Not the ones your thinking of

"...It was...raining...I think." Joker said, shaking his head.

"You think?" Sae said sharply.

Joker winced and drew in a breath, focusing on her scowling face as his vision grew blurry. "Sorry. Trying to...think..."

Sae stifled a growl of frustration. "Of course. Take your time."

Frankly, it was a small miracle he was able to speak coherently at all. Sae had seen the effect of the **** in his system in past interrogations, the ones she was most familiar with caused a powerful effect all on their own. But she had never seen all of them employed on a single suspect, and certainly not in so many separate injections (who could even guess at the applied dosage?). That he had so far been able to come to his senses and work with her through the past year...his willpower was truly astounding. It frankly made his insane tale of harnessing a myriad of psychic entities as a reflection of his inner self seem...well, plausible wasn't the right word. Less impossible? Sae bit her lip in exasperation. There was no way she could present such a fantastical story to a courtroom. And yet something in her was pushing her to keep listening...

"Fireworks. We had all gathered to watch the fireworks. But it started to rain...Kaneshiro! We were celebrating his confession. We were at a festival but it was rained out. That's it. The night Niijima agreed to work with the Detective Prince."

"....I need you to take a breath and focus. I'm standing right in front of you but you are speaking as if I'm not even here. And Akechi-kun and I have known one another for years. We were working together long before anyone had ever heard of the Phantom Thieves. And if I understood you correctly, the day you are referencing to took place in mid-July slightly before Medjed began issuing their threats to the public. Akechi was occupied with TV interviews and his typical self-promotions and grandstanding. And as you'll recall, I was investigating Wakaba Ishigi and the connection between cognitive psience and the mental shutdowns. So if anything what you just said is especially nonsensical. The detective prince and I were pointedly not working together on any joint ventures at that time."

Joker paused. And chuckled weakly. Sae glared at him, and he gave an apologetic wave. "Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Those **** are hitting me a little hard right now. I'm being a little vague, I know. But what I said is still correct. All the trouble started with those two. Niijima and the Detective Prince. "

Sae crossed her arms in irritation. Joker slid back in his chair, a tired smile on his face.

"But probably not the ones your thinking of." He winked.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"This...was a bad idea..." Makoto whispered.

"You THINK?" Ann hissed back, shivering and hugging herself, trying to hide her dripping wet body.

It was supposed to be a night of celebration! The first successful mission of the errant student council president turned the master tactician of the Phantom Thieves! The infamous gangster Junya Kaneshiro had just surrendered himself into police custody. There was no dramatic confession before the public as the previous incidents had entailed, the police were doing everything in their power to enforce a media blackout of the details of his crimes. But the public was already aware that a calling card had been issued, and the popularity of the phantom thieves had spiked with the mob boss' surrender. The group had decided to enjoy an evening at a local festival. Fireworks were promised, kimonos were on display, it had the makings of a perfect evening.

And then the rain came...

Their kimonos had very quickly gotten soaked, making the thin material cling tightly to their curves and become slightly more transparent. This was a problem since neither girl had opted for undergarments that day. They had sought refuge in a corner store to mitigate the disarray and dry off. All well and good, despite the embarrassing looks they received from the boys. But after going their separate ways Ann and Makoto found themselves caught in a renewed downpour even more intense than the last one. Their kimonos were now little more than utterly transparent rags that offered almost no help to protecting their modesty than their own hands were already providing.

" 'Don't worry, Ann. My sis' house is right around the corner, Ann. We can rest and change out of these kimonos and relax before you go home, Ann. What could go wrong with a little detour, Ann?' " Ann muttered bitterly, her words doing a strained approximation of Makoto's own voice.

"How was I supposed to know what the weather would do?" Makoto asked, blushing and shivering.

"Oh I'm sorry. I was just assuming after how much you hyped up how good a tactician and planner you were that our oh so smart student council president would have thought to check the weather and bring an umbrella just in case!!" Ann complained.

