Grief In the Shell: Madokapunk IC Thread

[Kuroimaken]

[Decades ago]

Snake sighed.

"What if you and I were on opposite sides, then? Would you give up? Would you run away? Yes, I have fought a lot more than you. Under normal circumstances - if we weren't both mashou, I'd be too old to keep up with you. Getting old as a warrior isn't anywhere as nice as it might sound.

I'm not judging you on a moral ground, Leysa. Our job is to kill and bleed. That's our reality. We survive with blood in our hands so other people don't get theirs dirty.

But that is true of every soldier. At the end of the day, every soldier wants to come back from the field alive. Do you know how many times I drove my opponents out of the safety of cover simply by giving them something to be angry about?

You hardly need any lessons in being more destructive. What you need is something else entirely. Something that will keep you alive even if the whole world turns against you. If you can learn that, you'll surpass me - there's no doubt about that."

[Dorizzit]

[Decades Ago]

Leysa looks away.

"You know d*** well that if we were on opposite sides, we wouldn't be using these."

She indicates the knife.

"But I'll bite. What is it that I 'need' to learn?"

[Kuroimaken]

[Decades Ago]

"You came to me asking to learn how to better control your powers. One thing every mashou has in common is that their powers are partially reliant on their emotional state. I don't know if the Incubators designed things that way or if it just works out to their benefit, but that's the way it is.

The battlefield, for obvious reasons, is a very difficult place to keep your emotions under control. You're not just burning gem out there when you choose to be angry, you're also burning power. Twice as bright a flame, only half as long a duration. And it's a huge tactical risk for you too. That's a part of my experience too. Early in my career, I used to make the same mistakes.

It almost got me killed, and I'll be damned if I let it kill you."

[Dorizzit]

[Decades Ago]

Leysa lips pressed into a firm line. She flips the knife into a reverse hold and slides into a combat stance.

"Again."

[Kuroimaken]

[Decades ago]

Snake doesn't smile. He simply assumes a similar stance, and stares into Leysa's eyes.

He doesn't need to show her what's on his mind through his expression. Their clashing fists will be as loud as they need to be.

[Sucrose]

[Decades Later]

[Old Mitakihara]

Spoiler

Show

Satou nods, and climbs aboard the indicated transport. It tilts a bit, but this sort of weight is well within the automatic thrust compensation. Once Leysa hops on as well, the vehicle AI, named 'Blaine' by some prior operator, drives them back to the docks. The ride's quick and smooth, helped by the fact that the transport just continues to hover as the two of them climb out.

Some kid that Satou doesn't work with is already at the waterfront, with the sealed box holding Leysa's belongings. As Leysa gets all of her gear in order, Satou preps the sub. With any luck, the loud operation that was just carried out will wind up being a cover for further investigations.

[strawberryman]

[Yumeji Tower]

"Alright then." Chiyo takes a deep breath. "There's a lot of decisions about what kind of mashou you want the public to see you as. The first couple of weeks will be the worst - you've made a huge splash on the news, so people are gonna want to know you. And by know you, I mean 'talks shows are gonna want to interview you like crazy'. Which burns out a lot of girls, and makes them overexposed in the beginning. Could be a blessing in disguise though, if you want to be less of a public figure." Chiyo pushes a folder forward. "For that, there's Momoko-chan. She's helped a lot of mashou settle back into a semblance of normalcy with their lives. She helps a lot of girls who don't want to stay in the public eye too long - you'd be amazed how many are really shy!"

But Chiyo continues.

"Of course... if you WANT the public to know you, there's Haru-chan. She handles all of our idol mashou. She'll probably advise you to take it easy on the talk show circuit so you don't burn out your image too fast. And the internet is already starting to make you out to be a moe symbol, so she'll maximize your cuteness." That follows with a blush and a goofy grin. "Then there's Rinko-chan. She's a retired mashou herself, so she prioritizes keeping you trained and healthy to handle whatever wraiths show up. You'll never see what she's doing for your image directly because she works on it when she's not right next to you, but that doesn't mean she doesn't do a great job of it. She's more focused on keeping you alive and well than what the public thinks of you, but she's a great fit for mashou who are very focused on their work."

Rio frowns in thought, the idea of going on talk shows and being in front of crowds making her even more uncomfortable. But...

"...you said... you wouldn't manage me, and... I understand. I think..." Rio fidgets a bit. "...but... what would you say I should do, if you did? I just... I want to help people. But does that mean I should do the image stuff too?"

[Kuroimaken]

[Yumeji Tower]

Here Chiyo has to fight back tears for a moment. The truth is, she WANTS to manage Rio. But she knows exactly how bad an idea that would be. No matter how much she loved her, she knows she couldn't do right by her.

"Well, sweetie... One thing you must understand is that some mashou actually use their images to help others. I'm sure you've seen people like Stormcaster Reika doing campaigns to help those struck by natural disasters or famine. The thing with exposition is that it's a limited resource. If you choose to fade into the background now, it could be difficult for you to get back on the spotlight later. On the other hand... you go too hard at it now, and people will never leave you alone, or come to ignore you completely.

