And here's the next chapter, as promised! The only reason this is possible is because the next two chapters wrote themselves in TWO DAYS for each chapter. I'm currently working on chapter 27, which is all sorts of fun, hehehe...heh...

ANYWAY! Thanks to RosyMiranto18 (As always, you are a joy as a reader) for reviewing, all 30 followers, 20 favorites and 5,380 readers! Man, we're almost at 30 chapters guys...I don't think I've ever written a story with 30 chapters before, which says a lot considering I have stories with 100-200 reviews. But I do feel this is one of my better stories, so I'm so glad I get to experience this mile stone with all of you!

Anyway, this chapter has some more references and new side characters, which I will explain below. There's also a P5 anime reference because I got up to episode 13 (thank TwilightKnight17 for giving me incentive to watch, even I still am like twelve episodes behind at this point).

Let's see now...I don't think there's anything I'm forgetting to mention...enjoy and I'll see you down below!

Miku had to stifle a gasp as she opened her eyes. Not because Pharos was before her, oh no.

It was because of what he was wearing.

Last time, the only aspect of Pharos' outfit that had changed was his shoes. Now, however, he was wearing a white dress shirt with rolled up black sleeves.

"Good evening." Pharos smiled at her.

"Your…shirt…" Miku whispered, her eyes widening.

"That's right. My shirt changed. Your world sure had a big shift this time." Pharos nodded before his eyes softened and he kneeled down so he could grasp Miku's hand in his own. She had barely noticed the fact that she was sitting in the same blue velvet bench as the last time and that her and Pharos were basically standing on water. It didn't matter. "I'm sorry you had to face those memories."

"No, it's not your fault." Miku shook her head as she snapped back to reality…or would it be more accurate to say she snapped back to her dream? "I needed to remember that and I need to find the answer. I will find the answer."

"I know you will. You're just as stubborn as Minato is, no matter how dear he is to me." Pharos chuckled.

It did not escape Miku's attention that Pharos had used the present tense instead of the past tense when he mentioned Minato.

It was at that moment that Pharos seemed to remember the main point of these visits as he released her hand and sat back on his heels.

"The moment man devoured the fruit of knowledge, he sealed his fate…entrusting his fate to the cards, man clings to a dim hope. Yes, the Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…" Pharos recited as his smile widened. "Attaining one's dream requires a stern will and unwavering determination…Only courage in the face of doubt can lead one to the answer…There is both joy and wonder in coming to understand another…One of life's greatest blessings is the freedom to pursue one's goals…"

A soft blue light glowed in both of Pharos' hands. When it cleared, he was holding four different tarot cards. With a smile, he passed them to Miku.

Slowly, she turned the cards over. Each had a different design. The first had a pair of hands appearing to hold up a flame with eyes and an infinity ring above the flame. The second showed a regal, kingly figure. The third showed a heart above a tree that was in between a man, with a blue background, and a woman, with a pink background. The fourth and final card showed a knightly figure in a chariot led by two different colored sphinxes.

"These are…" Miku whispered in awe.

"Your new bonds." Pharos smiled. "Can you tell who they are?"

"Morgana…Yusuke…Ann…and Ryuji…" Miku whispered, feeling tears form in her eyes. "I actually…actually did it…I formed a bond with them…"

"Is that so hard to believe?" Pharos gently asked, cupping her cheek in his hand and gently wiping the tears that fell from her cheeks. "You have a big heart and such kind eyes. For so long, your kindness has caused you to end up lonely, and I never liked seeing a kind person looking so lonesome. You're just like Minato in that way. But now? Now, you are forming bonds and trusting people. Your kindness has earned you the best friends you could ever ask for, and they will never leave you."

"Ryoji!" Miku gasped as she shot forward and wrapped her arms tightly around the child. He was going to be family, if things had been different…he deserved the same rules as Chika.

Pharos didn't chastise her for using the name that didn't match his current form and simply ran his hands through her hair to calm her as she cried into his shoulder.

"I've got you, Miku…I promise…" Pharos whispered. His words…they were an acknowledgement of what they were meant to be, yet could not be at the same time.

