After the card incident, Erie convinced Juliet to go for a walk and get some fresh air.
Mostly because Erie was sure that Juliet might actually blow a gasket from rising blood pressure.
So after heading down in the elevator, ignoring Lore who seemed to be in the midst of a heavy deepdive into marriage laws regarding artificial intelligences and cross-referencing international spousal recognition policies, Erie and Juliet headed out onto the streets of Roppongi.
Juliet took a look around and said, "...It's weird. This place is flashy like New York, but it feels... safe?" Her curly black hair shifted with the night wind as she tucked her hands in the pocket of her pink hoodie.
Erie adjusted her own hoodie, a black one she threw on as they left, and then tucked her hands in the pockets of her jeans. "Yeah. It's like LA at night, but like... actually well lit. Also." She shifted her gaze at Juliet's outfit and said, "Are you really just wearing a skirt with a hoodie? No pants?"
Juliet blinked and then her face turned a bit red. "I wanted to try something new, alright?"
"I was wondering why you stopped in the bathroom before we left, but you wanted to doll up a bit, huh?" Erie teased Juliet and said, "Looking for your Romeo?"
Juliet rolled her eyes and said, "As if. It's just habit." She adjusted the strap of her blue shoulder bag and said, "Looking pretty makes things easier. Usually."
"That or more dangerous." Erie shrugged. "But I guess pretty privilege and money privilege combos pretty well together, huh?"
"...Something like that."
The pair walked along the streets for a bit, taking in the neon signs, lit up store displays, and the crowd.
Juliet hummed and said, "There's not as many foreigners around here as I thought there'd be."
"Well, we're in the stupid rich part of Japan." Erie shrugged. "If we're talking U.S. dollars, every restaurant here runs 50 dollars at least per meal."
"Huh? Isn't that pretty cheap?"
Erie blinked. "...Right. Talking to a trust fund baby."
Juliet's ears turned red. "I'm not a trust fund baby." She scanned the surroundings and then quietly said, "It's more blood money, okay?"
"Pft." Erie shook her head. "I can NOT believe you actually said that."
Juliet's face turned an even darker shade of red, but she said, "I don't like lying to friends, okay?"
Erie paused and then let out a warm smile. "Friends, huh?" She glanced up at the night sky.
The stars were different here in Japan. She'd noticed it a bit before, but the lack of smog and light pollution made the night sky look different. Because of that, she could see the stars out for once.
"...It's a bit cheesy... But I used to pretend airplanes were shooting stars, you know? And-"
"Can we pretend that airplanes-"
"I SWEAR to god." Erie laughed. "I'm being serious here, Julie!"
Juliet smiled and said, "Yeah. I know. Just couldn't let it get too serious." She hesitated and said, "...I'm not good with serious things."
"...Great. Now you made it awkward." Erie said that, but she kept smiling. "...Anyway. I just wanted to say I used to wish for friends like this. So I'm glad I have some now. You and Hope at least. The other girls in Project MirAIs... Eeeeh."
Juliet laughed and said, "That's rude to our senpais... but after meeting Rin and Hana in person... I get it. They're fun... but they're a bit, uh. Extra, right?"
"That's SEVERELY downplaying it... but yeah." Erie laughed too and said, "Honestly, I think we're probably the most normal girls? I mean, including Hope."
"Considering that Grandpa was a don and you tried to off yourself, I think that's ironic."
"Hey! Only I get to make jabs about my mortality!" Erie teased back. "Also, what's with the sudden lore drop?"
"Felt like a good time for it." Juliet shrugged.
Idle chatter filled the air as Juliet and Erie walked along the streets. Japanese, of course. But since Myth Inc. had crazy good tech, due to the smart watches that John gave them after the lunch, it sounded like English.
As for what was being talked about...
"Whoa! Look at those two!"
"Do you think they're foreign models?"
"The girl with the red hair is so pretty..."
"That girl with the black hair looks like she's from Hollywood!"
Erie's mouth twitched and she glanced at Juliet. "Should we pretend we don't understand them?"
Juliet smiled and said, "It's fine." She idly twirled her black hair and said, "But Hollywood, huh? You know, I used to want to be an actor on Broadway and try to get into Hollywood."
