Author's note:

Happy new Year!

Hopefully, it has treated you well so far.

While I do admit this is the shortest chapter I have published in this story, it seemed an appropriate place to end before the next 'arc' starts.

Please enjoy

-asdf

Chapter 15: Hotpot and Flowers

Saturday June 11, 20XX After school

"T-This is…" Sumire's voice trembled with wonder as she took her first few steps inside the building. Crossing over a floormat that read LeBlanc, she got her first glimpse of the café. Its floor was lined with old, but solid, dark brown wood. It had a matching counter and stools along one side. Filling the rest of the small interior were tables of various sizes.

"This is where you live, Dude?" Ryuji confirmed from ahead of her. His tone was filled with borderline contempt. Receiving a sharp jab in the guy from Ann, Ryuji kept any further comments to himself.

"What is this?" A gruff voice asked. "These your friends?"

"Something like that," Senpai replied amiably to the man who must have been his guardian. "We'll be upstairs for a bit while we figure out what we're doing."

"I see…" The barista (master?) said slowly. His eyes slowly running over them as if searching for a reason to deny them access.

"Come on." Dropping the conversation, Senpai plowed ahead and led them up the stairs. It felt like a rather curt introduction. Apparently so did everyone else as they kind of mulled about. Ryuji nodding once before following Senpai up.

"The name is Takamaki Ann, sorry for disturbing."

"Kitagawa Yusuke," the tall boy muttered with a deep bow. "Thank you for taking care of Ren. I'm sure part of his boundless selflessness is inspired by you."

"B-Boundless…?" The Master of the shop repeated weakly, scratching his balding head. "Err, it's nice to meet you, both of you. Please feel free to head up."

Stepping forward as they left, Sumire did a slight bow as well. "Yoshizawa Sumire. It's a pleasure."

"Ah, I didn't see you behind the tall one," the man muttered. "Sakura Sojiro. Please don't let me hold you up."

"Oh okay. Umm, j-just to repeat what Yusuke said, but thank you for continuing to allow Senpai, err, R-Ren to live here!"

"Really, it's nothing…" Sojiro waved off, looking more than a little guilty. "You aren't the one I remember but… Are you his…?"

"His…?" Tilting her head, it took a couple seconds for Sumire to understand the implication in the Master's question. "Oh, his g-girlfriend!? N-No, of course not! I'm still too weak! I need to get stronger before I'm worthy of him!"

"Uhh…"

"Err… I-I mean…" Stuttering, Sumire felt like a furnace. What have I gone and said!? Berating herself, Sumire began searching frantically for a way out of this conversation. Thankfully, footsteps on the stairs pulled both their gazes to the back of the room.

Senpai descended barely halfway until he could see them both. His gaze was unreadable. For a moment, it hovered over his guardian before he turned to Sumire. Freezing there, Sumire wondered if he had heard her words. What would he think if he had? He simply gestured with his head and went back up the stairs.

"Excuse me!" Squeaking out the parting, Sumire darted up the stairs to a knowing chuckle from Ren's guardian. Patting her cheeks, Sumire hoped to cool them before she arrived at the room.

Once she finally did reach the top of the stairs, Sumire's feet halted uncertainly. The previous embarrassment drifted far from her mind as she stared at the open space. It couldn't be described as anything other than an attic. The roof wasn't finished; the support beams and even the interior ceiling was visible. The floor was rough, cheap wood that would splinter horribly. It would be suicidal to walk around bare footed. There were none of the luxuries in the space – Sumire refused to call it a bedroom – that she associated with a home. It was uncomfortable, poorly lit, and foreboding.

Clenching her arms across together, Sumire struggled not to turn around and march down the stairs. How dare that man subject Senpai to living in such conditions? The size was unimportant. He may as well be squatting in a warehouse somewhere.

"Please, sit down." Senpai invited her. Somewhat more forcefully than usual.

"…Fine." As she accepted, Sumire took a step forward, then blinked. Ann and Ryuji had sat on the couch and consumed it. Yusuke had pulled up the desk's chair, Morgana sat imperiously on the stool. That left… "E-Excuse me!"

Stammering Sumire tried to summon Senpai's nonchalant mannerisms as she staggered to the bed. It still took her over five seconds to bring herself to sit upon the threadbare mattress. Its make was poor, but it also felt warm under her hand. Though that probably had to do more with it being Senpai's than the mattress itself…

"Dude, what a dump." Ryuji said coarsely, it not honestly.

"What do you mean?" Yusuke asked curiously. "What else could one want but expansive room with which to paint?"

"Seriously though," Ann continued. "I mean it is big… but…"

Senpai just shrugged. "Nothing to do about it. It's free and I get good food each morning. So, what are we doing?"

"Oh, it's got to hotpot dude!" Ryuji interjected immediately. More than ready to allow Senpai to change topics.

Not caring all that much about the choice, Sumire found herself with little appetite as she stared at Senpai. She wanted to do something for him, but what?

If I share with Kasumi he could always move in…

The thought was liable to send a wave of heat through Sumire again. She was sure if she explained her parents would be fine with it. However, Sumire didn't think she'd survive living with Senpai. Especially with everyone else there teasing her.

