6/10

Students of Shujin trickle into the television studio for the second day of the school trip, and Akira and the Phantom Thieves - barring Yusuke - meet with Makoto and Haru in the building's parking lot. Though surrounded by parked cars, the space seems devoid of life, save their own, and Akira is confident they can speak in privacy.

"Dude," Ryuji says. "Maybe you should just stop riding trains."

"No shit," Akira replies.

Morgana clears his throat. "I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that it was thanks to my skills as an impeccable locksmith that we managed to survive."

Ann frowns. "Doesn't a locksmith make locks? You just pick them."

Morgana frowns. "Lock picker then! The point still stands."

"It was a group effort," Akira says. "Makoto helped to pin the guy down, and Haru slowed the train until it stopped."

The cat shrugs from where he hunches on the pavement. "Well, the girls certainly did help a bit."

Haru giggles, bends down and strokes Morgana's head with a single finger.

"Sorry," Makoto says to all this. "Did he say something?"

"He said you helped last night," Haru tells her. Makoto smiles.

Ann crosses her arms. "I don't mean to change the subject," she begins. "And I'm glad you guys are okay and stuff, but are you sure what you saw last night was the same thing that happened to the guy at the hotel?"

"Positive," Akira replies, the images of the two events sobering him. Black bile puked into a sink. Spilling from eyes like faded stones. "I'll never forget that. Yukio Kan didn't die from a heart attack, like it was reported. He suffered a mental shutdown."

Makoto nods. "I concur. Which raises some distressing questions. Did any of you happen to watch the news this morning?" No one replies. She sighs. "Well, if any of you had, you would've seen that the Minister of Transportation resigned."

"So?" Ryuji asks. "What's the big deal? Don't big wig old dudes like that quit all the time?"

Ann rolls her eyes and swats him on the shoulder. "Let her finish."

Ryuji makes a show of rubbing his 'injured' shoulder, but nods to Makoto. "Sorry, Prez."

"To answer your question," Makoto continues. "No, they don't. Not like this. The Minister of Transportation chose to resign because of the mental shutdown cases. He's been getting the blame since they started."

"That seems," Haru begins, then pauses for a moment. "Like a rush to judgment. If no one knows what causes a mental shutdown, how can they blame someone for it?"

Akira spits out a laugh. He says, "I can see it happening," at the same time Ann does. They glance at one another and smile.

Makoto makes a very Makoto face at this, but pushes on, pretending to have ignored it. "I guess they want someone to take the fall. It'll ease public tensions if someone takes the blame for the shutdowns."

"How's that supposed to ease anything?" Morgana asks, and scratches his ear.

"Yeah," Ryuji says. "Even if he resigns and accepts responsibility, no one knows the cause. They'll just keep happening."

"That's the stance of the current administration," Makoto replies. "But here's the interesting part. I did some digging. Apparently, the Minister of Transportation had some clear connections to the New Dawn movement."

Akira stiffens. "Isn't that-"

"Yes," Makoto says, triumphantly. "It's the same political movement Yukio Kan belonged to"

A chorus of Ooohs echoes from the group and Akira tries to fit the pieces together. "Alright. So, if the mental shutdowns are deliberate, it seems like they're being used against the New Dawn."

"But hold on," Ann says. "Can we say that for certain?"

"Certain?" Ryuji asks her. "Didn't you just hear everything the Prez laid out?"

"Yeah, Bonehead, I did. I just-"

"Takamaki is right," Makoto says. "We can't say anything for sure right now. If we jump to conclusions, we run the risk of looking for evidence that confirms only those conclusions."

"Seems kind of a specific coincidence though," Morgana mutters.

"True," Haru says, and translates the cat-speak for Makoto. "But, maybe we should look into the New Dawn movement and see if there's anything else strange or out of place?"

Ryuji scratches his head. "Yeah, but how would we do that? We only know Yukio Kan died of one because Akira happened to be there. Now that's a freakin' coincidence. We're not likely to get that lucky again." He blanches, then extends a nervous hand to pat Akira on the shoulder. "Sorry, man."

