Akira never knew how absolutely boring waiting could be as he checked the date on his phone as he sat in his desk for homeroom, superstitiously ignoring the cracked plaster to the side of his desk.

5/2

It had been nine days since he'd followed the newly dubbed Phantom Thieves into Kamoshida's Palace and observed as they stole his Treasure. The worst part was that even though he knew that Kamoshida was going to confess, it didn't stop him from feeling a certain amount of stress even though he knew how everything was going to play out.

At least he knew today Kamoshida would be making his confession.

Ker-click!

Akira looked up as the sound of the PA speakers whirred to life.

"This is Principal Kobayakawa speaking. This is a message to all students and teachers that there will be a morning assembly replacing first period. Thank you."

Homeroom fell silent as Miss Kawakami and students alike just looked at the PA speaker in confusion. Suddenly the homeroom class erupted into a cacophony of noise.

"What was that about?"

"A morning assembly?"

Akira's noticed Rem and Ann give worried glances to each other.

"Quiet!" Miss Kawakami yelled, slamming her customary sheaf of documents onto the podium with a bang. She let out a sigh as the students eventually calmed down somewhat.

"I don't know what's going on, but instead of going to your first-period class. We'll all be heading to the Hall, understood?" she questioned, looking at the homeroom of 2-D.

Akira stood closer to the walls as he watched students flow into the hall, slowly trickling in for a school-wide assembly. He listened as students began to mutter.

"What's with the sudden morning assembly?"

"I bet it's about that girl that jumped the other day."

"They don't have to tell us not to commit suicide."

"There was that weird calling card too, so I guess the teachers are freaking out?"

"We're lucky that morning practice got canceled though."

"I feel like I'm going to faint if this takes forever."

He felt a presence saddle beside him and lean on the wall. "Hey Sumire," he said without bothering to look, in the peripheral of his vision he was able to see the familiar crimson-red strands of Sumire's hair.

"Good morning Akira-senpai," she greeted with a bow before standing beside him. "Do you know what the morning assembly is about?"

Akira shrugged, his eyes trained as Principal Kobayakawa revealed himself and moved up towards the podium. "I think we'll be finding out soon enough," he murmured just loud enough for her to hear before Kobayakawa tapped on the microphone, a small electronic whine echoing around the hall as students quietened down.

"Let's begin this school-wide morning assembly. As you all know, a tragic event took place the other day," Kobayakawa began. "Thankfully, we have been informed that she shall make a full recovery thanks to the actions of another student, however, it will be some time until she recovers."

Akira felt some eyes fall on him after Kobayakawa's statement.

"Everyone here has a bright future ahead. I implore that you rethink the importance of life and-"

The door to the gymnasium hall squeaked open during the middle of Principal Kobayakawa's speech. Akira silently pulled out his phone and made a call.

"Akira? Is something wrong-?" Goro's voice asked over the phone before Akira cut him off.

"Just record this and listen…" he said before directing the microphone to the front of the hall. Even with how wide the hall was, with the silence Goro should be able to hear what was going to come.

"Akira-senpai?" Sumire asked looking at him, tilting her head to the side looking at him quizzically but he just silently placed a finger to his lips, miming silence.

Kobayakawa looked at the gymnasium exit stunned as he found the teacher that had placed himself under suspension back inside school grounds. "Mr. Kamoshida, what's the-"

"I… have been reborn," Kamoshida said with a downcast face, his voice halting, wracked with guilt. "That is why I will confess everything to you all," he said walking slowly to the stairs and up to the gymnasium podium.

"What's wrong with Mr. Kamoshida?"

"What's this about?"

"Did the volleyball team to something?"

Akira watched as Kamoshida stood in full view of both the student body and teachers alike, students questioning and muttering about what could possibly be happening.

"I… have repeatedly done things that were… unbecoming of a teacher," Kamoshida began. "Verbally abusing students… physically abusing my team, and… sexually harassing female students."

He looked out at the students, guilt and self-disdain in his eyes. "I am the reason why Shiho Suzui tried to kill herself!" he admitted before collapsing to his knees, sobs wracking his body.

"Sexual harassment?"

"Wha-?"

"Why would he say something like that!?"

"The volleyball team? Really?

"Ugh, he's the worst!"

"Physical abuse!?"

Akira felt Sumire tense beside him. "Akira-senpai… d-does this have something to do with that calling card earlier this week?" she whispered quietly beside him, barely audible over the sudden chatter of students.

