For Akira, Hinaki's sudden contact with him was just... strange to say the least. It wasn't unpleasant for him, she seemed like a person with a good heart, after all. However, she also felt like someone who's out of touch, and struggling with this flaw herself.

And their talk only confirmed this.

After about 20 minutes of a train ride to Ginza, Hinaki brought him to a luxurious-looking French restaurant called 'Le Varoux'. If Akira had to use one sentence to describe that restaurant, it would be 'Too much for me'.

Sitting down on a table with Hinaki, the amateur writer took a good look at the restaurant's interior design. Even though it's just afternoon, but the restaurant's dim lighting gave an illusion that they were here for a dinner, if not for the glass window showing the scenery outside.

"Well, I didn't expect we're going to have lunch here," Akira commented, feeling a bit awkward with the fact of being in this kind of restaurant. "Ain't it a bit too much for a lunch?"

"Not that much," Hinaki shook her head in response. "Maybe it is only because I am familiar with the owner here, I am used to coming for lunch or dinner."

Nodding in response, the amateur writer noticed a foreign-looking man walking up to them. From the chef outfit that man was wearing, Akira assumed that he's probably the main chef of this restaurant.

"Didn't expect to see you here, Hime-Sama," He greeted the president with a warm smile. "Bringing a friend?"

widening her eyes in slight surprise, Hinaki turned over to the main chef and returned his smile. "Oh Gilles, it's good to see you."

"Gilles?" Akira asked, noticing how the foreign-looking called Hinaki. 'And 'Hime-Sama'?'

"He's Gilles Lalande, the owner and the main chef of Le Varoux," The president introduced to Akira, before turning her focus back onto Gilles. "Since you are here and talking with us, Hajime is doing your job, right?"

The owner of Le Varoux chuckled at Hinaki's assumption, shaking his head. "Nah, he's over in Wilton. Those guys over there really need his help."

"Wilton...?" Trailing off, a thought popped up in Akira's mind. 'Shiho's probably enjoying her time over there... Well, that's the best for her.'

Quickly shaking this thought off, the amateur writer snapped back to reality. "Okay, just take a break for everything, Akira," He murmured to himself. "We'll think about them later."

On the other hand, Hinaki noticed him zoning out with a slightly worried look. "Well um... I think we should order our food," She hastily said, turning back to Akira. "Ichijo-kun, what do you want for lunch?"

"Huh? Should I have a menu or something along those lines to look at?" Akira asked with a raised eye, feeling the atmosphere around him visually became much more awkward. "On second thought, I would like to try out what you recommend, Mr. Lalande."

"My recommendation..." Trailing off, Gilles rubbed his chin thoughtfully before he nodded, glancing back to Hinaki. "What about you, Hinaki?"

"Same for me, please."

Nodding again, the main chef then walked away and left the two alone. To be honest, if there was anything to describe Akira's feeling, it would be 'out of place'. Seeing Hinaki talking with someone she's familiar with while you just felt... like a third wheel, if he had to say.

As Gilles left and went back to the kitchen, the president turned back to the person sitting opposite of her. "Now that is out of the way, I guess we can talk about what I come for."

"Yeah..." Trailing off for a split moment, Akira pondered. "So what can I do or say to help you?"

"I... I think I should tell you what exactly happened, so you would have a better picture," Nodding to herself, Hinaki recounted the last time she and Shinji had any conversation. "After our talk in Shujin, Izumo-kun heard about this because of rumors, he then confronted me and... it turned out badly."

"...Okay," The amateur writer nodded. "So... I guess he really didn't change too much, still the same old Shinji."

"Then can you tell me about who Izumo-kun was?"

"Well, before everything about Kamoshida happens, he's someone who's full of energy," Akira explained. "Makes total sense considering that he's a drummer himself."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Out of every instrument, drumming is the most physically demanding one," He shrugged. "Unlike something like a guitar, you're required to use both your legs and arms to play the drum."

"And that aspect also translated to his personality, he's someone who would just say things whenever he felt like it," The amateur writer continued. "and most of the time he didn't even think about what in the world he just said."

"So... he didn't mean those harsh words on me?"

"Probably," Akira nodded. "Most of the time he's just going to spill out sarcastic or idiotic things without thinking about it, then I'll just counter it with some remarks."