For several minutes, Miku simply cried into Pharos' shoulder and he let her. Finally, though, she gained the will to pull away and wiped her eyes.

"You were a part of what happened seven years ago, weren't you?" She softly questioned.

"I was…does that change your mind about me?" Pharos carefully asked, his hands which had been playing with her hair slowing if she answered in the positive.

"No…you're still the Pharos who's helped me these past few months…and the Ryoji who was so kind to Minato, Neku and I all those years ago." Miku shook her head.

"Even if I were to tell you that I'm the reason Minato died?" Pharos hesitantly questioned.

"You didn't kill him or force him to make the choice he did, whatever it was." Miku protested. "I won't blame you or change my mind about you. You are still Ryo to me."

It seemed as if the use of her childhood nickname for him was what got through to Pharos, for he smiled a genuine smile and gently kissed her cheek, like how a brother would.

"Thank you, Miku…thank you." He whispered in her ear.

"Thank you, Ryo." Miku whispered back.

Neither of them said a word as she vanished.

Akihiko yawned as he walked into the police station on July 3rd. It wasn't usual for him to be called in so early, so something important must be going on.

As he walked in, he had the passing wonder of how Shinjiro would've reacted to the early morning call-in.

Probably not too well, Shinji liked sleeping after all. Akihiko chuckled at the thought.

"Oi, Sanada-han!"

Turning, Akihiko smiled as he waved at the two men approaching him.

One of them, the one who had spoken, was darker skinned with brown hair and eyes, wearing the uniform of the Osaka police.

The other was a man with black hair, part of which was a cowlick, and blue eyes, wearing a simple black suit and a pair of large, black glasses.

They were Heiwa Nekketsu and Shinsuke Fuji, a police inspector from Osaka and a private detective based in Tokyo. They had been going on cases for years, from what Akihiko heard, even back when they were just teenagers.

Apparently, death seemed to follow them, considering if they ever hung out, Division One got a call of a nearby murder occurring. That was how Akihiko first met them, actually.

"Nekketsu-keibu, Fuji-tantei. Good to see you." Akihiko greeted. "What're you two doing here?"

"We got called in for backup, since we were in the area." Shinsuke explained. "And you can call us 'Shinsuke' and 'Heiwa', Sanada-san, we've known each other for quite some time now."

"And have Kounna-san decide my hair needs to be some random color for a week? No thanks, Fuji-tantei." Akihiko chuckled weakly. He remembered meeting Kai at a crime scene once and his familiarity with Shinsuke had earned Akihiko green hair for the day. Thankfully, once everything was explained, Kai apologized and offered to treat him to some coffee at WildKat, where he proceeded to subtly threaten more pranks if Akihiko got too close to Shinsuke.

Of course, he knew that was simply because Kai enjoyed pranking people, after all, he pranked Saguro Tsuyoi on an almost weekly basis, something both the inspector and his wife, an officer like Akihiko himself, had chewed the magician out for since he had apparently kept this up since high school.

"See Fuji? It ain't just me!" Heiwa pointed out.

"You are perfectly free to call me 'Shinsuke', Nekketsu. We've known each other long enough." Shinsuke sighed. "Besides, it's not like either of us call the girls by their last names."

"The girls yer talkin' 'bout are yer nee-chan, Sonomi-san, Kazuko and Aoka-san. And ya still call Tsuyoi by his last name, Sekai-san too." Heiwa argued, looking mighty proud of himself.

"Whatever you say, Nekketsu." Shinsuke shook his head with a chuckle.

"Anyway, any idea what's going on?" Akihiko asked, derailing the normal banter before it could go any further.

"Apparently, some team is planning ta make an arrest. Said they needed tha extra 'ands." Heiwa answered, crossing his arms thoughtfully.

"Must be a big one then." Akihiko muttered.

"I would say so."

Turning, the three men watched as none other than Kuro Henso approached them.

"Henso-kun, why aren't you in school?" Akihiko asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Sae-san asked me to come help with this arrest." Henso explained. "Apparently, a big phishing case is coming to a close and they need the extra hands. I heard even Suou-keiji, Chousasuru-keibu, Yami-keibu and even Byakuro Suimen-tantei and Naoto Shirogane-tantei were called in to help."

