|| 6/18 Saturday ||
|| Afternoon ||

Unlike usual, Morgana was hidden in the compartment underneath Mikono's desk. He was currently fast asleep, his tail strewn across her lap. She noticed how it flicked every now and then in his sleep. On a few occasions, she found herself playing with his tail whenever it brushed against her knees.

Halfway through the math lesson, Mikono found herself toying with her eraser. She was never fond of math, but she was rather good at it. Of course, she was more than grateful to help her friends whenever they needed help with the subject.

Eventually, Mikono began scribbling doodles in the corners of her notebook. What she hadn't realized until she analyzed her drawings was she'd drawn the same thing four different times. It was a cute falcon with the hieroglyphics for Horus underneath. The four falcons, who were all sporting different poses, were located in each corner of the page. A faint sigh fell from her lips as she stared down at the four falcons.

"Lady Mikono, your phone," Morgana whispered.

The girl blinked, realizing she had spaced out. Pulling out her phone, she read the messages in the group chat.

Ryuji: Yo, did that reporter get in touch with you yet?

Mikono: Someone's eager.

Yusuke: We only just emailed her the other day. Why are you so hasty?

Ryuji: I dunno. I've been looking for info, but I can't find a damn thing...

Ryuji: We only got two weeks left, man. Duh we're in a hurry.

Yusuke: To be more precise, it's ten days.

Ryuji: We ain't gonna have much time, even if we start right after she responds.

Ann: Looks like this battle will have to be a quick one then.

Yusuke: We must also consider what we do in case she fails to respond entirely.

Ann: Hey, don't jinx this!

Mikono: Already thinking about the negatives, huh? Never thought you'd be the one to be the Negative Nancy, Yusuke.

Yusuke: I am merely discussing all the possible outcomes.

Ryuji: Ain't you nervous about this?

Yusuke: Nervousness will not help us solve anything at this point.

Yusuke: Were that the solution to our problem, I would be much quicker to turn to panic.

Ann: Wow, he's like some kind of philosopher...

Ryuji: I think he's just an idiot...

Akira: What does that make you then?

Mikono: Ooh...

Ryuji: Mikky's rubbed off on you...

Mikono: Yeah, I'm not the best influence.

|| 6/18 Saturday ||
|| After School ||

"Hey, Mikono," Ann approached her friend after class ended. She sat on the inky-haired girl's desk, peering down at her. "How are things with Dr. Fujioka? You've another session today, right?"

"Things are going well. I've only two more sessions after today," Mikono replied.

"I'm glad you're getting better. After everything that's happened to you, I can't even imagine being in your shoes..."

"Enough about me." Mikono smiled up at Ann. "How's Shiho?"

"She's on the road to recovery," the pigtailed girl replied. "She's awake and will be starting physical therapy soon."

Mikono sighed in relief. "I'm so glad to hear that."

"She wants to see you when she's better," Ann commented. "She wants to thank you for saving her."

Mikono looked away as she remembered the day she tried to save Shiho. "I still feel like I could've done something more to prevent her from jumping, but I'm still happy she's alive. I would be in the same position as her if Akira hadn't saved me." She checked the time on her phone and gasped. "Oh, no! I'm gonna be late for my session! I'll see you tomorrow, Ann!" She grabbed her bag and stormed out of the classroom.

As Mikono ran down the stairs, she passed Akira and Ryuji. The blonde stopped her by calling out her name. "Yo, Mikky, where you off to in such a hurry?"

"I've a session with Dr. Fujioka and I'm gonna be late!" She shouted.

"Don't you also have to work at the museum today?" Akira asked.

"Don't remind me!" With that, Mikono stormed out of Shujin Academy and toward the train station. She managed to board the train to Shibuya just before it departed. Huffing out a sigh, she sat down in one of the available seats. As she rested from the sprint she made from the school to the train station, she felt her phone buzz inside her bag and took it out.

Yusuke: Sorry to bother you while you are expecting information from that journalist.

