65 The Park Cleanup (Part 1)

The news on the TV suddenly shifted to a bold crimson, catching the eye of everyone in the room. A simple animation played; a cat's silhouette with distinctive ears popped up at the bottom, then darted off the screen, only to reappear and transform into a helicopter, zipping away. The crowd murmured in confusion as a voice filled the room.

[Dear people of Tokyo, we promised to cleanse the city of its corruption. Today, we're making good on that promise.]

Akechi's face was a mask of neutrality as he watched, but Ren noticed the quick, curious glance Akechi shot his way. Neither of them let any emotion show.

[Junya Kaneshiro, the scourge of Shibuya, has confessed to his crimes.]

As the words played, the crimson screen changed to the surveillance video from the police station from which Kaneshiro had turned himself in. Through the recording, the people could hear him confessing to the police before being quickly dragged away to an interrogation room.

[Along with forcing Kaneshiro to confess to his crimes, we have also taken the liberty of gathering all the proof needed to convict him and have taken the proper steps to share this information with the local police departments.]

Flashes of documentation and evidence flickered on the screen, culminating in the grim picture of Kaneshiro's mugshot, a tangible proof of the Phantom Thieves' success.

[We call upon the citizens of Japan to trust in us, The Phantom Thieves, as we strive to purge the injustices among us. We urge the authorities to act and bring the guilty to the justice they deserve.]

A digital glitch briefly overtook the broadcast, revealing a website link, a beacon for those seeking justice.

[We know the shadows often hide those who escape the law's reach. So, to you, the people of Japan, we ask you to seek justice. If you have ever felt too afraid to speak up, or if you have found yourself in a position where the law has failed you, we ask you to place your faith in us.]

A faint frown marred Akechi's features, a sign of his contemplation or perhaps disapproval, as the message continued to unfold.

[The Phantom Thieves eagerly await the next opportunity to speak with you. Until then, we stand watchful, ready to right the wrongs unseen.]

As the voice finished his speech, two simple silhouette animations began playing. They all showed a clear message: The first was the cat turning into a helicopter, a replay of the first animation that had played.

The second was that of a thief who, upon discovering a chest, unveiled a treasure trove of weapons, medicines, gold, and an array of curious items. Each item flew out of the chest in a chaotic burst until the thief, turning towards the 'camera,' disappeared with an approving thumbs-up.

A spark of amusement flickered in Akechi's eyes as he watched the looping animations, momentarily lost in thought until Ren's jest drew him back.

Ren, seizing the moment as the animations looped, couldn't resist but joke.

"You kinda spoiled the Kaneshiro reveal for me, Akechi." Ren said with a slight smirk as he stood next to him, snapping him out of his daze. "I probably would have been more impressed if I hadn't known."

"Is that so?" Akechi retorted, the slight smirk on his face vanishing. "And what do you make of their grand declaration?"

Ren's response was nonchalant, a shrug lifting his shoulders.

"Good for them, I guess. The whole justice bit was a little heavy-handed, but their heart seems in the right place. Maybe they'll even end up collaborating with the cops to nail more baddies."

Akechi's reaction was a mix of skepticism as he shook his head.

"I highly doubt the police can officially team up with vigilantes. If anything, the police will probably be on the lookout to try to arrest them."

Their conversation briefly continued, touching on possibilities and perspectives, before Ren departed for home. Along the way, the buzz of public discussion over the Phantom Thieves' announcement was unmistakable, with many intrigued by the website mentioned.

After mentioning his trip with Mona to change Haru's fiance's heart, Shiho and Ryuji were the first ones to think of a way to try to help more people. A website in which the public would be able to submit their own requests.

Though their intentions were pure, Ren also saw it as an opportunity. It would increase their influence over the collective unconscious and allow them to practice fighting, a win-win scenario.

Since the rest of the group looked really excited about the idea, Ren proposed that they include it in their announcement. 

As for the animations that had played, Futaba had been the one to hire someone to create them anonymously. It was honestly slightly worrying just how good she was at getting stuff done once she got her mind to it. She had even managed to sneak a small and almost unnoticeable virus into the files that showed all of Kaneshiro's crimes. 

— — —

After last night's excitement, Ren woke up only to remember that he was supposed to go clean today at the park. This was a special event Shujin had set up to raise the reputation after the blow the Kamoshida incident had caused.

Putting on his gym clothes, he left the cafe with Mona in his bag. Now that their mission was over, Mona was finally getting a break from the constant surveillance he had kept up.

On the way to the park, he kept hearing constant rumors about the Phantom Thieves.

"Did you see that announcement? The Phantom Thieves are for real! They got Kaneshiro to confess everything!"

"I heard they've got a website now. Think it's safe to send in a tip? There's this guy in my neighborhood..."

"The police must be losing their minds, huh? First, Kaneshiro turns himself in, and now this?"

"I'm just waiting for the day when they slip up. Nobody's perfect, right? What happens then?"

"My sister says it's all a hoax. But then, how'd they get all that evidence to the cops?"

"They're calling on us to trust them... Can you believe that? In this day and age?"

"Kaneshiro's mugshot was all over my feed this morning. The Phantom Thieves are kinda heroes, aren't they?"

