My Sweetest Van Gogh || Akira Kurusu x Yusuke Kitagawa

reaching for the stars

    Ever since that day, he couldn't get the image of Kitagawa out of his head. Akira reached out towards the ceiling of the attic as he laid in his bed wishing he was with the other at that very moment. Morgana shifted in his sleep, purring slightly.

"And he says he's really not a cat.." Akira sighs, retracting his hand and now laying it on top of his furry friend.

How was he supposed to guide the rest of the team with a dilemma like this one? It couldn't be love at first sight, could it? Hell—Kitagawa was furious with him and Ryuji after they had came to protect Ann and get intel on their target; his sensei.

"Damn it..what happened to me? Is this some kind of affect I got after we started to train in the Metaverse?" he whispered, petting Morgana who was still sound asleep.

He stayed silent for a moment, before bringing his free arm up to cover his eyes. All he could see was a beautiful painted starry sky, one with him and the one he grew to think of ever since the day he met him under it.

"Why the hell do I feel this way..after only meeting..-" he was soon cut off from Morgana now kicking him with one of his hind legs.

"Can ya cut it out, Joker? Come on, we have a big day tomorrow." Morgana hissed at the once monologuing boy.

Akira could only stifle a laugh, petting the top of the "cats" head softly.

"Yeah yeah, I get it. What did I ruin though, your dream about fatty tuna?" He joked, apparently striking a nerve in the one on his stomach.

"Hey! It was a good dream, ya hear? I swear..you and Skull with your teasing. I see why Lady Ann wants to be around that Kitagawa guy." Morgana poked back at Akira.

Akira went silent for a few moments, before looking back to the ceiling.

"Hey, Morgana?" he finally managed to get out.

"What is it, Captain?" the cats gaze soon raised up to the dark haired male.

"When do you think we are going to get more intel..you know on his Sensei? I mean..he is our target after all.." his voice got a bit nervous as he asked.

"Well..we just have to get around Kitagawa more, really. I suggest Lady Ann should meet him at the place the dude is staying at..he did offer to draw her." Morgana grew worried. "Why, what's up with you?"

"Well..I really wanted to talk to him myself. He's not very concerned with Ryuji or I though." Akira shot his gaze down to the cat.

"Hey hey, don't worry about it Joker. We got this one in the bag like the rest of them, alright? Now get to bed, we shouldn't even be up right now!!" Morgana curled back up, getting comfy on Akira's stomach once again.

"Yeah yeah..whatever you stupid cat.." Akira trailed off and closed his eyes, the worry taking him over in the form of tiredness. He soon drifted off into a peaceful sleep, not to be interrupted.

The next morning, the boy had woken up to the usual smell of his humble abode—which was the smell of fresh coffee brewing. He yawned and stretched out, waking up the still sleeping Morgana up. The cat clawed at him, meowing very loud to Sojiro's ears.

"Hey, kid! You gotta be quiet up there..customers are just about to start coming in!" He older man yelled up to the attic, a loud sigh being heard as well.

All that could be heard in the attic was a soft creaking of the boys bed and a laugh. Akira then pet Morgana's head, before getting clawed at again by the grumpy cat.

"Hey, you heard the old man. You gotta be quiet Mona." He laughed at him, before getting up to retrieve his uniform.

Morgana huffed, and soon jumped onto the counter and handle of the stairs at the entrance to the attic. He mewled, as he felt a hand brush against his head—a fully uniformed Akira with his unkempt yet better than bed head hair.

The clothed boy soon received a text from the Phantom Thieves group chat—which had currently only had 3 members.

—
Panther: Hey guys..I just got a text from Kitagawa-kun. He wants to meet me after school today so he can paint me but he said you two can't come.

Panther: Should I decline the offer or should I take one for the team?

Skull: You gotta take one for the team, even though I don't want that creep anywhere near you! We need more intel on his sensei guy, since that dude has a hellofa palace!
—
Akira stared at the group chat for a minute before replying back to them, both.
—
Joker: Kitagawa is not a creep, he's just trying to get the work for Madarame. He doesn't want to be kicked out like the other apprentices. I'll think of a plan to go after during lunch break, but tell him the plans on.

Skull: Are ya kidding me man?

Panther: Okay, Akira. Just sent the text, I'll see you guys at school!
—
As he closed the IM app, he headed down stairs, and drank a cup of coffee in the dim light of the cafe. After his morning coffee, he brushed headed out after telling the old man that he would be back and wouldn't cause any trouble.

"Mona, you think Ryuji and I should head to the metaverse as Ann meets up with Kitagawa?" Akira asked the cat, who was hiding in his bag.

The cats eyes gleamed, and the plan was soon sent to the group chat. Ann and Morgana would go to Kitagawa's place, and distract him. Morgana, who would have snuck in will open the locked door—and see if it would do anything in Madarame's palace. Ryuji and Akira would be there of course, and if anything went wrong, they could always come up with a plan b on the spot.

That's what the phantom thieves of hearts were for, after all.