[Hey he didn't expect the strength to be this bad. Maybe he should have stuck with a draining Persona, but he promised it would be mano-el-mano and he wasn't about to back down.
Seeing the flames tho...Ren half expects him to poof out a fireball, but he has to admit that it gives him a very badass look. He slowly raises a thumbs up at him.]
Nah I think you're the hot one right now.
[The fire or Ryuji? It is a mystery. But Ryuji please consider: how fun would it have been if you didn't get to blow of some steam/fire/ice/fists with Ren? He gracefully accepts Ryuji's hand and pulls himself up easily with it, dusting off his pants and adjusting his glasses before answering back, a very clear twinkle in his eyes.]
No fuckin', duh, Renren, I'm burning up out here...
[ is that he meant? the day is young, but the sun's been bearing down on them, so of course ryuji's gotten a little worked up, a little sweaty, in the heat of their contest.
or, could it be... ]
... { ... ] ...! [ his clothes! he didn't put on clothes, and he's still holding on to ren's hand, and this is kind of a disaster on the surface. ] Tch!
[ he can fix this, but he needs to hurriedly let go of ren to do so, and key in some chromawear. poof. it's like nothing ever happened! ]
Whatever, I'm still pissed off at your dumb ass...!
[ ren's right: ryuji can't do any better at the moment as far as a challenging opponent to square off with's concerned. it's just that this isn't how he was expecting a big day like this to go. the least someone could have done was get him a cake, even if he needs to lay off the carbs right now...
for both good measure and emphasis, he whacks ren on the arm. a love tap. ]
Guess I owe ya, though. Now I don't have to worry about goin' ballistic at home...
[Ren gives him a smile that says 'I noticed but I wasn't going to tell' because of course he noticed and like hell he was going to tell him. Rip hand holding but that's okay, he'll accept that Ryuji needs his chromawear. For now, anyway.]
A-huh.
[That's all he gives him back, laughing as he gets hit on the arm, briefly rubbing the elbow as a small joke.]
And after a workout, what better way to celebrate than have morning meal, right? I figured I'd get an early start before the others...
[He taps a few things on his watch, and the Kotatsu reappears, going from the other rooftop to this one and landing next to them. Ren dramatically pulls off the blanket top that he'd been using to keep the food hot, revealing some covered dishes and he opened to showcase a much more typical Japanese breakfast and steaming closed mugs of coffee.]
[ why isn't this what ren lead off with! there would've been plenty of room for fooling around (fighting around, not the other kind!) later on! ryuji might kill him, or kiss him, one of the two. he's going to get fed in either case. ]
Jeez, man, everyone knows you're supposed to fuel up first! You can't work out on an empty stomach!
[ he'll forgive him, just this once. although... ]
Wait, up here?! Just us—?
[ if he didn't know any better (he doesn't, for the most part), it sounds a lot like something to ryuji he'd...rather not name...the dreaded d-word... ]
Well that was the plan at first, but then you sounded like you needed to let off steam. It just means you'll get to enjoy the delicate flavors of the food more.
[Ren decided to wing it because why not, really.]
Right, just like when we used to go to the restaurant for food and to talk about classes.
[Ren did see it both as a date and not a date at the same time. Would it also be considered that times they went without the team somewhere as a date? In which cause he took them all on different dates and was happy about it.
He takes a seat and invites Ryuji to do the same.]
We could even go somewhere else if you want. It can hold a good amount of weight while floating.
[ but he doesn't argue any further; doesn't raise his voice, doesn't hurl any more repetitive insults than he already has. to say the beast is satiated isn't quite right when ryuji never got anywhere past shoving the guy around a little. even so, the change in tune and the (semi) thoughtful gestures have charmed him enough to quiet down. for now. he reserves the right to change his mind after he's eaten and sunned himself a little. these prismal-inspired clothes don't exactly leave much to the imagination, which wasn't his intent, but it can give ren a new type of show, he supposes.
whatever. it's nothing he hasn't seen before! ]
Huh? Nah, it's... [ ryuji looks around, scratching the back of his head. it's fine? visually bleak, but fine. the last concern on his mind at the moment is if his shorts get dirty when he flops down. ] Just thought you had a bigger party in mind or somethin'...
