Third Person's POV

After laughing, everyone sighed in relief. "Well, let's get off the streets and go... uh... where do you wanna go?" Zac asked his friends.

"Probably back to the hospital..." Akira admitted.

"You haven't been officially discharged yet." Orochi added.

"Then we should go quickly," Auguste urged. "I don't want anyone to see me in this jumpsuit--"

"So it's true, then!" yelled the voice of a bystander. The group turned around in shock to see a small congregation growing amongst them. "Zac's brother went to jail after all!" The owner of the voice pointed an accusing finger at Auguste.

The former inmate looked down at his prison clothes in embarrassment. There goes my plan... he thought.

Another person strided towards Zac, holding out their phone to record audio. "Zac, did you know your brother was a phantom thief? If so, why did you keep it from your fans?"

"Do you admit to supporting the Phantom Thieves of Beys?!" someone cried out. The rest of the crowd started arguing and yammering at the Kaneguros and their group of friends. Others started recording the scene on their phones while demanding answers--all at once, too many at a time.

At last, Hyde had enough. "QUIET!!!" His raspy voice echoed through the streets.

The crowd froze.

Hyde exhaled deeply. "Listen! Is that any way to treat a celebrity that just got out of the hospital? Do you really call yourselves fans?!" He stuck out his tongue at the group grimly. "Hah! Pathetic."

"We're not fans, we're critics!" a person from the congregation clarified. The crowd babbled in agreement.

"Oh..." Hyde mouthed. "WELL..." (At this, the crowd went silent again.) "I'm sure he will answer your questions some other time. Look, he's tired! And his brother is tired, and we are tired--I'm always tired! Don't you see my eyebags?! So you can all scurry off and if you're respectful enough to leave us alone, then maaaaybe he will answer your questions. Sound good?"

"No!" someone denied, causing the crowd to immediately start yammering again. "You can't just talk off a crowd! We want answers!"

"Fine!" Zac snapped, trying to talk above them. "If you want answers, then I'll tell you!"

"Zac, are you sure?" Akira worried. "Your reputation is on the line!"

Zac gave him a determined look, then shouted to the crowd, "Alright, listen up! I'll only give you my honest opinion if you settle down!"

Everyone decrescendo-ed and focused their attention on the pop star, phones at the ready. "I love my brother. I know he is a good person at heart, even if he was a phantom thief. So whatever he plans on doing from now on..." Zac took a deep breath. "I will support him." The crowd burst in outrage.

"I know, I know, stealing Beys is wrong." Zac explained. "I, as a Blader, know that full well, especially when my Bey was almost taken from me." The crowd raised eyebrows and looked at each other in confusion. "But I know my brother has no intention to do it again." Auguste, who was hiding behind the others, looked down shamefully.

"I acknowledge that my fame is deteriorating as we speak, but..." Zac eyed the crowd unfalteringly. "My fame is not nearly as important as Auguste." Much to Zac's dismay, the people only gave back insulted or disappointed looks. Ending their recordings and forwarding them on their phones, they disbanded and dispersed.

"SCRAM!" Hyde spat at the slower ones. Some people retched at him in horror and strided away as quickly as they could. "That's better. Hmph!"

"You really didn't have to defend me, Zachary," Auguste fretted, gripping his brother by the shoulder. "Everyone is going to look down on you now...!"

"So what?" Zac shrugged. "I would never forgive myself if I didn't defend you. Joshua Burns can take my place, for all I care."

"Zac... you're impossible." Auguste smiled sadly but with the utmost gratefulness.

៳

Days have passed since the reunion, and a lot has changed.

"Auggy! Long time no see--who are you and what did you do to Auguste."

Zac happened to walk into a busy Auguste, who wasn't typing on the computer, but was throwing away important-looking documents with a wide smile on his face.

"Zaccy! Can't you believe it? My boss found me out and I got fired!" Auguste cried joyfully.

"What?! That's awful!" Zac stammered.

"More like awesome! Can't you see? I don't have to waste away in front of a screen!" Auguste rejoiced as he took Zac's hands eagerly.

"But... what job will you take up now? You told me you'd stop being a phantom thief."

"I did! Zachary, remember that I still have to do community service?"

Zac nodded, bewildered.

"They allowed me to be a cop! Wait, no, not just a cop, a secret agent!"

"Don't you hate cop movies?"

"I've done a little bit of research, and I've noticed that being in the police forces isn't all that different from being a phantom thief!" Auguste began to pace as he rambled on. "We can solve mysteries, utilize our stealth and trickery, and serve justice!" Auguste concluded with a Zac-like dab.

Flabbergasted by the pose that was nothing like his Auggy, Zac mumbled, "Are you positive about this? How about the background check and all?"

"I told you, Zac. They already allowed me on the job! They'll keep a close eye on me, but I don't mind!"

"Well, I'm happy for you, brother...!" Zac replied, still astounded.

"But at the same time, I'm starting to get anxious," Auguste fussed. "To be honest, I've been thinking about the Phantom Thieves of Beys. Though they're phantom thieves, they're still my friends. What will they think of me now that I'm working for the police?"

"That sounds tight..." Zac put a hand to his chin thoughtfully. "If only you could convince them to join you as secret agents too."

Auguste tapped his index fingers together. "Yes, but I'm nervous about meeting them again. Worst case scenario is that they get in danger."

Zac pondered for a while. "Hey, I might know someone who can help. Heard he's a good policeman."

"Can you convince him to tell the police that I want to go alone to meet the phantom thieves?" Auguste reminded, looking down. "That way, they won't feel so betrayed."

