The Rematch.

"Veeeelvet, oh velvet…"

Walking through the busy streets of Shinjuku, a woman wearing a blue dress wandered around, almost as if searching for something.

Humming a soft melody, she navigated through the bustling throngs of people, her presence almost ethereal among the city's chaos, until she found herself before an unassuming building.

"Hmm… It seems I am a little late." she whispered to herself, her voice a blend of disappointment and acceptance as she explored the empty building, only to discover a solitary blue door standing in quiet solitude. 

She looked at the blue door with some fondness as she opened the book she held so close to her chest. Inside the book was a collection of cards, each representing one of the major arcana. However, there was a single slot in her book with a missing card.

"Oh well, I have waited this long. I can wait some more." she sighed softly, resigning herself to the wait and closing the book with care.

Approaching the door, she paused, a moment of hesitation in her movements. With a tentative hand, she reached out to push the door open, but her fingers slipped through it as if it were no more than an illusion.

"I guess I will have to visit you later, sister. We can talk about your Fool next time," she said, a note of wistfulness in her voice as she turned away from the door. Her song once again filled the air as she retreated into the labyrinth of city streets.

— — —

With a gentle yawn hidden behind a practiced smile, Ren busied himself with serving coffee at Leblanc. The chime of the door announced a new arrival, transforming his courteous smile into one of genuine warmth as he recognized the visitor.

"Ah, Miss Nijima, what a pleasant surprise," Ren greeted, catching the eye of the fatigued woman as she made her way to a seat near the coffee bar.

Her expression registered mild astonishment. 

"Amamiya, I didn't realize you worked here. It's surprising a cozy place like this employs part-timers," she remarked, ordering her coffee.

As Ren set about preparing her drink, he responded with a joking tone.

"The boss isn't as young as he used to be; he needed an extra pair of hands around the place." Ren said, loud enough for Sojiro to hear him in the kitchen, eliciting nothing but a good-natured chuckle in response

"How's the workload been? Makoto mentioned you've been staying late at the office." Ren inquired, placing the freshly made coffee before her

Sae paused to savor the first sip of her coffee before answering.

"It's been hectic, and it's only going to get busier from here," she said, locking eyes with Ren. "I see you are still hanging out with my sister. Neither of you has done anything stupid lately, have you?"

Meeting her gaze with an unwavering smile, Ren let out a light laugh.

"Nothing out of the ordinary, just the usual student life," Ren assured her, his smile unwavering under her scrutinizing gaze. "Makoto is very responsible; she wouldn't let us get into too much trouble."

Sae took another sip of her coffee, her gaze softening slightly as she considered Ren's words. The warmth of the café seemed to ease the edges of her fatigue.

"That's reassuring to hear," she acknowledged, her posture easing as she placed her cup back on the counter. "Makoto mentioned she's made some friends. It's a relief to see her coming out of her shell."

Sae finished her coffee and reached for her wallet, but Ren quickly intervened.

"Please, don't worry about it. This one's on the house," he insisted, taking the empty cup to wash it.

Grateful, Sae offered a slight smile and a nod of thanks. 

"Well, in that case, I should be heading off. The coffee was excellent, by the way. I'll certainly return when I need another morning boost."

Shortly after Sae departed from the café, the familiar buzz of Ren's phone captured his attention.

[Akechi] Are you up for a rematch today?

[Akechi] I'm starting to investigate a new case. Stepping away to clear my head for a bit will help me approach it with a fresh perspective.

With the rest of the Phantom Thieves resting after yesterday's hectic night, Ren had the entire day open. After thinking for a few moments, Ren agreed.

"Now, this should be fun. I wonder what the 'Detective Prince' will think of our little gift tonight."

— — —

Arriving at the Penguin Sniper Club, Ren observed Akechi meticulously preparing the pool table, each movement precise and deliberate.

"Ah, there you are," Akechi greeted, his tone casual yet laden with an unspoken challenge. 

"Ever since our first game, I've been eager for a rematch. I was a little distracted last time, but today, I intend to play seriously." Handing a pool cue to Ren with a smile, the atmosphere subtly shifted, charged with an undercurrent of rivalry and unspoken questions.

Accepting the cue, Ren mirrored Akechi's smile, his own harboring a blend of anticipation and wariness. 

"Then, I won't hold back either."

As Akechi stepped aside, allowing Ren the first shot, the air between them seemed to thicken, loaded with more than just the anticipation of the game ahead.

"You know," Akechi began, eyes tracking the scatter of the balls as Ren's break dispersed them across the table, "I've been quite curious about your opinion on the Phantom Thieves. Their declaration just over a week ago has stirred quite the conversation."

As the balls scattered across the table, Ren moved to the side to give space for Akechi's shot. Ren's response was nonchalant, a stark contrast to the calculated tension building in the room. 

"What's there to think about? It was probably a group of hackers searching for attention. It's been a week since their promise to 'clean Shibuya,' and nothing really has happened. So unless they show some proof, their promises mean nothing." Ren said.

Akechi's smile widened as he took his shot, pocketing a ball smoothly.

"Interesting perspective," he mused, lining up for his next. "But, speaking of concrete actions, there's something I shouldn't reveal, yet I believe the Thieves will probably reveal it soon either way, so maybe there is no point in secrecy. In addition, I am sure getting an outsider's perspective would allow me to see outside the box I work in." 

