'What?'
Ren thought, his mind racing to keep up with the shifting atmosphere. 'What is going on? I thought things between me and Maki were good—not at the point of breaking off. Something is wrong... I need to find out why she's reacting like this, but how?'
He realised that staying silent would only look like acceptance, but if he denied it, he didn't have a solid counter-argument yet because she seemed so 'sure' of her disdain.
'It's almost like she's acting...'
Ren's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before a small, knowing smile tugged at his lips. 'Acting, huh? If this is a performance, she's better than I thought. But if it is an act, why? Whatever the reason, it must be something significant to drive her to this.'
He felt a flicker of annoyance.
Ren hated when people deviated from their expected roles, but it was to be expected. His very presence had already warped the plot so much that the butterfly effect was in full swing. He needed to keep Maki under his influence; his plans for the Zenin clan depended on it. If she deviated too far, it could ruin everything.
'Ugh, okay, no more overthinking for now,' Ren decided, putting a hand to his forehead. 'Let's fix this problem with Maki first, then I'll find out who's been messing with her head. '
Across from him, Maki looked away, her own thoughts a turbulent mess. 'I am sorry... I don't mean most of the things I say, really. It's just better for you to stay away from me, Ren. You're someone I can't just run away from, so please... just let me go.'
She closed her eyes as the last of the sunset faded. Darkness began to swallow the room, and since Maki hadn't turned on the lights, the shadows grew long and cold.
"No."
The voice echoed through the room, as calm and steady as a heartbeat. Maki's brow furrowed at the sound of Ren's defiance.
"What do you mean 'No'? " Maki's voice rose, snapping with anger. "Didn't you hear anything I said? I don't even like you! So what are you talking about?!"
She turned to face him, the fabric of her kimono snapping with the sudden movement of her hands. Ren stood up slowly, looking her directly in the eyes with an expression of pure honesty.
"No, I won't just let you go. No matter what you think you believe, Maki, I won't let some misunderstanding—or whatever this is—end this."
Maki cut him off, her voice cracking. "What do you not understand?! I don't like you! I—I hate you, so you should hate me too! It's that simple! Don't you get it, you big idiot?"
She was screaming now, her eyes glistening with unshed tears before she jerked her head away to hide them. Ren took a slow step closer, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur.
"You suck at lying, you know that? And even if you really did hate me, why would you go out of your way to make me breakfast? I know you don't like cooking."
He reached out, gently grabbing the sleeves of her kimono. "If you want me to hate you, you'd have to do something truly terrible. Maybe stab me? Then maybe I'll hate you. Maki, I'm an idiot, right? Just like you said. So why would an idiot leave his favourite friend? An idiot stays, even if that friend claims to hate him. I'm not leaving you, dummy."
As he spoke, his internal monologue took a more pragmatic turn. 'Because I need you. You might be the key to solving my low cursed energy pool once I study that restriction. And you're strong. But... weirdly enough, I've actually grown to like you. You're easy to talk to. You don't manipulate me like Mei Mei, and you're not a riddle like Gojo. I don't have to walk on eggshells around you. You're one of the few people I'm actually comfortable with... I can't let that go.'
Maki tried to brush his hands away, but his grip on her sleeves held firm. 'Why... why is he so stupid?' she thought, huffing in frustration. 'It's annoying. I even said I hate him. He should just scream that he hates me back... Why are you like this, Ren? You're making this so much harder!'
In a sudden burst of movement, she grabbed Ren by his kimono and slammed him back against the wall. Her eyes were unblinking and stern, though she focused on the bridge of his nose to avoid his gaze.
"Stop calling yourself an idiot! Only I get to do that, okay?! Now just back off! Really... just listen to me for once, Ren, and leave me alone!"
Ren smiled, completely unfazed by being pinned. "I won't listen—not when you're telling me to leave. That would be idiocy, wouldn't it? Also, you're the one holding onto me right now. Isn't that a little ironic?"
Maki's grip tightened. 'Impossible... he really is such a massive idiot. Why won't he just listen? And why... why does his not listening make me feel so...'
She tried to recoil, to create distance, but Ren was faster. He caught her wrists, keeping her from retreating back into her shell. For the first time that evening, Maki looked him straight in the eyes.
'Yup, she's lying,' Ren thought. Those eyes don't show an ounce of hate. The fact that she's barely struggling to get away proves it. But what is making you lie like this, Maki? Please, just tell me.'
He didn't let go. A split second later, Maki's knee drove sharply into Ren's stomach.
"Let me go, damn it!" she snapped.
Ren's grip vanished instantly. He crumpled, falling to his side on the wooden floor with a heavy thud. He clutched his midsection, let out a pained grunt, and muttered, "Ah... fuck..."
Maki froze, her face pale with shock. 'I—I just kneed him. I didn't think I hit him that hard... but wait, if he didn't use any cursed energy to reinforce himself, that might have actually hurt. I didn't expect him to just collapse. Fuck, I'm so stupid. He sucks at hand-to-hand!'
She dropped to her knees beside him, her hand hovering over his shoulder in a panic. "Ah... hey... I didn't mean to... wait... I'm sorry... Just leave me alone. Why don't you just..."
Ren squeezed his eyes shut, suppressing a small smirk. 'Ow... that actually did hurt. Okay, now I just have to act like it hurt even more. Sorry, Maki, I have to manipulate you a little here, but you're playing way too hard to get. This is the easiest way to break that act.'