Back to the train…
"It's been a while since we rode the train to Yongen-Jaya, huh, Akira?" said Morgana as he popped his head out of Akira's bag.
"Yeah, you're right, Morgana." said Akira as he glance and nodded at Morgana before he and Morgana heard the news broadcast from the TV monitor above them.
"Now for today's Train News. Today's headlines are… Confession of document tampering! The Diet is in chaos over the Vice-Minister of Finance's confession, and the power struggles have flared Members of the vice-minister's party have refused to comment across the board while the country awaits his court summons. In business news, fledgling IT company Madicce reported record first-quarter profits at a conference earlier today. Madicce's earnings have exploded largely in part to their new virtual assistant, which, if stocks are any indications, is gaining fans fast." said the male newscaster on the TV to Akira, Morgana and the other passengers in the train.
"Sounds terrible and too bad for the ones working in the Diet building and good for the IT company Madicce to have their business grow swift and large." thought Akira in amusement in his mind.
"We're almost there… We haven't seen everyone in so long! I know it's stupid, but I'm getting kind of nervous…" said Morgana nervously and slightly concernly to Akira.
"I know what you meant because I feel the same way too." said Akira as he nodded at Morgana.
"Yeah! When the Phantom Thieves come together, it's never anything less! Ooh, we finally made it!" said Morgana excitedly to Akira as the train arrived and stopped in the subway station before the train opened it's doors to let it's passengers out and Akira wasted no time in leaving the station, making his way toward and stopping in the familiar backstreets of Yongen-Jaya. "Ah, Yongen-Jaya… We may have been gone for only half a year, but it sure brings back memories. Okay, let's go straight to Leblanc posthaste. I wonder how's the Chief been getting along…" added Morgana more excitedly to Akira.
"Boss is most probably being his usual strict self to everyone, Morgana." said Akira as he turned and went toward where Leblanc is and stopped in front of it.
"Well, here we are… Doesn't look like things've changed much. All right! Let's go!" said Morgana.
"Yeah, I know, Morgana." said Akira as he opened the door, stepped into the familiar modest and cozy interior of the café, saw that the place is dark and devoid of people at first before he heard whispering then the lights in the café suddenly turned on and his and Morgana's old friends showed themselves from their hiding places in the booths and behind the counter while holding party poppers in their hands that they used on Akira and Morgana right after they came into the café, releasing loud popping sounds and covering both Akira and Morgana with colourful confetti poppers.
"Surprise! We getcha' or what, buddy?" said a slightly tan-skinned, short dye blonde-haired, brown-eyed guy named Ryuji Sakamoto wearing a sleeveless red tank top with a dog-tag chain necklace around his neck, black puffy sweatpants that went down to his shins with a camo-pattern belt around his waist and yellow shoes on his feet as he approach and put his arm around Akira's shoulders.
"Hmhm. We missed ya!" said a pale-skinned, long orange-haired, brown-eyed girl named Futaba Sakura wearing a short sleeve neon yellow-coloured shirt with a purple pixelated heart image on it, a long sleeve olive-coloured overcoat over it with the sleeves roll up to her elbows, a pair of large black framed glasses on her face, black denim shorts and sky blue-coloured sneakers with orange laces on it on her feet as she also approach and stopped in front of Akira with a smile on her face.
"Nice to see you again, Akira-kun. Isn't that right, Goro?" greeted Minato (who's wearing a short sleeve dark blue and white shirt with his usual silver-coloured headphones around his neck, long dark blue jeans and white shoes on his feet) politely to Akira before he glance sternly at Goro.
"Yeah, I know, Minato-san." said Goro (who's wearing a short sleeve white T-shirt with a black vest over it, long black pants and black loafers on his feet) in reluctant agreement with Minato.
"Humph. Your boyfriend is still the same jerk as ever even after half a year of you two being together, Minato." snorted Pharos to Minato from within his soul.
"Be quiet and leave Gocchan be, please, Pharos." sighed Minato back at Pharos.
"Like Minato-san said, nice to see you again, Akira-kun." greeted Ken as he smiled at Akira.
"It's been a while." said a fair-skinned, short dark blue-haired, silver-eyed tall and pretty looking guy named Yusuke Kitagawa wearing a short sleeve black T-shirt with some white flower patterns on it and with a long sleeve (that's roll up to his elbows too), knee-length indigo-coloured hoodie coat with a thick ultramarine stripe and white tassels, long white pants and black loafers on his feet.
"I agreed with Kitagawa-san, Akira-senpai." said a fair-skinned, long red-haired, red-eyed pretty girl named Sumire Yoshizawa wearing a short sleeve mint green shirt with dozens of black polka-dots on it, light brown denim shorts and mint green sandals on her feet politely and happily to Akira.
