X
Yes...
Yes, you read that chapter title right.
Is this a joke?
Well yeah, the title is a joke, but the description is basically what it says on the tin.
Suspicion - Persona 5
Of all the trials and tribulations Kyoko Kirigiri had faced, it was absurd that this was somehow one of her most difficult.
As a detective, she'd come under the threat of violence, kidnapping, being held for ransom, and so many other possible messed-up alternatives through the simple act of doing her job and enforcing justice. Being such a gifted investigator made you problematic for would-be criminals and organizations, and it painted a big red target right on her back. Nevertheless, she could fend for herself and had no issues when faced with threats.
In fact, Kyoko was far better at making threats and getting criminals to cave than they were at her. One time, she was held captive and her kidnapper threatened to pour petrol on her and set her on fire. Knowing full well that petrol and gasoline had different properties, the former being lethal for the kidnapper as well in such proximity, Kyoko at the time had kindly explained to him the difference...then simply did the deed for him, dumping the petrol on her body and threatening to light it, freaking the ever-loving fuck out of kidnapper until other detectives had arrived to help her.
Then there were her exploits as a confidant of the Phantom Thieves. As the only known confidant who knew of their powers and methods, and who had been to the Metaverse (obviously barring Chiaki Nanami by this point, and that little incident) she'd stared the worst kinds of death in the face and moved on like it was nothing. Actually, she was still a little uncomfortable from the painful shock she got from the Tiger Mechabeast, but it wasn't stopping her in any way.
Why was ringing a doorbell so much trickier than any of that?
Yesterday, Makoto had offered Kyoko to come round his house to eat lunch with his family. A proposition that she had been glad to accept, not thinking much of it at the time. But now that she'd showed up at his doorstep, she felt...indifferent to the idea.
Nothing to do with Makoto himself. He'd been nothing but supportive and helpful, even when she'd started having doubts about herself and her mission. And she acknowledged that he was doing this purely because he wanted her to have a nice day off, and to hang out not as co-conspirators, but as friends.
Her heart was thumping in her chest though, as she stood in front of said friend's home. She had checked her watch and it was 10 am, so it was still quite early in the morning. With a tight grip, she held the bouquet of sunflowers, hoping it would make his parents happy. At least Detective Kujo had instructed her to bring that sort of offering.
Having not done so correctly the last time she was here, she finally got a good look at the house standing before her, taking in the frame, the length of the fence, the desaturated color of the wall, and more. Despite the fact that this was the second time she had visited the Naegi's household, she was by herself this time. She inhaled deeply, attempting to still the butterflies in her stomach.
Makoto's father Takao had made it clear that their impression of Kyoko was good, inferring that Makoto had already said a lot of good things about her. But she had only briefly spoken to him last time and hadn't had a proper discussion, nor had she properly introduced herself to him or Makoto's mother. Looking back, they had no idea at all about her true nature.
She paused for a second, her mind racing with ideas about their perception of her. Would they get along with her? Would she come across well? Would they let her stay among them for the meal?
"Ugh...Don't be an idiot..." she clutched her head and talked to herself, "You're not his girlfriend or something; stop being so overdramatic."
She reached out and pressed the doorbell with a trembling hand. Her heart skipped a beat as the sound reverberated throughout the home.
There was silence.
Followed by more silence.
And then even more silence.
Kyoko didn't even hear the noise of footsteps approaching the door. It wasn't THAT early in the day, so she relaxed when she realized that maybe his family wasn't even awake.
Still, it was strange. This house contained five people, and not a single one of them had heard the door open? Makoto had made it very apparent that they would all be indoors.
After a few seconds, still, nobody answered the door. Kyoko rang the doorbell once more and could hear the noise echoing through the house. She stepped back, wondering if anyone would come to meet her or if she was really alone, her heart racing in her chest. Once more, nobody answered the door or unlocked the gate.
"Kyoko?"
"BUAGH!?
Wicked Plan - Persona 5
Just as she was about to turn and leave, or call Makoto's phone to ask him where he was, she suddenly heard the Lucky Student's familiar voice right behind her, making her jump. She quickly turned around, glaring at him.
"Don't do that!" she snapped.
"O-Oh! Sorry, I just..." he apologized, holding up a plastic bag, "since we were having lunch, I went out to get ingredients for Teishoku, since I found out we don't have much to work with. Are you ok? You seem weirdly on edge."
"I'm fine, you just caught me by surprise is all," she shook her head, "I rang the doorbell but no one answered. I thought you said that your family was here today."
"Yeah, they will be, but not for a few hours. Well...at least my parents will be. Honestly, I expected you would come round later, so I figured I had time to rush out and get food before you got here," he admitted.
"Komaru won't be joining us?" Kyoko asked.
"Nope. Neither will Kotoko," Makoto sighed, "turns out she's got a playdate with Jataro-kun today. He's gonna show her how to make paper plate friends. As for Komaru...Well, as it turns out, today's her first day of art class."
"Art class?" Kyoko parroted, "What do you mean?"
"I don't know if she ever brought it up to the rest of the group, but," Makoto explained, unlocking the gate, then heading to unlock the door and go inside, "Komaru's been thinking about her future, and she decided to sign up to a preparatory art school. I didn't realize she was going until today when she told me last minute. So yeah, she won't be here."
"Well that's a shame," Kyoko sighed, carefully stepping inside, "I suppose I can ask her about it later. That's quite interesting; I'm surprised she never mentioned it."
