|| 5/29 Sunday ||
|| Daytime ||

"You're leaving me here?!" Morgana shrieked.

Akira, who was sitting at the counter in Leblanc and waiting patiently for Mikono to change, glanced down at the cat that sat on the stool beside him. "I'm not taking you with me on a date, especially on my very first one."

"B-But won't you need a wingman?! You know, so you don't screw this up!"

"Ann already taught me everything I need to know," the boy stated. "Besides, I want to be alone with her today."

Morgana pawed at the boy's pants. "Please, don't leave me here!"

"You'll be fine, Morgana."

Just then, Mikono walks down the stairs. She waltzed toward Akira with a smile, adjusting her headband. "Sorry for taking so long."

Akira and Morgana looked toward the girl. The cat analyzed her appearance and smiled with hearts in his eyes. "Me-wow! You look beautiful, Lady Mikono!" He looked over at the bespectacled boy, noticing his wide eyes and unhinged jaw. "I think Akira also likes your outfit," he snickered.

"Glad you both like it," she giggled. Stepping closer to her boyfriend, she stared into his wide eyes with a grin. She placed a finger under his chin and pushed up, closing his mouth. "Are you ready to go, Akira, or are you just gonna keep staring at me all day?"

The boy snapped out of his trance and nodded. "Y-Yeah, let's go." He stood from his seat and grabbed his bag, stopping Morgana when he tried to jump inside.

Before he and Mikono could leave Leblanc, Sojiro emerged from the small kitchen and wondered where the two were going. "You two have plans today?"

Mikono nodded, smiling at the older man. "We're going on a—"

Akira clamped a hand over her mouth before she could spill the truth. "Trip to the bookstore. We'll be back soon, Boss."

Sojiro glances between Mikono and Akira, suspicious of their behavior. Regardless of how strange they were acting, he nodded. "All right. Do you have your medicine, Tsutsui-san?"

Akira lowered his hand and allowed her to speak. "I have it in my purse."

"Good. You two go have some fun then. And Akira," the man met the boy's gaze. "Make sure to be a gentleman and don't push Tsutsui-san past her limits, especially in her current state."

"I'll take care of her," Akira reassures his guardian. "Don't worry, Boss."

The couple left Leblanc and headed toward the train station. As they walked down the street, Mikono eyed the boy beside her. "Why did you lie to Sakura-san?"

"He'll learn the truth soon enough. And if I screw up this date..." Akira looked away with a frown.

Mikono reaches out and takes his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together. "I'm not gonna dump you if this date doesn't go well. This is new territory for both of us. If we screw up, we screw up together."

Akira sighed in relief, squeezing her hand gently. "You've no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that."

They arrived at the train station and boarded a train to Shibuya. The train wasn't as crowded as it usually was and they were able to sit down and enjoy the ride. While waiting for their stop, Akira glances over at Mikono and noticed the bags under her eyes. He leaned closer, their faces a few inches apart. "Nightmares again?"

Mikono sighed. "Yeah... I thought the nightmares were over, but because of Takahashi, they're back and much worse. I didn't wake you last night, did I?"

He shook his head. "I didn't hear anything. Maybe we should reschedule and—"

"No," Mikono interrupted him. "I want to spend time with you. It'll be nice since there's no Morgana around. I have nothing against him, but even friends need a break from one another."

The train arrived at Shibuya Station and the couple disembarked. While holding hands, they left the train station and headed to Central Street. Mikono followed Akira's lead, curious as to where he was taking her. When he pulled her into a building filled with the sounds of myriads of video games, she looked around. "I've passed by this arcade so many times, but this is the first time I've been inside."

Akira looked over at her with a flabbergasted expression. "Don't tell me this is your first time in an arcade."

Mikono stared down at the floor, embarrassed. "Actually...it is."

"You didn't visit any arcades when you lived in Egypt?"

She shook her head. "Nope. I spent most of my time in museums or at home. When I turned 10, my parents began taking me to excavation sites after I begged them nonstop. You could say I spent most of my time learning about the past instead of doing what normal kids did at that age."

"You've at least played a video game, right?" Akira asked.

Mikono nibbled on the inside of her cheek. "What if said no?"

