<-🎧-> “Hmmm …”

The moment the reply was sent, Futaba was on it, unable to keep her curiousity at bay any longer. She read through the details, then pulled up a map of the tv station.

“Oh … Akasaka Mitsuke? That’s far …” She murmured to herself, biting her lip. Somebody had to get on a train, right now, and start heading in that direction while the others entered Mementos. And the best person suited for that was …

She took a deep breath, then grabbed a photo of herself as well as a basic information folder she kept just in case, attaching them both to the email, along with a message letting Janna know somebody would be taking the subway down the line and be there within the hour. She quickly shrugged her coat on, grabbing an umbrella. After all, the weather woman had forecast rain later in the day after the sun had set.

She texted the team as well as her stepdad, letting him know that she was going out and wouldn’t be back until after he closed up the coffee shop. A moment’s hesitation longer, then she stepped out the door, locking it behind and beginning the nerve-racking walk to the station.

“Please don’t let it be crowded …”

<-🎧-> Futaba spent the next half hour listlessly building yet another Minecraft structure. It was cathartic, creating worlds of her own. Especially when she drew off of the inspiration of the Metaverse. She was in the middle of building a gigantic museum now, filled with golden sculptures and beautiful paintings.

It didn’t stop her from immediately alt-tabbing to check her mail when the alert came in, though. Finally an answer. She scanned the email, picking up choice words. Emily. That was the most important thing. She ran a background check. The studio producer. On the whole she seemed rather unremarkable, but there were rumors from ex-employees that she was haughty, acting like the entire staff was beneath her when it befitted her. Probably not to Janna herself, as the star weather woman. But to others less important? It was plausible. She’d have to to take a look into Mementos to discern for herself. If there was a Shadow, she’d help take care of it. Though that still left the question of the shadows hunting poor Janna in the real world. She bit her lip for a moment, then drafted a reply.

{Janna:

I can’t be certain, but I believe the Phantom Thieves can help with your situation. You’re most likely being drawn into another dimension through aggressive means. My team has means of dispelling the source of the darkness, however. My main concern is that the creatures are trying to get at you in this world. Would you consider letting-

She paused, thought for a moment, then continued typing.

-an associate of ours pose as an intern to keep a close eye on you? We can make sure nothing happens to you while the actual Thieves take care of the issue from another location.

Awaiting your reply,

Oracle.}

<-🎧-> Futaba’s head snapped up from the computer, staring at the small tv in the corner of the room. She only kept it to keep an eye on the news and weather, in case there was something urgent she needed to call her stepfather about.

This urgency, though, drew her attention with a single word.

Shadows.

It was impossible, right? Shadows in the real world? She’d listened to Janna before, and even when she was being lighthearted, the weathercaster always delivered accurate information.

She pulled up her email. It wouldn’t hurt to check on this; she could explain the details to the others after she found out more. Perhaps someone in the studio’s heart had gone distorted? This could be the beginning of a big lead. It wasn’t hard to find such a famous person’s email in the first place.

{From Anonymous:

In reply to your request for aid:

Any and all details you have on these shadows, please reply with. I can’t promise you any help, but if there’s something the Phantom Thieves can do to help you, I’ll personally see to it that you’re aided.

Best regards;

Oracle.}

@hcrmit-arcana

@drainingkiisses

 The keeper of the Blade of Winds? I feel like that story is familiar, but nothing comes to mind…

“I haven’t had someone bow to outside of our family home in a long time. It’s weird to see a proper bow.” Garen playfully mused. “But refreshing. You said you’re ageless? I’d have to bet that can be tiresome.”

 Since she was a swordswoman an idea had spawned in Garen’s mind. With her claim to agelessness there was likely much he could learn by having a practice match with her. As both of them were professionals neither would have to use wooden swords or dulled practice blades. They’d both be able to use their proper weapons without much risk of injury.

“Jeez, you’re pretty smart for someone who grew up on the streets,” Jinx mumbled through mouthfuls of batter. Granted, she didn’t have much room to talk. Her foster parents were quite wealthy but Jinx never really spent much time at home. Or school. She practically grew up on the streets, too, though not nearly in such extreme circumstances.

“But anyway, hey, if you want to share a bed then I don’t mind. But you have your own now. So I guess it’s good, right?” she spoke, mouth leading thought instead of the other way around, more occupied with licking the bowl clean than with what she was saying.

“Thirty minutes?” Jinx whined even as she took the bowl and spoon full of leftover batter. She huffed and sat down against the cupboards right there on the kitchen floor, beginning to lick the spoon clean. That was the easy job, and it was soon tossed haphazardly back onto the counter to get it out of the way.

“I don’t get it, Windy, aren’t you smart enough not to have to do this whole school thing? But you go anyway? It’s so boring! How can you stand it?” Jinx asks from her perch there on the floor as she ran her hand through the inside of the bowl, licking batter from her fingers messily.

Jinx grinned as she got Janna to comply. Her hand raised up to the other’s cheek and her finger brushed along it, only to reveal a glob of cake batter that had somehow gotten attached to Janna, now on Jinx’s finger.

The redhead stuck it in her mouth and sucked the sweet nectar free of her digit. “There, that’s better. Now finish that cake, I’m starving!”

Jinx would always answer the call when cake was involved. If that call meant receiving cake. In any form. In this case, batter.

“Yeah, and? C’mon, Gusty, bend over and come down to my level for just a second!”

<*⛵*> “Don’t you dare. You don’t need to pay for a thing, not if I do this-”

A swipe over the reader, and the turnstile unlocked, Sarah stepping out of the way and releasing Janna’s hand.

“Go on, then, we’ll be right behind you. But I’m paying for this, Miss Winds, got it?”

<*⛵*> “I’m not going to lie, I thought you manipulated a small bit of power to make it stand like that. But I think I like this much better.”

She reached up, using a single finger to scratch under Zephyr’s chin playfully.

“You’re a good boy, aren’t you?” She hummed, happy to have another familiar to dote upon. “Once we get on the subway, I’ll feed you a snack or two. Would you like that?”

Down the stairs they descended to the underground, Sarah tugging out her metro card to pay for both of them.