"Shut up, Shinji. You're only one point ahead of me in that tycoon game. By the way, what kind of a vice student council president are you?"

"The good kind. Jealous that I'm close with Makoto?"

"And he's someone who kinda likes to brag about small things," He added, feeling a faint smile crept on to his face. "Like I couldn't count how many times he brags about being the Vice-President and close to Nijima..."

"Overall, he's a bit loud-mouth, likes to brag a lot, and always acting on impulse."

Nodding as she processed the information Akira just said, Hinaki pondered for a short while. "But... that still doesn't explain his... reaction toward my attempt..."

"He hates being misunderstood, especially like when someone does something 'for the better of him' without really understand him," Akira replied, leaning back into his seat. "Since it's a bit too personal, so let me spare the details."

"Let just say he didn't have a great childhood, and people always give him looks of pity and surface-level sympathy," He continued. "He doesn't want help from someone who doesn't understand the root of his issue."

"And when those people tried to explain their reason, it just irritates him more."

Crossing her arms and closed her eyes in thought, Hinaki recalled her past action concerning Shinji. It was rather obvious, she was the exact same kind of person he hates. And going to this extent was only going to make him snap.

"Then... other than Akashi's death, is there any more reason that he became this way?" She asked, adjusting her glasses. "Even if I hope so, nothing is going to be simple."

"Yeah... and well..." Trailing off, Akira crossed his arms and thought. "Maybe it's because he felt like he betrayed us."

"Betrayed? Why?"

"...Because we did nothing about Kimiko's situation," The amateur writer reluctantly confessed. "Did he also talked about something similar to that?"

"Did Izumo-kun said something like that..." Trailing off, Hinaki recalled those meeting with him again. "...He said that he transfer to Kosei to run away, and he's a coward."

"Then... he probably did felt that way," Akira sighed, pinching his nosebridge. "Well, I'm not the best person for things like that, since it's a bit hypocritical..."

"But I think the best thing to do is... just literally knock some sense into his thick skull," He sighed again. "But well... I don't think it's possible at this point..."

"I don't want to say it. But right now, there's nothing we can do."

Hinaki was... surprised from this news, to say the least. She came here for advice and a possible way to help Shinji with his problem, not for an answer like this. But in someway, she knew that it was impossible for him to even talk with her at this point.

After all, it was Shinji's own problem, and no one else can help other than himself.

[Meanwhile, Wilton]

Shiho was... astonished by the food Ann and Ryuji brought back. Even with four people, it was still too much for them to handle.

"Ann, are those really necessary?" Ren asked, scanning the massive slice of cake right in front of her. "I mean, dessert shouldn't be this much, right?"

"Not in my watch," Ann replied with her mouth full of cake and waffles. "Don't you know that we have a sperate place in our stomach to deal with dessert?"

"Yeah, but..."

Before he could think of a response to Ann, Shiho just patted her shoulder with a face of sympathy.

"She's like that, and it's a bit set and stone at this point," She sighed, but no sign of frustration was visible on her face. "Well, I have volleyball to deal with, so it makes sense that I never got too fat. But Ann on the other hand..."

"I have my own way, so don't worry about it, Shiho."

"That's reassuring," The volleyball player deadpanned, decided that she should change the topic to something else. "Anyway, are we going to finish all these foods in time?"

"Not if we just sit here and do nothin'," Ryuji shrugged, taking a large bite into his meat.

"I guess so," Shrugging, Ren decided to join in and grabbed a plate of meat. "Let's hope my stomach would survive this..."

"Don't push yourself too far, Amamiya..." Trailing off, Shiho could only watch Ren suffer in worry. From the increasingly pale face and the sweat building up on his forehead, he didn't look great... no, he doesn't look good in the first place.

However, her worry was cut short when Ann suddenly put a plate of desserts in front of her. "Shiho! I need your help to finish these desserts as too!"

Even though Shiho wanted to refuse and just took a break from the eating, seeing Ann's look of eager kinda just... guilt-tripped her into agreeing? She couldn't think of the right word to describe it without making Ann looked bad.

For a split second, Shiho could finally understand how Akira felt when she insisted to join him.

'So this is how it feels like...' Thinking to herself, she sighed and took the plate from Ann's hand. On the bright side, at least she could help Ann finish all these desserts... right?

