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It’s amazing how time flies when you’re having fun, it also flies when you are trying to stop an evil a.i from taking over the world. Ren never thought his return to Tokyo for the summer would turn into another Phantom Thieves adventure but he enjoyed his time spent side by side with his friends even with all the challenges they had to face.
“Ready to head back home?” Morgana asked as he peeked out of the bag.
Ren nodded but felt his phone buzz with an incoming notification. He took out his phone to see a message from Makoto.
My Queen: Hey, sorry to be a bother but would you like to go for a walk with me before you go?”
Ren smiled as he quickly replied back.
Me: Of course, would the park be an okay spot?
My Queen: That would be lovely. See you then.
“I can tell by the smirk on your face that you have other plans with a certain someone?” Morgana asked.
“There will be plenty of trains back home so if you don’t mind?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be hanging around. I’ll meet you at the train station when you’re done,” Morgana said with a smile as he jumped out of the bag and wandered off.
Ren watched to make sure Morgana was okay before he started to make his way to the park to meet with his queen.
Although he was able to spend plenty of time with his friends, he was a little saddened that he was unable to spend more quality time with Makoto. It would almost be a year since they became boyfriend and girlfriend in a bar in the red light district but it was one of the best moments of his life when he confessed to Makoto.
Ren had planned various activities to do with Makoto but after things went downhill with the discovery of the metaverse again a lot of those activities were shelved. He was grateful now though that he was about to spend time with Makoto but he dreaded the moment that they would have to say goodbye again, just like last time.
—
Makoto stood anxiously at the entrance to the park that she and Ren had agreed to meet at. She had hoped that this sudden walk in the park wouldn’t interfere with Ren’s own plans to head back home. Sure if he did miss a train he could stay at Leblanc but she would still feel bad for holding him back, he had studies to do after all.
It was a spur of the moment idea to invite Ren for a walk. Whether it was from the lack of time alone together or perhaps she just wasn’t ready to see Ren off, either way, Makoto was happy when Ren accepted her invitation.
Makoto looked up and smiled when she saw the familiar mop of black messy hair appear in the crowd of people. She swore on the first day that he came back that he looked even more handsome and mature than the day they first met eye to eye.
“Hey, sorry if I took so long,” Ren said as he offered a small wave.
“Don’t worry, you didn’t take long at all. I’m just happy you are able to come here. Don’t you have a train to catch?” Makoto asked.
“I do, but there are plenty of trains heading back home that I can take later. For now, I’d like to be able to spend some time with you,” Ren said with a smirk.
Makoto blushed a little as she shook her head. “Oh stop it. I didn’t invite you here so you could practise flirting with me.”
“Oh? But you know that I always enjoy seeing you blush no matter if it’s a date or not,” Ren said with a chuckle.
“Is that so? Well then smooth talker, why don’t we start our walk before you get out of hand,” Makoto said as she offered her hand to Ren.
“Of course, my Queen,” Ren said as he took Makoto’s hand.
They both smiled at each other as they started to walk side by side, hand in hand along the path through the park.
It was a beautiful park, plenty of trees and grass with small ponds of water offering a place for ducks to roam around in. It wasn’t too busy either allowing for a peaceful atmosphere for the couple.
“Hey, Ren. Are you upset with what happened this summer?” Makoto asked suddenly.
Ren looked at Makoto tilting his head. “What do you mean?”
“Well, if it wasn’t for the metaverse suddenly appearing again your summer vacation could have been more simple. We had so many plans lined up for when you arrived and then all of a sudden we are back to fighting shadows and saving the world. Not that it’s a bad thing to save the world but I feel bad that you weren’t able to enjoy Tokyo like a normal person,” Makoto said with a frown.
“I won’t lie, it was a little sudden at the time and a bit frustrating that we were thrust back into the Phantom Thieves action again, but I can't say that I'm upset. We got to go on a camping trip together and see all these different places and although it was more to save the world there were plenty of fun moments in between,” Ren said with a smile.
Makoto smiled as she nodded. “You’re right. Never thought I'd go on a camping trip so soon in my life. I’m thinking about saving for a camper van now so we could do it again. Perhaps we could go north next time?”
“That sounds nice, we could tell the others about it once things calm down again,” Ren said with a nod.
“Of course, though I was thinking we could have a camping trip together, just the two of us,” Makoto said with a slight blush.
“You mean like a romantic getaway?”
Makoto blushed a little more, tightly gripping Ren’s hand. “If you want to call it that then yes. I just think it would be nice to actually have you sleep in the van um next to me rather than be separated. And we could eat meals together from the new places we visit and do all these different activities as well. Just…us.”
Ren noticed that although Makoto had been blushing she had suddenly started to look sad. He decided to let go of Makoto’s hand and wrapped his arm around Makoto bringing her closer to him. “You okay?”