"Did you get taller?" asked a fair-skinned, short puffy light pink-haired, violet-eyed girl named Haru Okumura wearing a short sleeve, knee length pink-coloured dress with white stripes on it and a long sleeve white bolero jacket over it, a thin white belt around her waist and white sandals on her feet.
"Nah, I don't think so, Haru. He looks the same as ever to me." said a fair-skinned, short black-haired, violet-eyed guy named Hanzo Okumura wearing a short sleeve dark purple shirt, long light blue jeans and black loafers on his feet jokingly to his sister (while he briefly glance at Minato standing close to Goro with a longing look on his face).
"Looks like you've been doing fine." said a fair-skinned, short dark brown-haired, red-eyed girl named Makoto Niijima wearing a sleeveless white shirt with a short sleeve black bolero jacket over it, shin-length black leather pants and black shoes on her feet calmly to Akira.
"You too, Morgana." said a fair-skinned, long blonde-haired (that's tied up into twin-tailed style), pale blue-eyed pretty girl named Ann Takamaki wearing a short sleeve white crop top with a neon rainbow-coloured comic design on it with a red and pink camisole under her shirt, a pair of red-framed sunglasses above her eyes and a pair large yellow heart-hoop earrings on her ears, seafoam green denim shorts with a red belt and with a star buckle around her waist and pink and white high heels and pink socks on her feet as she walked forward to patted and caress Morgana head a little (which make him purred in joy and delight from it).
After Ryuji, Ann, Makoto, Yusuke, Minato, Goro, Ken, Futaba, Sumire, Haru and Hanzo are done in welcoming and greeting both Akira and Morgana and began talking to him, Sojiro Sakura (a slightly pale-skinned, slicked back black-haired and goatee gray-eyed middle-aged man wearing a long sleeve pale pink shirt with the sleeves roll up to his elbows, pale cream-coloured long khaki pants with a white leather belt tied around his waist and with a black apron with white pinstripe design on it in front of his shirt and pants, a pair of black-framed glasses on his face and white loafers on his feet), Kyosuke Kanakubo (another slightly pale-skinned, short black-haired, light brown-eyed man wearing a short sleeve black shirt, long blue jeans and black shoes on his feet) and Takuto Maruki (a slightly tan-skinned, short unkempt dark brown-haired, brown-eyed man wearing a short sleeve white polo shirt with blue trimming on it, a black wrist watch on his left wrist, light blue jeans and brown shoes on his feet) stepped out from the kitchen and watched the reunion scene of both Akira and Morgana with their friends with fond smiles on their faces.
"Glad to see that Kurusu-kun and his cat Morgana, looking well after half a year, Kyosuke." said Doctor Maruki softly and happily to Kanakubo-sensei about Akira.
"Yeah, I agreed with you about him, Takuto." said Kanakubo-sensei in agreement with Doctor Maruki as he raised and put his arm around Doctor Maruki's shoulders and gently pull him closer (which make Doctor Maruki blush a little at what he just did).
"Ahaha! Boy, were you surprised!" chuckled Ann.
"Totally worth it just to see the looks on yours and Morgana faces, senpai." said Sumire.
"You guys and girls did all that for us!? Talk about a greeting!" said Morgana happily to them.
"Not all of us want to, you ignorant cat." thought Goro sarcastically in his mind at Morgana.
"We hadn't seen ya in so long, we knew we had to do somethin'! We figured the best way to getcha was to have Boss let us in early!" said Ryuji before he and the others glance at Sojiro.
"Well, you're lookin' sharp." said Sojiro.
"Nice to see you again, Boss. And you two as well, Kanakubo-sensei and Doctor Maruki." said Akira happily and politely back to Sojiro, Kanakubo-sensei and Doctor Maruki.
"Right back at you, Akira-kun." said Kanakubo-sensei as he and Doctor Maruki nodded at Akira.
"Now that you're here and you kids plus your teacher and your former therapist have your reunion with him, why don't you all head on and take it upstairs since I'm about to open up soon." suggested Sojiro to them.
"Are you sure? What if you need any help with the customers, Boss?" said Akira concernly to Sojiro.
"Kurusu-kun has a point, Sakura-san." said Doctor Maruki in agreement with Akira.
"Thanks and I'll be fine for now… After all, it's your room. Go on up and have a good time with them, kid." said Sojiro as he nodded at Akira.
"Alright and thanks for hosting us again, Boss." said Akira thankfully to Sojiro.
"No prob." said Sojiro as he nodded again at Akira.
"Well then, thieves-to the hideout we go!" said Futaba excitedly to them (which make Goro rolled his eyes at Futaba being excited) before they all make their way up the stairs to Akira's attic room.
"Great, just when I was enjoying the peace and quiet…" said Sojiro as he watched Akira, his friends, his teacher and former therapist went up the stairs to the attic room with an amused look on his face.