2025-07-15: The Phantoms' Next Target
- Log: 2025-07-15 The Phantoms' Next Target
- Cast: Ren Amamiya, Yusuke Kitagawa, Ann Takamaki, Makoto Niijima (cameos: Morgana, Ryuji Sakamoto)
- Where: Shibuya Station, Tokyo
- OOC Date: July 15, 2025
- IC Date: Sun Jun 10 2012 into Mon Jun 11 2012
- Summary: While discussing who they should target next for a change of heart, The Phantoms are approached by Shujin Academy Student Council President Makoto Niijima with a job they can't refuse. The next day, they confirm it with her... for as little as they like dancing to her tune, there's no question this is a job that needs doing.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Madarame's heart has been changed. The Phantom Thieves have celebrated. Yusuke has moved in to, and then out of, Leblanc. Certain snooping student council presidents have made pointed remarks about the Shujin Academy roof being off-limits, so a new meeting place has been selected. And it's Sunday, which means there's no need to concern themselves with school...
...Instead, they can concern themselves with their next target.
Ren leans on the railing next to the windows overlooking Shibuya. The grand hallway at Shibuya Station is not by any means a private location, but the nature of it is that so many people are passing by and doing their own thing that they aren't going to pay attention to anything a bunch of loitering kids to. It's refuge in audacity. (That's the idea, anyway.)
It being a day off, Ren is dressed in a black undershirt, a white button-up with the sleeves rolled up, blue jeans, and solid black lace-up shoes. Despite having a smartphone, a wristwatch decorates his left wrist, and his thick-rimmed glasses make him look innocent, as per usual. He messes around with his phone until everyone has gathered, "everyone" being Ann, Ryuji, and Yusuke; then Morgana pokes his head out from his shoulder bag and hops down to sit on the railing next to him.
"So we've made some excellent progress as a team," Morgana says, tail flicking slightly. "But that's no reason to rest on our laurels! We've got to stay sharp and narrow down our next target. Fortunately, there's one that's the talk of the town already--and in a bad way. We've even talked about this one among our group before." Morgana nods to his human companion. "Ren?"
Ren turns his phone around to show the others its screen. It's on a post about...
"The Joker Killer," he says. "That serial killer that's infamous over in Sumaru City. Apparently, even the cops can't catch him."
"Oh dang," Ryuji utters. Then he furrows his brows as he leans in to get a better look. "Wait a sec. Is this the thing where you call your number from your own phone, an' a guy picks up, an' if you tell him a name, he takes 'em out for you? I remember tellin' you about that. That's just an urban legend, dude. I told you, I was just messin' with you."
"Maybe not," Ren replies. "According to this, there actually are murders going on in Sumaru City--and I met a reporter who claimed she actually ran afoul of the guy."
Ryuji's eyes bulge. "For real??"
Ren nods. "If she was telling the truth, and we can figure out his real name..."
Ryuji lights up with excitement as he shoots a grin around at everyone. "Then that'd be a huge win for the Phantom Thieves! If even the cops can't handle this guy, an' we make him turn himself in, then people'll have to recognize we're the real deal!"
"...But first we have to confirm who he really is," Morgana adds. "Obviously not by doing what the rumor says. We can't risk someone's life like that. But we need more if we want to change his heart."
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Since today is not a school day, Yusuke has joined the group in a light long-sleeved tee in indigo with large, angled gray and black stripes on the right side, paired with black trousers and matching loafers. He is leaning languidly against the railing as Ren and Morgana explain.
"... Forgive my asking, but how are we to even begin finding out more about such an individual? Even without the fact that this 'Joker Killer' seems to operate in a completely different city, the lack of any apparent connections leaves us at something of a loose end."
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
JUST WALK OUT
you can leave!!
work
social thing
movies
home
class
dentist
clothes shoppi
too fancy weed store
student council presidents if your quick <--- YOU ARE HERE
friend ships
IF IT SUCKS... HIT DA BRICKS!
