Date: 5/3 – Tuesday
Location: Leblanc, Yongen-Jaya
"Must be nice to have so much time starting today?" James said I came down the stair.
"After the last couple of weeks, it is." I said placing my backpack on one chair and taking a seat on another.
"Well, for me, it just means more customers and even more work." He placed a plate of curry down and a cup of coffee in front of me. "If you don't have any plans, you can always help me out, instead of wasting it doing nothing."
"Sure, I did say I would help out didn't I?"
Honestly, I didn't mind helping out whenever James needed an extra set of hands, even if it was mainly washing up and serving people their coffee and curry. It was amazing to watch James at work making coffees and I was glad that he let me watch whenever I wasn't washing up.
I was relieved when the morning rush was over and that there was not a lot left to clean. I heard a relaxed sigh from James. "Sorry I kinda pressured you into this."
"You say pressured, but I did say I would help." I said placing a plate on the drying rack.
"And now to our next topic… The Fall from Grace: The story of a dishonoured Olympic medallist." I heard a newscaster say from the TV. "Just recently, a high school coach admitted to his school that he had been perpetually abusing students. Given his prior Olympic achievements, this has caused quite a stir."
"What caused this habitual offender to suddenly confess these heinous crimes to the entire school?" I placed the last cup on the rack and dried my hands as I moved to look at the TV only to see a picture of Shujin. "The police are hoping that the upcoming interrogations will shed light on this question."
'Good luck with that.'
"Isn't that…?" I heard James say, placing his cup down.
"Yep."
"My friends would come back from practice with bruises all the time…" A male student stated on the TV. "It was scary, but I'm relieved that the abuse is finally going to end now."
'And it only took someone trying to kill herself and us taking his treasure for this to happen."
The TV switches from the male student to a female student. "He would touch me and stuff all the time. I'm glad I don't have to deal with the sexual harassment anymore."
The news switches to another female student. "There were always rumours, sure. Not many people believed them though. Like… I'm totally shocked they were actually true. At least now I can go to school without worrying."
'And yet they believed the rumours about me.'
"How could they employ someone like that?" James said finishing his cup off.
With me hands dry, I take his now empty cup and saucer and begin to wash them. "Well, given that he was an Olympian, having him there would have given the school some sort of prestige, so the Principle probably overlook the worst."
"Well, things might get turbulent at school, you just need to keep your head down, all right?" I heard his chair move. "…More importantly, keep those hands moving. I've got some more stuff I need you to do."
I sigh and stretch my back after I finished cleaning the cup and saucer.
"…And now the weather with the nations favourite Weather Girl, Marie. What's the weather going to be like Marie-chan..." Was the last thing I heard from the TV before being worked to the bone.
When James was finished with me, I retreated back upstairs and flopped onto my bed.
"Boss really worked us hard, huh?" Zwei said jumping up onto my bed.
I prop myself up on my elbows. "I'm sorry, us? I worked and you were up here." I couldn't help but felt annoyed at that.
An apologetic look (or what counts as one seeing as he is a dog,) crosses Zwei before I flop back down. I felt Zwei lie down next to and not too long after I start to run a hand over Zwei. We were like that a bit before I felt my phone buzz a couple of times.
After pulling it, I noticed that the chat with Sun and Blake had a couple of messages.
The Monkey King: Did you see!? It was on the news!
No way the school's gonna be able to play dumb after.
The Black Kat: I saw it too.
Ilia's name didn't come up, right?
Red Rose: Not what I saw, I can guarantee that they wanted to keep that part quiet.
The Black Kat: I'm so glad…
The Monkey King: It's finally over then…
All we gotta do now is eat some tasty shit and put all this crap behind us…
I'm totally looking forward to this celebration party.
The Black Kat: I'll try not let you guys down!
"Alright, we go and sell the medal tomorrow." I heard Zwei only to find him lying on back with his head resting on my other arm. "Even if Boss wants your help, make sure to turn him down."
"Yeah, I know… we still have all the other stuff to sell as well and we need to find a place to sell it." I said before placing my phone down and falling asleep.
Date: 5/4 – Wednesday
Location: Leblanc, Yongen-Jaya
I wasn't expecting to get a message from Sun shortly after waking up wanting to train. Something was telling me that I should accept. Sending a message back, I dressed and headed down to apologise to James before setting off towards Aoyama-Itchome.
