2026-08-16: Awkward, but Trying
- Log: Awkward, but Trying
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Kazusa Motojima
- Where: Shibuya Station - Underground Mall
- OOC Date: August 16, 2026
- IC Date: Wednesday, December 26, 2012
- Summary: Ren and Kazusa happen to run into each other in the Shibuya Underground Mall the day after Christmas. They strike up a conversation on a variety of topics, and ultimately end up sharing more about themselves.
(|==================== Shibuya Station - Underground Mall ====================|)
-====================================================== Tokyo/Shibuya Ward ====-
If you think Shibuya Central Street has the ultimate in shopping, wait 'til you
see the Underground Mall off of Shibuya Station. A collection of all sorts of
stores, it's accessible down the stairs from both Shibuya Station and Central
Street, making it feel like an "as above, so below" situation.
There's only so much room in these subterranean walkways, so each store is more
like a hole in the wall, but each one makes the most of the space they've got.
Clothing and shoe stores use racks that spill into the walkway, the walls, even
the ceiling to display their wares. A flower shop has a chalkboard describing
prices for its potted plants and specialty bouquets. Jewelry stores show off
their wares beneath locked glass cases. A premium mini-supermarket offers the
most delectable sweets. Japanese sundries, cosmetics, music and DVDs--you can
find all of them and more here.
The hallway walls display massive, colorful ads for the next hit thing, and more
ads string overhead. It's almost jarring compared to the bland concrete
hallways, tiled floors, and corrugated steel shutters for stores not currently
open.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Today is a wonderful day to be Ren Amamiya. Yesterday and the day before even more so, but one can't have peaks all the time.
Since it's winter break, they're getting on their part-timer grind. They have eight part-time jobs, eight, so they've got plenty to choose from. Umie's not in today at Triple Seven, so not that for the morning shift; Ore no Beko and Cafe Chagall they don't really prioritize anymore, and they're not desperate enough to go there; Iwai doesn't need them at Untouchable today; Sojiro and Ren get along much better now, but he still doesn't pay them; they need to pace themself when it comes to shifts at Big Bang Burger because that job is awful and they'd have quit ages ago if it weren't for the fact that they need a BBB employee ID still; and Bar Crossroads only does evening shifts, which they've already locked in. Today thus is a day for a now-rare shift at the Underground Mall's branch of Rafflesia.
It's also not a priority for them right now, to be honest, but unlike Cafe Chagall, whose coffee is not nearly as good as Leblanc's (even if they do admit there's a certain je ne sais quoi about the Pheromone Coffee), or Ore no Beko, which is very much assembly line work and thus boring, they like the manager at Rafflesia. She's very sweet and supportive, so if they're going to squeeze in a shift and their options are relatively limited, they'll favor her over Big Bang Burger, which they've done a shift at relatively recently anyway.
She gives them good advice on flowers and bouquet arrangements to give a datemate at that, when they casually bring it up. Christmas has already passed, but there's still Valentine's Day coming up in February, so it's good to know, right? When the shift is over, she gives them their pay, and they bow and wave, say goodbye, and wish each other happy holidays.
It's now early afternoon. Ren's got some time before heading over to Bar Crossroads for tonight. Smiling to themself, they pick up their shoulder bag, in which Morgana has been (is technically still) napping, and jog across the mall. They slow while approaching the cosmetics and jewelry stands, which are very close to each other. Normally they'd browse for themself and/or for gift ideas for their friends (and now ~*boyfriend*~), but is there someone there that they know?
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa's days, on average, haven't ranked that highly for her. Today is, at least, a less bad day than the day before: she's only experienced a little bit of the supernatural weirdness of the world she has now Awakened to, and getting in a fight with a living Colonel statue was... an experience.
As was the lingering curse he inflicted at the end of the battle. Kazusa still feels a tad under the weather, but is absolutely not willing to stay at home to be taken care of by her mother.
... But it'd also be too easy to just go to her studio and hole up for the day. So if she wants to distract herself, she needs something closer and more local.
The Underground will do just fine. There are few things retail therapy can't cure. (A supernatural curse is one of them but by golly she is willing to try anyway.)