"Alright. I know you said you wanted to go alone, but can I come along?"

៳

"Okay, I will drop you off here, then I'm leaving the rest to you two." The "good policeman" that Zac mentioned drove them to the sidewalk of an almost-empty street. They were in a seemingly ordinary van, so as to not raise suspicions if the Phantom Thieves of Beys ever spotted it.

"Thank you so much, sir!" Zac unbuckled his seat belt when the van stopped, and he hopped outside. Auguste followed, then thanked the policeman too.

"I'll be waiting over here, just in case." The policeman gave a thumbs up as the two brothers strolled away.

Auguste nodded. "Yes, but only to pick us up when we finish, okay?" Then he gave a whisper to his brother: "I still can't believe that he is the iconic referee of several Beyblade tournaments."

"I know, right?" Zac whispered back with a chuckle. "Surprising, and cool."

It was the dead of night. The two brothers continued to walk side by side on a moonlit sidewalk towards a familiar parking lot.

"Never been in this part of town," Zac muttered.

"Remember this place all too well," Auguste whispered simultaneously. The two glanced at each other in puzzlement, then had a brief, quiet chuckle together.

Auguste reached the cafe's entrance and examined the door. Same as ever. The "OPEN" sign was lifeless as usual, and the closed sign was hanging on its usual spot. Reluctantly, he raised a fist to knock, then hesitated. Zac, standing behind Auguste, gave him a concerned look.

The former phantom thief took in a breath. This is for their own good, he encouraged himself. He knocked gently.

"What are you doing here..." a voice from inside interrogated rather glumly. "It's super late at--... night?" Inside, the owner of the cafe started to internally panic. All of us are already inside! If that's Count Nightfell, he's probably with the police!

Countess Cygnus almost spat out her tea when she realized what was going on. I recognize that sound of that knock... she thought. She stood up quickly and demanded, "Let him in."

Head Dusk looked up at her in shock.

"What do you think you're doing?" Knight Albus mumbled, glaring at Cygnus dully.

"If you think that's Count Nightfell, then lay off," Cancer groaned. "He's not a phantom thief anymore. He violated the honor code."

"So did you," Albus congratulated without enthusiasm, "when you fought with those gangsters. I'm surprised you're still a phantom thief."

Cancer scoffed back. "Just don't let him in, okay?"

"I let him in." The owner joined the Phantom Thieves of Beys with Zac and Auguste following behind him.

"WHAT?!" Cancer cried out. Albus shielded his face with his feather hat. Head Dusk set down his teacup, eyeing the two brothers.

"Don't worry, I made sure the police wouldn't follow me." Auguste assured.

"At least TRY to make an effort not to rub your true identity in our faces!!" Cancer growled, shielding his eyes from Auguste. The whole time, Countess Cynus stood by her chair, frozen, her gaze on Count Nightfell's true form.

Head Dusk closed his eyes and sighed. Then he opened them to Auguste. "How courteous of you to come here with our safety in mind... Auguste Kaneguro."

Auguste looked down submissively. His view on Head Dusk as the alpha has not changed. "Did you... hear of all that has happened?"

"Yes." Dusk turned to the blonde popstar, who partially hid himself behind his older brother. "You must be Zac the Sunrise."

Zac's face was dotted with sweat, but he made a best effort to wave. "Uh, hi?"

If one could watch the conversation from outside the cafe, they would see everyone seated at the round table with tea.

"I know you value your positions as phantom thieves, but..." Solemnly, Auguste would explain his suggestion to a calm and attentive Head Dusk.

Cancer would criticize him vehemently and cross his arms, while Countess Cygnus and Knight Albus would look down at their tea. "So you're expecting us to turn ourselves in? That's bogus!"

Then Zac would stand up and press his palms against the table's surface; everyone faces him. An encouraging grin spreads on his face and he gives some motivational speech to the phantom thieves. "If things don't go well, me and my brother will vouch for you. And if you get new jobs, you could use your skills for good! I mean, Auguste is doing that," he would say.

Cancer would tilt his head in confusion at the mention of having a new occupation. The rest of the phantom thieves would share his concern, except for one.

Countess Cynus's eyes light up and she chimes in with her own ideas--and an emotional, personal story. She, too, stands up from her seat bravely. "I became a phantom thief to avoid my hard life at home... But now I'm starting to realize that I don't need to avoid the harshness of life anymore."

She would turn to Zac and admit, "Remember your substitute therapist, Zac? That was me." (At this, Zac gasps in realization and surprise.) "I wanted to help Count Nightfell while he was in jail, so I decided to help you, his brother."

Head Dusk closes his eyes, clearly conflicted but trying to think the conversation through. Albus and Cancer turn to him; Cancer appears frustrated and convicted. Eventually, the phantom thief leader stands up and solemnly agrees that they cannot keep up their lives as phantom thieves.

Cancer then starts to shed furious tears. "But I don't want us to go our separate ways.... We are almost like family!"

"Says the one who just joined us," Albus groans. "And who says we will go our separate ways?" He, too, stands up with Head Dusk, saying he is done with his midnight blues anyway.

As Cancer continues to cry sourly, Countess Cygnus goes over to take off his feather hat and comfort him. "Cancer... I keep forgetting that you're just a kid...."

"We'll stay in touch, I'm sure." Head Dusk glances at them with sad eyes.

Sympathizing with the phantom thieves, Zac rubs his head unsurely, wondering if he is doing the right thing telling them to turn themselves in. Auguste gives his brother a pat on the shoulder to assure him. "This will hurt them, but it is for their own good," he would mutter to Zac, who gives a small nod in return.