When I stepped foot into the café proper, I was about to apologise to James when the door opened and in walked Winter Schnee. I stopped and watched her take the stool nearest the door. I look at James but his attention was on Winter.
"What would you like?" James asked walking down the bar.
"The house blend, please." She before pulling her phone out and started to tap away.
As James got to work on her coffee, the only other source of the noise was from the TV talking about the runaway-train incident that happened a few days ago.
"Oh, so that's the thing everyone's been talking about." James said pouring hot water over the beans.
"Doesn't it make you curious?" Winter said without looking up from her phone. "People who were living normal livers suddenly went mad or deranged out of the blue… Not to mention that it's happening one after another… Could they really be coincidental?"
I notice James scratching the back of his head briefly as the hot water slowly drained through the beans. "Doesn't really matter for me, as long this place is fine then I'm okay."
With his response, she finally looks up. "That's highly cynical of you."
At that, he shrugs and continues making her coffee. It's then that she looks at me. "I heard that Adam Taurus confessed to his crimes the other day."
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice James give me a stern look. "Yeah, it was crazy that that happened."
"It makes you wonder if a person's mental state can change so easily." Her blue eyes bore into me, like she knew that I was the one behind it.
"I-I wouldn't know how, I'm only a high school student." I turned to look at James. "I'm sorry James-san, but I won't be able to help you today, I've made plans with friends." I bow slightly before heading towards the door.
"Rose-san, while I don't want you to associate with my sister, but… thank you… for taking her out for her birthday." I heard Winter say as I made it to the door.
"Anytime." I said before opening it and stepping outside.
As I headed to the station, I felt Zwei move around in my backpack. "You don't think she knows do you?"
"How can she? We're not even that famous so…"
Bros on the Road
Date: 5/4 – Wednesday
Location: Sanda noodle shop, Aoyama-Itchome
I found it strange that he wanted to meet at Shujin, but it came clear when he told me that there was a back way into the school and that we shouldn't be disturbed. The training its self, wasn't as bad as the last couple of times, still wore me out but I nearly caught Sun up a few times. Even seemed to enjoy it as well.
Afterwards, we left to head to another ramen bar as Sun didn't want any confrontation with his former track members, which was weird considering that Sun was kind of a hot head when it came to stuff like that, but then again, having a meal ruined by fighting was probably not on his list. It wasn't as busy as I thought it was given that it was about noon and that Shujin students are out. But the place was nice either way, kinda reminded me of Leblanc a bit.
I had massaged Blake to show up here as we needed to talk about selling the medal and the rest of the stuff.
Sun had finished his bowls first and leant back as I pulled some noodles free from my own bowl and started to chew. "Ahhh! Man, I love the feelin' of noodles slidin' down my throat! Sweat drippin' over my face!"
I nearly choke on that and when I swallow what I had; I look at Sun with wide eyes. "Sun, think before you speak."
He looked at me like I had grown a second head. "What? This shit's the best, man! Ramen is life! A light broth like this really gets your body goin' again after a good run, y'know."
"If you say so, Sun." I said taking a sip of my drink.
"We use to come to all these places after practice and… Uh, I guess that's all in the past, By the way, I've seen Vasilias around a few times… but for some reason, it doesn't look like he's gettin' along with the others."
"You're worried about them, aren't you?" I said before lifting more noodles into my mouth.
"Yeah… kinda." He said after a few seconds of silence. "I've been thinkin' about what he said… How the whole track team was puttin' up with Taurus' shit… and how I fucked it all up for 'em. I think he was right, they don't even get a club room anymore, so they've been storin' all their stuff behind the gym. They can't use any school gear either, so they just run laps around the block for practice. There ain't really a place for outcasts like that… I should know that better than anyone."
"From what you told me and what I've heard, Sun, is that he went after you personally, seeing as you were the track star." I said when there was a break. "So, don't feel too bad about it."
"You're not wrong about that, Ruby… but it's good that they're keepin' their heads low now though. I don't want 'em ending up like me." He said shuffling on the stool to face me.
I turned just enough so I could still eat and talk to him face to face. "That's the thing Sun, you're doing great, even after all you have been through, you've still held your head up high."
