INBOX

[maskreant]

Hey, this is Akira Kurusu and I'm not available right now. Leave a message and I'll get back to it as soon as I can.

GOSSIP

SCHEME

P.THIEVES

Comments

[maskreant]

yeah, we steal hearts if you get what i mean.

[ trying to... joke about it. ]

[browbeater]

[joking doesn't communicate well over text, but... you know]

that's what i heard... what does that really mean?

[maskreant]

[ HOW MUCH DID SHE TELL HIM... ]

i think it's purposely shifting someone's state of mind.

[browbeater]

so that's what that means. that's why she was worried about what i'd think.

[maskreant]

it would be kind of the biggest love her or leave her situation, really. i can see why.

can we switch off text?

[ He doesn't want to talk about it if it can be misfired elsewhere. ]

[browbeater]

sure. call me.

[maskreant]

that's too forward.

[browbeater]

seriously, pal?

[maskreant]

not seriously.

[ Ring ring. ]

[browbeater]

[akira... he will learn how to read you one day. For now, he's answering the phone.]

Hello?

[maskreant]

[ There's a lot of rustling here and then the sound of a meow.

And something obviously hitting the receiver. ]

Yeah, I'm here.

[browbeater]

So, was this supposed to be a secret, then? The Phantom Thieves thing?

[Akira seems to know a lot more than Ann... Or maybe he should have asked more questions. Hmm.]

[maskreant]

Yeah. The Phantom Thieves work in the shadows.

[ But he'll keep the vigilante thing to himself though he thinks Ann probably mentioned it now. ]

I wouldn't say the police like us, either.

[browbeater]

Aaaaaannnnd you're worried because I'm a cop. Or, at least, Ann was.

[Well, at least, that's what it sounded like. But when she said 'superheroes', he didn't think anything of it, but now he's wondering... She might have really meant it.]

Guess that makes a lot more sense now.

[maskreant]

I'm not too worried since you don't seem very cop-like.

[ Sorry, Mako. He means it in the best of ways, really. ]

But it's just something you should keep a secret.

[browbeater]

[what is the best of ways, though, because Mako doesn't know. He really doesn't.]

Alright. I guess, unless she brings it up, my lips are sealed.

Guess if I was a good cop, I'd ask if you were planning on picking up here. But... I guess I trust you.

[maskreant]

Thanks. We may be vigilantes, but we have our hearts in the right place...

[ HE CAN FEEL A BOND GROW BETWEEN THEM though he didn't expect it to be like this. ]

We'll stand and fight for those that can't. If one of us ever strays, I'm sure we'll keep each other in check.

[browbeater]

[SOCIAL RANK LVL 1? wow that's awesome.

also akira, that's so JRPG protag. You're doing well, kid. For now, though, Mako laughs a little bit.]

Spoken like a true superhero.

Thanks for explaining, Akira.

[maskreant]

[ It may be more than 1 by now, but whatever. ]

Excuse you, we're actually menaces to society. Get it right.

[ He'll laugh a bit, too. ]

It doesn't change your impressions of Ann, I hope?

[browbeater]

It depends on the perspective, doesn't it?

[a pause, with a slight 'hmm.']

But no, it doesn't change my opinion on Ann. It just makes things clearer. I should have asked her, but, hey, it gives me another chance to figure you out too.

[maskreant]

I guess you can say that? In the end, it doesn't change what we do.

[ And it won't change what they believe. ]

... You're taken, Mister Lou.

[browbeater]

[can you hear him eyeroll. he's eyerolling pretty hard at that. thank you, fearless leader, he knows.]

How is that supposed to imply I'm not, Mr. Kurusu.

[he sighs.]

If anything, I should want to get to know Ann's friends better. Especially ones that seem pretty important to her.

[maskreant]

I'm just joking and I know you know that, Mister Lou. Or should I call you Mako? Since we're supposed to get to know each other.

[ LIGHTEN UP, BUD. ]

You're going to regret this.

[browbeater]

That is the most ominous greeting of friendship I've ever heard, Akira.

[it's kind of amusing. Bring it on.]

I'll talk to you later, then.