Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Hello Mr. Eguchi," Yume says with an 'I'm-a-cute-small-child' smile. The man stares from his mother's apartment doorway and the small girl wonders if he has any clue that the girl left the building to finish exploring the main floor of her dance teacher's dungeon. Actually, when did he even arrive? "Your mother wants you to walk me to my dance classes."

"Right," the man blinks a few times and then runs back inside. She waits, shifting back and forth to make the floorboards creak. He hurriedly locks the door before throwing a smile her way. "Yume, right?"

"Right," she chirps to be annoying.

"I'm Hitoshi, and just Hitoshi," he follows a step behind her. "Do I need to find you afterwards?"

"Nope," Yume shakes her head. "I stay around with some friends afterwards, so you don't need to worry, okay? I'm always late."

"Got'ca," he nods. "How were those books you bought back… wow, it was a couple weeks ago wasn't it?"

"Ee," Yume nods and shoulders her bag higher. They make small talk the whole way, and then Hitoshi just stops. "Are you alright?"

"Yah," he swallows and stares at the dance studio. Something runs through his head; she can practically see him thinking. Then he pulls out his phone. "Hey, you wouldn't happen to know a Himura Takara, would you?"

Yume nods slowly because oh. Right. "She's my dance instructor. She'll be in charge of all our classes now that we have to practice with every other group."

He doesn't seem to be listening, just hums and frowns at the phone.

I want to troll him, Yume thinks with a sudden realization of how easy it would be to follow through as she wipes a sweaty hand on her pants. She still smiles, still looks okay, but her heart is beating too fast. Nerves, or is she scared? Say it. Just don't get caught.

"Ee, we are practicing in the main Ballet Studio." His phone pings. Yume pretends not to notice his wide eyes as she rocks back and forth on her feet, looking over at the building entrance. "I think our final rehearsal is supposed to be in a Cabaret." He sucks in a breath as his phone pings again and sends him into the Metaverse. "Huh, so that's what it looks like."

Hitoshi blinks back into existence with a flail and Yume makes sure to take her time looking back at him. "Right?"

"Sure," is his automatic response. "Of course, whatever you say."

Wow he sucks at this.

Yume swallows her chuckle and flashes him a blinding smile. "Thanks! And thanks for walking with me. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Sure, Yume," he says, still distracted. "Tomorrow. Bye."

Yume rolls her eyes and meets Miwa at the front entrance. The older girl stares with her head tilted. "Who was that?"

"My neighbor's son," Yume replies smoothly. "He's training to be a magician."

"That was really cool," Miwa smiles and takes the lie easily. "Do you think he can show us how to do it?"

"Don't you know?" Yume smiles cheekily and pokes her own cheek. "A magician never reveals their secrets."

Now that she thinks about it, just what arcana types are the Phantom Thieves?

Looks like it will be another research night.

;;;

"I'm worried about the others too," Kayo says as a greeting, "but you don't see me leaving you twenty messages."

"What?" Hitoshi blanches. "I didn't mean- no. No it's about the ballet one."

"Oh?" Kayo stops packing up to grip the phone. She waves off her best friend with a 'one moment' sign. "What about it? Did you find some real information?"

"I know the key words for the palace," Hitoshi says in a rush. The woman just blinks and sits up straight in her cubical. "Takara Himura, Ballet Studio, Cabaret."

Kayo hums and writes it down. She tears off the paper and stuffs it in her pocket. "How'd you figure it out?"

"My mother's neighbor," he says with a pained noise. "We were talking and I asked her about her teacher with the app on."

"Did she say anything when you suddenly vanished?"

"I don't think she noticed," he answers honestly. "Please come over and check it with me tomorrow."

"Let's tell Mary and the Librarians first," Kayo answers calmly, gathering her things. She lists a time to pick him up, but is cut off.

"That's when I need to drop my neighbor off."

"I'll just come with you." She smiles at her friend, who urges her along. "Don't worry about it, Hitoshi, gees. Everything will be alright. Don't panic and I'll see you tomorrow where we can talk like adults and not freak out."

