ren's also gotten used to Akechi sticking his nose into their business--a perhaps more polite way of saying 'stalking'--but today it really is a coincidence.
"Oh...? Then if this suits your palate, perhaps I should prepare something even more special for you next time," 'Ran' says with a coquettish smile, bringing a hand to touch her chin. She has been learning how to make omelets, and part of her motivation for cooking (surely a very, very small part) is to see if she can make something that even he'd earnestly find delicious, rather than just saying so."
She chuckles--no, giggles--at the suggestion she could have trained in Paris. It's more flattery, with a hint of flirting given that wink, but despite a curl of guilt for Makoto, she doesn't hate it. It kind of feels nice. It's also dangerous, but that's part of the appeal, unfortunately--especially right now when they're pretending that 'Ran' and 'Ren' are two different people, and one Akechi is pretending he doesn't already know.
"If that's my Master's desire," she replies, at first in a placating sort of tone as her eyes slip down to the slip of paper on the table. She smiles and leans in to brush a bit of Akechi's hair back as if to push it out of his face. "I live only to please you," she murmurs, meeting his eyes and then glancing past him at the man over his right shoulder. She curls her fingers around a lock of that soft, silky hair, whispers, "And vex you in turn," before standing up straight and letting those strands drift away from her fingertips.
It's not flirting if she says she's messing with him, right? Right.
Then she bows her head and clasps her hands in front of her, a subtle smile on her lips. "Is there anything else I may do for you, Master? Milk or sugar for your tea?"
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
It is a part of him after all! Don't stop, never stop ~lying~. If he stops ~lying~ he dies. Possibly literally.
The word he'd use personally is ~investigating~ rather than stalking. You are a Phantom Thief, after all Ran. And he's on the case. Though should the Detective get so close to the culprit? Tsk, tsk.
"Well well, with such a tempting offer, perhaps next time I'll allow you to order for me."
It is an odd space to cross this kind of boundary, isn't it? They agreed no flirting, while Ren is seeing someone. And yet, since Akechi doesn't yet know Ren's gender identity, he views it as at least a 'stage setting' in a sense.
No one thinks this is Ren Amamiya in front of him after all. She's diligent maid, Ran Umemura, and he's a boy going to the Maid Cafe for the experience rather than being here on a case.
Is it really so bad, when considered in that liminal space?
Well! If it is, he's not going to think about it. "Well I certainly appreciate you indulging my request then, Ran-chan." He's about to pick up his black tea, when Ran leans in, brushing his hair back, and he stares as if he weren't expecting that, in public at least, 'And vex you in turn.' As her finger curls around his hair.
"Oh-ah-" He stammers, as Ran stands back up, finger slipping away. Is he blushing!? A little, it seems Ran got him with that comment. "By all means-" He says as he clears his throat, trying to recover as gracefully as possible, "-I do so enjoy being challenged, especially when it's coming from as pretty a young lady as yourself."
Would he say the same for Ren over Ran? Well, almost certainly, but SINCE Ren is Ran in this moment, he feels more like he doesn't have to hide such statements.
There's nothing wrong with a young man flirting with a young woman, as compared to a young man flirting with a young man.
Ran then asks if there's anything else she might do for him, and he considers - how might he vex her in turn.
"Well... your question calls to mind some of the advertised services. What if I asked you to spoon feed me my omelet?"
...
...
...
...
...
"Just kidding." He says an uncomfortable amount of time later with that shit-eating grin that she knows him so well for having.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
A stalker would use the word 'investigate'! Just because he's a handsome detective doesn't mean it's not stalking--especially since he's gotten so close to the culprit.
Though maybe that's all part of his devious plot. After all, the culprit no longer minds his presence so much... They even called him a "good friend." Are they falling into his trap, or is he falling for theirs?
(Maybe they're both falling for each other.)
Ran giggles again at being allowed to order for him, but once again holds back a comment about pancakes. It doesn't matter so much now that it's pretty widely-known that Akechi is a Persona User and has been since before that day in the TV studio, but still, it's valuable for him to not realize she caught him in a slip-up. Akechi slipping up is the likeliest way she'll find out for sure if he's the Black Mask or not... to say nothing of the quasi-flirting.
They're both just playing around. Pretending. In light of that, it's all just a joke that doesn't mean anything. ...That's what the two of them can tell themselves right now.
But there's a rush of pleasure in Ran when Akechi stares and blushes, even the tiniest bit, at that gesture. It might've been an excuse to get a better look at the man he's tracking right now without seeming like it, but that reaction is worth far more. She curtsies again at the compliment, relishing in being called a pretty young lady. "Then perhaps I'll challenge you even more, Master."
