The whole school day went by without much incident. Most of the rumor mill had been consumed by how the interview with Rise was cancelled, and a lot of her fanboys were less than pleased. But Yu kept his eye on the news. Hifumi had sent them all a text telling them that her mother confessed to both her and her father what she did. Not only that, but she planned on holding a press conference in place of the Rise interview. Once the school day was over, Yu walked away from school to the main Shibuya square, just in time to see one of the big screens lit up. And there she was. Mitsuyo Togo.
"Hello everyone. I hope you're all having a lovely day. I'm aware that many of you are incredibly upset that you didn't get to see me interview Kujikawa-san. The truth is that… I have the need to talk. To confess."
Yu looked behind him and saw the others run to where he was, all of them ready for the woman on the screen to continue.
"I have been a truly vile woman. My crimes are numerous, but just to name a few; I have committed murder, blackmail, kidnapping, bribery, and forging information. For the past fifteen years, I've done nothing but ruin lives for no reason other than because I was jealous."
Mitsuyo began to break down and sob.
"I even murdered my best friend. Mistreated my husband, and tried to turn my own daughter into a slave."
Several people were letting out murmurs at what she was saying, but there were a few people who looked bored.
"I'm… I'm so SOOORRY!" Mitsuyo wailed, unable to control herself any more.
"I'M GOING TO TURN MYSELF OVER TO THE POLICE, AND LET JUSTICE RUN ITS COURSE!"
The people in the crowd were starting to get rowdy. A few were voicing their disbelief of just how genuine she was, some were outright booing her, and some were wondering out loud why Rise's interview wasn't cancelled sooner. But for Yu and his team, the noise provided the perfect cover. The Tricksters turned to each other, each one grinning from ear to ear.
"WOOHOO!" Shiho yelled, jumping into the air.
"We did it!" Akechi declared pumping his fist into the air.
"Another day, another stolen heart." Morgana stated smugly, as if the accomplishment was as mundane and easy as walking. Yu felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, and he made sure to put the caller on speaker.
"We are victorious. Good has prevailed." Hifumi calmly stated.
"Good job everyone! When's everyone available to celebrate?" Yu asked.
True, they all knew that this moment was coming, it didn't lessen the sweetness of success. It was like cooking good food; you can watch the meal get ready, even see it in its completed state, but until you ate it, tasted the fruits of your labor, the satisfaction would never be whole.
"Celebration?" Hifumi asked.
"Yuuuup! We went to a buffet when we defeated Kobayakawa!" Shiho informed.
"I see…"
"Hey, why so down?" Morgana asked.
"With my father still in the hospital, and my mother soon to be in custody, I'm going to have to have a press confrence of my own, to answer any questions."
"When will this conference be?" Akechi asked, concerned.
"Tomorrow, I imagine."
"Can't you postpone it?" Shiho almost whined.
"No. The sooner I get it over with, the better."
"Alright. And if you start to get overwhelmed… we'll see what we can do." Yu clumsily replied.
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
Sae Niijima, unlike most people, was grateful when news of Rise's arrival being canceled reached her. Never before had she been so happy to see paperwork get put through the shredder. Despite what Narukami told her, Sae was not at all eager to meet the idol and spend her day guarding the stalker-magnet. But not only that, the cancellation allowed her to focus on work. Work that she almost finished. Maybe now she could finally go home at a reasonable hour. Her thoughts were rudely interrupted by a buzz from her desk. A buzz that could only mean her boss wanted to see her. Groaning as she forced herself to finish before moving to the director's office, Sae braced herself for whatever menial task was about to be dumped on her. Her superior looked at her like he was looking at a cemetery, as he always did. Sae noticed that his widescreen TV was put on pause.
"Sir. You wanted to see me?" Sae asked, straightening her back and giving a slight bow as she addressed Tatsumi Azuma, director of Japan's Special Investigations Unit.
"I trust you've already heard about Mitsuyo Togo's confession?" He asked with a clipped voice.
"Yes sir. If half of what she said is true, the police force will have a lot to work to do."
"Indeed. But that's not what I called you in for."
Tatsumi grabbed a nearby remote and pressed play. The image on the screen, a news reporter, continued whatever she was saying.