With that, the four Shujin students ate their food as quickly as possible, hoping that they could finish them before the time limit. Luckily, they somehow able to finish them in twenty minutes, much faster than they expected.

Leaning into the sofa, Ryuji just laid there like a deflated balloon, "Man... that's way too much..."

"Then don't bring this much," Ren deadpanned, giving out a breath of relief.

"Yeah... I don't even know if I eat any dessert without feeling off anymore..." Shiho trailed off, forcing herself to stand up. "And I really need a refresher right now."

Shaking her head to clear the sense of sickness shrouding her head, the volleyball player went on her way to the restroom. Now finally left alone, Ren and Ryuji both glanced over to Ann, only to see that... she's still eating another piece of chocolate cake.

"How in the world..." Widening their eyes in pure shock, the two bros exchanged a look of bewilderment. In that exact moment, the sheer look exchanged between them held an entire conversation of its own.

What did the two exchanged?

In a nutshell, they just had a deep logical discussion about the impossibility of Ann's bottomless pit of a stomach, then it just sidetracked into a teasing mess from Ren himself.

Noticing the deep 'conversation' between them, Ann looked up from her plate of dessert with a raised eye. "Ren, Ryuji, what's wrong?"

"N-nothin'/nothing!" The two boys yelped in unison, trying their best to reassure her.

[Back to Akira, Le Varoux]

After knowing that there was no way to help Shinji, the atmosphere around the two was... awkward to say the least. Sitting with someone that you're just somewhat familiar with and having lunch, and the feeling of out-of-place...

However, he had to admit that the food here was fantastic. Well, Le Varoux wasn't a famous restaurant for nothing, even though he felt like it's a bit overprice (just personally).

After having the most awkward lunch of his entire life, Akira and Hinaki found themselves in a struggle to find a topic to talk about. After all, there wasn't really that much common topic for them to talk about.

Seeing how Akira felt uncomfortable here, Hinaki felt a bit of guilt for bringing him here. "...I apologize if you feel out-of-place here, Ichijo-kun," She apologized, swiping her bangs aside. "I was looking forward to an answer... but I shouldn't expect too much out from an unexpected offer like this."

"I... it's fine, I didn't have a plan for today anyway."

"Oh, then..."

"But well, at least I'm not alone today," Sighing to himself, Akira smiled faintly. "So I guess I should thank you, Higashikuni-san."

Widening her eyes in surprise, Hinaki found herself had nothing to say for a long moment. It had been too long since someone being toward her, it felt weird to have someone who even said a 'thank you'.

"O-oh, that was... unexpected," She murmured, before clearing her throat and smiled. "No, I should be the one who says thank you, Ichijou-kun."

Even with the most genuine smile he'd ever seen, Akira could see how she felt guilty. For a split second, he saw Makoto sitting in her place instead.

'Well, they're both student council president...' He thought, remembering the harsh words he once said to Makoto. 'And looking back... I really need to apologize to Nijima...'

However, his trains of thought were interrupted as Hinaki's voice snapped him back to reality. "So... I think I had taken too much time from your day, Ichijo-kun." She said, standing up from her seat. "But still, thank you for answering my questions."

"It's fine, Higishikuni-san, but... I guess there's nothing more to talk about," Akira stood up from his seat and bowed politely. "Well, I really hope Shinji would be alright, and... yeah."

Hinaki didn't answer at first, just sighed with a downcasted look. "...I hope the same thing too," She said, and her head suddenly perked up. "Actually, before we depart, maybe we should exchange our contact information?"

"Huh? O...okay?"

"It is purely so if there's any update on Izumo-kun's situation," She reassured him, adjusting her glasses. "I apologize for any misunderstanding you probably have."

"Oh, for Shinji," Akira awkwardly rubbed the back of his head and took out his phone. "Uh... here."

With that said, the two exchanged their contact information.

"So just call me if you need help, Higashikuni-san," Seeing Hinaki's nod, the amateur writer took a few more steps toward the door before suddenly turning back to her. "Oh wait, one more thing."

"What is it, Ichijo-kun?"

"...I can see that you're a good person, just struggling to understand others on an emotional level," He said. "And... I believe that you can do that, not just to Shinji, but everyone."

"It's kinda cheesy, but don't give up, okay?"

With that said, Akira left the restaurant.

