บท 39: Chapter 37: Medjed, what to do?
(Marinette's pov)
With Kaneshiro dealt with, life became calm... or as quiet as a high schooler's life with tests coming up. With the occasional excursion into Mementos, the Phantom Thief business slowed down, leaving me time to do school work, commission work, and hanging out with friends.
Oh! A month after I left for Japan, I forgot to mention that I contacted Jagged and my other famous clients. Said clients were very relieved that I was alive and well. I have been doing commissions for them and even created an online business called: Mari C!
Mari C was a hit, and I get commissions almost daily! That's where my income comes from! I've been using my money to pay rent, shop for food and supplies, do activities with my friends, things like that!
Right now, it was July 16'th after school at the hide-out.
"Exams are finally over! I am so exhausted..." Ann sighed.
"I can get back to sleepin' in peace..." Ryuji muttered.
"Hmm? Was Ryuji-kun studying for the exam?" I asked in a sweet voice.
"You must have been studying hard..." Makoto said.
"Nah... I was up all night playing video games. Slackin' off is just too much fun..." Ryuji said.
"Ryuji Sakamoto!" I scolded.
"I know! I kept cleaning my room instead of studying! It might even be too clean now..." Ann said.
"Ann! Not you too!" I said.
"You two are the perfect exemplars of what escapism can mean..." Yusuke said.
"And I can only imagine what the end result will be..." Makoto sighed.
"Next time there are exams, we will study together regularly!" I proclaimed.
"Oh! That's a good idea!" Makoto said.
"Whatever! The more important thing is that the Phantom Thieves are more popular now! Isn't that amazin'?!" Ryuji said. I let out a sigh. I listen to my friends talk about their excitement and a celebration. They can't pass up the opportunity to celebrate, can they?
(Time skip! Brought to you by Author-chan actually writing again!)
I was fussing over my Yukata, trying to make it look nice. It was June 18th, the day of the fireworks festival. Kagami had given me a Yukata in case I needed it, and now, I'm in my apartment, trying it on.
https://ibb.co/5x72Ls2
"Marinette, you look fine!" Tikki assured me.
"You think so?" I said, looking into the mirror.
"Do... do you think Akira would like it?" I thought aloud without realizing it.
"I'm sure he would think you look beautiful!" Tikki told me. My face flushed when I realized I said that aloud.
"Ahh! Look at the time! We should leave! Don't wanna be late!" I said, grabbing my things and fixing my hair. I heard Tikki sigh before entering my purse. With that, I made sure I looked good, put on the sandals that matched my Yukata, and took off for the festival!
When I arrived at the train station, I looked around for my friends. I then spotted them near the entrance. Ann and Makoto had lovely Yukatas on that made me self-conscious of mine. Akira and Ryuji were wearing their everyday clothes. Yusuke had a Yukata on as well... Why does that suit him so well?
"Guys! Sorry, I'm late!" I called to them, trotting over. They all turned to me and smiled.
"Wow! Mari-san, you look amazin'!" Ryuji said.
"Umm... you really think so?" I asked, feeling shy.
"Yeah! Where did you get that, Yukata?" Ann asked.
"Oh... it was a gift from my friend, Kagami. She gave it to me when I left France. She said I might need it. Guess she was right..." I said. I then notice Akira staring at me.
"Akira-kun... do you like my Yukata?" I asked my friend. Akira looked flustered at my question.
"I- umm- er- I- I..." Akira stuttered, his face flushed red.
"I-I think you look beautiful..." He muttered. I felt my face blush at his compliment.
"Th-thank you... A-Akira-kun..." I said, hiding my face in my hands.
"Could you two be any more obvious?" Morgana asked from Akira's bag.
"Shut it, cat!" Akira scolded.
"Let's just get to the festival..." Makoto sighed. We all nodded and made our way to the exit.
We were standing in the crowd as the fireworks lit up the sky. It was a beautiful sight. Suddenly, it started to rain.
"Why now?" Ann moaned. We then ran to some shelter near a convenience store. We began to squeeze the water out of our clothes. As I was drying my hair, I felt eyes on me. Makoto, Ann, and I turned to the boys to see if they looked at us, only to find them looking away.
"Come on!" Ann said.
"Looks like you need help..." Ryuji said, still not looking our way.
"Then go buy me a towel!" Ann said, grabbing his collar and shaking the poor guy. Makoto sighed, and I hid a chuckle behind my hand. The speaker system in the city then made an announcement.
