>>1626386

“I really wish you hadn't said anything about this to Ayane,” you complain as you tug at the unfamiliar uniform, shifting uneasily as you look at yourself in the mirror, “I wanted to keep it quiet for a reason. That reason being... well... I feel like a bloody fool in this thing!”

“Yeah? We all feel like bloody fools,” Emi laughs humourlessly, “That's kinda the point. Anyway, I'm sorry – I guess I got carried away. I was super excited, and it just... slipped out. You really think she's gonna come?”

“I dunno,” you sigh, patting the rather loose front of your blouse, “I just... jeez Emi, you said I had the same body shape as this girl!”

“It'll work, I bet it will!” Emi insists, circling you and examining the fit of the uniform, “You need a little extra... padding, like. Just grab some napkins, those should do the trick!”

Groaning, you collapse down into a chair and close your eyes. Any romantic delusions about the life of a maid you once had have been systematically torn down, trampled upon and set on fire – and the working day hasn't even begun yet.

-

“Alright. Tables are set, uniforms are on, food is being prepared – these assholes always order the same crap, so that makes it simple – and... I think that's everything,” Emi mutters to herself as she paces the dressing room, “Oh wait, you need a name badge. Let me just...” Still muttering to herself, she digs through a drawer and takes out a blank tag, carefully pinning it to the front of your starched uniform and readying a pen. “You need a maid name,” she adds, with an expression of absolute seriousness, “Got any preferences?”

“A maid name? I don't know...” you shake your head helplessly, “Jeez, you pick something. You know more about this stuff than I do.”

“Huh, well then,” the young girl thinks hard for a moment, “Mina. That's, like, a good English name, isn't it?” Carefully writing the name on your badge, Emi bites her lip. “So, uh, I guess I should apologise,” she murmurs, “For freaking out about your weird monster friend. I mean, she's pretty creepy and all, but... that ain't no excuse for being rude, yeah? I'm just kinda... not dealing with this stuff very well.”

Sighing, she pats you awkwardly on the arm. It's not much, but it feels like an attempt at making peace.

>Let's just focus on the maid stuff for now, okay?
>We'll deal with it together, yeah? All of us, as a group
>If there's anything you want to tell me, just between the two of us, now is the time
>So, this traitor... who do you think it is?
>Other

>>1626388
"Nobody is. I do need to need to wrangle you all up to talk about the bombs she dropped sometime. But for right now..."

>Let's just focus on the maid stuff for now, okay?

>>1626388
>If there's anything you want to tell me, just between the two of us, now is the time

>>1626388
>>If there's anything you want to tell me, just between the two of us, now is the time
As good a time as any. We can chat them all up separately before getting the whole group together and clearing the air and making nice.

>>1626388
>Let's just focus on the maid stuff for now, okay?

NO SEKRITS

>>1626388
>I bet the only traitor here is Ayame recording this whole thing on video.
>If there's anything you want to tell me, just between the two of us, and presumably kurosawa if he just jumps out, now is the time

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“Nobody is,” you reply quietly, “I think we're all still reeling from what happened. That's why I'm going to need to try and get everyone together, so we can talk about those... those bombs she dropped.”

“You, uh, you really think it's gonna be that easy?” Emi asks bluntly, “I mean, we all get together and hug it out or whatever, then we all go back to how things were?”

“I hope so, but... well, it probably won't be quite so simple,” you admit, “Like I said, I don't think any of us is dealing with this particularly well. It'll take a bit of work to build bridges again, but that's no excuse just to give up. I'll put in as much work as I need to do!” You announce this with a determined tone, hoping to lift Emi's spirits, but she just winces and looks away from you. “Hey, what's wrong?” you ask, “Look, if there's anything you want to tell me now, just between the two of us – well, unless Kurosawa is listening in - this might be a good time for it...”

“Just between the two of us?” the young girl repeats, “Shit, I... I'm scared, okay? Or not scared, I guess, but I'm worried about it. I'm in WAY over my head here. Monsters, I can deal with – I mean, you just kick their asses and move on, right? - but this sneaky stuff... I'm not really cut out for it.” Shaking her head wearily, she lets out a humourless laugh. “But hey, it's not all bad,” she jokes, “I'm too dumb to be a double agent or whatever, so you don't need to worry about me!”

“C'mon,” you protest, “You're not dumb, not really.”

“Yeah, okay, maybe,” Emi shrugs, “But I'm about as subtle as a bag of hammers, see?”

“That... I can't really argue against,” you concede with a small laugh, “But I like that about you. You're honest and straightforward – times like these, we need someone like you.”

“Guess so,” nodding, Emi reaches across and straightens your badge, “But don't you tell anyone I was fretting about this, okay? I've got my big tough reputation to uphold!”

“Don't worry about a thing,” you promise her, “My lips are sealed!” Patting her on the arm, you turn and take a round tray from the pile, holding it against your chest just like Emi showed you. The very image of a maid, you think as you look at yourself in the mirror. “Well, let's just focus on the maid stuff for now, okay?” you finish, offering Emi your best attempt at a cheerful smile, “No point in getting ahead of ourselves, is there?”

“Gotta agree with you there,” the young maid agrees, nodding with renewed determination, “Never mind all that saving the world stuff, this right here is going to be our greatest challenge yet. You ready to rise to the occasion?”

“Yeah!” you cheer, before hesitating a little, “I mean... I hope so.”

“Good enough,” Emi sighs.

[1/2]

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>>1626411

Once the morning's work begins in earnest, you really don't have time to talk to Emi about anything other than business. All your time is taken up with bowing, ferrying orders back and forth, and delivering fresh drinks. The tables have all been shifted, rearranged to form a larger mass in the middle of the cafe, and a large group of young men have assembled around them. Despite the faint flickers of loathing that occasionally surface on Emi's face, the customers themselves aren't all that bad. Just... a little unhygienic.

After a few solid hours of work, the meeting – you never did figure out what it was about, with their discussion kept at a low and surreptitious volume – starts to draw to a close. Leaving a pile of greasy notes on the table to cover their bill, the members of the group slowly file out of the cafe.

“Come back soon, masters!” Emi calls to them as they leave, her voice pitched higher and sweeter than you're used to hearing. “Ugh, finally. I thought they'd never leave!” she groans, voice back to normal, and flops down onto a stool, “Damn, my back aches. Too much damn bowing...”

“Yeah, I didn't think it would be so tough,” you agree, sitting next to her and placing a hand against your sore back, “Well, at least it's done with, right?”

“You kidding?” Emi laughs, “Now we've got to shift all these tables back into place before the next lot of customers arrive. On your feet, Miho, we're not done yet!”

Groaning, you heave yourself up and start off towards the tables.

-

If there is one small ray of light, it's that you have help shifting things back into place – a taller girl with a badge reading “Clarissa” does a good deal of the heavy lifting, leaving you with the lighter chairs. Not long after things are back in place, the first “real” customer of the day arrives.

When you see her, you freeze. Long dark hair, equally dark make-up, sharp Caucasian features... all too familiar for your liking. Judging by the contorted look at flashes across Emi's face – a scowl held only at bay by professional composure – she recognises the woman as well. Simone, Sionann Attwood, Crow... no matter which name she uses, the Sentinel assassin is unmistakable.

“I'd like to request a maid, if I may,” she announces as you draw a little closer, turning to nod your way, “Her, specifically. A new girl, I believe?”

“Actually, Mina was about to go on her break,” Emi replies slowly, “But we have plenty of other-”

“No, it's fine,” you reply with a sigh, hardening your features into a neutral mask, “I don't mind. Right this way, Ma'am, I'll show you to your table.” Bowing stiffly, you turn and lead Sionann away to the first empty table you see. She sits coyly, then looks at you with mocking expectation.

>What can I do for you today, Ma'am?
>What are you doing here, Crow?
>Don't cause any trouble, not here. Please
>Other

>>1626434
>Other

Dial the sweetness up to 11. "What can Maid Mina do for you today master? Nyaaa? Such a frowny face could use a smile!"

>>1626434
>What can I do for you today, Ma'am?

>>1626434
>>1626440
This please. Show her she can't embarrass us because we're already on the bottom

>>1626434
>Dial the sweetness up to 11. "What can Maid Mina do for you today master? Nyaaa? Such a frowny face could use a smile!"

to be honest, being outed for working at a maid cafe can be turned to our favor. We can pass it off as needing money for something secret, and what's a recent traumatizing event that went public and is connected to most of Miho's friends? We can spin it as saving money for a memorial for the explosion, something more personal than a plaque.

That is, if you want to spin such a grand lie.

You don't know how the hell she knew you were here, if this really is a deliberate meeting, but you're not going to let her get the upper hand. You're not going to let her get the better of you, even if means swallowing every bit of pride you have. When in doubt, go all in.

“Welcome home, Ma'am!” you declare, in the most sugary sweet tone you can summon up, “What can maid Mina do for you today? I hope I can put a big smile on that frowny face of yours!” You even throw in a wink after this, although you stop short of making a love heart with your fingers. There are some lines that you're just not prepared to cross.

Sionann, for her part, is left spectacularly on the back foot by this display. Her cocky look falters, replaced by a stunned silence as she fumbles for some way to reply. Judging by the faint flush that spreads across her face, she's more embarrassed by the whole charade than you are.

“I... good grief, pet, I hope they're paying you well for this,” she manages to groan at last, deliberately scowling at you, “Just... tea. English breakfast tea.”

“Coming right up, Ma'am!” you squeal, doubling down, “It'll be made with love and care!” Giggling a little, you turn on your heel and flounce away. As soon as you're out of earshot, you drop your voice to a low murmur. “Home field advantage, bitch,” you mutter to yourself, “Don't mess with a maid with nothing left to lose.”

-

“Y'know what, Miho?” Emi says to you later, after you've poured Sionann a cup of tea and retreated back to the front of the cafe, “You can be pretty scary when you want to be.”

“You think?” you ask, “I thought this is how maids are supposed to act.”

“What kind of maids are YOU looking at?” the young girl chuckles, “But damn, when she walked in... I almost dropped dead of a heart attack. I thought she was about to throw down, right here and right now. God, the boss wouldn't be happy with that... So why do think she's here?”

“I don't know,” you murmur, “Maybe just a “I know where you are” kind of thing. Mind games. I'm more curious about how she knew to be here – unless she comes here often?”

“Never seen her in here before,” Emi confirms, “She... hang on, what's she doing now?”

Peering over, you look at Sionann. The young woman isn't paying any attention to you, instead focussing on scribbling in a little notebook. Every so often, she'll score out something or sigh, taking a sip of tea and looking out the window before returning to work. Every time she tears off a page, she very carefully crumples it up and puts in her pocket – not letting any of her secrets slip away, unfortunately.

“I don't know what she's doing,” you admit, “But I don't like it...”

[1/2]

>>1626434
>>1626434
>What are you doing here, Crow?

Emi! Execution time! Do your sacred duty!

>>1626467
Yeah I don't think that's necessary tbqh

>>1626434
>What can I do for you today, Ma'am?
Meido maturity

>>1626470
Emi! Employ the thieving skills of your dark past!

>>1626482
>thieving skills
Wasn't the one time she stole she fucked up, got cut up from breaking the thing, and has this maid job to pay it off?

>>1626470

Sionann never causes any trouble – something that you're very much grateful for – or asks for further service. She just drinks her tea, scribbles in her notebook, and scowls a lot. You really got under her skin with that “Maid Mina” act, a fact that brings a gleeful smile to your face. A few more customers arrive a short while later, though, bringing a swift end to your observation. By the time they've been dealt with, Sionann is rising to leave.

As she approaches you, she dabs her lips clean with one the cheap paper napkins, leaving a dark print of lipstick on it. “Thank you, Mina,” she coos, crumpling up the napkin and tossing it at you, “Impeccable service today.”

“Come back soon, Ma'am!” you chirp, bowing deeply so that she doesn't see the scowl that flickers across your face. Once she's gone, slinking out the front door, you straighten up and let out a heavy sigh. “Glad that's over with,” you admit to Emi, “But jeez, throwing stuff like a little kid? Talk about petty...” Kneeling down, you pick up the napkin and start to take it over to a trash can. Just before you dump it, though, you remember Pietr's handkerchief. Slowly, thoughtfully, you unfold the napkin.

Inside is a sheet of paper, torn from a notepad. A short list is written in a tight, cramped script, the letters small enough that it takes some work to read them. The names, though, jump out at you:

Orobas - Leader of the Oracle Program. Medical doctor, I think
Ose - Surname, Ostermann. Paranoid and controlling, doesn't like instability. It's a German thing
Nebiros/Belial - Don't really care about magic. Pretty indifferent towards girls like us. More interested in tech stuff
Asmodeus - You can probably trust him. He's okay

“Well now...” you murmur to yourself, “What do we have here?”

-

“So that's what she was writing,” Emi wonders aloud as she reads the note over, “Huh. It was expecting something more... threatening.”

“I thought about asking you to, well, steal some of her notes,” you admit, “Y'know, pick them out of her pocket or something. This certain makes things easier, though.” Sighing, you reread the note for perhaps the dozenth time. “The next question, then,” you continue, “Is why she's giving us this information.”

“Clearly, she's touched by your plight and wants to help you from the bottom of her heart,” Emi chuckles, “Alternatively, she wants to fuck with these council guys. They're all secret and shit, right? Then they'd really be pissed off to have people sniffing around their real lives.”

“You're saying she's doing this out of simple spite?” you ask before shrugging, “That... does seem like something she'd do, yeah.”

“Bah. To hell with her,” the young girl shrugs, pointing at an ornate clock, “Five minutes until we're done for the day!”

[2/3]

>>1626491
Stop this, Crow. I want to us to tear off your head with no reservations.

>>1626491
Actually, now that I think of it, could it be a ploy by Asmodeus to get us under his influence?

>>1626501
TRUST NOONE

>>1626506
Well they are an ancient secret conspiracy.

>>1626491
Maybe they just have her on such a tight leash she wants us to bring them down so she ran run free again?

>>1626491

Once you've changed out of the borrowed uniform – the badge, you decide to keep as a souvenir – you take out your phone and check to see if anyone has reached out to you. A flat nothing – no messages, no missed calls. What a depressing sight.

“So what are you thinking of doing now?” Emi asks, “You wanna try and get the band back together?”

