69 The Lovers in the Night Sky.

After their final class of the day, Ann bounded over to Ren, her eyes lit with excitement, displaying her phone screen with contagious enthusiasm.

[Manager] Ann, you're going to be thrilled! Remember that audition you were so nervous about? Well, they were impressed with your performance in the commercial and have decided to offer you a role in the upcoming project.

[Manager] Now, remember that this is a relatively minor role as a side character. But keep in mind that that's how most big actors start.

[Manager] It's a supporting role, but remember, even the most renowned actors started with a small role. So, just think of this as your first step into becoming a household name.

[Manager] The film's success could very well pave the way for more significant opportunities for you. They're also interested in having your friend, the one from the commercial, join the film as an extra. The director found your on-screen chemistry captivating and is keen on exploring that dynamic further in future projects, though that's a conversation for another day.

[Manager] Of course, his participation isn't a dealbreaker since you've already secured your role. It's early days yet, but things are looking up for your career!

Catching the infectious thrill of the message, Ann's eyes shimmered with victory and eager anticipation.

"I landed the role!" she burst out, her voice a blend of astonishment and elation, pulling Ren into a celebratory embrace.

Embracing her back, Ren responded.

"That's fantastic! I had no doubt you'd make it."

As they stepped back from the hug, Ann continued.

"And they want you there too! How about it?" her voice tinged with excitement.

Chuckling slightly, Ren replied.

"Acting is not really my dream job, but I'm willing to try it for one or two things. I'll admit, the commercial was kind of fun." Then, as if remembering something important, he paused with a thoughtful look.

Concern flickered across Ann's face. 

"What's up?"

"Guess I should start working on my autograph, huh?" Ren said with a playful grin.

Ann's laughter rang out as she playfully nudged him.

"Only if I'm the first to get one," she teased. "But seriously, this could be a fun adventure for us. Being on a movie set together? It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing!"

"How about we head to that park where we shot the commercial? It's usually quiet around this time," Ren suggested with a spark of nostalgia in his voice.

Ann's expression brightened instantly at the suggestion. 

"That sounds perfect! It's been ages since we've had a chance to relax and play our 'heart-strengthening' game there. Plus, I've got so much to tell you. You won't believe what's been happening behind the scenes…"

As they made their way to the park, Ann launched into the tale of a fellow model, Mika, who had been climbing the ranks with astonishing speed. According to the rumors, Mika had a hand in the sudden unavailability of several models, manipulating schedules to her advantage. Leaving her fellow models confused and arriving at the gigs hours late.

Mika's tactics ensured there were always openings for her to step in, which inadvertently opened doors for Ann and Ren for their initial restaurant shoot and the subsequent perfume commercial. Without Mika's interference, those opportunities might have never come their way.

"Oddly enough, I'm somewhat grateful to Mika," Ann mused with a reflective smile as they strolled toward their destination. "Heh, maybe in another life, Mika and I would be modeling rivals. But well, here we are…"

"So, what happened to her after all that?" Ren asked with some curiosity.

Ann's smile became wry as she heard the question.

"Here's where it gets interesting, or troubling, depending on whose side you are on. She hasn't faced any real consequences. Instead, her actions caught the eye of some top-tier managers. After a heartfelt apology, she's now being considered for even better modeling gigs.."

Their conversation flowed effortlessly into the evening, nostalgia enveloping them as they reminisced about their first time playing their people-watching game.

As they arrived, the park unfolded before them in calm beauty, the setting sun cloaking everything in a gentle, golden light.

Ann reached out her hand to Ren, a blush coloring her cheeks as she reminded him. 

"This is part of our game, remember?"

Ren chuckled, taking her hand with a playful wink. 

"Was it, though? Or was I just looking for an excuse to hold your hand?" he teased, his joke deepening the blush on Ann's cheeks as he gently squeezed her hand.

In truth, what began as a simple gesture to bolster her confidence had evolved into something more meaningful for him. Seizing the opportunity, he couldn't resist teasing her about it, though a twinge of guilt soon washed over him. 

Reluctantly, he released her hand, turning to her with a serious expression.

"Hey, Ann... There's something I need to tell you. I recently went out with Shiho. It wasn't really an official date, and we technically aren't in a relationship yet, but it's important, you know. I don't want to hurt Shiho…" He began, trying to find the right words.

Ann's expression sobered at his words, nodding slightly.

"I did hear about it…" she began, her mind drifting to conversations with her closest friend. A soft blush returned as she added, "And... thank you for being considerate of Shiho. But actually... How do I put this…. She was the one who was supposed to bring the idea up to you…"

"Hm?" Ren raised an eyebrow with slight confusion at the increasingly flustered Ann.

"So… erm… Shiho called me before the date, right? And well, she was going on and on about the Ancient Greeks and… well, she was actually talking about Circe, but well, Circe is-" Ann's rambling was cut short as she lightly slapped her cheeks, trying to gather her thoughts.

"Do you like me, Ren?" She asked directly with a look of resolve.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ren affirmed.

"I do. I like you a lot. That's why-"

A smile broke through Ann's anxious facade upon hearing his answer. However, she quickly gathered herself to continue the conversation.

"Do you like Shiho?" she probed further.

"I do, which is why-" Ren began, only to be interrupted once again.

"Great, then there's no issue," Ann interjected, her cheeks flaming. "Shiho and I have already talked about this. So, there's nothing for you to worry about…"

Ren had been trying to find a good place to talk, but as he looked at Ann's expression, his mind rapidly aligned the dots for him. The moment Ren pieced together what she was trying to say, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

He was laughing harder than he could ever remember doing recently, which only deepened Ann's blush as she saw the random passersby turn to look in their direction with curiosity.