[Back to Shiho]

After some needed refreshment, Shiho stretched as she walked out of the restroom. "How can Ann did it without feeling sick..." She murmured, returning to the floor holding the buffet.

However, just as she's about to approach them, their conversation caught her attention.

"...I wonder if we're out of place here..." Ann murmured, leaning into her sofa.

"I think so..." Ren sighed, crossing his arms as his legs did the same. "I guess we're really a bunch of outcasts, right?"

"Yeah, I'm feelin' the same way," Ryuji nodded, turning to Ren's bag. "Hey, Morgana."

Said not-cat poked out from the bag, looking back at him. "What is it?"

"...Anyone could have a palace, yeah?"

Morgana nodded. "Anyone with a strong, distorted desire."

"Same for them havin' a change of heart if their Treasure gets stolen?" Ryuji continued, leaning forward in his seat.

"That would be the case."

Eyes darted between both the cat and the ex-runner, Ann gave them both a raised eye. "Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?"

"We had trouble earlier too," The ex-runner sighed. "These selfish shitheads who just looked down on everyone else... I was wonderin' if we'd be able to change those kindsa people too."

"...So you want to continue as the Phantom Thief?" Ann asked.

"...I've been thinkin'." Ryuji nodded. "We put a lot of work into changin' Kamoshida's heart, but nobody believes in the Phantom Thieves."

"Plus... those guys who had no other choice but to just deal with it are thankin' us. Us, of all people."

"...Yeah," Ren nodded, lifting his glasses. "There's already a lot of victims we saved from Kamoshida, but there's always gonna be another person like him... I can't just let it slide, not for a single bit."

"...I agree," Ann said, look downcasted as the memories of just a few weeks ago surfaced. "If we ignore people who are in trouble, I'd go back to the same as I was before..."

"Because of that, Shiho almost..." Trailing off, she took a deep breath to resolve herself. "I can't let another person experience those things again, never ever."

Meanwhile, Shiho just stood behind a corner and overheard them. Even though she felt a bit guilty for doing so, she didn't felt like it's a conversation to take part in.

However, hearing Ann using their unpleasant past as fuel and anchor for her resolve, she couldn't help but smile. "Ann..."

"Lady Ann..." Morgana smiled, but quickly changed into a stern expression. "Anyway, you're under my tutelage. There's nothing we can't accomplish as phantom thieves."

"But... we're gonna fight the shadows again, right?" Ann asked, feeling a bit of hesitation inside.

"...Indeed, it's inevitable."

"We can menage 'em, it's fine," Ryuji reassured her, giving her a goofy but bright grin. "Especially with Jester and Swan helpin' us."

"Yeah, we can definitely do it," Ren nodded. "And I want to help people too."

The not-cat smirked. "Heh... Even if you guys are still just fledglings, this means we're an actual organization now."

"Fledglings?" Ann giggled. "Haha, that's actually pretty fitting for us."

"All right!" Ryuji announced. "It's settled!"

"We're gonna catch all these shitty adults by surprise, and make ourselves known to the world!" He grinned, turning his focus onto Ren. "Right, bro?"

Shiho, still overhearing them behind the corner, couldn't help but giggled a bit at Ryuji's enthusiasm. However, she noticed somebody else also overhearing them, and...

It was Hajime, looking at them with a faint smile.

"So they are the Phantom Thieves on the news..." He murmured, but loud enough for Shiho to hear him. "Well, I didn't expect to overhear them, especially just came out for a break..."

"But well... Keep on keeping on, Phantom Thieves. I'm rooting for ya."

With that said, he left them alone and back into his work, also leaving Shiho with widened eyes.

They just got found, by someone who's just at the right place at the right time. Even though she was thankful that Hajime seemed to root for them, but... this is definitely going to be a long-term problem if it continued.

"This..." Trailing off, it took her a few long seconds before widening her eyes again, even larger this time. "Oh wait, I forgot to ask for a selfie."

Back to the thieves, Ann also straightened up and raised an eye at the delinquent. "...Are you okay being our leader, Ren?"

"Fine by me," Ren shrugged.

"Then it really settled!" Ryuji announced again. "From now on, we're the Phantom Thieves-"

"Where's my say in this?" Morgana deadpanned, but quickly softened. "But Lady Ann made the recommendation, so I'll allow it."

