(A/N: A disclaimer to start, I'm no where near an expert at Japanese politics or policing, nor the complicated structures and processes they have. I'm taking liberties with this I hope come of as at least believable, despite the inaccuracies. The updates for this work may also take longer than the weekly chapters I managed before, since this is the one I wanted to write the most and it's going to be the most difficult to write with the quality I'm hoping for.

Did you know only a mere 1% of the already few Japanese married couples are with their high school sweetheart? It's something that always kinda preyed on my mind whenever I shipped characters in a high school setting. Of course I'd hope that the relationship would bloom into a successful union, but the realist in me always dampers the dream. So, I ship Makoto and Akira pretty hard. And the best chance for them to stay together? Start their relationship well into adulthood. This is a more mature, adult take on the romance that forms and grows between them. Hope I do it justice!)

The elderly man ducked behind a large tree, out of breath. "You don't have to do this, young man!" He cried out. A baseball bat thumped against the trunk.

"Oh don't worry, I know." Came the reply, cold and hysterical, like the eyes of the speaker.

"Please, listen to me!" The man plead again, running sluggishly towards the swing set and stumbling to the ground by a slide as he tried a slow dodge. He was never in the best of shape even in his prime, and his slight bulk and old age made for an easy target. He yelped in pain as the bat caught his wrist he raised in instinctual defense. "Whatever your goals, you can achieve them with less destructive means to your future!"

Laughter.

"Its not MY future you should be concerned with right now, Old Man Tora." The assailant mocked, merrily bringing the bat down with a final sickening 'crunch'. There was giddy giggling as the bat dripped with blood.

"My my, that was fun~ But, time to be smart about this..." The voice mumbled, dropping the bat by the corpse and removing the politician's wallet and watch. He'd let the blood pool out for a bit then dump the body in an appropriate spot. He wasn't too concerned with the weapon and scene being discovered.

After all, who would think to look in a place which could only be accessed by a phone app?

Captain Makoto Niijima tried to look important as she stood awkwardly as her boss chatted. Social events. She couldn't say she hated them, but they were not high on the list of things she wished to tolerate. Her eyelashes already felt heavy and her lips a little like plastic as her eyes scanned the ballroom floor again, looking for something to distract her.

The past few years had hardened her glance, having to claw her way up the ladder as a woman in the police force was no easy feat. Cold red eyes darting from face to face in the crowd, she quizzed herself on names and positions of the ones she could identify. Some wore Class A uniforms like her, others had legislator pins donned on their lapels, others adorning themselves with pricey looking accessories.

The charity event had such a posh atmosphere, Makoto felt on edge. No doubt Haru would have been at home in such a place, but for a woman who spent most her past years in crowded offices and on the beat in the streets of Tokyo, it felt so unnatural. The chandeliers, drapes, tapestries, tuxedos, dresses, staff, it all condensed into the heavy feel of money and influence. It was so alien, yet she knew she was going to have to start getting used to it, and fast.

"Bit boring, isn't it?" Lt Narumi teased with a cheshire grin. Makoto sighed.

"I can see the necessity of such events. It is still an opportunity to mingle and become familiar with community leaders." She replied as if reading from a textbook. The lieutenant chuckled in response.

"As expected from you, Captain." The younger woman grinned. "At least you don't have to wear a dress. Do you even OWN a dress?" She prodded. Makoto sighed under her breath. While a bit nonsensical, at least this mindless prattle was a distraction as Deputy Commissioner, Colonel Ichijouji discussed the current state of the orphans and widows funds with some flashy stranger.

"I don't have many reasons to wear one." Was her neutral reply.

"Oh ho! Captain Niijima doesn't go out on dates very often?" Lt Narumi prodded again. Makoto knew that since the she only came on board a few months prior, she'd be suspect to such examinations by her more curious peers in the Deputy Commissioner's office.

"That information is irrelevant." Came her next bored reply. She had made it this far by keeping careful distance between her work life and personal life, but the main answer was she had very little personal life to speak of. There hadn't been anything more serious than a few unsuccessful first dates from halfway decent suitors since her first and only real relationship in college.

Lt Narumi pouted. "Aw, come on Captain. You're not the only one bored here. Its just a bit of girl talk!" She insisted, despite the very obvious way the nearby Sergeant Saito tried to 'not' listen in. Makoto stifled another sigh. She suspected the stout man of being interested in her, but romance simply did not factor in her current ambitions, especially not with a coworker.

"If you're going to gossip again Lieutenant, I ask you do it in a more appropriate setting." Colonel Ichijouji lightly scolded as he returned from the discussion he was having. Out of the corner of her eye, Makoto saw the man her boss had been speaking with was taken aside by a man with frizzy black hair. "Captain, any other people you spied that I should approach?" The man questioned.