“That would be nice,” you agree, “But... jeez, I've got a bad feeling about this. We'll see what happens.” Starting with Maika, you dial her number and press the phone to your ear. Two rings, and then a smoothly artificial voice picks up.

[Hello Miss Tsukada,] SAE answers, [I apologise, but Miss Kanzaki is not available. A matter of family business is taking up all of her available time. Would you like to leave a message?]

“Damn it,” you mutter, “Uh, yeah. Just... tell her I called, ask her to call me as soon as possible. Tell her... tell her that I'm worried about her.” Ending the call with a sigh, you move onto Ayane. Hopefully, you'll have better luck here. An actual human being answers, so you're already doing better than before.

“Miho, hey, good to hear from you,” Ayane greets you, her voice tired and strained, “Look, I know what you're gonna ask. I can't meet up today – I'm stuck at home with Shiori, she's got a bad case of the flu and I gotta look after her.”

“The flu, huh?” you sigh, “Right...”

“What, you saying I'm lying about it?” Ayane replies, her voice hardening, “I... shit, sorry. It's not your fault. I'm not trying to avoid you or anything, but I can't leave the house. If you want to talk face to face, you're going to have to come here. Like, you're welcome to drop by, but... she might be contagious, y'know?”

“I'll get back to you on that one,” you groan, pinching the bridge of your nose as you start to call Kasumi. “Kasumi, hey!” you announce as she answers, “Are you free? I thought maybe we could meet up...”

“I'd love to,” Kasumi replies, “I was just about to do a little shopping. Do you remember the same place as last time? We could meet up there if you want. I suppose this isn't entirely a social call, however, would that be correct?”

“Uh, pretty much,” you agree, “Let me call you back, okay? I've got to sort some stuff.” Ending the call, you slump back against one wall and groan. So much for getting everyone together and discussing things.

>Meet up with Ayane at her home
>Arrange to meet with Kasumi
>Visit Maika at her home – without an invitation
>Other

>>1626517
>Meet up with Ayane at her home
Ensuring her loyalty is paramount to checking the others.

>>1626517
>>Arrange to meet with Kasumi
I'm not worried about Ayane but I can see why people might want to make sure she's good and fine and on our side. More tentative about Kasumi though, especially since she didn't run off with the others last time.

>>1626517
>Arrange to meet with Kasumi

And this is why you nip this in the bud as soon as the bomb dropped instead letting it fester for a week. It shouldn't of mattered if they didn't 'want' to discuss it then, you make them do it anyways. Work on that Leader-fu Miho.

>>1626517
>>Arrange to meet with Kasumi

>>1626517
>>Meet up with Ayane at her home
What if Miho is the traitor?

>Closing the vote here, going with Kasumi first.

Your grip tightens around your phone as you think, frowning hard in irritation – mostly at yourself, for letting things get this bad. At the time, you had thought that a little space would have helped – by letting everyone cool off in peace, you could avoid any ugly accusations or arguments – but the opposite seems to have happened. You dropped the ball, and now you're going to have to work extra hard to pick up the pieces.

One step at a time. You'll deal with this one step at a time. Taking a deep breath to steady your nerves, you call Kasumi back.

“Hey, Kasumi, sorry about that,” you announce with more cheer than you feel, “I'd love to meet up. I've even got a little spare cash this time, so maybe I'll be able to pick something up.”

Kasumi giggles. “I'll be sure to help you pick out something nice,” she offers, “I'm looking forwards to seeing you again, Miho!”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, you end the call and sigh again. One step at a time.

-

“You headed out somewhere?” Emi asks as you're leaving the maid cafe, “I'm going home, then I'm thinking probably a jog or something. A bit of exercise always helps with the sore back, y'know? Little bit of advice from the expert!”

“Looks like I'm going shopping,” you tell her, “Meeting up with Kasumi, see about talking to her about... everything that's happened.”

“Oh, her,” Emi's face creases into a tight frown, “I don't reckon she's dangerous, so I ain't gonna tell you to be careful, but you should watch her. I know pointing fingers won't help us here, but if anyone is gonna sell us out... I dunno, she might be the one. Like, we don't know anything about her, and-”

“Emi,” you state quietly, your voice firm, “We're not going to turn on our own. We're better than that.” Shaking your head sadly, you bury your hands in your pockets. “Look, I'm heading out to speak with her, maybe get a few answers,” you continue, “You want to come with me?”

“Nah, I reckon you're better off handling this one on your own,” the young girl decides, “But, uh, Miho? I believe in you – if anyone has this shit under control, it's gonna be you. Whatever happens, I'm behind you all the way.” Having said this, a dark frown passes across her face. “Wait,” she thinks aloud, “Maybe that's not such a good phrase to use right now...”

“Oh?” you ask, “Why?”

“Thing about being behind someone,” Emi remarks with a grim smile, “It makes it real easy to stab them in the back.”

Wincing a little, you nod briskly. “I'll call you later,” you tell her, “Hopefully, things will be a little clearer by then.”

[1/2]

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>>1626554

When you arrive at the discrete shopping avenue that Kasumi favours, there's nobody else around to meet you. Dark paranoia floods into you for a brief and terrible moment. Did Kasumi ask to meet you here as part of some trap? Is this an ambush? Looking feverishly around, you can almost imagine the heavily armed soldiers swarming in to surround you, brutal thugs ready and willing to-

“Miho!” Kasumi calls out from behind you, her voice singsong, “Over here!”

Feeling rather foolish, you turn to face Kasumi. She has a small bag in one hand, while she gives an elegant wave with the other. Scolding yourself for the foolishness, you hurry over to meet her.

-

“I do apologise,” she murmurs to you, as you sit at a nearby bench, “I got here a little earlier than I expected, so I thought I'd start a little early. You simply must see what I found!” Smiling softly, Kasumi takes a flat box out of her bag and opens it, revealing her new purchase. A pair of beautiful gloves, genuine white suede with swirling black designed sewn into the back of the palm. Lovely to look at... and certainly not cheap, if you're any judge.

“I adore things like this,” Kasumi continues, “I don't mean to sound conceited, I really don't, but it takes a very specific kind of person to make these things look right and natural.”

“Hmm,” you murmur, nodding slowly, “I don't really get it, but okay.”

“But we didn't come here to discuss the merits of fashion, did we?” Kasumi sighs, putting away her new gloves, “Quite a mess we've found ourselves in, isn't it?”

“Yeah,” you agree, happy to be on more certain ground, “It's a real mess. It's...” You trail off here, and Kasumi makes no attempt to pick up the thread of conversation. Rather, she waits patiently to see how you'll finish your sentence, her soft gaze free from any impatience or judgement.

Free from pretty much anything, really.

>I was thinking of heading to Ayane's house. Would you like to come and see her with me?
>You know, Kasumi, I really don't know much about you. None of us do
>That sword we saw back with the Sentinels. How did you know it was a fake?
>I'll be blunt. Do you trust the others?
>I had something I wanted to ask you... (Write in)
>Other

>>1626593
>>>That sword we saw back with the Sentinels. How did you know it was a fake?

>>1626593
>I'll be blunt. Do you trust the others?
Don't show even a hint that we might be suspecting her.

>>1626593
>That sword we saw back with the Sentinels. How did you know it was a fake?
>You know, Kasumi, I really don't know much about you. None of us do

>>1626603
She isn't stupid. She knows that out of everyone she is the biggest suspect if Zakuro was telling the truth. Tip toeing around it will not help.

>>1626593
>I'll be blunt. Do you trust the others?

>>1626593
>That sword we saw back at the Sentinels, how did you know it was a fake?
>I was thinking of visiting Ayane too. Would you like to come with me? Disease hazard if you do.

>>1626603
Why not? >>1626610 is right. Pretending otherwise will just make us look bad.

“I'll be blunt here, Kasumi,” you begin, your voice carefully neutral, “Do you trust the others?”

“You mean, do I trust them not to betray us in some form?” Kasumi replies, rewording your question as she considers it, “That's a very difficult question to answer. I've really not known you long, all things considered. Even under perfectly normal circumstances, that would make forging a bond of trust difficult.” She falls silent, then, watching a few passing shoppers as she thinks. Her eyes brighten a little as she watches them, reaching out with her gift to pluck the secrets from their hearts.

“But, to give you my heartfelt answer, I do trust them,” she continues, turning to give you a gentle smile, “I don't believe that they would betray us. Why I'm so sure of this... I can't really say. However, my intuition is telling me to trust them all, and I believe in listening to my intuition.”

“Huh,” you murmur, “Then what about... what she said?”

“I wonder,” Kasumi muses, “Perhaps she wanted us focused on each other rather than anything else. It may be important to consider, she also implied that we had the gods to worry about. By all accounts, your “friend” was very quick to give us other enemies to occupy ourselves.”

“And Ayane couldn't tell if she was lying or not,” you admit, “Could you...”

“No, I'm afraid that I couldn't pick up anything from her,” Kasumi shakes her head, “If I had to make a guess, I'd say that she was beyond shame. In that case, my gift is useless. I really must apologise for that – I'm letting the side down, aren't I?”

“Don't worry about it,” you sigh, “It's the least of our worries. Hey, I'm sorry to dump something heavy on you like that – it's just... I needed to know, y'know?”

“I know,” Kasumi assures you, smiling a little at how absurd it sounds – she knows that you know that she knows, or... something like that. “Shall we talk about something a little lighter instead?” she asks delicately, “Ah, but what to discuss...”

“Oh yeah, there was something I was meaning to ask you,” you remark, snapping your fingers, “I kinda got distracted, with... everything that happened. That sword we saw back with the Sentinels, you knew it was a fake right away. How'd you do that?”

“Hmm? Ah, that's a bit of a long story,” an embarrassed laugh slips from Kasumi's lips, “It was an excellent attempt, I'll give it that, but far from perfect. I have an interest in such things – our history, I should say – so I know the signs. The metal wasn't quite right, and the grip had been artificially weathered. It's odd though... a fake of that quality would have been very expensive to produce. They have wealth, that much is obvious, but do they have history? I must confess... I'm not so sure.”

She falls into a thoughtful silence at that, tapping a slender finger against her lips.

[1/2]

>>1626640

“Okay, but that doesn't really explain everything,” you press, “Like, how do you know so much about faking stuff?”

“It's just like I said, Miho, it's a very long story,” Kasumi winces a little, “And I'm not entirely sure if I want to tell it to you.”

“You know, Kasumi, I don't really know that much about you,” you point out, choosing your words with care, “None of us do. I don't want to say this, I really don't, but it makes it a little hard to...”

“To trust me, is that what you want to say?” the elegant girl finishes for you, gently cutting in, “Don't look so surprised, Miho, I understand how I must appear to you all. I don't believe that one of our own could betray us, but I know that the others might not share that view. I'm still a relative outsider – I must make quite a tempting target.” Sighing a little, Kasumi toys with a strand of her hair and forces a smile. “I suppose I ought to open up a little,” she decides after a moment, “We'll start with my family, shall we? Or, my absence of a family – I never knew my parents.”

“Oh, uh, that's... bad,” put on the back foot, you fumble for something to say, “Hey, c'mon, you don't need to spill everything out.”

“No, I rather think I do,” she stresses, shaking her head a little, “If we're to work together, with full and unreserved trust, we need to establish more of a foundation. So, I was raised by a man who was not my father. Can you guess what he did for a living?”

“He...” you pause, “Did he make fake stuff? Like... forgeries, counterfeit stuff, that kind of thing?”

“Exactly right!” Kasumi claps her hands lightly together, “He was a criminal, plain and simple, but he was a very successful one. We lived comfortably enough... until the law caught up with him. That's the thing about a life like that, Miho, there's always the lure of one last job – and sooner or later, a job goes wrong.” Smiling ruefully, she rises and stretches out her long, slender limbs. “So I have to support myself,” she continues, “Odd jobs mostly, but I do well enough. That's why the Sentinels have such an allure to me – the money they have to offer, pure and simple.”

“So... so look, I gotta ask,” you blurt out, “If they offered you a bunch of money...”

“Would I switch sides?” Kasumi finishes, “No, I don't think I would. My... guardian knew the power of money, but he knew that a reputation was even more important. A criminal with a reputation for being a turncoat... there is nothing lower than that. I believe that the same applies to us. Does that satisfy you?”

“Yeah, I guess it does,” you reply after a moment, “And Kasumi? Thanks for being honest with me.”

“It was my pleasure. It feels rather nice to share,” Kasumi giggles softly, “Although I suppose I'll need to tell the others as well. Telling the same story twice... how troublesome!”

[2/3]

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>>1626681

“Well, speaking of the others, I was thinking about going to see Ayane later,” you mention, “You're welcome to come with me. Uh, fair warning though, her sister might be contagious – flue, apparently.”

“Oh, I didn't know that Ayane had a sister,” the mention of siblings causes Kasumi to smile fondly, “Older or younger?”

“Younger,” you answer, “But sometimes it seems like she's the more responsible one.”

“As is so often the case,” Kasumi murmurs, “I don't mind a little risk, but do you think Ayane would be happy if I dropped by without warning? I wouldn't want to impose.” She shrugs then, her smile turning coy. “But then, it's easier to get forgiveness than permission, isn't that what they say?” she decides after a moment, “Shall we go? I don't mind if we postpone out shopping until another day.”

“Sure,” you agree, “Follow me, I know the way.”

-

When Ayane answers the door, the sight of her leaves you stunned for a moment. She looks rough, as if sleep has been hard to come by, and her expression is dark. She doesn't seem surprised to see Kasumi with you, simply nodding sullenly and holding the door open for you to enter. The apartment is a mess, and the air is heavy with the presence – it's not quite a smell, but it's close – of illness. Whatever else is going on, she certainly wasn't lying about Shiori being sick.

“Mom is real busy at the moment,” Ayane begins, “So I gotta take care of things around here. When Shiori gets ill, she gets really ill – it's not safe to leave her alone. She had a fever, past few days, kept crying out during the night. So, like, I've not been sleeping much.” Yawning, she reaches into the refrigerator and pulls out some cans. “Help yourself to a drink,” she offers, waving one at you, “Oh yeah, how was the maid thing?”

“Could have been worse,” you tell her with a shrug, “Shame you didn't get to see it. Still, I guess it can't be helped.”

