5/4
Akira stirs as he's awoken from his slumber by the sunlight shining through his window. Morgana is already awake and jumps on his chest as he rubs his eyes.
"Hey, we said we were going to sell the medal today, correct? We should get up and get out there to the airsoft shop and speak with Iwai ASAP. Then maybe we can pick up some tuna on the way back!"
Akira smiles at his companion's suggestion but says nothing as he pushes him off his chest. Akira stands up from his bed and moves to change his clothes. He hears the sounds of clinking glass and the smell of the coffee from the café below wafts up the short staircase to his room as he gets dressed. As he grabs his bag and Morgana hops into it, he descends to see Sojiro standing behind the counter as the last customer in the shop leaves through the door.
"Hey," Sojiro says as he notices Akira, "I need you to wash the dishes."
"Can I do it when I get back?" Akira asks.
"Back? Where are you going?" Sojiro asks. Before Akira can answer, the door to the café opens and a tall woman in a suit walks in. Akira stares in amazement at her beautiful yet stern demeanor that radiates off her. She's got a silvery complexion to her hair and all of it is draped off one side of her head. Her eyes survey the café as if looking for something.
"Welcome," Sojiro says.
"Am I interrupting something," the woman asks looking between Akira and Sojiro.
"Not at all. Go ahead and have a seat and I'll be right with you," Sojiro says. Sojiro turns to Akira, "That's fine I suppose but it'd be a real help next time if you could tell me when you're busy." As he says this, Sojiro grabs the remote and flips the TV on as the newscaster that appears on screen begins to fill the café with his voice.
"The cause of the runaway-train incident in the subway the other day still has not been found," he says as all heads in the café turn to tune in. "Police are hurrying to solve the matter as it may relate to the rise of psychotic breakdown incidents."
"Is that the thing that everyone's been talking about?" Sojiro asks.
"Doesn't it make you curious?" the woman asks, "People who were living a normal life suddenly went mad or deranged out of the blue… Not to mention that it's happening one after another. Could they really be coincidental?"
"Hmm," Sojiro replies as he thinks about what the woman said. "Leaving that aside, what'll you have?"
"House blend, please. Are you a part-timer?" she asks turning to Akira. "I'm surprised this place can afford one."
"Uh t-that's exactly the case!" Sojiro says.
"Are you a high school student," the woman continues questioning. "Where do you attend?"
"Shujin Academy," Akira replies.
"Oh...? Someone I know goes there as well. I've heard that things are rough right now."
"That's putting it mildly," Akira says.
"I suppose so," the woman agrees. "A teacher confessing his crimes like he was a completely different person, supposedly. And it happened all of a sudden one day. Can a person's mental state change so easily?"
"Seems like it," Akira says trying to be nonchalant as possible.
"Hmm. Is my drink ready yet?" the woman asks.
"It's coming right up," Sojiro says as he begins to get the beans from the shelf.
"I'll be back this afternoon, Boss," Akira says as he makes his way out the door.
"Something about that woman doesn't seem right to me," Morgana says as they walk down the alley outside the café.
"What do you mean?"
"Look at how she was dressed! We get nothing but old folks and people looking for the quiet life here at Leblanc and that woman was dressed like she works some corporate job at the top floor of some Tokyo skyscraper."
"Maybe she just wanted some coffee," Akira replies.
"I guess, but then why come all the way out here for it? She's here, snooping for something I'd bet."
"Like what? You think she was investigating us or something?"
"I don't know for sure…" Morgana says as he retreats back into Akira's bag.
"I think you're being paranoid," Akira says. "Maybe she's just somebody looking for some coffee. Let's wait until she starts interrogating us before we assume she's investigating anything."
"I think she already has…" Morgana mutters to himself.
XXXX
5/6
Akira sits in class ignoring Ms. Kawakami as she speaks about 'guidance' and 'wisdom' in the wake up Kamoshida's confession. It was tense walking into school and even more tense sitting in class waiting for the day to start. Ann had arrived shortly after Akira but the two didn't speak much, not wanting to say too much in front of other students.
Akira and Ann had texted one another everyday over their break until they had their celebratory meal as the Phantom Thieves. Ann had mentioned multiple times how she wanted to hang out with Akira in person, but her modeling agency had her booked for shoots on days when Akira wasn't working at Leblanc, so it was getting difficult to find time.
Akira's thoughts of the past couple of days are interrupted as the bell rings, signaling a break in the day. Akira grabs his bag as Morgana stealthily hops inside and heads out into the hallway followed closely by Ann. Ryuji spots them as they exit the room and motions them over to him.