"No worries," Akira replies. "You're right. It's hard to imagine we'll be in a position where evidence like that will fall into our laps. For now, let's keep our eyes on our targets and the New Dawn in the back of our minds. You two," and here he turns to the girls. A frown stops his words. They weren't Phantom Thieves. Did they have a role in this? It felt strange to just kick them out of the loop, as they were the only other two - aside from Morgana - who witnessed the events on the train. Then again, they've got a lot of other things to deal with.

Akira had spoken with Haru earlier, pulling her to the side when she'd arrived at the station, and asked whether she'd given any more thought to giving up her fiancé's name. She'd cited the events of the night before as having shaken her so badly to the point where she hadn't spared the dilemma a thought. Akira can't blame her. Aside from the near derailment, work had been cancelled, but since Shibuya was in an uproar, Akira and Morgana were forced to trek home on foot. It had been a slog, and at the end, he'd awarded a few words for Sojiro, climbed to his room, and collapsed into bed.

He'd been spared any dreams. Nothing but the bliss of black.

"You two," he starts again. "Well, this isn't really your problem." He nods towards Ryuji and Ann. "We're not even sure if this is our problem yet."

Makoto and Haru glance at one another. The latter answers for them both. "I don't think either of us wants to walk away from this, Akira-kun. But, we may need some time to consider things."

Ann slips her phone from her pocket and checks the time. "We're supposed to meet up with the class soon. This'll have to wait."

Ryuji yawns and stretches his arms over his head. "Surprised they kept this trip on, seein' as how the subways are all 'effed up." He blinks a few times and smirks. "Then again, maybe we'll get to see some more of that hilarious shit they put you two through."

The color shifts in Makoto's cheeks, and - feeling his own blush - Akira lifts his gaze to study the clouds. "Let's hope not," he says.

"Definitely," Makoto replies. "Not, that is. In that I definitely hope not."

Morgana scales Akira's leg and drops back into his bag. As one, the group heads for the station's entrance.

#

Kaneshiro turns the glass around and around in his hands, his rippling reflection in the murky liquid staring back at him, brow furrowed, lips in a tight line. "I find this interesting."

"How so?" His guest asks. Polite. Inquisitive. As if she didn't already know.

He leans back in his chair, and regards the woman. "I'm sure I would've been very clear with the messenger boy."

"You're referring to Crow?"

It's a question he won't bother with. "My message would've been clear, as well. I want to speak with the Head Honcho. The Top Dog." He gives her a glimpse of his teeth. "And you are not the Top Dog."

Principal Toko brings her teacup to her mouth and sips. The steam off the liquid fogs her glasses, but if this bothers her, or makes her uncomfortable, Kaneshiro can't tell. The film on the lenses brings unsettling imagery to mind. Lizards, for some reason. "No," she replies. "I am not. But I'm all you have for today. You can rest easy knowing I will pass your wishes or considerations or messages up to the proper channels."

Kaneshiro notes the lack of the word, 'demands,' and says, "I wanted to speak with-"

"There is a way this works," Toko interrupts. She leans forward and sets her tea on the table. She settles back, folds her hands across her lap and fixes him with a gaze every inch the put-upon educator. "An order. A hierarchy. Information flows one way, and then it flows the other way. The structure of this thing of ours was deliberately established by minds much sharper than yours or mine. It was designed to insulate. Fragment. And by doing so, keep us all safe. To keep us all free from too much liability. Your request disturbs this set-up. Disrupts it. The 'Top Dog,' doesn't want to see that happen. He respects your request, but meeting him is something you simply cannot do, for what should be obvious reasons. This is not done out of spite. It is not done out of disrespect. It is done for your safety. It is done for mine. It is done for his. Do you understand?"

