Akira stretched as he slinked down Leblanc's attic stairs, yawning as he walked into the café proper. While Sojiro had offered him a room in the Sakura household after officially getting custody, the frizzy-haired teen had declined. The dusty storage room had grown on him by them - a refuge for him and the former Phantoms both.
(Akira had taken up the barista's offer to get him an actual bed though.)
Putting some of yesterday's curry in the microwave, the teenager started prepping some coffee. He was almost done when the doorbell tinkled and Sojiro strolled in.
"Morning. Want this?" Akira offered him the cup. "I can just brew myself another one."
Sojiro shook his head as he pulled out a chair. "No, no, that's fine. You've got that thing with your friends, right? I don't want to make you late." His father in all but blood grimaced, before putting several letters down on the counter. "Got some mail for you."
Akira froze, mouth suddenly growing dry. Nervously, he swallowed a far-too-hot mouthful of coffee and winced as he singed his tongue.
"Why don't you read them later?" The barista grimaced in sympathy.
"No." The frizzy-haired teen shook his head, all thoughts of breakfast forgotten. "I'd rather just get this over and done with. I might take them upstairs – wish me luck, okay?"
"You shouldn't need luck." Sojiro scowled. "You're one of the brightest kids I know." His shoulders then slumped, the older man's ire fading into something more sad. "Worst comes to worst, you know you've always got a place in Leblanc, right? I'll need to pass the reigns over to someone when I retire anyway, and lord knows it's not gonna be Futaba."
Akira forced a smile. They both knew that no matter how much Akira loved the café, he'd wanted more for his future. Still, the barista's words had come from the heart and the teenager would be lying if he said he wasn't at all touched.
"Thanks, Sojiro. I'll keep you updated."
Scurrying back into his room, he slumped down at his desk, letters in hand. Akira recognised the logo stamped in the top corner of the first envelope instantly. It hadn't been the university he wanted to get into, but at this point, the former Phantom would take almost anything.
Over a year had passed since the group's last official act. Once school had ended for the year, the frizzy-haired teen had gone back to his hometown for what was hopefully the last time in order to pick up his belongings, exchanging one final, stilted conversation with his parents. He'd then gotten on the train to his real home - Tokyo - and hadn't looked back. Shujin had accepted his re-enrollment with grace - probably due to Kawakami's meddlings - and in the blink of an eye, his third year both started and finished. In two weeks, he'd graduate high school and move on to his next endeavour – university.
… If he actually got accepted into one, that is.
The problem with a thing like a criminal record was that it lingered. It didn't matter that Akira had completed parole without a single incident (well, not a single incident that wasn't tied to supernatural schenanigans, anyway). It didn't matter that the man who'd accused him of assault in the first place had been posthumously revealed as a serial sexual abuser. No – the only thing that mattered was that Akira had a mark against him in the system. Despite his excellent grades and Kawakami personally vouching for him, Akira had been denied acceptance for every course he applied to.
The letter he tore open right now was one of his last-ditch options, and quite frankly, if they hadn't accepted him, he had no idea what he'd do. Palms sweaty as his stomach churned, the frizzy-haired teen skimmed over the slip of paper.
To Mister Kurusu Akira.
This is in regard to your application for our Bachelor of Political Science course. We regret to inform you that after careful consideration, we have had to deny you admission…
He didn't bother reading any more than that. Silently, Akira tore up the paper and let the pieces flutter slowly into his bin.
…..
"Guess what, everyone?" Ann cheered, throwing her hands up into the air. "I got in!"
Akira felt giddy with glee, and also somewhat like he'd just swallowed a rock. It was not an emotional cocktail he'd recommend.
The Phantoms – at least the living ones, anyway – were currently enjoying a post-exam party at a fancy sushi place down in Ginza. While it was a bit of a trip for Makoto and Uryū – the former having moved to the other side of the city for her studies – both Quincies were more than down with the idea. Admittedly, no one had been quite as excited as Morgana - the Mod Soul had been pestering Akira to bring him back some sushi for the entire week. The odd group of teens had only just sat down when the blonde dropped her bombshell.
From across the table, Uryū pushed up his glasses, shooting Ann an impressed look. "… I have to say, that's quite a feat. Milan is famous for its fashion – the competition would have been fierce."
"Congrats, Ann." Akira forced a smile. The Quincy was right – getting into a fashion design course in Italy of all places was a hell of an achievement.
(No matter how excited he was for her though, the stark reminder of his own failings stung.)
"Thanks!" She winked, shooting the frizzy-haired teen a grin before turning back to Uryū. "Honestly, there's a good chance I got in due to my name as opposed to my modelling, but… I'm gonna show the whole world I deserve to be there." Ann concluded, fire shining in her eyes.
"I wouldn't expect anything less." Makoto's expression was affectionate as the brunette skimmed through the menu.
Ryuji shuffled at Akira's side, glancing towards the bespectacled Quincy. "You wanna study fashion too, yeah?"
"Textiles, to be more specific, though I'm certainly not going overseas for it." Uryū's expression mellowed. "It would be nice to move closer to Tokyo, though. As much as I love Karakura, I don't love how far away it is from everyone. Still, I'm in no rush to settle on any one university yet – I've got another year of high school left, after all."
"Ugh, don't remind me." Futaba slumped over. "Like seriously – don't."
"It's not that bad – the workload at school is a bit more reasonable, at the very least." Makoto shook her head, though her eyes were shining. "Then again, the fact that your courses are tailored to your interests does make them more interesting..."
"Thirteen months… that's all I've gotta endure… just thirteen months…" The hacker mumbled, face down against the table.
Akira snorted before ruffling her hair affectionately, eliciting a started squawk from his younger sister. For all of Futaba's complaining, she hadn't had any trouble at Shujin – the hacker had befriended a handful of her classmates, even if she professed she liked the Phantoms more. No – if it wasn't for mandatory gym glass, Futaba would be flourishing.
"Say…" Uryū's eyes slid back over to Ann, his cheeks flushing. "When you come back home over the holidays, do you mind showing me your course notes? I'd love to see what sorts of techniques and trends you're studying."
"Of course." The blonde winked, expression turning mischievous as she leaned in closer. "Only if you get your cute girlfriend to bring me some of her pastries though!"
