Chapter 4: Discoveries

A/N: So, I hope this goes without saying, but please comment if you want to see more of this. Constructive criticism is important for me to improve, and there are a few things I would like to know. First, should the chapters be longer? The only reason the chapters have been this short thus far was because I didn't want to artificially increase their length with unnecessary dialogue. Also, please let me know if I put too much into this chapter. I'm trying to find that balance between too little content and too much content, so say something if you think the chapter is overstuffed.

A few days later, the remaining Phantom Thieves had gathered. Supposedly, Ann had made a recent discovery, and wanted her friends to be the first to know.

"Alright, now that we're all here, I found something out about Akira."

"Well, what is it?" Makoto asked.

Ann sighed, then responded. "He's adopted."

They were silent for a few moments, before Yusuke spoke. "If that's true, then who are his real parents?"

"Hold it," Makoto interrupted. "Why are you even concerned about this?"

Ann began to blush heavily as Lupin, Ryuji, and some guy in samurai cosplay they didn't recognize entered the cafe and took a seat at the counter. "I want to tell them… that they'll… be… grandparents… soon."

Lupin immediately perked up. His eyes went wide, and he yelled, "I'M WHAT?!" before quickly slapping his hand over his mouth.

The gang looked at both him and Ann in complete shock.

"Wait," Makoto said slowly. "Akira's your…"

Lupin sighed. "I knew I'd slip up eventually. Yes, your friend wasn't always called Akira Kurusu. He was the result of an idiotic decision I made with my on-and-off girlfriend, Fujiko Mine. I gave him up for adoption when he was born, for obvious reasons. If I hadn't, you would have known him as Arsene Lupin IV. But shouldn't you be more concerned about the fact that his girlfriend is going to give birth to his son at 20? And how are you going to explain to that kid about how his father died in a car crash before he was even born?"

The thieves all began to process what would happen to this child. If they were born, they'd have to grow up without a father.

Sure, the others could help raise them, as parental figures, but none of them had ever even tried babysitting before.

Besides, some of them could be bad influences.

Makoto and Haru would probably be fine, but Futaba could teach them bad habits, and Yusuke… is Yusuke.

Ryuji was a non-issue, now that he had his new role as a full-time thief, so he wouldn't even be around the kid.

Ultimately, It was a question of whether to continue Akira's bloodline, or let it die with him. The child would experience a painful existence, forced to grow up fatherless and potentially becoming the centre of gossip in school and possibly even at work.

"Ann," Makoto gently said. "Just know that whatever happens, you have us, okay?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Now, this might be a bit embarrassing to say, but… actually, we should probably talk about this in private. Haru, come with us to the attic. Girl talk."

The three went into the attic, which seemed to have become the go-to place for such discussions.

As they had their talk, Futaba and Yusuke took the opportunity to ask a few questions for the thieves.

"So," the ginger piped up nervously. "You're actually Lupin, huh?"

"Yep," Lupin said casually. "The one and only."

"Why aren't you disguised or something?"

"Not necessary."

"Okay… hey, what's up with you Inari?"

Yusuke seemed to be staring at the thief's face, as if he was trying to figure out how best to draw it. "Incredible."

"Hm?"

"To think such bizarre proportions could exist on a human face… I wish I'd brought my sketchbook."

Futaba sighed, very much used to the artist's 'weirdness,' as she called it.

"I might not be the most social person on the planet, but even I can tell that's just rude, Inari."

Lupin just smiled. "It's fine, far from the first time someone's made a comment about my face. It's sort of a Lupin family 'thing.'"

He wouldn't let them know about his secret, at least not now. A select few have ever seen his true face, and he wanted to keep it that way.

"By the way, what's with the samurai?" Futaba questioned.

"Oh, that's Goemon," Lupin said dismissively. "And before you ask, yes, that sword is in fact real."

"Really?" Yusuke asked excitedly. "That would make an excellent subject for a painting!"

"I'll think about it," Goemon said.

"Oh, so you CAN talk," Futaba quipped.

"… Shut up."

"Aaand there it is. He's just like you, Inari. Can't take a joke."

"Anyway," Lupin interrupted. "Don't we have places to be

"Yeah, we probably should," Ryuji replied. "Well, let's head out."

"WAIT!" A voice from upstairs shouted.

Haru came down the stairs, her eyes misting over, and glaring at the blonde. She didn't even have the energy for a fake smile.

"Ryuji-kun, there's something we need to discuss. NOW." Her voice cracked a bit at that last word.

Sojiro looked at him, clearly expecting him to say something, while Lupin's face turned pale.

Grabbing the boy by the wrist, the thief quickly pulled him aside.

"You didn't tell her?!" He whisper-shouted, a look of pure panic plastered on his face.

Ryuji sheepishly tried to give an excuse. "I, uh, didn't know how to tell her?"

"Ohhh, crap. Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap. Well, I guess there's no time like the present. You go and talk to her, and I'll wait here with Goemon."

Ryuji turned back towards the door, and stepped in for the inevitable guilt trip and tearful goodbye from his probably-soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend, while the samurai and other young adults stepped outside to give the two some privacy.

"Why didn't you TELL ME?!" Haru screamed, the pain and betrayal in her voice obvious. "I know you want to get justice for Akira's death, we all do, but why did you have to go this far?!"

"I didn't tell you because I wanted to keep you safe! I didn't want you worrying about me!"

"Worrying?! WORRYING?! You're walking down a path you KNOW you can't come back from! If you go through with this, it's over! Didn't you think about how that might affect me?!"

"…"

"And don't give me that 'trying to keep you safe' routine. I don't know if you noticed, but I'm pretty FUCKING good at protecting myself!"

"Maybe against monsters, with access to a near-unstoppable persona, but in the real world against actual people?! I SAW how Sugimura was treating you! If we hadn't intervened when we did, what would've happened?! Wouldn't you have just continued to let yourself suffer?! YOU'RE NOTHING WITHOUT THOSE POWERS!"

"…!"

Ryuji immediately regretted those last words. Haru simply stood in front of him, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Haru, I-"

"No," she interrupted. "Don't say anything. I know what you meant. If I go with you, I'll just get hurt."

"Haru, please, I-"

"I said, don't say anything. Just go."

He turned and opened the door. As he stepped out, he spoke three words.

"I'm so sorry."

He closed the door behind him, leaving the girl to process all of the day's events.

As the blonde exited the cafe, he wordlessly climbed into the Fiat, where Lupin and Goemon were waiting, and drove off, back to the safe house.

The others, concerned for their friends, re-entered Leblanc…

…and saw one Haru Okumura, on her knees, and her head in her hands.