Kaneshiro meets that gaze and doesn't flinch, and why should he? "I understand that this is my town. I understand that he wants Shibuya. He wants it real bad. He can set up his hierarchies and play at power all he wants, but if he wants my town, he'll play nice with me. I'm sure you see me as a dog. That's fine, if you do. But you should remember that dogs bite. Especially if you piss one off. So, when I say, I want to see him, I mean, I want to see him. Not some rancid cunt."

Toko smiles. It's small. Not conniving or malicious. It's the kind of smile one wears while enduring polite company they would rather be rid of. "The truth is, Kaneshiro-san, I wanted to speak with you as well. This meeting works out for both of us. You get a mouthpiece, through me, and I get make my request to you directly."

"That's funny," he says. He does not laugh. "You want something from me? What?"

"I want you to stop pilfering my students. No more boys for your little club. No more girls for your other little club."

Kaneshiro finally takes a sip of his drink. He smiles through the burn in his throat. "I had you figured wrong. Never thought you'd be the demanding type when you walked in here."

"This isn't a demand," Toko continues, voice even and controlled. "It's a request. One you would do well to heed. Troublemakers are a thing at my school. A small handful of students joining up with a gang is unfortunate, but not necessarily unheard of. Some young ladies falling in with a bad crowd? Getting in over their heads? Heart-wrenching, but what can you expect in a city like Tokyo? But your volume is increasing, Kaneshiro-san, and it's drawing unwanted attention."

"Attention from where?"

"For one, other students."

Kaneshiro gestures with his drink. "And?"

"These same students might pass along their suspicions or worries to their parents. They parents might pass those along to me, or even the police."

"We've got people in the police. And we've got you. I fail to see how this is a problem."

"A problem isn't a problem until it becomes a problem. I'd rather not present the opportunity for your needs to become our - collective - issue."

"So squash it. Sounds like something you need to address."

"I'll do my best," Toko continues. "But I'd like your cooperation."

"I need those young troublemakers of yours. And those girls fetch good prices. So-"

"When it comes to this thing of ours," Toko cuts in. "Your level of importance is directly linked to how much benefit you can bring to those at the top. I am very good at what I do. So, if you value your existing relationship with the 'Top Dog,' and you want a chance at a more beneficial one, my wishes should be of primary importance to you."

Kaneshiro keeps the scowl off his face. The old bitch may be lying. Then again, maybe she wasn't. If she really was important enough to be sent in Shido's stead, maybe if would do well to stay on her good side. For now.

Entertaining the mental image of Principal Toko bleeding from the eyes and mouth, Kaneshiro nods, smiles and says, "I'll see what I can do."

Toko bows her head in acquiescence. "Thank you. Now then, why don't you tell me what you want?"

#

Akira scrolls and scrolls and scrolls. There isn't much to see, or if there is, he can't tell. Aside from sites that focus on the economic repercussions of administrative decisions, using numerous phrases and lingo Akira can't understand, there's little on the web to do with the Transportation Minister's resignation. "Find anything?" Morgana whispers from the bag.

"Nope," Akira replies. He sits once more in an orderly row of students. This time, the studio has them for the taping of a talk show, and thankfully, it doesn't seem like he'll have to respond or interact or do anything. For once. Ryuji slouches to his right. Ann flips through her own phone to his left. He glances around to find Kawakami, but he hasn't seen the teacher since he stepped into the studio some time ago.

Haru and Makoto are with their class, somewhere on the other side of the room.

Akira starts to wonder if he can get away with a quick nap.

"...a warm hand to our guest, the Great Detective Prince, Goro Akechi!" Applause detonates among the students and the hosts stand and slap their hands together as well. Akira's heart does somersaults and Ryuji turns to him and whispers, "Dude!"

Ann leans forward and whispers, "Just be cool. This is no big deal. They'll probably just ask him about the kind of girl he likes, or something. That's all this show ever does, anyway."

From the side of the stage, steps Goro Akechi. His smile is wide, and he gives everyone a big, black-gloved wave.

Ryuji crosses his arms and mutters a curse beneath his breath that Akira can't make out. Then he says, "Just look at that asshole. He's supposed to be out catching criminals, but here he is, giving interviews. Some justice."