I watch him rub his neck. "Why are you tryin' to make me feel embarrassed…? But you're right. I guess now that I'm thinkin' about it, tryin' to fit in is a real pain in the ass. I mean, I'd never've met you guys if I wasn't an outcast, right?"
"We might have." I said, thinking about what life would have been like if my record hadn't been leaked and if Taurus was a decent person.
"For real though, it's been a shitton of fun! Hangin' out with you guys is freakin cool!" He said leaning forward slightly.
"I can say that I didn't expect this to happen." 'It's nice to see that he still worries about his old friends, even though they don't care about him.'
I tense as I felt my back start to heat up and some pain. I don't think I ever got used to that, the ringing noise was about the only thing I think I got used to over the time. When everything returned to normal, I looked down and noticed that I had snapped one of my chopsticks… right above my food.
'Fuck, I was enjoying that… stupid bloody brand.'
"Hey? You okay?" Sun asked with a hint of worry.
"Yeah, I'm fine but my food isn't." I said dropping the remains of the broken chopstick and the whole one in before pushing the bowl away.
"We need to get going if we want to talk about selling that junk we got." I heard him before he down the rest of his drink and standing.
"Yeah, your right." I said following his lead and standing. I left a couple of yen notes as a tip.
As we left, I thanked the chef for the meal before stepping outside. I found Sun standing there with a thousand-yard stare. "Everything okay Sun?" I pat him on the shoulder.
"Yeah... I just hope there's something I can do to help the track guys…"
"There could be."
"Though it'd prolly mess 'em up if I tried to but in…" We walked in silence as we made our way back towards the station.
"Oh yeah, we gotta find a new spot for our trainin'." He said, bring a hand up to rub his chin. "I'll think about it. No slackin' off 'til then, mkay?"
"Like you are going to stop me." I laugh as we rounded the corner that led to the station.
It didn't take long for Blake to show up and she was even more annoyed about having to come to Aoyama-Itchome during the three-day break, but it was easier to meet here without getting funny looks from people and not to be heard by other Shujin students.
"Couldn't just meet at the diner, like last time?" Blake said as we made our way into Meji Jingu Gaien.
"We could have, but if we're trying to keep a low profile on being The Phantom Thieves, then it's best we go somewhere where Shujin students wouldn't want to go." I said gesturing to the park.
"Thinking like a true thief." Zwei popping his head out of my backpack.
"Can we get down to business now." Sun groaned coming to stand in front of us.
"I don't see why not." I said looking around and only noticing that there were a few families about. "So, anyone where we might be able to sell a fake Olympic medal that is real gold?"
"Nope." They both say at the same time.
I removed my glasses and run a down my face. 'Great, the whole purpose of this was to discuss about sell the items at hand and no one made any research into it…'
We found a place to sit and sat in silence as we thought over where we could go.
"Honestly guys, this is in your hands more than mine seeing as I've been only living here for about a month." I said after about fifteen minutes and leaning back just enough so that I didn't fall backwards.
"Well… we could try Torchwick at Untouchable? I've heard him buy somethings from people and not just unwanted model guns." Sun said pulling an apple out of his hoodie pocket and taking a bite.
"You could have told me this before dude!" I said nearly falling backwards.
"What!? I didn't think about it till just now." He said with a mouth full.
"Fine, I'll go and see if I can't sell it all then." I stand and grab my backpack. "What's everyone else going to do today?"
"Not a lot know that we're done, I need to get a couple of things for dinner tonight." He said before taking another bite.
"I haven't had some of your moms cooking in ages." Blake said, looking at Sun in wonder.
"I think my mum loved you more than me whenever you were over." He said handing the core to his tail.
"Come on Zwei, let's leave theses love birds to reminisce." I held my arms for the corgi.
"Were not like that Ruby!" I heard Blake say as Zwei hoped into my arms and on to my shoulders before slipping into my backpack.
"I know, I just enjoy making you flustered." I said as I started to walk away and waved. "Anyway, I'll see you guys later."
"Hey! Wait up, I wanna come with." Blake said catching up to me.
"Really? It's nothing special."
"I was thinking maybe I could use some of my acting skill I got from being a model."
I felt Zwei move around in my backpack. "Lady Blake is an actor as well as a model…"
I sighed as we walked off.