"Well, I think she's trying to keep it a secret from Toko for now," Makoto told her, "anyway, I'm assuming those sunflowers are a gift for my Mom. Just give them to me and I'll put them in a vase."
Kyoko did so.
Beautiful Days - Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
"Detective Kujo at the agency told me that it's customary to bring a gift to one's parents when you make introductions," she explained, "so I got her these. I hope it's not too excessive."
"Not to burst your bubble, but I'm pretty sure that's usually when you're asking someone for their blessing," Makoto blushed slightly, "I'm sure she'll appreciate the gesture though."
"Hngh...I had a feeling that was the case..." she rolled her eyes, "I believe she misunderstood my intentions for today when I explained to her why I was going off the clock."
"Hey, don't worry about it. It was nice of you to consider that regardless," he assured her, "if you've brought anything with you, feel free to put them down somewhere and make yourself comfortable. And sorry if you find any messes. I didn't have a chance to clean the house before you showed up."
"Do you usually do the household chores by yourself?" Kyoko inquired as they entered the dining room and she draped her shoulder bag over the back of a chair.
"Not so much since I moved out, but yeah," Makoto nodded, "Around my second year of Middle School, my parents both became kind of busy with their jobs, so they didn't come home for long periods. They figured they could put in extra hours once I was old enough to look after myself and my sister, but honestly? Komaru is better at the housework."
"For some reason, I was getting that inclination. No offense," Kyoko smiled, "just from the way she conducts herself."
"Yeah, she had to get those cooking abilities somewhere," Makoto chuckled, "take a seat. I need to prepare lunch, but I can make you something to drink in the meantime. You want some coffee?"
"Iced tea please, if you have any." she requested. Makoto nodded and quickly went over to the fridge to get some out.
"By the way," he said as he poked his head in the fridge, "it's not often I see you wearing clothes like that. They look good on you!"
Kyoko bashfully looked down at her attire. She was usually a very professionally dressed girl, even in her regular attire when she wasn't wearing her school or work uniform. But for whatever reason, she had decided to go for a more casual look today. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she wore distressed jeans, colorful sneakers, and an orange t-shirt. Although she was dressed simply, it was a welcome diversion from her typically stiff and uncomplicated look and gave her a fresh style that was, for once, common for someone her age.
"Here you go," Makoto said, turning her attention back to him, as he placed a glass of cool iced tea down on a coaster, "I can give you some extra ice if you want it to be colder."
"Thank you very much," Kyoko nodded, "you're good at household chores, you're humble, and you're very good at taking care of people. Perhaps you would make a wonderful househusband someday?"
"O-Oh..." Makoto blushed, "you really think so?"
Kyoko's eyes widened, and her face went slightly pink as she processed the words that had just come out of her mouth.
"F-Forgive me! I...I don't know why I said that" she stammered, "still, I meant it. You're a very nice person."
"Well, sit tight," he smiled, "I'll get started on that Teishoku in juuuust a second."
Kyoko secretly told herself that whatever she was thinking to herself, she had to cut it out NOW!
She found herself sitting on his dining room chair in his well-lit, cozy home, her heart pounding with a mix of nervousness and excitement. He was not far away, carefully retrieving ingredients from the cupboard, his strange yet reassuring warmth lifting her spirits.
What he had mentioned about this being a date, plus the fact that his parents had yet to show up, was getting to her head. She had to make sure to quell these emotions and just...be normal...until they showed up.
*DING-DONG!*
X
Fortunately, it seemed that it wasn't going to be a problem as she heard the sound of the doorbell. Makoto smiled at her as he walked past, putting down the ingredients and heading to the door while she breathed a sigh of relief.
She had been so nervous to confront Makoto's parents on her own like this, but now for whatever reason, she felt like their arrival had spared her of an even stronger wave of nerves. It was like that hypothetical situation where you're asked to go down two different tunnels, both with something either terrifying, or generally undesirable down both of them, and you're forced to pick which one you could handle better.
Which was the same analogy Kyoko had used when discussing elections and politics, now that she remembered.
Makoto arrived at the door and quickly opened it, also expecting his parents to be on the other side.
"Hey! You arrived at a good time! I was just-HUH!?"
Junk Food for a Dashing Youth - Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Kyoko's ears pricked up at the strange exclamation he made at the end of his sentence and quickly got up to investigate what had caused it. When she poked her head around the corner, she felt her heart sink.
It wasn't Makoto's parents who had rung the bell. Standing there, sporting a denim jacket that was embroidered with vibrant flowers to add a whimsical touch, a pair of bright yellow sneakers with fluffy laces, a flowy pastel pink crop top, high-waisted light wash jeans that hugged her curves in all the right places, and a cap and large sunglasses perched atop her head...was the Ultimate Pop Sensation, Sayaka Maizono.
What was SHE doing here? Had Makoto invited her as well? Surely not. He would have informed her beforehand. Wouldn't he?
"Hey...Sayaka..." Makoto was happy to see her, though his tone of voice confirmed Kyoko's suspicions, "What brings you here? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, of course! I just happened to be passing through this area, so I thought I'd stop by to check on you," she waved, carrying a handbag that matched the color of her top with one hand, and a small white cardboard package in the other, smiling like a possum, "how are you doing today?"
Kyoko frowned. Just from the way Sayaka was talking and acting, she figured out immediately that this was a ruse of some kind. There wasn't any feasible reason why someone of Sayaka's social standing would be passing through a quiet neighborhood like this if not to pay Makoto a visit.
