2026-10-08: An Informant
- Log: An Informant
- Cast: Hana Fukami, Katsuya Suou, Maya Amano, Shinobu Shimizu, Eriko Kirishima
- Where: Aoba Way
- OOC Date: October 08, 2026
- IC Date: January 21, 2013
- Summary: The group (Team Whoop-Ass; just don't ask Katsuya to give you the name) arrives at Aoba Park to speak with a would-be informant who is aware that Katsuya has been continuing to look into matters around the NWO despite his suspension. What he leaves behind is a hint and a pair of photographs containing some familiar faces.
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
Aoba Park is beautiful, filled with flowers and also a lovely setup for concerts and the like. But today is not a day for concerts, at least not for the group assembled here. Katsuya's cellphone directed them here; a very serious call meant that Team Whoop-ass needed to meet someone. Someone who knows Katsuya is still investigating the Joker cases, and wants to talk about them. There's information to be had...
But it could be a trap.
Regardless, they meet outside the stadium--that's the place that they were given. And Hana is no exception; she arrives along with the others, coming to a stop some distance from the meeting point to look around for a potential arriving individual.
There's room for everyone here, and it's not too crowded without a concert planned, and this early in the morning. And it is early; the sun has barely risen.
Nevertheless...
<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.
It would be great to think that this is their lucky break, wouldn't it? And, once upon a time, that's exactly what he would have assumed. After the events of the last six months, including the information he got from Akechi and his own paid suspension from his job, he's found himself a touch suspicious.
But also hopeful. But also wondering if, perhaps they can all be so lucky.
Even if some of the members of their merry band may have supposed otherwise, he had still thought it worth the chance, even with his own doubts included. After all, they've hit a dead end. It's this, or, they can similarly chance the wait for the NWO's next move. To be the ones acting, on the other hand...
...
"This is the place," he remarks, glancing this way and that. There's no apparent sign of anyone else here just yet. On a winter day in January, with no concerts or events scheduled, no one except the most dedicated park walkers would be out this way, at this hour.
"..."
"...I wonder if he will show up," Katsuya says. It's certainly early, yet, and on a cold day. What if their informant got 'cold feet'?
Or, what if this is a trap?
<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.
"Think positive, guys!" Maya says cheerily, adjusting her scarf by throwing one end of it over her shoulder. "There's no reason to believe they won't show up!"
Who 'they' is and what they plan to actually do is another thing entirely. But for the time being Maya is determined to, as always, Think Positive!
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
The phone call Katsuya received pointed to Aoba Park. It's hard to tell what, exactly, will come of this... but if whoever is on the end knows something, then they have to risk it.
Shinobu arrives alongside the others, hands currently in the pockets of her winter coat and leaning against the nearest post.
"Good question." Shinobu agrees, as Katsuya wonders if he'll show. This does all seem a little convenient to her. There's all manner of things that could go wrong - their informant might not show, or someone could've gotten to him before them, or this could all be a trap...
But as Maya says, 'think positive'!
Shinobu shrugs.
"Yeah, guess we just gotta wait and see. ...And be ready for whatever happens next." She comments.
<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.
Eriko was not expecting such cloak and dagger actions today, or for them to occur on such short notice.
Eriko is really quite surprised that someone would reach out to Katsuya like this, or what intel they might have. So, she's here in Aoba Park, waiting to see who or what may arrive.
"We'll have to hope they do," Eriko says, after a moment. "Still... maybe with how many of us are here, we might spook them."
Maya's enthusiasm does get a little giggle out of Eriko, though. "That is the attitude to have, I suppose- though I don't think any hardboiled detective would agree with you."
...Though, Eriko can kill two birds with one stone while she waits. She is positioned next to one of the flower beds- though so far it's only been talking about a riddle. With a sigh, she puts it together. "Red, of course," she whispers quietly to herself.
Yeah, she's had to learn too much about Wang Long fortunetelling now...
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
This is the place...
