The Doctor and The Maid.

(Ya'll, I gotta stop listening to music cuz I end up cooking with surprise ingredients. Ya'll gotta thank "Epic: The Musical" for this 3k-word chap, lol.)

Echoing the previous days' exhaustion, Kawakami yawned repeatedly throughout her lesson, and the signs of fatigue were evident. Despite this, she persisted, trying her best to explain everything as well as she could.

As class concluded, Ren was about to leave when he noticed another teacher cornering Kawakami. Thanks to Ren's improved senses from using the scalpel, he could overhear what they were talking about, so he decided to try to step in.

"You're always leaving early and missing faculty meetings. Explain yourself, Kawakami. After what happened with Kamoshida, I am keeping an eye on all the teachers, and you are the most suspicious of them all." the other teacher, Ms. Chouno, demanded sternly.

"That…" Kawakami faltered, a look of conflict crossing her face as she grasped for an explanation. It was then that Ren stepped forward.

"I'm sorry, that's on me…" Ren admitted, his expression tinged with shame, which prompted Ms. Chouno to look surprised.

"Amamiya? Your fault?" Ms. Chouno asked, her skepticism palpable.

Adding to the shameful expression on his face, Ren spoke up.

"History's always been a struggle for me—my grades are barely passing. Since Kamoshida's attack, it's only gotten harder to memorize dates and events... I asked Kawakami to help me study after school," Ren 'confessed,' his gaze dropping to the floor.

Ms. Chouno and Kawakami took a step back in surprise, with Ms. Chouno covering her mouth with a gasp.

"I- I asked Kawakami to keep it a secret since I thought it was embarrassing, but I don't want her to get in trouble for me…" Ren added, and both of their shocked expressions became even wider.

"That… Amamiya… I didn't know…" Ms. Chouno said, holding back her emotions as she turned to Kawakami.

"I am so sorry for misjudging you, Kawakami… I'll ensure no other teachers hassle you. You truly are a saint…" She then turned to Ren, adding, "If you need a break or extra help during lessons, just let me know. Mr. Inui can also help you if you need it."

Then, after taking a moment to apologize again, she walked away, leaving a speechless Kawakami.

"Ren, was that…" Kawakami started, only for Ren to respond with a knowing wink.

She looked stunned for a few moments before holding back a chuckle.

"No wonder you made it on TV. Your acting is actually scary. But thank you for stepping in…" she acknowledged her voice a mixture of awe and gratitude.

After hesitating for a moment, Kawakami asked Ren to follow her to an empty classroom.

"Ren... about what happened last time... I'm sorry," she began, her words faltering as she searched for the right way to express her gratitude. "I honestly didn't know what to do... I was too overwhelmed to discuss it, but your help was invaluable. Thanks to you, I managed to make the payment on time."

"I'm guessing the next payment is coming up, right?" Ren asked, noting the slight conflict evident on her face.

She paused, then reached into her notebook and scribbled down a phone number. 

"You're a guy, so you must be pretty messy, right?" she half-joked, attempting to lighten the mood. "I mentioned it before, but I can help with cleaning, laundry, and even tutoring you in history if you need it. It feels wrong to ask again, but since you've kept everything secret, I trust you. I'd much prefer your help over dealing with some of my weirder clients."

As she tore the page from her notebook, she hesitated before handing it to Ren, pulling it back momentarily. 

"If you don't feel comfortable, don't feel like you have to. I want this to be your choice, okay?" Her expression was earnest, emphasizing the gravity of her request.

Ren accepted the paper and offered a reassuring smile. 

"Don't worry about it."

— — —

As he walked home, Ren's thoughts were interrupted by a phone call from his resident mad scientist, inviting him to the clinic.

"Ren, can you come to the clinic? There's something important I need to discuss with you," Takemi spoke in a hushed tone, urgency in her voice.

Curious, Ren responded. 

"Sounds serious. What's going on?"

