2026-06-23: Time For Curry
- Log: Time For Curry
- Cast: Umie Akabane, Ren Amamiya
- Where: Leblanc Cafe, Yongen-Jaya, Tokyo
- OOC Date: June 23, 2026
- IC Date: November 29, 2012
- Summary: Recovering from Ulala's transformation into a Joker doesn't mean you need to let life pass you by! .... Even if it means your young co-worker spots your lie. Thankfully, curry heals all bruises, even ones caused by The Other Joker.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
As it turns out, getting punched in the face more than once by a Persona, then getting blown up by one taking over you, *and* getting rocket blasted by a rightfully angered Phantom Thief leaves a mark. (To be fair, another Phantom Thief revived her just in time to see a long-haired guy in a yellow ochre suit and shades punch the heck out of Makimura, so there's *that*.)
However, it meant that Umie's shift tomorrow had to be canceled, leaving Ren on the hook. .... That is, *if* Ren was working. Umie's not sure about schedules right at this moment. .... She should really let him know she didn't mean to leave him hanging, as a proper work senpai should (and also see if Akechi called him back).
Laying on the couch with a froggie-shaped ice pack on her face, Umie spares an eye for her phone, and turns down the volume on the TV.
>> hey
>> srry i left you hanging
The dots hang as Umie pauses in the middle of typing. Ah, she should have thought up an excuse.
>> got sick
Yeah. Nailed it.
>> ever hear back from akechi-kun??
(of course, that got typed out faster than her excuse.)
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
As it turns out, Ren's heard about this rocket-blasting by now, thanks to The Phantoms' group chat. They thus know perfectly well her excuse is a lie. That's okay, though. That doesn't change how they'd respond:
>> that sux. hope you feel better soon
As it turns out, they're getting paid extra to cover Umie's shift at the last second, so really, it could be worse.
When she gets to the topic of Akechi, they give their phone a wry smile. So the truth of her interest comes out. Fortunately, they have good news.
>> yeah. he came by leblanc. we talked it out. we're good now
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
It's amazing, the sorts of things you think you get away with, just by thinking you're the only one with the secret Persona at your place of work.
>> i bounce back pretty quick. I'll be back to annoying you soon enough.
It could very well be worse.
.... Umie stares at her phone.
Curse you, Ren Amamiya. Curse you and your understandably discreet, quiet ways. That was a well-adjusted, nice response, and she was hoping for more!
.... But that's just Ren, isn't it?
If only she didn't say she was sick...
>>
The dots show up for a while now, as several prevailing forces fight for surpremacy in Umie's mind.
>> I'm glad.
>>
More dots, though Umie's better nature wins out again.
>> It was fun seeing that area, though. It's been a while.
>> if he ever pulls this again, I'm more than happy to make another trip
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Amazing indeed. Even more amazing when you're capable of opsec, unlike some other members of The Phantoms... But that's neither here nor there, because surely Ren has nothing to do with the supernatural world anyway.
Opsec or no, they are discreet. They give exactly enough information to assuage any worries Umie might have and no more. Of course, that doesn't take into account any juicy gossip Umie might be hankering for, but Ren is not really a gossip. They barely pay attention to rumors, sometimes to their detriment, considering the recent rumors about the "Joker Killer" being more than one person and how that's finally manifested into reality.
They're willing to wait for Umie's response. They don't stay glued to their phone, but it is back in their hand when their phone finally buzzes.
>> I'd never seen it before myself. It was fun.
>> He shouldn't. We talked about that too.
>> but if he does anyway i'll be sure to sic you on him
Ren smiles at the thought. If Umie could badger Ninja Overlord Shiryuu into (semi-)compliance, imagine what she'd do to the Detective Prince.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Opsec was one of those skills Umie never really had to develop until now-- which likely explains the disaster trail that follows behind her as abilities that were enough for demons now fall short.
But, for Ren, it's enough, Umie is certain. He has no reason to think anything of her beyond a normal, (hopefully not so) boring adult.
