#shumako week day 3

[cookkoo]

Happy New Year! 🥳🎉

Wishing you another great year with great health and most important of all no back pain nor any office syndrome symptoms 😤🔥

Have happy shumako to brighten your year ❤️💙

[jackattack20writes]

FanFic Recommendations for Feedback Fest 2024

Since the 15th of Feb is apparently fanworks day I’m doing an early list of Fic recs to celebrate in no particular order from various fandoms that’ve taken root in my mind at some point or another.

Fatumonagatari By ScyllaAlter

Fandom: Fate/Stay Night | Rating: T+ | Ship: A mix of everyone in Fate/Stay Night but with an emphasis on Shirou/Saber

Shirou Emiya becomes the center of several conflicts, each surrounding a different girl.

(This is an entire Monogatari au)

Forever and Ever By DreamyMarry

Fandom: Bleach | Rating: T+ | Ship: IchiRuki

Rukia talks to the most important women in her life, makes plans and gets herself a fianceé. Ichigo just wouldn't argue it was quite in that order.

In Vino Cogitatio Bona By Strypgia

Fandom: Neon Genesis Evangelion | Rating: T+ | Ship: AsuShin

December 4th, 2015. Everyone is at NERV HQ trying to get the Third Child out of Unit-01. No one cares Asuka is alone and feeling miserable on her birthday. So she decides it's time Misato's forest of bottles does her a favor. After all, Misato thinks liquor is the solution to everything, right? Asuka's turn. And of course, this leads to Good Ideas...

Trains That Lead Me Back To You By Skylin3

Fandom: Persona 5 | Rating: General | Ship: ShuMako

Makoto simply has too much to deal with right now. She just wants to go back and focus on what really matters to her; her education. Maybe someone will be there to cheer her up.

Makoto Niijima Week Day 6 - Train

Gradually By Croeses

Fandom: Persona 3 | Rating: T+ | Ship: ShuYuka

Makoto, Yukari and moments throughout the year.

A Battle Of Love and Piracy By SonnieCelanna

Fandom: My Hero Academia | Rating: T+ | Ship: IzuMomo

Izuku and Momo have been friends for years despite their wildly different stations, and their favourite game to play together was always "Pirates and Solidiers.", in fact Izuku would claim Momo was obessed with pirates. So what will she do when he gets kidnapped by them in an attack on their village?

Seeing Red By SpellCleaver

Fandom: Star Wars | Rating: General | Ship: LuMara

Luke and Mara visit Vader on Mustafar to break the news of their engagement.

The Future We Build Together By Tren

Fandom: Fate/Stay Night | Rating: General | Ship: Sunny Days Trio (Saber/Shirou/Rin)

Rin did not expect her day to be interrupted by the need to help her boyfriend (not-exactly-legal mage) and her girlfriend (Actual King Arthur), but some things can't be helped.

Especially, when you love them very much.

Crossroads of Fate By PumpkinTeacup

Fandom: Bleach & Doctor Who | Rating: T+ | Ship: IchiRuki

It was Ichigo’s birthday, and Rukia was not going to visit.

But fate was a funny thing. While some events were fixed into the flow of reality as if carved into stone, others only needed a slight nudge into place for destiny to unfold as it should. Even in the form of a simple meal with her time-traveling friend.

For Ichiruki Month 2020, AU week, Day 20: Romeo and Juliet

Flash Fire Photography By AriadneKurosaki

Fandom: Bleach | Rating: T+ | Ship IchiRuki

The annual Eighth District Firefighter Calendar is always a big hit, raising millions of yen for charity and causing more than a few fires of the metaphorical kind. When her boss gets sick at the last minute, photographer Kuchiki Rukia steps in to make sure the project stays on schedule. It's just a photo shoot, and she's a professional. It can't be that hard to take pictures of a bunch of firefighters for a good cause, even if they're posing shirtless.

She didn't really count on one particular firefighter being hotter than the fires he's supposed to put out...

[eiko82]

This post contains end game spoilers for Persona 5 Royal.

 1.  My favourites are: Makoto's awakening, when the Phantom Thieves go to the beach, the traitor reveal and when they celebrate Christmas together.

My least favourite moments are: The fallout/fight between Morgana and the gang in Sept and when the girls hit Ryuji after Shido's Palace. 

