Udon: Yusuke's biggest enemy
"*huff**huff*" Yusuke panted as he barely held on to his consciousness.
"You can take a break whenever, you know. Your body isn't in prime condition for training right now." said Shin, as he went and helped the blue-haired teen up to his feet and led him to a nearby bench.
"I'm *cough* I'm fine. I can take this." said Yusuke, despite the burning sensation in his lungs that said otherwise.
"Here." said Ryuji, as he passed a water bottle to Yusuke.
The teen gave the blond a grateful nod and begun chugging the water.
'This is worse than I thought initially. Only Shiho has decent stamina, and Ryuji has the barest hints of training. Ann got better from all the running around we do in Palaces, but it's not enough yet. Yusuke is the one who worries me the most. Between his lack of food and Madarame's abuse, he's definitely not fine with this training routine.' thought Shin, as he threw a look at Yusuke. The painter was half-mindedly rubbing his chest.
Shin then looked the other way, to see how the girls were doing. Shiho was regulating her breathing, while Ann was slumped on a bench.
The fact that the sweat made her clothes stick to her skin and how her chest was heaving made up for a nice view to whoever was watching, which, to her luck, was only Shin.
"So I've been meaning to ask," started Ryuji, looking at Yusuke. "but where are you going to stay? I doubt you'd wanna stay in that shack anymore." he asked, with the subtlety of a jackhammer.
"For now, I'm staying in one of the apartments that Madarame... or rather, I own. Though, it's more like the entire top level of a building. It's quite close to my high school, so I don't even need to take the subway."
"Huh, that's pretty neat. Wait, I just thought of something." said Ryuji. "Why don't we have a party celebrating Madarame's change of heart!"
"That's a good idea. We can also make it a welcome party for Yusuke." added Shiho.
"All right. Let's head to LeBlanc then." said Shin. "After we finish this set, though."
-INTERMISSION-
"...And you're saying you were unable to substract the money from Madarame's account?" asked a bald man with glasses. He was currently sitting down at his desk in a high-rise building, watching the sun go down, leaving a sense of tranquility that all but mirrored his outward appearance.
"He made the transfer too quickly, sir. It's already been announced on the news, so we can't take the money back."
"...Very well. Contact Kaneshiro and tell him to call me as soon as possible." said the bald man.
"Yes, sir."
He ended the call, and spent a few more seconds watching the city through the window.
'Those Phantom Thieves...'
He was frustrated, of course. One of his biggest fund-suppliers just turned himself in to the police. Not only that, but all of the money he had was donated. To charity, of all things!
At that moment, his phone started ringing, and an unknown number was displayed on the screen. The man picked up the call.
"Is this about Madarame?" asked the caller.
"Of course it is. I'll need you to double your quota for this month."
"I'll take it I can have my men be more aggressive in their work?"
"As long as you don't get caught, I don't care about your underlings."
"Haha. Cold, as always, Mr. Shido. That's why it's a pleasure to do business with you."
Shido ended the call there. It wasn't the only call he'd have to make today. He couldn't help but smile as he thought of what his future prospects were.
'Phantom Thieves or not, I will become the Prime Minister!'
-INTERMISSION-
Akechi was heading to the police station, as he had previously declared on TV that he's working with the police to find the Phantom Thieves, and he intended to do exactly that. Suddenly, his phone started ringing. The teen took out his phone from his pocked, and he grimaced at the sight of the caller's name.
"Yes, Mr. Shido?" he asked, keeping his distaste for the man away from their call.
"Akechi, I need you to take care of these Phantom Thieves as fast as possible."
The teen paused for a second.
"Are you afraid they might interfere with your elections in December?"
"Of course not. Who do you think I am?" asked Shido, through the phone.
'Words cannot describe how much I despise you, you shithead.' thought Akechi.
"But I can't feel at ease until they're crushed completely. I feel they might be a thorn in my side."
"I understand. I'll see to it." said Akechi, and he hung up.
-INTERMISSION-
"It seems we're all over the news." said Yusuke, who was leaning on the empty shelves in Shin's room. "But the negative comments far outweigh the positive ones."
"Dammit! This is all that damned Akechi's fault." exclaimed Ryuji.
"Quiet, you. I wasn't with you at school to prevent you from letting Makoto find out, but I here I can." said Yusuke, harshly.
"...Sorry."
"Anyways, who is our next target?" asked Shiho. "Makoto mentioned something about an extortionist, didn't she?"
"Yeah, but we don't have any name." said Ann.
"In fact, we do." Shin spoke up. "His name is Junya Kaneshiro. My hacker contact had already gathered a lot of dirt on him."
"Huh."
"So let's just get on with the welcome party. How's hot pot sound?"
"Huh?"
"I only request that we finish it with porridge."
"Huh?!"
"No, we're finishing it with udon."
"What?!"
"Aren't we overlooking something pretty important there?!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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