"Ren, that teacher feels strange," Morgana said in confusion.
"Hm? What do you mean?" Ren asked as they weaved through the packed station. He had decided to go on a walk and see if anything interesting happened. He felt it would. He still had a couple hours before it would be "safe" to call "Becky," but he realized he was going to have to warn Futaba somehow.
'She's definitely going to double down on the harem protagonist thing,' he mentally groaned.
Byakko huffed. 'Don't look down on yourself, Trickster. Powerful individuals have many partners. Look at the Azure Dragon. If you—'
Ren cut off his attention and focused on Morgana.
"She smells of death? I think? But she also feels safe to me," Morgana said, seemingly confused.
"Oh, is she a cat too?" Ren asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Ren, I'm being serious!"
"I know. Those two are super suspicious. I'm hoping to fish some information out of them somehow. I don't want to deal with them, but—"
"FISH?!"
RING.
Ren's phone began to ring. He picked it up and took a look at the caller ID, ignoring Morgana's outburst. It was for the best.
"Ann?" Ren wondered aloud in confusion.
"Lady Ann?"
Ren answered his phone.
"You've reached the city morgue."
"RENNN, I NEED HELP!"
"Where are you?!"
---
Ren pinched the bridge of his nose.
Looking around, he saw a studio for filming and photography.
"This is what you needed help with?" he asked in exasperation.
Ann stuck out her tongue and said, "The male model who was supposed to be in this shoot didn't show up! We were going to cancel, but I said I'd ask my handsome friend!"
"Excuse me?" Ren sputtered.
Suddenly, a flamboyant man appeared in front of Ren, tilting his head and inspecting Ren's face.
He took off the glasses Ren was wearing and yelped.
"Magnificent! That glare is perfect! Come, come!" he demanded as he pushed Ren into the makeup room.
"Hey, wait! I'm not a model!"
"You are today, honey!" the flamboyant man said as he shut Ren in the room.
A few seconds later, Ann came in with an apologetic face.
"I didn't know that was going to happen. Sorry, Ren."
Ren just shook his head with a smile. "It's good the director is so passionate."
The makeup artist smiled and asked, "Are you two dating? You guys are so cute together!"
Ann blushed atomic red and squealed a little.
"No, no..." she muttered.
"Well, not yet... maybe," she added quietly.
Ren just laughed. Turning to the makeup artist, he said with a grin, "We're just friends. Do you think I can pull a girl that cute?"
The makeup artist had a big grin.
"Well, maybe you could."
"I'LL BE RIGHT BACK, BYE!" Ann yelped in panic as she ran away.
The people remaining in the room just laughed.
---
The shoot went... well? Ren felt awkward the entire time, but his role was to play a delinquent.
Shocking, right?
He was leaning against the wall with a flat face. The photographer was having a field day.
"The glare! The bored face!"
But the director wasn't feeling it quite yet.
"Amamiya-san... try to be more involved and theatrical. We have enough photos of your bored face. Now we need something with a more active feel."
Ren paused and glanced at Ann, who was modeling a dress. She looked uncomfortable being stared at by everyone. But she suddenly blinked and smiled, her aura changing as she glanced at Ren and gave him a wink.
'Carmen must have encouraged her,' Arsène said with a chuckle. 'Come, Trickster. We can't lose in theatrics.'
Ren suddenly gave a manic grin and cracked his neck. He adjusted his sleeves and took on the attitude of Joker. Channeling Arsène, he gave Ann a polite bow.
"May I have this dance, madame?" he said smoothly, Arsène's voice overlapping his as he held out his hand.
Ann replied with a crafty smile.
"Oui."
CLICK.
"Perfect!!!!!" the director cried out in glee.
"The chemistry! The haughty glare! The smile! The pomp! Wonderful!!"
Ren and Ann both blinked before blushing and fixing their postures.
"Here, here! Go treat yourselves! This was the best shoot I've seen in years!" he said as he rapidly approached and shoved money into their hands.
"This is a reward! Not pay! We have to sign some paperwork for Amamiya-san, but we will contact Takamaki-san when the photos are ready. It shouldn't take too long. You both are glowing!"
The director continued to cheer as Ren and Ann stood in embarrassed silence.
'I can't believe I did that.'
'I can't believe he did that!' Ann thought with a squeal. Now she could brag to Orihime and Shiho later!
Plus, she would have photos!
"Thanks, Ren," she said with a smile. "It was nice to have you here."
"I always will be, Ann," Ren answered without thinking.
Ann didn't blush this time, but held a soft smile.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
CLICK.
"You two need to leave before the director has a stroke," the cameraman said in exasperation after taking another photo. "You guys did good. I'm looking forward to seeing these."
The director, meanwhile, was grasping his chest like he had taken a blow from a Shadow directly.
Ren felt the bond between him and Ann grow stronger.
---
"So you modeled with Lady Ann?!" Morgana gasped.
He then groaned and muttered, "I wish I had a human form."
"We'll figure this out, Morgana."
DING.
Ren opened the door to the shop, not noticing the closed sign, to see Sojiro with his head in his hands and a young girl sitting at the counter with a massive Jack Frost mask on.
Well, mask was a generous term.
It was essentially a mascot costume's head. She was also wrapped in thick clothing, hiding her skin.
Jack Frost was having a field day in his head, calling her the Hermit Princess.
Ren ignored it. Jack Frost was always excitable, but he was fun to have around.
'I once threatened to commit suicide if someone didn't buy an item from me! Hee Ho Hee!'
Ren coughed upon hearing that and turned to the tired-looking Sojiro.
"So, is this her?"
Before Sojiro could answer, a muffled voice rang out from inside the Jack Frost head.
"You have come at the most opportune time, Harem-Protagonist-kun."
Ren just looked at Sojiro in confusion, and he gave a sigh.
"I don't get it either, kid."
---