[ a bigger party instead of just. ryuji and ren. then again, he probably does this for everyone...obviously they deserve it, so it's nothing to feel slighted over. he's just happy someone besides yusuke remembered him at all, secretly fearing the worst. ]
[Ren appreciates the tight fitting prismal-inspired clothing that leave very little to the imagination. Thank you for their sacrifice.
Nope, but Ryuji needs to stop thinking that Ren enjoys just the first time. He smiles at the words because he understands how that can be. It's fun to be with a friend but as much as Ren would want to play around with the idea, he also doesn't want Ryuji's heart to think that this is it. Just a little not-date with his best friend on top of a desolate building.]
There are reasons why I don't sleep that much.
[Like planning parties in the cafe.]
I wasn't sure if I should do it at the cafe or an arcade but I settled for just renting a bunch of machines for the cafe...it's funny how you can do that in this world.
[ sorry, ryuji's side-tracked with eating, so he doesn't quite follow what's going on at first. there's more? ]
Mmph? [ his cheeks are full, there's grains of rice everywhere...his manners are worse than usual today. ] Whoa, you can do that!? How many we talkin'!?
[ more importantly, can they get one full-time? it'd be a great motivator for coming to the cafe more frequently than he already does, which...hasn't been a lot, in the past several days. ]
[ this changes things, though only slightly. the fact that ren's seen fit to do anything past a basic meal, or coddling, is impressive on its own. ]
They got tons of those here, too? Man, maybe I need to grab a couple...
[ if only so his future guests will have something else to do besides sack out in front of the television. prismal programs aren't really ryuji's thing... ]
What're you thinkin'? Like a real game corner?
[ what is ren thinking...now that ryuji isn't trying to knock him senseless, their faded connection's dawning on him in full. he's already spent a day or two dealing with the varying degrees of fallout for everyone else he'd bonded with, but to lose ren feels like a...special case, more so than the other wildcards who'd also been taking up space in his head. ]
I did [s]leep so much I forgot to tag this like an [i]diot
[Ryuji, little do you know how much Ren would do for his friends.]
Yeah. There's a really popular online game too..[a pause]...granted it did suck people into it last year so. [Slow shrug. This is this type of world, at this point.]
Yeah! Maybe a few fighting games and the like. Or maybe put some televisions on some of the bar's tables and offer gaming if you buy a coffee...
[Do you see the excitement in his eyes? It's too bad he can't share it with you in mind...hmmm...]
But we can talk about that later. It's your birthday!
[ no, he's seen how deep the depths of ren's generosity truly runs. honestly, his selflessness, while admirable, is a little extreme at times, but it's not what ryuji's preoccupied with now. past food, fun, a little fighting again, and maybe...something more sinister in design, if he's brave enough to tackle it, are the only things his head has room for at the moment. ]
Whoa, and end up like that one comic? Thanks, but no thanks...
[ virtual reality's not for him. he learned that one early on! ryuji's a purist at heart, so he thinks he'll stick to the equivalent of the classics here, nothing cutting-edge for him. ]
Now we're talkin'! Just make sure you credit me when you set it up, 'kay?
[ he may not be an official employee, but he likes helping out ren in any capacity. if he can earn a little recognition on the side for it, so much the better. ]
Damn straight—! Beats slumming it at the fishing hole, huh?
[ although he wouldn't have minded going back to one...the city has one here too, doesn't it? while there won't be any time for it today, he starts to wonder about what he can potentially invite ren to in the near future. just for fun, or just to hold him to...some of last week's promises, maybe.
some of them, when his head's on straight and he's not ready to go on a new rampage at the drop of a hat. ]
I didn't think anyone was gonna remember! Feels like I just had one, you know?
[ a couple of months have passed, but...is this the shortest amount of time anyone's ever spent being eighteen? ryuji doesn't know. ]
[Or maybe they aren't quite thinking of the same thing but there's so many anime and comics about people being taken into virtual reality.]
Well if I'm setting this up, I'll need you to help me.
[In his heart you are one Ryuji. Deal with it. Or not. That's fine too.]
Ahh! Well I mean it doesn't change all that much here. It's not like Japan where the adult age is 20...I got lucky since my birthday was April 1st and I was about to leave back home so soon.