2. Favourites are Makoto, Haru and Yusuke.

 Least favourite is Morgana. I can't really say that he is my least favourite. It's more a case of "he is the one that I'm the least interested in". 

3. Not in particular, no.

 4. No. 

5.   Ann. I headcanon her as bi for loving Shiho and Ryuji. 

6.    Yes, I did. I think that she added some interesting point of views. All the other PTs are unpopular and/or outcasts shunned by most people. Sumire is the opposite: through the game, it's shown that she was a popular girl, loved by teachers and fellow students ...... until she failed to live up to their expectations. It showed that even the most popular people can suffer if they don't  live to others' expectations.

 Throughout the game, you would regularly see people being very pro or anti Phantom  Thieves. I liked that she wasn't either. She dared to question if solely relying on the PTs was wise and if people shouldn't solve their own problems. Regardless on whether you agree with her or not, I liked that she offered a different point of view.

 When she first awakened to her Persona in Oct, she had no interest in joining the PTs instead preferring to focus on her passion of gymnastics.

 I think it  was nice to have a character who didn't really seem *that* interested in the Phantom Thieves.

Having said, I'm not a big fan of her story in the third semester. For lack of a better word, I think her behaviour comes across as a bit fickle. She spent MONTHS living  as her sister. When she discovers the truth, she begs Maruki to let her continue living  her life as Kasumi. She spends a whole week at his Palace and after she gets rescued from Maruki on the 8th of Jan, she changes her opinion in exactly 2 days. It felt too sudden.

I think it would've been more interesting if Sumire remained loyal to Maruki to show that not everyone is strong enough to deal with their pain/trauma. 

7.   Favourites are : Shumako (Ren x Makoto), ShuKita (Ren  x Yusuke) , YusuHaru (Yusuke x Haru), MakoHaru, (Makoto x Haru),   AnnShiho (Ann x Shiho), Ryuji x Sumire and RyuAnn (Ryuji x Ann).

 Least favourites are any Ren x adult ships. 

8.  Best: Joker/Ren

Worst: Ann. Those pink washer gloves are a crime against fashion. 

9.   Yes, Haru deserved more screen time. I'm happy that Royal added some more screen time like Haru getting asked to take care of the flowers and Haru talking to Mishima during the parc cleanup. But she deserved more. 

10. Favourites are Makoto (love the fake dating trope), Sojiro, Yusuke and Haru.

 Least Favourite are Iwai and Yoshida. I just don't really care for their stories.    

11. Best: Tae

Worst: Iwai  

12. Overall, I prefer Royal. I think that it added a lot of cool new things, both story-wise and gaming-wise.

 However, ending-wise, nothing can beat the good Vanilla ending where everyone drives Ren home. It really showed how close everyone was. It was a wonderful feel-good ending.

 With Royal, that part has more of a "well, nice knowing you" vibe and I don't like that. They all went through so much. They're close friends. They deserved better than that brief goodbye. 

13. Absolutely yes! He is a real joker (pun intended). 

14. I think that the third semester story should've happened later in the year. One of the things that I really liked about the vanilla good ending was that you see all your friends and confidants rally together to free Ren in the 6-7 weeks between Christmas and the 13th of Feb.

In Royal, after the third semester events, the same thing happens in 9-10 days. I'm not saying that it's completely realistic to get someone out of jail in 6 weeks time but it's a LOT more believable than seeing the same thing happen in 9 days. Kinda broke my suspension of disbelief. 

15. I don't have any.  

16. Ren Amamiya. 

17. Best: Kamoshida and Madarame.  I love Kamoshida's because his Palace is the most fucked up IMO. He doesn't dehumanize his victims. He knows exactly what they look like and he doesn't care how much he hurts them.

I really like Madarame's for being really gaudy with all that gold. Worst: Shido's. Fuck those mouse puzzles!! 

18. Best: Sae

Worst: Mementos. 

19. I don't think so but I can see why others see differently. 

20. The sky is blue, grass is green and Ann is gay for Shiho.

She is definitely gay for Shiho. 

21. I think that he was an awesome addition to P5. He is one of the most fascinating antagonists IMO. I feel somewhat conflicted about fighting him because he does  have good intentions unlike the other P5 antagonists but brainwashing  people is not okay. 

