"Excuse me. Are you… Kitagawa-san?"
While he was painting, Yusuke suddenly was called by a female student. He turned back just to see a girl who was nearly the same year as him. She had a long dark hair with bangs and wore a red accessory that resembled a rope with a three-leaf clover. She wore their school's uniform, a blue blazer with a star emblem. Under this, a long-sleeved white dress shirt could barely be seen, along with a black-and-white bow. She had a black skirt, knee-high white socks and black dress shoes. At first, Yusuke did not know who this girl was and why she knew him, as well as the reason why she acted like she wanted to have a talk with him. However, it seemed she created a lot of attentions. Yusuke could see a lot of male students who were stunned when she appeared or as they were following her.
"What can I do for you?" – At this time, Yusuke realized it was the break time. He did not even notice it and decided to take a rest before the class at the afternoon.
"I just want to ask…" – The girl seemed to be shy and struggling. – "… Well… It is… the relationship between you and Kurusu-san."
"You know him?" – Yusuke looked at her with doubt.
"Yes. We met at the church in Kanda." – The girl responded.
"I know that church." – Yusuke said.
"We played shogi a lot at night. Not only that, he also helped me not to play a fixed match." – The girl spoke and secretly drew a Phantom card. She was very careful not to let anyone saw it, but only Yusuke.
"I see, then." – Yusuke took a quick look of this card to make sure it was real. After making sure, Yusuke was secured a bit. – "So, what can I do for you?"
"I just want to confirm what happened to Kurusu-san?" – Afterwards, the girl sighed sadly and worryingly. – "Is it true that he is in jail right now?"
"Sadly, yes." – Yusuke nodded.
"So it's the truth." – The girl turned silent a few seconds. – "Is there a way I can help him? Please, just tell me, I'll do anything I can."
"A sign of yours will be a big help." – Yusuke smiled friendly. – "Though it will need more than it."
"What if it is an interview, just like you?" – The girl thought and said.
"You can?" – Yusuke asked in surprise.
"Yes. Around the middle of this month, I will have an interview about my Shogi career. It will be a good chance. The more people know about his innocence, the better, right?"
"Yeah, yes. It will be a really big assistance." – Yusuke smiled.
"But… can you tell me the whole story? I want to know exactly what happened." – The girl then begged him.
"Let's have a sit. My class is empty so we won't be bothered by anyone." – Afterwards, Yusuke put a chair for her to sit, before he told her the whole story of Akira's case.
"How can a promised man can do that to a good person?" – After hearing it, the girl could not help but be sadder. – "I thought Shido-san was a good man, but..."
"I know. He seemed to have a good affection to this country. Many people believed in him, believing that he would bring this country to a better one. Still…" – Yusuke stopped, he thought he did not need to finish the line.
"I guess… we're all being controlled by the adults, following what they tell us without questioning. But…" – Then, the girl spoke on persuadably. – "… but Kurusu-san helped me to escape that fate, making me believe that I can decide my life."
"I think the same as you." – Yusuke agreed. – "Not only you and me, he helped a lot of people, but when he is in trouble, no one helps him back. Even so, I won't let him take all the burdens like that. I will do my best to help him."
"Please, you can count on me." – The girl nodded.
"Your help is more than enough. I really appreciate it." – Yusuke smiled. – "We'll be counting on you. But, don't be hard on yourself. If anything happens, you can call me."
"I understand." – The girl nodded.
"May I ask your name?" – Reminding of something, Yusuke asked politely.
"It's Hifumi, Togo Hifumi." – The girl responded.
"I know it will be sudden but…" – Suddenly, Yusuke stood up strongly and squeezed his fists strongly. – "… Will you become my model?"
"Pa…Pardon me?" – As a reaction, Hifumi was lost when she heard it.
"Your hair, your body, your beauty… everything is just too perfect. Do you know you're carrying the beauty of Japanese tradition?" – On the other side, Yusuke was just too excited that he did not even notice Hifumi's reaction.
"Uhm… well…" – Being persuaded by this weird artist, Hifumi did not know how to react. She did not want to refuse him frankly, either.
"I can imagine you are in a traditional kimono. You will be perfectly an example to show that Japan still has its own tradition that will never be faded away." – Yusuke kept continuing in his imagination.
"May I have… a time to consider it?" – Seeing how Yusuke expressed his feelings, Hifumi decided to consider the request.
