The space around me was quiet. A dull, lifeless haze coated all I could see in darkness. The dark, formless clouds chafed against my body for what seemed like hours. Try as I might, there was no escape from the endless black chaos that surrounded me. The uniform pollution filled every corner of my eye as far as I could see. Only as tiny swats meandered over my face did the illusion break.

"Hey. Hey!" a light, nagging voice called out.

Twice more I felt the swatting on my face. Once lightly and then again forcefully between my eyes.

"Helloooo?" the voice called.

I feigned ignorance to evade my attacker, but I was soon rewarded with an additional smack on the head.

"Hey, I know you can't still be asleep."

I released a disapproving grunt.

"Ugh!" the voice groaned, "You know for a guy who goes to bed as early as you do, you sure love to sleep in."

I felt the cat turn and leap off the bed. I sighed in relief. Victory! However, the celebration would be short-lived since I was now fully alert. I exhaled regretfully while I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I sluggishly rose from my clingy bed and wholeheartedly accepted a fresh morning breath.

I turned to Morgana, who sat on the floor with an angry grimace on his face. Those bright blue eyes did nothing to soften his gaze, but I was used to this tactic. He began to chatter at me as I waited for my body to awaken.

"You know this kind of slacking attitude isn't going to get you a job. You need to stay motivated if you're going to make it in this world. Looks like it's up to me to get you on your feet and moving." The spry Morgana bounded to the door. "Well, c'mon!" he jeered, "You'll never get anywhere in life if you just sit there." He made a cocky smile at me.

"Hush, cat," I replied, "I told you to let me sleep."

"Hmph!" Morgana grunted, "Now what kind of leader would I be if I let you slack off like that? We've got to get a head start on the day, starting with a good breakfast."

"Oh my God!" I cried as I collapsed onto my bed, realizing Morgana's ploy, "Are we out of cat food again?"

"We are," the cat said, "b-but that has nothing to do with this. You've been lacking in your duties as a…"

I hurled a random trinket from the nightstand at Morgana's feet. The small rubber ball I had grabbed ricocheted into Morgana's face. A surprised meow followed as he darted through the open door far away from his oppressor.

"I-I'll be waiting out here for you!" the cat called, "J-just take your time!"

Thoughts of returning to my cozy slumber dissipated. When Morgana wants something, I simply must do it; there's nothing that can free me from that fate. I got up to get ready for another day of errands.

Morgana slipped energetically into my bag while I nonchalantly sipped from my morning coffee. He was obviously excited to enact some new scheme to obtain decadent food despite my objections. I prepared for the usual bombardment of requests.

"So, I was thinking that since we need to pick up some groceries for the house, we could get some fresh ingredients for an excellent breakfast. After all, your cooking skills have improved drastically while we've been together. It would be a waste not to use them at every given opportunity."

I disposed of my lackluster coffee in the sink. "You just want more fatty tuna," I replied.

"That too," Morgana said with an eager grin.

I grabbed my bag and headed for the door. "You're not talking me into spoiling you this time."

Morgana chuckled. "Is that a challenge?"

After our excursion to the supermarket, I returned home laden with groceries. Since my parents were usually busy during the day, the duties of caring for the house fell to me. My vacant schedule readily accommodated these tasks; without a job or college to attend, I had very few activities to occupy my time. Regardless of the justness of my brief imprisonment, my time in conflict with the law had a permanent effect on my social standing. Nevertheless, I was alive and well, and that was all I could ask, or so everyone kept reminding me. Seems my life had returned to a melancholy state.

At least Morgana was here to lighten my spirits. He happily chirped in my ear as we entered our home. "Oh boy! I can't wait to see what you're going to do with that sea bass! That hunk of fish looked kind of expensive too. I didn't think you would actually get it, but I'm sure it'll be worth every yen!" He curled around my shoulder in excitement. Despite his overbearing tendencies, Morgana's youthful passion kept our day to day interactions full of joy.