Right now she's dressed in a long cream coat with a white faux fur collar, a long deep red dress, charcoal tights, and black ankle boots, and a black bag. She's idly browsing the makeup when the arrival of another customer makes them glance over--
And Kazusa blinks, looking at Ren. "... Oh. Amamiya-san." They glance over to the displays Ren has stopped next to, then back to Ren. "... shopping for a gift?"
She's scrutinizing Ren a little, but it's less 'What is your dark and terrible secret?' and more 'What have I missed about you until now?'
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
A few months ago, the sight of Kazusa would have made Ren frown and move on, possibly without even acknowledging her question. Now, they give her a look that's somehow both expressionless and open, then walk up next to her, tucking their hands in their pockets. (Their slightly-long nails are painted black, as they often are these days.)
"Just getting off work," they reply, tilting their head back towards Rafflesia. "I part-time at the flower shop." They look over at the make-up, then at the jewelry at the nearby store. "But I was thinking of doing some shopping, yeah."
A beat. They look back at her. "How's your back? I'd say I hope it's better, but you're looking a little under the weather."
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
A few months ago Kazusa wouldn't have even thought to ask, and instead just leapt to making snide implicatiopns. Today, though, she seems... more subdued. Maybe even a little tired.
(Yesterday was rough, and she still had to get back to Tokyo afterwards.)
She glances over at the flower shop. "... Ah. I see. How... was it?" But they were, in fact, thinking of shopping. Kazusa nods once.
She sighs. "My back is... well, it's been better. Yesterday was... a little rough. I had to go to Sumaru to pick up something and it... turned into a long story." Which is technically true. "So I guess I'm just a little wiped out from that. But... thanks."
She looks to the displays. "... do you need any help, or...?" This is awkward. But she's trying.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"It was fine. It's the day after Christmas; not as many customers as there would be." Ren shrugs. "Flower shops don't see a lot of returns." Unwanted bouquets usually end up in the trash instead.
Their lips thin when she mentions she went out to Sumaru. They did see on the news last night that there were a bunch of accidents over there. They're guessing Kazusa got caught up in that--especially if there was a supernatural source. "That sucks," they reply. "I hope you feel better soon."
Her offer does sound awkward. They appreciate the sentiment. "Hmm. Not sure yet," they say, following her gaze. "Actually, if you're feeling wiped, we could go sit down somewhere. Grab a bite to eat, maybe. I haven't had lunch yet."
A pause.
"Not Big Bang Burger," they add firmly.
Haru had already warned them months and months ago, but now that they work at one, they know for sure: fuck Big Bang Burger. (And as a lover of stars and space, it breaks their heart, BUT STILL.)
"How was the rest of the dance, by the way?" they add regardless of how Kazusa responds. "You seemed invested in getting back in there." Especially for someone with a back injury--but Ren doesn't point this out, given that they already know why she was invested.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Not so busy, since it was the day after Christmas. "Mm. That makes sense."
Kazusa sighs. She can't mention the supernatural aspect to Ren, of course. "Thanks. I just need to take it easy on my back over the break and it should be okay. Or okay as it ever is." She doesn't elaborate further, but it's not too hard to imagine what she might be referencing. She's not in a particularly gentle sport.
Kazusa looks at Ren curiously as they counterpropose lunch, instead of more shopping. "... yeah, actually. I could eat." They arch an eyebrow at the line about Big Bang Burger. "... yeah, that's fine. I don't think I'm in the mood for that. And no fried chicken," she adds, making a brief face.
But as for the dance... Kazusa shrugs a little. "It was... fine." It definitely wasn't fine. "I was just... trying to keep an eye on Kanae-chan." Kanae's about the only person Kazusa is on a first-name basis with other than Wakana--whom she hasn't been hanging out with lately. She frowns. "... and Fontaine-san, I guess."
Why is she so concerned with Isabeau all of a sudden? It definitely doesn't have anything to do with that fight in Mementos, the one Joker was there for.
