Chapter 30
[45]
Makoto looked down at her phone, confirming that this was indeed the address she was looking for. But that couldn’t be the case, this wasn’t a house or an apartment, it was a cafe. Regardless, she entered, maybe someone would know him and point her to the right place.
The bell of the cafe rang as the student council president entered, and 6 pairs of eyes turned to her. She immediately recognized some familiar faces, Sakamato, Takamaki, and the first year, Philemon. Amamiya’s regular friend group. She also saw three more faces she didn’t recognize, a short girl in a green jacket with orange hair and glasses, a tall boy with long blue hair, and an older man with a goatee behind the counter.
“E-Excuse me, I’m looking for Ren Amamiya. Does anyone here know where he’s staying?” She said, mainly looking at the adult in the room.
“Oh? And who might you be?” The man behind the counter replied. “If he’s caused any trouble, you have my sincerest apologies. And know that he will be reprimanded.”
“Oh n-no! Nothing like that!” The girl stuttered out, “I just had some questions for him.”
“Who did you say you were again?” The man questioned.
Before Makoto could give a reply, Sakamato chimed in. “She’s the student council prez.” He then turned to Makoto with malice in his eyes. “Which gives her jackshit authority here.”
Makoto wasn’t deterred by her schoolmates’ reaction to her being here. She had as much a right to be here as she did. But she was disappointed by the fact that they still thought of her as an enemy.
“I need to speak to Amamiya. Do you know where I can find him?” She repeated her initial question.
The cafe owner spoke once more. “Well, normally you’d find him here. He lives upstairs in the attic, but no one’s seen him all morning. These 3 came in looking for him too.” He gestured to her classmates sitting in one of the booths.
“We’ve tried calling, but no luck.” Takamaki chimed in.
“A-Alright. Would it be okay if I wait he-”
Before Makoto could finish, the bell chimed once again. She turned around to see the man in question enter the cafe.
Ren Amamiya looked terrible, bags under his eyes, his usual fluffy hair was matted with sweat, and he leaned against the doorway like he couldn’t stand on his own. When he saw the student council president in front of him, a look of surprise showed in his tired eyes.
“Oh, Nijima-san! What’re you-”
“Ren!” Three voices cried in unison from behind Makoto. She was pushed aside as Sakamoto, Takamaki, and the orange haired girl ran to embrace Ren.
“Whoa! Hey guys what’s up?” Ren asked the trio who tightly clung to his chest.
“We were worried dude! You disappeared on us without a word!” Ryuji said, releasing his best friend.
“What the hell was that about anyway!? I texted you at least a dozen times!” Ann released him as well before stomping her foot and pouting.
“Sorry about that, my phone died.” He held up the dead device. “I had to work the nightshift.”
“Wha? Dude when did you get a-OW!” Ryuji cried as Ann slapped the back of his head. Makoto found that suspicious.
When Makoto looked back at Ren, she noticed that the short girl had yet to release him. Instead she opted to keep her head buried in his chest.
“Uhh, Futaba?” Ren questioned the shorter girl.
She muttered something faint over and over again. When Ren gently pushed her head off of his chest, her words became audible.
“-rryI’msorryI’msorryI’msorryI’msorryI’msorryI’msorry!”
“Futaba…” Ren said softly before allowing the girl to continue clinging to him.
“Well,” The cafe owner, presumably Ren’s guardian, spoke once more. “I’m glad you’ve gotten yourself a job. But be sure to let us know next time you’re gonna be gone. Futaba was worried sick, thought you up and vanished cuz of something she said.”
“I would never.” Ren replied, patting the girl on the head reassuringly. Futaba panicked and released Ren, her cheeks were red as she ran behind the counter to the older man.
“By the way,” The owner said. “Your friend here is very polite. He said my curry was like eating a masterpiece.” He gestured to the tall boy. “Hey, since it’s a Saturday, why don’t you kids go out and do something. Can’t have you all crammed in here scaring off my customers.”
“Yeah! Great idea Boss!” Sakamato cheered, he began herding everyone out the door.
“Wait! But...sleep!” Ren protested faintly as he was pushed out the door with little effort.
The group of 7 teenagers ended up in Kichijoji at a place called the Penguin Sniper. The guys of the group were competing in darts while the girls sat at the counter with drinks (non-alcholic of course, they were all still minors.) Futaba distanced herself from the other two girls, opting to go on her phone instead of talk.
