June 9th.
It was official and all over the news. Junya Kaneshiro was taken in and arrest after the Phantom Thieves sent their calling card. But officially, the police were taking all of the credit for the mafia boss's arrest. The group, bar Makoto, met up in the Accessway as usual to talk about it. "Hell yeah! Kanehsiro finally confessed!" Ryuji cheered. "People are makin' a big deal about it!"
"It is difficult to accept that the police will be taking credit for our efforts…" Yusuke sighed.
"I agree." Hifumi frowned. "But I suppose it is best that such a criminal is rightfully behind bars to begin with."
"People are going nuts about the Phantom Thieves online though!" Ann showed her phone to everyone.
"Things are workin' out for us!" Ryuji was grinning widely.
"This is quite the turnaround…" Yusuke said while skimming some of the comments. "All of a sudden the people are expressing their long standing belief in us."
"Perhaps that's why Makoto told us to post the calling card wherever people may be…" Hifumi surmised. Considering the reaction it was definitely a worthwhile move.
"Pretty smart move on her part." Ryuji said. "Oh, actually…where is our amazing Miss President?"
Right on cue, Ren's phone rang. When he went to pick it up, Makoto was on the other line. "Hello, it's me, Makato. Apologies, but I'm unable to join you. I was called in for a meeting with the principle."
"Wait, wha…" Ren began.
"Don't worry. More importantly, there's a special on TV about the Phantom Thieves." Makoto said.
"Wait, really! What did it say?" Ann asked.
"They were talking all about our calling cards. Anyway, apologies for today. I'll have to meet with you all another time." With that, Makoto hung up.
"Who was that?" Yusuke asked.
"Makoto." Ren said. "They put up a TV special about the calling card."
"Oh, hell yeah!" Ryuji was all for this.
"I hope all this excitement doesn't put us on the police's radar…" Yusuke was a bit apprehensive about their growing popularity.
"I fear that may be the case at this rate." Hifumi said. "It is only a matter of time until they begin looking in our direction…"
"Ah, don't worry about it!" Ryuji shrugged off the worries of the Kosei High students. "There's no way they'll find out about that weird other world."
"Sssh…" Hifumi narrowed her eyes at Ryuji. He was being loud again. "Don't forget I happened to stumble into that place completely by accident…only because of the app that had been on my phone. There is a non-zero chance that the same could happen to a member of the police."
"Gh…" Ryuji didn't think about that. It was something to keep in mind, however unlikely it may be.
"And on top of that…" Yusuke began. "Do you recall what Kaneshiro's shadow said? About the other Metaverse user?"
"Eh, he was probably pullin' that shit outta his ass." Ryuji shrugged that off.
"I hope that's the case…" Yusuke sighed.
"…I'm unsure if he was lying about that. Why would he…?" Hifumi mumbled. Still, they had no hard proof, but it wasn't a possibility they could deny.
"Mm…" Ren was on the same page as Hifumi, especially after his talk with Igor. Something just felt off…
"We just gotta focus on our next big target!" Ryuji pocketed the topic aside for later.
"We should probably take it easy and lie low for the time being." Hifumi ultimately said. "I doubt we'll find anyone so soon." She said that, but she still had second thoughts on what she discovered last night. It wasn't something she was ready to bring up just yet.
"Besides, we can't pick any bland target now!" Ryuji replied.
"We could use this time to have another celebration!" Ann suggested.
"Oh oh, good idea! It can serve as a welcoming party for Makoto and Hifumi as well! That reminds me, that case can sell for a lot. We can use that for our next party!" Ryuji was just going from one topic to the other.
"Welcoming party?" Hifumi tilted her head.
"So much for 'laying low' huh?" Morgana scoffed. Leave it to Ryuji to throw away their inconspicuousness.
"Does that mean we can count you out, Morgana?" Ann teased.
"W-What? No…! That's not what I meant at all!" When Ann said that, Morgana had to backpedal.
"I'll call Makoto and let her know!" Ann beamed, calling Makoto once more to inform her about their plans. "Hey, Makoto, we…oh…" Her expression fell just as fast. She held her phone out and put Makoto on speaker so her message could reach everyone.
"I hope you all remember we have finals next week. Excluding Yusuke, Hifumi, and Morgana." Makoto said. That bit of news shocked Ren and Ryuji – they weren't ready to hear that. "We can have our fun AFTER those are done. If you don't want to stand out, you better study hard." And then Makoto hung up, leaving the Shujin trio at a loss.
