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quote:
yo itsuki you got a sec
What's up?
just saw tsubasa earlier, she looked really distracted. i saw her run into a telephone pole. and then, uh, she frantically apologized to it
...It's worse than I thought.
heard tsubasa got a gig as a model? with some photo shoot over in daitama
kinda worried about her. you oughta go keep an eye on her
That's the plan. Ms. Maiko already told me to head that way.
awesome. make sure you help tsubasa if she needs it
...Somehow, this doesn't surprise me at all. I'm glad she apologize to the telephone pole though, that was incredibly rude of her.
(This...is Tsubasa's debut CD. Maybe I should listen to it at home.)
Before we go though, we can grab this. It doesn't actually *do* anything (it's a plot token) but the implication is that Itsuki couldn't even be bothered to pick up his best friend's debut CD. 
Anyway, off to Daitama.
The Photo Shoot
Oh- Mr. Hatanaka?
Ah, I knew it! You're that boy who helped me out of that nasty jam earlier. And your name again was...
Itsuki Aoi.
Ah, Itsuki. So... do you remember exactly what happened at the 106?
I've been trying and trying to recall, but all my memories feel like this dreadful haze. I feel like I was lost in some bizarre place, but...somehow, it feels like it was all just a dream as well...
Truth be told, I don't even remember precisely how we met. Every time I try to recall, my thoughts feel so jumbled. Why can't I remember anything...?
Um, well...
Oh, Itsuki! There you are.
Whoa, Mr. Hatanaka. Always a pleasure, sir!
Oh...! Now you - you were at the 106 as well, weren't you?
...Sorry, Mr. Hatanaka, but we're running a little late. Itsuki and I gotta run.
It was nice meeting you again, Mr. Hatanaka.
A-Aha. Until next time, then...
So, it turns out Mr. Hatanaka does remember a bit about the 106 incident. Not enough to *do* anything, but enough to start asking questions. That...could be trouble later on, but for now we can get away with dodging the question.
Ah, crap. Really...? Hope he doesn't stick his nose too far into this. It'd be dangerous if he got mixed up with Mirages.
Yeah.
Oh, right, Tsubasa's photo shoot. I've already been by the studio she was at, but...turns out there was some kind of trouble. I guess the shoot got cancelled.
Trouble... Was it a Mirage?
Nah, didn't look like it. All the models were coming out safe and sound, so I think we're good on that front. But I did see the photographer, he looked really mad about something. Hope Tsubasa's- Hey!
Well, speak of the devil. Check it out - that's Mr. Horinozawa over there.
You know, he doesn't look that mad, Touma. That's a man who's just ready to go home for the day.
So he's the photographer...
Wait, back up a sec. Why'd you jump straight to Mirages?
You remember the article in that magazine at the convenience store? About those models that went missing?
Oh, yeah. That stuff.
We don't know for sure if Mirages are behind it, but...it's just been bothering me. So I talked to Ms. Maiko about it, and she sent me over here to make sure Tsubasa would be okay.
I guess I wasn't really needed here after all, though.
Welp. There goes my plans for the day, anyway. I think I'll take a walk before I head back. See you around, man!
Well that could have gone a lot worse than "It was cancelled and you already missed her," I suppose. Might as well check in with Maiko and let her know.
quote:
So how was Tsubasa's photo shoot?
It was already over when I got there.
Apparently there was some kind of problem. Tsubasa should be back at the office safely now.
That's a relief to hear...
I actually just turned up some info on the models who disappeared... Apparently they all had photo shoots with Horinozawa before they vanished.
It's hard to think this is just coincidence.
Do you think Tsubasa could be the next target?
That's what I'm worried about. I want you to keep a close watch on her for the time being.
I'll head back to the office, then. Tsubasa might be back by now.
Thanks. I'll try digging up some more info on Horinozawa in the meantime.
Now, I dearly love this game, but it's writing is... Well, "less than subtle" seems like the kindest way of putting it. This scene is literally the first time we've ever seen Horinozawa, and we know all of two things about him - he used to work with Maiko, and all the disappearing models had photo shoots with him.
What I'm saying is, please pretend to be surprised when he turns out to be the villain of the week for Chapter 2. While I dearly love this game's character writing, the plot is uh... well, this isn't exactly a Trails game.
quote:
hey, tsubasa looked kinda down when she left the studio. might be good if you talked to her, asked what's wrong.
Anyway, sounds like Tsubasa needs another pep talk. Back to the office!
After the Shoot
Yeeeeeep, time for Itsuki to work some of his magic.
*Sigh*
What's the matter?
Well, it's just...today's photo shoot didn't go so well... I made the photographer mad, and he just left.
Everyone makes mistakes. What's important is that you learn from them.
Yeah.
If there's something you want to talk about, I'm here. Sometimes it can help you put things in perspective.
Thanks, Itsuki.
And if it'd help to complain a little, I'll listen.
Yep. A tiny bit.
Okay...
Good thing Itsuki is so smooth about patching things up with everyone. It would honestly be charming if he wasn't so goddamn oblivious.
I'm an idol now. There's a lot I'm going to have to deal with. But if I can overcome all of it...that's when I'll know I've made it.
They said they'll try the photo shoot on another day, so when that day comes, I'll try even harder!
On...another day...
What's wrong, Itsuki?
Well, Horinozawa, that photographer who was running your photo shoot... There's some strange rumors about him.
Strange rumors?
Yeah. I heard this from Ms. Maiko, but it seems like quite a few of his models have gone missing lately.
You mean...a Mirage...?
Of course, now we've gone about 30 minutes without something actually happening, so right on cue...
What's wrong?
I-It's Shibuya... There's something strange happening...!
What's going on in Shibuya?
Th-The people in Shibuya aren't acting normal!
What do you mean, not normal?
I don't know why, but everybody looks extremely tired... a-and, um, I... u-um...!
Calm down, Mamori. Take your time.
I'm glad you're okay, Mamori.
I don't know exactly what's going on, but for the moment, we should head to Shibuya.
Y-Yeah...!
Mamori, it could be dangerous, so you'd better stay here.
O-Okay. Please be careful, you two...!
Maiko and Horinozawa
Oh look, it's a mirage attack. Who could have possibly forseen this?
It's really hard to show the effect with screenshots, but he's teleporting around and making people disappear by taking their picture with his weird camera.
Ah, Maiko! You’ve finally decided to return as my muse, then?
I didn't want to believe it... So you really are the one...
Return the people you've taken! Now!
Hah! No, I don't need to bother with those amateurs. I only take pictures of what truly deserves to be immortalized... You!
Welp, another successful confrontation. Excellent work, team.
You... Where did you send Ms. Maiko!?
Horinozawa looks like he's sizing up Tsubasa and Itsuki, but...
True to his word, he's not interested in us. He got his muse back, and that's all that matters.
And that's an idolasphere entrance. See you in Illusory Shibuya!