Debt and Drama

**Debt and Drama** is the second story episode of Sakura Gaoka Truth.

## In-Game Summary

Marianne is still trying to process the reality of Lilly fighting as a magical girl, but when Lilly tries to explain, they get interrupted by Hanabi, who's searching for a girl who owes her money. She mistakenly assumes that Lilly is in cahoots with the mysteriously disappeared debt dodger. It's then that Iko joins the foray, complaining about a younger girl at her talent agency who's also disappeared. Amidst the chaos, Iroha successfully confirms that both Hanabi and Iko can see you.

## Plot

As they wrap up the battle in the flux bubble, Marianne stares in shock at the magical girls and the demons. The flux dissipates, and back in St. Charles Academy, Lilly reassures Marianne. They are interrupted by Hanabi, who has been looking for Lilly for a while. Apparently five of her debtors have gone missing, and Hanabi suspects that Lilly is helping them avoid her. Lilly is incensed, but Hanabi claims she is the only one at St. Charles with enough social power to get everyone to lie about not knowing the missing people.

Listening at the side, Iroha and Kaori realise that the mysterious disappearance issue - i.e. being devoured by demons - is happening at St. Charles too. Meanwhile, Lilly has had enough of Hanabi's accusations, and tries to blow her off. She leads the magical girls and Marianne behind the gym to discuss the new developments, but Hanabi follows them.

Irritated at Hanabi's persistence, Lilly doesn't watch where she is going, and walks into Iko Oikawa. Lilly dismisses her apology when she realises it's Iko she bumped into, to Iko's indignation. Seira notices a dropped book, and picking it up reveals it's a script for a TV station's newest series. Iko has been cast as the lead, but she is uncomfortable with the congratulations as she only got the part because the original actress went missing. When Iko investigated, the actress' schedule had disappeared, and asking around revealed no one remembered her at all.

Cocoa and Seira notice that this means mysterious disappearances are happening at Iko's workplace as well - not only that, but the fact that Hanabi and Iko are aware of it means they are potential magical girls. As the St. Charles group bicker, Iroha interrupts and asks if they can see Omnis. Both Hanabi and Iko confirm, and Lilly is startled to realise they are potential magical girls too.

A demon alert triggers, and both Hanabi and Iko are increasingly suspicious. There's no time to explain though, and the magical girls get ready to battle.

## Transcript

*(Inside a flux bubble)*

Lilly
Phew... Now that that mess is out of the way, how are you feeling, Mar Mar?
Marianne
A-are you pranking me? Do you all really fight those things?
*(Flux bubble dissipates)*

Lilly
Hey, relax. We'll handle killing all the monsters for you.
Marianne
Y-you're not...afraid?
Lilly
Hmm, well, what can I say? I'm used to it.
Hanabi
Hey, Lilly! So this is where you've been...
Lilly
What! Sup, Hanabi? Do you have business with me, or what?
Hanabi
I've been looking all over for you. Lately, you've been disappearing as soon as class ends.
Lilly
You could've just sent me a text or something.
Hanabi
Huh? I have no reason to have your contact info.
Lilly
Oh, is that so? Now, can you hurry up, and tell me what you want?
Hanabi
I'm lookin' for a twerp that owes me money...
Lilly
Money... Is this another gambling related problem?
Hanabi
That's unimportant. Listen, this is the fifth one this month, and three of them went to your middle school.
Lilly
Huh? Look, their debts or whatever have nothing to do with me.
Hanabi
Stop playing innocent. Did you think you could play good Samaritan, and pull strings behind my back?
Lilly
Why would you accuse me like that? This has got nothing to do with me!
Hanabi
All these perps who owe me money refuse to show their face here, and nobody seems to know where they are.
Hanabi
You're the only one on this campus with enough clout to orchestrate a campaign to make everyone lie to me.
Iroha
Hey, Kaorin, did you hear what she just said?
Kaori
I think so... It sounds like these mysterious disappearance cases are happening at St. Charles too.
Lilly
Sorry, but I'm really not involved in any of this. Also, I'm super busy, so imma head out now, bye.
Hanabi
Hey, wait! You think you can run away?
Lilly
Guys, let's all go behind the gym, okay? We can discuss our battle plans there. Wanna come with, Mar Mar?
Marianne
O-okay...
Hanabi
Don't ignore me, asshole!
*(Scene change to gym building)*