"I…totally forgot about finals." Ryuji's shoulders dropped.
"…Me too." Ren admitted.
"Me three…" Ann pouted. She was having such a good day until she was reminded that finals was a thing she had to deal with.
"I'd offer my assistance, but I'm only a B student at best." Hifumi rubbed the back of her neck. "I'm afraid I wouldn't be of much help."
"Uggggggh…." Ryuji groaned loudly. So much for all the fun…
.
.
"What's the meaning of this!?" The Principle of Shujin asked Makoto.
"I believe in what I wrote. The Phantom Thieves are just." Makoto said without backing down. She was tired of being forced to do this investigation for who knows why…and it was finally time to put an end to this.
"Have you figured out who they are?" The Principle asked. Who cared if she thought they were just or not, he needed names.
"No, nowhere close." Makoto replied while shaking her head. "However, after considering all the facts, I have concluded that there are no errors in their acts or principles. Thus, deeming them on the side of justice, I have decided to end my investigation."
"But that's impossible!" The Principle retorted.
Impossible? Hm. Makoto had to challenge that one. "What evidence do you have that it would be impossible?"
The Principle had no response to that question. Instead he took a different approach, sighing disappointedly. "I was just talking to a prestigious college about your letter of recommendation earlier…"
"There's no need for that." Makoto smiled. No longer would she allow him to twist her arm. "I intend to get into a good college by my own efforts. That will be all." With a respectful bow, she exited his office.
"Hey, we're not done here!" The Principle exclaimed while standing up…but she was already gone. Slumping back into his seat, the bald man let out a heavy sigh while pulling out his phone. Makoto left him up the creek without a paddle, and now he had a very uncomfortable phone call he was going to have to make…
.
.
July 10th.
Ren was helping Sojiro out in the shop, standing in the back to wash a few dishes while the news was on. Sojiro's phone rang and he picked it up. "Hey, what's up? …What? It's not right…? Not...cute?" Based on his tone this seemed to be a regular occurrence, so he had to step away a bit. "That was the one the staff recommended to me, won't that printer do? …It'll do but that's not it?" Sigh. "This might take a while, so I'm leaving the store to you. Close up if I don't come back."
"Yeah, got it." Ren just nodded. He wasn't going to question it; it wasn't his business plus Sojiro probably wouldn't tell him anyway. So he'd just take care of things in the meantime; it helped that it was a slow day and he already knew the basics of making coffee and curry. Nothing on Sojiro's level, but it did leave the very few number of customers that came through satisfied. His phone soon buzzed and he picked it up.
"Yo, where are you right now?" Ryuji was the one who called.
"Hangin' around town." Ren replied.
"…Don't be an ass, you're home aren't you?" If one could see Ryuji's expression, he was definitely rolling his eyes.
"…Yeah." Ren admitted.
"We're gonna come over about the you-know-what. See ya." Ryuji didn't give much warning. Because a few minutes later he, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, and Hifumic ame through the doors. "Sup? We're here to hang out."
"That's not why we're here!" Ann had to remind Ryuji what they were really here for. "We're here to study for finals!"
"Do we have to?" Ren sighed.
"I understand, man…" Ryuji slumped over.
Makoto just sighed. "Why am I here too…?"
"You're one of us now. We're in trouble if you don't teach us." Ryuji smiled.
"Is that…how it works?" Hifumi tilted her head. She was still getting used to this whole social interaction thing.
"Let's leave those guys be. Don't worry about it." Ann shook her head.
"By the way, I couldn't ask this earlier, but what is this place?" Makoto asked while looking around. "The owner doesn't appear to be here."
"I live here." Ren said casually.
Hifumi blinked once, recalling the room upstairs. It looked cozy enough to rest in, but to actually sleep. "Wait…so that heap in the corner of the room is your bed?"
"It's a lot comfier than it looks, trust me." Ren said.
"How did you end up living here of all places?" Hifumi was curious and she couldn't be blamed.
"Well…" Ren started from the beginning. The story of how he was arrested just for trying to help someone. Needless to say that Hifumi and Makoto were stunned into silence.
"That's…terrible…" Makoto looked away.
"Another case of injustice in this world…" Yusuke muttered.
"Ann, Yusuke, and me are the same. It's just something we couldn't put up with." Ryuji said. "That's why we became Phantom Thieves."
"Hey, don't forget me!" Morgana chimed in.