22. Ngl it always breaks my heart  to wake up everyone from their perfect realities, especially Futaba and Haru. They look SO HAPPY with their (dead) parent in their perfect reality. But yes, I do think that Joker was right to wake them up, no matter how heartbreaking it is. 

23. Akechi grew up feeling unloved and unwanted. Before the events at Christmas, I think that  his perfect reality would've been to be surrounded by people who truly loved and supported him.

 After Christmas, I honestly don't know. 

24. Ren once joked to Maruki that his cat had a crush on Ann and probably wished that he was human so he had a chance with her. 

25. Yes and no. I feel like most of the PTs take a massive step back after their arc finishes.

Reply to this post your answers to any of the following:

Favorite and least favorite moment/scene/line from the game

Favorite and least favorite character from the game

If you think Xander Mobus gave Joker a hot voice or not

If you ever paused the screen just to listen to said voice (🙋🏾‍♀️🙋🏾‍♀️🙋🏾‍♀️)

Who you think is the gayest member of the Phantom Thieves

If you enjoyed Sumire’s inclusion or not

Favorite and least favorite ship(s) in the fandom

Who you think has the best and worst Phantom Thief outfit

If you think Haru had too little screen time and if she deserved more

Favorite and least favorite Social link

Best and worst Confidant (outside of the PTs, Akechi, and Sumire)

If you prefer Royal or Vanilla

If you think Joker was given a personality or not

Most useless scene/aspect of the game

Worst and best line

Which canon name you prefer for Joker

Best and worst Palace

Best and worst Palace theme

If Joker and Akechi’s interactions feel gay or nah

If you think Ann is gay for Shiho

Opinion on Maruki’s character (if his inclusion was done well or not, his status as a antagonist, etc)

Whether Joker was right to break his friends free of their perfect realities

What you think Akechi’s perfect reality would look like (unless he’s too jaded to have anything of the sort)

How the hell Maruki knew Morgana wanted to be human (this one’s mainly a joke lol but feel free to answer anyway)

If you feel like Ann’s character significantly changed after the first two arcs (I still love her, but I feel like she became dumber).

[spyder-m]

Shumako Week 2020, Day Three: Stay With Me

@shumakoweek​ Day Three:  Arsene&Johanna / Metaverse.

AO3 / FF.net

Summary: Between recent backlash against the Phantom Thieves, the discovery of her sister's Palace, Akechi's plot to capture Ren and their plans to thwart it; there was a lot weighing on Makoto's mind. A seemingly routine trip to Mementos uncovers just how much of a toll it was taking. 

.

There had been a lot weighing on Makoto’s mind over the last few weeks.

It had started with the discovery of Sae’s palace.

Makoto had suspected something may have been amiss from the way sis had been behaving lately, growing increasingly tense; blinded by her drive to excel and lashing out at those who stood in her way.

She had wanted to brush it off as a product of the pressure her workload was putting her sister through. Though, after what she had seen, what she had learnt of the Metaverse, she could no longer delude herself.

The woman who raised her following their father’s death; the only family she had left; was a shadow of her former self, distorted beyond recognition.

Not long after, they had learnt of Akechi’s plot to have Ren arrested, to lead him into the underground interrogation room and ultimately...

She and the rest of the Phantom Thieves had carefully plotted a countermeasure. Yet, for every variable, every potential outcome they had considered, Makoto couldn’t help but worry that there was something they had overlooked.

That, despite their best efforts, Ren would be led to his death.

It wasn't unlikely, given everything that they had to keep their minds on. Their usual deadline, the recent backlash against the Phantom Thieves, the other Metaverse user, Akechi's scheme... It was overwhelming.

There were more issues than they could keep track of, let alone devote adequate attention to resolving. Even divided up amongst all eight of the Phantom Thieves.

With time, the pressure was smothering Makoto. Yet she shrouded it beneath a brave face. As the group's advisor, they relied on her for guidance. She couldn't let them know that she was worried. That would only shake the group's morale further. The doubt would spread.

Makoto was thankful for the trip they had taken into Mementos, even if it was only a routine stop to clear out weaker shadows.

Joker had suggested they take the time to work with Akechi. In the hopes they would meld together more effectively as a unit in the palace, up against deadlier opponents.