"Have you guys been checking the Phantom Aficionado website?" Ryuji asks. Ann and Akira shake their heads. "It ain't much but we've been getting more postings on there. People thanking us for taking down Kamoshida, others asking for help with shitty adults in their life…" Ryuji trails off reading some responses.
"'I want to make my friend apologize for not returning the stuff I lent him.' Ugh deal with that yourself!" Ryuji says. "So not all posts are great, but most are."
As Ryuji finishes his statement two girls walk out of the classroom behind Akira and begin speaking in hushed tones.
"You know that Phantom Thieves rumor about stealing Kamoshida's heart? I wonder if it's really true," one says to the other.
"It's got to be made up. Do you seriously believe they exist?" the other replies as they walk away.
"Most people still don't even believe we exist. You'd think the calling card would have been enough, not to mention that less than a week later it actually happened," Ryuji sighs. "Once we've done more famous targets people will have to acknowledge us, right?"
"Don't suppose you've got any leads on these big shots you want to target?" Ann asks.
"I'm working on it!"
"Let's just live an honest school life for the time being," Akira says. "At least until some of the heat dies down here at Shujin." Ann and Ryuji nod in agreement.
"Well, let's go get some grub," Ryuji says as his stomach rumbles.
XXXX
The final bell of the day rings and Akira begins to pack up his things to go home. Ann turns around in her seat and leans in.
"I'll text you later, ok?" she says.
Akira nods in confirmation with a small smile. Ann then picks up her bag and begins to walk out of the classroom. Akira stands and sets his bag on his chair allowing Morgana to hop inside as Mishima-kun approaches.
"Hey," he says. "Have you seen that Phantom Aficionado website?"
"I've heard of it," Akira says uncertainly. Akira still hadn't forgiven Mishima exactly for leaking his record online. Mishima may have been a victim of Kamoshida, but it didn't alleviate the sour taste in Akira's mouth.
"I'm the one who started it," Mishima says coolly. Akira feels his muscles tense as he senses where the conversation could be headed. He glances around the classroom to see the last group of students head out the door leaving just the two of them here. Mishima leans in still to speak in a whisper.
"Um… You guys are the Phantom Thieves, aren't you?"
Akira's blood runs cold as the words are spoken aloud. His worst fears now come to life. Someone knows!
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," Akira tries to say. Akira raises his hands to rub his neck as Mishima backs away a bit.
"S-sorry!" Mishima says. "But you don't have to deny it. I'm fairly confident I know it's the truth. And I want to keep it a secret!"
Akira can only stare at Mishima with his mouth slightly open trying to find the words.
"Kamoshida used me, and I did some horrible things to you. But then you stood up to him and I watched him react in fear and desperation for the first time. From the moment I saw those calling cards on the wall I knew it was you guys. No one else would dare!
I wanted to apologize for what I did," Mishima continues. "But I didn't know how. But when Kamoshida finally was broken and confessed his sins I knew that there was something I had to do! So, I made a website for the Phantom Thieves, a place where people can come and voice their stories about Kamoshida. I wanted to give people a place where they could safely communicate with others with similar stories.
But then it evolved. The site began attracting people wishing that someone in their lives could have a heart be changed. Once that began happening I knew I'd need to get into contact with the Phantom Thieves about it. So, I'm right aren't I? It's really you guys?"
Akira glances down to see Morgana's eyes peering at him from inside his bag. The eyes seem to do a nodding motion.
"Yeah, Mishima-kun. I'm a Phantom Thief," Akira says.
"I knew it! I promise, your secret is safe with me. Did you do it alone? I thought maybe Sakamoto-kun was involved but I can't imagine him doing something like this without getting caught."
"There's others… but if you don't know then let's keep it that way. Safer for everyone."
"That makes sense," Mishima says. "Well I want to help you guys help others in the same way you helped so many people here at this school. Let me know of anything you'd need, and I'll help however I can."
"I will. But this is serious Mishima-kun. No one can know. Cover your tracks online so no one can connect it to you."
"Way ahead of you Kurusu-kun," Mishima replies with a large smile. "There are many more evil adults outside of Kamoshida. And I'm sure the Phantom Thieves will do something. They can't just let this end after one target…"
Boy if you only knew what our celebration meal was about, Akira thinks to himself.
"I'll live up to your expectations… I promise," Mishima says with a bow.
"I hope so," Akira replies bowing back. "Now let's go home."
XXXX
Makoto sat in class trying to pay attention. Her mind has been a flurry of mixed thoughts and emotions for the past week. Exams are still on the horizon and while Makoto wanted to study, her world has been rocked.
