Thread by @slug_hypmic

FP/M+ 9 just released in Japanese! It's the Puppet drama track. Informal summary thread below:
- Based on a quick skim, may contain errors
- Mute #hypspoiler to avoid
- Pls don't post images to be courteous to JPN fans
- I need to be quick today so going extra fast

The chapter begins with Dice and Gentarou sitting in a cafe listening to a Chuuouku representative talking about the upcoming DRB. Dice asks Gentarou if he thinks Ramuda's been acting weird lately. Gentarou agrees, he's been flustered lately, especially - #hypspoiler

- around his lollipops. Dice wonders if maybe Ramuda is just hungry, but Gentarou reminds him that Ramuda isn't Dice. Which means, Dice points out, that they won't know the reason unless they ask him. He's all for going to see Ramuda now, but Gentarou pauses him. #hypspoiler

He says that Ramuda may want his privacy and that if he needs help, he'll come ask them. Dice doesn't quite look like he buys this, but Gentarou gets up to go anyway, since he has places to be. What place, Dice asks? The hospital. #hypspoiler

Is he sick? No, just visiting someone. Dice tells him to say "Get well soon" from Dice to whoever it is. Gentarou pauses and then smiles, saying "thank you" to Dice. After he goes, Dice ponders the issue of frantic/flustered Ramuda. #hypspoiler

The scene then cuts to Samatoki's office [I believe] wherein Samatoki faces Ramuda. Samatoki asks what Ramuda is doing there. Ramuda doesn't answer but instead asks if Samatoki ran into Nemu just now. Didn't she seem different? #hypspoiler

Samatoki remembers Nemu clutching her head and crying from the pain, muttering that she needs to arrest Samatoki. Samatoki asks how Ramuda knows about this, and Ramuda says it's because he brainwashed her with a True Hypmic. #hyspoiler

He then explains what a True Hypmic is and how no one can actually use it because it's too powerful. Samatoki, confused, asks how Ramuda used it then. Ramuda amends his earlier statement, saying it wasn't exactly correct. Samatoki then asks why the hell - #hypspoiler

- Ramuda is even telling him this. What good does it do either of them? Ramuda giggles and says he doesn't know either. Samatoki demands to know who Ramuda is working for, which Ramuda takes as his cue to leave. #hypspoiler

Samatoki, however, won't let him go without a fight. Rapping ensues. Ramuda wins. Samatoki asks him how come he's never used a True Hypmic on Samatoki before, considering how they're fairly equally matched in skill level. #hypspoiler

Ramuda says that wouldn't be playing fair, to which Samatoki goes, "You? Fair?" Ramuda begins to reprimand him and say the opposite, but he's cut off by a violent coughing fit which results in blood gushing out of his mouth. #hypspoiler

Samatoki takes this as an opportunity to pick up the offensive again. He also tries to kick Ramuda, but in the smoke produced by his rap attack, Ramuda has vanished. Outside, Ramuda makes an urgent phone call to Ichijiku. #hypspoiler

As the phone rings, he remembers talking to Ichijiku earlier. "Are you sure I should tell him what happened to Nemu? Wouldn't that clear up things with him and Ichirou?" She tells him not to worry about that. #hypspoiler

Once she picks up, Ramuda tells her the job is done. She asks what's up with Gen and Dice, and he says it's the same old story. She reminds him to report back the moment anything changes. He asks her to cut the crap and tell him why he's monitoring them anyway. #hypspoiler

Again, she says he doesn't need to know. He then tells her the effects of the candy are wearing off. She goes, "And?" He asks for her to give him more, but she says "No, I'm busy" and hangs up on him. Pissed, he stalks off, resolving to discover whatever - #hypspoiler

- Chuuouku weakness Gen and Dice are hiding.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Gentarou holds the hand of a person in a hospital bed. He says that being in the DRB is being in the palm of "their" hand but getting close to them is still a big achievement. #hypspoiler

He vows to take revenge on those who put the person in the hospital bed in this state. Just then, he gets a text from Ramuda asking him to come to his (Ramuda's) office. Gentarou tells the person in the bed, his brother, that he'll be back later. #hypspoiler

At Ramuda's office, Ramuda serves up a metric fuckton of tea and sweets which Dice tucks into immediately. Gentarou chides him for his poor nutritional choices, and Ramuda tells him he sounds like a mom. #hypspoiler

Much to Dice's horror, Gentarou jokes that he's so glad his little boy Dicey has friends like Ramuda to play with. Dice tells him off and says his real mom is nothing like that but then stops himself. Ramuda prompts him to explain more, but Dice is reluctant. #hypspoiler

Gentarou makes Ramuda stop and reminds him that everyone has their own secrets they should mind. What kind of secrets, Ramuds asks? Gentarou jokes (in a truly horrifying way) that he's secretly Dice's brother. This almost fools Dice for a moment. #hypspoiler

Ramuda starts pressing Dice again, and now Gentarou tells him off further, saying that everyone has things they don't like other people to know. Ramuda gives up and apologizes for prying. Finally, Dice asks why they're all there in the first place. #hypspoiler

Ramuda wanted to talk about the DRB. He's disappointed that they tried as hard as they could and still lost. They don't think it's a matter of being less skilled than MTR, but maybe they don't trust each other as much. #hypspoiler

To fix that, Ramuda suggests that they share secrets with each other. Dice goes first and reveals that he took out a loan under Ramuda and Gentarou's names. Ramuda goes, "That's it?" while Gentarou laughs. Next is Gentarou's turn. #hypspoiler

He says that in truth, he actually isn't Gentarou Yumeno. Dice yells at him for talking nonsense, and then it's Ramuda's turn. Ramuda says he has nothing to hide and Gentarou goes, "In that case, neither do I." #hypspoiler

Ramuda jokes that they're all good people since they don't have anything to hide, but he looks bothered. Dice asks what's wrong, and Ramuda is about to say nothing, when an attack comes on and he collapses in a spray of blood. #hypspoiler

Gentarou jumps into action and yells at Dice to call an ambulance. Ramuda begs him not to and asks for a candy instead. When Dice says now isn't the time, Ramuda yells at him for the candy. Gentarou finds one in his jacket pocket and gives it to him. #hypspoiler

That puts him out of immediate danger, but Gentarou says he needs to go to the hospital. Ramuda says no and when pressed quotes back what Gentarou said earlier. Dice wants to insist he gets help, but Gentarou reminds Dice that EVERYONE here has secrets from others. #hypspoiler

Assuring them that he's okay, Ramuda makes them leave and then stands in his empty office. He calls Ichijiku and asks to meet her. The chapter ends on his final thoughts: "I'm... not ready to die yet..." #hypspoiler