"There's a cake shop nearby that I've been just dying to try out," she beamed, raising the cardboard package, "and I brought some over because I was hoping you would-...Wait...Kirigiri-chan!?"
Kyoko shuddered like a scared cat with its hairs standing on end. Realizing that she had been caught and couldn't hide it any longer, she shamefully shuffled out of her hiding place with both Makoto and Sayaka watching her.
"H-Hello...Maizono-san..." Kyoko nodded her head; a gesture that was more than a nod, but less than a bow.
"What..." the corners of Sayaka's mouth, though she tried to smile, twitched, "What are you doing here? Wh-What is she doing here?"
"Can she not be?" Makoto frowned, "Kyoko agreed to come have lunch with me today. I was just setting up to make us some Teishoku. I was just about to start when you showed up."
"O-Oh! Well, if that's the case, why don't I come in and help?" she exclaimed, suddenly getting very visibly excited, "we can have the cakes I bought for dessert!"
"Huh?" Makoto quickly looked back and forth between the eager Sayaka and the rather disgruntled-looking Kyoko, "W-Well, I'd hate to trouble you."
"Come on! We had a mean meal together before! I'm sure Kirigiri-chan would LOVE to see what the two of us can put out when we get serious!" she pumped her fist, "Unless...Unless I'm intruding on something...? Am I getting in your way? D-Did I bother you?"
"No! No! Of course not!" Makoto exclaimed, "You don't mind, do you, Kyoko? She's right you know, we do make a good cooking team."
"Well...No, I suppose I have no reason to object," Kyoko shook her head, "but...if that's really what's happening, then I insist you let me help as well. I won't sit idly by while you two make lunch for me."
"If that's what you want, sure," Makoto smiled, "but you ARE a guest. And so are you for that matter. I'd hate to make the two of you work for your meal."
"It's no problem," both Sayaka and Kyoko said in unison. Though still physically unsure, Makoto took the box of sweet treats off of Sayaka and walked past Kyoko back into the kitchen. Kyoko shot Sayaka a brief but awkward, and somewhat animus glance, before she turned around and followed.
For some reason, her mind had changed again. She was missing the feelings she was experiencing when the two of them were all alone.
Sayaka stepped into the house and carefully closed the door behind her, slipping off her shoes, wondering what in the world Kyoko Kirigiri of all people was doing at his house.
Was she trying to get ahead of her?
Wait, what kind of thoughts even were those!?
Makoto had briefly mentioned that he would be home with his family on this day. So Sayaka figured it would be a great idea to pop around unexpectedly and make a good impression on his parents. She hadn't expected to walk through the door and find another of their female classmates inside.
And for some reason, that made her burn with jealousy and discomfort. She figured that the secret meetings at his house were going to be exclusive to the two of them. Yet here was another girl, who WASN'T her, coming by for food, basically the same situation that had happened the last time she was here.
Could they secretly be in a relationship? That didn't seem very plausible, as close as Makoto and Kyoko were sometimes. By now, Sayaka basically HAD to loiter. She needed to figure out what was up.
But at the same time, she tried to simmer down a little. If Makoto really had invited Kyoko here, then that must mean that he cared about her a lot, and that was on brand for her. Trying to do anything to Kyoko, or pry into things too much, might upset Makoto in turn, and that was the last thing she wanted.
Meanwhile, Kyoko had already figured out Sayaka's ploy. She wasn't best pleased by how she'd dropped in to interrupt but knew that her intentions were good and that she hadn't interrupted on purpose, so she didn't expose her plan to Makoto. Plus, if she openly declared to Makoto that a mutual friend of there's was scheming, she knew he wouldn't take very kindly to that.
Makoto meanwhile...was barely keeping his shit together.
Having Kyoko around and alone in the house was already kind of stimulating, even though he himself was doing a great job of not making that obvious. The only reason Kyoko hadn't noticed his reactions till now was because she was equally as nervous. He had been counting on his family to be home and have his back, but Kotoko had gone, Komaru had dipped at the last minute, and his parents were who knows where.
But these two were his friends. He couldn't think like that. It wasn't good, and it certainly wasn't polite.
Your Affection - Persona 4
As Sayaka and Kyoko walked into the kitchen, subtly eyeing each other, Makoto quickly pulled out his phone and sent his Dad a text to ask him what was going on and where he was. He then pocketed it, remembering to get back to that later.
"Hey, Kyoko, check these out," Makoto called over to her as he placed the box on the counter and opened it up, "there's three in here and they're all different. There's one cake for each of us."
"Hm...So they are..." Kyoko diverted all her attention onto the cakes, "very very different...different indeed."
"Y-Yes...But it means you can pick and choose from whichever one you want, right?" Makoto smiled awkwardly, "you mentioned to me before that you liked sweets. That they relieve your stress and make you feel happy, right?"
"I...do recall mentioning that..." she nodded.
"When did she tell you this? Assuming I'm allowed to ask..." Sayaka raised her hand gingerly as she asked. Makoto turned to her.
"When she came round last time for hot pot," Makoto explained. Sayaka nodded, then turned her gaze towards Kyoko.
"I...see..." she acknowledged, "I had no idea you'd been to his house before..."
"Same to you," Kyoko retorted. "I would like to try the cakes as well, but...well..."
"What?" Sayaka asked.