If the Quincy had been red before, at that comment, he turned positively volcanic. "I-Inoue-san is not my girlfriend!"
Now that the initial shock of Ann's announcement had worn off, the knot in Akira's stomach unravelled and he slid back into the conversation with ease. "Only because you haven't asked her out yet."
A chorus of laughs filled the Sunday air, though much to Uryū's probable relief, a waiter came around for their orders before they could tease the Quincy too much.
As the man left, Ryuji shot Ann an odd look. "Man, it's wild that in a couple of months you're gonna be all the way in Europe. It doesn't feel real, really."
Makoto glanced at him. "Have you figured out what your plans are for next year yet?"
Akira turned to the delinquent, interested. The former student council president and Futaba were a shoo-in for criminal justice and information security respectively. Once their Shinigami-related duties died down, Ann had started to get back into her modelling, while Akira started helping out Yoshida, fostering a burgeoning interest in politics. Uryū, meanwhile, had flip-flopped between medicine and textiles for ages, though Ann and Inoue had encouraged him to pursue the latter.
In sharp contrast, Ryuji had absolutely no idea what he wanted to do. His bad leg meant that track was out, and while he could circumvent his old wound if he used his spiritual power, the former athlete admitted doing that made him feel scummy – if drugs got you disqualified, so should using freaky magical powers. Still, sports was his only passion – his only marketable one, anyway. Ryuji liked plenty of things, but… liking something and being able to support yourself with it were two different things.
In a way, it soothed Akira – at least he wasn't the only one whose future was up in the air.
Suffice to say, it caught him off-guard when Ryuji sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "I think I'm gonna take a gap year, actually. There's apparently this good physical rehab place that's just opened downtown – I was hoping to earn some cash while they fixed up my leg. Mum brought me there the other day, and they're actually kinda optimistic about things!"
Akira did a double-take. "Wait, seriously?" His mind raced – Ryuji's marks had never been stellar, and without using his spiritual powers, a sports scholarship was out. If the blond could fix his leg, however…
Ryuji grinned. "Yeah! They prolly aren't gonna get me back to one hundred per cent, but it's not like I wanna compete at the professional level or anythin' – I just need to get fit enough to make up for my exams."
"Huh." Futaba quirked her head. "Whatcha gonna do if you do get into uni?"
Ryuji's expression sobered up. Drumming his fingers against the table, he stared wistfully into the distance. "Don't laugh, okay, but I was actually thinkin' of teaching. A lot of people's lives would've been different if that bastard Kamoshida had actually done his fucking job. I guess I thought that, well… maybe I could be the kinda adult I needed back then."
The teenagers quieted down as they absorbed the former track star's poignant words.
Ann's brows furrowed as she brushed a hand over her heart. "Ryuji… why on earth would we laugh at that?"
"Yeah!" Futaba nodded her head so fast she somewhat looked like a bobble-headed doll. "You just rolled max kindness there – you got the new high score!"
The blond's cheeks turned red, and he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Aw man, don't say shit like that – you're gonna make me blush."
"Too late there." Akira laughed.
"What about you, bro?" Ryuji's eyes flicked over in his direction. "You heard back from anywhere yet?"
The question – both innocuous and well-meaning – stabbed into Akira's heart like a knife. Grimacing, he swallowed as the blond's words settled into his stomach like a bag of stones. From across the table, Futaba winced, awkwardly shrinking backwards – while he hadn't told her about his latest failures, she knew damn well about his earlier ones. Akira's frown deepened – as happy as he was for his friend, it felt like Ryuji had taken a step forward, leaving him behind on his own. The frizzy-haired teen shook the thoughts from his head – Akira knew believing things like that wasn't helpful. His friends didn't stay with him because of his achievements, after all.
(Deep down inside though, Akira knew he wasn't just upset because that old insecurity had resurfaced. He'd wanted to get into a good university for himself, and had been completely and utterly thwarted at every turn due to reasons completely beyond his control.)
His younger self would have covered up his bitterness, plastering a smile on his face instead of a bandage over his heart, but Akira liked to think he'd matured over the last year. He'd endured one near-world-ending crisis followed by a fuckton of therapy, after all. So instead, while he still smiled, he allowed it to be a rueful one.
"Yeah, but it's all been rejection letters so far." He confessed, finishing his sentence with a jaded scoff. "Three guesses as to why."
Makoto's eyebrow twitched, and the brunette held her chopsticks just a tiny bit too tightly. "That's ridiculous – you were at the top of your grade, and completed your probation without a hitch. The fact that people are still holding your record against you…"
Akira sighed, leaning back into his chair. "That's life. It's not like there's anything I can do about it."
"Fuckin' hell!" Ryuji cursed, slamming his hand down on the table. While the restaurant wasn't super busy given it was Sunday brunch, the blond still attracted a few stares. Grimacing, he lowered his voice. "I can't believe folks are still giving you crap for what you supposedly did to Shido of all people."
Uryū leant in closer. "Did you manage to get a recommendation letter? If some of your teachers vouched for you, perhaps it'd be enough to bypass your criminal record..."
"Yep." Akira nodded. "Kawakami wrote me one, but she's not exactly a big name – they probably dismissed her as some poor, gullible woman who brought into whatever sob story I gave her."
The restaurant grew silent outside of the chefs' knives slicing fish and the clink of cutlery from distant patrons. Each of the Phantoms silently brewed in anger, acutely aware of the injustice facing their leader and yet knowing they couldn't do a damn thing about it. It wasn't like you could psychologically torment court records into changing their minds, after all.
"Maybe… maybe you could talk to Yoshida-san?" Ann suggested, fiddling with her hair the way she always did when she felt uncertain about something. "Maybe he can get you into politics properly even if you don't have a degree?"
"I suppose there's no harm talking to him." Akira smiled weakly, before the conversation moved on to other things.
…..
The frizzy-haired teen followed the model's advice several days later. "I'm here!" He announced as he opened the door to Yoshida's office.