“Yeah, sure. Can't be helped,” slumping down into a chair, Ayane takes a long drink from her can, “So what can I do for you?”

>I'm worried about Maika. I think her father might be up to something
>I can keep an eye on Shiori if you want. Go out for a walk, clear your head
>Kasumi, why don't you tell Ayane what you told me?
>I had something that I wanted to talk about... (Write in)
>Other

>>1626719
>I'm worried about Maika. I think her father might be up to something
"I was thinking about going over there and seeing what's up."

>>I had something that I wanted to talk about... (Write in)
"Got a message from Crow of all people. Extra details on Sentinel members."

>I can keep an eye on Shiori if you want. Go out for a walk, clear your head
>Kasumi, why don't you tell Ayane what you told me?

>>1626719
>>I'm worried about Maika. I think her father might be up to something
>I can keep an eye on Shiori if you want. Go out for a walk, clear your head

>>1626719
Backing >>1626735
Except for kasumi story, let's not make her tell it four seperate times. Next big meeting.

>>1626719
>I'm worried about Maika. I think her father might be up to something
>>I can keep an eye on Shiori if you want. Go out for a walk, clear your head

>>1626719
>>1626735
I like it!

>>1626719
>I can keep an eye on Shiori if you want. Go out for a walk, clear your head
>Take a nap, restore your strength.

“I'm worried about Maika,” you begin gravely, “I haven't been able to reach her lately. I don't know if I'm jumping straight to the worst case scenario or not, but... I think her father might be up to something.”

“Something, sure,” Ayane snorts, “Like he's probably fiddling about in her head right now, programming her like that weird AI girlfriend of hers.” A dark scowl passes across Ayane's face as she takes a deep sip of her drink. “Shit, I'm in a foul mood today. Sorry you guys, no point taking it out on you,” she adds, “But I'm not gonna, like, take back what I said. We've seriously got to consider what to do about her – I mean, it's pretty obvious that she's the one.”

“The one?” Kasumi asks mildly, tilting her head to the side, “Whatever do you mean?”

“The one! You know, the traitor!” Ayane waves an angry hand at Kasumi, “C'mon, her father is on this Council of Twelve, and he's got her wound around his little finger. Hey, look, I'm not blaming her for it – for all we know, she never had a choice in the matter, but-”

“Ayane, stop!” you cut in, “We're not holding a trial in her absence, okay? I'm not going to totally rule out that her father might have... exploited her in some way, but I don't see any sense in jumping to conclusions. We need to speak with her and see how she is – which is why I was thinking about going to see her.”

“Huh?” Ayane frowns, “But I thought you hadn't spoken with her. Are you suggesting that, what, we just roll up to her front door and start making a fuss?”

“If need be,” you reply with a nod, “It's not much of a plan, I know, but... if she doesn't answer her phone, I don't see what other choice we have.”

“Damn, you really mean it, huh?” an incredulous laugh slips from Ayane's lips, “Jeez Miho, you really don't mess around, do you? Well... shit, we'll leave that particular disaster until later, I'd like a decent bit of sleep before I do anything quite so crazy.” That weary look descends over her face once again as Ayane slumps a little lower. “Shiori's fever broke this morning,” she adds, “So I guess the worst is behind us there. Still...”

“She still needs someone here to keep an eye on her,” Kasumi says, patting Ayane gently on the shoulder, “You're a very caring sister, Ayane.”

“Yeah, well...” Ayane grumbles, smiling despite herself.

“No, she's right,” you insist, “But you need a break. We can look after Shiori for a while, if you want to get out for a walk and clear your head. Or you could take a nap here, maybe get your strength back a little.”

“Y'know, a walk might do me some good,” Ayane thinks to herself, “Yeah... Yeah, I might just do that. Later though – I mean, you only just got here. I figure we've got plenty of other stuff to talk about, right?”

“Right,” you agree, “There's something else I wanted to tell you...”

[1/2]

>>1626798

“When I was working this morning, with Emi, I got a pretty interesting message,” you begin, “From Crow, of all people.”

Ayane stiffens, her eyes widening after a moment. “Crow?” she yelps, rising and taking a step closer to study you, “Are you okay? She didn't... this “message” wasn't a knife, was it? She didn't...”

“She didn't hurt me, no,” you assure her, “She might have actually helped me. She gave me a bit of insider information, about the Council of Twelve. A name, some details about them... and a suggestion to trust Asmodeus.” A sceptical look crosses Ayane's face when you say that, and it causes both you and Kasumi to laugh. “I know, I know,” you agree, “Anyone that Crow says to trust must be pretty crooked, right? Thing is, I kinda... agree with her. When I spoke with the council, Asmodeus treated me pretty well.”

“Which, it must be said, might have been an act,” Kasumi points out, “But still, this information might well be valuable. We can't discard it based purely on the source.”

“Yeah, guess so. Hey, give me that name,” Ayane gestures to you, “I might hop on a public terminal while I'm out, do a little digging. That way, it won't get traced back to me – though, I don't see why we're bothering with subtlety now.”

“If you want,” you shrug, “Name's Ostermann – he's Ose, that means he's military. German, I think. I don't know if you'll find much, but it might be worth a shot. Before you go, though, there's one last thing – Kasumi, why don't you tell Ayane what you told me earlier?”

“Oh, must I?” Kasumi sighs, “I'm rather tired – why don't you just give Ayane the important parts?”

“Actually, I'd rather hear this from you,” Ayane stresses, looking Kasumi in the eye and giving her a tiny smile, “From your own lips.”

“I'm sure you would,” Kasumi replies, her composure not slipping for a second, “Later, please. I'd rather not tell the same story countless times. When we're all back together, as a group, I'll give you all the full story. Is that acceptable?”

“I guess so,” you concede, “It's fine. Ayane, you reckon you can wait?”

“Sure, whatever,” Ayane shrugs, “Not gonna lie, any fancy story you got would be wasted on me right now. Maybe after some fresh air...” Throwing back the last of her drink, she crunches the can in her fist and tosses it into a trash can, one marked with a gaudy recycling symbol. “If you guys are still cool with staying here for a little, I'm out of here,” she adds, grabbing a jacket from the back of a chair, “Call me if there's any emergencies. I don't think Shiori should give you any trouble, but...”

“You've earned some time off,” you urge her, “Now go on, get out of here.”

>I'm going to have to pause here, my internet is crapping out. I'll continue this tomorrow, and if anyone has any questions I'll answer them as best I can
>Thanks to everyone who contributed today!

>>1626851
Thanks for running! It was fun.

>>1626851
Thanks for running Moloch.

I figure SAE might let us in if Maika's well being was in danger. Even if Eligor can make her do things against her will I think she is more loyal to Maika.

>>1626851
Thanks for running!
How long until we upload SAE into a robot body and make her a magical girl to Kurosawa's cognitive dissonance and general annoyment?

>>1627018

Next episode!

Unfortunately, it's not going to be a human body. The only available option is a spider tank. It still gets a flashy costume and a transformation sequence though!

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>>1627047
Will it be a cute spider tank?

>>1627069

Of course! Cute things are very important, after all.
Spider tanks are actually a thing in this setting, but they're rarely seen outside of particularly dangerous regions. It's considered rather uncouth to have giant death machines stomping through the streets. Plus, it's murder on the roads.

>>1626851
Thanks for running Moloch.

With Ayane out of the way, Kasumi sets to work tidying up the apartment. You sense that she does it more out of a need to do something than any real charitable urge, but the end result is the same – when Ayane gets back, she'll have a nice clean apartment to ruin. While Kasumi works, you carefully crack open the door to Shiori's room and look inside. The young girl is sleeping soundly now, although she looks just as rough as Ayane. A different kind of rough, maybe, but still far from hale and healthy.

Gently closing the door behind you, you sit down on the couch and turn on the TV, setting the volume to a low murmur. Just as Kasumi sits down next to you, a news update flashes across the screen – more angry noise coming from Return to the Earth, directed at... well, not really directed at anyone. Just a lot of senseless yelling, with no particular purpose or target. At least this time they're not directly targeting Renko Biotech or your father, which is a small glimmer of light.

“How tedious!” Kasumi tuts, watching the broadcast with evident disapproval, “Do they really not have anything better to do with their lives?”

“Probably not,” you yawn, waving a dismissive hand at a figure that pops up on the screen. A “spokesperson”, apparently, although his wild hair and straggly beard makes it hard to imagine him in any position of authority. “I mean, look at this guy,” you continue, “Does he have a steady life when he's not yelling about nature? Does he have a wife and kids back home? If he did, I reckon he wouldn't be messing about like this. I mean, what if he gets hauled in by the police? They'd be... uh...”

“They'd be left quite alone, to fend and provide for themselves,” Kasumi finishes smoothly, “There's no need to feel awkward, I understand my own position all too well. My guardian thought that he was providing for us both, but he got too greedy and paid the price. I accepted that a long time ago.”

“What was he like?” you ask, “This guardian of yours?”

“I often wonder about that myself,” the elegant girl murmurs, “He was somewhat taciturn, and not given to talking about his feelings. I never did understand why he would take in an infant, or even how he came to... “adopt” me. He had a wonderful way of dodging questions, you see, and so I never learned anything that he didn't want me to learn. I wouldn't say that I ever really loved him, not as a daughter loves her father, but I cared deeply for him. I still do, in fact, even though I rarely get the chance to see him these days.”

“Must be tough,” you venture, for want of something better to say.

“Well, I'm used to it by now, I-” Kasumi sighs, the soft chime of her phone cutting off anything else she might have said. “Excuse me,” she apologises, “It seems like I won't be able to keep you company. This is really rather urgent. We'll talk later, of course.”

[1/2]

File: Shiori Nakamura.jpg (585 KB, 900x900)

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>>1629402

After Kasumi leaves, still trailing apologies, you return to flopping on the couch and staring into space. It might not be productive, but it's certainly relaxing. Letting the soft murmur of the TV ease your tension, you try and think – in as unbiased a way as possible – about how things are going. Better than expected, certainly, although worse than you might have hoped. Ayane's crude suspicion of Maika is understandable given the circumstances, but still worrying. Maika, on the other hand...

On her part, you're drawing a blank. Hopefully SAE is able to keep her safe – or, at the very least, warn you if there's trouble – but that's not much to go on. With no real idea of what Eligor Kanzaki is capable of, it's hard to know how worried you should be. Sighing, you're just about to try calling Maika again when the sound of a door creaking open catches your attention. Sitting upright, you come face to face with a ghost.

At least, that's what Shiori looks like. Her skin is pale and clammy, while her hair is stringy and lank with sweat. Her pyjamas, plain and boyish, hang off her body like a funeral shroud. It takes a moment for her eyes to focus on you, and even then they're dull. “Miho?” she whispers, her voice hoarse, “Is that you?”

“Yeah, sure it's me,” you assure her gently, “Ayane had to go out, I offered to stay in and keep an eye on things here. Are you... feeling okay?”

“...Hungry,” Shiori decides after a moment, “There should be soup. Can you make some?”

“Soup,” you repeat, “I can do that. I mean, how badly could it go?”

-

A bowl of hot chicken broth does wonders for Shiori, and soon she's looking halfway back to normality. “I'm sorry for being so much trouble,” she says softly, pausing with her spoon halfway to her mouth, “All this fuss and bother for some stupid flu...”

“Don't worry about it,” you assure her, eager to stop the mood from getting too bleak, “Isn't it funny? With all our medical research and... whatever else, we've still not been able to properly cure the flu.”

“Mm, funny,” Shiori agrees numbly, “Sure.”

>Why don't we watch some TV, pass the time until Ayane gets back?
>Your mother must be really busy if she can't be here...
>Has Ayane been acting strangely these past few days?
>Other

>>1629403
>>Why don't we watch some TV, pass the time until Ayane gets back?
>>Your mother must be really busy if she can't be here...
>>Has Ayane been acting strangely these past few days?
"She's just been a bit distant lately."

>>1629403
>>Has Ayane been acting strangely these past few days?

>>1629403
>>Why don't we watch some TV, pass the time until Ayane gets back?

>>1629403
>Your mothet must be really busy...much like my dad.

“I hear Ayane has been looking after you, these past few days,” you begin slowly, thinking aloud as Shiori stirs the remains of her soup, “Your mother must be really busy is she can't be here...”

“She is,” Shiori nods after a moment, “Busier than normal lately. There's an upcoming-” Her words are cut off by a heavy bout of coughing, and you're quick to bring her a glass of water. Shiori drinks, winces for a moment – just for a few seconds, you fear that she might throw up or pass out – and then rasps in a heavy breath. “An upcoming event,” the young girl continues, “I think she called it a trade convention. She's going to be doing some filming there.”

“For a documentary, you mean?” you ask, pausing for a moment as you recall what Ayane's mother did for a job, “Maybe I'll watch it when it comes out. What's it about?”

“A showcase of Ark City's technology prowess and bold approach to progress,” she explains, as if reading the words from a script, “It's showing off, basically. The whole thing is just a bunch of dumb posturing. All the big corporations are going.”

“Renko Biotech included, I guess,” you sigh, “That might explain why my father is so busy lately. If they're rushing to get something finished in time... He's not been home much either, so I guess we've got that in common. Maybe if this convention thing is open to the public, I might actually be able to see him...”

“It's not here,” Shiori gives you a tiny shake of her head, sipping from her water before continuing, “It's held at Neptune Island. I've always wanted to go there...”

“Neptune Island?” you repeat, something about the name sounding familiar to you, “I think I've heard about that place in school. Maybe one of science lessons?”

“It's an artificial island,” Shiori explains, sighing a little at your ignorance. Even in this washed out state, she still manages to come off as a know-it-all. “It has nice beaches, apparently, and reefs. Real ones, with coral and fish...” a wistful smile crosses her face for a moment before falling away, “Maybe I'll get to see some footage of it. That's as close as I'm ever likely to get.”

The mood noticeably darkens as she murmurs these words, and you have to fumble for something to say. “Why don't we watch some TV?” you offer, “It'll pass the time until Ayane gets back. I'm sure that has to be something good on.”

“Doubtful,” narrowing her eyes like a cat, Shiori gives you a grudging little nod, “But let's see.” Leaving her dirty dishes by the sink, the young girl promptly wanders away from you and flops down on the couch, only then turning to give you an expectant look. Sighing, you sit next to her and begin channel hopping.

