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Hey, Sakamoto Ryuji here.

I can't be the only one with ass kicking on the brain after that invisible dog bullshit. What's the consensus on fighting instructors around here? Did that turn out to be a thing?

If anyone's got the time show a few moves and still taking requests, I got one of my own. I'd appreciate a few tips if you feel like sharing. I'm talking about the badasses that know what they're doing, not just the make it up as you go kind (like me). Hate to say it, but the stuff we're facing in events is a little different from what I'm used to.

Dunno what I could trade for it, but I learn fast! And I'll think of something. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

PS: And if you're looking for Akira, don't worry. Nothing bad happened to him. He just went home. Sorry.

_{[The last bit is the real crux of the message and also the thorn in its side; bundling it in with the request lessens the sharp prick of it. Not by much, but some.]}

I | Exercise facilities + outer grounds

_{[Anyone with an eye for blond phantom thieves can usually spot Ryuji adhering to a runner's training schedule, a carry-over from home. Indoors in the weight room, outdoors on the grounds, casual long distance jogs, short distance drills--he's at it most days, alternating between staving off boredom and building on his strength.

Usually time following an event are cool down days, a period to let himself recover from the trial of the week. Not this time. He keeps his foot jammed on the gas pedal with the restlessness energy of someone who has something he has to face but is taking every detour to avoid it. The request for some self-defense pointers had been practical--if the Tartarus event taught him anything (and the Asgard event before that, and the zombie event before that), he could use them--but it's also fuel for the avoidance fire.

Usually there's room for a chat in between squats on the beach or a friendly wave on a run, but don't take it personally if he seems a bit standoffish today. He's distracted, brows set in a flat line, viciously pouring energy into his routine with a nice, healthy contempt for the ground or the horizon, whatever he happens to be staring at.

If someone catches his eye, though, he'll forcibly relax, offering a smile. It comes a beat too late to be effortless, but that's hardly out of place, right? They've all been through a lot coming out the other side of the event meat grinder.]}

II | Training center

_{[Futaba. Morgana. Iwai. Yusuke. Ann. Makoto. Haru... Akira. How could he have thought this place felt small? With all of the people most familiar to him--people he'd shared the burden of events with, sat across the breakfast table with, lived with in the case of his two best friends--gone to fuck knows where, Wonderland feels infinitely massive and empty. He could handle this together. Alone, it's... it's hard. Harder than he imagined.

There's still Akechi, and isn't that the height of irony, to be the last man standing with Akechi Goro, out of everyone. He hesitates a while with phone in hand, Akechi's name in the To: field, but his hands aren't interested in sending more messages.

They want to make fists. They want to break.

Those in the training center will be privy to Ryuji, uncharacteristically stoic and grim-faced, slipping on a pair of gloves and squaring off with a punching bag with a frenetic violence to match. Either that punching bag insulted him, or someone didn't burn off quite enough energy climbing stairs in Tartarus.

The flurry is broken up only by a wince after a particularly hard punch. Peeling off his glove reveals a streak of red from split knuckles. Apparently someone also doesn't know when to quit.]}

Fuck

_{[Any gym rats handy with bandaids...? Alternatively, maybe you see him taking himself and his bloody hands for a walk to the clinic for something to wrap them with. He's probably not the only needing aftercare after that doozy of an event, even if his most recent war wounds are fresher.]}

III | Kitchen

_{[The thought of going back to his empty room in his empty section of hallway throbs worse than his bandaged knuckles. Suddenly it's like his first day in Wonderland all over again, not knowing what to do or where to park himself in a strange, unwelcoming environment.

He ends up in the kitchen, hungry but not really, searching the fridge and cupboards with a listless indecisiveness. He's probably standing in your way as you go to grab something--and will continue to stand in your way until prompted, or he notices you.]}

_{[And he'll slide to the side to let you get to your business, smile apologetic.]}

IV | Wildcard

_{[Ryuji'll be going about business as usual in Wonderland post-event, so feel free to come up with your own starter around the mansion and/or elsewhere! Or hit me up for a different one if you're not feeling the locations/prompts.]}

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[Maybe those psychic powers aren't just for show. Sayaka can't help but grin and laugh a little at that. This wasn't the first time where someone has wondered that she was seriously a psychic.