Date: 5/4 – Wednesday
Location: Untouchable, Shibuya
We were greeted by low hanging smoke as we stepped into Untouchable and I was not surprised to see the place empty. Blake coughed a few times as she entered.
"What the hell is this place?"
"This is a model gun store." I said walking up to the counter and noticing that Torchwick wasn't there.
'How is this place running when it doesn't look like no one shops here and the guy running the place isn't even on the shop floor most of the time.'
It's then that I heard the backroom door open and the sound of shoes on the floor. "Huh? You again? What do you want this time Red?"
"I've heard that you might buy things."
He sat down on the folding chair before lighting another cigar and blowing the smoke out. "And where did you hear that?"
"We heard it through the grapevine." Blake said coming to stand next to me.
"Oh," He looked at her. "and let me guess, you're here to try and get me to buy whatever you're selling at a higher price?"
"Wh-what… how…?" Blake said taking a step back as I look at her.
"Don't worry Blake, you've got to walk before you can run." I pat her shoulder before turning back to Torchwick and pulling the medal out.
"A gold medal!? Why do you have this? We don't buy any fakes or stolen good here, Red." He spoke sternly as he stood.
"It's not stolen or fake." I said holding it up more.
He looked at me before taking it from me and inspecting it. It's only when he places it on the counter does he look back at us. "I'm… not gonna ask where you two got this. How's thirty-thousand-yen sound?"
"I wasn't gonna ask for a single yen more." I said before taking some of the other items that we found. "And what about these?"
We watch he pick a few up and inspects them before looking at us. "I give you about ten-thousand for them."
"Ten-thous-" Blake started but I cut her off.
"Deal." I hold my head out towards him.
I was kinda surprised that he shook my hand before he cleared the items in question off the counter and starts counting the yen out. As he was counting the yen he kept looking over toward the door, like he was expecting someone.
When it was all counted, he hands me notes and as I tuck them into the inside blazer pocket, Torchwick reaches under the counter and pulls a brown paper bag.
"Here, take this with you. It's a thank for sellin' me that medal. But, uh… best not to open it. Just bring it with you next time you come back here." He all but thrusts the bag into my hands.
"This is a little weird!" I heard Blake say as I felt the bag.
'Whatever it is, it's in a box.'
"Don't worry 'bout it." Torchwick said with a message in his eyes.
'This could be to do with the cops or the White Fang.'
"Two guys incoming!"
I nod my head before turning to Blake and winking at her, hoping that she would play along. She raised an eyebrow before nodding as well. I turn back to Torchwick just as the door opens.
"Roman Torchwick, there are some matte-" One of the men stops when he looks at me and Blake.
"Thank you, sir, I'm sure my boyfriend will love this gift." I bow towards Torchwick before looking at Blake. "Come on babe, I want to get this rapped right away." I spoke in a similar fashion as my shadow.
"But you said we were going shopping after this!" Blake said in a similar fashion and I was happy that she was playing along.
"No worries girls, I hope he likes it and if he does, you know where to come." Torchwick said cheerily as we walked past the guys and out of the store.
As we round the corner that led to the main street, I felt Zwei press his paws into my back. "That was some quick thinking there, Ruby."
"Yeah, I can't believe that worked." Blake said moving to stand in front me, halting our progress of leaving.
I switch the bag to my other hand and bring the other one to scratch the side of my head. "Same… that the second time I've lied to him."
"The second time?"
"Yeah… I lied about having a fear of guns, hoping that I could get some form of discount when me and Sun went there the other week… it worked slightly."
"I'm glad that you embraced me back there." I felt her press up against my arm.
'What else did I have to choose from?"
"…detectives doing there?" I heard Zwei say as he turned around.
"Could be something about him being ex-White Fang."
"That guy can't be…" Blake said moving to look at the store.
"Yep, the tattoo on his neck points to it."
"Who would have thought that…"
We left and grabbed a bite to eat before leaving.
Date: 5/4 – Tuesday
Location: Leblanc, Yongen-Jaya
"I'm surprised that you never looked in that bag, Ruby?" Zwei said shortly after James had left.
"I've been curious yes, but not enough to look in it." I said as I started to unbutton my shirt.
"Well?"
"Fine…" I left my shirt open as I went and grabbed the paper bag. "Honestly, I'm fine not knowing what's in here, but to slake your curiosity, I'll open it for you."