(real winners quit)
So that about sums up the situation for the Phantom Thieves right now and explains why Ann Takamaki is currently leaning against the rail of that stylish overpass overlooking Shibuya, currently leafing through a magazine of Coolest!. She, personally, loved the idea -- who's going to give problems to kids, just loitering? No one cares about that! It's just what kids do!
Ann Takamaki has a lot to learn about the relationship between adults and teenagers.
She's dressed for summer in an off-the-shoulder pale pink cotton tee tied up just above her midriff and decorated in front with a series of artistic, multi-colored splotches, a pair of denim cutoffs cinched with a red leather belt adorned with a big - BIG - buckle of a star in a circle and a ccomfy - and stylish! - pair of white sneakers. A red, white and blue bangle decorates her right wrist; heart-shaped earrings dangle at her ears; and she keeps a pair of red-rimmed shades perched at her forehead to bring the whole ensemble together.
She hasn't actually -used- the shades yet. They're an accessory! They're there to look cool!
All in all, Ann's quickly made their new loiter spot-- hideout, hideout home. She could get used to this, really!
It's only when Morgana speaks up that Ann looks catwards over the brim of her magazine; when the name of their newest potential target is dropped, Ann shuts said magazine, and, well -- demonsrably waves it about.
"It's -not- an urban legend, Ryuji. It's legit," Ann backs Ren up. She even smacks the cover of that magazine once. "I've been doing research!"
...
has she, though--
"I busted open my Coolest back issues and started looking up articles by this Maya Amano lady, and she seems pretty on the level. I dunno, there's just something about her writing that feels like she actually cares."
Oh. So that's what she means.
Look. Ann's instincts are rarely wrong shut up ryuji you don't get to mention all the times they were objectively wrong
"Yusuke's right, though. How do we get more information on this guy?" wonders Ann, brows furrowed. "Is there anyone we could talk to? Wouldn't they have just gone to the cops if they knew, though...?"
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
It had been a little while since Shujin's School Council President had harassed Ren and Ann. Presumably Ryuji was next on her list, but for whatever reason, she hasn't approached. Indeed, she hasn't even been seen tailing Ren all through Shibuya (or Shinjuku or Kichijoji or wherever else he hasn't been able to lose her) in a few days. One might assume, at this point, that she has given up, or at least gotten dispirited.
That would be a misjudgment. After all, sometimes to catch a gang, first you must release an individual- after stirring them up a bit. Another thing her father told her. And it seems to have worked- even if she's initially thrown by the sounds of a cat nearby. Did a stray cat get lost in the mall...? ...Not that she has time to try and find the poor thing, right now.
But even her eyes widen when she hears mention of the Joker Killer. Of course she's heard about Sumaru City's serial killer. And if the police are taking that Phantom Thieves seriously, why wouldn't a serial killer like them exist? Quietly, Makoto is grateful that's not the case that her sister is on, right now. At least... as far as Makoto knows, it isn't.
She makes sure her phone is recording, microphone leaning a little around the corner. It's not the proper equipment, but it works- she did a few test runs earlier, to be sure. And it's not too long until she hits paydirt. She waits a moment, until she's sure she has every voice, and pulls her phone back and plugs in her headphones to make sure. She has it. A confession. The most important evidence for a court- and more than enough for Principal Kobayakawa.
But that's not where this is going. Not today. She could take it to Sae... she could be useful...
But Akechi-kun's words gnaw at her.
'It is my belief that no true justice can result from an act of grievous injustice. A wrong to make a right, does not erase the harm done.'
...Was it really that simple? Is it more just to let such people go free? People like the Joker Killer, like Kamoshida and Madarame?
'Suppose you had the ability to change hearts right now... and decided to use it upon, just for the sake of argument... Sae-san. Let us pre-suppose you had the best of intentions for doing so...' She could remember those words, the look on Akechi's face, the tone as they scored into her heart. 'But in the end, would you not also be enslaving your sister's will for your own self-satisfaction? Your own desires? Changing who she is for some preferred outcome? The choice to be that person of her own accord... forever lost...'