"This is gonna be a big one, eh, Fuji?" Heiwa grinned as he nudged his friend. "They're calling in everyone, Division One, Two, you and Suimen-otachan and me from all the way in Osaka!"

"Shouldn't you be in school, though, Henso-kun?" Shinsuke asked, focusing on the teenager among them rather than the case. "I'm sure the rest of us can handle this case. Well, most of us at least."

"Hey, your otachan has gotten better over the years." Heiwa argued.

"That's a good thing, but not the point, Nekketsu. Henso-kun?" Shinsuke said, turning the conversation back seamlessly.

"No, I'm fine, Fuji-tantei. I'm part of Sae-san's team, so I should be here." Henso shook his head.

"You know, you don't have to act like an adult." Akihiko cut in before the boy could make an excuse to leave. The words seemed to freeze Henso where he stood, his icy blue eyes looking at the boxer coldly. "If nothing else, would you at least let us treat you your age, Kuro-kun? I promise we won't respect you less."

"Yeah, Kuro-han, after all, Fuji here-" Heiwa started to say. A hard elbow to his gut ended that.

"What Nekketsu means, is that some of us, such as myself, Nekketsu, Sekai-san and Tsuyoi were in your position once. Being treated your age doesn't mean you don't have any respect." Shinsuke explained. "But sometimes, even in a setting such as this, being treated your own age is a good thing."

"Besides, you could do to relax a bit and if us calling you Kuro-kun helps, then we're more than okay with it." Akihiko added.

"Well…if…if you're okay with that…" Henso-Kuro stuttered as he looked away. Akihiko could see he was trying to hide a small, relieved smile as his shoulders relaxed the slightest bit, as if a weight of some sort had been lifted from his shoulders.

He couldn't help but wonder what it was like for this boy, for he really was just a boy, to be put in the situation he was, struggles and school and all. But what he had been told dictated this happen, and so he could do nothing but support Kuro as he could.

"Good, you're all here." Sae Niijima's voice cut through the moment as she and the four men Kuro had mentioned approached them. Even Tsuyoi and the other youngest inspector in Division One, Mayu Sekai, a former teenage detective like Shinsuke, Heiwa and Tsuyoi and the only girl of the four, and Aoka Tsuyoi were there, along with several other officers, detectives and inspectors. They were really going all out here.

"So, what're we here for, Niijima-han?" Heiwa asked, entirely relaxed.

"To arrest Junya Kaneshiro." Sae stated.

You could've heard a feather land on the ground, the room was so silent. Not even Suimin was saying a word, and he was typically loudly shouting his own greatness, even if it did tone done over the years, according to the rest of Division One at least.

Then it all exploded in a single moment, a cacophony of noises all yelling the same thing in that one second before all words became lost in the shout. Akihiko was barely surprised that even Naoto joined in. After all, despite what they knew, the moment was still extremely shocking and deserving of the one question everyone had.

"WHAT!?"

As Miku made her way down Cat Street, heading to work, she startled as arms suddenly wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her back into a warm chest.

"Mikumo-chan~" A voice sang in her ear and she relaxed.

"Yes, Kai?" She chuckled as the arms instantly retracted and turned her around.

"How'd you know it was me?" Kai pouted as his indigo eyes darted around her face, as if looking for clues.

"Your voice is hardly unfamiliar to me, Kai." Miku rolled her eyes. "Did you need something? Where's Aoka?"

"She's working…" Kai whined. "Along with Shin-chan, Tsuyobastard and even Chousasuru-keibu."

"Which means most of your friends, including Heiwa and Mayu, are busy with a case." Miku smiled sympathetically. She may not know the rest of Kai and Aoka's friends well, but she did know how much they meant to them.

"The only ones left are Rin-san, Sonomi-san and you, Mikumo-chan!" Kai overdramatically cried.

"There, there." Miku smirked as she patted the top of Kai's wild brown hair like a mother would a child. "Anything you know about the case at least?"

