Wow, that sounds really serious.

I don't believe for a second that we're the only ones who know about the metaverse. Morgana has to have come from somewhere, right? They may not remember their history, but they still have one. And the mental shutdown incidents suggest that something is going on in the metaverse that we don't know about. 

I don't want to blunder into whatever's happening here. There has to be a reason why people don't know about this. Drawing attention is the last thing we need.

awww, really?

being famous sounds so cool, but i guess you have a point

Yeah, getting caught is bad. I wouldn't mind helping other people, though.

If we keep doing this we'll inevitably get famous, I think. The calling card requirement kind of fences us in, and people will go gaga for magic being real. I just... don't want that to happen by accident, yeah? I don't feel like we have a plan for what we'll do if the government gets serious about catching us and sends, like, secret agents or some shit. And that's the level we'd have to operate at eventually, yeah? 

We need allies, resources, skills. I didn't even know you could potentially read text messages until Mishima sent me this secure texting app. If the government started seriously investigating Shujin Academy, don't you think they'd go through our texting records, however that's done? 

We are already in a precarious situation where we depend on the government not caring enough to use its full resources. We need people like Mishima to show us where we're making mistakes, and people better than Mishima to destroy evidence and keep us from being found out. If we're going to fight society we'd better be prepared for society to fight us, yeah? Think about the kinds of things detectives go through in novels where they take down corrupt cops. They've got to deal with official harassment, attempts on their lives, nosy bystanders with their own agendas... 

sorry this kind of got away from me. I believe we should change the world. I'm willing to put my life on the line for that. But we've got to fight smart and careful if we're going to win. Society is big and it has a lot of people in it and some of them are going to be smarter than us. We can't afford to be sloppy. 

That was sure a lot of words to say what everyone already kind of knows, Akira. 

We chose to risk our lives going into this. we're not going to back out just because the ememy's scary.

She's got a point, Ann. You both do. Yes, we knew we were risking our lives, but fighting smart against thugs with swords is a different problem than fighting smart against thugs in government agencies. It's a problem we can solve, I bet, but it takes different methods, I think.

you said "people like Mishima"

he already seems to be a fan

do we wanna use that?

Damn good question. For now, let's eat lunch, yeah? I know it'll help me think. 

No argument from me on that one. 

Agreed.

yeah

Ryuji gets his lunch back out and starts eating.

Shiho leans against Ann, sets her free hand on Akira's knee, and eats her lunch as well.

Akira flushes a little, but smiles. 

It's good to be with friends. 

She gets out her lunch and eats. 

Ann leans back against Shiho and munches away too.

Lunch proceeds in a companionable silence for a while.

"I—I'm looking forward to this afternoon," Shiho eventually says, with a shy smile.

Akira blushes and looks away. 

"... me too," she says. "It'll be a bright spot on a cloudy day."

Ann glances back and forth between Shiho and Akira and smiiiiiles.

Ryuji grins at the girls.

Shiho blushes and grins.

... despite all the tension that's built up over today, Akira can't help but smile too. 

It's good to be together with the people she loves. She has allies, and more than that, friends, and more than that, — girlfriends and also boyfriend? 

I think the word you're looking for is "lovers", darling. 

Joker is correct, moitié. Tes amoreux, your lovers, your happiness, your beloveds. 

... beloveds is better. Thank you, Julie.

She eats, and between bites she finds a moment to rest her hand on Shiho's.

Shiho blushes brighter and grins, lacing her fingers through Akira's and squeezing for just a moment.