Yusuke: However, do you remember that thread about the group of burglars in Shibuya?

Yusuke: It seems the one who posted about his brother is a student at my school.

Yusuke: And so after some prodding, I was able to pry a few more details out of him.

Ann: Oh, right! I was actually wondering about that.

Ann: It didn't sound like they had anything to do with the mafia we've been chasing.

Yusuke: Indeed. Now, I was able to ascertain his brother's name...

Yusuke: It's Kazuya Makigami.

Ryuji: Dude, it's freaking crazy that someone involved in that shit goes to your school.

Ryuji: Nice going, Yusuke!

Ann: And you even found the name of the guy we're looking for!

Ann: That was super awesome!

Ryuji: All we gotta do now is punish him in Mementos.

Ryuji: This burglar guy isn't gonna be near as scary as the mafia. He's just a plain dude, right?

Ryuji: We'll show him what being a phantom thief's really about!

Ryuji: Or we could just sic Mikky on him. She's scary. She'd make him shit his pants.

Mikono: Excuse me?

Ryuji: What?

Mikono: First, I'm not a dog. Second, I'm not scary!

Ryuji: You can when you wanna be.

Akira: I would have to agree.

Mikono: What?!

Akira: That act you pulled a couple days ago...

Akira: I honestly thought you were going to tear my head off.

Mikono: Ugh... I hate you both...

|| 6/18 Saturday ||
|| Evening ||

It was almost the time for Mikono's shift to end. No visitors had arrived at the museum in the last fifteen minutes and she was becoming bored. She was alone since Akira didn't have to work today and had no one to talk to. To entertain herself, she began spinning around in circles in her chair. She stared up at the ceiling, waiting for time to tick by so she could head home.

As she ceased spinning, she checked the time on her phone. "Only five more minutes..." Swiveling in the chair, she faced the computer and stretched her arms upward, entwining her fingers. A faint 'pop' came from her fingers and shoulders, earning a wince from the girl. "I've been sitting way too long in this seat. I think my butt is glued to the chair..."

"Then you should join me for a stroll," a sweet voice told her.

Mikono tore her gaze from the computer and looked to the owner of the voice. "Oh, Akechi-kun! I didn't expect to see you here so late." She glanced at the time and realized her shift was finally over. "I would love to join you on a stroll."

He smiled at her, gesturing toward the entrance. "Shall we?"

She nodded, her own smile appearing on her face. "Let's." Grabbing her bag, she texted her parents as she followed Goro out of the museum. Walking down the street side-by-side, she glanced up at the taller boy beside her. "What brought you to Shibuya, Akechi-kun?"

"I was hoping to see you, Tsutsui-chan. I contacted your parents and learned you were working today. They told me when your shift ended and decided to pay you a visit."

"Talk about perfect timing," Mikono commented.

"I always plan accordingly," he chortled.

As they traveled down Central Street, the duo continued to chat nonstop. An hour had passed before they knew it and Goro suggested they sit down to rest for a bit. He disappeared for a minute after they found a bench before returning with a drink for Mikono. She thanked him as she accepted the beverage and took a small sip before screwing the top back on.

They continued their conversation until they were interrupted by two men. Mikono recognized one of the strangers and rolled her eyes in annoyance when she realized they were heading straight for them.

This didn't go unnoticed by Goro. "Friends of yours?"

"Far from it," she murmured, glaring at the man she recognized as he approached.

The two men stopped in front of Goro and Mikono, glancing between the two as they remained seated on the bench. The one cladded in a purple dress shirt shoved his hand into his pocket as his eyes focused on the girl. "Well, well, well... Look who it is. Remember me, girly? You told me to go to Hell and tried to start a fight with me yesterday."

Mikono crosses her arms. "How could I not? You ran away with your tail tucked between your legs."

He clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Damn little—!"

Goro stood up in the blink of an eye and grabbed the man's wrist just as he revealed the pocket knife he had been concealing. "There's no need for violence, gentlemen."