"It's something I can only talk about in person. Let's just say I've hit a major breakthrough in my research, and an unexpected issue has come up with a former... colleague," she elaborated, her voice lowering to imply the gravity of the matter.

"I'll be there as soon as I can," Ren replied, his interest clearly peaked.

Upon arriving at the clinic, Takemi quickly ushered him inside and locked the door behind them.

"You… are you part of the Phantom Thieves?" Takemi inquired, her tone serious as she blocked the door behind her.

Ren's eyebrows arched in surprise, though he had suspected such a confrontation might occur eventually.

"Why would you think that?" Ren asked, maintaining an air of confusion.

"After the whole ordeal with Kaneshiro hitting the news, about how no one could figure out his sudden confession, I joked to myself that maybe the reason your blood was different was because you were a Phantom Thief. And then, this arrived." Takemi explained as she handed him a letter.

"Oyamada admitted to tampering with the medications and assumed full responsibility for the past incidents. They've offered me my old position back, and Miwa's parents have requested I resume care as her primary physician."

She paused, fixing Ren with a serious gaze.

"I developed that new medicine using samples of your blood, and I've already used it to treat a patient. It was a success; the patient's recovery was nothing short of miraculous. At first, I thought perhaps you had a unique genetic mutation, an extraordinary adaptability in your blood. But after receiving this letter, everything clicked."

Ren observed Takemi, noting the mix of triumph and doubt on her face. She had achieved her goal of creating a cure, yet now she harbored new uncertainties. She had personally analyzed the blood samples, dismissing her wilder theories as fantasy, but the contents of the letter had confirmed her deepest suspicions.

As word of the miraculous recovery spread, her clinic gained a reputation for performing medical miracles. Although she had only used the experimental treatment on that one patient, the implications overwhelmed her.

"What if there are unforeseen side effects to the medicine?" she pondered aloud, the worry clear in her voice. "If something goes wrong, I'd be responsible for any harm done. I thought, no, I knew the medicine was safe, but now, I'm questioning everything."

As Ren caught the flicker of concern in Tae's eyes, he exhaled deeply. He had hoped for a better moment, but circumstances forced his hand sooner than he was fully prepared.

Locking eyes with Tae, Ren nodded.

"Yes, I am a Phantom Thief," Ren confessed, observing Tae's quiet nod of acceptance.

"Then… the medicine…" Tae started, pausing as she processed the revelation. Shaking her head slightly, she looked at him intently. "Ren… What exactly are you?"

The first time she had asked that question, she had done it as a joke, but now she was as serious as she could be.

"That question… it's more complicated than you might expect. But I can show you, if you're ready to see for yourself," Ren proposed, his gaze never wavering as he noted her hesitant nod.

No longer obstructing the door, Tae followed Ren through the bustling streets of Tokyo. Her expression was a mix of determination and curiosity as they approached the subway station. 

Ducking into a secluded corner, Ren led her into Mementos.

The transition was startling. The mundane station morphed into an eerie crimson subway, the air thick with the scent of flowers. Tae's shock was palpable as she turned to Ren, only to find his outfit transformed and his normally dark eyes shimmering a bright gold.

"Welcome to the collective unconscious," Ren announced, observing her bewildered look before starting to explain.

He had considered introducing Tae to Mementos earlier, wanting to get her help to truly examine the changes that happened every time he used the scalpel. However, he had planned to wait until their bond had deepened, hoping for greater understanding and trust. Now, with no other choice, he hoped this bold move would bridge the gap between them, revealing the depth and sincerity of his other life.

As Tae listened intently to Ren, her gaze sharpened more than he had ever seen. Her expression fluctuated with each revelation, settling into a slight smirk of intrigue as he concluded his explanation. Acknowledging his words with a nod, she finally broke the silence.

"This is really a lot to take in…" Takemi sighed, her smile tinged with incredulity. "To think such a place exists... a place that could fix even previously irreparable injuries... This actually explains your question about cognitive psience when we first met.."