"Oh well excuse me for being a little occupied with worrying about the change of heart and keeping a poker face around my sister! I didn't see you thinking ahead!" Makoto said.

The rain fortunately had driven most people off the streets. But 'most people' was a relative term for one of the largest cities in the world. There was still quite a crowd on the street, mostly of people who had indeed brought umbrellas, and a significant number were also leering businessmen to boot. The pair made their way awkwardly down the street, their naked bodies now almost completely visible beneath the transparent cloth of their soaked kimonos. They were wet, shivering, and blushing like mad as they made their way past leering face after leering face.

"How much further is this..." Ann began.

"Its right up ahead!" Makoto said. "Mine is the one on the far left."

"Oh thank god." Ann screeched as the pair made a dash through the pouring rain, the promise of warmth, towels and modesty giving them renewed energy.

"The good news is my sister pulls so many late nights these days that we won't-" Makoto whispered as the pair snuck into the house, dripping went and shivering on the threshold.

"Just be reasonable!" Sae said loudly, the anger in her voice carrying down the hallway.

"...Never mind." Makoto whispered.

"As I said, it is completely out of the question. I'm already committed to a case that will require my full attention." a second voice said, this one calm and collected.

"I know you've been investigating the shutdowns yourself. Pooling intel and resources will benefit both of us. The sooner we find the ones responsible, the more lives we can save by ending these freak accidents." Sae said, attempting to curb her anger.

"It is hardly that simple. As I said, I'm investigating the matter as a hired detective. I am serving the interests of my client, not you or the police. And she is very carefully limiting the information we share with the authorities." the stranger said coolly.

"I could get a court order." Sae threatened.

"You could. And my client will certainly counter with appropriate legal action. Are you prepared to fight that battle?" the voice asked.

"...."

"Of course not. There is a good probability you would lose. And you wouldn't dare blemish your perfect winning streak in the courtroom, would you, Niijima-san?" the stranger asked.

"I don't understand the issue. I will freely acknowledge your assistance in the matter when-" Sae began.

"No. Not under any circumstances. I'm afraid I also have a reputation to consider. I have no interest in my name being linked with yours, Sae-san. You'll have to content yourself with a single Detective Prince in your employ." The stranger replied, far colder than before.

"We have the same goals, Shirogane-san. Surely you can see that with the two of you working together-" Sae said.

"We have the same TARGET, Niijima-san. I'm afraid you'll find that Goro Akechi and I have very little in common beyond sharing the moniker the media assigned to us. You are seeking career advancement and another conviction under your belt. Akechi is looking for fame and media attention. My goal is simply to serve my client and find the truth."

"The truth? What sort of simple minded nonsense...Shirogane. People are dying. More people will die as long as these incidents keep occurring. Our personal ambitions are hardly important next to ending this." Sae snapped.

"I'm afraid I can't agree with that assessment. Neither would your father." Shirogane whispered.

"Don't you dare-...you and my father. You worked with him in the past. If you won't do this for me or the sake of the victim, then do it for him. This is what he would have wanted." Sae whispered.

"What he would have wanted? Sae-san, with respect, I don't believe you understand the first thing about what your father wanted." Shirogane whispered.

"...The things he wanted are what got him killed." Sae said bitterly.

"You know very well who was responsible for getting him killed." Shirogane said evenly. "The police haven't allowed any outside visits or interrogations so far. But according to the report Kaneshiro confessed to all his crimes. Your father died investigating a network of human traffickers in Shinjuku who employed **** to addle their victim's minds. Those responsible vanished into the night after a suspiciously timed car accident ended his life. Three years later a man named Kaneshiro starts conducting illicit business dealings in ****, smuggling, and extortion...and those indepted to him tend to vanish...most likely sold off to parties unknown. You've seen the parallels as clearly as I have. So let me put it to you directly, Sae Niijima. You've most certainly conducted an interrogation of the man. Has your father's killer been brought to justice?" Shirogane asked.

