Chapter 62: Thief's deal
"So... Do you want to to hear the results in private? Or all here?" Tae asked professionally.
The group looked at each other and each gave a single nod towards Shin, knowing he would give the right answer.
"All here." he said, "Except for Yusuke's, since he might not be comfortable sharing that kind of information with us.
"Yeah. That sounds fair." Ryuji nodded.
"I appreciate the discretion, but if we've come so far in this we might as well go all the way." said the blue-haired young man.
"Very well." she nodded "Let us go alphabetically. Mr Kitagawa, you are massively malnourished."
The woman turned to him seriously.
"As well as lacking physical exercise. I shall come up with a nutrition scheme for you and I am sure Mr Sakamoto would be of great assistance in helping you train with his past."
"l see." Yusuke said seriously.
"No worries man, I'm here for ya!" Ryuji grinned.
"Next, Mr Sakamoto. You are perfectly fine. Your muscles have lost mass from not keeping up with your exercises. But beyond that, you are perfectly healthy." said Tae.
"W-What?! B-But my leg-" started the blonde, but he was quickly cut off by the doctor.
"ls all healed. Any pain you are feeling is all in your head. Also known as phantom pain, lingering trauma of the event. Unfortunately, I cannot help there. Your bones are probably not as strong as they used to be and probably will never be again, so you can't reach your old speeds. but you can get close if you keep exercising and watching your diet. Especially with that leg. Again, it has last some mass and from lack of training it is not what it used be."
She paused for a moment to let all that info sunk in, before she continued.
"While I highly advise against competitive running again, you can build your way back up to a very good level. As long as you don't push yourself."
"Huh." he blinked.
"Ms Suzui, you are in need of some relaxation. You are getting too stressed and working yourself too hard. Neither is good for the recovery of contusions and other such trauma-based wounds."
"Oh." Shiho muttered.
"It's fine." Tae smiled before turning to Ann "Now, Ms Takamaki."
"Yes?" Ann asked.
"You need to cut out all those sweets. You'll get fat." said Tae as she closed her folder.
"That's... it?" asked Ann as Ryuji was snickering in the corner.
"That's it." Tae responded with a straight face.
"Thank you Doctor Takemi, this has been a big help." Shin said.
"Yeah, later doc!" Ryuji waved and left.
"How will I get my nutrition scheme from you?" Yusuke asked.
"I'm sure my assistant would deliver it for me." Tae smirked, the punk Doctor ruffling Shin's hair.
"Thank you. I understand." Yusuke bowed and left.
"If you're going to take revenge for me bothering you today, you're going to get me killed you know." said Shin, uneasily looking at the attractive doctor.
"Please. I'm a good doctor. If that happened I'd bring you back to life." said Tae, faking a hurt look.
"Are you serious?" Ryuji asked as he heard that.
"..."
"Darn it, Ryuji." said Shin, rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration.
-INTERMISSION-
Inside LeBlanc
"Is she always like that?" asked Ann while sporting a mild pout.
She must've been a bit annoyed at the doctor's earlier demeanor, particularly hers and Shin's apparent closeness.
"Normally she's more calm and collected. Must've been annoyed I brought over so many people." shrugged the black-haired boy.
"Makes sense." said Yusuke, while sipping on a cup of coffee.
"..."
At that moment, the other four teens at the table each put 1000 Yen, with Shin being the sole exception who put 7000 Yen, totaling to a nice sum of 10.000 Yen.
"W-What's this for?" asked the blue-haired painter.
"So that you won't die of starvation out there, pal." said Shin.
"This... I can't-"
"Then, would you feel better if we were to make a deal?" said the black-haired boy, stretching his hand forwards.
Yusuke still looked a little hesitant. Shin could see he only needed a small push.
"You see, I'd like you to try and duplicate the symbols on cards like these." he said, pulling out a purple card with a moon and a few flying Z's, crossed out by a by X.
There was something... 'special', about that shiny card that appealed to Yusuke's aesthetic sence. Like it was an object made solely to be gazed upon by artists such as himself.
He'd been focusing on the card in Shin's hand for almost a minute now, and he would've kept on staring had the black-haired boy not snapped his fingers in front of his face.
"My... apologies. I was entranced by that card. May I have a closer look?" Yusuke inquired.
"If you do accept this deal of mine, you are free to look at this card and many others as much as you want." said Shin, with a grin worthy of a Phantom Thief of Hearts.
"I accept." Yusuke was sold the moment he heard there were more cards. He could feel his right hand itching to grab a brush, or even a pencil, and express his creativity.
"By the way, you can think of my part of the money over there" he pointed at the 10.000 Yen pile "as payment, if you wish. The rest is just these guys' generosity."
Yusuke nodded and placed the money in his pocket. He looked at the clock and sat up.
"I should be returning home soon. Master might get worried." he said.
"Sure, and you can have these." said Shin, giving him the earlier card and another blank one. "I'd like you to copy the drawing onto the empty card."
"Thank you. I will draw with my upmost talent."
After the eccentric painter took his leave, deafening silence seized the room.
"What... was that?" asked Ryuji, uncharacteristically quiet, despite his shock.
It would be the first of the many times the black-haired Wild Card would shock the rambunctious blonde into silence.
"That, my friends, is how a Phantom Thief strikes a deal." said Shin, pushing his glasses up.
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No relation to the story whatsoever, but Crystal Skull is a fucking pain. Bloody Treasure Demons!
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Confidants:
0. Igor (The Fool) - Rank 2
I. Morgana (The Magician) - Rank 3
1. Takuto Maruki (The Councillor) - Rank 1
II. Makoto Niijima (The Priestess) - Rank 2
IV. Yusuke Kitagawa (The Emperor) - Rank 2
V. Sojiro Sakura (The Hierophant) - Rank 3
VI. Ann Takamaki (The Lovers) - Rank 7
VII. Ryuji Sakamoto (The Chariot) - Rank 6
IX. Futaba Sakura (The Hermit) - Rank 3
XIII. Tae Takemi (The Death) - Rank 4
XVIII. Saki Yoshiko (The Moon) - Rank 2
XIX. Sho Minazuki (The Sun) - Rank 1
XX. Sae Niijima (The Judgement) - Rank 1
Shiho Suzui (The Hope) - Rank 8
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
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