Tokyo Psychic

That extreme laziness had stripped Him of the ability to think proactively.

He is now gradually merging with the ruins of this palace, and then sinking forever into the deepest part of the Impressionist Space... even deeper, until the bottom of the Sea of ​​the Heart.

If you're lucky, you might even end up next to the real Yuuki in this world and become his neighbor.

Of course, a more likely scenario is that he is like Kars, the "perfect creature" from the second season of "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," who merged with an entire mental palace to become incomparably powerful but also lost his ability to think, forever floating at the bottom of the Sea of ​​Hearts.

Having clearly understood this, Akira Kurusu simply cast a pitying and regretful glance at "Erebus" before leaving.

......

Late at night.

Stars float beneath a black curtain of industrial dust, while searchlights from distant skyscrapers sweep across the streets.

It seems that some of the Shadow Patrolmen drive cars, but most still have to take the tram home... In Akira Kurusu's memory, the Shadow Suppression Force, which had chauffeured cars and could occasionally borrow police cars and armored vehicles, seems to have been dismantled.

He looked at Shiomi Kotone, who was standing with him at the exit of the Heart Palace, and asked, "Aren't you going with them, Senpai?"

Kotone Shiomi thought of the members of the Phantom Thieves group around Akira Kurusu, her expression shifting slightly before she said, "Goodbye."

Akira Kurusu had a feeling that Kotone Shiomi was hiding something, but seeing her hurried departure and her slightly reddened earlobes, he silently put away his questions.

......

"There are a lot of important people coming to tonight's rehearsal!" Jingqin Rencai said alarmingly in the living room of the suite.

Momoka Kawahara covered her face. "While poor rehearsal results can indeed lower their impression of us, don't forget... we're not really going down the professional path."

Yamada Ryo ignored the second half of Kawaharaki Momoka's sentence, and while munching on a cookie, pointed and said, "So what if it lowers our impression? We have a young lady here anyway."

Hearing the conversation, Toyokawa Shoko, who had just experienced a fierce battle in the Palace of the Mind and witnessed the twisted and ugly desires of her former friends, had lost all interest in the conversation, even though she could occasionally joke with them.

Toyokawa Shoko simply nodded noncommittally, then took out her phone and searched online for discussions about the "Mind Thieves".

"By the way, the rehearsal is about to start. Where's Ren?" Ichiji Nijika was fiddling with the drum score, clearly mentioning Kurusu Akira, but she was actually just subconsciously trying to share her anxiety.

Shoko Toyokawa replied, "He's probably playing games with Subaru in his room, right?"

Because of that study tour, the girls who had finished the band were already very familiar with Wakaba Mutsumi and Anwa Subaru.

Ichi Nijika also thought of Akira Kurusu's complicated love life, and her smile became somewhat awkward.

Those feelings of affection she herself had for Akira Kurusu, which had just begun to develop in relation to romance, immediately wilted slightly.

Unexpectedly, An and Subaru were in the study, having overheard everyone's conversation. Curious, they poked their heads out and asked, "You didn't see him?"

Toyokawa Shoko was also taken aback for a moment. "So you came out on your own?"

"Where is Xiao Mu?" An He Mao asked her in return.

“In the restroom,” Toyokawa Shoko replied immediately.

"What are you talking about?" Jingqin Rencai, who was already under psychological pressure due to the performance, was even more agitated.

Toyokawa Shoko and Anwa Subaru exchanged a glance, then both of them got up and headed towards Kurusu Akira's room.

......

In the darkened bedroom, the phantom thief sat alone on the edge of the bed.

He held a fruit knife in his hand, half of his face was illuminated by the living room light, while the other half was covered in shadow, making him look particularly eerie.

Jingqin Rencai huddled furtively behind Anhe Subaru and Toyokawa Shoko, but couldn't help peeking inside with curiosity.

"Amamiya...we're having a rehearsal later..." She mustered her courage and asked the boy inside, hiding behind Anwa Subaru and Toyokawa Shoko.

Akira Kurusu tossed the fruit knife, scabbard and all, to Shoko Toyokawa.

He stood up. "I've been listening to your conversation."

