Working With Phantoms

To Live or Die

June 27th

Madran arrived at lunch to the usual familiar faces, such as a rather happy Sheila, Rosana and Akira petting Morgana, and more questionably, a stressed Suga. Madran then sat down and looked around at everyone.

"So, uh, good job yesterday!"

"Yep. Sheila told me what happened on your side of the battle. On our side, we just fought him as himself but with fly wings and eyes, and then he activated the Piggytron 5000, which was interesting."

"Nice. Hey, Suga, what's up?"

Suga sighed much like how an influencer tries to when they make an apology video and began to talk.

"Well, it's mom. She's been all... shifty and stuff, and hasn't been giving me any straight answers. Then, with that whole thing about her shadow appearing in the Velvet Room, I... I'm worried."

"Hopefully, during today's meeting, she'll clear things up."

"U-Um, excuse me?"

A sweet, feminine voice rang through everyone's ears as Madran looked over at a short girl with short, auburn, puffy hair that went down to her chin wearing a Shujin jacket and a pink shirt underneath. Her pants were the usual type that boys wore, which confused Madran a bit.

"Yeah?"

"I-Is it ok if I sit here?"

"Um... sure, I guess."

"Oh, thank you."

The girl smiled a darling smile and sat down next to Rosana.

"So, como te llamas?"

"H-Huh? Oh, um, sorry, I don't speak Spanish."

"Oh, it's fine. So, what's your name?"

"I'm Haru. Uh, a-and you?"

"I'm Rosana."

"Nice to meet you, Rosana. Oh, hi there, Sheila."

"Hey, Haru, what's up?"

"Oh, well, I just did some gardening. The plants aren't too happy in this heat, even the large tree in the front."

"So, Sheila, you know her?"

"Yep! She's one of my classmates in Myth."

"Hmm. Well, uh, is it ok if we...?"

"Yeah, she knows."

"Oh, about that cognitive thing?"

"Why'd you tell her?!"

Akira glared at Sheila.

"Well, she's someone I can trust! She's one of the most honest people I've known outside of this group."

Haru giggled.

"Yeah. I give her tips on who to go for, and the secret dies with me."

"How long have you known?"

"Well, I pieced it together when that Shiini incident happened. I mean, Sheila made that post about thanking her friends for their help with the whole ordeal, and she looked really shifty whenever he was mentioned, so I did some digging."

"Goodness, she's like Wysteria, but a high school girl."

"How so?"

"She's fucking thorough."

Madran nodded.

"Then, I found out about Travert's and Proctora's cases, and the mysterious letters found from your group. After all of that, I also saw by myself Maya activating her guardian spirit, and connected it to Sheila. Then, I asked her, and she, after some dodging, admitted it."