Akechi's got himself a worthy rival

The next day.

Shin and the others were all sitting together in the TV station audience in the middle of a live broadcast.

"Mr. Akechi is coming on." The Veteran AD spoke up, much to the cheers and squeals of the adoring fans in the audience.

"Wait, the guy from yesterday?" Ryuji double-took.

Akechi walked out with a smile on his face as he arrived on the set, while the veteran AD counted down their cut from commercial.

"And now, onto the 'Hottest Meet-and-Greet' segment of our show." a cute announcer spoke up. "Since his last appearance was so well received, we decided to bring back this fine gentleman today. The High-School Detective, Goro Akechi."

The crowd cheered once again as Akechi gave a gracious hello and welcome.

"Hello there." he said.

"Thank you for taking the time to join us today, Akechi. Your popularity is stunning." the host spoke up.

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

"Moving along, we've been told there's a case you're working on. Care to share, Detective?" the cute announcer asked.

"Ah, yes. It's involving the scandal around the master artist Madarame." Akechi began.

"There it is! All of this phantom thief excitement has caught your attention too, Akechi!" the host interrupted. "Allow me to be blunt for a second. What do you think about these 'Justice-Oriented' Phantom Thieves?"

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

"Ooh, so you don't deny the possibility that they're real?" The host asked.

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

That remark got a laugh out of the audience, except for Ryuji, who rolled his eyes, his distaste for the handsome teen visible.

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

Shiho, Ryuji and Ann were shocked by that. Hearing that the detective would call them out like that. Declaring they were criminals.

'That's quite the statement. Are they committing crimes?" the host asked. "Some people say that they're actually helping their victims abandon their evil ways."

"What the artist Madarame did truly was an unforgivable crime." Akechi replied. "But these Phantom Thieves are taking the law Into their own hands by judging him. That's far from justice. More importantly, you should never forcefully change someone's heart."

"You have a point. They're calling themselves 'The Phantom Thieves' after all. Amazing as always, Akechi! I could listen for days! You have the most radiant charisma." the host responded, getting a reaction from the crowd.

"I have to say, if they don't exist, I would be embarrassed." he chuckled gently. "If that were the case, I'd summarize it as a report for a school project."

"Now, let's ask some students the same age as Akechi what they think about the Phantom Thieves!" said the cute announcer. "First, please press your button if you think they exist."

"Of course they do." Ryuji whispered, angry that they even deny their existence.

"Hmm. About 30% or so. What're your thoughts, Akechi?" the host asked.

"I'm surprised. That's higher than what I was expecting." he admired.

"I'd like to hear some more detailed opinions on their actions." the cute announcer got up and walked down the aisle... and ended at Shin.

"Alright, let's try asking this student here." She asked as all eyes were trained on Shin. "Hypothetically speaking; what are your thoughts on the Phantom Thieves, if they were real."

"They're justice itself." Shin answered. It felt a bit awkward to pat himself on the back like that, but it was necessary to keep Akechi interested with in their discussion.

"You say that with such firmness." Akechi responded.

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

"Indeed, it is rather intriguing to hear such a strong acknowledgement." Akechi answered. "In that case, there's one last question I'd like to ask." he continued, looking at Shin. "If someone next to you, for example your friend next to you. If his heart was suddenly changed, wouldn't you think it was the work of the Phantom Thieves?"

The other thieves looked at each other, confused and worried about what Shin might say.

"They only target criminals." Shin said calmly.

"l see. But how can you be so sure?" Akechi debated. "Whether the Thieves' actions are good or not, I feel that there's a more important Issue at hand."

"What do you mean?" the host inquired.

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

"You're absolutely right." The host responded.

'That's it.' Shin thought. Unlike in the game, where the protagonist is at a loss of words, he had already prepared himself for this moment.

"But think about those they targeted."

"Pardon?" Akechi asked.

"The Phantom Thieves, so far, have only targeted people who are absolutely disgusting." Shin said. "People that where hidden from the law. Who everyone thought where perfectly law-bidding, 100% innocent. Those who's word would be taken over any victims. As clear with Madarame, who went along with his acts of theft for more than a decade. As long as they are not targeting innocents or harming anyone, they should be considered a low priority target, no?"