The politician's humble workplace was located in downtown Shibuya – the district he represented, naturally. The foyer was small but homely – several plush seats rested against the wall, and Yoshida's secretary gave him a warm smile as the teenager strolled in. Akira didn't tend to work in the public part of the office, however. Instead, he shared a small room with Yoshida himself. It was barely large enough to fit in two desks and a bookshelf, but that suited the two men just fine. While the politician probably had enough cash to get a larger room in Chiyoda – he'd skyrocketed in popularity the last year, after all – the idea of moving away from his constituents wouldn't have ever occurred to Yoshida. The humble man's only goal as a politician was to make sure the voices of the people he represented were heard, after all.
He was quite literally the antithesis of everything Shido stood for, and as a result, Akira found himself drawn to Yoshida like a moth to a flame. Unlike the poor moth though, the frizzy-haired teen was actually benefitting from it.
Walking into their shared office, Akira saw it was empty – Yoshida was probably at a meeting. Booting up his computer, the teen smiled when he saw a yellow sticky note on the end of his monitor – it seemed the politician had anticipated his absence today, and had the foresight to write down Akira's tasks for the day. There were a couple of speeches he wanted the youth to review, on top of the boy's normal duties as the social media person.
He'd finished writing down his suggested amendments to one speech and was halfway through the other when Yoshida entered the room.
"Sorry I'm late, Kurusu-kun." The aging man gave him a warm smile. "Unfortunately, Councilman Matsushita wanted my input on a small matter."
"No worries." The teenager smiled.
They both returned to their work after that, Yoshida answering a lot of calls while Akira translated what was happening on social media into something his not-particularly tech-savvy boss could actually understand. It wasn't until Akira's shift had pretty much reached its end that he decided to broach the topic.
"Say, Yoshida-san…" He smothered his nerves. "Is it okay if I ask you something?"
"Of course it is, Kurusu-kun." Yoshida blinked in surprise, looking up from some legislature he was pondering over.
"Once I'm finished school… I was wondering if I'd be able to join your team properly? Don't get me wrong, I have no problems helping out with the social media stuff, but…" Akira bit his lip. "I don't want to just be the intern forever. I want to change Japan for the better."
He immediately knew the politician's answer when the man's expression turned to pity. "Kurusu-kun…" Yoshida steepled his fingers. "I'd love to be able to employ you in a more official capacity. You're a passionate, articulate young man with a strong moral compass – exactly what our country needs. Unfortunately, the federal government's employment standards are stringent…"
The politician hesitated awkwardly, and Akira sighed, knowing exactly where this was headed. "Aaaand I'm not going to pass the background checks."
Yoshida smiled sympathetically. "You might have better luck trying the traditional way. Good marks from a reputable university will stop the hiring committee from vetoing your application outright. How are your applications going?"
Akira wasn't sure if he wanted to scream or laugh.
…..
Kurusu Akira wasn't the only spiritually sensitive person in Tokyo having an awkward conversation with their boss at the moment. If someone had asked Niijima Sae last year who she hated most in the world, she would have either said the Hollow that killed her father, Kaneshiro and his sex trafficking ring, or, if she was in a particularly unoriginal mood, Shido Masayoshi.
The fact that there were three individuals on that list should have been a sign – Sae had no idea what true hatred was back then, not really. Sure, while she still immensely disliked all of said people (and monsters), her disdain for them was simply that – disdain.
No, there was only one person in existence the prosecutor truly, utterly despised with the burning passion of a thousand dying suns, and that was the misogynistic, pig-faced twerp who was the new Director of the SIU. At least his predecessor put some effort into hiding the fact that he was ruthless, amoral scum. Unfortunately for her, Hamaguchi wouldn't know what subtly was if hit him over the head with a baseball bat.
"Sir." She gritted her teeth, the honorific tasting like shards of glass on her tongue. "We literally cannot legally detain Iwata any longer. The only evidence we have on him is purely circumstantial, and not even compelling circumstantial evidence at that."
The older man gave her a lazy shrug. "So? Then find some that is."
She took in a deep breath, resisting the urge to scream. Instead, Sae gave him a pointed smile and hoped he'd catch a hint. "Tell me, sir – how exactly am I meant to 'find' something that doesn't exist?"
Alas, she had no such luck, and Hamaguchi gave her a flat stare. "You make sure it appears – it's not a concept any of your colleagues struggle with." He stood up and started to pace his office. "But then again, perhaps it's a bit unfair of me to expect so much from a woman."
Sae balled her fists. "My gender has nothing to do-!"
"Take a break, Niijima." The Director interrupted her. "I'm taking you off this case."
His words hit her like a slap to the face. "… What?!"
"In fact, I'm going to put you on standby for a little while. If I recall correctly, you still aren't married, are you? You should find yourself a good man – perhaps that'll teach you how to be compliant."
The prosecutor's jaw dropped open, though no sound left her mouth as sheer and utter shock strangled her. Spinning on her heel, she stormed out of the office, not even bothering to give him a reply. Her surroundings were nothing but a distance blur as Sae entered the elevator, still reeling from Hamaguchi's words. It wasn't until she was halfway across the SIU foyer that her incredulity abated enough for outrage to seep in. How… how dare he! How dare he treat her like some feeble fool for the grand crime of not wanting to use blatantly forged evidence?! Storming out of the building, she marched down the street, and the second she got a moment's privacy, Sae disappeared from Chiyoda with a flash.
The best thing about her increasing comfort with her spiritual powers was that they allowed her to get away from places very, very quickly. Sae didn't have any destination in mind as she flashed across Tokyo – she just needed to get the hell away from the SIU offices. Eventually, though, her muscles started to burn as the rage inside her ebbed away. Finally slowing to a halt, she blinked as she recognised her surroundings – she was in Yogen-Jaya. The prosecutor let out a wry huff – perhaps her running around hadn't been so random after all. Instead of taking the side street down to Leblanc, she progressed further down the main road before turning left, to her new favourite place in the sleepy suburb.
As the Takemi Clinic came in sight, a rare flash of mischievousness grabbed the prosecutor. Instead of going around to the front door, she picked a pebble off the sidewalk and tossed it gently at the window. After a moment's wait, Sae grinned as a familiar mop of blue hair bobbed into sight. Tae arched an eyebrow when she looked down to see the prosecutor waving at her, and shaking her head affectionately, she opened the window.
"Oh my. Are you here to serenade me?"
