The Children of Thieves

Suspicion

I tried to deviate as much as I could, but this is pretty similar to the story of the actual game. But, this is just another bridge chapter, since nothing much happens in this chapter. But anyway, I hope you like Yoshida and Iwai's counterparts.

Cho's friends had left by the time Ren got home. Cho ran up to hug him, but stopped when she noticed the look he had on his face. A look of worry and concern, with a hint of anger in his eyes. She didn't know what was wrong, but the look made her nervous. "Hi dad," she said, trying to keep her vice steady. "What's wrong? Did something happen at work today?" Ren didn't answer at first. He just stood there. That's when Cho noticed his phone clutched in his hand. He hadn't turned it off yet. It showed that he was just on the phone with someone. Kawakami Sadayo. Cho froze. But before she could say anything else, Ren spoke. "Could I have a word with you for a moment?" His voice was calm. Not a hint of the anger that was in his eyes. But she could detect a hint of concern, which made her nervous. But she agreed, hoping that whatever Kawakami had told him had nothing to do with her.

But of course, that was not to be. When the two of them sat down at the table, Ren began by saying, "I was just on the phone with principle Kawakami." Cho tried to remain calm, but her nerves were screaming at her to get out of this situation. Morgana beat het to it. As she sat there, she noticed him quietly slink away. "Traitor," she thought to herself. Ren continued, saying, "Apparently, a teacher was abusing young students. But, he randomly confessed to it all, after calling cards appeared around the school." "Why did she call you about that?" Cho asked, trying to sound innocent. But it clearly didn't work, because Ren raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "She wanted to know if I had anything to do with it" he explained. Cho's insides turned to ice. "Wh-why would she think you had something to do with it?" Cho asked. She was starting to panic, and had stuttered a bit. Ren noticed.

"You know," he said, nonchalantly, "I can always tell when someone is lying. It's a trick I picked up when I was your age. And you were never a good liar to begin with." He stopped and leaned on the table, inching closer to her. It was making her more nervous than before. "You've been to the Metaverse, haven't you?" That was the straw that broke the camel's back. She told him everything that had happened. About what Yokubo did in the real world, about what his shadow tried to do in his Palace, everything that occurred came spilling out of her. She started tearing up as she brought her confession to an end. When she was done, Ren came over and embraced her. When she had stopped crying, he sat back down and stewed on what she had told him.

"How did you know I was in the Metaverse?" Cho asked him. "Morgana" Ren replied. "He told you!?" she asked, incredulously. "Yes and no," Ren replied, "I figured out that it had returned when he started denying that he was a cat, something he only did when the Metaverse was around. But I figured out that you went in when I noticed you reacting slightly to the things Morgana said." Cho cursed herself. How could she have been so careless. "You've met Igor I take it?" Ren asked. Cho nodded. "Glad to see you inherited something other than my hair" Ren chuckled, rubbing her head. "And I'm guessing Morgana already told you that both me and your mother were the heads of the Phantom Thieves?" Cho nodded again. "He also told me that Futaba and Sumire were in it, as well as Ryuji and Ann." Ren laughed. "But he didn't tell you that Haru Okumura and Yusuke Kitagawa were members as well?" he asked. When Cho looked shocked, Ren laughed again. "Thought not."

"Are you going to tell mum?" Cho asked him. "No," Ren assured her. "No I'm not. Not to protect you, or to stop her from worrying, but because she'd charge into the Metaverse the moment she found out it was back. Then the Phantom Thieves would be thrown into the spotlight, which would cause a huge scandal if people figured out who we were. It's probably easier to just let you do it." Cho thanked him. "But," Ren continued, "You must promise me something. Promise me that the moment things get too dangerous, you back out immediately. I mean it. I nearly died multiple times because I was too pig-headed and cocky to retreat." Cho promised. This reassured Ren.