June 13th.
A normal day of school. There was nothing out of the ordinary today. Ren had more plans later to speak with the others about their next step outside of Mementos. So when the school day was over, Ren was packing up and getting ready to leave. That was when Kawakami approached him. "Oh good, you haven't gone home yet."
"Uh…did you need me for something?" Ren asked. This wasn't normally how it was supposed to go.
"Niijima-san said there's no report of a lost item, so she wants you to fill in some paperwork." Kawakami explained.
One could see the question marks floating around Ren's head. "Huh? I don't…what does this have to do with me?"
"Telling me that isn't going to get you out of doing it." Kawakami explained. She was just the messenger, but even that made her let out her usual sigh. "But still, why am I running an errand for a student? I know she's the principle's favorite…It's on the third floor next to the library, in case you were unaware." Whatever. She gave her message and left Ren to stow in confusion.
"This smells like a trap…" Ren glanced to Morgana, who popped out of the bag.
"She's the one who's been following you around, right? I wonder what she wants with us. You should be careful…" Morgana warned.
"Yeah…" Ren didn't have a choice. He was just going to have to put the others on hold a bit. So he went off to the Student Council room. When he arrived, Makoto was waiting for him.
"Ah, earlier than expected. Please, have a seat." Makoto gestured to the seat across from her own. Once seated she folded her hands in front of her and stared at Ren. "I'll just cut right to the chase. The Kamoshida and Madarame incidents…won't you please tell me the truth about them?"
This again? Ren kept a cool expression and just crossed one leg over the other. "You've been asking the same questions for a while now and my answer isn't changing. I don't know anything about them. Not about Kamoshida and especially not about Madarame. I don't have an answer for you."
"No answers, hm? I suppose that's fair enough…nobody would admit to the truth." Makoto replied with a knowing smile.
That smile put Ren on edge. Normally Makoto would just slink away after being caught or not being able to get any information out of them. "…."
Makoto then put her phone on the table. "Please, have a listen to this."
"If someone else could help them, we wouldn't be doin' things as the Phantom Thieves to start with!" That was…Ryuji's voice from the other day…
"So you think we'll be okay…? If we keep doing this, I mean…" Ann too…!?
Oh.
Shit.
"We messed up…!" Morgana was panicking within the bag now. Never did he expect that someone would record their conversations! That's what they got for talking about it out in the open during school hours.
"So…will you tell me how you change people's hearts? If you tell me the truth, I'll make sure this conversation stays between us. So please, won't you tell me the truth?" Makoto tilted her head ever so slightly. She was asking nicely, but there was nothing nice about her intentions.
"…You know there are a lot of people claiming to be Phantom Thieves. It only makes sense to want to be like someone who's saved you." Ren replied, attempting to worm his way out of the corner Makoto put him in.
"So you want to say that this alone doesn't prove anything?" Makoto suggested. "I believe you three are the Phantom Thieves. You may be right…but how would the police feel about this recording?"
She was threatening to turn it in, too!? That wasn't exactly a risk they could afford to take. "It would be bad if we were put under police surveillance!" Morgana whispered to Ren. "Who knows what would happen to you, too!?" His probation was the bigger issue. Being on the police's radar at all was a fast track of being put into juvenile detention.
Ren remained silent. No matter which way he looked at it, there were very few ways out of this labyrinth. It wasn't impossible but it felt like Makoto was waiting at every exit. "Let me…think about it…" Trying to stall for time? Absolutely. He needed a way out…and then his phone rang. "Ah….can I take this…?" Awkward…
"Go ahead." Makoto just smiled.
Ren answered the phone and would soon regret that action. "Hey man, where are you? Takin' a leak? We're waiting at the usual spot for our Phantom Thieves meeting!" Only Ryuji would speak that loudly with no concern for anything around him.
"WH-!?" Ren immediately pulled his phone back. Ryuji wasn't even on speaker phone, he was just that loud on the other side!