Maya suggests they 'think positive', and Hana smiles. "There's no sense in giving up before we've started," she agrees. But... it could still be a trap. Wait and see... be ready. "Well..."
They might spook them; that's why Hana is to the side, for the moment. But when Eriko laughs, Hana is a little relieved. "Hard-boiling is for eggs," Hana decides. "It's fine."
She considers... and then walks closer to the others, carefully, her heels clicking on the concrete.
<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.
There's a bench over there, facing the opposite direction from them. It's currently unoccupied.
It is true, he supposes, as Maya cheers them all on, that whatever happens next, it can't hurt but to keep a positive outlook. Even if it's currently far colder than he'd like, and he's still not certain if the person they're about to meet (if he shows up) is going to be friend in truth or foe.
"Yes," he says, chiming in as Shinobu does likewise. "We're not alone, after all..."
[VOLITION]: At a time like this, being alone would be far more disastrous.
Which might be part of the problem, as Eriko supposes. "Maybe," Katsuya allows. "That being said, our informant did not specify I should come alone. ...If he knows as much as he said, he likely knows of the rest of you already," he points out. He pauses. "Other than Fukami-san."
Her very circumstances keep her from being as 'known' as the others.
"...A hard-boiled detective, is it..." he can't help but sigh. "I think people like that only exist in films. Even the older detectives on the force aren't quite so..." he remarks, shaking his head.
There's a bench over there. A heavy-set older man is sitting there now with his back to the rest of them.
"Come closer. We don't have much time," he says, keping his voice low.
Startled, Katsuya approaches the man on the bench, pulling up short as the man cautions, "Stay where you are. You're Suou, aren't you? And the rest of you..."
In the position this man is in, his face can't be seen.
"You are already aware that Tatsuzou Sudou's New World Order are the ones pulling the strings in this city," he says. "That includes the city government, the police and media. Even major corporations are owned by them now. There is very little that they don't control..." warns their informant.
"And you know that they are responsible for capturing new Joker cases. Isn't that what you've been looking into, Suou?" he goes on.
"Yes," Katsuya confirms, nodding the once. "We already know this much. If you know about them... what is their goal? What is Sudou's intent?"
<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.
Maya idly strokes her ear as she listens, never turning to face their informant. There's something strangely cinematic about this moment; there's no way she would ever imagine she'd be witness to a scene like this a year ago.
She doesn't say anything; instead she glances over at Katsuya, watching his expression carefully as the pair talks.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Shinobu nods as Katsuya says they aren't alone.
"Yeah. We've got each other's backs." She agrees. That's important - though she looks toward Eriko as she points out that they might spook them with their numbers.
"Good point..." She considers - but Katsuya says the informant didn't say to come alone. "Guess it's fine, then. Long as we play it smart."
Their group isn't so large as to be disruptive. Eriko's comment about hardboiled detectives gets a smirk - and Hana's follow-up gets a laugh. She looks back toward Katsuya at his musings. Only existing in films...
"...That's usually how it is, I guess." She considers with a shrug.
Someone addresses them. Shinobu glances. His back is to them - but she removes her hands from her pockets briefly to indicate that they're empty before folding them in front of her, listening.
They can't see his face... but whoever he is, he's pretty well-informed if he knows that much. She doesn't confirm or deny who she is - instead, she waits for him to continue, glancing to the others briefly to judge their reactions.
<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.
Eriko grins a little at Hana's joke. "I much prefer them poached, honest. Though that may just be a side effect of the job." Still, she sighs a little at Katsuya's perception that hard-boiled detectives only exist in film. "A pity, the Sam Spade type is an archetype for a reason, if more of an American one."
Eriko pauses for a few moments, in thought. "...I wonder, though... Perhaps he's had enough of an impact we could encounter one as a demon, like those Yakuza..."
Fortunately(?), going back to America to find supernatural spaces isn't on her short term agenda. Maybe later.
After all, something right out of a film seems to be happening right now.
Eriko didn't catch when the man arrived, but he did so. That's a concern already- the bench is near a dead end, isn't it? Certainly, she'd been a little distracted, but...