Her stomach flipped a little. She should just walk away. Take her recording. Leave. She can wash her hands of it, keep her recommendation, and stick to the plan to make up for being a burden-
...but her own justice demands something else. She needs to know for herself.
She steps around from a pillar across the way from the Phantom Thieves, walking toward them- not in school uniform but in a white tunic length dress, black capri tights, and sensible black heels. She walks with purpose, authority, before standing in front of the group in their 'hideout'. This one even less secure than the school roof.
"Ren Amamiya, Ann Takamaki, Ryuji Sakamoto..." She lists the names of the three students she knows, before turning to look at the fourth. "And you're Kitagawa-kun, correct? Second-year at Kosei High and former pupil of Madarame?"
She doesn't give them a chance to respond, stepping closer and holding up her phone.
"I wanted to ask you all about this."
And then, just loud enough for the Phantom Thieves to hear, their plans are played back to them, voices clear and easily recognizable.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ann fortunately backs Ren up on the reliability of Maya Amano's articles--she even brought an issue of Coolest with her--and while this may or may not be research, it's... better than nothing? Ryuji seems convinced, at least. (Ryuji probably did not need convincing to change the heart of a serial killer the cops can't catch. It's impressive and they're doing a big good in the world.)
Morgana chirps, "Well done, Lady Ann! I knew we could count on you!" ...but he probably would have said that no matter what, let's be real.
"That's the big question," Ren meanwhile admits to Yusuke, pulling his phone back now that everyone's gotten a good look at it. "There's no knowing if he even has a Palace. I have a business card from that reporter lady--" Ren retrieves the card in question and holds it out for everyone to see; it has the credentials of one Maya Amano, editor and reporter at Kismet Publishing-- "so I can try asking her again, but she was asking me because she was hoping to find out something new." Assuming she wasn't asking as a subtle tell to interrogate him on being a Phantom Thief, but Ann's research does indicate that's unlikely, so Ren is more comfortable with taking that risk. "It's the best lead I've got right now, though."
...which, needless to say, is not a lot. It's not like they can all re-question this lady. Ann points out that anyone else probably would have gone to the cops already, and Ren leans back and messes with a lock of his bangs in thought. "Not necessarily. I didn't get the vibe from Amano-san like she'd gone to the cops," he says slowly. "If I can get some more names from her, then we could work on trying to reach out to them..."
It's a tenuous thing, though, which is made more apparent the more he listens to himself talk. He catches Ann's eye, lips thinning. They'd talked about how it was worth trying to do something about him, and that's still true, but what happens if Maya doesn't have anything new to tell him?
...Someone steps out from behind a nearby pillar. Ren's dark eyes settle on the sight of Makoto Niijima. The way his expression goes instantly stony--and the way Morgana slips back into Ren's bag in a flash--should be a big clue to everyone else that there's trouble incoming before they even turn around.
Then, of course, she plays the recording she made of their conversation right back at them.
"........." Ren says nothing at first. The light glinting off the lenses of his glasses hide his eyes from view. But there's really no getting around the fact that she's got them dead to rights.
Maybe making a public place into their hideout where they discuss Phantom Thief business wasn't such a good idea after all?
(Despite this, they may well continue to meet in the overpass for several more Palaces to come.)
Poker-faced, Ren meets Makoto's eyes. "What do you want?" he asks quietly.
[OOC] Makoto Niijima says, "blu-ray: replace Kosei with Gekkoukan in my pose"
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
"If this reporter seems to know more, she might well be our best lead," Yusuke agrees, "but it is still..."
Morgana ducks into Ren's bag, and Yusuke looks up, to see a completely unfamiliar teenager approaching them - one who identifies him, to boot.
To say that Yusuke's expression becomes guarded would somehow be an understatement - though his face changes little, only forming a slight scowl, it is unmistakably a cutting expression of disdain all the more powerful for its subtlety.