"Of course you can. I can wait no matter how long it is." – As he had received a chance, Yusuke took it without thinking anything else. At the same time, the school's bell rang and Hifumi returned to her class while Yusuke started drawing what he imagined.
"Dude, you just made a trouble for a girl." – At night, at Leblance, after hearing the story, Ryuji reacted his sorry for Hifumi.
"Well, she didn't refuse me, so I think I can keep my hope." – Yusuke responded confidently.
"What important is… she wants to help Akira, that's a good news." – Makoto smiled in relief.
"So, you have another target." – Ann said in relief.
"I haven't given up the idea of painting you in nude." – Miraculously and rarely, Yusuke got the idea very quickly.
"Give it up, now and then." – Ann reacted strongly.
"But man, Akira and Yusuke really have many chances to meet cute and beautiful girls, why can't I meet one?" – Ryuji complained boringly.
"Before asking that, you need to ask yourself first." – Ann responded and looked at Ryuji. – "It depends on you if you can realize the beauties around you."
"Easy said than done." – Ryuji sighed.
"It's about your attitude, too. Say: how about you buy me a ring, then I'll consider dating with you?" – Ann offered. Somehow, she seemed to enjoy it.
"Nope. I'll skip it." – Ryuji rejected frankly.
"Ryuji is really a bad boy now." – Futaba stopped looking at her laptop and commented.
"What?" – Ryuji turned on his rage.
"That's true. When a girl offers, you should not refuse it." – Sojiro added. – "Besides, it can be more than that."
"What do you mean "more than that"?" – Ryuji looked at the Leblance's owner.
"Stupid as always." – Ann sighed sadly.
"Listen, kid, if someone gives you a chance and you don't take it, stop complaining why you don't have any chance." – Sojiro sighed and lessoned Ryuji.
"I don't get it at all." – Ryuji struggled to understand it.
"But still, I think I would be a good model, right, Sojiro?" – Futaba looked at Sojiro and everyone knew it was a dangerous question, except only one.
"But you have no sex appealing." – Yusuke said it in front of them within a second.
"That's an offense, you pervert." – Futaba reacted angrily.
"You call who "pervert"?" – Yusuke acted the same.
"They never change at all." – Makoto smiled.
"Ah right, I haven't seen Haru for a while. Wonder if she's doing okay." – Reminding of something, Ryuji said.
"About that… you may not know but apparently, it seems Okumura's corporation has some secret problems but no one knows what it is. My bet is the only one thing: Money." – Sojiro commented.
"May I ask what do you mean?" – Makoto asked politely.
"It is a big company, so it means it will need a lot of money to operate. However, when you took down Okumura, the corporation's share has been decreased very fast. She might not tell you but right now, that company is really in trouble and on the edge of bankrupt. Also, the rumor that the company abuses the workers has been confirmed to be the truth." – Sojiro sighed worryingly. – "I hope she will be okay."
"I see. So that's why she absent for the last few days." – Makoto followed Sojiro's worrying.
"Put it on the side, we will have a visit to Shinjuku, right?" – Ann said uncomfortably.
"Yeah." – Makoto nodded.
"What are you going to do in that area? That's not a place for kids, you know." – Sojiro questioned.
"There is a journalist that I want to meet. She often hangs around Crossroad bar in Shinjuku. I also want to ask if she can do an investigation about the riots." – Makoto explained their intention.
"Huh? What riots?" – Sojiro sounded incomprehensibly.
"The superior of my sister said there were a lot of riots happened around the country after Shido confessed his crimes." – Makoto said with her doubt.
"That's pretty new to me." – Sojiro stopped and thought. – "You think they faked it to stop your sister's investigation?"
"I would like to think so, but I don't have any evidence." – Makoto said.
"If you all decided your next move, then I'll be counting on you. On the other hand, I'll keep digging. Just be careful, if they are able to stop Makoto's sister's investigation, they will likely know what we are trying to do." – Sojiro reminded and warned them. And he received their nodding afterwards.
"Oh my…" – Suddenly, Futaba shouted.
"What's wrong?" – Sojira looked her and asked.
"A lot of famous gamers are posting on social networks and requesting the police to investigating Akira's case. What the heck is it?" – Futaba said and everyone gathered to see if she was telling the truth. And it was.
"Holy shit, they're storming all over the Internet." – Ryuji commented.
