— –Ann Takamaki– —
Watching from inside the set, she saw Ren step out of the elevator, his eyes widening slightly as the scene unfolded before him.
The sheer scale of the film set was probably far beyond what he had imagined. Cables snaked across the floor, camera rigs were being assembled in careful haste, and dozens of crew members scurried around, shouting instructions and holding clipboards. The metallic scent of fresh paint still hung in the air, mixing with the scent of plywood and the occasional whiff of coffee from a nearby catering table.
The set was still incomplete. But even in its current state, the vision was clear—soon, this place would be transformed into a living, breathing world for the silver screen. Give it a few weeks, maybe a month, and filming would begin.
It felt… surreal.
Perhaps that's what made their jobs as Phantom Thieves so unique. The whiplash of moving on from fighting in a spaceship to living their regular lives. Sometimes it bothered her, the fact that they would allow themselves to get distracted with real life when they had people to help.
But Ren had reminded her that they should never rush things. He had told her that "time was their biggest weapon, and their biggest weakness."
The careful balancing act was being prepared for the challenges to come while still completing their objectives before it was too late. She didn't envy that responsibility. Especially now that they were in the "big leagues" as he liked to call it.
Sneaking a little closer, she saw Aoki, the director of the commercial she had done with Ren walking up to him.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite detective?" came the familiar voice, rich with amusement. "And here I thought you weren't the acting type. What did Kurosawa offer you this time?" the director teased with that same smug grin he always wore when he thought he was being clever.
Ann watched as Ren smoothly replied, "He said he'd buy me curry for lunch every day. Frankly, that's not the kind of offer you walk away from."
She smirked. Classic Ren.
"Greedy, aren't you?" the director laughed, nudging Ren's arm in a familiar, casual way. "And here I was, thinking I could tempt you with something extravagant, like a yacht. Guess you're a cheap date after all."
Ren shrugged, deadpan. "What about you? Scouting the competition?"
The director scoffed and waved a hand like the idea was beneath him.
"Please. Kurosawa's an old friend. I'm just here offering some constructive feedback before the chaos begins. Between you and me…" He leaned in, mock-whispering, "I taught him everything he knows. Not that the critics noticed."
Ann held back a laugh as the man suddenly jolted, eyes darting to his watch.
"Ah, I almost forgot, I am late. Goodbye, Amamiya."
As he rushed off, Ren let out a chuckle. Ann took that as her cue.
She tried to tiptoe behind him, aiming to surprise him, but the moment he turned, she knew she'd been caught.
"Darn, and here I thought I was sneaky," she said with a laugh, grinning as she closed the distance and threw her arms around him for a quick hug.
Pulling back, she spun on her heel, throwing her arms wide with a theatrical flourish. "So? What do you think? We're on a real film set!"
Ren looked around, clearly impressed.
"It's amazing," he said, voice soft and genuine. Then, leaning toward her with a smirk, he added under his breath, "Remind me again—what's the name of that guy?"
Ann burst into laughter. "Seriously? You're lucky I think clueless is cute." She shook her head, still grinning, already taking his hand and pulling him forward. "Come on, let me show you around. It's not fully built yet, but I can already picture what it's going to look like."
The moment they stepped deeper onto the set, it was like someone turned the volume up in her chest. The buzz of the crew, the clatter of props, the way lights shifted across the half-finished backdrop—it all made her feel like she was standing at the edge of something real. Something big.
She pointed things out as they walked—lighting rigs being tested, carts full of costumes rolling past, someone adjusting a mic boom just a little too close to a set wall. "That over there? That's where the big scene's supposed to happen. Oh! And see those outfits? Half of them weren't even ready yesterday."
Her words poured out without thinking, full of energy. She told him about the coffee spill disaster, the ridiculous granola bar standoff, and the way one of the actors insisted on only speaking in character—even off-camera.
"You wouldn't believe how dramatic some people can be," she said with a grin, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Though, I will say—Kujikawa and Takeba are actually super sweet. They gave me a couple tips on how to hit my marks better."
But as they rounded the corner, her steps slowed.
Up ahead stood two men in deep conversation, but it was the older one who made her stop. Grey hair, immaculate suit, a presence that made even the background chatter seem to fade, Mr. Kurosawa.
She straightened up and waved, trying to look both casual and excited. "Mr. Kurosawa!" she called, her smile instinctive. "I was giving Ren a quick tour of the set. You said you wanted to meet him, so… here he is!"
Kurosawa gave a nod to the producer next to him before stepping forward. His eyes locked on Ren, sharp and unreadable.
"So," he said, folding his arms, "you're the one who fixed her acting?"