Standing under the light, Akira Kurusu reached out and played with the strands of hair next to Toyokawa Shoko's cheek until the girl blushed and turned her eyes away to avoid his gaze. Afraid that Akira Kurusu would touch her in front of his friends, she reluctantly moved aside so that he could leave the bedroom.

Then Akira reached out and poked Serina's forehead, causing Serina, who was already feeling guilty about peeping into other people's bedrooms, to keep backing away.

"It's just that there were a dozen or so extra audience members during the rehearsal, and you're already this nervous. If the venue is packed with 30,000 people tomorrow night, won't you be so scared that you won't even be able to make a sound?"

On the other side, Ijichi Nijika, who was so nervous that she couldn't even focus on the drum score, dared not utter a sound.

Seeing their reaction, Akira Kurusu turned to Momoka Kawaharaki, who was standing nearby. "I do have a plan."

Momoka Kawahara, as if she had expected this, said, "Are you going to switch to the lead guitar position?"

“Yes, but not entirely,” Akira Kurusu said, looking at Momoka Kawahara with a half-smile. “Coincidentally, ‘Sumimi’ has unfortunately missed tomorrow’s performance due to ‘Hatsuka Mitsumi’s’ poor health… This means we have a chance to get two more songs.”

"We only have two original compositions."

"It's okay, everyone is probably not very familiar with the original songs."

"A cover song?!"

"Of course not, don't forget that our band can use our work in commercial settings in principle."

“Ms. Momoka’s ‘The Empty Box,’ and…” Izare Nina looked cautiously at Toyokawa Shoko.

Toyokawa Shoko actually answered herself, "Spring Shadows is fine."

"What about 'MYGO'?" Ichiji Nijika couldn't help but ask.

“They have a total of five original songs, but they only have the opportunity to perform three songs, so they didn’t even include ‘Spring Shadow’ this time. If it’s a song that everyone has practiced many times, they should be more confident, right?”

Nijika Ijichi has practiced "Kasuga Kage" quite a bit, after all, "MYGO" debuted much earlier than "End Band". As a relatively successful rookie girl band recently, they were once considered by Nijika as her role model or at least a temporary goal.

As for "Empty Box"... this song is incredibly popular online.

All members of the "End Band" are very familiar with this song.

Akira Kurusu then looked at Serina Ii, "Can you sing 'Spring Day Shadow'?"

Jing Qinren swallowed hard. "Yes...yes."

Unexpectedly, Momoka Kawaharaki spoke up, "If it's 'The Hollow Box,' then you should definitely play it."

She looked at Akira with a complicated expression, "I will help with the copyright-related matters."

Shoko Toyokawa also spoke up, "I'll contact the organizers and sponsors and try to get some performance time freed up by 'Sumimi's' absence."

"That's a bit modest, Miss." The group of people who had finished the band all turned to look at Toyokawa Shoko.

"By the way," Yamada Ryo suddenly asked her, "Shoko, how's the Phantom Thieves' situation lately?"

Yamada Ryo's eyes sparkled, as if he particularly admired Toyokawa Shoko.

"You mean...the revelation of your true identity?"

"What is that?" Yamada Ryo asked, puzzled. "Didn't Miss Misumi just post a clarification saying that she fabricated facts to implicate unrelated people because she idolized the Phantom Thieves too much?"

She pulled out her phone and shoved it in front of Toyokawa Shoko's face. "I'm talking about 'Megido'! That international hacker organization... They've already declared war on the Phantom Thieves!"

By this time, An and Subaru had already quietly slipped out of the suite.

Wandering through the corridor, I found a quiet corner, enjoying the evening breeze, and took out my phone to start an intense self-search.

I was puzzled and somewhat disappointed to find that there was much less discussion and debate online about me being a mind thief.

It seems she's about to revert to being "that granddaughter of Anhe Tiantong" again.

It might cause some distress.

The newly confirmed debut date is June 1st.

With a month to go before summer vacation, hopefully it will be something to look forward to.

......

[23:05.]

【Tokyo.】

[Sakura Futaba's room.]

Is this the right thing to do?

The girl at the computer desk dragged the mouse, browsing through the comments from netizens.

