After an intense rush of adrenaline—and a flood of estrogen, progesterone, oxytocin, and all sorts of other weirdly named hormones...
Rinto, Momoka, and Nina finally made it back to their cozy little run-down apartment.
It had actually been less than an hour.
But for Momoka and Nina, both had just awakened their Personas.
After the initial rush faded, returning to reality left them completely wiped out.
Naturally, it fell to Rinto to take care of them.
While cleaning up after this pair of "conjugate mother and daughter" (?), Rinto found himself feeling both happy and troubled.
The fact that both could awaken to their Personas and become friends who could share his secret—of course that was a good thing.
But Rinto also had to consider: from now on, there were going to be a whole lot of things he'd need to explain.
Especially to Momoka.
If she found out he'd been hiding something this big from her all along, she'd probably be furious.
So Rinto was prepared.
If Momoka decided to break up with him, he'd have to be ready—ready to wear her out so much she couldn't even speak...
...So, Momoka-san? Mind telling me what this is about?
The night wasn't even over yet when Rinto found himself completely lost.
Momoka was standing by the bed, arms folded like a guardian statue, giving off an intense aura.
And Rinto...
was lying spread-eagle on the bed, hands and feet tied with towels.
Next to Momoka—
Nina held up her phone, having already given her a thorough crash course:
"...Basically, that's the setup. Rinto's the legendary, real-deal Phantom Thief—been at it for three years now. He's stolen who knows how many women's hearts—he's got lovers all over the country! Maybe even overseas!"
Momoka: "Hmm, I see... Three years ago, huh? That's about when I dropped out and came to Tokyo. After that I left the whole high school scene, so I guess I missed all this gossip."
The two exchanged info, solemnly piecing together Rinto's identity and abilities.
Rinto had honestly thought he'd at least make it through the night in one piece...
But he didn't expect these two big sisters to rest for just two hours before impatiently deciding it was time to "settle accounts."
After hearing all these wild Phantom Thief stories, Momoka hit him with a blunt question:
"So you've been active since three years ago? That means you were, what, fourteen?...Weren't you a middle schooler then? Is this some kind of retro magical girl manga, making a middle schooler the protagonist?"
Rinto: "Don't ask me, I'm innocent here... I don't even remember anything before that, just woke up like this with no options."
He dodged, acting pure and clueless.
Truth was, if you asked whether he really had a choice, of course he did.
He could've just ignored the Phantom Thief powers, lived a quiet life.
Even ignoring everything else, his ridiculous language skills alone were enough to let him be a prodigy and retire young.
But first, he just wasn't interested.
And second—he liked it.
After discovering his power to steal hearts, Rinto genuinely volunteered himself as a vigilante, wanting to stand up for people who were being hurt.
Momoka and Nina understood what kind of person Rinto was.
After hearing his explanation, Momoka gave a noncommittal grunt.
She grumbled a bit, then pouted, slightly annoyed:
"You really didn't need to hide it from me. If I'd known I was living with a Phantom Thief this famous online, I could've written a dozen new songs for you by now."
Rinto: "Sorry about that. It's just, I was so hyped to be living with my rock idol onee-san, I was afraid you'd take me for a liar."
Hmph~?
Momoka, hearing his blatant flattery, instantly flushed and started to squirm, obvious as could be.
But she didn't go straight for intimacy—instead, she demanded "compensation" from Rinto.
On the contrary, Momoka turned seriously to Nina beside her:
"So, Nina, you risked everything coming to Tokyo for him because he once saved your life."
"That I get. If it were me, I'd do the same. He didn't just save you, he gave you a reason to keep going... It'd be strange not to fall for him."
"Mm..."
Nina blushed, but nodded with total conviction.
She wouldn't lie. If she liked Rinto, she liked Rinto.
Even if Rinto didn't like her back, she wasn't about to retreat—after all, picking up what others drop is a kind of talent!
And for Momoka, as the official girlfriend...