Though, in truth, she suspected it was for her benefit. That he had noticed her distress.

Normally, such a detour would see Makoto chastising the rest of the team for not using their time wisely; particularly when planning to a face target of such pressing urgency.

Though, at this point, anything to drive her focus away from Sae's palace was welcome. As must as she wanted to save her sister, the reality of her distorted heart was, at times, too much for Makoto endure.

It was certainly much easier to alleviate the tension she felt, when she was throttling shadows with practiced ease.

Not since awakening Johanna for the first time, had Makoto expended so much energy fighting in the Metaverse. Sweat beaded from her pores as she landed the killing blow on the last of their enemies. She closed her eyes, concentrating on each depleting droplet; as if it were every last ounce of stress seeping away from her body.

Makoto hadn't been relying on her Persona much throughout their fights, but instead focusing on close combat. With all that was plaguing her mind, she wasn't sure she could handle the mental exertion of using Johanna, and kept her fists raised.

She had always favoured a more aggressive fighting style in the Metaverse, an inverse of the obedient honour student image tied to her outside. Yet, today her movements were particularly wild and erratic, fuelled more by adrenaline than technique.

She wasn’t taking the time to analyse enemies or exploiting their weakness as might normally be expected. She stepped forward without a second thought. At times, even seeking out battles with enemies that could have been avoided.

It was oddly careless of her, a habit they couldn’t afford to fall into the Casino. If it wasn’t for the sheer strength advantage they possessed over their opponents, any mistake she made could have been fatal.

It hadn't gone unnoticed by Joker, who quickly pulled her from the party, calling on Noir to replace her.

Once Makoto had stepped back, with nothing else to do, nothing left but her thoughts, she began analysing their enemies, offering her teammates advice to capitalise on as normal.

The task was menial, a momentary distraction for her. She could take comfort in what was familiar, pretending that there weren't larger, more terrifying problems outside of what she was focused on.

They made even the depths of Mementos seem much smaller.

When the group dispersed for the evening, a chattering Futaba and Morgana making their way towards the Yongen-Jaya line, Ren lingered behind, watching her closely.

Tension cramped Makoto’s muscles, overtly conscious of his line of sight weighing upon her. She wanted nothing more than to slip away without a word, but his concern was too palpable to believably ignore.

“Ren? Is something the matter?”

Shouldering his bag, Ren's head nodded towards the train station, motioning for her to follow.

"Come on."

.

There was something about the attic in Leblanc that could always set Makoto’s mind at ease.

From the onset, she had been welcomed into the cafe eagerly. Never shielded away by low, whispered voices, or sharp glares.

There was a quaint familiarity about the room. Something liberating in the scattered, empty chairs and cluttered desk; knowing it was here that they, the Phantom Thieves, had gathered to take down some of the city's most powerful criminals.

It was a fitting stage. Somewhere neglected and shut out. Judged on a cursory glance, without any care taken to recognise closely what was held within.

It was there that Makoto had finally felt in touch with herself. As though she finally had the power to exert control in her life. Not someone looked down upon or coerced in to doing favours.

It was soft curls of hair, the spices lingering in his breath. It was textbooks and study notes piled up amongst infiltration tools. It was shy stolen kisses on a worn couch, warm caresses and softly whispered words.

The same couch where they had learnt so much of one another, was where he sat now; arms open and beckoning her forward.

Suddenly conscious of how tired she felt, Makoto accepted the offer. She nestled in beside Ren, fitting comfortably into the plains of his chest. Exhaling lowly, his hand shifted to sift through her hair. Lazy, drugging caresses.

The temptation pulled at her, to simply snuggle up and forget the rest of the world; to let time to fade into nothing.

But, she couldn't.

Makoto knew that Ren was leading her on gently. That at any moment he would find the words to lay out everything she was trying to bury. This was just a means of lowering her defences.

In anticipation she spoke first.

“You don’t need to worry about me.” Makoto broke after a moment, her head shifting from its cushion against his body. “There are much more important matters at hand-”

The words faltered on her lips as Ren rose his hand.

“Makoto.” Ren instructed firmly. “Look at me.”