The cue ball hit its target, sending another ball rolling into the pocket as he spoke.

"Junya Kaneshiro, the man implicated in most, if not all, of Shibuya's underworld activities, has surrendered to the police." Akechi divulged, eyes not leaving the table as he positioned for his next shot, the statement hanging in the air like a well-placed trap.

Surprise flickered across Ren's face, carefully controlled yet unmistakably present. He wasn't sure what Akechi was doing by revealing that to him, but he decided to play along for the time being.

"Hm? Why?"

After Akechi's next shot, a ball halted just shy of the pocket. Moving to the side, he finally met Ren's gaze, a slight smirk playing on his lips. 

"The strangest part is, the police are in the dark. Kaneshiro simply expressed regret for his misdeeds, wishing to come clean about everything."

Ren eyed the nearly pocketed ball before he moved to his position on the pool table and struck his first ball into the pocket.

"That's quite a dramatic change of heart," Ren remarked, choosing his words carefully. "People don't just wake up one day and decide to turn their whole lives around, especially not big criminals." 

Ren muttered, looking up with some surprise before striking another ball into the pocket.

"I guess in that case, 'Hurray, Phantom Thieves'. Getting a criminal off the streets is always a good thing." Ren said with a chuckle as he hit another ball in.

"Is it commendable, though?" he challenged as Ren prepared for his next shot. "What if the Phantom Thieves got Kaneshiro to confess by threatening or kidnapping his family?" Akechi asked, eyes flickering with a scrutinizing light as he saw Ren line up his next shot. 

"Karma's a bitch, eh?" Ren joked as he struck the ball, not missing the slight chuckle from Akechi. However, the ball accidentally hit a different ball in its path and lost the trajectory it needed to enter the pocket. 

Shifting to stand aside, Ren met Akechi's gaze.

"On a more serious note, I don't think innocent people should be hurt. And while I wasn't personally affected by his actions. I'm sure there comes a point where someone needs to step in. If the police can't do it, then so be it." Ren expressed, almost dismissively.

As Akechi took his stance for his shot, Ren elaborated.

"Though, that's the perspective of someone who was 'failed' by the justice system. I'm more curious about your opinion as a 'detective.'"

Akechi responded by calmly pocketing a ball into a corner. His stance was relaxed yet focused.

"My personal feelings aside, it's a dangerous precedent. Taking the law into one's own hands, no matter the intention, undermines the very foundation of our legal system. Sure, right now, they are going after a criminal, but they are playing judge, jury, and executioner. What's stopping them from becoming tyrants in the future?"

Ren nodded his head, surprising Akechi.

"Yeah, you've got a point. I don't know how the Thieves made Kaneshiro confess, so I can't speak for sure. Assuming they only target those who deserve it, then I still think they should be given a chance. It's too early to tell, in my opinion." Ren said as he watched Akechi land his next shot.

"I mean, since you said they caught Kaneshiro, aren't you curious as to what's to come?" Ren added, throwing a curious glance Akechi's way.

Akechi let out a light laugh, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement.

"Guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on the Phantom Thieves. Though, you are right. I am curious as to what's to come."

As their game of pool wound down, with each shot and counter-shot, they finally reached the eight ball. It was Akechi's shot, and with a precise hit, he won the game.

Standing up straight and giving the cue stick a little twirl, Akechi couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

"Looks like we're tied, huh?" Ren remarked, leaning his pool cue against the table.

"Indeed, it was a close game. Though that just means we'll need a tiebreaker." Akechi replied, already beginning to reset the balls for another game.

"How about we leave that until next time? It's getting a bit late, and I have school tomorrow. Maybe we can try something different then?" Ren said with a slight yawn.

Despite having what seemed like the simplest role in their latest 'heist,' acting as the bridge between Mona and the rest of the thieves, Ren was running on fumes. The previous night had been a restless one, and while he saw their interaction as fun, it also sapped his mental energy.

He was acutely aware of Akechi's attempts to fish for information, a subtle dance that left little opportunity for Ren to do some digging of his own without revealing too much. Their exchange was a game of chess where every move was calculated, and Ren had to play his part flawlessly.

Akechi must have known that he was the leader, or at least a member, of the Phantom Thieves since he could see his golden eyes. But he wasn't sure what exactly Akechi was trying to get from him by asking about them. So he made sure to answer in a way that would buy him more time to figure out Akechi.

Ren held back a slight smirk as he glanced at the clock on the wall. He saw that the time he had been waiting for was about to arrive. 

Just as Akechi was preparing to leave the club, he stopped for a moment, turning to look at the TV playing the news. The sudden change to a crimson color catching his attention.

~Confidants~

Goro Akechi (The Justice) Rank 2

(A lot of comments mentioned Death Note in the first Akechi chap, which led me to a 10-hour YouTube video analysis that goes over every single detail. Let's just say I am seven hours in, lol. I gotta say, it ain't the same after the time skip. L is the goat, and I'm sad now. Mello and Near don't hit the same as my boy L.

I was honestly having fun writing the chap but had to cut it 'short'(2.1k words lol, ya'll are getting spoiled with these past few chaps) cuz my wrist started to hurt from typing, which is usually my sign to take a break and do some exercise to prevent carpel tunnel lol. See ya all next time.)