June 18th, 20XX (Saturday)

After School - Shujin Academy

MAKOTO: It finally happened.

TOYA: What are you talking about?

MAKOTO: I have a picture of someone who can take me straight to Kaneshiro.

MAKOTO: I'm heading to Shibuya now to find them.

MAKOTO: Care to come with?

TOYA: I'm heading there now.

This was the first piece of good news Toya had received in over a week. He's been trying really hard to find a way into Kaneshiro's floating bank, but he's had no success. His hookshot didn't go nearly far enough to get him up there, so he had to try something else. He had one idea left, and that was to exploit the true nature of a Palace. Since it's a world based on cognition, then changing how someone perceives things might be able to do something to the Palace as well. However, that raised the question… what was he supposed to do? Was there really a way he could change Kaneshiro's cognition? There had to be some way, and the only way he could find that out was by trying. Perhaps he could find out today with Makoto's help… though, he wanted to avoid letting her know anything about the Metaverse if at all possible. Making his way to the subway station, Toya began his ride to Shibuya, his hopes high.

June 18th, 20XX (Saturday)

After School - Shibuya

"You're right on time." Looking to his right, he saw Makoto, who was waiting in the station for him.

"You have a plan?"

"Yes, and your job in it is rather easy. Come with me." Toya began following behind Makoto. Admittedly, he had absolutely no idea what was going to happen, and that alone made this risky. However, he could sense genuine concern from Makoto when they met in the student council room that day, which made her seem much more trustworthy. Not to mention, if she was able to think up a plan to take down someone that's immune to even the police, then she's bound to have something up her sleeve. They made their way down to Central Street, as Makoto took her phone out. "All you have to do is stay on the phone and record everything you hear. You can do this, right?"

"Yeah, that sounds easy enough, but are you sure you can do this? We're talking about a literal crime lord here…"

"Don't worry. Just because I've spent so much of my time being an honors student doesn't mean I don't know how to defend myself. I'll be just fine."

"All right… I'm gonna be watching, just in case anything bad happens. Good luck out there." The two nodded, before Makoto went off. She took a few steps away and called Toya. Toya picked up and began to record the call, listening closely to the conversation.

"Do you guys know Kaneshiro?"

"What?"

"I heard I could find someone named Kaneshiro if I came to Central Street."

"What're you getting at?"

"He's blackmailing the students of Shujin Academy, is he not? Tell him if he doesn't want me talking to the police about it, he'd better agree to meet with me."

"...You got a death wish or somethin'?"

"Are you going to take me there, or not?" Makoto's voice was stern, but the man she was talking to… he sounded serious about that death wish. Toya began walking towards where she headed, trying to find where she went. "Hey, what're you-"

"Shut her up and get her into the car!" Things took a turn for the worst. Toya started running, getting to where he saw Makoto go. By the time he got there, he saw Makoto being shoved into a car, her mouth covered and her hands tied behind her back. She looked towards Toya's direction, a look of horror in her eyes. This didn't go how either of them thought, it was infinitely worse. Makoto's confidence was shattered, as the car began to drive off. Toya started running, as fast as he possibly could. With the amount of cars there were at this hour, he'd be able to catch them eventually. Part of him was honestly terrified, but that look in Makoto's eyes… that was worse. That was the most scared he's ever seen someone before. Seeing that gave him some kind of crazy adrenaline rush. He'd save her… he had to.

June 18th, 20XX (Saturday)

Evening - Shibuya

Finally catching up to the car, he saw Makoto get carried into some kind of club. Just watching those two carry her into the club like that… it sickened him. Just looking at the club itself made him angry… and that just made him all the more prepared. Reaching into his bag, he grabbed the bandana he bought from Dome Town. He tied it behind his head, covering his entire face from his nose down, and took another look at the club. There was only one guard outside of the club, and he was unarmed. The club itself looked pretty small overall, but if a crime lord was really there, then getting in wouldn't be the easiest thing in the world. Still, he had to make it work. He stepped out of the shadows, walking towards the club entrance.

"Who the hell're you?" The guard tried questioning Toya, but he simply continued walking forward, not doing so much as batting an eye. He continued walking forward, until stopping right in front of him. "Get lost, kid. This isn't the place for someone like you."