"... How was Yoshizawa-san after I went back?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
No fried chicken, Kazusa counters. That part didn't make it into the news, so Ren doesn't know what that's about, but they're OK with that. They nod, and the two of them head for somewhere to eat that isn't BBB or fried chicken.
"Not great. But being out of the crowd and cooling off outside helped, I think," Ren replies first, of Kasumi. "Hopefully if you take care of yourself over break, she'll follow your good example." Juuuust to lean subtly a bit on getting Kazusa to actually follow her own advice.
'Fine.' Right. They definitely believe that. They still don't call her out on it because that's not the point. They do note the 'Kanae-chan'--and the concern about Isabeau.
They frown a little, and not even because of the mutual dislike between her and them. They also saw Kanae and Isabeau at the dance, and Kanae, they get what's going on there--but Isabeau seemed off. Even if they assume she's putting on an act for her prey, why start dating someone unrelated to Shinichi and his Homunculus for that...?
"Why Fontaine-san?" they thus ask. If Kazusa knows something--well, they know she's going to give them an incomplete answer at best. They'd like to confirm if they should be worried or not, though. They don't really like worrying about Isabeau, but if something is wrong beyond the Homunculus, they don't want to ignore it either.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
"Mmm. I knew she was struggling at the beginning of the year, but I didn't know..." She frowns. "... well, it's not like I asked, either.." There is a quiet snort as Ren mentions. "My good example? Yeah, that's rich," she mutters. But then she takes a breath and nods. "But I suppose I'll ahve to."
Kazusa knows what Kanae is doing and still doesn't like it. But Isabeau... "It's... part of it's Fujihide. The girls talk about him. He's pretty gross. I..." Kazusa lets out an agonized sigh. "Ugh. I guess I should be giving him he benefit of a doubt or something but I'm pretty sure his 'niceness' is just... him using her."
She's trying to work on being a better person, but sometimes it's hard for her to know where to calibrate that in specific instances.
"And... we had a decent talk once. I don't know." Isabeau did show up to help fight her Homunculus and in the process free her, though Ren wasn't there for that.
They did see Isabeau hug Kazusa's Persona and Kazusa definitely doesn't have any complicated feelings about that or anything.
"So, I don't know. Why not her?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
You will have to now, Ren thinks. But at least now they think she'll actually follow up.
However, then Kazusa confirms that the issue is less Isabeau and more her boyfriend. There's a number of boys who say gross things about girls in the locker room, and Ren doesn't otherwise know Fujihide, so they hadn't clocked him as one of them immediately. However, when she says she thinks he's being 'nice' to use her... they frown.
They hate that their bad feeling was right. There's not much they can do about this while school is out--they don't know where either Isabeau or Yasushi live or even hang out--but if this is still a problem when they're all back from break...
...they'll have to think about what they should do. At the very least, they ought to confirm if Kazusa's right or not.
"I guess," they say for now to 'Why not her?' "She's not very well-liked, but then, neither are you. Or me."
Everyone already knows about and fears the so-called delinquent criminal, but if Kazusa is at all popular, she wouldn't have had an entire crowd watching her get humiliated by Shinichi's Homunculus and all but cheering it on.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa will, indeed, have to. She wasnts her back healed as much as anybody else, and if she's expecting to go fight a Homunculus in the near future, well... she needs to be in top form.
Kazusa could ask Kanae, she's pretty sure Kanae could get in touch with Isabeau, but she's not sure what more direct confrontation might do.
... Then again, it's hard to have a deep talk in the middle of a battle. Hmmm...
"She's not. But... I guess... when I see someone else who's been actively pushing people away, I just... want to get involved," she admits. Because that's the kind of thing she's been doing.
The only difference is, her actions were tolderated because they were in-line with the administration's goals.
"... and yeah, I'm not. But whatever. The Demon Queen can hang out with a Witch or a delinquent. It's not like it can make things much worse than they are now." She looks to Ren as they admit they aren't popular, either. "... mind if I ask you a question?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Hmm." That's kind of Kazusa, wanting to reach out like that. Another way in which she's trying to be better, Ren supposes. It puts them to shame a little, that she can apparently have a good(-ish?) conversation with Isabeau when they can't stand her. Ren doesn't feel bad about it, though. On the contrary, they're relieved. It means someone else can reach out to her.
