Phantom Thieves of Hope - A Danganronpa X Persona 5 Story.

Chapter 83: Real-Life Larceny

X

[In other news, in a shocking turn of events, the enigmatic band of vigilantes known as the Phantom Thieves of Hope have once again turned the tide in their favor, exposing the corruption of the long-hidden Victim Catharsis Committee. This organization is infamous within the world of the underground for setting up Duel Noirs: twisted games designed with the intention of providing victims of crimes "catharsis," normally by allowing them to commit murder against their wrongdoer and get away with it. Over the course of a few nights, almost hundreds of public civilians, who escaped the clutches of the law thanks to the VCC, were apprehended and brought into questioning, with many of them facing prison sentences. This marks yet another chapter in the ongoing saga of the Phantom Thieves, who previously garnered public acclaim for their high-profile takedowns of notorious figures, including Haiji Towa, the ruthless heir to Towa Corp, exposed with sexual misconduct of minors and many charges of manipulation; Fuhito Kirigiri, the master manipulator of public perception, exposed for ruthless practice and black lies; and the charismatic yet deadly Kirie Akamatsu, who once held the city's youth in a chokehold of despair. Their actions have ignited a spark of rebellion within the hearts of many, as citizens now question the very institutions meant to protect them. While some view the Thieves as heroes, others decry their methods as dangerous and reckless. Tonight, we delve deeper into the revelations about the Victim Catharsis Committee and what this means for the city. Will the Phantom Thieves be seen as saviors or scourges? And what will their next move be in this relentless game of cat and mouse?]

Desire for Execution - Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc

Chiaki Nanami sat on the sofa, watching this news report on TV with her parents on each side of her. Mrs. Nanami didn't appear to be listening to the broadcast, but Mr. Nanami leaned forward with great interest.

"The Phantom Thieves," he said, "they sound like good people. I'd love to meet them."

Mrs. Nanami rolled her eyes.

"I can't believe you're falling for this garbage," she grunted.

"What's garbage about it?" Mr. Nanami asked, "Whoever these people are, they've been doing a lot of good for the country. Look how many insanely corrupt corporate monsters have outed themselves because of their efforts."

"...Assuming they even exist..." she said slowly and lazily, "If you ask me, it sounds like some stupid hoax."

"Mom, don't say that," Chiaki interjected, "I've seen their calling card too. They're definitely real."

"Well, I hope you're wrong," Mrs. Nanami replied, "because if those people ARE real, then they've been breaking a lot of laws. Vigilante justice, etcetera, etcetera..."

Mr. Nanami stroked his chin.

"Well, it's not like anyone's actually confirmed they exist," he answered, "but I think there's sufficient enough proof. They could just be some group of vigilantes trying to help. It could just be that simple, you know?"

"Honestly, I don't know how you can still defend them," Mrs. Nanami, said, her voice low but edged with frustration, "If they are real, they're still nothing but a bunch of masked delinquents...Who gave them the right to play judge and jury? The last thing we need is more chaos in the world."

Mr. Nanami shook his head, his expression resolute.

"They're not causing chaos; they're clearly trying to stop it! They're doing what the government and authorities won't!" he declared, "If exposing the Victim Catharsis Committee and everyone else they've gone after helps people, then they're justified. Someone needs to stand up against corruption, and clearly, it's not going to be the authorities."