Chapter Text
April 9th 20XX
MOM: Hey Akira, did you make it to Tokyo alright? Please call or text me and your father when you arrive. (3:00 PM)
AKIRA: Yeah I’m good. Sorry took so long, tired. (10:07 PM)
MOM: I’m glad to hear it. I’ll let you sleep, dear. 🙂 (10:15 PM)
April 11th 20XX
DAD: So Akira! How was your first day at school? (5:46 PM)
DAD: ...That bad huh? (5:59 PM)
AKIRA: I got lost and didn’t arrive until the afternoon. (6:00 PM)
DAD: Really!? I know Tokyo’s a big city and certainly a lot bigger than Inaba but don’t you have that navigator map app or whatever it’s called? (6:01 PM)
AKIRA: It was raining and I forgot an umbrella so I wasn’t really focusing. (6:02 PM)
AKIRA: On the bright side, I think I made a friend, his name’s Ryuji. (6:02 PM)
DAD: You think? (6:02 PM)
AKIRA: Well I only got to know him a little bit. He was loud but he seemed like a good guy. (6:03 PM)
DAD: That sounds like a friend to me. (6:03 PM)
AKIRA: And he pretty much was the only one who didn’t treat me like garbage today. (6:03 PM)
DAD: What!? Come on, you’re a good looking charming kid, why would anyone think of you like that? (6:04 PM)
AKIRA: My record got leaked. (6:04 PM)
DAD: Akira, I’m sorry. (6:06 PM)
DAD: Do you know how that happened? Your mother and I can call the school. They promised us that they would keep your probation under wraps. (6:07 PM)
AKIRA: Don’t. It’s too late and it’s out there. I can deal with it. (6:07 PM)
DAD: You shouldn’t have to! (6:08 PM)
AKIRA: I don’t want you and mom getting in trouble by trying to vouch for me. I can deal with it. (6:08 PM)
DAD: Ugh, I don’t like this but fine, okay. (6:08 PM)
DAD: But please remember you can contact me and your mother any time. (6:09 PM)
DAD: You don’t gotta handle this alone. (6:09 PM)
AKIRA: Thanks dad. (6:12 PM)
April 15th 20XX
AKIRA: [Photo Attachment] (8:14 PM)
MOM: OH MY GOODNESS! What an adorable kitty! 😍 Are they Sakura-San’s? (8:17 PM)
AKIRA: Actually I found him wandering around the streets and felt bad for the little guy. His name is Morgana. Sakura-San is willing to let him stay as long as he doesn’t go downstairs during business hours. (8:18 PM)
MOM: Morgana? You might want to be careful with naming him. You don’t know if he already belongs to someone else. Is he chipped? Or does he have a tag? (8:18 PM)
AKIRA: I don’t know if he’s chipped but he doesn’t have a tag. (8:19 PM)
MOM: In that case, you better take him to a vet. Not only might someone be looking for him but who knows what kind of things he picked up on the street. (8:19 PM)
AKIRA: I will. (8:19 PM)
AKIRA: I made another friend btw. (8:19 PM)
MOM: OH! That’s wonderful! 😃 What are they like!? (8:20 PM)
AKIRA: Her name’s Ann, she’s part American. She’s very nice, really passionate, and cares about her friends (8:20 PM).
