Chapter 39: Red Handed

{R}

"Well even if he did, what good would the police do? If they could've helped 'em, we wouldn't be doin' stuff as the Phantom Thieves in the first place!"

"Oh yeah, did you find out if it's true, Akira?"

"Yeah, pretty much. And they're probably serious about it too since they're sparing nothing for it for once."

"Is it okay to keep going then...? Are we really going to be okay?"

Shit shit shit shit shit.

With that, the recording ended, and Niijima said,

"What could all this mean?"

And Ren tried to formulate how to get out of this.

The only bright side was that Aki had Mona in her lap, which meant she was less likely to rage when doing so would jostle the not-cat, so he had the time to decide as Niijima went on.

"Was it blackmail? Hypnosis? How do you corner someone into making them confess? ...Won't you tell me how you do it?"

He glanced at Aki and she met it. Even without their Confidant, her glower tipped off how much she wanted to snap at the girl. But he shook his head just the slightest and his sister sighed discretely, returning her heated gaze on Niijima along with him. He had to figure out a way to get out of this. Even if she couldn't prove that they were the Phantom Thieves, with the recording and their "criminal record", they could easily get another false charge, and he doubted they would get a third chance at another school, if they were even put on probation at all.

As if to prove that point, Niijima said,

"Not going to say anything? Then I will. I believe you four are the Phantom Thieves. What would the police think if they heard the recording?"

Ren cursed while Aki growled.

They would definitely get another false record from the police...and though they had Akechi as a friend among them, Ren couldn't take the chance, not when he wasn't the only one in danger, and Akechi was only one person against an entire system should he help them.

Yet still, when she said, "If you confess the truth, I don't mind leaving this between the three of us. You'll tell me...won't you?"

So Ren said the only thing he thought could work: the truth.

"We go inside their hearts and steal their Treasure."

Niijima glowered. "Don't you remember what I said about horseplay?"

Ren returned it with a blank stare. "Don't you remember what I said about being nice to us first?"

To his satisfaction, the student council president flinched at his words. But before either of them could start poking at each other's defenses, his phone rang.

"Go ahead," Niijima said when it did.

Ren resisted the urge to glare as he schooled his expression.

If she thought that would work, she had another thing coming. So to prove the point they were "innocent", when Ren answered the call, he put it on loud speaker.

"Hey, where you at? I was wonderin' if we could do another Phantom Thieves meetin' in our usual spot."

Instant regret.

"RYUJI!"

"Ow! What was that for?!"

Niijima chuckled. "As loud as always...but his timing's perfect."

"Uh...dude? Was that Akira? She got your your phone or something?"

Now Ren glared as he said to his phone, "Traitor."

"Huh?! What the hell man?!"

"I hope you like your coffee black."

He hung up on the faux-blond, who had stuttered into the call up to the last second.

There went their chance at annoying Niijima with the unbelievable truth to the point of making her give up.

He made a mental note to decide on when to serve Ryuji black coffee.

"Mind if I make Ryuji my guinea pig for my coffee tests?"

"Yes." That was even better.

"I'd like everyone else to hear this as well," the bothersome girl said. "Won't you take me to your friends?"

Once again, he and Aki shared a look, sharing worry and annoyance, before they sighed in resignation.

"Very well," he said as he looked back at Niijima.

Though for a brief moment, Ren thought he saw...resentment in her eyes before it was masked and she said,

"Then let's go."

With that, Aki called Ryuji while he did the same with the rest of the team. As they asked, their friends were waiting in their HQ at the Teikyu Building accessway.

"Wh-What the hell?!" Ryuji said when Ren and Aki arrived.

"What's the meaning of this?" Ann said.

"I had them lead me here," Niijima said.

"Blame Ryuji."

"The traitor."

"What?! How'd I—" Ryuji then flinched in realization. "—oh."

"Yeah. 'Oh'."

"You're all here, yes? The Amamiya siblings, Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki...and you're Kitagawa-kun, correct? Second year at Kosei High and former pupil of Madarame?"

"Yeah, we're all here, Miss Prez, so what now?" Aki said, pleasantries dispensed into the trash burner.

"Simple. I wanted to ask you all about this," Niijima said, playing the recording again; taunting him again.

It stung even more when she called out how the victims of two high profile targets of the Phantom Thieves meeting up "by chance" would raise suspicions.

Exactly as Mona warned them.

