<Nocturnal Harmonia>

[Bloodedge]

Much to Ren's surprise, the brown-haired girl yet to get her clothes together started... talking. She wasn't completely aware, nor was she unaware. By her own admission, Miko took note of a missing presence rather than realizing he was standing nearby. What an odd way of slipping through his ability. If nothing else, Ren now had confirmation that he remained noiseless when using his skills as an awakener... but some had the ability to realize something was missing? 'Is she also awakened? I should realize something like that, unless she's also an Assassin type...' he pondered. Ren considered revealing himself right then, right there. He chose not to. Surely it would only be awkward if he suddenly appeared while the girl was getting dressed. Besides... that had a chance of costing him the remaining show, like the donning of that thong and bra... and a pair of socks? Well, there had to be something wasteful somewhere.

According to the doctor, the scientist may one day encounter some cute girl who could show him the 'science' of romance. He clicked his tongue, willing to completely disregard her every opinion on such matters. "The fact that you would even insinuate there is a science to romance means this conversation is over," he stated plainly. The way this man saw things, if there was no scientific fact, theory or hypothesis to back such trivial concepts as love, it was merely a thing imagined by society and propagated through the generations. As for his 'thoughtful' offer of assisted carrying, they would once again disagree. "It's the effective thing to do. There's no reason to apply unnecessary sentiment to it. Let's get going," he said, lagging behind only to inspect the transportation case this woman carried. He'd seen a component that may have been used in that, and maybe even took part in some discussions about its creation. Whatever the case he had what he needed and was content to exit the dungeon without waiting for the others.

Speaking of leaving, Yugi was even more interested in heading outside with the ongoing lockdown in mind. If Dungeon Breaks were such a danger, the doctor he sought would be found more easily. While perusing the shop for something large, dark and hooded to equip, he scoffed over the ongoing debate in society. "There's always something up for debate. Usually for so long that someone's forced into a sudden decision because nobody has the answer when they actually need it," he griped. Only a moment later, Yugi was tossing on a hooded cloak that cast an eerie shadow over his face, revealing only his eyes when focused. "Hopefully they take Gold from the System if I get arrested. If I had to guess, I'd say... I'll be back before it's time to leave for the onsen trip. Send word if you need something. I'll drop it in your inventory," he said, waving nonchalantly over his shoulder while slipping through the door.

[Apollymi]

Miko dressed herself and spoke lightly to the lad she couldn't find but knew was up to something. Whatever the case, Miko was now done slipping into clothing items and would be slipping those booties she'd had on, back on to her feet before she was ready to exit the shower. She'd dried off before she stepped out so there was no excess of water. And she packed away her dirty clothes and towel in a small bundle she'd wash or send back to Inventory when the time was right. "Anyway I'm all clean and dressed now, so if you want to sneak back out and pretend like you didn't do anything I was just gonna clean up a bit more after myself♫~" Miko expressed as she slipped her little backpack on and planned to leave the shower in the same condition she'd found it in whether Ren stayed or went of his own accord, she'd take a few minutes to sooth her own OCD before heading her way back up the hall towards the white noise of the tv.

Speaking of white noise, it would appear that the scientist and the doctor were having a fundamental difference of opinion concerning the nature of emotions. "Neuroscientist, Behavioral Scientists, Biochemists and several other types can't be all be completely wrong~" she offered her own understanding. Not that she cared if insinuating that love was a science was a problem. At the very least it was a matter of biology. But that didn't really matter either. No, this was just a bit of small talk among collogues while they waited to pass the time. "Sentiment is only unnecessary when you don't understand it. A bit of compassionate understanding goes a long way... even if it comes in a weird package," the doctor mentioned as she stood and got ready to go. Her own special case was fully functional and seeming to hold up her samples well. The Porters were going to be busying moving other things out and she'd be going along with someone else. Given she had what she needed the doctor was also fine to leave. "Send anyone who needs healing out... and any extras towards the clinic after that. I'll see everyone who needs it..." she claimed as she waved over her shoulder at the party in question.