I think you already know the answers to those questions..."

[Dorizzit]

[Docks]

Leysa quickly pulls on the outer layer of her clothing, stretching in order to make sure everything fits comfortably. Satisfied, she takes a look at her phone, then chuckles and walks over to join Satou.

"Just not used to people coming back from the dead. Got a little lost in my memories is all."

[strawberryman]

[Ward 6]
(Yumeiji Tower)

Rio quirks her lip and closes her eyes, breathing and just... trying to think. "...can I meet them first? Before I decide..."

[Ward 1]
(NMSF HQ)

Landing at base, Zhen sets to helping escort the convicts into the building, to be properly booked and locked away. She doesn't let up her costume until they're out of sight, letting a bit of a sigh out as she slumps back into a chair, feeding her soul gem's corruption into a grief cube.

"How very troublesome."

[Kuroimaken]

[Yumeji Tower]

Chiyo lets off a chuckle, easing some tension she didn't even know she was feeling.

"Of course you can, honey. I spoke to them in advance. They're available any time.

What say you and I go meet them tomorrow?"

[strawberryman]

[Ward 6]
(Yumeiji tower)

Rio nods slightly. "Okay." Not much more to say on that. There's a bit of an awkward pause in the conversation, where Rio is unsure what else to say.

[Kuroimaken]

[Yumeji Tower]

Chiyo knows what to do, though.

She gets up from her chair and moves to embrace her daughter. The comforting kind of hug she got at the police station.

[Selinia]

[Febuary 6th, 2096 - End of the First Day]

The sun sets on the city.

A city in shock and mourning. A city abuzz with whispers and theories half-formed. A city looking forward with equal parts naive optimism and macabre curiosity.

But the moon is a gentle mistress, far more so than her fiery partner, and ever a friend to mashou if folklore is to be believed. Tonight, at least, there would be peace.

[Neo-Mitakihara, Ward 1]
[NMSF Headquarters, Cyberspace]

The mind of a god was churning.

Critics of the Neo-Mitakihara Security Force often pointed to its central AI as proof of a grievous overstepping of any reasonable investigative practices. Omoikane was a boogeyman. A watchful specter, the eye of the law incarnate, with no crime beneath its notice. In truth, there is only a grain of truth to these accusations. The machine's full power was very rarely turned on any given crime, and it spent most of its time sifting through metadata and tracking large-scale criminal trends and countermeasures.

And when the titan desired to harvest the information of the city as a whole, there was no need for subterfuge. It simply had to ask.

At 20:00, bypassing ordinary evidence gathering restrictions, Omoikane simply sends a request to each and every resident of Neo-Mitakihara to scan their data for the purposes of advancing the Kato Tower investigation. Entirely optional, of course. But even so, countless additional streams of data begin pouring in, along with the observations tens of thousands of eyewitnesses to anything strange.

No avenue was to be discarded, but the all-seeing eye had a decent idea of what it was looking for. It just needed to find the needle in the haystack, now. And with a steady trickle of updates and data, Leonardo could see that glint of metal drawing closer by the moment.

[NMSF Headquarters, Interrogation Center]

There is no hurry for Zhen to file her formal report after handing over a simple verbal one, nor particular pressure for her to participate in these initial interrogations. The NMSF has specialists on staff for precisely this sort of thing, after all - mashou and detectives had better things to do with their time than grill suspects for hours on end. Things like, in this instance, rest.

As with any NMSF magical girl, Zhen has a spartan set of quarters in the fortified HQ, free for her use should she wish to employ them. Regardless, her unique talents are not needed for this night. Duncan too, would be cared for upon his arrival - not the first time for the zealous man to show up on the brink of collapse, and certainly not the last. Morning would bring its own set of challenges, for certain.

[Old Mitakihara, Seawall]
[Docks and Elsewhere]

Ah, details. Lush and exciting as they can be, there is a point at which they come to hinder genuine meaning.

Suffice to say that it is less than necessary to examine how, precisely, a pair of experienced superhumans tracked a ghost through a crime scene left to decay for the better part of a day. There is truthfully no need to elaborate on every witness questioned, piece of security footage reviewed, or impossible gadget deployed in the collection of evidence over the long hours of night in a city that never truly slept. It is enough to know that their methods were as effective as any, and moreso than most.

In the light of sweet Luna and the garish terrestrial radiance that drowned her starry consorts, the hunt would not abate.

[Neo-Mitakihara Greater Metropolitan Area]
[Kujoh Manor, Kujoh Cave]

A plan then. One to be set in motion shortly, but not immediately. For now, it is a time of rest and preparation. Come first light, the trio would set off on their mission, meeting at the old Miki Harmonics Center near Old Mitakihara's edge, and moving on from the derelict concert hall to their destination at the ruins' heart.

Whatever else tomorrow might bring, Makoto could rest with an appreciation that it was unlikely, at least, to be dull. Who knew that all it took to liven up a schedule was a string of brutal terrorist attacks? It was almost a shame they didn't happen more often, really.

[strawberryman]

[Ward 6]
(Yumeiji Tower)

Rio doesn't break down crying or... really react, outside of a slight shift, but it's not really to escape so much as to just... adjust to the situation, and it being much different than she's used to.