"Let's see…" – Futaba searching a posts and read it out. – ""I saw him playing with a kid at Akihabara. Back to that time, he played like a noob and it was fun to watch noobs die times after times. But lately, he dominated all the games. Many people want to challenge him, including me. But sadly, a kid who is his friend and game teacher said he is in jail for a crime he didn't commit. I don't care much about he's innocent or not, what I want is to win him. And if he's jail, I can't do it. So let's speak our words out.". This guy is pretty lame but well, I think we can take it." – She commented.
"So we have gamers on our sides, too. Some of them are famous, though. It will be a real deal." – Ryuji added.
"At the end, we gained more helps." – Makoto smiled.
"Things are just getting better." – Yusuke followed. After checking a little more, they all returned to their home due to the late of the day.
"Excuse me." – In the next morning, when Sojiro just opened the store, Sae came in and she was the first customer of his.
"Usual?" – Sojiro asked.
"Yes, please." – Sae sat down while Sojiro prepared her coffee and a dish of curry.
"I heard that they tried to stop your work. How's your doing now?" – Sojiro asked.
"I'm fine. Thank you for your care." – Sae smiled politely. – "Right now, I can't do anything else but waiting for things to settle down a bit."
"They threatened you?" – Sojiro asked.
"Yes." – Sae admitted even she did not like it.
"Typical assholes." – Sojiro scolded.
"Excuse me." – The door's bell rang again and it was Yoshida who came in the store.
"Are you… Toranosuke-san?" – Seeing him, Sae realized him at the first glance.
"That's right, it's me." – Yoshida smiled friendly.
"You know this guy?" – Sojiro asked.
"Yes. He has been famous lately due to his reputation and speeches, which gains a lot of people's trust." – Sae explained.
"You're exaggerating." – Yoshida smiled softly. – "If it wasn't for Kurusu-kun, I couldn't do it and just always be a No-good Tora."
"I heard about your case. It's good to see that you're innocent right now." – Sae congratulated.
"It's nothing to consider." – Yoshida replied.
"So, what did this guy do?" – Sojiro still had not trusted Yoshida yet.
"Many years ago, Toranosuke-san's mentor misappropriated the funds for Toranosuke-san for his own purpose. When it was revealed, it created a big scandal and the blame was put on Toranosuke-san. His career was also destroyed from that scandal." – Sae explained.
"So, another victim of the government." – Sojiro commented. – "But how do you know Akira?"
"Let's just say that thanks to him, I can be a politician again." – Yoshida did not mind Sojiro's attitude and kept his friendly attitude. – "Now he's in trouble and I will do what I can to help him." – Then, he turned to Sae. – "You are prosecutor Niijima, right?"
"Yes?" – Sae was waiting for his next move.
"Recently, your investigation was stopped not only because they told you, but because many politicians, officers and even some Ministers, who involve to Shido, are trying to persuade and gather everyone they could, to have the vote to stop any investigation about Shido, and considering he is still the Prime Minister." – Yoshida went to the main topic. – "On the other sides, the people that doesn't like Shido want to use this chance to take him down, as well as the other side."
"So there is a war inside the National Assembly." – Sae commented.
"The good thing is we can ignore them and let them fight. I can tell you that even they are trying to stop anything bad can happen to Shido, they are just buying time. There is a high possibility that they can't handle the pressure if they keep hiding and protecting Shido like that, especially when The Phantom Thieves changed his heart. The people will want to see him and to learn the truth." – Yoshida spoke.
"I agree. And I would like to keep investigating, too." – Sae nodded.
"Very good. But before that, I would like to let you meet a person." – Yoshida then gave Sae a piece of paper. – "You should come and see this person. She is one of the people that has a lot of affection in the National Assembly, even after she retired."
"You mean…" – Sae was surprised.
"And one more thing, as far as I can see, you should follow the money." – Yoshida continued.
""Follow the money"…" – At first, Sae did not understand what Yoshida was trying to say. Then, she realized what she had to do. – "I get it. Thank you very much, Toranosuke-san."
"I just want to help a friend of mine. That's nothing to be grateful." – Yoshida smiled. – "As long as you believe what you're doing is right, don't give up."
"I understand." – After having enough information, Sae bowed to Yoshida as an appreciation before he left.
"Here." – Afterwards, Sojiro gave a USB for Sae.
"May I ask what is it?" – Sae asked incomprehensibly.
"For a month, Futaba kept digging what she could on the Internet, it contained police's reports, news, recording, and vice versa. She found a lot of but she could not gather all the information unless it was all real. The rest is up to you." – Sojiro explained.
"I understand. Give my thanks to her." – Sae took the USB and bowed to Sojiro, before she left.