The door to the Le Blanc cafe sprung open as an energetic Ryuji burst through the entrance.

"Ren, you ready to go?" He shouted.

Sojiro cringed at the noise while he put down the spoon he was using to stir curry. "Not so loud, will you? It's still early."

A weekend morning wasn't meant for this kind of noise. At least that's not what he was used to. Over the years, mornings like these were quiet, with only a few customers showing up for the early hours. It was lucky none of them were there today, otherwise they would have had a rather rude interruption.

"Sorry boss," He waved apologetically. "Is Ren still in his room?"

"Haven't seen him yet, so he must be," he groaned. "Do me a favor and pull that kid out of bed, would you?

"You don't have to ask me twice." He put down his duffle bag filled with gym clothes in one of the booths and ran to the stairs.

Usually they met up at the gym, but the start of the weekend after they finished their first official heist seemed boring. Their restlessness got them thinking that they should plan a full day of training before they found their next target, including basic workouts and mementos exploring.

At least that's what the plan was. When Ryuji opened the door to his room, he found him seemingly fast asleep. It looked like he had gotten his gym clothes ready by his bed, and he'd even brushed his hair, but he must have tried to rest his eyes for a moment and fell back into slumber.

"Ren, you up?" He asked, nudging his shoulder.

He was quick to open his eyes, a short gasp escaping him. "What? Oh, hey man." He yawned and stretched his arms. "Must have dozed off again."

"Are you feeling okay?" He noticed the dark circles around his friend's eyes.

"Yeah, I just stayed up late. Couldn't sleep, so Mona and I started up a video game. He must have left for his morning walk already."

"Well, I hope you're ready for training. I won't go easy on you just because you're feeling sleepy." He grinded wide and teasingly poked his side. He jumped back with a startle when he heard a short but high pitched yelp come from Ren.

"Uh, Ren? What was that?"

He sat up and struggled to find his glasses. "N-nothing. Don't worry about it." The statement was clearly meant to deter him from pressing further, but it only made Ryuji more curious.

"Oh, so this is nothing?" He skittered his fingers suddenly at his side, causing him to swat his hands away as he tried to hold back his laughter. Still, he couldn't stop the snickering that escaped his lips as he tried his best to hide his face.

"Dude, your ticklish?" Ryuji exclaimed.  "Why didn't I know this sooner?"

"Who goes around telling people they're ticklish?"

He laughed. "Alright, good point. But still, I just didn't take you to be the ticklish type. Aren't you supposed to be the big, tough delinquent of the school?"

"Y-you already know that isn't true!"

Ryuji couldn't help but notice the blush that was slowly turning his friend's face pink. He smirked in amusement.  "Hey, don't be embarrassed by it. Everyone's ticklish. Besides, I never get to hear you laugh."

His comments only seemed to make Ren even more flustered as he put a hand to his face.

"It's definitely not what I expected. I thought yours would be more of the rough raspy kind of laugh, but your way more of a giggler."

Ren groaned into his hands while Ryuji smirked. This might have been mean, but teasing him was turning out to be Ryuji's favorite thing. He only wished he'd known how flustered Ren would get sooner.

"Hey, when's the last time you laughed like this?"

That was a good question. Ren had to actually stop for a moment to think about it. Even before everything that had happened, getting arrested, moving away from his family, being overlooked by his new school, he couldn't say he laughed all that often. As much of an outcast as he was now, he didn't exactly have friends in his old school either. He mostly kept to himself and studied. He couldn't think of the last time he had joked with someone, or hung out with someone, or even just talked as friends with someone. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how depressing that was.

"Hey man," Ryuji said with concern as he observed the smile gradually drop from his friend's face. "I didn't mean anything by it."

"No, it's fine." He assured him.

"Is something wrong then?"

"I guess I just didn't realize how long it had been. You've probably already figured out that I never had many friends to begin with, even before my reputation."

"What?" Ryuji asked.  "That's... Kind of sad actually." He realized he was only bringing down the mood even more when he heard Ren sigh.  "I didn't mean it like that, man. You're like, my best friend. I haven't even known you that long, but it feels like we've been friends our whole lives. It's everyone else's problem that they didn't try and get to know you."

Best friend. The words somehow resonated with Ren. As far back as he could remember he hadn't cared all that much about maintaining friendships. Not because he was shy, but he was quiet and naturally seemed to disappear into the background. That had always been his place. But now, hearing the words "best friend", he felt he'd obtained something he never knew was missing.

Thinking about this, the smile returned to his face. "Thanks. I guess that makes you my best friend, too."

Ryuji suddenly had an idea and couldn't help the mischievous smile that crept across his face. "That probably means you've never been in a real tickle fight either." He wiggled his fingers closer to Ren.