Makoto glanced down, tentatively. Unnerved by the prospect of meeting Ren’s gaze. It was disarming how easily he could read her, as though the mask she covered herself with was useless.

The Third Eye.

Ren was well-versed in discerning between what was real and what was not. It was an ability that had been an integral part in toppling many of the palaces they'd ventured before.

In such close proximity, avoiding his gaze was difficult. It was a deliberate, conscious effort, one that would only reveal she had something to hide.

Regardless of her action, she was trapped.

It would be foolish of her to think that she could deceive the leader of the Phantom Thieves.

That feeling of defeat and helplessness was becoming painfully familiar to Makoto as she eventually relented, eyes lifting to catch his own. Though, the soft pools awaiting her reflected sincerity and compassion, her momentary dread abating.

“It's important to me.” Ren insisted. "With what we're about to do, I need to know that you're in your right mind. You're our advisor, after all."

Makoto's glance trailed downward again, sagging further under the burden she shouldered. His hand lingered there, squeezing gently, the pressure seeming to alleviate the load.

“I know Queen. She’s proud, and strong, and always sure of herself. She’s not someone who is easily shaken." Ren's own gaze lifted, bashfully, as he spoke so fondly of her. The love and admiration he felt apparent.

"You can't lose your way like that in Mementos and pretend carry on as if everything is fine.”

Makoto's head dipped, a reluctant nod.

No matter the hardships facing them in the real world, how scared they may have felt, they rarely affected them with the same intensity into the Metaverse. If anything, they; along with their Persona, determination and will to rebel; imbued them with the courage and strength to fight.

For the power they lacked, they possessed infallible strength of heart.

For her to carry doubts into the Metaverse, it would be a detriment not only to herself, but the entire team. Joker had recognised as such and pulled her out of the fight. He had stayed behind, wanting to take the time to check on her.

“If something's troubling you, you shouldn't keep it from the rest of us. I know things are stressful right now, but you need to stop burdening yourself."

Ren's fingers collected each side of her face, gently coaxing her towards him. Bangs over their foreheads tangling; their eyes a deep, earnest link.  

"We're all in this together.” He reassured softly, breath mingling with hers. “We’ve done everything we can. We’re going to save Niijima-san.”

"That's... That's not all I'm worried about though.” She answered, voice similarly lowering “What about you?"

"About me?" Ren blinked; blank expression etched across his face. Makoto sighed. For all the care and selflessness he extended towards the others, he rarely considered his own well-being.  

"You heard what Akechi said. What if we haven't prepared enough?"

“Makoto... I'm sure it will all work out. I trust you. All of you. I am comfortable putting my life in your hands. You’ve never led me astray before."

"You're not going to get rid of me that easily." He smirked. "Who'd lead the Phantom Thieves without me? Morgana?"

Laughter peeled from her throat, imaging the boost to proud thief’s ego such power would bring; relishing in the opportunity to order Ryuji around.

The feeling was pleasant, carefree.

"Ren?" Makoto whispered, after a moment, her head dipping back beneath his shoulder. "Can I stay here? Just a little bit longer? Sis won't be coming home again tonight, and I..."

Even when her voice had already been faint, Makoto trailed off, afraid to put words to the fear eating at her insides.

In that place, she would be alone. Trapped, steadily engulfed by thoughts of her sister, slaving away on a case that was slowly plaguing her heart.

“Of course." Ren answered, cupping the back of her head. "Stay as long as you want.”

[shumakoweek]

Written for Shumako Week 2019 Day 3 Theme: Distance

Finals are coming up fast, it's the end of Ren Amamiya's high school career and he's made a study date with his long-distance girlfriend in order to prepare, but something else is going on with the young man too...

[blixalookscarsick]

@shumakoweek​

Also on Ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13477322/3/ShuMako-Week-2020

The Phantom Thieves knew that outside conditions affected the Metaverse, whether it was a storm or a heat wave. Flu season also had a particular effect, one that tilted battle in their advantage. However, there was a second unexpected effect - one that forced Joker and Queen to rescue the rest of the team on their own.

Image source: https://twitter.com/AH_Mechromancer/status/1171125252237086721?s=09

[hakuramen]

Shumako Week, Day 3- Protect/Heal

@shumakoweek

[ao3feed-p5-boyslove]

by Lia404

ShuAke Week Day 3 : Meeting

So what if it was hard for him to get back into the dating game? So what if it had been a year since she left him and his friends were growing tired of his claims that he was alright alone in his attic with his cat? Was all of this really necessary?