As I set the bags of food onto the table, Morgana descended to the kitchen countertop. "Alright!" he said, "Let's get started." I opened a bag with the food for our morning meal and nodded in anticipation. Morgana laughed confidently. "This is going to be good."

Morgana gave me a look of pure bliss. "Ah, that was delicious!" he cried, "I must say, I am truly impressed with your talent for cooking. It's a surprise you don't have people coming from all around the country to praise your culinary masterpieces."

I looked skeptically at the overzealous cat as I chewed my own breakfast. "You're just flattering me so that I'll buy more fish."

The cat smiled smugly. "Well, if it works…"

I wiped my face after finishing my meal. I was about to scold Morgana when there was a knock on the door.

Mona turned at the sound of the sudden noise. "Hmm, were you expecting someone today?"

With a puzzled expression on my face, I shook my head. Now that all the scandal and excitement had died down from my time as a Phantom Thief, visitors were an uncommon occurrence at the house. People didn't like to get involved with a troublemaker like me, and my friends were occupied with lives of their own.

I hesitantly walked to the front door, and Morgana trailed behind. I peered out the window but failed to see anyone. Only the fleeting sight of a black car could be glimpsed. I opened the door and stepped outside. Glancing around I saw no signs of a visitor. This was confusing.

Morgana's voice perked up. "Hey! Look at that," he said. I looked at him and then to my feet where a strange envelope had been placed.

"What's this?" I said grabbing the package in my hands. Looking it over, the envelope was composed of thick paper and was neatly folded. This certainly wasn't a prank from Ryuji. Examining my surroundings once more, I retreated into my home and sat down to further examine the mail.

Morgana leapt onto the table beside me. "Who could've sent this? I don't even know anyone who sends physical mail these days. Could it be a bill?" I set the envelope down. "Oh look, it's addressed to you! This couldn't be a bill then."

"A letter addressed to me?" I said in confusion.

Morgana looked at me. "Well? Are you just going to let it sit there? Open it, and let's see what's inside!"

I unfolded the finely printed paper and withdrew a typed letter. The contents of the letter only added to the confusion:

Dear sir,

I am contacting you because I believe your circumstance provides a unique opportunity for our company. Your infamous reputation has drawn massive attention from the public eye, yet this value has not yet been used to its full potential.

The letter continued with additional honorifics and superlatives describing my situation and the writer's company. Despite the wordy nature of the letter, the writer did not seem overly vain but strangely nervous. Eventually, the writer got to his point:

I would like to have the opportunity to speak with you in person on the matter of a position at our enterprise. Please take this matter into careful consideration. Though I understand the nature of your predicament, we will not be hasty about your recruitment. Please call the given number if you should find any interest in this opportunity. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you at our local headquarters in Shibuya.

As the letter closed out, I set the paper aside to contemplate what I had read. Morgana wouldn't allow his thoughts to be contained. He stared at the unfolded paper. "Huh? What is this? A job offer? But why is the letter so long? And who sends offers by mail? Why would someone drop this on the doorstep?"

I half-heartedly responded to Morgana. "Clearly because they know you won't stop asking questions about it."

"Hey, somebody has to look out for your well-being. This could be from some shady people trying to catch you off guard. Ha, that's it! You should thank me. I just solved the mystery for you." Morgana had that serious yet condescending expression only he could muster.

"The letter mentioned they were located in Shibuya, so it's a possibility," I replied.

"Those bastards probably think they could ambush you on their turf, huh? Good thing I caught on to their scheme."

I frowned. "You are seriously desperate for some excitement, aren't you?"

"Huh?" Mona wailed, "What do you mean?"

I grabbed the letter and waved it in Mona's face. "It's just a letter," I said. "It's likely just a stunt to get my attention. I probably wouldn't take conventional methods seriously anyways."

"Wha?" Morgana cried, "Are you saying you actually mean to go through with this!?"

I shook my head. "Where's the harm in it? Besides, it'll be nice to visit Shibuya for a day or two."

