7/16
Kyoko was relieved to finally see the end of three straight days of nothing but exams. With the week ending along with them, she rose from her seat upon the ringing of the bell and made her way out the classroom door and into the hallway. She'd felt confident she'd aced them and kept her GPA up as she had in her hold school, giving her a glimmer of hope that maybe the students would finally stop acting so shocked whenever she answered a question right.
A conversation outside the class, however, that the young detective could overhear, suggested some others weren't nearly so sure of themselves.
"My parents are gonna kill me!" a languid girl wept. "There was just so much stuff on the exam, I didn't have time to study for everything! I probably could have managed with another week!"
Kyoko cocked an eyebrow as she paused in the hallway. She'd gotten through just fine, from what she could tell. It just seemed like an excuse for the most part.
"An extra week?" the girl's friend asked. "The only people who get that kinda cushy treatment are the honor students like that Yoshizawa girl!"
"What? They really do that?" the other girl asked, drying her tears but looking no less indignant.
"Yeah, I heard they moved her exam period!" her friend sneered. "Must be nice, getting perks like that! Honestly, though, I don't think it's being on the honor roll that gets their sympathy..."
"What do you mean?" the first girl asked as Kyoko slowly, and carefully moved herself closer for anything that may have been of worth about investigating Kasumi.
"Well, I heard a rumor she hasn't been the same since some death in the family a while ago before she came here, but don'cha think enough time's gone by to get over that already?" the second girl asked.
Kyoko blinked, curious, now.
"I dunno, I mean I'm kinda jealous about the special treatment but... is that really something you should go and say to someone?" the first girl asked, sounding unsure.
"Ah! Kirigiri-san! I'm glad you're still here!" Kyoko paused, and turned to see Dr. Maruki had approached her while she'd been eavesdropping. "Congratulations on surviving finals. Today was the last day, wasn't it?"
"It was, yes," Kyoko asked, briefly glancing over at the two girls who had decided to take their conversation with them elsewhere. "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you happened to have some free time right now?" the doctor asked, scratching the back of his head and giving an apologetic smile. "There was something I'd like to discuss, if it's alright with you. It'd just take a moment."
Kyoko regarded the man with a curious look as she'd thought about what the girls had said earlier, and her assertions about Kasumi having been getting counseling from the doctor. It was unlikely he'd breach patient-counselor confidentiality, or anything that'd risk it, but she decided to humor him regardless. "I'm not doing anything, no," she said.
"Thanks, I really appreciate that!" Maruki said, smiling in relief. "I imagine you're a bit exhausted from so many exams, but I promise I'll make it quick!"
The young detective followed the doctor to the nurse's office, wondering what was on the man's mind...
"That walk through the vestibule certainly proved it's heated up quite a bit now that rainy season's passed, huh? I just know my electric bill's gonna start climbing, soon!" Maruki said, chuckling and motioning for Kyoko to take a seat. "Since I brought you out here, would you like a juice? Snacks?"
"Juice, please," Kyoko said.
"Coming right up!" Maruki went over to the mini-fridge, taking out a juice box for her before sitting down in his chair. "...Well, anyway, as I'd mentioned, there was something I wanted to discuss, a matter which I'd like your opinion on."
"What do you mean?" Kyoko asked, taking a sip of her drink.
"Well, it's... something that I've had on my mind lately, and I wanted your take on it," the doctor explained. "Now... this is all purely hypothetical, but... imagine there's someone for whom you have high expectations, and they're trying their absolute hardest to meet said expectations..."
Kyoko's brow furrowed slightly as it brought thoughts of back home, but did not speak her thoughts. "...Go on."
"Well," Maruki said, frowning a little as he noticed Kyoko's look. "Let's also say, this person receives a great deal of what many may consider special treatment from people so they can perform to the best of their abilities. So... my question is, what do you think these people would do, if these expectations leveled on this person aren't met?"
Kyoko placed her juice box down, folding her arms and crossing her legs as she looked over at the doctor, her silent gaze all the response he got from her before she spoke again. "I imagine they'd turn on that person immediately," she said.
"I agree, there's a good chance of that. No matter what happens, I doubt it'd be a pretty sight," Maruki replied, his frown deepening and becoming more crestfallen. The young detective already suspected who he'd been referring to, with the conversation from earlier. It stood to reason, though, as Kasumi's doctor, it'd make sense Maruki would already be aware of the apparent privileges she was getting, either from faculty or if Kasumi herself were telling him.
"I guess that brings me to the point of this," he continued. "When you work as a counselor, you always think, "I have to help this person so their heart doesn't break," but obviously, no matter who you are, that's a task easier said then done. This world, unfortunately, is a callous one, no matter how much positivity or dedication a person has, and that can make life really feel like an unending uphill battle... and for that reason, you may be surprised how much even just a bit of negative influence from their peers can mess with a person's head."
Kyoko looked down at her juicebox a moment, unsure how to respond. She couldn't argue with that statement, especially with the kinds of people the Phantom Thieves had found themselves against. Memories also came of her conversation with Akechi and Kasumi, and the sense of abrasiveness when her skills and achievements, or the methods used to ensure she'd have them were called into question, yet now she could see where Maruki was coming from, and her own feelings of frustration that she couldn't help but feel resonated with what had been said back then regarding how she'd been raised which even her fellow Thieves had expressed unease over.
"Perhaps," she said simply.
"...Well, I can tell you this, every time I'm confronted with such a situation, I can't help but grasp the limitations of therapy as a profession," Maruki replied.
"I've had more then my share of experiences to remind me reality is far from fair," Kyoko replied. "As a detective, crime or injustice is something that can only be responded to, not avoided entirely. But if I don't keep trying, then I can't make any difference at all."
"Oh, I hope you don't misunderstand, I'm not... sick of this job or saying we shouldn't, or anything like that!" Maruki said with a reassuring smile, sitting back in his chair and resting his hands on his lap. "What I meant wasn't to get overly analytical, but rather... if we truly want to help people stuck in such a predicament as that, we require a more fundamental solution."
"How, though?" the young detective asked, sipping her drink.
"Well... to be honest nothing comes to mind," Maruki replied. "...Though, if one were to be hypothetical, based on what we've seen, what if we had the Phantom Thieves change our hearts?"
Kyoko blinked, having not expected such a suggestion from him.
"I suppose what I mean is, what if they're able to shift our feelings, those of us on the verge of losing all the hope we have left to an unfair reality? I believe that would ultimately be for the positive," Maruki explained. "We've seen truly wicked people have their hearts changed, but what if the same could be said for those whose hearts aren't ones filled with malice, but rather... overwhelming pain or trauma? A heart teetering towards despair, too clouded by pain to escape it, could such an ability be used to help clear that murk away, so they could find hope again and recover in a healthy way?"
"You're implying whatever this talent these Phantom Thieves of Hearts seem to have could be used to cure people of debilitating psychological trauma?" Kyoko asked.
"It's merely... something I've wondered. I guess I was thinking out loud for a moment," Maruki said. "I suppose as a doctor and a counselor, the thought was bound to cross my mind, assuming this ability to change hearts is something outside conventional methods. That said, though, the notion's made the conversation enlightening, I think. For now, though, we do the best we can to inspire and guide people in pain towards hope again with what we have."
"Hm," Kyoko glanced down at her own lap a moment.
"Oh?" Maruki looked over at her in curiosity. "If you don't mind my saying, you look like there's something on your mind. If you feel comfortable sharing, it's what I'm here for, you know..."
Kyoko closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she opened them again, staring down at her lap as her gloved hands rest upon it. "A lot of things," she said, as though she felt a hand grip her throat she struggled to get the words out to stop her.
"Would you like some counseling?" Maruki asked. "If you feel a need to get some things off your chest, I believe if anything I owe you as much for hearing me out earlier."
Kyoko gave a faint, but unsure smile as she took a breath. "I..." Her gaze flickered a moment. "...would appreciate it."
Maruki nodded, getting a notepad and pen. "Well, I'm all ears, so feel free to start when you're ready."
Kyoko gave a nod, her gaze not meeting him as she thought about something that'd been on her mind for a while, moving more and more towards the front the more time went by.
"...You know I'm the heir to the Kirigiri family's legacy as a detective," she began. "My grandfather trained me for it ever since childhood."
Maruki gave a nod, writing it down. "You were very young, then, weren't you? Is that something you wanted to discuss?"
