[June 2nd, Shujin Academy]

Love.

In many people's eyes, it was mysterious, tempting, but beautiful. For a lot of the time, it wasn't anything destructive to you, or the person you're in love with.

However, this wasn't the case.

As the last remaining member of the once 'News Club', it would be lying to say Akiyama Saya wasn't in touch with the latest rumors in Shujin Academy. As one of the few people who actually could stay out of the rumor mill, and observed it from an outsider's perspective.

Her lack of any distinctive quirk in her appearance probably was half of the reason, but that's beside the point.

However, for the last few months (since the new school year started back in April), she had been noticing and following something. Something weird.

Something weird was happening right in front of her very own eyes.

"Senpai is talking to that bitch again..." Biting her finger like it was the bane of her existence, a second-year student peeked over the corner. "Just stop this already..."

Watching this happening right before her eyes, Saya couldn't help but blink in sheer confusion, and a lot of surprises. A... with a lack of a better term, a lovesick stalker girl right before her.

However, and unfortunately, Saya couldn't really recognize who she was. Maybe this girl before her was similar to herself, lacking distinctive traits in her appearance.

Following the girl's gaze, and what she just said, Saya found a specific third-year student. From what she could remember, he was Ikesugi Takuya, a somewhat popular person in the third-year social circle.

And if she remembered right, the girl he was talking to... did have a crush on him.

'So... this is basically a large love triangle problem,' Nodding to herself with that thought, she slowly backed away from the said scene. It's... really not the best for her to get involved in some kind of drama herself. She's just a... somewhat of a reporter, it just wasn't worth it-

"What are you looking at?"

Frozen at where she stood, Saya's mind raced to find a way to just get the hell out of here. "U-uh... I just notice you looking at Ikesugi-senpai, that's it-"

"How did you know Senpai's name?" Interrupting her, the 'stalker girl' slowly turned her head around and faced Saya. "You're also in love with him?"

For a second there, this girl's appearance (now that she could see her clearly) reminded... Sadako for Saya. The messy black hair that just covered her face, and slouched posture...

However, that impression only lasted for a second. As recognition hit her.

Standing right before Saya, was Mogami Yumeko. She only knew her from that one time they paired up for warm-up in PE class, since their class share the same PE class. They talked a bit, and Saya always could feel something was off about her. Not in a creepy way, but more in the 'I'm concerned' way.

However, Saya could never really do anything substantial to help her.

And she felt like Yumeko here didn't recognize her, but a hint of familiarity was... visible in her eyes.

"N-no, I'm just... really informative on these kinds of stuff, that's all," Feeling shivers and chills running down and up her spin, Saya took a few steps back without noticing it herself. "B-besides, he isn't my type anyway..."

"So you mean Senpai is ugly?" With a cold glare, Yumeko walked up to her, seeing how a big drop of sweat just dropped on Saya's face.

"N-no, of course not! It's just that he isn't the type of person I'd have a romantic interest in," Feeling how her entire body was in her 'fight or flight' mode, the amateur journalist tried her best to hold up a friendly smile. "I-I have no plan to take... him from you."

Gaze narrowed, and Yumeko leaned toward her until their face was mere millimeters apart from each other. And she stayed, for a long few seconds before leaning back. "Fine, I'll trust you, this time only."

"...O-okay, thank you for that..."

With that said, Saya took a few steps back away. And Yumeko returned to... whatever she was doing toward Ikesugi in the first place, just that he wasn't at where he was anymore.

"O-oh no! That bitch must've got him!" Panic clear within her voice, the Sadako-lookalike rushed off where she hid. And left Saya all alone, still recovering from how horrifying that... near-death (not really) experience was.

"...H-holy moly, that was intense..." Murmuring to herself, the amateur journalist cast a worried gaze on the spot Yumeko was. "But... she's... that's not healthy... I had to do something..."

Rubbing her upper arms, she pondered for a moment. And from that, a decision was made.


[June 3rd, afternoon, outside of Class 3-C's classroom]

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Ikesugi-senpai."

Trying to keep her awkwardness as low as possible, Saya adjusted her glasses and asked. When was the last time she did an interview? Actually, no, she never did one. Even back when the club was still a thing, it was usually the senpais who did the heavy liftings.

But still, she could do it. Just put some faith in herself, and it'd be fine.

However, the same couldn't be said for the class itself. As everyone there just exchanged a confused and... weirdly excited gaze between one another.

Well, most of them, other than two people. One of them was the student council president, and the other one was... the daughter of the owner of Okumura Food- Wait, no, she should be focusing on business right now.

