April 24 (Saturday); 7 Days Until Expulsion
Chapter 90: After School
Sano meets Nanako and Ann on the roof, exchanging a package for an envelope of cash. Ann lies about being into cosplay herself, and Nanako asks Sano to make her a whip. Though he's never made one before, Sano accepts the job and leaves, wondering what their costumes could be, and Nanako explains that being good with a whip in reality should translate automatically into the Metaverse.
The others arrive and they activate the Metanav. Nanako changes clothes and dons her new thigh holster, Ann rolling up her skirt a couple of inches for looks and ease of access. The guys all compliment her, Ren flustering her as he does so.
Chapter 91: Palace of Lust
The Palace has inexplicably (due to Naoto's interrogation) grown securer with more Shadows and more locked doors, and the Thieves resolve to work harder. Angel accidentally encounters a powerful Shadow that splits into five, and Nanako knocks one down with a gunshot before running back, high-fiving Ryuji at his prompting as they go, and his follow-up blast kills one Shadow instantly. Mona keeps the chain going, the group soon ending the fight before any of the Shadows can attack. Mona explains afterward that Skull's baton pass idea had changed the cognition of the battle, intimidating the Shadows with each attack and subsequently making each attack stronger. The group praises Skull for the idea.
Chapter 92: Palace of Lust
Angel notices a door covered in vines on the other side of a hall, and Mona senses a Will Seed within, though he's unsure of its purpose. The boys outvote the girls and decide to take it, Joker grappling across and Angel following with Panther's whip, at her encouragement, though not before asking Mona to make her a grappling hook, too. The two find the seed unprotected, and Joker takes it before saying they should call it a day soon. As Angel makes to leave the room, she hears Teddie's voice from beyond the walls and claws frantically at them, making no progress. Ren, reverted to normal, runs back in and comforts her, then turns back to Joker and carries her back across the gap.
Chapter 93: Evening
Rise corners an exhausted Nanako on the couch and prods her to tell her about Ren, having heard the basic details from Yu. Nanako says Yu thought she may seem like a stalker, and Rise dismisses this as Yu not quite seeing who she's grown into yet, going on about her past relationship with Yu and how she came on too strong at first, so he broke up with her for being too clingy. She admits that even now, she still feels insecure once in a while, and Nanako consoles her before Rise realizes she changed the subject, leading Nanako to tell her the whole story (minus the heist).
SOCIAL LINK ESTABLISHED
- I–The Magician: Rise Kujikawa
Level 1
