91 The Rehearsal at Leblanc.

The Thieves were on hold until Takemi recovered, so they dispatched Morgana to keep tabs on Yusuke and Madarame, ready to alert them the moment Madarame moved to take the painting. 

With this unexpected break, Ann decided to use the time to refine her acting skills and headed to Leblanc for guidance from Ren.

As Ann paced back and forth in the quiet room atop Leblanc, she muttered lines under her breath, each word tinged with frustration. 

"It's just not clicking, Ren," she sighed, her voice tinged with distress as she flung her script onto a nearby table. "I don't get why it's so much harder without you there. When we're together, everything flows naturally. But alone, I just can't make it work, and I've got a table reading coming up. I can't mess that up…"

Ren, who had been observing quietly while sipping his coffee, set down his cup and walked over to her with a thoughtful expression. 

"Let's try a different approach," he suggested, picking up the script. "Acting isn't just about delivering lines. It's about feeling them, embodying the character. Let's break it down together."

He cleared a space in the middle of the room, moving chairs aside to make room for their session. 

"Start with your breathing. It helps settle your mind and prepares you to get into character."

Ann followed his instructions, taking deep, controlled breaths. Ren watched her for a moment, then continued.

"Now, focus on your character's motivations and emotions. What does she want? What obstacles does she face?"

As Ann pondered his questions, Ren introduced her to a method acting technique, aiming to build her character from the inside out.

"Imagine you are her. You share her desires, her fears. Let those emotions reflect in your body language, your voice." He chuckled lightly, adding a familiar line, "Remember, I am thou, thou art I."

Taking his advice to heart, Ann tried again, this time embodying the character's emotions more fully. Ren observed and offered gentle corrections, adjusting her posture, suggesting changes in tone, and encouraging her to explore different ways of delivering her lines.

"Try to connect with the character's story. Use your movements to express what she's feeling," Ren instructed as he demonstrated a few examples, showing how subtle changes could convey deep emotional undercurrents.

Ann mimicked his movements, gradually feeling more connected to the character. She repeated her lines, this time with a newfound intensity and conviction. Ren nodded approvingly, clearly pleased with her progress.

"See? You're getting it," Ren said, his smile broadening as he watched Ann perform a theatrical bow, mimicking his earlier gesture in the Palace.

The rehearsal continued with Ren guiding Ann through various exercises aimed at deepening her understanding and portrayal of her character. Gradually, Ann's confidence surged; she began to embody the role with a conviction that transcended mere recitation.

By the time they concluded, Ann's transformation was evident. She wasn't just delivering lines; she was living through them. Ren's smile conveyed his pride in her progress.

"You've really caught on fast," he complimented, prompting a joyful giggle from her.

"I have a good teacher," Ann replied, her tone warm

After wrapping up their session, they settled on the couch. Ann rested her head in Ren's lap, gazing up at him thoughtfully.

"You're actually pretty good at this, too. I remember how you handled things with Kaneshiro, but I didn't realize how challenging it was until I started working on this role. How did you learn to act so convincingly?" Ann inquired, her curiosity piqued as Ren began to idly play with her hair.

Ren paused, his hand freezing momentarily before he sighed softly and continued.

"It started when I was a kid. Remember how I mentioned being a bit of a troublemaker?" he asked, a hint of nostalgia coloring his voice.

"Yeah?" Ann prompted, relaxing under the gentle strokes of his hand through her hair.

"Well, back then, we didn't have much. Sometimes, if I really wanted something, I'd take it. Nothing too big, but it was enough to cause trouble. So whenever I was questioned, I learned to act innocent. After enough close calls, you get pretty good at it," Ren explained.

He fell silent for a moment, reflecting, then added.

"Then I got into the whole criminal thing, and I had to keep it a secret from my family. Blah, blah, blah, and the next thing I knew, I was pretty good at it. It was...a lot to handle. Acting became second nature. Honestly, it's thrilling, but it's also draining."

Ann sat up, locking eyes with Ren, her expression one of deep appreciation.

"Hey, Ren… thanks," she said sincerely.

"For what?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.

"For opening up. I know you don't usually talk much about your life before coming to Tokyo, so it means a lot that you shared that with me. And hey, if you ever need to talk, I'm here."

Ren's smile softened as he heard her. He opened his mouth to add something but ended up chuckling instead.

"Sounds good."

As Ren responded, Ann smiled warmly and moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into a kiss.

Time seemed to pause as they connected, the world beyond Leblanc's cozy walls fading into an inconsequential background hum.

Ren reciprocated by wrapping his arms around Ann, pulling her even closer, as if trying to eliminate any space between them. Ann, enveloped in the warmth of his embrace, deepened the kiss, her heart racing with a cocktail of excitement and nerves.

When they finally parted, they remained close, foreheads touching, breathing in unison in the quiet of the cafe. Ann's eyes shimmered with joy and a newfound sense of security. When they separated, Ren opened his eyes and noticed the crimson string that connected them glowing more intensely than ever.