He clicked his tongue, trying to yank his arm out of the boy's constricting grip. "Hey, kid! You better...!"

Mikono stood up just as the other man lunges toward Goro to grab him. She snatched his wrist before he could touch him and twisted his arm behind his back. He cried out in pain as she yanked on his arm, threatening to break it.

Goro knocked the stranger he held to a single knee, grabbing the pocket knife with his other hand and tossing it aside. He smiled innocently down at him while his tone was threatening. "It is quite rude to interrupt others while they're enjoying an evening stroll. I do know Chief Goto personally. It will only take one call for me to contact him."

"W-Wait!" The man Mikono was restraining wailed. "We were mistaken!"

"Like hell we were!" The other man hissed, glaring at the girl. "This chick is—!"

"Shut the hell up! Do you wanna get the police involved?! The boss would have our heads!"

"Boss?" Goro parroted.

"You've done it now, ya moron!" The man growled.

"How about we let you go and you both be on your merry way?" Mikono proposed. The two men exchanged glances before nodding.

Goro glances toward his companion with a shocked expression. "Are you positive this is what you want, Tsutsui-chan?"

"Yeah," she sighed. "And if they do decide to come back, I also know how to directly contact Chief Goto."

The detective released the man he was holding at the same time Mikono relinquished her grip on her victim. They scrambled to their feet before dashing off. The two watched the men storm off before looking at one another. The shaggy-haired boy stared deeply into her cerulean eyes. "You know those men?"

"Only the one wearing the purple shirt. He was pestering me a few days ago and almost made me late for work."

"I see," Goro hummed. "You are quite an easy target, Tsutsui-chan."

She arched a brow, confused at what he meant. "Excuse me?"

He smiled kindly at her. "My apologies. What I meant is you're approachable."

"Is that a good or bad thing?"

"It can be either."

Before Goro could go into deeper detail, Mikono's phone grabbed their attention. She pulled out her phone and saw her friends messaging the group chat. She look up from the device with a guilty expression. "I'm sorry, Akechi-kun. Could you excuse me for a minute?"

"Of course," he replied sweetly.

"Thanks." She walked down the street a little ways before opening the IM app.

Ryuji: Shinjuku at night, eh?

Yusuke: That sounds rather dangerous.

Ann: Where should we meet up?

Ryuji: Stand by, Ann. It'll be easier to move around with less of us.

Yusuke: My apologies. I don't have the money to take the train there.

Ryuji: Then you're on standby too.

Mikono: I'm on Central Street right now. I'll meet you guys at the hideout.

Ryuji: Okay.

Ryuji: Then it'll be me, Akira, and Mikky. How's that sound?

Akira: Like a plan.

Ann: If Akira and Mikono are going, I guess there's no need to worry. We'll leave it to you guys then.

Ryuji: Well, I guess that's that. Let's meet up in Shibuya.

Ann: Be careful, you three.

Yusuke: I shall be sure to save money for situations like this from now on.

Mikono placed her phone back in her bag and returned to Goro. She told him a small lie before dashing off in a hurry. She ran all the way to the train station and changed into the spare t-shirt and shorts she had in her bag. Once she finished changing, she left the restroom and headed to the teikyu building accessway. While she waited for Akira and Ryuji, she combed her fingers through her long inky locks to rid her hair of a few knots.

After a few minutes, Ryuji and Akira arrived from different directions. Morgana made an appearance as he popped out of the bespectacled boy's bag. His eyes widened when realizing what the blonde was wearing. "You're still in your uniform?!"

"Huh? No choice. I didn't have the time to go home," he retorts. "People aren't gonna notice anyways with this t-shirt over it."

"I'm not so sure about that, Ryuji," Mikono grumbled.

"Looking good," Akira grinned.

"That's not the issue!" Morgana hissed. "Are you both idiots? I'm just saying now, I won't be to blame when you get caught by the cops. Are you really going to risk it with Lady Mikono tagging along?!"

