[The episode in the setting of Hyakkiyako where the Ninjutsu Research Club meet in their unofficial clubroom.]

Michiru: ...
Tsukuyo: President. Here's the tea.
Michiru: Ah. Thanks, Tsukuyo-chan.
Tsukuyo: U-Umm... Izuna is running late. I wonder what's taking her so long. ...! Did she forget where the clubroom is?
Michiru: (sweating face) Huh? I don't think she did. I made sure to message and put her on our roster.
Tsukuyo: Okay. Maybe she's still sorting things out since the phenomenon. I know Hyakkiyako is also busy updating their school records with every club.
Michiru: That's why this meeting is so important. The Ninjutsu Research Club needs to take a giant leap forward if we're going to become an official club. Tsukuyo, do you know what are the most important things to make a club?
Tsukuyo: (surprised face) Huh? Umm... is it... members?
Michiru: Yep... Keep going...
Tsukuyo: Umm... I-I guess there's the paperwork, funding, an-and a remarkable reputation like the President's "Michiruchi, a Girl's Ninja Scroll" channel.
Michiru: (sweating face) Ack, going a bit too far.
Tsukuyo: Oh! S-Sorry...
Michiru: It's fine. Though you're right. A club needs all that kind of stuff, but I'm trying to point out what we're missing.
Tsukuyo: ...?
Michiru: I'm talking about an official clubroom! Last year, we were stuck in the same place without any funds. Relocating our base from place to place, getting by with the basic necessities... It was okay, but this time, we have to make it even better!
Tsukuyo: R-Really?! Does that mean confronting the Yin-Yang club?
Michiru: (sweating face) Uh... No. I'm not that confident yet to ask them. Instead, what we need to do is show everyone that we're good enough to be official.
Tsukuyo: But d-didn't we already do a lot? I-I mean, the Ninjutsu Research Club helped so many people several times. I think every student leader in the school knows about us.
Michiru: Ooh, but what good is a redo if we can't make something more out of it? The previous we did last time won't cut it. We need to think bigger. That's what the next meeting will be about, getting a better idea how to make use of this repeat!
Tsukuyo: ...! U-Understood President! I also think the club could become bigger than before. May-Maybe we can the Sensei for help too.
Michiru: Good thinking! Sensei-dono has been an amazing lord who request our services time and time again. They'll surely pull though for us if we explain the plan to them. But first, let's wait until all of us are together before we plan the meet.
*footsteps*
Michiru & Tsukuyo: ...?
Izuna: (bursts open the door) Sorry I'm late senpai!
Tsukuyo: Izuna! Welcome back!
Michiru: Glad you could finally make it! We were just about to start the meeting.
Izuna: Cool, I can wait! ...Actually, could I say something?
Michiru: Hmm? What is it?
Izuna: Izuna has a cool story to share with everyone. This morning, I had a special meeting with an amazing lady! Nin-nin!
Michiru & Tsukuyo: ...?
[A flashback occurs as Izuna is telling her morning story of the random encounter. The story begins with Izuna dashing through the D.U. district to meet up with her club members...]

Izuna: (running through the streets) Oh no! I'm going to be late to the meeting... (I got so busy writing down all my ninja skills from last year on scrolls, I completely forgot about it. But not to worry! I can still make it if I run as hard as I can!)
*tap-tap* *tap-tap*
[As Izuna dashes to the next corner, a long white stick pokes out the next corner at feet level. Izuna does not see the stick at the bottom and trips on it, sending her flying forwards...]

Izuna: (panicked expression + falling) Ahh!!!
[Before hitting the cement pavement, Izuna closes her eyes and braces for the impact. A few seconds later, her eyes are still closed but doesn't feel the pavement. After opening one eye then the next, she finds herself in the air with something stuck underneath the back of her shirt that is holding her up...]
???: Hmm... Who's this on the end of my walking stick?
Izuna: ...! (turns around to the direction of the voice)
[Izuna turns to the person holding the other end of the stick. She sees a fox lady with chestnut brown hair, wearing a plain white yukata, being as tall as a Tsukuyo, and has her eyes completely closed while speaking...]