"It's… possible," Akira inclined his head for a moment before giving a half-lie. He knew, but it'd be suspicious if he outright said it, especially since he was already being stupid and giving Goro damning evidence of changing hearts.

"I thought of this school as my own castle…" Kamoshida continued through his body-shaking sobs. "There were even students that I sentenced to expulsion, simply because I didn't like them…" he said, "I will, of course, rescind those. I am truly sorry for putting innocent youths through such horrible acts…"

Akira watched as students near the front took some steps back, reviling the man they previously placed on a pedestal. "I am an arrogant, shallow… and shameful person. No… I'm worse than that…" he said before shaking his head.

His forehead slammed into the hardwood flooring of the stage, his hands splayed in front of his head in a display of dogeza. "...I will take responsibility and kill myself for it!" he shouted full of shame and conviction.

"What?!"

"What did he just say?!"

"Wait, kill himself?!"

A teacher off to the side noticed the panic and began trying to play crowd-control. "Umm... Mr. Kamoshida is... erm… not feeling well!"

Principal Kobayakawa joined in, trying to prevent the reputation of the school form sinking form such a public display of self-admission. "Mr. Kamoshida! Please get off the stage for now!" he pleaded only for it to prove futile.

"Everyone, return to your classes!" a teacher in a suit ordered trying to usher students out of the hall but failing to do so.

"I-" Kamoshida shuddered causing a silence to befall the room.

"Don't run, you bastard!" a feminine voice called out, full of anger. The sudden noise in the now quiet room caused all eyes to fall on Ann. "Shiho's still alive even after all the things that made her want to die! You have no right to run from this!" her voice full of anguish echoed through the hall.

"Takamaki-senpai…" Sumire muttered looking at the blonde far ahead of them.

"You're right… you're absolutely right…" Kamoshida nodded, looking up from his position on the floor at Ann. "I should be punished under the law and atone for my crimes…"

He looked at the student body. "I did horrible things to Takamaki-san, as well…" he admitted. "In return for giving Suzui-san a position on the volleyball team… I.. I tried to force her into having a relationship with me."

"Ugh, that's disgusting."

"For a position on the team?"

"I feel so bad for Takamaki-san…"

"So, the rumors weren't true…"

But Kamoshida didn't stop there.

"Not only that… I was the one that leaked the criminal records of Amamiya-san all because I wanted to ruin her school life… I was the one that ordered students to spread despicable rumors about her…" he continued. "I ordered students to lie about her and make her an outcast. When she found out and tried to stop me... I threatened her with expulsion.."

"As of today…" he looked at everyone, "I will resign from my position as an instructor and turn myself in." His sobbing began anew as he looked around pleadingly, "Someone, please call the police!"

"The police?"

"Is he for real?"

"This morning's assembly is over! Return to your classes immediately!" the teacher in a suit ordered the mulling students, looking at the now-former PE instructor in shock.

"You get all of that?" Akira asked as he brought his phone back to his ear. Strangely he heard the sound of lots of shuffling, along with orders being shouted. He heard Goro give an exasperated sigh over the line.

"Congratulations Akira, not only did I hear but also the entirety of the Shibuya Precinct," Goro said to which Akira could already see him pinching his nose. "My phone was on loud-speaker when you called so everyone around me heard about it. My superiors are already ordering me to get on the case."

"Whoops," Akira let out unabashed, a small grin on his face.

"Yes… whoops. You single-handedly have sent my precinct running around like headless chickens since some of my colleagues have students that attend Shujin and were largely unaware of Kamoshida," Goro replied with a groan. "You can expect your school to be swarmed by police in the next half-hour… do you even understand how much paperwork I'm going to have to file?!"

Akira shrugged. "Things have been quiet since the last metal shutdown case, at least now you'll have something to do."

"…I hate you." was Goro's almost acerbic reply but with just a small undertone of fondness.

"Love you too. I'll treat you out once this is all done," Akira felt a shit-eating grin worm its way onto his face.

"I'm holding you to that… take care, Akira."

"You too Goro," he said before taking the phone away with a click. He noticed Sumire's questioning look that had appeared on her face, along with a slight scrunching of her eyebrows when he'd said to Goro 'Love you too'.

"That was Goro. He said that the Police heard the whole thing so they'll be coming within the hour," he explained, the slight scrunching of Sumire's brows easing as she realized it was only his housemate.

