2026-03-07: Rumors, Texts, and Posts
- Log: 2026-03-07 Rumors, Texts, and Posts
- Cast: Goro Akechi, Ren Amamiya, Makoto Niijima
- Where: N/A
- OOC Date: March 7, 2026
- IC Date: October 06, 2012
- Summary: Akechi texts Ren asking about certain rumors going around about them and Makoto. Ren denies them, then asks him about the Ryouharas before calling him in response to something very personal. Later, they update Makoto about the rumors, and she in turns updates them about a recent conflict she had with the Homunculus stealing Kazusa Motojima's body.
IC News And Rumors / Message: 7/17
Author: Shinichi Nagisa
Sat Mar 07 2026
Rumor: Beauty and the Beast
It had idly been rumored before but after Shujin's trip to Ichigoro castle, it's seized hold. It happened after Shinichi implied to a few students quietly they should give the two some privacy, near the end of the trip. Questions were asked. Rumors were confirmed by gymnastics star, Kazusa Motojima.
Makoto Niijima, Shujin's Student Council President is definitely dating known juvenile delinquent with a record, Ren Amamiya. After all, someone said they saw them hold hands in public, that's as good as a loud proclamation that they're together.
Ordinarily such love rumors would not spread far and wide, but the 'Beauty and the Beast' or 'Good Girl attracted to Bad Boy' aspect has captured the imaginations of the Shujin student body...
... and beyond. It's now hit the rumor circuit as far as Sumaru City as a modern love story.
Minako Arisato? Who's that? Never heard of her.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
@>I ran into something of an unusual rumor today. Perhaps you might assist in setting the record straight.
@>Did you break up with Arisato-san? Everyone is talking about you dating Sae-san's sister on the Dark Side of Sumaru.
@>And you certainly don't seem like the type to make 'two-timing' your normal practice.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
@>No... This is so stupid.
@>Makoto and I aren't dating. But we held hands once, in a big crowd that I was helping her through because she was wearing a yukata at the time, and we don't hide the fact that we're friends, so someone who saw us holding hands started spreading rumors about us after seeing us hang out during a school field trip.
@>I warned Minako about it already. I thought this might happen, but I didn't think it'd get all the way over to your neck of the woods.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
@>That's a relief.
@>Such is the nature of gossip and rumors I suppose. A simple act towards a friend misinterpreted as a PDA.
@>I do hope she responds well to it. The nature of such rumors existing at all may inspire jealousy in many women our age.
@>Especially given how close you and Niijima-san are as friends.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
@>Basically.
@>I think she'll be fine. Like I said, I already explained the situation and warned her what might happen, and Makoto offered to talk to her directly if she's still nervous. Hopefully that'll be enough.
@>She doesn't seem generally like the jealous type...
A "..." of a pending text pops up for a moment, then vanishes without any message coming through.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
@>I'm glad. It would certainly make things awkward for you if it were otherwise.
@>I admit I would be worried as well if you started dating Niijima-san out of nowhere. It would be likely to draw a lot of undesirable attention your way.
He doesn't respond for a while, like he's allowing him to type, then, when it vanishes.
He waits a few minutes longer, then...
@>How have you been otherwise? Is everything well?
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
@>Thanks for thinking it'd be out of character for me to be a two-timer.
@>That might sound sarcastic but I mean it.
@>Thanks for thinking better of me.
And then:
@>I'm getting undesirable attention either way... If it were just me, I could ignore it, but I hate that it's affecting my friends too.
But eventually:
@>Not really. But it's things I can't talk about.
@>Oh. There is one thing...
@>Have you ever heard of a ninja clan called the Ryouharas?
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
@>Well I would say that I do know you rather well.
@>And coming from someone who has met many who are that type.
@>I have it on rather good authority that you are not.
@>Hmm.
@>Well, even if you can ignore it. You are entitled to feel upset on your own behalf as well.