Kyoko shook her head. "Not entirely. My grandfather raised me learning everything he knew of being a detective first and above everything else. Detective work came first and was my world. I..." She paused. "...I didn't have friends as he said they'd distract me, I was required to always tell him where I was at any given time and could only go where he permitted to unless I was on a case, and despite his wealth he only gave essential furnishings, feeling if I were living too comfortably my skills would wane..."
Kyoko's gaze met Maruki.
"...I owe everything I am to him, but now, being away from him this long, him having all but washed his hands of me entirely for shaming him from the trouble I got into... I realize how frustrating it was... living with him..."
"You felt smothered?" Maruki asked.
"..." Kyoko remained silent, not wishing to press a worse issue of why she'd been forbidden to see her mother besides the priority of detective work, and a growing, sickening suspicion of why, though she wouldn't dare defy Fuhito Kirigiri's orders and expectations with everything she owed him. She'd never agreed with it, but knew better then to say it aloud, yet more and more she found it harder to brush away the why he'd denied such a small request.
Thoughts of what Ann had asked, what Makoto had said.
"So, before coming here, you didn't have a support circle of peers?" Maruki asked, deciding to turn the subject as he noticed Kyoko's discomfort on the matter regarding her grandfather directly.
"...There was one. Just one," she said after a brief silence. Kyoko had already opened the metaphorical can of worms with accepting a counseling session, she decided, she may as well give the man something. "...Her name was Yui Samidare. She was... like I am, a prodigy detective for her age. She chose to reject going to Hope's Peak and instead continue to operate actively to use her skills to help others. She was the only person my grandfather permitted me to be friends with, if only because he expected I learn enough I could one day truly surpass her entirely once I came of age and prove I was superior to one scouted by Hope's Peak."
Maruki frowned a little. "That doesn't sound like a particularly healthy way to encourage a friendship. If I may, it sounds more like an attempt to spark a rivalry. While competition does help people strive to achieve expectations, there is also the kind that can cause animosity. Did you go along with that, though?"
She took a breath, shaking her head as she regained her impassive mask. "I didn't need a rival. The criminals I went after were my rivals," she said. "...And I bested them. A detective's skill and worth are determined by worthy foes."
"...You wanted a friend, didn't you?" Maruki asked, taking notes.
Kyoko went into a silent glare again.
"...My apologies, we don't have to proceed any further if you'd rather not," Maruki said, his tone concerned but willing to comply if Kyoko chose to end the session here and now.
"...I did," she said.
"From the sound of it, the life you had prior sounds... rather lonely, honestly," Maruki said. "It's perfectly normal to want someone to connect with on that level as a peer, and also quite healthy. It's why schools have clubs, after all!" he said with a reassuring smile.
"My grandfather forbid me from being in any," Kyoko replied flatly, arms folded as she sat back.
"And how was your relationship with Samidare-san, then?" Maruki asked.
"...It's a very long story," Kyoko explained. "...To simplify, we grew close, like sisters, almost, even with our differences. Still... fate had other ideas."
Maruki frowned with concern. "I take it something happened?"
Kyoko was silent for a moment again, her face as stoic and unreadable as ever. "...Yes..."
Maruki set his notepad down. "If you don't feel comfortable continuing..."
Kyoko paused again, as if considering that. Her gaze flickered down to her gloved hands. Yes, she thought, ...Something did happen. Why I wear this gloves reminds me of that every day and will for the rest of my life...
The words repeated in her head but she couldn't open her mouth to speak, her neutral expression remaining glued in place by sheer willpower, the same willpower acting against her now to tell the story of that evening. A moment passed before, at long last, she willed herself to finally find her words.
"...As I said, it's a very long story. To make it brief, a time I should have trusted her more then ever, I didn't... then when we'd found the real culprit, there was an explosion. I was able to get her out..." Kyoko's right hand clenched, she ignored the pain it brought, a pain that existed because of her attempts to get to her. "...But I couldn't save her. After digging her out, I'd fainted. It was very cold, she used her body to shield me, but she died before we were found."
"Kirigiri... I'm so sorry," Maruki said, deep concern and sympathy on his face.
Kyoko shook her head, her neutral expression returning as she brushed back her hair. "There's nothing to apologize for. Still..." She looked down at her lap again. "I wonder sometimes, if I'm honoring what she'd said to me in the letter she'd left before that happened..."
"I see, are you comfortable telling me about it?" Maruki asked, taking notes.
"She felt..." Kyoko paused again, her impassive look briefly faltering from the memory of that moment when she'd read it, and the tears she remembered it brought her. She took another breath. "...Like I dealt with too much. She'd hoped to change that and take some of that weight off my shoulders, and... not to push myself or... think I had to do things alone."
Maruki nodded understandingly. "Kirigiri, do you think maybe this is why you've isolated yourself of your own accord as well up until coming here?" He offered a comforting smile. "From the sound of it, I don't think she'd have wanted that of you, and it sounds like you meant a lot to her."
Kyoko gave no response, her face neutral as she silently let her gaze drift to the table, where her empty drink box sat for a moment. "...Perhaps. I've been changing that, though, haven't I?"
"I'd say you have. For that, I think, based on what you've told me, she would be happy for you!" Maruki offered.
Kyoko gave a faint, though still melancholy smile. "...Perhaps." she didn't want to say it was at least in part because of Igor's intervention, or the fact her grandfather wasn't around to decide who she associated with and when, but her Phantom Thieves, and the people she'd connected with, they had mattered to her. "...I can already tell I'm not the same as I was when I first came here."
"Well, I'm very glad you see that!" Maruki said with a warm chuckle. "Did it help getting that off your chest as well? Maybe help put things in perspective for you some more?"
Kyoko brushed back her hair. "...It may have," she said. "As much as there'll always be a part of me that wishes she'd survived and we could have made up, I've accepted the past can't be changed," She tightened one gloved hand over the other on her lap. "...Including the mistake I made that caused it."
"Still," Maruki said. "It sounds like you're moving forward and have a solid support group. I'd call that progress and what she had in mind for you. I'm sure in time if you keep at the path you're on, things will get better for you."
Kyoko gave a small smile again. "I appreciate your encouraging words, doctor," she said, rising from her seat and taking up her bag.
"Here," Maruki took up the bowl and offered it out to Kyoko, several wrapped cookies within. "Take as many as you want. I could tell sharing that part of your life wasn't easy. Just keep remembering you have people who'll gladly listen when you need to get something out. Stoicism may be a valuable discipline, but it isn't mandatory for every situation. In the meantime, vacation's coming up soon, so that's something to look forward to!"
Kyoko was silent a moment, giving a small nod as she took a few with her and headed back out into the hallway, feeling a small amount of relief in herself she'd not felt in some time.
Big Sis, she thought, pausing as she took a moment to lean against the nearest wall, sighing and relieved none of the other students were around to see her. ...Have I finally been doing what you'd hoped I'd do?
"Hey, guess you're done?" Morgana asked as he trotted over from his hiding place.
Kyoko nodded taking out her phone and sending a message to everyone else.
Ann let out a deep, audible sigh of exhaustion as she leaned against the railing of the accessway the Phantom Thieves had deemed their hideout. "Finally! Exams are over at long last!"
"Tell me about it! I can finally get back to actually sleepin' in peace!" Ryuji grumbled, resting his chest on the railing and looking equally burned out.
"I'm impressed," Makoto said, standing near Ann and giving both an approving smile as she brushed back her hair. "I trust it means you've been studying pretty hard if it kept you up all night."
"Nah, kinda got sidetracked and just stayed up playin' videogames. Slackin' off is just too much fun," Ryuji muttered.
"I know, right?!" Ann said, perking up, eyes wide. "I actually kept cleaning my room instead of studying!" The blonde blinked as a realization came over her. "...It might actually be too clean, now!" she whispered, stunned.
"You two truly are perfect exemplars of what escapism can mean," Yusuke remarked from his spot at the opposite end of the group, his back to the windows leaning against the railing.
"...And I can only imagine what end result will come of it," Makoto sighed.
"Hey, c'mon! Who cares about that stuff, anymore? It's over with!" Ryuji protested, though his frustration quickly subsided with what came to his mind next. "...What really matters now, is the Phantom Thieves popularity ever since Kaneshiro got taken down! Ain't it amazin'?"
"It kinda feels like our time's finally here!" Ann said, pleasantly surprised as she scrolled through the Phansite on her phone.
"I've heard in the halls at school people are excitedly speculating who our next target would be. We'll certainly have to choose carefully," Yusuke interjected.
"No need to hurry," Makoto replied. "We just stopped a dangerous gang boss and thwarted an operation that was hurting the entire Shibuya area and people who come through. We should spend some time thinking it over, first."