It was ironic that it actually was chance that they met Yusuke, not that it mattered now.

"What do you intend to do?" the artist said, voicing their thoughts. "Have you come just to say you're going to report us?"

Then Ann said with a glare, "I bet someone told you to find us. The school can't have any ties to criminals after all!"

Aki scoffed. "Yeah. Two times is bad enough. Three strikes and you're out."

"I feel sorry for you..."

But instead of standing firm, Niijima looked away in shame and said,

"I...I know..."

Ren stared.

"Huh?"

"Wait what?" said his sister.

And then Niijima's sternness returned, but there seemed to be a fire in her eyes this time when she said,

"That's why I would like to verify the justice you speak of."

"...What?" Ryuji said, confussd.

"I'm the only one who knows about you. If you prove what you're doing is just, I'll erase this."

That...was unexpected. But he would take the chance...even if it ended up being unfair.

It wouldn't be the first time they had to deal with stacked odds.

"How do you want us to prove it?" he said.

"There is someone whose heart I'd like you to change."

"Who?"

"So you're not saying it's impossible."

Aki scoffed again. "We already told you how we do it, Miss Prez. So just tell us."

"Wait what? What do you mean you told her?!"

Ryuji was ignored as Ren said,

"Yes. Go on and tell us."

"I cannot tell you just yet."

"What?! Why—"

Ren put a hand on his sister's shoulder and she stopped.

"I cannot tell you just yet. Let's continue our talk after school tomorrow. On the roof." Then she said, "Assuming you accept my offer, that is."

And she left without waiting for any response.

That was all well and good for Ren. After that debacle, he had the team head for the diner to discuss their decision, explaining the events leading to their discovery as well as why he and Aki wished to take on the offer. So it came as no surprise their friends agreed with them, though Yusuke would have to listen in to their meeting with Niijima tomorrow through a video call.

"What is she scheming...?" Ann couldn't help but wonder.

Ren hoped it meant that the student council president wasn't as bad as they thought.

But he wouldn't surprised if his hope was disappointed.

So he didn't make mention of it.

(A)

Other than a brief run-in before their train arrived with that reporter she had forgotten about until then, Akira barely paid attention to anything, even at school, their current predicament annoying her. They had no other choice but to follow it and hope for the best. She had been tempted to ask Akechi for help, but that would tip him off for sure of their identities, so that idea was out as soon as it came. The only thing she did during the anxious wait for school to end was tell Haru-senpai that they'd be using the roof while giving her usual haul of bottle caps. When Akira did though, she said,

"Oh. Niijima-san told me she was going to be using the roof as well. You might want to ask her about it."

That relieved her somewhat. They wouldn't inconvenience Haru-senpai.

So she just smiled and said, "Nah, it's fine. She wanted to talk to us here. That's prolly why she told ya."

Before her senpai could voice the concern Akira could see in her expression, she left.

Now here she was, back on the roof, with her brother, two of their friends in this school, and Yusuke through her phone.

"I was thinking you might not show," Niijima said.

"I was thinking you'd know better, 'grandmaster' Miss Prez," Akira said, glowering as she took a seat and held her phone in an optimal position for Yusuke.

"So, whose heart do you want us to change?" Ann said.

"We reserve the right to refuse if they don't deserve it," Ren said.

"You're not exactly in a position to refuse."

"And you said you wanted us to prove our justice. So if we don't think it's just, we won't do it."

"... Very well."

Despite that, Niijima hesitated for a while. For a moment, Akira thought she would back out. But then she said,

"A mafia boss."

"Mafia?!"

"What're you talkin' about?!"

That was simply how this group was known as, as Niijima went on to explain. It's the group that was the cause of the rise in phishing scams, and once they had a target locked, they would stop at nothing to get them to comply, even going so far as to threaten family. ...and their primary targets were teenagers, including some students from their own school.

"No!"

"How revolting..."

Akira felt a jolt of indignation from her brother as he set his jaw, not that she was any better with her swearing storm in her mind, her body trembling from withheld rage.

Then Ryuji said, "What's their boss's name?"

At that point, Niijima schooled her expression. Unfortunately, she answered, "Nobody knows."

Great.

"The victims are being threatened not to testify, so even the police can't get a grasp on the situation."

Great.

"That's where you want us to start?!"

"You should be able to pull it off...if you're really the righteous Phantom Thieves."

Akira was about to retort to that, when Niijima then said,

"Or is Akechi-kun correct when he says you act without justice but pretend that you don't?"