Akira chuckled. "Then you're in for a surprise. Come on." He guided her over to one of the arcade machines and showed her how to play. Once he finished and got a high score, he gave her the chance to play. He watched her carefully analyze the controls before beginning to play. Staring at the screen, he noticed her skillful movements with the pixelated spacecraft and how she nimbly dodged the firepower of the opposing enemies. It wasn't long before she beat his high score. He was astonished at how quick and easy it was for her to comprehend the controls on her first try. "I thought you said you haven't played video games?"

"I did," Mikono grinned at him. "Maybe I'm really good or you suck."

"I'm gonna go with the former," he huffed with laughter.

The couple moved to a different game. Unlike the previous one, this game was two-player and a shooter. After Akira explained the controls, he put 100 yen into the machine and pressed start. He and Mikono grabbed the gun imitations and waited for the game to begin. When the screen flashed and the word 'START' appeared on it, they aimed the guns at the screen and pulled the triggers the moment the first zombie was running toward them.

After defeating ten waves of zombies, the game came to an end. Their scores appeared on the screen and Mikono winced when seeing her score was much lower than Akira's. "I don't think I'm good at shooting games..." She placed the gun down. "I don't think I'm a good shot in general."

"Is that why you don't use your handgun in the Metaverse very often?" Akira asked.

"Yeah. No point in wasting bullets if I can't even aim properly. Also, I feel more confident with my khopeshes in hand. Now then, let's try another game!"

<———————————<<<<<

Two hours later, the couple had finished gaming and found themselves in front of one of the claw machines. Mikono analyzed many of the stuffed animals and her attention was drawn to one creature in particular. "What cute fennec! I remember seeing them on our road trips to Siwa Oasis. Their big ears are used to dissipate heat to prevent their bodies from overheating. Their bodies are well adapted to desert environments. You can only find them in the Sahara Desert and other parts of North Africa. They have nocturnal habits which help them deal with the heat of the desert. They're omnivores and I'm rambling, aren't I?"

Akira simply smiled as he inserted 500 yen into the claw machine. Luck was on the boy's side and he was able to win the fennec fox plushie on his second try. Once the claw dropped the stuffed animal down the chute, he grabbed it and handed it to Mikono.

The girl's eyes sparkled as she accepted his gift. She trailed her fingers across the plushie's soft body with a smile and red cheeks. "You've given me a reminder of home and I can't thank you enough, Akira."

"There's something else I want to give you." Akira grabbed Mikono's hand and escorted her out of the arcade. He tugged her down the street until reaching the alleyway leading to the airsoft shop. When he came to a stop and released her hand, he searched his pockets for the trinket he had bought for her a short while ago. Feeling the chain in his front right pocket, he grabbed it and pulled it out of his pocket. Opening his palm, he showed her the locket.

Mikono gasped in awe. "What a beautiful locket, Akira."

"I saw this at the jewelry store in the underground mall one day when I was heading to work. I remember how you mentioned your favorite color is blue and..." Akira's voice trailed off as he became embarrassed.

"I swear, you're spoiling me today," she giggled.

"You spoiled me the first time we met, remember?" He smiled.

"It was only lunch and a taxi ride."

"AND a tour of Aoyama and Shibuya," he added. "I never expected someone to show me such kindness even after knowing why I really came to Tokyo. That day meant a lot to me, Mikono."

She smirked at him. "So, when did you start having romantic feelings toward me?"

"U-Uh, well..." Akira rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. "Y-You could say it was love at first sight, but I really didn't realize my feelings until a couple weeks after we first met."

"Aw!" Mikono cooed. She lifted her hands and pinched his red cheeks with her fingers. "You're so cute when you're embarrassed~!" She made him make weird faces before freeing his cheeks. She casted her smile to the locket in his grasp and pulled her inky tresses over her left shoulder. Then, she turned her back to him and lifted her hair up. "Could you help me put it on?"

"S-Sure." Akira places the trinket around her neck and clasps it. Before withdrawing his hands, he made sure it was hooked properly. "There."

Mikono released her hair and turned back to face him. One of her hands gravitated toward her new accessory with a gentle smile. "It looks like I've got a big decision to make."