Akira watches the boy's face. It looks friendly enough, but he has a hard time believing Akechi would prance onto the stage pouting. He's involved with the hunt for the Phantom Thieves. The thought makes him nervous, but he reassures himself that Ann is right.

"Thank you for having me," Akechi says, as he sits down between the hosts. His voice is clear and crisp. Well-rehearsed, Akira thinks.

"We're so excited for you to be here, Akechi-kun," the male announcer states. "It's been a while since you've been on a show like this, yes?"

He grins, and his cheeks betray a faint blush. "I suppose so, but I can't say it's something I'll ever get used to."

A few people in the crowd chuckle. Mostly girls.

"So," the female announcer, someone Akira recognizes but can't recall the name of, starts. "We're all dying to know, do you have a girlfriend?"

An excited murmur rises from the crowd. Mostly girls. "Told you," Ann whispers.

Akechi, for his part, looks suitably embarrassed. "Um, is that really all you wanted to ask me?"

"Hmmm," she continues. "You seem to be evading the question."

The boy raises a hand and lets it drift through his hair. Akira hears a distinctly feminine sigh from somewhere ahead. "Well, if you must know, I do not."

"Oooh," she coos. "Did you hear that, ladies?"

More laughs.

"I'd like to point out," Akechi continues, his words coming out just a bit quicker. "That I don't believe someone in my position would be suitable boyfriend material. I don't get a lot of time to myself. I'm usually quite busy, and therefore would not be able to dedicate the proper amount of time to the girl who would deign to go out with me."

Again, that distinct feminine sigh from somewhere ahead of Akira.

"Smooth talkin' bastard," Ryuji retorts, and slumps down in his seat, arms crossed. He nudges Akira with his elbow. "Can you believe this guy? And the ladies are lapping it up."

Ann leans forward and whispers across Akira, "What's not to like? He's good looking, has a job, and doesn't seem full of himself."

Ryuji glances around, then leans in himself and mumbles, "He's against the Phantom Thieves."

"Guys," Akira says, and sets a hand on each of their shoulders, guiding them gently back to their upright positions. "Let's chill, okay? He hasn't even said anything about them yet."

"Oh, Akechi-kun, you know we love to give you a hard time," the male announcer says, with a chuckle. He spreads his hands in a wide, sweeping gesture, which spurs applause from the audience. Then he beams, as if just remembering something. "I don't know if they told you backstage, but we've got some special guests in the studio today. May I present, the entire second and third year classes of Shujin Academy?"

Akechi runs his gaze over the audience. "Shujin Academy? Interesting."

"Say," the woman says. "Isn't Shujin Academy where those Phantom Thieves first struck?"

Akira sighs. And here we go.

"Indeed it is," Akechi replies. "Their first target was Suguru Kamoshida."

A blanket of tension settles over the entire crowd. No one claps. No one laughs. Akira bears witness to the awkward glances shared among his fellow students.

The hosts must detect it to, because the male cuts in with, "And of course, they gave us another display of their abilities when they changed the heart of Ichiryusai Madarame."

Akira wants to groan, but manages to stifle it. Ryuji, on the other hand, lets out a small hiss of breath that makes the student in front of him, twitch in his seat.

Akechi's nod is slow and patient. "Yes, that was rather interesting."

"Have you investigated them in your work?"

Akechi clasps his hands together. "I'm afraid I can't discuss my work in public. I will say that I have an interest in them. One that extends outside the realm of my professional capacities."

"Much has been made," the female announcer says. "Of the lack of a connection between Kamoshida and Madarame. How do you-"

"Excuse me," Akechi cuts, his words soft but firm. "That is not quite accurate."

Akira sits up straighter. Ryuji and Ann do the same. He can feel Morgana shift around in the bag, likely trying to hear.

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"While they may not have any direct connection, there is something Kamoshida and Madarame had in common. Namely, the targets of their abuse." He pauses, then states, "Students. Madarame plagiarized and mistreated his pupils. Kamoshida abused his power as a teacher at Shujin." He nods towards the audience.

