Spectra (Ryuji x OC)

10 • TV Studio

6/9 Morning

We were on a field trip at a tv studio, me sticking to myself at the back as the rest of the group listened to the presentation.

"Doesn't she look lonely?" I heard a female voice ask.

"Who?" A male voice asked.

"Her"

I looked up to see three students looking at me. It was those Phantom Thieves. They looked like they were going to approach me, so instead I turned and left the room. When I found the chance I ran for the bathroom.

"Wow, she's fast," someone said out of breath, his voice sounding like the blond's. "And that's coming from an ex-runner"

"Are you sure it's her?" Another voice asked. It sounded like the boy with glasses.

"There's no doubt about it. There's the brains, the amazing body-"

"But what about the personality? And hair and eyes?" The girl asks. "They are nothing alike"

"It could have something to do with bravery. Maybe with the mask she speaks her mind, because nobody knows who she is. But without the mask everyone can see her true face"

I gasped. He had figured me out. Somehow that idiot blond who gave himself the code name of Skull figured out the truth behind me. I never knew someone to figure me out that quickly, or even at all.

"We should head back," Akira says.

"Wait, the women's bathroom is right there. Maybe she's in there," Ann suggests.

"We'll be out here if she tries to sneak out," Ryuji says.

I took out my phone, turning on the map of the Metaverse, and let myself be transported to the Metaverse. I remained hidden in a stall, waiting a couple minutes before returning to the real world.

"Weird, she wasn't there," Ann said outside the bathroom.

"It was worth a shot. We might see her tomorrow, or someday at school. We can talk to her then"

6/10 Afternoon

I sat with the audience for the live showing of a recording. I was in the front row, sitting in front of Akira. The hosts sat on one couch as the guest star walked in and sat on the other couch.

"And now, on to the 'Hottest meet and greet' segment of our show," the girl announcer said. "After his last appearance was so well received, we decided to bring back this fine gentleman today. It's the high school detective, Goro Akechi!"

"Hello there," Akechi said with a smile as the girls went crazy.

"Thank you for taking the time to join us today, Akechi. Your popularity is stunning," the male announcer said.

"Even I've found it to be quite a surprise. It is a bit embarrassing though"

"Moving along, we've been told there's a case on your mind right now. Care to share, detective?" The girl asks.

"Ah, Yes. That would be the scandal involving the master artist Madarame"

"There it is!" The man exclaims. "All of this Phantom Thief excitement had caught your attention too, Akechi. Allow me to be blunt for just a second. What do you think of these justice oriented Phantom Thieves?"

"If they truly are heroes of justice, I sincerely hope they exist"

"Oh, so you don't deny the possibility that they're real"

"I may not seem like it but I sometimes wish that Santa Claus actually existed. Although, if he did, I'd have to arrest him for breaking and entering"

The audience laughed and I could hear Ryuji scoff behind me.

"But, hypothetically speaking, if these Phantom Thieves are real... I believe they should be tried in a court of law"

"That's quite the statement. Are they committing crimes?" The man asks. "Some people even say that the Thieves are actually helping the victims abandon their evil ways"

"What the artist Madarame did truly was an unforgivable crime. However, they're taking the law into their own hands by judging him. It is far from justice. More importantly, you should never forcefully change a person's heart"

"You have a point. These people are calling themselves the Phantom Thieves, after all. Amazing as always, Akechi. I could listen to you for days. You have the most radiant charisma!"

"I have to say though, I would be embarrassed if it turns out these Phantom Thieves don't exist. If that were the case, I'd summarize it into a report as a school project"

"Now then, let's try asking some students the same age as Akechi about the Phantom Thieves!" The girl says. "First, please press your button now if you think the Phantom Thieves exist!"

"Of course they do," Ryuji mumbled.

I didn't press the button, wanting to see how many who didn't actually know the truth behind it believed in it.

"About 30% or so? What are your thoughts, Akechi?" The man asks.

"I'm a bit surprised. That's higher than I was expecting," Akechi responds. "I'd love to hear some more detailed opinions on the Phantom Thieves' actions"

The girl got up with a microphone in hand and walked towards us. She glanced at me then stopped at the row behind me.

"Hypothetically speaking, what are your thoughts on these Phantom Thieves, if they were real?" She asks Akira.

"They're necessary," he responds briefly.

"Haha, I wasn't expecting that," Akechi says.

"This completely goes against the opinion you had about them being tried by law, Akechi," the man says.

"Indeed. It's rather intriguing to hear such a strong acknowledgement. In that case, there's one more question I'd like to ask. If someone close to you, for example your friend next to you... if his heart suddenly changed, wouldn't you think it was the work of the Phantom Thieves?"

"Not at all," Akira tells him.

"Haha, no doubts at all. However, there is a large problem in your reasoning. Wether the Thieves' actions are good or not, I feel there is a more important issue at hand"

"Hmm? What do you mean?" The man asks as the girl returns to the couch.

"The matter of how they change people's hearts. If they honestly possess that ability, it could be used for more than extracting confessions. It could be that what seem to be ordinary crimes are actually being perpetrated by these methods"

"You know, you're absolutely right"

"Oh, please don't misunderstand. This is all purely hypothetical. It is only if people who can use such a power truly exist. Either way though, this cannot be ignored. The existence of the Phantom Thieves would be nothing but a threat to our everyday lives. To be honest, I'm already working alongside the police to help sort out this matter"