"Only that they're helping monitor the mastermind to that phishing scam you were asking Aoka about." Suddenly, Kai's eyes sharpened and it was only because Miku had known him for so long, and only because Kai was allowing her to, that she noticed the change in his otherwise perfect poker face. "Interesting, isn't it? Especially since I heard he was a target of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts."

"You think the Phantom Thieves changed his heart?" Miku carefully asked. Kai was smarter than he appeared at times, after all.

"Of course! Especially if he confesses!" Kai's eyes brightened as his attitude did a 180. "The Phantom Thieves of Hearts are really something, after all!"

"Yeah, they are. Do…you think they're just, Kai?" Miku questioned, her voice cautious. She knew a change of heart for a mafia boss would be a huge boost in favor for the Phantom Thieves, but…sometimes it haunted her if what they were doing could be considered right given the circumstances.

She remembered asking Goro the same question just this morning.

"Honestly? What we're doing, if we aren't careful, could be considered unjust. After all, nobody should be allowed to mess with another person's heart. But at the same time…if we didn't do this, then so many people would be suffering, all of us included."

"Sure I do." Kai nodded. "I can just tell…they're doing this for a reason, not because they want to hurt the people they target. So, I'm going to support them and believe in them."

Before Miku could say anything in response, however…

"Hey, Phones Jr."

"K-Kariya!?" Miku cried as her head whipped around. Sure enough, there was the orange haired Reaper, lollypop in his mouth as always. Thankfully, his black Reaper wings were hidden from human sight.

"Yeah, I've got a message for you. Mind walking with me?" Kariya asked.

"S-sure…" Miku agreed before she turned back to Kai. "Um, I'll see you later Kai."

"Yeah, I'll stop by WildKat real soon." Kai nodded with a grin before he gave a stage worthy bow and vanished in a poof of smoke.

"Show off." Miku rolled her eyes good-naturedly before she turned back to the Conductor. "So, what's up?"

"Figured you should report this to the Boss Man, since I've got my hands full with work right now." Kariya smirked.

Meaning he's going to spend the day lazing away cause Uzuki's busy with something. Miku thought, her facial expression matching her thoughts exactly. "And what should I report?"

"The Noise has calmed some in the UG." Kariya said.

"You mean…it's stopped latching onto people?" Miku gasped.

"Not entirely, but it's closer to what it used to be, yes." Kariya nodded before his eyes became serious. "But the Noise level itself hasn't calmed much. In fact, it seems like it's only increased with every month."

"What?" Miku gasped.

"Yeah. Apparently Josh was going to find a way to stop it when it started two years ago, but…" Kariya trailed off, probably seeing the rather violent flinch Miku gave in response.

Neku and his friends were a sore topic, mostly because she believed they were alive but everything and everyone else said they were dead.

"Right…okay, I'll tell Mr. H." Miku nodded.

"That's my girl." Kariya smirked. "I'll see you around, 'kay?"

"Okay." Miku nodded in agreement as the Conductor left and she continued on her way to work.

Akira looked up from where he was washing dishes in curiosity as the bell above Leblanc rung. Even Sojiro looked up from the chess set he was polishing mindlessly.

At the door stood none other than Kuro Henso.

"Hello." He greeted them.

"Welcome." Sojiro nodded as Henso came to sit at the counter.

"I hope I'm not intruding." Henso apologized, looking almost shy as he seemed to avoid eye contact.

This was new, Akira noted.

"No, not at all. Would you like anything?" Sojiro asked.

"A house blend, if you wouldn't mind." Henso requested.

While Sojiro went to make the cup, Akira dried his hands off and went to sit beside the teenage detective.

"Everything okay, Meitantei-kun?" Akira asked, hoping the nickname would help the boy relax.

"Please don't call me that, I'm hardly a great detective or on the level of Shinichi Kudo." Henso shook his head with a smile. "And I'm fine, thank you, Kurusu."

"You don't seem fine. Not at all." Akira commented, worried now. "Please Kuro, talk to me."

"I…Kurusu, that is…" Kuro stuttered, clearly thrown off. "I'm sorry…I didn't intend for this to happen when I came here."