"Yeah yeah, we're all on the same team." Ryuji gave Morgana a nod. "Hey, is there anyone you can't forgive?" He turned to Makoto. "A heart you wanna change?"
Makoto did have someone in mind, but opted not to answer right now. "That's a secret."
"So there is someone! You don't gotta be so cold!" Ryuji then turned his attention to Hifumi. "What about you…?"
"…" Hifumi remained silent for a moment, before giving a slight nod. "There is someone…"
"Oh, let us know! You already know we're willing to help." Ryuji nodded.
"…." Ann didn't have anything to say just yet. Perhaps now would be as good a time as any to…
"Let's focus back on finals." Makoto reeled the topic back in. "Do you have any intentions of studying for exams?"
"Not really." Ryuji shrugged.
"So I can leave?" Makoto turned to the door.
"No, I was kidding! Please teach us!" Ryuji said.
"I'll pull up a chair." Hifumi took a nearby chair, pulling it over to the nearby table as everyone got their notes out. The sight of so many notes cluttering the table was an awful sight, but it did serve as a reminder that they were students first and Phantom Thieves second. "…On second thought, I don't think I need to…"
"You're one of us now, so you should study." Makoto's voice was a bit demanding.
"…Yes, ma'am." Hifumi gave a curt nod.
Studying was a slog for everyone involved. "Explain the writer's feelings? What's the point in that!?" Ann groaned.
"Ugh…ain't there a better way of cheatin'?" Ryuji asked.
"When you find it, let me know." Ren said.
"I agree." Yusuke nodded.
Sensing that everyone was reaching their limit for the time being, Makoto decided to call it here for now. "Why don't we take a break…?"
Just in time, because there was a segment on TV about the Phantom Thieves…starring Akechi no less. "…Considering how a calling card was scattered about I believe there's no mistaking that. If they tampered with the suspect's heart, it casts doubt authenticity of any confession."
"So then, by tampering with hearts, the Phantom Thieves are fabricating crimes that may not exist?" The host questioned.
"We can't deny the possibility." Akechi said. "There's no doubt that the Phantom Thieves are exposing hidden injustices within society. However, if this is done by sidestepping the law, then their way of thinking is very dangerous."
"So in a way, they're outlaws?"
"Yes. They're no different than the criminals they target and it cannot be overlooked." Akechi responded.
Hifumi's grip tightened on her pencil the more she heard Akechi talk. He didn't say anything like that when she brought it up the other day. Was he just saving that statement for TV? Either way, she didn't realize she gripped her pencil so tightly it snapped within her hand. "…?"
"Uh…" Makoto heard that.
"I see, my ass!" Ryuji huffed. "Why the hell are we the badguys!"
"Just let them say whatever they want." Ann told Ryuji. "More people are starting to believe in what we're doing, too!" The conversation continued about this topic, eventually moving onto what they were going to do for their next victory party. Ultimately they decided on the fireworks festival.
"…I'll have to ask my mother if she'll let me attend." Hifumi mumbled.
"Would she truly not allow you to attend such a festival?" Yusuke asked. It seemed a bit outrageous.
"If it's not for school or furthering my shogi career, she'll hardly give it a second glance." Hifumi answered, placing her hands in her lap. "She has been a little bit more lenient lately, since she allows me to spend time with you all."
"Your mother is very strict, isn't she?" Makoto asked.
To that, Hifumi had to mull it over. "Strict…? I'm not sure if that's the word I'd use. She simply wants the best for my shogi career and all…and is willing to do whatever she needs to to ensure that I remain a star."
"Doesn't that get exhaustin'?" Ryuji asked. "You're always playin' a match or somethin', right?"
"Yes." Hifumi nodded. "I remain undefeated professionally as well. I didn't realize my wins were at the costs of others' wellbeing, but since we've stopped Kaneshiro, I hope that provides some peace of mind for my peers and their fans."
"I'm sure Lady Ann can make up another lie to get you there." Morgana chimed in.
"I barely managed to lie to her the first time!" Ann said with a sweat drop.
"We can discuss the finer details AFTER finals, understand?" Makoto had to get everyone focused. "I won't let you off easy if you fail even a single one of your finals."
"Y-Yes ma'am…" Ryuji gulped.
"Actually, I have a small request for everyone." Hifumi spoke up. "There's something I want to look into tomorrow, before you're all busy with finals…"
.
.
She was listening in on the conversations within Leblanc. A quiet snicker escaped her as they just made it too easy. They didn't even know. How were they supposed to? She had the place bugged for one reason or another. Still, this was just what she needed to hear. "Heheheh…."