@>Understood.
@>Hmm.
@>I've heard something about them in relation to the history of Sumaru City.
@>But little else.
@>If it is to be believed, they were a clan in the service of the Warlord, Kiyotada Sumaru.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
@>Ha. Yeah.
@>...Whose authority is that?
@>There's no point.
@>Sure, it does piss me off. But people are going to talk shit about me no matter what, for the rest of my life, no matter what I do.
@>I'm better off getting used to it now.
@>Hmm... Not Ieyasu Tokugawa?
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
@>Mine of course.
@>Isn't there?
He doesn't say anything over the phone for obvious reasons, but after all. They each awakened to something called the 'Will of Rebellion'. Even if he acts like he does on TV, behind that - he is exactly the kind of person who gets upset about such things.
@>Possibly.
@>A lot was revised with the 'History Boom'.
@>Interestingly, one has difficulty even finding out what the history was before those revisions.
@>It makes a person wonder, doesn't it?
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
@>Ahahahaha. The only authority that matters, huh?
There's a long pause after that Isn't there?. Ren knows that Akechi understands. It's... comforting. But it also forces them to clarify their thoughts and feelings.
@>Let me put it like this instead. If I let every idiot who doesn't know a thing about the real me get under my skin, I'd burn myself out.
@>Those people's ignorant opinions don't matter. THAT'S why there's no point.
Ren takes a moment to reflect on how Akechi's opinion of them has come to matter to them very deeply. Then they shake their head a little and focus on the Ryouhara history.
@>Hm. Yeah.
@>History's not my best subject, but what's the point of a 'history boom' if people are just going to revise what actually happened?
@>Isn't that less a 'history boom' and more a 'fiction boom'?
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
@>To me at least. :)
He lets Ren answer, and it takes a while for him to frame his own answer.
@>That is well-reasoned, I suppose.
@>But perhaps I begrudge them their ignorance anyway.
@>All it would take is a conversation.
@>Ah well.
@>Well I think you've struck the core of it there.
@>You understand that in Sumaru City, rumors do in fact come true, correct?
@>If the historians understand this fiction to be their new reality, they'd have little cause to maintain historical records they accept as lacking authenticity.
@>The question I suppose is more. Who spread these rumors? And to what end?
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
@>I see that from you.
@>You didn't get a lot of people bothering to talk to you growing up, huh?
@>Well... thanks for being mad for me too.
It's sweet, Ren thinks but does not text.
@>.........yeah. I hadn't thought about it like that...
@>That's chilling. It creeps me out that someone might be deliberately trying to rewrite reality.
@>Who BENEFITS from these rumors? Maybe that's what we should be asking.
@>...Though knowing you, you've probably been asking that for a while now.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
@>Not really.
@>The workers in the Foster Care System see it only as a job.
@>And they see most of the children in the system as possessing 'bad blood' in a sense.
@>Your very presence there means you will not be raised correctly.
@>And they feel have no obligation to do so.
@>Only to do the bare minimum for you to become a 'productive' member of society.
It is perhaps that honesty that is a little startling. The idea of opening up on his criticism of the institution that raised him.
It certainly left him a lonely and bitter child, with few to talk to.
@>Perhaps the fact that I can't let such injustice go as easily as they expect would be used as proof that they were 'correct' in a sense.
@>For a time at least.
@>I follow rumors rather closely in order to see if I can discover a pattern.
@>Right now, it leads me to suspect a certain organization we're both well acquainted with.
@>But I am no closer to answering the question as to what end. Is it merely to spark a nationalistic movement?
@>Or is it something far worse.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
There isn't a responding text after Akechi opens up about his bitter feelings about the foster care system, or how his anger at injustice might be used to validate their assumptions about him.
Instead, Akechi's phone will ring with Ren's ringtone.
The instant he picks up, Ren says, quiet but vehement, "Fuck those people and their stupid, ignorant opinions. You're good enough the way you are, Akechi."