Sae laughed. "God no – you've done nothing to deserve enduring that."
"I dunno." The doctor purred, drumming her fingers on the windowsill. "You have a very impressive voice." As the silver-haired woman flushed, Tae took some pity on her. "Come in – it's cold out there, and I'd prefer you more as a partner than a patient."
Making sure the coast was clear – which it was, given it was still winter – Sae quickly hopped up and slipped into the doctor's office.
If Director Hamaguchi was her least favourite development this year, her relationship with Takemi Tae was the opposite. After the drama with Shido, the doctor finally cracked and asked for an explanation about everything, and given how she'd helped out that disastrous day, Sae had decided to give her one. Despite their rocky start, the prosecutor found herself pleasantly surprised by the doctor's intelligence, ambition, and most of all, kindness. A couple of casual coffees had slowly turned into dinner dates, which had then turned into making out in the stairwell of Sae's apartment.
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" The prosecutor asked as she took off her coat.
Tae shook her head, wheeling her chair back to her desk. "Not really – I was just writing down some research notes, but they can wait. So, why do I have the pleasure of your company at… 2:42 on a Wednesday afternoon?"
A scowl instantly crossed the prosecutor's face at the reminder of why she was there.
The doctor winced sympathetically. "That bad, huh? Come here." She hopped onto her examination table and patted the spot by her side.
Sae plunked herself down, resting her head on Tae's shoulder, but as Hamaguchi's vile, vile words ran through her mind again, she migrated to the doctor's lap.
"It's my boss. Again." The prosecutor sighed, some of her agitation fading as her girlfriend stroked her hair. "I tried to push back against forging evidence for that smuggling case I've been working on, and he put me on leave. Oh, and he was disgusting about it, as per usual."
Tae's hand froze. "Shit. Seriously?"
Sae nodded. "Unfortunately. Sure, it's not like he can actually fire me – people would be outraged if the person who put Shido's conspiracy behind bars was sacked – but… it's still just so frustrating. Hamaguchi wouldn't dare treat me like this if I wasn't a woman in her twenties."
The dark-haired woman pursed her lips, chewing over the prosecutor's words. Eventually, she let out a sigh. "… Look, mind if I tell you something? It's not gonna be what you want to hear, but I think it's what you need."
After a moment's hesitation, Sae nodded. "Sure, why not? It can't be anything worse than what I heard from the Director."
"I think you should quit your job."
The prosecutor shot straight upright. "Excuse me?!"
Before Sae could spurt out any number of objections, Tae pressed her fingers against her lips. "Hear me out, okay? The reason I'm saying this is because I've been in exactly the same position. Even when things in the hospital started going to hell, I refused to give up. I put up with the misogyny, the abuse, the awful hours and the cut corners – all of it. If I let Oyamada bully me out, I'd thought I'd be failing all the other girls who wanted to be doctors one day. I thought it'd just prove that Oyamada was right - that women couldn't hack it, after all." She finished with a wry chuckle.
The prosecutor frowned, looking to the side. "Our circumstances aren't exactly the same. I might need to ask Kurusu-kun for a favour, but Hamaguchi isn't an insurmountable obstacle."
Tae shook her head. "Hamaguchi isn't the problem. The reason he gets away with being a pig is because everyone around him agrees with what he's saying, even if they're more subtle about it. Your problem isn't a sexist boss – it's a sexist system. That's not something you can take down on your own, even if you try."
Sae's grimace deepened as frustration boiled within her. A part of her screamed in protest at her partner's words. She'd always been determined, hardworking, and perseverant – obstacles were simply things to be powered through or outsmarted. At the same time, the prosecutor had been to enough therapy sessions to know that attitude was a double-edged sword – pushing her way through her problems without properly processing them had only ever hurt her in the long run.
"Logically, I know you're right." She rubbed her temples, staving off a headache. "I'd need power to change the SIU, and I'd only ever get said power if I was willing to compromise my sense of justice." Sae shuddered as she remembered Kuchiki Byakuya – the man had been a chilling cautionary tale. "Still, I… I can't just leave like that. I'm not rich – I need money, and there's Makoto to worry about too."
Tae's expression softened. "Your sister's a strong kid – in a couple of years, she'll be able to stand on her own. Anyway, I have a hunch she'd agree with me if she heard about this latest drama. We both want what's best for you, and I don't think the SIU is it. Tell me… do you even like your job?"
For the second time that afternoon, Sae's eyes widened. "Pardon?"
"The only time I've ever seen you genuinely happy with your work was when you convicted Shido's co-conspirators, and that's about it."
The prosecutor's mouth hung open, as she reeled from Tae's words. Did she enjoy prosecuting? The battle of wits in the courtroom always made her feel alive, like a tiger hunting down its prey, but her partner was right – the only victory that had given her genuine satisfaction over the last year was the Vanishing Incident case. Most of her wins… they were nothing more than a tick on a clipboard. And that wasn't even getting into everything else – the internal politics, the constant chauvinistic comments, the small, tiny ethical infractions she witnessed daily yet could do nothing about…
"I…" The words tasted heavy in Sae's mouth. "I don't know."
Tae's gaze was knowing as she caressed the prosecutor's cheek. "You don't need to answer that question right now – just promise to think about it, okay?" The doctor then stared into the distance. "When I was fired, I thought it was the end of the world. But… I think it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. Sure, I miss having lab staff and actual equipment, but now I can be a doctor on my own terms. I'm not stuck in front of a computer and chemical set all day – I can work alongside my patients, and actually see the effects of my medicine." She then gave Sae a cheeky wink. "Plus, being able to take a break whenever I want so I can console my girlfriend is a pretty big perk."
Her irreverent comment instantly disintegrated the sombre mood.
Sae rolled her eyes, but an affectionate smile quirked her lips. "Oh, please. We both know your favourite thing about your job is that you can wear studded chokers in the office."
The doctor winked as a laugh pealed from her throat. "Guilty as charged, Ms Prosecutor."
…..
Akira looked down at Akechi's small, nondescript gravestone. Unlike the first time he'd visited the monument, the once-pristine snow around it was melted into muddied pools of slush that splattered under his feet. The earth was sodden, and the leafless trees' spindly branches reached into the skies like beggars. Sighing, the teenager stared up at the sky and was greeted with thick, overcast clouds.