Scratch that. Official lover—that made total sense.
They were all women, after all.
And with Momoka's deep, sensitive side, she could totally empathize with Nina.
So!
Momoka took a deep breath and nodded hard:
"Alright. Let this man enjoy himself—we'll just share him!"
...Share???
Rinto didn't get it at all.
Share what?
It sounded like a roommate arrangement—was he being rented out or something?
So just like they shared this house, now they'd share him too?
Rinto immediately tried to stand on principle, his expression holier than a monk's:
"Momoka-san, I don't think that's right. As a man of integrity, I believe in equality between the sexes and the sanctity of true love..."
Momoka: "Then I'll just call your twin sisters over for an all-hands meeting right now, how about that?"
"I'm sorry, I was wrong. Please allow me to be shared by you."
He caved instantly, not a shred of backbone.
But Momoka and Nina just laughed, having the time of their lives at his expense.
Momoka sighed in heartfelt admiration:
"Now I finally get why those twins were fine with this kind of setup. They definitely know about your identity too, right?"
"In the end, I was the only one left in the dark… but I'm not upset. I can feel how much you care about me, how much you love me—thank you. I love you, too."
After that soft, blushing confession, Momoka wasted no time flipping the script:
"The only reason those twins could accept this kind of relationship is because they know you're not a normal person, right? Honestly, I never imagined something this wild, like out of a manga, could actually happen in real life. But I've experienced it myself now—there's no denying it."
"So, then. Since that completely ridiculous 'world made of people's hearts' actually exists, having a harem hero Phantom Thief boyfriend like you just comes with the territory. The rules of reality never really applied to you—and shouldn't."
Momoka giggled.
She perched on the edge of the bed, leaned over, and gave Rinto a sweet kiss on the cheek.
It wasn't lewd, just pure affection.
Which immediately made Nina flush and swallow hard, her heart pounding.
And then—
Momoka, ever the onee-san type, turned to Nina with a teasing grin:
"What are you waiting for? Come here, Nina—I'll teach you what kind of kisses this dumb boy likes."
"…Eh?!"
Nina's eyes went huge—no, she was outright panicking with joy and terror!
The monkey-like girl gulped hard, lips trembling in a wavy line:
"T-this isn't right… is it illegal, or just immoral…? I mean, Rinto and I aren't even in an official relationship, and jumping straight to a threesome is way too rock 'n' roll… Plus, Momoka-nee, don't hog him for yourself! You promised to teach me! (〃＞目＜)"
Seeing Momoka already starting some drunken, iron-chain bonding routine, Nina had no choice but to hurry over.
As for Rinto, being treated like a prize, he'd completely lost any say in the matter.
Watching the two of them on top of him, acting closer than real sisters, the only thing he could manage was—
"Nina, are you sure about this?"
He looked at the honest, straightforward girl, still trying to reason with her:
"We never finished that conversation before, right? I have other girlfriends besides Momoka—I'm not really the devoted, one-woman type you imagine."
"So, really—is this okay with you?"
"…That's such a sneaky way to ask."
With Momoka's mischievous grin watching her, Nina pouted in defiance.
She straddled Rinto, cupping his face with both hands.
This gentle, introverted country girl—who loved Buddhist statues and books—was utterly sincere:
"I like you. I want to be with you forever."
"Honestly, I do feel a little bitter sometimes. If only I'd remembered what happened in the Metaverse, maybe I could have held onto you, maybe I could have beaten Momoka-nee and had you all to myself…"
"But at the end of the day, as long as you're still you, you'll end up tangled up with other girls, making them fall for you, right? Even if I'd kept you in Kumamoto, you'd never stop being a Phantom Thief, would you?"
…That was true.
Rinto had to admit, even though he'd come back to Tokyo to retire, he'd never really planned to stop for good.
Ann and Shiho's situation was just a catalyst.
Even without running into a bastard like Kamoshida, Rinto would have found some other injustice to get involved with eventually—he just couldn't sit back and do nothing.