There was heavy silence in the little house. Ann drew closer to Makoto, placing an arm around the other girl. For her part, Makoto had covered her mouth, trembling and focusing on making no sound. If Ann suspected that not all the moisture blanketing the brown haired girl's face was from the rain, she did not say it out loud.

"It was the first thing he said to me. No coaxing, no hesitation, no attempt to hide it. He explained it all like he was confessing to a priest. Every detail. The name of the assassin. Where they dumped the vehicle after the fact. He didn't resist me at all. It was wrong. He was supposed to hold back, plead for a deal, anything. It wasn't a real interrogation. He should have fought back. He should have **** me to break him. I wanted to see him crumble. I deserved that much at least." Sae muttered to herself.

"I'm glad you didn't get the chance." Shirogane said softly. "**** isn't something that can satisfy you. It would only poison your heart."

"What could you possibly know about it?" Sae snapped.

"Much more than you think. You are far from the only person who ever wanted to lash out at those who hurt people you cared for. Did you know I came very close to killing a man in cold blood? He was a kidnapper, abducting people in a small town in a deranged attempt to save them from a perceived threat. He took a little girl, someone I had grown unexpectedly close to thanks due to familial ties with certain associates. She very nearly died from the experience. And we were quite ready, even eager, to seek **** on that man. I was the one that suggested the method of execution, in fact. It was her own family, her 'big bro' as she had come to come him, who talked us down. And I thank him every day for that. The man was innocent of the crimes we believed he committed, and his abductions were an insane attempt to do good for his community. I know deep down had we acted that night none of us would have ever forgiven ourselves. Be thankful, Sae-san. The role fate has given you to play in bringing this man to justice is to ensure he pays for his crimes. You have the names of his associates, the location of his assets and bases of operation. Dismantle his empire. Convince a judge to sentence him to the maximum punishment for every crime that freely fell from his lips. Make sure he never sees the light of day again. Make him live in the darkness alone with his guilt for the rest of his life. There's your justice and your ****." Shirogane said.

"I should have been the one to take him in. Giving himself up like that denied a major opportunity to advance my career! And in any case, I should have been the one who ended this once and for all." Sae declared.

"You weren't the only one he hurt. I think fate wanted this man brought to justice. But perhaps the task of hunting him down and confronting him directly was for someone else to carry out. I'd like to believe our nameless benefactor was finding their own sense of justice...or ****. Is it so hard to share half of that victory with someone else?"

Makoto smiled sadly, staring at her hand as she slowly clenched her fist.

"You are the last person I'd expect to hear speaking of fate, Shirogane. You're a detective. Logic and deduction should be your bread and butter. You should know better than anyone, especially after all you've seen, that there is no guiding hand behind this world or anything beyond it. Everything is just random chance. The only order or purpose we can rely on in our lives we have to impose ourselves." Sae chided.

"My experiences have taught me very different lessons from the ones you've learned, Sae-san. And I think on that note I will take my leave." Shirogane said.

"We aren't done here-" Sae snapped.

The two girls flinched as a well dressed, androgynous young man rounded the corner, dressed in tight black pants and a lighter blue shirt complete with suspenders and a stylish overcoat. A sailor's cap rested on his head, the same dark blue that he seemed to favor in the rest of his wardrobe. Sae followed quickly behind, dressed in her typical black business suit and high heels. The pair stopped in shock and the four women shared in a stunned, motionless silence as they stared at one another.

"MAKOTO NIIJIMA! What on Earth do you think you are doing?" Sae roared.

"H-hi Sis! F-festival! We were at a...but it rained...kimonos soaked...we...we came to get dry and..this is Ann!" Makoto muttered.

Sae looked as if she were ready to explode.

"Makoto Niijima. And...Ann Takamaki, if I am recall correctly. Good evening. I apologize if our argument has put you in such an awkward position, waiting to sneak inside." The stranger said, as if this were all perfectly normal. "My name is Naoto Shirogane. It is lovely to meet you both."

"Th-thank you!" Makoto stammered.

