"Ryuji, this place is already clean," Morgana said as they entered the apartment.
"So? Just means I don't gotta do much before giving back the key," Ryuji said. "Maybe I could use this apartment for a couple days..."
"Squatting is illegal and stupid," Ren said as he looked at the blank walls and clean floors. There were a couple of things left strewn about. Old tables, some dishware, rugs, some furniture. Ren figured this was what the apartment came furnished with.
'Maybe we could rent an apartment for a hideout...' he thought with narrowed eyes.
"Dude!" Ryuji's voice broke him from his thoughts. "What's up? Why'd ya zone out? We need to make the call!"
"So make the call?" Ren said, glancing at Ryuji like he was an idiot.
"Well, I was gonna... ask you to do it," Ryuji mumbled.
Morgana just snickered.
"Screw you, cat! You know I can't keep my calm!" Ryuji took a step forward, stomping on the ground before pointing dramatically at the not-cat sitting on the table.
"Or maybe you're just chicken!" Morgana said between laughs.
"Call is made," Ren suddenly said.
The two looked at him in shock.
"What the hell, dude? How? I was so loud!" Ryuji yelled in shock.
BANG BANG.
The tenant below the apartment knocked on the ceiling.
"IF YOU KNOW THAT, THEN SHUT THE FUCK UP!" an annoyed voice yelled out.
---
"Are they really gonna send someone?!" Ryuji asked while pacing around.
"I would assume," Ren sighed softly.
"How are you not nervous?!" Ryuji accused.
"Because it's literally just a person?"
DING DONG!
"Oh shit, they're here!" Ryuji mumbled before—
"Dammit!" He ran out the back door and slid down the fire escape. "I'm an idiot!"
Ren was speechless when he answered the door. That moron really just left him here alone?
"What an idiot," Morgana laughed.
Left him here with a cat?
"One moment," Ren said firmly and politely.
He opened the door and heard a cutesy voice say, "Hi, I'm Becky, your maid for today! We offer cleaning, dusting, and— oh shit."
Her voice fell back to its usual tone, and she went pale. Yes, she was dressed as a maid. Looking into an empty apartment, she saw a familiar young man and his cat that he thought he had hidden well.
"Wrong door."
"Come in, Kawakami-san. I won't say anything, and this place does need to be cleaned."
Yes, the maid who came was his teacher!!
'What the fuck? I was not prepared for that!'
Kawakami seemingly struggled for a moment before realizing that Ren had never been anything but kind to her.
Why not risk it?
She sighed and entered, the door closing softly behind her.
Morgana watched the whole exchange with glassy eyes. It looked like he had passed out from shock while sitting upright.
---
The room was awkwardly silent for a few seconds before Kawakami seemingly realized something.
"Amamiya! Why are you calling such a service? Wait, did Sakamoto put you up to this?" she snapped righteously.
Ren just stared at her with a wry smile.
"Oh, right..." Kawakami stammered and looked around the apartment. It was empty, but there was little mess. Did he live here? Didn't it say Yongen in his file?
"Kawakami-sensei, I don't know why you're working here. But stay safe. I need this apartment cleaned by tonight. Just tell me how much your rate is," Ren said calmly.
Kawakami glanced at him for a moment before ultimately sighing. "Just go home, and I'll clean up. You don't need to pay me. I'll just say it was a prank."
She turned around and began to clean.
Ren looked away from her stocking-covered legs. The maid costume wasn't revealing, but it was far more suggestive than he was prepared for.
Noticing she didn't want to talk about it, Ren gently put 5,000 yen on the table and scattered some garbage from his bag nearby.
"Be safe, Sensei," Ren said softly as he left.
"Amamiya... Please talk to me after school ends. I... uh..." Kawakami stuttered in fear.
"It's okay, Sensei. Everyone has their problems. I'll see you later," he said gently without turning around.
He picked Morgana up and left quietly.
---
"Ren... did I pass out?" Morgana asked.
"Yes. We had to cancel the call, and I was going to take you to the vet... Are you okay?"
"I'm not a cat. But thanks... I'm okay," Morgana said softly.
"Wait! I thought Kawakami came as the maid?"
Ren looked at him in confusion before huffing out a laugh.
"So you're into Kawakami, huh? She is a good-looking woman."
"REN!"
'I guess it was a dream,' Morgana thought.
He could swear he heard Zorro laughing at him.
---