Blinking in surprise, the ex-runner sighed before announcing again. "...Then it's really really settled-"

However, Ryuji's attempt on announcing was interrupted again by Ren. "Oh wait, I think we also need a name. Phantom Thief Of Heart is great, but I want something more."

"Dude..." Ryuji deadpanned.

"Oh right, the name," Ann pondered for a moment. "What about something both cute and luxurious sounding like... The Diamonds?"

"...I'm gettin' a real little league baseball feel from it," The ex-runner sighed, both from his second failed attempt and Ann's suggestion.

"Well, I also have one," Morgana said. "How about 'Tilefish Poele'?"

"...What in the world is that?" Ren plainly commented.

"Tile... uh, what?" Ryuji just blinked in pure confusion.

"That's what I ate earlier," The not-cat smirked. "It's commemorative, no?"

The delinquent just stared at him for a few long seconds. "...Okay, we're definitely not going to use that one."

Feeling that there's no one else who had any good suggestion, Ren leaned back and pondered. "...The Phantoms, how's the sound of that?"

"Yeah, I like it," Ann nodded with a bright smile.

"Me too," Ryuji grinned, pumping his fist. "Okay, then it really really really settled, right?"

"Yeah," Ren nodded.

Feeling that it's the time to finally return to the table, Shiho emerged from her hiding place and acted as natural as possible. "Um... Hey guys, what did I miss?" She asked.

Surprised from her sudden reappearance, the thieves hastily coughed and shook their head in unison. "Oh, it's nothing, Shiho," Ann said.

"Okay, then I think we're about to leave, right?"

"About to leav-" Stopping himself in mid-sentence, Ryuji widened his eyes as he looked at the clock above. "Oh shit, the time is up!"

"Huh?!" Ann yelped, quickly packing her stuff up. "But I still have a lot of things to try-"

"We'll try them out next time, or as I hope so," Ren sighed, looking back to Shiho again. "Um... Suzui-san, I apologize that-"

"Uh... what are you apologizing?"

"Well..." Trailing off, the delinquent just stayed silent and looked away. "Anyway, we should get going."

With that said, they packed their things up and left the hotel. And as they're on the way back to their home, Shiho didn't waste any time and texted Akira.

Shiho: Hey, you're here?

The response came just after seconds.

Akira: Yeah, what's wrong?

Shiho: Oh, it's nothing too serious, just...

Shiho: You're free now?

Akira: Yeah, I just back to Shibuya from Ginza.

Shiho: Meet me at the station, is that cool with you?

Akira: Yeah, sure.

Closing the iM messenger, Shiho tapped Ann's shoulder and gained their attention. "Sorry guys, but I had to go first."

"Huh?" Tilting her head in confusion, Ann just blinked. "Why, Shiho?"

"I have something to talk with Akira," Feeling that any more info would either make this felt awkward or her being suspicious, the volleyball player decided to keep it here. "So... sorry, but I had to go now."

Without another word, she hastily left them and ran toward Shibuya Station.

Standing in the station square, Akira looked around in a furrowed brow.

"What did Shiho wanted to talk about..." Trailing off, he took out his phone again and checked if there were any new messages. "...Well, she didn't say anything after I say 'sure'..."

However, before he could finish, the sound of footsteps with faint panting approached him. Glancing at the direction of those sounds, it was Shiho running toward him.

"I'm sorry if I did keep you waiting, Akira," She apologized, much to his surprise.

"Uh... I only waited for five minutes, at most I think," Akira lied, not wanting to make her felt guilty.

In reality, he waited for her like about... fifteen minutes, at least.

"Anyway, what do you want to talk about, Shiho?"

The volleyball player took a moment to rearrange her breath, "...They're going to keep being Phantom Thieves," She said.

"...Okay, then..." Akira trailed off, still somewhat perplexed that what she wanted to say. "I mean, I somewhat expected that."

"But... what about us?"

"Us..." Looking down at his feet, the amateur writer found himself unable to give a clear answer.

To be honest, he didn't really think about continuing this. Yes, they had the power to change someone's heart, but... this road wouldn't be an easy one to go on. Just like Yu told him, their effort to solve that case didn't go well for most of the time.

...But that's life, nothing would ever go according to the plan. Akira didn't know why, but the words of Elizabeth popped up in his mind, after not seeing her for all this time.