"Don't worry about it, and you can call me Akira, if you'd like." Akira offered. Kuro hesitantly nodded, only making Akira even more worried. This wasn't like the detective at all. "Hey…do you know how to play chess?"

"Hm? Oh, uh, yes, I do." Kuro nodded.

"Cool. Wanna play a game with me? Sojiro's pretty good about letting me use this." Akira offered. That was, in fact, true. The few times Goro had come to Leblanc, and they had been few, the two of them had been playing with Sojiro's chess set.

"…sure, why not?" Kuro smiled slightly. Akira grinned, told Sojiro they were using his chess set and moved them to a booth.

The two boys fell into silence as the game went on, lulling into a comfortable familiarity.

"So…what's eating at you?" Akira carefully asked as he moved a pawn. He wasn't the best at chess, Goro had him beat more often than not, but he was improving with every day he practiced.

"Oh…an investigation I'm part of hit…a particularly sensitive spot for me." Kuro slowly admitted.

"I see…" Akira trailed off. Could it be? Then that means…

"Sorry, I'm just a bit out of sorts." Kuro apologized, a small smile forming on his face. "I'm just…trying to solve a case and it's proving difficult."

"Maybe my friend Goro could help you? He's a pretty good detective too, even if he isn't recognized as one." Akira offered.

"That…might be an offer I take up, one day." Kuro nodded. "Thank you."

"No problem." Akira smiled slightly. "Just take care of yourself, okay?"

"Take care of myself…?" Kuro repeated, his eyes confused.

"Yeah, make sure you eat, sleep and don't push yourself too hard. Haven't your parents ever told you that? Or anyone?" Akira questioned, concern outweighing his tact.

"No…not really. Not too many people care for me on a personal level, except some of the officers, inspectors and detectives at the station." Kuro shook his head.

"That's…a lot like what I went through." Akira sighed. "I never even heard that until my parents adopted me. I probably never would have, otherwise."

"Strange, isn't it? How similar our backgrounds are turning out to be despite the basic differences?" Kuro smiled slightly.

"I don't think so." Akira chuckled. "I just think certain types of people are drawn together, and you and I are some of those people."

"I supposeth thy thoughts art true." Kuro chuckled before his eyes widened in realization and he clapped a hand over his mouth loudly. "I apologize. I…did not mean to speak that way."

"You mean in Shakespearean English?" Akira questioned, a smile growing on his face. "It's okay. I heard from Makoto Niijima that you often talk that way when you're comfortable. If you feel comfortable enough to talk like that with me, then I'm glad."

"I…I see…" Kuro's own smile became just the slightest bit more real, widening more than it had the previous times Akira had seen it and the joker's heart warmed at the sight. "Thank you, Akira."

"Your welcome, Kuro." Akira smiled.

Of course, a second later, Kuro smirked at him.

"I believeth yond is checkmate."

"Crap!"

"Hey, Shiho!" Ann grinned as she let herself into her best friend's apartment. She'd been coming over to help Shiho with her at-home physical therapy exercises almost every day, excluding strictly Phantom Thief days. But since they took out Kaneshiro, Ann's been visiting Shiho a lot more often, sometimes with Goro or Akira and Morgana or even Miku or Ryuji.

"Hi Ann." Shiho smiled as she carefully pushed herself to her feet to meet Ann in the living room. She had been let out of the hospital back in May and, after hearing how Ann was training to make her heart stronger, had been steadily working to improve every day.

When Ann had first started visiting Shiho in the hospital, after she woke up, she hadn't left her bed at all. She had been able to somewhat stand and walk when she left, but she still left the hospital in a wheelchair. Now, Shiho was able to walk around for longer periods of time, as long as she took a break when she felt winded. Ann couldn't be prouder of her best friend.

"Did your physical therapist stop by already?" Ann asked, curiously.

"Yeah. He said I was doing a lot better." Shiho smiled.

"That's great. I'm so happy for you, Shiho." Ann smiled, feeling tears form in her eyes, though she quickly brushed them away.

"Thanks, Ann. So, where's Goro-kun today?" Shiho's voice took on a teasing tone.