"And who are you?" He replies, acerbic. She may have them dead to rights, but this direct approach - it lacks elegance.
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
Once again, this reaction is not unexpected. Criminals caught in the act tend to react strongly- and she has her prey cornered. Kitagawa looks at her with scorn, Takamaki with venom, and Amamiya with that same cold poker face.
She doesn't falter in the face of Ann's sarcastic vitriol- not this time. No matter how earned it may be- Makoto is the one on the side of justice this time.
Not that Ann could know that the only 'prize' on the line is Makoto's future. That's fine. She doesn't need to know. And the recording seems to have done it's work.
But she doesn't move straight into explaining what she wants- or who she is. Takamaki has done that part for her. Carry the momentum, then.
"An extremely similar technique was used for both Kamoshida and Madarame while those affected by their acts were just coincidentally meeting up." Makoto's eyes close for a moment, and she shakes her head. "How could that not raise suspicions?" Still, she plows on. "That's not the only recording I have, before you ask. I have sufficient evidence to incriminate all of you."
She gives a pause, just a moment, to let that all sink in, before she finally answers Ren's question.
"...That's why I would like to verify your justice for myself."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Someone, have a big Eureka moment!
Ren's glasses continue to obscure his eyes. "..."
More than ever, he's feeling the gap between himself and Akechi...
Yusuke and Ann's thoughts both get interrupted when Makoto Makotos into their conversation first. Here, at least, Ren can do something he's good at, which is hiding his emotions. (Don't think too deeply about that right now. They have more important things to worry about.) Ann and Ryuji bare plenty of their emotions right now for him.
"So, what, it's my fault?!" Ryuji says heatedly at Ann. (Well, yes, Ryuji. It kind of is. But they are the ones out here discussing their business in public, so it's not like it's just him, either... And, as it turns out, Makoto has more recordings--ones that would implicate all of them. That may or may not be a bluff, but the one she has right now is probably plenty.)
Ren lets Ann answer Yusuke--lets Ryuji turn his flustered glare from Ann to Makoto. He simply waits for the answer to his question. If she was only interested in getting evidence on them, there'd be no reason to approach them like this; she could've just submitted her evidence to Kobayakawa or the police or whomever. She must want something.
What she wants is, admittedly, unexpected.
"What do you mean?" he asks. His expression doesn't change any, but his dark eyes continue to bore into her with the intensity they had in their last meeting.
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Ann identifies Makoto as Shujin's 'Student council president,' and Yusuke, expression unshifting, says, "I see," and then turns his attention to Makoto, continuing flatly:
"And have you ever executed a student?"
what
... Explanation does not appear to be forthcoming, especially once Makoto explains she intends to see their justice for themselves. At this, Yusuke draws himself up, folding his arms.
A single brow arches, quizzically.
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
Makoto found out. She has -multiple- recordings. And worst of all--
She's -critiquing them about it-.
Ann Takamaki is so singularly angry about this that she can't even squabble with Ryuji right now about whether or not he is at fault for publicly shouting about being a Phantom Thief at every opportunity. No -- that step back becomes a step -forward- as Ann pushes her way forward, expression livid.
"Must be so easy to judge from that high horse of yours," she snaps, pent up anger (at Makoto--?) unbottling once more just as it did the last time. Even as Makoto starts to explain her reasoning, Ann pushes past with a fiery indictment. "You're here because the principal sent you, aren't you?? The schools can't have ties to criminals, after all! And yet they were too happy to turn a blind eye when Shiho--!"
She cuts herself off. She'd just be repeating the last time, at this point. Eyes hood, she just looks aside. "Principal Kobayakawa and the other adults are just using you. I feel sorry for you."
Ann has a big heart. Which means, unfortunately, when it's a big heart full of big, angry feelings, she has a tendency to just bulldoze through. She doesn't register what Makoto was saying; not immediately. It's not until this moment:
And have you ever executed a student?
