2025-07-02: A Disappointing First Impression
- Log: 2025-07-02: A Disappointing First Impression
- Cast: Goro Akechi, Makoto Niijima
- Where: Shujin Academy, Aoyama-Itchome, Tokyo
- OOC Date: July 7, 2025
- IC Date: Sun Jun 2, 2012
- Summary: Apparently by chance, Goro Akechi runs into Makoto Niijima at a mock exam being run at Shujin. Taking the opportunity to try and press Makoto for information, Akechi finds himself disappointed by his superior's little sister, while Makoto finds herself trapped.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
The heat may feel like an intense pressure bearing down on everyone, this fine summer's day. But perhaps that is Makoto Niijima's imagination. After all, she has so many other things pressuring her.
Principal Kobayakawa's demands of her, for example.
The Shujin Academy students caught up in the mafia's operations in Shibuya...
Such responsibilities! Such problems that only she can solve as Shujin's student council President. She can't after all, rely on Sae Niijima, the adult in the room.
Her older sister.
She is after all, useless to her. A leech, that only takes, and offers nothing back to her. She can only become useful by being a proper adult. And that is why everyone is here today at Shujin...
... to take a mock exam, for college admissions. The only way to become useful... the only way, is not to lean upon her sister.
And that is when someone strikes, at the least opportune of moments, when she is on her way, the sign pointing to the mock exam has an arrow - leading the way to her future.
... her future.
"You're Sae-san's sister, right?"
Turn around, and she'll see him. The Second Coming of the Detective Prince, the boy wonder. He smiles so affably, his eyes closed subtly as to seem entirely non-threatening. He wears the Seven Sisters uniform splendidly, his tie subtly loosened as if he's 'on the case' so to speak.
"Might I have a moment of your time?"
His hair is messy, but silky smooth, his eyes once he opens them are brown, wholesome - that boy next door quality that all girls her age are supposed to be drawn to. She knows he works with her sister of course, though he's never exactly...
... come home for dinner. That would imply an impropriety that does not exist. They're coworkers, and he's her age.
A minor.
And yet one can imagine Sae does not call him useless, indeed, Sae calls him... because he is useful to her in all the ways Makoto Niijima is not.
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
Today was supposed to be purely focused on the mock exams for Makoto, once class was over- and once it was it was back to her myriad other tasks. Find out if the Phantom Thieves have a connection to this school, do something about the mafia preying on students, make sure everything is ready for when Sae gets home- assuming she's coming home tonight at all. If anything, something as simple as mock exams was almost a reprieve. Studying and tests were somewhat easy for her, compared to everything else.
And a reprieve from the thoughts that are always lingering.
She wasn't expecting anyone to approach her right before the mock exams started, let alone someone invoking her sister's name so comparatively casually. She turns to see none other than the second coming of the Detective Prince himself. A boy maybe her age, who is already useful to Sae. Someone she knows purely by reputation, rather than interaction, and Sae doesn't exactly talk much about work at home.
"Akechi-kun?"
Makoto half turns toward Akechi, already suspecting the topic of conversation. It doesn't seem likely he'd just want to talk to her about her sister, after all.
"About the Phantom Thieves?" There's an edge of exhaustion to Makoto's voice there that she can't hide, resignation even. But she doesn't walk away, even if her body language all but makes it clear that she doesn't want to bring it up.
...or maybe she just doesn't want to talk to Goro Akechi right now. Who can say.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
"That's right. It's nice to finally put a face to Sae-san's imouto. She doesn't talk about you often. We tend to keep our personal lives out of work..."
He does smile so warmly at her, "... but I remember how long her eyes lingered on those Buchimaru shoes, once, and thought - that must be your style, since it definitely isn't hers."
It's so casual, the way he talks about her, almost like he knows so much about her just through observing her big sister.
Even though this is the first time they've met.
It's only after he's dropped that fact, that he addresses her point. "Why yes, I'm assisting in the investigation, so any info would be appreciated. Knowing you're Shujin's Student Council President- I thought, assuredly you must have noticed something."
That smile, so affable, so warm. One almost would never think he was purposefully twisting a knife between her ribs, "Especially if you're anything like your big sister."