"That IDIOT!" Morgana could not believe this situation went from salvageable to completely hopeless.
"Loud as ever, but his timing is perfect." Makoto held that smile. Even if her recording wasn't sufficient enough proof, Ryuji's words just now confirmed what she suspected all along. "So, will you take me to your friends? It's only right that they know about this too."
"Gh…" This was a loss. Ren had no choice but to comply with Makoto's demands…
.
.
Ann, Yusuke, and Ryuji were waiting at the usual hideout in the accessway. They had yet to change it as they didn't have a real reason to, they just needed to be careful. "He's late…" Ryuji said while checking his phone. Ren hung up on him for some reason. While they waited for Ren, he turned to Ann. "So…any word from Hifumi yet?"
"She's busy most of the week after school, unfortunately." Ann sighed.
"Why don't ya just tell her over text? Wouldn't that be easier?" Ryuji suggested, but naturally Ann would take his suggestions with a grain of salt.
"Absolutely not! This is serious." Ann huffed. How dare Ryuji suggest she carry out such an important conversation over text!? "I have to tell her face to face, so she can trust the words coming out of my mouth. I had to lie to her before and I think she knew that…"
"…Come to think of it, how did you even not tell her?" Ryuji held a quizzical stare.
"Her mother showed up to take her home." Ann started to sweat. "And between telling Hifumi about the Nav, or dealing with her scary mother…I was willing to take my chances."
Yusuke listened in on the conversation. "I could always tell her since I see her at school." He suggested.
"That's appreciated, but I think I should be the one to do this…" Ann told Yusuke. She had already mentally prepared herself plus…she was a bit worried at how Yusuke would even go about telling Hifumi such a thing.
"Hm…" Yusuke was about to say something else, but he then noticed Ren approaching with Makoto. "Is that girl a friend of yours?"
Ryuji and Ann whipped around immediately. "What friend-?" Ryuji began, but his eyes widened when he saw Makoto. "What the hell, man!?"
"Why did you bring her here…?" Ann stared at Ren. Considering how Makoto had been spying on them recently, she feared the worst and how it tied into the reason why he was so late.
Makoto pulled her phone out. "I'd like you to take a listen to this." She played the recording of Ann and Ryuji talking and admitting everything. The air grew tense, all eyes on Makoto as she had them all in the palm of her hand. "An extremely similar technique was used for both Kamoshida and Madarame. While those effected by their actions were meeting up…how could that raise suspicions?"
Everyone looked at each other before Yusuke spoke up first. "What do you intend to do? Are you going to report us?"
"I bet someone told her to look for us." Ann narrowed her eyes. "They can't have ties to criminals after all…but they turned a blind eye to suicide and sexual harassment. Those adults are just using you, I feel sorry for you."
Makoto closed her eyes and sighed heavily. No one knew that any more than she did. "I…I know…"
The fact that Makoto admitted it surprised Ann. "Huh…?"
"That's why I would like to verify the justice you speak of." Makoto turned her gaze back to the group.
"What…?" Ryuji stared.
"She wants to make a deal…" Morgana said.
"There is someone's heart I want you to change." Makoto began.
"Who?" Yusuke cut right to the chase.
"So you're not saying it's impossible…" Makoto noted.
"Considerin' you already know, you shouldn't be surprised." Ryuji snapped. This was a pain in the ass.
"However, I cannot tell you that just yet. Let's continue this tomorrow on the roof…if you accept my offer that is." Makoto gave a curt nod and left.
Ryuji groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "Ugh…this is turnin' into a real pain…"
.
.
Left with no other options, the Thieves retreated to the nearby café to discuss their next move. Even though Makoto phrased it differently, she was blackmailing them. "You were careless." Yusuke began, chiding the two who were recorded. "I don't think you realized just how high the stakes were. Anything to say, Ryuji?"
"Why are you singlin' me out!? Ann got recorded too!" Ryuji wasn't shifting the blame so much as trying to make sure Ann got scolded too.