She starts to step forward when Katsuya does and the informant requests, but when he says to stop, she stops. Annoying. She can't get an angle on his face- and reaching for her phone to take a picture would be risky.
So Eriko shifts, given him a free glance at her face might be a risk in and of itself. Unfortunately, despite dressing for the weather, the sum total of disguise options Eriko has is a hat and sunglasses, and she had taken the sunglasses off.
"...You seem awfully well informed, Mr...?"
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
Poached. "Ooh, I do like them poached," Hana says to Eriko. She is fine with it being mostly a fictional matter. Super fine.
It is cinematic, though--what happens next...
Stay where they are. Hana pauses in place. She looks a little delicate for a cloak-and-dagger moment like this.
"..." Aware. Yes, that's true. But Hana knows this; she also knows that this is a question for Katsuya. For her part?
...Well. She wants to know, too. So she stays quiet for now, not drawing attention to herself.
Maybe, if he's not watching her, she can pick up something the others don't.
<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.
In the end, they're all here, and that's the thing that matters. Even if their informant doesn't show, even if this is a trap... they're here together. And even either situation wouldn't be a complete loss, Katsuya supposes. It would tell them for certain that they're managing to ruffle some feathers. Even a 'no-show' would mean they're getting somewhere. ...Is this what it means to 'think positive', even with a bad outcome?
"I suppose," Katsuya allows with a sigh that suggests that this treads close to professional annoyance at this point. "I still find it hard to believe that even overseas, anyone actually acted that way..."
But it isn't long before, quite suddenly, they're not just waiting anymore.
Despite his earlier complaint, this really is like something out of a movie right now. Even Katsuya couldn't deny it, if put to the question. It's surreal. He, too, glances at the others, looking at them as if to take their own questions, silent or not, as well as...
"..." Katsuya exhales, turning his attention back on their informant, who answers then his question thus:
Sneak sighs. "That's all I know... I know that you're skeptical, but--"
Katsuya's own response is immediate, clipping off the words from the mystery informant. "So you don't know anything more. Then we'll hand this over to the SIU. They'll be able to take it from here," he says, clipped. After all, he knows that if he does that, he's effectively cutting off his chances to--
"No!" exclaims their informant, raising his voice for the first time. "Listen to me-- you don't have enough evidence yet! Even the SIU doesn't stand a chance without it! And think about what happened to your father..." he finishes, and if he had turned around then and shot at Katsuya, he could not have stunned him so effectively.
"My... my father? How do you know about--?" he manages.
The informant doesn't answer.
"They think that you're a solved problem, Suou. Even the rest of you... they don't think that you're a threat to them now, or they would have acted already. There isn't much time. You need to act swiftly... but you're not alone."
Indeed, Eriko's at a bad angle to get much more information about the man. He's older and physically larger than any of them, but not so large as to be unique. Even what she can see of what he's wearing is hardly distinctive. He chose this location and his own position well...
Eriko hunts for a name, instead.
"Call me... 'Sneak'," the man on the bench says, after a mere moment's consideration. There's a pregnant pause, as if he's deliberating whether he should say something more to her.
"There other people investigating the conspiracy, of course," he says, finally. "There are two people in particular who might have gotten close to something that the conspiracy is trying to hide. You might... already know of these people," he says at last, with care.
"I'm leaving their photographs here. It's up to you to talk to them and find out what they know... and the places and people they've been investigating."
With that, the mystery man stands.
"Wait," says Katsuya, "I still need to ask you--"
But the man doesn't listen. He walks away from the group with his back to them to vanish into the park proper.
Indeed, they should know both of the people in these pictures, though one is perhaps less-well-known to most of them than the other.
After all one is the heir to the Nanjo corporation, Kei Nanjo.
The other is none other than Eriko Kirishima herself.
<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.
Katsuya's father?!
They barely have time to even process what "Sneak" has said -- let alone ask them any questions of their own -- before he departs.