Mona grunted in defeat. "Ugh, fine," he said, "I'm trusting you on this one… but if anything goes wrong, I'll never let you live this down."

I couldn't help but laugh at the cat's prideful demeanor. "You don't have to come."

"And let you go by yourself when I anticipate trouble? Not a chance," Mona shook his head defiantly. "I'll remind you just how reliable I can be. We're still a team after all."

I nodded to Morgana with a smile. He looks excited too.

After relaying the situation to my parents, Morgana and I prepared for the journey to Tokyo. The following day, we began our trip, boarding a train bound for Jongen-Jaya. A stop there was practically mandatory.

A light spring breeze carried the fragrant aromas of the familiar city down the back-alleys as Morgana and I emerged from the station. Familiar faces casually strolled the streets in the morning buzz. I smiled as the sights and smells brought back memories of my temporary home. I suppose it was inevitable that I returned around this time of year. I was connected to this place now, for better or worse.

I paused momentarily as a powerful bittersweet scent overcame me. "Coffee and curry. I'm still not sure about that combination," I remarked.

Morgana took in a deep whiff of the full-bodied aroma. "Ah… Well, regardless, this scent means home now," he happily responded.

The jingling bell sounded as we entered the café. The tables were empty for now. Must be a slow day.

A familiar voice called from the kitchen. "I'll be right with you." The distinguished Sojiro Sakura stepped behind the counter sporting his usual quirky colors. He wiped his worn hands with a towel as he spoke, "What can I get…" He glanced at me and hesitated briefly. "Oh, it's you." He smiled, "Heh, almost didn't recognize you." He took a beat to look me over thoroughly. I might've been unnerved if not for our history. "You clean up pretty nicely, you know." For my interview, I was wearing a button-up dress shirt and vest with dark pants. I had gone through a small ordeal to formally groom myself as well.

"A compliment from the chief?" Morgana questioned, "Things have really changed, huh?"

"I'm just putting to use all that charm you gave me," I replied to Soji as I took a seat at the bar.

"Charm?" Sojiro said befuddled, "Ha! If I had taught you anything, let's just say you wouldn't have left here with just one kitty." He grinned with a charming smugness.

Morgana chuckled lightly. "He's got you there." I shook my head, smiling but clearly defeated.

"Ah, where are my manners," Soji continued, "Can I get you anything?"

I smiled at my past guardian. "How about some curry?"

"Coming right up," Boss said.

Morgana crawled out of my bag and onto the counter. "You know, I really missed the atmosphere of this place. Our little quiet hangout right in the middle of the city." The cat flicked his tail with renewed energy.

"It certainly beats the crowded places in Shibuya," I replied.

It was only a minute before Boss returned with two plates of curry. "Here you go," he said laying the plate of savory curry down, "And one for the cat too." He set the other plate in front of Morgana.

"Thanks," I replied. Morgana made a muffled reply as he stuffed his face with food.

"Don't mention it," Soji said. "So, what brings you back here again? You're not planning on stirring up trouble, are you?"

"No, no," I said smiling as I enjoyed the curry, "It's nothing like that," I explained the situation with the unusual job offer. Sojiro, to my surprise, appeared excited to hear my plans.

"So, you might be taking a job at a company in Shibuya?" he asked, "Good luck with that. You know my place is always open to you if you need it." He eagerly mentioned his hospitality.

"Thank you," I replied, "I'll remember that."

Morgana took a brief respite from his gorging to speak. "The chief really tries to look out for you, huh? You should consider his offer if you get this job." I nodded in reply.

Sojiro spoke up again. "Ah, if you've got some time before your interview, you should stick around for a while. Futaba will be back from school in a bit, and I know she'll want to see the two of you."

I wiped some excess curry from my mouth as I made to reply. "I would, but I'll be heading straight to Shibuya after this."

"Ah, I see," Soji continued, "Well, I'll let her know you stopped by. You know, she's supposedly graduating this year."

"That's great!"