"Yeah, tha...umm...how do you know my name?" Ann asked.

Naoto smirked. "Detectives and magicians never reveal their secrets. Incidentally, those kimonos have seen better days..."

"Ahh...yes. Caught in the rain. I had no idea it would get so bad." Makoto admitted.

"You do have to be careful this time of year." Naoto agreed.

"How could you be so careless? You've ruined your best kimono!" Sae snapped.

"Sorry sis."

"Ruin is a strong word. I doubt they're completely beyond salvaging. And I happen to know an excellent tailor. If you can pardon the profanity he's likely to inflict when he sees the damage I'm certain he'd be happy to help." Naoto said.

"A-all right. That..that would be wonderful." Makoto muttered. "I'm sorry. Did...did you say you knew my father."

Sae sucked in a sharp breath. "Enough. Go to your room and get changed out of those! And stop tracking puddles through the house!"

She glanced at Ann with complete exasperation. "I suppose you'll be spending the night here?"

"Uhh..I didn't want to impose but..."

"Fine. Just go. Leave the kimonos on the towel rack, and the two of you get into the bath and warm up. The last thing we need is for Makoto to catch a cold!" Sae snapped.

"Right! Going! Uh, Naoto-san..." Makoto squeeked.

"No need to worry. I was on my way out, but if the weather is as bad as you say, I think I can hang back for a time. I'm certain Sae and I can find more to talk about in the meantime." Naoto said.

"Right. Of course." Makoto whispered.

She and Ann scampered down the hallway. The pair burst into the bathroom as the raised voices of the other two women rang anew in the hallway.

"Okay, what the fuck was that about? Who was that? How did he know my name? And...and did they just say that Kaneshiro killed you dad??" Ann asked immediately.

"Keep your voice down. That was...that was Naoto Shirogane! That was the first detective prince!! The genius that solved the unsolvable Foggy Morning Killings! They probably know your name because...if I'm remembering correctly...they have a photographic memory. Your name probably came up in connection with the Kamoshida case. Oh...and according to what I've read the 'he' is actually a 'she'."

"Huh? Wait? What? No. Really? But...No. He has...she's not..." Ann gestured to her hips and breasts.

"I think the story goes that when she was younger she developed a habit for crossdressing to better operate in a male dominated career. The last interview I read about her said she had reconciled with her insecurities over her gender, but that she frequently takes advantage of her androgynous looks whenever she needs to go undercover in places where one sex can operate more freely than the other. And yes, I know how she looked. But actually she's...well, I don't have a number but I think she outclasses you...there." Makoto said, copying Ann's gesture indicating her breasts.

"How the hell..." Ann paused, breathed and tried again. "That's not important now. She knew your dad? Also...Kaneshiro? You heard that, right?"

"I heard." Makoto whispered.

"Since when? Isn't that too big a coincidence? Even with 'fate' or whatever she was saying?" Ann asked. "And as emotional as you were getting before you don't seem very surprised..."

"....No. I'm not." Makoto said, sitting on the edge of the bath after divesting herself of the kimono. "I'm sorry, Ann. I didn't say anything before. But...that pattern they mentioned? Between dad's investigation and Kaneshiro's group? I noticed it too. At the very beginning, when those first students started sharing the rumors about Kaneshiro's group operating inside the school. I knew it was a possibility. The more I looked into things the more it all seemed to fall into place. Sorry. I had no proof, just hearsay and correlations. But yes. By the time I came to you all and demanded that you 'prove your justice' to me I knew exactly who I wanted you to hunt. I couldn't know for sure that it was him...but if there was even a chance...I had to take it."

"Idiot. Why would you hide something like that? If we'd known-"

"You'd what? None of you trusted me in the beginning. If you knew my stake in this was even more personal, you might have cut me out of the investigation altogether! Besides...I didn't want it to BE personal. This was about justice. It didn't matter who that man really was. He was hurting the student body. He was extorting people all over Shinjuku. Whatever else he had done, he deserved to be a target for the Phantom Thieves. It was about justice....I needed it to be about justice. That's how dad would have seen it. That's how I want to live. If it gets too personal I...I might start to think like her." Makoto whispered.