"According to Mitsuyo herself, this 'change of heart' happened shortly after she received a card from an unknown group calling themselves the Phantom Team. The card reads as follows: 'To Mitsuyo Togo, the Shogun of Envy. We know the truth behind what you did to Ami Ito. We know that you were jealous of what she had, so you did everything to destroy her despite everything the two of you went through. We know that you didn't stop there; you have exploited and tortured people for no reason other than because you were jealous of what they achieved. We know that you see your husband and daughter as stepping stones for your vile empire, and you don't care how you manipulate or use them to make it happen. And we know that you will continue to construct an empire of evil for your daughter to inherit, no matter who gets hurt along the way. For this, we have decided to take your poisonous heart. We will steal your distorted desires without fail, and make you confess your sins with your own mouth.' Authorities are already investigating the origin and maker of the card."
Tatsumi paused it once again, and looked at Sae.
"You know what this means right?"
Sae thought back to Kobayakawa. He also received a card from the Phantom Team, and shortly after, confessed everything. Yes, she knew exactly what this meant.
"They're just getting started."
"Yes. And who knows how far they'll go, or how much chaos they will sow. I'm counting on you to stop them before they go too far."
Sae's eyes bulged so much one could mistake them for almost coming out of their sockets. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish until she finally settled on one word.
"Me?"
"Well, technically, you and Akechi. I know many don't think too highly of you here, but the fact is you're the best we have. You've never lost a case, no matter how buried or scarce the evidence is, you always nail your target. Your beauty and charm can ensnare any man, your determination can make anything possible, and your intelligence is rivaled only by perhaps the two greatest detective minds of our age."
Sae was taken aback by the sudden praise. True, her boss was one of the few to realize just how talented she was, and never lacked for praising her when she earned it, but this was something new.
"But just me and Akechi? Wouldn't it be better to have a team on this?"
"You and Akechi are a team. The best we have. The only lead we have is a card Niijima. If the two of you can't crack this, then no one can."
Sae breathed in deep, and resolve set in her eyes and heart.
"I understand. I won't let you down sir."
"I know you won't. Now, given how little you have to go on, and how much could potentially depend on you putting away these criminals, I'm going to sweeten the deal. If you succeed, you'll get a number of perks, which do include but are not limited to;"
Tatsumi breathed in deep.
"A pay raise that triples your salary, shortened working hours, three weeks paid vacation, your own office, and an offer to become a liaison to Interpol."
Sae barely managed to stop her jaw from dropping and letting out a gasp. This was it. Her golden ticket, her way to finally move up. The shortened work hours would let her spend more time with her sister, the private office would let her get away from all the leers and insulting whispers, and the vacation time would give her the relaxation she so desperately needed. She'd get all that, and more. All she had to do was take down the Phantom Team.
"I accept the case sir. I'll do whatever it takes to bring this Team in."
"Are you prepared to kill in order to see the job done?"
"I have killed for lesser rewards. And if I have to kill again, then so be it."
Tatsumi smiled.
"Excellent. Get to work as soon as possible. And if you need to use any special resources or to bypass any red tape, let me know."
"I will sir. And thank you for the opportunity, I won't let you down."
"I know Niijima. And here. A little payment in advance. Do you drink?"
"Used to. Not so much now that I've gotten the job."
"I see. Well, I can assure you, I'm giving you this to open in victory this time around."
Tatsumi reached into his safe and pulled out a bottle of Hibiki 30.
"This was one of the first bottles made when the drink was introduced in 1989. Thirty years old by now."
"Sir… I… I can't accept this."
"You can, even if I have to order you to."
Sae gingerly took the bottle, holding it as softly as she would a baby. She turned to her boss.
"Sir, if you don't mind me saying so, this seems a bit like overkill. Why do you want them brought in so badly?"
"Tell me Niijima, do you know what a canary in a coalmine is used for? I mean an actual canary, not the proverb."
"It's supposed to act as an early warning for danger. The miners would take the bird in, and if there were dangerous gases, the bird would die, telling the miners to leave."
"Correct. My intuition is telling me that Mitsuyo is our canary, so to speak. Her arrest is telling us that worse is going to come. I did a brief look into this 'Phantom Team', and from what I gather, they are a group of vigilantes who have the power to make people have a complete reversal of personality. I don't know what their endgame is, but you can bet this Team will bring chaos to our country. Which is why we need to take them down now, and to do that, we need you."
Sae looked back at the TV, giving a nod as she mentally replayed its message. She turned to her boss.
"Then consider them taken down. Thanks for the bottle, we can share the first glass when this is done."
"I look forward to it. And Sae? Keep me in the loop."
"Yes sir."
And with that, Sae walked back to her desk, ready to go to work. All was fair in love and war, she'd win this coming war, no matter what it took.