"Good luck with that, then. Sincerely," they say. "I don't like her, but I don't like people getting taken advantage of either."
They huff something that might just be a laugh at her whatever. They're not a delinquent, but it's fine. People see what they want to see.
They give her a thoughtful look at that last question. "You can ask," they say. Whether they answer or not depends on what it is--or possibly until after they've sat down somewhere. Fortunately, it's a mall right on Central Street; there are places to get food both above and below ground. If it's a sit-down place so Kazusa can rest, and it's not Big Bang Burger, there's the beef bowl place and the family restaurant aboveground, depending on how cheap she wants to go.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa was honestly kind of surprised that they did, in fact, ahve a nice talk that one time.
And then the fight against her in Mementos the next day kind of ruined it a little, but... Kazusa still wants to try.
"Thanks." Kazusa shrugs a little. "I mean, I wouldn't say she's my favorite person either or anything, but... after everything with... Nagisa-san." ...'s Homunculus, she doesn't say. But she's suddenly too keenly aware of the effect he's having, too. "... yeah. Me neither."
But Ren gives her permission to at least ask. "... Okay. So..." She pinches the bridge of her nose for a moment. "I know I just said 'delinquent' again and that just sort of slipped out-- Ugh. Sorry. But it's about that." She lowers her hand. "I know all the rumors went around at the beginning of the year, but... You've got a group of friends I would not expect. Yoshizawa-san seems to look up to you. You kept me company when you really had no reason to... and the way I see it that doesn't exactly add up."
"So... what's the deal?"
Kazusa is, surprisingly, amicable to eating at the cheap food place. But perhaps the diner might be better if they're going to be having a serious discussion.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Mm." Ren looks away from Kazusa to stare ahead. The two of them have climbed the stairs out of the mall onto Central Street. "...You good to climb more stairs? Bikkuri Boy's good. Usually less crowded than Ore no Beko too. Decent place to have a conversation."
They pause, then add neutrally, "Nagisa-kun seems like he's going through some stuff. I met him once before all this, and he seemed pretty timid. Not at all like the kind of guy who'd try to demand a girl get on her hands and knees to apologize. Hopefully he gets through whatever's going on okay, without doing too much more he'll regret later." A beat. "Like you did."
When she gears up into her question, they glance back at her. She's sort of approached this question before, when they were doing a shift at the Triple Seven. Back then, she only implied, didn't actually ask, so they stonewalled her out of any details. Now, though, she's clearly asking sincerely instead of trying to judge, or whatever she was doing back then.
"Are you asking what I was convicted of?" they ask, just to be sure. Even that much is something the gossip can't agree on.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa will have to just deal with the stairs. They're not ideal, but... if she was going to avoid everything uncomfortable she'd just stay home.(Which would be uncomfortable for completely different reasons.) "Oh, that place. Yeah, that's fine. I'll deal with the stairs. Especially if we get to sit for a while."
She nods silently as Ren gives their impression of Shinichi. "... yeah. He wasn't. And he is..." She's silent for a moment. "... yeah, thanks. I'm hoping for that, too."
Kazusa's Homunculus, t least, wasn't as outwardly destructive. But she was still plenty destructive to Kazusa's life.
She glances sidelong at Ren for a moment. "... it's a good thing Kawakami-sensei and Dr. Maruki showed up when they did." She's not implying something... yet. But she is chewing on an idea.
"I guess I'm asking if there was any truth to the rumors at all." Beat. "... and if there was, then yes, yes, I'd also be curious what you were convicted of. If you feel like saying." She's quiet for a moment. "... And I won't go spreading it around, either. Promise."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"We can go somewhere else if you'd rather," Ren suggests--but the two of them are right here, and it might be easier to just go up a flight of stairs than wander around finding somewhere else. In the end, the two head up to Bikkuri Boy. The booths are comfortable; it'll be fine.
They glance back at her when she comments on when Kawakami and Maruki showed up. "Yup," they say blandly. Their expression, while impassive, is not stony, though. They're waiting to see if she'll press the matter rather than freezing her out as they'd otherwise do to someone they don't want to talk to.