I returned to my bed just as Zwei hopped up. He looked at me as opened the paper bag. What I wasn't expecting was a real-looking gun in there.
'Well hello there… I wasn't expecting that… wait a moment!" Bring the bag closer to my face, I noticed that it had a more plastic shine to it. 'Why do I feel slightly disappointed?'
"What's in there Ruby?"
I pull the mostly clear plastic box that had the real looking gun out and Zweis' jaw would have hit my bed if this was a cartoon.
"It's a real gun!?... Wait?" He looks up at me and I struggled to hide the smile on my face. "It's just a model isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is, I had the same reaction when I saw it." I said placing the box on my bed and take a seat as well.
"I have to say it's incredible though! Miles ahead of the one Sun gave you." He looked off in thought for a moment before looking back at me. "Hey Ruby, I've just had a great idea… we should buy this gun from him later!"
"Like that would work out, didn't he tell us not to look into it?"
"Still, something this real-looking would work wonders in the Metaverse…"
"There you go again with the whole Metaverse thing again, it's like your implying that there is more than just Palaces."
"I'm not going to say anything." He said turning his cute corgi head.
"Fine… spoilsport." I out the realistic model away before finish changing into my nightclothes and heading to bed.
Date: 5/5 – Thursday
Location: Hilton Tokyo, Shinjuku City
I woke to message from Blake telling us to meet up in front of Shibuya Station at noon and seeing as I had several hours before needed to head out, a bath and laundry were needed… and Zwei needed one as well, which he wasn't too happy about.
I sometimes wondered if he was more cat than dog.
After all that, I found myself along with Blake, Sun and Zwei at the Hilton Hotel. The place looked amazing, the white leather chairs where super comfy and the food we got for starters was high quality. I couldn't help but laugh inwards as Blake had set her eyes on eating her way through the deserts tables and Sun had more beef near him than what when into the Mega Beef Bowl. I had taken a page out of both of there books and had gotten a bowl of beef ramen and a plate of pancakes with enough syrup for two plates.
In all fairness, we stood out like a sore thumb at this, there were more high-class people here than I thought possible. Still didn't mean we couldn't enjoy ourselves.
I had just cut a small bit of beef and gave to Zwei when Sun spoke up. "Man! This is so good!"
"No wonder Lady Blake chose this place!" Zwei said as I grabbed some beef for myself.
"Of course, it's good. This is a famous hotel after all." She said before swallowing a small piece of a chocolate cake. "Oh yeah, I heard that the police are coming to interview some people at school."
"That's troublesome." Zwei said and then started to tap my arm with his nose, indicating that he wanted some more food.
"Yeah, it is. I'm going to get interrogated first due to my record." I said as I left my utensils near the bowl and leant back.
"People're spreadin' all sorts of rumours about us and Taurus…" I watch Sun start to cut into his next piece. "Plus, we got 'em pumped! I keep seeing stuff online like, "The Phantom Thieves really stole his heart!" I think most people don't believe it, but some of them actually seem grateful."
Me and Blake lean forward when he shuffles about and pulls his phone out and show us a website. "The Phantom Aficionado Website…? Well done, Phantom Thieves… Now I can keep going too… Thank you for giving us hope…" Blake said as my eyes raked over the comments and finding my name popping up to be taken next.
"Pretty cool, huh?" My trance was broken when Sun puts his phone away.
"I was just desperate to deal with my own problems, but seeing people saying all this feels… strange." Blake said in a cheery tone.
"Yeah.." Sun said before silence falls over us as we eat some more food till he spoke up. "Hey… what do we do now?"
"Food-wise, we have time." I said without looking at him and giving a bit Zwei.
At that, I hear Sun stand. "Oh crap! You're totally right! We only got an hour left to eat! I'm not gonna finish all the beef dishes at this pace!"
It's that Blake stands as well. "I need to eat my way through the entire dessert menu!"
I shake my head as they walked off. "I wonder if they know that what they want to do is never going to happen."
"I don't think they do."
When they did return, Sun brought another plate of beef and a sandwich which was bigger than any of our heads and Blake brought back a whole cherry pie and more slices of cake.
"Aw man, it melts in my mouth!" Sun said, looking a cat that got the cream.
"Seriously? Only meet?" Zwei said trying to inch his way forward to get at some meet.