Of course, he only challenges her back. This time she isn't taken aback, since this is in line with the direction they've taken this interaction, but she does pause for a moment--a long enough moment for him to smugly tell her he's just kidding.
The thing is, she was tempted. As she smiles back, it's regained a measure of cool distance. ...She's letting herself getting carried away. This isn't just unfair to Makoto, it's unfair to the other maids who work here; the more attention she pays him, the more the other patrons notice and start to get resentful, maybe start to demand that they get special treatment too. Right now it's not so bad, but if she sat down and started spoon-feeding him after all, she'd definitely cause someone trouble.
"Oh, my, what a mischievous master you are," she replies with a sweet edge that calls Haru's axe to mind. "Well then, if there's nothing else, I'll leave you to your meal. Do call for me whenever you need me..."
This time, she turns her skirts into a sashay and calmly--superficially calmly--returns to the kitchen.
...There's a good number of refill coffee and tea orders cropped up by now... She gets right on those. The head maid is probably going to be annoyed at her otherwise.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
When you're handsome and popular enough, the news certainly won't label it as stalking. Even if it's true!
He might however be in trouble, if Ran decides to take advantage of him next time, by allowing her to order.
But perhaps that too would just be a part of the joke- after all, she's a maid who is here to vex their Master.
He's not used to being on the back foot, but it's not a bad feeling. Not when it's Ran, at least. In fact, it's kind of nice. If one could simply pursue their ambitions unchallenged - life would be boring indeed.
A lesson a colleague of his named Hisataka Shinjo knows far too well.
Akechi has no idea what he would have done had Ran taken him up on that. Perhaps allowed it, doubled down. That would be very him to do.
Fortunately, it goes untested even if he narrowly dodges a verbal axe, "Haha- I do hope that won't be a problem." He seems to be having a good time at least. "I can be a little vexatious myself, I suppose. I just can't help myself..."
Just enjoying this space where he doesn't have to hold back quite so much. "Oh certainly! I shouldn't keep you for too terribly long away from your other Masters. Even if I do enjoy your company- I suppose I can share you."
With Makoto, for example.
As she walks away, he watches her go, before taking a sip of black tea. "Well well..." The man doesn't have a Palace, so he doubts this is Phantom Thief business. A part time job, or- is there a side to Ren Amamiya that he didn't know of before, named Ran Umemura?
Mysteries that he'll be turning over in his head for some time.
He takes up his fork and knife, and lets part of the Omurice spill out, without marring the Kanji, as he takes the smallest bite.
"... what a delicious turn of events."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
He might be... However, Ran isn't likely to do another shift at Alice's Apron again. She's enjoying the experience, but nine part-time jobs is just too much, even for her. It'd be way more beneficial for her to take what she's learned here and negotiate with Lala over at Bar Crossroads to start dressing in a kimono and get a pay boost there. Sadly, there are no omelets at Bar Crossroads, either...
...but maybe Ren will serve him one at Cafe Leblanc, one of these days. Especially if they can take their experience making onigiri and turn it into a proper omurice. They might not be a maid over at Leblanc, but they're still a barista serving a customer.
I just can't help myself, he says, and Ran's smile thaws. He does seem like he's having fun and enjoying himself freely, much like that yojijukugo she wrote on his omelet. It's pleasant to... well, play around with him, even if she had to reel it back for both their sakes. Knowing him, he would have doubled down if she'd taken on that challenge. He so hates to lose.
As she sashays around, she does pause at that last comment he makes. "Oh? I'm afraid you misunderstand me." She smiles coquettishly over her shoulder at him. "My only Master is you, Goro-sama."
That's the last word she'll leave before she returns to the kitchen.
The head maid returns soon. "I saw you working that customer! You sort of wobbled between 'shy maid' and 'sexy maid' but he seemed to like it, so it's fine," she says as she gathers up the drinks. "Good thing he didn't notice you're a guy!"
"Good thing," Ran agrees mildly as she helps her. "How's it going with that VIP? What's his deal, anyway?"
"Oh--that's Yamamura-san. He's a bigwig at a company called Matsunaka Foods," she replies, leaning in as she lowers her voice conspiratorially. "He comes in every couple of weeks; he enjoys this kind of cafe for the ambiance, let's call it. He's divorced, you know, and I think getting waited on by cute maids makes him feel young again. He leaves lavish gifts for his favorite girls--nothing creepy, mind you! We don't put up with that here! But, like, gift baskets full of sweets, fancy soaps, scented candles--that kind of thing. It's a nice little bonus!"