Again, silence.

"Of course," Akechi continues. "Two instances cannot truly indicate anything, but it is an interesting point. Taken a step further, it suggests some things about the Phantom Thieves."

The two hosts share a look across their guest at one another. "Like what, Akechi-kun?" The man asks.

"It suggests that the Phantom Thieves could, themselves, be students. Students who possess a strong, if distorted sense of justice."

Ryuji's foot begins to taptaptap against the floor, and Akira rests a hand on his shoulder. The boy doesn't stop.

"Would you mind elaborating on that?" The woman asks. "The part about a, 'distorted sense of justice?'"

Akechi sighs. "I would mind, actually. I believe I've made my position perfectly clear. The Phantom Thieves may dub themselves heroes all they wish, but their methods are downright villainous." A hint of red appears in his cheeks. "I know that may seem harsh. Especially given my audience. However, I will not walk my words back because they are difficult to hear. The Phantom Thieves do not subscribe to the laws and order of our country. Laws that were set up to protect, as well as be obeyed. If the laws fail, we must go back and rectify them so they do not fail again. No system is perfect, but the sign of a strong society is how it seeks to improve upon itself in a progressive manner. I feel that too many people in today's world either feel stagnant, or are willing to shuck the boundaries of society in order to further their own ends. Make no mistake, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts may be helping people, but they are ultimately serving themselves."

"O-oh," the host replies. She looks from Akechi, to the audience, back to Akechi, and settles again on the audience. "Are there any questions?"

No one raises a hand.

"Well then," and she clears her throat. "Why don't we change the subject then, yes? Akechi-kun, why don't you tell us a little more about yourself? What's your favorite food?"

#

"I'm really glad," Morgana says, once they've left the set. "That things didn't get out of hand in there."

The Thieves have found their way to an empty hall, their day at the studio done.

"Yeah," Ann replies. "But it still sucks that he badmouthed us like that."

Ryuji nods. "Dude should've read the room. We're from Shujin, for crying out loud." He glances back down the hall. "Wonder how Mishima feels about all this?"

"Probably not great," Morgana says.

As if the mention of his name summoned him, Mishima turns the hall, spots them, and marches their way, a storm on his face. "Can you believe that guy?"

"Hey, Mishima," Akira mutters.

"I can't believe he had the nerve to say all that. To call you guys villains!"

"Keep it down," Akira hisses. "It is what it is."

"But-"

Akira turns his back to them. "I'll meet you guys outside. I've got to use the bathroom."

"So?" Morgana asks, once they're far enough away from the group. "What'd you think of Akechi?"

"I didn't think much of anything," he replies. "It's like he said. He's made his position clear, in the past."

"I guess so." Akira finds a Men's Room and steps inside. "Hey, uh, you're not going number two, are you?"

"I would've left you behind if I were," Akira says, as he steps up to the urinal.

Once he's done, he washes his hands, sticks them under the dryer, and returns to the hall.

He nearly collides with Goro Akechi.

"Oh!" The boy says.

"Crap," Akira mutters, and takes a half-step back into the bathroom.

"I'm sorry," Akechi says, and straightens. "I didn't mean to startle you."

"Yeah," Akira replies. "Me neither."

Akechi runs his eyes over Akira's clothes. "You must be one of the students from Shujin. I take it you were in the audience during that last bit?"

Akira nods and Akechi sighs.

"I'm afraid my spiel about the Phantom Thieves sapped some of the energy from the room. I should've known better than to discuss a topic that is surely sore for your school."

Akira shrugs. "You're entitled to your opinion."

The boy smiles and glances away. "Well, thank you. I suppose you're right." A look crosses his face, and he meets Akira's eyes once more. "Tell me, what are your thoughts regarding the Phantom Thieves?"