Maya looks the others over, trying to judge their own reactions to "Sneak" and his sudden departure. They probably all have their own thoughts -- and they'll probably voice it soon enough -- but Maya wants to get a sense of where everyone stands before that happens.
"Let's see what he left behind," she says, giving Katsuya a friendly pat on the back as she passes. She's talking to everyone when she says it, but she wants to make sure he knows she's here for him without actually saying it aloud.
There's two pictures on the bench that he's left for them -- and one of them, they'll all recognize. Maya's mouth forms an 'O' of surprise at the candid shot.
"Elly-chan... it's you!"
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
The hard-boiled detective archetype... Shinobu considers Eriko's hypothetical.
"Wouldn't that be something? Wonder what that'd be like." Shinobu comments. As for whether or not anyone acted this way... "Guess it's all just how people wish they could act."
Right now, though, they have their informant to consider. Shinobu watches the back of his head carefully. As for the others, it seems they're in about the same position she is...
It seems the informant doesn't know anything more - but when Katsuya suggests bringing it to the SIU, he actually raises his voice. Shinobu raises an eyebrow, at that.
He feels strongly about that - and he's convinced the SIU wouldn't be able to do anything. But she mentions his father, and Shinobu looks toward Katsuya. She sees the stunned look on his face.
...Now might not be the time to ask. But that sounds important.
A solved problem, though... A frown crosses Shinobu's face.
"That's what they think, huh...?" She considers. She rolls her neck with a hint of frustration. "...Not that I want them to jump me, but nothin' pisses me off more than someone thinking they've got me all figured out."
It sounds like they're short on time... but the man, calling himself 'Sneak', seems that he does have some leads they can follow.
He's gone before they can ask him more questions, but he does leave some photos behind. Shinobu appraches, taking a look over Maya's shoulder.
One of them is, indeed, a familiar face, as Maya points out.
"...Sure enough." Shinobu says, looking over to Eriko. "So, you've been looking into things too?"
She looks, then, to the other picture. She frowns thoughtfully.
"...But who's this other guy?" She asks.
<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.
"Wouldn't it be nice to find out?" Eriko says, a little too chipper towards the concept. "The collective ideal of a hardboiled detective..."
Still, their contact arrives and Eriko takes on a serious expression- if Katsuya's intent on going to the SIU causes her to raise her eyebrow.
A few other things happen in quick sequence- The man, 'Sneak' invokes Katsuya's father- with a significant amount of distress. If Sneak is so convinced to stop Katsuya acting recklessly... That's information Eriko files away for later. The rest- that he consider's Katsuya's group a solved problem, not a threat.
Or, perhaps, most of Katsuya's group.
What's most impressive, however, is the way she manages to lose Sneak despite keeping her eyes on where he's trying to disappear to. With, as far as Eriko can tell, no supernatural aid. Is he that good?
It's Maya who draws Eriko's attention to the photos- and their subjects. "What?"
She steps closer to see them- pictures of her and Kei. Not professional shots, obviously. No, it's shots from them about town. "...Where were these taken, and when?"
Eriko frowns- but Shinobu suddenly has questions, and she's sure Katsuya, Maya and Hana will too. Great.
She seems to take a few seconds to consider the information and the photos.
"Well. That is interesting information."
She does not sound excited.
"I have a question for you," she says, but it's directed to the group as a whole instead of just Shinobu. "You've just had this information handed to you. You know one of the people in the photos- and I believe Mr Katsuya is aware of the other one as well, if only vaguely." Eriko's body is tensing, and the sports bag that carries her weapons is sitting on the ground at her feet. She doesn't think there are enemies among this group. But...
*Someone* has been following her. Again.
"Let's suppose, for a second, that I don't know this man. Or, for that matter, you didn't know me?" She remains focused on the photos of her and Kei. "Now you have been given leads to the case, how would you follow them, here, in Sumaru City? Knowing what you know about it- who you know."
...Perhaps she's leading a little strongly toward an answer, but she has her suspicions on how this would unfold from here. She just needs to confirm them.