They can ignore and even forgive ill talk about themself.
They really can't forgive it about others--especially for their friends.
After a pause, they continue, "As for the other thing... I guess we'll both keep looking into it." They pause. "But... if you ever run into anyone named Ryouhara, keep your guard up. All right?"
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Akechi picks it up on the second ring.
"Amami-"
Ren's immediate heated response actually cuts off his greeting. He's likely startled, but there are few signs over the phone. There are many ways to imagine how he might respond.
One could even claim that of Ren himself, given that he once had the opinion that Akechi shouldn't live a fake life.
It takes him a moment, after Ren finishes that, "... I think that's the second time I've ever heard that phrase..."
'You're good enough the way you are.'
Perhaps not verbatim, but the idea of it. "... Haha. You're doing it again, Amamiya-kun." He says, with an affectionate note in his voice. "But, I do appreciate it. That was quite a lot of passion... perhaps consider putting it more to use for yourself as well in the future."
He is teasing perhaps in a way to distract away from the emotional vulnerability he showed, but it's fond - in a truly appreciative way.
"Ryouhara... I'll keep that in mind. Do you happen to have a general description, just in case they give a false name?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
The second ring? How romantic. ...Just kidding.
Ren pauses at Akechi's initial reply. It's impossible to know exactly how he'll respond with no visual cues and him not saying anything for a moment, but the fact that he's almost an adult and only heard 'you're good enough' twice in his life...
"Akechi..."
They're 'doing it again.' They're not precisely sure what Akechi means, but judging by his tone, it doesn't seem like a bad thing. When Akechi encourages them to save some of that passion for themself, they rub the back of their neck. Now they think they know what he means.
It's just easier for them to care about others rather than themself, though. They don't say that. They don't think Akechi would like it, and they'd hate to ruin the moment.
"Hmm," they murmur instead at the request for a description. ...Akechi doesn't miss a trick, as always. In other words, he's asking if this is a direct encounter they've had. "Just for one of them. There's two, as far as I know," they decide to say. "I haven't met the one, but he's the boss. The other's a kid our age named Kurou. He goes to Kasugayama High. Black hair streaked with blue dye, amber eyes."
If Akechi really has run every single name of every single Cuss High student through the Meta-Nav, he might even recognize it.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Only twice.
And one person is long gone. Would she say the same, if she could see him now? Or would she acknowledge the curse he's always been. Perhaps in a sense, it's good that she's gone.
It means he can't ever test how far that love for him truly went, can't ever disappoint her. That relationship with her will remain fixed for the rest of his life.
Ren may hear a subtle, nasally inhalation as he speaks his name.
But Akechi doesn't press, Ren's silence means he likely got the point, so there's no need to beat a dead horse. Ren well knows his thoughts there.
If he were a better person, he'd take it as a resolution to look out for him, be angry for him. Well, for now he can be indignant in his place...
... but he can't bring himself to admit that he wants to have that place as defending him when he won't defend himself.
"Kurou..." Akechi repeats, and Ren can hear scribbling over the phone, as he jots down the details, then the pen stops writing, "Hmmm. He sounds... vaguely familiar. I actually have taken a number of cases for the Student Council at Kasugayama in order to resolve situations in which direct intervention by them would be... unwise."
He considers the matter, "I'll see what I can dig up, if it'd be helpful."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren, too, doesn't press when he hears that sharp little nasal breath. Maybe both of them are a little bit damaged. Funny how they keep reflecting that back at each other... Unable to truly grapple with their own weaknesses while reaching out to the other's.
There is a safety in a relationship that can never change, isn't there? Because she's already dead and gone, Goro can never disappoint his mother.
But he could still disappoint Ren. Couldn't he?
Is it worth keeping someone alive when being alive means they could come to hate him?
...Not that Ren's got any reason to suddenly revert their feelings on him, surely.