Lady in White: ...
Izuna: H-Hello!
Lady in White: ... Hello. Who is this?
Izuna: Oh, my name is Izuna! Nice to meet you! Nin nin!
Lady in White: Nin... nin?
Izuna: (nervous expression) Umm... It's my way of greeting people!
Lady in White: I see. (drops her walking stick and places Izuna down) My apologies for startling you. I didn't sense your presence fast enough.
Izuna: Ah! Don't worry! I'm not hurt! Thank you for looking out for me.
Lady in White: I say, you should know it's bad luck to be running so quickly without properly checking your surroundings. Someone could have been hurt.
Izuna: (sweating expression) Uhh... I'm sorry. It's my fault. I was so distracted trying to meet up with my friends, I completely forget to see what was up front. (bows her head) I'm sorry for almost running into you.
Lady in White: As was I. (smiling expression) Excuse me, don't be so discouraged. I am simply teasing. And here, you dropped this.
Izuna: ...! My ninja scroll! Thank you! Luckily it doesn't look damaged.
Lady in White: A ninja scroll? Funny, I had not realized there be ninjas in the city.
Izuna: Of course! Izuna is a ninja in training too!
Lady in White: ...Is that so.
Izuna: Are you interested in ninjas too?
Lady in White: Oh. I wouldn't say that. There's... a special place in my heart for "ninjas."
Izuna: Wow... that sounds so cool! I need to write that down and share it with the President later.
Lady in White: ...Little nin-nin, is there a path across from here?
Izuna: ...? Yes! We're standing at a four-way intersection with different crosswalks.
Lady in White: Understood. Then, I'll be heading in this direction.
Izuna: ...! Wait! The crossing light isn't green yet! (The pedestrian light switches from red to green) ...Okay. Now it is.
Lady in White: Thank you.
Izuna: Izuna is heading the opposite direction, so good luck miss!
Lady in White: And to you as well. Farewell. (brings the walking stick forward)
*tap-tap* *tap-tap*
Izuna: Hmm? I wonder why she taps her stick like that?
[At the same time further ahead in the same area of the D.U. district, Fubuki and Kirino are on patrol when they receive an announcement from Kanna regarding one of the seven prisoners...]

Kanna: (long-range comms) All units report in. One of the seven prisoners, Wakamo, has broken out of confinement and is on the run! She's stolen a Valkyrie armored truck passing through downtown D.U. and is heading towards Schale! Capture her before she reaches her target!
Wakamo: (onboard the Valkyrie Armored Truck) Sensei... please wait for me. I'm on my way!!
Kirino: Fubuki! Come on, we need to go and stop Wakamo!
Fubuki: (sad expression) Aww... but I was just about to take a bite into my first donut today. Can't we ignore the call, just this once?
Kirino: We can't! Wakamo is coming here any moment, and we need to be there to stop her. Just like last year, we need to protect the safety of the city's citizens from the Fox of Calamity.
Fubuki: But we did that a ton of times already. Even with everything reset, we're stuck doing the same old routine over and over again. Things haven't really changed much, just like the flavor of the limited strawberry frosted donut, hehe.
Kirino: Put away the donut and take it seriously! Sure, we may have no idea how we ended up here, but that doesn't mean we should stop now. Students are running rampant throughout the city, citizens are caught in the confusion, and Public Deputy Director Konoka has decided to take the rest of her vacation days before coming back to work. Things may not be the same in our academy or the year, but what hasn't changed is upholding peace and safety for everyone! So come one Fubuki, we have a criminal to catch!
Fubuki: Man, is it me or have you gotten even more serious, Kirino-san?
Kirino: (surprised face) Huh?! I don't think so. I think this is how I always act.
Fubuki: Yeah... sounds about right. Okay, let's go find ourselves a stolen armored truck.
Kirino: (notices something in the distance) ...! There it is!
Fubuki: ...!
[Wakamo is seen on top of the moving armored truck as it drives past Fubuki and Kirino...]
Wakamo: Fufu~, not this time Valkyrie. Nothing will stop me from reuniting with Sensei again!
Kirino: It drove right past us! Get back here!
Fubuki: (shocked face) Wait! There's a civilian crossing the street!
[Up ahead, the same intersection where Izuna and the stranger were is in sight. While Wakamo's attention is still towards Kirino and Fubuki, she does not notice the lady in white crossing the street behind her. Izuna sees the incoming truck and is too late to react quick enough...]

