Rank 0
"Okay, so… slight problem with Operation Calling Card." said Futaba, cutting straight to the chase of the meeting.
Makoto sighed. "I hate to say I saw this coming, but gaining access to every news broadcast in Japan at once was an unrealistic plan…"
"What? No, that's not the issue." Futaba waved her hand back and forth, dismissing Makoto's doubt like a bad smell. "I set that up two weeks ago."
"Dude, we came up with Operation Calling Card three days ago." Ryuji deadpanned.
"I know what I said! I was really bored and nervous about this guy making it through our last plan in one piece. I had to do something to take my mind off of it all or I would explode!" Futaba exclaimed, gesturing at Joker for good measure.
"So if the hacking of an entire country does not pose a significant hurdle, what could possibly be stymieing you?" inquired Yusuke.
"We need new clothes." admitted Futaba, sinking into her chair even more than usual as she said it.
"Oh, I'm totally down for getting some new outfits!" said Ann as a smile broke out on her face. "I modelled this dress the other day, it wasn't quite my style, but it would look adorable on Haru! And there's this jacket that just screams Makoto. Oh this'll be so much fun!"
"I don't think Futaba-chan had a traditional shopping spree in mind, did you?" Haru interjected before Ann got carried away. More carried away, at least.
"Not in the slightest." confirmed Futaba. "Operation Calling Card requires us to make Shido's calling card in video format ahead of time."
"I fail to see how that requires new clothes." asked a perplexed Makoto. "We agreed to film it in our Phantom Thief outfits. Even if no one has ever seen us in them, they'd expect the infamous Phantom Thieves to be in something more elaborate than jeans and a t-shirt."
"Yeah, and that's a great idea, except…" Futaba shot a pointed look at their leader.
Joker winced as the realization hit him, voicing it for the entire group. "Except camera's don't work in the Metaverse."
"Oh crap, I totally forgot about that!" Ryuji exclaimed, standing up.
"Why doesn't that surprise me…" snarked Morgana.
"Really?" Makoto blinked in surprise. "I… can't think of a time we have recorded something… Did it really never come up after I joined? How did I never even think to try recording some of the terrible crimes we've seen?"
"When all one has is a paintbrush, everything begins to look like a canvas." said Yusuke, nodding sagely.
"Dude, even I know that's not the right saying."
"Regardless." said Futaba forcefully, trying to get back to the point. "Our costumes can't exit the Metaverse, our camera's don't work inside the Metaverse, and we need to film us in our costumes for anyone to take Shido's calling card seriously. So, we need real life versions of our Metaverse outfits."
Ann groaned. "Ugh. Kinda glad my parents are out of town. I do not want to explain why I own that much latex."
"Thinking about it though, it would be difficult to explain why we require such strange articles of clothing. Not to mention, I doubt any vendors sell such outlandish costumes." contemplated Yusuke.
"I mean, Ann'd probably be able to find something at a fetish shop."
"RYUJI!"
"Lady Ann's outfit isn't… fetishy, she's a sexy femme fatale!"
"Hey, that's not much better!"
"Focus." Joker interrupted Ryuji, Morgana, and Ann, bringing the mood back to normal.
"Right, sorry." apologized Ryuji, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head. "But we really do need to find some place to do our crazy outfits, huh?"
"Fashion is certainly a form of art, though I have no experience in the medium of cloth." Yusuke said, eyes closed in peaceful thought. "I don't think this is a problem we are equipped to deal with ourselves."
"About that, I might have an idea." Ann interjected, pausing a moment before continuing her thought. "The agency I work with doesn't just handle models, it also connects newer designers with magazines and models."
"Oh, lateral integration!" The other thieves shot Haru a confused look. "It's a term that comes up a lot at business meeting at Okumura Foods. If you own the farms that produce the veggies, you can sell the burgers for cheaper."
"I get it. So, by having both fashion designers and models, the agency manages to keep all parts of the transaction with their own company."
"Exactly! You're so smart, Mona-chan. Maybe I should bring you to the next board meeting!" Haru giggled.
"We still do work for outside designers. There aren't a ton working directly with the agency, since they're really flexible. Which is great for high schoolers, not so much for a stable career. So we mostly get newer designers establishing their portfolio before moving on to bigger and better things pretty quick, or young people still in school."
"So, you'll ask around and try to find someone who can make us our outfits?" clarified Makoto. "Well, it's as good a plan as any, I suppose."
Joker nodded in agreement. "Good work, Ann."
"Jeez, save the praise for after I do something!" Ann laughed.
AN: You ever pause your playthrough of a new game to write a fourteen chapter fanfic about the first antagonist? Couldn't be me.