P5, Conan sewn in, plus a co-op system.
Just hearing those few keywords is enough to make people start imagining things, and Kazawa was no exception. He directly slotted the characters from Conan into Persona roles, roughly guessed who might have Tarot connections and what their Arcanas might be, then began approaching them one by one.
It was precisely because of this meta-level foresight that Kazawa was able to incorporate the ability to disguise himself—something he snatched from Kaito Kid—into his master plan and carry it out step by step.
His plan had been going smoothly. Though he still didn't fully understand how to level up the co-op ranks, Kazawa was already using his cheat abilities quite skillfully. The given Tarots weren't exactly what he had predicted, but the overall direction was close enough.
Except for one outlier.
That was Hikaru Hoshikawa.
A character who never even existed in the original story.
Kazawa stumbled upon him by accident. He couldn't tell whether Hoshikawa was just some no-name background extra from Conan or someone spontaneously generated by the fusion of worlds—but either way, Hoshikawa was never part of his original calculations.
In Kazawa's plan, once he replaced Hoshikawa's identity, he would hand him over to Shuichi Akai and have him sent out of the country.
That way, Hoshikawa would gain his freedom, and Kazawa would have fulfilled his promise.
As for Tonoguchi Shigehiko, he was doomed anyway—Kazawa's involvement wouldn't change the end result. He wasn't in a rush.
But then, on the eve of Akai's operation, while Kazawa was out sharing ice cream with Conan, he received an email...
—
"It's me."
"...Oh, Kazawa. What's up?"
"It's time. Get ready."
"You mean sending me to America? Sorry, Kazawa."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"I've already met the contact. I let my mother leave with him. But I... I'm staying."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah. I've made up my mind."
"...Where are you?"
"At the dock we agreed on."
"Wait there. I'm coming now."
Kazawa hastily brought the clueless grade-schooler Conan back home, changed into his Goro Akechi disguise, and rushed to the dock—but by the time he arrived, the boat Akai had arranged was already long gone.
He found Hikaru Hoshikawa squatting in a container warehouse by the docks, staring blankly at the sea.
After rescuing Hoshikawa from the Tonoguchi household, Kazawa had at least cleaned him up a bit.
To make him look different from Goro Akechi—especially since in the Conan world people mostly recognize others by their hair—Kazawa had tied Hoshikawa's hair into a short ponytail and added large black-rimmed glasses. Since even three versions of Shinichi Kudo coexist just fine, a face-alike wasn't much of a problem.
Now, Hoshikawa just looked like an ordinary, introverted teenager. Even if he were standing face to face with Akechi, it wouldn't be easy to tell they looked alike.
"Hikaru Hoshikawa!" Kazawa stood in front of him, blocking his view of the pitch-black sea.
Hoshikawa looked up, saw a face identical to his own, and let out a couple amused chuckles.
He knew Kazawa was furious—furious about his last-minute change of plans.
Kazawa was the kind of person who got closer to people by avoiding formality. Once past the introduction stage, he rarely used anyone's full name.
Just hearing "Hikaru Hoshikawa" in that tone was enough to feel his rage.
"You've got the nerve to laugh!" Kazawa slapped a hand down on Hoshikawa's head. "Why didn't you leave?!"
Hoshikawa flailed for balance but didn't try to escape Kazawa's vengeful hand pressing on his skull. He just pushed up his glasses and said, "I know I'm not nearly as capable as you. I might even become a burden."
"Then why—" Kazawa was at a loss and frustrated.
Hoshikawa was never part of his long-term plans. Once Kazawa no longer needed someone to impersonate him, the boy had no place left in the operation.
Hoshikawa staying behind completely threw off the puzzle—it was like having an extra piece after you thought the whole thing was done.
"I'll call Akai. Maybe the boat's still close enough." Kazawa scratched his head, messing up the neat Akechi hairstyle in frustration.
Just as he reached for his phone, Hoshikawa grabbed his wrist.
"No. I don't want to leave." His grip was firm. "You still risk exposure, right? What if one day the Organization decides to pull at your face and finds nothing underneath? And... I'm the only one who knows your true capabilities, aren't I? If Joker disappears every time you show up... how long can you really keep your secret?"