Meanwhile, Yugi was preparig to go out into the world and getting quite a nice send off. "Fair point~" Kaguya stated about the nature of people sending so much time talking through things that didn't actually get to anything until they'd reached the critical point. Whatever the case, as for the rest a little joke and then the statement that he'd likely be back before the trip in the morning had Kaguya nodding. "Hai hai, I'm going to have a quick shower and probably pass out down here. I'll text you if something is necessary. Ja ne~" she claimed earnest. With Yugi out of the door and another potion down Kaguya sat up on the couch and stood. Her legs wobbly she opened inventory and took out another potion to drink on her way to the shower. A few minutes of full shower scrubbing just long enough to get completely clean and she'd be out, dressed in a pair of comfy pajamas and then stretched out over the couch.

[Bloodedge]

Ren had nothing to say. Miko continued speaking as if she knew he was there, offering him a chance to sneak out while she cleaned up after herself. He once again considered making himself visible... but no. It was far more imperative for Ren to contemplate how she knew of his presence; that sort of thing had never happened before. Actually, he didn't expect anyone short of an S-rank to discover him. This seemingly unawakened girl had gone beyond all expectations of possibility. Regardless, he'd be sticking behind, keeping himself hidden until Miko herself finally vacated the shower. Only when she was out in the café did he reappear behind the counter. "What sort of Skill is that?" he wondered about her ability to discover him. "You don't even seem like a Hunter."

Meanwhile, Yugi was making his way out into the streets. He kept an eye open for any movement in his surroundings, but also kept checking the System Shop for something potentially useful. 'Would be nice to pick up a stealth ability somewhere. All the good shit's expensive, as usual. I could get some speed stuff, but that wouldn't help against anyone C-rank or higher I'm guessing. No point wasting the money,' he thought. At the current rate, Yugi decided his best bet was to remain unseen by any stray Hunters or monsters. It seemed an easy enough task as he made way for a specific clinic ─ one that happened to be around the corner from Leblanc. This place redefined the term 'back-alley', being tucked between buildings on a right-angle of upward stairs. Yugi would eventually find himself planted right next to the door, simply awaiting the doctor's return. He figured said return was inevitable with all the goings-on.

[Apollymi]

Miko was restoring the bathroom to the state it'd been in before she'd entered it. It was her nature to leave most things the way she found them and she thought to give the lad Amamiya Ren the opportunity to pretend he'd not been doing anything strange. Still, that uneasiness remained for quite a while, she couldn't really help it for reasons she didn't fully understand. It would only be when she exited the shower and made her way back up front that the lad would appear behind her. The rather sudden reappearance of the white noise that was Ren, filled that once empty space. "Squee♪~ The silent protagonist speaks, I thought I was really going crazy there for just a second," Miko murmured, as she slipped around the counter and dropped her backpack by her feet on the bottom of the barstool. Up high like this she relaxed while watching the lad in front of her. "It isn't a Skill, well not in the way Hunter skills were described to me earlier. I have always had really good hearing, long before any of this started... so I am very used to forcing things out of my main focus to avoid becoming distracted by all the noise. You however erased yourself from the usual noise I am used to being able to hear, so... it felt and sounded a bit empty. I don't know if that makes sense outside of my head," she mused wondering if her words even sounded normal. "Oh, like in the movies when a deer is in the forest and everything goes quiet and then it hears a snap and it's suddenly getting mauled? That's what's left in a moment like that... the moments before the snap, all high tension like something isn't quite right," she expressed wondering if that analogy worked. As for her status, "I am also not a Hunter. I don't have a baseline for what they should feel like, I've only met a few," Miko explained. "What feels odd about me?" she questioned earnestly. There was a lot missing from her own understanding, and an outside influence that didn't know her, was a good place to get that information from.