"Shihooooo." Ann whined. "It's not like that!"

"Oh, come on, Ann. It's okay to like him. You told me that he rarely left your side in the hospital." Shiho said. "And Goro-kun seems really nice, I think you two would be good together."

"You and your matchmaking." Ann sighed. "Don't you guys give me enough of this in the group chat?"

"Considering you two haven't confessed? And even Yuuki-kun has noticed? No, we haven't." Shiho shook her head.

Ann comically groaned and fell onto the couch in the living room. Shiho chuckled, lifted Ann's head, sat down and laid Ann's head on her lap.

"It's okay, you know." Shiho said softly, causing Ann's gaze to slide to her. "No matter what happens, you'll always be the most important person to me, whether you have a boyfriend or become a famous model or become a nobody, I don't care. I'll always treasure you, Ann."

"Me too, Shiho. No matter what happens from now on, you'll always be the most important person to me too." Ann smiled, feeling her tears well up again.

"Good. Now, remember that before you and the rest of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts get even more popular." Shiho simply stated, as if what she just said wasn't a huge deal.

BUT IT WAS!

"What!? How'd you know!?" Ann cried, leaping to her feet.

"I know you, Ann. And I know that your friends are all connected to the previous incidents too. I'd probably bet that Niijima-senpai got involved with Kaneshiro, since you've started mentioning her too. And I also know that you wouldn't let injustice, like what Kamoshida did, persist if you could do something about it." Shiho explained with a small smile.

"Shiho…" Ann whispered, slowly sitting down again.

"It's okay, I know why you're doing this. All I want is for all of you to stay safe." Shiho said, taking Ann's hand in her own and squeezing it.

"Of course." Ann nodded before she pulled Shiho into a hug. What did she ever do to deserve such an amazing best friend? "Thank you."

"Your welcome." Shiho whispered back.

Just then, Ann remembered Shiho's earlier words and smirked.

"So…what's going on with you and Mishima-kun?"

"Ann!"

That night, the group chat of the Phantom Thieves and Mishima, Shiho and Togo, who had been added after they all hung out recently, began to tease Mishima and Shiho instead of Ann and Goro.

Ann called it sweet, sweet revenge as the two volleyball players denied it enthusiastically, despite the fact that their words were extremely flustered.

"Ryuji-kun?"

Ryuji almost jumped a foot in the air at the suddenness of the voice calling his name. After all, it was the middle of a school day and the two of them never talked when school was in session. It wasn't for any particular reason, of course, they just…never talked when school was going on.

…Ryuji just didn't want to ruin her reputation…

"Yeah?" Ryuji asked, turning to see Haru smiling at him. "What is it?"

"I was just wondering if you were going to go to the fireworks festival on the eighteenth." Haru said.

"The fireworks festival?" Ryuji repeated. Actually…that would make a great party for the Phantom Thieves to celebrate, if Kaneshiro's change of heart went well.

"Yes. I was planning to go myself, but if you and your friends would be attending, then I was wondering if I could join you." Haru carefully requested.

If Ryuji didn't know any better, he would've thought she looked nervous. But that was impossible.

"I can ask if they wanna go. And you're welcome to join us." Ryuji nodded.

"Oh, thank you!" Haru grinned, clapping her hands together happily. "I'll look forward to the festival then."

"Yeah. See you around, Haru." Ryuji grinned.

"Bye, Ryuji-kun!" Haru waved before she made her way to her own classroom.

"Don't have a crush on her, huh…?"

Ryuji groaned as he turned to see a grinning Akira looking at him. Of course, to anyone else, it didn't look like he was grinning at all. Akira was good at hiding his emotions like that, you could only see the range of them if he let you, especially outside of the Metaverse.

"Shut up, man. You were no better with Miku." Ryuji jokingly pushed his best friend, who only laughed unrepentantly before they made their way to class.

Goro sighed in relief as he closed the door behind him and toed off his shoes before he made his way down the hallway.

Once he came to a certain door, he knocked on it and called inside,

"Futaba, I'm home."