Hanabi
Wait! I never said our conversation was over!
Lilly
Damn, you're stubborn. I've already told you a million times! I'm not involved with any of this.
*(Lilly crashes into Iko)*

Iko
Ouch!
Lilly
Oh! Sorry, my bad!
Lilly
...Oh, it's Iko.
Iko
What!? Whaddya mean, "Oh, it's Iko,"? You could've injured me, the super idol, Iko Oikawa, and then I'd be out of a job, jerk!
Iroha
Hey, isn't that the girl from the culture festival?
Kaori
Oh my god, that's Iko Oikawa!
Seira
P-pardon me, but did you drop this?
*(Hanabi picks up a notebook)*

Hanabi
Huh, what's that? A script for a TV show?
Kaori
MHK broadcasting...!? Th-this is the script for their upcoming TV series!
Lilly
Looks like you still got it after all, Iko. So what part are you going to play?
Iko
Y'all, gimme that back! And it's not just a part, it's the main part.
*(Iko takes the book back)*

Lilly
OMG, no way!? So, you're going to star in the morning TV show?
Kaori
That's so cool! You'll be the star of the show. This is like the first step to becoming a famous big-name actress!
Iko
Hmm... I guess you're not wrong. Yeah, that's true but...
Hanabi
What's wrong? It still looks like something's bothering you.
Iko
Yeah... I only got the role by sheer luck.
Hanabi
Then you should celebrate your good fortune.
Iko
The truth is, the original actress was a younger girl from my talent agency, but it's like she just up and left without so much as a goodbye.
Lilly
Ah, she must've felt too pressured.
Iko
I thought so too, at first, but I noticed that her entire schedule had been erased from the rosters.
Hanabi
Haha, she probably did something to get removed.
Iko
But she's had no scandals, nor done anything bad. Her personality sucks, but that's no reason to fire her...
Lilly
Lol, you're the last person who should comment on people's crappy personalities, Iko.
Iko
Why, don't you just butter my biscuit. Say that again, I dare you! I double dare you!
Kaori
Th-the entertainment industry sure is wild...
Hanabi
But thanks to her running off, you got the starring role. This is major! Talk about a lucky break.
Iko
Something feels off. I tried asking the talent agency manager and the producer about what happened, but...
Iko
...No one remembers the original girl at all. It's as if she never existed in the first place.
Cocoa
Huh? Seira, could this mean...
Seira
It lines up with the story of the missing debtors too. Is this the mysterious disappearances all over again?
Cocoa
Yeah, but the fact that these two are aware of these people missing can only mean one thing...
Seira
These two can potentially become magical girls.
Iko
It's just, since I didn't get cast because of my talent, I can't accept it.
Hanabi
Why are people suddenly disappearing from the face of the earth? Those twerps who owe me money are the same.
Lilly
Oh, so now you're bringing up that beef again? Well, I already told you, it wasn't me!
Iroha
Um, sorry to interrupt...
Hanabi
Yeah?
Iko
What?
*(Iroha holds out Omnis)*

Iroha
Can you see this?
Hanabi
What? That black thingy?
Iko
Is it a...cat toy?
Lilly
Huh? What the heck?? You two, too?!
Omnis
Err... I think I see where she's going with this now.
*(Dynamisphere alert goes off)*

Lilly
Oh, looks like I gotta peace out!
Hanabi
Hmm... I feel like there's more to this.
Iko
Really? Well, whatever it is, it smells awfully fishy.
Omnis
Save the explanation for later. They're getting close. Everyone, get ready!
Iroha
Alright, girls, let's head out!

## Trivia

* When Lilly insults Iko's personality, she's so annoyed her regional dialect comes out instead of her usual speaking.