How Many Steps Does It Take to Become a Phantom Thief?

To surpass his dad, Yamiya decides to uncover the secret to becoming the world's greatest phantom thief. But he just can't take that first step.

Until one afternoon, he sees his dad trading barbs with Uncle Akechi again at the shop.

Yamiya has an epiphany.

He needs a rival detective.

*

Rival No. 1 is a high schooler from Beika. Unfortunately, a semester after Yamiya transfers to his school, he vanishes without a trace. No one can find him, and he seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth.

After much careful thought, unable to track him down no matter what, Yamiya sets his sights on a little boy who looks like a miniature figurine of No. 1. He lowers his standards and graciously appoints the boy as his Rival No. 2.

Then he sees a headline about Rival No. 2 getting tangled up with the phantom thief Kaito Kid. The media affectionately calls the kid the "Kid Killer."

I was here first, and now you've got another phantom thief on the side?

Missing out once is a pity, twice is a regret. For his third target, Yamiya chooses the British-detective-style sleuth from Ekoda.

Yamiya is deeply gratified by Rival No. 3's sterling detective ethics, and affectionately thinks of him as "Mini Uncle Akechi."

Then he sees Rival No. 3 and Kid bickering, pretending not to care while helping each other, and briefly finds himself playing third wheel.

This is suffocating.

Why do you know Kid too?

After three failed attempts, Yamiya is heartbroken. He blames Kid, figuring it's all because his fellow phantom thief has no honor and keeps popping up everywhere. So this time, he does his research and chooses to study abroad in Osaka, where Kid rarely goes.

Then he watches helplessly as Rival No. 4 bypasses him and draws his sword to chase after Kid.

Yamiya: .

Yamiya: "Phantom thief swear words"!!!!!

Yamiya decides to lower his standards even further. His rival doesn't have to be a detective his age. Even an old-timer like Poirot will do.

...Surely an older detective couldn't have a connection to Kid too?!

*

One day, three high school detectives meet. As they chat, they discover that each of them has recently encountered that upstart second-generation Phantom Thief of Hearts. And every time they politely turn down his inexplicable remarks, they lose a childhood friend, while a new phantom thief joins the other thief's gang.

The detectives: "..."

Someone's stealing our girls!

"No, there's still Yamiya." The little detective says gravely and firmly, "We absolutely can't let that phantom thief drag Yamiya into this too!"

The other two detectives agree.

Protect the best detective's assistant, Yamiya!

*

At long last, one day...

"Dad, Uncle Ryuji says you could juggle ten girls in high school without dropping any. Teach me, please."

Looking at his crew, detectives, and police officers, all of whom have somehow maxed out their COOP (Confidant) ranks, Yamiya starts breaking into a cold sweat.

"...Don't believe everything your Uncle Ryuji says. I didn't, and I haven't."

Reader's Notes:

1. The P5R cast comes from an alternate timeline where everyone gets a happy ending.

2. Everyone who should be alive in the Conan cast is alive.

3. Centered on Yamiya, no romance.

"Important"

This story is fictional. For all details, refer to the games and anime. Any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental XD

Theme: If you want something, you have to take it with your own hands