Where Ann just kind of freezes, and slowly looks Yusuke's way as if he just unhinged his jaw and ate an entire Cosmic Tower Burger whole.
"Wh--what? What kind of school do you think this is, Yusuke?! No one's executing anyone, that kinda thing only happens in anime!"
It's only then that things finally snap into focus, thanks to the sheer absurdity of her fellow Phantom Thief, and she's left blinking, anger dashed momentarily on the rocks of flustered confusion.
"Wait. What are you talking about, Nijima-san? Your justice--?"
[OOC] Ann Takamaki says, "blu-ray 'your justice' -> 'our justice'"
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
If the conversation had been going like an aikido match, Yusuke's conversational approach is a Sumo Yokozuna walking in, grabbing her, and hurling Makoto across the room with a hearty 'dosukoi!'
And then her brain switches gears to Suzui. She falters for a moment- is that how people saw her silence. Executing a student? "I..."
And then Ann enters with a haymaker while she's off balance. She can't argue with anything Ann is saying, either. Even as she expected Takamaki's anger, it's still difficult for Makoto to bear that sort of yelling, that sort of aggression. It's a little too much like...
She breaks eye contact when Ann accuses her of turning a blind eye. After all, didn't she...?
'Principal Kobayakawa and the other adults are just using you. I feel sorry for you.'
"I... I know." She says, her voice quiet and weak for the first time this conversation. She almost looks like she's about to shut down in the face of Ann's righteous fury.
But she can't. Not this time. Shake it off, Makoto. Shake it off. You can't falter now.
"That's why I need to see if what you're doing is right, with my own eyes." Makoto takes a breath, centering herself before continuing. Put up the wall of President again. "I'm the only one who knows about you. If you prove what you're doing is just, I'll erase this, and the rest." Another moment, another pause, another second to steady herself internally.
"There is someone whose heart I'd like you to change."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
'And have you ever executed a student?'
That is a hell of a thing to say out of (seemingly) nowhere. It is a supreme effort of will for Ren to not gawk at Yusuke for this question. Granted, remaining stoic is easier when Ann (and, just off-camera, Ryuji) is gawking at Yusuke in his stead. It's so much easier when you can count on your friends to externalize the reactions you're tamping down.
Ren is thus free to maintain his poker face and continue to stare Makoto down, hands tucked in his pockets. Because he is, he can see the way she falters at Yusuke's question--the way she looks away as if ashamed when Shiho's name comes up--the way she acknowledges she's being used by the principal.
"..."
All before she pulls herself together and gets to the point:
There is someone whose heart I'd like you to change.
Ren doesn't bat an eyelash. "Whose?"
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Yusuke seems genuinely confused as to the others' reaction. "Kirijo-senpai makes frequent pronouncements to that effect when she exacts discipline on other students. Her elegance and ruthlessness make quite the impression."
The explanation seems to be extremely unhelpful.
More to the point: Makoto is bringing them a mission. Yusuke looks to Ren for guidance, and he seems on board, so: He returns his gaze to Makoto, slightly more relaxed.
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
"... Yusuke, you know if you're ever in trouble you can come to us, right--?"
Ann Takamaki suddenly has Big Concerns about Gekkoukan High and Yusuke's personal lifespan in such a place.
But for the moment? It takes a back seat. Because right now...?
Ann is ready for a fight.
Kind of spoiling for one if we're being honest.
What she gets instead is...
I... I know.
Expecting some kind of comeback, some kind of counter to shut her down, Ann finds herself in a figurative stumble. She blinks, shoulders scrunching up in muted alarm and confusion.
"What--?"
Put on the backfoot, anything else Ann might've said falls by the wayside, and she finally, actually -listens-. Sky blue eyes watch Makoto scrutinizingly as she speaks. As she explains what she wants -- what she really wants.
Ann falls silent. She turns her wary expression Ren's way, uncertain but for so many -other- reasons now than why she was before. But for now, as Ren asks that question, she says nothing, just looking Makoto's way. She tells herself to expect the worst.