"Now, where do I start?" I Blake say and frankly, I wouldn't know as each slice of cake looked equally delicious.
It was nice listening to those to bicker like an old married couple and it was a shame to know that Blake wouldn't return his feeling seeing as she was pining for Ilia. Zwei was annoyed that they didn't bring us anything even though there was plenty of food already here. But still, I had to go and get him something, which mainly consisted of meat on the bone. I did get some down the nose looks as I went about getting the food, but I couldn't help but overhear people talking about what happened at Shujin.
'So even the wealthy know about what happened.'
"They would have, after all, who else are these snobby people going to talk about?"
'You have a point.'
After I got a decent portion of food, I returned back to the table and placed the plate for Zwei down. The look on his face when I held a leg of meet out to him was priceless.
"So, whaddya think about comin' up against such ritzy food?" Sun said to me after swallowing a piece of food.
"Using better ingredients does make food taste way better."
"I was thinkin' that too." He said and I'm sure Zwei would have made comment if he wasn't going to town on the leg bone.
"You guys brought back a load of food… it'd be a shame to let it all go to waste." Blake said and when I look over, the pie was gone and there were only a couple slices of cake left.
'Holy shit she can eat fast… how the hell does she stay in shape if she eats likes that?'
"Let's eat!" I semi shouted before digging in.
I was surprised that between the three and a half of us that we were able to eat what we had brought to the table. Zwei had climbed back into my backpack and had fallen asleep, while me, Blake and Sun were leaning back in the chairs.
'I don't think I'm going to be able to walk out of here… damn it… I need the restroom.'
"This is a victory… for all of us…" Sun said through laboured breaths.
"I still think the Mega Beef Bowl wins."
"The Mega what now?" I heard Blake say as I looked upon the number of plates we used compared to the amount that we didn't use.
"It takes understanding to accept it as a whole, knowledge to set the proper pace, courage to attack the mountain of meat, and dedication to keep on eating. All these skills are needed to finish the MEGA BEEF BOWL!"
"That still doesn't explain what it is?"
"It's a rainy-day special back home, that consists of a lot of beef and an egg that comes in a large bowl… I've heard that only one person to ever complete it." My stomach hurt just thinking about.
"Well how about one last-" Blake started to say in a way too cheery tone considering what we've just been through before Me and Sun spoke up at the same time.
"No thank you."
"I don't think I could deal with another bite." I reach out towards Blake. "Pull me up and help me to the restroom please Blakey, I don't trust my legs enough to walk there."
Before she could no anything, we heard a man and woman speak up from behind me. "My, look at that table…"
"They must not normally have the opportunity to eat such exquisite food"
"I can only imagine what their parents must be like." The woman said as they left.
"What was that?" Sun said and it was clear that they had ticked him off with what they said.
"A fancy hotel, probably doesn't get people like us showing up a lot." I said looking at him before turning to Blake. "Please Blake, I don't think there's much time left."
She sighed before helping me stand and to the restroom… that just so happens to be on the next floor up.
After leaving the restroom, I found Blake leaning up against the wall nearby and I was glad that we made it to the restroom in time.
"Ughh, I still feel stuffed…" I said as we made are to the elevators.
"I'm not surprised after the amount you eat." She pressing the button.
"I think you eat more than me, Blake, also, how the hell do you stay so thin?" I move and poke her stomach, to which she slaps my hand away.
"Stop that, I'm ticklish… and to answer your question, I work out endlessly to stay in shape."
'Hmm… maybe I should start doing that as well… those beams in my room could do the trick.'
As we waited for the elevator, a few more people showed up as well and as we continued to wait, I noticed Blakes' cat ears twitch, indicating that something loud was coming our way. It's then that we shoved aside.
"Hey!" I heard Blake shout and after I gain my footing, a group of men had situated themselves near the elevator doors. It's then that I notice a woman standing in the centre wearing a floor length black dress, her skin tone was a deathly white alone with her hair that was done up into a bun with serval offshoots. "You could have just asked!"
Blakes' outburst gets nothing from the men and the woman, likely acting like we were there. "Still no update on the case?" The woman said coldly.
One of her guys near her step forward. "N-no not yet… but excuse me for asking, but why are you so involved? It's not something you should be concerned with…"
At that, the woman turns to face the guy and that when I notice her black and red eyes. "I don't care about your opinion, you incompetent buffoon! When I say pick up the pace, you do it!"