"Hotpot sounds good," the others agreed pretty unanimously. Yusuke mentioned something about noodles afterwards. Quickly, roles had been assigned. As everyone left to gather things, Sumire realized she didn't have a job.

"W-Wait up Senpai!"

"What's wrong?"

"Uhh… W-Well, what should I do?" Sumire asked. She didn't want to get coddled as the baby of the group.

"Err, we're pretty good…"

"Can I help you?"

"…Sure." Somewhat reluctantly, Senpai waved at her to follow him down the stairs. There, Senpai went straight behind the counter and began looking for something. Probably a pot large enough to fit their hotpot in.

Crouching down behind him, Sumire once again was left twiddling her thumbs. She probably should have offered her cooking knowledge to everyone. Or at least aided in ingredient selection.

"Got it." After a bit of banging of pots, Senpai extracted a large bowl, more of a cauldron really. What the hell did they usually use it for?

"Oh, you using that?" The master asked, coming around the corner.

In a couple of sentences, Ren quickly explained that they were planning on cooking hotpot. He didn't ask for permission either, it was simply relaying what they were doing. Shifting, Sumire wondered if the man would deny them.

Instead, he chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. "Sounds like fun. Here, let me pull out the electric cooking stove for you all to use."

"I'd appreciate it," Senpai acknowledged, setting the large pot down to aid Sojiro in extracting the cooking device. Soon enough, Senpai emerged with the device they would cook on. Sumire, reached out and picked up the cauldron. All set, they once again ascended the stairs.

"Your guardian…" Sumire began when they were alone. "His actions seem a bit… contradictory."

"Haha…" Senpai laughed weakly, but a hint of understanding in his voice. "It must appear that way."

"You really shouldn't be living in an attic Senpai," Sumire lectured, unable to repress it any longer. "I mean, seriously? What parole officer approved these living quarters? Why did he apply to receive you if he didn't have a free room for you to use?"

Senpai was slow to answer. He methodically ran an extension cord to plug in the heater. Then he turned it on to test whether it was functional. As he did so, he spoke slowly. "I doubt my parole officer cares about my living conditions. Only if I don't beat up any more helpless adults."

"Senpai…"

"You know," he continued, a bitter note in his voice, "this attic is a hell of a lot better than a prison cell. That I know personally."

"Know personally?" Sumire repeated stunned. Senpai had spoken with candor he rarely displayed. Moved by the display, Sumire put her hand on his. "I'm so sorry this had happened to you Senpai."

The moment stretched ten seconds, then twenty, neither of them moving. Finally, Senpai smiled and put his other hand on top of Sumire's and clenched it comfortingly. "You know something? I'm actually not."

"W-What?"

"Coming here. Getting to meet everyone, meeting you. Being a part of the phantom thieves. It's all worth it."

"Senpai…" Blushing, Sumire stared wonderingly into his warm, black eyes. His glasses sparkled faintly under the light, matching the reflection from her own.

"Urgh, why do I have to carry all this?"

"Eep!" Ryuji's loud voice on the stairs sent Sumire tumbling backwards. Her gymnastics training failing her, Sumire rolled into the wall, her face pressed awkwardly into the ground, her legs held in the air by the wall.

"What the eff you doing Sumire? Some failed gymnastics moves?"

"Y-Yes! T-That is exactly right!" Pushing off the floor, Sumire landed gracefully back on her feet. Chuckling awkwardly, she couldn't meet Ann's knowing gaze.

Saturday June 11, 20XX After school

Ren struggled to maintain a poker face as the hotpot cooked and was eaten. Every few seconds he'd catch himself, his eyes trying to wander over to Sumire. He wondered why his heart beat erratically each time. She'd supported him as a friend and in return he had allowed her to fall over when Ryuji's yelling startled her.

As a result, the whole event had left Ren feeling a little bit out of it. He reacted with muted expressions as the others laughed gaily and interacted with glee. Even Yusuke, for the first time that Ren could remember since his awakening, truly let his guard down. Having the shadow of Madarame finally expunged must have felt amazing.

I wonder if I'll ever get rid of mine…

The dark thought wasn't particularly helpful during a party, but it may have been due course after his words to Sumire. Ren had claimed that he didn't regret getting arrested, and he didn't. That woman had needed his help, even if she was the one that had doomed him in the end. The man behind it all must have been truly powerful to intimidate both her and the police.

When Ren thought about it like that, weren't there very few people that it could have been? Ren's memories of the night itself were a haze. The only details that were clear in his mind was the look in the woman's eyes. Her genuine fear and desperation with which she pled. Then, after that, was the man clutching his face, threatening to sue. The arrival of the police and his subsequent arrest were a blur.

"Yo leader, what's the matter!?"

"Huh?" Blinking, Ren found everyone looking at him expectantly.

Ryuji tsked, shaking his head. "Don't be like that! We're all friends here…"

Sighing, Ren couldn't think of a lie or a way to divert the conversation. His thoughts were still too occupied. "I was just thinking about the man that got me arrested."

"Whoa, way to kill the mood, dude…" Ryuji teased him. As he talked though, as was typical of Ryuji, he couldn't keep the indignation from getting to him. "I still can't believe that shit happened you. You should tell them."

Glancing around the group, Ren saw some expectant faces. Ryuji was the only one he had told the whole story to. All he could remember,

"I would appreciate that," Yusuke supported the motive. "You've seen everything about me, yet I know so little about all of you."

