บท 56: The Game of Pool.
(Posting a bit earlier than usual, but next chap won't be until tomorrow since I am going to start stockpiling for my trip.)
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After devising a plan for their activities, the Thieves ventured to Kichijoji to unwind at a quaint club known as Penguin Sniper. This venue, with its array of entertainment options like darts, billiards, and bowling, wasn't as crowded as expected, providing the group ample opportunity to indulge in the activities without the hassle of waiting.
Ryuji had recently proposed a new tradition: celebrating at a new locale following the successful completion of a palace. They had stopped at Leblanc the first time, so to mix things up slightly, they would try a different place that he knew.
This change of scenery offered a momentary respite, allowing them to relax before gearing up for the challenges ahead. With Haru's father potentially being their next target and Sae's and the SIU Director's palaces looming in the background, the group was mindful of the battles that lay ahead.
Ren wanted to try to formally recruit Futaba into the Thieves, given how helpful she had been with hacking the billboards, but he was waiting to hear back from her about her Palace. It was something that she was still dealing with, and since she hadn't asked for help yet, Ren wouldn't intervene unless it was an emergency. Especially since the last time he saw her, her mask was on the brink of collapse.
One of the main reasons he gave her so much space and time to process everything on her own was the Arcana she represented. The Hermit stood for introspection and solitude, a lone man walking through the world with only a lamp to light his path. It represented contemplation and self-discovery. Right now, the lamp that guided Futaba through her journey was the old journals her mother had left for her.
Their exploration of the club was interrupted by Ryuji's enthusiastic discovery of a photo booth. His excitement was contagious as he began rifling through the assortment of props available. With a playful chuckle, he handed Ren a mask eerily similar to his Phantom Thief persona, along with a magician's hat.
After having to model along with Ann, Ren's dislike of pictures had somewhat waned, so he placed the plastic mask on his face as he played along with the group.
"Try pulling Mona out of the hat." Ryuji suggested, earning an eye roll from Mona as he began distributing props to the others.
For Makoto, he chose a regal crown; Ann received a pair of whimsical cat ears; and to Shiho, he handed a fake microphone and a fairy wand, apologetically noting the absence of a prop befitting a Siren.
"Finding something for a 'Siren' was a bit of a challenge, ya know?" Ryuji remarked as he equipped himself with a pirate's eye patch and brandished a hook.
Shiho, amused by the selection, embraced her assigned accessories. Holding the microphone, she spoke in a joking tone as she said.
"I guess this only adds to my mystique."
Huddling around the tiny photo booth, the group began to take pictures together. Ann held Mona to the sky as if he were a lion king in a few pictures before quickly hiding him away as one of the workers walked by. Minutes slipped by until they had a handful of pictures in their hands, giving everyone a bundle of pictures to take back home.
From one place to the other, the group wandered around the small club and tried out everything it had to offer. As the group tried their hand at bowling, Ren slipped away to grab some snacks before spotting a familiar face playing pool by himself.
A young man who had neck-length brown hair and reddish-brown eyes. He was wearing a surprisingly formal outfit for a casual place like the Penguin Sniper: a brown coat over his button-up shirt with a loose tie, accompanied by a pair of black gloves in his hands.
"Are you the 'detective prince'?" Ren asked with some curiosity as he saw the brown-haired boy lift his head.
Hearing someone call his title, the brown-haired man turned, his eyes widening in slight surprise before he let out a smile.
"That is a title many have bestowed upon me. Are you one of my fans?" he asked, putting on a charming smile.
As someone who worked closely with the Director of SIU, he was someone Ren would be cautious with. However, he would regret it if he didn't at least try to talk to him since he might be one of the possible connections he had been looking for to learn more about the Director and the conspiracy happening in the background.
"I've seen you on TV a few times. I recognized you because I've heard some things about you from my friends. You work with Prosecutor Nijima, don't you?" Ren asked.
The smile on Akechi's face became slightly more natural as he answered.
"Indeed, I have the pleasure of working with Miss Nijima. The friend you must be referring to is her sister, Makoto, if my assumptions are correct."
With a nod, Ren answered.