Makoto endeavored to stand straighter than she already was. "Sir. I saw a couple representatives on the public affairs committee." She reported, gesturing over to the eastern part of the room by the hors d'oeuvre table. "No luck finding the Commissioner or the mayor yet. I don't think they're coming until much later."

"Don't blame them. Damn, these events are such a pain." The elderly copper cursed.

"Ah, but how else are young pups like me supposed to tap into your vast experience, Colonel Ichijouji?" A familiar smooth voice cut in. Makoto gave a small squeak of surprise, her eyes wide.

She didn't know Akira would be here tonight!

The previous Phantom Thief leader extended a hand towards her current boss. "Representative Kurusu." He introduced. The Deputy Commissioner gave a polite smirk and shook it as the two men gauged the others' grip.

"Ah yes, the fresh meat. You'll learn to hate these events too, 'pup'." Ichijouji teased. Akira could only shrug with a smile.

"We all have to start somewhere. And the novelty of it all is still fresh." He conceded. "For now I'm rather grateful at the opportunity to mingle with men of such high caliber as yourself." The Colonel gave a small chuckle. Charming as ever, it seemed. "And women too, of course." He added with a warm smile at Makoto.

"Ah, yes, allow me to introduce my Staff Officer." The Colonel started, Akira locking eyes with her.

"Makoto Niijima." He interrupted, with a tender familiar gaze.

"Akira Kurusu." She replied, matching it. "It's been a while." Colonel Ichijouji gave her a curious and playful eyebrow. "He's an old friend from high school." She supplied nervously. Akira gave a chuckle at her response.

"May I be so bold as to ask your officer for a dance, sir?" Akira asked the Colonel and extended and open hand towards Makoto. The old man gave a hearty laugh.

"If she accepts." He replied. Makoto sighed with a smile, surprising her boss by taking the offered hand.

"I'm a bit rusty." She warned. Akira gave her a cocky grin.

Oh, that grin.

"Won't be a problem. Follow my lead?"

"We'll see."

The two took a few steps onto the dancefloor as Lieutenant Narumi and Sergeant Saito stood slack jawed. "He made her blush." The woman said incredulously. "Mr Cute Politician there actually made Ice Queen Niijima blush."

Sergeant Saito grumbled, coughing and looking away. "It's nothing." He insisted. "Old friend, she said."

Lieutenant Narumi giggled with giddy glee. "Oh ho, this looks interesting~" She purred, watching the pair with a smile like a cat who got the cream.

Makoto felt a little awkward with the first few steps, but soon found her rhythm again, as the two of them managed to look halfway decent in movement to the soft music. "Think it's coming back to me. You seem to be in your element." She teased with a grin.

Akira returned the expression. "Well, it comes with the territory nowadays. I take a refresher every couple of months." He explained, daring to give Makoto a small twirl. "When's the last time you danced like this?" He wondered.

"It's a little embarrassing, but I guess it was a while back with you at Ryuji and Ann's wedding." She recalled, then gave a slight chuckle in nostalgia. "I still remember Futaba dragging me to those ballroom dance classes in preparation."

"Mmh. I think she was trying to impress Yusuke at the time."

"Hehee yeah. Did anything ever come of that?"

"Nah, think she gave up after a while."

"Oh that's too bad. They would've been cute." Makoto lamented. She was barely thinking of her steps now as Akira lead her gently across the tiles. There were a few other partners occupying the ballroom floor, so she didn't feel too exposed, and Akira always made it so easy to feel comfortable around him.

Akira always made it so easy to feel other things, too.

"Speaking of cute..." Akira smirked, giving Makoto a small dip. "Are you wearing makeup?"

She gave a snort in reply. "Just some mascara and lip gloss." She responded. The man hummed, admiring the affect it had. She found herself hoping he found her nearly red eyes more vibrant than usual, her lips perhaps looking a little enticing. She quickly suppressed such unnecessary and distracting thoughts, familiar as they were.

He was probably seeing someone else already. He usually was. She thought to herself bitterly, unable to stop herself despite knowing it was unfair to him. She suppressed that familiar feeling as well.

She could freely admit to herself that she had a bit of a crush on Akira back in their Phantom Thief days, but nothing came of it. The subject wasn't broached, and by the time it was, she discovered he had already started dating a local Shogi player. A mere week prior to the subtle clues she gave to him in the bar they ducked into that day in Shinjuku.

"Well, it looks good." He complimented, breaking into her thoughts. "This just for tonight?
"I think it's probably for as often as you wear this cologne I'm smelling on you." She fired back playfully.

