Yu heard the sound of applause before he heard the rattle of chains. Now used to this routine, Yu calmly got up and looked at the source. There, as always, was Igor and the twins, all three of them unable to contain their grins.

"I'm glad the two of you are ok." Yu stated as he looked at Caroline and Justine.

"So are we. Though Master would never kill us for anything less than total betrayal, his punishments… certainly remind you why you should obey the rules." Justine replied as she nervously glanced at Igor.

"You were aware of the rules girls. Besides, your sisters were adequately punished as well. But enough of that, we are here because of our guest's recent triumph."

"Yea. Oh that reminds me, last time you summoned me to discuss important business. What was it exactly?"

"Ah, that. I was merely going to warn you about the feelings your Chariot Confidant would have for the Star Confidant, but that's already run its course."

"Oh, you mean Ryuji? Yea, I could've used that heads up."

"Well what's done is done. What really matters is that you've reached a milestone in completing your rehabilitation! Congrats inmate!" Caroline reminded with surprising joy.

"Yes. You've expunged an entity of envy from society, and gained a new ally in the process. You have much to be proud of. However…"

Igor snapped his fingers, and the contract appeared in front of Yu.

"The contract has not been fulfilled."

"Figured as much. I plan on investigating Mementos soon. I have a feeling I'll find this 'truth' there."

"Do what you will. But remember; you only have one year, and a few months have already gone by."

The bell rang, and Yu returned to his prison bed. As he returned to the real world, Igor offered one final word of encouragement.

"Good luck Trickster. I have the utmost faith in your abilities."

All anyone could talk about at school was Mitsuyo Togo. How disgusting she looked as she almost literally cried a river. How someone could keep such secrets hidden so long. But the thing people were talking about the most was the Phantom Team.

"I heard that their next target is the President of the United States!"

"No way, he's way too protected."

"That's the point! It'd show the world that no one is above the law!"

"You do know that includes them right?"

"Well yea, but they're stopping bad guys."

"But for how long though? How can we be sure they won't try to change the hearts of anyone who so much as badmouths them."

The popularity of Yu's group had pretty much skyrocketed overnight. According to Futaba, the Phansite pretty much crashed dozens of times because of how much traffic there was. The comments ranged from trolls wondering 'how people believed this shit', to saying how the Team were heroes for exposing Mitsuyo, to even some requests.

I'm going to have to look into a few of them. Our next target might be on there.

Another bright side was that the school would finally shut up about Yu. The Trickster hadn't received so much as a stink eye since he came in, and all the teachers were too busy trying to quiet down the students to try and pick on him with pop questions. The only real downside was that Hifumi would now have to answer for her mother's crimes. The conference was set for today, about an hour after school. The final bell rang and the silver-haired teen sent out a text.

Yu: You sure you can handle what I asked.

Alibaba: You betcha! Once those paparazzi guys start pushing too hard, I'm gonna ruin their day!

Yu: If. If they start pushing too hard.

Alibaba: Which they will, mark my words. But don't worry chief! You can count on me.

Yu made his way back to Shibuya Square, the same place where Mitsuyo confessed to her crimes. Only this time, there was a different Togo on display for the public; Hifumi. The shogi player was taking her seat, and already the press were snapping pictures of the daughter of the disgraced woman. Hifumi took her seat and breathed in deeply, like a diver taking a final gulp of air before going below water.

"Hello everyone. I'm sure everyone knows why we're all here. Before we begin, I would like to clarify a few things. First and foremost, neither I nor my father had any idea as to my mother's crimes. As she herself will tell you, the two of us were not only in the dark about her deeds, but she used us, or at least planned on using us, just like all of her other victims. With that being said, I'll take your questions now."

Be strong Hifumi.

"Togo-san, with your father in the hospital and your mother in jail, does this mean that you are to be in charge of the Togo News Network?"

"If you truly expect us to believe your claim that neither you nor your father had any idea of Mitsuyo's activities, then how far are you willing to go to compensate her victims?"

"Have you heard any news from the Shogi community about your current status? Have you been expunged yet?"