Great. This place is just as bleak as my future.
He shook his head, turning back to the shrine. Lips thinning, a complex cocktail of emotions swirled in Akira's chest. To this day, his memories of Akechi invoked so many feelings – anger, regret, frustration, grief. While time had muted them, it had done nothing to untangle the twisted knot inside the teen. Akira had come here for a reason, however, and it wasn't lamenting over the past.
For all his faults, only a fool would deny Akechi's natural brilliance. The brunet had possessed enough tenacity, cunning, and charm to pull himself out of the pit of his sordid past. While Shido would have certainly helped, it wasn't all down to him – Akechi would never have been able to keep up the Detective Prince rouse if it wasn't for his unbreakable determination.
Akira could really use some of that relentless drive right now.
The frizzy-haired teen crouched down, eyes level with his rival's name. "Tell me… what would you do in my shoes?"
He was snapped out of his thoughts by the sounds of soggy leaves crunching under feet. The frizzy-haired teen didn't bother turning around, assuming it was simply a lonely soul visiting a long-lost loved one, until a familiar voice rang through the air.
"Kurusu-kun?"
Blinking, he peered over his shoulder and an odd wave of déjà vu ran over him when he found himself staring at Niijima Sae. While it had been winter's beginning as opposed to its end when they last ran into each other by Akechi's grave, the fact that it'd now happened twice was still pretty weird.
He gave the prosecutor a wan smile. "Seriously, Akira's fine. We've known each other long enough by now."
"Apologies – it slipped my mind." Her grin was equally clipped as she joined his side, and it quickly fell off her face when she looked down at Akechi's headstone.
Sae stared down at the grave, and Akira's eyes lingered on the silver-haired woman, his sense of curiosity beginning to tingle. While he'd dropped by the monument sporadically throughout the year, the frizzy-haired teen knew that Sae only visited it on anniversaries. Today, however, was a random afternoon in the middle of March.
"What brings you here?" He asked, voice non-judgemental.
The prosecutor pursed her lip, brows furrowed in thought. "I… I've been having some issues at work lately. I suppose I was wondering what advice Akechi-kun would give me if he was still here. While I know it was an act, if you ignored his 'contributions' to the Vanishing Incidents case, we actually worked together fairly well."
"Huh." He tilted his head. "That's… kind of why I came here today too." Akira sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know I could technically talk to him if I needed to – Rukia would be happy to organise something, but…"
But it was different. He'd never known Rukia in life – she simply felt like a good friend who lived far, far away. Akechi, though… they'd been rivals, playing a game of cat and mouse that had eventually turned from playful to ugly. Before their game reached an end though, Akira had been blindfolded, and Akechi torn from both this world and his side. He knew that if he clung to his memories of the boy, enmeshed himself even further with the dead and the gone, Akira would lose all sight of the living, breathing world before him. And life was a beautiful thing. Akira couldn't mire himself in the past while the future was unfolding right before him, even if it hurt at times.
Sympathy shone in Sae's eyes – now that Akira thought about it, she'd know exactly what it was like, wouldn't she? The prosecutor was in the same boat when it came to her father. He was both a mere text message away, and yet so far out of reach.
The duo fell into a contemplative quiet for a while, the only sounds those of distant traffic and the light breeze. Eventually, however, Sae broke the silence.
"Perhaps I could help?" She ventured, before elaborating. "With whatever's troubling you, that is."
The frizzy-haired teen let out a deep sigh. "Unless you can miraculously clear my criminal record, probably not."
The graveyard fell into silence yet again, but it was a completely different sort than it was before. Slightly unnerved at the non-reaction, Akira slowly turned to face Sae. The prosecutor was staring at him with wide eyes, like he'd suddenly sprouted angel wings and given her some sort of divine revelation.
"Uh… Sae-san?" He screwed up his face, watching her hesitantly.
"I… I could do something about that, actually." She stated, sounding slightly surprised by the words coming out of her mouth.
"What?" Akira rubbed his eyes as a wave of shock almost bowled him over.
"You were convicted because the woman you tried to save was blackmailed into making a statement against you, yes?" Sae rubbed her chin, and Akira could almost see the synapses in her brain connecting. "But Shido is dead, and his supporters have been rounded up - the Conspiracy is old news by now. If we could ensure she's protected from any perjury charges, there's no reason for her not to retract her statement. With that gone, there's no evidence against you – you'd be a free man."
This time, Akira was the one rendered utterly speechless. He closed and opened his mouth several times, scarcely able to believe the prosecutor's words.
"Are you… are you serious?" He gawped, before narrowing his eyes. "Won't you be too busy with your job?"
This time, it was the prosecutor's turn to give him a rueful grin. "Remember those work problems I mentioned earlier…?"
…..
After spending a good evening discussing the circumstances of his arrest with Sae, the duo had come up with a plan. While neither of them knew the woman's name or where she lived, someone did. Namely, the Whole who'd sent Akira after her in the first place. It was a long shot, but... well, it was a place to start, at the very least.
"Aw man, this is so exciting!" Ryuji grinned giddily as he stepped off the train and stretched. Bouncing on his heels, the blond raced down the station's stairs and into the sunlight.
Akira shook his head fondly, pushing up his glasses. While Okina city dwarfed the tiny villages that surrounded it, it was more of a glorified town than a metropolis like Tokyo. Still, even then, it would take ages to scour the entire city for a single Whole that might not even be there anymore. As a result, Akira had done some recruiting. His second-year and university friends were still busy with their studies, but both of his fellow third-years had time to spare. If Rukia was there, it would have been a reunion of the original Phantoms team. Instead, they'd have to make do with Sae.
A bemused expression crossed Ann's face as she hopped down the stairs and caught up to the other blonde at a far more sedate pace. "So, this is where you grew up, huh? It's… quaint?"
Akira rolled his eyes, distaste flashing across his features as he scanned the country town that had thrown him to the wolves the second he'd stepped out of line. "It's a dump."
Brows furrowed, Ryuji scratched the back of his head. "It ain't that bad. Sure, it's kinda small, but it's sort of homey in a way."
