On the Possibility of Raiding the Phantom Thieves’ Leader 40

Chapter 40

During the week Akechi had been imprisoned in the other world, Ren and the Phantom Thieves had successfully completed Okumura’s Palace and welcomed Haru into their ranks.

Seeing the growing number of members in the group chat, Ren breathed a sigh of relief.

The Phantom Thieves were finally complete, and Akechi’s situation was resolved. They could proceed with their plans more freely now.

[Ann Takamaki: Shujin’s school festival is in three days! Can you all come? @Yu Narukami @Yusuke Kitagawa @Futaba Sakura]

[Makoto Niijima: Don’t even remind me. I’m swamped. Every class has a different activity planned, some of them incredibly elaborate.]

[Haru Okumura: Don’t worry, we still have three days.]

[Yusuke Kitagawa: I’ll see. I’m lacking inspiration lately. I need to focus and organize my thoughts.]

[Ryuji Sakamoto: I heard the class next door is doing a ring toss game. The prize is a month’s supply of beef bowls.]

[Yusuke Kitagawa: What?! I have to go!]

[Ren Amamiya: Akechi has been invited to give a speech at the school festival.]

[Yu Narukami: Akechi? He’s out of the hospital?]

[Futaba Sakura: He’s being discharged tomorrow. He hasn’t met with any reporters during his week-long stay. I don’t know how Shujin managed to invite him. He said he won’t be appearing on TV for a while, that he wants to focus on school and the midterms in October.]

[Ryuji Sakamoto: Futaba, you know a lot.]

[Futaba Sakura: Of course! Hmph, I investigated him!]

Ren looked at the messages on his phone, his dark eyes reflecting the text.

Akechi had given a speech at the school festival in his past life as well. That’s where he had approached Ren, feigning interest in joining the Phantom Thieves.

He wasn’t surprised it was happening again.

[Ann Takamaki: So, Narukami-senpai and Futaba, are you two coming?]

[Futaba Sakura: …Um, I’ll try to sneak in without being noticed.]

[Yu Narukami: I’ll go. It’s a holiday, and I don’t have anything else to do. I can hang out with Ren.]

[Ann Takamaki: ?]

[Makoto Niijima: There it is again. He only mentions spending time with our leader, completely ignoring everyone else.]

[Yusuke Kitagawa: Let’s wait until we see a picture of them kissing before jumping to conclusions.]

[Ryuji Sakamoto: No, no, that would be like Tokyo exploding!]

[Ren Amamiya: I’ve said it before, if he confesses, I’ll consider dating him. But he hasn’t confessed yet.]

[Yu Narukami: But being in a relationship with a man requires more consideration than marrying a 2D waifu, right? There are so many people marrying their 2D waifus in Akihabara.]

[Yu Narukami: I heard there’s another 2D wedding in a few days. Ren, want to go observe with me for research purposes?]
[Ren Amamiya: …]

[Everyone: …]

Seeing the group fall silent, then criticizing him and Yusuke for their conversational skills, Yu, confident in his communication style, closed the group chat and messaged Akechi.

[Yu Narukami: You’re giving a speech at Shujin? Want to go observe a 2D wedding in Akihabara a few days later?]
[Goro Akechi: Is there any connection between those two sentences?]
[Yu Narukami: No, I just thought of it randomly.]
[Goro Akechi: …No!]

[Yu Narukami: ?]

[System Message: You are not friends with this user. Please add them as a friend to send a message.]

Yu: …

Blocked again.

He would just confront him in person at the school festival.

Sōyō High, also a private school, had unexpectedly scheduled make-up lessons. As the top student in his third year, Yu was expected to set an example and attend. He managed to escape after the first class.

He rushed to Shujin.

The school entrance was lined with stalls, the sweet smell of crepes filling the air. This was Yu’s first time at Shujin, and he wasn’t sure where to find Ren.

Just as he entered, looking for someone to ask about the second-year classrooms, he spotted a familiar blue tent.

“…That looks familiar.”

Yu cautiously approached. “Is this a fortune-telling tent?”

“Oh? A returning customer?” Margaret’s voice called out from inside.

Yu: …He knew it!

“Since you’re a returning customer, I’ll give you a free reading,” Margaret said cheerfully.

“No, no, I don’t want my fortune told!” Yu protested.

But Margaret ignored him, already beginning her reading in a deep, resonant voice, cutting him off.

“Let’s see… hmm, your love life is very active this year, even more so than last year. But you’re still not the pursuing type. Be careful not to be swept off your feet by a more assertive partner.”

“Of course, you seem to be enjoying it.”

Another forced fortune-telling session, and with such a suggestive result.

Yu sighed, turning to look for Ren, then saw him standing nearby, watching him intently.

“Ren?”

“Just passing by,” Ren pushed his glasses up, offering a perfectly reasonable explanation. “I didn’t intentionally eavesdrop on your fortune.”

“Don’t even say it,” Yu quickly pulled Ren away from the tent, muttering, “Last year, at Yasogami High’s school festival, Margaret also had a fortune-telling tent, and she told Nanako I was a natural lady-killer.”