The sight of it was enough to make his face turn pink again. "N-no, not really." Truth be told, he wasn't sure the last time he had been threatened with tickling. His parents weren't the physically affectionate type, so by the time he was in middle school he would only get the occasional hug from either of them. He didn't mind at the time, but the thought of suddenly being tickled right now made him antsy. Yet some part of him was curious, maybe even excited. Or perhaps he had some subconscious memory that he was way too ticklish. Maybe both?

"Well I can't just let my best friend go on never having been properly tickled, now can I?"

Ren nearly short circuited at the casual threat.

"R-ryuji, bud, is that really necessary?" he asked as he watched his friend's wiggling fingers draw closer to him. He tried to create some distance between them, but found himself knocking into the bedframe.

"Of course it is! Tickle fights are the best, man!" He smirked. "Well, they're the best when I'm winning."

Ren tried covering the smile that was quivering on his face. He realized how bad a position he was just sitting there and tried to curl in on himself. It was strange, for some reason even though he couldn't remember being tickled like this, he seemed to instinctively go into a protective ball.

"I'm not even tickling you yet," Ryuji laughed, "Just how ticklish are you?"

"Ihihihihihih don't knohohohow!" Ren couldn't stop the laughter from pouring out of his mouth as he attempted to push him away. Ryuji just grabbed his arms and wrestled him until they both fell to the ground. He laughed along with him as he managed to straddle his legs and finally got both his hands pinned underneath him.

"You don't know how ticklish you are?" Ryuji suddenly swept his hands closer to his twitching stomach. "Well we have to find out!"

Ren squeaked as his fingertips lightly grazed at his sides.

"Oh, that's definitely a good spot!" He exclaimed. "I barely even have to touch you!"

"Nahahaha, don't!"

"Don't what? Don't stop making you laugh?"

Ren shook his head back and forth, cackling all the while he trashed with every squeeze to his sides.

"Where else are you ticklish?" He asked eagerly, letting up his attack for a moment to let Ren breathe.

"I'm not just going to tell you!" He gasped through his wheezes of remaining laughter.

"Well, in that case," Ryuji suddenly grabbed one of his arms and pulled it above his head, leaving even more of himself wide open, "I'll just have to find out for myself!"

He dug into his underarms, scribbling his fingers everywhere he could, and Ren was sent back into his laughing fit. He was almost stunned at how hard Ren tried to yank his arm back, but was able to somehow keep it in place.

"This is a good spot too, huh?"

Ren could only cackle in response. He wasn't used to being attacked like this, and it was clear to Ryuji that he couldn't keep this up forever. He was far from done, however. He was going to stretch this out as long as he could. Ren's laugh seemed to be addictive, and he wanted to hear more of it.

Keeping this in mind, he scribbled over his neck and ears, still holding one arm up with the other hand. Ren's laughter turned light and bubbly, giggling and squealing whenever Ryuji would switch sides or suddenly brush against his ear.

"I don't think I've ever seen someone this ticklish on their neck," he grinned, "or anyone this ticklish in general."

"Stahahahahap teasing!"

"What?" He feigned innocence, "I'm not teasing. I'm just pointing out the fact that you giggle like a little kid and scrunch up your shoulders when I do this." He scribbled his other hand into the open side of Ren's neck, causing him to snicker while he desperately shook his head.

"NAHAHAHt there!" His statement was punctuated by a sudden snort escaping himself, making his blush turn an even deeper red.

"Dude!" Ryuji cackled, "You snort too? This is the best thing ever! I'm not letting you live this down anytime soon."

"Nohohohohohhhh, Ihihits nahahat funny!"

"It's adorable though!"

All the teasing and being called cute wasn't doing much for his composure. If he wasn't already dying laughing he would be too embarrassed to respond to his friend's statement. It was a mystery to him how Ryuji could just make comments so nonchalantly, not to mention his closeness as he tickled him senseless.

Ryuji smirked as he looked down at his friend while he laughed his heart out. Part of him couldn't help but take pity on Ren, after all, this was his first time getting tickled like this, it would be considered overwhelming for anyone.

"Okay," he chuckled as he let up, "I won't torture you forever."

As Ren regained his composure and caught his breath, he noticed Ryuji wasn't getting off him.

"You know, you never actually asked me to stop."

He hadn't thought about it at the time, but in retrospect he might have actually been having fun. As childish as it was, he couldn't help but feel grateful to have a friend that was so playful and carefree, someone that could make him laugh like that. No way in hell was he ready to admit that though. "I mean, I guess I didn't hate it. It's just kind of weird."

The mischievous smile returned to his friend's face at this information. "So, does that mean you want me to keep tickling you?"