"Ah… um… Akira-senpai? Why did you call Akechi-san the moment Kamoshida-san entered?" she asked curiously as he stowed away his phone. Akira just shrugged his shoulders.

"Call it a gut feeling… hasn't led me wrong yet," he replied with an air of nonchalance. "Goro was already investigating Kamoshida and the guy seemed like he was looking guilty. Figured something was going to happen," he explained/lied in the most plausible way possible.

"Oh! I'm surprised you could tell so quickly," Sumire gushed before a small look of consternation appeared, marring her features. "…Does this mean those Phantom Thieves of Hearts that sent Kamoshida-san a calling card did something? What do you think about them?"

Akira looked at her, mulling over his words carefully.

"I think… I think that's something you need to decide for yourself," he evaded. He didn't want to make himself seem biased so he decided to avoid the question entirely.

Sumire seemed satisfied with that response.

It seemed, however, that other student had overheard their conversation and began muttering to the students around them.

"Isn't this just like what the calling card said?"

"Does this mean the Phantom Thieves thing was for real!?"

"Was something done to Kamoshida?!"

"C' mon, there's no way you can steal someone's heart!"

"But why else would he start saying things like he'll kill himself or turn himself in?"

"Maybe because it almost got leaked? Don't they go easier on you if you turn yourself in?"

"But didn't he say he was gonna kill himself? If Takamaki hadn't said something he might have done that!"

"I wonder what happened…"

"Who knows? But man, Kamoshida turned out to be one sick bastard."

"Hey is this for real? He's turning himself in just like that?"

"What going to happen to the volleyball team?"

"This is going to turn into a big scandal…"

Soon the hall was turned into a cacophony of speculations and rumours, Akira watching from the sidelines as everything unfolded. "Return to your classrooms at once!" the teacher in a suit order once more, students actually listening and the gymnasium hall emptied in a matter of minutes.

"C'mon… let's get back to class," Akira said as he stood up from his place against the wall. Sumire nodded walking beside him back to their respective classes.

Now it was time to get ready to teach some thieves…

Wait… Akira shook his head. There were still the holidays to look towards.

"Good morning Sakura-san," Akira greeted with a small groan as he sat in his customary seat at the counter of Leblanc the following morning in heavy need of his coffee fix. "Can I get something not too rich? And some curry to start off the day?" he ordered.

"Brat, I don't know how you still stay in shape with how much coffee and curry you eat here," Sojiro shook his head at him but nonetheless began to meticulously brew some coffee. "I swear, you're here every other day."

"Like I've said, there's no place near here that sells curry and coffee actually worth their price," Akira grinned at Sojiro. before giving him a stern look. "Also, didn't I tell you to actually call me by my name?"

Sojiro paused in his steps before giving a faux-suffering sigh. "It seemed like you'd forgotten so I was hoping you wouldn't remember… oh well, can't say I'm too surprised you remembered," he muttered before quickly finishing up the coffee and served it.

"Here, see if you can figure out what blend this is. I'm trying a new blend and I figured you're probably the best person to try this on," he placed the cup of coffee and saucer down with a clink in front of Akira.

Akira rose a brow as he looked down at the murky cup of coffee. Taking an experimental sniff he realized it wasn't one that he was all too familiar with. He took an experimental sip before his eyes bulged as he almost spat it back out in surprise but forced down the urge and instead savoured it.

"Well, that's one hell of a reaction if I've ever seen one," Sojiro scratched the back of his head as he watched Akira gulp down the sip before giving him a scathing look.

"You could have at least warned me!" Akira complained as he finally registered exactly what blend he was drinking. He remembered Haru had once given him some when she was experimenting coffee beans and strains, and which type to grow when she opened a café. He looked at the murky brown coffee in an entirely new light. "Since when have you had Black Ivory Coffee beans?" Akira asked Sojiro as he took another whiff of the coffee, savouring the robust scent.

Sojiro almost seemed proud as he pulled out a small bag half the size of a basketball. "You've been single-handedly keeping my business running so I figured why not splurge a bit?" the middle-aged owner grinned, as he placed the small bag in a container and locked it. "Figured you should be the first to try it."

"Thanks… Sojiro," Akira allowed a small smile to grace his features at the gesture.

"No worries. You always end up overpaying so I figured I'd save up here and there and get you something a little special," Sojiro smirked before it dropped slightly as he looked at the ceiling then at his watch.