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
"It would be fun," Hana reflects to Eriko. Meeting the ideal hardboiled detective..!
But: SIU. Katsuya's a shrewed negotiator, to Hana's ear--he quickly handles the matter with what is probably a bluff, but succeeds nevertheless. Not enough evidence...
"His father?" Hana wonders, and then--a solved problem. Of course, Hana isn't surprsied they wouldn't register her as a threat--indeed, she's relieved. But...
'Sneak', he calls himself. "...Thank you," Hana says as Sneak moves to leave.
Hana walks up to Shinobu when she comments, and gives her a small smile. "This just means you can hit them all the harder when it's time, right? ...Since they won't see it coming."
Maya points it out: Elly-chan. Hana blinks in surprise once more. She looks to Eriko, who suddenly sounds... less excited. Much less.
Hana can read Eriko'sbody language quite easily; she's alarmed. She's disturbed. And there...
Hm.
"With just a photograph, it's difficult," Hana admits, turning properly towards Eriko. "I wouldn't want to reveal taht I was looking for you, so I couldn't just put your photograph out there. That might reveal you, too, after all--as well as me."
"So..." She considers, and looks to the others. "You know Sumaru better than I do," she says. "What would you do? I have some contacts here, but..."
<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.
"It's the same thing in crime dramas and procedurals," Katsuya sighs. "For one thing, the pacing is entirely off. For another, if anyone had that many murder cases appear in their city...!" he can't help but exclaim in that moment before their professed informant presents himself. "...Though, that would be more true without supernatural involvement," he admits, shoulders sagging. "With everything that's going on, it's not a surprise that our case load has been... unusual, over the last twelve months..."
It's not his fault that the world turned out to be less realistic than it used to be. But it is something he has to deal with, regardless.
What would the collective ideal of the hardboiled detective be? Is that a concept that someone could awaken to just yet?
"Yes," Sneak remarks to Shinobu. "For better or worse, your involvement is none of their concern. At present, everything is unfolding as they planned."
Which is perhaps where he intends to jam a stick into the spokes of the NWO's unhindered advancement, in the hopes that something might be set askew.
His father. On his own, Katsuya doesn't offer any further context. He instead remains still, staring in the direction into which Sneak had vanished, as if his mind were a million miles away.
Maya as she passes pats him on the shoulder, and that alone is sufficient to jolt him from his reverie. It still takes him a fraction of a second longer to regain his composure, his gaze fixed on her for a fraction longer than it might have normally lingered, and follow her to see which photos 'Sneak' has left behind.
The identity of one of them is immediately obvious. The other--
"Isn't that...?" he hazards, staring at the face in the photograph. Perhaps if they hadn't had an encounter with him about a month or so ago he would have been left wondering why the young man in the photograph seemed familiar, but now he knows where he saw him the last time.
"Isn't that the young man who...?"
The one where he'd been thinking for a fraction of a moment that it might have been his brother, back when they were facing that man, 'Shinjo', whose power far outstripped any one of them.
"Kirishima-san..." he remarks, noting perhaps that lack of delight in her reaction to this turn of events. Any attempt to check to see if all is well, though, may as well go out the window when she instead poses to them a question of how they would go about identifying the people in those photos without any evidence otherwise. If he were still an active officer, the answer would be simple. Without such a thing to fall back on, though, he glances at Maya and Shinobu, then over at Hana as she muses over the particulars of that problem.
"Fukami-san is correct. We would want to be discreet with any investigation. There are a number of ways to match a photo to a name, but many of these would expose that we were looking for these people, or that they're people of interest." If he had to make a decision...
"...I would go to the Kuzunoha Detective Agency. Todoroki-san might be able to help us. And Uchida-kun works there besides," he answers.
Speaking of detectives and the 'hardboiled' archetype. Though... Todoroki doesn't particularly match that concept either, does he?
<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.