[1/2]

>>1629430

There really isn't much on – mostly dry financial reports or repeats of the earlier news broadcast – but you do eventually find an old samurai movie. Shiori gives you a tiny nod when you linger on the channel for a while, so you leave it on. It doesn't really hold your attention though – lots of shots of an old man riding his horse through forests, and not much else – and soon you find your mind wandering.

“Hey, Shiori?” you ask after a while, “Has Ayane been acting... strangely these past few days? Whenever I've seen her, or spoken with her, she's been kinda distant. I'm a little concerned.” Shiori answers your question with silence, with a tiny frown as the only indication that she heard you at all. “I guess you might not have noticed anything, since you were sick,” you correct yourself, realising the error, “Forget I said-”

“She's been talking on the phone a lot,” Shiori answers eventually, “But I don't know who she was calling. Her boyfriend, I guess. I couldn't hear much, but she didn't sound very happy. Yesterday...” Pausing here, Shiori's frown deepens as she thinks back. “My bedroom door was open a little, and I overheard something. She said something like, “She'll be there tomorrow morning, but I can't go and see her.” That was all,” the young girl explains, “I must have caused her so much trouble...”

“Hey, that's what family is for, right?” you sigh, a frown of your own forming on your face. Lapsing into silence, you pretend to watch the movie for a while longer as you think. If you had to guess, you'd say that Ayane had been talking about your shift at the maid cafe. If she told Isamu, Isamu could have told Crow, and...

And then your phone rings.

-

“Hey, Miho?” Ayane says, cutting past any greetings, “I'm on my way back now. Shiori given you any trouble?”

“No, no trouble at all,” you reply, “She woke up, had some soup and now...” You pause here, glancing across at Shiori – she's sleeping again, dozing peacefully. “And now she's asleep again,” you finish, “Certainly no trouble. She seems better now though, I think you're past the worst of it.”

“Thank god...” Ayane murmurs to herself, “Thanks for this, Miho. Like I said, I'm on my way back now. Uh, did a little digging while I was out – found some stuff. Best said in person though, y'know?”

“Sure,” you agree, “I'll see you soon.”

-

“Yeah, that's much better,” Ayane says as she watches Shiori doze, “Back when she was in the worst of it, she was kicking out and thrashing, yelling in her sleep... man, it scared the crap out of me! It's good to see her sleeping peacefully.” Sitting down at the table, she gives you a warm smile. “Thanks Miho,” she adds, “You really came through for me.”

>Don't worry about it. It was nice seeing Shiori again
>So, what was that stuff you found out?
>Hey, did you tell Isamu that I was working in the cafe today?
>Other

>>1629454
>Don't worry about it. It was nice seeing Shiori again
>So, what was that stuff you found out?

>>1629454
>Don't worry about it. It was nice seeing Shiori again
>So, what was that stuff you found out?

>>1629454
>>Don't worry about it. It was nice seeing Shiori again

“Don't worry about it, it was nice seeing Shiori again,” you reply, “She's a good kid, y'know?”

“Yeah, I guess she is. Kinda makes me wonder where I went wrong!” Ayane laughs quietly, glancing across to make sure that she isn't disturbing Shiori's rest, “Good kid or not though, I'm not suited for being cooped up like this. Really puts me on edge, yeah? I'd be terrible in prison...” Shaking her head with a sigh, Ayane perks up as if she'd forgotten something. “I guess Kasumi bailed, huh?” she remarks, “I thought something was missing...”

“She got a call. Urgent business, apparently,” you reply, shrugging a little, “It's fine, I handled things here. You might have noticed, though, she cleaned the place up.”

“Oh yeah!” Ayane's eyes widen, “Man, she did a good job. She'd make a good wife one of these days, if this is any indication.”

“Uh, sure,” you agree, “Well, anyway. You said on the phone that you found some stuff?”

“Johann Ostermann,” she answers, “That's our guy. Retired General in the European Coalition Forces, now a sorta... freelance advisor kind of thing. He's pretty famous actually, getting his information was a breeze – I just looked on, like, Wikipedia. Hang on, I took some notes...” Digging in her jacket pocket, Ayane produces an old fashioned notebook and flips through the pages. “Okay, so the basic gist of it is, he was a big deal in the German military, but he was off in the USA when that whole “war” thing kicked off,” she begins, “So suddenly, he found himself in charge of a big pile of radioactive shit instead of a country. Lucky him, right?”

“You mean he took over?” you ask, incredulously, “Like... he just sat down and decided that he was in charge?”

“Hey, it's not like there was anyone to argue about it,” Ayane shrugs, “The country was like... totally decapitated. He was the only guy willing to step up and do it. If you want all the gory details – and the ARE gory, yuck – you can look them up yourself. Point is, there was nothing but rubble and anarchy when he arrived, and there was something approaching civilisation when he left. Safe, stable civilisation.”

Nodding slowly, you compare this story with the Ose you met. Crow's notes said that he doesn't like instability, and you can understand why. “So where does this leave us?” you wonder aloud, “Should I be more worried about him, or less?”

“Depends on whether or not you wanted to make an enemy of him, I guess,” Ayane offers with a shrug, “Back during the recovery, they had a little... independence thing. A bunch of folk started making noise about splitting off and forming their own country. So Ostermann, you know what he did?”

“I'm not sure if I want to know,” you mutter.

“He sent in the troops, crushed the movement before it could really begin,” Ayane gives you a wan smile, “Our guy doesn't like it when people try to do their own thing.”

[1/2]

>>1629498
>“He sent in the troops, crushed the movement before it could really begin,” Ayane gives you a wan smile, “Our guy doesn't like it when people try to do their own thing.”
one more line for the list

>>1629498

“So what we've got is, a military man who wants to keep things as stable and controlled as possible,” you deduce, “And he's willing to use a pet assassin to intimidate or otherwise remove what he sees as unpredictable factors. Would you say that's an accurate summary of the situation?”

“Accurate enough, but not really concise. Let me shorten that down a little,” Ayane suggests, “We're fucked.”

“I wouldn't go that far,” you correct her, “It's not like we're in open war with the Sentinels or anything. Ose doesn't like us, sure, but the rest of the council members I spoke with are... neutral, I guess. Point is, we've got a bit of leeway.”

“I know, I know,” she flaps her hands at you, “Man, you've always got to be so sensible about this stuff!” Still chuckling softly to herself, Ayane crosses the room to check on Shiori, feeling the young girl's forehead and then fetching a blanket to drape over her. “I'm not trying to throw you out or anything,” Ayane continues, glancing across to you, “But I was thinking about taking a nap of my own. With Shiori settled down like this...”

“A good time for it,” you agree, “As for our next move... so hey, maybe Maika will be at school tomorrow? That would make things a whole lot easier for us.” A humourless laugh escapes you as you say this, your attempt at optimism falling short. “Well, whatever. We won't know until tomorrow. I'll head out, let you get that nap,” you conclude, shrugging to yourself, “Call me if anything turns up.”

“Sure,” Ayane yawns, “Go out and do something fun. Gotta keep your Barrier up, y'know?”

“Fun,” you agree, “Right.”

-

You've got to admit, it's really quite a wonderful day out. A soft summer warmth has settled across the city, with just enough of a gentle breeze to keep the air from growing thick or stifling. Groups of people, young and old, walk the streets with carefree smiles and lively conversations. It's a perfect day for going out and doing something, either alone or as a group.

And you can't think of a single thing to do, a single way to pass the time. After everything that's happened, a moment like this seems... uneasy, like you're just waiting for the hammer to fall. You're not sure what to do.

“Maybe I'll just go home,” you sigh to yourself, “Lie down in a darkened room and pretend that everything is okay...”

Not exactly the most exciting plan you've ever come up with, admittedly.

>Go home and wait for something to go wrong
>Take advantage of the nice day and do something... (Write in)
>Other

>>1629559
>Git gud(train)
>Invite Kasumi, we hardly know how she fights

>>1629559
>Take advantage of the nice day and talk to Kurosawa. He can watch people discreetly, right? Isamu looks like he needs some monitoring.

>>1629559
>Take advantage of the nice day and do something... (Write in)
Call Maika (SAE) and ask if something is up.

>>1629559
>Train with Kasumi

>>1629563
I'll second this

>>1629577
>>1629562
Didn't Kasumi just leave cause she had some important shit to take care of? Dunno if she is going to drop it to train.

>>1629590
Been a while, and we don't know how long it'll be until that something goes wrong.

No, as tempting as it might be, sitting at home and wasting time would be paramount to admitting defeat – you're not about to let this get on top of you. Just like Ayane said, you should go out and do something fun. Or, if not fun, at least productive. Training, you decide, that's a good way of using the time. It might help to get Kasumi in on it as well, so you can see how she fights. Nodding to yourself, you take out your phone and call her.

“Training? Yes, I think I should be able to fit that in,” Kasumi replies, after you've made the offer, “Regrettably, I won't be able to do it immediately. Can we meet up in, say, an hour?”

“An hour, got it,” you reply, “I'll be at the shrine, so come on by whenever you have the time.” Ending the call, you start to stroll off in the direction of the shrine. As you walk, you dial the next number – Maika again, although you don't have high hopes for it. When you hear SAE's cool voice, your fears are confirmed.

[I am sorry, Miss Tsukada, but Miss Kanzaki is still not available,] the AI answers, with a pretty decent imitation of regret, [If you would like to leave a message-]

“SAE?” you ask, cutting her off, “Is Maika okay?”

[Okay?] SAE replies, [Miss Kanzaki has not required any emergency medical treatment, and she has not requested aid of any other kind. By all accounts, she could be considered “okay”. However, she is unable to attend any unscheduled appointments.]

“Damn it...” you mutter, “Keep an eye on her, okay SAE? And... if you have a chance to talk with her, try and keep her spirits up. Tell her that we'll talk soon, hopefully in person. That's, uh, that's all I guess.”

[I understand,] SAE confirms, [I will give her your regards. If she gives me a message, do I have your consent to call and convey it to you?]

“Yes!” you respond, a little too eagerly, “I mean... yes, that would be good. Thank you SAE.” Ending the second call with a sigh, you hold your phone tightly against your heart. Somehow, you suspect that Maika won't be at school tomorrow.

-

As expected, you arrive at the shrine well ahead of Kasumi. Shrugging expansively, you transform into your meagre costume and begin stretching. Strength surges into you as transform, and you feel your spirits lifting to match. “Hey Kurosawa?” you call out to the empty air, “You about?”

“I am here,” Kurosawa answers, causing the air to shudder a little as he materialises, “Heavenly Child, do you require my assistance.”

“Maybe I just wanted to say hello,” you counter, “You've been pretty quiet lately. Maybe I missed you.”

“I sensed a change in mood. A disturbance of sorts,” Kurosawa explains, “I considered intervening, but perhaps any intervention I could have made would only worsen the situation. Was my estimation correct?”

That, you just answer with a laugh.

[1/2]

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>>1629605

“Seriously though, things have been a bit rough lately,” you explain after a moment, “Maika's going through some crap with her father, and this Sentinel business is getting on my nerves. Add in Ayane's sister getting sick and... and bloody shifts at a maid cafe, and we've all been pretty strained lately. So honestly? Having you yelling orders at us might have just made things worse, or maybe it would have whipped us back into shape. I don't really know.”

“I see,” Kusosawa states flatly, “If you humans were more predictable, my job would be a lot easier.”

“And if you gods were more honest and upfront, my job would be...” you begin, cutting yourself off with a sigh, “Nah, forget that. No point in starting an argument, is there?”

“I see,” the cat repeats, “Was that everything that you wanted to talk to me about?”

“No, there was something. You can spy on people, all discreet and stuff, right?” you ask, “Well, we might have a use for that kind of thing. There's a guy in the city somewhere, Isamu Abe. I want you to keep an eye on him, see what he does.”

“Isamu Abe,” saying the name to himself, Kurosawa narrows his eyes to slits, “I understand. Finding him should be a simple task. I know his scent well enough – it clings to the Seeker of Truth.”

“Oh gross,” you groan, “Thanks for sharing.”

“There is no need to thank me,” Kurosawa replies, and there might be a tiny trace of humour in his voice, “Was that everything you needed?”

>Yeah, that's everything
>What's Isamu doing right now, right this very moment?
>I was thinking about the rest of the gods... are they really doing nothing?
>There was something else... (Write in)
>Other

>>1629633
>We really need to give you a course on sarcasm
>Is it possible for you to just.....nip on over to the other side and check on the other gods? Is "traveling" like that hard?
>Do you consider the other gods family?

>>1629633
>I was thinking about the rest of the gods... are they really doing nothing?
"That's something I'm a bit worried about. Say against all odds we get rid of the Umbra. Are your kin going to come back? We both know humans of this era wouldn't welcome them, the gods were hands off for too long for that."

>>1629633
>>What's Isamu doing right now, right this very moment?

>>1629633
>What's Isamu doing right now, right this very moment?
>>I was thinking about the rest of the gods... are they really doing nothing?

“You know, cat, we really need to give you a course on sarcasm,” you point out, “Y'know, recognising it, using it, that sort of thing.”

“Really?” Kurosawa drawls, “Do you think?”

“Right, exactly like that!” you laugh, sitting down on the warm stone slabs and peering down at the cat. Your laughter soon dies, though, as more serious thoughts fill your mind. “I've been thinking about the rest of the gods,” you begin, “I mean... are they really doing nothing? It's something I'm a little worried about, honestly. Like, say we did manage to get rid of the Umbra, against all the odds. If we do that, will the gods just... come back?”

“If you were successful – and I believe that you could be – then it would mark the completion of a long held pact. Mankind will have been defended, and my duty will have been completed,” Kurosawa pauses here, “However, I cannot say exactly what would happen.”

“I'm just thinking, there's not a lot of people around these days who would welcome the gods with open arms,” you point out, “It's been too long for that. You guys couldn't just come back down and expect to pick things up where you left off.”

“You are correct,” the cat agrees, “Those days are long past. If the gods should return, I believe that they would do so in an entirely new form, with a new approach to dealing with mankind. What form that might take, however... I cannot say.”

“And I suppose you can't just... pop home and ask them?” you ask, “I mean, is it really that hard to “travel” like that?”