It made her smile that he was still able to joke even a little bit.

When he's back, she has all of the vegetables chopped and ready. Along with that, she also has the pan prepared for them to cook the beef. Curry is delicious but man, does it take a lot of preparation. But she knew that this was totally going to be worth it in the end!]

Welcome back, Ryuji! I'm glad, I hope that it will smell even better once the curry starts cooking. [Just thinking about it is making her hungry...] That's a wonderful idea! It would be fun to cook with everyone one day.

[While she enjoyed cooking, she couldn't deny that it was much more fun to cook together with friends.]

Do you like to cook? I'm excited to see your skills in the kitchen!

_{[Like a potluck? Good food and good company is always a winning combination. He likes the thought.]}

... Yeah, it would.

_{[He has to remember, whether it's Phantom Thieves plural or a phantom thief in the singular, that he still has friends here. People counting on him to pick himself up and dust himself off--no, people who will help him get back up. Being left behind in Wonderland isn't the end when he's far from being alone.]}

I help my mom in the kitchen sometimes. But I wouldn't say you should stick me behind a counter in a cafe or nothin'.

_{[Sojiro would probably think he was ransacking the joint.

As he steps around her, he looks at the ingredients she's set out. He's seen Sojiro and Akira make curry a time or two or five, most of the vegetables and spices look familiar. His finally gaze settles on the mound of beef chunks waiting to be browned.]}

That for me?

_{[Half-heartedly teasing. He does like his meat.]}

[Once again, the mention of his mother causes her to feel warm and fuzzy inside. Thinking about that made her cheeks pink as she was checking up on the rice that was being cooked.

She's thought about his mom before and wonders what she's like. In the end, she had no doubts that she was a kind, caring woman that raised a sweetheart son.]

Aw, that sounds so nice! You and your mom seem quite close. It warms my heart when you mention her.

[She laughs a little at his joke. Hey, she would totally visit a cafe if Ryuji was behind the counter. In her mind, he would be the cutest ~~and loudest~~ barista.

As the rice begins it's boiling, she turns to Ryuji and happily nods at him. She had to admit, looking at all of that meat was making her extra hungry for the curry.]

Yup! That's all for you, Mister. We're going to make this the beefiest [Is that even a word?] curry ever. Just for you~!

_{[He's quiet for a moment and the knife clunks solidly on the cutting board as he sets to cutting. The slices aren't even, and some of the beef cubes end up looking more like blobs, but they'll serve their purpose lining his and Sayaka's bellies.]}

She and I were all each other had after my dad left.

_{[So yes, close. In his absence, which had been more blessing than curse like having a tumor removed, they'd looked after one another. More her over him than the other way around, he supposes. He hadn't realized how much she'd actually done for him until he hadn't had her straightening his bedspread and making him meals anymore.]}

I haven't seen her in so long. _{[Even longer than his friends.]} I try not to think about it.

_{[If he spent too long humoring the aches in his heart, he'd never get anything done. And... well, he's wearing the result of what happens when he gives into his negative emotions.]}

I hope you like it, too, or you're gonna have a pretty morning plate. Are you a spicy kinda girl? Akira used to play around and make this stuff that I swear made me breathe fire.

[As she was in the middle of preparing the rice, she freezes on her spot at the new revelation. It reminded her of what he said during the Dreamscape, about how he would hurt people to feel tough.

Her eyes look downcast as she stares at water's bubbles reaching a boiling point. Thinking about that pained her heart. Not only did his teacher hurt him but his dad as well? The world was a cruel place. It made her wonder how much this poor boy must have suffered in his life.]

Oh, I'm so sorry. A parent leaving their child behind is beyond horrible...

[Coming from a single parent home as well, Sayaka knew how hard it was for a parent to raise a child all by themselves. Not only did she like Ryuji's mom just from what he's told her, she had a new found respect for the lady as well.]