Akira snarled.

"Oh what, like you're any better?!" she said, venom laden.

To her delight, Niijima was startled, though it seemed Ryuji and Ann were as well, but she didn't care about that right now.

Right now she had to get one thing straight.

"You think Akechi's right?! Well, at least he decided that on his fucking own 'cause he thinks it's the right thing to do! What about you?! You doin' this 'cause you think it's right?! Or are you just doin' this just 'cause that's what someone else told you is right?!"

Silence reigned as everyone stared at each other.

Akira tensed and looked away, embarrassed.

Damn it. Her temper went wild...again.

All but her brother were stunned by her outburst.

She was glad at how unfazed Yusuke was in many situations.

"So do you have any information at all?"

And everyone was broken out of their daze.

"Their main hub of activity is in Shibuya. That's all the information I have."

"For real...?"

"You have two weeks."

"Two weeks?!"

"Once that has passed, I'll submit all the evidence I have to the police and to the school."

Ryuji grumbled.

"I hope you don't let me down."

With that, she left them to their own devices.

Damn it.

On the bright side, there was little discussion over whether they would take on the job despite their lack of information. As Ryuji put it, it was the perfect chance to show Akechi they truly meant well. And they didn't exactly have much time either. It took them about that long to complete the Palaces so far.

Ryuji was appointed on online intel gathering along with Mishima, once they informed their publicist of it. Yusuke would inquire around Kosei. Ann would specifically ask girls, both from Shujin and from work, that she knew frequented Shibuya while he and his sister would ask around in general at school. It wasn't optimal, but that was what they had to deal with in the end.

Just as they went their seperate ways and headed to the train though...

"Could I have a moment?" Yusuke said.

"Hmm? What's up?"

"Well it's... I had the yearning to see the 'Sayuri'. So if you are heading homeward, I'll accompany you."

Akira chuckled. "Yeah sure. We don't mind."

Ren smiled and nodded. "In fact, you don't even have to ask. You're always welcome."

So they had the artist as a tagalong. But after they arrived and went about their business, they noticed that, despite the artist having been happy when he saw the "Sayuri", he seemed troubled. As such, after they changed to their homewear, they both came up to him and asked.

"Somethin' wrong, Yusuke?"

"Is there anything we can do to help?"

"Ah, well..."

"C'mon, you can talk to us, right?"

Her brother nodded.

Still, Yusuke hesitated. "We're in the middle of an important operation. It hardly seems the time to discuss personal matters unrelated to it..."

"Geez, you're like Big Bro...if something's botherin' you, we should try to deal with it as soon as possible."

"Aki..."

She grinned shamelessly at him.

Ren sighed but nonetheless said, "Yes, I agree."

Yusuke stared at them for a bit before he sighed.

"Very well." He took a deep breath then said, "I fear I find myself in quite a horrible mess!"

"What?! What kinda mess?!"

"Throughout my artistic career, there have been moments where I've struggled with particular motifs or techniques... And yet now when I find myself in a similar situation, the more I try to escape, the worse it gets... It seems I am trapped in what we in the art world call a 'slump'."

Akira stared.

Ren stared.

Oh.

Now it made sense.

Still, as annoyed as she was for Yusuke almost giving them a heart attack, it was understandable once he explained himself. Yes, his scholarship was under threat if he didn't produce any art, but more than that...he hated it was the impetus that moved his brush now, not the beauty he strove for, and still did.

"To be honest, I don't if I can even call myself an artist anymore..."

"Don't be so hard on yourself..."

"Yeah. You still care, right? You're just stuck in a slump."

"Ah... My apologies. It seems I got somewhat carried away there..."

"You think?"

Her brother chuckled.

The blue haired boy shook his head. "But...I cannot accept this lack of purpose in my work," he said. "That is why I am so upset with my own indecision. Such a vague ambition is, in essence, a sin of sorts..."

"Uh...? Why?" Akira said, Ren sharing her confused look.

"It's just a slump," her brother said, reminding Yusuke once again. "You can't just let that stop you from making more art. That's your dream."

"That... Yes, I suppose letting my young career end here would be even more sinful... Especially in the wake of Madarame's efforts..."

They were silent.

She was thankful Yusuke was still up for conversation.

"I only wish to create a work I can be proud of..." he said. "Ren; Akira. Just look at the 'Sayuri'."