The blonde smirked confidently. "Don't worry about it. That place ain't so different from Shibuya. C'mon, I'll guide us. If we're goin' to Shinjuku, we should prolly hop on the JL. Just get outta this building and then the ticket gate should be on the right. It's go time!" He walked ahead of Akira and Mikono, leaving them behind.

"Is this really going to be okay...?" Morgana asked worriedly.

"Let's just hope this goes smoothly," Akira said.

"Still, I'm worried," Mikono murmured. "Who knows what'll happen in Shinjuku."

Akira reaches out toward his girlfriend and took her hand in his, entwining their fingers together. He smiled reassuringly at her. "Don't worry, Mikono. Everything will be fine."

She gazed up into his obsidian eyes, still concerned about their upcoming journey through Shinjuku. She squeezed his hand as she redirected her gaze back to Ryuji. "I hope you're right, Akira."

The couple followed after the blonde and headed to the JL ticket gate. They had to pay because their train passes didn't cover the distance from Shibuya to Shinjuku. Once they paid, they headed to the loading platform and waited for a train. When one arrived, they boarded and departed for their destination.

Arriving in Shinjuku ten minutes later, the trio disembarked from the train station and headed to the streets. Ryuji gaped in awe as he admired the bright lights of the city. "Whoa... Even at night this place is bright as hell! I guess that's Shinjuku for ya."

"Stop looking around so much," Morgana warned. "You look like a tourist."

"I-I was just tryin' to find that place we're lookin' for." He looked down the street. "Crossroad Bar's right up ahead. I'm sure we'll get there if we keep goin' straight."

"Let's get going," Akira said, who still had a hold on Mikono's hand.

"I'm still worried," the girl mumbled to herself.

"So am I," Morgana replied, having overheard her.

The group of students headed down the street and deeper into Shinjuku. It wasn't long before they were stopped by a random stranger who was promoting a nearby bar. "Welcome to our izakaya! How 'bout some all-you-can-drink booze on the cheap? Wait..." The man's eyes narrowed as he examined Akira. "You underage?"

"Is that a problem?" The onyx-haired boy retorts with a snarky tone.

Mikono used her free hand to tug on his shirt. "Akira..."

The man scoffed. "Heh, so you're just a kid. Get outta here. You're in the way."

The young girl's eyelid twitched as she glared at the stranger. She yanked her hand out of Akira's and jabbed a finger in the stranger's face. "Listen here, you—!"

Akira promptly placed his hand over her mouth, muffling her shouting and colorful profanities. He feigned a smile as he replied to the rude man. "Sorry about that. We'll be going now." After his forced apology, he dragged Mikono down the street with Ryuji close behind. She continued to shout into his palm until the man was out of sight. Once she calmed down, Akira dropped his hand from her mouth.

The sable-haired girl glared at her boyfriend. "Why did you stop me? I had plenty to say to him!"

He chuckled lightly. "I know you did, but we shouldn't draw attention to ourselves. We're not exactly supposed to be out this late, let alone be in Shinjuku."

Mikono hung her head with a sigh. "You're right..." She presses her hand against her forehead. "I'm sorry for losing my temper. Let's find this bar so we can end this trip as soon as possible."

Out of the blue, Mikono shrieked in horror when a hand was placed on her backside and squeezed it tightly. Turning around, she stared wide-eyed at the man who inappropriately touched her. She noticed the satisfied grin on his face as he spoke, his hand still groping her backside. "Oh, very nice! You've got some nice assets, girly. On top of that, you're gorgeous! You'd make the perfect addition to the girls at my club."

Akira glared daggers at the stranger, yanking Mikono away from him. Ryuji stepped forward and cracked his knuckles with anger glistening in his eyes. "The hell're you touchin' her for, huh?!"

The man was unfazed by the blonde's threatening gaze. "I'm always on the hunt for the most beautiful girls in all of Shinjuku. They have to pass a test if they want to work at my club, and your friend here passes with flying colors!" He stepped around Ryuji and walked toward Mikono. "What do you say, dollface? You'd have tons of customers in no time!"