"I think Akira-kun's disdain has less to do with the architecture and more to do with the people." The prosecutor commented dryly as she joined the teens. "Anyway, we're not here to sightsee. We've got an entire city we need to search before the train back comes."
The frizzy-haired teen shivered at the reminder. They were over two hours away from Tokyo, and the thought of having to shunpo that distance made him wince. "Sae-san's right. God knows I don't want to have to run back home."
Horrifically enough, Ryuji's expression turned vaguely contemplative, but thankfully, Ann looked perturbed like any normal person would at that idea.
Walking away from the city centre, the odd group entered the small side street where Akira had encountered Shido Masayoshi for the first time. Despite the bright daylight and early signs of the coming spring, the teenager shifted on the spot uncomfortably. The suburb's pleasant veneer felt like it was made of cheap plastic, curling away at its seams and showing the ugliness it hid underneath its mask.
Unfortunately, there were no signs of the ghost they were looking for in the nearby area, so they each chose a direction and shunpoed away. Hidden under the veil of his Reiatsu, Akira felt some of his pent-up apprehension fade away. Leaping onto a rooftop, he surveyed the outskirts of Okina city. A pang ran through him – when viewed like this, from a wholly unfamiliar angle, he could see why Ryuji had defended the place. The town was rustic, a small slice of suburbia that almost reminded him of Yogen-Jaya.
Akira was about to move on, having deemed there were no Wholes in his area, when his phone chimed.
Ann: found him! come over here!
On cue, the blonde's Reiatsu flared, and Akira's heart skipped a beat. Hands shaking, he raced to his friend's side. As he reached her location, Ann gave him an excited wave while the oh-so-familiar Whole at her side jumped back in shock at his sudden appearance.
"Holy shit – it is you!" The spirit gawped, blinking rapidly like he couldn't quite believe his eyes.
"Yeah, likewise." The frizzy-haired teen watched him with wide eyes.
Now that he could actually see the spirit properly, he looked slightly older than Akira had initially assumed, nearing his thirties as opposed to just entering his twenties. Looking down, the Shinigami winced when he saw the man's Chain of Fate – it barely reached beyond his pectorals. Once they were done with him, they'd need to send the man on.
Two more cracks of shunpo echoed across the road as Ryuji and Sae joined their side.
"So, this is him?" Sae examined the spirit.
"Nice to meet you, dude!" Ryuji grinned, offering the Whole his hand. "Thanks for sticking up for my buddy, even if it didn't really work."
"Uh… no worries." The man still looked utterly stumped as he shook the blond's hand. "So, uh, what is this? Some sort of… spiritualist association?"
"Not really. We're actually evil spirit hunters, and that's my lawyer." Akira jabbed a thumb at the prosecutor.
Sae cleared her throat. "Truthfully, we're here to find your sister. I'm trying to get the charges levelled against Akira-kun dropped."
The Whole's expression immediately turned serious. "Aoyama Mitsuyo. She was a secretary at the local government office, but she left a few months back after the mayor got kicked out. I don't know where she is now, unfortunately."
Frowning, the frizzy-haired teen glanced at Sae. "Do you think the mayor could have been connected to Shido?"
The silver-haired woman shrugged. "Possibly. I only handled the high-profile cases personally, but a lot of people were implicated in the scandal."
"Wait – does this mean we're back where we started?" Ryuji's shoulders slumped despondently.
"No – now that we've got her name and former workplace, I should be able to track her down." Sae shook her head, before bowing to the spirit. "Thank you - you've been a massive help."
The Whole waved his hands. "Nah – it's seriously the least I could do." He then turned to Akira, meeting his eyes. "You… you saved my sister from that man, and all they did was punish you for it."
"If it's any consolation, Shido is quite literally rotting in the fires of hell. Besides, I don't regret it – having a criminal record is a pain, but without it, I wouldn't be who I am today. I sort of owe you thanks for that." Eyes drifting downward, he stared at the Whole's Chain of Fate. "… Speaking of that, can I do you a favour too?"
…..
Sae compared the address on the mailbox with the one on her phone before marching up to the townhouse's entrance and knocking on the door.
About a week had passed since they visited Okina. Thankfully, Aoyama had a page on LinkedIn, and the prosecutor had been able to get her address from the woman's boss. The secretary had left Okina in favour of the big city, and now resided on the outskirts of Chiba. As Sae eyed the house's polished exterior, she frowned – Aoyama had certainly done well for herself since she'd left Akira to rot.
The door creaked open, snapping the prosecutor out of her musings.
"Hello?" Aoyama poked her head out, confused but not wary of the unexpected guest.
Her chestnut hair was cropped shorter than it was on her social media profiles, and Sae's eyes lingered on the glistening ring on her finger. That explained the house – there was no way anyone could afford a place like this on a low-ranked government worker's salary.
Donning a professional smile, Sae gave the woman a slight bow before withdrawing her ID. "Niijima Sae, SIU. Can I have a word?" As the blood drained from Aoyama's face and her grip on the side of the door tightened, Sae decided to throw her a bone. "I'm not here on a formal investigation – I'm working on a personal case I believe you can help me with."
While Aoyama was still clearly on guard, some of the tension in her posture faded. "… Yes, that's alright. Please, come in – I'll make some tea."
As the woman guided her into her house, Sae paused when she glimpsed into a room to see that unlike the rest of the house, it was painted a pastel blue. She siphoned the information away for later and followed after her host. Once Aoyama finished preparing her tea, Sae waited until the woman was sitting down before she started. Once she did, the prosecutor reached into her satchel and withdrew a document. The second the brunette saw Akira's mugshot at the page's top, she turned a ghostly shade of white.
"Kurusu Akira." Sae folded her arm. "Convicted of assault at age fifteen, he was exiled from Okina city in order to fulfil the conditions of his probation. It was an odd case – the victim's identity was sealed, and Kurusu-kun's fate was instead determined by the words of a bystander. Namely, you."
Aoyama didn't respond, lips pursed into thin a slit as her eyes remained locked on Akira's photo.
"… Of course, we both know the situation was more complicated than that." Sae continued. "I don't hold your actions against you – given that Shido has been posthumously linked to over eighty deaths, you had a very legitimate reason for complying with his demands. Still… while you no longer have to live under his shadow, Kurusu-kun isn't nearly as lucky. I want you to retract your witness statement and allow this young man to have the future he deserves."