Izuna: (serious expression) ...! Lady! Watch out!
[As Izuna attempts to dash toward the stranger several feet away, the high-speed armored truck is about to hit the person in a matter of seconds. In a single black screen, the sound of a click echoes the scene followed by a sudden change in the wind...]

*click*
*WHOOSH*
(sound of steel sheathing...) *clink*
[At the sound of a clink, the armored truck stolen by Wakamo makes contact with the blind lady. From Izuna's perspective, the truck hits the lady at first glance, however, the lady's body does not get sent forwards. Instead, it appears as though the lady passes through the truck. The truck maintains its speed and goes through the lady, and the lady comes out the other end of the vehicle, standing completely still. By the time Wakamo turns forward, the truck had already passed the lady. After checking the front, she turns her head to the back once more and sees the White Lady everyone kept shouting out to...]

Wakamo: (confused expression) ...? (The person... was she in the truck's path?) ...! (notices something below her)
[As the truck drives away, Wakamo loses balance and looks down at the truck. Then, she realizes the middle of the truck had a huge gap, as if it was split in half. The separated truck crashes onto the streets into a big fiery explosion...]
*CRASH* *BOOM*
[Fubuki and Kirino catch up and see Wakamo get out of the explosion unharmed, including the crossing pedestrian...]

Fubuki: (relieved expression) Whew. Looks like she missed them. That was lucky!
Kirino: Come on! We need to apprehend her before she hurts anyone else!
[As Wakamo runs away, Fubuki and Kirino give chase before she gets out of their sight. Meanwhile, Izuna runs up to the lady again to make sure she was okay...]
Lady in White: (unfazed expression) I say... Incoming traffic on a right of way... Quite the eccentric life in this era.
Izuna: (panicked expression) Lady! Are you all right?! Are you hurt anywhere?
Lady in White: Oh, of course.
Izuna: (relieved expression) Ha... ...! Follow me, we need to get a safe distance from the street!
[After Izuna guides the lady in white off the street, they arrive at a city square with a crowd of people up ahead...]

Izuna: (worried expression) Izuna saw the armored truck driving in your direction, so I was afraid something happened to you...
Lady in White: An armored truck... no wonder it sounded different from a normal truck.
Izuna: (confused face) ...? Lady didn't see the truck coming?
Lady in White: No, not at all. After all, I am blind.
Izuna: (shocked face) !!? B-Blind!? (That's...)
Izuna: (sparkling eyes) (SO Cool!!! I never met a blind person before! Oh... so that's why she was a walking stick, to check where she's going.)
Blind Lady in White: Although, I find it terrible young minds these days don't check what's forward before crossing. Such behavior can lead to awful consequences.
Izuna: ...! (sad expression) ...
Blind Lady in White: (senses Izuna's distress) ...? What's wrong child? I sense the sound of your beating heart drop.
Izuna: (sad expression) ... You're right. Izuna failed in protecting you. A good ninja always protects their lord and the innocent. If I could not accomplish such an important task, how can I face my lord with such bad behavior? (worried expression) Mmm... I need to get much better, more than ever...
Blind Lady in White: ... Pfft. *chuckle* Hehe.
Izuna: (confused face) ...?
Blind Lady in White: (smiling expression) Pfft. Me? In need of protection? What an interesting thing to hear. Do not fear little one. Your lord would not punish you should you fail. Should you had not tried, then a disappointment would be in order. However, you tried to help and that's what mattered. Tell me, when the scene of my demise entered your sight, what was the first thing that echoed your thoughts?
Izuna: (deep thought) I... I didn't think! I followed my heart and tried my hardest to reach out and help! Nin nin!
Blind Lady in White: ...What an honest answer. (pats Izuna's head)
Izuna: (surprised face) ...!
Blind Lady in White: Actions speak louder than words; inaction neither speaks nor do. Always remember that. And believe when I say, (opens her eyes slightly, showing the pale white pupils) I am not someone to be protected. Be proud of yourself. Your action is befitting of one who protects.
Izuna: ...! (cheerful expression) You think so?
Blind Lady in White: Yes. You're perfectly fine the way you are. On the other hand, (pokes the tip of Izuna's nose) you're still far from a full-fledged ninja, isn't that right?
Izuna: Right!
Blind Lady in White: Wonderful. Now that's settled, it's time to part ways once more. (starts walking away while tapping her walking stick)
*tap-tap* *tap-tap*
Izuna: (waves goodbye) Bye nice lady! Will I ever see you again?
Blind Lady in White: Hmm... (sarcastic tone) Maybe, if you look hard enough.
[As Izuna continues to wave her hand, the blind lady in white disappears into the crowd. In a blink of an eye when a single pedestrian overlaps her figure, the lady disappears instantly from a single pass. Her presence had completely erased, and her actions made it look as though she was truly a ghost of unnatural ability.
Back in the present, Michiru and Tsukuyo are caught up to Izuna's wild tale...]