The two are seated before long and given menus. Ren already knows what they're going to order--they always order the Frui-Tea here, sometimes with the Nostalgia Steak if they're hungry enough. They are pretty hungry, and they've got a second shift tonight, so that's precisely what they'll do today. Whatever they don't finish, they can carry with them and finish up at Bar Crossroads. There's a microwave there, it's fine.
"Mm." Ren considers Kazusa across the table when she specifies what information she's looking for. During that moment of silence, she speaks up again to promise to keep it to herself. They nod once. That's not something they're afraid of. The truth is boring to people who'd rather have hot gossip.
"It's true I was convicted. The charge was assault. I didn't do it, though," they reply. By now, they've told this story enough that the pain is a dull one. "I was walking home one night when I overheard a man and a woman having a fight. It sounded like they knew each other, but he was trying to force her into something. Pretty sure he was drunk. Anyway, when she saw me, she asked for help, so I got in between them. When I did, though, I touched his shoulder to turn him around, and he lost his balance and fell on the sidewalk--hit his head."
Here they pause, jaw clenching momentarily. It was dark, and it was a traumatic moment, so they don't remember his face clearly, and only vaguely remember what he sounded like, but they sure as hell remember what he said.
Damn brat... I'll sue!
"...When the cops showed up, he told them I assaulted him and made the woman back him up. The cops believed him and so did the judge. I got expelled from my old school and sent out here for parole. Kamoshida wasn't a fan, so he had my record leaked, and that's how the rumors got started." They shrug. "Don't worry about it too much. I don't care what people who don't know me or care to know me think about me."
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
"It's fine. At this point I'd rather just sit than keep going to find another place."
Kazusa studies Ren for a moment. They haven't confirmed... but Kazusa gets the sense that they aren't stonewalling her, either--she's seen what that looks like. "Mmm. Because I was thinking... I didn't remember seeing you at all, just Sakamoto-san, and yet... you were right by the stairwell those two came from. Was that your version of 'doing the right thing'? Or was that just a coincidence?"
She looks over the menu once they're seated, studying it. "How's the Frui-Tea?" she asks, without looking it up. "Is it good for soothing your stomach?"
She'll order that and a chicken salad, without dressing. It's a bit blande, but it'll hopefully be easy on her stomach.
But then... they listen, as Ren explains how they ended up at Shujin. Kazusa frowns as she does. She doesn't push for details, letting them go at their own pace.
She waits through that pause.
"So you stepped in to help the woman, and in the end she turned on you." Kazusa crosses her arms. "That's gratitude for you," she says, scornfully. But then she pauses, muttering to herself. "... she must have been afraid of that man, then." She's not exactly sympathetic, but given her own recent experiences...
But they don't care what those who don't know them think... "... and you're sharing it with me." This time she doesn't ask why. "... Thank you."
She's silent for a moment as she considers that. "... is there anything you'd like to ask me? Seems only fair to offer, given what you just shared."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren pauses at that question. It's not like they'd been hiding what they'd been doing, but of course Kazusa would've been focused on the Homunculus and Ryuji rather than the crowd. Why think they got the teachers when the two of them haven't gotten along previously?
"The crowd was in Nagisa-kun's favor and against you. Ryuji was there, but he's just one guy, and he's not popular either. Trying a direct confrontation, or letting Ryuji keep up what he was doing, might've led to a fight, and if that happened, we'd be the ones to get into trouble," Ren replies quietly. "I could've gone to your homeroom to get your teacher, but I don't know them and if they'd listen, or if they'd stop what was happening. So I went to mine. Dr. Maruki happened to be there too, and they both came running."
The rest, of course, is as Kazusa experienced. It's a much longer response than Ren usually gives, but they actually feel this time like it's worth doing. Like it'll be listened to and not dismissed.
As for the Frui-Tea... "It's delicious, but you should probably ask them to leave out the citrus. Maybe ask if they can add some ginger. That's good for your stomach." Something they've learned in the process of learning how to cook.
