Chapter Text
It all started with the school festival.
Well, it probably had been happening waaay before, but that's when things started to get weird.
Akira has always been a weirdly social guy. He had to be, to become friends with a guy like Ryuji, especially that quickly. To be fair, as far as Ryuji’s seen, there wasn't anybody Akira couldn't attract. From crazy journalists, to actual ex-yakuza, to supposed delinquents, he just pulled people in like it was the most natural thing in the world. But even though Akira’s his best friend, every time he thought he learned everything there is to know about him, something new pops up and reminds Ryuji of how much of a wild card Akira really is.
This time, they’re discussing the crazy idea of inviting none other than Akechi effing Goro to be the school festival's special guest.
"Is everyone else okay with that?" Makoto's tone's so final, Ryuji wonders why she'd even bother to ask.
"I'm good... Whatever he says has gotta be more reliable than what we've been able to come up with." Ann adds, still nervously twirling one of her pigtails.
It's a shitty idea, everyone in this damn room knows, but it's not like anyone has anything better. They hit rock bottom like a bag of shit and Ryuji's trying really, really hard to not freak out about it. He leans back and forth on his chair, balancing it on its hind legs, trying to resign himself to the situation. Yusuke says something about gaining an ally, which is bullshit, but then a thought pops into Ryuji's brain.
"Hold on, how're we even gonna get in touch with him? It's not like we got his contact info..."
"Actually, I do."
Ryuji's chair makes a dull thud when its front legs slam onto the wooden floor.
"...For real?" All he can do is gape at the Phantom Thieves' leader.
"Could you send that my way, please?" Makoto continues as if she hadn't heard Akira just casually drop some asinine shit into the conversation. What do you mean Akira has that dick's contact info? And she continues to ignore this bomb, just pleasantly saying "I'll contact him right away"
Did no one else notice? Or are they just more subtle than Ryuji. Actually, that's probably it, there's no way no one picked up on it. And they all got bigger fish to fry right now. Still, he can't help himself from grumbling "I gotta say, I'm really not big on this Akechi deal."
"Now's not the time to be petty" Ann scolds him, so Ryuji just crosses his arms and lets the meeting go on. She's right, even someone with half a brain can see it, so the meeting finishes with Makoto's promise to keep trying to reach out to Akechi.
Ryuji could almost have forgotten it and moved on with his life, except that in the next day, the weird shit continued. He’s halfway through his dinner when he gets a new message in the group chat.
Miss Prezz: Oh, I didn't notice I had gotten a response from Akechi-kun. He accepted the lecture invitation.
Kira: I heard.
Miss Prezz: Hm? Really?
He heard? The hell do you mean, Akira heard? Ryuji just stares at his phone, his food getting cold. It definitely crossed over into seriously weird at this point. None of them could even stand the guy, so how the hell could Akira casually contact him?
He's frozen, trying to decide what to do next. 'Cause this really is just like Akira, right? Ryuji knows. And he's fine with it, he really is. No matter what, Akira's just like that, and nothing he did could shake the bond between them. Except that Akechi's the Phantom Thieve's public enemy number one, so now he's seriously thinking about how solid their bond is if Akira has secrets like this up his sleeve. Ryuji didn't like that feeling one bit.
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Next time they saw the damned guy was at the actual festival. The jerk just butted into their conversation in the middle of the festival. Ryuji thought they'd at least get one Akechi-free day at the festival. But after the maid served the only thing they seemed to have on the menu, the dude just walks in like he owns the place.
The whole time, Ryuji keeps glancing back and forth from Akechi to Akira. There's... something in the air. He can't put a finger on it, but he knows it's there. When Akechi bites into the "special" takoyaki, Ryuji sees the little quirk on the corner of Akira's lips that's quickly hidden behind a curled finger and the slight pity in his eyebrows. He's looking at Akechi as if he's adorable, and Ryuji resists the urge to gag.
As Akechi leaves the room trying to put on a tough face, even while stuttering and clearly fighting for his life, Akira follows him with his eyes. He takes just a smidge of a second longer to go back into the group's conversation than everyone else.
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They're effed. They are so freaking effed it's not even funny. Akechi knows they're Phantom Thieves and now is backing them into a corner. They're forced to do whatever he wants and, even then, they'll still have to quit being Phantom Thieves. He's talking to all of them, but it's also low-key like he's only vaguely aware of all the Thieves. Like he only cares about what one specific person in this room has to say. Said person, after hearing those stupid demands, thinks for a moment, before responding.
"You're asking a lot."
"I see..." Akechi brings his hand up to his chin before looking back at Akira. "I thought I was making a lot of concessions myself..."
Was he freaking joking?! Ryuji was already opening his mouth to butt in, but Ann shot him a look and he quieted down immediately.
