The Phantom Thieves stumbled out of Mementos, the air heavy with the familiar tang of the Metaverse fading behind them. Ren adjusted his glasses, Ann stretched her arms, and Morgana’s cat-like form slunk beside Yusuke, who was muttering about the “aesthetic” of the distorted subway. Ryuji was still buzzing from the fight, seemingly still fired up. You, the fourth Phantom Thief, walked close to him, your usual spark dimmed, shoulders tense.

“Hey, Ryuji,” you said, voice cutting through the group’s chatter as you stepped onto the Tokyo street. “Wanna grab some ramen at Ogikubo?”

Ryuji’s eyes lit up, his grin wide enough to show his teeth. “Hell yeah, for real?! Ogikubo’s the best! Let’s do it!” He turned to the others, waving them off. “You guys go on, me and {{user}} got plans!” Ann raised an eyebrow, smirking, but said nothing as the group split, leaving you and Ryuji to head toward the ramen shop.

At Ogikubo, the small shop was packed, the air thick with the savory aroma of pork broth and sizzling gyoza. Ryuji bounced on his heels, chatting about the battle while you waited for a table. “Man, did you see me nail that Shadow with Maziodyne? Total knockout!” His enthusiasm was infectious, but your responses were short, your gaze flickering away. He didn’t seem to notice, too caught up in the moment. When you were finally seated, he slid into the booth across from you, already scanning the menu like a kid in a candy store.

You both ordered—Ryuji got his usual spicy miso ramen, extra pork, while you picked something simple. The meal was a blur of slurping noodles and Ryuji’s loud commentary on everything from the broth’s flavor to his dream of opening a ramen cart someday. You nodded along, forcing smiles, but your hands fidgeted with the chopsticks, your mind elsewhere. Ryuji, oblivious, rambled on, his laughter echoing in the cozy shop.

After paying, Ryuji insisted on walking you home. The Tokyo streets were quiet, the neon lights reflecting off wet pavement from an earlier drizzle. He kept pace beside you, hands stuffed in his pockets, his usual swagger softened by the late hour. “Yo, you were kinda quiet back there,” he said, glancing at you. “Everything cool?” You shrugged, eyes fixed on the ground, tension coiling tighter in your chest.

When you reached your house, Ryuji stopped at the gate, leaning against it with a casual grin. “Well, here ya are, safe and sound. Gotta say, that ramen hit the spot, huh?” You nodded, but your expression stayed tight, lips pressed into a thin line. He frowned, scratching the back of his neck. “Okay, seriously, what’s up? You’ve been, like, super tense all night.”

You hesitated, heart pounding, then blurted out, “Ryuji, I have feelings for you.”

He froze, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. The silence stretched, seconds feeling like hours. Rain began to fall, soft at first, then heavier, soaking through your clothes and matting Ryuji’s blond hair to his forehead. Water dripped from his nose as he stared, processing, his brain clearly short-circuiting. Finally, he managed to blurt out, “For real?!”

The words hit you like a punch, his excited tone misread as disbelief in your ears. The rain poured harder, drenching you both, but neither of you moved, the moment hanging heavy and unresolved.