At the same time, Yugi found himself moving through the streets. While the one who owned that clinic wasn't there just yet. Someone else was scanning CCTV footage. While there were no Magic Beasts in the area. There was at least one person of interest, expected to be exiting a building at some point. Someone with a hood up, avoiding looking up and moving though the streets, sent off a few red flags, but wouldn't be tagged immediately. No... watching had to be done from a distance and things had to be found out. Perhaps he just didn't like where he had been when the lockdown started or perhaps he was in need of emergency medical attention and didn't know the Doctor in question was currently just exiting a nearby dungeon. Her phone just coming back online with an alert about the lockdown in the area. "Of course..." she sighed. Well, if a Dungeon Break happened, she'd make herself available in general and have to put off her research for a little bit. "Depending on the number of injuries. I might not actually get to the extraction experiment until later," she lamented thinking aloud about a coming workload she'd not asked for. Would it have killed that Dungeon to last a few more hours?

[Bloodedge]

When he reappeared, Ren was initially addressed as the silent protagonist. This girl seemed like such a mashup of archetypes, he wasn't entirely sure what to do about her. No matter. He'd been caught some way or another, and an explanation of 'how' would be incoming... with no shortage of word-vomit. Ren listened to an explanation, a description, an analogy, another explanation, and a question all in sequence, silently taking it all in before even thinking to open his own mouth. 'She calls me the silent protagonist, but she's definitely the talkative tomboy next door... and several other things. Weird,' he thought. "I understand. The 'loud silence' problem," he surmised. As for what felt odd about the girl, there wasn't much he could say. Ren poured himself a glass of water while thinking it over. "Nothing feels odd, but having that kind of hearing without being an awakener is a little weird... I think. You seem like a normal human to me otherwise. Water?"

Meanwhile, Yugi had taken his place at the clinic. As he expected, no one was inside. He'd luckily avoided being spotted by any Hunters or magic beasts, and cameras across the city were of no concern to him while having his visage concealed so fully. What he didn't expect was the extent the Hunters Association's chairperson would go for control, reaching such extremes that every Hunter's location was known around the clock. Oh well. At this rate, he doubted there would be anything to worry about before his task was completed. By his approximation, that doctor should be arriving either any minute... or within the next hour, depending on the Dungeon Break's status closer to the Gate. Regardless, he'd pass his time leaning against the door, simply waiting.

[Apollymi]

Miko was prone to blurting things out in situations in which she was comfortable. She did try to be reasonable, but her explanations and analogies had to finish before she realized she might have said too much. "Oops, I said more than I meant. I really have to stop oversharing..." Miko murmured softly, as Ren was given time to think and process. "Yeah, loud silence... box it," Miko murmured. She needed to keep that in mind for not oversharing while trying to describe that feeling again later. Beyond this point, they could have a conversation and Miko would try and likely fail to curb her talkative nature for a bit. Whatever the case, Miko had it confirmed that she seemed to be a normal human to Ren aside from the freakishness of her hearing. "Yeah... that part has always been really strange," Miko agreed about her hearing, but having gone through the early part of her life adjusting she was fine with that oddity. "I'll take some water," she said easily it wasn't as if she didn't feel thirst or anything. Miko was also taking notes and making adjustments, she didn't know what kind of approach would be best for Ren either, so these moments of quiet conversation would give her a bit more of a feel for him. "I don't mean to pry and you don't have to answer if you don't want, but there are a lot of things I still don't understand. Are you awakened and registered? Oh but if you are... don't tell me your rank... I want to guess. Do you have to figure out what to do or is there training for it?" Miko wondered genuinely how such things went. Miko would ask more probing questions if he allowed it.

It would be about a half and hour before the Doctor who owned that clinic made her way back to it. She was carrying both a box like cooler and a large bag of dirt, with her keys already out and in her hands. She'd done a bit of triage out in the field but had also told anyone she encountered to send movable Hunters and civilians alike towards her space. What she hadn't expected was to see a person in a dark hood posted up near her spot. "You're gonna have to move if you need an exam, but you don't feel like a Hunter. You shouldn't be out during the lock down. You'll get taken in," she expressed in an almost nonchalant manner. She didn't seem too worried. If he was injured she'd help, if he was up to something... well she was still an S-rank hunter... not much could harm her physically. At the same time, those watchful eyes saw a blip approaching. That person on the move had avoided every other blip she'd seen him near through the CCTV but this one, he seemed to be waiting for, how interesting.