Ren nodded; he couldn't exactly say no to that. Taking a sip of the broth, Ren set the bowl down at the table and began. He began briefly with his old life. He didn't live too far from here, just far enough that there was little chance of him meeting anyone from his old school.

With that history clarified, Ren dove into the night itself. Since he'd never told it in front of an audience before, Ren spent his time embellishing a bit. The first screams and fighting that had drawn his attention a street away. How he had greeted the couple tentatively.

Then, he dove into the two parts that he remembered the best. How she had pled, and Ren interceded on her behalf. Following that, Ren explained that he remembered the drunk man stumbling and falling on his own. Ren did admit that his memory was a bit faulty there.

After that, his heroic entrance quickly turned against him. The man's threats, the police's arrival and ensuing fawning over the man. Ren ended the story with his arrest. They didn't need anything else.

"Damn it!" Ryuji swore as Ren's last word faded in the air. "Just makes me so god damned mad!"

"I understand your anger, Senpai," Sumire tacked on, curling her legs up unto the chair with her. For once, her appetite appeared to have sated by a normal amount of food. "It's too cruel what's been done to you…"

"Seriously," Ann spat. "That pretty boy detective talked well but no words can erase the injustices that rotten adults have caused."

"Indeed, I could not have said it better myself," Yusuke agreed, the nod of his head oozing grace. "I do not believe we have formally discussed it, but please call upon my aid for all future endeavors."

"We'll remember that!" Morgana promised, the cat's eyes shining. Ren struggled not to roll his eyes at the practically preening cat. Their renewed resolve ensured the cat's objective of getting deeper into mementos. On that note, they probably had access to another zone now.

"Say, Morgana Senpai…" Sumire spoke slowly. "But I was thinking earlier, why do these people go this way? Like what ended up distorting Kamoshida, or the principal, or Madarame?"

"Uhh… T-Their desires… Maybe?"

"That maybe again?" Ryuji sighed. "Don't think on it Sumire, assholes are assholes. All there is to it."

"But that's not right!" The girl insisted bursting to her feet. "These people were nice inside! When we removed their desires, they instantly confessed their crimes, crushed by their weight! That means, without the distortion… they're good people!"

Silence reigned in the room after Sumire finished her emboldened speech. Her shoulders heaved as she stared at each one of them in turn, hoping for an explanation. Ren kept his eyes on the pot and avoided looking at her.

After a moment of heavy silence, Morgana somehow got the courage to reply. "I wouldn't think too hard on it. It's just something that happens. They get drawn further and further in until they lose sight of the morals they once held precious."

"I see…" Sumire backed down, accepting the answer. "P-Please forgive my outburst."

The conversation waned as Sumire sat back down. The atmosphere was heavy, and no one was willing to disturb it. Ren didn't mind, it gave him time to think over the previous discussion. Sumire's argument was well-reasoned. If they looked at the distortion as a cyst or tumour that the phantom thieves had surgically extracted, then it removed culpability from their targets. From this perspective, the phantom thieves were little more than psychiatrists fixing people's mental disorders that were causing abnormal behaviour.

Ren understood the perspective, but he didn't like it. It removed accountability from their actions. It acted as if they all nothing more than puppets dancing to a god's strings. Dismissing the thoughts for now, Ren knew that this wouldn't be the last time he considered it.

Trying to focus on the party, conversation gradually started back up, the topic light. This time, Ren forced himself to participate more. They deserved a more attentive leader.

Monday June 13th 20XX After school

"Were we maybe a little too cruel?" Kasumi asked her partner in crime. The final school bell had released the students from their scholarly prison barely half an hour ago. That had been more than enough time for Kasumi and Makoto to put their plan into action.

Basically, the girl in charge of planting the flowers, Okumura Haru, was struggling moving things and asked student council for help. Jumping on the opportunity, the girls had been quick to assign Ren as her slave, err, helper.

Now, Kasumi watched gleefully from the third floor as Ren Senpai struggled to move a heavy wheelbarrow as Okumura bounced up and down beside him shouting words of encouragement. They made a strange pair. One ecstatic about getting help moving the mounds of fertilizer and dirt that she needed, the other was clearly despondent from three stories away.

"Nah, a bit of hard work is good for a person," Makoto assured Kasumi. "Okumura needed help and he needs the prestige."

Kasumi nodded happily along with the words. "Look at the students leaving. See how they pause and question in confusion. They've begun to revaluate their notions of him."

"That's… Very observant," Makoto conceded. "It is good to know that our plan is working. It's hard to undo a bad first impression."

Kasumi nodded firmly at those words. That first encounter could shape a relationship forever. How much had Sumire's relationship with Ren been influenced by a positive first meeting? Before she heard the rumours and fabrications of his ruthlessness. It was an interesting thought experiment, but not one Kasumi was interested in at the moment.

"Why don't we go get some coffee?" Kasumi suggested.

"Hmm, I'm not sure," Makoto hesitated. "I should really do some more work before I head home and study…"

"Well that's the thing," Kasumi began. "I thought we could bring back some coffee for our hard workers out there and then study together!"

