We've been to that restaurant before, but there is something special about it today. I can't put my finger on it though. Maybe it's that Ryuji's been oddly quiet ever since we arrived—for being Ryuji, anyway.

We eat our portions in almost unbroken silence. I can't help but eye him, trying to ascertain what could be wrong. He's not one for shutting up, and when he does it is rarely a good sign. I'm about to break the silence myself and ask—this is my first and closest friend I've made in Tokyo and I'm not about to let him go through whatever's on his mind alone—when he puts his chopsticks down.

"Man, I'm stuffed!" he exclaims with a big and honestly startling grin. "Pretty damn good, huh? This one's on me. Don't expect it to happen too often though."

I automatically return his smile, though I'm still searching for a sign of whatever's off in his once more cheerful expression. Just when I'm about to tell him it's nonsense, and that I can pay for myself, his face falls.

"Wait... Where's my wallet...?"

I cannot suppress an amused snort. Don't ever change, Ryuji, I think, and watch him turn his pockets inside out for it. An odd warmth creeps up in my chest.

"... Eh, whatever." He shifts in his seat and is suddenly not meeting my gaze anymore—again. I tug at my skirt, then shove my glasses up. This is beyond odd. I don't remember things ever being anything close to, well, awkward—that may be the best word to use—with Ryuji since we first met. And now...

"Oh by the way," he grins again, "I got a text from Takeishi... He said the track team's gonna try n' ditch Yamauchi. They wanna start practicin' without him. They're trying to get their old coach back too... The one from before Kamoshida. Looks like they're finally walkin' their own path."

I give him the most sincere smile I can muster. I feel genuine happiness, hearing this—his efforts are paying off, and he won't have to feel guilty about the track team anymore—but I cannot shake the feeling that his smile is more forced than his happy news imply.

> "Are you satisfied now?"

"Not running!"

He has to be. Isn't this what he always wanted?

"Hm... Yeah, I guess so." I frown at the lackluster response as he shifts back. "Oh, and uh... they asked me to come back to the team."

For some reason, the words hit me like a bucket of icy water. My mouth opens but a whole second passes before I can bring myself to speak.

"What did you say?"

"Do you have any time for that?"

> "Don't do it."

The words slip from my mouth before I can stop them. Horrified, I raise a hand to my face. What if he was looking forward to it? What if he invited me here to tell me he'd already accepted? What if saying such selfish things makes me the worst friend I could have been, in this situation?

"Dude, I wasn't gonna."

I am inundated by guilt for the imminent relief that washes over me.

"It felt kinda bad, but that's not where I belong now."

Something bubbles in my gut at his words, something warm and comfortable. I give him a smile, and he smiles back. Not his usual enormous, shit-eating grin, just a normal, sincere smile.

"When you first came to Shujin, people were talkin' so much shit about you. But you took it in stride. You just did whatever you thought was cool, and didn't care what other people said about you."

I decide to let him believe that, and think back to the sleepless nights, about coming up with strategies to avoid as many students as I could, even thinking to smuggle headphones into the school—all to save myself as much of the anxiety being caught up in a commotion, or cornered by some of the upper-classmen bullies brought. I haven't shared this particular part of being the 'delinquent transfer student' with anyone yet—then again. I look up at Ryuji who's grinning his usual grin now. Why not?

"I think that's why people kinda get pulled towards you, man."

I want to disagree, but cannot bring myself to, yet again. His next words make me forget all about it anyway—

"But... hey, you sounded really scared there, for a moment. You... you weren't scared of actually loosin' me, were you? Cause that ain't happening."

My heart contorts with an odd emotion. The look in his eyes is sincere, and it moves something within me, something I wasn't aware existed.

"Y... You see," he suddenly stammers, his head hangs and he's shifting nervously. "I'm not usually one for the whole touchy-feely-business," he gives an awkward laugh, "but man, I really care about you. Like, really. Like..." he clears his throat, "just the thought of seein' you less if I rejoined the track team made me feel all weird on the inside. I think that's what made me... Well. You're the coolest, most amazing girl I've ever met, and I've never... I dunno what I'm sayin' half the time," he bumps his twitching leg on the table between us and if my heart weren't pounding out of my chest, I would have laughed.

