The abandoned railway where Yosuke made his gambit to plot against the Balancers was a far cry from the comforts of his own home. The young man longed for his own bed, and while he wasn’t the closest with his parents, he mused that they would at least make better company than either the coming and going of his former associates, or the bitter sound of silence. Still, his efforts were not going to happen on their own. He continued his work, trying to ignore the approaching footsteps. This time, Yosuke’s efforts were unfortunately in vain…

Luca: (holding his mask in his left hand) Knock knock, Backspacer.

Yosuke: (he shudders) Wha… You’re still here?

Luca: What kind of young man would I be, if I did not know how to sneak in and out of places? I would never be able to keep a lover without such a skillset. …Jokes aside, I never left. Someone has to monitor your progress. And since I am currently awake, I cannot overpower Punisher or Firestarter. So alas, my company it is. …Now that I think about it, you should be thankful.

Yosuke: … Not this shit again. That… That intel is solid! You don’t have to indulge me, you can just trust me!

Luca: Oh? And I suppose you have some real estate to sell me, too? Perhaps a bridge in New York, or some prime swampland, or oh, I know! Perhaps a timeshare in Florida! Any other advice on taking others at their word on blind faith, Yosuke?

Yosuke: I dunno, man. Maybe you’re just more skeptical of me than you are of anyone else here, and I dunno what I did to deserve that?

Luca: Well, I’m not a betting man, but I would wager your scheming has earned that skepticism from me. (his stare is cold as ice)

Yosuke: Scheming? … S-Sure you’re not projecting? What do I have to gain from going against three people who can rip my head off by looking at it! You think I don’t know I’m just the errand boy?

Luca: The errand boy who does not know how to use a burner account, apparently. Tangentially related, did you know that LINE is a very easy program to hack?

Yosuke: What the hell are you talking about?

Luca: “I am not with them. I will do anything to prove it.”

Yosuke: … It’s called manipulation, man. I’ve got that girl wrapped around my finger.

Luca: I think it’s more akin to infatuation. Do you really think yourself clever enough to play double agent, Yosuke? …Perhaps I should ask Shiori to verify the messages I uncovered.

Yosuke: I-I don’t have to take that kinda shit from you! I’ve already proven the results of my approach, so… Be paranoid all you want, but by the time I’m done with these girls… you’ll be glad you recruited me.

Luca: Proven the results? My boy, while those girls draw breath, there are no results. Or do you forget where you are? As you said, you are surrounded by three people who can rip your head off by looking at it. Now then, if I recall, Shiori is still around, at that vending machine that’s been broken for decades… (he peers out the window) …Ah, of course her power is enough to make it function, why am I surprised? Anyway, I’ll just run down and grab her real quick, and—

Yosuke: … H-How many of our targets have you eliminated then? And finishing someone else’s job doesn’t count. (he takes a few steps back)

Luca: Does it not, now? Listen, boy, I know your grades were middling at best, but it’s called homework. Or were you tuning out Kyubey’s briefing on our targets? Cecilia Ambrosi was, in essence, resurrected using an artifact of the Conductors. Do you really think it impossible that Yui Arashi could not do the same for the others we eliminate out here, yet survive in my realm? When I destroyed the souls of Akari Fueki and Chiemi Takahata, I eliminated the possibility of their return to stand against us. I may be a janitor of a Balancer, but my work is just as important as the others. It is being thorough that wins us this war. Never forget that. Now again, what have you done to eliminate our enemies, Yosuke? Besides try and fail to flirt with one single bookworm of a girl?

Yosuke: You couldn’t have done any of that without that mask. The mask you’d never have gotten without me!

Luca: Oh? I acknowledge your usefulness, to be sure. But how far would you get without that camera of yours? Especially taking our pictures. How did those turn out, by the way, Yosuke?

Yosuke: I… I dunno what—You’re completely deluded, man! How about we all just go about our business and see where that takes us?

Luca: A good point! And at present, my business is wondering what Shiori did with that vending machine… 

Yosuke: (he inhales sharply through his nostrils, lowering his voice) … What do you have to gain from ratting me out, man? You can have your revenge. I’m not getting in your way.

Luca: I’ll make it simple. I would have you use your connections with that girl to lure her friends out of hiding. You are not the only one looking to gain standing among our ranks, boy.

Yosuke: Well, what makes you think Firestarter will take your word for it? How about I tell her you’ve been plotting behind her back… See how well your standing here will improve then.

Luca: (his eyes narrow) I have evidence, dumbass. (He holds up a folder, containing what appear to be copies of Yosuke’s photos, as well as documents clearly containing his message history) You cannot just do as you please here, Yosuke. Your plays are, I go to Firestarter with this evidence, or you play along as my lackey… and pray an opportunity arises to escape my clutches. And, please do, Yosuke, as the feeble attempts will at least amuse me, and at most, give me an outlet to relieve this stress I’ve had ever since the Forte kicked my ass again. Do you know what it feels like to literally get beaten to death, Yosuke?

Yosuke: What the—? H-H-How do you even have copies of pictures I took like half an hour ago? You freak! (he reaches out, trying to snatch the folder out of Luca’s hands)

Luca: (with a sinister grin, Luca ducks under Yosuke’s arm, pulling the sling bag off his shoulder in one fluid motion before hopping back towards the window) Ahahaha! My word, you really are a simpleton, Yosuke! 

Yosuke: Hey! (he tries to reclaim the bag, but fails) Give that back! Are you insane?

Luca: Obviously! Did you really think me the type to play fair, Yosuke? (He keeps the bag out of Yosuke’s reach) Now, you truly have no choice! If you want your camera back, you will have to play my game, no?

Yosuke: Not in a million years, man! I’d rather eat shit than become your flunky!

Luca: You know, Firestarter might make that bluff a literal reality, as she’s tearing you apart for double-crossing us. (slipping past Yosuke again, bag in tow, he reaches for the door) What should I have her conjure from that vending machine? It’s only fitting that even a pitiful boy like you chooses his last meal. Besides your own shit, I mean.

Yosuke: … (he swallows, contorting his face in a pained grimace as he realizes his defeat) … F-Fine… What do you want me to do…?

Luca: (Luca smiled another sinister smile, his eyes lowering as he tightened his grip on Yosuke’s bag)