The Change He Wanted- Takuto Maruki x reader (Persona 5)

|Chapter 15: Worry|

You received a message from Doctor Maruki saying how he took your advice to get some rest. Of course he would considering how today was a Friday. He'd basically have a three day vacation to himself. You felt bored but managed to go through the whole day like this.

"You look bored as shit." Ryuji said.

"Mhmm, yeah." You looked down.

"I know...! Wanna go shopping at Kichijoji?" Ryuji asked.

"That's the least thing I'd ever hear out of your mouth. You sound like Ann saying that." You laughed.

"Hey...! I'm just saying' if we should. It's not like we're going to buy makeup and clothes." Ryuji frowned.

"What are you guys up to?" Akira asked.

"We're goin' shopping today to Kichijoji, wanna tag along 'Kira?" Ryuji asked.

"I'm good, I have to take care of stuff at home." Akira said.

"I don't want to go Ryuji." You said.

"Dang... Then I guess I'm going alone." Ryuji sighed.

"I've got stuff to do anyways, I also want to go find a job." You nodded.

"Have fun or so." Ryuji said.

After school you went around Shibuya to see people offering fliers for jobs. You had to find a way to pay for your cracked phone so looked for a job. You finally earned yourself a job at the store you buy your stuff at.

You managed to change into employee's outfit and continue to serve the cash register. You worked even up until a night shift when you saw girls from Shujin that you knew.

"Is that the ugly girl? Ugh what's she doing here..? No way, she probably couldn't find an actual good job. Talk about poor." The girls laughed.

You frowned and felt yourself clench your fist.

The girls went up to you and placed their stuff on the counter.

"I'm sorry why are you placing your stuff on the counter?" You asked.

"You're supposed to scan it duhhh." The girls said.

"You said that you didn't like me so if you don't then I'm not scanning your stuff." You responded.

The girls got mad and one was about to swing at you when someone grabbed their arm.

"Excuse me, I hate to interrupt but can we not solve this with violence? I'd really hate to let something like this go on." That familiar voice said.

You saw Maruki still wearing those bandages around his head. He had stopped a girl from almost leaving a scratch on you.

"Doctor...! You don't understand Y/N was threatening us..! She was saying how she was going to kill us and everything so I had to fight back for self defense!" The girl lied.

Maruki laughed.

"Nice try, I don't think Y/N is the type to threaten someone. She wouldn't hurt a fly... Well maybe she wouldn't but there's no way she'd ever threaten someone that way." Maruki said.

The girls looked mad at Maruki.

"Ugh...! Girls let's get out of here...!" They all stormed out of the store.

You looked over at Maruki.

"Oh hey, good to see you again. What are you doing working late hours? Don't you know how dangerous it is out here with all those drunk men outside?" Maruki asked.

"....I just wanted yen.. easy yen to pay off stuff." You muttered.

"If you wanted yen why didn't you say so? I could've lended you some instead of having yourself work. Anything rather than taking a night shift." Maruki sighed.

"You don't understand, I have to work to prove something. Fetching yen off someone else would only result in me paying them back and having guilty feelings." You looked down.

"Who said anything about you paying me back? I would be glad if you asked me." Maruki nodded.

You felt a bit bad doing so.

"But I eventually have to get a job, it's going to come in handy." You said.

"By taking a night shift and risking yourself at the night? There could be an assault on you by people outside. You never know." Maruki said.

"I guess you're right... Maybe I won't stick to night shifts. This is my first day and yet I decided to go for a night shift." You pouted.

"Wait... What are you even doing here? I told you that you should be resting...!" You frowned.

"I was, I was just on my way to buy some apple juice boxes since I seemed to have run out of some and then I encountered that whole thing." Maruki went to a place and grabbed the apple juices. He laid them on the counter as you began to scan it and took his yen giving him change as well.

"I'll be waiting for you, come talk to me when you tell your boss." Maruki said.

You agreed and talked to your manager about leaving already. He paid you and let you walk out free, once you stepped out of the store you saw Maruki drinking a box of apple juice.

"Wait why are you still here?" You asked.

"I can't let you walk on your own now..! Who knows what'll happen to you!" Maruki seemed worried about you.

"I appreciate your concern." You nodded.

Maruki ended up taking the train with you and dropping you off to your apartment.

"Are you sure you'll be able to be the safe one?" You asked Maruki.

"Of course, I know my ways after all." Maruki nodded.

He walked off in the distance waving at you. You felt your chest tighten as if you wanted to at least give him a hug before he left.

Nope, forget about it Y/N. Do forget you're not allowed to do that. What about a friendly hug? That at least sounds nice...

You stepped into your apartment seeing that your mother wasn't around. She's probably working hard again as usual.

You saw a card on your door step.

"Hang on... Was that there earlier?" You picked up the card and saw that same logo from the card of the Phantom Thieves. You turned around the card and read it

"To Y/N, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts ask that you admit thoughts that you are hiding and show how you feel. You're not in trouble, we're letting you know."

Your heart raced.

"Am I a villain too..? Hang on..." You looked worried, what could this mean?