"What if they start targeting minor offenses next? Where do you draw the line? I stole a few snacks from the store. Am I going to go to jail next?"

"A friend of a friend says they're going to request help for their boss who's been skimming wages. It's getting serious."

"What was the deal with those animations?"

"I bet the Phantom Thieves can't touch the big-time politicians. Now, that would be a show."

The buzz generated by their latest announcement seemed to surpass even the commotion of their initial billboard takeover. Initially dismissed as mere hackers seeking the limelight, the Phantom Thieves had now furnished undeniable evidence of their exploits.

Futaba took it upon herself to leak information they had collected on Kaneshiro to various news outlets, significantly boosting the volume of coverage and cementing their credibility following their second proclamation.

"What do you think, Mona? Do you feel like a helicopter now?" Ren teased, glancing at Mona whose head peeked from the bag

Mona responded with a chuckle tinged with mischief.

"I will only know once we go to Mementos, but if it works, maybe we should try a tank next time? Imagine the havoc, rolling over foes... Oh, wait! No, human, I mean human! How could I forget that? Next time, make me a human!" Mona's realization dawned too late, followed by a sheepish retreat into the concealment of the bag.

As Ren continued walking, he saw Kasumi off in the distance, pestered by a guy. From her face, it was clear she was trying to get away, so he shouted to her.

"Kasumi! The security guard's been on the lookout for you," he announced with a grin and a wave.

The ruse jolted both Kasumi and her harasser, crafting the perfect diversion for her to dart toward Ren's side.

"Thank you," she said, offering Ren a small, appreciative bow.

"Don't worry about it. I know a thing or two about dealing with creepy old guys." Ren joked with a wink.

A light laugh escaped Kasumi, but it was quickly cut short as she remembered her urgency. 

"That's right! I need to grab my gym uniform before they start cleaning! I'm sorry, but I have to go!" she exclaimed, darting off towards Shujin Academy.

Arriving at the park, Ren saw the Thieves gathered around a tree, their voices filled with enthusiasm, while Makoto was elsewhere, overseeing the student body.

"Holy shit, dude! This is awesome!" Ryuji couldn't contain his excitement upon noticing Ren's arrival.

Shiho, with her phone in hand, leaned in to share quietly.

"There are already a ton of requests. Some of them are clearly fake, like the guy complaining about Shrek sneaking into his room, but a lot of them are for real!" Shiho said with some excitement.

Mona, ever curious, popped his head out from the bag, chiming in.

 "I'm eager to find out if our announcement shifted the public cognition! Depending on the next Palace we go to I might be able to fly us directly towards the treasure room! Or at the very least act as an escape method."

The group shared a chuckle, their spirits high, until Ryuji, beaming, began.

"Man, it feels effin' awesome to be part of the PH-" Ryuji began to speak with some excitement before Ren instinctively kicked him in the leg. "Fuck, dude, what the hell? Right in the leg?"

Coughing awkwardly to clear the tension, Ren offered a swift apology.

"Sorry, I did it without thinking, but watch your mouth. We are literally surrounded by students and teachers."

As if on cue, Maruki materialized behind them, his presence marked by a friendly smile.

"Ah, Amamiya, Takamaki, Suzui, and Sakomoto. It's great to see you all in such high spirits," he greeted the group, giving Ren a wink. "I'm glad you have all taken my advice to heart."

"Maruki, good to see you here, Doc. Are you gonna be cleaning in your usual clothes?" Ren greeted him back, waving casually.

Laughing lightly, Maruki corrected.

"Oh, no, I'm here with the cooking team. I trust you'll all be ready for a feast after the cleanup. We're preparing quite the spread."

"For real? The school's giving out food for free? Hell yeah, dude, I never say no to some free food." Ryuji beamed with enthusiasm.

At this, Ren raised a curious hand. 

"Any chance I could help out? I enjoy cooking…"

"Yeah, but you also enjoy cleaning." Ann chimed in with a playful nudge

Shaking his head with a smile, Ren answered.

"It's different to clean a house and a park. One is always filled with dirt."

At that, Ryuji couldn't contain himself, bursting into laughter. 

"Man, I just thought of it now, but Ren's basically the ideal wife material." he joked, doubling over with laughter.

As the group's laughter filled the air, Maruki observed them with a gentle smile. Once they had settled down, he accepted the offer.

"Of course, you're welcome to join. It might be the perfect opportunity to discuss my research in a more casual setting." However, his gaze then drifted towards Ren's bag, a hint of curiosity in his tone. "Is that a cat you've brought with you?"

~A/N~

(Next time, on Dragon Ball Z! Watch as the fluffy girl plays with her pussy- erm, I mean Ren's pus- I mean Mona! Ren and Maruki absolutely cook, and who knows what else cuz I just go with the flow. Tune in next time at ??:??

Also, it's fun to see just how differently I write Ren with Akechi VS Ren with the Thieves. I honestly hadn't realized it until I wrote this chap because he interacts with both of them in this one a similar amount. With Akechi, I am writing Ren kind of like how he was at the very beginning of the story. Two sides of the same coin, eh?)