Maya thinks about Hana's question; she thinks she has an answer, but she's just as curious to know everyone else's. She's sure everyone will have their own tactics unique to them and their position in society.
Sure enough, Katsuya takes the Detective Agency route.
"I'm pretty sure I recognize this area," Maya says, tapping her finger against the background of Eriko's photo. "It's Aoba Way, right? I'd probably go there and look around for a few days while I did interviews. It helps that I'm there often enough for work." Sure enough, Maya's probably a familiar sight in the area at this point.
"If I got _really_ desperate, I'd show the photo around and tell them I'm with Coolest and was missing a name for a photo we were publishing in our next issue." That way, she could at least search for someone without being suspicious about it. Being a reporter had its perks!
"What about you, Shinobu-san?" Maya looks over at her with a smile. What tack would she take?
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Everything is unfolding as they planned, huh... Shinobu frowns.
"Well... we'll see about that." She says. Hana approaches Shinobu, and she offers her a smile and a small laugh in turn.
"Heh. Good point. I'm not above sucker-punching someone who deserves it - and they've sure as hell earned it." She agrees.
Eriko looks at the picture... and she's understandably unsettled. Anyone would be if someone you didn't know knew that much about what you were doing, and had a picture of you on hand. She massages the back of her neck awkwardly. Yeah - she should've thought about how she would feel about it first...
"...Sorry. This probably doesn't feel great." She apologises. Eriko poses a question. If they didn't know her, what would they have done? A thoughtful frown crosses Shinobu's face, and she folds her arms in front of her as she considers her answer. Katsuya and Maya explain how they'd go about it - and Maya asks her.
She nods to Hana, and then to Katsuya in turn.
"Yeah. I wouldn't wanna blab to just anyone that I was looking for you, because that could put both of us in danger. But I know some people who are good at keepin' on top of things, so I'd see if they knew anything." Shinobu reasons. "You meet a lotta different people when you work like I do, and you find pretty quick that it pays to keep in touch even after the job's done."
<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.
Sneak's comment that everything is unfolded as planned causes Eriko to frown, but she doesn't say more. Sneak's presence at all is, in fact, new information. New information that might be of use, frankly. Katsuya asks about the other photo and Eriko nods. "Yes. The very same."
The fun part of the conversation about poached detectives has to be abandoned with the seriousness of the subject in front of them. "A cautious approach," Eriko says, of Hana's method. "Sensible- you're a relatively new piece on the board, Ms Fukami. But you're right, it's not the... Sumaru response, let's say."
Eriko nods quietly as Katsuya mentions the Kuzunoha detective agency. "...and even with Tamaki working there, if we hadn't seen each other in a few years, she might not recognize either of us."
It's not hard to tell that all is not well with Eriko- she's holding her right hand in front of her face, just shy of biting her thumbnail. Shinobu catches that it mustn't feel great, and Eriko frowns. "It's not the first time," she says with a shudder- but that's all she says for now. Maya recognizes where and Eriko's frown deepens. "...Close to work, then." That does not make things better- but Kei is never around Aoba. They have separate investigation zones...
"Hmm. That would probably work, Ms Maya. It would get you results quite quickly, too. Neither of us are exactlty low profile people. He's more careful than I am, admittedly."
Shinobu's approach is more in line with Hana's, and Eriko nods. "The thing about rumormongers and the like is that, well, that information would be advantageous to them too."
Eriko sighs. "...but it feels like in just about any outcome, this would lead to a rumour. Mr Katsuya's method would be most direct- spread a rumour about one of us, and set yourself up to meet us. But for a rumour to work, it has to have people's attention. Which means lots of people would know."
Eriko takes a long, deep sigh. "Mr Sneak seemed earnest, but something's not adding up here. If the NWO wanted confirmation we were involved, they've had that since Mt Katatsumuri. Kandori and Chizuru would be able to confirm it themselves."
Eventually, though, she shakes herself out of her funk. "Anyway, now we know what would have been the outcome, we can react appropriately. I can arrange a meeting for you- it will take about a week, I think. It should be enlightening for all of you." She gives a smile, but it's a weak, plastic thing. "I'm sorry I can't say more, but... there are precautions that need to be taken first."