"S-Study together…?" Makoto stuttered. "I-I've never done anything like that before…"

Kasumi smacked the older girl on the back. Hard enough that Makoto stumbled. Ignoring how impolite it was to do to an upperclassman—the student council president at that—Kasumi led the way out of the school. "Come on, it will be a new experience."

"A new experience you say…"

Kasumi almost sighed in relief as Makoto followed behind her, dogging her footsteps. Taking a few furtive glances at the older girl, Kasumi wasn't sure what to make of the almost puzzled expression that she wore. Kasumi felt like she knew the older girl fairly well at this point. They had cleaned up together at the park clean-up—a strange irony—and then had devised this plan to help Ren Senpai together. Or rather, formulated it on the spot once the effects of his labour began to be recognized. Yet, despite that time, Kasumi wasn't sure why the girl looked so dumbfounded about this.

"Sooo, er, w-where do you want to get coffee?"

"I'm not sure," Kasumi shrugged. "I doubt it matters. I'm a little strapped for cash, so Big Bang Burger, if that works."

"I haven't had coffee from there…" Makoto continued in her strange reticent voice.

"Me either, but I mean, it's coffee. You just add some cream and sugar to make the bitter slop palatable. What difference does it make where the slop comes from? I doubt those two are coffee connoisseurs anyway."

"Err, I'm sure you underestimate the flavour profile of coffee but… whatever you say."

Kasumi smirked at Makoto's final utterance. Whatever I say, eh? It reminded her of something that Sumire used to say. Giving into Kasumi's extravagant plans and ambitious objectives. But I ruined that chance…

Smile falling, Kasumi was glad no one could see her face right now. It probably would have sent them screaming. She resolved herself to not screw this friendship up at least. Kasumi knew she could be overbearing; she would just have to tone it down on occasion.

Monday June 13th 20XX After school

"Are we… finished?" Ren's voice was faded and weak. Panting, he leaned over top of the wheelbarrow he had just finished pushing into position. The thing was old and rusted. In combination with the heavy load, it was nearly impossible to move.

"Yes, thank you so much Mr. Amamiya! You were such a great help." Okumura smiled at him fondly. "We can leave this here and I will finish off the fertilization tomorrow. Really, thank you so much!"

Ren chuckled weakly, pulling himself straight. This Okumura Haru was a good girl. She wore her hair short and curly. Surprisingly, it was also a light brown that stood out from the darker shades of her classmates. Despite her school uniform, she had no issue getting dirty, often kneeling to deal with each flower bed meticulously.

Ren had made some careless comments earlier and gotten an earful about the flowers, the different species, and how the colours fit together to make a pleasing arrangement. She was quite taken with growing things, although she claimed that vegetables were her real preference.

"You two all finished up?"

Struggling to repress his groan, Ren turned around to shoot a glare at Kasumi as she approached. "…Huh?" Blinking, Ren was surprised to see Makoto was also there. She wore her schoolbag over her shoulder and carried a tray with three cups in it.

"Here," the student council president gestured forcefully. "Coffee as thanks for your efforts today."

"Thank you…"

"Oh, coffee?" Okumura chirped up quickly at the mention and rushed over. "Why thank you! Where did you… I see."

With how she wore her heart on her sleeve, Ren watched as her mood plummeted instantly. Staring at the coffee cup. What was wrong with it?

"I-Is something wrong?" Makoto asked.

"No. Nothing. I'm sure it will be great."

Without another word, Okumura grabbed the cup and held it between her two hands. Following her example, Ren did the same, sharing a confused look with Kasumi. Once he had it, Ren stared at the design on the front. It was goofy, but familiar. "Wow, Big Bang Burger, you two really splurged on us, huh?"

"Oh, stuff it," Kasumi pouted. "It's not like coffee changes from where you get it."

Ren snorted loudly at the claim. Okumura from beside him made some sort of strangled noise. She was staring at Kasumi bug-eyed. "S-Surely you jest! The acidity, the flavour profile, the richness, there are so many variables that make each cup unique!"

"Uhh…"

"She's right," Ren added on with a nod. He had been pretty neutral on the stuff a few months ago. Now though, after having received Sojiro's tutelage, Ren could taste the differences. "It's a complex drink with more history than you probably realize."

"It appears your assumption about them was incorrect," Makoto laughed a bit. It was the first time Ren had seen the expression on the girl.

"I…" Kasumi meanwhile looked stricken. She kept alternating between Ren and Makoto as if expecting one of them to yell, 'Surprise!'.

"Well, I thank you for your aid Miss student council president. If you would excuse me…"

"Ah, wait!" Makoto cried. The so-called president of the school took a steadying look at Kasumi who nodded encouragingly. "I-I thought maybe the four of us… Could study together for awhile."

"Study?" Ren asked askance. "Exams aren't for a month."

"A month exactly," Makoto confirmed. "They start on the thirteenth of July."

"So why would we…" Trailing off, Ren stole a glance at Okumura who was still hesitating.

"I… Actually that sounds very pleasing. Thank you for the offer. I'll return with my schoolbag right away."

"I need to as well…" Feeling left with no choice, Ren went to get his schoolbag which should still be in his locker. Since Okumura had darted ahead, he was left alone for the first time since… Ren wasn't sure. Basically, Morgana was always with him. The only time Morgana left was when Ren was hanging out with someone. Even when he worked, the cat was usually there.