"It's almost nine… don't tell me she's going to sleep the day away?" Sojiro groused before cupping his hands over his mouth to yell. "Hey, kid, you gonna be up anytime soon?" he yelled, his words causing a smattering of light cursing to come from the attic and the sound of movement following soon after.

Akira could hear as Rem began to get up and get ready for the day. "It's the holidays you know," Akira said as he took a small sip of the stupidly expensive elephant poop coffee, "Couldn't hurt to let her sleep in."

Sojiro shook his head and looked at Akira with lidded eyes. "If I let her sleep in, who knows when she'll wake up? Besides, I'll need some extra hands around the place."

Akira just rose a brow and made a very exaggerated glance around the empty café which was duly ignored by Sojiro as he cupped his hands around his mouth once more. "You don't have plans, do you? Come help me out, instead of sleeping your life away," he said.

After a couple of minutes, Akira saw Rem stumble down the stairs akin to a zombie, dressed in a light blouse with a black jacket over the top, a pair of jeans and calf-high sturdy but feminine boots of her feet. Her hair was in its typical braid but it was more than obvious that she had just woken up. Over her shoulder was a shoulder bag.

"Geez kid, you look like hell," Sojiro commented as he took in Rem's groggy appearance and shook his head. "Pull up a seat, I'll make you some breakfast," he said before making another cup, something that Akira didn't fail to notice as he made some using the same Black Ivory strain he'd served him. Every now and then, he'd move over to the stove and take a look at the curry which was still cooking.

"Morning Amamiya-san," Akira greeted as he looked at his fellow Trickster, grey eyes meeting groggy red.

"M-Morning Kurusu-san…" Rem yawned, barely covering her mouth as she did so before taking a large inhale of the distinct smell of brewed coffee and cooking curry. From her bag, a familiar furry cat with blue-eyes popped it's head out before looking at Akira in surprise.

"Wait… Kurusu-san?!" Rem asked in a panic as she realized that there was someone else in the store. She made a motion to quickly shove Morgana back into her bag but Akira stopped her.

"Don't worry, I don't mind," he said as have moved a hand beneath Morgana's chin and began to lightly scratch him. "I noticed him in class so I don't really mind. He seems well behaved."

"Mmmm just a little higher," Morgana closed his eyes in bliss at the attention he was receiving. Akira gave a small smile as he did just that, Morgana's right ear flopping over as he did so.

"Dammit kid, I told you not to let him out while there are customers," Sojiro gave Rem a stink eye as he served the expensive coffee before sighing as he watched Akira scratch Morgana beneath his chin. "But if Akira's fine with it… then I guess he can come out, but only with him. If it's any other customer, he has to stay upstairs, got it?"

Rem gave him a quick nod of understanding. Satisfied, Sojiro served the coffee but not before giving Rem some instructions. "Don't drink it immediately. Savour it. It's some damn good coffee and I don't want you downing the whole thing in one go," he advised as he moved over to the coffee and gave it a stir.

Rem looked at Sojiro curiously but did as he asked. Akira watched quietly for the next couple of minutes as she savoured it and sipped it, the robust nature of the coffee quickly changing her from a zombie-like state to more of a functioning human being with a slightly messy braid.

He watched as Rem placed the cup down empty and swallowed the coffee before he decided to open his mouth.

"That coffee blend was made with coffee beans cultivated by elephant poop," he said casually drinking from his, taking great amusement as Rem looked at him with dawning horror and began to gag lightly. She gave him and Sojiro a dirty look as they laughed.

"You couldn't have told me earlier?" she hissed as Sojiro gave her a glass of water, drinking the whole thing in one go before glaring petulantly at Akira.

"It's the best coffee in the world, why would I stop you from drinking it?" Akira grinned unabashed at Rem's grimace, still trying to get the thought of elephant poop coffee out of her mind.

Sojiro quirked a brow at her as he placed two plates of curry before the two. "If that's how you're going to act when I give you coffee, I'll make sure to save the good stuff for him," he said bluntly, "Orders up."

"He's a big softie inside, don't worry," Akira whispered exaggeratedly as he accepted the curry, Rem accepting the other while Sojiro shook his head at the two of them.

"Itadakimasu," the two clapped their hands together before they dug into their morning meal.

Sojiro looked at Akira questioningly before looking down at the curry. He stopped for a moment to take into the flavours, before answering Sojiro's unasked question. "Nutmeg… and clove… strange combination outside of garam masala but you made it work somehow," Akira answered before he continued eating.