Yeah, I don't blame you. It's hard thinking about family back home. [She sighs and goes back to preparing the rice.] It looks like we have something in common. I come from a single parent family, as well. It was just my dad and I.

[He's told her about himself, so she felt it was only right for her to share more of her past with him. Of course, her mom wasn't around for an entirely different reason, but she could understand the loneliness that comes with having a single parent.]

Geez! What did he put inside it? Dragon's breath? [She does perk up and begins to lightly laugh at his comment.] To tell you the truth, not really! I've always been more of a sweet girl.

Not in this case. He was an asshole. _{[The lack of sentiment says plenty all on its own.]} We're better off without him.

_{[His cuts gradually get smoother and more even. That last cube might have actually been cube-shaped. They got this.]}

Your dad taught you how to cook?

_{[The gaze he slides her way is curious in a way that belies the casual question. She doesn't volunteer the information, leaving him wondering what sort of memories he'd be kicking if he asked about her mother. Good ones? Bad ones? Dusty or fresh?

The joke coaxes out a smirk. When it comes to his leader and closest friend, some memories offer a warming comfort in his absence. Afternoons spent in Leblanc, in the quiet of an empty cafe that miraculously managed to stay in business despite the lack of business, are just such ones. Ryuji slumping against the worn and chipped coffee bar, Akira banging around in the kitchen... He can almost smell the slightly acidic brew of the coffee, even now.]}

He never said. _{[A mysterious guy to the end, their Akira.]} Mild curry suits me just fine. I like sweet, too.

[Oh dear. That was a whole lot worse than anything she could imagine. She definitely had to agree, Ryuji and his mom were a whole lot better off without someone as terrible as him in their lives.]

That's so awful... I'm so sorry that you lived with someone like that. [] It's definitely for the best that he's not around. Both of you are too good for someone like that.

[Now that she was done with the rice, she walks over to help Ryuji chop the remaining meat into pieces. She looks at his shapes in glee, he was doing a great job!]

He did! I wanted to learn since he's always working hard and comes home really late. Since we didn't have my mom around, I felt like I needed to do my part in helping him out whenever he comes home from a long day's work.

[Thinking back on those memories were sad, but she didn't mind talking about it. That's a part of her past and she felt comfortable enough around Ryuji to share those memories. Especially considering everything she's learned about him. Their situations were different but in a way, she found a kindred spirit through him. The single parents club...

Seeing his smirk made her smile right back at him. It was enough to brush off any sad feelings that she might have had.]

I'm glad that we have the same tastes! Looks like if we ever eat anything else together, our taste buds won't disagree.

Yeah. _{[The agreement comes with a wry you don't know the half of it undertone.]} I used to wonder if it was somethin' I was doin'--but now I know better. Some people are just shit, ain't no one makin' 'em that way.

_{[One side of his mouth kicks up, hinting prefacing the joke to follow.]}

Our one good parent's gettin' a raw deal. They're still at home thinkin' they need to feed and clothe us like no time's passed while we're here gettin' twice the meals, gorgin' on curry.

Where is she, your mom?

_{[He didn't last that long not asking, but he's curious to know if they also have co-memberships to the deadbeat parents club as well.]}

It's sad but true, there are people who will just be terrible no matter what.

[Unfortunately, she ended up learning the hard way, as well. But it made her happy that Ryuji knew better. It wasn't fair that someone as nice as him had such a hard life.]

Yeah, totally. I really feel sorry for our parents and it doesn't help that the closets provide is with whatever it is that we need.

[His joke causes her to laugh a little. She appreciate how he always tried his best to lighten up the mood. Being around him, she could never truly be sad or downcast. If anything, she felt extra positive just by standing next to him.

There's a hint of a pause once he asks, but she didn't have a problem telling him. Since she was a child when her mom died, she didn't know her very well to say much about her,]

She... passed away when I was really young.

Oh, I'm sorry.

_{[Same hole where a parent should be, but a more terrible and permanent cause for it being there. He'd had an opportunity to know his father, even he rather wished he hadn't. Being deprived of that chance at all...]}

You and your dad are close?