This guy… is he addicted to being a stand-in tool?!
Kazawa paused and stared blankly at Hoshikawa's serious expression. "Just for that?"
"It's not about you," Hoshikawa muttered. "I already had them take my mother. She needed that more than I did."
He turned to the warehouse entrance, hesitant to say what came next.
The sky and sea outside were both a dull grey, but the dimness only made the brightness in his eyes more striking. Kazawa couldn't look away.
"You told me I'd see my father's death. That you're a blade meant to destroy everything the Organization represents."
"Do you think those words are stupid? Unrealistic?"
"Of course not. Watching you over the past few days... I believe every word you said. So show me, Kazawa."
He looked back, eyes glowing with determination.
"If you think I'm a risk, if you think I'll cause problems, use your methods—your weird tricks, the Organization's drugs, whatever. Just... let me stay. Let me be part of your miracle."
He'd felt powerless for too long.
His tiny, grey life had drifted aimlessly like a weed in the wind—no control, no struggle, just barely surviving.
Even at his best, all he could do was stay alive.
But Kazawa… was a miracle.
On an ordinary night, Kazawa had descended from the moonlight like a blade of justice—right in front of him.
Could someone as small as him really be part of that miracle? Hoshikawa didn't know. He couldn't tell if this brief flash of light was meant for him or just passing by.
So he wanted to try.
Kazawa looked into those glowing eyes, stunned.
Hoshikawa's face was undeniably handsome—as proven by how Akechi, based on his likeness, had become a media darling. But up until now, it had been hard to notice.
His eyes had always been too dim, like dead amber—lifeless, hollow, like frozen ash.
But now, that amber had turned molten again, reflecting light.
Kazawa had to admit—he'd never truly seen Hoshikawa as a person before.
He was a useful tool, sure. A convenient backstory. But that was all.
Honestly, he'd barely even spoken to the guy properly. He was far too busy planning everything else.
And yet now, faced with Hoshikawa's unwavering resolve, the words of rejection caught in his throat.
"This isn't some childish game, Hoshikawa. You don't need to prove anything."
"I'm not trying to prove anything. Hell, I've even thought maybe I'd be more useful if I left." He laughed self-deprecatingly. "But you can use me, can't you? I want to witness it. I want to participate. Give me that chance."
Kazawa looked away, grumbled, "Why're you even asking me? The boat's long gone. You planning to swim to America if I say no?"
"So... that's a yes?" Hoshikawa smiled. It was different from Akechi's fake, gentle expression—smaller, more real. And it washed away much of his usual gloom.
"Like I had a damn choice," Kazawa sighed and slapped the back of his head again. "Come on. Let's find a place to hide you first."
Suddenly, Leon's voice rang out of nowhere, interrupting Kazawa mid-step.
"I am thou... thou art I..."
"From this moment forth, a new bond is formed."
"This bond shall become the wings of rebellion that break the chains of captivity."
"Thou hast been blessed with the birth of the Moon Arcana."
[Cooperation: Hikaru Hoshikawa]
[Arcana: Moon]
[The moon, not a star itself, shines with the borrowed light of the sun. And perhaps, in your glow, some speck of darkness has begun to glow on its own, eager to learn how to shine.]
[Acquired Ability: Endure Lv.1 (Slight reduction in pain perception)]
"...!"
Kazawa turned sharply to look at Hoshikawa, shocked.
He had a co-op link. He had a Tarot.
This kid—this near-background character he almost shipped away—was a real co-op partner.
Hoshikawa blinked at his sudden reaction.
Floating in Kazawa's exclusive vision, a blue Tarot card spun gently in the air.
"Um…"
"Yeah?"
"This might sound weird, but... you know how I sign my little stunts under the name 'Phantom Thieves of Hearts,' right?"
"Yeah, I've heard."
"Well... so far, that group only had one member—me."
"Then why call it a group? Should've just written 'Phantom Thief.'"
"It's for the aesthetic! That's not the point—what matters is... Would you be interested in joining the Phantom Thieves of Hearts as our second member?"
"Huh?!"