(Cover image for this story is an image by BrinkOfMemories, who graciously granted permission to me to use it for this. You can find the source image at his tumblr, brinkofmemories dot tumblr dot com /post/106754276133/ill-just-leave-this-here-edit-added-a-colour )

"They're sending her?"

The voice on the other end of the line kept talking. With each word, the SIU director's brows furrowed further down, and any smile he had vanished more and more. Sighing, he rubbed the bridge of his nose, pushing down his glasses. This was turning into a headache. "We already have Akechi-san here. With all due respect, sir, what do you think she could possibly do to help?"

The voice went on. Hiroshi wanted nothing more than to hang up and pretend he'd never had this conversation. His fingers moved from his nose to the top of his desk, drumming the hardwood. "I understand, sir, but I really don't think this is necessary. We have several promising new leads, an-"

More words. More rising annoyance. "Very well, sir. I'll make the arrangements myself. She'll have our full cooperation." He mashed the disconnect button and carelessly dropped his phone onto his desk, taking a moment to think about this hitch.

This was a problem.

He slowly rose from his office chair and stepped out from behind his desk, moving to his window. Gazing out onto the bustling streets of Tokyo far below him, he mulled over his options.

Saying no clearly wasn't available. Neither was pulling some strings to get her sent away - people higher up than him had made it very, very clear that the continued activities of the Phantom Thieves were reflecting poorly on the government. Though his collaborators could do many things, even this was beyond their power - this was the institution they were trying to topple, after all.

There was also the obvious solution, but doing that to a world famous detective would undoubtedly only bring suspicion upon them. Those kind of hits were planned and calculated, and using them to simply get rid of an inconvenience was overkill - and it added more evidence to a subtly growing pile, one that would eventually be impossible to hide.

Burying her in red tape and procedure was possible, but ultimately wouldn't lead to much. She was famous for a reason, and her connections and reputation often let her fast track most things she needed, when she was able. She knew the system inside and out, so anything he could do could be easily overcome.

Still, it was the only option he had available.

Hiroshi walked back to his desk and picked up his phone, dialing in a number.. Like or it not, his true employer deserved to know what was going on. He glanced around to make sure no one else was in his office, then he hit the connect button. It rang twice before someone picked up.

"It's me," he said when the line connected. He heaved out a small sigh, then continued speaking. "We...may have a problem."

Naoto Shirogane was a long, long way from Inaba.

She was sitting at the desk in the corporate studio apartment that was her home for the next several months. Dossiers of the Phantom Thieves' 'victims' were spread out in front of her, and her laptop was open to her left. She was typing the occasional note as she read through them.

Every victim directly targeted by the Phantom Thieves has experienced a sudden and out-of-character 'change of heart'. This 'change of heart' appears to be an unusual form of brainwashing or mind control, compelling the victims to confess their crimes and experience a massive influx of guilt.

Her mind raced through explanations, each of them as unlikely as the last. Kirijo tech? Some kind of hypnotism? Very well done blackmail? The police were long on questions and very short on answers, or even suspects. To call the situation 'desperate' would not be incorrect.

She let out a slow breath and blinked, sending a pain through her eyes as they watered over - she'd been so deep in concentration that she'd forgotten to blink for the past few minutes. Rubbing her eyes with her hands, she saw that sign for what it was.

Ugh...I need to take a break. I can't overwork myself before I've even officially started this case. Rise would've dragged me away from this hours ago.

A smile graced her lips as she pictured Rise literally dragging her chair away from her desk, then spinning her around and frowning in that adorable way she does. With a grunt of exertion, and extra motivation from the mental image of her disappointed girlfriend, Naoto rose from her chair and stretched her body out. The grunt made her realize just how dry her throat was, so she walked over to the small kitchen area and poured herself a glass of tap water, sipping as she thought.

Then there's the mental shutdown cases, which differ in two ways: first, they don't get calling cards, and second, they actually harm the victim. Are these shutdowns perpetrated by the Phantom Thieves as well? Do they sort their victims into two categories and merit out punishments? Why would they attack seemingly innocent people with shutdowns and genuine criminals with calling cards?

She stopped herself from going too far down this line of thinking - it would do little good now to get so obsessed with it. Hopefully, her first trip to the police station tomorrow would help - there, she could get more evidence, obtain more complete statements, and link up with the SIU's own investigators.