<Pose Tracker> Hana Fukami has posed.
Pacing... "It's true. Real life rarely offers us the same excitement a story can; the long, boring parts aren't something we can skip through." ...But there are a lot of murders, and Hana makes a grimacing face at that. It's not so much fun, that way.
Still....
Asking around, using connections... and funadmentally, using rumors.
"I'm sorry, too," Hana says with Shinobu. "It must be... frightening, even. To know your work is followed..."
She considers.
"A rumor, then..."
"Well, a meeting is acceptable to me, certainly. I don't mind if you have to take your time."
"The only way to see what adds up is to write it down, right? Do the math ourselves."
"...So let's do it."
<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.
"I see..." he says. He'd seen him before, in the news, but if it hadn't been for that chance meeting, he might not have been able to put the name to that face.
He suggests the detective agency, as known allies who would be able to be discreet about locating unknown persons. It's only natural, perhaps, given his background.
Maya, meanwhile, states that she knows where the shot was taken, which means that it's likely that the people in the shot would return there. And if all else fails, she is in media.
"Returning to the location the photo was taken... that's not a bad idea," he remarks.
Shinobu, meanwhile, knows people who know people. A few strings pulled, and she could get some no-questions-asked answers, possibly. "Hmm... if they could be quiet, it's possible," he remarks, though not without a (faint) frown. He has the idea of the sort of people she might mean, and even now, he can't quite say that he's completely fine with that. Still, it's an option, and probably a less awkward one than turning to their information-broker hacker ally, Baofu. Katsuya, after all, has a good idea of how he would go about getting answers.
"That is true. There's no guaranteeing that she would recognize either of you, in another situation," he agrees. "Still, they would have the means to begin a search." There's another thing more that could be done through Kuzunoha, but it's something of the likes that Katsuya on his own would never guess. Someone with a more unorthodox approach, though, such as Miss Serizawa, though...?
He notes a second time that Eriko seems discomfited. "Is everything alright, Kirishima-kun?" he asks, concern on his face.
Whatever it is, it might not be something that she wants to speak about here and now.
Perhaps it's not a matter of an 'unorthodox' approach. Maybe it's more being able to consider all the tools. Between the location, the detective agency's other abilities, and others who are able to spread rumors, perhaps if they combine all the steps...
"You are... suggesting a rumor?" Katsuya asks, just now putting together the solution. This, of course, might be what the NWO wants: confirmation.
Except, don't they know that already? After Katatsumuri and the business with the Heirophant giant Shadow...
"Perhaps, they think it's irrelevant at this point? If what Sneak said was correct, we're being discounted. But based on what he's said, it sounds as if there is something you and he have found that is actually important. I suppose the question is, what are they hiding that they think we can't find in time? And, for that matter..."
He trails off, glancing in the direction again in which Sneak had gone.
"...Precisely how much time do we have, if it's all going to their plan?"
He shakes his head. "There's something we're missing here. I suppose, we'll have to see what we can find out." He nods, as Eriko says it will take a little time. "Please, even if we're on limited time, rushing around will get us nowhere. I agree with Fukami-san. I'll see what I can learn in the meantime."
There's someone he should try to talk to, if he has the time.
<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.
Everyone has really great ideas for how to tackle this -- that's definitely one of Team Whoop-Ass's strengths! Maya feels a warm bubble of pride forming underneath the bruise on her chest.
"So does anyone have any ideas for the rumor?" Maya asks, looking around at the others. She's already rubbing the end of her ear, thinking. "Maybe about the person who took the photos?"
Katsuya's already thinking beyond just the rumor itself -- so Maya should, too.
"I'm not sure what I can do right now to help --" Rumors do take time, as Elly pointed out. "-- but if there's anything I can do while we wait, please let me know."
She says this to everyone in the group, turning to look at each of them to make sure they know the offer's extended to all of them. "So let's do our best and think positive in the meantime!"
