Tokyo's Phantom Thief

After saying goodbye to the overly enthusiastic blonde gyaru, Takamaki Ann, Rinto didn't head straight home with Momoka.

Ann had actually invited him to dinner—her bold, no-nonsense approach really did feel like something out of a Western romcom.

Not that Rinto was against the idea…

But the amused, teasing look Momoka was giving him from behind made it hard to say yes without feeling roasted alive.

Besides, he genuinely had somewhere else to be—picking up the Yoshizawa twins after practice.

So he politely declined Ann's offer, promising to hang out another time. That finally made the dazzling young lady wave him off with a brilliant smile.

She still didn't know that Rinto was also a student at Shujin Academy—and just like her, about to start his second year.

He figured it'd be fun to save that surprise for later.

Rinto waited outside the gym for the twins to finish training, once again playing the role of their faithful protector.

"Rinto-nii, you look extra cheerful today. Did something good happen?"

"Yeah, your smile's extra handsome today. Love it~ …Rinto-senpai, I like you!"

The twins flanked him from both sides, leaning into his arms like two clingy little puppies.

Rinto couldn't help smiling back, their joy rubbing off on him in an instant.

"Thanks, you two. I like you too, Sumire—and you as well, Kasumi."

He reached out to pat the younger twin's head—casually affectionate.

She must've showered after practice, because not only did she smell faintly sweet, but her silky, freshly dried hair was soft to the touch.

His answer made Sumire's smile freeze in place. On the other side, Kasumi facepalmed in defeat.

But she didn't have time to stand up for her sister—she was more curious about why Rinto was in such a good mood.

"It's nothing big," he said, brushing it off under their curious stares.

"I just happened to help someone today and got a really nice thank-you out of it. You know, like helping an old lady cross the street—feels good."

…Though, if you help someone cross the street but end up leading them the wrong way, that's not a good deed—it's just messing things up.

Getting that volleyball girl, Shiho, out of training for now was only a stopgap.

If that coach was truly abusive, delay alone wouldn't fix the problem.

Rinto couldn't help slipping back into that old mindset—his cursed professional reflexes as a phantom thief resurfacing.

"…Kasumi. Sumire."

He called their names softly. The two roses on either side turned toward him in sync.

"Do you know anyone named Kamoshida? I think he's a PE teacher at Shujin. It's fine if you don't—I'm just thinking out loud."

Kasumi/Sumire: "Kamoshida Suguru? Of course we know him."

That caught Rinto completely off guard.

He'd only been testing the waters with a casual mention of the name. But the twins responded in flawless unison, as if he'd just triggered a keyword in a game.

He hadn't expected it—that the abusive coach Ann had mentioned would turn out to be someone famous.

Kasumi pulled out her phone with lightning speed, showing off her perfectly honed JK search skills, and handed it over.

On the screen was a Wikipedia-style bio entry:

"Kamoshida Suguru. Former Olympic gold medalist in volleyball—he was the team captain who led Japan to its first gold in the event two Olympic Games ago. Sumire and I watched it live when we were little, right?"

"Yup," Sumire nodded. "He was super famous back then, did a bunch of commercials too. After retiring, he was recruited by Shujin Academy. Now he coaches both the boys' and girls' volleyball teams. His teams have had pretty strong results."

This all tied back to the school's recent athletic strategy. The twins started filling in Rinto on things he'd had no idea about.

Rhythmic gymnastics—what the twins specialized in—was also a competitive sport. They'd both placed nationally last year, first and third respectively, making them rising stars in the athletic world.

They'd chosen Shujin specifically because their parents believed the school was putting serious resources into athletics—making it a smart long-term investment.

Part of that decision, it seemed, had even included the fact that Kamoshida, an Olympic gold medalist, was on staff. Prestige mattered.

"…Wow. So that's how it all connects."

The girl he'd casually helped at work? Complaining about a coach who turned out to be a national icon?

Who also had ties to the very reason the Yoshizawa sisters chose Shujin in the first place?

That was a hell of a coincidence—even for someone who didn't believe in fate.

But now, Rinto felt something shift inside him. The passive doubt he'd felt earlier solidified into something harder.

If the twins were going to be at Shujin too—even if their sport had nothing to do with volleyball—they'd probably still run into Kamoshida eventually.

And if that guy really was abusive—physically or otherwise, and especially toward girls—

There's no way he wouldn't target girls as beautiful as these two.

Rinto, who had just sworn to retire, suddenly felt like a grizzled old father watching over his daughters.

The urge to eliminate scum overflowed like righteous indignation boiling over.

"Just to check… have you heard any rumors about Kamoshida? Like inappropriate relationships? Maybe harassment? …Or, uh, being overly familiar with students—like a certain 'Ann,' for example."

The sisters exchanged a glance.

Twins as they were, it was almost eerie how much passed silently between them.

They'd known Rinto for three months now, but this was the first time he'd asked about someone like this.

And the fact that he was asking them?

That meant it was serious.

Their eyes sparkled with an eagerness to help—as if stepping into the role of Phantom Thief sidekicks for real.

"Haven't heard anything firsthand, but I can ask around the coaches! Even if we're not in the same department, someone should know. Give me a few days, okay, Rinto-nii?"

"I'll help too! I'll ask my dad. He never talks about work at home, but if I act all sweet, he'll tell me for sure!"

Kasumi and Sumire, so earnest in expressing their desire to help, practically glowed.

As a reward, Rinto ruffled their heads even more affectionately than usual, making them giggle and squeal with joy.