Yosuke: So… I guess they’re basically balancing the Balancers now? Or at least top brass are sending in someone now to assert whether our Balancing followed all the proper rules and regulations. (he sighs, spinning around in his chair)

Early the next morning, Yosuke and Koharu are sitting in their usual spots by the window of the Newspaper Club room, relaying the events of their run-in with the latest Balancer sent to their city to Hanako, Seia and Shinju. They called for a quick meeting right after the school gates opened, to lower the risk of any of the Club’s newer, uninitiated members accidentally wandering in.

Koharu: Just shows how out of touch they are. Doesn’t matter if this Balancing didn’t follow the rules. Balancings are—

Yosuke: —inherently wrong, yes. I did tell her that, like, five times. She wouldn’t listen.

Shinju: Well, let’s not assume she’s actually even here to investigate. She could just as easily be sniffin’ out ways to beat us the next time. 

Hanako: It’s… definitely coming off as a cover to something more sinister. But if it were a proper Balancing, why not attack…? That’s the part I don’t understand.

Yosuke: Koharu and I are… technically not Balancing targets, I guess? Maybe this lady wants to do things more “efficiently.”

Seia: She said you might be targeted for quitting? Mm, like leaving the yakuza… should I walk home with you until this calms down? 

Yosuke: I-I think I’ll be fine!

Hanako: Besides, Yui wasn’t “targeted” in the same way. She came by to have words with Yui, but they did not fight.

Shinju: Yeah, seems like she’s just going around annoying everyone for info… weirdo. 

Yosuke: … I mean, isn’t that kinda what we also do?

Hanako: We’re not Balancers…

Koharu: Any case, better report this to the people at the gym. (she turns to Yosuke) And if she approaches you again, don’t tell her anything.

Yosuke: Wasn’t planning on!

Hanako: That’s what Yui said to us, too. To not tell her anything. Ah, I was going to suggest discussing this with Yui, in any case. It seems that this is a rare case where we are all on the same page from the start.

Seia: I can tell her what we talk about here. … (She turns slightly towards Hanako) If you don’t already.

Hanako: You spend more time with Yui than I do, Seia.

Koharu: Not just her. Everyone. This Balancer wants to interrogate us separately. Might try to play us against each other.

Hanako: Mm… but with everything we’ve been through, I don’t think anyone out there can turn us against one another anymore. (She gives Koharu a little smile)

Suddenly, a series of knocks echoes through the room, its rhythm mimicking that of a popular song, until the final beat, which is replaced by the sound of a sliding door slamming back into its frame, startling even the person who opened it in this way.

Sara: Hiya. I knocked to show that I respect your boundaries, then I realized I have the right to be here and entered regardless.

Hanako: No harm done, Sara-chan. (Her little smile lingers)

Sara: I have returned from the trenches with another masterpiece. I dub it… “The Future Shohei Ohtani Steps Up To The Plate: Mitakihara High’s Senior Slugger Suzuki-kun Tells Clubmates To Strike Now That The Iron’s Hot!” (she proudly holds out a sheet of paper, featuring said title, alongside a doodle of a cutesy character in baseball gear, which she points at) This is where your picture goes, of course, Nishioka-senpai.

Koharu: (she crosses her arms, leaning back) The baseball club doesn’t even meet on Wednesday mornings.

Sara: Which is why I did this interview last friday! But I forgot.

Koharu: … Deadline’s tomorrow.

Yosuke: (he sighs) And guess who’s now gonna have to spend the afternoon taking pics of jocks…

Seia: (She weakly pumps her fists) Fight-o, Yosuke-kun. 

Hanako: Ah, um… do your best, Yosuke. Sara-chan, you should be more diligent in getting your interviews to us on time. We’ve told you this before, haven’t we?

Sara: Aye-aye, boss! I’ll deliver the next one before you even assign it to me. (she salutes Hanako before dashing out of the clubroom)

Koharu: (she frowns) … When… did we tell her this before, exactly? Can’t remember.

Shinju: What, like when’d you schedule her to do the interview? I dunno. Isn’t sports supposed to be my job anyway? Why’d you hand it to her? 

Hanako: Hmm… I’m not sure. Last month, perhaps? She seemed eager to be more involved.

Koharu: Wouldn’t forget something like that.

Yosuke: Well, we’ve got so much going on, you know?

Sara: (she stumbles back in) Ah, I forgot to borrow Takotan. I need his power for today’s test. (she takes the octopus plushie from its usual spot on a shelf behind Hanako’s desk)

Hanako: Wah! O-Okay, but… (fidgeting) I want him back by the end of the day this time! D-Don’t forget, okay?

Sara: Of course! (she zooms off again, once again forgetting to close the door behind her)

Hanako: Whew… the club has certainly gotten lively with Sara-chan around.

Shinju: Gotta be careful she doesn’t barge on in on the wrong discussion… 

Yosuke: At least she knocked?

Hanako: This time, at least.