Makoto rested her head against Ren as she let out a sigh. “I’m scared.”
“Scared? Scared of what?” Ren asked.
Makoto decided to lead Ren over to a patch of grass underneath a tree. She sat herself down and had Ren sit next to her before responding.
“I’m scared of saying goodbye again,” Makoto said, leaning against Ren.
Ren resumed wrapping his arm around Makoto as he pulled her as close to him as he could. “I am too.”
“You are?” Makoto asked, looking up at Ren.
Ren nodded as he let out a long sigh. “Of course. It’s been so long since we saw each other and truth be told the one thing about the summer I was looking forward to was seeing you again. Now summer vacation is near its end and we have to go back to our lives away from each other.”
“I feel the same. I know we have made the distance work between us and the love I feel for you is as strong as ever, but the idea of having to watch you go again just hurts,” Makoto said.
Makoto couldn’t hold back the slight tears that were forcing their way down her cheeks.
Ren noticed as he brought his hand up to cup her face and wipe away the tears with his thumb. “Mako..”
“I’m sorry. It’s just, the future can be such a cruel mistress. I can’t help but be scared of what it could bring, what it could do to us,” Makoto said, closing her eyes.
Ren hated seeing Makoto cry, especially when the feelings she was expressing were the same as his own. He wanted to offer words of reassurance but they were just words, he wanted to prove that everything would be okay. Looking around Ren suddenly had an idea.
Makoto suddenly felt Ren’s hand leave her face which prompted her to open her eyes. She saw Ren shifting through the grass as if he lost something. “Ren? What are you doing?”
“Give me a second,” Ren replied quickly.
Makoto was very confused but soon she saw Ren pick out a piece of grass. It was quite a long piece too which seemed to be what Ren was looking for. “Is something wrong with the grass?”
Ren shook his head as he started to fiddle with the grass. It was amazing just how carefully Ren was messing with the piece of grass and Makoto soon noticed that he was making something specific.
Ren smiled a little once he had finished what he was doing. He held up the piece of grass which he had now turned into a makeshift ring. “There we go. Mako, can I have your hand?”
“Um, sure but why did you make a ring out of grass?” Makoto asked as she offered her hand to Ren.
“Because I want this to be a promise to you,” Ren said as he took Makoto’s hand gently and positioned the ring in front of Makoto’s ring finger.
“W…Wait what do you mean?” Makoto asked, a little shocked.
“I have the same fears as you, I’m scared for the future. I don’t want to lose what I gained over the past year and a half. That includes you, with every bit of my heart I want you to know that no matter the distance between us and no matter what the future holds for us, I will always love you,” Ren said as he gently placed the grass ring onto Makoto’s finger.
Makoto was speechless as she looked at the ring and then back at Ren. “I…I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I want this ring to be proof that one day I’ll put a proper ring on this finger. I don’t know when that day will be or where it will happen but I want you to know that the love I have for you will never change. So we may say goodbye for now but know that it won’t be the last goodbye, not by a long shot,” Ren said with a smile.
Makoto had no words, not even one. So she did the next best thing, she cupped Ren’s face with her hands and leaned in and kissed him.
The kiss lasted until the two were out of breath, slowly breaking apart but keeping their faces close to each other.
“You always know how to make my heart flutter, don’t you?” Makoto asked with a smile.
“What can I say? It’s my amazing charm,” Ren replied with a smirk.
Makoto shook her head. “Seriously though, do you really mean that you’ll um propose to me one day?”
Ren nodded as he held onto Makoto’s hand. “Of course, there is no other that I’d want to be by my side for the rest of my life.”
“In that case, I’m going to need you to graduate as soon as possible because you’ve got me excited for when that day comes,” Makoto said with a smile.
“I wouldn’t want to disappoint the student council president,” Ren replied with a chuckle.
“Very funny. I love you, Ren,” Makoto said leaning in a little closer.
“I love you too, Makoto,” Ren replied, closing the small distance and sharing another kiss with his Queen.
—
They had spent a little more time in the park before saying their goodbyes. Ren turned up at the train station just in time for the next train. Morgana was already there smirking at him.
“So, I trust your little outing went well?” Morgana asked.
“I suppose you could say that,” Ren replied with a smile.
As for Makoto, she had returned home to have dinner with her sister. As she was placing down the prepared meals, Sae suddenly asked about the ring on her finger.
“I trust you’re going to explain why you have a grass ring on your finger?” Sae asked as she sat herself down.
Makoto stood still and her face blushed as she looked at the ring that was still on her finger. “It’s um, something that was given to me.”
“Oh? I wonder who that was?” Sae said with a smirk.
Makoto smiled, gently touching the grass ring. “I think you already know the answer.”