“I am bound to this world until either my duty is complete, or...” Kurosawa replies, with a note of ancient sadness creeping into his voice, “Regardless, I cannot return to my place with the rest of the gods. If my duty was complete, I could return to them in an instant – less than one blink of your eye. While my duty remains incomplete, it is simply impossible. Gods have power, Miho, but we have far less freedom than you might think.”

“Jeez...” you whisper, “Do you see them as family? The other gods, I mean. Do you think of them in that way?”

“Family?” Kurosawa repeats, “Perhaps that would be an accurate assessment. We sprung from the same source, after all, so you could consider us kin.”

“Family is more than just that, y'know?” you point out, before shaking your head in dismay, “It's like... ugh, I dunno how to explain it. No offence, but you probably wouldn't get it even if I could explain. Maybe we should just move on.” Frowning a little, you set the complicated issue aside. “So if you can watch Isamu, what's he doing now?” you ask after a moment, “Like, right now?”

[1/2]

>>1629701
He slid by that 'Are they doing nothing' question.

>>1629701

Kurosawa flickers for a few seconds, waves of static rolling across his form. “Currently, Isamu Abe is disassembling a computer,” the cat answers, when his image returns to coherent form, “He is displeased, speaking about...” Another pause here, and when Kurosawa continues speaking it is in a new voice.

“...I'm playing tech support. This is my day off and here I am, playing tech support like some menial servant,” the new voice – you recognise it as Isamu's boyish tone – mutters, “Jun owes me for this. Every single time something goes wrong, I have to straighten things out. I've told him again and again, he's putting too much strain on the machines. One AI is a heavy load. Four AIs is just barely manageable. More than that...” The voice falls sharply silent, a new flicker running across Kurosawa's image.

“Something has intervened,” Kurosawa explains, in his own voice again, “I cannot see any more. I suspected that the Sentinels had some method of concealing themselves from me, but... this confirms it.”

“Well, it can't be helped,” you sigh, “Keep an eye on him just in case. Sounds like Isamu is more disgruntled than he might like us to think...”

“Working with technology would put me in a foul temper as well,” Kurosawa notes drily, “If that is everything, Heavenly Child, I will take my leave. I believe you have company now.”

“Company?” you ask, looking up and glancing around. Standing at the gates of the shrine, Kasumi waves to you. Returning her wave, you look back to Kurosawa – to where he had been. Now, there is nothing but empty air. Frowning, you let the matter drop and move to greet Kasumi.

“Well then!” the elegant girl announces, rubbing her hands together with girlish eagerness, “Training – I'm rather eager to get started!”

>I'm going to have to take a short pause here. Next post should be in 30 minutes or so.

>>1629762
>More than that
Oh boy the AI revolution is upon us!

>>1629766
We also now know that Isamu works directly for the Sentinels. Greeaat. Ayane is going to love that.

>>1629762

Kasumi's costume is just as revealing as you remember it, all silks and strings of jewellery, but she doesn't seem the least bit bothered by it. Quite the opposite, in fact. She seems to delight in it, her lips lifting in a sensual smile. The silk of her costume is sharply contrasted by the harsh metal of her whip, the sparking weapon held coiled in one gloved hand.

“So, uh, that whip of yours,” you ask, nodding to it, “Got a name for it? It's kind of like an instinct thing, I think, so... what's the first thing that comes to mind?”

“A name?” Kasumi murmurs, “Hmm... Chastisement, I think.”

“Chastisement,” you repeat, shifting awkwardly in place, “Uh... yeah. Let's just... get started on that training.”

-

There's probably a more efficient way to go about it, but your version of training mainly consists of shouting out encouragement as Kasumi lashes out with her whip. She's pretty handy with it, being able to snare bits of rubble from the ruined shrine and toss them about with ease, while the electricity that courses through it can flare up at her command. No matter how much you talk it over, though, you can't quite think of a way to defend with it. How do you supposed to block attacks with a whip?

“You're picking it up quick, certainly quicker than any of us!” you remark, when the time comes to take a break, “Shame about that defence though. You're sure you can't think of anything else?”

“I'm sorry, but I can't imagine what else we could try,” Kasumi shakes her head and gives you a rueful smile, “So I'll be counting on you to keep me safe, okay Miho?”

“Well, uh, maybe you should learn to dodge. Just in case, y'know?” you laugh, “But seriously, I'll do my best. I've got these powers, so I might as well use them to keep my friends safe. I mean, it's what they're there for.”

“Quite right,” she agrees, changing back into her regular clothes and taking out her phone. When she checks the time, however, her eyes widen. “Oh, how troublesome!” she groans, “I lost track of time, I'll be late for my... I'm terribly sorry, Miho, I should have said. I didn't want you to feel rushed, so I... ah, I do apologise for this, I have to go. But thank you for this, I really do feel as though it's been helpful. I hope I'll be more of a use to you next time we have to fight.” Tucking away her phone, she bows hurriedly to you. “I have to go,” she repeats, “Please excuse me.”

>Don't worry about it. Do what you gotta do
>What's all this important stuff all of a sudden?
>What's the rush? You're already late, why not make your excuses and stay a while longer?
>Other

>>1629880
>What's all this important stuff all of a sudden?
2 in a day even

>>1629880
>>Don't worry about it. Do what you gotta do

>>1629880
>>What's all this important stuff all of a sudden?
"Odd jobs?"

>Don't worry about it. Do what you gotta do

>>1629880
>Don't worry about it. Do what you gotta do

“C'mon Kasumi, what's with all this important stuff all of a sudden?” you ask, shaking your head in dismay, “That's two urgent calls in one day. What's up?”

“It's work,” she answers, giving you a regretful smile.

“On a Sunday?” you press, “What kind of job keeps calling out of the blue on a Sunday? I mean, you said “odd jobs” before, but...”

“It's not really something I find particularly easy to talk about,” Kasumi frowns a little as she tries to explain, “I hope you don't take this the wrong way, Miho, but you wouldn't understand. In either case, I really don't have the luxury of time right now. I don't wish to be rude, but I really do have to go.” Taking out her phone again, she pointedly checks the time and sighs fretfully. “Perhaps we can return to this subject later,” she adds, “But please...”

“Alright, okay. Don't worry about it, okay?” you concede, holding up your hands in defeat, “You do what you gotta do, Kasumi. We've all got lives to lead.”

“Thank you,” bowing again, Kasumi starts to hurry away. Before she's even past the shrine gates, she's raised the phone to ear in a distant conversation. A shame that she's too far away for you to overhear any of it.

Not that you would EVER eavesdrop, of course.

-

With the impromptu training session ending a little earlier than you had originally planned – you had been hoping to spar with Kasumi for a little bit – you decide to head home and rest. All that shouting and gesturing really tired you out, and that's on top of a few days worth of fatigue. Maika aside, things are looking up a little – you've earned a little nap. Of course, whether you'll get the chance to nap or not is another matter. You've got a strangely restless feeling forming at the base of your spine, a grim premonition of trouble to come.

That feeling stays with you all the while you walk home, only fading once you've made it to bed without something going disastrously wrong. Maybe, just maybe, your instincts were wrong this time. Either way, all you can do now is pull the covers up over your head and block out the world for a bit.

You dream. Compared with your usual paltry dreams, this one is... vivid. Raw and intense, somehow more real than reality.

[1/2]

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>>1629955

It's nice, walking side by side like this. The late night streets have a charm to them, a mystique that you find endlessly compelling. Of course, it's not really the streets that you enjoy, but what they mean. They mean spending time with Hikari, as two sisters who share a secret.

“You know sis, I love this job,” Hikari says lightly, resting her hand on her hip like someone used to carrying a sword, “I really do. I'm glad that I got picked.”

“Picked?” you reply, “Is that how it works?”

“Apparently,” she shrugs, “The gods reach down from Heaven, and they pick out special people like me to help them. That's why I'm a Heavenly Child, you see?”

“Wow...” you murmur, “Can I be special as well?”

“C'mon sis!” Hikari laughs, “You're already special! It's just... a different kind of special, you see?” Smiling warmly, she reaches over and pats you on the head, messing up your hair. When you giggle and try to bat her hand away, she just doubles down. “Now let's get back home,” she adds, finally relenting in her assault, “I bet mom and dad won't even have noticed that we slipped out.”

You open your mouth to reply to that, but the ringing of a telephone cuts out off. A phone, here? No, you realise with dismay, it must be-

-

Back in the waking world, your phone is ringing. Shaking off the confusion, you throw back the covers and grab it, pressing it to your ear without even glancing at the screen. Normally, you'd be tempted to kill the call and go back to sleep, but with the situation being what it is... it could be Maika, or at least a message from her. It could be-

“I hope I'm not disturbing you,” Jun says, his voice shocking you awake, “But we have a rather unusual situation.”

“Situation?” you repeat numbly, stumbling over the word, “Intruder?”

“Yes, that seems to be the case. The Oracle missed its entrance into the world, and now she's giving us... strange information,” Jun pauses here, “Are you okay? You sound rather... unwell.”

“I was asleep,” you blurt out, “Shit, I mean... I was busy. Doing something else. Doing something that definitely wasn't sleeping.” Taking the phone away from your ear and covering it up, you let out a long groan of dismay before going back to the conversation. “So you missed the chance to stop, and now you're dumping it on me,” you deduce, “Is that accurate?”

“Not at all!” Jun protests, “For reasons that will soon become clear to you, we're in no definite hurry. Why don't I explain the full situation, and then we can get to the important matters.”

“Ugh,” you sigh, “Fine. Say what you gotta say – but I'm not promising anything, we clear?”

“Crystal,” the Sentinel murmurs.

[2/3]

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>>1630029

“By default, the Oracle receives information about threats towards mankind here in Ark City, with greater threats receiving greater priority. As such, minor threats, or those of a highly specific nature, often slip through the net. That seems to be the case here – an Intruder with a very specific goal has entered the world,” Jun pauses here, and you hear him taking a drink, “So far, it hasn't shown any sign of attacking normal people. We believe that it has other targets in mind.”

“Other targets?” you repeat, before realisation dawns, “You mean us, right? Girls like me.”

“The Oracle believes that to be the case, yes,” Jun clears his throat, “The Oracle also gave us a location, where we believe the Intruder will appear next. Kaneshiro Park. Do you know it? I suppose you could call it an art installation of sorts. Quite the tourist attraction. I don't suppose you know of anyone who might be in the area?”

A tourist attraction... Megumi perhaps, although you stop short of telling Jun that. “I dunno,” you reply, “So what now?”

“I sent Karl to investigate. I'm quite sure he can handle it on his own,” the Sentinel rustles some papers in the background, “However, in the interests of mutual cooperation, I felt that you might want to know. What you do with this information is up to you.” He pauses again, and you somehow get the impression that it's an amused pause. “Oh, one last thing,” Jun adds, “If you decide to go, you should bring some AR glasses. I hear Kaneshiro park can be quite beautiful. Good day, Miss Tsukada, and I'm sorry for waking you.”

“...Bastard,” you mutter, after the call ends. As you're left staring at the phone, one thought occurs to you.

That damn premonition had been right after all. You HATE being right.

>Head to Kaneshiro Park to investigate
>Leave it to Karl. He's the “professional” after all
>Other

>>1630072
>Head to Kaneshiro Park to investigate

>>1630072
>Head to Kaneshiro Park to investigate
Hell yea team up. Time to embarrass Karl with our pro skills and tell him to stick to weapon maintenance and the cheerleading squad.

>>1630090
Wouldn't underestimate that grouchy German. Dude took off Crow's hand without breaking a sweat.

>>1630093
She got better.

>>1630072
>Head to Kaneshiro Park to investigate

>>1630072
>Ask Kurosawa for confirmation.
>Head to Kaneshiro Park to investigate
>Call up Kasumi and Emi
>Call Megumi as well, just in case
Karl will just fuck everything up, we just know it.

>>1630072
>>Head to Kaneshiro Park to investigate
>>Bring AR glasses. Might make for a nice time after the intruder is gone.

An Intruder that's specifically searching for magical girls – that could only be bad news. If successful, if the Intruder found and consumed its prey, that would lead to the creation of a new Tyrant. If you have to work together with Karl in order to stop that happening, so be it. And, well, maybe you could get one over on him. The chance to embarrass that moody Kraut is too good to pass up. You'll show HIM who's the professional around here...

“First things first...” you mutter, “Don't do this alone. Reinforcements.” Flicking through your phone, you pull up Emi's number. “Hey, Emi,” you greet her, jumping straight to the point, “You up for a little work tonight? Word on the street is, there's an ass that needs a kick.”

“A bit of good honest violence? Hell yeah!” Emi gloats, “You always know how to make a girl happy, Miho. Gimme the details, I'll be there.”

“Kaneshiro Park. Sending you the address now,” you tell her, looking up the details and firing them off, “Looks like we can meet along the way. We might have company for this one, so let's all be on our best behaviour.” Ending the call, you move on to Kasumi.

She doesn't answer.

The phone rings ten, twenty times, with no sign of an answer. Gritting your teeth in frustration, you give up and move on. Rising to leave, you hesitate for a moment before rummaging through your desk. It takes a few seconds – potentially vital seconds – but then you find what you had been looking for. A pair of AR glasses, the battery showing “good to go”. If you're going out there, you might as well take in the sights.

-

“Hey, Kurosawa?” you mutter as you hurry out into the streets, “I'm hearing talk of an Intruder, Kaneshiro Park – can you confirm that?”

“Wait a moment,” Kurosawa answers, his voice ringing in your mind, “Yes, I see it now. Strange. I seem to be finding it difficult to get a solid fix on the target. I can confirm its presence, but narrowing it down to a more precise location may be difficult.”

“He's a slippery bastard,” you reply, “He's giving everyone quite a bit of trouble...”

Shaking your head in irritation, you check Kasumi's number again. Still no answer. Scowling hard as you hasten your pace, you move down to the last name on your list – Megumi's emergency number. At least she picks up straight away.

Although her response is... not what you had been expecting.

[1/2]

>>1630201

“Miho!” she greets you, calling your name with levels of cheer usually reserved for people like Emi, “What's going on?”

“I don't... are you drunk?” you ask incredulously, listening hard to what seems like jazz music in the background, “Have you been drinking? Megumi!”

