Sputtering a litany of curses, Niko Segawa is running through the downpour that has caught Mitakihara by surprise, holding her handbag up high to cover her head as she turns the corner.

Niko: (muttering to herself) Ugh, why do I gotta do this… Being dead’s never stopped them before, has it?

As the rain intensifies to nearly unprecedented levels, she finally reaches her destination, opening the front door and slipping into a gym she once briefly called home like her life depends on it.

Niko: Pah! Rrh… (she brushes her soaking wet hair out of her face, proceeding to wring it out like a cleaning rag) D’you have any idea how long it’s gonna take me to look presentable again? (she turns towards the front desk) Hey, mind tossing me a towel? If you dare make fun of me, I’ll— Huh?

There is no one behind the front desk. In fact, there doesn’t seem to be anyone at all. Yet the lights are on, and the sound of weird, energetic rock music playing over the speakers, drowned out by the humming of the treadmills and the air conditioning, is as familiar as usual. As Niko peeks her head around the corner, the large boxing ring at the centre of the gym area — the usual haunt from upon which Arashi usually watches her disciples like an assistant manager hoping to get a bonus out of catching a part-timer slacking off  — is empty, and none of many torture devices the place has amassed throughout its short existence are being used. Heck, the place even smells as if no one’s been there for the past few hours. She almost starts to miss the stench of sweat.

Niko: Business doesn’t seem to be booming, huh? (she raises her voice) Um, hello? Hello-o? Anyone home?

Doesn’t look like it. She tries to operate some of the machines in the hope the noise will attract some attention, opens any door that isn’t locked and even takes a peek into the men’s locker room, but doesn’t find a soul. Even that weird girl Arashi’s got living in her basement isn’t anywhere to be found. Much to Niko’s dismay, she quickly realizes that whoever’s here must be in the office. She doesn’t want to go into the office. A girl barely a few years older than her shouldn’t have an office.

Niko: (she knocks on the door to Yui’s office) Uhm, hello? I don’t wanna bother you but the front door is open and the lights are on so I assume I could just come in here and, eh— 

No reply.

Niko: Well, I tried. Guess Mei-Mei’s gonna have to ask her when she runs into— (she turns away from the door, heading back towards the gym’s entrance, before being startled by a flash of lightning and the sound of a loud thunderclap) Okay, all right! Fine! You know what, I bet the door’s locked anywa—(she heads back to the office door, turns the handle, and to her surprise, finds it unlocked) Oh for the love of— (she takes a deep breath, before opening the door) P-Pardon the intrusion…

No dice. When Niko pokes her head into Arashi’s office — Seriously? An office? — she halfway expects the city’s head honcho to be sitting in her swivel chair, facing the wall while a cat lies purring in her lap, but no, the office space, too, is empty. Well, empty of people, that is. Of papers, folders and binders, there are plenty, not to mention empty cups of — presumably — coffee and the wrappers of — presumably — protein bars. There is an oversized stuffed rabbit sitting in a worn-down chair in the corner. There is an enormous map of the city hanging from the wall across the desk, with lots of pins, but sadly, no polaroids or red string. There’s a TV that looks as if it would explode if used to watch anything made after the Showa era. There are way too many bookcases and bookshelves and books for what is supposed to be the office of a gym. And from one of these shelves, a lantern hangs from a chain. A lantern that would be inconspicuous if it weren’t for the fact that it’s a friggin’ lantern. Why couldn’t magical stuff ever look cute or fashionable or at least anything but incredibly embarrassing?

Niko: (she clears her throat) Um… So, in case you’ve got, like, hidden cameras or microphones here or anything, I’m just gonna borrow this thing for a bit, right? I’ll give it back, but I do need it, like, stat. It’s for the Dreamscape. D-Don’t worry I’m not gonna bring anyone back to life with it or anything, so— (as she approaches the Lantern and reaches out to take it, she suddenly stops to reconsider) M-Maybe I should leave a note… Or… well…

???: What are you doing?

The voice is all too familiar. That deep, resonant voice and its cutting edge. The voice of one scrutinizing every action that led Niko to this point. But not the one Niko would expect. Standing in the doorway of the office, a familiar blue robe, hood down, eye closed as Cecilia leans against the frame. 

Niko: (she jumps) W-What? I-I’m just waiting for Arashi to show up!

Cecilia: She’s not here tonight. I’m holding down the fort, so to speak, since business is slow. (Her eye remains closed) …So what brings you here, Niko?

Niko: You know… stuff. You do know you left the door unlocked and stuff, right? And you didn’t exactly react when I let you know I was here.

Cecilia: Like I said, I’m holding down the fort. And you woke me up. …And you’re holding the Virtuoso’s Lantern.

Niko: (she flushes) O-Oh, is that what this is? …Why’d you just leave it lying around like that?

Cecilia: Lying around… in Yui’s office? It’s not like the general public typically comes in and out of here, you know.

Niko: Well, I’m not the general public! Besides, you left the door unlocked and went to sleep! (she mumbles) Did you do that too when you were living at my place? (she shudders)

Cecilia: No, Ms. Gentile got mad at me the one time I did… In any case, what are your intentions with the Lantern?

Niko: I-I’m just checking it out! Can’t a girl have a look at a pretty lantern anymore?

Cecilia: It’s a Conductors Artifact. …So if you have business with the Lantern, it’s your right, as a Conductor. I just want to know what that business is.

Niko: Nosey, much? Your sister’s mom is giving me a hard time about souls running amok in the Dreamscape, so we decided to try stabilizing them with this thing, which can do that, apparently. Wait, wouldn’t that make her your mom, too?

Cecilia: Yuma Amaya? Good god no, we are not related. …I think I agree, however. The Lantern might help you corral those wayward, fragmented souls. But, Niko, before I let you leave with it, I would ask something in return.

Niko: I… I don’t have any money.

Cecilia: No, nothing like that. (She sighs, her voice softening) I ask that when you are finished guiding those wayward souls… instead of bringing the Lantern back here, please return it to its rightful owner, the Virtuoso.

Niko: The Virtuoso— (she frowns) Wait… No, that would actually be stealing! I-I mean, I need to give it back to Arashi, or else—

Cecilia: Were she here, Yui would ask the same of you, I’m certain of it. I have no idea why she has not done it herself yet, though…

Niko: So… You’re sure he won’t use it for any shady biz? I mean, that old fogey seems like a chill dude and all, but he did hang with a pretty bad bunch… At least, that’s what we’ve come to agree on, right? The old Conductors were, like, bad, right?

Cecilia: He was the most reasonable of the old group, Nebbia included. He has not asked for it, mind, but I think it’s for the best, since René is the least likely to use it, and thus, misuse it. …You know what might happen if it remains here, even if Yui is in a better place, mentally.

Niko: … You sure this is what Arashi wants? I don’t wanna get on her bad side. Badder side.

Cecilia: You have my support, and this is a Conductors matter. Besides, Yui has other things to worry about at present, and arguably, you are doing her a favor by using the Lantern in this way.

Niko: … It’s— I don’t wanna screw this up. These people… deserve peace. It’s the least we can give them… I mean, everything that’s been happening to this city is kind of our fault.

Cecilia: (She can’t help but give a little smile) And this is why I trust you with something so important, Niko. I cannot see the future anymore to say how this will turn out. But I trust you. Do your best, Diva.

Niko: I… I can certainly try…