"I guess that's why they call you the Detective Prince." He said in a joking tone.
Hearing the compliment, Akechi smiled slightly as he spoke.
"Goro Akechi." he introduced himself, offering his left hand in a gesture of goodwill.
"Ren Amamiya," Ren replied, engaging in the handshake. This simple exchange marked the beginning of an intriguing acquaintance.
Looking at the pool table next to him, Akechi offered.
"Would you care to join me for a game?" he suggested.
Nodding his head, Ren quickly sent a message to the group that he would take slightly longer as Akechi set up the balls in their place.
"Please, take the first shot," Akechi gestured gracefully, cue in hand.
As Ren gripped his cue, he felt an involuntary activation of his third eye, guiding his shot with unerring precision. The balls scattered seamlessly across the table following his strike.
"How did you find your way into detective work? We're about the same age, after all." Ren asked as he stood out of Akechi's way and prepared for his turn.
"Well, you could say it was all by chance," Akechi answered as he hit one of the balls. "A combination of luck and timing led me to solve my first case. That drew some attention, and things escalated from there. Hard work played its part, but I credit much of my journey to sheer chance."
After completing his explanation, Akechi missed his intended shot, stepping aside for Ren.
"What about you, Amamiya? I'm sure you must also have an interesting story."
Ren, sinking a ball into a pocket, shared a snippet of his story.
"Well, chance is something we both have in common," he reflected, recalling his encounter with Igor. Despite successfully potting a ball, his subsequent shot went astray, yielding the table to Akechi.
As Akechi began to line up for his next shot, Ren finished his answer. However, using a different fragment of his past.
"The main reason I am here in Tokyo is that I tried to help a girl who was being assaulted. I pushed some bald rich guy with a goatee, and the next thing I knew, I was on a train to Tokyo with a criminal record." Ren answered just as Akechi prepared to hit the ball.
Using slightly too much force, the white ball flew off the table, causing Akechi to let out a slightly awkward chuckle.
"Apologies, I attempted a trick shot I'd seen online. Clearly, it needs more practice," he admitted, retrieving the ball and stepping aside for Ren's turn.
Akechi's mishap caught Ren off guard, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise as he prepared for his next move.
"So, how is it working with Nijima?" Ren inquired, smoothly pocketing a ball on the table.
"It's rewarding. She's incredibly dedicated, though perhaps a bit too serious about her work at times," Akechi replied, his smile reflecting a mix of admiration and bemusement.
Ren, taking another shot and sinking it, mused.
"I've only met her briefly, but she did strike me as someone who's quite intense from time to time."
Akechi's response came with a soft chuckle.
"Indeed, she has her moments…"
As he lined up his next shot, Ren muttered almost as if absentmindedly.
"It's funny; it's rare to see someone with reddish-brown eyes since they are usually just plain brown, yet both the detective and prosecutor have them. It must have been another game of chance." Ren said as he struck the next ball.
Akechi's laughter was light as he absorbed the remark.
"That's something I hadn't considered. But I am quite fond of my eye color since it is the same as my mother's." he shared, a hint of nostalgia in his voice before redirecting his focus to the game. "Although, if we're discussing unique eye colors, yours certainly stand out. I can't recall meeting anyone with eyes quite like yours."
As Ren heard his answer, a slight smirk appeared on his face. Yet, acting as if he was too focused to hear it, he hit the final eight ball into the pocket before standing up.
"Well, it seems you're more adept at this than I initially thought," Akechi remarked, observing Ren's skillful conclusion of their game.
Ren, turning towards Akechi with a playful glint in his eye, proposed.
"I'm always up for a rematch. How about it?"
Akechi's response came with a light-hearted nod and a chuckle.
"Why not? I actually enjoyed this. Let's exchange numbers; I'll reach out when I get some free time. Though I should probably head back to work now, I bet it is quite a mess after the hack that happened last night.."
After exchanging numbers, Ren headed back to meet with the group, with Akechi turning to leave. Once Akechi was out of the building, Ren's smile widened. His golden eyes glimmered as he approached the group with some interesting news.
~Confidants~
Goro Akechi (The Justice) Rank 1.
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