He had noticed both their feelings towards him and his feelings towards them, partially thanks to Sojiro's help. Ren had been navigating this delicate balance with care, keen not to wound either Ann or Shiho. This careful dance was partly why he had refrained from advancing his relationship with Shiho after their date.

Observing Ann and Shiho's unusual behavior post-date, both staying close to him, Ren had hesitated to jump to conclusions or misinterpret their actions, fearing he might disrupt the harmony between them. As his mind finally pieced together all of the pieces of the puzzle, he couldn't help but laugh even harder.

As the laughter subsided, Ren turned to Ann, his expression softening into an apology..

"I'm sorry…" he managed, his voice still laced with residual chuckles."The Ancient Greeks, eh?" Ren joked, prompting a momentary blank stare from Ann before she, too, succumbed to laughter.

"Is that what set you off? And here I was, worried you were laughing at me." Ann said, a playful note in her voice as she momentarily paused her laughter.

"I know, right? It caught me off guard, too!" she said between laughs. "You wouldn't believe the things Shiho was saying that night. I swear, I haven't been able to look at Circe the same since." 

Their laughter gradually faded, leaving a warm atmosphere as Ren extended his hand once again.

"I guess since that's out of the way…" Ren said with the final traces of laughter. "Would you join me for a game?"

As Ann's fingers intertwined with his, the gesture carried a new weight, a subtle shift in their dynamic. 

There had been an almost invisible wall between the two of them since the beginning, a paper-thin wall that stopped either of them from fully committing one way or the other. But after their short conversation, it was as if that wall had vanished.

Walking through the park, the two of them casually played their people-watching game, discussing the possible futures and histories of those around them. It was surprising just how much one could learn from observing a person.

Ren's golden eyes glimmered as he looked around them, using his third eye skill as an advantage to weave even more intricate tales of the people around them.

Unbeknownst to them, a solitary, ethereal butterfly traced its path through the air behind them. Its wings beat in a whimsical rhythm, a silent witness to their burgeoning connection. As the evening deepened into night, the delicate creature drifted away, vanishing into the darkness of the night.

Along with their game the two of them had spent the past few hours talking about random things they were interested about. Such as modeling, Mementos, art, cooking, dancing, gardening, sweets, and organization.

Night descended upon the park, bringing them near the very spot where they had filmed their commercial. Unlike the day of the shoot, illuminated by a brilliant moon, tonight the sky was draped in darkness, the new moon hidden from view. Yet, the ambient lights of the park cast a warm glow around them, bathing the area in a soft, inviting light.

Seizing the moment, Ren, with a glint of playfulness in his eye, offered his hand.

"It seems like we never finished that scene, did we? How about a redo?" he proposed, his voice tinged with the mock determination of a seasoned performer.

Ann couldn't help but chuckle at his theatricality, her eyes rolling affectionately before she slipped effortlessly into character.

"Detective, you'll never catch me." she declared, her voice a blend of challenge and warmth as she took his hand.

"I think I already have." Ren countered smoothly, taking a step closer, their playful banter setting the stage for what felt like a natural continuation of their interrupted scene.

As if drawn by an unspoken cue, Ann's arms found their way around Ren's shoulders, pulling him into an embrace that mirrored their previous interaction yet felt distinctly more profound. This time, without the barrier of perfume, Ren was greeted by the subtle, natural fragrance of Ann herself, a scent that was unexpectedly captivating.

The closeness quickened his pulse, a sensation Ren found both thrilling and a little overwhelming. Lifting his gaze to meet hers, he was met with Ann's eyes, shining with a mixture of emotions, underscored by a soft blush coloring her cheeks.

In that hushed world of dim park lights and the gentle chirping of birds and insects, time seemed to slow, wrapping Ren and Ann in a cocoon of their own making. The air between them charged with anticipation, their breaths mingling, drawing them into an orbit destined to cross.

Ren's golden eyes searched Ann's ocean-blue eyes with a silent question lingering within them. Her response, a gentle nod, was all the affirmation he needed. The space between them diminished with each heartbeat, their faces inching closer, guided by a magnetic pull neither wished to resist.

The kiss, when it came, was a soft collision of worlds. It was tentative at first, as if they were both savoring the novelty of the moment, exploring the new terrain. But soon, it deepened, fueled by the pent-up emotions and the silent confessions of their hearts. Ann's fingers curled into Ren's hair, anchoring herself to the reality of the moment, while Ren's hands found their way to her waist, pulling her closer, afraid she might slip away.

The park around them faded into a blur, their entire attention narrowing down to the space they occupied.

Beneath them, unnoticed in the power of their connection, the shadow at Ren's feet stirred as if awakened by the surge of emotions. Tartuffe, manifesting from the depths of Ren's soul, opened its eyes. Its form, a void of blackness save for the stark white of its gaze, fixed intently on the night sky above.

As The Lover's embrace deepened, Tartuffe's inky limb reached upwards, straining towards the sky with a movement filled with effort, as if each attempt threatened to return it to the dormancy within Ren's soul. Yet, driven by a moment of sheer will, Tartuffe's grasp closed around a star barely visible thanks to the shining lights of Tokyo.

The moment Tartuffe closed its hand, a small golden light appeared in Tartuffe's otherwise pitch-black body.

Having completed its purpose, Tartuffe's form receded into the darkness, vanishing as silently as it had appeared, leaving behind no trace of its brief awakening. 

~Confidants~

Ren Amamiya/???????? (The Jester) 4

Ann Takamaki (The Lovers) 6 ♥

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(Not gonna lie. Originally I wanted their romance to start at rank 7, not rank 6, but funny number go brrrrrrr, ya know? Also, as always, only appropriate for the Lovers to get the first real kiss.

Ideally, I only really want to start romances at rank 8-9, but sometimes you gotta go with the flow.)