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“Should we wait for Akira before starting the meeting?”
“Akira’s not comin’.”
Cafe Leblanc was closed for the day but thanks to Futaba, the Phantom Thieves were still able to meet, crowding around a single booth with Ryuji running the conversation. Well, most of the Phantom Thieves were there.
“What do you mean Akira’s not coming?” Makoto asks, leaning back against the booth. Ryuji had summoned them all there (something about a serious situation involving the Phantom Thieves) but it seemed he hadn’t informed their leader about the last minute, supposedly important meeting.
Futaba pushes up her glasses. “Ryuji asked me not to let Akira know,” she explains. She picks at the leather seating. “I had to make sure he was at his part-time when I scheduled this.”
“Is something wrong with him?” Yusuke asks. “ I hadn’t noticed a change in his behavior.”
“Still as aloof as ever,” Ann adds with a sigh.
“That’s just it,” Ryuji says. He crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow. “Don’t you think he’s been a little more out of it than usual?”
“Now that you mention it,” Haru speaks, “he has seemed a bit distracted these past few weeks.”
“He’s been on his phone a lot more too. Sojiro’s real mad about it. Keeps going on and on about proper dinner table manners,” Futaba says.
“Do you think something could have happened?” Makoto asks and Ryuji grins.
“Now, we’re getting into the reason I called you guys here.”
“Here we go…”
“Akira Kurusu,” Ryuji begins, clearly pausing for dramatic effect, “is seeing someone.”
“Like hallucinations?” Haru gasps. Ryuji groans and Yusuke’s eyebrows furrow.
“We must take him to a doctor immediately.”
“He has a girlfriend, duh!” Ryuji shouts.
The table goes silent. Then…
“No way.”
“I can’t see it.”
“He doesn’t really seem like any girl’s type, though…”
“Ah, for crying out loud,” Ryuji sighs. “I gathered ya guys here so we could compare evidence. You know, talk about anything suspicious we’ve noticed? Where he’s been hanging out, who he’s been hanging out with.”
“Are you sure it’s a girlfriend?” Makoto asks.
“Honestly, I don’t think he could pick up on social cues as complex as romance,” Futaba says. She looks suspiciously at Ryuji. “Why don’t you just ask him if you’re so curious?”
“You don’t think I tried?” he responds, sliding further down his seat. “He said, and I quote,”
“A girlfriend? Why would you think that?”
“And that was that?”
Ryuji nods solemnly. “And that was that.”
“I’m confused,” Yusuke speaks up. “I believe you have your answer, do you not?”
“It was obviously a lie,” Ryuji counters. “He was probably embarrassed I was asking, ‘specially since I don’t think they’ve been dating for long.”
“I mean,” Ann contemplates, “that does seem like the type of conversation he’d avoid having.”
“Thank you, Ann!”
“Well, what evidence do you have that Akira’s dating someone?” Makoto asks with a raised eyebrow. “I’m curious.”
“I’m glad you asked,” Ryuji chuckles. “So, this happened about two weeks ago, after school…”
Witness #1: Ryuji Sakamoto
“I was heading out, when I saw Akira waiting by his homeroom class. He was typing on his phone and smiling so I went up to him. I asked him who he was texting and he said, “No one,” then turned his phone off and put it in his pocket. Obviously, I thought that was weird, he’s not the type to usually hide his phone from us, but this time he definitely was trying to keep me from seeing something.
“So, then I asked what he was doing and if he wanted to hang now that school was over, but he said he was busy! He said he was waiting for someone, and he seemed really antsy about it. He kept looking around at the people passing by, like they could come any second. He didn’t say who he was waiting for either, and I got the impression he didn’t want to tell me right then, so I just left him in that hallway. I tried waitin’ around to see if I could see him talking to anyone, but the only other person who passed by was Mishima, before one of the teachers told me to stop loitering.”
Ryuji finishes his recount with a proud smile and leans back in his chair. The other Phantom Thieves look around at each other, before Makoto begins to talk. “That does seem a little strange, even for Akira,” she says.
“That’s what I’ve been sayin’!” Ryuji exclaims. “He was obviously meeting up with his girlfriend and didn’t want me to know about it.”
“Well, since we’re on the subject,” Haru says, “I did have a sort of strange encounter with Akira around the same time. I didn’t think much of it, until now.” The Phantom Thieves lean in closer as Haru begins her tale.
Witness #2: Haru Okumura
“I think it might have been a few days after Ryuji’s story, but I saw Akira at the park. He was sitting alone on a bench near a pretty view of the lake. It looked like he was watching the boats, you know, the ones that couples row out to the center? Now that I think about it, he might have been waiting for one to come back. I was going to go say hello when I noticed he was also holding two coffee cups. I figured he must have already been there with someone, so I went on my way. But I guess he might have been with his girlfriend.”
Ryuji grins. “He totally was!”
“I have to admit, the boats are a little suspicious,” Ann says. “They’re not specifically for couples, but you definitely see a lot of them there.”