There's a small pause before she speaks up again. "...thanks."

Day 2

[Ward 6]

The Koizumi family has a fairly calm, quiet dinner, with Akio providing his usual chipper commentary (though tonight even that's a little dampened; Rio doesn't catch on to it, thankfully) throughout, just trying to keep the mood light and away from the darker subjects of the day. And he likely succeeds, as Rio doesn't seem too inclined to speak on them! Or at all, really. But that's... fairly normal.

The girl wanders off to her room with Kin after dinner, checking on her assignments for school remotely (all cancelled, understandably, and tomorrow at least was a guaranteed day off) before just... Digging back into the craziness that is the internet's reaction over her debut.

Akio checks in around midnight and finds the girl asleep at her desk, sighing with a slight, fragile smile before picking her up daintily and slipping her into bed. The tea he had in hand goes back to the kitchen, where he just... focuses on something, anything to get his mind off the day. Prone to insomnia himself, he had far too many instances of staying up late to bake sweets for Rio's class or Chiyo's clients.

The next morning...

Rio wakes up a couple hours later than her usual time for once. Though to the same thing as usual; Kin poking his head against her then deactivating the blinds on the window. Rubbing her eyes, she sits up quietly and just looks at the soul-gem-clad bracelet around her arm, solidifying that yesterday was indeed real. Kin tilts his head slightly.

...master is getting up?

Rio sighs and picks up a pillow, flopping it against Kin's head in a play hit. Kin backs off and yips quietly. I'm up. I'm getting up. She puts her legs off to the side, and taps the intercom to the kitchen.

"Ohayou, tou-san."

A pause. "Ohayou, Rio-chan! Did you just wake up? Are you ready for breakfast now?"

"Mm."

"Well good! You're in for a treat today, I made plum strudel!" Rio blinks, but her mood does lift a bit, her dad's strudel was really good. He laughs a bit nervously. "...I couldn't sleep, so I stayed up baking again. I figured you could use something nice and sweet after..."

"...well, um, just come out when you're ready!"

"...Hai, tou-san." Rio lets her hand off the button, stretches, and then wanders into the kitchen. Akio turns in slight surprise at how quickly she came out, but dishes her up a healthy-sized serving of strudel with whipped cream (all gourmet, of course).

"Bon appetit, Rio-chan!" Akio offers one of his contagious smiles, which Rio can't help but return before digging in.

[Selinia]

[Febuary 7th, 2096 - Dawn of the Second Day]

[Neo-Mitakihara, Cyberspace]
[Broadcast, Wake-Up Sunshine!]

"Ohaaaayooou, Neo-Mitakihara!"

The familiar jingle plays as the gently spinning 'Offline' logo shatters, reforming into the colorful splash of one of the city's more popular morning shows. A substantial portion of the stream's chat echoes back a cascade of "Ohayou!"s in return, as the camera pans around the pristine, modern kitchen. Though not a cooking show, Wake-Up Sunshine!'s atmosphere came in part from its relaxed, easygoing setting - the kitchen table of its host, often laden with a (sponsored) breakfast of some sort.

Said host offers a smile and a wave as the camera settles into its default position, ready to shift further to capture the conversation best. Ohai-chan - rarely-used real name of Kaede Izumi - is perhaps not what one might expect of one of Neo-Mitakihara's better-known broadcasters. In her mid-twenties, with shockingly green hair pulled back into a messing morning braid, she's casting for an audience of millions in... a T-shirt and sweatpants. But there's a relentless energy that is infectious even through a smartphone screen.

"Thanks again for tuning in, everyone! We've got some really great guests today, and I think we could all use something to get us going after yesterday. Could we get the camera... yeah, thanks!~"

Shifting away from the host, the camera pans across the others seated at the table, a small subheader introducing each to those that might not recognize them, and the guests each offering a smile or wave in return. Gavriil Kokinos, host of a popular mashou history show, munching on a cereal bar and double-checking his notes. Hu Kaito, a retired NMSF detective and frequently called-upon 'expert' for shows looking for some insight into the organization, looking out of place in a suit. And the unmistakable Ikeda Haru, the statuesque idol manager's mauve-dyed hair cascading in an eye-catching style to rival Ohai's own notable locks.

"That's great! Now, I mean..." A sigh. "...we all know what we're talking about first. Can't really go anywhere until we clear the air. I know we all talked about it until we were hoarse last night, but with the benefit of some sleep... the mayor. Kato Tower. What's you guys' takes on this?"

There's an eruption of "RIP Arata" in chat.

But it's Kaito who steps in immediately with an answer. "I've called my people, and looked at it from all the angles I know how to, and truthfully? I think we're looking at separate groups. The MOs are leagues apart. What's likely is that we're looking at a vulture of sorts with the second attack, trying to take advantage of the city's grief."

"Oh, how ghastly. I do hope they're on the trail of both parties, then?" Haru gives a pained frown.