His silence spoke louder than words could. He wasn't sure how to express what he was feeling in the moment, but the look of anticipation gave it away.

"Well, it's a good thing I wasn't planning on stopping anyways." Ryuji swiftly lifted his shirt up to reveal his entire torso. Though it was a pretty thin shirt to begin with, it had at least provided him with some protection. Now, with his tummy all but out in the open and vulnerable, he could feel the anticipation building up.

A brief moment later and Ryuji was skittering his fingers everywhere he could. Belly, sides, ribs, nothing was safe from the tickle monster that had been unleashed. The unpredictability of these movements had him thrashing and writhing. He freely threw his head back in laughter.

"Hey Ren?" He asked as if his friend wasn't in hysterics, "have you ever had a raspberry?"

"Those little red berries?"

"Not exactly," he snickered.

Ren wasn't sure what he was expecting, but it definitely wasn't what happened next. One minute he was fine, the next he was left laughing hysterically as Ryuji showed no mercy on him, planting the biggest raspberry he could in the middle of his stomach.

"RYUHUHUHUJI! NAHAHAHAHAHAHA,"

His laugh turned to hysterical, bubbly giggling. Almost hiccup-like, and just as bouncy. Another raspberry, another laughter fit as he tries to push his arms away. He couldn't remember ever getting raspberries before, but the sensation was oddly familiar. Even though it made him squirm like mad and try to push his friend away, he found himself still enjoying the playful fight. He wasn't sure how long he could keep it up, however. He felt tears of mirth in his eyes as he finally considered tapping out.

Little did either of them know that the sounds of laughter could be heard from downstairs, catching the attention of a certain cafe owner.

"What's all the noise about?" Sojiro suddenly appeared from the doorway, arms crossed and looking less than pleased.

Ren was still pinned to the ground, laughing and trying to get his arms out of his friend's grip. "Sohohohojiro! Hehehehelp mehehehe!"

Seeing his goofy grin as he wrestled against Ryuji's hold, Sorjiro couldn't help the sly smirk that crossed his face. "So, he can laugh."

Ryuji grinned up at him. "He can laugh alright! I don't think I've met anyone this ticklish!"

Ren's face was bright red, either from embarrassment or from laughing so hard. Most likely both. It was so much different from what Sojiro had seen from him over the past few weeks of housing him. He had a lot to deal with, moving, having to keep to himself. Sojiro hated to admit it, but he was a good kid, even if the rest of the world didn't think so. He deserved a laugh.

Even though the sight of seeing the kid finally happy was enough to bring a smile to his face, he figured Ren could use some mercy. "Alright, let him breathe, Ryuji."

He snickered as he finally let up his relentless attack, leaving Ren a giggling heap on the ground. "Hey, he's the one that never asked me to stop."

"R-ryuji!" He turned his face away as he tried to regain his composure.

Sojiro gave a huff of amusement. "You," he pointed at Ryuji, "come wait downstairs. And Ren, you'd better get ready and out of here before more customers show up." He turned and walked back downstairs, seemingly eager to finish his curry. Ryuji was quick to follow, giving Ren a quick pat on the shoulder before he left.

When he got back to the kitchen, Sojiro handed him a cup of coffee. "For your trouble."

"Thanks boss, but I'm not a big coffee person. Ren would probably like a cup though."

Sojiro smiled, looking towards the stairs that lead to his tenants room. "I don't think I've heard the kid laugh like that before." That was an understatement, he hardly ever saw Ren smiling. "He's going through a lot, huh."

Ryuji sighed, "yeah, he is."

"But he seems like he's in a much better mood lately. That's probably thanks to you and that other girl."

They heard a few footsteps from upstairs. Ren would be down there shortly.

"Don't tell him I said this, but thanks. He needed a laugh. Do me a favor, punk. Keep him out of trouble, and keep making him laugh."

"Going soft, are we?" Ryuji smirked.

"Pft, hardly. He needs more friends so he can get out of my hair." The softness in his face and voice betrayed what he really wanted to say. He liked seeing Ren happy, and he wanted him to keep up the energy.

Ren finally made his way down the stairs, gym clothes ready. "Okay, sorry for the hold up. And sorry for the noise earlier, Sojiro." He was still clearly embarrassed.

Sojiro handed him the cup of coffee to go. "Just get out of here before more customers show up." He tried to hide his grin.

"Don't worry boss," Ryuji exclaimed, "I'll keep up my end of the bargain." He rushed out the door.

Ren ran to catch up with him. "Ryuji? What did you mean? What bargain?"

"Don't worry about it, I just said I'd keep you out of trouble."

Sojiro turned back to the stove, a soft smile on his face. With friends like Ren's, he had no doubt that he'd be laughing much more often.