>>40721568
>This is a waste of time, try making up that card.
Hm, maybe make a door?
Since they are in a different place, its either that or some sort of compass draft.

>>40721568
>>Aiko didn't want to do this, maybe SHE left a clue?

>>40721568
>Keep searching the house, maybe Marie left some clues.
>Aiko didn't want to do this, maybe SHE left a clue?

>>40721568
>Aiko didn't want to do this, maybe SHE left a clue?

>>40721568
>Aiko didn't want to do this, maybe SHE left a clue?

>>40721568
>Aiko didn't want to do this, maybe SHE left a clue?

>>Aiko didn't want to do this, maybe SHE left a clue?
Writing!

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It's clear that Aiko didn't want to get dragged into this. I don't blame her. This seems like something that is way over her head that she ma y not have known about beforehand.
That's worrying.

No no, I can't spend my time worrying, I need to think!
If I was Aiko, what kind of clue would I leave that an older person wouldn't be able to understand?
There has to be something around here that Aiko knows about that is completely a mystery to Marie.

"Haruko, did you see anything around like a laptop or a computer?"
"No, not in this room."

I'm not going to let that deter me.
I run upstairs to Aiko's room and fling her door open. Quickly, I start going through her stuff.
Her drawers have been cleaned out, most of the clothes have been taken out of them and either taken with them or dropped onto the floor. Drawers are ajar, with their contents poured onto desks and the bed.

I start going through it, piece by piece. Mirrors, little makeup kits, tiny pictures of cartoon mascots, stuffed animals, all of it is laid out onto her bed. These are the things that Aiko would know about which would be a mystery to Marie. I have to check these things out extra closely.

I rummage through the discarded mementos just as Haruko manages to catch up with me. Quickly she starts on the stuff that has been left on her dresser.

My hand scrapes across something smooth. I pull it out from under the pile and notice its rectangular shape.
It's her phone!

I turn on the screen and hold it up to the light. It's unlocked! There's a single app on the screen.
"It's her map!"
I open it up, and scroll through the saved entries.
The most recent one was from last night, almost at midnight.

It's a marker, way out in the middle of no where.

>YAY! Stick it, Asai! I found her without your help!
>Wow, that's a long way off, maybe I do need to make something to at least get me there.
>Mom can drive me, right? That's only.. maybe two hours away.. Or three.. hmm.
>Haruko, any ideas?
>Other?

>>40723344
>Wow, that's a long way off, maybe I do need to make something to at least get me there.
>Haruko, any ideas?

>>40723344
>Wow, that's a long way off, maybe I do need to make something to at least get me there.
>Haruko, any ideas?

>>40723344
>YAY! Stick it, Asai! I found her without your help!
>Mom can drive me, right? That's only.. maybe two hours away.. Or three.. hmm.
>Haruko, any ideas?

>>40723344
>>YAY! Stick it, Asai! I found her without your help!
>>Wow, that's a long way off, maybe I do need to make something to at least get me there.
>>Haruko, any ideas?

>Wow, that's a long way off, maybe I do need to make something to at least get me there.
>Haruko, any ideas?

Writing!

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"YES! I DID IT!" I proclaim to the room.
Haruko jumps slightly as she comes over to see what I found.

"I didn't need your help after all Asai! Ha! Shows what you know! "
That feels really good to say!

Haruko examines the phone, and the tiny coordinate point on its screen.
"Masami, this is like, in the mountains or something. Are you sure this is where Aiko is?"
"It has to be! She was leaving me a message!"
"How did she even know you would find this phone?"

Wait. Haruko's right.
"Also, how did she even know you would search her house? Or her room? Why didn't she just text this to you? Or-"

"Haruko, enough! You're making me doubt this!"
"But- It's true!"

She's right. It is true.
"..Now I'm sad."

"W-why!? Don't be sad!" Haruko pats my shoulder.
"But what if you're right! What if this isn't anything!?"

We both stare blankly at each other for a moment.
After a minute of silence, Haruko speaks up.
"Is.. something wrong?" Haruko asks, confusion on her face.
"Yes! Something is really wrong now! I can't just run off to the mountains because of a blip on Aiko's phone!"