"Get out of my way." Toya and the guard stared into each other's eyes for a moment, both of them having a dead serious look in their eyes. The guard reached into his pocket, pulling out a pocket knife and pointing it at Toya.

"Last warning, kid. Get out of here, or I'll stab your eyes out."

"Try it." The guard laughed, waving his knife around. Toya's eyes were still as focused as ever. Just because the guard had a knife didn't mean he was strong- if anything, it showed weakness. All he had to do was simply disarm him.

"Don't mock me, brat!" The guard charged forward, lunging his blade forward in an attempt to stab Toya. Toya planted one foot onto the ground and pivoted to the side, dodging the stab and gripping the guard's arm with one hand. His other hand immediately reached out to his neck, grabbing him by the base of it and slamming him into the wall. The force of the impact was enough for the knife to fall out of his hand, and make him dizzy. The guard stumbled around, trying to regain composure, but Toya wouldn't let him. With one punch to the gut and another to his head, the guard fell to the ground. He was nowhere near dead, but he was unconscious. With the guard being made light work, he reached for the knife the guard dropped, putting it in his pocket and making his way into the club itself. There were a few guards, but it was nothing Toya didn't think he could handle. However, the center of the room is what truly caught his attention. Makoto was on the ground, she wasn't tied up, but there was someone holding her down. She was conscious still, which was good. It looked like they didn't even do anything to her- at least not yet. Whether they would do something or not wasn't certain yet, but that was a risk Toya had no interest in taking. However, there was one more person that caught his eye. There was a man in a suit sitting on a couch, looking towards him and smiling.

"So, someone managed to get in without an invitation. I suppose that means you did something to the guard outside."

"Let her go."

"Oh, the school girl? So that's why you did this, then. All to impress your girlfriend, is that it?"

"Don't make me repeat myself." Kaneshiro smirked, then he began to laugh.

"I'll tell you what, kid. You want her back? Sure. I have no real interest in her. However…" Kaneshiro quickly pulled a phone out, taking a picture of Makoto on the ground. "I don't think she'll be able to go many places if the police see a picture of her like this. After all, she's just a high schooler. Surely she'd be in trouble if she was in a club like this, don't you think? Judging by the look of things, you must go to the same school as her. And your eyes are so unique… I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find you either, now would it?"

"What do you want?"

"You two caused me so much trouble… I'll tell you what. Cough up three million yen before the end of the month, and I won't say a word to anyone. What do you think?"

"Go to hell. I'm not giving you a damn thing." Kaneshiro smirked, as he looked towards the guard that was holding Makoto down.

"That man you attacked outside? That was this poor guy's brother. I'm sure he's not happy about you attacking him- and just to impress a girl, no less." Kaneshiro sat up, looking towards the man that was holding Makoto down. "Handle things." The man nodded, as he pushed Makoto onto the couch Kaneshiro was on. Kaneshiro grabbed Makoto's arm, laughing as he watched the man walk forward.

"Your brother was nothing, you know. I was done with him in seconds. Do you really think you can do anything to me?"

"What did you say!?"

"Your brother was pathetic. He was even armed, and he couldn't do anything. Men like him who hide behind weapons… they're weak. If you're so unconfident about your abilities that you resort to a weapon, then you're just proving that. But men like Kaneshiro, men who hide behind others and let people do their dirty work for them… they are truly the weakest of them all. Yet, you take orders from him. So, tell me one thing…" Toya cracked his knuckles, slowly walking towards the man with a dead serious look in his eyes. "Why do you think there's a single reason for me to be afraid of someone as weak as you?" The guard's eyes flashed in a fit of rage. He charged forward, yelling as he charged right towards him. Toya planted his feet and held his hand out, catching the guard's fist and throwing him to the ground. Toya kicked the side of his head and stomped down on his back, keeping him down as he looked towards Kaneshiro, the look of anger still in his eyes.

"Damn brat, barging in here and acting like you own the place…" Kaneshiro gripped Makoto's arm tighter, causing her to wince in pain. Toya reached into his pocket, pulling out the pocket knife he got from outside and threw it forward. The knife landed right into Kaneshiro's arm, causing him to yell out in pain as he let go of Makoto. Toya jumped forward, punching Kaneshiro and grabbing his phone. He put it in his pocket and grabbed Makoto's hand, turning around and running away, making sure Makoto stayed with him the entire way. The guard began getting up as Toya and Makoto ran out. "What the hell are you dawdling around for!? KILL HIM!" The guard got up, running outside to try and chase after Toya and Makoto, but he was weakened. He ran out and tripped on his brother's unconscious body, his head hitting the pavement below and knocking him unconscious. More guards ran towards Kaneshiro after hearing him yell so loud. "Find those damn high schoolers, and make sure they don't get out of here alive!" The guards all nodded and ran out, following Toya and Makoto.