"You can tell just from tasting it?" Rem asked as she took another bite, this time able to taste the spices Akira had mentioned if she savoured it carefully.

"Akira's been eating here for the past two years," Sojiro shook his head as he began to clean his cooking utensils. "It's become a game between the two of us," he muttered absent-mindedly.

Rem gave Sojiro a strange look as she noticed the tension in Sojiro's body seemingly leak away. She hadn't noticed until now, but his shoulders always seemed to be tight with the exception of when her classmate was around.

Speaking of her classmate.

"How're your injuries, Kurusu-san?" Rem asked as she looked at him. He didn't seem to be all that worse for wear compared to when she'd seen him at the bottom of the school courtyard. Before he had severe bruising and could barely walk without grimacing but over the course of the last few weeks, she'd noticed that he seemed to be perfectly fine.

Akira shrugged. "Healed correctly for the most part but I'm still being advised not to get into any more accidents. Doctor Hisegawa said he'd be frustrated if he saw me in the hospital again anytime this month outside of check-ups," he said as he finished his curry.

He looked at her as he placed his spoon down, "Also you don't need to keep referring to me as Kurusu-san. You can call me Akira if you'd like."

Rem paused for a moment as she considered it. "…So long as you call me Rem," she said eventually. He seemed like a good person so it couldn't hurt. She was slightly surprised that she didn't hear the familiar sound of chains breaking nor a mystical voice in her head but she shrugged it off. Quickly, she finished off her curry with a satisfied sigh.

With food in her stomach and elephant poop coffee in her system, she was ready to face the day and sell some ill-gotten goods. She was quickly stopped by Sojiro.

"Ah-ah, clean up the dishes," Sojiro looked at her while nodding down at the dishes before the tow of them. "You should help out every now and then."

"We do owe it to him…" Akira heard Morgana say from his spot on the chair beside Rem, but refrained from looking. "…We'll just have to wait for the moment on selling the medal. Hurry up and help him out for now."

Rem nodded at Morgana's advice and was more than willing to help out even if he'd hadn't said anything, it would've felt rude of her not to. Sojiro and Rem traded spots, with Rem taking the dishes over to the sink while Sojiro took a seat next to Akira, a hand running over the top of Morgana's head as he passed the cat by.

"Sorry I kinda pressured you into doing this," he apologized to Rem a small smirk on his face.

"Don't worry about it, it's the least I could do," Rem shook her head but the TV blared to life causing the four occupants of the café to look over at the newscaster. Akira watched as the news covered Kamoshida's fall from grace.

"Wait a minute… isn't this Shujin?" Sojiro asked in surprise as he recognized the teacher on the news.

"Mhmm…" Akira nodded as they continued to watch. "Turns out he was the one that had spread the information about Rem's criminal records," Akira said his eyes trained on the television atop the chest fridge.

Rem narrowed her eyes as she noticed Sojiro stunned. "He's also the reason why you were injured. He sexually assaulted Shiho and caused her to attempt suicide," she deflected.

Sojiro's eyes moved between the two of them before letting out a sigh. "So, this guy's the reason behind everything that's been happening at Shujin, huh?" he muttered. "Well, I'm glad that he's in police custody now…"

He looked up at Rem. "I know things might be getting rough a school, but keep your head down, alright?" he said sternly, acting as a father-figure.

"Don't worry, she hasn't done anything," Akira defended her, "Outside of Kamoshida stirring trouble she's been keeping herself out of the way. She's even made a few friends."

Rem looked at Akira, shocked that he'd bothered defending her. Sojiro was surprised as well. "You know, now that I think about it, you've never had a problem with her even with all the rumours that've been going around… why is that?" Sojiro asked curiously, scratching at the beard on his chin.

Rem and Sojiro watched as Akira shrugged. "Well… you've always had a good head on your shoulders. If you haven't kicked her out yet, I figured I'd make my own decisions rather than listening to what others say."

Sojiro seemed taken aback but gave him a warm smile, "A good head on my shoulders huh…." he muttered before looking to Rem. "There aren't many at your school that actually use their brains… if you can find friends like him, keep them close, you hear?" he said quirking his head to Akira as he gave her some solid advice.

Rem nodded quietly, looking at Akira in a new light.

"Hey, keep those hands moving!" Sojiro barked lightly as she slowed down. "I have some other things I'll need your help with later."