6-25
Natsuhiko reads through the paperwork one last time, gives a small nod, and stamps it. He closes the folder, stands, tucks it under his arm, and walks to his supervisor's desk.
He bows and places it on his desk. "Here you are, sir," he says.
His supervisor, a veteran of this office for twenty-five years, grunts in response and doesn't bother to look up. He remains hunched over his own work, notating and marking the paperwork before him with a rigid, almost rhythmic fury.
Natsuhiko wonders if he should say something more, but he knows to keep his mouth shut. He knows he should always just keep his mouth shut.
Apparently, he overstays his welcome, because his supervisor raises one hand and waves him away. Natsuhiko straightens and retreats to his own desk.
There's already another file waiting in his inbox. He sits, with a heavy sigh, and takes it out. At least it's Saturday. He got paid today, and once he pays off a few of his bills, he should have enough left over to save away for his special project.
His thoughts turn to said project, and he sits up just a bit straighter. He can't afford to get discouraged now. The Phantom Thieves saved him. They stopped him from doing something terrible and stupid. He couldn't let himself drift away into the workplace like he'd been doing. He had to keep pushing.
"Right," he says, and opens the file. "Stay strong."
"Nakanohara-san?" Comes a feminine voice. He glances up.
One of the secretaries, a middle-aged woman with her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail is before his desk.
"Yes?" He asks, fixing a pleasant smile to his face.
"There are, um, some men here to see you," she whispers, glancing about. "They're out front."
The words are so strange, that all he can ask is, "Men?"
She nods. "They're..." she leans forward and her voice is even softer, "police."
Natsuhiko gulps. He doesn't mean to. It just happens. He looks around. His coworkers are all concentrated on their work, but he knows they're likely listening. Everyone in this office, with the exception of himself, is a gossip. "I see," he says. He forces himself to calmly stand up, and buys himself a few seconds by making sure his desk is tidy, before nodding to the secretary, who leads him out of the forest of clerks.
They step into the lobby of the municipal building, and Natushiko can immediately pick out the two who are waiting for him.
One is a rather plump man with close cropped hair and a relaxed posture.
The other is Goro Akechi.
Natushiko doesn't pay much attention to idols and whatnot, but ever since Akechi started talking about the Phantom Thieves, Natushiko has kept his eye on him. More than once, he has hopped onto the internet message boards to defend the PTs against Akechi's comments, always making sure to keep himself anonymous.
The big man sees them first, and turns to him, a large smile on his face. "Natsuhiko Nakanohara?" He asks.
"Yes," Natsuhiko says.
The cop dips his head in a short bow. "Officer Hideotoshi Kagawa. I'm a detective with the MET." He gestures to Akechi and says, "This is-"
"Goro Akechi," Natsuhiko says.
Akechi blinks, a warm smile on his face as well. "Ah, I see you've heard of me. That's a bit embarrassing."
Kagawa rolls his eyes. "Right. Well, it's nice to meet you. We're sorry to pull you away from work."
"That's alright," Natsuhiko says, remembering himself and bowing as well. "Is there something I can help you with?"
Kagawa and Akechi both look at the secretary, who hasn't moved. "Oh," she says, and starts to back away. "Right then. I'll leave you gentlemen to it."
"Thank you," Kagawa says, sweetly. When he's evidently satisfied she's out of earshot, he says, "Is there a place we can go where you'd be more comfortable? Maybe, away from your office?"
"There are some benches outside," he says. "Why don't you come with me?" And he steps between them and starts to lead them out of the building.
As he does, his mind races. He knows there's only one thing they could possibly want from him. I have to be careful, he says. I have to think before I say anything.
"Impressive place," Kagawa says, glancing up at the high ceiling.
"Agreed," Akechi replies. "I can see how it might make someone feel small though."
Natsuhiko winces at the implication. Akechi said it pleasantly enough, but he's been dealing with minor barbs and potshots for a while now, ever since his name was publicized. Ignore him. He's trying to rile you up. "It's an older building," he says. "But newly renovated."
They don't say anything else until they get outside.
He leads the two men to a few benches that sit on some grass, and gestures for them to sit. Akechi does, but Kagawa remains standing.
