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Quickly, he checks Akira-kun, who seems to have tumbled onto his back and gone to sleep against Crow's leg, deaf to the world. Kids.

Rather than deal with the question at hand, he offers his theories—something that, unlike Raven, he almost never does. "They're building something for us. Don't you think so? Was there construction before the Hallowe'en party?"

"The door just appeared one day. This certainly seems more elaborate by comparison." Hm, hm. Another sip as Crow puzzles this more. "Perhaps whatever they hope to achieve requires more preparation. That it's happening in the residential areas is also rather striking."

He sets his cocoa down on the kotatsu, so he can oh so sneakily put his arms around Crow and cling to his shirt; he feels like he might blow away. "There's no sign that Igor-san is malevolent, right? Or that there's anyone else in control here. So whatever it is, it won't be bad."

Actually... "I say that. Last time this happened, I ended up like this. So there's nothing to say odd things won't happen. Maybe this will be what changes me back?"

Aw. That's okay. He'll set his own cocoa down too, then, so he can loop his other arm around Magpie. "It could happen, but we won't know for sure. I doubt Igor would take you away before the holidays are over, though." So it's okay. Here, he'll offer a reassuring lil' pat on the back. "Regardless, it probably is something meant for our enjoyment rather than anything nefarious."

Ooh. Crow's arms go around him, weighting him safely down, and tears prick Magpie's eyes again for absolutely no reason.

He had thoughts, but instead he curses himself under his breath—"stupid!"—and just clings tighter, burying his face.

"It's okay if you need to cry. Nobody else will see." Here, he'll rest his chin on top of Magpie's head, like he's done with Nanako many times before. "I'm here. I won't leave."

Nervously, he unburies his face to check on Akira-kun, who's fast asleep. Then he sniffles into Crow's shirt, like a goddamned baby. He doesn't cry, but a shudder goes through him, and he clings tighter, squeezing closer.

"I don't want to go back." It's muffled. "I hate it. I want to stay here."

"...I'd take you with me, if I could." It'd be confusing. So very, very confusing, but he could always say that Magpie was another half-sibling. "I don't know what the future holds, but this place will be here for you. If you ever return, we'll welcome you with open arms. And we'll be here, even if it's simply through long distance communication.

I'll listen."

That does it. Once again, slower and quieter than before, he starts to cry, face buried. It's all just so unfair. And he thought he was used to unfair.

Shh, it's okay. He gently brushes his fingers over Magpie's hair. "You can text me whenever you need someone to talk to. It won't be the same, but I'll be here cheering you on." It's not entirely fair. He has so much uncertainty to return to, but at least he won't be alone.

"If it works." Because just like he told Rose earlier, Igor said they could text, but he won't dare believe until he sees it.

His mama used to touch his hair just that way, and he's missed it so much. His sobs redouble.

"You can text me immediately to see what happens. Me or Raven." Either one of them is fine. It's fine.

He keeps stroking Magpie's hair. There, there. "I can help you. If you find a way to reach Wakaba Isshiki, my experiences could provide leverage with regards to cognitive psience. Perhaps it would be useful with Mitsuru Kirijo as well. I was heavily involved in matters of the cognitive sort in Inaba, and the serial murders likely have not yet begun."

He doesn't want to rob Yu and his friends of their journey, but still. Putting eyes on Inaba may minimize the tragedy later. There are ways to handle things.

He snuggles closer. "I can't just go around telling people I know things. They'll lock me up. Experiment on me. Then I'll be even worse off and I won't even have my phone."

Pulling away, he rubs ineffectively at his streaming eyes and nose. He's as gross as a six-year-old. No, more gross. "I've got to find Igor-san. Then maybe I'll have my own persona, and I'll be able to protect myself. But I need to make bonds first. In the real world, where nobody knows who I am, and people are just..."

Awful. Real-world people are awful. All of them.

"Ken may be reasonable to approach. He's your age, and I believe if you spoke to him about Personas, he would understand and could in turn direct you to others such as Mitsuru Kirijo and Yukari Takeba."

Crow digs into his pocket, offering a small handkerchief in case Magpie needs it. "He would be attending the elementary school on Tatsumi Port Island. He's also a rather enthusiastic Featherman fan, so that could be a useful ice breaker as well."

He takes the hanky, turning it over in his hand. It's cute, he thinks. Maybe when he gets back, he'll shoplift some, or even buy them.

Scrubbing his eyes, he thinks about that. "Takeba-san is Pink Argus, right?"

"That's right. I'm not entirely sure if they've started shooting Featherman Victory yet, but if she has taken up the role, then it's likely very early into production." In other words, she hasn't quite become a hit with the children just yet. "I know Neo Featherman was airing at around the same time..."

Perhaps a little before. Hm. It's been years now. "There's also Akihiko Sanada. I'm not entirely sure what he was up to at the time, but he is a strong ally to have on your side."

His notebook's upstairs, with his hopeful lists of names in the centre, rather than the back, and with a heavy lock on the cover. He should add to it, but he doesn't want to get up.

"I know Tatsumi Port Island. I mean, I haven't been there, but I've seen it." He doesn't remember anything odd happening the year he lived nearby, either. "Featherman seems like a good ice breaker. But—" and he bites his lip—"I think I want to look for Haru-san, first. I don't want to rush in, this time, and get things wrong. I want to plan. And—and I want somebody to plan with."

He glances skittishly at Crow, for approval. Imagine him talking to Mitsuru Kirijo, though. That's another thing that seems like a terrible idea. When kids like him mix with rich and powerful people, they get burned up. He didn't care before, but he's seen it happen now.

"Haru-san isn't a bad option. I don't believe she's the sort to discriminate based on class." So he nods and smiles in approval. See? It's okay. "Isshiki-san's daughter would also be a worthwhile ally. She's also deeply invested in Featherman and a skilled hacker, though I'm not entirely sure how adept she is at your current time."

Knowing Futaba? Probably quite skilled.

"How old is she?" He knows a Futaba Sakura, of course, but doesn't know about the connection between her and mysterious cognitive psientist Wakaba Isshiki-san.

"About ten, I believe. Her name is Futaba. Perhaps you've met a version of her already." Either way, there's the connection. Isn't it juicy?

Juicy? That isn't the half of it. How did he miss this? "...Sakura-san is Isshiki-san's daughter?"

Things visibly collide in his head. Like the fact he knows he kills Sakura-san's mother, at least in some worlds. No wonder Amamiya-kun's Futaba-san hadn't given her full name. "But then she won't be Sakura-san. Since I... you know—" Akira-kun is still there—"and I'm not going to do that. Though I guess it could still happen somehow, if she's not warned."

Again, he rubs his eyes, before taking back his cocoa to sip it.

"A warning would be wise. Shido has... other means to tend to those he deems a threat to his goals. Even without an agent in the Metaverse, he could still target her."

But he'll give another supportive squeeze on the shoulder. "Just do what you can. If nothing else, you can say you've tried."

"Yeah." Exhausted, he leans his head back on Crow's shoulder, to finish his cocoa.

"Thanks, oniisan. I know this was a pain." Feeling very daring, and still expecting to be struck down or laughed at, he buries his face back in his mug, heart pounding.

"It wasn't a pain." Though he does chuckle. Crow understands why Magpie would feel self-conscious. "I'm always happy to support you."

The chuckle makes him draw up tighter, but it... it doesn't feel cruel. Not like how his stupid attempts at affection used to be smacked down. Slowly, he relaxes again.

"You'll be sorry you said that, when I'm texting you all the time. Every day. Every minute. You and Raven-kun."

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