"I'm so sorry…" Ann sighed. She really did make a careless error…
"We'll be okay." Ren reassured the group.
Morgana agreed. "Yeah. We made a crucial mistake, but not a critical one. All we can do now is just recover."
"So we gotta do what she says and go to the rooftop tomorrow?" Ryuji asked.
"Seems like it…" Ann nodded slowly.
"It's our only choice." Ren nodded. It was all they could do…
"What about me? Should I sneak in?" Yusuke asked. There wasn't really a lot he could do since he was the only one going to a different school.
"No," Ann began. "That'll just look suspicious. You wait outside. It shouldn't take long. Ah…what could she be scheming…?" They didn't have an answer to that question. All they could do now was wait until tomorrow…
.
.
June 14th.
A rainy day. Things at Kosei High seemed…a bit off. Even though Hifumi usually stuck to herself, something about the atmosphere didn't sit well with her. She wasn't going to ask what was going on, but a number of students seemed…skittish or panicked for one reason or another. Exams weren't even soon, so she didn't have the slightest idea as to what was going on. "Something feels…off…?" She mumbled to herself. But she was far from the sociable type and asking anyone she didn't know wasn't easy…oh! There was Yusuke! "Kitagawa-kun?"
Yusuke was in a bit of a slump. Not just from Makoto blackmailing the Thieves, but from personal issues as well. So when Hifumi called out to him, he seemed really out of it. "Hm? Oh, Togo-san. Did you need something?"
"Well, not exactly…" Hifumi tried to figure out how to phrase this. "I was just wondering if you noticed that things are…a bit different than usual?"
"Different?" Yusuke blinked. He wasn't sure what Hifumi was referring to, but bit his tongue in case she was referring to Ann. Ann told him that she had to be the one to tell Hifumi about the Nav. "Whatever do you mean?"
"It's just…everyone in school seems antsy? I'm afraid I don't quite know how to phrase it…" Hifumi said.
Now that Hifumi mentioned it, Yusuke did feel the air around school was different than usual. "I think I understand what it is you are trying to say. I did notice a few students acting odd. I cannot fathom a reason as to why."
"I suppose it was a foolish question to ask." Hifumi took a step back, noticing Yusuke's somewhat off expression. "Am I holding you up? I apologize."
"No, it's quite alright." Yusuke shook his head. "I'm simply waiting for a call."
"I see." Hifumi gave a slight nod. "Don't mind me too much. I have match to get to, so have a good day." With that said, Hifumi made her exit. As she left, she pulled out her phone to properly text Ann. "I talked with my mother. I should have some free time starting Sunday. See you then?" And she sent the text. She felt a bit bad that Ann wanted to talk but she didn't have the time to meet her. She'd just have to make it worth the wait!
Once Hifumi did leave, Yusuke could hear numerous whispers about her from nearby students. "I heard she's got a pretty big match today…"
"More like her opponent. It's a make or break for her…but since Hifumi doesn't lose, it'll be a break."
"I'm starting to feel sorry for people who have to face Hifumi Togo…they always look so crushed when they lose to her, like they lost everything. But what can you expect from the girl who's gone undefeated after all this time…"
This was the first time Yusuke heard such an extreme description of someone losing. It was probably nothing, though. More importantly, he had to wait for Ren and the others to inform him about how things were going to go with Makoto. "…."
.
.
Ren, Ann, and Ryuji met Makoto on the roof after school. She was clearly waiting for them and once they did arrive, she held that somewhat condescending tone and smile. "I was thinking you might not show." She said, as if they had a choice to begin with.
Ann, not wanting to play this game any longer than they already had to, just got right to the point. "So, whose heart do you want us to change?"
"A mafia boss." Makoto instantly replied.
"Mafia!?" Ann's eyes widened. That was not the kind of target she was expecting at all.
"Are you serious!?" Ryuji asked.