Erie hummed and said, "You've got the looks for it." She gave Juliet a once over and said, "You probably could still get in if you wanted."
Juliet laughed and said, "Thanks. I'm flattered... But you've got the looks for it too, you know?"
"Pft, me?" Erie waved at her still thin body. "Maybe after I get a few more proper meals in me. But I look more like a ghost than Hope would with her real hair color."
Juliet tilted her head, giving Erie a closer look. "...I didn't notice. But you are pretty thin, huh? Guess it's a good thing I'm handling kitchen duties. All of us could use proper food after what we've been through."
"...Yeah." Erie sighed. "We really could. I'm still recovering from literally being on the verge of death. You were an ACTUAL starving musician. And Hope... well, struggle meals became her every day so bad that she still prefers Crafts Mac and Cheese with Ketchup."
Juliet wrinkled her nose. "...I'll convert her. I swear on my Nonna's grave."
Erie laughed. "Good luck with that... but you were saying about Hollywood?"
"Oh, right." Juliet nodded. "I was going to be an actor... but then I found out what goes on behind the scenes. It's not like... COMPLETELY bad. But it's incredibly toxic. And it's easy to start wanting to do... things. You know?"
"Ah." Erie nodded. "No, I get that. It wasn't 'exactly' the same at that black company... but a few of the girls were doing that to get more funding and stuff."
Juliet blinked. "Black company? ...Wait, you're saying that Variant Hue was using the same tactics as Hollywood?"
Erie shrugged. "It's the entertainment industry, right? I guess the meta's the same everywhere you go unless you're someone like Mister John who can throw enough money to overrun a country." She sighed. "...I don't know any details. But people talked. It's pretty implied what some of the more popular talents did to get ahead."
"...Ew."
"Right?" Erie let out a bitter laugh. "And they still had the nerve to stream like nothing happened... or play up the girlfriend experience. Ugh." She shook her head. "Forget about it. Still haven't processed that gunk."
Juliet nodded. "That's fine. Let's talk about... Hm. How about Hope?" She smiled and said, "I think she's a great leader, right?"
"I dunno about leader... but she'd definitely the perfect person to be like our group's mascot." Erie gestured towards herself and said, "I mean, I'm DEFINITELY not idol center material. Are you?"
Juliet quickly shook her head. "No way. I'm more of a background supporter person... I used to want the spotlight. But I think just playing music for the ones who support me is enough."
Erie nodded. "Yeah. Same here. But Hope... she's a bit different. I think she wants to shine for everyone."
Juliet looked amused and said, "Shine, huh?"
Erie blushed and said, "You know what I mean. Hope..." She trailed off and thought about Hope. "...She's definitely clumsy. She also doesn't know a lot of things, and she's a complete normy. But she has 'that,' you know? The sorta vibe that makes you want to see her win and cheer her on."
Juliet was quiet, and then she said, "I know what you mean. She's like an angel, isn't she? Someone almost too nice to exist." She kicked a rock out of the way and said, "...People like her usually don't last very long."
"...Tell me about it." Erie murmured, remembering a few people she once knew. But then she shook her head and smiled. "But that's why she's got us, right?"
Juliet smiled too and said, "Yeah. Since our clumsy leader's working hard, we've gotta clear the way for her to keep running."
"Mmhm..."
Erie and Juliet walked in a comfortable silence. Cars passed by on the road, and more people passed by, glancing over.
But the two just kept walking, making a loop around the block.
Eventually, Erie said, "This is nice. Never knew you could just... talk. And just waste time."
Juliet nodded. "Yeah. ...Is it bad that this isn't normal for us?"
"Pft. Probably." Erie chuckled and then noticed a konbini around the corner. "Hey, they've got those Anime fried chicken things and hand rolls. Looks like it's on sale too. Wanna split one?"
"Of course! I've been curious about how they really taste too. I've had a few in the Japanese import stores in New York, but you've gotta have junkfood in its original climate."
Erie snorted. "Considering what passes for junkfood back in the states, I think this is just 'food,' Julie."
"...Fair." Julie laughed. "Come on. We can get some ice cream for Hope too on the way back."