And not for long, Ikesugi himself showed up. "Uh... hi," Rubbing the back of his neck, he just gave out that feeling of confusion. "Do I know you?"

"No, you don't," Finding no need to beat around the bush, Saya just went straight to the point. "Anyway, I'm here to ask you something, think of it as an interview."

"...Okay? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, you're totally fine," Taking out a small notebook from her blazer's chest pocket, she turned over to a new blank page. "Anyway, it's just a few things and that's it. First, you know about your popularity among fellow schoolmates, right?"

"...I guess so?" Surprised by the topic of her question, Ikesugi's gaze darted around him. "I mean, girls always just come and talk to me for some reason, not that I hated it or anything."

"Okay, that's... fine," Writing down the response, Saya paused for a moment. "And... Are you aware of anyone who's... overly friendly with you?"

As if this reminded him of something, the older student widened his eyes for the slightest bit. "...You're asking about Mogami, right?"

And Saya froze, her gaze moved up from her notebook to Ikesugi himself. "Wait, you know her?"

"Yeah, we met back in middle school, and we were friends," He nodded, crossing his arms as he leaned against the door frame. "It got a bit weird after we both got here though, she became more and more closed off, and now... this."

As much as it'd make sense to call what Yumeko was doing as 'stalking', but Saya... maybe it's her professional conduct to not label people like that, or just her own empathy... She couldn't.

And the same could be said for Ikesugi too.

Shaking her head and snapping out from her thought, Saya quickly scribbled down what he just said into point form. "Then... what do you feel about her... thing with you?"

Ikesugi paused for a moment, but his gaze lowered. "Frustrated," He finally said. "I mean, I just... don't know how to approach her and help her out of this. It seemed like something more personal than what I can help."

"And besides, my 'popularity' is more of a curse than a blessing anyway," Ikesugi quoted the 'popularity' with his fingers. "If I just talked with her, it'd just be drama and rumors... Spreading from everyone else."

"I know, it's the worse," Saya agreed, quickly writing down what he said.

"Maybe... at this point, I might just ask the Phantom Thieves to change her heart or something," Giving out a long breath, the older student let his body slump for a little bit. "It's last resort though..."

Saya didn't say anything, and she didn't need to. That wasn't something she should give her own opinion on, but... maybe she should look on that Phantom Aficionado Website, to see if anyone did put her name there.

After all, from what happened to Kamoshida, that domestic violence case she heard before, and the bullying in Shujin... Personally, Saya did believe they exist, and was very thankful for them. But that was still her own opinion.

"Well, I... that's all I need," Finishing writing it down and closing the notebook, the amateur journalist bowed politely. "I apologize for taking your time, Ikesugi-senpai."

"No, it's good to know someone else at least noticed Mogami," Shaking his head, Ikesugi only gave out a sad smile. "Uh... I don't know what can come out of this, but... good luck."

With a small nod, Saya and Ikesugi went on their separate ways.

But if Saya paid a bit more attention, she would notice how some girls were giving her glares.


[June 4th, after school, Women's restroom]

Of course, per Shujin Academy's tradition, rumors and drama immediately spread like wildfire. And mostly untrue too, from what Says had heard and investigated before.

However, she couldn't believe how just a simple interview to see what really was happening would bring in to one of the centre of the drama. And how much nonsense it really was.

However, that wasn't the biggest thing that she was worried about.

It was how Yumeko would react to this spreading around.

And... she didn't take it well.

"Why did you lie to me!" Dragging Saya into one of the stalls and slamming her against the door, Saya could see... a hint of sadness in her eyes? "You said that you're not going after Senpai, and... WHY!"

"Wha- no, I didn't go after him," The amateur journalist blinked. "Where... where did you hear that?"

"Everyone! That's what they're all talking about!" Exclaiming, Yumeko tightened her grip on Saya's blazer. "You're just trying to take Senpai before me, right? You're just jealous, and lied to me!"

"Wait, those rumors... they aren't true, not at all," Feeling her eyes softened, Saya sighed. "I was asking him things... about you, Mogami. I'm just worried about you, okay?"

Frozen in place, Yumeko loosened her grip on the blazer. "You're... you're worried about me?" She took a few steps back and looked... like she couldn't believe what she just heard. "Then... Then it meant I just..."

Trailing off, Yumeko slumped down and sat on the closed toilet. "...Did... did Senpai know?"

Of course, Saya could just tell her the truth, that's probably the best option to deal with her feeling. However, Ikesugi never said he would want her to know about how he thought, and... who knew how Yumeko here would react to the fact that he knew.