[Bloodedge]

Ren wasn't going to worry too much about someone having strange abilities before the Gates began opening, though it was incredibly strange nonetheless. While he poured a glass of water for himself, Miko accepted the offer for a glass of her own. Ren nodded. Alas, before he could get around to that... the girl was asking questions about his own status as an awakened, registered Hunter. She didn't want to know his rank if so, but she did want to know if there was any specific training to one's abilities. They'd only just met a little while ago. Of course he'd been peeping during her shower, but she'd also been having sex in Leblanc behind the boss's back. That kind of personal information was a very strange thing to discuss at such an early juncture. Instead of giving any form of answer immediately, Ren poured a second glass of water in silence. Only when he slid it across the counter did he speak at all. "There's no known way to train an Awakener for their abilities. They manifest differently for different people, different types. There are still some combat trainers out there, I hear."

At the same time, Yugi's wait at the clinic was finally about to pay off. Finally approached by some punk-rock woman, he glanced up from beneath the hood, giving an initial scan of the woman from toe to head. Where the hell were doctors like her before?! He could only wonder that for the first few seconds of seeing her. "I have so many terminal diseases," he blurted out, not even thinking twice about it. Ah, but this woman was already pointing out that he didn't seem like a Hunter, and thus shouldn't be out and about lest he be taken in. "Take me in then. Takemi Tae-sensei? I've got whatever problems will get me a consultation, several requests, and something you'll absolutely want to study, if I'm right. I'm usually right," he said with surety, calmly stepping aside to let her handle the lock.

[Apollymi]

Miko was still at base a very neurotic 15 year old girl. Her issues with boundaries were obvious to most people she spoke with especially when she was comfortable having a conversation. It seemed in the case of Amamiya Ren, she didn't know fear, nor was she trying to maintain normal boundaries. A pregnant silence came from the young man as she asked her questions, it would seem like he was processing them. It was like a third person perspective on a video game staple. She could practically see him reading the dialogue box and wondering how to answer. Whether it was purposeful or simply his own nature didn't really matter. She was sipping her water before he answered her question, "Sou ka, I asked too much♪~ Gomen♪~" Miko understood. Or rather Miko was apologizing for pushing too hard for personal information from someone who wasn't ready to give it. "Though I guess I understand the combat trainers. It's presumable most people don't have forms of combat ready for use without certain kinds of backgrounds..." Miko murmured softly. "So then a different question, do mages need catalysts or can they just spawn magic?" she wondered earnestly. Her own special privilege's aside there were gaps in her understanding of regular human interaction in this world. She wouldn't ask him any other personal questions immediately, and focus instead on light things she could use later.

While Miko tried to navigate her new route gently, knowing that the quiet types could be a bit difficult. Yugi was standing in front of a young woman's clinic. The young woman was looked over by a young man's whose face was hooded in shadows. She told him the rules made sure he understood he could be in trouble, and what she got in turn was, one of the funniest and most terrible pick-up lines she'd ever been on the receiving end of. "Bwaahaha!~" she laughed only to shake her head. He even had something of a mentally stable argument and he knew who she was, and he was still here. That was interesting enough by itself. "You know what... after the day I've had, I'll at least hear you out," she said unlocking the door and motioning him in with her head. Little did both of them know, they were being watched both on CCTV and tracked through Takemi Tae's own phone. Once inside... the door was left unlcoked but she walked into the clinic itself. There was a waiting room, with chairs, magazines and a water cooler with disposable cups. She walked in with her cooler and headed immediately behind a locked counter and motioned the lad back with her as she had something else to do. "Exam Room 1. I have to put these away, they are time sensitive, but give me just a second to get back to you..." she explained. Knowing it was likely an odd thing to say considering she was carrying just a bag of dirt and what probably looked like an organ cooler.