In which Akira sighs a lot, mopes too much, is a beautiful bi disaster--and who even talk about their exes when they meet someone new, seriously?

aka the speed-dating no power AU no one, no one at all, needed.

Words: 7953, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of ShuAke Week 2019

Fandoms: Persona 5

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M

Characters: Kurusu Akira, Takamaki Ann, Sakura Futaba, Sakura Sojiro, Sakamoto Ryuji, Mishima Yuuki, Kawakami Sadayo, Togo Hifumi

Relationships: Akechi Goro/Kurusu Akira, Akechi Goro/Persona 5 Protagonist, Akechi Goro/Amamiya Ren

Additional Tags: background Ann/Shiho - Freeform, past Shumako, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Aged-Up Character(s), background MakoHaru, Speed-dating, Futaba is a gremlin, akira is a bi disaster, charm stats have NOT been maxed

[omniswords]

1. (n.) : a permission granted by competent authority to engage in a business or occupation or in an activity otherwise unlawful

2. (n.) permission to act; freedom of action

In which Makoto finishes up her first trimester of college, takes a trip north, and meets Akira's parents. Again.

Written for ShuMako Week Day 3 - Distance!

Preview:

Makoto got her motorcycle license within the first trimester of university, and all things considered, she probably has Johanna to thank for that. Which she supposes isn’t so different from thanking herself, but semantics hardly matter when you’ve got an engine to gun and proof of your own power in your wallet. Or when it’s the second day of your summer vacation, and you’ve got a couple hundred kilometers to kill before sunset.

To be fair, it’s not the amount of time that bothers her, or the distance. They decided it months ago: if they could handle a month and a half apart in the same city, they could handle a few months at a time in different prefecture, and even then, perhaps it would only be for a year. And she revels as much as she likes in the speed and the wind and, childishly, how cool she must look in a cropped leather jacket and skintight jeans and a scarf flowing behind her. How intimidating and aloof she must seem now, hardly who she was in high school. How she catches the eyes of boys and girls alike when she dismounts and tucks her helmet under her arm, tugs off her gloves with her teeth. It’s kind of flattering. (Maybe that’s why Ryuji called her Miss Post-Apocalyptic Rider so long ago, long before they had even encountered the end of the world.)

It’s not even the awkward conversation she had with Sae before she left. She’d spent so much time worrying about how to word things, whether it would be best to speak ahead of time over the phone, or in person right as vacation began, only for Sae to sit her down at dinner and tell her, “If you’re responsible enough to own and operate a motorcycle, you’re responsible enough to spend a few nights with a boy.” Even if Sae did raise her eyebrow and add, “And with his parents around.”

That’s the problem. Sort of.

Akira’s parents.

[madmanjrs]

“Ten Metres”

ShuMako Week: Day 3

Prompt: Distance

Ten metres was a good distance. She just never thought how often it would come up when it came to him.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13180129/1/Ten-Metres

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17438519

[spyder-m]

Shumako Week, Day Three: In Absentia

@shumakoweek​ Day Three: Distance

AO3

Summary: “Every moment they had shared together, every bond they had forged was gone; yet his memories of her remained intact. The world was holding her at a distance from him, daring him to reach out and cross the threshold.” New game+, Makoto (re)awakening her Persona.

.

She was shadowing him again.

Morgana had spotted her from his bag one day. Trailing closely behind as they made their way out of Shibuya station. 

Ren had already known, of course. After all, it was around June, right after they'd changed Madarame's heart.

Just like before.

The first time, Ren had been surprised.

With his Third Eye growing stronger after every use, and their time spent crawling through palaces overrun by Shadows, Ren had noticed her easily.

Not that the prim student council president was particularly well hidden, with her face buried behind a thick manga volume.

He'd have thought someone of her apparent intelligence could come up with a subtler way of tailing them.

His lips pulled into a smile, a familiar, flutter of warmth rising in his chest.

Having grown closer to her over the course of a year, he'd come to learn that it was a glimpse into a side of Makoto not many people knew. Makoto who was endearing and, despite her studies, in many ways, quite unfamiliar with the world.