"Well," Natsuhiko says, trying to keep his voice steady. "We're alone. I appreciate you not coming into my office directly."
"From what we understand," Kagawa says, and shrugs. "You've had a hard time of it lately."
"It can't be easy," Akechi says. "Having your name broadcast all across the internet."
Natsuhiko looks at him. "And on TV."
Kagawa snickers, as Akechi glances away.
"But I'm fine," Natsuhiko says. "It's nothing I can't handle."
"That's the spirit," Kagawa says, and grins. "And you've got your job and your health, yeah?" He pats his gut. "That's one more thing than you could say I've got." He laughs.
Natsuhiko imagines people tend to find this man endearing, but he doesn't. "I'm sorry, sir. But may I ask, what is it you wanted from me?"
Kagawa's smile diminishes, but never quite fades. Akechi straightens and says, "We'd like to discuss your relation to the Phantom Thieves of Hearts."
He nods, and lets out a short sigh. "I've explained this before. I spoke to the police already. I have no connection to the Phantom Thieves. I don't know how they managed to change my heart. I don't even know how the Calling Card reached me." He shakes his head. "It's all a blur. Please understand, that was a dark time for me. I was... of a one-track mind."
"Stalking your ex-girlfriend," Kagawa says.
Natsuhiko winces. "Yes," he admits. "Exactly. I was obsessed. She put in a request on the PhanSite, from what I understand. Then, the Phantom Thieves changed my heart. I went on the PhanSite and thanked them after the fact, and that's all I know."
Akechi takes a step closer to him. "Permit me to ask, have you been feeling strange as of late?"
Natsuhiko blinks. "Strange?" He sees an aggrieved look pass over Kagawa's face. "What do you mean?"
"Lightheaded?" Akechi asks. "Have you been blacking out? Perhaps finding yourself in places, with no idea how you got there? Possessed by impulses you find counter to your own cognizance?"
Natsuhiko looks from one man to the other. "No, I can't say I have. Though, I find the question very odd."
Akechi smiles a bit. "Forgive me. I was only curious."
"Getting back on track," Kagawa mutters. "You say you've got no relation with the Phantom Thieves, but you can understand why someone might find that hard to believe, yeah? After all, their next target, immediately after you, was Ichiryusai Madarame."
Natsuhiko feels his fists clench.
"Your old mentor," Akechi points out.
"I know who he is. Was." Natsuhiko forces himself to calm down. It takes a few breaths. "And I was under the impression that their next target was that young man, Takahashi?"
"Daisuke Takanashi," Akechi corrects. "And you are not mistaken. However, isn't it odd that the Phantom Thieves went almost directly to Madarame, after dealing with one of his former students?"
Kagawa nods. "You could even suggest that they got the idea from him."
Natsuhiko dips his head forward and tries to keep his emotions from his face. "I've put that part of my life behind me. I don't know how the Phantom Thieves got their information on Madarame. Maybe one of his other students. There were many."
"Yes, there were," Akechi says. "But only two went to his funeral."
Natsuhiko feels his blood go cold. He looks back up. Akechi looks calm. Kagawa looks perturbed. "How do you know about that?"
"You were seen," Kagawa replies, without answering the question. "Attending the funeral, along with Yusuke Kitagawa. That's pretty interesting, yeah? Yusuke Kitagawa, I get. The wounds were fresh. But you? You hadn't had contact with him for years. Why go to the funeral, if you put all that behind you?"
Natsuhiko grimaces. "That part of my life was done. It still is. I may have put it behind me, but that doesn't mean I forgot. I went because I thought I could get some kind of closure. I thought that, with Madarame dead, maybe I'd feel better. Maybe I'd be able to forgive him." He looks each man in the eye. "Well, I couldn't. Not even close. But I did get the chance to talk with Kitagawa. He's a smart young man, and meeting him was a pleasure. He seems to have landed on his feet. His scholarship at Kosei is still intact and he's able to live in the dorms for the time being.