"Well, you don't have to decide at the moment." Akechi continued, as if he was doing them a favor. His eyes were still glued to Akira and he smiled. A smile that made Ryuji's gut crawl, even if he didn't know why. Akira kept staring him down, like they were in a standoff or something. "Considering this is you we're talking about, I believe you'll come to a favorable reply. I look forward to your answer."
Then he left, ordering Makoto to come up with an excuse as to why he had to leave early.
After all that, Ryuji is fuming. They discuss things a little, then everyone splits off to go their own way. He gets pulled into helping his class to carry some heavy stuff back to the classroom, but the whole time he can't take his mind off things. Once he’s free, he decides to get a soda to cool off, slow down or whatever. Ryuji goes to one of the vending machines in the courtyard and grabs a Manta. He’s in such a tunnel vision, he takes a minute to notice Mishima sitting all glum on the bench.
"Yo. You okay?"
"Sakamoto-kun! Y-Yeah, I'm alright. What about you? Enjoying the festival?"
Ryuji just shrugs. "Not really. That Akechi guy's getting on my nerves and all."
Mishima immediately perks up. "I know, right?! One minute he's bashing the Phantom Thieves, the other he's defending them! Talk about annoying! You guys must be pissed!"
"Y-Yeah, I mean, I support the Thieves, y'know. It really sucks to see everyone do a 180 on them."
"Riiight. Support. Anyways, what are you doing here, Sakamoto-kun? I thought you'd be hanging out with everyone else." Mishima suddenly looks a little down again.
Ryuji sighs. Mishima doesn’t have many friends, and it's not like Akira and him can invite the guy to Phantom Thieves' stuff, so it must've sucked for him to spend the festival all alone. Ryuji grabs another Manta from the vending machine, then sits down next to Mishima, offering him the can.
"Nah. Haru and Ann wanted to check out some sweets, and Makoto and Yusuke're taking Futaba home. Kira's still probably here somewhere, though. I think he was with Yoshizawa, but it's been a while."
Ryuji sips his drink, still feeling restless, bouncing his leg. Truth be told, he’s kinda in the same boat as Mishima. It’s not like he had enjoyed the festival much either. It didn't sit right with him that the first school festival he'd been able to spend with friends would end on such a bitter note. He gulps down half of his soda and grabs his phone.
"Hey, Mishima, hang on a second, 'kay?"
Ryuji: "Yo, you wanna go to the post-festival party and try to calm down?"
Ryuji: "We can't really decide on what Akechi was saying anyways. I'm pretty pissed, though..."
Ryuji: "Well, Mishima's here with me. You should join us."
Akira: I’ll be there.
Ryuji: All right! Let’s get our mind off this shit!
Ryuji: Seeya at the gym.
Ryuji smiles. They’re gonna make this night at least a little bit worthwhile.
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He spoke way too soon.
As soon as they got there, the dance team was finishing up their presentation and the MC went on to announce the “Student Sharing Special”. After trying to get Mishima up on the stage and being sent off with a smug look from Akira after that backfired horribly, he gets asked a question that makes his blood run cold: “Do you think the Phantom Thieves are really Shijin students?” The MC goes on about Akechi’s theory and all that. So even here they can’t escape Akechi. Of freaking course.
And Akira, ever the little shit that he is, provides Ryuji with the timely rescue from hell, belting “Do you have a girlfriend?!”
Thankfully, the MC switches the attention to Akira. Even if Akira does threaten to proclaim his “love” for Ryuji loud and clear in front of the whole school to hear, which, not cool, and Ryuji can see Akira smothering a laughter after seeing his face, they get out of there without any major complications, other than some mild embarrassment.
Mishima is still giggling to himself on their way to the school roof, breaking out into full cackling when they get there.
“‘s not funny!”
“It sure is! Turns out you're just a big chicken, huh…?”
“I'm gonna kill you if you don't shut it!”
“I miss the shy Ryuji…” Akira laments and Mishima goes into another laughing fit. He's still giggling to himself when he says goodbye to the pair, saying he has to get home to moderate the PT site. As soon as the roof door slams shut, Ryuji lets out a sigh.
“We're knee deep in shit dealing with Akechi, and he gets to laugh his ass off…”
“It's gonna be okay, Ryuji. We'll figure something out.”
Ryuji hesitates for a moment before asking “Hey, Kira?”
“Hm?”
“You know you can count on me for anything, don't you?”
“Of course I do, Ryuji. Where’s this coming from?”
“Just… this whole Akechi thing is crazy and, if ya need someone to talk to, you know I'm here.”
Akira smiles, “I know, Ryuji. After all, we're friends.”
“Yeah… Now, I know it's not the best way of thanking you for saving my ass back there at the after party, but how about we get some hot dogs? My treat.”
“Thanks, Ryuji."
As they went back downstairs, Ryuji took a deep breath. See? If there was anything wrong he'd tell you. So everything is fine. Right?