"Thanks," Ren says to the offer. They aren't going to reveal just how or why the Ryouharas clashed with the Phantom Thieves, but the more information they can get on that clan, the better. Though, if Akechi is the Black Mask, and the Black Mask is working for the NWO too... They pause. "But... be careful. Apparently they work for that organization," they add carefully, listening for a reaction.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
He certainly could, but is he supposed to care about disappointing someone he's going to kill one day?
He struggles with that one, because certainly Ren will hate him, once he knows the true him.
Just like everyone else.
"..."
Akechi doesn't respond at first, when Ren delivers that they work for that organization. One might wonder what the silence means and then... "Wait..."
Then there's a chuckle, "...Hahaha... do you mean to tell me that that organization has ninjas? Color me surprised. I knew their resources must be extensive, but that goes beyond my wildest expectations."
A pause.
"It feels almost like an evil organization in some anime or Tokusatsu show, at this point, doesn't it?"
Perhaps there's even something to that...
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"Apparently," Ren repeats, tone deadpan. It's broken by a low chuckle. "It really does, though. But it tracks. That entire world is super anime by nature."
Akechi really does sound normal about it, though... Maybe that pause was him quick-thinking up an excuse of a reaction, but maybe it was genuinely him needing a moment to parse the information. Trying to get clues by phone is probably a sucker's game.
"...Anyway. I just wanted to say what I said. Saying it by text didn't feel like enough," they continue, rubbing the back of their neck. They, of course, don't mean the Ryouharas or the NWO. "I need to give Makoto a head's up about what you told me, so I'll let you go. 'Night."
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
"Wouldn't that be wonderful?" Akechi asks the question, "Unfortunately, it feels like it's rarely this straight forward."
Indeed, perhaps that's something Ren himself can relate to. The evils that he found in those Palaces, the Coach who sexually assaults his students and abuses others. The artist who counterfeits his paintings and forces his students under his thumb.
The mafia, putting people in debt they can't ever possibly repay.
"Ah well. I completely understand and- I promise I'll be less cavalier about this, given the implications."
A beat.
"Please do. She's certainly not that kind of girl either, so I imagine these rumors will be a good deal worse for her. ... Good night, Amamiya-kun. And..."
Pause.
"... I appreciate you calling. Thank you."
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren huffs a faint sigh. "No kidding."
But then, "anime" is not always the same as "straightforward." Sometimes, too, it means "batshit insane." After all, to paraphrase Yusuke, Palaces exude an exquisite madness.
At the same time, they still have to maintain their normal everyday life--as normal as it gets for a convict on parole, anyway.
"Yeah," they murmur of how the rumors will affect Makoto. Akechi of course already knows they're more worried about that than about themself. His words of thanks, though...
He won't see it, but Ren's expression softens with a fondness of their own.
"You're welcome," they say softly, deciding to play it straight, before they hang up.
Playing it queer isn't something either of them are willing to do right now, after all.
[Ren] Hey, Makoto. I've got some bad news. Is now an OK time to discuss it?
[Makoto] I have an update too. Now's as good a time as any, I just got home.
[Ren] Hit me, then.
[Makoto] I had an altercation with Motojima-san's Homunculus today. It showed it's true colours and tried to threaten me in the student council room. I'm fine, but it seemed like it was ready to physically fight me until the other student council members got back from their break.
[Makoto] I don't know much about them, but that's not a good sign right?
[Ren] Me neither, but it sure doesn't seem like it. We'd better check in with Ryuji about how dealing with that's going.
[Makoto] Yeah. I'll contact the group chat tonight if I can. Either way, I have evidence if the Homunculus tries anything. Even Motojima-san doesn't deserve what it's doing to her.
[Makoto] Okay, what's your bad news?
[Ren] What kind of evidence?
[Ren] Well... Akechi texted me earlier. That's not the bad news, technically.
[Makoto] A recording of her threatening me.