Izuna: ...And the lady completely disappeared without a trace! Even I couldn't see her anywhere after she walked into the crowd. So, what do you think?
Michiru: (speechless + terrified expression) ...
Tsukuyo: (scared expression) I-Izuna, are you sure that wasn't a g-ghost you saw? I never heard of a person phasing through a truck before.
Michiru: (disbelief expression) She sounds like one of those urban legends in Hyakkiyako. A spirit dressed in white clothes and haunts the streets...
Izuna: But that's what I saw! She was real! She even pat my head!
Michiru: (deep thought) Maybe in your imagination. Hmm... that actually gives me a good idea! Let's make our next ninja video about techniques while blind! That'll surely attract more viewers. Tsukuyo, get the lighting and camera. We'll go find a filming spot as soon as possible.
Tsukuyo: President, wh-what about the meeting?
Michiru: It can wait. I need to get this video while it's still hot on the trail. It's probably the coolest and more original idea that I could come up with this year. Now let's head out, Ninjutsu Research Club.
Izuna & Tsukuyo: Yes President!
Michiru: Also, Izuna, see if you can contact Sensei-dono. They can come along and help us with this new breakthough.
Izuna: (excited face) ...! On it! (messages Sensei on Momo Friends)
[Meanwhile in the Shanghaijing district at the Black Tortoise Promenade restaurant, Rumi and the chefs are hard at work serving customers.]

