AD 2206, 6/9, 6th Hierarchical City of Yabiko – NOL Branch

As he walks to his rooms, Carl sighs. The meeting with Jin had been as taxing as he'd expected. It serves as a stark reminder of all the work he's got to do if he truly wishes to make amends. Right when he reaches for his door, a familiar voice breaks his contemplative train of thought.

"Carl, do you have a minute?"

Carl whips his head back to see Amane standing behind him, looking oddly… pensive. Nevertheless, Carl feels his hackles rise on instinct. He eyes the older man with caution. However, as he looks to his left and right, he sees none of the other troupe members.

Amane sighs, "I just want to talk."

Carl narrows his eye, humming, "About what?"

Amane huffs, "Well…" He steps closer. "For one, I just wanted to remind you that my door is always open. I know you've got a lot on your mind, so if you feel the need to talk an ear off…" He trails off, gauging Carl's reaction to the offer.

Carl stares back wordlessly, stoic mask firmly in place.

Amane sighs, "Secondly, Shishigami is going to be starring opposite moi a few days from now. He'd really appreciate it if you'd come see him dance."

Carl raises a brow. "Master Bang? Dancing?"

Amane hums, "Yep. That's what I said. He's been practicing extra hard, just for you, so…"

Carl pauses, thinking it over. Amane isn't one to lie, so it's likely true. Still…

Carl eyes Amane carefully. "If I say yes, will I be expected to join him?"

Amane tuts, "As much as I'd like it if you got on stage, it's a little short notice to add you now." He shakes his head. "I'm inviting you to the front row, of course, but that's as far as it goes."

Carl sighs, "Alright… Fine."

Amane brightens, chirping, "Thank you, Carl! I swear you won't regret seeing what we can do."

Carl hums wordlessly, and turns back to his door.

Amane begins to walk away, calling over his shoulder, "Remember, my door's open!"

Carl scoffs and rolls his eye, pushing into his rooms without another word.

AD 2206, 6/11, 6th Hierarchical City of Yabiko – NOL Branch

Carl curiously eyes the various stalls spreading around the Branch from his window. From what little he's heard, Amane's show is to take place nearby, and so various vendors and street performers have also gotten access to the area.

He lowly murmurs, "What are you getting at, Colonel…?"

A knock comes upon his door, and Carl lets the curtain fall back to signal Bishop to open it.

Makoto beams at him once the door opens, striding into the room with Tsubaki trailing behind. She chirps, "Hey, Carl, me and Tsubaki were just thinking of checking out the scene downstairs, ya wanna tag along?"

Carl frowns confusedly. "Are you sure you want me to?"

Makoto rolls her eyes and nods. "Well, yeah! Ya can't stay cooped up forever, ya know!"

Tsubaki sighs, "Mister Kagura also thought that some fresh air would do you good. We'll be there to keep you safe the entire time, so don't worry."

Carl hums, and thinks over their proposition. It would be interesting to see what all the different vendors have on offer…

Carl sighs, "Alright." He turns to Ada. "I'll be back soon, Sis, so don't worry, okay?"

"…"

Carl chuckles. "I'll try not to." He then turns to his old school friends. "So, what are we going to do first?"

As they exit the branch, Carl grunts as throngs of people begin to carelessly push and pull at them. The unwelcome touches cause his spine to stiffen and his teeth to grit.

Makoto, thinking quickly, grasps at his cloak and tugs him in close to put her arm around his shoulders. She leans in and murmurs, "Hey. Ya gotta loosen up, Carl. You're making such a scary face right now."

Carl blinks, then glances around to see several people eyeing him warily. He sighs, forcing himself to relax somewhat as Makoto maneuvers them through the crowded street.

Makoto glances at Tsubaki, chuckling, "Man, oh man. It sure is lively out here, huh?"

Tsubaki sighs, "I've never seen so many civilians this close to the Branch before." She glances coolly at Carl, raising a brow. "Carl, are you going to be alright out here?"

Carl, still cautiously looking into the crowd for signs of danger, nods stiffly.

Tsubaki hums, returning her attention to the crowd herself.

Makoto jolts, crying out, "Aha!"

Carl freezes, following her line of sight to an ice cream vendor on the far side of the street. Sighing, he prepares to run.

Makoto doesn't disappoint, tugging at he and Tsubaki as she carefully but swiftly moves through the throngs of people towards her prize. "Oh, my sweet parfaits, here I come!"

Makoto mewls into her treat as the three former schoolmates dig in. Carl, for his part, has chosen a conventional vanilla bowl. As he savors the chill smoothness gliding down his throat, he eyes the surrounding stalls.