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
Makoto can't say she's surprised that Sae doesn't talk about her at work- a few of Sae's colleagues know her from dropping things off for Sae either at the courthouse or the police station, but only a few of them really talk to her. And someone like Akechi wouldn't really be with the rank and file.
And then he mentions the shoes, and that introduces a brick wall on the rails of Makoto's train of thought, and the spectre of jealousy rises in her again, but she does her best not to show it. Fine. He's a detective at Makoto's age. He's good at observations.
He's more use to Sae already than Makoto has been her entire life and they're the same age.
"I see." Makoto says, her voice quiet. Akechi just approaching her was enough to throw her off balance, but little details about that add to that loss of footing.
Her eyes don't meet his, until Akechi points out that she'd have to have notice something- only to glance away a moment later.
Which means she's not looking at him when the knife slips through. "I really have to focus on my tests." Makoto responds, a weak brushoff if anything- but she doesn't walk away either. There's still a little time before exams start, and Makoto doesn't need to do any more cramming, after all.
It's not like she has anything better to do right now.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Indeed so, after all, he uses his talents to assist Sae Niijima with so many of her most high profile cases. Her career has been on the rise, not entirely, but at least in part thanks to him.
What has Makoto ever done but be another mouth to feed and care for?
She indicates to him she has to focus on her tests, and he actually...
... allows a small chuckle of incredulity to escape his lips. Before one might ask what's so funny, he answers her.
"These mock tests don't actually matter, so it's fine..."
And before she can even respond, he nonchalantly bowls through any possible objections, "... Right now I'm trying to determine the points of commonality between the Kamoshida and Madarame cases. In essence, while they are both perpetrators of most heinous crimes, they are victims as well. It wouldn't truly be justice to allow them to slip away, after changing their hearts, now would it?"
Placing a hand on his chin, he takes on a contemplative stance, apparently lost in thought, like he's taking for granted Makoto's assistance.
"Of course not. They must be pursued... and I have a feeling that you could be my ally in this."
Wait why does he think that? There's no way he knows right?
RIGHT?
No, absolutely not, he must just think as Shujin's Student Council President, she's observant - perceptive, diligent, and intelligent.
All qualities he would look for in an ally.
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
Makoto can't help but feel her stomach twist as Akechi labels the mock exams pointless. There's a purpose to them, surely. There has to be.
It's not like Makoto's just sitting her, spinning her wheels until she can stop being a burden, taking any and every opportunity to show her sister she'll be worthwhile someday.
Nonetheless, Akechi runs roughshod over conversational etiquette, and doesn't give Makoto a chance to say no. His certainty that she'd be an ally, however, seems to give her pause. Surely if he knew what Makoto did, Sae would already be arresting them, wouldn't they?
"You're awfully critical of the Phantom Thieves- but you don't doubt they exist?" Makoto responds to the proposition with a question of her own, trying to gain any control of the conversational momentum back.
Not that she has much to work with right now.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
As Makoto tries to exert control back, Akechi's brown eyes light up, "Oh, did you watch my recent broadcast? I'd be honored if Sae-san's imouto were actually a fan of mine."
But he doesn't actually ask either if she is, he simply implies she might be.
"Common sense can get in the way at times, when you're trying to arrive at the truth. Think upon Kamoshida and Madarame's dramatic confessions. They were both abusers with a long history of exploiting others and getting away with it in plain view of others."
Others like... herself. Akechi says now more seriously, "It hardly makes sense for either of them to grow a conscience now if it were merely some prank that targeted their insecurities. Indeed, the psychological profiles of such despicable individuals is often that they feel almost no remorse for their actions at all."
Lowering his hand, he smiles at Makoto in that moment in what seems like the conversational equivalent of a shrug, "Many details become quite logical if I allow the premise that they do in fact exist."
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
Makoto doesn't answer positively or negatively to the fan statement. Was he really that egotistical that he'd assume such a thing? The rest of Akechi's attitude entirely unlike that of her sister, and Makoto is not entirely sure what to do with that. "So better to assume they exist and proceed with that assumption?" Well. The fact that there's a case at all implies the prosecutors office have decided the same, doesn't it.
Makoto looks away again, as Akechi outlines the tendencies of criminals like Madarame and Kamoshida. Remorseless criminals who keep offending. People who would never have been stopped without the Phantom Thieves. Her phone feels heavy, all of a sudden.