This is all your fault, Haruko! You and your dumb logic!
Eep, I almost said that out loud.

"Um.. Maybe you could make a card or something that goes over there. Could you get there from the other world?"
"I don't know. Have any other ideas?"

"..Maybe a card that can fly?"
"But I have one already.."

"Then, um.." Haruko stalls. "Cards can do anything, right?"
"I think so."
"Then.. maybe we should just ask Mom."

>Maybe I should make a card that can connect two places.
>Or instead, I'll make a card that can go over there, see if Aiko is there, and tell me!
>Maybe a card that I can combine with the flight card that goes really fast, like, REALLY fast!
>Haruko's right, I should go ask Mom about this.
>Maybe I should focus on Asai and that problem. If Marie comes back and there's no monster, she can't take Aiko away!
>I don't know.
>Other?

>>40724670
>Haruko's right, I should go ask Mom about this.
She's the sensible one.

>>40724670
>Haruko's right, I should go ask Mom about this.

>>40724670
>>Haruko's right, I should go ask Mom about this.
A plan for when we get there would be nice.

>>40724670
>Haruko's right, I should go ask Mom about this.

>>Haruko's right, I should go ask Mom about this.

Writing!

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These worrying, troublesome facts continue to swirl in my head.
Aiko's phone has a blip on it, but I'm not sure what the blip even is. Or even if that's where Marie decided to take Aiko. How do I know that's Aiko and her mother? What do I even do when I get there?

In fact, that's a good question.
"Haruko, what am I even going to do when I find Marie?"

She sits on the question for a second, after all, it's a toughie.
"Well, definitely not fight her. That might make Aiko upset. She was really protective of her mother back at Fortune when everything was coming apart."

That's true, Aiko was willing to stand there with Marie even though she knew she was completely outmatched and that it was time to go. She did not want to leave her mother's side.
I'm worried now, what if Aiko doesn't WANT to come back?

No no no no, only one moment of self-doubt at a time, please!
"T-then should I try talking to her?"
"I'm not sure she'll be really receptive of that."

A pang of worry runs across my face and down my back. Now I'm really concerned. If I can't talk to her, and I can't fight her, what's left?
"LET'S GO ASK MOM!" I bellow out unexpectantly.
"Uh, do you think she will know what to do?"
"She has to! She's Mom after all!"

Mom will know what to do!

--
"Huh, that is a problem."
Mom is sitting at the dining room table. This is clearly her card drafting setup that she has made. I know she shouldn't be doing this alone, but she's surrounded by people who can help her.

"So what do you think? Also do you need help with that?" I point toward the drafting table.
"I'm fine Masami, as to what I think you should do."

She thinks about how to put this.
"I have no idea!"
"W-what!?"
"I don't know how you're supposed to deal with Marie."
"But- but! But you're MOM!"
"Well, I don't have all the answers!"

This is the first I've heard that!

>Should I make a card to chase down Aiko?
>Do you have an idea of tracking her down?
>What do I do first?
>Who should come with me?
>Other?

>>40726374
>Should I make a card to chase down Aiko?
>Do you have an idea of tracking her down?

>>40726374
>>Should I make a card to chase down Aiko?
An extra restraining card would be nice.

>>Who should come with me?
Haruko. If she still has her healing and knockout powers she would be the most helpful.

>>40726374
>Should I make a card to chase down Aiko?
The most important part to figure out.

>>40726374
I'll support >>40726605!
And with that I have to sleep, thanks for running!

>>40726374
>Do you have an idea of tracking her down?

>>40726752
Thanks for playing!

>>Should I make a card to chase down Aiko?
>Do you have an idea of tracking her down?

Writing!

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"Should I make a card to track Aiko down?" I ask, confusion in my voice.
"That's kind of wasteful, then you would have a card that's only good for finding Aiko." Mom says, lost in thought.

B-but Asai said-
Oh right, Asai told me to do it. How silly I am.

"Here's what I would do, you think you know where she is, right? And she's still in Japan, right?"
"Y-yeah?"

She leans back, thinking about the question.
"Why don't you just... go there, and have a look?"

..
"Mom, are you trying to mess with me at a time like this?"
"No no, seriously, I'm not." She waves her hands. "But seriously, why not just, go there?"

