2026-06-14: Gemini-Scorpio Compatibility
- Cutscene: Gemini-Scorpio Compatibility
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Chihaya Mifune
- Where: Red Light District, Shinjuku, Tokyo
- OOC Date: June 14, 2026
- IC Date: Saturday, November 24, 2012
- Summary: After a quasi-argument with Akechi that has had him freeze them out for two weeks, Ren remains mixed up enough about it to seek their fortune with a confidant.
By the time Ren returns home from Sumaru after parting ways at Shibuya Station, it's late and it's cold. Despite this, after they change into street clothes, they don't immediately head across the street from Leblanc to the combination laundromat and bathhouse; they head back out to Shibuya, transfer onto and ride the JR Yamanote Line until their destination, and walk out into the nightlife of Shinjuku.
They at least don't need to wander far out into it. Chihaya's fortune-telling stand is right around the corner, next to the home security shop and within sight of the movie theatre. Ren jogs there, pulling their black jacket tight around them.
She's seated at her usual table. She's got a heavy shawl on over her usual lavender dress that matches the drape that covers the table itself, and though she doesn't have a customer at the moment, she's studying a spread of tarot cards in front of her with pursed lips. As they approach, she notices them and greets them with a smile.
"Oh, it's you! I had a feeling you'd stop by for a reading today," she says.
Ren sits down on the cushioned stool across from her. No need to ask why; despite her Holy Stone scam, she does have some legitimate power. "It's a little embarrassing," they admit.
"Oh? Why's that?"
"It's... a compatibility reading I want."
"Oh!" she utters, violet eyes blinking wide. "No wonder, then. Boys don't usually request that sort of thing."
And that's why it's only 'some'--she's so close, yet so far. Then again, social conditioning and expectations can be their own kind of cognitive distortion. "What kind of details do you need? Uh... if I'm being honest, I don't want to give out their name. For privacy reasons."
"Hmmm... The more I know about who you want to know your compatibility with, the more I'd be able to divine. Otherwise, I'll end up seeing just your romantic future in general," she says, folding her arms. "Is that okay?"
They rub the side of their neck as they consider this. "What if I share, like... some non-identifying personal details about them?"
She gives them a dubious look. "That's better than nothing, I suppose..."
Better than nothing indeed. Ren does take a moment to wonder to themself if they're just bad at letting go. However, they came here with the idea that Chihaya could help them figure out whether they should let go, or if they ought to keep hope. They sit up straight and fold their arms and legs. Time to commit.
"They live in Sumaru's Narumi Ward. They go to school at Seven Sisters High School. Their birthdate is June 2, 1994."
"Oh, so she's a Gemini!" Chihaya utters. (Social conditioning...) She gathers up her tarot deck into a neat stack and sets it aside. "Let's do an astrological reading, then. I'm not as good at those as I am tarot cards, but astrology works especially well for compatibility readings, so I'll give you a discount for this one. All right?"
They nod, and when she names her price, they hand over the money. She accepts it and tucks it into her lockbox, under the table. Once that's done, she asks, "Well then, when's your birthday?"
"October 31. 1995."
"Then you're a Scorpio. Hmm... That's already not a good sign. Um, no pun meant! It's just that Geminis and Scorpios are polar opposites when it comes to their emotional needs."
Their stomach sinks. "What do you mean?"
"I mean Scorpios like you are often dark, mysterious, and intense, and you love depth and secrecy. Meanwhile, Geminis tend to be quick-witted and clever, but they also prefer to keep things light and breezy. Um, to put it another way, if Scorpios are deep sea fish living at the bottom of the ocean, Geminis are those little pond-skimmer bugs that walk on the surface of the water. You might want a serious, committed relationship, but she might... not."
Ren stares down at their knees. Chihaya's heteronormative assumptions aside, this immediately rings with so much truth, they feel like they just got concussed. "Are you saying it's hopeless?"