But something in Makoto's voice was just so...
"..."
Familiar.
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
Makoto just stares at Yusuke. 'Kirijo-senpai' must be the student council president at Gekkoukan. Shujin doesn't do a lot of interacting with other schools, admittedly. But... executing students? What on earth could that mean?
Takamaki's own faltering seems to go unnoticed by Makoto, right now. She shouldn't have let free even that slip. But they're listening now. That's enough.
r
"...So you're not denying it's possible." ...She has to push onward. She might not have another chance, now she has them on the hook. She has to know. Now she just as to decide. It would be so easy to- No. She can't. Not until she's sure. The other option, then.
"...A Mafia boss." She responds to Ren, after a moment, her voice low and deadly serious. "That's what they call themselves, at least. This group seems to be the cause of the rise in phishing scams. What's worse, once you're in their sights, they won't stop threatening you until they get what they want." For the first time, something angry rises in Makoto's voice. Not the robotic, authoritative tone but an earnest, harsh anger. "They'll force you to take part in their scams, threaten your family and ultimately destroy your life. It appears that their victims include some of our students. I would not be surprised if this group has targeted students from other schools as well." She glances at Yusuke when she says that, as an obvious reminder.
As she speaks, Makoto's style of speaking becomes more... well. Cop like. She steps forward, closer into the Phantom Thieves' space, her intensity and focus growing. "They primarily target juveniles."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Dude, I got no idea who you're talking about," Ryuji says to Yusuke while Ann is, rightfully, much more concerned.
For Ren, though, it clicks. The fact that Yusuke mentioned a name--"Kirijo-senpai"--puts his question into a new context. Minako had told Ren a little bit about her school's student council president, and given the context here, that must be who Yusuke's talking about. Ren breaks his stare on Makoto to glance over at him. And that's who's investigating Fuuka's disappearance, huh... He hasn't had a chance to bring that up to Yusuke--he was planning to after the meeting--but wow. That's a hell of a lady Minako's sharing a dorm with.
Their eyes meet briefly as Yusuke looks to him for a lead. Ren gives him a slight nod, gaze traveling to Ann and Ryuji next as they both give him uncertain looks, each confused in different ways. Ann in particular seems thrown by the request, and he can guess why after how she lashed out at Makoto only moments ago. Ren is aware that their group is not in a position to refuse, given the blackmail Makoto has on them, but... he can at least project confidence to put them at ease.
Helpfully, Ren himself feels better about hearing Makoto out after observing her up until now. He returns his own attention to her.
By the time she's finished having her say, his eyes have narrowed. He feels that righteous anger that rises in her face and voice, not just as a reflection of her own emotions. That definitely sounds like a target that needs to be brought to justice. But...
"They sound like a shitty group, all right," Ryuji says, voice and stance wary, "but why come to us about it? If you know somethin' about 'em, why don't you go to the cops?"
It might be a useful answer for reference on the Joker Killer, too. Ryuji is absolutely not thinking about that--but Ren is.
This is also why Ren prompts, "What's the boss's name?"
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Yusuke has no idea that Ren has understood, and isn't about to go on a tangent about this subject with Ryuji in this situation. He simply says to Ann, "If there is a problem, I will confide in you, do not worry."
His and Ren's gazes meet, and Ren nods. Yusuke nods slowly in return; while he remains suspicious of Makoto, he cannot deny he is intrigued. So while Ren asks the question that gets the group their first lead, he decides to try and ascertain more about her target's methods.
"How does he target the students? Does he pick from among those who fall for the scams?"
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
Wow. Ann doesn't think she's ever seen Makoto so intense.
She's -always- kind of intense, of course. It's a little intimidating. But most of the time, in their interactions, it felt like Makoto was just -- going through the motions she was supposed to be going through. But this? Ann can tell, right away, as the Third Year speaks.
This is a much more personal kind of intensity. An -angry- kind.
So as Makoto explains the situation, Ann understands -- but that doesn't make what she's saying any less -scary-. A -Mafia boss-?
