On the Possibility of Raiding the Phantom Thieves’ Leader 50

Chapter 50

Yu arrived home, hanging up his scarf and taking off his coat, a strange unease settling over him.

He couldn’t remember why he’d gone out. He remembered buying textbooks, but had nothing. And he felt his outing had another purpose.

“Yu? You’re home?” his mother called from the kitchen.

“Yes, I’m home.”

His mother emerged, the sound of simmering soup filling the air. Right, the talk.

“Something you wanted to tell me?” Yu asked, hoping she knew about his forgotten outing.

“Yes,” she said gently. “I’m resigning.”

“Huh?” Yu was confused. “Resigning?”

She sighed. “The workplace is unfriendly to women. I’m stressed. Coworkers say women should stay home.” She chuckled wryly. “Perhaps they’re right.”

Yu felt uneasy. His career-driven mother, resigning due to stress?

“But Mom, you worked so hard…” he said. “Wouldn’t it be a waste?”

“A waste? I can spend more time with you, Yu. I’m sorry I neglected you.”

Yu looked down, forcing a smile.

“I respect your decision.”

He went to his room, trying to study, but couldn’t focus, anxiety growing.

This wasn’t what she wanted to discuss.

He checked his messages with his mother, but found nothing recent. He sighed, putting his phone aside and going downstairs for water.

While he was gone, his messaging app opened, the chat history rewinding, contacts disappearing.

Yu returned, seeing the empty screen. No new friends, only those from Inaba.

“No new friends?” He tried to remember, but only saw himself studying alone. He frowned.

“Then who was I meeting?” He only remembered the appointment, not the person or place. He rubbed his temple, looking out the window at the encroaching fog, like the fog in Inaba.

Three days later, Yu left, wearing his white coat and saffron scarf, his gray eyes empty.

It was snowing. He exhaled, watching the snowflakes, then stepped into the cold, walking towards the subway, hearing laughter. It was winter break, New Year’s approaching. He walked aimlessly, then boarded the train to Shibuya.

He sat in the plaza, still unable to remember, then sighed, walking towards the Velvet Room.

Inside, Margaret and Igor sat with serious expressions. Margaret nodded.

“Guest, you seem lost.”

Yu’s voice was soft. “I forgot something.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“I don’t know,” Yu said sadly. “But it’s important. It hurts.”

The pain was a constant urge to remember, but his memory failed him every time.

“I want to remember,” he said. “I have to.”

Margaret and Igor exchanged glances.

“Guest, don’t worry,” Margaret said. “Remember what I told you?”

Yu looked at her.

“Even if you lose everything, your soul won’t be alone. Your true treasure can reveal the truth.”

“This is interference. Be calm.” She smiled. “You represent humanity’s truth.”

At Leblanc, Ren opened the door.

“Going out?” Sojiro asked.

“Yes,” Ren left, stopping outside, unsure where to go. He just felt he should.

He looked up at the snow.

Footsteps approached. Ren turned and saw Akechi.

“Akechi?” Ren asked, surprised.

“I’ve been acquitted,” Akechi said calmly. “They said the mental shutdowns never happened, then they laughed and let me go.”

Ren stared at him. “You came to tell me?”

“Disgusting,” Akechi frowned. “I have a question.”

“What?”

“Why did I confess?” Akechi asked seriously. “I would never. But I did. I gave them evidence against Shido. Why?”

“I’m not righteous.”

Ren looked puzzled. “Wasn’t it because of…”

He struggled to remember, the name on the tip of his tongue, but the person was gone.

“Wasn’t it because of…” he repeated.

Akechi sighed. “You forgot too.”

Ren remembered his past life, Maruki creating a world of false happiness. He’d thought he was immune, but he wasn’t.

Who had he forgotten?

He ran towards the subway, Akechi following.

Driven by instinct, Ren boarded a train, Akechi barely making it into another car. At Shibuya, Ren rushed out.

“Hey! Dangerous!” Akechi yelled. “Calm down!”

He had to tell someone else to calm down!

Ren ran through the plaza, towards Central Street, searching for someone he couldn’t remember.

He reached the alley, turning towards the Velvet Room. The door opened, and a figure emerged, tall and elegant in a white coat, light gray hair and eyes, holding a glowing orb, the fog unable to touch him.

He looked up, their eyes meeting.

They stopped, snowflakes melting on their clothes.

“Are you…” Yu hesitated. “Ren?”

“It’s me,” Ren’s voice trembled.

“I finally found you, Yu.”

As he spoke Yu’s name, the memories returned, their year together, their love.

Yu ran to Ren, and they embraced.

Akechi, watching, frowned. He felt an urge to punch the boy. The one who made him confess.

And weren’t they hugging too long? What was their relationship?