It was the side of her he had come to fall for. 

He wondered if there was a part of her that had, to some degree, enjoyed the prospect of staking out the Phantom Thieves. As if it was something out of Like a Dragon, or one of those detective novels she loved so much.

Though, the memory brought Ren pain, almost as much as it did happiness; serving as a reminder of what he'd lost the first time around.

Every moment they had shared together, every bond they had forged was gone; yet his memories of her remained intact.

The world was holding her at a distance from him, daring him to reach out and cross the threshold. It took every ounce of restraint within Ren to not approach her.

Things needed to play out as they had before.

His heart was aching to hold her like he had that night Crossroads, or on the couch in his room. To tease her and watch her face break into its adorable pout. To be her study partner.

But, they didn't know each other like that. Not yet.

He had only spoken to her briefly in the library, watching her carefully across from the study desks. Pretending as thought he'd been staring into space if his gaze lingered too long and their eyes met.  

He could faintly sense the voice inside. The strangled calls of her true self, desperate to find its way out. The potential had always existed inside her, to fight against the injustices hidden in plain sight. But she was still too afraid, too weighed down by feelings of helplessness, too pressured stay the course set out before her.

Having already experienced it once before, Ren truly understood the depths of her struggle. Feeling much more patient and tolerant of her presence than Ann or Ryuji.

.

The transfer student was definitely suspicious. That much Makoto was certain of. 

There had always been rumours of abuse surrounding Kamoshida. The physical condition of his volleyball team, his altercation with Sakamoto. But because of the reputation he afforded the school, people kept quiet.

It wasn't until Amamiya-kun turned up and was threatened with expulsion that something changed. Even Makoto, who had held suspicions, had been powerless to do anything.

Despite his quiet disposition, he stood out.

He spent most of his time with Sakamoto and Takamaki, two of Kamoshida's victims. With Takamaki also being close to Suzui; the second-year who had tried to take her own life under the anguish of the volleyball coach’s abuse.

The motive was there.

Makoto had no doubt that those three were the Phantom Thieves.

But for now, all the evidence she had was circumstantial. She needed something solid if she wanted to secure her letter of recommendation from Principal Kobayakowa.

Sakamoto was pretty loud. Perhaps if she set her phone to record, she could catch them in the act. But she would need to be careful.

The transfer student seemed much craftier than he left on.

"Niijima-senpai? Is there something I can help you with?"

Makoto's stomach lurched, startled by the sudden, instrusive voice. She stumbled, almost losing her footing and the grip on her manga.

"A-Amamiya-kun. My, what a coincidence."

He watched her with a wry smirk, dark, messy bangs casting shadows over his eyeline. Makoto flushed, the intensity of his gaze penetrating through her, her words holding little weight. Had he known she was there the entire time?

He extended his hand, offering to help right her.

"Are you alright? You should be more careful."

"O- Oh. I simply lost track of where I was going. I was just enjoying this manga too much."

Cocking his head, Amamiya reached out, clasping the book by its spine and gently prying it from her hands. Makoto, though taken back, didn't resist, her grip easily loosening. Strangely, for all her suspicion, all the gossip surrounding him, Makoto felt as though she could trust him.

With a chuckle, he turned the manga right-side up before returning it back to her grasp.

"I'll bet you were."

Their fingers brushed momentarily, the sensation jolting through Makoto's entire body. It seemed to pull at something deep within her. The spark of a memory. Faint whispers of those same fingers, catching in her hair, and caressing her cheek.

His voice broke through her reverie, rooting her back to the present.

"I'll see you soon, Makoto." He uttered.

Makoto swallowed as he turned to leave; a flurry of thoughts overwhelming her.

She had been so engrossed in tailing Amamiya that she hadn't noticed that she had been holding the manga volume had been upside down. The mistake had completely given her away.

Somehow though, despite catching her, Amamiya hadn’t seemed upset. It was strange. The rumours had painted him as short-tempered, likely to lash out at anyone who so much as looked at him the wrong way.

Yet, his expression, his entire demeanour seemed... light-hearted and playful. There was an intimate, teasing nature to his actions, one that surprised her.