"Even if we each pick a cake now, we'll miss out on the experience of each distinct taste," she calculated, "in that case, how about we divide up a small portion of each cake so we can taste the various flavors individually?"
"So what you're suggesting..." Sayaka pondered, eying her suspiciously, "is that we...feed each other?"
"W-Well, that isn't quite what I-" Kyoko began to say, but Makoto, blissfully unaware of the stagnant air between them, interrupted with his own take.
"I think that's a great idea!" he beamed.
"Really!?" both girls exclaimed in unison.
"Yeah! Why not? It sounds fun, right?" Makoto smiled at Sayaka and Kyoko's mutually excited faces, becoming suddenly quite bashful, "O-Oh but...now that I think about it, maybe it's not such a good idea...I mean, surely neither of you would want anything to eat that I've already put my mouth on..."
"Whaaaat? Noooo!" Sayaka forced a grin, waving her hand and brushing away his concerns, "That kinda thing doesn't matter to me at all!"
"M-Me neither!" Kyoko asserted, "I was the one who suggested it after all!"
Sayaka and Kyoko shot each other glances; albeit not hostile ones. More like the two of them had a common goal and, begrudgingly, they were willing to unite for the sake of it.
"A-Alright..." Makoto, very much unsure of what the hell his life was right now, carefully agreed, "If you're sure."
"Of course!" Sayaka enthused.
"Naturally," Kyoko nodded.
"In that case, I'll put these in the fridge for now so they're nice and cool for later," Makoto said and did as he suggested, "let's get started ladies. That lunch isn't gonna make itself!"
"Yeah!" Sayaka and Kyoko raised their fists and cheered, the former a tad more enthusiastic than the latter.
Once everything was brought out of the cupboard, Makoto handed his two female companions an apron each and then detailed the instructions to make their lunch. Sayaka already seemed familiar with the process, so it was mainly for Kyoko that the explanation had to be given.
Kyoko had made lunch before, but in her case, it was usually just rations that she needed for long stakeouts. She had never made anyone, not even herself, a proper lunch meal before. She wasn't about to mess this up for either of them though.
With great enthusiasm, Sayaka tackled the task of cooking the main course, which was a delicious grilled mackerel topped with a unique teriyaki sauce. Kyoko chopped the fresh vegetables carefully and arranged them in a captivating rainbow of colors for the side salad. Makoto concentrated on refining the miso soup, adding precisely the appropriate quantity of table sauce to attain a pleasing harmony of flavors.
The sound of laughter blended with the sizzle of the grill and the bubbling soup as they worked together. Makoto was filled with pride, appreciating how his classmates' friendship and camaraderie were evident in the food they had lovingly prepared.
It was almost enough to make him not be so worried about his parents' absence...Almost...
He checked his phone again when he had a second, but his Dad still hadn't come back to him. For reassurance, he went to text his Mom too. Right as he did, however, he suddenly heard the doorbell ring once again.
"Oh thank Christ..." he flung his eyes back in his head, "they're finally back! Where the heck have they been!?"
Makoto retreated from the counter and headed towards the door after quickly taking off his apron. Sayaka and Kyoko exchanged knowing glances before they turned off any cooking appliance around them, removed their own aprons, and followed him to the door, both rather anxious to make his parents' acquaintance, even though there were two of them now.
"What kept you guys!?" Makoto practically flung the door open to greet them, "I thought you guys were supposed to be back by-EH!?"
Mr. Monokuma's Lesson - Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Makoto's exclamation here came from the fact that it was not, in fact, his mother and father at the door, nor his sister or little Kotoko. Standing in the doorway with her familiar short black hair making her instantly recognizable, was the Ultimate Soldier, Mukuro Ikusaba.
And for the second time that day, both Sayaka and Kyoko, watching from around the corner, felt their stomachs sink with dismay and confusion.
Mukuro wore an easygoing, yet noticeably edgy, ensemble. A fitted black t-shirt with a subtle skull graphic on, coupled with a pair of distressed black jeans that had chains hanging from the pockets. She paired a small silver skull pendant with a velvet choker to add a touch of goth. She also opted for black leather ankle boots with silver buckles, which nodded to her signature fierce look while still feeling comfortable and casual, as opposed to the bulky black combat boots that she typically wore as part of her ensemble, whether formal or informal.
Mukuro had never been the stylish sort. It was quite likely that Junko had picked out this fit for her. Mukuro had admitted before that she usually got the fashionista's opinion when it came to styles.
"H-Hey...Mukuro..." Makoto greeted her, "What brings you here?"
"Did...Did he just call her by her first name?" Sayaka whispered.
"Hush," Kyoko retorted, "he did that for you as well. I didn't say anything about it."
"Do you think he's just the informal sort?" the idol questioned.
"I'm here to make a delivery," the soldier girl reached into her pocket and pulled out an object, "here. I believe this is yours."
Makoto's eyes widened when he saw what she was holding.
"Oh! that's my e-Handbook!" he exclaimed, "I didn't even realize I'd lost it! Where did you get it?"
Hope's Peak Academy students used a digital handbook called the Electronic Student Handbook, or simply e-Handbook. The e-Handbook served as a digital repository for a variety of information, including the school's regulations, the name and gender of the owner student, a campus map, and more.
"I found it in the classroom just this morning. It was beeping inside your desk. You must have left it there overnight," Mukuro explained, "I meant to give it back to you, but you were not in your dorm room. I did a full scan of the campus and could not find you, so I realized you may be at your family's home. That is why I am here now, giving the handbook to you."