Akira blinked in bewilderment. "What do you mean?"

"I'm gonna have to figure out who I'm gonna put inside the locket." She stood on her tippy toes and pecked him on the cheek. "Thank you, Akira."

The boy placed a hand over his cheek. His mind became scrambled at the sudden display of affection. His cheeks were still red from earlier, but they were a much darker shade now. He cleared his throat when he went to speak so he could talk clearly, but his voice cracked slightly. "Y-You're welcome, Mikono." He managed to clear his head and change the subject. "How about we go grab a bite to eat? Neither of us ate breakfast this morning."

Mikono nodded. "Lunch'll be my treat. After all, you did pay for everything at the arcade. Let's go!"

|| 5/29 Sunday ||
|| Evening ||

After the conclusion of their date, Akira and Mikono headed back to Leblanc. The moment they stepped through the door, their phones buzzed. Pulling them out, they discovered activity in the group chat.

Ann: Yusuke, any changes yet? How's Madarame?

Yusuke: Nothing at the moment. He is still bedridden.

Ryuji: Wait... You think this was too much for that old bastard's heart?

Yusuke: There's no need to worry. His life does not appear to be in any danger.

Mikono began typing on her phone after reading Yusuke's message.

Mikono: Give it time, Ryuji. Remember how long it took for Kamoshida to confess?

Ryuji: Yeah, you're right... I just hope we didn't eff up on our first official mission...

Ryuji: Can he talk at all?

Yusuke: So far all he has said to me is, "I'm sorry."

Yusuke: I haven't been able to speak to him since though. He is in no state to hold a conversation.

Ryuji: For real...?

Ann: If he ends up taking legal action against us, our leader will be in big trouble...!

Yusuke's next message was directed toward Akira.

Yusuke: You are under probation, correct? That would be problematic..."

Ann: Hey, we're gonna be okay...aren't we?

The bespectacled boy didn't hesitate to reassure his worried friends.

Akira: For sure. There's nothing to worry about.

Ryuji: If Akira says so, I'm sure it's true!

Yusuke: I will contact all of you if any progress is made.

Ryuji: Let's just wait for the change of heart for now.

Ann: Yeah... Well, we'll be waiting for your updates, Yusuke.

Ann: By the way, how're you feeling, Mikono?

Mikono: Better. I'm not sleeping well because of nightmares, but I'm okay.

Mikono: The wounds are healing and I get my stitches out this week. Thanks to the pain pills and cream, I feel fine.

Yusuke: I'm glad you are feeling better, Tsutsui-san.

Ann: Me too! I hope Akira is treating you well.

Mikono: He's basically been my nurse ever since we left the hospital.

Ryuji: Dude, I saw you two in Shibuya today. What were you guys doin'?

Ann: Was it a date?!

Mikono and Akira looked up from their phones and toward one another. They didn't say a word but knew what each other was thinking. Glancing back down at their phones, they answered Ann and Ryuji's questions.

Akira: It was.

Mikono: We had so much fun!

Ryuji: You two are dating now?! When did that happen?!

Yusuke: I would like to know as well.

Mikono: A couple days ago.

Ann: I knew you could do it, Akira! Where did you take her?

Akira: The arcade. It was kind of a last-minute decision.

Mikono: A good one, I might add.

Ryuji: I don't think I'll be able to handle this conversation if it gets gooey with feelings...

Ann: Oh, shut up! You should be happy for them!

Ryuji: Yeah, yeah...

Ann: Anyway, I'm glad you guys were able to spend some time together. I'm so happy for you both!

Mikono: Thanks, Ann.

Mikono: Well, we better go. Akira has to change my bandages.

Yusuke: I hope to see you all soon.

Ann: Bye, guys!

Mikono and Akira put their phones away. Before they could head up to the attic and see what Morgana was doing, they were stopped by Sojiro. "That was a pretty long visit to the bookstore, don't you think? And you don't have any books with you."

"We got sidetracked," Akira lied.

Sojiro's brow arched as he pried further. "And went where?"

"We wound up exploring the shops in the underground mall," Mikono said. "Then we went to have some lunch before heading to the bookstore. Unfortunately, they didn't have the book I was looking for."