The music ended, but neither of the two finding the desire to stop just yet. Each gave a pause and an awkward chuckle when the next song began, so Akira gave a shrug.

"Sounds like a box step waltz." He identified.

"Four steps?"

"Yeah. Here."

The two found a new rhythm together and their conversation continued.

"I was pleasantly surprised to run into you tonight." He smiled.

"Well, I've reached a point where it's going to be expected of me from time to time." She replied, trying to keep from boasting. "Honestly these days I'm starting to feel more like an administrator than a cop. But its necessary work."

"Your new boss easy to work with? Seems like a good guy."

"Oh he is. He knew my father, but only by name and reputation. I think I prefer it that way, helps me know I got the position on my own merits."

"Mmh. I'm glad you can take so much pride in your accomplishments. It wasn't long ago you'd deny yourself such things."

"Heh... I guess I was a little too modest, wasn't I?" Makoto said coyly.

"That's and understatement. But you should be proud of yourself. I certainly am."

Makoto stumbled, but recovered well.

"Thank you."

"Also, the right hand of the second in command? You are within striking distance."

"That has crossed my mind. I've been very fortunate in my career so far, things are tracking well."

"Makoto... you're leading again~" Akira chastised playfully in a sing song tone.

"Only 'cause you're letting me~" She sang back.

The two shared a chuckle as they both began yet another dance unawares, Kurusu struggling slightly to keep the lead with a playful Niijima.

"Haven't seen you since you've earned those. They look good on you." He remarked, gesturing to her Captain's bars.

"Mmh. I'm not the only one wearing new accessories." She replied, gesturing back at his legislator's pin. "Although... I'm sorry that it's not in the way than you anticipated." She lamented, the atmosphere between them dropping and shifting. Akira looked down sadly.

"Yoshida Toranoske was a good man." He stated.

There was a brief heavy silence between them, Akira looking a bit hesitant.

"It's on that note... that I have something of a selfish request of you." He began, struggling with the words. Makoto looked concerned but open.

"Of course. Anything."

"His murder investigation... I hear that its not really going anywhere, and the case has gone cold already." He began. "I mean, I get that they know he was moved after the fact and there was no video footage or witnesses despite the highly visible location, and that's got everyone stumped. But I can't shake this feeling... I mean, we know of... other ways... that things can appear from thin air that normal investigators might not consider."

Makoto gave him a slightly confused look. "You don't mean..."

Akira sighed and shrugged, looking away. "I don't know, maybe I'm grasping at straws here, but I really can't think of this as just a mugging gone wrong. Old Man Tora had been mugged before. Twice, actually. He always joked on how doing exactly what the assailants said made him feel so powerless. I really don't think he would have fought back like they said he did."

"You think this was politically motivated?"

"I don't want to ask anything of you that would jeopardize your job, of course. Just maybe... just maybe get a list of the officers involved in my arrest in the metaverse? I mean, there were a lot." He chuckled, reminiscing on the amount of police it took to bring him down that fateful day Joker of the Phantom Thieves was arrested. "I know all the records surrounding the whole Shido mess had been 'hard to find', but if anyone can do it..." He looked at her hopefully.

"You're asking me to find the staff lists of a team from nearly a decade ago." Makoto clarified with a hesitant tone, but then sighed. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you."

Akira gave her a sad grin. She returned it. The song ended. In the brief silence, the two of them slowly returned from the little world they built for themselves on the dance floor, glancing behind the other and seeing faces they were looking for earlier in the night.

"I'm sorry, it seems I've monopolized too much of your time." Akira apologized. Makoto smiled in return.

"No, it's fine."

The two lingered for a moment as they separated, their hands the last to part.

"I see the mayor has finally arrived. I better go inform the Colonel."

"Mmh. I got to socialize with some other committee members." He replied, a strange disappointed undertone in his voice. "Keep in touch."

"I will." Makoto promised, her own heart conflicted as they went their separate ways.

It took a little effort to refocus herself, as she returned back to her coworkers and boss. Her pulse was beating a bit faster than normal, and she could tell herself it was due to the movements in the dance.

"Sir. I apologize for my brief absence." She announced, giving her superior a small bow. "The mayor has arrived, he's lingering at the southern end of the hall."

Colonel Ichijouji smiled wide. "Ah, thank you Captain. Overachieving as always I see."

"Sir?"

"Well, that young man only asked for one dance. You gave him three."

Makoto stifled an embarrassed groan.

(A/N: Thus starts the beginnings of a new story for the two former Phantom Thieves. What do you guys think so far? Please let me know in the comments, and I'll do my best to keep the updates coming!)