The Model.

(Suprise extra chapter! If you all promise to behave, I'll post another one when I wake up. It's already written, and it just needs to be edited. Here's your little appetizer for the next chapter. I don't have the name ready yet, but it'll be something along the lines of "The bank" or "The Leader of the gang. Enjoy.)

— — —

Ann had approached Ren to go out with him again, but just as the two were about to head to the park, she got an emergency call from her agency.

"Hmm.." She thought for a moment before asking. "Do you want to come over? We could hang out after the shoot." Ann said, earning a nod from Ren.

Their destination turned out to be a bustling fancy restaurant, temporarily transformed into a chaotic photoshoot set. As soon as they arrived, a frantic, well-dressed man spotted Ann.

"There you are! I swear, this industry is going mad. All of the models keep either canceling or not showing up at all. If I didn't know better, I would say this is a conspiracy." He barely paused for breath before ushering Ann to get ready at the makeup and dress station.

The man paced around anxiously for a few minutes before letting out an exasperated sigh and calling over Ren.

"You! You came here with the model, right?" he demanded, his tone laced with urgency. Without waiting for a full response, he snatched Ren's glasses and scrutinized his face, evaluating him.

Ren felt a massive wave of annoyance pass over him as he looked at the man, yet before he could open his mouth to say anything, the man spoke up again.

"You'll do. Hurry up and get dressed," he ordered, glancing anxiously at the clock.

"I'm not a model." Ren retorted, his annoyance palpable.

"I don't care. We only have 30 more minutes with this set before we get kicked out, and I need photos. If I don't have my male model then the whole shoot has to get canceled. You have 5 minutes to get ready. I'll pay you generously for your trouble." the man replied, signaling for the crew to usher Ren to the makeover station.

Whisked to a makeup station beside Ann, Ren was suddenly part of the whirlwind. Ann's eyes lit up with surprise and delight at his unexpected recruitment.

"Woah! Did you get recruited?" she inquired, her excitement barely contained.

"You owe me one," Ren replied, giving Ann a playful yet annoyed side glance as the makeup artists began their work.

Hearing this, Ann couldn't help but let out a joyous giggle.

Ann's response was a burst of laughter. 

"I've never seen you make that face," she giggled, adding, "Come on, this will be fun with both of us together." Just before they were both led away to change.

In just minutes, Ren's appearance drastically changed as he emerged from the dressing room looking like an elegant man, contrasting his usually plain attire. Wearing a formal suit.

Ann, too, made her entrance in a stunning black dress, perfectly complementing Ren's attire, her appearance eliciting a mutual sense of awe.

"Woah!" Ann exclaimed, her eyes wide as she took in Ren's transformed look. However, their moment of mutual admiration was abruptly cut short as they were swiftly ushered to the center of the restaurant. 

The director, seizing the dwindling minutes with urgency, rallied the crew. 

"Alright, everyone, we have 25 minutes! Let's make them count! Models, this shoot is themed around a couple's sale, so I want you to embody love and allure. We're tight on time for each outfit. Go!" he instructed, darting behind the camera set-up.

Ann, catching Ren's slightly overwhelmed expression, smiled reassuringly and draped her arms around his neck, her voice soft yet confident.

"Just follow my lead," she whispered, her cheeks tinged with a hint of blush, ready to guide them through the unexpected yet thrilling challenge ahead.

The photo shoot unfolded like a whirlwind, each snapshot drawing Ann and Ren closer. As they moved through a series of poses, their initial awkwardness faded, replaced by a growing ease and an undeniable connection. 

With every pose, every shared glance, Ann found herself drawn deeper into Ren's presence, his gaze holding her more firmly than any script could dictate. However, that only seemed to make the director even happier as he continued to snap countless pictures. 

The culmination of their chemistry came when Ann, perched gracefully on Ren's leg, gazed into his eyes. At that moment, time seemed to stand still, the world around them blurring into insignificance. However, the loud voice of the director pierced their bubble.

"Cut! That's a wrap," the director exclaimed, his voice echoing with relief and satisfaction. He hurried over to Ann and Ren, beaming with gratitude. "That was perfect. You two were phenomenal together. I'll be sure to give you stellar recommendations."

Ann rose swiftly, her cheeks tinged with a blush that she tried to mask with a series of awkward coughs. 

"Ah, yeah, of course. Thanks for letting us step in," she managed to say, her voice a mix of surprise and modesty.

The director's excitement didn't wane. 

"No, thank you! You saved the day. Expect a bonus from us. And, as a token of our appreciation, keep the outfits. We've also got some seats reserved for you as the restaurant reopens." he said, rushing off to oversee the cleanup.

Settling into a chair opposite Ren, an uncomfortable silence briefly hovered between them until Ann ventured.

"So… how was your first modeling gig?"

Ren's response came with a roll of his eyes and a wry smile.

"If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have made it." He said with exhaustion. "I absolutely hate getting my picture taken. I know it's stupid, but I feel it is bad luck." 

