Tokyo's Phantom Thief [43]

In the end, after all the chaos, the two hyperactive girls and Asakura Rinto ended the day with dinner together at a family restaurant near the hotel.

Since it was right at the dinner rush, Rinto could feel the envious stares from all around — clearly aimed at the lucky guy flanked by two pretty girls.

But honestly? Rinto could only think: You folks haven't seen anything yet.

If he made just one call, the Yoshizawa sisters would show up.

Another call, and he could summon the idol Awa Subaru.

And if he called his poor, instant-noodle-eating housemate Momoka, she'd be there too...

...On second thought, maybe not the last one.

Rinto wasn't sure if that overaged rock-girl big sis could handle the sheer blast of youthful JK energy. She might just melt on the spot — and then he'd have to clean up the mess.

Anyway. In conclusion: dinner was a cheerful, laugh-filled affair, with both girls thanking him repeatedly.

From Shiho's perspective, if Rinto hadn't found Takamaki Ann in time, she could've been snatched by some scumbag off the street.

Since they couldn't exactly explain the whole otherworld incident, Ann just played along and accepted the backstory that she'd been drugged by some creep — a mortifying "black mark" on her personal history.

But Ann herself understood the truth: Rinto had saved her life. That much was undeniable.

So during the entire meal, she kept exchanging playful looks with him, sending wink after wink across the table.

Afterward, Shiho decided to go home with Ann and stay the night at her place.

That's when Rinto learned that Ann's parents were both fashion designers, constantly working overseas.

Which meant — yep — she had a car, a house, and perpetually absent parents. She was basically living solo, totally free.

Shiho often stayed over too, to the point that it was basically her second home.

Rinto, a salaryman transplant living the hustle life in Tokyo, was incredibly jealous.

If only I could pay her rent and move in…

He rode the subway with them all the way to their apartment building.

Only when both girls had gone upstairs and texted to say they'd arrived safely did Rinto — today's designated flower guardian — consider his mission complete.

And with that, the wild, exhausting day finally came to an end...

...Yeah, right.

Ann: "Thank you so much, Rinto-kun. I remember everything from the castle now… and I finally see just what a bastard Kamoshida really is."

While Shiho was in the shower, Ann stepped out onto her balcony, phone pressed to her ear as she looked out at the glittering city lights.

Rinto, watching the same night sky from elsewhere, smiled simply.

"It was nothing. Now that you know I'm the Phantom Thief… well, I've done more than my share of these little rescues."

Ann: "Mmhmm! I can't believe the famous Phantom Thief is my classmate! If I bragged about that, my friends would absolutely lose it!"

She giggled, teasing him through the line.

They'd already exchanged the basics — Ann now had a general grasp of what the "other world" was.

Her first reaction to entering Kamoshida's heartscape: disgusting.

The second? This is an opportunity.

Her voice was electric with excitement. She didn't even need Rinto to suggest anything:

Ann: "So Rinto-kun — wait, did you transfer to Shujin just to make Kamoshida reform? Was it because of my post on the Phantom Thief board? Were you… were you doing this for me?"

Rinto had already guessed that she was the one behind that message about the abusive teacher.

He answered honestly:

"I did see your post, yeah. But it really was a coincidence. See, we need specific intel on the target before we can steal a heart — most people don't include that in their posts. You didn't either, right?"

Ann: "Oh, true…"

She laughed, a little sheepishly.

...Actually, Rinto had something else on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it back.

He'd meant to say that he'd already decided to retire from the Phantom Thief gig.

But even though he could say that easily to the Yoshizawa sisters… when it came to Ann, he just couldn't.

I didn't expect myself to be this weak. Or this selfish…

Rinto had to admit it: he was greedy.

He wanted Ann — as a partner. No matter what, he didn't want to let her go.

And maybe… somehow, Ann picked up on that, even through the phone.

Her bright laughter gradually quieted, her tone turning serious.

Ann: "Rinto-kun... no — Phantom Thief-senpai. Captain. Boss. Whatever you want me to call you..."

Ann: "I want in. I want to become a Phantom Thief too. I want to make Kamoshida change. I want him to completely abandon all those gross, twisted thoughts. I want him to get on his knees and apologize to Shiho. For everything he's done to her this past year — he needs to pay."

"…Yeah. I'm with you."

That was all Rinto said.

But he meant it. He was genuinely glad Ann was that kind of person.

Because it was Ann, she didn't waste time worrying about the dangers or risks of the other world. She focused entirely on what she wanted to do.

For someone who had just awakened to a Persona, that was more than enough.

As her voice rose in a joyous cheer, Rinto smiled and added:

"We'll figure out the details tomorrow at school."

"Stealing Kamoshida's Treasure will take time — and a lot of prep. No rush. I'll teach you everything."

Ann: "Okay, sensei~! …Ah, but are we really not pressed for time?"

Her excitement quickly turned to concern:

Ann: "Shiho's using a sick note to get out of practice right now, but she can't keep that up forever. Kamoshida's going to pressure her parents to take her to a hospital sooner or later."

Ann: "If we don't act fast, who knows what he'll try next? And even if Shiho dodges it, what about the rest of the volleyball team? Those girls are suffering every single day..."

Rinto: "Ann, you're a good woman."

Ann: "...Huh!?"

Caught off guard by his sudden — and strangely phrased — compliment, she let out an embarrassed little squeal.

But Rinto didn't mean anything weird by it. He was genuinely impressed.

"If I suddenly got some comic book superpower, my first thought definitely wouldn't be helping people I barely knew."

"But you? You're worried not just about Shiho, but about the other girls too. That means something. That means you're kind."

"So don't worry. Just for the sake of that kindness… I'll make sure no one else gets hurt."

"Until we've dealt with Kamoshida's Palace, I swear: no one will suffer because of him again."

His voice was steady and sure — the kind of conviction that made you believe it.

He was already standing in front of Shujin Academy.