"I'm not on active duty, so I can't give our specifics, but I can tell you all it's the department's number-one priority. I'd like to remind our views, also... assuming you don't mind, Ohai?" A shake of the head grants permission for Kaito to address the camera directly. "The NMSF has issued a data culling request! I'd strongly urge everyone watching this to comply with it, and ask their friends to do the same. Your personal information is safe with the NMSF, and won't be released - this sort of mass information gathering could be what solves this case! All of us here have already granted Omoikane permission to run its search."

"As for the assassination case, I think it's safe to say the force has a lead on them too. I was just confirming this before the show, but I've got multiple sources confirming a high-profile raid on the Old City." Kokinos adjusts his glasses, eyes periodically flicking to a display in their corner. "We're talking big here - Sinhunter Zhen and Meteor Leysa on the same target? That's a combo that says they've got the scent of something huge."

"I still cannot fathom the reasoning behind this sort of thing. Neither party has issue any sort of demands, have they? No claims of responsibility from terrorist organizations?"

"Oh, this is undoubtedly a terrorist act. There's no question." Sharp gestures drive the point home. "Sato Arata was a symbol of our city's strength and unity. Neo-Mitakihara is a complex place, we've got a lot of groups that don't always get along. He could balance them."

"Another reason why we need more than ever to stick together! We should be making our support known, especially for the NMSF and Wishcraft foundation, and for the people of Kato tower. Neo-Mitakihara isn't going to break that easily!" A fierce grin and fist-pump are greeted with a deluge of 'I<3NM', 'Vigilance and Strength!', and other slogans or memes. "Speaking of which, I think that's a good time to maybe segue into something a bit brighter! Can we take a moment to appreciate our city's newest little heroine?"

"Rio-chan! Yes, let's! Man, it's refreshing to hear stories like this. It's old-school wishing, you know? Not even old-school, this sort of miracle was never really common. I think I speak for the whole mashou-watch community when I say we're really looking forward to seeing where she lands in the next few days."

"Well, I've talked with her mother - a wonderful woman, both of her parents, wonderful people - and I feel I can say I am at the least one of several candidates for the role. Rio-chan is a wonderful girl, but she needs a gentle touch, and I think all of us want to make sure she has a warm welcome to the community. She deserves it. I do have a meeting with her later today, which I admit I am immensely looking forward to, but I'm certain Chiyo-chan will assess all her choices, and help her daughter find the absolute best match, whoever that might be."

"She's gonna love you, Haru! Seriously, wishing you luck! Now, we're riding up on a commercial here, but everyone stay tuned for loads more on the investigations, Rio, and everything else! Don't go anywhere!"

[Neo-Mitakihara, Ward 1]
[NMSF Headquarters, Cyberspace]

The deception was nearly flawless.

The explosions from packages planted by rerouted delivery and maintenance drones. The spoofing done along every security camera on the route, masking the drones' deviation from their standard course. The subtle clues inexorably leading back to the perfect patsy - a Zeal Technologies system administrator with no alibi of her own, who'd taken the day off work for health reasons, shutting herself in her own home. With her account's high-level access to company systems, her override of the drones would have been entirely plausible, particularly if she had a mashou accomplice elsewhere. With a niece dead in the line of duty serving Wishcraft, she had motive. With angry rants online, she had made clear a deep-seated discontent.

The deception was nearly flawless.

It was no error on the part of the terrorist themselves. It was not something that could have been foreseen, or reasonably acted against. How, after all, could one know that a peeping tom in an adjacent tower had kept disturbingly detailed recordings of the activities of the planned patsy? That such a source would toss a wrench into the perfect solution to the crime, driving Omoikane to gnaw ever deeper into the layers of cause and effect driving the terribly chain of events that led to the near-destruction of several levels of Kato Tower? Or that an intricate mesh of civilian selfies and snapshots would patch in the carefully punctured holes in NMSF surveillance systems?

They could never have guessed such a thing. But it would still be what brought them low. No, that is incorrect. It would merely be the first step in their downfall. Further ones would be taken by those with less subtle methods.

Leonardo Gomes is alerted with all haste. This message is a simple one.

Spoiler: High-Security Direct Feed: Leonardo Gomes Only

Show

>Priority Alert: Suspect certainty of individual Nadica Novak has exceeded the critical action threshold.
>Priority Alert: Evidence package compiled and delivered via direct feed. [Attachment Available]
>Priority Alert: Suspect Nadica Novak has been placed under maximal passive surveillance.
>Omoikane Advisory: Given the suspect's abilities, extreme caution is recommended in the arrest or termination process.

>Query: Is further action requested?

[Neo-Mitakihara, Ward 28]
[Mori Tower, Industrial Level]

It had taken no small amount of effort to get here, but at last, some tangible proof that the past night's work hadn't been a wild goose chase. In the busy, clanging, largely automated lower levels of these towers - so crowded by the cityscape they might as well be underground, and indeed often extended deep into the earth - surveillance systems are notably easier to evade. Locked doors and numerous warnings drive off most individuals other than the engineers that maintain the massive manufacturing plants and the occasional ne'er-do-well. Usually, the latter would be caught without fuss, but this was clearly the work of someone with intimate, detailed knowledge of how to evade the city's eyes.