.
.
June 11th.
Ren came out of the subway, preparing to change trains through Station Square in Shibuya. He was reading a text from Hifumi to the group chat after school. It read: "I'm sorry for bothering everyone while finals are on the horizon, but what I want to look into won't take more than an hour at most. Whenever everyone has time would be best."
Ann: Don't worry! We'll be happy to lend you a hand! Plus I can use a break from studying.
Makoto: If it's only an hour, then that's fine.
Ryuji: Anything to keep from studying.
Makoto: Do you want to repeat that?
…
Yusuke: It seems he has vanished from the face of the earth. In the meantime, I may be a while, there is something that caught my attention.
Hifumi: Is it food.
Yusuke: I am in the mood for something sour today.
Ren: I think Ryuji realized he made a mistake.
"That idiot…" Morgana shook his head. "He's gotta get himself busted at this rate."
"By Makoto, or the cops?" Ren asked.
"Both?" Morgana would have shrugged if he could.
"Oh, Ren…" Hifumi approached him. "I didn't think I'd see you first."
"I like to be early." Ren replied.
"Amamiya-senpai." Kasumi called out to Ren, causing him and Hifumi to turn around. "Oh, I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something? Who's your friend?"
"Oh, not at all." Hifumi shook her head. "My name is Hifumi Togo…nice to meet you."
"Oh, I think I've heard about you!" Kasumi said with a smile. "My name is Kasumi Yoshizawa, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise." Hifumi gave a curt nod.
"…Well, what do we have here…?" Akechi walked onto the scene next. He was intrigued seeing Ren and Hifumi together; the two people considered his rivals knew each other? Was that a coincidence, or perhaps something more? Either way he was very intrigued. "And you're…?" He turned to Kasumi; her face was familiar but he couldn't quite remember at first.
"It's been quite some time, Akechi-san." Kasumi said respectfully.
"Ah yes, it's nice to see you again Yoshizawa-san." Akechi nodded. "You as well, Amamiya-san and Togo-san."
"Wait, you two know each other?" Ren and Hifumi turned to one another. That made Akechi and Kasumi snicker. Since Ren and Hifumi did have a little bit of time, they could spare some to sit down and chat with Kasumi and Akechi at a nearby cafe. It was an odd group to be certain, but it was a good way to pass the time. Everyone had their own drinks while talking about how they knew each other.
"I've been wondering…" Kasumi looked at Akechi, Ren, and Hifumi. They all seemed to know each other and that made her curious; it wasn't a group of people you'd see together. "How do you all know each other?"
"That's quite simple." Akechi responded. "His social studies class visited the set of a TV studio I appeared on, and Togo-san happened to be there as well for her own interview, if I recall correctly. Though we all met on different days I can assume. I hadn't the slightest clue they knew each other. He and I exchanged opinions and his way of thinking intrigued me."
"I can definitely see that!" Kasumi smiled. "Amamiya-senpai's way of thinking helps me as well."
"You all as well?" Hifumi quietly chimed in. "He helps me practice some shogi techniques from time to time…"
"Ah, come on guys, I'm not that special. I just like to help." Ren rubbed the back of his neck.
"Is that so?" Akechi took a glance at Ren and Hifumi, and then turned to Kasumi. "Then would you mind if I posed the same question to you as I did them?"
"Go ahead." Kasumi said.
"What do you think of the Phantom Thieves, Yoshizawa-san?" Akechi asked.
"The Phantom Thieves?" Kasumi pondered that. "You mean in the case of whether they exist or not? I think helping people in need is truly a great thing. But I do not agree with their methods."
Ren and Hifumi turned to Kasumi after she spoke. Akechi leaned back a bit, intrigued by her response. "Is that so? Why?" He wanted to hear more.
"Getting help from people is totally fine, but in the end, it takes a person's initiative to create lasting chance. If society relied on a safety net like the Phantom Thieves, they may stop making a conscious effort. Granted it's hard to generalize an entire population, but I believe in the end their existence may hinder growth and the society may not last very long.
"So you believe that they may stunt a person's growth." Akechi nodded in understanding. "Quite a unique take on the matter. What do you two think?"
"It's insightful." Ren replied.
"I think…" Hifumi began. "I understand your points, Yoshizawa-san. But there are just some things that people cannot do on their own, no matter how hard they try. I don't think there's anything wrong with receiving a helping hand in a situation like that."