I pout.
"Mom! Seriously! We need to be serious here! How am I going to go someplace that's hours away without any kind of transportation?!"
Mom's eyes glaze over.
"I don't get your problem. Can't you just go there?"

I'm getting really frustrated now.
"HOW!? How do I 'go there'!? Do I walk? Buy a plane ticket?! Jump really far?! Please! Tell me how I just go there!"

"Just-"
Her eyes widen with a sudden realization.

"..I never taught you how to go places, did I?"
"What are you talking about!?"

Suddenly she darts forward and wraps her arms around me.
"I'm so sorry Masami! I didn't teach you the most useful thing about the other world!"
"What!? What are you talking about!?"

She pulls away from me, looking me in the eyes.
"You don't have to return to the same place when you return from the other world. It's shapeless, you can come out almost anywhere you wish when you leave as long as you're not being blocked. You just have to know where you're coming out."

My jaw drops.
"You NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THIS!?"
"I-I'm sorry!"
She looks genuinely hurt, but come on, Mom!

"W-why do you drive a car then? Or own a house?! Or.. Or.."
My mind is swirling. I don't even know how to put my feelings into words!

>How long have you known about this!?
>Is there anything else!?
>Why do you own a car, then!?
>Can anyone else do this!?
>Other!?

>>40727810
>>Is there anything else!?
>>Can anyone else do this!?

>>40727810
>Is there anything else!?
>Can anyone else do this!?

>>40727810
>Is there anything else!?
>Can anyone else do this!?

>Is there anything else!?
>Can anyone else do this!?

Writing!

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I can't believe this!
I could have traveled ANYWHERE I WANTED and the only reason I didn't is because Mom never told me! That is absurd! That is-
"Is... is there anything else?" The sarcasm is almost dripping from my voice.

"Nope, I don't think so." She answers quickly. She's blushing a little, too.
"Are you sure?" I'm not letting her off the hook for this easily.
"No no! That's everything! I think!"

That 'I think' makes me feel uneasy.

"Can anyone else do this, Mom?"
"Oh uh."

She hesitates.
"I don't know, Asai might be able to I guess."
"YOU DON'T-"
I calm my voice.
"You don't know?"
"Nope!"

That's really bad! How do you not know if someone is abusing this really powerful ability!?
I-I don't have time to think about it right now.
"Can you tell me how it works? Please? I really, really need to find Aiko."
"I can show you how it works, and if you want, I could go with you."

>No! Too dangerous! I'll take someone else with me!
>..If you can think of something to tell Marie, then fine.
>I don't know, really.
>Other?

>>40729660
>..If you can think of something to tell Marie, then fine.

>>40729660
>>..If you can think of something to tell Marie, then fine.

>>40729660
>..If you can think of something to tell Marie, then fine.

>>..If you can think of something to tell Marie, then fine.

Writing last post of the night
I've gone a little too late, anyway.

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"I don't like the idea of you coming with me! I mean, Marie could be dangerous! And-"
"I just suggested it, you don't have to take me with you."

"Well, um, I don't think you should come along."

Unless.
"-Unless you can think of something to say to Marie. I'm worried about how I'm going to confront her, still."

Mom thinks about the predicament for a moment. She stands up and takes out her phone.
"I can't think of anything to say to her, but I know someone who might."
"Really? Who?"

She taps a tile on her phone. It rings several times, before there's a click on the line.
"Julie, Haruko, can you keep everything in line around here?" Mom looks toward the twins.
Haruko seems confused, "Where are you going?"

"Masami and I are going to Ryouta and Maeda's house, we need to talk to their parents."

>Thread End

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Thanks for the thread everyone.
Sorry we started so late.

Anyway, let me know what you thought of our newest ability. I'm going to go collapse into bed.

>>40730869
Thanks for running.

>>40730869
Thanks for running.

>>40730869
thanks for running, it does sounds pretty convenient
one thing that has bee bugging me is the lack of interactions between haruko and mom... if i remeber well the two knew eachother, right?

>>40730976
I don't think Haruko is the girl that used to be in the card, we made Haruko from her, but I think that women is really gone.