"Not to mention thanks to that success, we got a celebration party to think of!" Ryuji declared with a grin. "Plus, there's the Fireworks Festival on the 18th! We can all meet up in Shibuya, say around 5PM sound good?"
"Sure are on top of these kinds of things, Ryuji," Morgana snarked.
"Hey, all work and no play and all that stuff!" Ann giggled. "How about you, Kyoko? You've been kinda quiet ever since you got here."
Kyoko glanced over at the other girl, having, like Yusuke, been leaning her back against the railing, arms folded and staring off in thought over her confession she'd given during the afternoon's earlier counseling. The blonde taking her attention, however, had made her look go from neutral to curious. "Makoto's right not to take studies so lightly, it'll draw more attention, but that said, I see nothing wrong in going. It'll be a new experience for me."
"Yeah! That's the spirit!" Ryuji cheered.
"As for our next target, we should lay low until the excitement cools down," the young detective explained. "If we get requests for Mementos like that girl in school, that's fine. But for a larger target, Kaneshiro was a small-time crook with a great deal of influence due to some powerful benefactors..."
"What're you getting at?" Ann asked.
"...If someone like Kaneshiro had powerful people protecting him, whoever these people are, this black-masked Metaverse intruder is connected to them," Kyoko explained. "Madarame, whose art scandals were a one-man operation, has encountered this individual as well, which makes me curious of who this "benefactor" this enemy who can enter the Metaverse works for and who else they may be connected to and why. The bigger our major targets become, this means we may find ourselves targeting someone this person may also be connected to."
"You're saying it may be someone this "benefactor" may be a little less willing to cut loose like Kaneshiro if we target them?" Yusuke asked.
Kyoko nodded. "Exactly. Which means we may end up confronted by this person. I've mentioned these incidents went on for about two years already. If they're connected to this intruder, we can not underestimate him if that happens."
"I see your point," Ann said, uneasy. "Maybe, yeah, it is best we wait till everything cools down."
"Normally I hate waitin' around, but hey, so long as we got fun stuff to look forward to, I can handle it this time!" Ryuji said with a smirk. "...Such as, oh, say, the summer festival? I kinda spaced out about it till now, but it's tomorrow! Kababs! Grilled meat!"
"Hm, I think I heard students talking about that at school during exam week," Kyoko remarked, putting her hand to her chin as she recalled the gossip chains of excitement and anticipation over summer break coming up soon.
"So, Kyoko, wanna check it out? It'll be like a prelude to the Fireworks Festival! Lotsa tasty food, too!" Ryuji crooned, his smirk now a wide, eager grin as if he were already imagining sampling said food.
"You know what? How about we all go and check it out?" Ann asked.
"Hm, the more the merrier, they say," Yusuke said, folding his arms and smiling in approval. "I believe we have some extra money from trading in some of the objects we found in Mementos on our last trip, correct? I'd like to sample the foods, myself."
"I wanna try some of this stuff out, too! I'll even skip breakfast for this!" Morgana said with an excited meow.
"Well, I guess it's settled, then! Makoto? Kyoko? Whaddya say?" Ann asked, giving them both an excited look Kyoko suspected to be slightly manipulative in nature with intent to sway both their answers.
"I see nothing wrong with that," Makoto said with a small chuckle. "It might be a good way to pass time while things simmer down."
"I admit... I am curious," Kyoko said simply.
"Hell yeah! Then we'll meet up tomorrow!" Ryuji cheered. "I heard somethin' about that it might rain tomorrow, but I'm sure it'll be fine! No way it'd rain on a day like that!"
BOOM!
The Thieves, as one, turned their attention to the windows, as nature hummed its first bars before it would unleash its watery overture upon Shibuya.
"...It'll be fine! Heheh," Ryuji insisted. "I'm sure it'll run outta rain by tomorrow!"
"They're expecting torrential rain in various intervals in various places all week, actually," Yusuke remarked, looking at his phone.
"A little optimism, alright?" Ryuji protested.
Kyoko let out a disappointed sigh before feeling around in her bag for her umbrella for the trip back home.
So much for rainy season being over, she thought with a hint of bitterness, relieved she'd come prepared.
7/17
Sunday, to Kyoko's relief, had apparently heeded Ryuji's optimism and granted his wish as the group stood by the food kiosks that dotted the Summer Festival. If a little too much.
"It's soooo hot!" the blond boy cried out, slumping in exhaustion under the clear skies.
"Indeed, it's as if we're walking around in an enormous sauna," Yusuke remarked.
"Odaiba's near a water body, so the humidity is unsurprising. In hindsight, you probably should have worn lighter clothing," said Kyoko, raising an eyebrow at the latter.
"You may be right," Yusuke mused, his hand to his chin in thought.
Ryuji had the foresight to wear his simple yellow tanktop and khaki shorts and running shoes. Kyoko herself had opted for a simple lilac shortsleeve top, white skirt and heeled summer sandals. Yusuke, meanwhile, had left both confused by his black pants and navy-blue longsleeve shirt.
"Hey, be glad you're not stuck in a fullbody fur coat out here!" Morgana protested climbing out of the bag. "When're Lady Ann and Makoto supposed to be here, anyway?"
"Ann said they'll be here, soon," Ryuji muttered. "Seriously what was I thinkin'? I actually wouldn't mind some rain, now!"
"Just look at this crowd!" a nearby female announcer, one Kyoko recognized from the TV station field trip, narrated in front of a camera crew. "Smiling faces everywhere at this exciting occasion! Let's ask some of the visitors for their comments on this year's Summer Festival!"
"Seems even the news crews are here," Yusuke mused.
"Try not to stand out too much," Kyoko said. "Well just move into one the lines slowly, that way, we'll-"
"Oh! Let's interview those three!" the announcer said, looking their way.
"Too late," Yusuke remarked as the announcer and her crew approached them.
Kyoko sighed, the last thing she wanted right now was to end up on TV.
"No sweat! I got this! I heard if you ham it up and say like really cringy stuff they won't use the footage!" Ryuji said frantically as the announcer made her way over.
"Hello, there! It sure is hot today, huh?" the announcer asked with a bright smile.
"Ohhhh, f'sure, yeeeeah!" Ryuji said loudly, with an equally loud, stilted laugh. "...And, if it's this hot in July, imagine just how insane the weather for December's gonna be!"
"...So, anyway," the reporter said, sounding a little taken aback by Ryuji's display and turning her attention to Kyoko and Yusuke next. "...How about you two? With you both here for the festival, does this mean you're all some avid meat lovers?"
Kyoko stepped forward, clasping her hands. "Oh, my God, YES! Meat is love!" she said in a giddy, bubbly tone with a big smile that made both Ryuji and Yusuke, and even Morgana from his spot in her bag, stare at her in disbelief and discomfort. "I just wanna, like, try every single one of them out before I go!" she said with an excited, girlish giggle.
"Daaaamn..." Ryuji muttered, staring wide-eyed at her act.
"Oh, my! Well aren't you an enthusiastic young lady!" the announcer said, clearly just as surprised.
"Y-Yeah! That's her, alright! She loves this stuff, heheh! Real carnivore!" Ryuji said, glancing back and forth between the announcer and Kyoko, whose act seemed to still need to continue if it was going to get the former off their backs.
"Still, though..." Kyoko brought her hand to her mouth, in a mock-gasp as she looked about. "The sweets are just, like, soooo tempting too! Like, to die for!" she said, joining her fists in front of her chin and amping up the cutesy act to a point of cringe she hoped would be more then enough to drive the news crew far, far away and save them from later embarrassment.
"Well, thank you so much for your time, all of you!" the announcer said, putting on a smile again before leaving with her crew, and Kyoko's cheery expression swiftly melted back to her normal, stoic one as she folded her arms and watched them leave.
"That was... certainly unusual to watch," Yusuke remarked, staring agape. "And... truly cringeworthy, if I may say so."
"Considering the situation, would that be a compliment?" Morgana asked.
"If it keeps us off TV, that's all that matters," Kyoko replied sternly, brushing back her hair and folding her arms again.
"Yeah, that's what they call a "broadcast disaster"! Still, it's crazy how well you were able to pull that off, Kyoko!" Ryuji said.
"I'm a detective, Ryuji. To do that, you have to be good at putting on a false face so no one gets suspicious," Kyoko replied.
"Betcha Ann could learn a thing or two... or like fifty!" Ryuji said with a laugh.
"What's that about me?" Ann's voice asked, prompting Kyoko and the boys to turn and see Ann and Makoto approach.