[It did fit Ren in a weird way, arriving in Tokyo and leaving before his own birthday. What could they do, really.]
Sounds good! You know I'm always down to pitch in!
[ but first, please excuse ryuji while he shoves an entire fish fillet into his mouth. oh, and some extra pickles, too... ]
Makes sense... [ mph. ] But it's a pretty big occasion, yanno? [ he slurps up his soup straight from the bowl like it's a beverage of its own, washing everything down. ] I feel like we all kinda grew up ahead of time, anyway.
[ something's off, though. the first? ryuji could have sworn it was different, but it's just another one of those tiny, relatively pointless details which don't quite align with how he remembers things to be. after enough time spent in ren's head, he knows it goes both ways, something he tends to forget about more often than not. given how insignificant it is, it's not worth making a big deal over.
speaking of: ]
Guess lotsa other people'd know by now too, huh? [ when his birthday is, among other facts of varying degrees of importance. ] Still, didn't think anybody'd give a shit...
[ ren did, though. it's pretty obvious, considering how long they've known each other, and the type of guy he is in general, but it leaves ryuji feeling as warm as the sun's rays pelting them, the soup he's just guzzled, the coffee that's laying in wait to finish off their little meal together. ]
[ what an awfully nice thing for ren to say—up until the last part, at least. ]
Pbbbt— [ ryuji spits out his coffee, overdramatic. there goes all that hard work to brew it... ] Wh-what the hell! You wanna get roughed up again, or what!?
[ don't think he's forgotten that old dig at him! haven't they been friends for long enough to let that go? he's such a clown, such a joker, ryuji kind of wants to slam his face into the kotatsu.
or kiss it, since that's still going on. he can't decide which he wants more. ]
[ wow. when he puts it that way, there's no flames to fan—they sputter and die at the drop of a hat. ]
Man, if you're gonna be like that it totally kills the vibe...
[ ryuji's a lot less interested in tearing him apart now, more interested in tearing into what little's left of his food. this area was piled high just a second ago, and it's already been demolished.
if this is how breakfast is going to go, what does the rest of the day look like for them? ]
[ something like that. it's one thing to (playfully) egg him on into some mild violence, but the thought of doing it deliberately doesn't sit right with ryuji. thankfully it's easy to shake off and look past how much of a glutton for punishment ren is—especially when there's more food to distract them. ]
Huh? How'd you hide all that under there?
[ it's time to take a peek for himself. what else have ren and his magic kotatsu smuggled up here? ]
[Ryuji would be slightly disappointed to find a insulated heating case carrying the food.
Ren peeks as well so Ryuji can see him from the other side. It looks...a lot more fantastical from inside. Everything that was built to make it work and some bright lights.]
[ that's less exciting, but still impressive! there's something about their brief-but-prolonged eye contact, however, that makes ryuji flash his too-large teeth and quickly dart back up.
this is fine. he's totally fine! ]
I never was good at any of those... [ a thought strikes him then, out of the blue: ] Hey, you didn't bring that as a party favor, didja?
[ for someone who just admitted he's awful at the game, suddenly he'd love nothing more than to clobber ren silly again—with the help of some tetrominos. ]
[Totally fine, huh. It's not like Ren kept that gaze for as long as possible either! That would be silly.]
No I did not...[Although that could be fun.] We could go to an arcade afterwards, if you'd like. I think they call it Tetris here? Or it looked close enough to it...
[As fun as bringing a table and a game system here, Ren wasn't sure if the table would be able to provide all the power to make it work.]
Who calls it that!? I still can't get over how backwards and screwy this place is...
[ screwy in more ways than one. ryuji huffs, sitting back, all his weight planted on on his forearms, his bent elbows. ]
I dunno... [ he's thinking; yusuke did give him something earlier, but is now really the time to use it, to spring it on ren? maybe not. ] I kinda figured I'd just hang out with you guys. Y'know, like old times.
[ as if it hadn't only been a few months since everyone in the phantoms went their separate ways. then again, for ren, especially with everyone coming and going at random, it must feel like a lot longer. ]
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no subject
Seeing the flames tho...Ren half expects him to poof out a fireball, but he has to admit that it gives him a very badass look. He slowly raises a thumbs up at him.]
Nah I think you're the hot one right now.
