Chapter 9
Yu attended his classes quietly. It wasn’t until after the morning session that he noticed several students glancing at him.
Even without the “Charm +1” prompt, Yu knew this was likely due to the recently posted exam results.
This was school, and while not absolute, grades did command a certain level of attention.
During lunch break, Yu took out his homemade bento and sent a message to the group chat.
[Yu Narukami: Are the results out?]
After sending the message, he noticed a new member in the group.
Yusuke Kitagawa?
There weren’t any messages from him, only the notification of him joining the group.
[Ann Takamaki: These are my best grades ever! Thank you, Narukami-senpai!]
[Ryuji Sakamoto: I still failed, but it’s much better than before. At least I can explain it to my mom.]
[Yu Narukami: How about you, Ren?]
[Ann Takamaki: He surprised everyone! He got first place in the whole grade!]
[Ryuji Sakamoto: Didn’t realize he was such a brainiac.]
As usual, Ren’s reply came late.
[Ren Amamiya: How about you, Narukami-senpai?]
[Yu Narukami: First place.]
Ann and Ryuji immediately offered congratulations, mentioning how they had sensed Yu’s academic prowess during their study sessions. Only Ren remained silent. Yu, observing him, thanked everyone while pondering the reason for Ren’s silence.
After a while, Ren finally sent a new message.
[Ren Amamiya: I remember you’re at the same school as Goro Akechi, and he’s also a third-year. If you’re first, then he didn’t get first place this time.]
Yu considered this. He had only focused on his own name and hadn’t checked who was second.
But what did Ren mean by that?
[Yu Narukami: I’m in the same class as Goro Akechi. We sit next to each other.]
[Ren Amamiya: …]
[Ren Amamiya: Just… be careful around him.]
The same warning as Naoto, urging him to be wary of Goro Akechi.
Ren, having relived his life, knew Akechi’s true nature better than anyone. He possessed a sinister willingness to drag others down with him, even if it meant sinking into the mire himself. Born into hardship, he lacked empathy for those who shared similar struggles. Ren had once thought he understood Akechi, only to realize later that he hadn’t understood him at all.
Goro Akechi was a difficult person to understand, his actions incomprehensible.
But Ren knew that Akechi was currently striving to maintain his perfect image, including his “sweet-tooth prince charming” persona.
Yu had stolen his first-place ranking. Ren wondered how he was reacting.
He couldn’t possibly be genuinely impressed.
[Yu Narukami: I understand.]
After sending the message, Yu glanced at Akechi, who was reviewing his notes beside him.
Akechi was a diligent student, incredibly intelligent. Even with his detective work taking up much of his time, he maintained excellent grades. While Yu wasn’t sure how he had performed on this exam, judging by his classmates’ compliments, he probably hadn’t dropped out of the top five.
He seemed gentle and studious. Why were both Naoto and Ren warning him to be careful?
Lost in thought, Yu stared blankly, realizing too late that his gaze had been noticed. Akechi met his eyes and smiled when he saw Yu snap back to attention.
“Congratulations,” Akechi said with a smile. “Getting first place right after transferring. You’re very capable, Narukami-kun.”
“Thank you,” Yu replied politely. “You’re also very impressive, Akechi-kun, maintaining your grades while working as a detective. Most people couldn’t do that.”
“I admire you.”
“No need for flattery. I don’t want to complicate a normal classmate relationship. I just want a normal high school friendship,” Akechi said with a wry smile. “But most people see me as the ‘Detective Prince’ first, not as myself.”
Yu felt a sense of déjà vu. He had heard similar words before.
From Rise Kujikawa.
So, Goro Akechi = Naoto Shirogane’s detective status + Rise Kujikawa’s self-doubt?
“What are you thinking about?” Akechi asked, seeing Yu’s silence.
What a strange reaction.
Akechi was accustomed to hiding his true nature, skilled at playing the victim to maintain his innocent persona. His earlier words had been deliberate. Most people, upon hearing such words, would offer comfort, lower their guard, and become his friend.
A famous detective, struggling with self-doubt and yearning for friendship, was undeniably appealing.
But Yu was spacing out!
Akechi cursed him inwardly, maintaining a facade of confusion.
“If you’re struggling with that, you need to be careful,” Yu finally spoke. “Be careful not to fall into a strange place. That kind of thinking can easily create another you. If you deny it, that other you will become a monster, and that’s when it becomes dangerous.”
Akechi: …?
“I have experience,” Yu said seriously. “Remember to acknowledge it as a part of yourself.”
Akechi: ???
What was this guy talking about? He didn’t understand a word.