Black Tortoise Promenade Member A: Come one, come all! The delicacies of the Black Tortoise Promenade are open for business. Come on down to the Bamboo Shoot Panda Diner where we have a variety of soups to choose from. We've also improved on the secret sauce for several of our tofu specialties!
Black Tortoise Promenade Member B: Forget about the tofu! The true pearl of the Promenade is the Great Mountain Chicken! Our restaurant has mastered the technique of boiling chicken in a clay pot, and now it tastes even better than before! The texture, the aroma, and the shining brown meat is the best chicken there is.
Black Tortoise Promenade Member A: Please, steamed chicken is a common delicacy everywhere.
Black Tortoise Promenade Member B: I don't want to hear it from the tofu-monger who thought it was a good idea to put actual grass in the sauce.
Black Tortoise Promenade Member A: It was bamboo! Yours is no different! The recipe hasn't improved that much since last year!
Black Tortoise Promenade Member B: (angry expression) What was that!?
Black Tortoise Promenade Member A: (angry expression) You want to go?!
Rumi: (steps in to mediate) Guys, cut it out. Save that enthusiasm for the customers.
Black Tortoise Promenade Member A: Pr-President!
Black Tortoise Promenade Member B: We-We didn't mean it! Excuse us! (leaves the scene with the other member)
Rumi: Glad everyone's still hyped as ever. The phenomenon made a mess with organizing recipes and supplies, but things are finally back on track.
???: Glad to hear everything in the Promenade is doing well. (Kisaki reveals herself to Rumi)
Rumi: Kisaki-chan! To what do I owe the Genryumon's student council president's visit?
Kisaki: You can relax Rumi-san. I'm simply stepping out of the office for a bit.
Rumi: Uh-huh. Does executive officer Mina-san know about your "visit?"
Kisaki: No, I'm "incognito" at the moment. Things have been hectic as of recent, so much so I cannot leave Genryumon for weeks on end. Thankfully, opportunity arose when Genryumon members were dispatched to quell Gehenna students that were causing trouble downtown. Once it started, I grabbed the nearest disguise and headed out the nearest exit.
Rumi: Oh! By disguise, did you use a Genryumon outfit or a Black Tortoise member attire?
Kisaki: Neither. My disguise for the Plum Blossum Garden suited the escape just fine.
Rumi: Gotcha... So, how have things been besides work?
Kisaki: Hmm... The occasion of the repeated loop has thrown the state of affairs in a whirlwind of chaos. The search for one of the seven prisoners, quelling disputes in the district over changes that happened last year, and the subsequent records that went missing since the reset. The list goes on and on without end...
Rumi: I feel the same. The Plum Blossom Garden have their own share of problems too. I heard Instructor Shun is frustrated and jealous everyone gets to spend another year of their youth a second time. Even Saya and Kokona are having trouble calming down her tantrums.
Kisaki: (sweating face) Right...
[Suddenly, the two Black Tortoise Promenade Members burst through the door with panicked expressions...]
Black Tortoise Promenade Member A: (panicked expression) President! President!
Rumi: ...? What is it?
Black Tortoise Promenade Member B: (surprised face) Eh!? Why is the Genryumon head here!?
Black Tortoise Promenade Member A: Hey, we have bigger problems to worry about! It's "her" again! The "fat pig!"
Kisaki: (surprised face) !!?
Black Tortoise Promenade Member B: (panicked expression) Wh-What do we do!?
Rumi: Stay calm everyone. Take her to the "VIP" section and away from the other customers. Make sure she has as much privacy as she wants.
Black Tortoise Promenade: Yes President! (leave immediately)
Kisaki: (confused face) Who's here?
Rumi: Oh, don't worry, it's one of our new "regulars" at the Black Tortoise Promenade. She's a big~ fan with the members.
Kisaki: Most of the Black Tortoise seem wary of her. And why give her a nickname as "fat pig?" It's quite insulting.
Rumi: (unfazed expression) Well... None of them are wrong.
Kisaki: ...? What do you mean not wrong?
Rumi: Each time she's arrives in the Promenade, she orders one of everything on the menu! Can you believe that?
Kisaki: (shocked face) !!? Do my ears work?
Rumi: That they do. When she first arrived, she couldn't fit through the front door with her chubby stature. After she finally entered, there wasn't a single chair that could handle her weight! So, she requested a pillow to kneel on and the biggest table we had. After ordering the entire menu, the food piled on the table and she started to eat everything till the plates were completely clean. By the way, her size was big enough to reach the table while kneeling, her fingers were so big she had to pinch the chopsticks with two fingers, and she's as round as big panda from head to toe! Hence, the nickname "fat pig!"
Kisaki: (sweating face) ...And this is a real person?
Rumi: (sparkling eyes) Yeah! I finally met someone who can eat as much as they please! It fires me up just to cook and serve everything I have. Although, her astounding appetite and remarkable size does scare off the customers, so we had to resort making a private area specifically for her.
Kisaki: An extravagant circumstance for an extra-ordinary person... You don't seem to mind her company.
Rumi: I don't mind single bit. She eats well, cleans the plate well, and pays in full plus a good tip.
Kisaki: Sounds like the Rumi-san I know.
*Beep* *Beep*
Kisaki: ...! (checks phone) ...Excuse me, it looks like my time is up. I need to head back to Genryumon.
Rumi: Of course! Stop by anytime when you're free! I've got loads of recipes and ingredients to try out for your next visit.
[As Kisaki walks past the VIP area covered behind a layer of curtains, she notices the dark silhouette of a large round, bloated individual. The shadow is three times her size and has features of round ears on the top of their head. She could also hear the sounds of munching through the thin walls...]
*munch* *munch* *munch*
Kisaki: (shocked face) ...! (What a huge shadow! No wonder everyone seems so frightened. It's best I do not disturb them, whoever they are...) (leaves the area)
To be continued... Episode 6: Content