"Are you for real--?" she almost feels obliged to ask, but when Makoto explains just what is going on -- it all sort of clicks, in the worst way. Ann sucks in a breath, winding her satchel strap tightly against her palm as she draws the bag closer up against her side, blue eyes narrowing.
"That's -- that's awful," exhales the blonde, and already she feels like some of that anger of Makoto's has rubbed off on her. Targeting kids like them? Like -that-?
It's unacceptable.
Ren asks for a name. Yusuke asks for targets. And Ryuji... asks about why she doesn't just call the cops.
Something about that question draws Ann directly back to when they were talking about the Joker Killer. About how Amano-san didn't look like the type to go to the cops. Or maybe--
"You can't," Ann surmises, slowly, in the wake of Ryuji's question. "Can you?"
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
Ryuji raises a simple question- but Ann already has the answer. "That's right. The victims are being threatened not to testify, so even the police can't get a grasp of the situation. The student council has only received an anonymous report about it."
Ah yes. The helpful bulletins Priincipal Kobayakawa put up around the school, making the student council his very own snitch line. "And as a result of that, nobody knows his name."
Still, why does his name matter right now?
No. They're not going to tell her their methods, are they? Makoto can just file that information away for later.
She frowns, slightly. "...The only information I have is that Shibuya is the Mafia's area of operation."
There's a hint of frustration in her own voice. All she has to offer is that little...
"Well?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
The others all ask very good questions. Morgana's listening very closely from within Ren's bag, but Ren himself listens to the answers. Ann's observation turns out to be the most cutting of all, answering Ryuji's question before Makoto has the chance to.
Though she does anyway. And, unfortunately, because she can't go to the police, she also can't offer them a name. Ironic, that they're in the exact same position as they were with their original proposed target--except now the stakes are much more personal.
Ren shares another glance with Ann, Yusuke, and Ryuji. Then he mirrors Makoto's frown back at her. "We'll need more information than that. But in the meantime, let us talk it over."
They need to discuss and come to an agreement on if they're going to do this, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
The next day, Monday, on the roof of Shujin Academy...
It wasn't easy sneaking Yusuke in, but they managed. After Makoto left, the five of them had a chance to talk things over and ultimately come to a decision. Now it's just a matter of telling her so.
Ren and the others await her after school. Morgana's seated on one of the desks, prepared to duck inside when she shows. And when she does...
Ren turns towards her, hands in his pockets, expression impassive and gaze intense. So, normal for him, really.
"We talked it over," he says. "We still need more information--but we'll do it. In return, you'll get rid of those recordings. Do we have a deal?"
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
"...Fine. I expect your answer tomorrow. Meet me on the roof after school." Makoto's voice is colder again, her anger turning back into frustration- and maybe exhaustion. Ren makes a reasonable request- but after all the unreasonable requests piled on her, even a reasonable request can feel like a massive burden.
-----
Morgana being stationed on a desk might be caught by surprise when the first person on the roof is not his fellow Phantoms, but Makoto Niijima, here as soon as class ending will allow. She sags a little, for the few seconds she's alone, not noticing Morgana slipping into cover. It's only a few moments, though. She takes a deep breath, and positions herself to lean against one of the desks half sitting on it, unaware that there's a not a cat inside, waiting.
"Why is this all getting pushed on to me...?" She mutters, quietly, before crossing her arms and trying to project the appearance of 'comfortable'.
When the door opens, and the thieves are gathered, Makoto looks up at them. "I was thinking you might not show." She says, sounding almost a little cocky, hiding that little vulnerability she showed yesterday.
"I have one more term to add: you have two weeks. Once that time has passed, I will submit all evidence I have gathered directly to the police."
Not Kobayakawa, then.
[OOC] Makoto Niijima says, "bluray: add to end of pose "If that's not acceptable, I can go to the police right away.""
<Pose Tracker> Ann Takamaki has posed.
"Two weeks??"