[The fire or Ryuji? It is a mystery. But Ryuji please consider: how fun would it have been if you didn't get to blow of some steam/fire/ice/fists with Ren? He gracefully accepts Ryuji's hand and pulls himself up easily with it, dusting off his pants and adjusting his glasses before answering back, a very clear twinkle in his eyes.]
Yeah. Me too.
[Simple. To the point. But what next?]
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No fuckin', duh, Renren, I'm burning up out here...
[ is that he meant? the day is young, but the sun's been bearing down on them, so of course ryuji's gotten a little worked up, a little sweaty, in the heat of their contest.
or, could it be... ]
... { ... ] ...! [ his clothes! he didn't put on clothes, and he's still holding on to ren's hand, and this is kind of a disaster on the surface. ] Tch!
[ he can fix this, but he needs to hurriedly let go of ren to do so, and key in some chromawear. poof. it's like nothing ever happened! ]
Whatever, I'm still pissed off at your dumb ass...!
[ ren's right: ryuji can't do any better at the moment as far as a challenging opponent to square off with's concerned. it's just that this isn't how he was expecting a big day like this to go. the least someone could have done was get him a cake, even if he needs to lay off the carbs right now...
for both good measure and emphasis, he whacks ren on the arm. a love tap. ]
Guess I owe ya, though. Now I don't have to worry about goin' ballistic at home...
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A-huh.
[That's all he gives him back, laughing as he gets hit on the arm, briefly rubbing the elbow as a small joke.]
And after a workout, what better way to celebrate than have morning meal, right? I figured I'd get an early start before the others...
[He taps a few things on his watch, and the Kotatsu reappears, going from the other rooftop to this one and landing next to them. Ren dramatically pulls off the blanket top that he'd been using to keep the food hot, revealing some covered dishes and he opened to showcase a much more typical Japanese breakfast and steaming closed mugs of coffee.]
Oh, and it cools the legs right now.
no subject
For real!?
[ why isn't this what ren lead off with! there would've been plenty of room for fooling around (fighting around, not the other kind!) later on! ryuji might kill him, or kiss him, one of the two. he's going to get fed in either case. ]
Jeez, man, everyone knows you're supposed to fuel up first! You can't work out on an empty stomach!
[ he'll forgive him, just this once. although... ]
Wait, up here?! Just us—?
[ if he didn't know any better (he doesn't, for the most part), it sounds a lot like something to ryuji he'd...rather not name...the dreaded d-word... ]
no subject
[Ren decided to wing it because why not, really.]
Right, just like when we used to go to the restaurant for food and to talk about classes.
[Ren did see it both as a date and not a date at the same time. Would it also be considered that times they went without the team somewhere as a date? In which cause he took them all on different dates and was happy about it.
He takes a seat and invites Ryuji to do the same.]
We could even go somewhere else if you want. It can hold a good amount of weight while floating.
no subject
You're the punk who started it...
[ but he doesn't argue any further; doesn't raise his voice, doesn't hurl any more repetitive insults than he already has. to say the beast is satiated isn't quite right when ryuji never got anywhere past shoving the guy around a little. even so, the change in tune and the (semi) thoughtful gestures have charmed him enough to quiet down. for now. he reserves the right to change his mind after he's eaten and sunned himself a little. these prismal-inspired clothes don't exactly leave much to the imagination, which wasn't his intent, but it can give ren a new type of show, he supposes.
whatever. it's nothing he hasn't seen before! ]
Huh? Nah, it's... [ ryuji looks around, scratching the back of his head. it's fine? visually bleak, but fine. the last concern on his mind at the moment is if his shorts get dirty when he flops down. ] Just thought you had a bigger party in mind or somethin'...
[ a bigger party instead of just. ryuji and ren. then again, he probably does this for everyone...obviously they deserve it, so it's nothing to feel slighted over. he's just happy someone besides yusuke remembered him at all, secretly fearing the worst. ]
no subject
Nope, but Ryuji needs to stop thinking that Ren enjoys just the first time. He smiles at the words because he understands how that can be. It's fun to be with a friend but as much as Ren would want to play around with the idea, he also doesn't want Ryuji's heart to think that this is it. Just a little not-date with his best friend on top of a desolate building.]
There are reasons why I don't sleep that much.
[Like planning parties in the cafe.]