"One at a time please." Hifumi urged.

"What is the future of the Togo News Network? Are you confident that you can recover from this embarrassment?"

"I will assume the leadership role of Togo News Network. It's true that what my mother did was terrible, but I am confident that we can continue from that."

"What are your opinions on the Phantom Team?"

"I think that, despite the damage they've caused to my family, what they did was a noble thing. While I won't pretend to be grateful for having my life thrown into chaos, I will acknowledge that the Team's actions have given my mother's victims a chance to heal, and will ensure that there are no others."

"So you support them in their actions of sowing chaos?"

"That's not what I-"

"Did you have any involvement with the Phantom Team as they worked to remove your mother from power?"

"That's-"

The clamor of questions continued, and Hifumi was starting to get overwhelmed as reporters pushed and shoved their way to make sure they were heard. Yu's newest teammate was beginning to get overwhelmed and struggled to even make sense of the increasing cacophony of noises. Yu began to text Futaba, telling her to do whatever she had planned, but another disruption beat him to the punch.

Yu heard a sudden BANG, as the door was suddenly being slammed open. The cameras, and by extension everyone else, turned their attention to the sudden and very loud noise. Turns out, the sound was the twin metal doors being kicked open, and in the doorway stood a man Yu had never seen before. His silhouette could only be seen, but the outline of his body stood proud and strong, as if he could take on the world and win. Once he stepped forward, everyone could clearly see his face, and when Hifumi saw it, she let out a gasp and called out to him.

"FATHER?!"

The crowd went wild. Not just in the studio, but in the square as well. Yu heard people talking with each other, asking if they knew that Kaito Togo was well enough to even walk, let alone attend this conference. In the studio, Yu could imagine everyone with an open jaw as they processed the dramatic entrance. The man spoke in a booming voice, and in a tone that brokered no argument.

"That'll be enough. From here on out, you'll direct your questions to me." He declared, effortlessly walking to where his daughter still sat. Hifumi was able to recover from the initial shock of seeing her previously bedridden father up and about. Sliding out of her seat, she quickly made her way to the exit while Kaito sat down, his face set with a determined look.

"First question. And one at a time please."

"How is it possible that a group of complete strangers were able to know more about your wife than either you or your daughter?"

"That's a good question. I decided to do some research into the matter, and discovered that, roughly two weeks ago, found someone by the name of SharkBoi 9001. This SharkBoi wanted the Team to change my wife's heart not because of her crimes, but because she was incredibly controlling of our daughter. SharkBoi 9001, if you're listening, thank you for looking out for my daughter. Next question."

The crowd in the square began to return to its daily routine, people losing interest now that it was Kaito, rather than Hifumi, who was on screen.

Almost like they paid attention just to see her squirm.

The man continued to answer questions easily, and Yu felt his phone buzz.

Alibaba: That entrance was AWESOME! He kicked open the door like he was Kuzco from Groovy New Emperor!

Yu: I'm just glad we didn't have to crash the thing.

Alibaba: Yea, a real shame. I had so much in store for those guys.

Yu: Out of curiosity, just what were you going to do if you had to interrupt the conference?

Alibaba: Oh, that's easy. I would've turned the sprinklers on, overloaded a few lights, set off alarms, that kinda stuff.

Yu: Oh. Can you do that for every building?

Alibaba: Most buildings. I can also remote control any phones that are connected to the internet too.

Yu: Interesting. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for helping Futaba.

Alibaba: I don't know who this Futaba is, but I'm glad I could help her.

Yu let out a small sigh. The poor girl still hadn't gotten over her paranoia she picked up after getting caught by Kobayakawa. Another message came in, but from a different person.

Akechi: Hifumi, you alright?

Hifumi: I'm a bit riled, but other than that, I'm ok.

Shiho: I'm surprised your dad showed up. I thought you said he was in the hospital?

Hifumi: He was. Believe me, his sudden appearance was as much a shock to me as everyone else. Though on the bright side, this means responsibility of the Network will fall on his shoulders.

Morgana: Which means that you're going to be free to join us for future heists!