This is Ann Takamaki, the first to stomp her foot. She can't help it, Makoto just does that to her.
And also, getting Yusuke in was a -huge headache-. Sneaking around in real life would be so much easier if everyone just had MGS-style telegraphs...!
Teeth grit, pink lips peeled back in an aggravated grimace, Ann throws one hand out wide. "That's ridiculous! You've barely given us anything to work on here! That's just... -ugh-!"
Just when she thinks she has a handle on the older girl, she just pulls stuff like this!
For now, Ann just bites back any -other- thoughts she might have on their blackmail deadline before she -really- gets them in trouble, instead settling into a default mode of 'if stares could cast fireballs Ann would be casting Meteor right now.'
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Yusuke is honoured to be snuck in to another school - and learn first hand just how different it is to Gekkoukan, just on vibes alone.
"We have little choice in the matter," he said, during the meeting, "but whoever this man is, he is a target I believe we ought to pursue. If his operations expand from Shibuya, it will become a matter of grave concern."
Now:
He still seems distant and suspicious of Makoto, but does not object to her presence, or make any remarks about execution. Instead:
"Two weeks? And what will you be doing while we pursue this case?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Yeah. I hate gettin' told what to do by that snooty Miss President, but we can't go lettin' some mafia thugs target kids like us," Ryuji says fiercely.
"I agree," Ren says. "If nothing else, we ought to look into it."
"Then we're unanimous," Morgana concludes. "Right, Lady Ann?"
~ * ~
Within the desk, Morgana pokes out his nose just a bit--just enough to get a look at Makoto sagging and muttering to herself, seeming exhausted. He pulls his head back in before she can spot him, just in time for Ren and the others to arrive and Makoto to reassert her illusion of control.
Ren remains deadpan when Makoto adds a condition of two weeks. Privately, he suspects that's a deadline that's been pushed on her by Kobayakawa or whomever, but he doesn't bother to call her out on it. It doesn't matter anyway.
Even if Ann is absolutely right that it's ridiculous. Ryuji joins in on her fruitless griping, while Yusuke asks a more pointed question.
"Charming," Ren says with flat sarcasm. "You're not giving us a choice, so fine. But if there's anything at all you've been holding back on us, you'd better tell us now. If not..."
Then they'd better get to work on a plan--and get her out.
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
Ann's outrage is to be expected. Honestly, a part of Makoto wishes she could explode like that right now. But that wouldn't be right. That would undermine everything Sis had sacrificed for her. She has to be more mature, more put together. She has to be the adult. So she doesn't. She keeps her cool, even as her expression hardens. "You should be able to pull it off... if you're really the righteous Phantom Thieves." She closes her eyes, and a smug grin appears on her face. "Or is Akechi-kun correct when he says you act without justice?"
It's a low blow. Obviously. But she's running out of time, as are the other students... She needs results, and soon. She has to do it... the ends justify the means, right? It's what Sis would do going after someone like this mafia boss...
She hides that from her face, trying not to distract
"I'll be pursuing my own leads. If I find any information on the target, I'll share it with you immediately. I expect you to keep me updating on your investigation in return." She's not leaving them totally in the dust-
But if she had something more than that by now, wouldn't she have shared it.
She's used to sarcasm by now. Even the rest of the student council level it at her, even if she's not listening. Still, Ren's words sting a bit. She's doing the right thing, isn't she?
"...I don't. I gave you every bit of information I had yesterday."
Still... even someone like Makoto Niijima can tell when she's unwelcome. It is, after all, a fairly regular feeling. She starts to walk toward the stairs down from the roof, stopping for a moment to say one final thing. "I hope you don't let me down."
With that, Makoto Niijima opens the door and starts walking down the stairs, leaving the Phantom Thieves to the plight she left them in.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
It is a low blow. Makoto can tell invoking Akechi's words struck home because, for a moment, Ren actually looks pissed off.
But his cold neutrality soon reasserts itself. He doesn't stop her when she sees herself out.