>> so you managed to bend the second coming of the detective prince to your will
>> that makes me one proud workplace senpai
She smiles devilishly as Ren assures her she shall be properly deployed.
>> excellent. no mercy -3-/
>> yeah sumaru has its quirks, but there's a lot to like about it
Umie frowns, as she sees herself deploy the cartoon cat emoji. Is she already getting stir-crazy?
She should get out of the apartment.
>> do you still work at that cool leblanc place? i've been hankering for their curry
Oh right, she said she was sick. Bluh. Umie makes a face.
Wait, no. Let's see what Ren does, she thinks. Will he catch her in her lie?
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren raises their bespectacled eyes to the ceiling. Bend him to their will, huh... Considering how he'd stormed in, kicked them off their feet, and then grabbed them by the waist before they could fall...
>> idk about that
>> but i won't show mercy either
Quirks... That's one way of putting it.
>> it does seem like an interesting city. I've been out there a few times, mostly to hirasaka for books and for friends who attend kasu
It's not just Kurou!
As for Leblanc, they do catch her in her lie. However:
>> i do. we don't do delivery though sorry
They can afford to wind her up, just a bit.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Considering all that...
>> my, my
With that timing, it'd almost be as if Umie knew.
Of course, she doesn't, thankfully; her ponderings have been limited to wondering if that's what brought her to Shiryuu.
... her thumb types before she fully thinks on it.
>> I was thinking about what you said, when we went to see Akechi
>> how you didn't understand him, but you wanted to
She realizes it as she types--
>> It's like that, for me and Shiryuu
Are Kurou and Ren the only people who know?! ...... aside from everyone else, that is, who have their reasons to not particularly like Shiryuu.
The dots arrive again, as Umie's cheeks flush red. shitshitshitshit
>> haha kasugayama high has a lot of interesting people there huh
As for delivery?!
>> what?? i'll have a word with your boss
COVER YOUR TRACKS, UMIE AKABANE, YOU DID NOT HIT YOUR HEAD THAT HARD
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Maybe she can guess; maybe she can't. Ren won't be giving her any further clues.
Umie is a Chariot, though, and that means she talks faster than she thinks--even if she's talking with her fingers instead of her tongue. Ren's eyebrows rise at her admission. ...It's not surprising. They already knew Umie and Shiryuu are smitten with each other, for better or worse. This roundabout confession of love is just confirmation.
Kind of weird that one's a detective and the other's a murderous fiend, though.
And Ren leaves that thought right where it is. Luckily, Umie provides a distraction vis-a-vis whining about Leblanc's lack of delivery service.
>> good luck with that. i can't drive and he's not taking his porsche out for that
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
It is the Chariot way, especially when paired with Aries, with a Scarlet Dragon on top.
(Though really, all you have to do is just stick with Chariot, considering Ryuji's own quirks.)
Though it really is kind of weird how that all works out.
Thankfully for Ren, Akechi hasn't kidnapped anyone! Neither has Shiryuu solved a case.
Umie groans, pressing the ice pack further over her eyes.
Nary a single reply to Umie's admissions, and the blonde wonders how much of Ren's silence has been him helpfully overlooking her mistakes.
Does this make him a saint for overlooking his messy work senpai's mishaps, or a devil for observing them with calculated silence?
".... now I really *am* hungry," Umie groans, as she looks at her phone. She should just get up and eat something, instead of stare at the ceiling all day trying to will away a headache.
Wait.
>> he has a Porsche???
One thing of significance shall be accomplished here, and it's getting Umie off the couch.
The mysteries of Ren's bosses, however, shall multiply.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Shiryuu is a case. Does that count?
>> yup
The alignment of these statements has nothing to do with each other, surely. In the meantime, Umie will have to scrounge up food at home and not at Leblanc--not unless she wants to confirm that Ren has already figured her out. And surely she doesn't want that, any more than she wanted Ren to call her out on her various 'mistakes.'
Then again, sometimes a girl's a masochist as well as a sadist...