"It's really something, huh? I can hardly believe it myself," Sojiro smiled as he went into thought. I imagined this was something he hadn't thought possible before I lived here those couple years ago.

An overexerted Morgana looked up at me. "Hey," he said with cheeks full of curry, "What are you guys talking about? You know we don't have a lot of time before we need to be in Shibuya." I rose from my seat allowing Morgana a moment to return to my bag.

Sojiro glanced up at us. "Leaving already?"

"That's right," I replied, "Sorry we couldn't stay longer."

"That's fine," Soji said grabbing our plates, "This one's on the house. You guys take care of yourselves out there alright?"

I nodded and stepped to the door. Morgana perked up in my bag, "You know, I wish we visited this place more often." He adopted a somber attitude momentarily. "N-not that your house is bad but…"

"Hey!" Sojiro called out. I turned back to the shop to see what the matter was. He stared at us for a moment. I couldn't truthfully put my feelings about this place into words. Sojiro: he was important to me, enough to cause me to question why I left. "D-don't idle in the doorway! You'll block my customers," Boss said.

I laughed dryly and waved as I left the café. Now it was time to see about this job.

A tall building layered with windows stretched high above me as I stepped off the street. Crystal clear glass doors revealed a regal interior of a clean business establishment. Entering through the giant transparent gates, I was readily greeted by a smiling secretary.

"Whoa, this place is beautiful!" Morgana exclaimed, noting the atmospheric water feature that marked the lobby.

"Hello!" the beautiful, young secretary woman said, "You must be our famous thief!" Caught unprepared by her direct words, I simply nodded in reply. She giggled at my awkwardness. "That's an adorable cat you have there."

I noted that Morgana was completely visible, mesmerized by the building's elaborate interior. I knocked my bag in irritation. He shouldn't have been out if he wanted to shadow me. "Gah," Morgana cried, "O-oh, uh… sorry."

The secretary only smiled sweetly. "We don't normally allow animals inside, but since it's you, I think the director will allow it."

I could only stare in surprise; however, Morgana was quite pleased. "This lady seems very wonderful. First, she recognizes my handsome appearance, then she permits me to accompany you. This is quite fortuitous, no?"

I ignored the cat and recomposed myself. "I'm here for an interview. Were you expecting me?"

"Of course," the secretary said with her adorable smile, "Just continue down to the end of the hall there, and the director should be down momentarily to greet you." She pointed to the adjacent hall.

I looked forward into the wide hall covered in numerous photographs and placards. "Thank you," I replied to the secretary. She nodded.

I walked down the corridor glancing at the images painstakingly oriented along the walls. This company obviously had some history to be proud of, but the photos of people did little to illuminate the company's nature. The polished tile floors echoed my footsteps as I came to the end of the hall. An ornate elevator jutted slightly from the intersection flanked by two opposing halls with far more office rooms located along those routes.

Morgana freely commentated on our situation. "This place is quite something," he said, "Still, I'm worried. Could this really be a trap with so much formality to this place?"

Having little to add to his thoughts, I stared up to the glistening ceiling, illuminated by more expertly positioned windows. I was ready to hear more of this job offer, and more speculation would do little good at this point. Thankfully, our thoughts were interrupted promptly.

"Hello," a distinguished businessman with an immediately foreign accent approached, "You must be the one I've heard so much about. And you brought your cat too. Excellent." He grinned from ear to ear, clearly eager to meet. The man wore a dark suit with minimal flair to his attire.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you," I replied.

The well-dressed man quickly took my hand and shook it firmly all the while maintaining his excited composure. "You must have a few questions for me," the man said releasing my hand, "I'm sure it's not every day an American businessman contacts you for an interview. Well, follow me. We'll have plenty of time to discuss this in my office." The man swiftly turned and walked down the hall.

Morgana offered his own opinion on the situation. "An American, huh? No wonder his methods were so unorthodox."

"This is bizarre," I quietly replied.

"You should follow him," Morgana continued, "I want to know more about this strange man."

