Nothing could be more exhausting than dealing with prospective first-years, hearing their unending questions about Newspaper Club, fielding from unexpected sources, and keeping Koharu’s vision of trying to talk others out of joining without outright rejecting them. As they were finally free to leave school, the collective— minus Koharu— began walking home.

Hanako: Haah… I never want to do that again… 

Yosuke: (he walks up to Hanako and the others, holding his bike) Thanks for putting in the effort, though… on Koharu’s behalf, I mean. I can imagine you all would have liked to get some more new members…

Hanako: Well… I actually agree with Koharu. Not just because of our work, either. But I’m happy with our crew as it is. It’s… cozy. …And some first year might just run off with some of my plushies.

Yosuke: I see… It’s, eh, important to protect those, yeah. I dunno, it can’t hurt to make new friends, I guess. (he mounts his bike) Anyway, I should probably see if I can catch up with Koharu. See you tomorrow.

Seia: (Walking slightly behind, letting the other members guide her) Hmm? You’re taking off already too, Nishioka-san? 

Yosuke: I know Koharu. When she gets like this, she’s not leaving that clinic until the doctor has handed her his entire database of medical records.

Shinju: Uh, that’d be a huge privacy violation I think. No doctor’s gonna do that… 

Yosuke: Exactly. That’s why I’m going after her. Thanks again, though. (he rides off, trying to make some haste)

Hanako: Good luck, Yosuke! … (After he’s left, she sighs again) It’s not surprising to me how Koharu is reacting… her strong sense of justice compels her to act impulsively and rashly… but her heart is always in the right place.

Seia: … What does she plan on doing if she actually finds this killer? She isn’t a Puella, is she? 

Hanako: No, she isn’t… and I think I should follow her. But I need to keep up my training, as well… goodness, it’s like Tokyo all over again, ehe… 

Seia: Fight-o, Hanako-san.

Shinju: Yeah, we should start coming along with her on these investigations… it won’t be funny if she actually finds the killer. 

Hanako: I’ll do what I can. But while I’m under Yui’s Conductor training, I’m counting on you, when I can’t follow her, myself.

Shinju: Yep, I can keep an eye on her for a bit. Let’s hope she doesn’t try a citizen’s arrest on them first. … Wait, what kinda training? 

Hanako: I, um… I might have joined Yui’s group. The Conductors. I’m undertaking Yui’s personal training, more than just what she teaches wayward Puellae on Sundays.

Shinju: Uh, we’re talkin’ like, Yui’s new brand of knowing’ everything about everything, not like the creepy old men and that weird fop style Conductors, right? 

Hanako: … Give me a little credit, Shinju… after everything I’ve been through, do you think I would let myself repeat old habits so quickly? I-I mean, sure, I haven’t given reason to believe otherwise before, but… I would not have fought so hard for redemption just to stumble on my first step out, no?

Shinju: Huh? I didn’t mean it like that! I was assuming you meant something different than those old men. It’s just, I’ve only ever heard about the old guys from Niko and I don’t know what it means now. 

Hanako: S-Sorry. Right, but… well, you could ask Yui about it. …W-Wait, sorry! I, um… I assume you two are on speaking terms again? Mmh… I’m just making this all awkward, aren’t I?

Shinju: It’d be fine, I bet, but… are you saying you don’t know what it’s all about? 

Hanako: No, I… I would not have gotten involved if I did not know what it was all about beforehand.

Shinju: I mean, I’m curious where Yui would take it… it’d be nice to have omniscient scheming weirdos on our side instead of the enemy’s. 

Hanako: Yui isn’t… omniscient.

Seia: (She nods sagely) She only knows everything that happens here in Mitakihara. And some other places too. 

Hanako: I wouldn’t say everything exactly, but… well, I struggle to think of anyone more well versed in Puella affairs.

Shinju: Maybe that Oracle lady is the one who is omniscient… 

Hanako: Mm. That’s the impression I got. But they fought, right?

Seia: Yui told me that she is not omniscient anymore. I guess she couldn’t be, with how the whole Balancers thing went. 

Hanako: That’s right… Hey Shinju, you said you caught them fighting a couple months ago, right?

Shinju: Yeah. Luckily they stopped on their own before I had to jump in or anything.

Hanako: But Yui still seems quite on top of Puella affairs. So she wasn’t relying on the Oracle’s omniscience… at least, not completely.

Shinju: Well, if you’re working with her, I feel a bit better. Let us know if she has any crazy predictions for the future, yeah?

Hanako: I, um… I haven’t seen the Oracle around in quite a while. But if anything happens with Yui, I’ll keep you in the loop. Before it comes to a fight this time, hopefully.