"I think," he continues. "That what is happening here is that you're trying to guess why the Phantom Thieves chose Madarame." He shrugs. "I don't know. He was a bastard that ruined many lives. Isn't that reason enough? If you're also trying to get me to help you in catching the Phantom Thieves, well, that I won't do either. I know nothing, as I've said before. But even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. The Phantom Thieves saved me, and that's not something I try to hide." He crosses his arms. "I know very well what your opinion is, of the Phantom Thieves, Akechi-san. I do not share it. Madarame hurt many people, and his heart was changed and-"
"He also died," Akechi cuts in. His face looks different, all of a sudden. He pokes himself in the stomach. "He was stabbed right here. Multiple times. Again and again. He bled out in the street, and died in the ambulance to the hospital. That change of heart, and for what, Nakanohara-san?" He shrugs.
Natsuhiko remembers the news. Remembers couldn't deciding between laughing or crying, and then, he'd just done nothing. He remembers his conversation with Yusuke.
Are you satisfied?
"I think I've said all I'm going to say," Natsuhiko says. "If you don't mind, I've got to get back to work."
"Of course," Kagawa says, and takes a step back. "We didn't mean to harass you, if that's what you think happened here. We're just trying to ascertain how things all fit together. It's hard, you know? Trying to figure out who all these Phantom Thieves are? How they can do what they do? Especially given their age."
Natsuhiko almost stumbles as he turns around. He pauses, and runs over the last sentence. Why did he mention their age? Did they know the Phantom Thieves were teenagers? Did they know he knew that? No, impossible. He turns back. "I wouldn't know about any of that, Officer. But for what it's worth, you should probably spend more time putting people like Madarame behind bars, rather than trying to catch the Phantom Thieves. They're Heroes of Justice."
Kagawa blinks. "'Heroes of Justice?'" He asks.
"I've heard that phrase," Akechi replies. "It's being used online, along with the abbreviation of 'PTs.' It's all a little too anime for me."
Natsuhiko nods. "Good day, gentlemen." He turns back to the building and does his best to walk steadily, but slow enough to not make it look like he's rushing.
#
Akechi looks at Kagawa after Nakanohara is gone. "Why'd you bring up the age? We don't know for certain how old they are."
"Sure," Kagawa says. "But he doesn't know that. If he really doesn't know anything about the Phantom Thieves, then telling him that doesn't harm anyone. If he does, then he'll probably go back to them and tell them what we said." He looks back at Akechi, who still frowns. "I didn't say how old we think the Phantom Thieves are. But if they think we know their age, then they may screw up and make a mistake." He shrugs. "Hey, it's a long shot, but sometimes you've got to take those." He frowns. "By the way, what the hell was up with the stomach stabbing thing?"
"I thought the application of guilt might jog something from him."
"Application of guilt? That some new psychological term I don't know about?"
"If the Phantom Thieves learned of Madarame from Nakanohara, then it's possible he may feel responsible for the man's death. Daiki Aoe wouldn't have killed Madarame if he hadn't confessed. Probably."
"Still, maybe next time go a little easier," Kagawa says. "It was fuckin' creepy what you just did. Just saying."
Akechi nods. "I'll keep that in mind, going forward. Do you believe him?"
Kagawa shrugs. "I believe that he's legitimately grateful for the Phantom Thieves. If they hadn't stopped him, he might've done something very stupid. I think he knows more than he's telling, but I don't know what that is. Would the Phantom Thieves really confide in him? I do suspect that the Phantom Thieves found out about Madarame through him, but whether or not they heard it directly from him is another matter."
Akechi looks back at the building. "I'm in awe of your deductive reasoning, Officer."
Kagawa scowls and lets out a groan. "It's not deduction, kid. It's just straight reasoning." He turns to him. "And I've been meaning to ask you something. What's the deal with you and Sae?"
"We're colleagues," Akechi replies, and sounds a little hurt.
"Colleagues, huh?" He sticks his hands in his pockets. "Fine. Sure. Just watch yourself around her. I know you're this new generation's hotshot, but if you screw up, it'll reflect poorly on her, and I'd rather not see that."
Akechi nods, but doesn't say anything. "Should we report back to her?"
Kagawa shrugs. "Sure. Why not? There isn't much to report, but we can let her know we checked out Nakanohara. We should make sure to follow up. Check his whereabouts for the next few days. Who knows? Maybe he'll take us right to the Phantom Thieves."