She made a mental note to get to the station early tomorrow, partially to make a good impression and partially to avoid any media presence - she was fairly certain her arrival had gone unnoticed, but if the news found out that both Detective Princes were working on the same case...

She shook the thought from her mind. The media was more Akechi's thing, anyway - she had no stomach for interviews and fame. Glancing outside her windows, she saw only the lights of the city - the sun had long since set, and Tokyo's nightlife had come out to play. She glanced over at her work, considering going back to it.

As if on cue, her stomach grumbled, so she instead settled on calling it a night and grabbing some dinner.

The warm night air wasn't too uncomfortable to Naoto, and she took in the sights and sounds of Shibuya for a little while, walking up and down the shops near the station and central square. Spotting Toranosuke Yoshida giving a speech in the station intrigued her - she knew his political career had ended in shambles years ago, but he had quite the focused crowd here in front of him. She stopped and listened for a few minutes, his speech invigorating her more than she thought it would.

Her idle wanderings eventually brought her to a late-night beef bowl shop, which seemed as good a place as any to eat at - she didn't make it a habit to eat out all the time, but she'd been too tired to go grocery shopping when she'd arrived. This would tide her over for now.

She walked in and took a seat at the counter, glancing at the young man taking everyone's orders. He looked high school age, with short, fluffy black hair and large, round glasses. His work outfit, she noticed, was not too far from the outfit she'd worn for the whole Midnight Stage incident - blue hat, blue shirt, dark pants...all he was missing were suspenders and a yellow tie.

I hope I never have to save the world through dancing again. At least it was easy to dance in. And Rise said I looked good with a tie.

"What'll it be?"

She snapped out of her thoughts and glanced up - the boy was standing in front of her, ready to go.

"Oh. Uh…" She glanced at the menu in front of her, scanning it quickly. "I'll have a medium beef bowl, please."

The boy nodded and scurried off, going to enter her order into the computer, but something seemed to catch him mid-stride. He turned back to Naoto and did a small double take.

Naoto know that reaction all too well. She'd been recognized, so she gently shook her head, then looked back down at the menu. To his credit, the boy didn't press, so her mind wandered back to the cases.

There must be a normal explanation, but nothing I know of can make people confess in this manner, overloaded with guilt. Given the apparent lack of one, is it worth considering the possibility of something paranormal, or am I jumping to conclusions?

Her previous experience with events lacking mundane explanations is what was guiding her right to this idea of something normal. The Midnight Channel, Midnight Stage, and A-1 Grand Prix fighting tournament had opened her eyes to an impossible world. The Phantom Thieves sounded like they were performing impossible feats. No one could figure out how they were changing the hearts of their targets, just like no one could figure out where the Midnight Channel's subjects had gone.

The similarities admittedly could just be coincidental, but Naoto knew instinctively that something wasn't normal with this case. The mental shutdown incidents only compounded the situation - separately, the Phantom Thieves and the mental shutdowns would've flown under her supernatural radar, but so close together?

Something's not right. These confessions are too...poetic.

Justice, as she knew, was rarely so poetic in the real world.

The boy brought her dinner over, carefully setting it down in front of her. "Thanks," she said with a gentle smile as she looked up. The boy merely smiled in return and gave her a short bow, then stepped away to resume his job.

Naoto picked up her chopsticks and was about to dig in when a decoration atop the food caught her eye - a small magnifying glass had been drawn in a light sauce atop the egg yolk.

The addition brought a wide smile to Naoto's lips, and she glanced up to try and find the kid's eye. Noticing the movement, he looked up from washing dishes, and there was a moment between them as they saw into each other.

Good kid. Perceptive, too, with the way he figured out what I'd laugh at so easily…

An image of Yu came unbidden to her mind as she started to eat.

As she took her time getting back, her phone buzzed - a text message from Rise.

hey u!

Smiling wide, Naoto's fingers flew across the keyboard.

HEY U

im so sry nao-kun, i cant call 2nite as usual. mr mgr is being a butt! _

IT'S OK. PLZ CALL TOMORROW IF FREE.

ofc! i luv u, naoto-kun!

LOVE YOU TOO

\ (^◡^) /

Face flushed, Naoto put her phone back in her pocket and headed back to her apartment at a brisk pace. For one, she didn't want people to see her blushing, and for two, she had a big day tomorrow. The Phantom Thieves were about to meet their match.