Akira feels his pulse skyrocket, but he keeps his face calm. "Honestly?" He asks. Okay, this guy is the Detective Prince. And apparently he works with Sae Niijima. If he wants to find out who you are, he can do it. So don't lie. You don't have to tell the truth, but you can't lie. "My friend got a lot of unwanted attention from Kamoshida. And last year, he broke my other friend's leg." He shrugs. "I don't know how they 'changed his heart,' and got him to confess, but they did. So the Phantom Thieves are okay in my book."

Akechi makes a small, Hmmm, noise and nods. "I can understand your appreciation of them, given your perspective. But I still can't excuse vigilantism."

Akira frowns at this. "Well, let me ask you a question. You said that the sign of a strong society is its ability to look at itself and change itself when it sees a problem, right?"

"Correct."

What am I doing? "But you lost the room in there, because you were talking to a bunch of students who got the shit-end of the stick. And society, instead of seeking to improve itself, just moved on. It didn't do anything for them."

"You're referring to Kamoshida, yes?"

"Of course I am," Akira says, his blood pumping now. "We all know how faculty members and parents and those who should've represented the students knew about his crimes, but they didn't do anything. Were the students, like my friends, supposed to just suffer in silence until society decided to pay attention?"

Akechi frowns. "Right there, you mentioned faculty members and parents, but you never mentioned the police. Couldn't some of his victims have reached out to the authorities?"

"Some did," Akira counters.

"And yet," Akechi continues. "From my review of the Kamoshida case files, I failed to see one documented instance of any students going to the police."

Akira crosses his arms. "Now it sounds like you're victim blaming."

"Certainly not," Akechi replies. "But we are responsible for our own lives, are we not? Someone in society cares, and that someone, whether a police officer or a politician, would no doubt have championed the cause of the Shujin. Sometimes, it is not enough to hope society pays attention. Sometimes we must make society pay attention."

"But isn't that what the Phantom Thieves are doing?" Akira asks, a grin sneaking onto his face, even as his mind screams at him to shut up.

"No, it isn't. The Phantom Thieves haven't sought to reform society. They've only succeeded in parading themselves in front of the country as vigilantes. What solution have they presented, other than 'Trust in the Phantom Thieves and hope your problems go away?' Is that to be the foundation for our improved society? That people we don't know can mentally recalibrate individuals they deem criminals?"

"Kamoshida was-"

"Yes, he was a criminal," Akechi cuts in. "As was Madarame. But what happens if they decide to go for someone who isn't?" He smiles, and although it's warm, Akira can sense a bite beneath it. "Let's pretend you're a Phantom Thief." Akira feels his blood go cold. "And let's say I'm investigating you. You learn that I'm very close to uncovering your identity. Would that be enough for you to target me? To try and steal my heart? Perhaps, make me confess to crimes I never committed?"

"No, and-"

"But how can you be sure? Do you know the Phantom Thieves? Have you ever spoken with them? Have they given you their assurances?"

Akira halts before answering. "No."

"Then you can't possibly know what they are thinking and how they will determine whom to target. None of us do. And that's the problem."

The two boys stare at one another for a long time. Then, Akechi blinks and says, "Oh, I'm sorry. I may have gone a bit overboard there." He smiles and shakes his head. "I nearly forgot that I had to actually use the bathroom."

"Right," Akira says, and slides out of his way. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize," Akechi says, as he steps inside. Akira begins to walk away. "Hey," Akechi calls after him.

"Yeah?" Akira asks, turning slightly back.

"I didn't get your name."

"Akira Kurusu," he replies, and makes to leave once more.

"It was nice to meet you, Akira-kun."

Akira nods, and continues on his way.

##

A/N: Hey everyone, happy Monday! I went to post this morning, and noticed some glaring errors. I didn't have the time to fix them, so I had to rush home after work and fix it up before I head off to my Fantasy Draft.

My brother-in-law is our league commissioner and he 'randomized' the order of the Draft. He 'randomly' got first pick, and I 'randomly' got last. As Patrick Henry once said, "I smell a rat!"

Anyway, if I haven't gotten to your comment yet, I'll do my best to do so. As always, thanks for reading!