"Lady Ann!" Morgana cried out excitedly. Ann had chosen a white tanktop and cutoff jeans and running shoes, Makoto, meanwhile, wearing a simple white dress and black flat heels.
"Eh, nothin'," Ryuji said hastily.
"Well, now that we're all here, I think it's time for some MEAT!" Morgana cheered, meowing with eager anticipation.
"Right! I'm gonna start with the kebab!" Ryuji licked his lips. "I can taste it already!"
"I think I'm just gonna check out the sweets, first. Maybe some ice shavings. It is kinda hot!" Ann said.
"We'd better hurry, then, the lines are growing," Makoto remarked, glancing over at the crowds forming.
Kyoko nodded. The smells were making her hungry. "I agree, the less we have to stand out in this heat, the better," she said, promptly making her way to one of the lines, the others quickly choosing what took their interest most and getting in line as well.
"Oh thank God!" Ann cheered, savoring another spoonful of her ice shavings. "I thought I was gonna melt if I didn't get this in time!"
"You know, this is why I brought bottled water with me," Makoto remarked, taking a sip of her drink before starting on her meal
"I should have thought of that," Kyoko said, eating some of her kebab, which was admittedly quite good, she observed.
"Hey! Lemme have some! I skipped breakfast, you know!" Morgana protested, climbing her shoulder. Sighing, Kyoko pried a piece of the meat off the skewer and held it over for the cat to munch on. "Ohh! So good!"
"And the vendor wondered why I ordered extra," Kyoko muttered dryly.
"Lucky you. Almost all the good stuff was sold out when I got to the front of the line I was in!" Ryuji grumbled as he ate his noodles.
"The heat is truly sweltering," Yusuke observed as he ate a small beef bowl. "That said, the wait seems to have made the food all the more delicious, somehow. Very mysterious!"
Kyoko couldn't help but give a faint smile, remembering a session with Dr. Maruki regarding cookies. "Sometimes certain circumstances affect your perception of something, including food," she remarked.
"I think I've heard about that!" Ann said, eyes wide with realization. "Didn't Mr. Inui talk about how ice shavings' flavors are entirely by perception and color?"
"Something like that," Kyoko replied.
"Well, either way, it tastes good and is cooling me down, so that's all that matters!" Ann said with a smile. "Better finish your food fast so you can start on yours, Kyoko!"
"Yes, thank you for picking that up for me, Ann," Kyoko replied as she finished her kebab and took up her frozen treat.
"Well, looks like all the places with shade are taken, so why don't we go and check out that thing they got out here?" Ryuji offered.
"What thing?" asked Yusuke.
"I was hearin' about how they were buildin' some huge-ass stadium or somethin' nearby!" Ryuji explained.
"A stadium? That's kinda neat!" Ann said, scarfing down her ice shavings, only to wince from eating too fast.
"So long as it has some shade," Kyoko muttered, brushing some sweat from her forehead and making a mental note to take a bath when she got home.
"I have to agree. Anywhere but here," Makoto said, eating her frozen snack a little more quickly, as well. "Any chance it will be out of the sun?"
"I dunno, maybe?" Ryuji offered.
"Hm, such buildings often have very intriguing architecture, so I think I'd rather love an opportunity to see it for personal reference," Yusuke mused.
"I think it's down that way, let's go!" Ryuji said, leading the way.
Needless to say, what awaited did not in any way measure up to what was anticipated in the least.
"...Ryuji, this hardly constitutes as a stadium, or any building," Morgana remarked, unimpressed.
"Tell me about it! It looks like they barely even started!" Ryuji protested.
"Hey, at least we're out of the sun, right? It still does provide some shade!" Ann offered.
Kyoko raised an eyebrow at the display. Aside from some construction cranes and several beams already assembled, and tall solid fences and gates erected to keep trespassers out, it was practically a vacant lot.
"It's strange," Kyoko remarked, approaching and looking at the notices, reading them over.
"What do you mean?" Makoto asked.
"Ryuji's right, they should have been further along then this," the young detective replied, looking at her phone. "This place was already a vacant lot, prior."
"In other words, nothing to tear down first?" Ann asked.
"Basically, yes," Kyoko said, putting her phone away and placing her hand on the fence, her gaze falling on one notice in particular "...Furthermore, from the looks of it, this project was started years ago!"
"That's quite a lot of time for so little progress," said Makoto, looking up at what little had already been built as she finished her food. "Something must've happened to cause such a delay."
Kyoko brought her hand to her chin in thought. "It can be a lot of things. What I looked up just described it has having been a vacant lot, the government decided to build a seaside stadium. It's just strange something that'd bring the area a lot of money and tourist revenue would face such a delay."
"Well, guess this was a bust, then," Ryuji sighed. "Kinda still hungry, though. They barely had anything left so... anyone up to grab another bite?"
"Apologies, but I actually need to pick up some art supplies," Yusuke said. "My last piece having been submitted to the gallery has made me some money as well, but I have a summer assignment to work on, too."
He turned and looked over at Kyoko. "I expect they should be displaying the piece I showed you quite soon, I'll let you know of its debut, then."
"I'll look forward to it," she replied, giving Yusuke a nod as he left.
"I guess we call it quits, then?" Ryuji asked. "With summer startin' n' all after next week, I kinda wanna get a head start!"
"What do you mean?" Makoto asked.
"Well, they got some new mangas comin' out, plus there's this new video game I've been meanin' to see!" Ryuji said with a grin, though it faded quick. "Plus... it's still kinda hot out and I'm kinda bettin' there ain't much left over here. We'll get to meet up again for the fireworks festival, though!"
"Right! I'm real excited about that!" Ann said with a smile.
"I'm sure you'll look gorgeous in a yukata, Lady Ann!" said Morgana. "I can't wait!"
"Though, Kyoko, that means we gotta meet up early and get you one, don't we?" Ann said.
Kyoko sighed. "True, there is that," she said. "Just message me when you want to meet up."
"How about you, Ryuji? You getting one?" Ann asked.
"Nah, not my thing," Ryuji said with a handwave. "Plus didn'cha hear me earlier? I got other stuff to spend my allowance on, anyway!" he added with a chuckle. "Well, seeya later!"
Morgana and the girls watched as he left, the cat speaking up first.
"I dunno if he's got his priorities off, but if it helps him wait till our next target I guess it's not so bad," Morgana said.
"He's right about the weather. It's even coming over here, now," Makoto said. "I should probably head back now, as well. If it's this crowded I wanna try and get back before it disperses so dinner's ready for Sis and all. Plus, we do still have a couple days of school, left, as well, so we can't totally relax yet! I'll see you tomorrow!"
"I'll probably head home myself, then. I probably shouldn't be out in this sun and heat so much in case my agency gets another shoot for me," Ann said. "...Don't you dare back out tomorrow, Kyoko!" she added with a playful wink as she went her separate way as well, no doubt the heat and humidity making her concede to finding somewhere much more air-conditioned as well.
Kyoko returned her attention to the tall fencing again. It was strange, for all intents and purposes at this rate the stadium project may as well be abandoned.
"Sooo, excited for the Fireworks Festival?" Morgana asked eagerly.
Kyoko gave a small, faint smile. "I am, yes. It'll be something new."
"...Oh!" Morgana's attention suddenly went elsewhere, prompting Kyoko to see what he was looking at.
There, standing twenty feet away or so, her attention on a set of doors further down on the fence, was Kasumi Yoshizawa, looking lost in thought and unaware of her. Like Kyoko, she'd dressed for the warm weather with a sky-blue top and white miniskirt and sandals. her cherry-red hair still up in its usual ponytail and her purse hanging from her left shoulder.
Recalling the redhead mentioning a meet the other day when they'd spent time with Akechi at the cafe, Kyoko's curiosity of what brought her here made her decide to go over.
"Yoshizawa?" she asked, causing the other girl to jump a little in surprise before turning to face her.
"Oh! Kirigiri-senpai!" she replied, her eyes wide with shock. "Um, did you come to see the stadium, too?"
"My friends brought me over, we wanted to get out of this heat," Kyoko explained. "How about you? Did you come for the festival?"
Kasumi shook her head, frowning as she glanced back over at the fencing. "...I guess I just... needed to give myself a pep talk. Sometimes, when things get me down, I come out here."
"Is something wrong?" the young detective asked, noting the crestfallen look on Kasumi's face as she approached.
"W-Well..." Kasumi looked away, hesitant and red-faced. Scared, even. "I wouldn't want to get in the way of your plans, Kirigiri-senpai..."