"Riiiight..." Makoto carefully took his ID off her, "And how did you know where I lived off-campus?"
"I followed you..." she stated bluntly
"Ok, cool, that's not creepy at all..." Makoto deadpanned, "Please don't do that anymore."
"Understood." she saluted, "I'm sorry to interrupt whatever you were...doing..."
Mukuro's sentence trailed off as she suddenly peered over his shoulder and saw the suspicious eyes of both Kyoko and Sayaka glaring at her from around the corner. Mukuro's stomach fell when she saw that he was not alone.
"What...is the meaning of this?" she asked.
"Oh um...Don't think too hard about it," Makoto quickly snapped a look over his shoulder, sweating once he realized she'd noticed, "they're just here for lunch, that's all."
"Why come here?" Mukuro frowned, darkness casting over her eyes, "why not go out to eat somewhere? Why are they at your house?"
"That's a long story," Makoto explained, "you see um..."
"I have the day off today, so Makoto was kind enough to invite me over for lunch with his family," Kyoko asserted, stepping out from behind cover as Sayaka hastily scurried over after her, "a kind proposition that I was willing to take him up on."
"Yes, very kind," Sayaka added, "and I just so happened to be in the area grabbing dessert for myself, so I decided to bring the cakes I got round here as I passed through! Then I saw Kyoko inside, heard the full story, and decided to join them. I'm helping them make lunch as we speak."
"Yeah, what they said..." Makoto nodded, "Sorry Mukuro. Please don't get the wrong impression. We're just-"
However, before he could finish, Mukuro placed both hands on his chest and firmly pushed him back into the house, making him stagger back a little, leading Kyoko and Sayaka to hurry in and support him.
"H-Hey!" Sayaka snapped, "What gives!?"
"Makoto! Please let me in!" Mukuro asserted with a stone-cold and serious face, ignoring the fact that she had basically invited herself in already, "I wish to join you for lunch as well!"
"EEEEEEEEEHH!?" Makoto, Kyoko, and Sayaka all exclaimed at once.
Ms. Monomi's Practice Lesson - Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
This situation had gone from "hot dog" to "holy shit" in a matter of minutes.
In the end, Mukuro didn't, or rather couldn't do much to help with lunch. She herself had no cooking experience and, like Kyoko, had only ever made measly rations for herself if she was to be out on the field for long enough. Still, an extra pair of hands ended up going a long way.
"You know, I really don't mind you stopping by Mukuro-san," Makoto told her, "but I do kind of wish you could have called or texted me first to let me know you were coming..."
"I thought it would be a unique and funny surprise if I was to drop by unannounced," Mukuro made a noise that sounded like a chuckle, but her expression did not shift, "did I amuse you?"
"Yes. You COULD say that..." Makoto scratched his face.
Kyoko and Sayaka weren't very pleased about the new arrival, but they envied the Ultimate Soldiers' confidence.
It was finally time to put the masterpiece together. Sayaka carefully arranged the grilled mackerel over a bed of fluffy rice and sprinkled some toasted sesame seeds on top. With meticulous attention to detail, Kyoko arranged the colorful side salad and finished it with a drizzle of zesty dressing. With the smell of fermented soybeans and seaweed enveloping them in a comforting embrace, Makoto ladled the steaming miso soup into ceramic bowls. Mukuro laid out the cutlery.
They sat down at a table decorated with their creations and excitedly began to work on the Teishoku they had made together, filled with a sense of mutual accomplishment. A feeling of satisfaction spread over them as they relished every bite, knowing that they had not only prepared a delectable dinner but also treasured memories that would last a lifetime.
As if...
There was a palpable cloud of awkwardness in the air as the group continued making lunch. Laughter felt forced and conversations tense. Their halting chats were punctuated by the sounds of silverware clinking against each other, the bubbling of the pots, and the hum of the appliances. Each of the three girls stole looks at Makoto, who either didn't know about the quiet competition between them for his affection and attention or was just choosing to outright dissociate himself from it.
Makoto's parents still hadn't come home. He had even left a portion on the side of the counter for them when they showed up. He glanced back at his phone to see if his parents had come back to him, and basically jumped up as he saw he had a text message from his Dad.
"Hold on, may I be excused?"
He quickly stood up from the table and walked around the corridor, leaving the four girls to sit at the table by themselves. Once he was out of sight, Kyoko, Sayaka and Mukuro all eyed each other suspiciously and somewhat enviously.
Deduction - Persona 4
"So..." Mukuro spoke softly, "what is the real reason that the two of you are here?"
"I don't know what to tell you," Sayaka shrugged, "as I said before, I happened to be in the area getting some cake, and passed my the Naegi household. Then I figured that I should share some of the cake with Makoto-kun as a token of goodwill!"
"So you mean to tell me that you, a stage idol who is required to watch her weight, decided to go to a store in a bare-bones disguise despite paparazzi being on the prowl for you, and buy three whole cake slices all for herself? And you just so happened to be strolling through the exact neighborhood that Makoto and his family live to go...where exactly? We're nowhere near your agency, are we?" Kyoko summarized.
Damn, she was good.
"How did you even know that Makoto lived here, Maizono?" Mukuro asked. Sayaka's face suddenly curled into a smug grin.