"Due to the sudden change in weather, a heavy rain and flooding warning has been issued nearby." The woman on the intercoms said. My friends and I went inside the convenience store. We talked for a bit, then went our separate ways to go home.
That night, as I ate dinner with the Kwamis, I was watching the news. As I was eating my katsu chicken, something on the T.V caught my attention. It was a message to the Phantom Thieves from a group called: 'Medjed.'
"To the Phantom Thieves causing uproar in Japan: Do not speak of your false justice. We do not need the spread of such falsehood. We are the actual executors of justice. However, we are magnanimous. We will allow you to repent your ways. If you agree to a change of heart, we will accept you as our own. If you reject our offer, the hammer of justice will find you. We are Medjed. We are unseen. We will eliminate evil."
I turned off the T.V... I had lost my appetite.
"Master, that message involves you! You are a Phantom Thief!" Wayzz said, worry on his face.
"Master, what will you do?" Nooroo asked. The other Kwamis surrounded me, concern on their faces.
"Calm down, it will be alright..." I told the Kwamis, raising up my hands.
"If Medjed wants a war, then a war they will get," I said, taking out my phone.
"Marinette, before you do anything, at least finish your dinner," Tikki told me, gesturing to my half-eaten Katsu. I let out a sigh and picked up my chopsticks. After I'd eaten my dinner, I got a notification on my phone. It was from the group chat.
~~+~~
Ryuji:
We gotta talk about Medjed!
You:
You saw the news too, then?
Ann:
Do you mean those guys' people online are going nuts over?
Yusuke:
Medjed...
Yusuke:
The name comes from one of the more obscure gods from the Egyptian Book of the Dead.
Makoto:
I saw the news too.
Makoto:
For some reason, they think we speak of false justice.
You:
Oh boy...
You:
What should we do?
Ryuji:
Why not go after them as our next target?
Yusuke:
What a sudden suggestion.
You:
Ryuji!
Ryuji:
I mean, they're like, evil Hackers or something, yeah?
Makoto:
Technically, they're crackers...
Makoto:
Those who use the internet illegally access and alter data.
Makoto:
Medjed is an organized group of such people recognized by the larger international community.
Yusuke:
So they operate on a global scale?
Ann:
That means they are even more significant than Kaneshiro!
You:
Oh, mon Dieu...
Ryuji:
Right?!
Ryuji:
Then it's settled; our next big target is Medjed!
You:
Hold on!
You:
We need to know the identities of Medjed first!
Ryuji:
Relax, Mari!
Ryuji:
We'll just test to see if Medjed can be used on the Nav!
Akira:
I don't think that'll work...
Makoto:
I agree with Akira; Medjed is just the name of their organization. We don't even know how many people are in Medjed.
Ann:
Oh...
You:
And even if we find out the identity of one member, how will we find out the location?
You:
Medjed is online, and I doubt "the internet" would qualify as a location on the Nav.
Yusuke:
Any more useless ideas, Ryuji?
You:
Yusuke!
Ann:
Hellooooo!
Yusuke:
It seems he had suggested this without putting much thought into it...
Ryuji:
C'mon! We can't back down now! People are all excited about it!
Ryuji:
Our reputation is gonna plummet if we don't face this sh*t!
Yusuke:
That is true. If we remain silent, people would believe we simply chose to run away from the matter.
You:
You know, let's discuss this tomorrow.
You:
We will have fresher minds tomorrow, and we all need sleep.
Ann:
You really are the team mom here, Mari.
You:
Well, someone has to do the job!
Akira:
I'll talk with Mishima about this tomorrow. This is his thing.
You:
Good thinking!
You:
Good night everyone!
~~+~~
I sighed as I turned off my phone.
"Are the others aware of this?" Tikki asked.
"They are... and I'm worried," I said.
"Don't worry! You have handled worse than a bunch of Hackers!" Tikki said.
"You're right, Tikki. We'll get through this!" I said. I got up and walked to my apartment window, looking out to the street below. I silently prayed that my friends and I would find a way to overcome this.
(A/N: HEY!! I'M BACK!! I'M ALIVE!! Sorry I've been gone so long! I was busy and lacked motivation. I will post more often, maybe another chapter on Monday? I'll see what I can do. Also, art! https://www.deviantart.com/justacreator/art/Marinette-s-Clothes-890116047?ga_submit_new=10%3A1630114861)
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