Ann's laughter filled the air, a sound of genuine amusement.

"Seems modeling's not your calling, then." She paused, thinking for a moment before adding. "To be honest, this is mainly a hobby for me. I'm not really sure what I want to do in the future. Maybe a movie star…" she mused, then turned the question back to Ren. "What about you? What's your dream job?"

Lifting his head from the desk, Ren said.

"Not really a job, but I have enjoyed studying the Metaverse. If there were a company that researched shadows, I probably would work for them." he said before thinking for a moment. "I guess the serious answer would be either a psychologist or owning something like Leblanc."

Ann's smile lingered as they enjoyed the meal provided, and the atmosphere relaxed after the whirlwind of their unexpected modeling gig. As they gathered their things to leave, Ann paused, her phone in hand, before she asked a question.

"Do you mind if we take just one more picture? Today was memorable, and I'd love to capture it," she proposed, her arm finding its way around Ren's shoulder in a comfortable, familiar gesture.

"Sure. One more," Ren agreed, his own arm mirroring hers, both of them facing the camera with genuine smiles. 

With the photo taken, they both decided to part ways since it was starting to become pretty late.

On the train ride back to Leblanc, Ren's phone buzzed with a notification. Opening it, he found the photo Ann had taken. A slight smile escaped his face before he put his phone away and continued his way home.

— —- —

Upon entering Leblanc, Ren was met with Sojiro's surprised gaze, clearly taken aback by Ren's unusually sharp attire.

"Hoo boy. Were you out there looking for trouble?"" Sojiro teased with a light-hearted chuckle.

Settling into a booth across from Sojiro, Ren shared the photo he'd taken with Ann, offering a simple explanation.

"Something along those lines."

Sojiro, looking at the picture, couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head in a mix of amusement and what seemed like pride. 

"Well, let's hear the story behind this," he encouraged, readying some food for the two of them. However, their conversation was interrupted by the entrance of an unwelcome visitor, prompting a frown from Sojiro.

"I already told you, I don't have the money. Look at this place. Does it look full of customers?" Sojiro said, his irritation palpable.

Turning to look at the man, Ren's eyes narrowed slightly as he activated his third eye.

"No need to hide it. You must have saved up a bunch from your government job, right? Plus, I even heard you were looking after a student too. Come on, Sojiro, a little help for old times' sake?" The man said, trying to put on a friendly tone.

"If you're not here as a customer, I'll have to ask you to leave. I'm expecting a phone call soon, so I don't have the time to chat with you." Sojiro replied firmly, his patience wearing thin.

The man was about to speak up before Ren interrupted.

"Let me guess, gambling?" he interjected, catching both the man and Sojiro off guard. "Slippery slope, I tell ya." He added in a mocking tone.

The man, taken aback, demanded

"And you are?"

"If I am not wrong, gambling is illegal, isn't it Mr. Sakura?" Ren asked, masking his relationship with Sojiro, and earning a weary nod from him.

"I happen to have some friends in the law who wouldn't mind looking deeper into it." Ren said, making the man slightly nervous. "And I do enjoy getting my coffee and curry around here. So scram." Ren said as he put a smile on his face, looking directly at the man. 

After a moment of hesitation, the man quickly scurried away, leaving Sojiro looking at Ren with some surprise.

"How did you…" He began to ask before Ren answered.

"It's always drugs, alcohol, or gambling. He was too clean to be the first two, so you could call it a lucky guess. I know the type, so I'm sure he will stop by again eventually, but hey, I at least bought you some more peace." Ren said as he lifted his glass.

Sojiro shook his head in amusement as he saw it before saying.

"I owe you one. He stopped by the other day when you were out, and I was dreading when he would come back again."

"Family?" Ren inquired, sipping his coffee as he pieced together the man's connection to Sojiro.

"You could say that…" Sojiro conceded, placing a small serving of curry in front of Ren.

"I guess since you already know her, I can tell you." he began before letting out a sigh and adding. "That dude is Futaba's uncle… He was her guardian after her mother passed away, but Futaba was under horrible conditions when she was being taken care of by him. It's so bad I don't even want to say it. But after I found out, I had to step in to take care of Futaba."

"Damn. So he's going to be more of a hassle than I thought. But you did the right thing." Nodding his head in acknowledgment, Ren said.

Sojiro let out an annoyed scoff as he answered.

"Even back then, all he did was whine about money. I gave him some to shut him up, but now he's back for more. I can already imagine what he will bring up next time he comes." Sojiro said with bitterness.

Glancing at his watch, Sojiro's expression softened slightly as he realized the time. 

"I better go check on Futaba, and I need to think about how to deal with him." he remarked before adding. "But hey, thanks for stepping in today. We'll catch up on your 'date' story tomorrow, huh?" he added, a teasing note in his voice aiming to lighten the atmosphere a bit. With a nod and a small smile, he made his way out.

~Confidants~

Ann Takamaki (The Lovers) Rank 4

Sojiro Sakura (The Hierophant) Rank 4