"...." Ann paused. "All right. I get it. But...goddamit Makoto-chan! Don't you think we deserved to know the real stakes before you decided to march up to that fat pig's goons and goaded them into taking you to a face to face meeting with your dad's killer?? Don't you think that would have been USEFUL information to have?"

"I've already apologized for that."

"Not enough, you haven't! Bottom line, you are fucking one of us now. No more secrets. That's my price for keeping this little detail between us. Got it?"

"Got it." The naked girls hugged.

"Good. Now prove it. What's going through your head right now? You've had the 'Makoto scheming' look in your eyes since we got here." Ann said.

"She's working on the mental shutdown investigation." Makoto said. "That could be related to the black mask Kaneshiro mentioned. If she has any leads...she almost certainly has notes or a file on hand with that information. And of course if she's investigated the shutdowns she's almost certainly looked into the Phantom Thieves. Could you...provide a distraction?"

Ann looked at the other girl. Then with a sigh she casually grabbed a towel, cracked her neck, and took in a deep breath.

"Sae-san! Naoto-san! Pervert! Peeper! Someone's looking through the window! I think someone followed us to your house! Pervert! Pervert! We need to find them!"

Ann dashed out of the bathroom, clad in a towel. Makoto sighed deeply. Ann Takamaki was many things, but a convincing actress was not one of them.

"Makoto?" Sae asked, poking her head in.

"I'm fine, Sis! Just please make sure that horrible person ran away? Can you check outside! Please? I'm sorry, I'm scared!" Makoto said, putting on her 'pleading little sister' voice.

"....Fine. We'll look around. Find a safe place to hide." Sae said.

"Okay Sis." Makoto said softly, her heart pounding. Lying to her big sister was not usually something Makoto attempted, because it was not something a good little sister would do and besides it tended to end very badly when Sae discovered the truth.

Waiting until she heard the door close, Makoto crept into the hallway. Still naked (she decided in a panic that gathering clothes or a towel would lose precious seconds for investigation) she tip toed down the hall. In the living room she found a strange dark blue briefcase. Target acquired, Makoto slunk into the room, bending over as she did to examine the inside.

"Third fold on the left. Notebook with the red cover." Naoto said.

Makoto managed not to scream. Barely. Instead she froze, turning her head as she knelt on all fours. The Detective Prince was giving her a casual once over, her eyes filled with an odd delight.

"Naoto-san! When did you..." Makoto stuttered.

"I never left, Makoto-chan. I convinced Sae it would be safer if only one of us went out on patrol. I volunteered to keep you safe. A side note- your friend's acting somehow fooled Sae, but she is quite terrible at it. Not as bad as your attempts at stealth, mind you, but still rather atrocious." Naoto said. "I do admire the tenacity, though. I don't think any amount of curiosity could overcome my embarrassment at being naked to go poking through someone's belongings."

Makoto blushed, caught red handed and buck naked all at once.

"Third fold from the left. Red cover." Naoto repeated.

"...." Makoto silently did as instructed.

"It isn't much, I'm afraid. The mental shutdowns leave no evidence of any perpetrator to be found. All we have is second hand knowledge, and completely theoretical patterns. The shutdowns have benefitted certain parties, but each party seems unrelated to the others. The lack of a coherent agenda makes me suspect the person or persons involved is acting more as a hired gun than on any agenda of their own. A very dangerous agent of a more influential group representing very powerful men, if the pattern of who profits from the incidents is to be believed. Not very useful for tracking them or the agent down. And more than a little dangerous to investigate, considering any attention drawn to oneself is almost certain to end in a mental shutdown. But you can take it and see for yourself." Naoto said casually.

"I...thank you." Makoto stammered.

"Your very welcome. I wanted to tell you...I was relieved beyond words to hear you made it out of Kaneshiro's nightclub unharmed. That was incredibly dangerous." Naoto said, casually rebuking the younger girl.