After some running, Toya and Makoto finally made it a decent ways away, stopping to catch their breath. Toya took down his bandana looking Makoto in the eyes. "Hey… are you alright? They didn't hurt you or anything, did they?" Makoto shivered. She was terrified, and to top it all off, she just felt… like she screwed everything up.

"I'm so sorry…"

"What? What are you apologizing for?"

"All I did was cause you trouble, and now Kaneshiro's after both of us…" Makoto sighed, turning her head away. "Sis was right… I really am useless."

"I'd say quite the opposite, actually."

"What…?"

"How could you think of yourself as useless? Had you not shown up, I don't think we could have ever found Kaneshiro. Besides… I have an idea for how we can take him down." Makoto's eyes opened in shock, as she looked towards Toya.

"You… you think you can take him down?"

"He'll never see it coming. By the end of the week, Kaneshiro will-"

"Hey, it's them!" Toya and Makoto looked around. To their right and left, Kaneshiro's men were approaching them. Makoto panicked, realizing she was surrounded, but Toya stayed calm. There was one way out, and as much as he didn't like it, it was the best way possible.

"Listen…" Toya whispered, reaching down and grabbing Makoto's hand as he pulled out his phone. "Whatever you do… don't let go for even a second, got it?" Makoto looked over in confusion, as Toya looked down to his phone. He quickly began opening the Metaverse Navigator app, and looked around. They were right next to an alley… perfect. He gripped Makoto's hand tighter, running into the alley and turning a corner. The second he turned the corner, he tapped a button on his phone, making sure Makoto was still holding on.

June 18th, 20XX (Saturday)

Evening - Kaneshiro's Palace

The atmosphere around them changed, as did the scenery, and Toya's clothing. Toya looked around… no guards to be seen anywhere, only him and Makoto. His plan worked… they were free. However, now he had an entirely different situation on his hands.

"What in the world…!? Where are we!?"

"Calm down. We're safe here. Those guards can't get in here, only us. Makoto looked toward the masked man in front of her, the one that was gripping her hand.

"Toya…?"

"Sorry for dragging you into here so suddenly, but there were no other options. Don't worry, I'll explain everything." Toya began to explain where they were. He told her it was a cognitive world, created by Kaneshiro's distorted desires.

"A cognitive world… created by distorted desires?" Makoto thought about what Toya said, and then suddenly gasped in realization. "Distorted desires!? Does that mean you're-"

"A Phantom Thief? No, I'm not. However… this is the world in which they operate. It's also how they were able to change the hearts of Kamoshida and Madarame."

"So they operate in a world like this… it's no wonder they haven't been caught by the police."

"I doubt the police will ever find out a world like this exists, unless they had someone on the inside bring them in."

"I have one more question… when you said you have a plan to deal with Kaneshiro, did you mean…"

"Yes. I am going to take his distorted desires away and change his heart." Makoto looked away for a moment, before looking back at Toya.

"Please let me join you."

"Are you crazy? This world is incredibly dangerous…"

"I'm the reason we're in this mess… it's my responsibility to help get us out of it too." Toya sighed, closing his eyes and sighing, before looking back at Makoto.

"Okay. You can help me take down Kaneshiro. But… not today. I'm exhausted after all of that fighting and running." Toya took out his phone, opening the Metaverse Navigator, before suddenly stopping and reaching into his pocket, grabbing Kaneshiro's phone and smashing it. "There. Now there's no way he'll be able to recover that picture." Toya stretched, pressing a button on his phone and closing his eyes.

June 18th, 20XX

Evening - Shibuya

The two got back to the real world, and there wasn't a guard in sight. Things were finally over… at least, for today.

"Hey, Toya…?"

"Hm? Something wrong?"

"No, it's just… I don't think I want to roam the streets alone tonight. Do you mind taking me home…?" Toya chuckled, stretching for a moment before answering.

"Lead the way."