Perhaps the most baffling was the way that he had addressed her, his senior, in such a familiar, informal manner. It was disrespectful, improper. Yet, somehow it stirred fondness rather than anger within her.

Makoto’s cheeks darkened, embarrassment seeping into her skin. She normally prided herself on being collected and mature, an example for her peers and kohai. How was it he managed to fluster her so easily?

The sensation, oddly, wasn't entirely alien. It held a familiarity, a longing from deep inside her

Perhaps what stood most of all, was the way her name carried so naturally from his lips; as if he'd said it a thousand times before.

There was a look in his eyes of genuine adoration as he spoke, an expression she’d almost lost of sense of. It was one that existed in the deepest recesses of her memory, only to have faded with them. She could see it in the warmth of her father, of an earlier, almost ethereal vision of her sister; long lost. It had been so long since she could remember such affection being directed at her.

The gesture felt undeserved, as if misplaced. In a sense, it was. Intended not for her, but the things she would do, the person she would become.

With an exhale, Makoto dusted herself off, slipping the book into her bag.

Her fingers were still tingling from where he his hand had touched them.

.

In an instant, it all came flooding back.

The sensation that had started as trickle was now flowing freely through Makoto, as the voice spoke clearly to her.

Power. The means with which to finally rise against the injustice that lorded over her.

It returned to her.  

The engine roared into life as Makoto cut through shadows with a cloud of Frei. Her persona shifted easily beneath her, as she turned and weaved with precision.

Noticing she had brought the others enough time to regroup, Makoto turned back to join them. Skidding to a halt right beside Joker, she slid perfectly into formation.

As the flames engulfing her simmered out and she raised her fists, Makoto found Joker through her periphery and felt her breath hitch.

The stark white of his mask accentuated the wonder, the utter adoration coating his intense, grey orbs. Ren could hardly contain the relief, the joy that flooded through him as Makoto awoke, finally finding herself again.

The same eyes that had been such an enigma to her, Makoto recognised. The expression she couldn't quite place and had filled her with doubt, now felt honest, genuine, as though reaching to her very core.

Slowly, gradually, the pieces fell back into place.

Overwhelmed, Makoto could feel her own throat tightening, and eyes beginning to bead. 

For a moment, amidst the turmoil that surrounded them, they stepped towards one another, determined to cross the threshold that persisted for so long.

It was exhilarating, freeing. To have finally severed the chains that held her in place.

To have finally returned to her true self.  

[shumakoweek]

Collection of submissions for Day 3 of #shumakoweek: Distance This includes both submissions as tweets and submissions from other sources that we then tweeted.

[shumakoweek]

ShuMako Week will run from March 8-14, 2021!

A big thank you to everyone who submitted their suggestions. Happy planning, we can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Prompt List

Day 1: Doubt&Trust / Dancing  Day 2: Teasing/ Parenthood / Team Mom&Dad Day 3: Arguments and Making Up / King & Queen Day 4: Free Day Day 5: Wounds&Trauma / Matching Day 6: Taking Care of Each Other / Travel&Vacation Day 7: Separation&Reunion / Missing You 

See our schedule&rules page for more info. Or check out our carrd!

You can also find us on twitter, where we’re more active: https://twitter.com/shumakoweek

[shumakoweek]

Sorry we’ve been neglecting our tumblr as of late, but Shumako Week is still on for 2020 (January 13 - 19)! Here is the list of prompts: Day 1: Study Partners / Confessions 
Day 2: Sleepover / Dreaming 
Day 3: Arsene&Johanna / Metaverse
Day 4: Free Day 
Day 5: Coffee / Dinner Date / Cooking 
Day 6: Movies / Games / Video Games 
Day 7: Wedding / Proposal You can also find us on twitter, where we’re more active: https://twitter.com/shumakoweek

[hakuramen]

Shumako Week Day 3- Distance

@shumakoweek

Twitter

[shumakoweek]

ShuMako Week 2019 - All Twitter Moment Links

Day 1: First / Milestones

Day 2: Leaders / Power Couple

Day 3: Distance

Day 4: Protect / Heal

Day 5: Nerves / Jealousy

Day 6: Date Night / Double Date

Day 7: Future / Family / Children

We will continue to add to these as submissions arrive. Thanks to all the participating creators for making #shumakoweek a joy and to the community for supporting their work!