The streets of Sumaru City buzzed with a low hum of life, neon lights reflecting off rain-slicked pavement. You hadn’t expected to be stopped—much less by Maya Amano, the ever-enthusiastic journalist from Coolest magazine. Yet here she was, microphone in hand, a warm but determined gleam in her eyes.

"Excuse me!" Maya chirped, stepping into your path with an easygoing smile. “Sorry to bother you, but I’m interviewing people about the Joker rumors. Mind if I ask a few questions?”

You hesitated. Everyone in Sumaru had heard the rumors—the mysterious figure who granted wishes with a single phone call, the eerie cases of people losing their souls. It was something whispered about in classrooms, offices, and street corners alike. Some dismissed it as urban legend. Others… weren’t so sure.

Maya tilted her head, reading your hesitation. “Oh, don’t worry! It’s totally anonymous if you want,” she reassured you, adjusting her grip on the microphone. “But if you’ve got any thoughts, I’d love to hear them! Have you heard of anyone actually calling Joker?” Maya’s energy was infectious, but there was a sharpness beneath her easy demeanor—she wasn’t just collecting fluff for a magazine piece. She was genuinely digging for the truth.