The man placed his hands on the counter and leaned forward. "Did he treat you well, Tsutsui-san?"

She nodded with a bright smile. "He was the perfect gentleman."

"Glad to hear it," he sighed in relief.

Akira moves behind Mikono and placed his hands on her shoulders, nudging her toward the stairwell. "Sorry, Boss, but we need to head to the bathhouse."

Sojiro nodded in understanding. "Please, don't let me stop you."

The couple headed up to the attic where they found Morgana curled up on the sofa, sleeping. They grabbed their things and headed to the bathhouse to cleanse their bodies. They both enjoyed the warm water before returning to Leblanc thirty minutes later. The cat had woken up from his nap when they returned. He yawned, greeting them as they got comfortable. When he saw the necklace around Mikono's neck, he smirked. "So, you finally gave it to her, huh?"

Akira nodded as he cleaned his glasses. "I had the perfect opportunity and I took it."

"Yeah, well, you almost blew the surprise last Sunday."

Mikono lifted her head. "Last Sunday?" She searched her memory for what happened exactly a week ago and gasped when she remembered how he fell because his foot got tangled in the sheets and how he quickly hid something from her. "Oh! You were trying to hide the locket before I could see it."

"When I heard you coming upstairs, I grew frantic and got my foot caught in the sheets. I wound up falling and dropped the locket before I could hide it," Akira explained. "At least I was able to pick it up before you could or I would've had to lie..."

"I've never seen you move so fast," she snickered, crawling up onto the bed once Akira finished bandaging her feet. A yawn slipped from her lips and she let her body fall against the mattress. She placed a hand over her locket, tracing the design as she stared up at the ceiling. "I really did have fun today, Akira. I hope we can do it again soon."

Akira, who was now sitting on the sofa, glanced over at her with a smile plastered on his face. "Yeah, me too." He watched the girl for a few seconds before being startled when she flew up and stared at him while sitting on her knees. He blinked owlishly when she grabbed the pillow and hugged it close to her chest. "What's wrong, Mikono?"

"I, um... Well..." She embraced the pillow tighter, her cheeks slowly turning crimson. "D-Do you think you could sleep with me in the bed t-tonight? When you slept w-with me Friday, the nightmares went away."

Akira was stunned. He stared wide-eyed at his girlfriend, blinking a few times as he listened to her words on loop inside his head. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.

Mikono took his silence as a no and covered her red cheeks with the pillow. "S-Sorry! I-It was a dumb request! Goodnight!" She tossed herself back down onto the bed, her back facing him. She pulled the sheet over her head to hide herself and curled up into a ball. Through the thin sheet, she saw the lights flicker off and engulf the room into darkness. The streetlight shining through the windows bathed the room in a silver radiance. 

While listening to her thundering heart, Mikono gripped the sheet and kept telling herself how much of a moron she was for asking Akira such a thing. She shook her head and tried to fight against her overactive mind so she could fall asleep.

Suddenly, a startled gasp came from the girl when she felt arms snake around her waist and pull her backwards against a chest. She peeled the sheet off her head when a kiss was placed on the crown of her head. "A-Akira...?"

Akira nuzzled his face in the crook of her neck, causing the girl to shudder. "It's not a dumb request, and there's no way I would say no." He lifted his head from her neck and nuzzled his cheek against hers in a loving manner. "I wish I was there so I could've prevented Takahashi from hurting you. I thought my heart was going to stop when I saw you collapsed on the floor."

"I didn't even realize I made it all the way here until you told me in the hospital. I...don't know why I came here out of all places," she said. "It was like my body was on autopilot."

"I'm just glad you're okay," he sighed, his warm breath grazing her cheek.

"My parents are taking me to see a counselor after what happened. I think I do need to talk to a professional about what happened that day..."

"Am I not enough?" Akira grinned.

"I-It's not that, Akira," Mikono whined. "If I told my parents I got a boyfriend while they were out of the country and said boy actually helps me sleep, they'd lose it. My mom would squeal so loudly she'd raise the dead and my dad would go on a rampage."

"So that means we'll have to hide our relationship from your parents too."