Being alone, even for five minutes, was a breath of fresh air. He had no obligation to pay attention to the words and feelings that the people around him were expressing.

Opening his locker, Ren quickly rummaged through the contents and threw together what he would need. Some textbooks, his notes, enough to keep the student council president happy, but it would also be empty enough for Morgana to ride in should need necessitate it.

"Are you… friends with those two?" A cute yet tentative voice asked.

Supressing a sigh, Ren's alone time was over already. Shutting the locker, he faced Ms. Okumura. She was clenching the cup of coffee with both hands, her eyebrows knit together in consternation.

"In a way…" Ren answered slowly. He didn't want to say too much until he was sure of her motives for asking.

"Oh, I-I was just curious. Yoshizawa is probably the most popular student in the school, then of course everyone knows the student council president but…"

"Haha, I guess you have a point. A delinquent like me doesn't fit in very well in their company."

Okumura's face paled at Ren's words. "T-That's not what I meant at all! I… I was just curious is all."

Ren shrugged casually. "Don't worry about it. We should hurry up or they're liable to ditch us."

"Would they really!?"

Chuckling at the genuine worry in her voice, Ren shook his head. "No. Kasumi is probably telling Makoto that they should. Miss President has her honour and all that which will make her wait, even if she thinks it a waste of time."

"You address Yoshizawa and the student council president so casually…"

The words weren't a rebuke. Ren caught a whiff of jealously in the statement. Turning to look at her, Ren flashed a daring smile. "It's because I'm a delinquent, you know. Don't need to stand on custom."

This got—for the first time—a genuine laugh from Okumura. "Then by all means, please call me Haru."

"You got it, Haru Senpai. I'm Ren."

"It's a pleasure, Ren."

As their introduction finished, Ren and Haru reached Kasumi and Makoto who seemed to be having the tail end of an argument.

"Well, I wouldn't have agreed if I knew they were going to be this slow!"

"Urgh," Makoto groaned. "If you invite people somewhere stick by your decision! …I never would have agreed to this all if I knew how much time it would take…"

"Ha… It seems your gut was right on, Ren."

"It would appear that it was, Haru."

Kasumi took note of the exchange with a raised eyebrow. "What's this? You've seduced another girl? At this rate, you'll receive a painful reminder of why you should be faithful, Senpai."

"S-Seduced?" Ren complained weakly.

"Another?" Haru wondered at the same time.

"Can we go?" Makoto asked weakly. "There's a diner in Shibuya that should work…"

"I agree," Ren jumped in, cutting off Kasumi who looked far too eager to say more. "If it's the place I'm thinking of it should work well. I study there by myself on occasion."

"Well then,"Kasumi spoke with a glint in her eye. Ren knew she hadn't dropped her previous conversation. "To answer the supreme planter's question-"

"S-Supreme planter?"

"-Yes, Ren Senpai here is notorious for stealing hearts."

Ren's eyes widened slightly. Thankful for his longer hair and glasses, he kept his voice level. "No, I'm not."

"H-He's a phantom thief!?" Haru screeched loudly.

"See," Ren accused Kasumi, "this is what happens when you say things like that."

"Err," Kasumi grabbed her ponytail and twirled on a piece of hair in it awkwardly. "Not what I meant. I meant that he has a bad habit of seducing women! Let me guess Haru, he used his nonchalant attitude of not caring, then, when your guard was down, he said something moving and flashed you this daring smile?"

"Amazing…"

"See!?" Kasumi insisted. "He's no delinquent! He's one of those incubi from a manga, here to steal our youth!"

"…Are you finished yet?" Ren asked in a strangled voice. Passers-by had actually stopped to stare at Kasumi's impassioned speech. Even the fabled self-control Ren had mastered to stop himself from punching people when they kept bringing up his past was on the verge of breaking. Even moreso, that Ren at least had a criminal record, he had no record at all with women. Zero girlfriends ever in the tale of his sad life.

"Yep!" Kasumi replied happily. "I just wanted to warn Haru of the minefield she was walking into."

"So casual with an upperclassman…" Makoto sighed. "Please forgive her, Ms. Okumura. I think the fawning of the male students has gone to her head."

"Hey!" Kasumi protested.

Ignoring her, Makoto turned her appraising red eyes unto Red. "You know though… I feel like there was a glimmer of truth in her words about you…"

"Please don't encourage her…" Ren pleaded weakly.

"See, Makoto agrees!" Kasumi said.

"A small glimmer. Like a tiny light in an ocean of black lies."

"Urgh!" Making a strangled noise, Kasumi deflated as Makoto shot down her story. Ren was glad for the clarification. The wary look building in Haru's eyes had faded. The last thing he needed was for her to begin spreading how he used his dark powers to enslave women and steal their youth.

A short train ride later, they did indeed enter the diner that Ren was so used to. Nodding at the waitress, she winked at him knowingly, probably seeing his company. Hoping Kasumi had missed the interaction, Ren led them to his usual table. Sliding in on the far side, Ren wasn't surprised when Kasumi plopped herself down beside him. That left Haru and Makoto to struggle over the far side. Both of them whispering niceties about going ahead until finally Haru slid in across from Ren.