"I don't have any plans," Kyoko said, folding her arms.
"I see," Kasumi said, still looking nervous. "Well, if you're sure it's no trouble, would you... be alright with joining me for lunch?"
Kyoko paused a moment, now that the other girl was closer, she could see her eyes looked red and puffy... as though she'd been crying.
Aside from the appetizer and dessert she'd bought at the vendors, she'd not eaten much, and Kasumi did look like she could use someone to talk to, and hopefully give Kyoko some insight of what had been going on with her.
"Very well," the young detective said, giving the girl a faint smile.
"Thanks so much!" Kasumi said, giving a smile and a grateful bow. "It is pretty crowded out here with the festival, so why don't we head back to Shibuya to the Bikkuri Boy diner? C'mon!"
"What's up with her?" Morgana wondered from Kyoko's bag as she paused a moment before following the redhead to the train station.
"Mm! That was delicious!" Kasumi declared, in far better spirits, now, that she'd had lunch. A lunch that, by Kyoko's count, had been no less then six platefuls of food, one of which had been a bowl of soup. "A little less then usual but I'm always like this after meet!" she said with a sheepish giggle. "...In all honesty, I'd like to keep going but that might hurt my performance."
Kyoko chose not to comment. In fact, she'd chosen to resume the stoicism she was known for once Kasumi had placed the orders, and maintain it as the other girl had successfully gone through each of them. Even Morgana could only guess where the young gymnast managed to put it all away. There was something more to this, as well, she couldn't help but notice. The way Kasumi had eaten was different then when she'd made her bento. Now, she seemed less merely hungry and more like she were stressed out. The young detective was familiar with the concept of stress-eating, and it made her wonder if it was connected to how Kasumi had been earlier at the stadium.
"How was the meet?" she asked.
Kasumi frowned, sighing. "The meet?" she asked. "...Simply put, it was... a disaster." The redhead sat back, putting her hands on her lap. "Thing is, I've been feeling like I've been getting back into the natural flow of things thanks to training with you, Kirigiri-senpai," she explained.
She looked down at her lap, her crestfallen look from before returning. "...But when the moment of truth arrived, my body... i-it still wouldn't move the way I wanted it to! It's like no matter what, I've completely hit a wall with this that I can't get past!"
"You think it may be a psychological thing?" Kyoko asked, recalling what she'd overheard one of the students talking about in the hall the other day.
"I dunno," Kasumi replied, frowning as she looked down at her lap. "See, something similar happened to me back in middle school, but back then I... I had... someone at my side that kept me going..."
Kyoko's curiosity was immediately piqued, perhaps the rumors of the students may have been onto something after all. "...And who was that?"
Kasumi looked away, closing her eyes as she took a breath. Kyoko noticed the girl seemed to tremble a little.
"My apologies," Kyoko started. "If you don't feel like-"
"No, no, it's fine," Kasumi said, taking a breath. "I have... a younger sister," she said. "See, we promised eachother that we'd win international gymnastics competitions together, and maybe, we'd get the attention of Hope's Peak's talent scouts as well in the process. Or... we did..."
"Did something happen?" Kyoko asked.
Kasumi nodded slowly. "This last spring, before coming to Shujin, she... she died... in an accident," she said softly, looking away. "...And... I promised her we'd take the gold for our routines across the world... I'd succeed for both of us... but how can I do that with my lack of improvement? I can't stop worrying about that, now!"
Kyoko watched the girl go quiet again. So, she determined, the rumors had been true, after all. Memories of what she'd discussed with Dr. Maruki had come to mind before she could push them back.
"I've... I've been really throwing myself into practice, lately, but I wonder if that won't be enough," Kasumi continued. "How am I supposed to live up to that?"
Kyoko looked down at her coffee. "I know how you feel, Kasumi," she said softly.
"Senpai?" Kasumi looked up at her in surprise.
"It's been something I've kept close to me for a while, now, until recently," the young detective said. "We weren't... related by blood, but... for all intents and purposes, I had someone in my life who was like a sister to me, too... once."
"Oh?" Kasumi was curious, now. "Uhh-um... sorry... I won't pry if you don't want me too," she said, blushing in embarrassment.
"No, it's okay," Kyoko said. "...Her name was Yui. Yui Samidare. She gave me someone my age I could connect with and do cases together and everything. She looked out for me, she supported me, she was my... Big Sis."
"I see," Kasumi said, frowning and looking at Kyoko with concern. "I... I take it something happened to her, too?"
Kyoko nodded, her gaze briefly flickering to her coffee again. "...Something did, yes. I try to keep moving forward, too. I remind myself I have my life and goals ahead of me, and... despite my situation, now, I've seen that it isn't the end because an obstacle appears or one person is no longer on the planned path alongside me," she said. Kyoko sighed, brushing back her hair. "My apologies. I've never been especially good at this. You'd probably have a lot more luck seeing Dr. Maruki for the right words..."
"It's alright," Kasumi said, smiling again. "I get what you're trying to do for me, Kirigiri-senpai. You're right, though, it's not the end! I'm still getting started, and there are still more meets this year so I'll be able to start from scratch and train as hard as I can! My sister... I'm sure she wouldn't want me giving up on a goal I put my heart into!"
Kasumi's smile grew more bright as she stretched in her seat. "So... no more brooding on it!" she said. "Kirigiri-senpai, you may not think you're any good at it, but you do keep on rescuing me, you know. I imagine it wasn't an easy thing to share with me, but I can see you care," she said. "From what you told me of Samidare-san, she sounds like a wonderful person, and I bet she would want the same for you!"
Kyoko gave a small smile and nodded, recalling similar words of encouragement from Dr. Maruki.
"Thank you, Kirigiri-senpai. Thank you so much for doing that for me," Kasumi said, giving a grateful nod. "I feel more recharged, now. Body, mind, spirit!"
The redhead paused, looking down at her many empty plates. "...Well, my mind and spirit, anyway! The best way to stave off hunger is with rigorous activity, so I think I'm gonna jog home this time!"
Kyoko stared down at the plates, but chose to only respond by finishing her coffee. With Kasumi now in better spirits, it felt inappropriate to comment on it. "Do what you need to do," she said as the two of them rose from their seats and gathered their things and headed downstairs.
"Thank you, Kirigiri-senpai. I feel a lot more confident, now, thanks to that talk! I'm gonna give it one-hundred and ten percent tomorrow at practice!" Kasumi said with a smile, bowing as they then parted ways, it having already started getting dark outside as Kyoko made her way back home, relieved to see that Kasumi seemed to be doing better, now.
Thoughts of Big Sis entered her mind again, leaving the young detective wondering, again, if she was, perhaps, taking her post-humus advice for real, now.
Kyoko gave a small smile as she reached the station. Big Sis, she thought to herself, recalling her actions as a Phantom Thief and the friends she'd made over the course of nearly half a year. I think, now, I can make you proud...
"Welcome back, Kyoko!" Sojiro said, smirking as she came in.
"Something happen?" she asked, noticing he looked significantly more mirthful then she'd come to expect of him on a normal day.
"Oh, nothing important," Sojiro said, taking another drag of his cigarette as he watched the news.
Before Kyoko could ask, she felt her phone hum, seeing the one calling was none other then Goro Akechi.
"Hello?"
"Kirigiri-san! Hello! How was your day? Exciting, I hope?" he asked.
"It was fine," Kyoko replied, a bit curious he'd call. "I was thinking of taking a bath and turning in for the evening."
"Understandable," Akechi said. Kyoko could have sworn she heard a chuckle on the other end. "...I suppose the weather at the Summer Festival was pretty sweltering, wasn't it?"
Kyoko blinked. How did he know I... she wondered, before her eyes went wide as her gaze slowly went from Sojiro, who gave her a knowing chuckle, then the TV which the news was on.
...They didn't...
"...And that was just a few of the young people we found having the time of their lives at this year's Summer Festival! There'll be a Fireworks Festival in Shibuya, tomorrow, as well! Don't miss it!" the announcer cheered on TV.
Kyoko's surprise turned to a cold, steely glare as she struggled to fight any sign of red from overtaking her face in embarrassment.
"Still, it's a shame," Akechi chuckled, Kyoko suspecting he was aware she knew exactly what he was referring to, now. "...I had a lot of work after exams so I couldn't make it. I was curious, admittedly. Maybe another time. Perhaps I'll catch that side of you in person someday..."
Kyoko sighed, running her hand through her bangs. "...You really know how to charm a girl, Detective Prince," she said in a completely dry tone.