"Do you think the Phantom Thieves acted unjustly then, Akechi-kun?" The words that come out of her mouth seem to surprise even her, as she says them. It's not something she'd say to almost any adult- but Akechi is something of a peer. "If you're working off the assumption they exist, is it really just to stop them if they're exposing criminals like that?"
Was it really any different from how Japan's justice system worked? She was hardly naive to it... A criminal confessions were one of the big parts of the 99% conviction rate, after all. Is it that different from what the police and prosecutors do?
Makoto frowns, this time at herself. "Are we having this conversation because my sister asked you to?" She asks, a little more raw than she would have liked. Sae could have simply asked her directly if it was the case.
...and if it was Sae asking, she might have acquiesced.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Egotistical, or perhaps merely playful... and enjoying needling her thoroughly.
Just like he does her sister. Or perhaps both.
"Wouldn't it strike you as strange if it were some elaborate prank? That all it took was a piece of paper to strike fear into the hearts of the cowardly and superstitious... enough that the weight of their guilt did the rest of the heavy lifting for us?"
Akechi does smile gently, "Your sister would perhaps not appreciate such a world, her lack of job security would become quite irksome in short order I feel..."
And with so much time left before graduation. What if Makoto doesn't gain a full scholarship? What then? Does she become even more of a burden upon Sae?
But she asks a question, and indeed he smiles, "Naturally. 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... and even an outcome that in the eyes of society would be considered 'good'. Perhaps even... 'just'."
He seems to consider that possibility for quite a long time, "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..."
Now it sounds like he's hardly even paying attention to Makoto, instead contemplating that question, seeming disturbed himself in a way.
"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."
And in that moment, it's like he remembers he's conversing with her again, as he smiles and asks of her, "Wouldn't you agree?"
...
"As for whether I'm here on Sae-san's behalf... it's merely a coincidence."
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
It's the sort of playfulness that Makoto doesn't enjoy- but is in no position to push back against it, really. After all, Akechi is someone more...
...Well. More important to Sae than Makoto is, apparently. (The fact that needling might be a sign of respect for Sae, perhaps, is one that goes fully over Makoto's head.)
Akechi's counterpoint is... well. Would it be so bad...? Even if Sis would hate it?
"...Maybe. But Sis would be fine." ...Makoto doesn't establish if she would be, though. Her whole purpose in life is making Police Commissioner, so she can take the weight off of Sae, so she can pay her back.
"...and maybe it would be worth it, if she was around sometimes." Makoto's voice is quiet, and it takes her a moment to realize she said that out loud. "...Please ignore that."
She tries to move on, especially as Akechi puts that on the table. Makoto falters. "That's..." Can she counterargue that, even a little. Justice is meant to be absolute, isn't it? Or...
"...But what about the victims of people like Madarame, or..." Or Kamoshida. The victims she didn't fight for.
"Doesn't Justice involve saving their victims? Or is it just about catching the criminal after the fact?"
Sae would call her childish for that, wouldn't she? Justice is about putting away criminals for her, so that's justice, isn't it?
"...I see. I'm sorry for asking, Akechi-kun." ...would it have been better if Sae had asked him? Makoto's not sure. It might have meant Makoto could have been useful for once.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
Indeed... Makoto responds back with the idea that Sae would be fine. And that actually gets a slightly surprised look out of Akechi, "Oh my. I can't say I expected that response. Most girls wouldn't want their big sister's hard work to go to waste, don't you think?"
As if he were calling out a flaw in Makoto for desiring this. What's wrong with you? Without being so confrontational.
"Well so long as she's home for dinner. She does have other relevant job skills in such a world. And I suppose her other co-workers have been suggesting she should start putting in some work when it comes to finding a husband... but who could ever find the time for that with her current caseload?"
Ouch.
But she did ask him to ignore that. And so he smiles, "Very well, I'll just pretend I didn't hear that." But only after he said all of that.
Makoto is obviously startled by the idea of Sae's heart being changed to give her all she desires, and Akechi just seems to be contemplating the issue further, when Makoto indicates 'What about the victims?' and asks an incisive question, but then immediately backs off. At first, the glint in his eyes showed he was a little elated, actually - but now, it's only disappointed. "Oh no. It's quite alright." He says to her with a smile, "I don't actually mind this sort of conversation..." When it's someone of actual conviction, "So I'll answer your questions."