Every step the stranger took towards them, Akira would take a couple back as he continued to hold the girl protectively in his arms.

"Let me at him!" Morgana hissed, leaping out of Akira's bag and jumping on to the man's face. He blocked the stranger's face as he desperate tried to pry him off. The cat looked over his shoulder at his companions. "Run!"

Akira, Ryuji, and Mikono dashed off down the street and dove into a nearby alleyway. As they waited for Morgana to rendezvous with them, the blonde shook his head with a heavy sigh. "Why do you attract weirdos, Mikky?"

Mikono pulled away from Akira and crossed her arms, pursing her lips. "Does that make you and Akira weirdos, too?"

"That's completely different!"

"Not really."

"Hey!" Morgana shouted, grabbing the trio's attention as he entered the alleyway. "I found the bar! Follow me!"

The three teens fell in step behind the feline as they left the alleyway and headed a little further into Shinjuku. They stood in front of one of the myriads of buildings labeled "Bar Crossroads."

They walked up to the entrance, but Ryuji stopped before they could enter the bar. "Whoa, man... We ain't old enough to hang out there. You sure this is the place?"

"It has to be," Mikono said. "How many other bars have this exact same name in Shinjuku?"

"Good point..."

Morgana hopped back into Akira's bag before reading the sign on the door. "Beer, whisky, wine... Looks like nighttime is bar time."

Without warning, Mikono started rambling. "In ancient Egypt, beer was a central importance to society. It was enjoyed by both adults and children, was the staple drink of poor Egyptians, but was also central to the diet of wealthy Egyptians. Beer was a common form of payment for workers and offering to the gods and goddesses. Ancient Egyptian beer was not particularly intoxicating. It was rather nutritious, thick, and sweet."

"Yeah, yeah. Nice to know, Mikky..." Ryuji groaned. "Maybe you could convince the bar tender to give you a pint with what you just said."

"Beer isn't made like that anymore, Ryuji," Mikono replied. "Besides, I've no interest in alcohol."

"Ryuji, you wait outside," Akira stated. "Mikono and I will talk to Ohya-san."

The blonde's shoulders slumped. "I came all the way to Shinjuku and can't even go in?"

"Next time, don't wear your uniform," Mikono retorts.

"I told you I didn't have time to swing by home and change!" He rebuttals. "Can I just...?"

"Ryuji," Morgana snarled.

The boy sighed, deciding not to argue further. "Fiiine. I'll kill time somewhere nearby. Just lemme know when you guys're done."

The cerulean-eyed girl patted the top of his head with a smile. "Good boy."

He grabbed her wrist and lifted it off his head. "I ain't a dog..."

Akira and Mikono entered the bar. Morgana hid himself inside the boy's bag as they walked through the door. They were immediately greeted by the boisterous bar tender. "Welcome, welcome! How old are ya, boy?"

"Sorry, Lala-chan. He's with me," Ohya said with an upbeat tone.

"Ooh, you picked up a real young one this time. Although..." Lala spotted the girl hidden behind the tall boy. "It looks like he already has a pretty little girlfriend. Don't let minors drink alcohol, okay?"

Akira and Mikono walked toward Ohya as she said, "Lala-chan, I'm going to borrow the seats in the back." The woman picked up her glass of scotch as she looked toward the teens. "You two go on back there. I'll treat you both to some water!"

The two students headed to the back of the bar and sat down in the corner booth. They waited for Ohya to join them and when she did, she brought over her refilled glass of scotch and two cups of water. As she sat down, Morgana poked his head out of Akira's bag with a crinkled nose. "Ugh, she reeks of booze..."

"I think she's drunk..." Mikono whispered.

Ohya, who hadn't heard what the girl said, smiled as she giggled. "Haha, what a surprise. I thought you were joking, yet here you are. You even brought a friend. I respect that bravery, so I'll listen to what you have to say. Well, what do you want to know?"