"My apologies," Akechi said. "I simply hadn't expected it, though if I may say it was, intentional cringiness aside... rather cute, feigned or otherwise!" he added with a small laugh. "I suspect you were cornered by reporters and tried to get out of being put on TV?"
Kyoko's efforts to maintain her pale complexion from a sea of red failed her.
"...Something like that," she said, her tone still flat and dry.
"I admit, I do envy your freedom to put on a show to drive the hounding media off," Akechi replied. "I'd have liked to meet up again, but unfortunately I'm rather busy, between work and them having me for another interview, soon," Akechi replied. "...At any rate, have a good rest of your evening, Kirigiri-san!"
Kyoko sighed again as she saw a message from Ryuji griping, apparently the news had decided to include his own attempts to make them uncomfortable as well in the report and expressing his worry he'd hear about this on the next school day before break.
"Yikes. Hope Lady Ann doesn't find out," Morgana mused, peering over Kyoko's shoulder. Her withering gaze turned towards him, but she said nothing.
Making her way upstairs to grab her things, Kyoko elected that the sooner she made it to the hot tubs, the better, giving Sojiro a look on the way out that spoke volumes that she'd appreciate it if what he'd seen on TV would never be brought up in any way, shape, or form again.
7/18
No sooner had morning come, Kyoko received Ann's call about meeting up in the underground mall for yukata shopping as there'd be a big sale for them today. As Kyoko prepared to leave, however, she heard her phone chime, seeing Mishima had messaged her.
[Kyoko! There's some real disturbing news I saw online today, I think you should hear about this!] he messaged.
[Hear me out, this could be real bad if it's true!] he continued.
-I'm listening. Kyoko responded.
[Well, seems there's this insane online group that's getting ready to declare war on the Phantom Thieves!] Mishima explained.
[I was afraid to just hold on to that information for myself, so I thought I'd share it. I don't know anything else on it unfortunately. Mostly rumors.] he continued.
[If I find out anything else I'll let you know!]
Kyoko raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Insane online group? What's he mean by that?" Morgana asked, curious.
"I don't know. It could be anything, though... stalkers, some online witch-hunt, critics, a prank, there isn't enough to go on aside from rumor he's given," she replied, putting her phone away.
"Darn. Means we can't really do much, can we?" Morgana asked, his ears drooping.
"Unfortunately," Kyoko said, rising from her bed, looking at the message from Ann again, which was soon followed by another that she and Makoto were already at in Shibuya. Kyoko closed her eyes, sighing a little unsure what she'd be in for at this point...
"Ooh! This one looks great, what do you think, Makoto?"
"Hm, it's perfect, I think! Not as loud or overdone as the others!"
Kyoko was once more sighing, her eyes shut in exasperation. She'd expected to simply get the first yukata that fit and leave, but it had somehow, perhaps by her deductions, been planned into a girls' shopping trip.
"Kyoko, don't be so grim! You look lovely!" Ann beamed with excitement, wearing a sky-blue yukata with polka-dot patterns. "You know..." Ann put her finger to her chin in thought. "Maybe we could use a man's opinion. Morgana, what do you say?"
"I think you're right, Lady Ann," Morgana said with a nod of approval. "Still, nothing compares to how you look!"
"Oh, stop!" Ann said playfully with a laugh as she and Makoto led Kyoko to the full-length mirror. "Well? What do you think?"
Kyoko blinked in surprise. It had seemed Ann did have a decent eye for fashion, or what went well. They'd chosen a lilac-colored yukata with purple flower patterns. Blushing a little, the young detective brushed back her hair and gave the others a small, faint smile.
"It'll do."
"Come on, it's okay to be a little more expressive then that!" Ann said with an encouraging smile.
"Ann, no need to push her," Makoto said. "You like it, though, Kyoko?"
"I do, yes," Kyoko said with a nod as she then fished through her bag.
"No, no, I'll cover it!" Ann stated, taking her card from her purse and paying for it at the desk. "Now let's go! All that traffic's probably gonna delay things a bit and we don't wanna keep the boys waiting!"
"You're right, we should get going if we wanna get a good spot," Makoto said. "...You sure about keeping those gloves on, Kyoko?" she asked, concerned.
Kyoko nodded silently as she let Morgana hop in her bag before picking it up. Her gloves had remained on, however, choosing a pair of lighter, more breathable cloth ones for the heat before she'd left Leblanc, their black color going with her yukata's own color scheme. Makoto paused a moment, curious, but let it slide not wishing to be impolite and suspecting the young detective had her reasons.
Kyoko followed the other two out to the subway areas of Shibuya. Despite almost everyone in the underground walkway wearing a yukata as well, she felt a little self-conscious having practically nothing on underneath as per tradition. Such concerns were sidelined, however, as they approached where Ryuji and Yusuke were waiting while two girls in yukata were storming off from them. Yusuke, wearing a navy blue yukata, appeared unbothered, while Ryuji was in his street clothes complaining about his companion causing them both to strike out completely before he had a chance to talk to either of them.
"How could you, Yusuke?!" Ryuji protested as he watched them leave. "Was insultin' them for bein' flirty really necessary, man?"
"It was," Yusuke said matter-of-factly and without missing a beat. "Such crude behavior disgraces their yukata. They should be more mindful of their womanhood."
"That's your big issue?" Ryuji asked.
"Why don't you just go after them, then?" Ann asked as she approached, followed by Makoto and Kyoko.
"So, those are the kind of girls you're into, Ryuji?" Makoto asked, her tone as gentle as her smile but her gaze full of disapproval.
"Uhh, well, I..." Ryuji stammered, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment before his eyes went wide. "Whoa, Kyoko! Lookin' good!"
"You say it like that," Ann muttered, folding her arms.
"Hey, c'mon! It's first time I've seen her get so dressed up n' all. Nothin' wrong with givin' a compliment!" Ryuji retorted.
Ann chuckled. "Well, then I think you can thank me, too, for helping pick it out!"
"She does certainly look lovely," Makoto said approvingly.
"I agree," Yusuke said with an equally approving smile. "The aura of mystery and elegance you carry, Kyoko, your yukata's color and design emphasize it wonderfully," he said, finger-framing as he spoke.
Kyoko did her best not to blush from their flattering remarks.
"...Still," Ann mused, glancing at Yusuke. "You know, Yusuke, you're quite a pretty boy, you miss out on a lot with what you say, sometimes."
"Maybe, but he does stay true to his ideals, which makes him more likeable," Makoto said. "Maybe you could learn a thing or two, there, Ryuji, instead of simply going for whatever's within reach."
"...'Scuse me?" Ryuji asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "I got a type, okay? I just... don't feel like talkin' about it in front'a everyone, is all."
"You sure?" Ann asked, approaching and looking at him curiously.
Kyoko sighed, brushing back her hair again. "At any rate, we should... probably get going and find our spot, shouldn't we?" she asked, glancing away towards the stairs where crowds were flowing upward like a human current.
"Right, we should," Makoto said, the group quickly making their way for the stairs to head up to the main area.
The streets of Shibuya were indeed as crowded as one could expect. The group barely managed to make their way through the masses, which Kyoko quickly came to wonder if swimming upstream a raging river may have been an easier task, and arrived just in time and found a spot near Central Street's convenience store. While they were nowhere near the waterfront where the fireworks were held, their shimmering forms were still visible to the group as they burst apart in brilliant, prismatic flashes and sparkles of light in the evening sky.
Kyoko's normally impassive gaze slowly faded to faint, but present awe at the display before her. She'd seen explosions before. Even been in them, but these were simply beautiful. Perhaps it was the cheering crowds around her as she stood there, her friends around her and Morgana in her bag as she watched the show, that made it feel... special. Something she hoped to remember even after her probation was over and she was back home or in Hope's Peak.
A small smile formed from Kyoko's lips as she continued to watch, closing her eyes for a second as she imagined Yui, her Big Sis, watching this alongside her as well. Reopening them she thought of the dinner at the buffet after Kamoshida's arrest, the potluck following Madarame's defeat, and other things like playing billiards and the sort-of date at the Kichijoji café with Akechi, attempting to complete some old video game in her attic room or seeing movies with Morgana or Justine and Caroline.
In so short a time, she had already acquired so many moments here that stood out in her mind like any exceptional case she'd solved as a detective.
Her thoughts, however, were soon rudely and abruptly interrupted by the feeling of water droplets landing on her face, followed by many, many more in rapid succession.
A collective groan escaped the entire group as lightning filled the skies as well, signifying a thunderstorm as well and soon the police were ushering everyone to head home. It seemed, the young detective asserted, that the event was now over sooner then expected.