When Kazusa expresses scorn at that woman, Ren is initially silent. It pays off; she checks herself on her own. They nod once. "She was definitely afraid of him. She tried to stick up for me at first, but... it sounded like he had some dirt on her. That he'd ruin her if she didn't do what he said." Ren doesn't assert neutrality here; they let themself glower at the table for him, let sadness ring in their voice for her, however naturally subdued both are. "I hope she's doing OK now."
They're not confident that's so, but they can still hope.
Even now, Ren didn't expect thanks. They look back up at her. "... You're welcome, Motojima-san."
Her offer to field any questions they have turns them thoughtful. "How are things with that one friend of yours? I don't know her name, but she was with you that day the fireworks were rained out," they reply. They of course mean Wakana.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
Kazusa was rather preoccupid. The only reason she noticed Ryuji was that he stepped up, and Shinichi's Homunculus had turned to pay attention to him. Ren's involvement she had to put together later.
But it makes sense, that's why they were right there, after everything got broken up. "Mmm. Honestly, I don't know either. Nagisa-san is in my class and our class rep... but he wasn't exactly popular before. But he did have that Lacrosse scholarship..."
Kazusa isn't really sure where the social math shakes out. The Homunculus is a bully, but she was also a bully, in her own way...
"If you knew your teacher would listen, that was probably the right call," she admits.
"That's probably a good idea," Kazusa says of the tea recommendation. When they spot the waiter she'll politely ask for the change.
"Well, at least she tried, I guess..." Kazusa sighs. "... I hope she got away from him, too." She doesn't sound too confident of that, either.
It's Kazusa's turn to negotiate a painful memory as she glances off to the side. "Wakana Oosaka. She's..." God, how to explain this without explaining the Homunculus.
"We haven't spoken in a while," Kazusa admits. "I haven't always treated her well. She's been my best friend since we were little, and I was just... well, me. I didn't start out that way, mind you. It's just... all the pressure my father puts on me."
She lets out a long, slow breath. "... but that's on me. Anyway, when I was going through my... 'difficulty', I was treating her nicer on the surface, but it was just... putting more strain on her?" She's fudging some details, she can't mention the Homunculus or how it threatened her, but she's still aiming for something that's true enough.
"... and when I came to my senses, I realized what I'd been doing. I went to her to apologize, but... she wanted some space. And..." Kazusa looks out a window. "... I've done my best to give it to her. It's hard, since we're in the same class, and in Rhtyhmic Gymnastics together, but... I've been trying to stick to it."
She only broke that once, to warn Wakana of the new Homunculus. She didn't want Wakana caught off-guard.
She sounds sad, and guilty, in a healthy mix as she describes what's going on. Wakana did show up to help Kazusa, but that's only by happenstance, that she was talking to Kazuhiro at the time.
"... I hope she's okay."
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren is silent when Kazusa tells her story, but their attention is clearly on her. They nod when she specifies Wakana's name, and otherwise simply listen. They can't know about the Homunculus threatening Wakana, but they can guess that whatever it did or said to her while it was parasitizing her body, it wasn't good. They feel a little sorry for Kazusa, hearing all this, but... what can you really say without letting on you know about the supernatural? Either them to her, or her to Wakana.
At the end, they nod once more. "I hope so too," they say quietly.
Thankfully, they'll both get served their orders soon after. Both of them could probably use some time to simply eat and reflect. Either way, Ren will cover their share of the bill, and if Kazusa wants the help, accompany her back down the stairs to make sure she doesn't fall or otherwise hurt herself.
Their mood will improve later--it can't help it, after the Christmas they had and their upcoming shift at their favorite job--but right now, they're left sober and pensive.
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
It's a mess. Kazusa wants to fix it, but... that's not her call to make right now. And if it never gets fixed...
Well, that's on her.
"Thanks."
But food hits, and Kazusa definitely wants to be silent for a while, so she takes full advantage of the excuse. She can easily cover her half, and she will, in fact, accept the acompaniment back down the stairs.
Her mood, though... will probably stay low for a while. She doesn't resent Ren asking about Wkana, but it's still painful to think about.