They did. And it was still as beautiful and heartwarming as last time.

"Her incandescent figure, alluring gaze... That is the meaning of pure beauty!"

Well, Akira wouldn't really call her "alluring", if anything she would call it "tender" or "soft", but art was subjective, and Yusuke was still going on, so she kept quiet.

"Yet no matter how hard I replicate it, an elegance so sweet remains elusive to me!"

"Then don't replicate it," Ren said.

That caught the bemoaning artist's interest.

"Your mother made that with all her heart. That just means you have to make something with all your heart too."

"Ah, I see... That hasn't occured to me. But...what, then, is the human heart? How does it bring forth such beauty?" he said. "I must understand it! ...to be perfectly frank, I am unsure of how to do so."

"Then I'll help," Ren said.

"Me too," she said.

"You would? Wonderful!"

"Ha ha! You should know by now we've got your back."

Ren smiled and nodded.

"Still, I am truly grateful. My art teacher hasn't noticed any drastic changes in my art so far, but I cannot hide forever. Impurity of heart will undoubtedly seep onto my canvas."

"Hmmm... Maybe we can ask Dad on tips to get out of a slump."

"Ah, yes, your father is an artist of his own kind as well... If your father is willing, then I would appreciate it too."

"All right! See? That wasn't so hard, right?" Akira said as she glanced at her brother with a smirk.

Ren rolled his eyes. "Ha ha. Very funny."

"Well...I must go now. My curfew approaches."

"You got change for the train?" Ren said.

The struggling artist smiled. "Yes. Thankfully. I shall see you tomorrow."

{R}

After a bit of discussion, they decided that he would call Dad about it. And since they had the time, and the sooner Yusuke's slump was resolved the better, Ren dialed his father's number while Aki was getting ready for bed.

"Hey Ren," Dad said, cheerful but with a hint of concern. "Is something wrong?"

"Not with me, or Aki. A friend of ours."

"Oh? What's the problem then?"

Ren told him about Yusuke's art slump, his reasons for his dissatisfaction with himself, and their general idea at the moment for how to tackle it.

"Ah...I see...Kitagawa-kun... Hmm... By any chance...did anything happen to him recently? Any drastic changes in his life?"

Ren was startled. How did...? He was pulled from his train of thought when his father chuckled.

"Just a hunch. You don't have to tell me what exactly happened to him, but, well...he wants to get out of his slump, right?"

"Yes."

"And did it start not long after that drastic change?"

Ren paused.

"Yes..."

"I'm sorry, Ren, but none of the usual stuff I'd suggest to get out of a slump, art or writing, isn't going to work, or at least work well I feel. He's...going to need to sort out his own feelings first."

"Sort out his feelings...?"

Ren could practically hear Dad's sad smile. "I...remember when I was still with your mother. I could barely write anything and anything I did write, I hated. But since I was busy taking care of you, I didn't care that I was having trouble with that. When we divorced, the thought maybe I would get my spark back started coming up. But even after that, I was still having trouble."

Ren hummed in acknowledgement.

"Now, I still had you, and then Shiori and Akira to take of, so I still put it off to the side. I didn't feel like writing anymore. But do you know what changed my mind?"

Ren smiled. "Is it Mama?"

Dad laughed. "Yes, it is. She saw my copies of my accepted scripts and asked about it. We talked for a while until we had to go back to taking care of you two. But after that, she would read the scripts and we would talk about them. It wasn't long until I started writing again. I didn't realize why that happened then, but I do now."

"What was it?"

"I wasn't focusing on the negative memories I came to have from trying to write during the last years of staying with your mother."

Dad...

"Now, of course, I don't think that method is going to work with your friend, but my point still stands. I wasn't in a good state of mind for a while. And being in that state either leads to the most wonderful art...or the barest of creations. So just spend time with him. And if it's anything serious, maybe try to see if that counselor of yours can see him. He seemed good with how you talked about him."

"Thank you, Dad. Good night. See you Saturday?"

"Of course. And you're welcome, Ren. Good night to you too. Say the same to your sister for me."

Author's Notes: Fun fact, I checked the Japanese audio to see if the "mafia boss" line is a localization or not. It's not. Makoto really just says "mafia boss".

Second fun fact, I didn't plan on Souichirou to appear in this chapter, but, perhaps fittingly enough, I had a spark of inspiration. So have more insight and backstory to Ren and Akira's dad! And a little of their mom!