They turn and head off down the street.
#
Natsuhiko turns the corner into his building, and immediately heads for the bathroom. Once he's inside, he finds a stall, shuts the door, and sits down on the toilet. He starts breathing, bidding himself to calm down.
I need to warn them, he thinks. He knows how he can get in touch. Via the PhanSite, same as before. He can talk with that boy who knew the other Thieves, the blonde boy and the one with glasses.
Their age. How did they know about his age? Natushiko pulls out his phone and scrolls to the PhanSite.
Wait.
His fingers freeze. What if this was what they were expecting him to do? What if they were betting he'd just hop on his phone and enter the PhanSite? But still, he couldn't just leave that alone. He had to let them know somehow.
Hideotoshi Kagawa.
Goro Akechi.
Goro Akechi was nothing but a glorified poster boy they brought out and paraded every once in a while. But Hideotoshi Kagawa appeared to be a legitimate police officer.
He couldn't just let this happen. Couldn't just let the police investigate the Phantom Thieves without doing something about it. He slides his phone back into his pocket, puts his head in his hands and tries to think.
#
When Akira arrives at Untouchable, he finds Iwai along with another man he's never seen before.
"This is Tsuda," Iwai tells him, and claps him on the shoulder. "A friend. He's still with the Dragon."
The man, dressed in a suit Akira has to believe was at least moderately expensive, looks him up and down and mutters, "This is the kid?"
Akira opens his mouth to protest, and both men tell him to shut up.
What follows is a crash course, and one Akira finds himself unable to keep up with. He's told to be respectful, but 'not take any shit,' for certain people. The higher-ups were allowed to embarrass him and smack him around, but if anyone on his level, like another kid from Shujin, stepped up to him, Akira was to knock him down, hard.
"I don't really fight people," Akira says.
"Learn," Iwai snaps. "Quick. Matter of fact, just be quick. If someone starts spitting shit at you, don't let him finish the sentence. Just fucking hit him. Most of the time, a quick punch will finish things before they get too ugly."
"But keep your mouth shut," Tsuda says, arms crossed over his chest. "But your eyes stay open. People run their mouth, but don't fall into that trap. Guys that get respect are the ones who keep their shit on lock down."
The conversation soon turns to his glasses.
"He should wear them," Iwai argues.
Tsuda shakes his head. "They make him look weak."
Iwai taps his forehead with his index finger. "They make him look smart. Kaneshiro respects brains more than muscles."
"Kaneshiro doesn't respect anyone," Tsuda counters.
"Well, the kid can't take them off. He won't be able to see without them."
Akira clears his throat. "Actually," he says, and removes them. "They're cosmetic. I just wear them because they make-"
"They're a fucking disguise?" Tsuda asks, mouth agape. "Fuck it. Wear them."
The more they talk, the more Akira feels a lightness in his chest, a creeping, increasing, sensation of himself falling within his own body. The aisles of Untouchable have never felt so cramped.
"I'm not sure I can do this," Akira whispers.
The two look at him, then at each other. "Mind giving us a minute?" Iwai asks.
Tsuda nods and steps outside. Akira inhales as a wave of fresh air pumps into the store when he opens the door, and sucks it down as silently as he can. The door closes, and Iwai leans against the counter, hands in his pockets.
"This is going to be tough, Akira," he says.
Akira nods, his mind blank. He wants to treat this like any other job. He wants to think of it just like another heist. An undercover operation. But he can't. He rubs his hands together, hoping to steady them.
"But this is temporary," Iwai continues. "You can steal his heart, yeah?"
All Akira says in response is, "He's got a Palace." He wants to rage, and scream at Iwai. Wants to tell him that this is all his fault. That this shouldn't be his responsibility, that this was Iwai's to fix.
"I still don't understand any of that Phantom Thief bullshit," Iwai mutters. "But if you say that's what you've got to do, then that's what you've got to do." His brows furrow, and he straightens. He looks at Akira, a determined glint in his eyes, then his face falters and he looks away. "I'm sorry about this, k- Akira." Akira tries to formulate a response, but before he can, Iwai bumbles out, "Just don't screw up and you won't have anything to worry about."
