[Ardweden] (Encrypted) From: Katie Andrews Date: Evening Thursday, February 26, 2004 (Japan) Subject: Meeting Someone? To: Haruko Kinsha Haruko, You said that you were meeting Taki's girlfriend today. How did it go? Katie --- [Grysar] From: Haruko Kinsha Date: Late Evening Thursday, February 26, 2004 (Japan) Subject: Meeting Someone? To: Katie Andrews Katie, Thanks for the reminder, was nearly off to bed before I saw your note. The meeting went well and just as a quick bit of reassurance that nothing crazy happened, see attached photo. Photo: Haruko taking a mirror selfie of herself, in pajamas, holding the day's free campus newspaper, she looks like she's concentrating as she takes it. I considered asking Maki to sign a note certifying that I've been acting normal (for me) but to even ask is so weird it would throw off her assessment I think. Anyhow, Nicola made no demonstration of powers and we didn't really talk Arcana stuff. Most important news is that she's going to your school and majoring in biology with intention of becoming a veterinarian. She actually seemed as interesting in talking about college tips rather than the past which suited me fine. Personality profile: She seems together and reserved. Her Russian background is a bit more prominent than it is for Hinako and while her Japanese is quite good she's a bit touchy on the language topic, alternately, I might be a bit of a jerk in how I was speaking about Paul- san and she called me on it. And to just come out and say it, while she's got similar academic interests as you, she doesn't strike me as super Katie-like, so that part didn't feel creepy. I did get her to open up a bit at the end and we'll be doing a girls poker night where I can meet the other distaff members of Taki's crew. Maybe I should propose opening it up to Kenji-kun too, no need to split the happy couple. Nicola did indicate that she likes playing poker and takes some pride in her skill, so she may actually be fairly good at hiding things. Though if she was really good she might have pretended to not be so good, unless it's an elaborate double bluff. That said, I didn't see anything contradictory in her story. Relationship notes: Nicola actually seems a little out of Taki's league, though maybe it's harder for part-foreign students, let alone ones with unusual interest. She was not super demonstrative of affection but Taki did initiate hand holding that seemed natural enough. I'm betting Taki's cooking came in to play (side note, Taki agreed to provide snacks for girls night out, I think I struck a good bargain). I'd have to observe them more over time to really assess, but frankly I think Taki could use the experience. Oh, another side note, I received hair care tips from Nicola at my request, I'll show you anything i learn though testing, will require more Maki training. Concluding assessment: I was a bit annoyed at the scheduling restraints, as I've been busy with end of term coming up next month. But Nicola did not see controlling in person and set off any dashboard alarm lights for me. The one time I got a but more of a feel for her was the accidental language based offense, but that felt genuine and not a power play or anything. Ultimately I know Hinako got name dropped by that weird guy, Nao I think, Kaede and Shika had to deal with before the final confrontation, and the Heirophant always did have different priorities than us. But really, I trust Hinako enough that I can't see her sister either independently running some weird conspiracy or being an agent in some plan against us. I'll try to keep an open mind. Scheduling aggravation aside, I guess I'm the only one who didn't find this weird. I mean, I've been wanting to meet Taki's other people for a while and this is sort of the converse of that. I suppose I feel closest to Taki of the group, which is sad in its way as we often only half connect. I can update you if anything strikes me as weird from poker night, but mostly I just want to see how Taki is doing with her new friends. Haruko P.s. I said that I was advised never to play poker for money and that I will be following that advice. Pps . I did tell Nicola that you were a rather private person, so if she's doesn't respect that, consider it a warning sign as she seems like a somewhat private one herself. --- [Ardweden] (Encrypted) From: Katie Andrews Date: Afternoon Sunday, February 29, 2004 (Japan) Subject: Re: Meeting Someone? To: Haruko Kinsha Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I've been busy with Shuffle stuff. It sounds like your meeting with Taki & her girlfriend went well and that you think she's ok. That's good. It means that even if she's