"Finally," Makoto muttered pulling out her stuff. With a groan as she checked the time, Makoto shook her head disbelievingly. "It's already half past four?"

"So?" Ren replied, somewhat sassily. "Place doesn't close til ten, that gives you five and a half hours of studying if you want it."

"Urgh, but my sister and supper…" Debating something to herself, Makoto's eyes were unfocused. "No, I'll just have to call her and tell her to eat out. She'll probably be mad though…"

Kasumi's eyes began to sparkle dangerously again. Makoto's muttered words were just loud enough for them to make out. Wondering if he should stop her, Ren ran out of time. "If you're scared that she'll be mad at you, just invite her here. I'm sure Ren will seduce her anger away."

Makoto snorted, then held a hand over her mouth. The ever-so uptight student council president looked moments away from breaking down into a fit of laughter. "Seduce my sister?" Makoto laughed. "I may be bad at romance, but I doubt she even knows what it is. If she ever marries it will probably be for status… I-I mean, forget I said anything."

Interest piqued, Ren respected her wishes and began pulling out his own materials. As he bent over, he shot a threatening elbow into Kasumi's side. The girl yelped softly and leaned down beside Ren.

"I'm not that heartless to keep prying when she told us to leave it alone."

Ren gave her an innocent look. "Heartless? I didn't know that."

"Urgh, shut up."

With a blush, Kasumi quickly sat straight back up, somehow extracting everything she needed before Ren had. Grumbling, Ren sat back up and laid down the textbook and notebook that he used.

As he spread them out, the waitress appeared. She was the same one that Ren always saw. Standard black hair, a traditional rounded face. Yet, her eyes always seemed to sparkle with happiness. How, when she dealt with people all day at her job, Ren would like to know. "Oh, a study session, how fun! I remember having those… So, what does everyone need?"

"Oh, what's this tower thing?" Haru asked excitedly pointing at the menu.

"Oh, that is a delight." The waitress began. She quickly described the tall dessert that tested their patrons' proficiency with chopsticks. All too often it caused cries of alarms as yet another patron failed to maneuver the food causing a spill.

"Hmm, I don't know how hungry I am though…" Haru muttered.

"I know!" Kasumi decided for the table. "We will take a tower, the person who spills it, pays for it!"

The other girls reluctantly agreed, but Ren stayed silent. Smiling weakly at the waitress, he waited until she left to flip open his books. Even with the 'game' Kasumi had forced them to play, Ren was sure he would end up paying. Not because he would spill, but because Kasumi would insist he 'show his chivalry' or something along those lines.

With food ordered, the study session began exactly how most group study sessions begin: talking.

"Oh, Miss President, your notes are so nice! No wonder you always get top marks!"

"Haha… Umm, a lot of hard work, I guess… Also please, call me Makoto. These two already do…"

"W-Will do, M-Makoto. Likewise, call me Haru please. N-Not just because they do of course, but…"

The interaction was cute in a hesitant sort of manner. The girls appeared to have little experience interacting with others their age. Even as their speech became more casual, there was still a hint of hesitancy in their interactions.

It was one that—Makoto at least—didn't possess when talking to Kasumi or Ren. He deduced it was likely because she saw them as anomalies rather than normal students. Ren wasn't sure if he should be happy or offended at the distinction.

Slowly, the talking faded and more studying occurred. Partly enforced by Makoto's draconian measures. Ren didn't mind. Makoto was right, it was never too early to begin preparing. Going over his notes, rewriting the sloppy sections, adding in some detail. It was menial but engaging. Strangely, it made a rather nice break from running through the metaverse.

At some point, the atmosphere changed when the waitress returned with the tower. It sat in the center of the table like a challenge. The first few layers were the smallest and easiest to remove. That made them the most tempting. However, it would also be clear that the person who did so had no intention of paying—showing a lack of manners—and lacked faith in their skills. At this rate, the tower would sit there untouched until they left.

"You guys are silly," Kasumi commented lightly, then with no warning, snatched the top layer. It was a dextrous grab demonstrating her refined fine motor skills. "Ohh, it's good!"

"I-Is it?" Then with a tentative motion, Haru snagged the second layer.

No one had failed yet.

Turning his gaze to Makoto, Ren smiled at the girl. "Please, ladies first."

She raised an eyebrow, but otherwise made no comment as she stretched out to grab the third layer of eight. Already the width was impressive. Still, the president was no slouch as her chopsticks widened to correct size then pressed in carefully around the layer. Taking it unto her personal small plate, Makoto gestured to the tower. "All yours."

"Why thank you." Not to be outdone, Ren flourished his chopsticks once, sending one in a circle before letting them rest easily in his grasp. As the person with the largest hands, he was aware of his minor advantage in this endeavour.

Not overestimating his ability, Ren did it slower than Kasumi, but still faster than either of the other two. Something he kept to himself was that he'd eaten the tower before. He'd done this very challenge and failed at the eighth ring. Yet again, he was on course to challenge that same obstacle.

Once the first set of layers was safely distributed, it was time to eat. None of them took very long to do so. Ren was the last to finish as he had the biggest piece and started last. Haru had started already while Kasumi's had vanished at some point down her gullet.

"One of you can have my next piece if you want," Ren proffered awkwardly. "You seem to be enjoying it-"

""Really!?"" Both Haru and Kasumi asked with overlapping voices.