"I see. So he doesn't ever harass any of the girls?"
"No, never! He's always a gentleman." She hefts a tray and takes the other from her. "Oh--good news: one of the girls phoned to tell me she's coming back to finish her shift, so you won't have to keep this up too much longer. 'Til then, make sure to keep an eye on your boy!"
Oh, I will, Ran thinks as she nods and watches her go.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Nine part time jobs!?
Truly, this could make the Top 10 List of Shido's greatest crimes, forcing this upon the youth.
'My only Master is you, Goro-sama.'
That gets him a greater high than he'd like to admit. After all, he does enjoy being the smartest, most popular person in the room, receiving all the attention.
However, he's not blind - he understands the power dynamic is not exactly that. Even in this space of play submission to his whims, she has such power over him as well.
But even knowing this, he still feels good.
There's a sigh of contentment, as he takes a sip of his black tea. "A shame that I can't spend all day here." Ran's fears indeed may be a LITTLE warranted, given that... but only a little.
Another bite of the sincere omelet.
Yamamura had grown quiet for a bit, he's eating after all, but then he checks his watch. "Hm, it's almost time." He murmurs, before he motions with his hand for the check.
It's at that same moment that Akechi raises his own hand, placing several larger bills upon the table. The Omelet is barely touched, but...
"There's no need for the check." He says with a smile, as his eyes look sideways to the right, at the VIP who is also cashing out. "Please, keep the change. For the lovely experience today. I've heard in Paris that they add a fifteen percent 'service compris'."
His eyes do come back over to the Omelet. "I'm do feel rather guilty, that I was unable to finish the food you made with such care for your Master. However- I found that I couldn't bear to mar your handiwork, Ran-chan." He makes a theatrical bow of apology, "Please forgive me... for not cleaning my plate."
There is mirth within his eyes too, as he makes ready to keep following the man, but- well. He can take his time. He's still paying out, and the man isn't yet out the door.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
In fairness, Ren doesn't work all of them at all times; some of them they barely work at all anymore, like Cafe Chagall and Ore no Beko, while some only demand the very occasional shift, like Untouchable. But there's still Triple Seven, Cafe Leblanc (which they don't even get paid for!!), Rafflesia, Bar Crossroads, and a recently submitted and accepted job application to Big Bang Burger...
It turns out a certain spaceport only allows authorized personnel into its deeper areas--and, just by observing what goes on even in the early sections, it's clear that authorized personnel includes employees of a certain chain restaurant. But that's neither here nor there right now.
What's here and there right now is how good Ran just made Goro feel. Isn't that right?
A motion comes from Yamamura's table for the check. Akechi, too, motions for the check. Ran catches both of these things and brings out the check--easy enough to write it up with only two things ordered--but as she brings out the little faux-leather booklet, he tells her there's no need.
"Oh?" She glances at Yamamura along with Akechi, but purses her lips when he tells her to keep the change. "I couldn't possibly..." They might do 'service compris' in Paris, but this is Japan, not France. Still--she understands what he's actually getting at. She decides to 'misunderstand' and let the head maid scold them later. She smiles at his theatrical bow, and curtsy-bows one last time in return. "Oh, how could I do anything but? Certainly I'll forgive you, Master Goro. Then, until next time..."
Which won't be at Alice's Apron, but will be a 'next time' all the same. She accepts the bills, extra and all; then she clears his table and returns to the kitchen. The remainder of his dinner might get thrown out, but she does consider the lip of the tea cup, swishing what remains of its contents, before dumping that out too. At least she can do the dishes until that other maid returns.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
"Haha- you do spoil me so. Thank you, Ran-chan, for being so indulgent of your master's whims."
He leaves with a smile on his face, as he follows Yamamura out...
... given the man's caution, he suspects he's going some place to meet one of his co-conspirator's face to face.
And wouldn't that be convenient for him?
Ren's phone buzzes not too long after he leaves.
@>So I have a recommendation for you Amamiya-kun
@>Alice's Apron in Akihabara was a surprisingly pleasant dining experience for a maid cafe.
@>Perhaps the best microwaved Omelet I've ever eaten. ;)
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren texts back in relatively short order, all considered:
@>I always knew you had garbage taste.
@>But that's just one of the things that's fun about you.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
@>Isn't it just?
@>You already know I'm a shameless regular at the konbinis of Sumaru City.
...
...
...
@>But that's just one of the things that's fun about you.
That he can feel comfortable sharing something like that to someone else of himself.