“Actually, the coffee thing reminds me of something that happened last weekend,” Futaba says. Everyone turns towards her figure crouched on her booth seat. She doesn’t say anything else, until Makoto nudges her with her elbow. “Oh, right, guess it’s my turn.”
Witness #3: Futaba Sakura
“Last weekend, Akira was helping Sojiro make the coffee at the bar. It’s not odd for him to volunteer to help, but he seemed extra enthusiastic about it. Sojiro noticed too and asked him why he seemed so happy to help out today. Akira said he wanted to practice his coffee making skills, because someone wanted to try all the different kinds of coffee he could make, and I guess he wanted to really go all out. I just thought it might have been one of you guys, but Akira avoided saying a name, even when Sojiro asked more questions, so I guess it could have been a girlfriend. I just can’t see that guy dating anyone at all, so I really don’t know if Ryuji’s just overthinking things.”
“Rude!”
“Let me finish. Later that day, I walked in on the end of Sojiro and Akira having a conversation. Akira seemed pretty embarrassed and Sojiro was patting him on the shoulder and telling him he was proud and was happy for Akira. That seems a bit in line with the mystery girlfriend theory, but I didn’t catch the rest of it.”
Haru smiles and says, “If he really does have a girlfriend, that’s wonderful that he told Boss.”
“But, still, why wouldn’t he tell us?” Ryuji pouts.
“Perhaps he plans on introducing her to Sojiro soon,” Yusuke says. “If so, things must be serious. I hope we get to meet her soon.”
“Me too,” Makoto agrees. “Especially since this puts something that happened on Monday into a new perspective.”
Witness #4: Makoto Niijima
“So, on Monday I was talking to a few students having trouble in their history class. Nearby, I thought I heard Akira’s voice and I went to look for him after I finished my discussion. I saw him standing on a corner of the hallway, and he was definitely talking with someone. He seemed pretty happy too, he was smiling from ear to ear and laughing. I couldn’t see who he was talking to, though, and I didn’t recognize the voice either. But, before I could get closer, Akira walked around to the other side so I just let him go.”
“Could you tell if it was a girl he was talking to?” Ann asks and Makoto shakes her head.
“No, but from how he was acting, it must have been someone he was interested in,” she says. “I’ve never seen him so giddy before.”
“Ew,” Ryuji says, “but also proves my point.”
“I think it’s sweet,” Ann says. “If he really does have a girlfriend, we should be happy she makes him happy.”
“I must agree with Ryuji, though. I would like to meet her, especially if she means this much to him,” Yusuke says. “And I’m beginning to rethink some of my own encounters with Akira this week.”
Witness #5: Yusuke Kitagawa
“A few times this week, Akira has approached me to ask about various topics, all which relate back to romance. First, he wanted to know if there was a particular love poem I thought stirred the soul. Then, he asked my opinion on flowers for a gift to someone. Finally, just the other day, he was curious if I thought the planetarium was a good spot for a date, or if I knew of other artistically inspiring locations.”
“Hold on,” Futaba interrupts, “he asked you for advice on date spots and you didn’t think anything of it?”
Yusuke shrugs. “Our leader is an enigma. I was not about to question his methods.”
“But, if he was asking about date spots, then maybe he really does have a girlfriend,” Haru says.
“Maybe,” Ann says. Finally, she comes forward with her own tale.
Witness #6: Ann Takamaki
“It was yesterday, but I ran into Akira at the underground mall. He was looking at some clothes outside one of the shops and when I asked him what he was doing, he said needed a nice outfit. He didn’t say why but I didn’t really think about it. I offered him a few store names and told him to think about the atmosphere of where he was going. That’s when he said it wasn’t for a specific place, but that he was meeting someone important and wanted to look nice. I thought he just meant he had an interview for another part time job.”
“He does have a lot of those,” Makoto sighs.
Yusuke nods his head. “I’m just pleased he’s not going on his dates in his everyday clothes. They lack proper flare.”
Witness #7: Yuuki Mishima
Suddenly, the bell above the coffee shop rings and Mishima walks in, obvious surprise on his face when he sees the Phantom Thieves gathered. “Sorry,” he says, “am I interrupting an important meeting?”
“What are you doing here?” Ann asks but Ryuji interrupts before Mishima can answer.
“This is perfect timing!”
“It is?” Mishima says.
“Have you noticed anything odd about Akira?” Ryuji asks. Mishima tilts his head.
“Odd in what way?”
“Ryuji thinks Akira might be seeing someone,” Yusuke clarifies and Mishima’s face erupts into a brilliant shade of red. At the same time, the man of the hour walks into the coffee shop, still in his part-time uniform.
“Oh, hey guys,” Akira says, his tone nonchalant. Then he leans over to Mishima and places a kiss on his cheek. “Let me change real quick and we can go on our date.”
“You are seeing someone!”
“Aw, congratulations you two.”
“I owe Mona so much money.”
“YOU’RE GAY!?”
The Phantom Thieves erupt into chaos and Akira glances at Mishima. “Um, what’s happening?”
“Please don’t ask me. I just got here.”