"That's…out of the blue…" Ren said while adjusting his glasses. A teacher, a famous artist, and now a mafia boss? Even for them, that jump in social standing was rather high.
"That's what they call themselves." Makoto explained. "This group seems to be the cause of the rise in phishing scams. What's worse, once you're in your sights they won't stop threatening you until they get what they want. They'll force you to take part in their scams, threaten your family, and ultimately destroy your life."
Ryuji had to take a step back from that information. It was a lot to take in. "Holy shit…."
"It appears that their victims include some of our students." Makoto said. "They primarily target juveniles.
Ann was starting to see why Makoto wanted to take them down. "No…"
"What's their boss's name?" Ryuji asked. That was the most important part for them.
"Nobody knows." Makoto shook her head. "The victims are being forced not to testify, so even the police can't get any information."
"That's where you want us to start!?" That was completely ridiculous to Ann. How were they supposed to find a target when they had absolutely no information to go off of!?
"This should be easy for the Phantom Thieves. Unless Akechi-kun is correct in saying that you act without justice?" The grin Makoto wore said it all. There was a part of her that seemed to be enjoying this high standing above the thieves.
"Can't you say something witty at her…!?" Morgana was begging Ren to say something. Makoto was walking all over them.
"…Something witty." Ren said.
"…I knew you were going to say that…" Morgana sighed heavily. There was no hope for them to gain a leg up at all in this conversation.
"Their main hub of activity is in Shibuya. That's all the information I have." Makoto said while making her way to the door. "You have two weeks. If you aren't able to change their heart by then, I'm turning all of the evidence I have into the police and to the school. But you shouldn't have anything to worry about, right? Good luck. I hope you don't let me down." With that, the Student Council President left, leaving the Phantom Thieves to stew in her demands.
"She really had the upper hand in that exchange…" Morgana sighed. There really was nothing they could do…
"Don't let me down my ass! She was just bossin' us around…" Ryuji grumbled.
"We should probably get in touch with Yusuke…" Morgana suggested.
Before they could get too far in, someone else came up to the rooftop. It was a third year with fluffy hair. She stared at the group curiously, surprised to see people up here. "Oh, uh…excuse me. Are you all busy up here?"
"Oh, no…sorry." Ann shook her head. "Come on guys."
As they left, the third year gave them all a slight smile. She then went over to the small garden of her own creation, leaning down to begin tending to it. As she did, there was a bit of a sad smile… "I don't really want to go home just yet…" Tending to this garden took her mind off things. Unfortunately she made the mistake of checking her phone when feeling it vibrate. The text message read:
"Haru? Where are you? You know I'm coming to discuss something with your father later today…and you are to be there as well."
Haru let out a heavy sigh. Seems like she wasn't going to be able to escape her situation anytime soon. A few minutes of respite would have to do before going back to that person who she really, really could not stand… "I suppose I should go…" It would only cause trouble for her if she didn't.
.
.
The group met in the Accessway as usual. Ann let out an annoyed sigh as she thought over their situation. "Rgh…! I'm so mad…!"
"The mafia? Hm…" Yusuke had to think about that one. It was a pretty different target than Madarame.
"Can we really do this…?" The pressure of the situation was getting to Ann a bit.
"….." Ryuji had nothing to say.
"This guy's a crime boss…so he might have a Palace." Morgana suggested. "But we've got next to no information on them…"
"Isn't this a good opportunity for us, though?" Yusuke said, causing all eyes to turn on him. "Even when we punished an evil man who appeared to be good, the public did not acknowledge us. If we can take down a criminal that even the police have no answers for…"
Ann was going to question how this was a good chance, but Yusuke made a really good point. "Oh, that's right! It'll make people believe in us!"
"Oh I see…even Akechi'll have to acknowledge us as the Phantom Thieves!" Ryuji stood up now. They were really about to make the best of this situation. If they could do this right, it would play into their favor. "Whaddya say, Leader?"