Instantly, his phone lit up with a text message. Goro sighed as he began to text his sister back and forth, allowing the conversation to distract both of them.

He…he was really worried about her. She never used to be like this, even when Sojiro first took them in after…their uncle let them go…she had only trusted Goro back in those days, clung to him even if she refused to speak to him.

It was pure stubbornness from both himself and Sojiro that helped her start to open up and trust them both. And when Miku moved in with them, she fought just as hard to have Futaba trust her too.

But now…she was hearing things and seeing things that weren't there. Goro was scared, he'd never seen his sister like this. He'd never seen anyone like this.

And yet…there was nothing he could do. Not on his own, at least. He…he wanted to help her, to save her.

He wanted to be able to hold her again, to hug her and play with her hair. He hadn't seen her since the last time her hair was dyed. After that, she refused to see anyone at all.

Not even Sojiro…

Goro wished with all his heart that he could help Futaba, he wished for it every night. But he wouldn't push her, not in this.

He wouldn't steal her heart, not unless she told him there was no other option. And he prayed every day that she would never say those words.

The day Kaneshiro finally confessed, July 9th, it was all anyone could talk about. That, and the Phantom Thieves.

While Akira was proud that they were starting to gain the public's belief, he tried to have the thieves all keep a cool head about the events. After all, they were doing this to help people, because it was the best option when all possible choices were absolutely shitty, not to get famous.

Makoto and Goro's reminders that they needed to study, of course, seemed to bring them all back down to earth for a bit.

Akira was glad, honestly, especially since it meant there was no longer a dangerous criminal on the streets that could ruin his probation for him.

It was for that reason that he took Miku aside after the thieves dispersed and leaned down to whisper softly in her ear.

"Go on a date with me this Sunday?"

The blush that lit up her face made the fact that his own felt as if it was on fire entirely worth it.

The yes on her lips and smile that lit up her face made the moment all the sweeter.

RANK UP!

Kuro Henso

Jester Confidant Rank 3

And there we are!

First, the characters. Shinsuke Fuji is Shinichi Kudo while Heiwa Nekketsu is Heiji Hattori from Detective Conan. Fuji is the Japanese word for wisteria, which is part of Shinichi's last name. Nekketsu is Japanese for hotblooded, which is fitting for Hattori because Hakuba often calls him hotblooded, I think once in canon and many times in fanon. As for the others, Chousasuru is Nakamori, Yami is Megure and Byakuro Suimen is Kogoro Mouri and Mayu Sekai is Masumi Sera. Rin is Ran Mouri and Sonomi is Sonoko Suzuki. Chousasaru I already explained when Kaito and Aoko first appeared, Yami is darkness similar to how part of Megure means dark, Byakuro means white black and is a reference to Kogoro while Suimen means 'sleeping' as a reference to Mouri's Sleeping Kogoro nickname, Mayu is meant to sound similar to Masumi and Sekai means world, which is a part of Sera. Rin and Sonomi follow the same first name rules as the others. Also, Shinsuke is wearing glasses like Conan wears.

Okay, now that that's out of the way, the chess scene is an obvious anime reference. And yes, Goro and Akira still play together in this universe too, I couldn't get rid of their chess dates after all XD (sorry guys, but as I've said before, Goro is my favorite canon character to ship Akira with, Ann and Hifumi being right behind him. Miku is number 1 if I count this story.)

I'm trying to keep Shiho's recovery kinda realistic compared to the game, where if you hold off on Ann's Confidant, Shiho is still in the hospital in October. And yes, Shiho is basically being treated as Ann's Confidant. They're at rank 10, she knows the truth. And their friendship is too important for me to abandon, so don't expect this to be the last time I write Shiho.

And Ryuji's insecurities in his and Haru's arc are starting to come in! I've been planning this for them for a while cause they're a modern day princess and the pauper love story, I'm not letting that go.

And Futaba and Goro...I'm not saying anything else on that. I think the scene speaks for itself.

And yeah, this chapter may have the title "The Confession of Gluttony" but that's only to keep consistency.

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed the double update this week! We've still got a ride ahead of us, so hold on tight folks, we're just getting started! See ya later!