The crowd was whispering now. Drawn into this debate.

"While that is a pleasant idea, who watches them? Who enforces them? Who stops them from going too far?" Akechi argued back. "And what of the people's free will?"

"They had their free will, and they chose to do things like that. Do you really think people who committed such heinous crimes should be permitted to act unimpeded in society?" Shin shot back.

"Now I am not saying that the people the Phantom Thieves have stopped are innocents and their crimes should be brushed aside." he responded. "But who's to say they wouldn't have slipped up. Or a reporter would have gotten wind and revealed the corruption, or an act of chance revealed their crimes?"

"I doubt the people who have suffered from their actions would've put their hopes into the 'chance' that they'd get caught. And who knows when something like that would have happened? Or how many would suffer until then?"

"Then, let me ask you this." Akechi smiled. "How would you feel if suddenly, one day, your.. best friend or girlfriend was different? Their personalities flipped completely? They weren't themselves anymore, and it was not their choice? How do you think they would feel if the same thing happened to you? I do behave that, when we get down to it, that is the core of the argument today. Free will."

The room turned silent once more. Everyone looking around. It was awkward, uncomfortable. No one knew what to say, the air was heavy.

Suddenly, Akechi laughed and smiled, shaking his head softly. "Please understand, this is purely hypothetical." Akechi reassured everyone. "It's only if the people who possess this kind of power actually exist. Either way, this can't be ignored. The existence of these Phantom Thieves is a threat to everyone and our everyday lives. To be honest, I'm already working with the police on this matter."

As the audience clapped, the show concluded and everyone was allowed to leave. The group got back together and headed to a quiet area.

"Dude... How'd you do that?" Ryuji asked in awe. "How'd you stay so calm?"

"Practice." Shin smiled.

"It kinda seemed like what he was saying might be right." Ann frowned. "That stuff with the police... Do you think it's for real?"

"He can say whatever he wants. We'll keep helping people like that, regardless of whether he thinks good of us or not." said Morgana.

"Guys, I gotta go. I need to take a leak. Be right back.

"We're gonna head off too. I have a photoshoot I need to reach in about 30 minutes." said Ann, walking off with Shiho.

As Shin was on his own now, he was immediately approached by Akechi.

"I'm glad I found you. I wanted to thank you in person."

"Hm? For letting you show off your debating skills while my face wasn't even shown?"

"It's not about that. I appreciate you speaking your mind like that in our earlier discussion. Few people tend to do that nowadays, sadly. Most adults only try to use the young, while the young just do as the adults say."

"I see."

"I feel that our discussions could be quite fruitful and thought-provoking. If you don't mind, would you indulge me with more debates such as this one?"

"Alright." replied Shin, which made the brown-haired teen smile.

"Thank you. I'm glad to hear that. Students from Shujin are quite interesting." Akechi chuckled. "I look forward to seeing you again."

He stretched his hand forward, to which Shin responded in kind. The two exchanged contact info, and Akechi promptly left, as he was needed elsewhere.

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Confidants:

0. Igor (The Fool) - Rank 2

I. Morgana (The Magician) - Rank 3

1. Takuto Maruki (The Councillor) - Rank 1

II. Makoto Niijima (The Priestess) - Rank 2

IV. Yusuke Kitagawa (The Emperor) - Rank 3

Odd man - Rank 1

V. Sojiro Sakura (The Hierophant) - Rank 3

VI. Ann Takamaki (The Lovers) - Rank 7

VII. Ryuji Sakamoto (The Chariot) - Rank 7

VIII. Goro Akechi (The Justice) - Rank 1

IX. Futaba Sakura (The Hermit) - Rank 3

XIII. Tae Takemi (The Death) - Rank 5

XIV. Sadayo Kawakami (The Temperance) - Rank 3

XVIII. Saki Yoshiko (The Moon) - Rank 2

XIX. Sho Minazuki (The Sun) - Rank 2

Toranosuke Yoshida - Rank 1

XX. Sae Niijima (The Judgement) - Rank 1

Shiho Suzui (The Hope) - Rank 8