"And what'll you be doing?" Akira asks. Iwai gives him a confused look. "You. I'm with Kaneshiro, doing whatever it is he wants me to do, what will you be doing?"
Iwai stares at him for a long time. "It's better if you don't know that."
"It's better if I don't know that," Akira repeats. He barks out a humorless laugh. "Great. Thanks."
Iwai picks up a plastic bag off the counter and tosses it to him. "New clothes. You can't show up in your school uniform." He lets him use the back office to get changed. The clothes are a simple pair of jeans and dark gray t-shirt. Not stylish, but simple. He won't stand out. Once he's finishes, Akira sits down at the desk and fidgets with his bag. Morgana had wanted to accompany him, but Akira had advised him to stay back. He knows the cat is outside, waiting to follow him to Kaneshiro's headquarters. Despite his recent screw-up, Akira's confident in the cat's ability to remain unseen. There's a bit of comfort in knowing that he'll be around. Not much, but it's there.
He takes out his phone and queues up the Navigator app. We're still missing two words. He takes a few random guesses, but the phone gives him nothing.
Akira puts his phone back in his pocket and steps out of the back room. Iwai turns to him. Tsuda has come back inside. "Okay," Akira says. "I'm ready."
Tsuda lets out a long exhale and rubs the back of his neck. "No, you're not kid. But you're as ready as you're gonna be. Let's go."
The three file out of the shop, and Iwai locks the door.
What follows is a winding course through the side streets of Shibuya. Akira knows he should be paying attention, notating landmarks in his own mind, but he can't help focusing on the fear. It pounds through his skull and although he tries to rationalize things to himself, whatever reassurances he gives are drowned away in the crushing wave of anxiety.
Akira isn't sure how much time passes, but eventually he finds himself standing before a three-story steel building, dull gray against the blue sky. A ramp leads down into what appears to be a parking garage beneath the building, and Haru's recollection of her abduction flashes through her mind.
Tsuda walks up to a door, a great block of a thing with a small hatch at eye level, and knocks. The hatch slides back, and a pair of eyes glares out at them. The hatch shuts, and the door swings open. A middle-aged yakuza stands there, looking uncomfortable. "He's upstairs," he grunts, as the three step inside.
The air is oppressive. It hangs heavy on Akira's skin and clothes. He knows he'll be sweating in a few minutes, and hopes it won't show.
Tsuda leads them down a hall, and Akira passes a few open doors. He glances inside, and finds mostly men slumped in front of television screens, a few holding handheld consoles. In others, he notices a few girls sitting against walls, staring ahead at nothing.
Deep music pumps from somewhere, but it's muffled as they continue. Everything smells of smoke. They reach a narrow stairwell and begin to climb.
On the second landing, Akira spies a trio of boys, who spare him a quick glance, then look back, eyes wide. He doesn't recognize him, but evidently, they know him.
He hears someone whisper, "Kurusu."
"The fuckin' transfer kid?"
"...knew he was trouble..."
"Friends of yours?" Iwai whispers.
Akira shakes his head. "Nope." He can only guess the fallout this will cause back at Shujin. What would happen if this got back to Kawakami? Or Principal Toko?
The third floor smells a little better, and looks well-put together. They walk down the hall and come to a solid look door. Tsuda knocks.
It opens, and a scarred man steps out and regards them.
"Hey Muzaki," Tsuda says.
The man grunts.
"This is the new kid," Tsuda replies, and gestures to Akira.
The man jerks his head towards the door, and steps through it. They follow.
Akira steps through and the first thing he sees is a girl hanging off the edge of the couch, eyes glued to the floor, arm dangling uselessly at her side, itself pockmarked by a number of red dots.
Then, Akira sees Junya Kaneshiro.
##
A/N: Happy Wednesday, everyone!
The moment is finally here, Akira meets Kaneshiro! It only took 400K words, lol.
Thank you for reading Crimson! I'll try and get through a number of your comments later today, sorry about that, you know how things go. One second you're writing P5 fanfic, the next, you've got a baby on the way.
Thanks again!