[Bloodedge]

The brunette knew she was prying. It was at least interesting to see someone being conscious of their own boundary-crossing without having it pointed out implicitly. Still, Ren wasn't bothered. "Iia. It's a normal question," he countered. Ren didn't feel like his personal space was being invaded by her question; it was simply something he didn't care to answer for his own reasons. His life was a secretive sort by circumstance. He could, however, easily answer the girl's other questions about Hunters. Such things could be found out by just looking around enough. "Hai. Most Awakeners are just regular people. If they're combat types, they still need experience. There are have been conversations about schools for Hunters to teach them about different magic beasts too," he explained briefly. As for her question about mages and catalysts, he had only a little information to go by... but it was enough. "I think it depends? I've seen it both ways. The Witch Queen is an S-rank mage from Japan who doesn't need anything. I've seen some high-rank Hunters with and without. Maybe it helps? I'm not sure."

If Yugi managed nothing else, he did succeed at amusing the bombshell doctor and making a good first impression. She was willing to hear what he had to say, and immediately beckoned him into her clinic. Once inside, Yugi reached behind himself to lock the door. "I'm guessing you're not actually ready to open yet. I'll do us both a favor. You're strong enough that you don't have to worry about me yet anyway," he said ever so casually. Yugi would be following Tae wherever she led, separating only to step in the direction of 'exam room 1' as she called it... though he kept her in his sights without actually entering. She had some interesting things that obviously didn't belong on any version of Earth he knew to put away. What could have been in that box? Well... 'System, I wonder... Identify,' he demanded mentally. As he'd hoped, the System gave a layout of those plants, a brief list of their properties, and... a proper segue for one of Yugi's intended topics. "You're researching the Eternal Slumber in secret? Not openly?"

[Apollymi]

Getting the Silent Protagonist to talk was part of the overarching goal of anyone who needed to conquer one. Miko understood this well, still some of her habits weren't intentional. She fully acknowledged her own oddities and tried not to force them on people all the time. She knew she was prying so she offered an apology but the lad seemed unbothered. The question itself wasn't an issue then, he simply didn't want to answer it, 'Secretive... that happens. There are a few oddities surrounding him now that I think about it,' Miko observed from her own side of things. He'd come back after getting off work, he was far too comfortable in this place and that was odd. It would be something to think about a bit later... for now, she was having more of her questions answered and that was helping her quite a bit. "A school would be interesting. I don't know much about magic beasts either... though I feel like I should save that for a different moment," Miko murmured taking in that information as well. What was more there was an explanation of whether or not catalysts were necessary. Miko was mostly asking that to avoid outing herself accidentally at some other point in time. She could use a catalyst, but she had a few things she could also just cast. "Sou ka, that's an awesome title. It would probably help or give it a more specific outcome♪~" Miko hypothesized as she took another sip of water. She'd worked through the current set, more information was being given. "So, do you work here?" she asked earnestly.

This young man standing in front of Takemi Tae was at the very least amusing. In fact she'd only be finding him more amusing as time went on, he locked the door behind himself, and it wasn't something she was going to do, but he seemed to think he wasn't something she feared and called himself helping. "Well that was more for you than me, but suit yourself~" she said. She was an S-rank Hunter. Even a strong human wasn't someting she worried about and nothing aside from another S-rank Hunter would pose much of a threat to her, unless they managed to sneak up on her. She was soon enough confronted with a strange sounding idea out of this young man's mouth. She was researching the Eternal Slumber in secret not out in the open. "I'm by far not the only scholar in the world doing my research in private," she only confirming that she was researching something privately, not necessarily the Eternal Slumber. Still, she walked into a room with various tanks and grow cubibles, and began unloading her things into one which was simply marked "Obake". "What did you come here for?" she asked rather directly. If this was another ploy of that rather annoying former collogue of hers, she might actually end up on a list somewhere.