I wasn't sure if I should do it at the cafe or an arcade but I settled for just renting a bunch of machines for the cafe...it's funny how you can do that in this world.
no subject
[ sorry, ryuji's side-tracked with eating, so he doesn't quite follow what's going on at first. there's more? ]
Mmph? [ his cheeks are full, there's grains of rice everywhere...his manners are worse than usual today. ] Whoa, you can do that!? How many we talkin'!?
[ more importantly, can they get one full-time? it'd be a great motivator for coming to the cafe more frequently than he already does, which...hasn't been a lot, in the past several days. ]
half sleepy tags gooo
Um, well it's more like video game consoles than actual arcade machines, but I rented a bunch of TVs for them.
[Although now that he thinks about it...]
That could be fun. There's a few arcades around, but maybe we could make something a little more uniquely Japanese.
[Ren stop thinking about opening a million businesses.]
even though i do it too you better have slept, [H]omie
[ this changes things, though only slightly. the fact that ren's seen fit to do anything past a basic meal, or coddling, is impressive on its own. ]
They got tons of those here, too? Man, maybe I need to grab a couple...
[ if only so his future guests will have something else to do besides sack out in front of the television. prismal programs aren't really ryuji's thing... ]
What're you thinkin'? Like a real game corner?
[ what is ren thinking...now that ryuji isn't trying to knock him senseless, their faded connection's dawning on him in full. he's already spent a day or two dealing with the varying degrees of fallout for everyone else he'd bonded with, but to lose ren feels like a...special case, more so than the other wildcards who'd also been taking up space in his head. ]
I did [s]leep so much I forgot to tag this like an [i]diot
Yeah. There's a really popular online game too..[a pause]...granted it did suck people into it last year so. [Slow shrug. This is this type of world, at this point.]
Yeah! Maybe a few fighting games and the like. Or maybe put some televisions on some of the bar's tables and offer gaming if you buy a coffee...
[Do you see the excitement in his eyes? It's too bad he can't share it with you in mind...hmmm...]
But we can talk about that later. It's your birthday!
no subject
[ no, he's seen how deep the depths of ren's generosity truly runs. honestly, his selflessness, while admirable, is a little extreme at times, but it's not what ryuji's preoccupied with now. past food, fun, a little fighting again, and maybe...something more sinister in design, if he's brave enough to tackle it, are the only things his head has room for at the moment. ]
Whoa, and end up like that one comic? Thanks, but no thanks...
[ virtual reality's not for him. he learned that one early on! ryuji's a purist at heart, so he thinks he'll stick to the equivalent of the classics here, nothing cutting-edge for him. ]
Now we're talkin'! Just make sure you credit me when you set it up, 'kay?
[ he may not be an official employee, but he likes helping out ren in any capacity. if he can earn a little recognition on the side for it, so much the better. ]
Damn straight—! Beats slumming it at the fishing hole, huh?
[ although he wouldn't have minded going back to one...the city has one here too, doesn't it? while there won't be any time for it today, he starts to wonder about what he can potentially invite ren to in the near future. just for fun, or just to hold him to...some of last week's promises, maybe.
some of them, when his head's on straight and he's not ready to go on a new rampage at the drop of a hat. ]
I didn't think anyone was gonna remember! Feels like I just had one, you know?
[ a couple of months have passed, but...is this the shortest amount of time anyone's ever spent being eighteen? ryuji doesn't know. ]
no subject
[Or maybe they aren't quite thinking of the same thing but there's so many anime and comics about people being taken into virtual reality.]
Well if I'm setting this up, I'll need you to help me.
[In his heart you are one Ryuji. Deal with it. Or not. That's fine too.]
Ahh! Well I mean it doesn't change all that much here. It's not like Japan where the adult age is 20...I got lucky since my birthday was April 1st and I was about to leave back home so soon.
[It did fit Ren in a weird way, arriving in Tokyo and leaving before his own birthday. What could they do, really.]
Besides, of course we'd remember.
no subject
Sounds good! You know I'm always down to pitch in!
[ but first, please excuse ryuji while he shoves an entire fish fillet into his mouth. oh, and some extra pickles, too... ]
Makes sense... [ mph. ] But it's a pretty big occasion, yanno? [ he slurps up his soup straight from the bowl like it's a beverage of its own, washing everything down. ] I feel like we all kinda grew up ahead of time, anyway.