Opening her mouth, nothing came out. The amateur journalist froze, her eyes were filled with hesitation. She just said she asked him about Yumeko here, if she lied right here... There was no way for her to make an excuse.

In the end, Saya had to tell the truth. And she did, not with words, just with a small nod.

With her eyes slowly widened, and her face turned into a shade of pale white, Yumeko buried her face in her palms. "...I'm doing this again, I'm just a disappointment..." She murmured, as her hands slowly clutched. "It always just comes back to this. Isn't it, Mogami Yumeko? It's just a god damn cycle..."

"Mogami..." Reaching out her hand with that same hesitation as her eyes, Saya stopped herself in the middle of it. What could she really do right now? She had no experience in comforting anyone before, she didn't know how to either.

Back when the club was closing, she could only stand aside and watched it crumble.

However, Yumeko spoke up first. "...Just... leave me alone."

Saya wanted to say otherwise, but... from the look of it, anything coming out of her mouth would only make it worse. And in the end, she reached for the stall's door handle and left Yumeko alone.

She's supposed to just be an observer, just observe and document the stories happening around her. But she just couldn't help but felt guilty, very guilty. With each step, it felt heavier and heavier.

Stopping right before the door in the restroom, Saya turned around and entered the stall again. Without another word, she hugged Yumeko. It wasn't to be tight or last for a long while. It's just a short but warm embrace, and that's what Saya could do for her right now.

Releasing the embrace, the amateur journalist tried to say something more. But... the awkwardness stopped her from saying anything too much. "...Now I'm really gonna give you some space."

With that said, Saya did what she was asked to.

But an idea emerged, the same one Ikesugi mentioned.

[That night, Saya's room]

Dear The Phantom Thieves,

I am requesting a fellow schoolmate of mine, someone who would be seen as a stalker at first glance. However, the problem lay deeper than it looked, and it might need a 'change of heart' to help her...

As her fingers gradually stopped moving, Saya looked at her request with a conflicted look. Judging from those requests that had ended up in a successful change of heart, at least ones that she could find, she had to put Yumeko's full name there.

There was no other way. Even if it might get Yumeko into some trouble, having her full name blasted online for the public to see.

Besides, Saya couldn't help but kept doubting her decision. It just kept feeling like she jumped way too much forward, just skipped a few steps and straight to the final option. Maybe she should stop for a moment and reconsider her decision...

"...Maybe I should ask Mogami bout it first..." Trailing off, she tapped the backspace button, watching her request being deleted by each letter. "But... Dammit, why can't I just be make up my mind?"

Giving out a long sigh, she opened a new page and scanned over the list of posts. Maybe she could find something else to help her make the decision to put the request or not. Just maybe-

"Huh?!"

Her eyes widened, Saya's mind froze in shock, as she scrolled to a specific request post that was made a few hours ago. A request that did exactly what she was hesitant about.

Dear Phantom Thieves,

I am requesting here for an old forgotten friend of mine, and her name is Mogami Yumeko. She has been acting in a way that worried me, and this is a last resort of mine. As of now, she has chosen to stalk me instead of just talking this out. I wasn't sure whether this would get through or not, but if you can read this, please help her.

It didn't take Saya long to connect the dots in her mind, and realized who was the person behind this request. After all, the request itself made it quite clear who he was. But not only that, the admin himself replied to this specific request.

"Thank you for the request, The Phantom Thieves have set their eyes set on the target."

"Ikesugi-senpai... we really had to use this last resort, huh?" Feeling her words were sent into a void, Saya hung her head down and sighed. "If you really have your eyes set on her... Good luck, Phantom Thieves."


[June 6th]

Unfortunately, because of the day off on the 5th, Saya couldn't do anything but kept worrying. Of course, the news about Madarame's confession flooded the news, like a giant 'change of heart' incident. At least that event occupied her mind for most of the day.

But now, Saya's focus was back to Yumeko herself. And she just hoped that it'd be done by now.

Thankfully, the PE lesson today provided a nice opportunity for Saya to approach her. Just like how it was before, by volunteering as Yumeko's warm-up partner.

And when she approached her, she could feel the difference in the aura Yumeko gave out. It felt a lot lighter than a few days ago, a subtle, but drastic enough departure from how she used to be.

"Um... hey, Mogami," Hiding the cringe she felt from that awkward introduction, Saya sat down and helped Yumeko stretch her back. "Is... everything alright?"

Instead of the silence she expected, Yumeko responded. "I... I don't know how to face Senpai. After what I was doing to him..."

"Well, Ikesugi-senpai was more worried than anything," Saya said, trying to reassure her. "Just talk with him, he probably wanted to do the same for you."

