Now, a feller by the name of EmD23 has accosted me with something like a question, and that something like a question goes a little something like this: "KChasm, where've the rest of the Investigation Team been? Have they been hunting jackalopes through the Central Shopping District? Does this explain their conspicuous absence?"
To this I say, "Don't be silly! A jackalope would do its utmost to steer clear from the Central Shopping District. There's not nearly enough cover there, and the antlers would give it straight away—unless there were a sale on antlers on at the time, of course. No, you'd be much more likely to find a jackalope at the Samegawa Flood Plain."
I hope this has cleared up any confusion.
The man with the knife's a surprise. Most murder attempts probably are, Yousuke will think later, but while it's happening he barely thinks at all. It's snowing, and he has the umbrella, and in a second he's snapped it shut into a makeshift sword.
Yousuke will think many things later, actually. Things like: Should've kept it open. Blocked the knife. And, but only dimly: Swords were never his trick.
But the blow's enough, even with the wrong stance. The man's off balance, and Yousuke drops the umbrella, ready to—
And there is still nothing at his belt.
"Er," says Yousuke.