Before Akechi could ask for clarification, several girls approached, inviting him to lunch. By the time he politely declined, Yu was gone. Akechi was annoyed. High school students were such a nuisance!
Meanwhile, Yu was eating his bento on the rooftop.
He loved the rooftop. The gentle breeze, carrying a fresh scent, reminded him of his days at Yasogami High, eating lunch with his classmates on the roof.
After finishing his bento, Yu checked the group chat on his phone.
The new member had finally spoken.
[Yusuke Kitagawa: I’m an art student. Grades aren’t that important. If I win an award, it counts towards my overall grade.]
[Ann Takamaki: There he is! How are you feeling?]
[Yusuke Kitagawa: Like I could eat three bags of french fries.]
[Ryuji Sakamoto: If you can eat that many fries, you must be fine. So when are we tackling the next Palace?]
[Ann Takamaki: What do you think, Ren?]
[Ren Amamiya: I’ll let you know.]
Yu read the messages, packed up his bento box, then sent a message to the group.
[Yu Narukami: Did he change clothes too?]
[Ann Takamaki/Ryuji Sakamoto: ???]
[Yusuke Kitagawa: Getting paint on my clothes is troublesome. I don’t have any spare clothes to change into.]
[Ren Amamiya: …He’s asking about the Phantom Thief outfit.]
That’s right. Yu hadn’t been to a Palace or Mementos with them yet, so they didn’t know he didn’t have a Phantom Thief outfit in the Metaverse.
Why didn’t Yu have a Phantom Thief outfit? Why not? Even Akechi had one.
Ren didn’t ask this question in the group chat. Instead, he sent Yu a private message.
[Ren Amamiya: Lavenza pulled me into the Velvet Room in a dream last night. Let’s go there after school.]
[Yu Narukami: Okay.]
Seeing Yu’s reply, Ren thought to himself: Perhaps the Velvet Room held the answer to why Yu wasn’t a Phantom Thief.
Morgana, having observed the entire conversation, nudged Ren’s wrist with his paw.
“It’s really strange. He didn’t change into a Phantom Thief outfit when he summoned his Persona in Mementos either. Why?”
Ren thought for a moment. “Why do we change into Phantom Thief outfits?”
“I remember explaining this. Because, to Mementos, we’re intruders. Both Mementos and Palaces are personal domains. In people’s perceptions, intruders are thieves, so we take on the appearance of Phantom Thieves.”
“So if he didn’t change, is it because people don’t perceive him as a thief?”
“Impossible!” Morgana didn’t believe it. “We’re all intruders. Why wouldn’t he be considered a thief?!”
“Because he has max charm?”
“There’s no way such a mechanic exists!”
Morgana covered his ears, refusing to believe it.
Unaware of Ren and Morgana’s discussion, Yu, with his maxed-out initial charm and effortlessly cool demeanor, left the rooftop with his bento box, returning to his seat. He sensed someone watching him and turned to see Akechi staring at him.
“You make your own bento?” Akechi asked curiously.
“I know a little,” Yu nodded.
“Impressive. I can’t even cook. Going into the kitchen is like a battle for me,” Akechi sighed. “I can never figure out how much ‘a pinch’ or ‘a dash’ is supposed to be.”
“But I love sweets. Do you like sweets, Narukami-kun?”
Yu thought for a moment, then nodded. “They’re alright. I enjoy them when I have them.”
Akechi smiled. “Are you free tonight? I have a reservation at a nice dessert shop.”
Yu: …
He suddenly felt like he was back at Yasogami High, constantly being asked out, spending his days deciding whose invitation to accept and which Confidant to rank up.
But Ren wasn’t his new Confidant, and neither was Akechi.
“Sorry,” he ultimately declined. “I have plans with a friend tonight.”
Visiting the Velvet Room was definitely more important than eating dessert.
Akechi: …
He forced a smile. “Of course, it’s no problem.”
“Let me know when you’re free next time. Or perhaps we could exchange contact information?” Akechi clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.
He had been rejected. Rejected!
Damn Yu Narukami! Did he know how many people would kill for an invitation from him?!
“Is that alright?” Yu glanced at him, feigning concern. “You’re a celebrity. Isn’t it risky to give out your personal contact information?”
“I wouldn’t normally, but it’s fine with you, Narukami-kun.” Akechi relaxed his hand and picked up his phone. “I enjoy talking to you. I’d be happy to be your friend.”
As if!
If it weren’t for the potential social link boost from “Befriending the top student and then surpassing him to create a heartwarming tale,” he wouldn’t bother!