Various foods are on offer today, and further down, he can see… a puppet show? Carl's brows furrow as he sees no sign of the puppeteer, despite the busy street. He tenses as he senses someone coming closer, and glances over his shoulder to see a nervous looking bull beastkin eyeing him from the crowd.

Makoto, having noticed Carl's apprehension, calls, "Can we help you with something?"

The beastkin blinks, then rapidly nods as he comes to the stall. "P-Pardon me, but would you be Carl Clover, by any chance?"

Carl narrows his eye as he warily sighs, "That's correct."

The beastkin bows. "My name is Frediano Ferrucio, a humble puppeteer." He takes a seat next to Carl. "I am honored to meet you, good sir."

Carl blinks, then raises a brow. "Thank you…?"

Frediano nods, ordering himself a bowl of chocolate cream.

The three friends look to each other, then back to Frediano.

Tsubaki hums, "What were you hoping to talk to Carl about, if you don't mind my asking?"

Frediano smiles nervously. "I-I was wondering if he could tell me if the rumors were true."

Carl stoically asks, "Which ones?"

Frediano murmurs, "That your puppets can move and think for themselves."

Carl's eyes narrow again as he considers Frediano. He doesn't seem dangerous, and he supposes that it's a reasonable enough question…

Carl sighs, "Not entirely. It's more a trick of Ars Magus than actual sentience."

Frediano looks crestfallen. "Ah." He shakes his head sadly. "Well, I've no talent for such things. I thank you for answering honestly."

As his food arrives, Frediano glumly digs in.

Carl, feeling curious, waits for a moment before responding. "Is that why you wanted to see me? To know how I get them to move?"

Frediano hums, "It may seem like child's play to a genius such as yourself, but many of us long for such responsive puppets. I'd hoped that I might… Ah. It's no matter." He shakes his head and continues to eat.

Carl hums, returning to his own treat as he mulls over the information. He hadn't considered that someone might be interested in his puppets for anything other than combat.

Makoto nudges him and whispers, "Hey. Why don't you give this guy a hand?"

Carl blinks. "Why?"

Makoto raises a brow playfully. "Well, it might help out your reputation a bit, and he seems nice enough."

Tsubaki chimes in, "And you were always tinkering with something back at the Academy. Maybe something in your puppets could still be helpful."

Carl pauses. They're good points, and it may do him some good to work again. He turns to Frediano, sighing, "Do you think that your puppets have enough room for some small engines?"

Frediano blinks, then nods slowly. "Yes… They're not as large as yours, but there might be room for such a thing…"

Carl nods. "That's good, actually. A smaller puppet might be able to…"

Carl huffs as he wipes the sweat from his brow. The sun is lower in the sky now, but the hours of tinkering have paid off.

The five puppets before him should be ready for use, and he nods to Frediano as he moves away.

Frediano hesitates, then activates the controllers that Carl gave to him. The puppets jump to life and begin to move as commanded, and the older puppeteer's eyes widen in awe. He turns to Carl and bows deep at the waist. "T-Thank you! I don't know what to say, but…" He eyes the puppets in wonder. "This will be amazing for the children to see!"

Carl hums, and walks back to the girls, who are watching with matching smiles.

Makoto whoops, "Good on ya, Carl!" She pats him on the back. "Look at 'em go!"

Tsubaki sighs, "You certainly made his day." She eyes the sun wearily. "But it's pretty late now. I think we should head back."

Makoto's tail droops. "Too bad. I was hoping we could at least see some of the performers around here."

Carl feels a bit guilty, having taken all day to make his adjustments. He glances around to see most of the stalls closing up for the day. He sighs, "I'm sorry it took me so long."

Makoto shakes her head. "Nah, it's not your fault. I'm the one who said we should help the guy out, after all."

Tsubaki carefully takes Carl's arm as they enter the thinner, but still large crowd. "Besides, it was nice to see you so focused on something again."

Makoto giggles, "Yeah, you were really cute back there."

Carl huffs, "I'm not cute."

Makoto rolls her eyes good-naturedly, pulling him in and nuzzling him. "Aw, c'mon, Carl! You were sticking your tongue out and everything!"

Carl flushes, squirming out of her grasp. "I-I was not!"

Tsubaki sighs, "Makoto, don't tease him."

Makoto pouts. "But Tsubaki, it's been like, forever!"

Carl sighs, idly wondering how Makoto can still be so handsy after all these years. He then shakes his head fondly. Some things will never change.

AD 2206, 6/12, 6th Hierarchical City of Yabiko – NOL Branch

Carl sighs as he watches the crowds below once again.