Mm, it's all right. I don't really remember her since I was so little when it happened.

[While she still felt empty not having a mother around, she figured that it would have been much harder if she was close with her mom.]

We are! He worked a lot of hours, so we never got to spend that much time together but I know that being a single parent is tough, so he had to work hard to provide for the two of us.

[She loved her dad but she still couldn't deny that she felt lonely for most of her childhood. However, she was still able to smile because of the idols she saw on TV. It was thanks to them, she decided to pursue an idol career.]

But, I ended up achieving my dream of becoming an idol! So at least now I can help him out and he won't have to stress himself out.

That must be tough... Sometimes I thought about what havin' a dad would be like, but I never missed mine, exactly. I already knew it'd be worse with him around. I dunno what I'd do without my mom. Take this--

_{[Done with the cutting, he gestures to the crookedly cut meat he's piling together.]}

I'd starve if I had to do all the cookin' myself.

_{[There's a fond and yet still sober cast to his smile as he sets the knife down. An overworked parent. Wanting to return the favor and take care of the one who takes care of you. Yeah, he knows that feeling.]}

I know you worry about it, but a bad kid wouldn't worry so much about takin' the burden off their dad. I'm sure your mom'd be proud of how far you've come, too.

_{[Sayaka had achieved her dream. He, on the other hand, hadn't, but in the end there were other ways of supporting his household instead of sports. He'd find it, one way or another.]}

I don't blame you in the slightest. It's definitely better to not have someone like that around, you and your mom don't deserve a life like that.

[Seeing the crookedly cut meat still made her beam. In her eyes they were still delicious! It made her even more hungry for to taste the curry. She begins to oil up one of the pans so they could cooking it up.

Her heart began to fill up with warmth from the sweet thing he said to her.]

Aw, thank you Ryuji! You're really sweet. Likewise, I'm sure your mom is proud of you and the man you became after the hardships you had. I don't know how many times I told you this, but you're one of the nicest boys I've ever met.

I'm really happy that I met you here, even if this place isn't the best.

That's true for her. Sometimes I think you give me too much credit. She raised a real shit, you know.

_{[His amused tone is purely joking. Her willingness to assume the best of him and his family says more about her than it does them, in Ryuji's opinion. Unconditional kindness of the kind Sayaka hands out is rare, and she seems to have an endless supply of it, believing in the best after escaping the worst of conditions.

From carbon under high pressure come diamonds. From hardship, strength. They've both crawled out of dark places to be here--and despite being the last thief standing, it's not so lonely standing in the light as it could be.]}

You're only as good as your friends. I'm glad we met, too.

_{["Nice," though... Don't get him wrong, it's nice to be thought of as a nice boy and not a vulgar boy, but...

Tbh, he liked it better when they were at the pool and she was calling him manly and hot (did she ever say that, Ryuji, did she?) but ehhh, she's making him a meal so he'll let it slide this time.]}

Geez, you! I think you need to give yourself more credit than that.

[That causes her to laugh and if her hands weren't so messy she would have given him a playful smack for that comment.

Despite everything that he's gone through, she could tell that he's grown up so much since then. It amazed her how kind he could be after all the hardships he's been through. He's a huge inspiration to her. Even with all the terrible things that's happened in Wonderland, she was truly happy to be here and meet such a wonderful young man.

A hint of pink begins to flush on her cheeks when he reciprocates her words. She couldn't be any happier to hear that.]

How's the meat coming along? The pan should be ready to cook them whenever you are!

Good to go! Anythin' else, chef?

_{[He loaded the beef onto a plate and carried it over to where the pan was ready and waiting to work its magic on their lunch.]}

Is it uncomfortable for ya if I ask what she was like? Your mom.

_{[He hadn't had to with Yusuke; the full story having to do with the circumstances of his mother's death had been unfairly put on display thanks to Madarame. Yusuke might've understood what it's like growing up trying to do right by your father more than he can.]}

Did she like to sing, or does that come from your dad's side? Or are you just one of them surprise prodigies?