When Ren came over to the counter for his drink, Takamaki spoke to him. “Hey Ren, think we could talk in private?” Could there be something going on between the two of them?
Makoto suddenly realized that she hadn’t gotten to speak to Ren regarding her questions, the entire reason she came to the cafe today! Ren was about to walk off with Takamaki, when Makoto chimed in.
“W-Wait Ren! I have something important to ask you!”
Ren turned to her, “What’s up?”
Makoto knew she couldn’t mention anything Spider-Man related out loud. She didn’t know if anyone else here knew his secret afterall.
“It’s...Something we need to discuss in private. But it’s urgent!” She tried to get her point across subtly.
“Oh, alright.” Ren began to walk over to Makoto, when his arm was grabbed by Takamaki,
“My thing is important too!” She said, pulling him back with her.
“Takamaki, what could you possibly need that would be so urgent?” Makoto looked at the blonde girl skeptically. Ann Takamaki was, from what Makoto knew about her, a bit of an airhead who tended not to take anything too seriously. She got to coast through life using her good looks instead of working hard.
“Excuse me!?” Takamaki was clearly offended. She began to approach Makoto with malicious intent before being stopped by Ren.
“GodI’mtootiredforthis.” He murmured. “Okay private talk!” He grabbed each of their hands. “Us three!”
The trio approached an empty corner of the room and Ren stood before both girls, his back leaning against the wall.
“Ann, Makoto, let’s get this out of the way. Both of you know about my secret identity already.”
“You told her!?” Both girls yelled at once, pointing to one another.
Ren winced at the sound, his bagged eyes looked at them both with a tired expression. “Yes, you both know. I trust both of you.” He turned to Makoto, “Ryuji and Morgana also know. Yusuke and Futaba do not know. So please try to keep it down.”
“Okay.” They both looked away, embarrassed at the outburst.
“Now.” Ren inhaled and placed his hands together. “What did you need to tell me?”
As Makoto was about to ask her question, Takamaki spoke first. “Where were you really last night?”
“Doing Spider-Man shit.”
Ann gave him an annoyed look and gestured for him to elaborate.
Ren rolled his eyes, “Ugh. Okay, there’s a missing child out there somewhere. That child is being held hostage by some bad people. I spent the night looking for him. I didn’t find him, but I have a lead.”
“What’s the lead?” Makoto asked before Ann could.
“I’m meeting someone tonight who said he could help me find the kid. So I would very much like to get some sleep before that meeting. Are there any more questions?”
Makoto and Ann looked at one another before turning away. “Another time.” They said in unison.
Later, as the group walked through Inokashira Park, Ryuji questioned Yusuke more about his past. Yusuke finally decided to inform the group.
“Well, if you must know, I was a student to Madarame.” Makoto stared at the boy in shock. “It turned out, I didn’t know what kind of a man he truly was.” Yusuke looked at the ground with a sad expression before continuing.
“He murdered police officers...Right on our doorstep. When he was finally captured, I didn’t know what to feel, he was the man who raised me afterall. But now, I suppose I’m glad Spider-Man put him away.” Makoto looked over at Ren, who’s eyes were hidden beneath his hair, both of his fists clenched, and his lip quivering.
“It turns out, Madarame did care for his students. We weren’t just a cover for his crimes.” Yusuke continued, everyone in the group listening intently. “He left a fund for each of us. Enough to finish our educations and begin our careers...I was the only one to decline.”
“Dude...why?” Ryuji questioned.
“It was blood money. I had no right to accept it, otherwise I would be as guilty as him. My art will not be tainted by the atrocities committed in its name!” Yusuke paused, “At least, that’s what I’d like to believe. But it may already be too late for that.”
“It’s not.” Ren finally spoke, still not looking up. “It’s not too late.”
Yusuke gave an understanding smile. “I like to believe so too. My latest project truly exemplifies justice and righteousness. I am quite proud of it.”
“What’s your latest project?” Ann asked.
“Why, it’s the costume of our city’s greatest hero!”
“DUDE!” Ryuji cried, “You made Ren’s suit!?”
Yusuke and Futaba gave Ryuji a weird look before Ann smacked him in the head.
“What!?”