[Ren] Got it. Good work. We should tread lightly about actually using it, though. It's Motojima-san who'll end up having to deal with the consequences--hopefully, anyway.
[Makoto] Right. Once this is over, I'll delete it.
[Makoto] What was Akechi texting you about?
[Ren] OK.
[Ren] The rumors about us dating. Apparently they're talking about it all the way over in Sumaru now.
[Makoto is typing]
[Makoto is typing]
[Makoto] What? How?!
[Ren] Akechi was asking me how much truth there was to them. I set things straight with him, but this has gotten out of control.
[Ren] Apparently there's a forum that people were talking about it on. I'm dumbfounded why so many people care. Even if it's an appealing story, we're two kids all the way over in Tokyo.
[Ren] I warned Minako already that this might happen, so hopefully it won't cause any problems with her, but I didn't think it'd spread this far, this fast...
[Makoto] A forum? Forhigh school drama?
[Makoto] Why would Sumaru students even care, I don't get it?
[Ren] Dark Side of Sumaru, he said.
[Ren] I don't either.
[Makoto] I don't think I've heard of it...
[Ren] Me neither. But I don't hang out online much.
[Makoto] ...do you think Tsubasa-kun or Kawase-san have heard yet?
[Ren] Seems possible. Either way, we should... probably tell the group chat about this too. Just to make sure everyone knows what's going on.
[Ren] Rumors can come true in Sumaru. I don't think we need to worry much since we're in Tokyo, but we should be cautious anyway.
[Makoto] We should, shouldn't we?
[Ren] Yeah...
[Makoto] That's... Concerning.
[Ren] I don't really like spreading personal matters but that's the exact behavior that got Minako so upset.
[Ren] And I'd rather our friends know the truth from us instead of having to wonder about crazy rumors.
[Makoto] Yeah. Do you want me to tell them, or should we draft something together?
[Ren] Probably together. I'm the one who's dating someone else.
[Makoto] Yeah... I like to think our friends wouldn't listen to rumours, but the Shujin Rumormill is bad enough.
[Ren] Yeah. It seems likely they'd get confused, even if they didn't believe them.
[Ren] Even Akechi asked me about it, though he said it was to get the facts straight from me.
[Makoto] Hopefully it's not spread to Arisato-san's school too... I'd ask Kitagawa-kun but...
[Ren] We can ask when we tell the group chat.
[Makoto] I'm honestly glad he asked you.
[Ren] Same. I wouldn't have known if he hadn't.
[Makoto] The last way I would have wanted to find out is because Sis starts grilling me about dating someone...
[Makoto] The homunculus told me the only reason it mentioned it at all was because it was with Nagisa-san, but that was as close to a straight answer I could get from it.
[Ren] Hopefully it doesn't get that bad... Akechi could tell her, but I doubt he would. Even if he did, it'd be to warn her that it's a baseless rumor.
[Ren] Who?
[Makoto] That's the name she mentioned. Shinichi Nagisa. I didn't have time to look into the student register.
[Makoto] Sis is a prosecutor, Ren. She'd be grilling me about how a rumour came about in the first place, and remind me not to get distracted. If she asked me about it at all, I guess.
[Ren] Ah.
[Makoto] I'll see if Sakamoto-kun knows anything about Nagisa-san and Motojima-san.
[Ren] Sounds good. I think they're in the same class together, so he might have extra insight.
[Makoto] Yeah...
[Makoto] What a mess...
[Ren] No kidding.
[Ren] For the group chat, here's what I've written: "Hey. Some of you might've heard about a rumor that's spreading right now, apparently as far as Sumaru, that Makoto and I are dating. So you all know, it's not true. I'm still with my girlfriend Minako. She's been warned about it, so we're okay there, I hope."
[Ren] You think that's enough?
[Makoto] I think that's okay. Maybe we should mention that Motojima-san's homunculus is the source? Or would that confuse things?