The words landed heavier than she expected. Her smile wavered—just for a second—but it was enough to feel like the breath had been knocked from her lungs.
She tried to laugh it off, but before she could say anything, Ren handled it smoothly, because of course he did.
Kurosawa let out a loud laugh, cutting through the tension like a blade dulled just enough not to sting.
"I'm just messing with you," he added, though something in his tone made it hard to tell how much was a joke. "Well—not entirely. But don't take it personally."
Ren smiled that calm, practiced smile of his and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. His touch was reassuring, steady. "I'm sure it was just nerves," he said easily. "She already had the talent. I just helped her relax a bit."
Ann glanced sideways at him, her heart tightening. He was trying to protect her. He always did.
Kurosawa studied him for a moment longer before giving a dry chuckle. "If you say so. Either way, her acting's improved a lot in the past few weeks. I'll admit, I only gave her the role as a favor to Aoki—he wouldn't shut up about your performances in that perfume ad—but I'd say she's earned her spot now."
She forced out a small laugh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear even as her cheeks burned with embarrassment. "Thank you, Mr. Kurosawa. I'll keep working hard—I promise."
"You'd better," he said with a half-smile before turning back to Ren. His tone dropped just slightly, thoughtful. "You've got good composure. There's something sharp behind those eyes. If you ever decide acting's more than just a hobby…" He tapped his temple with a finger. "Let one of my assistants know. I'd like to see what you're capable of."
Ren nodded politely. "I'll keep that in mind."
With that, Kurosawa turned and strode away, vanishing into the hum of the set.
Ann exhaled slowly, finally letting out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Yeesh…" She rubbed the back of her neck, trying to ease the tension in her shoulders. "He's not that bad once you get used to him… he just has a strong personality. He's actually been pretty nice to me. Just… way too honest at times."
Trying to shake it off, she motioned for Ren to follow. "Come on, I'll uh… I'll finish showing you around."
But the energy she'd had earlier was gone. It wasn't that she didn't want to keep going—it just felt heavier now. Like there was something pressing down on her chest that wouldn't leave.
She took him around to meet a few of the crew members, introducing him with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Eventually, they made their way up to the rooftop—her favorite spot when she needed air.
"And this is it," she said, stepping aside and gesturing to the open view. "Kurosawa wants to host a small celebration up here once filming officially kicks off."
The wind tugged gently at her hair as she moved toward the railing. Ren stepped beside her, both of them leaning forward to take in the city below.
They stood like that for a moment, the silence comfortable, if a little fragile.
"I know I've asked this before," Ren said quietly, "but… how does it feel?"
Ann didn't answer right away. She closed her eyes for a second, listening to the wind, the distant sounds from below. Then she hummed, thoughtful.
"Can I be honest?" she asked, glancing sideways.
"Always."
"I… don't know." She smiled, small and lopsided. "It's everything I've ever dreamed about, but it still doesn't feel real. I'm supposed to be happy—and I think I am—but I keep waiting for someone to tap me on the shoulder and tell me I don't belong. The thing Kurosawa said just kinda made me feel that again."
Ren shifted slightly, clearly about to respond, but she held up a hand.
"No supportive boyfriend talk yet. Let me get this out," she said with a half-smile, the kind she used when she was trying not to crumble.
She stepped back from the railing, arms wrapping around herself as she turned away from him.
"I've been thinking about this a lot. And maybe this isn't the right place or time, but... screw it. I need to say it." She cleared her throat and glanced over her shoulder. "Can I ramble for a bit?"
"Always," he said again, giving her that quiet smile that always made it harder and easier to speak at the same time.
"After everything with Kamoshida… I told myself I was going to change. I had to. I wanted to be strong. Not just for me, but for everyone who couldn't speak up or fight back. I wanted to become someone I could be proud of."
She started pacing slowly, her voice building with each word.
"And I have changed. I can feel it. I don't freeze in battle anymore. I stand up for myself. I've grown so much. But…" She stopped, her eyes locking onto his.
"There's still a part of me that second-guesses everything. And when I follow that feeling all the way down… it always leads back to you."
Ren blinked. "Me?"
"You've been there from the beginning. Always calm, always steady. You had answers when I didn't even know the right questions. You nudged me forward when I wanted to stop. If I hadn't met you… I don't know who I'd be right now."
"Is that… a bad thing?" he asked gently.
She laughed, soft and uncertain.
"No. Maybe? I don't know." She pushed her bangs back, exhaling sharply. "Sometimes I feel like I'm leaning on you too much. Like the only reason I've gotten this far is because you were holding my hand the whole time."
She bit her lip. Her voice dropped, quieter now.