'Where have I seen those eyes before?'
"You could at least apologise?" I said earning the gaze of both the guy and the red-eyed woman.
"We're in a hurry…" The guy said as he took a step closer.
"So much so that you can't even say sorry?"
"It seems the customer base has changed since I was last here. Have they started a daycare?" The woman said coldly as she turned away just in time for the elevator doors to open. "Don't bother with them!"
I watch the group step onto the elevator and as the door where closing, my eyes locked with womans'. I bring a hand up to my face as a shape spike of pain runs through me. 'Where have I seen her?'
"Think harder babe, you should remember her clearly!"
"They were very rude." I heard Blake say and then felt a hand on my shoulder and concern in her voice. "You okay, Ruby?"
I remove my hand and shake my head before looking at her. "Yeah, just felt a bit lightheaded."
She looks at me with scrutinizing eyes. "Well, let me help you back then."
I watch her press the button that left us waiting for the elevator once more.
When we do get back, Sun stands with anger. "What took you so long!?"
"What's got your panties in a twist?" Blake said as she helped me back to the chair.
He rubs the back on his head and sits back down. "Sorry… I had a run-in with a stuck up woman a second ago… she said it was my fault that she dropped her plate when she was the one who bumped into me."
"She sounds like fun." I said noticing two cups of coffee, a bowl of sugar and a small jug of milk sitting there on the table.
'That's sweet of him.'
"We ran into someone like as well, nearly cleared us off our feet." Blake said grabbing a cube of sugar and pouring some milk in. "I wonder if we're out of place here…"
I grabbed five sugar cubes and poured some milk in as well. "Well, we do stand out in a high-class hotel."
Silences fell over us as we drank the coffee and let the food digest more. All in all, it was one of the best meals I had.
"Hey, Zwei?" Sun said placing his cup down.
"What is it?" The corgi in question answered as he poked his head out of my backpack.
"Anyone could have a Palace, yeah?"
"Anyone with a strong, distorted desire."
"Same for them havin' a change of heart if their Treasure gets stolen?" He leant forward.
"That would be the case." A smug look appeared on Zweis' face.
"Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?" Blake said with a clink of her cup on the saucer.
"Well, I was just wonderin' if we'd be able to change those people we ran into."
"So, you want to continue as the Phantom Thieves?" I said as I finished the coffee.
"I've been thinkin'… We put a lot of work into changin' Taurus' heart, but nobody believes in the Phantom Thieves. Plus… those guys who had no other choice but to just deal with it are thankin' us. Us, of all people."
"There are a lot of victims about." I pushed my glasses up my nose.
"I… I agree, if we ignore people who are in trouble, I'd go back to being the same as I was before!" Blake said and it looked like she was about to cry.
"Well… that's true." Zwei said before shaking his head and serious look befell on him. "You're under my tutelage. There's nothing we can't accomplish as the Phantom Thieves!"
"Shouldn't we be able to help 'em out?" Sun said looking at me.
"It's true, that with our power, we may be able to help people out." I said as I leant back and placed an arm on the back of the chair.
"That means we'll have to fight Shadows again." I heard Blake say before drinking the rest of her coffee.
"That can't be avoided I'm afraid." The corgi said, scratching his ear.
"Eh, I'm sure we'll manage." The was enthusiasm in Suns' voice as he looked at me. "Right?"
"I'm game if you three are."
There was a low chuckle from Zwei. "Even if you guys are still just fledgelings, this means we're an actual organization now."
"Fledglings? That actually does fit for us." Blake said leaning back in the chair and stretched like a cat.
"All right, it's settled then, we're gonna catch all these shitty adults by surprise and make ourselves know to the world." The way Sun spoke, I swear that he probably had one too many coffees before we got back.
"Are you ok with being our leader?" Blake said and I felt all eyes on me.
"Are you ready to take the Mantel of Responsibility?"
"And here I thought at the beginning of April that I just wanted to a normal girl with normal knees… and yet that went out the window on the first day of school. I met you guys and I've done more last month than I think I've done in a year back in Inaba. I promise not to let you guys down and if the worst happens, then I promise to get you lot out safe… even if it means putting me in danger."
"If we work together then that shouldn't happen." Zwei said in a sincere tone.