“Hey, c'mon, I found a good bar and it's my day off. Cut me some slack!” the young woman chuckles, “I'm gonna sit here, drink myself stupid and enjoy Ark City's hospitality. You wanna join me? I'd say you're a little too young for this sort of thing though...”

“So you're not going anywhere?” you press, “No plans on going to Kaneshiro Park?”

“Kaneshiro Park, who's that?” Megumi replies, just as confused as you feel, “He sounds... Korean.” A burst of applause, coming through your phone like static, cuts her off here. “Oh wait, the bartender just told me. Some art thing, correct? I might go tomorrow, it sounds nice,” the woman continues, “But right now? No, the only place I'm going right now is back to my capsule hotel.”

“Right...” you murmur, “Sorry for bothering you then.”

Ending the call, you grit your teeth and start running a little faster. The Intruder is hunting a magical girl. You can't get in contact with Kasumi.

It's not hard to put two and two together, but you don't like the answer.

>I'm going to have to pause things here. I'll continue this tomorrow, and if anyone has any questions I'll answer them the best I can
>Thanks to everyone who contributed today!

>>1630231
Thanks for running!

>>1630231
Thanks for running!

When will we find out that to destroy Umbra we need to destroy the gods?

>>1630262

If only it was that easy! To truly destroy the Umbra, we'd need to destroy the entire universe.

>>1630231
Thanks for running.

When will we find out everyone is Ark City is actually a Sentinel and this is all one big elaborate prank to mess with Miho?

>>1630285
What? Another me?

>>1630285

It's not a prank, it's a social experiment!

Now, some people might say that founding an entire futuristic city, complete with AI overlords, just to study one teenage girl is a waste of resources, but those people are no fun. Who cares about what they think?

>>1630285
I mean, I would love to watch The Miho Show, just saying.

>>1630462
>The Miho Show

>"Everything feels like it's falling apart around me."
>Audience chuckles softly
>"I just want to go to sleep until all of this is over..."
>Audience erupts into raucous laughter

>>1630501
>"An assassin is trying to use my dad as leverage against me!"
>Audience falls out of their seats with barely contained hysterics.

Partway along your route to Kaneshiro Park, your AR glasses painting a serious of ghostly blue arrows leading you towards the attraction, you meet up with Emi. Her eyes are wide and excited, as if she can't wait to get stuck in.

“So c'mon, what are we dealing with?” she presses, “More bugs, you reckon, or something else?”

“How should I know?” you protest, “It's not like I've got insider information or anything. Well... I mean, I guess I DO have a bit more intel, but not that much. We're gonna have to go and see for ourselves.” You pause here, looking around at the empty streets. “Unless... hey Kurosawa?” you ask, “Have you managed to get a better idea of what we're dealing yet, or is this thing still going under the radar?”

“It remains elusive,” Kurosawa responds immediately, hesitating a moment before adding, “Or perhaps I...”

“What, you losing your touch?” Emi laughs, “You need reading glasses, old man. Nah, forget glasses, you need that shit with the lasers. Hey, we could get Maika to do it for you, she's got a laser gun thing.”

“Do NOT shoot me with lasers!” Kurosawa snaps, “Take this matter seriously, Executioner, it may be important. My abilities to sense your world are growing weaker, less reliable, and I do not believe it to be the product of mere accident. I lost track of you, of your entire group, a number of days ago, yet I did not sense any Intruders. A minor tremor in the Umbra, but nothing more.” A low growl escapes the cat as he broods. “Continue with your duties,” he concludes, “We will discuss this matter later.”

“A few days ago...” Emi mutters to you, once Kurosawa has vanished, “Was that-”

“I can't think of anything unusual,” you interrupt firmly, “But you heard the cat, we've got our duties to attend to.”

“Duties, right. Those asses won't kick themselves,” the young girl gives you a theatrical wink, “I got you, boss!”

She's a good girl, Emi, but none too sharp on the whole “keeping secrets” thing.

-

When you arrive at Kaneshiro Park, you have to check the directions again just to be sure that you're at the right place. You had been expecting, well, a park – something with grass and trees. Instead, what you've found yourself confronted by is a solemn field of pillars, maybe concrete or fibreglass, with equally bleak stone underfoot. The entire thing almost looks like a giant sculpture of a park, rather than anything else. Jun DID describe it as an art installation, but...

“Not many places to hide around here,” Emi remarks, pointing to one of the pillars, “I mean, unless we've got a really skinny one on our hands.”

[1/2]

>>1632394

“Got a map over here,” the young girl adds, waving you over to a discrete sign, “Looks like we got a path, runs in a circuit around the park. “A scenic view for couples and loners alike”, it says here. Fucking hell...” Rolling her eyes, she glances around at you. “I don't think much of their sales pitch,” she continues, “And scenic? Scenic what, concrete bullshit?”

“Doesn't matter, we're not here for sightseeing,” you remind her, “There's supposed to be an Intruder around here – or there's going to be – and we need to find it. It's hunting our kind especially, we can't let it roam free. Although... I'm not exactly sure how to find it.”

“Hey, if it's looking for magical girls...” Emi suggests, “Won't it come right to us?”

“That... is a good point,” you realise, fighting back the urge to slap your forehead in frustration, “Although that does put us in the rather unenviable position of bait. So what, you think we should just take a stroll and see what pops up?”

“Sure, why not?” the young girl shrugs before giving you a daring smile, “Unless you want to split up, we could start at opposite ends and meet in the middle. Cover more ground that way, and when has splitting up EVER gone wrong?”

“Hmm...” you murmur, rather unconvinced.

“Jokes aside, there might be some folk still here - “couples and loners” enjoying the scenic view, like – and they might get caught up in this. If we split up, we could sweep their asses out of here quicker. Safer for them, I guess,” her grin widens a little, “And any monsters that are out there, I reckon one of us could hold them off until the other arrives. One yell, that's all it would take to get the alarm out.”

She certainly seems confident enough. Looking out across the bleak “park”, you kind of wish you shared her enthusiasm.

>Let's stick together and follow the path. Slow and careful, okay?
>Fine, I'll take this end if you start at the other. We'll meet in the middle
>Hang on, I want to call Jun. Karl was supposed to be here, but...
>Other

>>1632395
>>Let's stick together and follow the path. Slow and careful, okay?

>>1632395
>Let's stick together and follow the path. Slow and careful, okay?

“Let's just stick together and follow the path,” you tell Emi sternly, “We'll do this slow and careful, okay? This place already looks like something out of a horror movie, so splitting up just seems... dangerous.”

“You think?” the young girl plants her hands on her hips and casts a long look around the park, “Yeah, I guess. No point sticking around though, yeah? We ain't gonna get anything done just sitting here gossiping.” Nodding decisively, she starts off ahead with an easy stride. Sighing at her inexplicable enthusiasm, you follow close behind her. “Hey,” she adds, glancing back over her shoulder, “Didn't you say we were having company?”

“I said we might have company,” you correct her, “But until we get confirmation one way or the other, assume that we're doing this on our own.”

“Fine with me,” Emi shrugs, “I don't reckon we need anyone else.”

-

The night feels eerily quiet here, isolated from the usual background hum of city noise, and the unnatural terrain only adds to that uneasy feeling. It almost seems as though you're on the surface of the moon, the grey concrete appearing utterly unearthly under the stark white lighting – lighting that doesn't seem to have any particular source or origin. Shaking your head in irritation, you glance down at the path under your feet and-

“That's strange,” you mutter, kneeling down and running your hand across the smooth slabs. The texture feels odd, although the precise difference is not something you could explain, and the edges of each slab are... blurred. A few paces away, the individual tiles have sharply defined borders, but these ones almost look melted. “Hey Emi,” you call over, “Take a look at this, it's weird...”

“Yeah?” Emi replies, “What do you-” She grunts then, biting back the rest of the sentence, and you hear her feet scuffling against the ground as she whirls around. Her gaze has hardened, her eyes flicking back and forth across the horizon. “I just saw something,” she warns you, “Something moving, just out the corner of my eye. Something moved!”

“What moved?” you press, “Big, small, what sort of thing?”

“I don't know!” she whines, “I just got a flash of it, I didn't get a proper look. Where the hell could it be hiding out here?” Transforming in a crash of metal, Emi gestures at the darkness with her massive sword. “It's gotta be out there somewhere,” she snarls, pushing up the visor of her baroque helmet and glaring around, “Fucking... stalking us, like. Hunting us.”

“We were playing bait, after all,” you point out, “And... wait!”

Turning back, you press your hand back down against the ground. There's a tremor there, growing more intense with every passing second.

[1/2]

>>1632426

“Back!” you yell, transforming in an instant and leaping away from the ground. A flare of heat blasts you as the concrete glows cherry red for one brief second, some loathsome thing bursting through the afflicted ground. The ground doesn't shatter like breaking glass or part like waves, simply becoming insubstantial as the Intruder moves through it. Left in its wake are more of those curiously melted slabs – minor evidence of its passing.

The Intruder itself, though... it's anything but minor. A centipede is the most obvious point of comparison, with its segmented body and countless squirming legs, but as with most Intruders, the similarity is passing at best. A cluster of humanoid eyes rolls and stares at the tip of its blunt, bullet head, while its jaws seethe with bubbling fluids. Here and there, the leaden grey exoskeleton is cracked open as if from within, with pulpy black flesh boiling out from inside.

In open defiance of gravity, the Intruder hangs in the air for a few seconds, gracefully rolling over, before it comes crashing down to earth and charges past you. Throwing yourself to the side – and watching as Emi leaps the other way – you twist and watch the Intruder scuttling past. Each leg is like a sword, clattering against the concrete slabs, and the fluid that drips from the Intruder's maw smokes when it touches the ground.

“Good thing Kasumi isn't here!” Emi jokes, leaping to her feet and readying her sword, “A big bug like this...”

“She'd freak out!” you finish, “So let's stomp this thing quick!”

>Pincer movement! I'll draw its attention, you hit it from behind!
>We need to keep it from escaping. Tear off a few of those legs!
>Target those eyes, it'll be easy prey once we blind it!
>Other

>>1632440
>>We need to keep it from escaping. Tear off a few of those legs!

>>1632440
Technically we can do all three here. Pincer attack where Miho attacks from the front and tries to take out it's eyes while Emi comes from the back and tries to lop off legs.

>>1632440
>We need to keep it from escaping. Tear off a few of those legs!

>>1632440

>We need to keep it from escaping. Tear off a few of those legs!

>>1632445
Try too many things at once and we'll just fail at all of them.

>>1632451
You say that but you didn't really poke holes in the plan.

Think about it. What better way to get this thing's attention than filling it's vision with Miho's fist or fire. What better way to capitalize on flanking it than lopping off it's hindlegs? I don't expect Miho to get the eyes, but targeting them will get this thing's attention for sure.

>>1632454
Ok, the holes are that Miho alone won't be able to take out its eyes, and Emi alone won't be able to take out enough legs to significantly affect its movement. We'll be wasting time and risking ourselves for negligible damage.

>>1632440

Seconding
>>1632445

>>1632458
>Ok, the holes are that Miho alone won't be able to take out its eyes
I agree. I said as much didn't I? I'm using her targeting them as the means to distract the Intruder. And hell she might be able to get them after Emi attacks and makes the Intruder flinch but that would just be a bonus.

>and Emi alone won't be able to take out enough legs to significantly affect its movement.
Miho having to yank them off one by one with gauntlets isn't going to beat Emi's fuckhuge sword (plus magic extension) slicing through however many she can reach at once.

Hell giving her time to make a clean slice by distracting might be more efficient than having her have to dodge and counter.

>>1632472
Miho punches hard enough to take out multiple at a time, and that's without using abilities. She doesn't need to yank them out.

“C'mon, it's getting away!” you yell, gesturing for Emi to follow you as you charge after the scuttling Intruder, “We need to stop it from escaping!”

“You think?” Emi shouts back, her sword kicking up a spray of sparks as its blunt tip drags across the ground. Even with the blade dragging behind her she is quick enough to sprint ahead of you, catching up with the Intruder and slashing out with her sword. The enemy jinks aside at the last minute, turning a crushing blow into a glancing hit that scrapes across its hide. Even so, the force of the blow knocks it into a sprawling tangle of legs, buying you just enough time to catch up with it.

“It's a bug, isn't it?” you call over to her, “So we tear off a few of those legs, see how quick it moves then! I'll draw its attention, you hit it from behind!” Even before you've finished yelling your orders, you jab forwards with one of the Collapsed Star Knuckles and unleash a jet of flame at the Intruder's front end, aiming straight for that cluster of madly rolling eyes. The thing screeches like metal grinding against metal, recoiling back before twisting around to fully face you.

Keeping the jet of fire fixed on the creature's head, you watch as one of the eyes boils and bursts. With another piercing scream cutting through your head the Intruder jerks its head away from you, stunned and blinded for a few moments. Pressing the advantage, Emi slams into the creature from the side, scything out with her blade and hacking clean through a number of the writhing legs. Before she can strike again the Intruder lashes wildly with its tail and knocks the young girl flying, turning its head back to you. You prepare another blast of fire, but this time the Intruder is quicker.

Retching, the centipede spits a thick jet of froth at you. Hastily turning your attack into a defensive stance, you bring your gauntlets up to shield yourself. When the filthy liquid hits, it splashes over you, all over your arms and shoulders, some of it even landing on your face. For a moment, all that you notice is the sickly warmth of the stuff, and then boiling pain erupts across your body. Although it simmers harmlessly against your gauntlets, the acid hungrily gets to work on your flesh.

Crying out in pain, you stumble back and flail at the clinging substance, more spreading it about that wiping it off you. For a few short moments you're left paralysed by the pain, unable to think of anything other than getting the acid off you before it eats you down to the bone. Seeing its chance to flee, the Intruder lumbers around in a tight circle and crawls deeper into the park.

This time, though, its movements are left clumsy and uncoordinated.

[1/2]

>>1632486
Thundeclap when we are in range.

Hey Moloch can you post our unlocked powers sheet? I forgot one of the new ones we got.

File: SK3.jpg (110 KB, 586x853)

110 KB JPG

>>1632496

>Sure, here it is.

>>1632486

“On your feet!” Emi barks, rushing over to you and slapping you on the shoulder, “You're fine, you're okay!” Grabbing one of your gauntlets, she hauls you back upright and fixes you with a hard look. “I'm going after it,” she adds, “I'll pin that fucker down!”