"We want to know who controls Shibuya," Akira said.

Ohya leaned back slightly, intrigued. "Oh? Why that?"

"We need intel on their boss."

Mikono glances down at her glass of water with a huff of laughter. "Wow. You're skipping right to the point, Akira. No hesitation whatsoever."

He blinked a few times as if he was a deer in headlights. "Is that bad?"

"Don't worry about it," Ohya chuckled. "I do happen to know something about that. I could tell you, but..."

"I'm not a fan of buts..." The sable-haired girl muttered.

"Neither am I..." Morgana murmured in response.

The journalist took a sip of scotch, lowering the glass once she was satisfied. "Do you two know the Phantom Thieves of Hearts? You know, that case the public has been focused on lately."

"What about it?" Akira inquired.

"I was pursuing the issue of people randomly entering into a shut-down state, but I'm lacking intel. That's why I'm currently looking for new material to write about. So, do either of you have any info on these Phantom Thieves?"

Akira glances at his girlfriend for a split second before looking back at the journalist. "Why're you asking us?"

"You're both Shujin kids, right? I remember you two were wearing their uniform the last time we met," Ohya replied. "I thought maybe you guys might have some insider knowledge on the Phantom Thieves because of it. Their first incident was that of Kamoshida, you know? Ideally, I'd like to get some exclusive coverage from a student who suffered Kamoshida's abuse."

Mikono, who had taken a sip of water, nearly choked on it. She swallowed the water harshly and broke out into a coughing fit. Akira patted her back as Ohya continued. "I would love an introduction if you two know of someone who fits the bill. After all, it seems like handling this matter in the open would be an inconvenience to all of us."

"Hm, a student who suffered from abuse..." Morgana hummed. "We can't ask Lady Mikono, but maybe... Oh! What about that Mishima guy? He always seems to be on the side of the Phantom Thieves."

Mikono and Akira exchanged glances before nodding in unison. The bespectacled boy met the journalist's gaze. "We know someone."

Ohya smiled from ear to ear. "It's a deal then. Send me your friend's contact info later."

Morgana grinned up at the couple. "You two better be thankful. My quick wit is the only reason we're getting this far."

The two ignored the cat as they kept their attention on Ohya. The woman's smile vanished, replaced with an expression of curiosity. "Now that I think about it, those mental shutdowns and the Phantom Thieves both seem supernatural. Could they be related? Or am I just hoping for a coincidence?" She blinked a few times, realizing she was rambling. "Oh, sorry. I have a tendency to talk to myself on occasion. Well then, you can't exactly consider this an upfront payment, but... Junya Kaneshiro. I think he's probably the guy you two are looking for."

"Yes!" Morgana cheered.

Ohya took another sip of scotch before placing the glass back on the table. "You two should check him out further if you're curious, but I'm not responsible for what happens next!"

"We appreciate your help, Ohya-san," Mikono smiled.

The journalist smiled like a kid in a candy shop. "Lala-chan, can I get refills for these kids? We need to make a toast to our new acquaintance!"

Morgana grimaced when noticing how drunk Ohya was. "It'll be a problem if you two stay too long. You guys should leave right after you finish your waters..."

Akira and Mikono finished their drinks after Lala refilled their glasses. Once every drop of water was gone, the two excused themselves and left. Outside, the obsidian-eyed boy received a text message from Ryuji, which stated where he was waiting for him and his girlfriend. They departed from Bar Crossroads and headed toward the theater. There, they regrouped with Ryuji and discussed what all they learned from Ohya.

The blonde gasped with excitement, a grin plastered on his face. "Junya Kaneshiro?!"

Mikono winced at how loud the boy shouted while Morgana scolded him, "Not so loud!"

Ryuji pulled out his phone and accessed the Meta Nav. "Junya Kaneshiro... Aaand enter."

"Candidate found," the automated voice confirmed.

"Here we go!" The chocolate-eyed boy chanted. "Mkay, now we just gotta get some info on the distortion. Once we know that, it's Palace time!"