'When the time comes, you'll know what you can do...'

"So this the time, huh?" Murmuring at himself, Akira couldn't help but sigh with a brief smile.

"Uh... Akira?"

"O-oh, I was just... something popped up in my mind," He shrugged. "Well, if we're keep being Phantom Thieves, that means we're going to fight again, right?"

"...Yeah, I think so," Shiho reluctantly nodded, as much as she didn't want to admit that. "But we can deal with them. I mean, as long as you're with me..."

"...Then that means... you've decided?"

"Right, I wanted to continue being the Phantom Thieves," The volleyball player nodded with determination. "I... I don't want to back to being the old Suzui Shiho again."

"I was lucky that you're there when I needed help, to save me..." Trailing off, she tightened her fist. "But there are people who don't the luxury to do so, they don't have someone like what you are to me."

"If no one stands up, then who's going to help them?"

"...I get what you mean," Akira nodded, resting his hands in his pockets. "I guess we both don't want another person to end up like Kimiko, right?"

He looked up into the sky, the warm sky as the sun started to set. "Let's do it, so no one would end up like Kimiko."

"Akira..."

"...Today's one hell of an emotional rollercoaster..." Shaking his head to clear his thought, the amateur writer looked back to Shiho. "Well, I guess we do need a name, right?"

"Y-yeah, Amamiya also picked one of their own."

"Then... what about 'The Fools'?" He suggested. "I mean, Fools in Tarot card means spontaneity and free spirit. And we change the heart of evil person because of our own reason, so... kinda fitting, right?"

"...I like this name," Shiho nodded. "Then it's settled then, right?"

"Right." Akira nodded in return, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, let's hope the road ahead won't lead us to somewhere bad."

Looking at the sunset outside of his window, a blonde boy sighed as he turned his focus back to the matter on his hand. And on the screen of his laptop was showing someone... Mitsuru.

"Kamisaki, I'm sorry that you had to leave Ayanagi city and your friends," She apologized, feeling guilty for what had to be done. "But you are the only person Shido didn't know from the Operative."

"I understand, Kirijo-san," Kamisaki sighed, forcing a faint smile to lessen her guilt. "Besides, I guess coming to Tokyo would be a much-needed breather from what's happening over there."

"I hope so... especially with Shirogane and Akihiko's help..." Trailing off, the CEO swiped aside her bangs, revealing her left eye. "I think you had read the file we sent you, right?"

"Yeah, the file about your cousin, and that... thing living inside him," He nodded, opening a file laying in front of him.

It was a detailed document documenting Akira's life and mental situation, but a lot of it was mysteriously blacked out. However, there was a single name that didn't get blacked out.

'Unknown Deity 002- Codename 'Aion''

"Aion... well, that's scary enough for a codename alone..." Kamisaki murmured to himself, closing the file. "Who knows what it's actually called..."

"And that's why I was reluctant to send you to Tokyo," Mitsuru sighed. "If it was something akin to Nyx's level, or even Erebus... I don't know what we can do to stop it."

"Yeah, but I'll manage."

"Indeed, I just hope that you don't need to face it at all, or face it with other Persona users." With that said, Mitsuru cut the call and left the blonde boy alone.

Once the call had ended, Kamisaki leaned back into his chair and sighed. Even though he was sent here about a week ago, but he still wasn't used to living in Tokyo.

Pulling out his phone, he smiled at the text his old classmates sent him.

Shin: Hey Keigo! Remember to tell us how's Tokyo when you're back in Ayanagi!

Jun: I know brother already said what I wanted to say, but take care!

Takuro: Take care, bro!

Magumi: Well, class' going to boring without you, but have fun over there!

Kanaru: I hope the best for you, Keigo-kun.

"At least they didn't just forget me, that's a plus," Murmuring to himself, Keigo leaned back to his seat and looked to the sunset outside. He wondered, how would his job go?

On the other hand, inside Togo Household, Togo Hifumi just sat in her room and stared at the Shogi-board. For some time now, she had been struggling to find the drive to continue on.

"Why did I still doing this?" She asked out loud, internally hoping someone would answer her.

But there's no one.

Maybe that's the curse of bearing the Togo name? She couldn't help but think, because... that's the reality for her.