Ren observed her as she processed the information, ready to answer any questions she might have. However, before he could speak, Tae stepped closer and gently held his face, her eyes scanning meticulously as if looking for something out of the ordinary. After a thoughtful pause, she stepped back.

"I see… Honestly, I want to feel upset, but if I were in your shoes, I probably would've kept it a secret, too." she admitted, her tone mixed with resignation and understanding.

Looking around the surreal environment, she continued. 

"But tell me honestly, my little guinea pig… You were hoping I'd uncover this, weren't you? Knowing how you handled the situation with Kaneshiro, it's clear you can be quite cunning."

Ren met her gaze, his silence acting as his answer. Her slight chuckle broke the momentary tension.

"Don't worry, my little guinea pig. There's no need to say anything. I get it," Takemi reassured him, her voice softening.

With a contemplative look, she then knelt to gather some of the unique flowers, carefully picking as many as she could hold. 

"I think it's time we head back. I need some space to think this through and make some plans."

Nodding his head, Ren spoke up.

"If you have any more questions, you can always ask me. Though I can't promise I know all the answers."

Tae nodded her head, her slight smirk still on her face as she began to walk to the exit.

"I know."

— — —

Arriving back at Leblanc, Ren couldn't help but exhale a sigh of relief. The meeting with Takemi had gone smoother than anticipated, though he still felt uneasy about not having been fully prepared for it.

Ren usually preferred to meticulously plan such introductions, but Takemi's intuition had been spot-on. He had, in truth, allowed her to gather as much information as she seemed to need from his blood, considering he had already planned to introduce her to the Metaverse eventually. Bringing an actual doctor or researcher into their group could prove invaluable.

Until now, it had just been him, Makoto, and Futaba piecing together the complexities of the Metaverse, limited by their lack of proper research equipment and resources. He had, in truth, considered inviting Maruki onto the Thieves. He had been the one who sparked all of their research.

Other than Wakaba, who had passed away, he was the person who knew the most about cognitive psience. Or at least, he was the only person Ren could think of. If they got his mind into the group they might be able to better protect themselves in the Metaverse.

However, now that Tae had put the pieces together, he was going to push Maruki's possible invitation further back. He preferred to be careful and only introduce one person at a time, and once that person became familiar with it, he would reach out to another person.

Unless a perfect opportunity opened itself, he would probably wait. But as he thought back, he hadn't formally asked Takemi to join the Thieves. She might not even be able to do so with her schedule as a doctor.

As Ren rubbed his tense shoulders, his thoughts drifted back to his earlier conversation with Kawakami. Despite the afternoon's deviations from his plans, he had promised to call her later. With a weary sigh, he moved towards the phone in Leblanc and dialed the number she had given him.

"Hello! This is Becky♥ how can I help you?" Kawakami answered, her voice laced with a playful tone.

"I could use some help cleaning my room," Ren replied, chuckling as he glanced around the already immaculate café.

"Oh, it's you, Ren. The fee will be the usual 5,000 yen. Is that alright?" she inquired, a note of hesitation in her voice.

"That's fine," Ren confirmed.

Soon after the call, the door swung open to reveal Kawakami in her maid outfit.

"Hello, Master♥," she greeted with a cheeky grin before dropping the act. "Sorry, is that weird? Force of habit."

Ren chuckled and shook his head.

"I don't mind," he replied with a smirk.

Kawakami surveyed the tidy space and commented. 

"Sakura-san really keeps the place spotless. But I guess that's to be expected, running a café and all. Shall we see this 'disaster area' then?" she teased, following Ren to his room.

The flowers he had planted over a month ago had bloomed, filling his room with a vivid crimson hue. The blossoms covered most of the shelves and walls, with several large pots suspended around the room. The floral arrangement created a tranquil ambiance, making it a serene spot to focus or drift off to sleep. Ren often found himself gazing at the flowers before slipping into a daydream.

However, as Kawakami stepped in, she couldn't hide her surprise.