"Well, if you MUST know," she said, not trying to hide the pride in her tone of voice, "Makoto-kun and I have had some very...how do I put it...ENTHRALLING nights here together~"
Mukuro and Kyoko tensed up, even though both of them knew she was messing with them.
"Elaborate," Kyoko didn't request. She demanded.
"I first came here a few months ago when I helped Makoto-kun make dinner for his sisters. After that, I became a regular guest at the Naegi household. Sometimes on my nights off, I'll come here to play with Kotoko-chan. Komaru-chan is super fond of me as well..." Sayaka explained.
She tauntingly half-opened her eyes.
"Oh...and my massages are to die for...He'll tell you that firsthand~"
Mukuro almost choked on her food, and Kyoko's eyebrows raised in horror.
"Excuse you!?" the detective exclaimed.
"I'm not joking," Sayaka assured them, "I let Makoto-kun have a taste of my manager's techniques. It's done him the world of good. Sometimes he even feels like he got a whole night's sleep just from me giving him a rubdown."
"So you mean to tell me that YOU'RE the one doing the household chores of this place?" Kyoko frowned.
"Oh, not all the time. I'm not a maid or anything," Sayaka waved her hand, "but Makoto-kun is dear to me. I've known him since middle school, even if we only became friends in high school. But I've always admired how outgoing he is and how welcoming and affectionate he is towards others. Every single day I see him show care to people, and go out of his way to brighten up our day. I care about him very much, and he makes me a very happy girl."
The other two girls were honestly quite impressed by her genuine display of affection, but Sayaka very quickly went back to being casually smarmy as she wriggled her massage fingers.
"Oh, and between you and me? He's got a pretty firm body, even if it doesn't look like it," she said, "I would know. I've run my fingers all over it~"
"Is that right...?" Kyoko scowled.
"In that case, there is but one thing to do...!" Mukuro suddenly swiped her knife and clenched it tightly in her fist, "I must strip Makoto Naegi of his clothes and see this body for myself...!"
"Don't you dare!" Kyoko spat, "Do you want me to arrest you!?"
"Aw c'mon. Why shouldn't the girl let off a little bit of tension?" Sayaka winked.
"You know damn well why!" Kyoko glared, "Ugh...You two are seriously doing a good job at getting on my nerves..."
"Alright then," Mukuro put her knife back down, "what about you, Kirigiri? You were the one who was personally invited over today. What is your relationship with Makoto Naegi?"
"My relationship? You sound like his sister..." Kyoko sighed, "We're friends, that's all. Although..."
"Although what?" Sayaka asked.
"Well, I suppose we are closer than the average friend. And I can affirm that I trust him more than I do most people," she said, "there aren't many in this world who I trust wholeheartedly. I believe that everyone has something to hide...Except Makoto. For some reason, he seems like one of the few exceptions; a man that I can put all my faith into. So naturally, I've told him many things about me that no one else knows, because I trust him to keep the secret. And he certainly hasn't betrayed that trust yet."
She turned her surprisingly boastful glance towards Sayaka.
"I don't get much time off these days, what with attending class and managing the KDA, but whenever I do get time off, I usually spend it with him. And after everything I've been through recently, it's nice to have a presence like that in my life," she said, "he does what he can to ease the burdens on me, even if he doesn't understand, so it's not out of sorts to say he thinks of me a lot~"
Sayaka puffed out her cheeks and pouted at this last sentence in particular. Mukuro looked back and forth between them, sensing the debate they were having. She looked down at her food again, then back at the two girls, who were now looking back at her as if to say "It's your turn."
"I..." Mukuro spoke quietly, then paused for a second as she thought about what she wanted to say, before claiming, "I have...slept with him?"
"WHAT!?" the detective and the pop star shouted, slamming their hands on the table and jumping to their feet.
"During the trip to Kyoto, we were assigned as partners," Mukuro clarified, "we spent a whole day and a whole night together. It was really fun."
"Oh...Oh you mean you shared a ROOM, not...I mean..." Sayaka relaxed, "did you...sleep in the same bed?"
"I don't think we were allowed to," Mukuro shook her head, and Sayaka and Kyoko collapsed back into their seats, relieved. Only for Mukuro to suddenly add, "Not that I would mind that."
They both shot glares at her.
"Alright then," Kyoko leaned forward, "what do YOU like about Makoto, Ikusaba?"
"That's easy. There aren't many people in this world who show me such genuine kindness. Not many see through the coldness in my eyes and think they know everything about me. Makoto isn't like that. Even with my coldness, he still tried to make me comfortable and speak to me as an equal, and it's thanks to him I've been able to fit in better with everyone else around me," Mukuro explained, her face slowly becoming something warm, "aside from that...well...He's kind...He makes me smile, which is also a very rare occurrence...He's intelligent and reliable...I think he's surprisingly complicated and layered...And...I am not very good at using my words, and I'm fresh out..."
It didn't matter that she was out. She'd said more than enough to convince the other two girls, and they felt as annoyed as they were impressed.
"I didn't think you had this much of a heart on your sleeve..." Sayaka stated.
"My heart is not on my sleeve, it's in my..." Mukuro started tapping her chest before she stopped and looked up in surprise, "ah...That was an idiom..."
"Yep." Sayaka nodded, unable to help herself from smirking.
"So if I'm hearing this right," Kyoko raised an eyebrow, "it sounds to me like you have something of a crush on Makoto..."
Sayaka looked at her in surprise. She was going straight for the goal!