I aimlessly traced the businessman's path. Now, my unfamiliarity turned to unease as I began to realize the complexity of the situation.

The American diverted us into a large office before taking a seat behind a formidable desk. Despite the man's pomp, the furnishings of his office were clearly lacking. A large bookshelf sat barren with only a scant few volumes resting within the frame. Likewise, there was only a single clock to decorate the plain walls.

The businessman motioned to the chair across from himself. "Please, have a seat," he said. I sat, gathering the appearance of the room as I did. "My name is Samuel Zimmermann, and I'm the director of operations here at Z-Tech. I hope it wasn't too much of an inconvenience visiting us here." The man flashed a toothy grin.

I shook my head. "Not at all."

"Good," he replied. Samuel lowered his head momentarily before resuming conversation with a comforting smile. "Ya know, I was actually a bit nervous when I heard you accepted our invitation. I haven't had to use my Japanese in years." He chuckled softly.

"It seems fine," I coolly responded.

"Ah, that's a relief," he said. The man looked down and winced. "Eh, sorry, I need something to relax." Samuel reached into his desk and retrieved a small dish of candy. He unwrapped one of the brightly colored pieces and tossed it into his mouth. "Ah, that's better," he said with a sigh, "Would you like one?" He pushed the dish in my direction.

I shook my head, far more interested in why I was here.

The man scratched his chin before continuing. "So, do you know why I called you here?" he asked.

"You want to use my reputation to bolster your company," I said. That was the best guess I could make.

"That's right," replied Sam, "Our company is very interested in working with someone of your… infamy. It's quite a unique opportunity." Samuel glanced at me as he contemplated what to say next. "Actually, that's not the real reason I summoned you here. It's true that our company could benefit greatly from your reputation, but…" He stumbled with his words, rubbing his face as he spoke. He stared intently at my face. "The Metaverse…"

I fidgeted nervously at the mention of my old place of business.

"Ah, so you do know of that place," Samuel said as a broad smile crept across his face, "Well, I couldn't expect any less from a person such as yourself."

My body tensed, and I felt weighted to my chair. The Metaverse was dangerous to enter let alone to discuss.

"What?" Sam inquired, "You didn't think that Japan was the only place with knowledge of cognitive psience, did you?"

I remained silent while Morgana muttered in hushed tones. "This guy knows the Metaverse? Just who is he…"

"Look, I understand that you probably don't want to get involved with that world again, but I could really use someone with your expertise," Sam continued, "That place is dangerous. Every interaction with that world reveals new threats, and yet I can't shake the feeling that we could do a lot of good by using it." Sam beamed at me. "I mean, if even half of the rumors about you are true, you certainly made a marked difference on our world by using that place."

Unwilling to allow further corruption to infiltrate the cognitive world, I calmly refused him. "There's nothing I can do for you," I replied.

Sam just kept smiling. "Heheh, I'm not asking you to give me an answer right now." The man slid a business card across the table. "Here's my card," he said, "I want you to think this over." Sam stopped smiling to adopt a more serious tone. "We are at a breaking point. There's still so much we don't know, so much left to discover. Listen, I believe you're a good sort of person, but our research will continue with or without you." Sam took a beat to humble himself. "I want you on my team when we reach our breakthrough. With your help, I'm sure everything will turn out for the better."

I grabbed the business card and slid it into my pocket. The news of this research was troubling, but I couldn't let the draw of that world pull me into whatever scheme Sam was planning.

Surprisingly, Sam made to end our discussion. "That's all I had to say," he said, leaning back in his chair, "You're free to go; just… think about what I said."

I cautiously nodded before leaving with my disorganized thoughts.

As I returned to the bright and busy outdoors, Morgana was quick to speak. "That man was very suspicious; I'm glad you turned him down. I would definitely advise against getting involved with shady organizations like that."

I nodded absentmindedly. "He kept mentioning the Metaverse."

Morgana was deep in thought. "To think there are more organizations out there abusing the cognitive world… it's unsettling."

"I agree." I turned to walk down the street as we talked.