"But I know what I'm sayin' now, okay? Wherever you decide to be, that's where you belong—and that's where I'll be too. Because there's nothing I want more than to stay with you...!"

My head spins. It finally dawns on me what the nervousness and that look he's been giving me the whole time means, and swallow the anxious lump clogging my throat. A million questions, concerns, and objections swarm my head and I close my eyes for a moment, to look inside myself.

For, whatever I say, I should choose my next words carefully.

"You're the best friend I ever had, too."

> "I want nothing more than to stay with you as well."

The moment the words have left my mouth, his eyes light up brighter than traffic lights. "Really...? I mean... You mean...?"

I place a hand on my chest. Suddenly, I become fully aware of just how much he risked here, and how frightened he had to be for our friendship to never be the same. And it won't—at least, I eye him over the top of my glasses, suddenly oddly nervous—I hope so.

"Woah—!" Ryuji shakes his head, "This is actually going so much better than I thought it would... I guess, maybe talkin' about feelings ain't so bad after all. So," he suddenly stands and rounds the table, still somewhat awkwardly leaning on it. "Are we... You know... Like..." He chuckles and I join in.

"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?"

> "Have you never asked a girl to be your girlfriend before?"

"Don't make fun of me!" he retorts. His face looks like a tomato—and I bet mine as well. Instead of a response, I stand as well and take his hand. It's larger than mine and his skin is warm and calloused... nice. Comfortable. But when exactly have I begun to associate Ryuji with 'home'?

I'm in a special relationship with Ryuji... There's no turning back now...

His cheeks flush even more, but he squeezes my hand tighter. "Y'know... back before I met you, I kept makin' excuses for why I couldn't fit in. It was always 'cause of someone else. Kamoshida, the track team... Hell, I even blamed my dad."

He tenses at the word, and I comfortingly wrap my arm around his waist, to lean my head on his shoulder. Even though this is all new, it's also all oddly familiar. Maybe because, at this point, everything about him is.

"I was such a freakin' loser..."

I hold him tighter. Everything within me means to protest, but I also know that he honestly believes what he is saying, and that saying it is his way of coming to accept that part of himself... Finally.

"But I've realized now... as long as I'm bein' myself, I'll always have somewhere I can fit in. It ain't really the same place as before, but it's damn good. I'm just glad I found it." He ruffles my hair and I nearly knock my glasses off, giggling. "Especially if it means I'm finally gettin' a girlfriend—and what a girlfriend. Hell yeah—!"

Before I can so much as open my mouth, he's wrapped his arms around me and yanked me up like I'm a weightless paper doll, then he spins me in a circle. I yelp and barely manage to retract my foot before it would have swiped the dishes off the packed table.

"Oh! Does this mean I can call you Rin-chan now?"

Despite—or maybe because of—the near-accident, I laugh hysterically.

"Only when nobody's around."

> "Only if I can call you Ryuji-chan as well."

"It sure does."

"Hell no!" He laughs along, "That sounds really lame...!"

Before the restaurant staff—most of which is already looking at us with a mix between fury, worry, and joy—can kick us out for endangering property with our public displays of affection, he puts me back on my feet and takes my hand.

I feel like my bond with Ryuji is growing deeper...

RANK UP!

CONFIDANT: Ryuji Sakamoto | CHARIOT ^ RANK 9

NEW ABILITY: Protect [Chance to shield Joker from an otherwise fatal attack.]

~

[You will now earn more EXP from Arcana Burst when fusing Personas of the Chariot arcana!]

"Whaddo you say, should we get outta here? Oh! If... you would just..." Ryuji shifts and his cheeks turn crimson again. "Y'know... my wallet... and..."

Don't ever change, Ryuji, I think once again as I fetch mine. Not that I don't have the money. Mementos trips tend to be quite lucrative, after all.

"I ain't gonna stop trainin' though. I've still got a long way to go," he says as we walk out of the restaurant, hand in hand—after I've footed the massive bill. "Someday, I'm gonna show you speed so lightnin' fast, you're not even gonna be able to see me." I'm contemplating whether he's actually flexing—and how I'm supposed to react to that, but then he shakes his head.

"Wait, but if you can't see me, am I really showin' you anything...?"

