Act 46: The Identity

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"In fact, I also have a feeling that... she might not even be a "she" at all..." Said Mayuka.

"What do you mean?" Yuichi replied.

"I've seen things like this before. Guy poses as a girl in the Internet to manipulate other people." Said Mayuka. "Usually, most people listen more to women than to men. Even if said people are women themselves."

"I see... you have a point." Yuichi replied.

"So what you're saying is that... Nana might be a participant and a boy, is that correct?" Yuichi continued.

"Yeah... Maybe we should do a little investigation together." Said Mayuka.

"Agreed. It's easier if we work together." Yuichi replied.

"Okay. We'll share information through calls, so Nana won't notice." Said Mayuka. "At least I hope she won't..."

"Got it. Catch ya later." Yuichi replied.

Mayuka then ends the call. She looks at Shino for a while and thinks to herself.

"Don't worry, Shino." Mayuka thought. "Me and Yuichi are right by your side."

-Hideout 9:22 AM-

Meanwhile, over at Yuichi and Jun's hideout, Yuichi was walking back and forth for minutes now. He had no idea about what to do and where to start with investigating Nana.

"Hey, Yuichi. You've been walking back and forth for a while now." Said Jun. "What's on your mind right now?"

"I'm thinking... Mayuka told me to investigate this mysterious Facebook account called 'Nana'..." Yuichi replied. "Supposedly, this 'Nana' has been harassing Shino as of recent and making her do stuff..."

"But... I don't know where to start! We don't have any computers, let alone a Wi-Fi connection!" Yuichi continued. "And I can't access mobile data today, for some odd reason...!"

"Then why did you agree with Mayuka?" Said Jun. "I don't get your fucking logic here, Einstein..."

"Because... I want to save Shino... Right now, she's being manipulated by that 'Nana' bastard to play their shitty games." Yuichi replied. "But before they do that... they're gonna have to get past through me first."

"... Alright, I get where you're coming from, Romeo." Said Jun. "But think about your fucking resources..."

"Like you said, we have no computers, nor do we have a nearby Wi-Fi connection." Jun continued. "Not to mention you also said your data connection is busted today."

"How are we supposed to investigate someone who people only know through the Internet, without any Internet?" Jun continued.

Yuichi suddenly had an idea.

"Say... which public places you know have free Wi-Fi?" Said Yuichi.

"I... think the Luigi's near the shopping district has some free Wi-Fi... Why?" Jun replied.

"Because I'll be needing some free Wi-Fi today." Said Yuichi. "A lot of it..."

-Luigi's Pasta n' Pizza 11:11 AM-

A few hours later, Yuichi decided to go to the nearby Luigi's branch, alone. Not to buy food, but to borrow some free Wi-Fi.

Yuichi sit on one table and pulled out his smartphone, newly charged to its maximum level and ready for a few hours worth of browsing and research.

After connecting his phone to the free Wi-Fi, the first thing that Yuichi did was to search up the name "Nana" in Google.

The result: Google yielded search results for... Nana Mizuki, a Japanese voice actress and idol singer.

"Shit. I knew this would happen..." Said Yuichi. "I think Nana sent me a link somewhere..."

Yuichi searched through his e-mail inbox for the message where Nana sent him the link to her Facebook account. After a while of searching, he eventually found the message.

"There we go." Said Yuichi. "Now, let's check and see what we can find..."

Yuichi checks the link that Nana sent, which led to Nana's profile. Just like before, most of the account's contents were blanked out and undecipherable text and images of nothing but black.

"But... where do I start?" Said Yuichi. "Everything on this page is unreadable shit."

It was then that Yuichi received an e-mail from Mayuka. It read:

"Subject: Yo Yuichi

How's the investigation? Is it going swimmingly?"

Yuichi proceeds to send a quick reply to Mayuka.

"Subject: Re:Yo Yuichi

I'm in a Luigi's rn. The one near the shopping district. Mobile data is busted, so I have to settle with public Wi-Fi.

I checked Nana's Facebook and it's all blanked out.

What do you think should I do next? Should I talk to her or not...?"

After a while of waiting, Mayuka eventually replies.

"Subject: Re:Yo Yuichi

No, DON'T! If you talk to her, she'll force you to play the game!

Try to find info on Nana from other sources and such.

Message me if anything happens, OK?"

Yuichi then closes the message and goes back to doing research on Nana.

"Tsk... Looks like I have to be a bit more... secretive, then." Said Yuichi.

Yuichi stares at Nana's profile through his smartphone for a while as he thinks of a way to find more information on her without having to resort to talking to her directly. Eventually, he comes up with an idea of his own.

"Hmm... maybe if I put this profile pic of hers through a reverse image search..." Said Yuichi.

Yuichi long taps on Nana's profile pic, after which a menu appears. He taps on one of the options, the reverse image search, which opens up the browser.

On the browser tab was the result of Yuichi's reverse image search:

"No! I didn't search for this Vocaloid shit!" Said Yuichi. "Arrgh! How hard can it be to search even a sliver of information?!"

Suddenly, Yuichi's phone rang. It turned out to be an e-mail from Mayuka. It read:

"Subject: Some help

Yo Yuichi, just wanna let you know that Shino sent you some help. She'll be arriving there at Luigi's.

Please be patient and wait for her to arrive, OK? She's a bit lazy at times."

"Hmm... Shino sent me some help?" Said Yuichi. "Huh. Wonder who that help might be..."

Suddenly, Yuichi began to yawn.

"Man... I haven't had enough sleep for days... Maybe it's okay if I... take a little nap." Said Yuichi. "Hopefully, the staff won't notice..."

Yuichi slouched at the table and lied his head down as he closes his eyes and takes a little nap.

Meanwhile, as Yuichi takes his nap, a female figure arrives at the restaurant. She searches for Yuichi's table, and upon finding it, walks closer to him.

"Hmm... he's asleep." Said a female voice. "Maybe I should... play around a little."

TO BE CONTINUED

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