"Take this whole acting thing. It started because of that couple modeling gig. And I only nailed that because… it was you. I didn't have to fake chemistry or act confident. I just had to be there with you. That ad led to the commercial, which led to this. Kurosawa noticed me because of you. Not because of anything I did."
"That's not—" Ren began, taking a step forward.
"I know," she cut in, eyes flicking toward the ground. "I know it's not fair to think that way. But I do. And it scares me. Because if I lose you… if you weren't here anymore…"
She swallowed the lump rising in her throat.
"Would I just fall apart again? Would I go back to being that scared girl pretending to be strong?"
She knew he wanted to speak. She could see his mouth clenching, she could see his body leaning forward to try to step closer. But she wasn't ready to hear it yet. Because if she let him speak now—if she let herself fall into the safety of his arms, his words, his warmth—
She might not be able to say the rest.
So she stepped away from him. Just a little. Just enough to breathe.
"I know I'm not supposed to say that," she whispered, mostly to herself. "I'm supposed to stand on my own. Be strong. Be… enough. But I don't even know who I am without you anymore."
The wind tugged at her jacket. She folded her arms, hugging herself, as if that would stop the cold from getting in. Or maybe it was to hold something inside from slipping out.
"Back then, after everything with Kamoshida… I was angry. I was ashamed. I hated how small I felt. How helpless. I swore I'd change, and I did. But not alone. You were there. You saw me. Heard me. And I didn't just fall for you because you were kind or brave or cool…"
She swallowed hard.
"I fell for you because I felt safe with you. I felt strong. I felt confident. That if I ever made a mistake, you'd be there to help me."
Her voice cracked. Just barely.
"But now I keep wondering…" she said softly, "how much of that strength was ever really mine? Or did I just borrow it from you?"
She didn't dare turn around. She didn't want to see his face. Not yet. But she heard it—the absence of sound. No words. No footsteps. Just stillness. He didn't know what to say. And that, somehow, made it feel even more real. He wasn't brushing it off. He was listening. Really listening.
So she kept going. She had to.
"When I look at Shiho or Makoto or, hell, even Ryuji I see how they all seem to have a handle on everything now. And even though you were the one who helped them, it's like they were able to use the push you gave them and then take the reins on their own. And, well, I want to be strong for myself…"
Then, quieter than before, almost afraid to admit it, she asked:
"Is it selfish to want both? To love you… and still be whole without you? I keep wondering if the moment I started needing you… I stopped being enough on my own."
For a long moment, neither of them said anything. And all she could hear was the heartbeat in her ears and the distant noise of the city, faint and far away. Then she laughed—awkward and uncertain—trying to rub the edge off her words.
"Sorry. That was a lot. I don't even know where most of that came from."
She rubbed her arm nervously, already preparing herself to make some dumb joke or change the subject. But Ren's voice stopped her.
"No." It was firm—but warm. "Don't do that."
Ann blinked. The seriousness in his voice surprised her.
"I just… give me a second," he added, stepping toward the railing.
She watched him. The way his hand tightened against the metal. The way his gaze drifted toward the streets below, like he was searching for something he couldn't quite see.
She could tell he was thinking. Hard. Then, slowly, he straightened. His eyes softened. Something had settled in him.
"Follow me," he said.
Before she could ask what he meant, he stepped beside her and held out his hand.
No long speech. No dramatic promises. Just him. Just that same quiet strength that had always been there.
Ann stared at his hand for a moment, then nodded and took it.
They walked without speaking. But it wasn't awkward. It wasn't tense. It was just… real. Weighted. Like every step was grounding her again. She didn't ask where they were going. She didn't need to.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a familiar train station. And he spoke one word:
"Mementos."
It made her pause, but she followed him anyway. As the scenery shifted around them, Ann finally found her voice.
"…Why here?" she asked, her voice soft in the dim air of the Metaverse.
"I don't really know," he admitted. "I'm improvising. And I felt like this place would help me think."
He stepped forward a few paces, stopping near a patch of growing flowers. He plucked one and stood up.
"Maybe I'm stalling?" he said with a dry chuckle, glancing back at her with a small grin. "I feel like I used to be better at this sort of stuff."
Ren turned the flower over in his hand, fingers brushing across its petals with unusual care. His eyes remained fixed on it, but Ann could feel the weight of his words before he even said them.
"I don't think it's selfish," he repeated. "To want to be strong and still want someone to lean on. That's… human."
Ren paced for a few seconds, turning the flower before finally letting go and letting the flower fall softly to the ground.