"Well, I've got no objections here! I can't handle all that responsibility stuff." Sun said leaning back and crossing his legs.
"If Lady Blake is alright with it then I guess I'm fine with it."
"Well then, we should decide on a name for our group. I just with Phantom Thieves of Hearts last time, but don't a real name would be cooler?" Sun said leaning forward.
"Ooh, I want it to be something both cute and luxurious sounding… like… The Diamonds?" I heard Blake say as I looked around quickly to make sure that no one had noticed Zwei.
"I'm getting' a real little league baseball feel from it."
"Yeah, as much I love you Blake, but I honestly prefer The Phantom Thieves of Hearts." I got funny looks when I mentioned that. "Well, look at it this way… People already have heard of them, so if we change our name now, they'll more than likely think that we are just copycats."
"Huh, you got a point there." Blake said leaning back. "So, who's our next target?"
"There are tons of rotten adults and all… so why not just stick to targeting big names?" I heard Sun say a started to scratching Zwei behind the ear.
"Like CEO and the like?" I manage to get out before Zwei shook my hand off and look at me with an annoyed expression.
"Yeah, something along those lines. If we go after some bigwigs, it's gotta get on the news, right? Don't you think more people would believe in us we did that?"
"That's not a bad idea from you, Sun." Zwei said as I reached forward for my cup, only to remember that I had already drunk it.
"True, if we become better known we might be able to give courage to a lot more people. But I don't really like the idea of just picking someone out of the blue though." Blake piped up as she leant on the table.
"So, we do a unanimous vote then, we'll narrow it down to someone we all can agree on." I said as it was the only way I could see us working this out.
In an all to cheery tone, Blake spoke up. "I like that unanimous decision part! It's like we're making some kind of pact!"
"Now then, this is the official formation of the Phantom Thieves organization!" Zwei said a bit to loud for my liking.
"Oh no!" Blake said and I turned in panic towards her. "Our time for the buffet ran out…"
"God, you almost gave me a heart attack Blake." I said before taking a couple of deep breaths.
"I guess we'll just have to talk more tomorrow than." Sun said as he stood and stacked more of the clean plates together.
Date: Unknown
Location: Unknown
I groan in pain as I shift slightly. "That was how The Phantoms Thieves was formed… any questions?"
"Parts of your story does align with Taurus' confession. The same goes for the testimonies of the officers who arrested you." Prosecutor Schnee said crossing her arms and looking at me with cold blue eye.
'I was arrested!? It would explain how I'm here… but there was something I was meant to do here…'
"Let's continue on shall we, there are many more events that I must inquire on. Lies and false accounts are eventually exposed." She pulls the folder back in front of her and opens it. "The next to receive a calling card was this individual…" She turns the fold around and there, sitting on top of the files was a picture of an older guy, with dark hair that was greying quickly and was wearing a Hakama.
"A master of Japanese art. Li Ueda. It's even more incomprehensible than Taurus as to why this man was targeted." I watch her close her eyes and take a breath like she was trying to surpass a headache. When she does look back at me, a chill goes down my spine. "Where did you come to know him? And how did you learn of his crimes when you weren't a victim of them? Start by telling me what you all schemed."
"All right then Winter… but first, there is something that happened just before we found out."
Authors Notes
And so begins the second arc. The next chapter might take some time to write as I'll be writing something that I've never done before, so please bear with me.
There's not a lot I can really talk about this time, apart from moving some in-game scenes around and that the park and the Hotel are real places, but if there is anything else you guys or gals want to know about this chapter that I didn't cover please feel free to comment and I'll try to give you the answers you seek without spoiling anything.
I've also done two requested stories, The Faunus and the Council President that was requested by BraveVesperia1, and Finding My Muse that was requested by Asperger Hero on Archive and I have written two more chapters Hot for Student after a great conversation with IncensedBus87 on . I've also got a few of ideas for some one-shots, whether or not I'll be able to write them is up to the role of the dice.
If you do like my work and you have an idea for a story that you want writing, then please, feel free to comment/review and I'll see about writing it at some point.
Seeing as when I post this, the Xbox Showcase has been and gone, what games are y'all looking forward to? I'm interested in seeing what Fable is going to be like seeing as Playground Games have only done the Forza Horizon series.
Walk Tall and Be Fierce, my Friends.