"But the cognitive world isn't a place that can be so easily manipulated," Mona continued, "I'm sure whatever plans they have will fail. After all, it was only through my expert training that we were able to have any effect on the real world at all."

I briefly recalled my time as a thief. "What about Akechi? He was able to use the Metaverse alone."

"Hmm, true," Morgana replied, "But he was also the antithesis to your Trickster status. I'm sure he had some advantage."

"I'm still worried."

"We should…" Morgana was unceremoniously interrupted by the chime of my phone.

I took the device from my pocket and glanced at my messages.

A familiar yellow icon accompanied some cheery text. "Hey! You're in Shibuya now, right? We still meeting up?"

"Ah, Ryuji," Morgana commented, "So, you made plans?"

I nodded before returning the text. "Yep."

Ryuji quickly replied, "Awesome, bro! Let's meet up behind the old arcade. I got something I want to show you."

"The arcade's not far," I said, "You ready?"

"For Ryuji?" Morgana asked, "I'm not sure anyone can be ready for him."

As I exited the alley, I immediately saw Ryuji wearing a bright red shirt and leaning up against a patterned yellow car. He tapped his foot impatiently as he stared down a side road toward the setting sun. The evening light only made his changed appearance more obvious. His hair was much darker with only a few highlighting golden streaks. I wasn't sure if that indicated he was getting lazier or increasingly mellow, but he looked good nonetheless.

I stepped out of the shade and took a moment to appreciate my friend. Ryuji didn't take long to notice. Once his eyes laid on me, a charismatic grin cracked his face. He leaned off the car and released an excited laugh. "Hey, man! How've ya been!?"

"Doing alright," I replied with a smile. I extended a fist, and Ryuji swiftly gave me a bump. "It's been rough taking care of this guy though." I pointed to Morgana.

"Hey!" Morgana exclaimed, "Let's not forget all the advice I give you."

"Wassup, Mona?" Ryuji happily greeted the arrogant cat. "It's good to see ya."

"Likewise, Ryuji," Mona replied, "I see you've changed your hair."

"Huh? Oh, yeah," Ryuji stammered, "It was gettin' to be a bit of a hassle, and this was a bit simpler so…"

"So," I interrupted, "What did you want to show me?"

Ryuji perked up. "Oh, yeah! Here, look!" Ryuji extended his arms to the car behind him. "I finally got a car, dude." The bright yellow car was covered in a stylish, black zig-zag pattern. The body of the vehicle appeared in good condition, but it was obviously an older model. "Pretty cool, huh?"

"It looks nice for you, Ryuji," Morgana replied.

"It suits you," I said.

"Yeah, I thought you'd say that," Ryuji continued, "I got it for cheap too since it was an older car. All it took was a fresh paint job and bam! Looks pretty cool, huh?"

"I'm a bit jealous actually."

Ryuji couldn't hold his excitement. "C'mon, let's go for a ride! You guys hungry? Cause I'm damn near starvin', and I'm cravin' some ramen." He popped open the driver's side door and slid inside the car.

I got into the passenger seat setting Morgana's bag on my lap. I noted that the interior of Ryuji's car, though worn, was clean and well kept.

Ryuji looked at me with excited anticipation. "You ready to roll?"

I nodded. Mona spoke up, "H-hey, don't drive to fast, okay? You know my stomach is sensitive." Ryuji released a disconcerting cackle as he hit the ignition, and the engine sputtered to life.

A steaming bowl of noodles and broth sat in front of me. After that exciting car ride, Morgana was uncharacteristically quiet, but Ryuji made up for the lack of noise.

"So," Ryuji said as he shoveled a spoonful of noodles into his awaiting gullet, "You're all fancy dressed for that interview you had, right? You gotta tell me about it." He gulped down another glob of wet noodles.

I paused my eating as I responded. "It was pretty weird," I said. I told him about the quirky businessman and his intrigue with the Metaverse. Naturally, Ryuji was curious to learn more.