"Hold it!" Mikono lunged out and snatched his phone away from him. "What do you expect the four of us to do inside Kaneshiro's Palace? We'll need Ann's and Yusuke's powers, too."

"You're the badass here!" Ryuji smirked. "You could take down an entire Palace by yourself if you wanted to!"

Mikono frowned, closing the Meta Nav app. "I'm not going to use my powers all willy nilly! You've seen what happens when I use too much power. I'd rather not bite the dust when I'm only sixteen..."

"Oh, right..." His smirk vanished and was replaced with a sorrowful frown. "Sorry. I forgot..."

"It's okay," she smiled reassuringly, giving him his phone back.

"We'll worry about Kaneshiro's Palace tomorrow," Akira stated. "We should head home. It's getting late."

The blonde nodded, his excitement returning. "Right. I'll tell everyone to meet up in Shibuya. This is totally crazy though... It's a huge catch! I'm pumped."

All of a sudden, the trio heard a strange voice. "Oooh, a real huuuge catch, you say? I'm getting pumped too!" Two men walked toward Ryuji, one wearing a heart-printed shirt while the other spotted a blue and red vest over a purple dress shirt.

"What a cutie!" The man wearing the heart-printed shirt cooed as he and his friend stood in front of the blonde. He reached out and squeezed the teen's upper arm. "And so muscular too. I give you an 85 out of 100!"

"Gah! Wh-Who are you?!" Ryuji freaked out, taking a step back as both men tried to touch him.

Akira, Mikono, and Morgana watched in silence, amused at the sight.

"Gwahahaha!" The vest-wearing man guffawed, grabbing Ryuji's wrist. "I'm the naughty troll of Shinjuku! I'm gonna eat you up!"

The blonde's eyes widen in horror, trying to free himself from the stranger's grasp. "H-Hey, wait... Lemme go!" He turned his head, looking at his friends as he fought against both men when they grabbed his arms and tried to tug him down the street. "Are you two gonna help?! You guys can hear me, can't you?!"

"Should we help him?" Mikono asked her boyfriend as a grin manifested on her face.

"Nah, he's fine," Akira chuckled. He then met Ryuji's gaze and gave him a thumbs up. "Show them your inner man, Ryuji."

The blonde glared at the couple. "You two just gonna leave me like this?!" He focused all his attention on Mikono. "C'mon, Mikky, your best friend's in trouble here!"

The man in the blue and red vest tugged harder on the boy's arm. "Hehehe, what an energetic stud muffin. I'll give you all the freebies you could ever desire!"

The other man followed his companion's actions, yanking on Ryuji's right arm. "The night is young, and so are you! Let's party it up!" Before taking another step, he admired Akira's appearance. "You're just as handsome! Want to join us? The four of us could have the party of our lives tonight!"

Akira was taken aback at the sudden offer. "Uh, well..."

Mikono wrapped both of her arms around Akira's left one and leaned into his side while resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, but he can't join you tonight. We've already made plans."

The man glanced between Akira and Mikono before smirking. "Oh, I see! Have fun, you two! Make sure to use protection."

Mikono and Akira gasped in shock, their cheeks turning red as roses. The inky-haired girl stepped away from her boyfriend and covered her face with her hands. She was completely embarrassed and hadn't even heard Ryuji scream as he was dragged away. She couldn't even face Akira and kept her back turned to him. "W-We should head back. I-It's getting late."

Akira scratched his red cheek. "R-Right..."

Morgana groaned, rolling his eyes. "You two haven't even kissed yet. At this rate, you two will never have—"

The bespectacled boy shoved the cat in his back and zipped it up, ignoring his hisses and thrashing. He grabbed one of Mikono's hands and pried it away from her face, entwining his fingers with hers. "Let's go home, Mikono."

Wordlessly, the girl nodded and they left Shinjuku.

*****
Confidant: Mikono Tsutsui
Arcana: The Puppeteer
Rank: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*****