Shaking her head to hold the tears from falling, Hifumi turned on the television in her room. She just wanted to find something to put her mind on something else, so she wouldn't need to think about this.

"On today's news, the surprise confession of crime from former Olympic winner Kamoshida Suguru..."

"...There's nothing interesting on the news either..." She murmured, grabbing the remote, and decided to change the channel.

However, something else caught her attention. It was an interview with a Shujin student. Even though it was heavily blurred and censored, but the crimson ponytail really stood out.

"...I never thought Mr. Kamoshida would be someone like this..." The student said, her voice was heavily distorted and altered to the point of unrecognizable. "But I'm thankful for it, and the Phantom Thieves as well."

"...Phantom Thieves?"

"Even though I believe that people should change on their own term, and not by an outside force," She continued. "But Mr. Kamoshida would only keep doing those things unless someone else stops him."

For a second, a thought suddenly surfaced in her mind, "...Maybe..."

Grabbing her phone from the study table, Hifumi quickly searched about the Phantom Thieves. And her eyes landed on a lone website, a certain one.

"The Phantom... Aficionado... Website..."

Walking around in the station square, Kitagawa Yusuke was struggling to find inspiration for his next work. He thought that if he went out for a breather would help. But unfortunately, it didn't seem so.

Sighing to himself, he was about to leave when a group of people at his age caught his attention. Especially the only girl in that group.

"So, we really need to talk about Shiho and Akira," That certain girl— Ann said to Ren and Ryuji, oblivious to Yusuke watching them from aside. "They became really close in a very short time."

"Yeah," Ren nodded. "Maybe they're secretly dating?"

"Renren's right, it's a possibility," Ryuji agreed, crossing his arms. "Like, did they just always go our on their own?"

"I don't know, they're definitely not going to just sneak out to..." Trailing off, the model couldn't help but blush from the idea in her mind. What in the world was she thinking?!

"...Ann? You're okay?" Raising an eye in confusion, Ryuji waved his hand right in front of her. "Ann?"

"H-huh? O-oh, it's nothing!"

Ren just deadpanned, lifting his glasses so the light reflected. "From your reaction, I suspect you're thinking about something impure, Ann."

"Wha- You're such a jerk!" Cheek reddened from both embarrassment and slight anger, Ann stomped right on his feet, earning a cry of pain from the usually fearless and cocky leader.

Ryuji, on the other hand, just sweatdropped at the sudden horror unfold right in front of his eyes. "...Note to self, never make Ann angry..."

After that small... exchange, the three kept going on their way, disappearing from Yusuke's view. However, the image of Ann had somewhat... engraved in his mind.

It reminded him of... Sayuri, the reason he started painting.

Remembered that it's about time to return to the shack, Yusuke hastily went on his way. However, he internally hoping that he would see her again, or even meeting her.

(To be continued.)

Preview:

Another transfer student comes.

As the unexpected arrival shocked everyone's mind, the day continued on.

However, as an expected arrival crashed into Akira's home, he is forced to deal with a new addition.

As another Persona User arrives.

Next Chapter:

"Unexpected Arrivals"

Stay Tuned!

So after a month or so, Chapter 14 of Another Thief: Royal Fools is here!

Well, we finally wrapped up the Kamoshdia arc, and onto the Madarame arc! However, on The Fool's side, they're going to have their own problems to handle... And the short snippet of the character relevant in the next arc indicated that things aren't going to be easy.

As for the small change from 'Le Fool' to 'The Fools', it is because I think Le Fool itself really didn't belong anywhere. In French, the fools are 'Le Mat' and not 'Le Fool'. So after some thought, I decided to change it to 'The Fools'. And a parallel with 'The Phantoms' from Ren as well.

Also, this fic also had openings of its own! Thank you RosyMiranto18 for suggesting this idea. Anyway, I'll put the openings at the start of every palace's arc with changes, and an entirely different opening with a major arc. The opening is below if you're interested and okay with spoilers (I tried to make this as little spoiler as possible).

Because it's really hard to find a way to put it in the chapter itself without feeling awkward XD

Anyway, I hope you like the story so far, reviews are definitely welcome!

[BGM: Flow - Bravelue]

We have a sky shot of Shibuya, then it changed as the guitar hit to a quick shot of the first five members of Le Fool in reverse order.