Hifumi: Yes. It also means I'm also free to celebrate with you.

Shiho: Woot woot!

Yu: We're going to need to figure out what, where, and when we're going to celebrate.

Akechi: It can't be somewhere public, or else we may have to deal with people talking about Hifumi.

Morgana: SUSHI! SUSHI! SUSHI!

Yu: Oh, whatever could we do?

Morgana: SUSHI! SUSHI! SUSHI!

Akechi: Oh, what a troubling conundrum for such an intelligent mind such as my own.

Morgana: SUSHI! SUSHI! SUSHI!

Shiho: I for one say we go for Sushi.

Morgana: SUSHI! SUS- YES! I agree with Shiho!

Hifumi: Seconded. I've never had it before, but I've wanted to for a long time.

Morgana: YEEEEEEESSSS!

Akechi: Very well. Sushi it is. Now to decide who's going to pay, since we can't mooch off of Sae-san this time.

Yu: I already thought of that. I sold the fake wedding ring just for this.

Akechi: Excellent. Now, when should we go? It can't be too soon, we have to wait for the controversy around Hifumi to die down.

Yu: Well, it's Wednesday now, so how about on Monday?

Hifumi: Actually, we can do it tomorrow. My family has a private residence here in the city. We can go there, order delivery, and celebrate there.

Akechi: And we can use the Metaverse to travel in secret.

Yu: Alright. So we're all good for tomorrow?

Shiho: Yup!

Morgana: I'm always good for Sushi!

Akechi: I'll be ready.

Yu: Alright. We'll meet up at the subway entrance after school tomorrow.

Sae let out a deep sigh as she finished the latest paper in her new notebook. It had become a policy for her to buy new notebooks for whenever she got a new case and tear out the papers related to that case. That way, she would be able to keep the various details organized. But at the rate Mitsuyo was going on about her crimes, she probably would use up the whole notebook. Thankfully, Mitsuyo has told her that they were nearing the end of her most recent offences.

"I see. I'll be sure Toshinori is released and given compensation."

Sae could already feel the headache begin to form because of all the paperwork she'd have to do when she got back.

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes. My most recent and final crime is blackmailing a young man named Yu Narukami."

Sae froze and the world seemed to freeze with her. A thousand questions swarmed her head at once. What was Yu doing getting involved with Mitsuyo Togo? What was the blackmail material? Why did Yu try to keep this from her? Did he get hurt?

Sae felt her blood boil at the last question. If Mitsuyo hurt her ward, then the prosecutor was going to throttle the woman, regardless of the fact that she was already under arrest. Sae took a deep breath and gave a single command.

"Explain."

"Well, it all began when the Shujin Academy had a field trip there. The alarm I installed in my computer went off, and thanks to hidden surveillance, I discovered that it was Yu who tampered with my computer, and managed to extract files that detailed my own crimes."

"Why would Narukami break into your office?"

"I don't know. I only know that about ten or eleven years ago, when I was getting started, Dojima Narukami began to investigate me before being reassigned. When I found out who the intruder was, I assumed that Dojima sent his son to help him finish what he started."

Sae was left puzzled by the revelation, and another barrage of questions assaulted her mind. Was Dojima working with the Phantom Team? Did Narukami really do this of his own volition, or did he break the law at the behest of the father he revered? Or perhaps she was asking the wrong questions. Regardless, she would have to question him about this.

"Is that all?"

"Yes. Yes it is. It feels refreshing to get all of that off my chest."

I'm sure you won't feel all that refreshed once you're in prison.

Sae collected her things and stood up.

"Thank you for your cooperation. An officer will be along shortly to take you to lockup."

With that, Sae left the interrogation room, her mind beginning to go to work, processing what she heard, deciding what to do with it, but most importantly, a plan for the future. She needed to find a way to stop the Team. But that could come later. Right now, she needed to get to the bottom of whatever Narukami was doing with Mitsuyo, and dish out the necessary punishment. Pulling out her phone, she shot a single text.

Sae: Narukami, it's Sae. We need to talk.