"You gotta be kiddin' me," Ryuji grumbled, ringing out his shirt. Morgana had since ducked in Kyoko's bag while Yusuke quietly held his fan over his head as all of them ducked under the awning of the convenience store that had already begun to fill with people seeking shelter from the rain.
Kyoko closed her eyes, instinctively wringing her sleeves and realizing the mistake too late as her gloves quickly absorbed the water and became soaked as well, Ann meanwhile having pulled up the bottom of her own yukata to wring it out as well.
Enough to make her legs quite visible.
"Ann?" Makoto asked, the blonde turning and seeing Ryuji trying and failing to look innocent while Yusuke stared off into the distance with a flawless poker face. Kyoko, meanwhile, stood in place with her arms folded and making it clear she was not going to get involved in whatever transpired next, which turned out to be Ann grabbing Ryuji to admonish him for peeking and ordering him to go inside and buy some towels for everyone.
Kyoko sighed at the bickering between the two, glancing about for something to help her tune it out and noticing across the street a girl with fluffy reddish-brown hair she recognized from school that had run into her once a while back getting into a parked car tended to by a servant with an umbrella over her.
"Hey! Kyoko! We're gonna head inside!" she heard Makoto say. Glancing back at the girl, who she noticed looked back at her as well before getting in, Kyoko turned and made her way inside, noticing Makoto had glanced back as well before going in, too.
"That girl by the black car, I think I know her from school," Makoto said. "Well... I guess more like seen her around at school. You know her at all, Kyoko?" she asked.
"She accidentally bumped into me on the way to school, once," Kyoko replied. "Otherwise, no."
"Lucky her, she got a ride n' all," Ryuji muttered. "This place is packed!" he said with a loud sigh as he looked around the crowded convenience store.
"They all had the same idea, I guess," Ann lamented.
"Due to a sudden change in weather, a heavy rain and flood warning has been issued nearby." the overhead speakers declared.
"Okay, time to show your skills, Mona! Become a car, already!"
"That doesn't work in the real world!" Morgana protested.
"My feet hurt, it's cold, the festival's cancelled thanks to a storm, this sucks!" Ann grumbled.
"After makin' such a commotion with the public this is what we get? Lame!" Ryuji muttered. "Doin' the hero thing in the shadows is boring."
"I've never been in the public eye, Ryuji," Kyoko remarked.
"For real? You're sure not one of your cases got you like an interview or anything?" he asked.
"You recall me ever being on TV?" Kyoko asked, raising a quizzical eyebrow.
"Well, now that you mention it," Ryuji began.
"Aside from last night," Kyoko responded with a hint of sharpness in her abrupt answer and redness to her face at the mere memory of that incident.
"...Okay, guess not," Ryuji conceded. "I just wanna change the world in a loud way, like a firework, but I guess findin' someone bigger then Kaneshiro ain't gonna be easy..."
"Well, some good news, the rain appears to be starting to let up," Yusuke remarked, glancing outside. Regrettable as it is, the festival, it seems, has been cancelled, so it may be best we go our separate ways for today."
"Yeah, let's go home. I think some rain got on me, too and I need to dry off!" Morgana declared.
"I'm sorry, Kyoko," Makoto said, frowning in dismay. "Your first fireworks festival and this is how it ends up."
"It's fine," Kyoko replied.
"Look, you don't need to try and make everyone feel better, this definitely..." Ann began.
"No," said Kyoko. "Brief as it was, I still... did enjoy it while it lasted."
"We'll find a way to make up for it. That's a promise!" Ann said, her spirits risen.
"Agreed," Makoto said. "Anyways, let's head on home, I imagine the trains are gonna get real crowded real soon..."
Kyoko had been relieved the rain had since stopped by the time she returned to Yongen-Jaya, and had chosen to go to the bathhouse to dry off some more and change back into her casual clothes before returning to Leblanc.
Upon opening the door, however, she was treated to an unexpected, and far from pleasant sight.
"So, you won't tell me, no matter what?" the tall, black-suited, young woman Kyoko remembered from the morning the Kamoshida scandal had made the news and having come by with Akechi one evening asked sharply in a tone that was almost threatening as she glared at Sojiro from her seat at the bar table. Sojiro, meanwhile, standing across from her, looked at the end of his patience.
"I have nothing more to say to you about that!" he said with equal sharpness while still doing his best to remain professional as a business owner.
The woman rose from her seat, her gaze growing more dangerous. "I see, in that case... I'll have you know I do have ways of making you talk..."
"Excuse me? What's that supposed to mean?!" Sojiro demanded, his patience now gone entirely.
"Thanks for the drink," the woman said dismissively, dropping money on the table and grabbing her bag, heading past Kyoko and out the door.
"Hey! We're not done here!" Sojiro snapped angrily after her from his place behind the counter before the door closed behind the woman and she was gone. The man let out a loud, frustrated groan as he turned away, sighing. "...You at least have a good evening?" he asked.
"For the most part," Kyoko replied, folding her arms. "Is there something going on regarding that woman?"
"Don't worry about it, it's none of your business. " Sojiro grumbled, not even facing her. "...If you would, I'm gonna close early... help me clean up the place before you head up to bed, alright?"
Kyoko exhaled sharply through her nose as she watched him. Between the man who'd shown up several times to harass Sojiro, and this woman, too, she wondered what could have been going on with him. Setting her bag and Morgana down in one of the booths, she made her way to the closet to find some things to help clean up with, Sojiro's deeply troubled look not going unnoticed by her as she walked past him.
Within the confines of her dark, cluttered bedroom, a pale, thin girl sitting in her pajamas front of her many computer monitors paused, adjusting her headphones as she listened to a news report.
"Regrettably the cause behind the recent psychotic breaks is still currently unknown," the TV announcer narrated. "...In other news, the international hacktivist group "Medjed" has released a statement to the Phantom Thieves..."
The girl paused again, intrigued as she sat straight up in her chair, humming to herself in curiosity as she continued listening.
Back at Leblanc, meanwhile, Kyoko had been working on washing the dishes, her attention having quickly been divided by the report discussing a hacktivist group making a statement to the Phantom Thieves. Her gaze turned to the TV as the report continued, seeing it now filled with a green image with engravings of some sort and the logo "Medjed" in purple lettering on the screen.
One she vaguely remembered from notes in the Detective Library.
"These are the details of the message posted on the Medjed website," the announcer continued. "..."To the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, who are causing an uproar in Japan: Do not speak of your false justice! We do not need the spread of such falsehood, for we are the true executors of justice!"
"The Phantom Thieves, again?" Sojiro asked, looking over from his smoking break.
"..."However, we are magnanimous."," the reporter continued, reciting the message. "..."We will give you an opportunity to repent your ways. If you agree to a change of heart, we will accept you as our own. If you reject our offer, the hammer of justice shall find you."..."
"Justice, huh?" Sojiro scowled.
"We are Medjed. We are unseen. We will eliminate evil," the tv announcer concluded, the screen revealing the man as he regarded his notes in concern. "...Akechi-san, why do you think this announcement was made at this time?"
"Well, I don't know the details," Akechi said into the microphone held out before him as the camera turned to him, revealing him seated in the studio Kyoko recalled visiting for the school trip. "...But there's certainly no doubt they were somehow provoked by the Phantom Thieves. As for whether it's by a sense of rivalry or a simple attention grab given the recent treads, I cannot say."
Kyoko saw the boy detective's features harden before he spoke again. "...Regardless, it's quite a nuisance!" he said.
"A... nuisance?' the tv announcer's voice asked. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that both Medjed and the Phantom Thieves are no more then vigilante groups that uphold an egoistic justice!" Akechi stated sharply.
"What a stupid thing they're getting so riled up on!" Sojiro sighed as the announcer started talking again on the TV.
"Well, that's quite a statement, Akechi-san!" the announcer said. "Let's see if we can ask some citizens what they think, too..."
"Phantom Thieves, huh? What in the world are they, even? You know anything about them, Kyoko?" Sojiro asked, looking over at her.
"They're of no concern to me," Kyoko replied, keeping her back turned as she continued washing dishes and glancing at the TV.
"Um... I... I dunno," a very petite, soft-voiced girl on TV with short neck-length auburn hair, large hazel eyes and wearing a dark green blouse and brown skirt mumbled nervously to herself, barely looking at the reporter she was with as she brought her hand to her chin in thought, the subtitles describing them as both being in Akihabara. "...I mean, I'm a programmer myself, but... uh, I-I wouldn't know about Medjed. J-Just the rumors..."
