Persona x Reader

Akira Kurusu x Fem!Reader (P5) [2]

As you buttoned up the blazer of your Shujin uniform and picked up your bag, you eyes fell to the vase played atop of your dresser, the rose inside it still bright with colour and showing no signs of fading. The sight of it made you think back to that day. It still felt unreal to you, not only because it was like a dream, but the fact that the words that were spoken to you that day had held true.

Your parents, once strict and overbearing were now much more relaxed. They had even apologised to you about their authoritarian ways. You were free to live your life as you wanted, no longer tied to a single path to call your fate. 

As positive as a change this was, it was too strange. Your parents had expected meticulous results from you ever since you were a young girl, and now they let you decide? Moreover, the attitude switch was much too sudden.

You paused, hand lingering over the doorknob as you stole another glance at the rose, its petals full of life. 

"...No, that would be impossible."  You told yourself, but despite thinking that, the thought wouldn't leave your head. 

                                ___________________________________________

As soon as class finished, Ann approached your desk. "Y/n, how are you?"

You smiled up at her from your seat. "Hi Ann. I'm fine."

"That's good to hear." She returned it, but it soon morphed to a soft frown as she continued. "So, um, how did your parents react?"

"When I came home late? They were mad, but... Something's been weird lately." You answered.  

"Oh, really?" Ann replied, tone uncertain. You glanced up at her, puzzled, when Akira joined the group.

Ann perked up at his entrance. "Hey! Um, Y/n was going to mention something." She said, stressing her words. You wondered if she knew how obvious she sounded, but more than anything you were confused.

Expression calm, Akira turned his gaze to you. "What's up?"

Your response was delayed as you thought back to that night. When you realised he was expecting an actual answer, you managed to stammer one out even in your embarrassment. "Ah, well, they've just been strange. They're not so demanding anymore."

"Well, isn't that a good thing?"

You smoothed the creases of your uniform absentmindedly as you spoke. "It is, but... It happened so quickly, I still can't believe it." 

Akira smiled knowingly, but it was hidden as he moved to push up his glasses. "Maybe they had a change of heart."

Hearing those words you turned back to look at him, but before you could think about it any further Ann spoke up. 

She stared at him with a wide-eyed glare, quickly punching his shoulder. "Akira!" She looked to you. "Th-That's just a joke, of course!"

Akira nodded, a mellow comparison next to Ann who was forcing a tight-lipped smile. "Yeah, just a joke."

Ann waved her hand. "Anyway, all ends that ends well, right? Why don't we take this time to hang out again?"

"I guess that'd be fine..." You replied hesitantly. Even if your parents had changed, the life and rules you had lived by were still ingrained in your mind. 

The blonde beamed. "Then I'll tell Ryuji, hold on a sec!"

She turned away to take out her phone, leaving you to converse with Akira. Your usual interactions with him were limited, as you didn't know what to say to such a collected person. However ever since that day you found yourself with further questions than you had answers to, and with each day he occupied your mind more and more.