Kamoshida confessed everything she had suspected. But to hear the level of it all, the nitty gritty details as she sat with the staff with Kamoshida waiting for police to arrive. Makoto very nearly became sick to her stomach but held together in front of the instructors.
But even before that, Takamaki-san had slapped her across the face in front of the entire student body. Makoto had never been in a fight prior to this and to have someone actually strike her was paralyzing.
She now sits in class, attempting to pay attention to everything that's going on but still stuck in her own head and thoughts. Do they all think I knew? Was Kurusu-kun right when he said I need to commit harder two weeks ago? Makoto looks over at Haru sitting in class next to her. Haru's face shows she's concerned, likely over the fact that Makoto hadn't been as talkative all last week as she usually was and turned down every attempt Haru made to get together to study or hang out.
Makoto's thoughts are interrupted as the final bell rings and the instructor tells Makoto that Principal Kobayakawa wishes to see her. Makoto gives Haru a small wave as she departs the room.
XXXX
Makoto knocks on the door to Principal Kobayakawa's office and hears an invitation to enter from inside. Makoto walks into the small room and shuts the door behind her. She turns to see Principal Kobayakawa writing hastily on some pieces of paper some information.
"Did you wish to see me, Principal Kobayakawa?" Makoto asks. Normally she'd never be nervous speaking with the principal one-on-one, but this was not a normal time.
"You saw the state Kamoshida-kun was in, didn't you?" Principal Kobayakawa replies without looking up from the papers on his desk.
Makoto glances down at them to see Akira Kurusu's student record on top of what appear to be a pile of student records. Was Kurusu-kun really involved?!
"It's as if," Principal Kobayakawa continues, "his personality has completely changed. I don't even recognize the man anymore, personally. Something is definitely wrong here."
"I'm sorry sir, I'm not sure I follow," Makoto says.
"From what I've heard, it appears as though some students were meddling in his business. Not to mention the supposed Phantom Thieves and their display of public graffiti on the walls. If they did something to him… Just… Who could they be?"
"Sir are you saying that you really believe that these Phantom Thieves really did something to Mr. Kamoshida?"
"That is what I wish to know," Principal Kobayakawa says finally looking up at Makoto, "Even if it takes some probing into student matters… I would like you to look into this for me, Nijima-san."
What does he mean? He wants me to figure out which students were Kamoshida's biggest adversaries here at the school? That list could very well be half the student body!
"W-well there are many rumors regarding Mr. Kamoshida, but… do you really wish me to figure out who the Phantom Thieves are?"
"It is undeniable that Mr. Kamoshida has 'changed' in some way. I'd like to have a grasp of the cause. This will also ensure that I can handle the mass media and police in a correct fashion."
"Oh…" Makoto sighs. You don't care about what happened to Kamoshida or the students, do you Principal Kobayakawa? You're concerned with the reputation of Shujin. While reputation is certainly important, I'd have thought you'd put the safety and wellbeing of your students before such a thing.
"In the meantime, I will continue speaking to Mr. Kamoshida myself. Unless you can find whoever did this, these irresponsible rumors will never die down," Principal Kobayakawa says as he begins to gather the papers on his desk into a single neat stack.
"Wouldn't you agree?" Principal Kobayakawa continues. "You have been at the top of your class since day one. Your conduct is good, and teachers favor you. I could write you a letter of recommendation for any college of your choosing."
"Th-thank you," Makoto says.
"Your lineage must certainly play a role in this excellence. Your sister is still quite young and already holds an admirable position at the Public Prosecutors Office, no...?"
"That's right."
"I guess I'm saying that if something disappointing were to happen here, that wouldn't reflect well on your sister," Principal Kobayakawa says with a hint of arrogance. "Do you understand?"
"…Yes," Makoto says.
"How wise! It's no wonder you're student council president. I'd appreciate if you'd look into this as soon as possible. I ask that you begin at once. Here," Principal Kobayakawa says handing Makoto a manila folder filled with the papers from his desk, "this should help you get started. I've compiled a list of students who might possibly have had something to do with it."
Makoto takes the folder and opens it to see that student record for Akira Kurusu staring back at her. Flipping through the pages show her the other names of students alongside their most recent school photos. Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki, Yuuki Mishima, and Shiho Suzui.
"Thank you. If you'll excuse me then," Makoto says with a bow as she makes her way out of the office. As soon as she rounds the corner, she sends Haru a text message.
Makoto: I need your help again.
A/N: Sorry for the wait!