Yuna: Well, I’m glad that you get to be in the same class as Sasaki and Hayama again. Stability is important, especially with all that happened last year.

Yuna Sakurauchi folds her hands, sitting at her desk in her counselor’s office, across from a girl picking at her fingers, her unkempt curly hair covering her eyes.

Koharu: … Yeah.

Yuna: Anything else you want to talk about? I see it’s about time for you to head back to class, so—Oh, how’s preparations for the club fair coming along? I know I sprung that on you a bit sudden, but we really do want the freshmen to be able to join a club as quickly as possible.

Koharu: … (she glares at Yuna) You know not just anyone can join the Newspaper Club. We discuss things there that ordinary people can’t know about. Isn’t it your job to cover up the truth about magic?

Yuna: Used to be, yes. But even then, I didn’t stop Nishioka from joining. I couldn’t. I mean, if you were in my position, how would you explain to the headmaster and the school board that there is this one club at school that’s unlike all the others, hmm? 

Koharu: I’m unlike all the others. I can’t function with strangers around.

Yuna: And that gives you the right to declare your club the club that only certain special people are allowed to join?

Koharu: (she scoffs) So you could enforce a curfew on an entire city but you can’t convince some nosey first-years that our club isn’t accepting any new members?

Yuna: Don’t compare apples and oranges, Shirahara. The Bureau doesn’t exist anymore. I’m a faculty member at this school, so I do what all faculty members at this school do.

Koharu: If the Bureau doesn’t—What even is the point? Why are you even here? You’re not even a real guidance counselor, nor is your boss a real teacher!

Yuna: Is that so? I can give you evidence to the contrary, if that’s what you want. What do you want me to show you? My master’s degree in psychology? The employment contract I signed at this school? Should I call the city’s social services to confirm my credentials for you?

Koharu: You… work for social services?

Yuna: What do you think I do here, Shirahara?

Koharu: … Do you know people who work with the homeless, by any chance?

Yuna: (she frowns) I don’t see how that is in any way relevant.

Koharu: I need you to track someone down for me. A homeless woman. This is important.

Yuna: (she shakes her head) You know that is not happening, Shirahara. Homeless people have a right to privacy as well, and besides, I’m going to make a well educated guess and assume that this is for some “case” you’re working on that is way above your paygrade.

Koharu: Listen to me, damnit! You know the truth. You know what we’re doing to help people. To save people. You know we can only do it because we know the truth and others don’t. Others can’t. Isn’t that what you keep saying, that people can’t know the truth, for their own sake? Well, if that’s the case, this city needs the Newspaper Club!

Yuna: And you’re sure you want that responsibility, Shirahara? You’re just a kid.

Koharu: We’ll handle it better than you adults did, I can tell you that.

Yuna: (she sighs)

Koharu: Be honest. Do you think the Bureau would have been able to track down this serial killer and take them in without collateral damage?

Yuna: … So that’s what this is about, huh?

Koharu doesn’t reply. She just keeps staring.

Yuna: Do you… honestly think you can crack a case that the police have been struggling with for months? If I do you this favour… Do you honestly think the good it will do will outweigh the blatant abuse of power you’re forcing me to commit?

Koharu: You forced me to trust you for months… Now it’s time for you to trust me.

Yuna: (she sighs) … On one condition, then.

Koharu: …

Yuna: You play by the rules. The Newspaper Club will recruit and allow new members, just like any other club, okay? Be a good senpai to your juniors, and heck, maybe making an actual school newspaper for once will help you to broaden your horizons a bit. Who knows?

Koharu: … Fine. You win.

Yuna: … Not a competition. Also, I’m literally giving you what you want, so—

Koharu: (she produces the clearest picture of the injured homeless woman Yosuke managed to develop and hands it over to her counselor) Need to know as much as I can about this woman. Frequented the empty lot behind the Berry Mart near Yashikata station.

Yuna: (she sighs, again) I’ll see what I can do… (she looks at the picture) … Ehm, Shirahara? This… This is just a blurry smear. What exactly am I supposed to do with this? You can barely even make out the shape of a human person on—Shirahara? (as she looks up, Koharu has already left her office) … Great. Just great.