Fished out of a recycling station at very nearly the last possible moment, Satou and Leysa now find themselves in possession of a single military-grade gyrojet rifle, collapsed and unloaded. Presumably, the rounds were disposed of elsewhere, along with the targeting computer, but this is unmistakably the same type of weapon used to assassinate the mayor. A valuable piece of evidence, but one that marks their last breadcrumb on this particular trail. For now, anyway. It seems it's time to sniff out more of them.

In the clean, artificial light of the processing plant, the two investigators examine their prize, atmosphere punctuated by the whir, boom, and whine of a disposal press still dutifully churning away despite the damage inflicted when Leysa had made a rather reckless (for anyone but her) dive to retrieve the precious firearm.

[Old Mitakihara]
[Miki Harmonics Center]

As places in the Old Town went, this was one of those closest to being a functioning settlement. However far that statement went.

Built by some wealthy couple in honor of their murdered daughter's love of music, the center had spent years as the premiere performance venue of the city. Capable of seating an enormous crowd, and designed with beautiful and resilient architecture, the elevated theater had survived the city's fall largely intact.

Now it housed a dense, ramshackle 'town' of its own. A hub for many of the residents of the Old City to find a measure of community and stability, and for what passed for commerce among those who dwelt among the sodden ashes of old Mitakihara. A murmur of conversation fills the air in one of the many hallways of the structure, from the dingy crowd and the discussions pouring out of homes and businesses that had once been concession stands or VIP booths. It was a place where comings and goings were expected, and discretion was a given. A sound start to a non-threatening approach.

Nuan and Hoa are as punctual as Makoto, in this instance, the two showing up jointly down the path from a vendor casually hawking a type of ammunition that would almost certainly earn the ire of the NMSF in any more strictly governed territory. Neither is transformed, for obvious reasons, both opting instead for simple plainclothes suited to the relatively mild winter chill. Nuan's clothes are, perhaps, a few shades nicer than most of those worn by the locals, but it isn't enough to be conspicuous to the untrained eye.

Sunrise trickles in through a skylight, overcast skies washing out the predawn glow to a dull and uniform gray. It was time to get this started.

[Kuroimaken]

[Old Mitakihara]

Makoto blends well into the environment as well. He had Jousuke prepare him a set of suitably weathered clothes (nothing new, but nothing off the charity bin either) which basically included a hoodie, a pair of sweatpants with a tear or two, and some sneakers.

He joins the two of them promptly. The boy doesn't seem comfortable without access to most of his gadgets, though; he'd foregone most of them in order to ditch surveillance or cyber-snooping. Especially with Omoikane's data culling. (It was times like these he was thankful that the Kujoh had sets of data especially prepared for such occasions. It wasn't anyone's business where he went the previous night after all.)

"...I feel conspicuous as ****."

[Draken]

[February 6th, Night of the First Day]

[...]

[Ward1, NMSF Headquarters]
(HS Interrogation Room 36)

After Zhen left Yoshi at the interrogation center, the prisoner was guided to one of the higher security rooms and left alone for awhile.

When the door next opened, it was to allow in the towering, dark visage of captain Gomes in his most famous 'attire' the Iron Lich, a gaunt, soulsteel-wrought construct nearly twice the height of a man, similar in appearance to his more common mechsuits, but significantly more imposing not only for its size but also for its nature, history and Wikipedia entry listing all the known horrible armaments and spells built into the thing.

*Bzzsszzt* "Forgive me the excess in appearance, miss Makimoto, I must admit I was expecting a Mashou as opposed to a simple case of faked death."

Leon does not take a seat, the robot doesn't exactly get tired of standing after all, and there is no particular reason to pull up a chair in this situation.

*Bzzzsszt* "So, I like to start these things cordially. What would you like to share with me, things that would make our time together worthwhile, if at all possible?"

[Selinia]

[Old Mitakihara]
[Miki Harmonics Center]

"Your clothes are fine, but you carry yourself like a Yakuza brat. Probably not a bad thing, as long as we don't run into any actual Yaks though. You look less like a freaking tourist than Nuan, at least." Hoa's dress sense isn't much different from Makoto's, though she has a well-worn hat topping it off and helping keep her hair under control, and mismatched stockings compensate for too-short pants. Nuan, on the other hand, actually has an umbrella at her hip. She looks mildly indignant, but quashes the impulse to riposte.

"...I apologize that this isn't my field of expertise, but you did say this would be fine. We're here now, regardless, we should lay out our approach." Hoa shrugs and nods a little at that. "We want to keep a reasonably low profile on approach, I think. We're not hiding from these people, be going in magic blazing seems tactless. There's ferries to the old garden districts - they should still be running, and from there we can navigate to the old school by foot without issue. But I'm open to other suggestions."

[Neo-Mitakihara, Ward 1]
[NMSF Headquarters, HS Interrogation Room 36]

"...you weren't completely wrong."

Yoshi's posture is rigid, hands folded in her lap, but to her credit she does not look away from the frankly terrifying weapons platform currently being piloted by one of the most powerful men in the city. She does, however, appear to have lost a fair bit of her defiance.