Shinji looking out of a window, then Hifumi looking at a Shogi piece, Keigo pushing his glasses, Shiho in a volleyball match and readied to serve, and ended with Akira looking at his phone, and it zoomed at his phone and revealed 'Another Thief: Royal Fools'

the screen glitched slightly and showed the Meta-Nav logo (and one frame of the Royal version of the Meta-Nav logo).

[Hikaru suihei-sen]

Akira walked in the way toward Shujin, listening to music from his headphone from a left-side shot, Then a blue butterfly flew past him from behind, causing him to look up. And the camera followed him to the sky above.

[hajimari to owari no]

The scene showed Shiho in a volleyball match, and the camera was shot from below, and the volleyball blocked the light above before cutting to Shiho serving a strike, then a close up to the ball touching the ground and flashed white.

[Tokeau soko wa]

After the quick white flash, it turned to flashlight from a camera, and the person put it down and revealed that it was Keigo, he then turned around and walked toward the right side of the frame, pushing his glasses and putting down his hand.

[namida no furu]

The scene cut again, to a hand putting down a Shogi piece on the board. And it revealed that Hifumi looked stern and focused on the match.

[satona no]

The scene changed and showed Shinji playing his drum in Kosei from behind, following the exact drumbeat in the song. And Hinaki was the only one watching him playing.

[Furue teru te de]

The scene showed Akira and Ren walked past each other, and Ren was in his Joker outfit right after walking past.

[shinji rareru mono]

The scene changed to the blue butterfly, then a hand closing the Persona compendium.

[POKETTO ni tsumekonda]

The scene showed a close-up of Keigo's jacket, which revealed a hidden evoker holstered on a shoulder holster.

[Kanata de yuramei teru shinkirou]

A series of quick shots which start with Shujin, which turns to Kamoshida's castle in a glitch. Then Madarame's shack and glitched to the Museum. Togo Household, which glitched to the palace, and Shibuya itself and glitched to the street in Metaverse. And it ended with the Meta-Nav UI, and a finger pressing the 'Navigate button.'

During a short instrumental break before the chorus. It showed a quick shot of The Fools Members standing in the street, and it quickly changed into their Phantom thief outfit with their Persona behind them for the first five beats.

Then with a close up to the Meta-Nav logo as a transition for the remaining four, it shows an eye blinking, which turns to Golden after blinking. And the rest of the beat shows a close up to the thieves tightening the handle of their weapons, a close-up shot as they readied for a battle, a close up to their mask-covered eyes, and ended with a wide shot of them dashing away from the camera.

[Sora miagereba michibiite kureru youna]

The scene changed to Kamoshida's throne room, and Jester and Swan were using their grappling hook to evade the extended hand from Kamoshida's shadow devil form whilst Moriarty and La Pucelle repel them with Eihas and Kouhas.

[Natsukashikute atsui hikari wo]

The scene changed to a close up of the two where they spun before slashing toward the camera, their weapon's trail brightened and covered the scene in white.

[Kureru anata wa chiisaku te wo furu yo]

The scene transition to the muzzle flash of Raven's LMG shooting bullets of ice, and he threw it to the ground before his Persona helps him to make an ice path underneath a figure covered by rubble. And he pulled out his sword and slides toward it.

[Ikanakucha mou nakanai yo SHANGURIRA]

The scene changed to Majesty holding her Nagamaki as her Persona covered in epileptic colors of flame, blending it with the background where it's also covered in flame. And then she sprinted forward toward someone, leaving a fire trail on the way.

[Aratana sekai e to]

The scene changed to a bank, where King and Queen came out from the smoke riding on Johanna. Then she did a quick drift and launched Shinji into the air and toward something.

[DAIBU shiyou]

The scene changed to the thing's perspective and King dropped toward the camera, with his Persona looming behind to provide additional covering fire. And his hammers hit the camera and it quickly covered in light blue.

[Aoiro ni daka reta boku wa]

Every member of The Fools landed on the ground in the order of when do they join the team. They slowly got up and walked toward the camera.'

[Kono mune no takanari to tomoni]

They looked into the camera, did a Scramble-style All-Out Attack finisher, and snapped their fingers. the background exploded and only the silhouette of them was visible.

At the final bit of instrumental, the shot changed to the large TV in Shibuya from below, and it showed the Fools' logo.