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
You would think Umie would have some pride here. Unfortunately, as she scrounges around for that konbini special she nabbed, she realizes that Kurou, ever the diligent roommate, had thrown it out.
Joking around about that curry placed it in Umie's mind. Sure, there's a million different places she could get curry, but that one hit the spot. And the coffee there's good too...
Surely, Ren isn't working there this evening.
Surely.
==== AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF HOURS LATER ====
What is that about sadism and masochism?
The door jingles, and a familiar blonde head emerges, a cap and a scarf tied around her neck to beat away the cold.
Makeup can be a great equalizer, but it can't fix everything. Laying on a couch with alternating ice packs? Now *that's* a recipe for... getting the swelling to go down.
Again, it could be a lot worse. Instead of looking like the injuries Umie *has* had, with the power of revive, healing magic, and a Dark Hour's worth of skill card healing, what comes out on the other side is a young woman who had a fight with a door jamb, and the door jamb won.
Which is... certainly not someone who was sick, to be sure. The swelling itself isn't even that bad; perhaps, in the mood lighting of the LeBlanc, it could be overlooked.
Hopping up to a stool at the counter (because again, Ren could not be working here when he's already been working at the Triple 7, Umie reasons) Umie eases the scarf away from her neck, and breaths in a soft sigh, breathing in the aroma.
She feels better already. Who knew getting out of the apartment would do that for you?
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Joke's on Umie: it's easy to do an afternoon shift at Triple Seven and an evening shift at Leblanc when you live in the attic above Leblanc.
Ren's been helping out more at the cafe these days on top of that, for Futaba reasons. So what are the odds that they'd be working here tonight when Umie comes in?
One in one, one would say.
"Welcome," Sojiro greets Umie when she walks in and sits at the counter. He recognizes her from other times she's come, but he's as casual as usual as he continues, "What'll it be?"
He's perusing a crossword puzzle--not the one that Akechi wrote in so long ago; that has a special spot up in Ren's room at this point--while standing behind the counter, and so therefore his attention isn't fully on her and her bruised face. Meanwhile, Ren is at the sink, washing dishes, but it's easy to focus on the person in the foreground first.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
This is another benefit of places like these: it's easy to just walk in, have a cup and something to eat, marinate in the atmosphere, and leave before it gets too late.
Umie hasn't quite found another place like it, even if she's sure she could, if she really looked.
But why do that, when LeBlanc exists?
"... A cup of your house blend," comes a familiar voice for Ren, which is, again, notably not sick.
"And some of the spicy curry," she adds, looking at the menu.
One could forgive Umie for not *looking* for Ren, in the off chance they *are* working here, but but that would be excusable, being sick and all.
Which Umie, again, is not.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Definitely not sick. Ren raises their head, hands pausing in the sink. They already figured Umie was lying about being sick, but they didn't think she'd be so bold as to head over to Leblanc for curry after explicitly talking to them about it.
"Coming up," Sojiro says, then looks over at Ren as he sets down the crossword puzzle. "Hey, kid--if you're done with those dishes, serve up a plate of the spicy curry." For his part, he'll start brewing that coffee.
Ren thoughtfully flicks the water off their fingers and dries their hands on their apron. Then they turn into the kitchen. A moment later, there they are in front of Umie, setting down a plate of Leblanc's delicious curry.
That deadpan yet knowing look is everything.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
'Hey, kid--'
This is the moment Umie knew she likely screwed up. Sure, there can be more than one 'kid' working at this fine establishment, but the way Umie's luck has been going lately, she knows there is likely only one possibility this could be.
And indeed, her oracle powers are definitely working, because there's a familiar mop of dark hair and glasses, serving that plate of delicious Leblanc curry, which is, for the record, just as good as what she was imagining.
In any other situation, the blonde would have considered it a reward for herself: you survived another encounter with the Terrible Unknown Thing That Is A Mystery.
However, due to her own hubris, as usual, she can't quite celebrate it, and even if she could, it would cause a disaster in her personal timeline. See, she *had* to talk to Ren and then mention the curry. If she didn't, she'd be here, and time-space would collapse.