“Got it!” you gasp, shuddering as you feel the tingling sensation of your flesh knitting back together, “Just... watch the front end. That acid is dangerous.”

Laughing savagely, Emi tightens her grip on her sword and charges off, following the now-sluggish Intruder's trail. It takes you a few seconds more to fully recover your wits, and check over your rapidly healing wounds, but then you force yourself to get moving. This is no time to sit around, you're not done yet!

-

Emi sprints ahead, but when she reaches the Intruder she doesn't attack it straight away. Instead, she leaps up at one of the looming concrete pillars, scrabbling at the smooth material as she climbs it. When the maimed centipede passes underneath her, she lets out a howl of bloodlust and jumps, plunging down sword-first. There is a tremendous crunch as she lands, spearing clean through the Intruder and nailing it to the ground.

“Got you, you bastard!” she screams, digging her blade a little deeper and cruelly twisting it, “Try running away now, you piece of shit!”

Shuddering a little at the raw violence in her voice – there's a lot of frustration there, you sense, bottled up until now – you hurry to rejoin the girl. As you approach the Intruder, though, there comes a hideous tearing sound. Digging its front claws into the concrete, the centipede rips itself forwards, the front section pulling free from the maimed back half and making a new attempt at escape. Emi, left pinned to a useless chunk of dead Intruder, can only blurt out a startled curse.

Freed from the dead weight of its lower half, the Intruder turns back to face you, hissing furiously as it charges again. “C'mon...” you mutter, digging your heels in before bringing your palms together with tremendous force, “Thunderclap!”

The wave of power blasts the mutilated Intruder back, knocking it over to reveal a pale underbelly, but it soon writhes into life again. Before you can press the attack, it sprays acid at you again – this time, you hurl yourself away from the vile fluid instead of blocking it. By the time you've recovered from the jump, however, the Intruder has also twisted back onto its feet.

Glancing aside for a moment, you watch as Emi finally rips her sword free from the ground, giving you a cheery thumbs-up. She's enjoying this, she really is.

>Press the attack... (Write in)
>Other

Sorry for the delay, my head is killing me today.

>>1632519
>>Press the attack... (Write in)
Let's set Emi up. Shockwave the Intruder, blowing it back into Emi to do her thing. Like a pitcher and batter. We should go for the underbelly if we can.

>>1632519
>Press the attack

Try catching it with another Thunderclap, but have Emi ready to dice it this time.

>>1632519
supporting >>1632529
the Thunderclap should keep it stunned enough for Emi to go to town on it

>>1632519
Supporting >>1632528

Giving Emi a grin, you flex your armoured fingers and return your attention to the wounded Intruder. “I'll set it up,” you call over to her, not taking your eyes away from it, “And you hit it where it's soft.”

“Got it, boss!” she replies, “Just like gutting a fish!”

First it was pulling legs off an insect, now it's gutting fish... these metaphors are getting increasingly strained. Pushing the matter from your mind, you lower your guard and spread your arms wide, practically inviting the Intruder to attack again. It doesn't disappoint you, screeching in rage and hurling itself towards you in a furious rush. A second Thunderclap knocks it sprawling again, but this time Emi is ready to strike. With her sword held low like a lance, she charges headlong at the fallen Intruder.

Just as the centipede is preparing to spew acid once again, Emi slams into it, burying her sword clean through the soft, pallid underbelly and out the armoured shell. Laughing madly, she rips the blade down and through the Intruder, practically sawing the entirely loathsome thing in half by the time she pulls her blade free. Steaming entrails, bubbling with acidic froth, spill out to smoulder on the concrete. The less said about the smell, the better.

“Hell yeah!” Emi cheers, pumping her fist with glee, “We got the bastard!”

Stepping carefully around the decaying Intruder corpse, you meet up with Emi and slap her on the shoulder. “Damn right,” you agree, “But I reckon I've had my fill of bugs. That acid... ugh, I thought it would eat right through me!” Shaking your head with a humourless laugh, you think back to Emi's role of the battle. “Good thinking with the pinning it down thing,” you continue, “I wasn't really expecting it to split in half like...” Your words trail off here as you glance across at the lower half of the corpse.

“What?” Emi asks, “What are you... oh, son of a bitch!”

The lower half, not quite as dead as you had thought, is busy scuttling away, weaving a drunken path as it sways on its uneven legs. For a moment you're both transfixed by the sight, dumbfounded and disbelieving, but then you sigh. “What do they say about cockroaches surviving a nuclear blast?” you murmur, “This guy makes roaches look frail...”

“Better get after it then,” Emi decides with a shrug, “Should be easy enough to finish-”

The hard crack of a gunshot rings out, and the mutilated lower half is thrown back. Decaying away to nothing before it has even hit the ground, the last remnants of the Intruder are finally destroyed. “You really can fight,” a haughty voice admits, “But you have to remember, always confirm your kills.”

Karl Dietrich Kaplan.

[1/2]

>>1632558
>It was a centipede not a worm! Fucking intruders. ..

>>1632558

A soft squeak of dismay slips from Emi's lips as the tall German emerges from the darkness, a smoking rifle held low in his grip. As he approaches, he nonchalantly throws the rifle aside, the weapon dissolving into golden light before hitting the ground. Replacing the long rifle, a typically archaic pistol forms in one hand. He holds the pistol low, casually aimed away from you yet ready to snap around at a moment's notice.

“Thanks for the help,” you tell him sweetly, “You really did a good job shooting that crippled lower half.”

“You really kicked its ass,” Emi agrees, chuckling at her own joke, “Hell, it was nothing BUT an ass...”

“I don't believe in exerting my energy without a good reason,” Karl drawls, “I would have stepped in if you needed my help. In either case, I wanted to see how you fought. To weigh you up against my expectations.” He falls silent for a moment, frowning as he decides whether or not to say anything more. “You don't fight like her,” he offers at last, “Like Crow, I should say. I can't explain the difference, don't ask me to try, but it's as clear as day.”

“She only likes fighting people,” you mutter, before shaking your head. You don't want to think about her now, not in the slightest. “Oh yeah,” you add, nodding to Emi, “This is-”

“Emi Miyakawa, also known as the Executioner,” the tall man finishes, “I know. We've built up quite the file on you.”

“Yeah?” a guarded note enters Emi's voice, “Nothing bad though, right?”

“Do you really want me to answer that?” Karl replies, offering her a bland smile. Emi scowls at him for a moment, before scoffing out and giving him a rude gesture.

“Nah, fuck this. I'm out,” she decides, “We've done our job, and I ain't in the mood to stick around and chat. Besides, I got work tomorrow, I gotta get some sleep. Miho, I'll catch you later. Thanks for calling me out here, yeah?”

You pause, glancing across at Karl. He doesn't seem to pay Emi any attention as she starts to amble away, content to let her go. “Yeah, no problem. I thought you might like it,” you tell Emi, looking back to her, “I'll call you tomorrow.” Emi throws a sloppy wave over her shoulder before strolling off into the night, leaving you alone with Karl. “So what now?” you ask the taller man, “The way I see it, there's nothing left to do here.”

“Actually, I thought I might stay here a while longer, just to make sure that every last trace of the target has been destroyed,” Karl says, pausing for a moment before taking a pair of AR glasses from the inside of his gaudy jacket, “And... I've always wanted to see this place at night. Jun highly recommends it. Were you thinking of staying as well?”

>I was. You stay out of my way, I'll stay out of yours
>I was. Why don't we see it together?
>Nah, I'm heading home
>Other

>>1632594
Eh fuck it.
>I was. Why don't we see it together?

>>1632594
>>Nah, I'm heading home

>>1632594
>I was. Why don't we see it together?
Maybe we can try and get more of the local Sentinels on our side.

>>1632594
>I was. Why don't we see it together?
As much as it pains me, we really should try and bring this Sentinel cell to our side.
I'd even say Karl would be more reliable that Jun if won over. Jun is their Face, he could be lying to us.

>>1632613
Most of the time we've talked to Jun we've had Ayane listen in. He's mostly been upfront with us but you know he omits things.

>>1632615
Lies by omission are still lies. And we know that whatever he hides, he's not ashamed of it. He might be a heartless manipulator.

>>1632594

>I was. You stay out of my way, I'll stay out of yours

I think suddenly buddying up like this is too abrupt. May be the best choice, but OOC.

File: Karl Dietrich Kaplan.jpg (397 KB, 900x1256)

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Banishing your costume, you reach into a pocket and touch your own pair of AR glasses, thinking hard for a few moments. “I was thinking of staying,” you admit, hesitating for a long moment before adding, “Why don't we take a look around together?”

“Together?” Karl repeats, narrowing his eyes in suspicion, “What exactly are you suggesting?”

“Man, you don't make this easy, do you?” you groan, “I'm suggesting that we go for a walk together, maybe talk a little. You know, building bridges, working on mutual cooperation... that sort of thing? I'm not trying to lure you into an ambush or anything, so you needn't look at me like I'm some enemy.”

“I apologise,” a wry smile touches Karl's lips, “The offer merely took me by surprise. Very well then, I'd be... willing to accompany you.”

“Wow, thanks,” you sigh, “You're really enthusiastic about-”

“Jun did ask me to indulge you, if the situation should arise,” the taller man continues, a slight taunt entering his voice, “Purely in the interests of mutual cooperation, of course.”

“You're really making me regret that offer, you know,” scowling up at Karl, you cross your arms in mostly feigned irritation, “Ugh, whatever. Now come on, let's get a move on before I change my mind.” Turning away from Karl, you take out the glasses and shake the legs open. “Let's see if I can get these things working...” you mutter to yourself, “I just need to-”

As your exploring fingers find the discrete switch set in the frame, the world around you seems to... expand, to brighten and to take on a new life. Gazing around at the new sight, a gasp slips from your lips.

-

Without the AR overlay the concrete pillars had been bleak and plain things, but seeing them through the digital display is a different matter entirely. Each pillar has become a tall tree, branches filled with a lush array of petals. Cherry blossom falls on a non-existent breeze, drifting and falling around to vanish upon hitting the ground. This is the real art project, you realise, not the blank canvas that you had seen before.

The path beneath your feet has not gone unchanged either, with the stone slabs replaced by the ghostly image of grass and a dirt trail. If not for the soft glow that surrounds everything here, you could have been standing in a rich meadow.

“All too often, we see the worst of things,” Karl murmurs, his voice reaching you, “We see the harsh side of humanity, the ugly side of technology. But a place like this? To me, it reminds me that there is a beautiful side to the world. It's easy to forget that, all too easy.”

You recall what little you know of Karl's past, of his youth. He must have seen a lot of harshness and ugliness in his time, but not a lot of beauty.

[1/2]

>Next post will be delayed. I have an errand to run. Sorry about this.

>>1632646

Even after the initial awe has worn off, the art installation is still impressive on a purely technical level. You've been watching closely, but you're yet to see any sign of the illusory blossoms to loop or show patterns in the way they move. As far as you can tell, each individual petal falls according to its own random trajectory. More than once, you've absent-mindedly reached out to catch a falling petal, only for it to ghost right through your palm. You can only imagine that this would be a nice place for young lovers to walk together.

Of course, you're not here with a lover. You're here with a sullen German man.

“You know, you really shouldn't have mentioned that file to Emi,” you sigh, “She acts tough, but I reckon she's more sensitive than she lets on, especially about stuff like that.” When Karl doesn't offer any answer to that, you scowl at him and continue. “So let me guess,” you remark, a faint note of accusation in your voice, “You've got dossiers on all of us, don't you?”

“It's nothing personal, gathering information is just standard protocol. Besides...” he turns to you and gives you a slight smirk, “I believe you're guilty of exactly the same sin.”

“Oh yeah,” you murmur, feeling your cheeks heat up a little, “I guess you'd know about that...”

“We make it our business to know these things,” Karl replies, shrugging calmly, “Like I said, standard protocol.”

Sighing, you lift your glasses and return to the real world for a moment. The real world, the world of grey concrete and sterile skies, seems very... flat compared with the illusion. Lowering the glasses again, you return to walking along in a solemn silence. Solemn... and awkward.

>So you've got a file on me, right? What does it say?
>Jun told me about Pietr's initiation. Do you think he's got what it takes?
>I'm concerned about Maika. You guys aren't leaning on her, are you?
>There's something I wanted to talk about... (Write in)
>Other

>>1632850
>So you've got a file on me, right? What does it say

>>1632850
>So you've got a file on me, right? What does it say?

>>1632850
>So you've got a file on me, right? What does it say?
>Jun told me about Pietr's initiation. Do you think he's got what it takes?
>I'm concerned about Maika. You guys aren't leaning on her, are you?
Though we can't discount Eligor doing something off the Sentinel books.

>>1632850
I guess Eligor shared what he knew.


>So you've got a file on me, right? What does it say?

>>1632850
>So you've got a file on me, right? What does it say?
>Jun told me about Pietr's initiation. Do you think he's got what it takes?
>I'm concerned about Maika. You guys aren't leaning on her, are you?

“So you've got a file on me, right?” you ask, breaking the silence at last, “What does it say?”

“Most of it is very dry, very drab,” Karl begins, “The basic facts of your life – family details, academic records, any legal issues... all publicly available information, but an essential foundation for a profile.” Considering his next words with care, Karl continues in a slower voice. “I suspect that you'll be more interested in the... speculative matters,” he offers, “Theories on how best to deal with you – up to and including direct manipulation.”

“Direct manipulation,” you repeat coldly, “What a charming way to put it!”

“I won't apologise for our methods,” Karl states bluntly, “What we do, we do for the sake of all mankind. The Sentinels have a duty to guide mankind towards a better future, through any means necessary. Yes, that often involves manipulating people – either as individuals, or as a society. If it is any comfort to you, know that we do not take this responsibility lightly. It is a burden that each and every one of us suffers under.”

“Yeah yeah, spare me the martyr act,” you mutter, “So what sort of “direct manipulation” do you think would work on me?”

“Your father. We believe that he is your weak point,” Karl makes no attempt to evade or change the subject, “However, the idea of using him was specifically excluded. Nebiros was quite specific about that.”

“Nebiros...” the scowl returns to your face as you remember the Council of Twelve.