I snort so hard a passing-by woman startles away.

"Eh, whatever. I think we've been in there too long. So... Maybe we should head home for now."

I nod... And squeeze his hand for a last—and one of many times to come.

***

I pick up the moment my phone rings, right outside Leblanc.

"Yo, get this!" Ryuji screams in my ear. "I just got a call from Nakaona and them earlier, tellin' me that the track team's officially gonna be restored. They're apparently keepin' Yamauchi as their advisor for now, but it's cool. Sounds like they got him under control."

I smile at the red 'open' sign before me. Through the café door, I can make out the shape of Sojiro behind the counter.

"But—heh, is it selfish when I say that's not the most important thing that happened today? Because, I mean—we can let the track team handle the rest of their problems. They gotta do the runnin' from now on. I've just been thinking 'bout you the whole time, and what you said... Hey, um... you were being serious, right? You're not just pullin' a weird prank or somethin'?"

I smile into the faceless phone. Of course, he'd ask that.

"Actually, I am."

"No, I'm not."

> "I wouldn't make fun of our feelings like that."

"Oh! Huh..." There's honest surprise in his voice. It's so endearing I can't help but smile wider. "Well, then... Uh, wait! Are we gonna tell the others that you and I are... I mean, isn't datin' the leader kinda breaking some unwritten code or somethin'?"

I giggle and he laughs back.

"Well, maybe we can figure that out later. If you want... I gotta pay you back, anyway—and might as well make it... I dunno, a date or somethin.' If you want. You can get some ramen, on me! And then let's top it off with some seafood soup! A toast to... To us? I dunno how this stuff works, but that's what I'd toast to, now."

I hum approvingly and nod, even though he can't see me.

"Heh... I'm not gonna let my guard down in terms of running either! I ain't about to lose to the track team, especially now that they're back!"

I smile. That's the Ryuji I know.

"'Kay," he chuckles, "I'm gonna go for another run, maybe that can get me to stop thinkin' 'bout you... Keep on bonkin'! Wait," he interrupts himself, "Is that what you say to your girlfriend? Man, this shit sucks. Is there a code or somethin'... like, am I not allowed to...?"

Before I can interrupt, he continues. "Eh, whatever. I don't really care. You like me, right? So I'm not gonna change for you either. You get the all or nothin' pack—you just oughtta deal with it, man! See ya!"

I smile more, as I stash away my phone again. I wouldn't want him to change for anything in the world.

******************************************

It only takes Ryuji a couple days to fulfill his promise to take me on a ramen-and-seafood-soup date. It's hard not to get excited, seeing him sit and wait for me, with a massive bowl already before himself. He hugs me enthusiastically, nearly knocking it down. I feel a comfortable and happy warmth creep up in my gut.

"Ahhh. This is the perfect way to refill after some training," he pats my head with a grin, "and I can combine it with seein' you, so—couldn't be better!"

I order and we eat in silence for a while, then he leans back and eyes me. "By the way, the track team's up and runnin' again. Yamauchi got taken down pretty quick. You know Takeishi's mom is the PTA prez, right? He told her everything. After that, she came stromin' in with the other parents and forbid the whole scoutin' plan. Wish I coulda seen the look on Yamauchi's face. I mean, the school can't ignore the PTA. And as a result, the track team's back. Our old coach's fillin' in for now. Man, it serves that dick right! What a great feelin'!" He speaks so fast I can practically feel the excitement radiate from him. "I think they might even go far in the meet," he grins and nudges me.

"I'm looking forward to it."

"We can't lose either."

> "I'm happy that you're so happy."

"Yeah?" His grin widens and I give him an encouraging nod. Then his gaze is caught by the bowl before him. "Aw crap, the ramen's gonna get soggy. Let's eat!"

I laugh and we dig in—the food is delicious. I don't notice how quickly time is passing before I realize it is already dark out.

"Phew, that was awesome..." Ryuji leans back, staring at his now empty bowl. "So," he gives me a side look, "am I doing this whom date-thing correctly? I mean, I wouldn't know if I'm making some sort of grave mistake or somethin'... Ah crap, so far, I've only been talkin' 'bout myself and my problems as well. I was gonna try and make this more 'bout you, I just... I'm so happy for them, is all."