He pauses, taking the time to consider them again, before repeating it back.
"Your suggestion is that the Phantom Thieves are saving the victims of despicable criminals... but isn't it actually the same for the Phantom Thieves as it is the Police?"
He asks her, gently, seemingly patiently fielding her points, "Madarame - and Kamoshida for that matter had many victims previously, did they not? And yet - all evidence suggests the Phantom Thieves only acted once they had knowledge of their actions. Can you truly say our system wouldn't have been able to prevent more victims?"
And he does indeed look at her, "Moreover, what if a 'Change of Heart' was considered undesirable by the victims? What if say - it was your preference that in the case of an unrepentant criminal that he suffer the full brunt of a 'fall from grace' and the punishment that comes after?"
He asks, before then continuing on, "If their apology is only the result of someone forcing them to apologize - and not as a result of their own choices; would that be sufficient for their victims?"
He does smile at her, without any warmth, "Now seeing as that I've spent a great deal of time fielding your questions, it does rather indicate you're in no great hurry to get to your mock exams."
Wait what!? Did he actually answer her questions to entrap her into having no excuses?
"Won't you answer several of mine?"
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
"That's-" Makoto can't help but feel like she's walked into a trap- no, that she's only just noticed that she's fallen into a trap that she walked in to several minutes ago. "...I just can't imagine her not being able to succeed in whatever she tried." Makoto says, genuinely if a little pathetically. She really does hold Sae in extremely high regard. Like an unreachable goal. The idea that her coworkers are pushing her to marry, however, makes Makoto frown. "I'm sure that went down well," Makoto says, and for a second, she crosses her arms the same way Sae does when she's frustrated. She tries to avoid the first point, admittedly... After all... It wouldn't be right to stop her sister doing what she needs to just because Makoto's lonely.
Makoto frowns again, as Akechi pushes back on her point. Can she say for certain...
After all, certainty is the whole point of the Justice System. "...what about organized crime?" Makoto responds, perhaps with a bit more incisiveness than Akechi might expect. "We both know the way the Yakuza use underlings as protection for senior members, for example. Surely there are some threats that the system can't handle as is." That's *why* she wants to become Police Commissioner, isn't it? "The Organized Crime Exclusion Ordinances are having an impact, certainly, but it means that they simply change themselves to a Mafia, get more ruthless, or leave room for foreign crime syndicates like the Taiwanese Mafia or the Triads." ...Yeah. Makoto listened to her father a bit too much, and maybe watched too many movies, and then maybe researcher the accuracy of those movies.
...What if a 'Change of Heart' wasn't wanted by the victims, though. Makoto... didn't even think of that. Would.... Would the men who killed her father apologizing satisfy Makoto? The question seems to catch her in a quandary. What would be just, in that situation.
And that leaves Makoto fully open to Akechi finally pulling taught the web that Makoto has been spun in, the one she didn't catch in time.
"I... I suppose that's fair." Makoto finds herself forced to say. It would be impolite to walk away now, and she doesn't want one of the few people actually helping Sae to turn their back on her because of Makoto's incompetence.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
"Oh as well as can be expected when it's a woman as driven as Sae-san."
Indeed, he doesn't actually sound like he's putting her down there. It's more like he knows quite well how she is and understands fully she won't be tied down by some 'expectation' that she marry by male colleagues.
If anything, he sounds like he even admires it some.
Makoto asks about organized crime now, and Akechi just smiles at her, "My, aren't you curious?" As if he suggests she might have a pointed reason, "Does this mean you believe the Phantom Thieves intend to target organized crime next? ... Or is it a question of personal curiosity?"
He needles her with that, before then answering, "Public outcry over loopholes in the latest revisions of the legislation does mean it's only a matter of time before they are revised again to close those loopholes, perhaps even in this legislative session... I do believe that their days are 'numbered' so to speak."
But it's no longer a question truly about the Victims, then - he's no longer addressing that, because he does understand that it isn't.
"I do believe your own sister is pursuing several cases against the so-called 'mafia' at the moment, though naturally I can't say more on the subject."
As if he were perhaps trying to push her to debate his own sister on the topic, as he's certain that will go swimmingly.