"I..I...I'm not sure what you mean..." Makoto stammered.

"Oh? Are you saying the red eyed, dark haired girl with the encircling braid dressed in your typical ensemble who loudly demanded to speak to Kaneshiro on a Shinjuku street corner moments before being forcibly pushed into a limousine wasn't you? Or that the blonde haired girl with the long pig tails who raced out with a group of young men who match the descriptions of Yusuke Kitagawa, Ryuiji Sakamoto, and Ren Amamiya was not your friend Ann Takamaki? that group nearly caused an accident when the young man **** a taxi to stop? It made quite an impression on the officers canvasing the area that day." Naoto said.

"....." Makoto said.

"It was a bit of a shift from your usual investigations, as I understand. The girl in charge of your local newspaper club is quite the dedicated journalist, you know. And journalists are incredibly useful wherever they can be found. It is essentially their job to stick their nose in other people's business, and in an environment as small as a highschool there is quite a lot of local business to be sniffed out. Its a mutually beneficial relationship, really. Simple quid pro quo between two types of investigators. Trade information for information. She gets to run a few particularly in depth crime stories from a nameless source, I get a running update on odd activities around the school." Naoto said, crossing her arms.

"W...Why are you telling me this?" Makoto asked.

"A good detective or magician never reveals their secrets. But we might drop a hint or two for a promising candidate to piece together on their own." Naoto said, a gleam in her eye.

"....I take it your interest in the school is related to the Phantom Thieves?" Makoto asked casually.

"Exactly. They aren't directly related to my investigation, but they are of keen interest to me. And my employers." Naoto said with a smile.

"....what sort of interest, exactly?" Makoto asked. "You said your clients aren't involved with the police."

"Not entirely accurate, in fairness. We do have a small group employed within the police department. Unfortunately, I believe they have drawn too much attention from powerful enemies. Our budget and jurisdiction has been under constant **** for the last few years." Naoto said.

"....you said the mental shutdowns were related to some powerful group earlier." Makoto said.

"Very good. And yes. We believe the two are related." Naoto confirmed.

"So you wouldn't have the authority to arrest the Thieves even if you found them. What's your interest?" Makoto asked again.

"Ummm..." Naoto said, for once appearing flustered. "I believe the term being used is...Phans? Correct? My employers are Phans of the Phantom Thieves."

Makoto stared in disbelief. Naoto shrugged.

"....so they not only believe the Thieves exist, they are supporters of the Thieves?" Makoto said, shaking her head. "That makes no sense."

"How so?"

"The mental shutdowns and the change of hearts. Don't you find them...similar?" Makoto asked.

"Oh, certainly. The method for both is almost certainly related. But the motives are polar opposite. Our mental shutdown...ist...operates at the behest of others, killing without mercy or fanfare. The Phantom Thieves have sought deliberate public attention, leaving calling cards to explain their motives to their victims and the public at large. And they have shown a clear lack of interest in killing their targets. On top of that, their activities have been of no particular benefit to anyone except the victims of the monsters they target. There is no hidden agenda to be found there aside from pure good will, a desire for justice, and perhaps a understandable need for public acclaim. The two are unrelated to each other. If anything, I believe they are likely directly opposed, even if neither knows who the other is just yet."

"I...see...you seem very free with this information, considering how you stonewalled my sister earlier." Makoto said.

"I think your sister is on a very dark path. I think you know that too." Naoto whispered.

"...." Makoto paused. "Why support the phantom thieves at all? They're still criminals."

"Some people will see it that way. I don't think the world is so black and white. It is, in fact, very likely that these 'thieves' are the only ones who can truly deal with the mental shutdowns plaguing the city. Don't mistake me. Having to sit back and watch from the sidelines doesn't sit well for any of us. But those are familiar frustrations. A few years ago a police investigation was completely hapless to deal with a certain murderer. His methods were untraceable, his motives were inscrutable. But while the police were stumbling in the dark, I became aware of a group of...concerned citizens who appeared to know something about the killer. In fact, the group was largely composed of people the killer had targeted only for his methods to be thwarted. It was a exasperating situation, being helpless to do anything but watch. But in the end I had to put my faith in that group when I made myself a target." Naoto whispered.

