The Rabbit Catcher

Story
Junko. Codename: Elusive Pure Rabbit. Junko is one of the many mysterious phantom thieves who oft face off against the detectives. Her true intentions remain perfectly hidden beneath her mask. Her outfit is dazzling at a glance, but Junko specified every detail, meaning nothing is without purpose―not even the rabbit ears on her head. Who would've guessed she'd take an interest in the two moon rabbits?

"I want you to join my phantom thief crew." Junko's invitation was surprisingly casual. And yet, there was a confidence in her approach and a crispness in her voice that allowed for no response other than yes. She may have said, "I want you to," but it was clear she meant, "You will." Her glare was pure and unwavering, and somewhat resembled the lunacy that can often be seen in moon rabbits' eyes.

No one but Junko knows what she's thinking and what her true goal is. That said, having trained under her, both Seiran and Ringo knew she wasn't acting like a phantom thief for fun. No, she truly wanted to be one. Naturally, the two moon rabbits had received a disciplined education in the Lunar Capital, but even they were surprised by how tough their phantom thief training was. They received instruction on infiltration, safecracking, and situational awareness. It turns out the skills and knowledge necessary to be a cunning and fearless phantom thief cannot be taught in a day.

The Armstrong Treasure! "I can't take anymore!" "We give up!" At long last, Seiran and Ringo reached their limit and collapsed face-first onto the floor. However, instead of helping them, Junko simply stood silently and stared. Both Seiran and Ringo saw a look in her eye that said, "C'mon. I know you can do this." Reluctantly, they both stood back up and resumed their training. Almost immediately, a satisfied grin spread across Junko's face.

During their intense training, the outfits Junko had so kindly made for Seiran and Ringo started to fray. With fear in their hearts, they turned their pale faces toward Junko, only to find her smiling softly back at them. She placed one hand on each of the outfits, and in an instant, they were as good as new. Junko was relentlessly stubborn, but she could also be surprisingly compassionate. That compassion was helping her form unbreakable bonds with her crew members. Seiran and Ringo still didn't know what Junko was thinking, but it's safe to say they were beginning to see her in a whole new light.