I shake my head, then place a hand on his shoulder.

> "I'm having a great time."

"Don't worry about it."

"There's no 'right' way to date."

"Ah!" He looks so genuinely relieved I almost laugh. "I guess there really is no right or wrong when it comes to datin.' I'm glad you understand, though." He grows serious again. "To tell the truth, I was scared of facin' those guys from the track team straight up. So I came to the person I trust most, I guess." He shakes his head. "I couldn't stand how much they hated me. It only just made me think of how stupid I was... Most of all, it made me remember how I lost my place with them."

He hangs his head and I scoot closer, to place a hand on his back. He looks up and gives me a melancholy grin. "Hey, this ain't like me, but... I managed to change 'cause you were here helpin' me. I got you all wrapped up in this shit, but you stayed with me 'til the bitter end... You didn't abandon me. I know I was bein' all funny about it last time, but I really care a heckin' ton 'bout you, okay? Hell, you're like, the most important person in my life right now." He chuckles. "Is that too much?"

"It's just right."

> "... I love you too."

Ryuji startles, so much so that he nearly knocks his empty bowl over. "W... What the hell, man...!" He shakes his head, but his cheeks are flushed. "Y... You can't just say somethin' like that so lightly! I might get the impression you actually mean it!"

"I mean it."

> "I'm just telling the truth."

He stares at me for a moment longer, blinks, then shakes his head. He's visibly trying to contain his enormous grin. "W... What the hell, man..." he repeats, then looks up, almost panicky. "Y... you know I feel the same way, right? I just didn't say it because... Well, you're gutsier than me, it seems."

I give him the most innocent-not-so-innocent side glance and he breaks into laughter. "You're really somethin,' y'know? It's funny... This started out as us trainin' for the Phantom Thieves. How'd it end up like this?"

I shake my head. That's the magic of life, I think as I turn to face him. It's full of surprises like that. It's when you stop appreciating the little things, and big opportunities, that you stop truly living.

"Either way, it's my turn now." He scoots closer and I place my hand in his when he reaches out. "If anything comes up, you tell me. I'll help you with whatever you need. And I'll be there for you... In any way you need me. Pretty sure that's what partners do. And that's what we are, right? Partners. Forever... Kay?"

I embrace the warmth his words send through my body, and squeeze his hand harder, hoping it tells him exactly what I feel—what I can't find words for, no matter how hard I rack my brain. There are just some things that are bigger than words.

I feel a strong bond with Ryuji...

I am thou, thou art I...

Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath.

Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion

And break the yoke of thy heart.

Thou hast awakened to the ultimate secret

Of the Chariot, granting thee infinite power...

~

RANK UP!

CONFIDANT: Ryuji Sakamoto | CHARIOT ^ RANK 10 [MAX]

NEW ABILITY: Second Awakening [Transforms Persona into a mythological trickster.]

~

[Your Chariot Confidant has increased to MAX Rank! You will now earn more EXP from Arcana Burst when fusing Personas of the Chariot arcana!]

[FUSION UNLOCKED: You can now fuse Chi You, the most powerful Persona of the Chariot arcana.]

"I can feel it... My new power!"

[Ryuji's Persona Captain Kidd has transformed into Seiten Taisei!]

I smile and squeeze his hand even tighter. He's found himself, and he found us. He found me. I hope with all my heart what he has will make and keep him happy for the rest of his days.

"All right! Now I have that off my chest, let's turn this date around! Don't get me wrong, Phantom Thieves are important—I'll still be countin' on you as Leader, even though we're... well—but you can count on me too! And... Maybe we should talk to the others 'bout us too. It'd feel wrong to keep this a secret any longer."

I nod, and he nods back. He's not wrong, and though I have no idea how the others are going to take the news, I doubt there's any reason to be worried.

"Hey, but I'm serious, kay? I do wanna turn this date 'round. C'mon, let's go somewhere." He stands and pulls me up with himself. "Let's race—whaddo you say? Doesn't matter where. Just as long as we're together."

My grin widens and I let go of his hand, falling into a start position. If he wants a race, he's getting one. I'm getting beat for sure, but it doesn't matter. He's right. As long as we can be together for a little longer... He can race me all he wants.

We spent a long time together, that evening.