Finally, the secretary recovered her voice. "… I thought you were a prosecutor, not an attorney?"
Sae stilled, as a complicated knot of emotions tangled in her chest. She was acting like a defence attorney, wasn't she? A wave of surrealness ran over her. Truthfully, she'd never thought much of her opposition in court. At worst, they attempted to aid and abet some of society's nastiest pieces of work, but more frequently, they were simply… nothing. A mere formality in a system that had already decided the accused was guilty.
The silver-haired woman shook her head – now wasn't the time to ponder the nature of justice or her work. "I'm qualified to work on either side of the bench. Like I said, this case is a personal one."
Aoyama drummed her fingers on the table, looking at the ground as she took her sweet time to reply. "I… I can't. My fiancé doesn't know anything about this – I can't go back to court."
Sae stiffened, a note of anger leaking into her voice. "… Excuse me?"
While her feelings towards Aoyama were neutral at best, Sae knew that logically, she couldn't really be blamed for throwing Akira to the wolves. Shido's network was more of a spiderweb, and the politician was more than happy to devour any flies in his web. This, however…? It was beyond the pale. She would seriously let the boy who tried to save her from being raped suffer simply because she was scared her partner would judge her?!
"Are you seriously saying you'd ruin the future of a kind, selfless young man – a young man who tried to protect you from a monster – just because you're scared of having a tough conversation?" Sae attempted to smother the rage that kindled within her, but it was impossible to keep the coldness out of her voice. "While perjury is a serious offence, given the circumstances, you'll likely get off with a slap on the wrist at worst."
Aoyama shivered. "M-Masao's the only person I have left… I can't lose him."
Clenching her fists, Sae internally counted down from three. Anger clearly wouldn't sway Aoyama, so she'd need to try a different approach. "You're trying for a child, aren't you?"
At Sae's change of tracks, the brunette blinked, caught off guard. "H-How you do you know that?"
"That room we passed on the way here… it was a nursery, wasn't it?" The prosecutor assessed the other woman closely. "How would you feel if your child was banned from pursuing higher education, despite being the brightest person in their class, simply because they tried to help someone? How would you feel if your child was orphaned and left to suffer in the foster care system – the very same system Kurusu-kun dreams of reforming?"
Aoyama's eyes widened, but the woman remained clammed up. As no sound greeted Sae but the distant ticking of the clock, the prosecutor rose to her feet. This whole excursion had been a waste of her time.
Stiffly, she grabbed a business card and placed it on the table. "Contact me if you have a change of heart. It's obvious this conversation has run its course. I'll see myself out."
Turning on her heel, Sae marched down the hallway, fuming. Her rage was tempered by the guilt that started to slowly seep into her stomach though. Akira had grown increasingly happier as the week had gone on, finally feeling a glimmer of hope for the first time in ages. Yes, there were other avenues Sae could pursue to clear Akira's record, but they'd likely take her months, assuming they worked at all. Just what on earth was she meant to tell him?
Sae was just about to reach for the door handle when a voice made her halt in her tracks.
"Wait!"
Turning around, she met Aoyama's eyes. The woman was still pale with fear, but this time, there was the slightest hint of steel in her expression. "I'll do it. I'll tell the courts Kurusu-san is innocent."
…..
Akira fidgeted nervously with his suit's cuffs as he waited in the defendant's lobby. Sojiro and Sae had both suggested he dress up for his court date, necessitating a shopping trip with Ann that Rukia joined in on via video call. While the Shinigami knew nothing about Western fashion, she'd approved of his black-and-white colour scheme before refusing to wish Akira luck – her violet eyes had twinkled while she said he didn't need it.
The teenager swallowed when his name was called out by the bailiff. Oh god. She's completely and utterly overestimated me.
"Knock 'em dead, okay?" Futaba grinned while she punched his arm, his foster family having joined him while he waited for his trial to start.
"Don't do that." Sojiro tutted, shaking his head. "Just keep your head down, and let Niijima do her thing."
The frizzy-haired teen nodded, bile rising to the back of his throat. "Yep, sounds like a plan."
Hands trembling, he left the Sakuras' sides and opened the mahogany doors leading into the courtroom. It was larger than the one he'd last been in, but rather drab compared to anything in Ace Attorney or a legal drama. The roof hung low, the walls were a plain off-beige that peeled at the corners, and the furniture looked like it had been brought at a discount store. Sae stood behind the defence's table and gave him the slightest of smiles as he slipped behind the dock.
"All rise for the retrial of Kurusu Akira." The judge – a middle-aged man with a severe expression – intoned once Akira was in place.
The prosecutor's opening statement was almost identical to the one given by the man who'd ensured his guilty verdict the first time around. Sae's rebuttal, however, was the exact opposite of his prior attorney's.
"New evidence has come to light that sheds doubts on my client's guilt. Kurusu Akira never should have been arrested that day, let alone charged for assault. The defence would like to call Aoyama Mitsuyo to the stand…"
As the brunette was ushered into the room, Akira's stomach didn't just flip, but did an entire somersault. Judging by how clammy the woman's skin was, he wasn't the only one whose nerves were getting to them. When Aoyama spoke though, her voice was steady. Shido Masayoshi had been harassing her, Akira stepped in to help, and the politician tripped over his own feet before whacking his head. The prosecutor pressed her on the second point, questioning if in the darkness she'd underestimated the strength in Akira's gentle push, though the judge was infinitely more interested in why Aoyama had changed her testimony.
"For the same reason most people avoided crossing Shido Masayoshi – Aoyama-san's life would have been in jeopardy if she didn't submit to his commands." Sae explained. "I would like to submit these files to the court…"
Akira's brows rose – it seemed the acting attorney had somehow managed to find a backlog of Shido and Aoyama's communications. While no overt threats were made, there were plenty of insinuations. When combined with the politician's known death count, it painted an ugly picture.
From there onwards, the trial was smooth sailing. Sae closed her argument by bringing up his behaviour during his probation – how he'd become the highest-scoring student in his grade despite his record leaking, and how he'd successfully integrated himself into his new community. As she read testimonials given by Kawakami, Yoshida, and others he'd befriended during his time in Tokyo, Akira's cheeks burned bright red.