"I understand that." Kasumi said. "I just think that if they help too many people, the people may begin to rely on them too much. It's a tricky situation I admit…the severity of the problems in question leads to different experiences."
So Kasumi was at least aware of what much. Hifumi understood too… "I see. I understand where the Thieves are coming from. I want to help the people I can too, if I have the power to do it. That's all it boils down to in the end, I suppose."
"Oops…I didn't mean to cause an argument." Akechi said. "I suppose the topic at hand is so relevant at the moment, it can't be helped. Allow me to change the topic to something lighter." The conversation went on for about another half hour or so, mostly everyone talking about their relevant interests; Kasumi and her gymnastics, and Hifumi with her shogi.
After the time passed, Kasumi stood up. "I'm sorry, but I should probably be going now. Good luck with your shogi games, Togo-san!"
"Oh, and good luck with your gymnastics. I'm sure you'll do just fine." Hifumi gave Kasumi a smile as she made her way off. "I think we should be going too."
"Going already? I suppose I should be as well." Akechi stood up. "It was nice getting to see you both. I had no idea you two knew each other. But I hope we have the chance for a little competition between the three of us soon." With that, Akechi left.
Morgana finally poked his head out of the bag. It was kind of annoying having to be out of sight for so long, but there was nothing that could be done. "I didn't know you knew Akechi, Hifumi."
"I met him the day after I met you all." Hifumi explained. "But we can talk about that later. I think we're due to meet everyone."
"Oh right, let's go." Ren grabbed the Morgana bag and went to the current hideout with Hifumi.
.
.
Once everyone gathered, Makoto was the first one to ask Hifumi what it was she wanted to look into. "So, what was on your mind?"
Hifumi held up her phone so everyone could see what she had on the Metanav. "I wanted help with this." She already had her mother's name and distortion put in.
"Whoa…!" Ryuji's eyes lit up. He knew what that meant. "Your mom's got a Palace…!?"
"Keep it down!" Morgana had to shush Ryuji.
"I wasn't sure if this was a part of that Mementos place you told me about or not…but something tells me it is far greater than that." Hifumi said.
"Indeed." Yusuke said. "A name, a distortion, this all lines up with Palace entry. But I see you are lacking a location…"
"Yes." Hifumi said. "I was curious and tested a few things."
"We can't afford to go jumping into a Palace right now, though." Makoto said.
"I know, I know!" Hifumi was quick to respond. "I just…I just want to look. I need some help getting inside. If it's the inside of her heart, I want to take a look. It may help me decide how I want to handle speaking with her in the future."
"We'll help you out! It's only for a little bit, right?" Ann said.
"Not quite the big time target I was lookin' for, but if it's to help out a friend, we can." Ryuji said.
"We can't get in without a keyword, though." Ren said. "Any ideas?"
"Kingdom is the distortion…but I don't know where that might be." Hifumi was racking her brain. "It means she thinks of herself as some kind of ruler…? Of…the shogi world, maybe?" That seemed like a bit much, but Hifumi knew it better than the others.
"With Kaneshiro, he thought all of Shibuya to be his personal bank." Yusuke stroked his chin. "So if this Palace is true, we need some sort of passionate madness."
"We don't really know her mom all that well, though…" Ryuji scratched his head.
"I wish I didn't." Ann shuddered. She only met Mitsuyo a few times, but it was far from pleasant each time.
Everyone was stumped for a moment before Makoto had an idea. "I wonder…your mother odes a lot of work, right?"
"Mhm." Hifumi nodded in response. "She's the one who manages everything concerning my shogi career, meetings, matches, interviews…all of it. She maintains a busy schedule, but manages to remain on top of it all. I suppose it helps that I haven't lost a single match yet."
"I see…" Makoto furrowed her brows for a moment. "And where does she do all of this work?"
"She's usually out and about, but she does plan major things at home." Hifumi said. "Instead of calling me, she always has to come to the church to tell me directly. Wait…are you saying?"
"Mitsuyo Togo's house." Makoto spoke into the Metanav.
"Candidate Found."
"Huh…? Why haven't we gone yet? It was a hit." Hifumi was expecting some sort of instant entry like before.
"If the source of the distortion is your house, then we have to be near it." Morgana said. "It only worked that way before because Kaneshiro's Palace encompassed the entirety of Shibuya."
"Wait, I'm not ready…!" Ann yelped. "What if she sees us…!?"