"Let's prove our justice." Ren gave a firm nod and grinned somewhat. He wasn't entirely sure about this at first, but now they had even more of a reason to do this. "While our identities being at stake is an issue…overall, it's not about that. We have to help the people the mafia has been putting at risk, that's more important."
Ren's words steeled the group's increasing resolve. It wasn't about them; it was about the people they had to help. They couldn't lose sight of that. "We have two weeks, correct?" Yusuke said. "We can't afford to waste any time. I'll ask around Kosei and see if I can get some information."
"I know some girls who go to Shibuya a lot, so I'll ask them." Ann said.
"And I'll see what I can learn off the net!" Ryuji nodded and turned to Ren. "That leaves our school up to you and Morgana."
"I'll back you up." Morgana told Ren.
"All right, let's get back together at the end of the week once we've got our info! I'll get in touch with you guys then." Ryuji told them. While it wasn't the most ceremonious way to get a target, the Phantom Thieves were back in action. This time, they'd prove their justice to Japan and make the public acknowledge them.
.
.
Hifumi's schedule was booked with another match. It was a close one, but she wasn't worried. Her expression was stern as she looked over the board and the pieces. All it took was one or two good moves for her to wrap this up nicely. The advantage was hers and naturally she was going to press it. Just as she lifted up a piece, her opponent's words stopped her.
"Please…lose…" Hifumi's opponent pleaded. She looked towards her with a tired look.
"Huh?" Hifumi blinked, staring at her foe as she made her move. They couldn't afford to spend too much time 'talking' even though this was a bit too sudden. With her move made, her opponent was forced into an unwinnable situation. They could delay the inevitable perhaps a few turns more, but ultimately, this match was Hifumi's.
"I can't lose here…please…" She said again, looking towards Hifumi. "Winning against you…they told me it's the only way out…!"
What…what on earth was she talking about? "If you are insisting that I throw the match, you will find that I am not doing such a thing."
"Please…" The girl said again. She didn't have any other options. "They're going to take everything…"
"You are harming the pieces by continuing in this fashion." Hifumi shook her head. As far as she was concerned her opponent was just being overly dramatic about this loss. "Concede defeat."
"…." The girl was…reaching a breaking point. She didn't know what to do, but she clearly couldn't win. No matter what she tried, this was a loss for her to begin with. She couldn't convince Hifumi to throw the match which was only her last hope. "…I concede…"
"And just like that, the winner is Hifumi Togo! Her undefeated steak continues!"
"…" Mitsuyo was watching this match as she did all others. Hifumi's continued victory and rise to stardom was the only thing that mattered to her. A smirk curled onto her lips as Hifumi took yet another victory. "Everything's going according to plan…"
Hifumi went to shake her opponent's hand, but there was no good show of sportsmanship here. Her foe was too heartbroken and walked off on the verge of breaking down. "….I didn't do anything wrong…? So why do I feel like I've done something…"
"Something is wrong…"
That voice again. It had been a while since she heard it. Hifumi pursed her lips…was there really something wrong…?
.
.
Date: ?
"The student council president of Shujin!?" Sae's eyes went wide as Ren effectively name dropped her own sister. "Are you telling me Makoto was sticking her nose into this Phantom Thieve business?!"
"You mean you never noticed?" Ren immediately fired back. Why was she acting so shocked/? One would think her own sister would be aware of something that huge. Or did she really just neglect her younger sister like that?
"Why should she…" Sae couldn't believe it…but then she chose not to believe it. "Bringing up my own sister to try and deceive me? It seems there's no limit to your duplicity!" That said, she checked her watch. They didn't have a lot of time. "No matter…I still have to listen to your story and verify the details myself."
"…" So she was going to deny it for as long as she could? Ren was going to have to make her believe him as fast as possible. The clock was ticking and time was not on his side. But he had a job to do and he'd see it through no matter what.
For the sake of their justice.