Eventually, the judge brought the trial to a close. "It is abundantly clear the only thing Kurusu-san is guilty of is misfortune. If anything, he is the victim here, yet another casualty of Shido Masayoshi's actions. I declare the defendant not guilty."
Not guilty. The words struck Akira like a bullet. At first, he simply blinked, struggling to piece the two oh-so-foreign words together. When the puzzle finally slipped into place, an incredulous laugh slipped out of his throat. They'd… they'd actually done it.
He was free.
All of the muted hopes and dreams for the future he'd long since discarded suddenly bloomed back to life. The boring courthouse suddenly looked like the most vibrant place in the world, as for the first time in months, optimism seeped back into his heart. He could explore the world without being worried about getting stopped at borders. He could apply for whatever job he wanted, without a background check stopping him in his tracks. Most importantly, he could finally get into a decent fucking university.
"Excited?" Sae smiled when she joined his side on his journey out to the lobby, red eyes sparkling.
"Yeah – yeah, I am." A stupid grin crossed Akira's face as he replied breathlessly.
…..
Sojiro ushered Akira, Sae, and Futaba into his car the second they stepped out of the lobby, the hacker bouncing on her heels in excitement as she got the good news. Sae withdrew her phone once she'd clipped her seatbelt in, clearly about to text Makoto the good news, when the hacker pulled it out of her hands.
"Nuh-uh – no spoiling things!"
"We might have organised a little surprise for you back in Leblanc." Sojiro chuckled as he glanced at Akira.
Futaba nodded rapidly. "Yeah! This ain't the sort of announcement you can just drop in a text – this deserves a whole awards show!"
Sae arched a brow. "A bit optimistic, weren't you? A not guilty verdict was hardly guaranteed."
The barista waved a hand dismissively. "I knew you could do it. Besides, if worst came to worst, it would have been a consolation party."
Finally arriving back home, Akira took the lead as they walked back to Leblanc. As he peered through the café's door, he saw that Rukia was absent – likely too busy with her duties to come – but the rest of his closest friends were gathered there. Ryuji paced around while Uryu sat at the counter, and Ann and Makoto both shared a table. Morgana had joined the girls, the plushie's cute features abnormally serious. Streamers and tinsel hung from Leblanc's rafters, though the tension in the air far outweighed the decoration's celebratory aura.
As he stepped into Leblanc, the doorbell announcing his presence with a jingle, the assorted group of teens lingering in the café immediately leapt to their feet.
"Surprise!" He grinned, Futaba, Sojiro, and Sae entering the café after him.
"Akira!" Makoto yelled as she hurried to his side, the rest of the Phantoms following her. "What was the verdict? Was it not guilty?"
His expression must have given the answer away, as a look of shocked delight crossed each of his friends' faces before Akira even had the chance to give them a thumbs up. "Yep – as of today, I am officially a law-abiding citizen."
"Dude, for real?!" Ryuji leapt into the air, pumping his fist. "Fuck yeah! Bring out the snacks, everybody!"
Meanwhile, Ann jumped at the frizzy-haired teen, pulling him into a hug. "Oh, thank god. You don't know how nervous I was!"
"Hehehe – probably not as nervous as me!" Futaba grinned, slipping around his side. "Seriously, I'm so sweaty it probably counts as a status effect."
"Gross." Akira laughed, ruffling the hacker's hair.
She pushed him off her, eyes shining. "Like you can talk! You're even stinkier than me!"
"You both smell perfectly fine." Makoto sighed. "Deodorants prevent body odour, not sweat."
Thankfully, that particular conversation was derailed when Uryū joined them. "I knew you could do it, Akira, Sae-san." He gave them both a polite nod.
"Yeah!" Futaba's eyes sparkled as she turned to the prosecutor. "Sae for MVP!"
"Thank you, sis." Makoto squeezed her sister's hands, eyes sparkling. "If it wasn't for you..."
Sae blushed, a chuffed grin crossing her face as she looked away, but she was saved from any further embarrassment when Sojiro yelled out from behind the counter. "I'm gonna put on some coffee – order up, kids!"
…..
The party lasted for hours, the snacks Ryuji and Ann supplied quickly vanishing. Before Akira even knew it, day turned into night, and the chips and sweets were replaced by Sojiro's signature curry.
"Dig in, everybody." The barista instructed as he joined them.
"Ooh, we should have a toast!" Ann gasped, blue eyes wide.
Grinning, Akira picked up his cup and pointed it in a certain woman's direction. "To Niijima Sae, who made this all possible."
"To Sae!" A chorus of yells burst from the table as the prosecutor groaned, cradling her head in her hands.
"You've already thanked me enough. Besides, it was a mutually beneficial endeavour."
Makoto shot a curious glance at her sister. "Oh?"
After a moment's hesitation, Sae nodded, her expression softening. "I've… been thinking about leaving the prosecutor's office for a couple of weeks now. It's not that I can't endure it, but… why should I make myself miserable fighting for a justice I don't believe in?"
"Here, here." Ryuji lifted his mug sagely. "Cops are bastards."
"What are you going to do next?" Ann asked, swinging her legs under her chair.
"I wasn't too sure initially, but…" The silver-haired woman tipped her head at Akira. "I'm planning to become a defence attorney. I have you to thank for that, Akira-kun. Helping you today… it was more rewarding than prosecution ever was."
This time, it was his turn to get flustered. Scratching the back of his head, Akira diverted his gaze as butterflies fluttered in his chest. "Well… I'm happy I managed to repay somehow."
"How about you, Akira?" Makoto's gaze flicked over to him. "Do you have any plans now that your record has been cleared?"
"Reapply to university, for one." He winked cheekily. Akira's mirth faded into contentment as he settled back in his seat. "Seriously, though… I'm going to do everything. I've got so many opportunities right in front of me, and I'm going to make the best of each and every single one of them."
Chuckling, Sojiro raised his cup. "How about a toast to the future?"
"To the future!" The Phantoms chanted as one, and Akira smiled, contentment flushing through the frizzy-haired teen.
To the future, indeed.