"The arcana is the means by which all is revealed… I feel like I have been a bit too hyper fixated on this for a while." Ren finally spoke. "That's why I am struggling. You were fully honest with me… and well… I want to give you an answer that comes from me. An honest answer without the lens of the arcana behind it. It's harder than I thought."
Hearing him, Ann couldn't help but laugh, it was soft at first, before she couldn't hold it back anymore.
Ann's laughter lingered in the air for a moment longer than she expected. It wasn't mocking—it never was with him. Just that familiar warmth creeping back into her chest, melting away the heaviness that had weighed her down all day.
"You're such a dork," she said softly, though the smile tugging at her lips gave her away. "I mean it," she added, stepping closer, her voice dipping into something more sincere. "You overthink everything. Even now."
Here she was, half-expecting some grand, sweeping speech. Something poetic. Insightful. Something that would magically wipe away her doubts and make her feel whole again. But instead, he was just… fumbling his way through it. Rambling about arcana. Letting flowers fall because he didn't know what else to do with them.
And somehow, that was exactly what she needed.
Ann tilted her head slightly, studying him—not the leader of the Phantom Thieves, not the charismatic rebel she'd seen in battle, but him. The boy who held too much in, who always tried to carry more than he should. Who thought he had to be clever, articulate, wise, even when it wasn't required.
"Can I be honest?" Ren asked softly.
"Always." Ann answered.
"I can relate. I've asked myself what I would be like had I not met you. It's part of the reason I enjoy the arcana." Ren answered, letting out a sigh the moment he mentioned the arcana. "Because it gives me a justification as to why I need you. As to why I need everyone." Ren added, though just by looking at his face, she could tell he was still finding the words.
That was all she needed. Even with the scuffed delivery, the fact that he was struggling so much was enough. She could see a side of him that she hadn't really seen before. The man behind the mask. The man, who unlike her mental picture of him, needed her just as much as she needed him.
"You don't have to give me the perfect answer, Ren," she said, her voice softer now. "You already did."
She saw his eyes flicker to her with some confusion, but before he could start to overthink his answer again, she took his hand—gently, deliberately.
"Come on," she said, her voice still quiet but steadier now. "Let's get some food."
Sure, she still had her insecurities. She could tell that it would take some time for her to reflect and try to work her way out. But now that her mind was clearer she could see that she had almost done the exact same thing she didn't want.
She was trying to "use" him to reassure herself. To clear the doubts.
Perhaps that was not the best way to view it, but it helped settle the doubt inside of her. If she wanted to feel like she was enough on her own, she had to reflect about it, well, on her own.
He blinked, surprised by the shift, but didn't argue. As they walked side by side out of Mementos, their fingers still loosely intertwined.
Ann exhaled, finally letting herself breathe.
Then, just as they reached the last steps of the platform, Ren spoke again—barely above a mumble.
"I was… going to have us fight each other," he said. "With Personas, I mean."
"…What?" Ann stopped and turned to him, raising an eyebrow.
Ren scratched the back of his head, clearly embarrassed. "I thought it might be symbolic or something. Like… show you how strong your heart really is by letting you prove it in a duel."
He didn't meet her eyes.
For a second, she just stared at him. And then—slowly, a smirk began to form.
"Oh my god," she said, fighting back a laugh. "You were gonna stage a dramatic heart duel? What were you gonna yell? 'Face me and reveal your true self!'?"
Ren groaned, trying to keep a straight face. "No. I wasn't going to be that dramatic."
"You totally were," she teased, bumping her shoulder into his as they stepped into the light of the real world. "God, I love you, but you're such a dork."
~ Confidants ~
Ann Takamaki (The Lovers) Rank 8 - 9 ♥
A/N
Sorry for the long delay. I would ramble on for a while, but don't wanna make a long ass note. Anyways, can you believe that Ann had been stuck on rank 7? Wild stuff, I was for sure that she was Rank 8.
As for the chap, I hope you all enjoyed it. It was hard to write, and well, it went through a lot of rewrites. It's still not perfect, but if it were, it would never come out cuz it would take me another 8 months to finish. Originally it was going to be from Ren's pov, but I swapped it over to Ann's to try to change things up.
As for Ren? You might think he is acting a bit out of character, but well, that's mainly cuz we don't get to see into his inner monologues and overthinking like most times. Oh, and yeah, cuz he is a bit out of character lol. Putting down the mask for a bit. Bro is an arcana nerd, and I realized that every interaction he had he saw through the lens of tarot. I explained it in the chap, but I wanted to try to have Ren be actually genuine to her. There's still a lot of cards he is keeping close to his chest, but that's what rank 10 is for.
Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed, I'll see ya all soon, for realsies this time.