Bay 12 Games Forum

"Hey, Haruko, glad you could join us! Uh, steak?"
Maki offers her a plate, tilting her head.

"No clue. I actually didn't expect anyone to show up, honestly. I was just going to call Amelie and try to figure out what Haruko was doing, maybe try to organize something?"

Maki waves at Agatha, smiling at her as she walks in, just as she hands Hideyuki a plate of steak.
"Heya....Agatha, right? Anyway, we're just here trying to figure out what's up with the Zoanthropes. There's some steak behind the counter if you want some, freshly cooked."

Then Hideyuki speaks.
"And.....teleported, you said? So you tried to go track it and they ended up sending you to Algeria or something like in those hacker movies? That.....that's really strange. Actually, that just makes more questions. If they're being teleported away, then they might be getting reused, so we know most of these Zoanthropes probably are working with whoever's making them.

Then.....we haven't seen any repeated Zoanthropes yet. And that doesn't answer anything else."
Maki throws up her hands and sighs loudly, groaning.
"Dammit, I hate not knowing this....Speaking of which, did you get anything from Spica? I meant to mention this back then, but I heard you guys arguing. Did something happen?"

Maki smiles at him again, before sauntering off behind the counter, and emerging with two plates of steak. It doesn't look very different, but it smells nice and fresh.

Maki looks up, and her expression immediately lightens. She smiles as she walks over to the door to let Amelie in.
"Heeeey, Amelie! Didn't actually expect to see you right now."

Chapter 1 - The Spider, Snake and Bat
Two Days Later

---

Two days have passed since you've heard from Spica and Lapis, the mysterious duo who hunt Zoanthropes. The city has been relatively quiet in the days since the Zoanthrope attack on the Touto National Garden; the city's been abuzz with rumours about Zoanthropes and what-not, and whoever those people with Kamen Rider Volt and the Sun Crow were, but life in Touto has mostly gone on as usual. It is a crazy city, after all.

If any of you were to tap into the news, there'd be reports on repairs being made to the park entrance that the Zoanthrope (and Haruko) trashed, a bit on Mayor Hongo calling for calm and thanking the Eden Foundation for their rapid and quick response.....and nothing on that mysterious helicopter that had fired upon you, shortly after the Zoanthrope turned into a wounded, small girl.

But right now, perhaps the absence of anything from Lapis or Spica might worry you a little more. They did promise they'd be in touch, but they never said when. Perhaps they're off hunting Zoanthropes, or perhaps watching over that girl; even if you weren't Ito, and didn't know that Spica, somehow, knew this girl, she didn't look good when you left her, so maybe they're busy fixing her up.

Where are you and what are you doing now?

---

The Kisaragi Grill
"-and don't stay out too late, Maki. You know it's dangerous outside, even if you're with friends."
"Yes, grandpa."
"....and don't forget to keep up your violin practise, Maki."
"Yes, grandpa."
Hayato frowns, looking down at his granddaughter. He wipes his sweaty brow, closes his eyes as he wipes his hand over his plain white apron, and sighs.
"Maki, I'm not trying to be a burden on you. I'm just concerned. You took a while to come back two days ago after the attack. Don't be like that Akiyama girl in your class, the girl who wants to be a journalist. She sneaks around taking pictures of these, but you know how dangerous that is-"
Maki's tone of voice takes a tone for the harsher.
"We just got a little confused in the rush, you know? I promise, we didn't stick around to try to take pictures or any of that. I'm not like Kaori, I promise."
Hayato doesn't look convinced. He sighs, knowing he won't get much out of Maki for now.
"Well, I've got to open up for the dinner rush. If you're going to meet with your friends, try not to make too much of a mess in here for the customers."

With that, he retreats into the kitchen, leaving Maki alone. She sighs, sitting down at one of the tables.

The Kisaragi Grill was a small restaurant, one of many family-run businesses in the Old Quarter. The decor was relatively basic; wooden tables, paper and wood panels, plain chairs and nothing particularly special about it. Outside, the only thing separating the grill from being a typical old house in the district are the two signs outside saying "Kisaragi Grill", two paper lanterns lighting up as the sun began to set over Touto. A small wooden panel door separates the grill from the rest of the Kisaragi home.

This humble facade belied the fame the Kisaragi Grill had in Touto, of course; Hayato Kisaragi's steak was known as the single best steak in the entire area, ever since Hayato had returned to Touto and retired from the army roughly thirty years ago. His steak was said to rival world-class chefs, if not surpass them, so good were his steaks. Hayato, of course, had always turned down offers to franchise or expand his business; as far as he was concerned, he wanted the Kisaragi Grill to stay a small business, and not compromise a single damn thing. Tohru, usually the one who helped out at the Grill as the waiter, was still on his way, so it had been up to Maki to help set out the grill for the infamously busy dinner rush.

Maki looks out the window, tapping her fingers over the table.

She wanted to know more about the Zoanthropes, and it was bothering her that she barely knew a damn thing, months after they showed up. It was bothering her that she only found out what they were two days ago, let alone now.

Maki briefly wondered to herself where Amelie and Haruko were right now. She needed to talk to her friends. Maybe it might clear her head.

Spica seems....relieved. She sighs, giving him an immediately grateful look. It occurs to Ito that she'd been holding something back, but not a lie; rather, she was holding back anger, anger that seems to have dissipated.
"......if she lives, I'll owe you all more than you could possibly know. Thank you."

She extends her arm around the girl, as a translucent pink barrier surrounds her, levitating her off the bed and trailing the girl behind her with the barrier. As she heads out of the room, she turns to Ito one more time.
".....sorry that I couldn't be more helpful to you. But she's more important to me than you could ever understand. When I said I'd die for her, I meant it. Maybe you do understand, having someone you'd protect with your life, no matter what. Maybe you don't. But thank you."
With that, she leaves the room, walking out past the group. If anyone wants to stop her, now is the best time.