MOM: It sounds like things are starting to pick up in Tokyo for you. 😊 (8:20 PM)
AKIRA: Yeah (8:27 PM)
May 3rd 20XX
MOM: AKIRA!? AKIRA ARE YOU ALRIGHT!? (7:38 PM)
AKIRA: Um, yes? (7:40 PM)
AKIRA: ...Are you alright? (7:40 PM)
MOM: I saw the news about your school. That gym teacher didn’t do anything to you did he!? (7:40 PM)
AKIRA: Not physically. (7:42 PM)
MOM: What do you mean “not physically”? What did he do!? (7:42 PM)
AKIRA: He threatened to expel me and a couple friends but he dropped it with his confession earlier today. (7:43 PM)
MOM: Why was he trying to get you expelled!? (7:43 PM)
AKIRA: Because I knew he hurt my friends and I didn’t want to let him get away with it. (7:44 PM)
MOM: I see. (7:44 PM)
MOM: Tokyo hasn’t changed you a bit. (7:44 PM)
AKIRA: I suppose. (7:45 PM)
AKIRA: Mom, are you still there? (7:48 PM)
MOM: I’m sorry I’m just… I’m just wondering if sending you to that school was a mistake. Your record gets leaked despite them telling us it would be confidential, that poor girl tried to kill herself, and your gym teacher turned out to be a pervert. (7:49 PM)
MOM: I’m almost scared of something else happening. (7:49 PM)
MOM: And you’re so far away that we can’t help you. (7:49 PM)
AKIRA: Don’t worry, I’ll be okay. I told you and dad that I managed to make some friends. As long as we stick together, I think we’ll be fine. (7:50 PM)
AKIRA: Besides, Shujin was the only school that would take me. So we don’t exactly have other options. (7:51 PM)
MOM: Okay. I’ll trust your friends to take care of you. But please still be careful. I love you, sweetheart. Home’s not the same without you. Night. (7:53 PM)
AKIRA: Night. (7:53 PM)
May 5th 20XX
AKIRA: [Photo Attachment] (9:27 PM)
MOM: Oh are those your friends? I remember you said that girl was part American. Is the blonde boy too? (9:30 PM)
AKIRA: No, Ryuji bleaches his hair. And I know, I know, what you’re going to say but trust me, Ryuji’s been a good friend. (9:31 PM)
MOM: Well… okay (9:33 PM)
MOM: Wait is that the kitty you showed me last month? (9:33 PM)
AKIRA: Yeah, we took him to a vet and he wasn’t chipped. So he’s staying with me. (9:34 PM)
MOM: And you brought him to a restaurant because? (9:34 PM)
AKIRA: Morgana has real bad separation anxiety so I had to sneak him in. (9:35 PM)
MOM: OH! WHAT A TERRIBLE DELINQUENT MY SON IS! BRINGING SHAME TO HIS POOR MOTHER! 😭😭😭 (9:35 PM)
MOM: Hee hee. Just kidding. 😋 (9:35 PM)
MOM: But seriously, you probably shouldn’t have brought an animal to a restaurant. (9:36 PM)
AKIRA: Guess I’m just that much of a bad boy. (9:36 PM)
MOM: Akira, I’m serious. 😒 (9:36 PM)
AKIRA: I thought your name was Rina? (9:36 PM)
MOM: Don’t. I get enough of these terrible jokes from your father. (9:37 PM)
AKIRA: Alright, I’ll ask around for a pet sitter next time. (9:37 PM)
AKIRA: Night mom. (9:37 PM)
MOM: Night sweetie. (9:38 PM)
May 13th 20XX
AKIRA: So good news, our school’s getting a therapist. (4:56 PM)
DAD: Yeah I’d imagine after all that craziness with that pervert teacher, it’d be good for you kids to talk to someone. (4:59 PM)
AKIRA: Honestly I think the Principal is just trying to salvage the school’s reputation. (5:00 PM)
AKIRA: But I did get to talk to the Counselor today. He’s uh kind of spacey but it was nice to actually have an adult or anyone outside my friends talk to me like a normal person for once. (5:00 PM)
AKIRA: And not like I was going to go feral or something. (5:01 PM)
DAD: It’s been that bad huh? (5:01 PM)
AKIRA: I think I overheard someone in the hall say that I’m the son of a Yakuza Captain. (5:02 PM)
AKIRA: Dad, is there something you and mom need to tell me? (5:02 PM)
DAD: Well, it looks like you caught me, son. My real name is Hideaki Doragonman. Your mother and I had been in hiding ever since I nearly killed another yakuza who was arranged to marry her. (5:03 PM)
AKIRA: And you didn’t bother changing your first name? (5:03 PM)
DAD: That’s what they’d expect! (5:03 PM)
May 15th 20XX
AKIRA: Dad, you’re really into the art scene right? (7:00 PM)
DAD: Yes? (7:00 PM)
AKIRA: What can you tell me about Ichiryusai Madarame? (7:00 PM)
DAD: Oh! Any particular reason why you’re asking? (7:01 PM)
AKIRA: He has an exhibit at the Ueno Museum and I got invited. But I feel like I should go in with some knowledge. (7:01 PM)
DAD: Wow! Lucky you! (7:01 PM)
DAD: Okay so Madarame came into the scene when he was in his thirties I think? He mostly did landscapes with the occasional portrait. Then he fell into a bit of an artistic slump. (7:03 PM)