"You know… I often wonder how different I might have turned out if I hadn't met everyone," Ren pondered aloud, prompting a light chuckle from Ann.

"Why's that?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"When I first came to Tokyo, I wasn't really open to making friends. I had my objectives, and that was my sole focus. But that all changed after I woke up in the Velvet Room, the day I let Kamoshida attack me." Ren explained, his thoughts drifting back to that pivotal moment.

"Igor talked about the power of friendship, although I don't remember his exact words," Ren confessed. "But the gist was that by forging stronger bonds with others, I would become stronger myself, given that personas are the 'strength of heart.'"

"So you're telling me the power of friendship is real, then?" Ann joked, her giggle filling the air.

"That's exactly what I said!" Ren exclaimed, bursting into laughter. The moment was light and filled with genuine amusement. After the laughter subsided, he continued.

"Ever since then, I've focused on strengthening those bonds. It's strange, but I can see them, like strings connecting me to others. As our bond grows, the string strengthens."

As he spoke, Ren reached out, as if trying to touch the invisible string of fate that linked them. Initially imperceptible, it had grown tangible to him now, something he could almost feel between his fingers.

Ann watched him with heightened curiosity, her expression reflecting her interest as he reached into the air, his golden eyes glowing brightly.

"Can you tell me more about it?" she asked, settling back to give him her full attention, eager to learn more about his experiences.

Ren smiled, encouraged by her eagerness. 

"It's a long story, but do you remember what I told you back when we first went to the park?"

Ann closed her eyes, trying to recall a past conversation. 

"It was something about a fool's something, right? I remember you mentioned The Lovers and said they would somehow help me," she said, piecing together fragments of memory.

Ren nodded, his expression brightening as he remembered the detail.

"The Fool's Journey…"

He quickly moved to his work desk, retrieving a deck of tarot cards—a gift from Chihaya. Sitting down next to Ann, he began to explain the concept as straightforwardly as he could. 

"Each bond I form corresponds to one of the Major Arcana. For instance, you embody The Lovers, Ryuji is The Chariot, Shiho is The Tower, and Mona is The Magician," Ren detailed, laying out cards to illustrate his point.

Ann's expression flickered with confusion before a moment of realization dawned on her. 

"Wait, Shiho's The Tower? Isn't that the story you shared with her during that art class? That's where that came from?"

Ren nodded, smiling at her realization. He continued to explain, weaving through the complexities of tarot with enthusiasm. Though Ann didn't grasp every detail, her smile and nods encouraged him to delve deeper. Her interest in tarot might have been nonexistent before, but seeing Ren's passion sparked a warm smile on her face.

Midway through his explanation, Ren paused as he sensed Tartuffe stir within him, recalling how even his Persona had once called out to him.

"It's strange because even my Persona chimed in to advise me with the Arcana. I couldn't catch everything through the static, but I think he said, 'The arcana is the means by which all is revealed.'"

As time flowed seamlessly into the evening, Ann interjected with questions, keeping the conversation lively until Ren had run out of things to say. Ann chuckled warmly as she stood and stretched.

"Sorry, I kind of got carried away," Ren apologized, rising to join her.

"No, I enjoyed it. It was great seeing your nerdy side; it's actually pretty cute," Ann responded with an affectionate smile.

Ren's smile lingered as his eyes glanced at the clock, and he looked surprised.

"Wow, it's gotten late. Are you hungry? I could whip something up for us." he offered.

"Sure, that sounds great," Ann replied, following Ren down the stairs. "I can help you out, just tell me how…"

— — —

Hours later, late into the night, as Ren was lost deep in his dreams, Tartuffe experienced a rare moment of wakefulness. The barrier between the cognitive world and reality often muffled their connection, yet occasionally, it would thin just enough to allow for a brief interaction.

In the quiet of the night, the shadowy form of Tartuffe materialized, his presence barely perceptible. His gaze drifted towards the window, drawn to the expansive night sky that stretched beyond the glass.

With a deliberate motion, Tartuffe extended his inky black hand toward the sky. His fingers, shrouded in darkness, reached out and delicately grasped one of the dim stars twinkling in the distance. As he made contact, a subtle, small light began to seep into his otherwise pitch-black form, imbuing him with a faint, almost imperceptible light.

With his action finished, Tartuffe's eyes began to close once again, vanishing from the real world and falling into a deep dream along with Ren.

~Confidants~

Ren Amamiya/???????? (The Jester) Rank 5

Ann Takamaki (The Lovers) Rank 7 ♥

(Hopefully, the chap doesn't seem out of place in the middle of the Madarame arc, but I wanted to have another Ann chap since it has been a while. Like I said, I am trying to get certain confidants to certain ranks by the end of this arc. I also have another reason, but I'll explain at the end of the next chapter. 

Little appetizer for the next chapter. "The Emperor"

Also, asking for no reason whatsoever. Who do ya'll ship Ryuji with? I personally think a certain Shogi player. But depending on what ya'll suggest that might change.)