He lets out a quick breath and shares a goodbye. Her friend stabs at the elevator when Kayo gets there. "Good scoop?"

"Just calming down Hitoshi," Kayo says, rolling her eyes.

Ichiko smirks, "It does seem like everything is a world-ending crisis with him. Anything news-worthy this time?"

"Probably not," Kayo shrugs even as something in her foretells differently. "But with him…"

"Too bad it's your turn," Ichiko sighs and follows her friend into the elevator. "Maybe we can do a joint article with his next bit of trouble."

Kayo laughs. "I won't get you out of sports; face your punishment with a smile."

;;;

"Where were you?" Hitoshi all but demands when he opens the door for her and really, what? Yume slowly lowers her fist and blinks. "Well?"

"Hitoshi!" admonishes a woman from behind him. Yume wants to roll her eyes. Not even two days and he's already inviting people into his mother's apartment. "Hi there, hun. I'm Murakami Kayo."

"I'm Yume!" the girl smiles and is so careful not to flinch. And here she thought with the main part of the Phantom Thieves being out of town meant nothing would change until they came back – if anything would change at all. She never did figure out what arcana they each have, though she can rule out any patience ones for Hitoshi. She is a couple hours away from finishing the back half of the cabaret too. So close, yet so far. "I run in the mornings."

"Oh?" the woman tilts her head with a bit of a too-patient smile. "Whereabouts?"

"Around the neighborhood." Yume full-blasts the cuteness. "And I have breakfast with Mr. Sakura!" Not in that order, of course. "Are you coming with us today, Ms. Murakami?"

Ms. Murakami assures the girl she is and walks beside her, holding her hand as they go. Yume's not too sure about the contact, but it is easier to lead the way. She could do without the twenty questions, and the inquisition that follows the openers. Kayo is good at making her questions disarmingly sweet.

Yume's been at this longer, though. She plays child-like wonder, with all the hesitance of not liking a teacher but not wanting to say anything mean. Hopefully this buys her time to finish the cabaret's layout. She just needs the rest of the week. Friday and Saturday. Then she'll send the information to their phones, because she's still level one and too afraid to be seen by the shadows.

And after yesterday, the dancers might not make it to the recital without serious incident. Three cases of tears and a case of minor dehydration is already too much.

;;;

"Oh fish sticks; are those tentacles?!"

"Well… we are in a marina-based palace."

"Saber, with me!"

"Um, how about no, Ace."

"You two are the only ones with slicing weapons."

"Shut it, Bones!"

"I've got this."

"Poppy, what the- hey!"

"Now that's just gross."

"Hey, Ace, thanks for the new hockey stick! It works great!"

"Heh… er, right. Good job, Poppy."

"…Something you want to add, Wolf?"

"I'm good Saber. Just… there's a tentacle behind you-"

"GET IT OFF!"

A/N: Not the longest chapter, but things happen. Also, I've come to the decision that Anime Akira/Ren is like a puppy. He is both terrifying and delightful, and whoever hurts him needs a change of heart. Thanks for reading!

Thank you, kalmaegi, for your review! Updates are sneaky like that. I cannot wait to detail all of the characters; truth be told Ann's story wasn't supposed to come around until they reach middle school but whoops, she gets a side plot early. Poor timeloop!Akira probably won't notice the timeline shenanigans until they stare him in the face again. The Phantom Thieves are hanging in there… though Hitoshi is a little lost without a leader. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thank you so much for reviewing!

Thank you, CureCaligraphy, for your review! Ann's going to have a lot of fun in London. Summer is coming and I can't wait. Thank you so much for your review, and I really hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Thank you, Avatar . NIX, for your review! Akechi's definitely-probably working towards having a friend. He'll decide if the friendship thing is worth it when he has one. Yume's disappointed in the Persona-gamer lifestyle; all that sneaking and no experience, for shame. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thank you so much for your review!

Thank you, Mia, for your review! Glad to hear you are liking it! Thank you so much, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Have a great April