"You two…" Makoto sighed as laughter consumed the table. "That's enough of a break, back to studying."

"Yes Ma'am," Ren sighed, the hints of a smile still lingering from the previous moment. As he turned his head back down to the table, Ren couldn't miss Kasumi and Haru's gazes still wandering to the center of the table.

"Hey Makoto, can you help me with this? I don't understand why I need to use the permutation formula here instead of the combinatorial one…"

"Let me see…" Makoto mumbled as she scanned Haru's page. All Ren could do was raise an eyebrow and share a glance with Kasumi who just shrugged. Third year math sounded like a different subject entirely from all the trig work that he had to endure. "Ah, here. You need the permutation equation for when order of choosing is important. In this question, if you draw a card it isn't placed back in the deck. Therefore, the chance of drawing two face cards in five pulls is dependant upon the first draws. Put differently, the order is important since the probability shifts with each draw, or choice to generalize it."

"I-I see…"

Ren was used to that sentence. Ryuji used it a lot when Morgana began talking about the metaverse. Ren understood it to mean that nothing was learned but Haru was too nice to reject Makoto's help.

"Yeah, you're gonna need to try that again Makoto," Kasumi snickered.

Sighing, Ren shook his head. Apparently Kasumi didn't have the same reservations. "Don't you have your own work?"

"Not really," the girl shrugged. "I'm all caught up."

"This is about studying ahead for midterms," Makoto snapped, looking abashed. Turning back to Haru's work, Makoto was struggling on how to reword everything.

Despite the interesting transition of Makoto attempting to play teacher, Ren's gaze was drawn to the waitress who was leading people to the table next to theirs. It was two men, both wearing Shujin uniforms. In fact, Ren was pretty sure one of them at least was in his grade.

They were whispering frantically about something as they sat down, never seeing Ren's party. Intrigued by the frantic expressions, Ren sat up a little straighter, focusing on the boys. As the waitress left, their voices rose.

Straining, Ren could make out the beginning of words. Perhaps sensing his new focus, the girls fell silent. As they did, the words washed over the table clearly.

"Look, they only have pictures of me carrying a bag. None of the contents being revealed. I-I'm good, right?"

"I don't know dude…" The second voice answered from the far side of the table. "Being implicated in drug trafficking would be bad…"

Drug trafficking!?

Perking up even straighter, Ren stared hard at the back of the boy's head. The girls had clearly heard as well. All three of them were staring at each other in confusion.

"Y-Yeah, I know, but what else can I do? Unless I cough up a lot of money, they'll give the pictures and info to the police!"

"Maybe… Go to student council?"

"Ha, you must be joking! Little Miss Pres only cares about her reference letters for college. I'm doomed…"

Makoto's face hardened but she didn't say anything. Kasumi reached out a comforting hand and squeezed hers.

"N-No, I'm sure there's a way out… The rumours are circulating, they must have done this to a dozen students by now. I'm sure the police will intervene before too long…"

"…Why is there a drinking limit…"

With that strangled groan, the conversation changed to less interesting topics. Slumping back into his seat, Ren's mind ran a thousand miles an hour. Someone was blackmailing students for money. How did the students get into this in the first place? Where was in occurring?

Ren knew so much but so little. He'd have to discuss it with everyone. There was no way he would let this fly. Ren personally knew well the feeling of being failed by the law. He wouldn't let it happen to dozens more.

"Scary…" Haru muttered. "I can't believe something like that is happening…"

Makoto stayed silent; her face focused down on her books. Even Kasumi's comforting hand did little to comfort her.

"Oh, screw this."

"Kasumi?" Ren reacted too slowly. The brunette was already standing up and marching the scant metre to the boys' table.

"You two! How dare you sit there and lament your fate without doing anything!?" Kasumi stood there imperiously, hands on her hips. Her face was bunched into a tight scowl. Not truly anger, but disappointment.

"Yo-Yoshizawa!?"

"You were eavesdropping?"

"Bah!" Kasumi dismissed the accusations. "If you want your goings-on to be private, don't discuss them in a public place. Now, how are you going to fix this?"

"F-Fix it?" The first boy stuttered—the one that was getting blackmailed. "Unlike you, I don't exactly have the body to seduce a detective to help me, do I?"

"I-I what?" Kasumi looked more rattled than Ren would have expected. She usually rolled over accusations easily. "Akechi would never!"

"So casual," the boy spat back. "What would someone like you know about my problems?"

"Know!?" Kasumi raged, starting to get enraged, her cheeks flushed with heat. "I was literally blackmailed by our principal! I know more about your situation than almost anyone!"

"W-Well, that's still…"

"Oh, shut up with the blabbering," Kasumi ordered. "Stop making excuses about your sorry life and figure out how to fix it!"

"What do you recommend then?" The boy managed to answer, his voice sounding increasingly chastised.

Kasumi merely shrugged, as if the problem had nothing to do with her, even after she had charged her way into it. "Doesn't matter. Safe option I suppose is to throw yourself on the police's mercy. Tell them what you did and how sorry you are. Then, they can't blackmail you with the pictures anymore."

"Maybe I'll do that…" The boy mumbled in response. "I-I'm a student, so they'll be merciful, right?"

