On a nearby rooftop, a figure in a red jacket is casting her gaze over the city, meticulously taking in the view like a hawk, occasionally looking down onto a tablet computer, as if comparing what is on the screen with what is in front of her. As the scarlet garment flutters in the wind, another figure leans onto the railing surrounding the rooftop, as if reclining into a chair, exhaling loudly.

Shiori: Y’know what? Next time we’re going on a lil’ teambuilding trip like this, I’m nabbing us some Minami dickweed’s Lambo or some shit. We can call it the Balancemobile, get the incel to drive it, vroom fucking vroom. I didn’t sign up for this supervillain shit to have to walk to where I need to be.

Punisher: (she doesn’t reply, continuing to flicker through the pictures on her tablet and cross-referencing them with the sights of the streets below)

Shiori: Man, you are missing out, what with the whole “not speaking Japanese” thing. Hey, furball! Care to translate so Chun-Li here actually gets my gist?

Kyubey: (it hops onto Shiori’s shoulder, wagging its tail) Why would you need my help when you can do anything you want, Firestarter?

Shiori: Yeah sure, lemme just learn fucking Mandarin in like five secon—Wait. Are you… (she turns her head to look into Kyubey’s eyes, which it reciprocates with its signature dead-eyed stare) <Motherfucker! This gig ain’t half bad, huh?> (the words come out in fluent Mandarin, momentarily causing Punisher to look up from her tablet)

Kyubey: Your possibilities as a Puella Magi are truly endless, Firestarter. The sky’s the limit!

Punisher: (she looks up) <This building the boy sent you does not exist. He is imagining things.>

Shiori: <What?> (she brushes up against Punisher, trying to take the tablet for herself) <I fucking checked it myself, man. He pilfered that pic straight from their memories. They meet up at some fucking, like, gym or whatever. Hey did you know “gym” comes from the Greek word for naked? ‘Cause back then, all the bros wrestled each other with their dicks out. We should bring that b—>

Punisher: (still visibly annoyed at Shiori’s newfound ability to speak Mandarin, she moves the tablet out of Firestarter’s reach) <Spare me. That gym does not exist. Look.>

Kyubey: (it hops down from Shiori’s shoulder, looking out towards the city through the fence) <Are you certain about that, Punisher? Moonlover was able to find the place before, wasn’t she?>

Punisher: <Except it’s a ruin now.> (she holds up her tablet, showing a picture of a gym, right next to a distinctive vending machine and a wall riddled with advertising posters, then points to where she has spotted those same landmarks, with the gym indeed having been replaced by a pile of rubble)

Kyubey: Hm. Does that mean—

Punisher: <Destroyed their own base and moved elsewhere. Boy’s wasting our time.>

Shiori: <That’s—> (she gazes at the ruin where the gym was supposed to be, frowning) <No, there’s something there. I can fucking feel it. They’re fucking with us.> (she tries to snatch the tablet from Punisher again) <Gimme that!>

Punisher: (she immediately shoots Shiori a vicious glare, the rest of her face emotionless as ever) Do not touch me, biǎo​zi.

Kyubey: <Stand down, Punisher.>

Punisher: (she complies, regaining her composure) <This is not the place. The boy is a liability.>

Shiori: <I can fucking guarantee there’s something there, man. Don’t you feel it?>

Punisher: <Feel what?>

Shiori: <Like… I dunno? Magic… vibes? Spirit energy? That kinda shit?>

Punisher: <No such thing.>

Kyubey: <I’m afraid she is correct, Firestarter. Puellae Magi cannot perceive each other’s magic in such a way.>

Shiori: (she holds out a hand) <Just lemme have another look at the pics, man.>

Punisher: <You are chasing a phantom.> (without another word, she flicks her free wrist, summoning a bright light that slowly forms and outline, before eventually manifesting into an exact replica of the tablet she’s holding in her other hand) <Suit yourself.> (standoffish, she hands her colleague the replica tablet before wandering off)

Shiori: (she glares at Punisher as she vaults over the railing, disappearing over the edge) So, who the fuck put her in charge?

Kyubey: You’d be wise to follow her lead, Firestarter. She has more experience in this line of work than the rest of you combined.

Shiori: What line of work? Patronizing?

Kyubey: Then again, I can’t disincentivize you from following your instincts. If you believe there is something there, then there might be!

Shiori: (she mutters) Guess you’re not the one to complain to about being patronized… (she continues to look down at the rubble below as Kyubey takes its leave)