"N-not at all! It'll be hard work, but it's not impossible!" Chihaya gives them a considering look. "Besides, if this person weren't such a challenge, you wouldn't be so attracted to her, would you?"
Heat rises in their face. They say nothing.
"That's what I thought!" she declares, the force of her smile squinting her eyes shut. "That's how it goes with Scorpio-Gemini couples!"
They're not sure if they should be affronted that they're so predictable or reassured that this is normal. Ultimately, they find they're a little of both. "So what should I do?"
"Communication is the big key for this pairing! You have to talk it out with her and figure out clearly what you need and what she needs so there's no misunderstandings."
"...What if they aren't talking to me right now?" They look away. "What if I already told them, and that's why they cut me off?"
"Oh. Um..." Her eyelashes flutter downwards. "I-I think that might be beyond what a fortune can do for you..."
"...Okay." Yeah. That sounds about right. They press the back of their hand to their forehead as they squeeze their eyes shut. Right. What are they doing, trying to get a compatibility reading for them and Akechi, anyway...? Didn't they decide to back off and let him choose if he'd even talk to them again? But... they just wanted reassurance on if loving him was hopeless or not. They suppose they got it. They lower their arm and stand up. "Thanks anyway, Mifune-san."
For a moment, she makes flustered little noises as they step away from the stool and turn to leave. Before they get more than a step away, though, she blurts out, "Oh, come on! How can you mope like that in front of me of all people?"
They rock back to stare at her. "What? But..."
"No buts, mister! You know exactly what I'm talking about! And yet the moment you hear it might be a little difficult, you decide to give up, just like that? I didn't think you were that kind of person, Amamiya-san!" she scolds them.
"It's--it's more complicated than that."
"More complicated than however you managed to overturn my tarot readings? I'd love to hear about it, then!" she huffs, folding her arms. "Didn't you say you were going to change fate? That fate is not absolute? Didn't you actually change fate for my clients, time and time again, even though it should've been impossible? What makes you think you can't change your own?"
A smile creeps up onto their lips. "You've got a point."
"Darned tootin' I've got a point!" she insists, her country accept slipping into her voice. She blinks rapidly, flustered anew as she catches herself, and looks away. "Besides... if even you give up... what's that mean for me...?" she murmurs, not quite softly enough to avoid being heard.
That sobers them. Right... She thinks of herself as a cursed monster. They don't know all the details, but that much is clear based on comments she's made and comments from that sleazy Chairman Fukurai. It might not be too far from how Akechi sees himself, thinking on it. Their strength of will that allows them to overturn what Chihaya used to see as inescapable fate is something she's come to rely on, even though she had trouble accepting it as real at first; maybe Akechi's caught between wanting to rely on it and being afraid to, too.
In which case--how can they mope like this? How can he rely on someone who's at risk of giving up on him after just a couple weeks of silence? Hell, didn't Ren freeze him out and one point? Akechi sure didn't give up on them back then. It's true that it can't be all up to Ren either, but they can at least maintain a strong heart while they wait for his next move.
And he will make a next move. After all the effort he poured into making this rivalry happen, there's no way he'd give up now either. They've got to have faith in that, just like they chose to have faith in him.
"Thank you, Mifune-san," they say quietly. "I needed to hear that. I've been too stuck in my own head about this."
She smiles, relieved. "You did the same for me; it's only right I return the favor. We made a deal!"
"We did," they agree.
Determination sparks in her eyes. "Do you want me to do a full reading for you? I can do much better with the cards!"
For a moment, Ren--the Ren who's been worried for the last two weeks, the Ren who's angry and hurt over being snubbed, the Ren who's heartsick and afraid of a refrain of rejection--is tempted. They choose to shake their head instead. "I got what I needed from you already. Right now, I want to see with my own two eyes how it turns out. Still--thank you."
"All right. You're welcome." Her smile grows. "I'm rooting for you, Amamiya-san!"
They wave goodbye to her as they get up from their seat. When they head home, it's with a certain calm confidence restored.