"I know it's pointless to try and withhold information from you. People who try that don't last long, and I'm not going to get my brain turned to jelly when you'd just get the information anyway." Her knuckles whiten slightly, fists clenched on the table.

"So... you want something worthwhile? How about this then: I can tell you why I'm not dead, who I'm working for, and the best lead I've got on the murder we're both investigating. I'm not in a position to make demands, but if you're willing to consider keeping some of this private, I can make this all a lot quicker and easier. I think you'll see the value in having the conversation off the record by the time we're done."

[Kuroimaken]

[Old Mitakihara]

"Yakuza are easy to deal with in principle. All they want is to be shown respect. If you can do that, they can be agreeable - on the upper ranks at least. The lower ranks are irritable, but there's a reason they're still grunts." Makoto remarks to Hoa. So the choice in body language isn't entirely coincidental. "Long as you don't look like you're up to funny business in their turf, they shouldn't bother you much, Nuan." He dropped the honorifics in favor of not showing his deference in public.

"Exit strategy here beats approach. Fighting our way out when we're headed into unknown territory isn't wise. So we should probably figure a way to get going quickly if the need arises.

If we have to retreat, we'll have to take one of them with us to make the trip worthwhile. The upside is that they shouldn't follow us outside Old Town. So our best bet is to have a few routes memorized to find the way out if we need to. We should also set up a meeting point if we get separated."

[Draken]

[Neo-Mitakihara, Ward 1]
[NMSF Headquarters, HS Interrogation Room 36]

Leon takes a moment to consider. Which to most people simply means that he stays perfectly still like a statue.

And then flicks his wrist, the room goes dark. Literally. The only illumination inside is the eerie violet light of the Iron Lich's single 'eye'.

*Bzzsszzt* "Thrill me."

[strawberryman]

[Ward 15]
(Sango Gardens)

As the suns rays break through a wide set of windows, a tired teenage mashou grunts from her couch, rubbing her eyes, and brushing a matted mane of red hair from her face.

To say she's on the couch would be a stretch though. It's more like half of her is on the couch. Dangling off the front of the sofa, with her legs propped up, and her face planted firmly into the carpet. The side of her head is pretty much imprinted with the fibers. At such an early hour of the morning, the first words out of her mouth are just as awe-inspiring and passion-filled as ev-

"...ungh..."

...well they can't all be blood-boilers, can they? Pushing herself up, Mia leans against the base of the couch, just scratching her scalp and waking up slowly, flipping her phone on for the time. 9:32. And... she got a few missed messages. From mom. Oh. Well wasn't that a great way to start the day. She throws her phone to the side, wandering off to the bathroom to clean up a little.

...

After stepping out of the shower, Mia looks into the mirror. The non-fogging smart mirror has a list of various cleanliness chores (which she usually ignored) and pinpoints a few spots where she could stand to scrub a little harder.

But... all Mia can see...

Is the coward in Kato tower. Bleeding out, ready to take her own life just because she got hit with a back attack. Just because her heroics led her into trouble for nearly the last time. That she could've died in that tower and amounted to basically no-

SLAM.

CRACK.

The face of the mirror is smashed into a spiderweb of pieces, Mia's bloody fist embedded into the wall behind it.

"ENOUGH OF THAT ****!" Mia barks at her own internal dialogue. "Today's a new day! A day with villains, wraiths, and heroics to be done! To rouse the people's hope and boil their blood, helping their hearts come together to beat this terrorist punk's ass! I'm not about to let any bastard who's too chicken to attack on his own and has to rely on bombs and tricks get the best of me! I'M MIA THE JUSTICE SPEAR! AND I WON'T LOSE UNTIL I DIE! AND EVEN THEN, I'LL GET RIGHT THE HELL BACK UP!" Well, somebody's neighbors just got a show. She pulls her fist out of the wall with a victorious cry, and... smashes the sink too. Because why not. Then, digging in her bathroom drawers, she pulls out... a pair of cordless clippers? And... oh. Oh no. Anything but that.

...Mia steps out of the bathroom in a clean tank-top and jeans, and... with considerably less hair. The sides of her head are all but shaved, but she saved much of the top, the remaining locks of red hair curling like waves atop her head. Stepping into the kitchen... from the other apartments adjacent to her, it could sound like a battle was brewing. Shouts, battle cries, explosions, clanking of stove ware.

But. Well. That wasn't too uncommon.

[Kuroimaken]

[Yumeji Towers]

Chiyo... seems to be late.

She's NEVER late. Not once. She has been known to be many things, but late is not one of them.

When she finally emerges out of her office, however, she looks as though everything is completely normal. Like this is supposed to be the rightful state of things.

"Morning, everybody."

She smiles towards Rio especially, but since she's eating, her mother doesn't hug her right away.

"Rio-chan, I talked to your teachers at school. I figured we'd have you meet some of the managers today, see if you like any of them. How does that sound?"

