Ren stands next to her, clothed in the outfit he tried for so long not to let anyone see. But it's the only one he can summon, now, and some things are more important than his own fear. So today, in full view of Futaba and Crow and everyone else, he's the wraith that's haunted the Metaverse back home for years, draped in ragged black cloth with a blank, inhuman mask over his face.

"It'll be fine," he murmurs to Futaba. "No fucking way any of Shido's guys are a match for you." He's about to say more, but his phone vibrates; he glances down and finds the message they've been waiting for. "Incoming."