And Makoto does acquiesce, and he smiles, "Your Principal has been quite... uncooperative, on the case of the Phantom Thieves. Naturally he must believe the school's reputation is on the line."
Oh no.
"As Student Council President, you must work in close proximity with him. Are there any details about the case you're aware of that he's been suppressing... when it comes to handing them over to investigators?"
Look around - the hallway is suddenly empty. Everyone is in Mock Exams now, waiting for them to begin.
"Naturally... I'd keep the identity of anyone who served as a whistle blower fully confidential."
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
Even someone like Akechi-kun can respect Sae. Maybe it's a prodigy to prodigy thing- after all, Sae passed the bar while in high school and Akechi is already working with the police on cases. Makoto, meanwhile, is barely able to cover getting into a good school, having to please the Principal to have any chance of a future where she's useful, and all Makoto has to do is manage school and an apartment, everything else Sae has sorted out for her. She really is...
Makoto's conversational footing is swept out from under her again. "...Personal interest. I try to at least... keep informed on what issues Sis is dealing with." What's the point in lying about this. "At least, what little I can find out about her work." And it's clear Akechi won't be providing more information... but the seed is planted.
But when the topic of the Principal comes up- and since Akechi has been so kind as to put up with so many questions from her, she shouldn't avoid it-
Except it's like Akechi knows. Like he's staring straight past any obscuring features, and there's no one in the hall but the two of them now.
She could just answer. She could just say something. Sae trusts Akechi-kun, so she could just tell him the truth, and...
And Kobayakawa would ruin her future and any chance of paying back Sae. She'd lose her position on the Student Council, wouldn't she? Her status as an honor student, too. She'd be persona non grata at the school, and...
And would her justice even be satisfied, then?
Makoto doesn't meet Akechi's eyes anymore, but she's honest to a fault. Even if her voice doesn't say anything, her body language betrays her. She should say something, throw him off the scent, just lie-
But Makoto Niijima says nothing, her eyes staring at an unimportant spot on the floor.
<Pose Tracker> Goro Akechi has posed.
"I see. Well... it's not likely to be very relevant to the question of a 'Change of Heart' or the Phantom Thieves then." He concludes, with a smile. And it's difficult to argue with that, "You can count on your sister to pursue justice for their victims."
He asks his question though, and Makoto looks away, staring at the floor. He gives her time certainly, but he also can't claim he wasn't expecting this.
Still he waits, and waits... then eventually.
"Has someone intimidated you into silence? That's disappointing... I would have expected more of Sae-san's sister than the pushover good girl type."
Akechi begins to check his phone, "Well, I suppose I'll just move on. I at least owe it to her not to press her imouto more than this if she's refusing to be useful. ... Do give her my regards though."
Tap tap tap. Certainly he implies he knows it's Kobayakawa, but he acts like Makoto has him between a rock and a hard place.
After all, isn't he obligated to tell Sae? And yet... there he is, saying that he's not going to because he owes Sae not to make trouble for her...
...useless...
...little...
...sister...
"Best of luck on your mock exams I suppose." Her meaningless mock exams, as emblematic of her meaningless journey to... become what?
Someone useful to Sae Niijima?
Goro Akechi turns, placing the phone to his ear as he apparently just called someone and starts to walk away while waiting for connection.
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Niijima has posed.
The silence is deafening- but what breaks the silence is even worse. She looks up at Akechi, slightly shocked, but she doesn't have anything else she can say now. After all... he's not wrong, is he?
What Akechi says next hurts more though. She's... refusing to be useful...? But...
If, say, Akechi were the sort of person that relished in cruelty, it would be easy to see the blow that has struck to what little pride the high schooler has. She shrinks back, almost as if she's been struck, even as she tries in vain not to show it. She's just... causing even more problems.
Akechi doesn't give her a chance to say goodbye, putting his phone to his ear and walking away. For a few more moments, Makoto just stands there stunned, before sagging as a sense of exhaustion and weakness overtakes her.
"...Why is everybody on my case...?" She mumbles, weakly. Pathetically. Uselessly.
She stands there, for a few moments, before straightening back up and moving. She's going to be late for her ~meaningless~ exam.
She shouldn't waste the money Sae is spending for her to attend...