No voices of sympathy consoled the desperate voice. Ren stayed silent where he was seated and continued to watch the interaction play out.

"Maybe you should," his friend agreed, his voice pained. "I mean… what's the worse that can happen? At least you won't have to try and pay that 1,000,000 yen they want from you."

Kasumi appeared to jump on the detail. "That payment. How did they want it?"

"Err, w-well, they have guys that roam Shibuya. I'm supposed to leave the cash in an envelope behind a trash can in an alleyway."

"I see… I wonder if…" As Kasumi muttered to herself, she began tapping her lips with her left pointer finger. "Hmm, one last question, how did they rope you into doing all of this?"

"How? W-Well, I wanted some money, and they were offering an easy job that paid well so…"

Kasumi shook her head sadly at the boy. "Well-paying, easy, and not an official business. None of this was suspicious enough for you? Oh, boy."

"Hey! Don't judge, I was desperate…" Ren could hear the embarrassment in the boy's voice as he leaned low over the table. He knew the feeling personally of withering beneath Kasumi's gaze.

"Okay, well, have fun, bye!" Ignoring their astonished looks, Kasumi came and resumed her place beside Ren. "…What?"

As all three of them gazed at her, Kasumi looked surprised, as if her actions had been totally normal. Ren merely shook his head in wonder. He didn't know who this gang's boss that was running this scam, but they should be careful to avoid provoking Kasumi's ire any further. For Ren knew who he'd vote on if they went head-to-head in a clash.

"That should have been my job…" Makoto muttered; her cheeks flushed in humiliation.

"Meh," Kasumi shrugged. "I think it came better from someone that he couldn't dismiss as having no idea about what he's going through."

"He still tried though," Ren snorted, amused at the boy's foolish attempt to ward Kasumi off. That was the moment she had been able to seize control of the conversation.

"Still, aren't you all scared?" Haru asked. "A gang targeting students? How dreadful…"

"Yes…" Makoto muttered. "Maybe it is time for the phantom thieves to prove their justice."

Catching the look directed at him, Ren didn't react. He knew that Makoto's evidence had made them the primary suspects, but anyone with half a brain could have figured that out. As long as she didn't have any evidence, they were safe.

"I wouldn't trust them," Kasumi muttered darkly. "Stealing desires, the over-the-top confessions. They have too much power."

"R-Really?" Haru chimed in, "I thought they were pretty cool. Like heroes from a book or something!"

"Oof, I'm surrounded by Phanatics," Kasumi groaned in mock pain.

"Surrounded? Then Ren, you too…?"

Ren shrugged briefly in answer. "I agree with their actions."

"Agree? Mr. They're the law itself."

Ren glanced at Kasumi, of course she had seen the program. She was friends with Goro. "Haha, just embellishing things for the TV audience you know."

Kasumi rolled her eyes back at him. "I'm not going to hate you over a difference in opinion Senpai. I just find the powers they hold to be extremely frightening."

"Why?" Ren asked, turning to look at her.

Kasumi stared back, a small challenge in her brown eyes. "So far, all we know is that they have manipulated the mental state of two high priority targets to force them to confess to their crimes. Beyond that, however, there have been about half a dozen smaller ones where people have claimed the phantom thieves have corrected minor wrongs. A girl whose ex stopped stalking her, for example."

"…And?" Ren probed, impressed that she knew about the mementos cases. As far as Ren knew, none of them had been publicized in the news.

"And where does it stop? The mental shutdowns, is that a different utilization of that same power? Is that them as well, or maybe there are two groups clashing wielding these strange abilities we know nothing of."

"…That's speculation," Ren breathed, feeling a chill down his back. Most people would take Kasumi's words to be the product of an out-of-control imagination. Wild hypotheses that landed too far from reality. Ren, however, was struck by how correct she may be.

Someone in a black mask.

Madarame's words often haunted Ren's subconscious.

"Of course," Kasumi agreed. "But isn't the point of a democracy to let the people decide what methods are legal to bring people to justice? This isn't the states where we execute our prisoners. We strive to be better. How can we claim to be a forward driven nation when as a country we rely on vigilantes to deliver justice?"

Ren found himself speechless beneath her barrage. Kasumi's points were extremely valid. However, as he sat there, one glaring flaw revealed itself to him. "That's all precedented upon the system working."

"…What do you mean?"

Ren continued, their staring match still unrelenting. "If the people in power can blatantly ignore the laws and will of the people, then the system is flawed. In that case, who better to dole out justice?"

"I…" Kasumi pursed her lips, her brow furrowed as she digested Ren's words. "I do understand what they are doing… I have no right to judge them. Still… I guess I just wish they weren't necessary."

"…Me too," Ren tagged on. As the moment between them ended, Ren became aware of Haru and Makoto staring at both of them intently. Both upperclassmen appeared a bit shell-shocked.

"Amazing…" Haru voiced, accidently most likely as her cheeks coloured after.

Makoto's reaction was more composed as she set her mechanical pencil upon her open textbook. "I guess that settles it then. I look forward to seeing more of their justice."

Ren ignored the implications in Makoto's words and turned back to his textbook. She could make all of the assumptions she wanted. Either way, Ren would follow this path set out before him. At the center of the table, the remaining half of the tower still sat unchallenged.