"What! No, I don't want to crush him, I-...Ah...another idiom, right?" Mukuro asked, "Sorry, I'm unfamiliar with that one."
"Oh...Um...ok..." Kyoko became awkward, realizing she'd have to explain it to her now, "So...a "crush" is when you have strong, possibly romantic feelings for...somebody else...and usually it's not expressed outward, and is more...internal thoughts...I...Well...Ugh, Maizono, please help me explain it!"
"What, why-!? Ugh!" Sayaka huffed, "ok, so basically what we're asking is do you think you might be in love with Makoto-kun!?"
"In...love...?" Mukuro parroted.
"Oh come on, you know what love means, surely!" Sayaka pouted, "So like...how do I put this...Well, since Kirigiri already brought it up, have you ever considered maybe being Makoto's girlfriend? Or getting married to him?"
"I think that's a little beyond what "crush" means," Kyoko told her, "but yeah, she's right. Have you?"
Mukuro's expression went blank. Slowly but surely, she replayed their whole conversation word for word in her head, until she calmly rested her hands on the table. But then, once she finally put the pieces together, Mukuro Ikusaba felt two raw emotions that she had never ever felt before in her life.
Embarrassment and panic...!
My Homie - Persona 5
"Huh...? Huh...!? HUH!?" she cried. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes widened in shock. She tried to regain her usual stoic composure, covering her red, freckled face with her hands. If it didn't bother Sayaka and Kyoko so much, they probably would be enjoying seeing this new side of her. After a while, Mukuro removed her hands from her face and silently answered their question, still blushing and feeling completely defeated by what they had said.
"W-W-W-Well..." she stammered, cat scratching at her tongue, "I can't s-say I've ever thought of it, b-but...If it was with M-Makoto then I...I uh...I guess I...wo-wouldn't...mind...that...Ahaha...Oh lord..."
Sayaka and Kyoko were both immediately hit with a wave of awe from just how damn cute she was, but also resentment knowing now that her affection could go beyond that of a friendship. However, while her cheeks remained pink, Mukuro's composure shifted less into embarrassed and more into surprised realization as she glanced between them again.
"Hold on...The fact that you are asking this," she said, "am I to surmise that the same is true for the both of you? You are also trying to crush Makoto Naegi?"
"We're not trying TO crush anything, that's not what it means," Kyoko played with her braid, "and well...no, I wouldn't GO that far. He's a dear friend but beyond that..."
"Ok, so I need to be the one to say it because we're all thinking it," Sayaka pinched the bridge of her nose, "which one of the three of us do you think has the best chance with him? We all seem to care about him a lot."
"Don't be silly!" Kyoko snapped, "That's a purely hypothetical situation. Makoto does not like us that way."
"But what if he DOES? Mmm?" Sayaka leaned towards her.
"Don't worry!" Mukuro jumped to her feet, very excitedly, "I will ask him!"
"NNNOOOO!" Sayaka shrieked, her face turning pale as she practically tackled Mukuro as she started to scurry out of the room, much to the Ultimate Soldier's dismay! Kyoko also leaped to her feet to break them up and get them both to calm down!
Meanwhile, while THAT shit was going on, Makoto Naegi had been pacing back and forth in the other room. The reason he'd been taking so long was because of the text that his father had sent him, and now he was trying to figure out just how to deal with this whole thing.
----------------------------------------------
Dad
Hey buddy.
Sorry that we're running late, but we got caught up in something.
A lady in the next neighborhood over lost her pet Iguana, so your mother decided to help search the streets looking for it.
We think we've got a lead, and we've called some investigators to help, but we're gonna be a while. We might not even make it back until the evening is done.
Sorry we couldn't be there. Have fun with Kyoko, ok?
----------------------------------------------
Makoto felt his heart skip, then immediately sink. This wasn't how it was supposed to go at all!
Seemed that kind of luck, as well as weak will when it came to helping out random strangers ran in the Naegi family. First Komaru with Kotoko-chan on the day they had met, then himself with the 1,000,000 yen incident, and now his parents.
Now he was stuck in his own home by himself with three very close, not to mention very attractive, classmates of his.
Ugh...What kind of thoughts even were those? They were his friends. They were here to eat.
Though he knew that as much as he told himself that, it would never calm the nerves bubbling in his stomach. He hadn't prepared himself to host a party of girls all by himself, and who knew where the conversation may take them? Somewhere he wasn't willing to go right now, that was for sure.
There was only one thing for it. Finish the cakes and find a way to get them all out of the house.
"Sorry about that," Makoto apologized as he walked back around the corner to return to the table, "just had to answer a...text..."
His eyes widened as he saw the display in front of him. All three girls were looking at him in awkward silence, but Kyoko had her arm locked around Mukuro's neck, trying to hold her still while the soldier struggled to break free, and in her other hand, she was holding Sayaka's ankle, who was lying face first on the floor. Sayaka also grabbed Mukuro's leg while Mukuro rested her foot atop Sayaka's back.
"Wh-What's going on!?" Makoto exclaimed, "Are...You guys aren't fighting, are you?"
"No no no no NO!" All three girls quickly stood up straight again, releasing their grip on each other, and shook their heads in united denial.
"We were just..." Mukuro looked off to the side shiftily, "preparing dessert while you got back."
"Yeah!" Sayaka smiled, "I was just getting the cakes out for dessert. We were having a look at them to decide who gets to feed-Uh...Who gets a piece first."