[strawberryman]

[Ward 6]
(Yumeiji Towers)

Kin looks up at Akio with his begging expression, giving a few mumbles. He usually got something good to eat with breakfast! He felt left out! Akio laughs and pulls a few strips of steak from the fridge, putting it in his bowl. "Of course I couldn't forget our courageous Kin-chan." He gives the dog a scratch behind the ear and he barks appreciatively, digging in with enthusiasm.

When Chiyo enters, Akio gives her a quick kiss before pushing forward a plate of strudel for her as well.

Rio blinks a bit, then swallows the pastry still in her mouth, giving a thoughtful nod. "...good. Um... when will they be here? Um... should... I wear something nice, or..." She seems unsure about what image to put forth, whether it should be professional, or more genuine? She was covering a lot of new ground here. "...um... will I have some time to clean up and... think about... what I want to ask?"

[Kuroimaken]

Chiyo takes her time with food. Apparently, Rio's not the only one who's nervous.

But she jumps at the chance to see to Rio's needs first.

"Well, sweetheart, that's really up to you. You're meeting new people, so a good first impression is important, but remember that they'll be here to look out for your best interests, not the other way around. You don't need to fear them in any way. Mommy wouldn't pick someone who wasn't looking out for you now, would she?"

A smile. Ah, now that's the Chiyo everybody knows and loves.

"There's plenty of time yet. They'll only be coming by in the afternoon. I asked them as much because this is going to take a while and we don't want you skipping any meals. As for what questions you may have - and I'm sure you have a lot - why don't you write them down so you don't forget?"

[strawberryman]

[Ward 6]
(Yumeiji Towers)

Rio chews on another bite of strudel before giving a nod and... managing a slight smile. "...okay. Um... I'll take a shower, then, and... try to decide what to wear... and think of what to ask." She really did have a lot. But... she'd have to try and filter it down. With one more strudel bite she thinks for another moment before giving her mom a quick hug. Then, her dad as well, who thinks fast enough to give her a pat on the head with a choked-up chuckle.

"...you're growing up fast. It... well, you'll make it, Rio-chan. You've got strength that you don't even know about." It seems like he wants to say something like 'it's not really fair' or 'you shouldn't have had to make this choice', but... he holds it back. Right now... what she needed was for him to be positive. And he could manage that, at least.

With a final nod, she dashes off to her room to prepare. A quick shower turns into a thorough shower. Then, her wardrobe.

...that was harder. She spends a while just... looking at the closet. She doesn't want to just... wear her pajamas. And her school uniform is still the wrong message. But she has a few formal wear outfits that are still... just a bit over the top. ...maybe the school uniform would do...? ...ugh. She sets that aside for now.

Then, she pulls out her tablet (her effects were delivered earlier in the morning, since she left them at school) and starts a word file for... oh... there's that letter she was writing to Lightstriker Saya. She reads it for a few moments... then... deletes it. ...maybe she'd get to talk to her in person. That excites her a little bit as she sets to just... writing down her myriad questions. She loses steam at five. It's... actually kind of hard to get her thoughts down in a coherent state on this.

...this might be harder than she thought...

...but no, she couldn't give up yet. She... goes back to look at her other questions, makes some changes and strikeouts, and... pushes on, until the meeting time was close at hand.

[Kuroimaken]

Chiyo sighs just as soon as Rio is out of earshot. But hey, she got a hug!

She looks back to Akiyo and chuckles. "Did you ever think this is what she'd end up doing? I always had my suspicions, but..."

[strawberryman]

[Ward 6]
(Yumeiji Towers)

After Kin finishes his steak, in lieu of following after Rio, he pads off to his bed in the living room and flops down. After all, as vigorous as he was, he's still an old man.

Akio sighs, taking up his own plate and just forking a bit of whipped cream into his mouth. "...I won't lie and say it never occurred to me... or that I didn't dread the day it'd ever happen. I just... hoped for the best."

"...but, it happened, so... the only choice I have is to show her support. It's all I really can do, right?" He gives a sad smile on admitting this, and salves the pain with confectionery goodness.

[Kuroimaken]

"You'd be surprised how much that accounts for, honey." Chiyo replies.

"I've seen it happen lots of times. Parents finding out their children became magical girls... It's never easy. Harder when it's your own kid." She continues. "But... I know she's gonna be fine. It isn't our job to keep her from feeling the pains of life, Aki. It's our job to prepare her to come out of those pains smiling."

[Selinia]

[Neo-Mitakihara, Ward 1]
[NMSF Headquarters, HS Interrogation Room 36]

"...alright. I'll get right to the start, then." Yoshi doesn't flinch with the dousing of the lights, but she does take a moment to contemplate before continuing.

"My uncle - Makimoto Ryou - he works for a division of the Self-Defense Force called Heaven's Gate. Well, called internally. On paper it's the Special Resources Management Division, SRMD. They're a sort of umbrella for magica-management within the JSDF. Quite a few magical girls are enlisted." The girl's - young woman's - fingers drum against the table for a few cycles in what is probably a nervous tic. But she continues.