“It was so embarrassing.”

Ren: …

That was quite a fortune.

Yu finally relaxed as they reached the second floor, looking around the unfamiliar school curiously, still holding Ren’s hand.

“Where is everyone?”

“They’re wandering around,” Ren replied. “We’ll meet up later. There’s still time.”

“I see,” Yu replied. “What about Akechi? Is he done with his speech?”

“It’s over. He should be in the reception room,” Ren said. “Want to go find him?”

Yu paused for a few seconds, then suggested seriously, “Let’s drag him to the haunted house.”

“The haunted house?”

Even Ren, accustomed to Yu’s strange ideas, couldn’t help but ask, and Yu pointed at a nearby poster.

The black poster, splattered with red paint and ghostly white figures, proclaimed: [Japan’s Scariest Haunted House!] [Tokyo’s Best Horror Story!] [A Touching Tale of Friendship!]

Ren: …

Akechi, you deserved this for befriending Yu Narukami.

Thus, a new real-world mission for the Phantom Thieves was established.

Participants: Yu Narukami, Ren Amamiya; Target: Drag Goro Akechi from the reception room to the haunted house; Objective: Success is not optional.

So Akechi, having finished his speech and hoping to avoid Yu, was ambushed by the two of them.

“…What do you want?” Akechi asked warily.

They exchanged glances, the serious atmosphere almost prompting them to summon their Personas, then dragged Akechi to the haunted house.

They entered the haunted house with serious expressions, emerging fifteen minutes later, their faces impassive.

Yu: “Not as scary as Mementos.”

Ren: “Not as scary as a Palace.”

Akechi, who had been dragged there against his will: “…Are you two idiots?!”

The school festival was crowded, and Akechi, having regained his popularity after the shooting incident, was too conspicuous, so they decided to leave the festivities and find a quiet spot in the school’s deserted garden.

Akechi sat down on a stone bench, placing his suitcase on the table.

“You two are so carefree. It’s almost infuriating,” Akechi said, looking at them.

“Because we don’t have to maintain the perfect image of a Detective Prince,” Yu replied.

Ren/Akechi: …

No one dared to say such things to Akechi except for Yu Narukami!

“So, how’s your hand?”

Akechi glanced at his bandaged hand. “I’ll be recovering for the next two months. Consider that your deadline.”

Yu looked at Ren. “Is that okay?”

“No problem,” Ren nodded. “We’ll finish everything before winter break.”

“Impressive,” Yu, never stingy with praise, complimented him.

Akechi frowned, watching them. Something felt different about them since their last meeting.

A subtle sense of unease settled in his stomach.

Yet, Yu was still the same blunt, overly considerate saint, and Ren was still the same bespectacled, seemingly innocent boy who secretly led a double life as a Phantom Thief.

What was different?

Akechi wondered.

Then, a leaf fell from a tree, landing on Ren’s hair. Ren reached up to brush it away, but Yu reached out at the same time, their fingers brushing against each other.

They both paused, Ren retracting his hand first, his gaze lingering on Yu’s.

“There,” Yu removed the leaf, smiling at Ren.

Akechi: …

He rolled his eyes, taking out his phone and snapping a picture, then recording a short video.

They were too engrossed in their little moment to notice.

“By the way, Akechi,” Yu suddenly said.

Akechi casually put away his phone, as if nothing had happened.

“What?”

“Unblock me,” Yu said. “I’m adding you to the group chat.”

“Oh? The Phantom Thieves’ group chat?” Akechi calmly unblocked Yu.

Adding Akechi to the group chat had been a decision they made together. Shido would inevitably become their target, and in that case, Akechi, with his vast knowledge, would be a valuable asset. This was the most convenient way to keep him involved.

And with Futaba monitoring the chat, he couldn’t cause any trouble.

A notification chimed, announcing a new member in the group.

Ryuji, as always, was the first to respond.

[Ryuji Sakamoto: Huh? A new member? Who? Ren didn’t say anything.]
[Ann Takamaki: @Ren Amamiya Did you pick up another stray?]
[Yusuke Kitagawa: Hopefully not another romantic interest.]
[Goro Akechi: Hello.]

[Goro Akechi: Here’s your gift.]

With that, Akechi sent the picture and video he had just taken, then promptly blocked Yu again.

The picture showed Yu and Ren sitting close together, their faces almost touching due to the angle. Yu held a golden leaf, their eyes locked on each other, the sunlight creating a romantic, almost intimate atmosphere, as if they were about to kiss.

Akechi’s photography skills were undeniable. The angle and composition were perfect.

[Ann Takamaki: ??!!]

[Makoto Niijima: So they really are…!]

[Ryuji Sakamoto: Tokyo has exploded!]

[Yusuke Kitagawa: Did anyone notice the new member is the Detective Prince, Goro Akechi?]
[Haru Okumura: Aaaah! What is this?! I’ve never seen such a scandalous picture of the Phantom Thieves!]

[Futaba Sakura: Saved. Good job, Detective Boy!]

Yu/Ren, reading the group chat: …

That was a very Akechi way of getting revenge.