"Ikusaba being here complicates things a little bit..." Kyoko stated "There's three cakes, but four of us. We won't be able to pass them around as effectively." This wasn't meant as an insult or a slight, but Mukuro turned her head and seemed to shoot Kyoko a glare.
Makoto took a second to examine the cakes in front of him. Sitting next to Mukuro was a traditional vanilla sponge cake with pink icing; Sayaka had a rich chocolate fudge cake with a dollop of white chocolate on top, and Kyoko had a strawberry cream cake decorated with edible flowers.
Makoto thought about which one they should share first, but before he could come to a proper decision, Mukuro made her move. In what was an honestly really impressive display of efficiency and precision, she grabbed a fork and slammed it down on the plate with the sponge cake, not scratching the plate on impact, but hitting it hard enough that the dissected piece flung into the air.
And while the piece of the cake was airborne, Mukuro quickly plucked it with her fork and held it towards Makoto.
"Now say "aaaah..."" she smiled, her eyebrow twitching and her face going partially pink at the cheeks.
"H-HUH!?" Makoto went bright red as Sayaka and Kyoko's jaws dropped.
Though not the sound that Mukuro was looking for, Makoto opened his mouth wide enough for her to slot the cake inside. Before she could bypass his lips, however, Sayaka grabbed her arm.
"Hold it, HOLD IT! You're moving a little too fast, aren't you!?" she snapped.
"What are you talking about?" Mukuro asked, "Don't tell me you didn't plan on doing the same thing. Are you jealous that I beat you to it?"
"Th-That's not it!" Sayaka stammered, "It's just that this wasn't what we agreed on!"
"What DID we agree on?" Makoto floundered, not sure what to make of this situation. Sayaka smirked as she began her demonstration.
"Well, we'll try and divide the pieces of the cake up into four so that we all get a bite of each one," she said, proceeding to cut through her chocolate cake with the fork and slide a piece of it into her own mouth, licking her lips, "and THEN we share, like so..."
"But I was first..." Mukuro groaned, seeing Sayaka reach out her fork towards Makoto which now had another piece of cake on it. It felt like all 100 billion neurons were activating in Makoto's brain as this beautiful idol reached out to feed him with cake, which by the way, was on a fork that had just been in her mouth.
"D-Do we really have to do it like this!?" Makoto forced an embarrassed smile, "I mean, there's no reason why I can't just pick up a piece with my own fork!"
"No, Maizono-san is correct," Kyoko asserted with a stone face, "Passing food around like this is the proper gesture. That's how this is supposed to work."
"Don't worry about it!" Sayaka's smile widened, yet her brow furrowed, "say "aaaah!""
Makoto's hands ended up moving on their own, much to Sayaka's disappointment. Instead of reaching over and eating the cake straight off the fork, Makoto plucked it off with his fingers and popped it into his mouth.
All three girls pouted, giving him a look of disappointment. All he could do in response was apologetically shrug back.
"Well, aside from the...circumstances," he said, "that was a pretty good cake! Try it Mukuro!"
Mukuro merely frowned back at him.
"What?" he asked.
"Feed it to me," she demanded, "please."
"Are you for real!? Ugh..." Makoto threw his eyes to heaven, "If I agree to feed you all, will you promise to get off my case!?"
All three girls simultaneously nodded. He sighed and picked up a piece of the chocolate cake he'd just eaten. He told Mukuro to hold fire, since she already had cake on her fork, and instead reached over to give the cake to Kyoko.
Whether it was the notion of being fed by him or the taste of the cake itself, the gesture gave the Detective recollections of joyous occasions, warm winter evenings by the fireplace, and birthday celebrations as a child, not that she'd had many of those. Her heart felt an unrecognizable warmth as the rich chocolate melted in his mouth, leaving behind a symphony of indulgence.
Mukuro eagerly awaited her turn, and Makoto felt that he'd left her hanging long enough, so he fed her some of the strawberry cake. The soldier was briefly taken to a fantastical world where the flavors of sweet strawberries danced like a symphony on her taste buds as soon as the first bite touched her lips. The moist sponge cake melted in her mouth and was the ideal match for the rich cream. Every mouthful felt like a happy rush, enveloping her in coziness and warmth.
Sayaka was last, and Makoto fed her some of the vanilla sponge that Mukuro had tried giving him earlier. As she gently ate it and chewed it, the fluffy, light cake melted in her mouth like a sweet cloud. Rich and fragrant, the vanilla flavor gave her the impression that she was strolling through a field of blooming flowers. Additionally, the pink icing gave the already delicious dessert the ideal whimsical touch. It was like a delicate blanket of sweetness.
Fortunately or unfortunately, it was only after the cake had gone down that the three girls, and Makoto for that matter, realized what he had just been coaxed into doing, and they were all naturally embarrassed upon consideration. Kyoko, Sayaka, and Mukuro all went red as they realized that they MIGHT have gotten a LITTLE too carried away with this particular stunt.
"S-So!" Makoto stood up suddenly, "do any of you girls have any p-plans after we're done with these?"
"N-No, I don't think so..." Sayaka shook her head, "today's one of the few days I actually get a day off..."
"You know I'm not busy..." Kyoko played with her hair.
"I have no immediate plans," Mukuro stated, "Wh-Why do you ask? Were you planning on asking us to play games?"
"Well...Yes, actually!" Makoto chuckled, "But not here. If you don't mind, I'd like to go somewhere with you all."