“But I'm afraid that I can't say more than that,” the tall man finishes, “Not out of any matters of discretion – I simply don't know. I'm not privy to the intimacies of how the Council of Twelve chooses to operate.”

The thought that you're not the only one being kept in the dark is strangely reassuring, although it doesn't really do much to lift your mood. Knowing that the council have their eyes on your father... it's hardly a comforting thought. Scowling hard for a moment more, you deliberately smooth out your expression and look back to Karl. “Whatever,” you sigh, “Jun told me about Pietr's initiation, you know, and-”

“He shouldn't have done that,” Karl mutters, his brow furrowing, “Jun says far too much for my liking...”

“I dunno, it's pretty nice having someone who actually tells me stuff,” you counter, “But that's not my point. What I wanted to say is, do you think Pietr has what it takes? Do you think he'll pass this... whatever you're going to do to him?”

“I do, yes,” Karl's answer comes immediately, without even a moment of hesitation, “There is danger, yes, but when the time comes – when survival is at stake – that is when men show their true worth. I believe that Pietr will rise to the occasion, and when he does... I will welcome him as a brother Sentinel.”

[1/2]

>>1632931

“Of course, you may get the chance to see for yourself,” Karl adds, with a faint bitterness in his voice, “Pietr has been making requests – asking if he can bring a guest to his initiation. Such things are rare, but not entirely unheard of. The matter has not yet been decided, however, the final decision lies with Jun.” Although the bitterness remains, Karl smiles a little. “He'll allow it,” the tall man states, “Jun coddles the boy, and-”

“And he says far too much,” you finish for him, “Yeah, well. I guess we'll just have to wait and see, huh?”

“That appears to be the case,” Karl agrees, although he offers nothing else. Instead, he just turns away from you and prowls off along the path, simply assuming that you'll follow at his heel. Glaring at his retreating back, you almost turn and stomp off in the opposite direction. As much as you'd like to, you're not quite finished yet.

Swallowing your pride, you clench your fists and hurry after him. “We're not done!” you snap, causing him to stop and slowly, sardonically, turn back to face you, “We're not finished talking!”

“Oh?” Karl asks mildly, “What else did you have to say?”

“It's... damn it! It's Maika, I'm concerned about Maika,” you grudgingly admit, “You guys aren't leaning on her, are you? You're not trying any of that “direct manipulation” crap, are you?”

This wipes away the sarcastic look on Karl's face, replaced by a more sincere frown of thought. “To the best of my knowledge, we have not taken any action against her,” he answers, “Such things were deemed unnecessary.”

“Unnecessary?” you repeat, “What do you mean?”

“Put simply?” Karl raises an eyebrow, “We don't consider her a troublemaker.”

Something about the way he words that strikes you as deeply unwholesome. Perhaps its the way he brushes her off without a second thought, or perhaps it's... something more. You're about to press him on that point when you turn a sharp bend in the path, and your eyes fall on a familiar face – familiar but unexpected.

Approaching from the opposite end of the path, Kasumi Sato walks arm in arm with a young man. She glances your way and narrows her eyes ever so slightly, but then she just looks casually away.

>Greet her
>Ignore her
>Other

>>1633027
>Ignore her
Pretty sure she doesn't want to be disturbed.

>>1633027
>Ignore her
We can ask later.

>>1633027
>Ignore her

>>1633027
>>Ignore her
It isn't our business if she works as an escort, or less likely, wanted to go on a date with someone.

Suddenly, you're very glad that Emi isn't here. You're sharp enough to catch that Kasumi doesn't want to be disturbed – although you're very curious about what she's doing here – but Emi... she'd blurt out a greeting either by instinct, or just to spite Kasumi. Trusting that Karl will do the same, you hold your tongue as the pair approach – although you do take a second glance at the young man Kasumi is walking with.

If you had to guess, you'd say that he was a few years older than her, although his face still had shades of boyishness. His suit is an expensive one – and the tie pin he wears has the lustre of real gold – but it fits poorly on him. No, it would be better to say that he fitted poorly in the suit. Something about the man looks decidedly awkward, as if there wasn't a place on earth where he'd fit in. In a way, he reminds you of the misfits you saw at Emi's maid cafe, just with better grooming.

And then the pair has passed you by, leaving you with nothing but unanswered questions. Taking advantage of your distraction, Karl moves on ahead with long, loping strides. Judging by the way his head is held high, any further conversation you might have had is over before it could even begin.

“Fine then,” you mutter, watching his retreating back, “Have it your way, you ass.”

-

Taking off your AR glasses and slipping them back into your pocket, you leave Kaneshiro Park behind you. You didn't exactly build many bridges with Karl, but you didn't really burn any either. He could have shot you in the back while you were fighting the Intruder, but he didn't. You'll consider that a good start.

But now, it's long past time to go home and rest. It's been a very, very long day.

[1/2]

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>>1633142

It's unsurprising, but hardly reassuring, when Maika doesn't show up to school the next day. At least Ayane shows up, with good news of Shiori's improving health.

“She's pretty much recovered now, yeah,” Ayane explains at lunch, as you're lounging around on the ill-named roof, “But we're leaving her at home for a few extra days, just in case she's contagious. Y'know, it's pretty weird – I've not had even the slightest sign of catching what she had. Have you been feeling okay?”

“Yeah, no complaints here,” you reply, “Maybe it's something to do with us... being what we are?”

“Being immune to the flu, huh?” Ayane laughs, “Finally, a perk to this crappy job!”

“I'd rather have a steady paycheck,” chuckling a little, you try to imagine Kurosawa handing out gold coins or some other compensation. Before you can say anything else, though, your phone rings. When you see Maika's number on the screen, you sit abruptly upright and press it to your ear.

[Good afternoon Miho. I hope you're feeling well today,] SAE's soft voice greets you, [I have a message from Maika Kanzaki. Would you like to hear it?]

“Yes, absolutely,” you tell her eagerly, “What is it?”

[She wishes you to know that she is okay, although busy with family matters,] SAE explains, [There is no need for concern. She will return to her duties as soon as possible, and she asks for your patience until then. Please understand that there are factors beyond her control. That is all.] The AI pauses for a moment. [I apologise for the impersonal nature of this message,] she adds, [Good day Miho.]

And then the call ends, leaving you with a blank phone and a deep frown.

-

“Was that from Maika?” Ayane presses, “What's she saying?”

“She's saying that she's absolutely fine, and we just need to wait for her to get back to her duties,” you explain slowly, “That's all. We just need a little patience.”

“Uh... right,” slowly scratching her head, Ayane considers your words, “So what, are we just gonna go ahead and wait?”

>Hell no, I'm going to visit her after school. You in?
>I don't see what else we can do...
>Other

>>1633200
>Hell no, I'm going to visit her after school. You in?

>>1633200
>Hell no, I'm going to visit her after school. You in?
"I don't trust Eligor. And Maika, as introverted as she is, would at least talk to us instead of using SAE."

>>1633200
>Hell no, I'm going to visit her after school. You in?


>Something is off, something is very off.

>>1633200
>Hell no, I'm going to visit her after school. You in?

Eligor probably made SAE message us that, and kept her from otherwise contacting us. Might be a good idea to check with EVE or the Oracle first.

“Hell no!” you snort, “There's something seriously wrong here. I'm going to visit Maika after school and see her for myself. You in?”

“You, uh, you mean just drop by uninvited?” Ayane asks, “Just roll on up, knock on the door and ask to see her, is that your plan?”

“Basically, yeah,” you reply with a defiant shrug, “I don't trust Eligor, not one bit, and Maika... sure, she's pretty introverted, but I'd like to think that she'd talk directly to us, rather than using SAE as an intermediary. For all I know, her father might have made SAE tell me, against Maika's wishes. What I'm saying is... I won't be happy until I see her with my own eyes.” Pausing, you give Ayane a firm look, hard enough that she shifts uneasily in place. “So I'll ask you again,” you finish, “Are you in?”

“...Yeah, I'm in,” Ayane decides after a long moment, “Whatever else, Maika is one of us – she's part of the team. I'm not gonna turn my back on her now.”

“Glad to hear it,” you tell her with a relieved smile, “I'll call the others. As soon as school is over and done with, we'll go and... well, we'll knock on the door and ask to see her. Easy as that, right?”

“Right...” rolling her eyes, Ayane heaves a heavy sigh. Still, hints of a daring smile tug at the corners of her mouth.

-

The Kanzaki compound seems like a very different place when you're arriving unannounced. It looks less like a house, or a military base, and more like a prison – a prison that you're trying to break into. Studying it from a distance, you watch as troops patrol back and forth, automated drones flitting about in the sky above them. The mood in your group is... not good, with a marked lack of confidence.

“I mean, we've been here loads of times,” Ayane points out, sounding unconvinced by her own words, “They'll recognise us as Maika's friends. I bet we just need to explain that we're worried about her, and they'll let us stroll right in.”

“Uh, yeah,” Emi mutters, “Sure.” Kasumi glances across at Emi but says nothing to that. She looks composed enough, but the way she toys with her sunglasses suggests a nervousness of her own. “Fuck it, I'm going in,” the young girl decides with a sudden lurch of motion, “Sitting here is just pissing me off...”

“Emi, damn it!” you protest, hurrying to follow as she marches towards the compound. A drone splits off from its regular patrol and swoops down towards you, cameras turning to follow your advance. Hoping that it's one of Maika's drones, you give it a faintly embarrassed wave. It wobbles in the air, almost as if returning your wave, then flits back towards the compound.

“That's good,” Ayane ventures, “Right?”

Before you can answer that, a rush of heavy footsteps cuts you off. A dozen of the uniformed troops rush to intercept your group, their stubby rifles shouldered and aimed directly at you.

“Okay, not good,” Ayane groans, slowly raising her hands.

[1/3]

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>>1633371

Los Angeles, America
Seven years ago

Light flared briefly as Megumi struck a match, holding it to the tip of old fashioned cigarette until the flame caught. Shaking out the match, she let it drop into an empty ashtray and took a slow, thoughtful draw of smoke into her lungs. In the background, sheets rustled.

“When did you start smoking?” Noriko asked softly, her voice drifting through the hotel room like a phantom.

“I think it was... last month?” Megumi replied, pretending to be unsure, “I was visiting Felicia's father, helping him make the arrangements for the... the funeral, and offered me a cigarette. I can't really say why I accepted – maybe just to be polite. In either case, that was when I started.”

“Oh yes, he smokes like a chimney, doesn't he?” the seer's voice drops even lower, barely above a whisper now, “Is he still asking questions?”

“What do you think?” turning, Megumi glared at the other girl, “His daughter died, and he doesn't know why or how - of course he's still asking questions! At least... at least he seems to giving up. It's been a few days since he last... well, it doesn't matter now, does it?” With an angry jerk of her hand, Megumi crushed out her cigarette. “This isn't about him, is it? This isn't about Felicia, and it isn't about... bloody cigarettes!” she continued, locking eyes with Noriko, “I know that look. If you've got something to say, just say it.”

Noriko sighed heavily, resting her chin on the back of her hand. A fan of her silver hair was spread out across the bedsheets, draped across her bare shoulder like a curtain. It took her a long time to speak. “It's Fleur,” she admitted after a while, “She wants out.”

“I see,” Megumi glanced across at the packet of cigarettes, scowled, then turned back to Noriko, “She said that, did she?”

“She doesn't need to,” the seer replied coolly, “It's obvious. You've been pushing her too hard. We've been working every night, every single night, since Felicia...” Pulling the sheet up around her body, Noriko sat up and let her words trail off, carefully watching Megumi's face. “At least you're not pretending to be surprised,” she continued, when Megumi remained silent, “You knew this was coming, didn't you?”

“She's young, and what happened to Felicia... she took it badly,” Megumi's shoulders slumped, and she let out a weary breath, “You're right, I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. I just didn't want to admit it. It's going to be tough with just the two of us.”

“One last job,” Noriko urged, “We'll have one last job, tomorrow, and then we'll let her go. It's for the best, Megumi.”

“Tomorrow...” Megumi murmured to herself.

“That's right,” the seer promised, “After tomorrow, we'll be down to two.”

[2/3]

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>>1633383

The silence drew out for a moment longer, Noriko's words hanging heavily in the air.

“It's odd,” Megumi thought out loud, simply saying the first things that came to mind, “We started like that, just the two of us. Felicia and me. Back in those days, we felt like we could manage just fine and a duo. Then you came along, and Fleur after that... I suppose I got used to a larger group. Now though?” Rising from her chair, Megumi shifted across to sit at the bed. “We'll do okay,” she asked, gently brushing some hair away from Noriko's face, “Won't we?”

“You worry too much,” Noriko replied after a long pause, “One day, mankind will have its shining sentinel, the guardians that it deserves – I just... don't think it will be us.”

“What do you mean?” frowning, Megumi leant across to look the seer in the eye, “Is this something you've seen?”

“Maybe. I'm just saying... this is a duty with no clear end in sight,” the silver haired girl whispered, “We could hunt Intruders forever, and we might never put an end to them - but we can't give up either. The three of us, all we can do is...”

“One last job,” Megumi finished for her, nodding firmly to herself, “Then let's make it a good one.”

>That concludes this episode of Heavenly Child Quest. Tune in next week for a new episode!
>Thanks to everyone who contributed today. If anyone has any questions, I'll answer them as best I can.

>>1633385
Thanks for running.

I forget, do all the girls have rapid regeneration or just Miho?

>>1633385
They were working every night? How do we do that? Right now we're stuck waiting for Intruders to intrude.

>>1633412

Everyone does, it's a function of the Emotional Barrier.

>>1633413

For the LA group, working would typically involve long patrols to check for any signs of Intruder activity. It was pretty illogical, impractical, and it didn't always end in finding a target, but it was how Megumi liked to operate. As you could guess, it didn't work out so well for the group.

>>1633385
Thanks for running!

When will we find out that Eligor wants Maika to pilot a giant Intruder-battling biorobot?

>>1633445

Unfortunately, our animation budget won't quite stretch to giant biorobots, so Maika is going to have to pilot a moped instead.

But it's going to be a really nice moped!

>>1633479
is this your idea of a quest with a lighter tone.

>>1633843
It's got cute girls doing cute things and magical girls! What's not light about it?

>>1633385
>mankind will have its shining sentinel
Worry. Took me forever to get around to reading this. Thanks for running Moloch.