"For now, yes. Hopefully, I can ease them into the topic when they're both in a good mood and tell them." She closed her eyes with a sigh. "I am going to miss this."

"Maybe I should sneak into your room at night when your parents are asleep," Akira chuckled.

"Oh, no, no, no! Way too risky! My dad would hang you by your feet from my balcony!"

"Hey..." Morgana groaned, interrupting the teens. "Can you two go to sleep? You both have school in the morning!"

"Don't remind us," Akira and Mikono said in unison. They adjusted their position slightly before closing their eyes and falling asleep.

|| 5/30 Monday ||
|| After School ||

"I'm so exhausted..." Mikono huffed, leaning against her desk. She placed her head down with a groan. Throughout the school day, many students approached her and expressed their concern for her well-being. After a while, it started to become overwhelming and she couldn't bear to hear another concerned student ask about her health. "Do I look pitiful?"

"No," Akira said. "Your cuts are healing and the bruises are starting to disappear."

"How're your feet?" Ann asked.

"I still have to keep them bandaged for a few more days. I have noticed it's easier to walk now than a couple days ago. Still, I have to be careful so I don't reopen the cuts."

"Your parents are going to be home today, right?" The pigtailed girl inquired.

Mikono nodded. "Their flight doesn't come in until 8:15 though. I'll gather my things from Leblanc before heading home."

"Will you be okay by yourself?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Takahashi's in jail and there's no way he could break out." The sable-haired girl pushed herself to her feet, grabbed her bag, and slid her chair back under her desk. "We should get going, Akira. Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah." Akira grabbed his bag, jostling it a bit when Morgana hissed at him. "Let's go."

"We'll see you tomorrow, Ann," Mikono smiled.

"Bye, Mikono," she smiled back. "Bye, Akira."

The boy waved at her as he and his girlfriend left the classroom. They headed down the stairwell, but Mikono stopped all of a sudden when they reached the entrance of Shujin Academy. She turned around, placing a hand on her hip and her eyes narrowed. "Niijima-san, how long are you planning on following us?"

The crimson-eyed girl lowered her book, revealing a bead of sweat trailing down the side of her face. "I-I wasn't following you. I was waiting."

Mikono knew the girl was lying, but she was in no mood to get into an argument with Niijima. "Waiting for what, exactly?"

"For you." She took a step toward Mikono. "I...heard what happened to you on the news and from Principal Kobayakawa. I can't even imagine how scared you were. I'm actually surprised to see you at school today. Most people who suffer a traumatic experience like that don't bounce back so easily."

"It's easier to recover if you're surrounded by people who care," she explained. "But I will be seeing a counselor this week to help me work through any PTSD."

"I'm glad to hear you're recovering."

"It won't be an easy road to travel down, but I know I'll make a full recovery soon."

"Well then," Niijima muttered, glancing down at her book she was using to cover her face earlier. "I better get back to studying."

Mikono smiled. "Don't push yourself too much, Niijima-san."

The short-haired was taken aback the girl's kind words and smile. "Yes..." She scurried off down the hallway and disappeared deeper into the school.

Akira places his hands in his pockets as he stared in the direction the student council president vanished. "I don't think she realizes I know she's stalking me through the hallways..."

"Wait." Mikono spun around and faced him. "When did this start?"

"Last Friday," he answered. "She tries to be sneaky about it, but she's not doing a very good job. She always has that book with her, too."

"You don't think she knows, do you?"

"She suspects us, but she hasn't found any definite proof that we're part of the phantom thieves."

"We'll have to be extra careful from now on, especially since Niijima-san has decided to stalk you at school. Be cautious when using your phone. If she even so much as gets a glance of what we talk about in the group chat, she'll have all the proof she needs."

"Let's get out of here before she decides to return," Morgana said. They left Shujin Academy and headed to Yongen-Jaya.

The moment they stepped into Leblanc, they heard Sojiro and a couple sitting at the counter laughing together. When the older man heard the bell, he looked over and greeted the two. "Welcome back, Akira, Tsutsui-san."

The couple turned around and Mikono gasped in shock when she recognized them. "Mom?! Dad?!"

*****
Confidant: Mikono Tsutsui
Arcana: The Puppeteer
Rank: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*****