Nina saw through him better than Rinto himself.
So...
Nina smiled: "I like you. I like the Phantom Thief you, my cool, lifesaving, heart-stealing hero."
"So, I want to be with you. Momoka-nee is right—we're superpowered girls who broke reality's rules, so why care what anyone thinks? As long as we have a clear conscience, that's enough."
"It's up to you now. Rinto, how do you see me? …Is it really impossible to see me as a woman? Am I just not feminine enough?"
Iseri Nina's gaze was pleading, pitiful—like a spoiled little Pomeranian.
With things laid out like this, how could Rinto resist?
He quickly undid the towels binding his hands, and cupped Nina's soft cheeks:
"If you hadn't forgotten me back then, I definitely would've confessed to you—I'd have come to your house, met your family."
"Though your stern educator dad probably would've kicked me out, I'd have kept coming back, again and again. Until he accepted me—or until you ran away with me. I'd have kept my promise, stayed with you forever."
"So yes, Nina, I like you. Thank you for liking me too—be my girlfriend."
"~~~Mhm!"
The adorable girl nodded fiercely, crying and smiling at the same time.
In the warmth that melted all her spikes, their personal, fated dragon sole (??) kept shining—uncompromising in the face of any outside opinion.
...
...And so, on to the next rock 'n' roll day.
Rinto barely slept a wink—at most, he managed a short nap.
He left the deeply sleeping Momoka and Nina, headed to the bathroom to shower and get ready.
"…No doubt about it now. I'm officially a scumbag…"
Staring at his reflection, Rinto felt all sorts of emotions… but mostly, he was honestly happy.
This time, he'd fully chosen this path, with Nina, on his own terms.
He'd "taken" this good, almost runaway girl, and pulled her into such a wild, rock-n-roll life.
He knew he was crossing every line—but he accepted it.
After Momoka, Nina was now his second "affair."
Though, honestly, after things with the Yoshizawa twins, he'd already lost the right to pretend to be "pure love"…
But still, this was something he needed to come to terms with.
It was only after Nina that Rinto finally accepted the reality: he was a scumbag.
He had to be ready, and willing, to bear the consequences.
To take on the fallout of breaking society's rules—and the responsibility, too.
He had to take care of Momoka and the others, to make sure every girl he loved would be happy.
"…Alright!"
He took a deep breath, regaining his energy.
Today was Saturday—the start of a brand new weekend.
Rinto made up his mind.
From now on, he'd face himself even more honestly, never mind the rules of reality!
First off—
For the future of himself and all his girls, Rinto decided to get a full physical check-up!
...
"…So. This is why you're two weeks late reporting in?"
Rinto's private doctor, the lady physician Ms. Takemi—whose private clinic stood in Yongen-Jaya—was giving him a chilly look sharp enough to thrill any true masochist.
Rinto sat meekly in the exam chair, shoulders hunched, doing his best not to look at her long, pale legs.
…Seriously, doctor's coats were supposed to look professional.
So why did it look like cosplay on her?
And this punk-rock doctor really went all out.
Wearing sandals to work was one thing.
But the spiked choker around her neck—way more punk than Momoka, who was the actual rock musician!
Rinto coughed, awkwardly trying to explain:
"Well, school started recently, and I really was busy… And about that doctor's note for Suzui Shiho—thank you, by the way, for helping with that."
"You're welcome."
Ms. Takemi, her nails painted a vivid red, leaned her cheek on her hand, studying Rinto with interest:
"That volleyball girl's got a strong constitution, but was definitely overdoing it physically. Looking after a good girl's health is a doctor's job."
"But I heard that soon after, Shujin's P.E. teacher was arrested. Turned himself in for corporal punishment or something… That wouldn't have anything to do with you, would it, little Phantom Thief assistant?"
Takemi's gaze stayed on Rinto, sharp and curious, making him feel seriously guilty.