[ something's off, though. the first? ryuji could have sworn it was different, but it's just another one of those tiny, relatively pointless details which don't quite align with how he remembers things to be. after enough time spent in ren's head, he knows it goes both ways, something he tends to forget about more often than not. given how insignificant it is, it's not worth making a big deal over.
speaking of: ]
Guess lotsa other people'd know by now too, huh? [ when his birthday is, among other facts of varying degrees of importance. ] Still, didn't think anybody'd give a shit...
[ ren did, though. it's pretty obvious, considering how long they've known each other, and the type of guy he is in general, but it leaves ryuji feeling as warm as the sun's rays pelting them, the soup he's just guzzled, the coffee that's laying in wait to finish off their little meal together. ]
Hehe. Thanks, Renren.
no subject
[He takes this opportunity to have some of the food himself. He stays silent for the most part when Ryuji has thoughts and speaks up, nodding along.]
Why not? They'd be missing out.
[Ryuji might look gruff on the outside, but Ren knows all about the beating heart of gold.]
My pleasure. [A pause because he simply can't help himself;] Sakamoto.
no subject
[ what an awfully nice thing for ren to say—up until the last part, at least. ]
Pbbbt— [ ryuji spits out his coffee, overdramatic. there goes all that hard work to brew it... ] Wh-what the hell! You wanna get roughed up again, or what!?
[ don't think he's forgotten that old dig at him! haven't they been friends for long enough to let that go? he's such a clown, such a joker, ryuji kind of wants to slam his face into the kotatsu.
or kiss it, since that's still going on. he can't decide which he wants more. ]
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Is that a promise or a threat?
[He does like to live dangerously.]
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[ wow. when he puts it that way, there's no flames to fan—they sputter and die at the drop of a hat. ]
Man, if you're gonna be like that it totally kills the vibe...
[ ryuji's a lot less interested in tearing him apart now, more interested in tearing into what little's left of his food. this area was piled high just a second ago, and it's already been demolished.
if this is how breakfast is going to go, what does the rest of the day look like for them? ]
no subject
Oh? [Was it the mention of it being a threat? Maybe...regardless, he pulls out from under the kokatsu, some bento-like boxes.]
More?
[He's a Cordis. He's learned to make larger meals.]
no subject
[ something like that. it's one thing to (playfully) egg him on into some mild violence, but the thought of doing it deliberately doesn't sit right with ryuji. thankfully it's easy to shake off and look past how much of a glutton for punishment ren is—especially when there's more food to distract them. ]
Huh? How'd you hide all that under there?
[ it's time to take a peek for himself. what else have ren and his magic kotatsu smuggled up here? ]
no subject
Ren peeks as well so Ryuji can see him from the other side. It looks...a lot more fantastical from inside. Everything that was built to make it work and some bright lights.]
It's like playing Tetriod with food.
no subject
[ that's less exciting, but still impressive! there's something about their brief-but-prolonged eye contact, however, that makes ryuji flash his too-large teeth and quickly dart back up.
this is fine. he's totally fine! ]
I never was good at any of those... [ a thought strikes him then, out of the blue: ] Hey, you didn't bring that as a party favor, didja?
[ for someone who just admitted he's awful at the game, suddenly he'd love nothing more than to clobber ren silly again—with the help of some tetrominos. ]
no subject
No I did not...[Although that could be fun.] We could go to an arcade afterwards, if you'd like. I think they call it Tetris here? Or it looked close enough to it...
[As fun as bringing a table and a game system here, Ren wasn't sure if the table would be able to provide all the power to make it work.]
no subject
Who calls it that!? I still can't get over how backwards and screwy this place is...
[ screwy in more ways than one. ryuji huffs, sitting back, all his weight planted on on his forearms, his bent elbows. ]
I dunno... [ he's thinking; yusuke did give him something earlier, but is now really the time to use it, to spring it on ren? maybe not. ] I kinda figured I'd just hang out with you guys. Y'know, like old times.
[ as if it hadn't only been a few months since everyone in the phantoms went their separate ways. then again, for ren, especially with everyone coming and going at random, it must feel like a lot longer. ]