Yet another way the world is ending because of Umie.
".... The curry sounded really good."
Like an apology, to the expertly deadpan Ren. God, those glasses just make it *worse*. How does he do that?!
Whatever bruise there may be against her face is likely being outmatched by the embarrassed blush on her face, coupled with the way her mouth is drawn tight into a straight line.
But only briefly.
The Badb stirs as soon as Umie has a bite of delicious curry. Umie slowly turns her head upwards, just enough so that she can look Ren square in the face, while giving them an impish grin. Not enough to make the bruising look any worse than it could be.
"You know what, I think I'm completely cured."
The smile disappears behind the coffee mug, but her eyes are still glinting-- perhaps a bit devilishly?
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Best in Japan," Ren replies, deadpan. The glare of light off the lenses of their glasses clears momentarily when they focus on the bruise on her face. Concern cuts the inexpressiveness with the twinge of eyebrows and the purse of lips, but--yes, they've definitely been doing it on purpose; they don't remark on it. Maybe they're trusting that if Umie wants to talk about it, she'll talk about it of her own volition.
Either way, they're back a moment later with a cup of coffee once Sojiro finishes brewing it. By now, Sojiro's also noticed Umie's face, and he shares some concerned words with Ren about it, then entrusts the cup with them.
"Yeah? Then you'll be good to go to work tomorrow," they reply as they set that cup down. They do give her a slight smile as they tuck their hands in their apron pockets. "You seem like you're in a good mood, at least."
She'd have to be, to smile that impishly even while having her face jacked up.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Alas, her need to somehow give Ren a gentle bit of resistance to their expert stare has also revealed the thing she was trying to overshadow.
She catches that look of concern, and gives a small, if light-hearted sigh of someone being caught red-handed (well, at least her nails are red).
Ah, she... *should* probably give Ren *some* explanation when he gets back, though thankfully, face to face the lie comes easy.
"Was grabbing something from the closet when my stepstool tipped back. Was too embarrassing to admit that I clocked myself in the face on my own door, so I've been spending all day scrolling my phone and changing ice packs instead."
Ren makes a good show of jabbing back, which seems to delight Umie further, even as it highlights the bruise.
"I plan to be, no worries. Can't set a good example otherwise~"
Not only that, she doesn't want either Ren or his boss to worry, truly. ... Or, for that matter, think it was another terrible situation that could happen to someone.
She sips her coffee, waiting for Sojiro to be nearby before she mentions, just loud enough,
"You need to keep an eye on this kid here. Nothing gets past him." Like cars. "Causes me nothing but trouble." One of her eyes is closed in a wink as she sips again.
"Alas, he keeps quiet and minds his business, too."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren's seemingly impassive expression doesn't change as Umie gives her lie. At the end of it, though, they nod once. Once again, they don't question her story. They at least... seem to believe her? (They don't. They already know the truth. But it's hard to gauge that just from their poker face.)
Sojiro at least is more expressive about buying her story. His lips peel back in a commiserating hiss, something he's probably doing because she's a pretty young lady--too young for him, but certainly pretty enough to garner his sympathy, much like Ann in both respects. "Yeah, you wouldn't want to go into work with a shiner like that. It'd upset the customers."
But she's still got a 'good example' to set, to which Ren says mildly, "Good. You don't want to worry the Ryouharas either." They can just imagine either of them splintering that 'door' in retaliation--and considering the 'door' is actually Phoenix... They've had enough trouble from the Ryouharas without buying more. (Especially given that Ren still believes mistakenly that the two aren't still threatening them. The power of a misunderstanding that no one knows to correct...)
Meanwhile, Sojiro chuckles. "Tell me about it," he says in good humor. "He minds his business less the better you get to know him, too."
Ren turns around and leaves for the kitchen. That's something that's better for Umie not to examine too hard. At their back, they hear Sojiro add, amused, "Ah, look, we embarrassed him."