"He actually approached me when I was visiting him at work that time. The trip I supposedly died on. 'Do you want to be a magica?', like he could actually make it happen. And I mean, of course I said yes! Who wouldn't? That was my dream at that age, I didn't even care much about the wish. I just wanted to be a magical girl, fight, help people. And the thought that I might be like, some new kind of magical girl? That was cool. I didn't really think about the implications of it a ton at that age, or what it'd mean to do it in secret, or anything like that."

"So... I go in for testing. I think I was going to be pretty much a trial run for something that wasn't exactly a magical girl, but more like... that armor you're wearing. Able to tap grief cubes and use some abilities, but without a soul gem. I still don't know for sure exactly what. They didn't exactly get a chance to get to the procedure itself, the place got attacked. Like, full-on attack, probably a dozen magical girls or something at least." More drumming, another pause to collect her thoughts.

"They called themselves the Knights of the Purple Star. I got captured - probably because I tried to brain one of them with a crowbar, which was a really bad idea in retrospect. I don't know where they took me. I know I was pissed at them for a long time though, until they started getting through to me with what they'd actually stopped. Being a magical girl was one thing, but being infused with basically the essence of grief itself? That's... less what I was hoping for."

"The Knights work to try and keep the system intact, and help the magical girls that are a part of it. Wherever they can, anyway. It... wasn't a bad goal. I ended up offering to help, if I could. I mean, I knew by now that I was dead to the world, and I wasn't so sure what my uncle would do if I came back to life after his coverup. He's only gotten more important since then, and the JSDF is behind him. I couldn't join the Knights, they don't accept non-magica, but there's still stuff they need that human allies are useful for."

"So... that's what I've been. Working with contacts, staying off the grid, training, helping where I can. They pay me for my work, and I get to make a difference. It's not really what I imagined when I was little, but it's worthwhile. I was working on their behalf when your people showed up. We've been keeping an eye on the mayor for a while now. He's always had his own projects running in the background, which I kind of assume you know given that the NMSF came from one of them, but Sato-sama was edging over a line with this one. He's been talking with the Zealtech CEO. Working on meddling with the Miko II, trying to... give the system a soul, somehow. It's not something we've been able to dredge up a ton on."

"But we think it drew the attention of Heaven's Gate. Everything about the assassination screams the military, and there's people in the government who'd love to take the NMSF down a few pegs. You're not popular in Tokyo. The Diet has let you operate untouched mostly just because you're effective, and the mayor had a quicksilver tongue. But with him gone, and yesterday's chaos, I wouldn't be surprised if they're meeting to discuss what to do about you as we speak. Ultimately, that's why I'm being so frank here. The NMSF and the Knights of the Purple Star aren't friends. But I think right now, we at least share an enemy in whoever has been doing this."

...Yoshi exhales what remains of her breath in a sigh, before recouping and raising her gaze to meet Leon's violet star.

"...there it is. Your intel on a silver platter. Thrilling enough?"

[Old Mitakihara]
[Miki Harmonics Center]

"I was talking to Nuan about escape routes on the way here. For a meeting point, I'm going to suggest the mall. You can enter through the roof, or a lot of the broken windows, and it's almost impossible to find someone in there without magic or knowing where to look. On the second floor there's an old food court that's easy to keep watch in and doesn't have a ton of access routes. I'd propose there. I can sketch a map if you want. Nuan shouldn't have trouble escaping, her mirrors are a really strong tool in that regard, and if we're lucky we can all just use them to ditch without getting separated. If worse comes to worse though, I know this city as well as they do, better than a lot of them probably, so I have routes in mind."

"Which leaves you. You strike me as the sort to go over this place's blueprints with your morning toast, so I'm guessing you didn't bring it up without a suggestion of your own. Let's hear it."

[Neo-Mitakihara, Ward 6]
[Yumeiji Tower, Residential Levels]

The view from these high-rent suites really is something worth admiring, from time to time, no matter how long you live with access to it. This is true even with the dour drizzle that had picked up around noon, scattering rain across the overcast city like diamond dust, glittering with the multitude of lights below. The pitter-patter of droplets against the windows sets the mood as the hour for Rio to begin her meetings approaches. Safe in the comfortable warmth of the apartment, the sound is a soothing wash, more than anything. One can practically hear the city's many rooftop gardens sighing in contentment.

Even the doorbell fails to shatter the atmosphere, its melodic tone - like many things in the life of the Koizumi family - having been selected for Rio's benefit as much as anything else. And when Ikeda Haru enters, it's with a smile, even as she hangs her still-slightly-dripping earth-and-cream overcoat up to dry.

"...and you're Rio, aren't you, love? It's an absolute pleasure." Once the initial pleasantries and exchanges of compliments are out of the way, the woman - tall and broad-shouldered, but with her stature tempered by eyes like hot chocolate and a smile with warmth to match - offers an unthreatening handshake to the rookie mashou. "I'm Ikeda Haru. I've worked with your mother quite a bit of the years, she's always been a dear. But! I expect you've got a lot of questions, and people have been bombarding you with nothing but their own since yesterday."

"What do you say we have a seat and get to those, hm? I'm here for you, today, we start wherever you like, and can fill in the gaps as we go along. It doesn't have to be the big, important stuff up front, just whatever comes to mind. Me, other mashou, the business itself."