DAD: But he finally broke out a little over a decade ago with the Sayuri. That’s when he started getting more experimental with his style. (7:03 PM)
DAD: He’s been a strong advocate for new artists, even taken in apprentices over the years though none of them reached his level of popularity and fame. (7:04 PM)
AKIRA: I think that should be enough. Thanks dad. (7:04 PM)
DAD: Let me know how the exhibit goes! Hey think maybe you can get a painting for your old man? (7:04 PM)
AKIRA: Those paintings are worth millions of yen. (7:05 PM)
DAD: Ha! I’m just kidding. I’d be happy with a postcard from the museum gift shop. Night kiddo! (7:05 PM)
May 15th 20XX
Phantom Thieves Group Chat
ANN: So hey did you get any info from your dad? (7:20 PM)
AKIRA: He mostly seemed to paraphrase Madarame’s wiki article. But he did mention something about how none of Madarame’s apprentices ever got to their master’s level of fame. (7:21 PM)
RYUJI: Sounds like what that Nakanohara guy said about getting used by Madrame and tossed out. It’s gotta be the same guy. (7:21 PM)
ANN: Only one way to find out I guess. (7:21 PM)
May 16 20XX
DAD: So how did the exhibit go? (2:30 PM)
DAD: Akira? (2:40 PM)
AKIRA: Hey I only just saw your message, sorry about that. (6:07 PM)
AKIRA: The exhibit was okay, Ryuji and I ended up getting shoved out by the crowds. (6:07 PM)
DAD: Oh that’s a shame. (6:10 PM)
DAD: I hope you at least got a good look at the art? (6:10 PM)
AKIRA: ...No. Madarame was right in the room getting interviewed and once the crowd noticed he was there… (6:11 PM)
DAD: Oh. Some people, am I right? A man’s trying to promote his art and work and those people feel the need to push and shove like animals! (6:11 PM)
AKIRA: Like you wouldn’t have done the same? (6:12 PM)
DAD: That any way to talk to your old man? (6:12 PM)
AKIRA: You’re the one calling yourself, “Old Man.” (6:12 PM)
DAD: Haven’t laughed like that since before you left. I needed that, kiddo. Thanks. (6:13 PM)
AKIRA: I’m just glad you’re not as fond of emojis as mom is. (6:14 PM)
AKIRA: Don’t tell her, I said that. (6:14 PM)
DAD: Lips are sealed. (6:14 PM)
DAD: Anyway, sorry your museum trip was a bust. Maybe you’ll get a second chance. I still want that postcard, Akira. (6:15 PM)
AKIRA: I’ll be sure to keep you in mind when I come across enough yen to buy tickets again. (6:15 PM)
DAD: HA! That’s the spirit! (6:16 PM)
May 20th 20XX
MOM: Hey, how have things been? (5:00 PM)
AKIRA: Not bad. Sakura-San’s been teaching me how to make coffee. I think he’s actually tolerating me now! (8:30 PM)
MOM: Well he better do better than “tolerate” you or Sakura-San and I will have some words! 😤 (8:32 PM)
AKIRA: I’m joking, mom. (8:32 PM)
MOM: Well that wasn’t a very funny joke. 🤨 (8:32 PM)
MOM: Sakura-San hasn’t been too bad has he? (8:33 PM)
AKIRA: He’s strict and kind of abrasive but he feeds me and he let me keep Morgana so there’s that. (8:33 PM)
AKIRA: But I do miss your cooking though. (8:33 PM)
MOM: Aw, well I can’t wait to try your coffee, I’m sure you’ll be amazing at it when you come home. (8:34 PM)
MOM: Anything else? Are your friends doing well? (8:34 PM)
AKIRA: Yeah we’re good, we’ve been really getting into Tokyo’s art scene lately. (8:34 PM)
MOM: Your father told me about you going to an art exhibit recently. He also mentioned you got pushed out by the crowd. (8:35 PM)
AKIRA: Yeah. (8:35 PM)
AKIRA: I made a new friend at least. His name is Yusuke and he’s an artist. (8:35 PM)
MOM: Oh that’s great. Maybe talking to a real artist can help you translate your father’s Art Speak. (8:36 PM)
AKIRA: Or he could make things worse. Yusuke is unique to say the least. (8:37 PM)
AKIRA: Oh and our test scores got posted today. Managed to pass this time. (8:37 PM)
MOM: You were always a smart kid but I’m glad to hear this whole mess hasn’t messed up your grades. (8:37 PM)
May 27th 20XX
DAD: [Link] Japan Today: Mysterious Calling Cards Found at Madarame Exhibit (6:00 PM)
DAD: You said you’ve been following the art scene, so have you heard about this? (6:00 PM)
AKIRA: I think Yusuke told me about this. (6:05 PM)
DAD: What do you think? (6:05 PM)
DAD: It sounds a little too much for just a prank. (6:06 PM)
DAD: And I can’t deny that there had been some unsavory rumors about Madarame for years. But they’ve never been proven. (6:06 PM)
AKIRA: I guess we’ll wait and see. (6:10 PM)