That's as good an excuse as any they could've come up with. Thanks, Boss.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Ren's poker face is impressive; Umie needs to remember the power a pair of eyeglasses can have when she tries to use them in her own disguises. It's not just about using them as an accessory to change your facial structure, but a way to communicate, as well as obscure.
(Or maybe it's just Ren.)
Sojiro's advice and appreciative reaction garners him a chuckle from Umie. It's a far cry from the delighted cackle she's fully deployed during the Dark Hour, all polite and sociable. "See, that's what I told myself this morning," she replies smoothly. "As I drifted peacefully back to sleep after calling in." It was not a peaceful sleep, but that's her business.
And then Ren prepares that left-hook (whether intentional or no), perhaps giving them the satisfaction of a wince. "Augh, tell me about it." Thankfully, the 'door' is not quite Phoenix, in this case: the explosion knocked her into some dumbbells, and added on top of the Joker's grinning visage as it punched her, it was the least of her worries. However, Ren wouldn't know that, nor know Umie's distinction here.
The power of misunderstanding is great.
'He minds his business less the better you get to know him, too.'
"Ooh~?" Umie has to stop herself, as Ren leaves.
He's not someone like Shiryuu, who she can nettle and bark and tease to her heart's content; he's a teenager, and a private sort, on top of that, she considers. On top of that, judging how he seemed to be when Akechi was silent, sitting on that front step... She admits, at trhat moment, she wanted to put a hand on his shoulder and tell him it'd be okay.
As much as the Badb in her would like to dig further, Umie's better nature wins out, in this case. "I can't be too hard on him. He's had my back many times." And likely overlooked a lot of things. "We both work shifts at the Triple 7," she clarifies, for Sojiro's sake.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Sojiro chuckles too. "Calling out is the responsible thing to do." Clearly she did injure herself--the proof is right there on her face--so if she wants to joke about sleeping peacefully after calling out, that's fine by him.
The left hook is semi-intentional, at least. He doesn't mean to guilt-trip her, per se, just remind her of her position and who might suffer as a result. ...that might be tantamount to a guilt trip, though. (At least Ogre healed her afterwards, to Ren's understanding. They're not confident either of the Ryouharas would care.)
"Yeah. I didn't know what to make of him at first, but... he's a good kid," Sojiro says, stroking his goatee as he looks over his shoulder at Ren. He does not specify what he means, despite Umie's 'ooh?'-ing; he'll say enough to bring it up, but certainly not go into detail. It's a family matter, after all. He nods back at her when she clarifies. "Not surprised to hear that. He seems good at getting people to rely on him. Must be how reliable he is."
The door jingles; another customer comes in, this time the pompous regular. Sojiro's expression fades into neutral as he spies him, and he nods to Umie. "Anyway, enjoy your dinner, and take care of yourself once you get home."
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
"It is," Umie agrees.
Ren's point, whether intentional or not, lands well, and thankfully, due to their position, they're able to do so without casting suspicion on themselves. Ren knows, and even has comfirmation that the two of them care for one another, and while a Ren Amamiya wouldn't know about Shiryuu's proclivities towards violence, a Joker (the good one) certainly *would*.
More run-ins will happen in the future with more of the Cursed... including the one who called on her.
Shibuya should be safe, for now, but there's the cosplay convention coming up soon...
Sojiro's words bring her back from her thoughts; she nods. "He is," she notes, with some fondness. Ren's friends have expressed similar thoughts as well.
Further than that, Umie doesn't suspect anything, but the nugget of information is worthy in itself, in being a cute look into another side of Ren's life. He has a good boss here who looks after him.
Alas, life moves on, and customers do the same. Looking up around that time the bell rings (she swears, the instinct is drilled into her subconscious by now), Umie sees Sojiro's expression change.
YEP, say no more, she *definitely* knows that look. She nods, keeping it short and sweet. "Same to you two as well."
Then, focusing on enjoying her meal and the ambiance, Umie's eyes stray over a certain painting...
Well, that could be something she could ask at another time. For now, it's something to enjoy, along with her delicious food and coffee.
After all, surviving is always a cause worthy of celebration!