After yesterday, Makoto and Tsubaki were busy with their duties, and Jin was hardly going to take him out for a walk as it were.

Instead, he settles for watching as Frediano entertains the masses with his newly enhanced puppets, a fond smile tugging at his lips. He'd never thought that his tricks could be so peaceful. He'd love to see what else the streets have to offer, but…

As he watches, Ada lumbers to his side. "…"

Carl huffs, "Captain Kohaku is likely busy as well, and I'd rather not get caught up in Colonel Mutsuki's antics."

"…"

Carl frowns. "Well, that's true, but…" He sighs, "No, you're right, Sis."

He sighs, and gathers his cloak and hat. "Let's go see if the Colonel is busy…

The branch is eerily silent as the siblings make their way through the levels. Kagura hadn't been in his office, so maybe…

Carl pauses as he catches sight of Amane in the hall. The dancer glances up and stops himself.

Amane smiles brightly. "Good morning, Carl! How are you doing?"

Carl, eyeing Amane stoically, hums, "Well enough."

Amane grins. "A little birdy told me you were pretty helpful yesterday."

Carl huffs, "What do you want?"

Amane pouts. "Oh, c'mon. Do I have to want something?"

Carl stares blankly.

Amane sighs, "Alright, you caught me. I was hoping that you'd be in a helpful mood again."

Carl narrows his eyes. "Why…?"

Amane huffs, "Our opening act skipped out on us. We don't have the money to pay someone else right now, and Ba-" He catches himself, a light flush dusting his cheeks. "Shishigami suggested that we ask you to do some tricks for the kids before we go on tonight.

Carl instinctively glares and almost voices his outrage when Ada rests a claw on his shoulder. "…"

Carl pauses, looking to her disbelievingly.

Ada shakes her head. "?"

Carl thinks it over for a moment. Would helping them out now as a sign of good faith be so bad? Reluctantly, he sighs, "Alright."

Amane, clearly taken aback, blinks. "Huh?"

Carl coolly brushes past him. "I'll… help you out."

Amane's eyes sparkle with excitement as he cries, "Yes! Oh, you won't regret this, Carl!"

A bead of sweat drips down Carl's flushed face as he deftly leaps from Rook's cupped hands and onto the saddle of Knight. The crowd erupts in applause at the display of acrobatics.

"Five minutes until they go on, I just have to…"

He grasps Bishop's flag and twirls around it as he comes off of Knight and onto his own feet.

Pawn rushes towards him, and he prepares himself for the next step in the sequence.

Kagura smirks as he watches Carl work the crowd with all he's got. The guy's a natural.

Beside him, Jin huffs, "I still think this is foolish. We're just asking the Grimalkin to take him."

Makoto fires back, "Aw, c'mon, Jin! Look at him go! Are you not entertained?"

Tsubaki sighs, "I must admit that despite the risks, I am enjoying myself. Jin, don't you—?"

Hibiki cuts in. "No signs of Bullet, sir."

The trio of friends freezes as Kagura turns to regard his secretary. "That's good. What about Tager?"

Hibiki sighs, "There were sightings in Kagutsuchi earlier today, so I don't think we'll have to worry about him just yet."

Kagura hums, "Fantastic. That just means she's going to try for subtlety. We'll have to—"

Kagura's eyes widen as he spies Carl taking his closing bow. On the roof, formerly hidden by the clouds covering the moonlight, is Tager. "What in the—?!"

A spark of electricity surrounds the young puppeteer.

Kagura has to move fast. He calls out, "Jin, Tsubaki, Makoto! Stay here in case Bullet turns up! Hibiki, come with me!"

With that, Kagura makes a mad dash through the aisle, pushing through the panicking civilians whilst Hibiki takes to the air with their agility. Together, they reach the stage just as Tager's teleportation device fully kicks in.

Carl, with Nirvana by his side, is becoming translucent, eye wide with anger and fear.

Kagura hefts Mumei and uses it as a pole vault to jump into the closing circle of sparks, barely making it. Hibiki joins him a moment later, and the three then vanish the instant after.

From his place on the rooftop, Tager narrows his eyes. He quickly activates his communicator. Through the static, he yells, "Kokonoe, I got Carl Clover and Nirvana, but Black Knight Kagura and Hibiki Kohaku intercepted them. Get ready for company."

Kokonoe groans, "I thought I said to be subtle, Tager! Ugh, gimme a sec and I'll have you here."

Tager feels his energy reserves sapping once again as he begins to spark again. He watches the civilians disperse as the NOL clears the area, no doubt wanting to engage him. As he begins to tingle with the tell-tale energy of teleportation, he sighs. Then, he's gone.