been put up to something, she probably doesn't know. I can work with that. If Taki insists I guess I'll meet her. I can help with biology probably. I think you are the only one who doesn't think Taki insisting we meet Nicola a little bit weird, but I also think you're the only one who's been reaching out to Taki a lot. Like you're planning to meet her other high school friends & stuff. I don't even know who they are - who's Kenji? Why does he matter? etc. I wouldn't mind hearing about it but I've been trying not to dig because it's Taki's life and she's wanted me out. Taki's spent a long time running away from us - maybe you, but probably mostly me & Satoshi in particular - & I don't know if she really considers people like Kyon & Kaede her friends. So why would Nicola want to meet any of us? Unless she wants to for some other reason, or unless Taki's just confusing. I mean she couldn't bother to remember the other stuff we told her like about the books & stuff, but then she comes in with this and says we should all meet her girlfriend because not making us meet her is like keeping a secret? And why does Nicola even know about us or care? I mean Taki's pretty easy to influence. And there's been a lot of weird stuff going on lately & we KNOW that Nicola is the Hierophant's sister. Anyway I'm not trying to say that Nicola has to be up to no good or anything. I'm just trying to say that this is weird for anyone who hasn't been trying to reach out to Taki. Which I think is everyone but you. Thanks for telling me about the meeting with Nicola. I think it makes me feel better, at least. I guess I'll meet her eventually & we'll see what happens. It'd be good to know what she's like, anyway. Katie --- [Grysar] Haruko writes up the email in fits and a starts, not finishing it until the evening. She gets ready to send, and then goes back and writes the penultimate paragraph. After she clicks send she deletes the chain from her account. (Encrypted) From: Haruko Kinsha Date: Evening Monday, March 1, 2004 (Japan) Subject: Re: Meeting Someone? To: Katie Andrews Kenji: Let me try to answer your questions in order. I know a bit about Taki's cohort but only a bit, I'll tell you more once I've met them. Shizaru - Student council president, dating Satoshi's roommate, sounds like a real go-getter. (I look forward to learning the story there, maybe I should get it out of Paul-san) Mikage - Taki's somewhat eccentric friend. Into fortune telling but not tarot. I think she and Shizaru have been friends a while back, or at least pre-Taki. Kenji - Baseball player dating Mikage. He doesn't matter as such, but it sounds like he's part of the group to a greater extent than just being Mikage's boyfriend. Motivation: I'm not sure. Nicola didn't really press on the past. I gave her a few general characterizations of our relationship without details of course. We did briefly talk about her sister, Nicola wasn't evasive on the topic but it would in no way surprise me if at very least Hinako had shared some information with her. That said, not sure if Hinako is acting in her capacity as big sister or hierophant. I think, as much as she runs away, Taki does think of the lot of us as a group. She did refer to me as one of her friends and I feel the same way, but not a first among equals of the old group or the like. It might be more like I'm the member of the group that just reaches out to her the most, sometime good cop to Kyon's bad cop, that sort of thing. I don't know, I'm not entirely comfortable speculating there as I don't like thinking about how similar conversations would go about me. I'll probably delete these from my sent mail after they're out. But, I feel like you'd advise me that it's important to understand that sort of relationship even if we don't talk about it. If I'm being frank anyways, maybe Taki confuses Nicola a little too and she wants to talk to you and Satoshi to get a little bit of an idea of what she's in from the horses mouth of past Taki crush recipients. She seems polite, I doubt she'd outright ask or anything, but she seems capable of picking up on subtext and the like. It's a weird approach, but dating someone you know is keeping a lot of secrets that you can't ask about is a pretty weird place to start with already. Now that I think about it, I might actually feel pretty weird too if the next person Takumi ends up dating came around to the motor club for a and that was a way less charged situation and not unrequited love (well he felt more strong than I... ergh, we've been over this). I look forward to talking with you in person again before too long. This text all feels so cold, sitting on the monitor. Haruko [End!]