"So," he said as he gasped for air, "This director guy calls you in and tries to get you to help him research that world?" I nodded. Ryuji frowned. "Well, I guess you and Morgana would make pretty good experts with all the knowledge we gathered from runnin' around those places." Ryuji stared at his now empty bowl. "But that's kinda messed up, ya know? Nobody should be messin' with that world! It's dangerous, especially when stupid adults get involved." He shook his head. "Gah! Stupid effin' adults! Get's me riled up just thinkin' about 'em."

"Hey," I calmly replied, "We've beat that stuff."

Ryuji lowered his head. "I know, I know. But still. It feels like nothing's changed. Was it all just a game centered around that controlling thing?"

"I don't know," was all I could say as I contemplated the unfathomable imagery that had briefly possessed the earth before the final showdown of the Phantom Thieves.

"Gah!" Ryuji exclaimed, "I'm all pissed now. I just…" Suddenly, Ryuji reached out and grabbed my bowl of ramen, bringing it to his lips. I stared wide-eyed as I watched him gulp down every drop from the dish.

Concerned, I continued to examine my friend as Ryuji slammed the empty bowl onto the counter. "Ah, that's better," he said with a sigh. Regaining some consciousness, he looked at me with embarrassment. "Oh, uhh, sorry about that." He closed his eyes in shame. "Ah, look at me. Getting' all riled up about stupid shit in the past, and then I go and act like one of the shitty adults I keep raggin' on." He sighed heavily. I was surprised at Ryuji's sudden sobriety. I wondered if he was having some personal trouble of his own. "Here," Ryuji continued, "I'll buy us another round of ramen to make up for it."

"Y-you're getting another?" I asked.

Thankfully, by the time our next helping of ramen arrived, the conversation had calmed somewhat. Ryuji had found a job, having no interest in college. Otherwise, things around Tokyo had been relatively calm. Most of our other friends had relocated themselves or become busy with their own lives, so there wasn't much to report on those fronts.

"Anyways," Ryuji continued as he ate more ramen, "If you're thinking of staying around for a few days, we should hang out at Leblanc. Futaba's been teachin' me how to play this new game that's out, and I'm gettin' pretty good at it." He smiled as he slurped up another noodle. "I might actually beat ya this time." I smiled, and Ryuji laughed. It was great to be back.

I turned my attention to my own bowl of ramen while Ryuji continued to devour his own. Abruptly, I was distracted by the loud, overhanging tv. A newscaster was apparently going through the main stories for tonight.

"And now for an important update regarding the prison escape that occurred early this morning."

"A prison break?" Morgana squealed, "This should be good."

I concentrated on listening to the broadcast while Ryuji continued to slurp.

"Police have confirmed that only one prisoner is unaccounted. Still, local authorities are warning to stay clear of the prison facility for the time being, and any visitations must be rescheduled. Additionally, the police have finally confirmed the identity of the escapee. This man…"

I rubbed my eyes as the image flashed into the tv. I could only assume Morgana was also in awe.

"Suguru Kamoshida was discovered to be missing earlier today from his cell. Furthermore, authorities are still struggling to explain this sudden disappearance."

Ryuji suddenly gagged as an elongated noodle lodged in his throat. I broke my gaze from the tv and gave Ryuji a smack on the back. After a few wet coughs, he ejected the noodle from his mouth and inhaled heavily. "What the fuck!? Did you just hear that shit!?" He glanced at me as he rubbed his throat.

"Look!" Morgana cried.

I returned my attention to the television. "Authorities have also reported that the convicted child-abuser has fled the country under a falsified identity. Reports indicated his flight was bound to Western Europe; however, authorities are encouraging any former associates of Kamoshida to suspend any trips outside of Japan, and that any associates already outside the country should seek safe shelter immediately. Here to add to our discussion of the convict and first target of the Phantom Thieves we have…"

"Holy shit, dude!" Ryuji shouted, "This is seriously effed up! I mean, how'd he escape from prison? Ah, Kamo-shit-bag is back to no good, and he's out of the country too…"

I scratched my head in amazement. "The report said he was on a flight to Western Europe. That's a weird place to go."