"She…won't like that." Hifumi brushed her hair aside. "Luckily, she's out for a meeting right about now. She won't be back until later tonight." The shogi star held a sneaky smile.
"Oooooooh. So that's why you said it would take an hour at most…look at you, fittin' in already!" Ryuji patted Hifumi on the back.
"Ehehe…" Hifumi gave a sheepish giggle.
"Well then, let's make this quick." Ren adjusted his glasses. It was time for a scouting mission!
.
.
The trip into Mitsuyo's Palace went well. That alone confirmed that it existed and when the thieves entered, they were met with a rather gaudy sight. Unlike Kamoshida's Palace, it was much more…extravagant and larger. There were several towers surrounding the large building in the center, which was gated off. Behind their entry point was the city of Shibuya, but it looked much more like a regular village than anything else. At least with Kaneshiro's Palace, the surrounding city looked normal…but that wasn't the case here. To top it all off, there were a few golden statues of both Mitsuyo and Hifumi plastered around the front area, which they could assume to be the courtyard. "Wh…" Dragon was taken aback at this sight.
"Whoa…this is the inside of her heart?" Panther glanced around.
Fox held his fingers together for landscape portrait of the area. "It is certainly more colorful than Kaneshiro's at the very least."
"How far did you want to go?" Queen asked Dragon.
"…To the front gate. I just want to see if we can get in." Dragon said. "Are there any Shadows around…?"
"I'm not picking up any out here." Mona reported. "But we should still be careful."
"We'll just beat the shit outta 'em anyway." Skull was more than happy to do anything other than studying.
"Let's go." Joker told the others, all of them quietly making their way to the front gate. It was a few minute trek. The gate wasn't budging when they went to it, though. "…It's not opening…"
"If we entered from outside the house, then I can only assume that this has to be the front door." Dragon surmised. "My mother doesn't really let people inside very often, least of all strangers. But…if I'm understanding this right…" She placed her hand on the door, which caused the gate to rumble open slowly.
"Eh? How did she…" Skull blinked.
"It must be due to the fact she's family." Queen said. "If her mother won't let anyone inside aside from people she knows, it's only natural that her daughter would be let in."
"That was my assumption based on how Kaneshiro's cognition worked." Dragon said, almost taking a step forward before… "Ngh…!?" Dragon's eyes widened before she just…fell to a knee, panting heavily.
"Dragon!? Are you okay?" Panther knelt down beside Dragon, staring worriedly.
"I…I think so…? Something…feels like it's crushing me…" Dragon said.
"Halt right there!" A familiar voice called out to the Phantom Thieves, from one of the nearby towers. "Entry into the Queen's glorious castle is not permitted to strangers such as yourself!" The figure jumped from the tower and flipped a few times, before landing right in front of them. The person who was in front of them was…Hifumi. Cognitive Hifumi, to be more accurate, dressed in a green princess' gown with a crown atop her head. "What business do you have with the Queen?"
"HUH?!" Skull and Panther shouted at the same time, and then glanced at Dragon.
"Wh-Who…?" Dragon stared at her Cognitive version, more confused than anything else.
"That must be how your mother sees you." Queen said. She didn't have much experience with cognitive beings, since Kaneshiro's bank only had walking ATMs that provided little substance to the world around him.
Cognitive Hifumi took a glance before gasping. "Oh! You must be the Phantom Thieves! I am a huge fan of your work. I welcome you into the castle!"
"That…seems wrong…?" Dragon was trying to move, but for some reason she couldn't. She was a fan of the Phantom Thieves, but if this was how her mother saw her, why would she be so welcoming to it? As far as Hifumi knew, her mother didn't like… "W-Wait…!"
Cognitive Hifumi then brandished a great sword, swinging it down at Joker since he was in the lead. Joker managed to evade this just in time, but everyone was left speechless. "Whoa…there's another way to ask for an autograph."
"The Queen has stated that I must stay away from the Phantom Thieves. That they are a danger to the Kingdom I am set to inherit one day…whenever she deems it fit to pass it onto me." Cognitive Hifumi explained, her yellow eyes burning with an uncharacteristic malice.
"I think she's getting ready for a fight!" Mona said.
"Everyone, stay on guard!" Fox shouted.
"And I will obey the Queen's orders without question." Cognitive Hifumi snapped her fingers, causing multiple Shadows to appear, all in the form of armored knights. "Go forth, my pawns! In the name of the Togo Kingdom, take down the Phantom Thieves!"