"I'd think a detective like you would have more interest," Sojiro grumbled. "They did something at your school, didn't they, with that teacher?"
"It's not something I'm in any position to investigate," Kyoko said, her tone neutral as she continued her duties.
"Even still, it doesn't even pique your interest?" he asked, curious of Kyoko's apparent nonchalance on something he'd have imagined would have been far more interesting to someone in her planned career field.
"Medjed, the Phantom Thieves, how very intriguing!" the white-haired boy in the green hoodie Kyoko remembered from the movie theater mused in a soft, whimsical tone on TV. "...Two mysterious entities, presenting themselves as forces of hope? Perhaps it means a calamity is indeed upon us, grave yet necessary if we are to find out which of the two is the true hope!" he said with a nonchalant smile offset by his merry chuckle to the uncomfortable-looking reporter standing by him.
Kyoko closed her eyes, giving a neutral glance back at Sojiro. "...It's not a case I'm in a position to pursue. It'd do me no good mulling over what could have been..."
"Heh, guess you got a point. No use stressing over something you aren't able to do anything about," Sojiro mused. "Anyways, I think I'm gonna head home. As for stuff in the fridge, if you're feeling hungry you can make yourself something, but don't use too much."
"And what is your response, Akechi-kun?" the announcer asked as the camera returned to the boy detective on TV as Sojiro left the cafe for the evening.
"I say people had best consider the possibility that more groups like these will continue to appear due to their influence, which could be a problem if said groups were, shall we say, far more extreme in their methods then either," Akechi said sharply. "...In that respect, should the worst happen, the Phantom Thieves face a very serious crime!"
Kyoko looked at the TV as she finished her work, the camera remained on him long enough as he shifted in his seat, resting his chin on his hand as he looked over at the camera again but now with an unreadable expression while the announcer continued his report, making her once more wonder if the other detective was hoping she was watching, especially now in light of such an incident, and curious of what her take would be next he saw her now that he had given his...
Having changed into her sleeping clothes, Kyoko heard the phone chime, causing Morgana to stir from his spot curled up on the bed.
[Guys! We need to talk about Medjed!] Ryuji had messaged.
-I take it you saw the news? Kyoko asked.
[Damn right I did!] Ryuji responded.
[Those guys people online are going nuts over?] Ann asked.
-Yes. Mishima had mentioned to me earlier today about an online group making claims. Kyoko replied.
-However, he didn't have a name or anything more then rumors at the time. she added.
-It seems this is no prank or mere rumor after all.
[Medjed. That name comes from an obscure Egyptian god from the Book of the Dead.] Yusuke responded.
[Dude how do you know that stuff? I know some world history but I never heard of that name.] Ryuji asked.
[From a book I'd studied of ancient Egyptian art.] Yusuke responded.
[That aside, I saw the news, too.] Makoto answered.
[Whoever they are for some reason they believe we speak of false justice.] she continued.
-They've also gotten Akechi's attention as well. He believes we've incited them. Kyoko said.
[Wellllllll that brings me to my point! Why not make THEM our next target and prove him wrong again?] Ryuji asked.
[I mean, they're, like, bad hackers, right? I'm sure people would be glad not having them around!] Ryuji added.
-When their name was mentioned it sounded familiar to me. Kyoko replied.
-They're a group of "crackers", people who use the internet to access and alter personal data for their own use. They're allegedly an organized group of them. she continued.
[I've heard of them as well. They've been recognized as such by other countries as an international concern.] Makoto said.
[Operating on a global scale? That WOULD make them a bigger target then Kaneshiro.] Yusuke said.
-None of them were ever identified or caught, either before they just up and faded into obscurity until now. Kyoko replied.
[Still, we don't know how many people are part of Medjed, or their real names behind the pseudonym.] Makoto said.
[Well, if they're making a move here that's gotta be at least one member here in Tokyo, right?] Ryuji asked.
[Kyoko, maybe you can investigate? We get that member's info that'd help us out!] he added.
-Assuming they're even in Tokyo, this city is still a big place, there's no way we'd be able to find a single person or even have any idea where to look with our limited resources. Kyoko replied.
[True. Medjed's only confirmed presence is online.] Makoto said.
[Even with the Meta-Nav, it'd be incredibly difficult to find all the keywords.] Yusuke remarked.
[C'mon! There's gotta be a way! We can't back down, now, with people all excited!] Ryuji protested.
[Think about it! Our reputation, all that support from stopping Kaneshiro? It's all gonna plummet if we don't face this shit!] he added.
[That's true. If we remain silent and do not act, then the public will think Medjed successfully scared us into surrender.] Yusuke mused.
[Medjed has taunted us publicly, after all.] Makoto replied.
Kyoko took a breath, her mind made up.
-Akechi's statement is also a concern, and a valid one. It's very possible at this point other, more extreme groups may get cocky as well and do worse. she replied.
-All of which we'd likely get blamed for. If Medjed escalate, we need a way to stop them, however possible.
[You said Mishima had some rumors before they made their threat, Kyoko?] Ryuji asked.
[Maybe we can talk to him tomorrow! This is sorta his thing maybe he can use the Phansite to help us with a lead!] he added.
Kyoko brought her hand to her chin as she thought a moment, glancing over at Morgana before replying.
-Good idea, Ryuji. It's not much but it's better then nothing. Kyoko responded.
[Hey thanks! Maybe you're rubbing off on me a little!] Ryuji responded, and began typing again.
[Makoto! You think your sister may have anything? She works at the courthouse maybe she has some info on them?] he asked.
[I doubt she'd share it with me, but I'll try.] Makoto answered.
-Any possible lead helps. Let's see what we can find out tomorrow. Kyoko answered.
"So, a world-class target, huh?" Morgana asked, peering at the screen. "If we change their heart and stop Medjed, we'd definitely affect Mementos!"
Kyoko nodded. Morgana was right, taking down someone with a global presence would bring more knowledge of the Phantom Thieves and their justice, and, she deduced, would bring her a step closer to solving all of this.
Igor.
The Velvet Room.
Mementos.
The mysterious killer behind the mental shutdowns.
Whoever this person worked for.
She wasn't sure if they were all connected in some way, but they and herself were all pieces in something of a much greater scale that spelt the "ruin" Igor had warned of if she were to fail, that she was certain of, now.
"Morgana, whatever's waiting for us at the end of Mementos, I suspect has all our answers," she said. "I intend to find out what it is, and solve this no matter what..."
"So, we're gonna go after them?" Morgana asked.
"Our next target, whatever it takes, is Medjed," Kyoko replied, giving the cat a stern look. "Furthermore, they've already thrown down their gauntlet, regardless. We have no other choice, now."
"That's the spirit, Kyoko!" Morgana said with a happy mew before looking out the window. "Night's still not over, though. Anything you wanna do to pass time before bed? Exams are over so honestly, I don't think I can take the boredom of just watching you take quizzes!"
As if suddenly struck with an idea before the young detective could reply, Morgana swiftly hopped from the bed and trotted over to the TV, before looking back at Kyoko. "Wanna try and get through more of that Star Forneus game?"
Kyoko sighed. It had been a long week, and the mere mention of the game did bring back the memory of her past attempt, and an urge to rectify that.
"...Very well." Kyoko took up the controller, switched on the TV and her game, and sat herself on the couch, her plans for the remainder of the evening made up till whatever tomorrow hopefully brought regarding their mysterious new enemy.
A/N: PHEW! Another chapter done and I hope everyone enjoyed it! Kyoko is finally starting to settle in more, and come out of her shell a little more, and just in time for the next major arc to ready itself! I'll be doing another Fenrir's Masquerade chapter next!
0 - The Fool: Rank 6
I - The Magician: Rank 5
II - The Priestess: Rank 3
IV - The Emperor: Rank 2
V - The Hierophant: Rank 4
VI - The Lovers: Rank 6
VII - The Chariot: Rank 9
VIII - Justice: Rank 3
XI - The Strength: Rank 3
XII - The Hanged Man: Rank 3
XIII - Death: Rank 5
XIV - Temperance: Rank 5
XV - The Devil: Rank 2
XVII - The Star: Rank 1
XVIII - The Moon: Rank 4
XIX - The Sun: Rank 4
XX - Judgement: Rank 1
1 - The Councillor: Rank 5
? - Faith: Rank 3
Kyoko's Personas: Shiisaa, Nigi Mitama, Suzaku, Flauros, High Pixie, Leanan Sidhe, Orthrus, Sandman, Phoenix, Izanagi