"Y-yeah," Ryuji stammered, "Western Europe is like…" He paused, staring wide-eyed at me. "W-wait a sec…" A fire suddenly boiled up in his eyes. "Wait a sec. That effin' bastard!" Ryuji thrust up from his stool in a huff. "I can't believe the nerve of that bastard!"

Puzzled, I kept my eyes on Ryuji. "What's up?" I asked, "You know something I don't?"

Ryuji stomped out of the shop saying, "C'mon, I gotta show ya something."

Having little choice, I grabbed Mona and followed Ryuji.

Once we returned to the car, Ryuji pulled out a magazine from underneath the seat. "Look at this," he said, straight-faced. There was a beautiful and sexy lady on the cover laying in a suggestive pose.

I made a slight grin. "Is this how you relieve stress nowadays?"

Ryuji frowned. "Quit that. I'm serious!" He began flipping through the pages. "It's a fashion magazine. There's an article about Ann somewhere in here."

Now I was slightly more confused.

Ryuji glanced at me. "H-hey, don't give me that look. I j-just happened to hear she was gonna do an interview for this magazine, so I wanted to check it out."

I shook my head in disapproval.

"Ah, we don't have time for this!" Ryuji rustled the pages until he found the article. "See! Look!"

Several blocks of text were juxtaposed by a full body shot of Takamaki in the most expensive red dress I had ever seen. Glistening light cascaded down her figure, highlighting ample thighs flanked by two elegant, black high heels.

"Holy mackerel!" Morgana cried, "S-she's…"

"Hey, now who's being the perv!" Ryuji retorted. He smacked his hand on the blocks of text. "Look here, dammit!"

"What am I supposed to be reading?" I asked. "It's kinda hard to read when your hands are shaking."

"Ugh, fine!" Ryuji interjected, "She's being featured in an upcoming fashion show in France! You see what this means, doncha!?"

"You need a girlfriend?" I responded.

"Ye- what!? No!" Ryuji yelled, "Mona, I never thought, I'd ask this, but… please tell me we're on the same page here." An uncomfortable, pained look crossed Ryuji's face.

"Well, if my memory serves me," Mona responded, "France is in Western Europe, and, given Kamoshida's prior history of obsession with Lady Ann, I'd say she could be in real trouble."

"Right!" Ryuji shouted, "We gotta do somethin' about this!"

"Maybe we should contact her," I suggested.

"Nah, that won't work," Ryuji stated, "Lately, when I've tried to contact her, my calls have to go through her agent and I can't get through."

"Well, let's call the authorities then."

Ryuji snorted. "What good's that gonna do? Not like the police'll send an armed guard to escort her around."

"Well, what should we do?" I asked.

"You know what we gotta do!" Ryuji said with astonishing conviction, "We gotta honor our deals as thieves and look out for our own! We gotta do this ourselves."

"Ryuji…" I replied with a sigh, "I can't just go to France."

"Wha?" Ryuji stammered, "Why not?"

I rolled my eyes. "I can't spend that kind of money on a trip without an extraordinary excuse."

"This is an extraordinary excuse! Kamoshida effin' escaped from prison! C'mon, I can't do this without my leader!"

"Ya know, I hate to disagree," Morgana interceded, "But this guy's right. We can't just spend money without his parents' permission right now." Morgana and I sighed.

Ryuji scrunched up the magazine in frustration. "F-fine, I'll pay for you guys!" Surprised, I looked to Ryuji for confirmation. "Y-yeah, I'll do it! You can just lie to your parents and say it's a trip to visit that company you were interviewin' for."

"Ah," Mona said, passion welling up in his heart, "I knew there was a reason I liked you!"

"Now c'mon!" Ryuji said waving to the car, his voice growing intensely grim, "We've got a plane to catch."

Morgana and I smiled with confident excitement. A new mission was just beginning.