_{[Said with a half-cocked smile as the meat slips into the pan and begins to sizzle.]}

I think we should be good! The rice should be finished cooking soon, so all we have to do is brown up the beef, make the curry stew and we'll be good to go!

[Because she was totally ready to eat. As soon as the beef his the pan, she could hear the sounds of sizzling and it was only making her grow even more hungry. Hopefully her tummy would embarrassingly growl in front of him...]

Not at all! To tell you the truth, I was so young that I honestly can't remember her. But from what I heard through dad, I have no doubts that she was a kindhearted lady.

[With a spatula in hand, she begins to move the beef around in order for each side to be evenly cooked. At his question, she looks up at him with a reassuring smile.]

Hmm, I don't believe either of my parents are into singing! Unless you count lullabies. [She laughs a little at that.] My dad worked a lot, so I was home alone for most of my child. I saw some idols on tv and watching them made me really happy and helped me get through my loneliness.

So, I wanted to do the same! I'm sure there are others out there who were just as lonely as I was, so I thought that by becoming an idol, I could help others who are in need, just like how those girls made me happy.

_{[To his own distant surprise, his stomach wakes up and takes a look around at the offerings with some interest. It is starting to smell mouth-wateringly good, the familiar aroma of Japanese spices--the likes of which he might've found in his kitchen at home any day of the week--settling his nerves with a home-spun comfort.]}

Did you get to see photos of her?

_{[Idly, he wonders which parent she takes after more, if her inheritance is a priceless physical resemblance, if not talents like Yusuke.

He can't decide if looking like someone you don't remember is better or worse than not bearing any resemblance to them at all. Ryuji's fortunate; his looks are a fair mix of both sides, he can pretend to be more his mother's child if he wants to.]}

Bein' an only child and havin' no one around to ask for homework help when you get stuck 'cause someone's late at work sucks ass--I know how that goes.

_{[But Sayaka's explanation of how she'd decided to pursue a future as a performer brings an amused smile to his lips--not because it was funny, but because it, like the smell of cooking curry, was familiar.]}

So that's why you wanted to be an idol. You and the Phantom Thieves have more in common than you think.

_{[They, too, had been watching and wanting and dreaming of giving back the freedom they'd been given, hadn't they?]}

I did! She was really pretty. I got my hair color from her.

[Luckily for Sayaka, she was happy to declare that both of her parents looked really nice. If she had to choose, she would say that she resembles her mother on the looks department. But she did have her father's work ethics.]

Right? I can totally relate to that! It's difficult when you have a problem you can't solve but there's no one around to ask.

[While she wouldn't have wished anyone else to be an only child, it felt nice to be able to relate to Ryuji on an intimate level like this. From their first meeting, she never would have guessed that they would have so much in common. Each and everyday, she felt like they were growing closer.

She wasn't a hero like Ryuji and his friends, so it was really reassuring to hear such a kind thing from someone whom she considered to be a hero. There was no way she could pull off the stunts they could. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't exactly change the hearts of people.]

I'm honored to hear that. [Before she finishes her sentence she quickly glances around their surroundings to make sure that no one else was nearby. The coast was clear and Sayaka giggles before speaking in a hushed whisper.] Especially from the Phantom Thief himself.

_{[An image starts to pull together in his mind--an older version of Sayaka with a spill of long, dark hair. Maybe she'd shared the same warm smile, just a little more aged around the corners.]}

Do you ever think... I mean, Wonderland can bring back people who've died, right? _{[Said to the pan, as he gives it a little shake to move the meat around.]} Do you ever wonder if people who've been gone a really long time could show up, like my dad or your mom?

_{[Anyone could wash up on these shores anytime...

A part of him admits to wishing his immediate friends would come back so they could be a united team, but he's not sure how he feels about the idea on a broader scale. It opens the door to the past in a way it shouldn't be opened.

He allows that curl of a smile to return at her conspiratorial whisper.]}

Wonderland's one and only. That makes it extra legit.

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