They condoned, even tacitly approved and supported "Megiddo's" actions, and turned a blind eye to their declaration of war against the Mind Thieves...

The conflicting feelings of self-blame and guilt within him finally erupted into a reckless impulse.

Futaba Sakura logged into a virtual account that she thought she would never use again, and then sent a text message to Akira Kurusu's Line account.

[Alibaba: Mind Thieves, do you feel anxious and uneasy because you're being harassed by "Megido"?]

The message was sent, but there was no response for a long time.

What is the Mind Thief doing?

Futaba Sakura was confused.

I vaguely remember them discussing holding a concert in Saitama Prefecture.

The thought of going there to see for myself... flashed through the girl's mind for only a moment, as she was afraid of the outside world. She shook her head, trying to shake off those unrealistic wild thoughts.

At that very moment, however, an email was received from "Megido".

Upon careful reading, I discovered that the client I had requested to focus on, "Miss Miku," had requested to withdraw her engagement.

But how could Megiddo, as a hacker group, possibly withdraw its commission after declaring war? That would damage the invaluable reputation that hackers hold.

Such a change has occurred, it's obvious... that Miku Miku has been reformed by the Phantom Thieves.

"Alright, Futaba Sakura...you're next." She murmured to herself, then attempted to hack into the Seibu Dome's surveillance system.

When I feel tired, I can't help but kick the floor and turn around the computer chair. The screen's glow is blocked, making the already dim bedroom seem even more profound. The glow that splashes along the edges of the furniture eventually leaves a teardrop-like spot of light on the photo of Sakura Futaba and her mother on the table.

......

[23:15.]

Seibu Dome.

Today's final rehearsal is finally over.

They successfully secured their performance time, and after playing four songs, the band bowed to the audience below.

The young people in the bands simply clapped politely, but behind them, a group of important figures with various titles stood up in unison and applauded enthusiastically, as if flattered.

He feared that if he clapped too softly, it would hinder his future career.

"Thank you everyone for your support..." Jingqin Rencai's voice even sounded stuttering as she said thank you.

Aside from the local officials who had been reprimanded by Toyokawa Shoko, the loudest applause came from Morfonica's Kurata Mashiro and MYGO's Nagasaki Motoyo.

Next up are Kaname from MYGO, Akari Takamatsu... and Tatsuki Shiina.

Shiina Tatsuki wasn't particularly enthusiastic about clapping, and although she was genuinely moved by the band's superb performance, she's never been the type to express herself in a flamboyant way.

Seeing Takamatsu Akari listening to "Spring Shadow" and bursting into tears, I felt that if I clapped too softly, I would seem like I wasn't being a good friend.

Perhaps it was because she played her favorite song, "The Empty Box," with her former idol, the phantom thief she now idolizes; perhaps it was because, with experience, she has begun to enjoy the feeling of shining...

Maybe it's just a simple liking for rock music, a liking for being unconventional...

Izuru Rina followed Akira Kurusu off the stage, but couldn't help looking back repeatedly at the microphone illuminated by the spotlight.

I wish I could always perform in places like this.

With this thought in mind.

After following the band members back to the dressing room in a daze, I was completely out of it.

Jingqinrencai stood up without warning.

She looked around and mustered her courage to say, "Everyone... I have something to say."

The sudden attention from everyone made Izana shrink back. After hesitating several times, she wanted to apologize because she had no reason to ask her bandmates to accompany her in pursuing her dream of rock and roll—especially since she was just an ordinary high school student with no guarantee of her academic performance or future.

He lowered his head as if he had suffered a huge blow.

It wasn't until the TV in the lounge started playing a live recording of "Diamond Dust"—after all, this was a venue prepared for a performance, and the channels on the TV during off-peak hours had been pre-set to be band-related—that things changed.

"Diamond Dust" is already considered a very promising new band group recently.

After all, the combination of the style of teenage idols and the freedom of rock music has set them on a relatively novel track.

Jingqin Rencai remembered that today was the concert that "Diamond Dust" had been preparing for for a long time.

She looked at the girl on the television screen, a girl who felt both incredibly familiar and intensely distant from her on stage...