[Ren] Not sure.
[Ren] If they ask, we can say. I don't think it really matters how it started at this point.
[Makoto] Right...
[Ren] Hopefully it blows over soon.
[Makoto] Yeah. I never expected to have rumours like this about me, let alone both of us.
[Ren] People are always spreading rumors about me, so I'm used to it. It sucks that it's affecting you too, though.
[Makoto] I mean, rumours happen, right?
[Ren] Yeah. Especially at Shujin.
[Makoto] I've just never had people theorising about my love life before.
[Ren] Unpleasant way for it to start, huh?
[Makoto] Is there a pleasant way for rumours to start?
[Ren] Good point.
[Ren] Thinking on it more, maybe we should mention Motojima-san's Homunculus' role in this. That IS the reason why you and she butted heads, right?
[Makoto] Yeah. This time, at least. It was just me and her, I had a chance to try and ask what she was thinking.
[Ren] Right. If the rumors are a part of that, it'll come up sooner or later.
[Ren] I'll say my part and then give you the floor for yours.
[Makoto] Sounds good. I'll message you once I've got my thoughts together. I should have something after dinner's done.
[Ren] OK. Talk to you later.
[Makoto] You too. Have a good evening.
The Phantoms / Message: 12/23
Author: Ren Amamiya
Mon Mar 09 2026
(IC) Dating Rumors
Hey. Some of you might've heard about a rumor that's spreading right now, apparently as far as Sumaru, that Makoto and I are dating. So you all know, it's not true. I'm still with my girlfriend Minako. She's been warned about it, so we're okay there, I hope.
Makoto has some more relevant information about this. I'll let her explain the rest.
The Phantoms / Message: 12/24
Author: Makoto Niijima
Mon Mar 09 2026
(IC) Motojima's Homunculus
The source of the false rumours about Ren and I dating was Kazusa Motojima's homunculus. When she came to the Student Council Room yesterday, I confronted her about it. She spent most of the time playing helpless, until I pressed her hard enough, at which point she dropped the mask and attempted to threaten me- specifically my reputation.
It was at that point I revealed to her I had recorded the conversation, and she prepared to attack me physically to get my phone- it seems reputational threats are something the Homunculus fears, but I do not know how this will have an affect on the cognitive space.
At that point, two Student Council Members entered the room, and she ran away crying crocodile tears. I don't expect this to be the reputational problem she thinks it is.
I still don't know why the Homunculus spread those rumours, but it seems to have very firm control over Motojima-san's body. I don't know much about the situation, and I don't like Motojima-san, but she doesn't deserve this. Let me know when it's time to take action toward her, and I'll be there.
One thing that the Homunculus mentioned was an interest in a second year student, her class representative, Shinichi Nagisa. Sakamoto-kun, do you know anything about him?
For the moment I can't rule out that the Homunculus won't make another move against me, so I'll be careful not to be alone at School or on the route to the station.
The Phantoms / Message: 12/25
Author: Tsubasa Seki
Mon Mar 09 2026
s4nit4riums fuked yo
yo jsyk morimoto nuthouse is fulla bullshit. like even bfre th zombis no sheets on th beds or nothin. zombis 2 now tho. evaced sum srvivrs also a nurs un42nately. chik in a sees band wantd 2 tlk 2 us, like th 1 who wuz lookin aftr ririka in tht fuk eijis palace. left th srvivrs w/ othr ppl thre. joker killer = old maid = 501 = tatsuya sudou (yea like th pollis son) btw, tuk sum photos a his bed, crzy shit. door loked frm outsid, all a thm wre. joint got fuked up whn i split 2 get dudes out whle plce got mre fukn hauntd but it didnt last.
(There are photos of Tatsuya Sudou's... room? Holding cell?... enclosed in the message, featuring a creepy poem and even creepier graffiti. There are photos of all his victims in one picture... including a small headshot of /Tsubasa./)