Yosuke: S-So, I was wondering… (while Koharu is hastily searching the drawers of the wardrobe in Aoi’s room, Yosuke doesn’t get much further than rearranging some pillows, too embarrassed to touch any of Aoi’s personal belongings, let alone rummage through her closet)

Koharu: Hmm? (opening a door to find several immaculate white, frilly dresses neatly hanging side by side, she starts taking them out and throwing them onto the bed)

Yosuke: … What exactly are we hoping to find by doing this?

Koharu: (brusquely) I don’t know! Don’t look at me like I know everything!

Yosuke: W-Well, if it can be any help, I have an idea— eh… (he briefly pauses to give Koharu room to respond, but she doesn’t, so he continues) You know how in movies, they can sometimes convince a kidnapper to send a picture of a hostage? I was wondering if we did that, maybe we could use my camera to—

Koharu: (monotonous as ever, she replies, keeping her true feelings on the suggestion to herself) Only works if you took the picture with that camera, no?

Yosuke: Oh… Y-Yeah, I guess you’re right. (he looks off to the side for a while, before coming up with a new idea) You think if I took a picture of just like, this room, I’d be able to see what happened in it? See who came in and grabbed her?

Koharu: It’s that foreign woman. The Balancer.

Yosuke: … Diana, was it?

Koharu: Other one.

Yosuke: How do you know that?

Koharu: Process of elimination. She knows this place. Knows the winged girl lives here. (pulling out the final dress, she briefly holds it out in front of her to get a better look, and frowns)

Yosuke: Oh! I guess so, yeah. That’s pretty clever, senp—

Koharu: Might just be grasping at straws and happening to pick the right one. Usually happens these days. (with a sigh, she turns to face Yosuke, holding the dress up against her chest) Would clothes like this suit me?

Yosuke: (he flushes) H-Huh? Wha—

Hanako: I’d say so. But then again, I just like that style in general… (Hanako, leaning against the wall next to the stairs, finally announces herself. She hadn’t been there longer than a minute or two, however.) What can I help with, Koharu?

Koharu: … I don’t know. Learn a lot about winged girl’s past, nothing about her present.

Hanako: I… was around her a lot, back when she, um… (she clears her throat) Um. Anyway. I-Is there anything you would need to know? Maybe I could help in that regard.

Koharu: No. This is a waste of time. (she unceremoniously drops the clothes on the floor, closing the wardrobe door) It’s magic we’re dealing with. Thinking’s got nothing on something that defies reason.

Yosuke: You know that’s not true. We— You found that Diana woman all on your own, didn’t you? People were really impressed by that.

Koharu: I found her by accident. Because she wanted to be found. And now everyone thinks I just did it for attention.

Hanako: Th-they don’t say that, Koharu. The families of the victims think you’re a hero. …Which, given what I know of you, might be worse, actually. I know why you did it, but… I-I never thought the attention would get this bad, nor did I think it would last this long.

Koharu: My mom doesn’t— … I know she thinks I don’t deserve this. I don’t even want it.

Hanako: …Your view on justice and truth is far divorced from the public’s perception of the ideas… But… Koharu, your mother is giving you a hard time? She does know the alternative was… d-death, right?

Koharu: No she doesn’t. I can’t talk to her about this. About the game, or about why this matters.

Hanako: …But, wasn’t she there when Kae was sealed? Or did that part of her memory never return? She… she has to know there’s another layer beyond the logical.

Yosuke: There’s a difference between knowing something and acknowledging something… I guess. Are you sure your mom’s not just… worried.

Koharu: I know she’s worried. It’s just this… media stuff she could do without. But I can do without it, too. I just… I just want her to know that I want to be like her. Not for the fame, or— Just for the truth.

Hanako: …I know that sometimes, you struggle in articulating how you feel. If nothing else, I can help you with that. I’d like to think that, by now, I’ve come to understand you through that struggle. I-I could be wrong, of course. But in lieu of anything else substantial… 

Yosuke: I think that’s a great idea. ‘S not that your mom listens to me, so maybe Hanako can help.

Koharu: (she frowns) She listens to you all the time. The problem is what you tell her.

Yosuke: Like I’m gonna tell her that you’d like to wear a frilly dress?

Koharu: (she picks the dress up from the floor and throws it at Yosuke) Didn’t say I’d like it. Asked if you’d like it. Dolt.

Yosuke: Mph! Back me up here, Hanako!

Hanako: Ehe… I’m afraid I have to take Koharu’s side again, Yosuke. But, yes. I can help give the right words for your mother, Koharu. And where I fail, my mother can help. N-Not to suggest she speak to her again, goodness no. But to filter my filtering, I guess?

Koharu: … Thanks, Hanako.