"You did what?" Makoto said, aghast.

"Glass houses, Niijima-san. In point of fact, confronting Kaneshiro as you did was far more reckless than what I am describing. And it worked. They saved me and enlightened me to their methods. Later that same group helped me bring the killer to justice. By the way...that killer? He was a police officer. As I said our world is not so black and white." Naoto said.

"And your telling me this to...what? Give up investigating the Phantom Thieves?" Makoto asked.

"That would hardly do any good. A few weeks ago? Perhaps I could have convinced you. You were having a bit of an internal debate yourself, yes? Your fellow student council members remarked you seemed to be questioning yourself quite a lot at the time. But I think you've already found an answer to your own questions, yes?" Naoto asked.

"You and Akechi have more in common than you admit. He's always eager to rattle off grandiose deductions to anyone who will listen." Makoto said bitterly.

"A flaw common to most detective, I'm afraid. We live inside our own heads far too often. Its a relief to explain our conclusions when the chance arrives."

"To be fair, you have a different air than Akechi. With him I feel like I'm constantly in a duel to the ****. Everything is verbal feints and thrusts. You...you feel more like a professor giving a student a pop quiz." Makoto said.

"Interesting." Naoto said with a mona lisa smile.

"....so why are you telling me all this?"

"Hmmm. I'm not entirely certain. Perhaps because watching on the sidelines is such a frustrating prospect. Beyond that I think...well, there's something familiar in you. You are a very inquisitive, intelligent, determined young lady. All ideal characteristics of a good detective...all that's required is that you sharpen those skills. And...I have a feeling you aren't quite finished sticking your nose in other people's business."

"....I've heard that can be useful to some people." Makoto smiled.

"Very. So. Quid Pro Quo?"

Makoto awkwardly held out her hand. Naoto took it in a firm handshake.

"That said, if you are going to play detective, a notebook would be useful." Naoto dipped into her blue little bag, producing a well used, time worn notebook with frayed pages and a stain or two on the cover.

"This is from an old case, but there are still plenty of blank pages for notes. Feel free to read the old entries if you like. It might help give you a little insight into a detective's mind." Naoto said.

"What case was this?" Makoto said.

"I was keeping a journal here when I worked on the Foggy Morning Killings." Naoto said, with a small smile. "Umm...please keep it to yourself that I'm lending it to you. My employers...one especially...would not be happy I was giving it away. And I'd prefer to avoid execution if at all possible."

"...all right." Makoto said. "So, that's your side of this taken care of. What do you want from me, Shirogane-san."

"The current case I'm on. A month ago an employee of the Wild Duck Burger suffered a mental shutdown and began stripping off his clothes and taking nude photos of himself while cooking burger patties. That's public knowledge. But...the incidents have not stopped. This is a new, less understandable direction for the shutdowns to go. We don't know the motives here. It serves no purpose, and is far less lethal." Naoto said.

"I see. And how do I fit in?"

"Just let us know if you learn anything worth noting. You can investigate places I can't go, after all." Naoto said.

"You mean our school? But the news girl..."

"No, not that."

"Then...?"

"...You know, your father would be proud of you, Makoto-chan. You've found a very strong sense of justice. I'm glad you had the chance to confront Kaneshiro directly." Naoto said.

"All I did was get captured. Without the Phantom Thieves I'd probably be sold off someone by now." Makoto said.

"Yes. And your father would be proud." Naoto replied.

"Proud of me? Or proud of what the Phantom Thieves are doing?"

"I don't think we need to pretend there's a difference between those two things."

"...."

"I think I'll be going now. I'll see to your kimono's as soon as I can. Enjoy the journal. We can talk more when I get back to town."