"Umm… I was expecting a mess…" she murmured, her eyes wide as she took in the serene order of the room.

"There is… I forgot to put my tools away last time," Ren said, gesturing towards the table cluttered with a few prototype tools, the only real mess in the room.

As he spoke, he gently massaged his neck, stretching to ease some stiffness.

"What about food?" Kawakami asked, noticing the cleanliness of the place. "Are you hungry?"

"No, I just ate not too long ago. But there are some leftovers if you're hungry. They're quite good. The recipe was improved by a scientist to optimize taste," Ren offered.

"Erm… laundry?" Kawakami ventured before shaking her head in dismissal. "What am I even asking? If your room is this tidy, of course, you've done your laundry."

She paused, recalling a previous conversation. 

"That's right, you mentioned needing help with history, didn't you?"

Ren, however, shook his head.

"God, no. Makoto is already on my case about that, and I'm honestly at my limit with it. My grades are decent enough. I can handle being average in history."

Kawakami opened her mouth to argue, then sighed, conceding his point.

"So… what do you want me to do then? I hope you're not planning anything strange," Kawakami said, her tone laced with a touch of wariness.

Ren simply walked over to his work table and sat down. 

"No, just feel free to relax. There's food and coffee downstairs if you want some. I have some work I need to get done."

He wanted to distract himself with some tinkering, especially now that Takemi was in on his secret. With nothing requiring cleaning, focusing on a project seemed like the next best thing to allow himself to think.

Kawakami looked puzzled as she asked.

"So you called me here just to... rest?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Ren replied with a casual shrug. "You looked like you could use a break, and I don't mind having some company."

Kawakami appeared taken aback as she moved to stand behind Ren. After a brief hesitation, she placed her hands on his shoulders.

"Hm?" Ren asked until he felt the pressure of her hands beginning to knead his muscles.

"I'm not an expert at this or anything... but it'd feel odd just sitting around while I'm here. And wow... you really are tense," she remarked with a light chuckle. "Don't worry, Master♥, I'll take care of these knots."

Ren felt a wave of relaxation wash over him as Kawakami's initially tentative hands grew more confident, her technique improving with each movement.

"Wow, you seem to be carrying all your stress right here," she observed, her fingers pressing into a particularly tight spot, eliciting a slight wince from Ren.

Chuckling slightly, Ren couldn't help but nod subconsciously.

"Yeah, you could say that…"

Kawakami continued her efforts for a few more minutes before pausing. She gave Ren's back a couple of friendly pats before sinking into the bed behind her with a soft thud.

"Well, that's about all I can manage for now. My fingers are starting to ache, so I'm going to take a little break," she announced, followed by a light chuckle. "Is that okay with you, Master♥?"

Ren turned his head to see her relaxing on his bed. 

"That's fine. Actually, thanks for the massage," he replied, stretching his arms and enjoying the feeling of lightness.

"Uh-huh," she responded, her eyelids fluttering closed as she quickly drifted off to sleep.

Within moments, her breathing deepened as she pulled the blankets around her, shielding her face from the room's light.

Ren suppressed a laugh, moved quietly across the room, and flicked off the light. He then found a comfortable spot on the couch to settle down.

"Night," he whispered to the quiet room, his eyes lingering on one of the flowers before he too, allowed sleep to overtake him.

~Confidants~

Sadayo Kawakami (The Temperance) Rank 3

Tae Takemi (The Death) Rank 5

(I find that music often really changes how I write. You should really check out "Epic: musical"; it is 10/10.

I was already planning on doing Tae soon, but shoutout to Weeby_ since I ended up adding her to this chap cuz of him mentioning her. Now, all that's left is poor Chihaya, but she is hard to find a good spot for lol. RIP Fortune, love your chaps, but you'll probably be forgotten for a while again.

Also, Tae is not the only one who knows or at least has a feeling that Ren is a phantom thief. Can you guess who the other confidant who "knows" is?)