"But... I stalked him. I... I even went as far as collecting stuff he dropped like it's some kind of treasure..." Yumeko trailed off, lowering her head. "How could I face him after that?"

"By being honest," The amateur journalist answered, as her smile turned to a more encouraging one. "Lying or running away won't solve anything, after all."

At first, Yumeko didn't reply back, just pondered with her head low. However, when she finally looked back, she nodded, hesitantly. "I'll... I'll try then," She said, as her face froze for a moment. "But... weird..."

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just... I felt like I've heard that before," She shook her head. "But... still, thank you. Also, uh... what's your name?"

"I... I've been alone and anti-social for too long, and... maybe you can be the first friend I made outside of Senpai back then..." With embarrassment clear on her face, Yumeko looked away. "It's a bit weird, and maybe a bit too late-"

"No, there's no such thing as 'too late' when it's making friends," Cutting her off, Saya let a warm smile creep up. "I'm Akiyama Saya, just call me Saya."

"Then... can you call me Yumeko too?"

"Of course."

With that said, for the first time since they met in that corridor, Yumeko smiled. It was only a small, brief smile. But a smile nonetheless. And Saya couldn't help but respond back.

With the same warmness as before.

However, Saya suddenly felt someone's gaze was on her, and she looked up. It was Takamaki and Suzui, as they hastily turned their face away from her. Were they looking at them for no reason?

As much as Saya felt confused and somewhat weirded out by it, that wasn't her priority right now. Yumeko was. Besides, aside from this being another proof of Phantom Thieves' existence, Saya was just... happy.

Happy to see Yumeko was going on a better route than before.

With that thought, Saya's smile widened.

(Saya's side-End)


Preview:

A same case, but from a different perspective.

As the thieves recover from their battle in Madarame's palace, and find out The Fool's true identity.

Ren received a request directly from Mishima.

But instead of just a stalker girl's case, they found out a bit more about her.

Next Chapter:

"Case 1: Stalker Girl: Thieves' Side"

Stay tuned!


[That night, Saya's room]

"...And thus, the rabbit hole called 'Phantom Thieves' continues."

Finishing her own personal report with Yumeko's case on her own laptop, Saya closed it with a small sigh. Even though the Phantom Thieves were truly real, in her opinion, there were just still way too many mysteries surrounding them.

How did they operate?

Were they even a group in the first place, or that it was just a single person?

Why their first appearance was on Kamoshida?

Was Togo Mitsuyo's surprise conference a consequence of a change of heart as well?

Saya felt a bit skeptical about the last question, but she couldn't help but feel a bit confused and suspicious about the timing of the conference. She just, out of nowhere, admitted fixing Togo Hifumi's matches and stepped down from her position. It wasn't like any news agency or investigative journalist blew this up on some magazine.

She just came out and admitted it from nowhere.

"So after two giant cases and a few more minor change of heart cases, there's still a giant aura of mystery around them," Adjusting her glasses, Saya massaged her nose bridge. "Never thought I'd see something like this in my life."

However, as she turned open a new tab, her face dropped. "But... this is not looking good either."

It was social media pages about the rumor of the mafia luring high school students to transport drugs and illegal stuff. And the extortion coming from it, threatening money from them... Even making a few victims went bankrupt from it.

And one of the cases she had set her eyes on was about a certain bakery in Shibuya.

Akashi Bakery.

Not because of whose family owned this bakery, but what happened recently. Actually, not 'recently', but today. And Saya narrowed her eyes, as she read through the social media posts about that.

"Fighting seen near the bakery..." Murmuring to herself, Saya clicked on a video showing that fight, filmed by someone who happened to pass by.

It showed someone who wore a hoodie with a blood-like shade of red, fighting three low-level gang members. Even though the quality of that video wasn't the best, but she could see that someone fought them with a pair of sticks.

But just as how abrupt it started, it also ended abruptly before showing any kind of result. And Saya couldn't help but sigh.

"So... someone is trying to be a hero..."


So, welcome to the first chapter/case of Mementos Mission!

And somehow while making two different chapters, I managed to update both more quickly than last time...

Okay, that's beside the point.

Anyway, as the title of this chapter suggested, this is just one part of the picture. As a story told from a certain perspective. Because in the game version of this request... it's really just nothing big, so both as to ease you all into the Missions with an easy one, but trying out new storytelling structures too XD.

And slowly, but surely, we found out more about Yumeko here. Who she is, and why she became like that.

Also, we have a little tie-in back to the main series here. So... a bit more tease of what's going on with Shinji too.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the story so far, and favorites and reviews are welcomed!