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
It's not the first time, Eriko says, and Shinobu winces.
"Shit. I'm sorry you went through that, Kirishima. Scary as hell..." She sympathises. She nods her agreement with Hana. It's a constant worry, so to have that fear be proven true... and then to have those fresh wounds reopened, must be terrifying.
She looks toward Katsuya as he considers her idea.
"The kind of people I know are good at keeping quiet, at least." She replies.
She listens as Eriko considers each of their approaches in turns, the advantages and disadvantages of each... and then reaches the likely conclusion.
In the end, it would've lead to a rumor.
"...Yeah, makes sense. When all your leads run dry, sometimes you gotta go with something a little out there..." She comments. She makes a good point about Sneak, too... and so does Katsuya. They found something that's actually important. That makes sense... and gives them all the more reason to try and figure that out. Eriko offers to arrange a meeting. Enlightening, huh...
"...Yeah, that sounds good. And thanks." Shinobu replies with a nod. Hana comments on math, and Shinobu smirks. It's acceptable to her, too. "Math was never my best subject... but yeah. Let's math the hell out of it."
When Eriko apologises, though, Shinobu shakes her head.
"...Nah, I get it. We gotta tread carefully here. You do what you gotta do." She assures, then looks toward Maya.
"I think she's got things covered from here." She says, nodding to Eriko. "So until then... keep keepin' an ear out, I guess."
She smiles.
"...And keepin' spirits up. That's important, too."
<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.
"It's fine. The issue's been... resolved. I don't have to worry about it now," Eriko lies all too easily, despite the group's concern. "We should focus on the present issue for now."
Eriko nods to Katsuya. "To be blunt, I can see why they would discount you- in their mind, you're just four people investigating on your own. A journalist, a detective, a wire tapper and saleswoman. You aren't exactly a conspiracy's biggest threat." Her eyes linger on Maya, however. "More fool them," Eriko says quietly, as she looks at her. "After all, seeing what I have now... People with Ms Maya's power tend to be capable of disrupting the game."
Wild cards indeed.
"Hmm. I would consult with Tamaki there- I don't know spreading a rumour is to our benefit, unless we want to make them think we're still playing into their hands. Whoever took that photo... they're not going to be able to give us more information- or they're photos Mr Sneak himself took." She lets out an exhausted sigh. "I'm not exactly eager on having a rumour spread about myself, I get enough mundane ones. For now, keep going as you have been?"
Shinobu is able to understand her conclusion- and the recommend next course. "Exactly, Ms Shimizu. It won't take too long, I hope, but... well. We have to consider how to play our cards- and we have two new interesting ones, I think. After all- now we know our enemy's united front has some weak points." She smiles a lot more eagerly now- a weakness to exploit. A chance. "Mr Katsuya, could I take the photos with me? I think they'll be useful for my own purposes. Unless you have reason to keep them?"
Once the matter of the photographs is resolved. "I'll be in touch as soon as I have anything, for now... I think I should make my own way back. Of course... if someone wanted to follow at a distance and see what happens when I leave, well..."
She smirks, a little... flirtily? Flirtily is probably the closest words. "A model is used to people staring at her from behind."
...Yeah no, it didn't feel great to her either.
"Now, do take care, all of you. Let's see how we can take advantage of their blind spots."
With that, Eriko does start to walk away, pulling out her cell phone and flipping it open, quickly dialing a number.
"Mr Matsuoka?" She says, switching to speaking in English. "There's been a development. Yes. Back to HQ. Could you send Mr Mishima to pick me up? There's a chance I might need to lose someone." She pauses for a few moments, considering. "No. Not Aoba Way. It's not far to the TV station, I can say I was dropping in on Brown after work. Yes. Thank you. See you soon."
Eriko snaps her phone shut, and continues on her path. She knows Aoba pretty well now, enough to know the safest route to the station. It won't be too hard to follow her, but she knows that.
Indeed, right now, she's counting on it.