Thread by @slug_hypmic

FP/M+ chapter 13 just released. Informal(-ish) summary thread below:
- First half of the Catch Us If You Can drama track
- Based on a quick-ish read, may contain minor errors
- Mute #hypspoiler to avoid
- Please refrain from posting images out of courtesy to the Japanese fans

The chapter opens with Ramuda running down the street, humming to himself and responding to various fangirls calling out to him as he goes. Dice and Gentarou watch the commotion from behind a building (you can tell they're being sneaky because Dice's hood is up). #hypspoiler

Gentarou looks unamused and remarks that it was wise of them to have hid Ramuda. Dice agrees and says that it still turns his stomach to see this. Sure, everyone else may think the person tripping along is their Ramuda, but FP knows better. #hypspoiler

Dice and Gentarou leave the clone and head back to their friend but split up so they're less likely to be noticed.

Meanwhile, in Otome's office in Chuuouku, Ichijiku reports that they planted a new Ramuda in Shibuya but still can't find where the old one went. #hypspoiler

Otome requests that Ichijiku dispatch Kotosarai (lit: word sweeper), which gives Ichijiku pause. Does Otome really think sending out Keitouin is a wise idea? Otome says she understands Ichijiku's misgivings, but Keitouin is VERY good at getting these things done. #hypspoiler

After a pause, Ichijiku salutes and promises to do just that. They'll have this Ramuda issue cleaned up with Ramuda eradicated ASAP. But FP contains more than just Ramuda... what are they going to do with Gentarou and Dice? Otome doesn't answer. #hypspoiler

She rises from her desk and goes to stare out of the window. Eventually, she says they are to be captured and transferred to a high security prison. Ichijiku bows and goes to carry out her duty as Otome, still facing the window, looks troubled. #hypspoiler

Dice, meanwhile, arrives at Ramuda's hiding place (looks like a hotel room) only to find Gentarou already there and somewhat peeved because Ramuda won't let him in. Dice tries knocking on the door himself, and Ramuda demands that Dice say the password to be let in. #hypspoiler

Dice tries to think of a password and comes up with, "We're the coolest, strongest Posse in the world, baby!" complete with exaggerated pose and secondhand-embarrassed Gentarou. Password accepted! Ramuda opens the door and, once everyone's inside, tackle hugs Dice. #hypspoiler

Tired of Ramuda's tomfoolery, Gentarou peels him off and tells him there's no need to keep masking around Gen+Dice. Ramuda insists he's not, but he's trying to cheer himself up. God knows they need a bit of levity right about now. Gentarou agrees and lets it go. #hypspoiler

Dice asks what their next move is, since Ramuda will be found sooner or later if they don't do anything. Gentarou also points out that Chuuouku is moving quickly, as evidenced by the Ramuda clone already in Shubya. On the plus side, Ramuda's good on candy for now - #hypspoiler

- but they shouldn't pin all their hopes on being able to secure more for him. All this serious talk is scaring depressing Ramuda, who says that at this rate, Kotosarai will come in soon. They're a secret police force headed by a woman named Honobono Keitouin. #hypspoiler

Keitouin, Ramuda warns, is not something to be taken lightly. If Gentarou and Dice ever have the misfortune of meeting her, they need to drop everything and run. Dice and Gentarou exchange a worried look. Then Dice chuckles, much to Ramuda's surprise. #hypspoiler

Challenging someone you can't beat? Shit, that sounds like the ultimate gamble! Sign Dice tf up! Gentarou chimes in too, saying that as an author this kind of thing makes him do the 👀 emoji. Yet Ramuda yells at them both to stop. She is NOT someone to fuck with. #hypspoiler

Dice throws his arm around Ramuda's shoulder in an attempt to cheer him up and says they'll be fine. No matter who it is and how tough they are, Dice and Gentarou are here to protect Ramuda from anyone. Ramuda looks like he's about to cry. #hypspoiler

Gentarou promises that FP won't let Chuuouku have their way with Ramuda, but Ramuda says there's no good reason for them to say that. Man, fuck reason! Dice is a gambler, and it's all about intuition, baby! #hypspoiler

Gentarou chimes in too. When there's a will, there's a way, and Gentarou is more than willing. Besides, he says, words have power. Pledging to protect Ramuda will make it happen. Well, in THAT case, Dice is willing to pledge as many times as it takes! #hypspoiler

Dice screams at the top of his lungs, "RAMUDA WILL BE SAVED! RAMUDA WILL BE SAVED! RAMUDA WILL BE SAVED!" Ramuda and Gentarou look at him like he's lost his mind before Gentarou quickly recovers and tells him that three times isn't enough. Do 1000. #hypspoiler

Dice grits its teeth and gets to it (Gentarou's counting) but is interrupted when Ramuda starts laughing and joining in. "I will be saved! I will be saved! I will be saved!" Ramuda asks if that's enough. Gentarou and Dice look at him fondly and say yes, it's perfect. #hypspoiler

Dice and Gentarou head out to go make Ramuda's words a reality, and Gentarou cautions Ramuda to stay put until he hears from them again. Ramuda swears he will and watches them go. On their way out, Gentarou asks if Dice has a plan. #hypspoiler

Not exactly... and Gentarou doesn't have much of one either. Yet before he leaves the hotel, Gentarou grips the door handle and vows that he will do everything he possibly can. He asks Dice to please be careful. With a grin, Dice tells him to do the same. #hypspoiler

But once Gentarou goes, Dice's smile vanishes, and he turns down into a nearby alleyway to place a phone call. As he holds the phone up to his ear, he wonders if it's too late for this recourse anymore.

Back in Ramuda's hotel room, he flops on his bed and sighs. #hypspoiler

Despite the good show he put on for his posse, he doesn't know what to do next. He can try to run away, but that'll kill him. He can try to fight back, but that'll kill him too. Well, he says with a laugh, if he'll die either way, he's better off fighting back! #hypspoiler

Just then, the hotel room phone rings, alarming him. No one but FP knows where he is. He stares at the phone, unwilling to answer...

Gentarou pants as he runs from a group of Party women yelling, "This way! After him!" He manages to lose them by hiding behind a box. #hypspoiler

For them to come after him in broad daylight shows how much danger he's in walking around as is. He pulls out his phone and calls Ichiu, the private investigator from FP/M 8. After bantering on the phone, Gentarou agrees to come down to his office. #hypspoiler

Ah, my apologies - Gentarou is going to an editor's office/publishing office, and I assume he called Ichiu to get the location. (Most of their conversation happens offscreen, so...)

At any rate, Gentarou arrives and asks for Mr. Yanagida in the editorial department. #hypspoiler

Yanagida appears and talks to Gentarou far too familiarly, causing Gentarou to glare at him. Yanagida backs off and jokingly asks if he should use a politer form of address instead. Gentarou ignores this and asks Yanagida to give him "the manuscript". #hypspoiler

Yanagida refuses. This manuscript is an important asset, and as Chuuouku's power grows, its value only increases. Gentarou says his brother risked his life for that manuscript, and he did not write it for money! Yanagida calls him a fool. #hypspoiler

In the publishing world, EVERYTHING is for money. Gentarou realizes that Yanagida wants to use the manuscript to blackmail Chuuouku for money, and Yanagida, chuckling, says he won't deny it. He teases Gentarou: "But you're a 'mere author' now, aren't you? #hypspoiler

Don't you have to at least guess what I'm thinking?" He laughs in Gentarou's face. Gentarou glares at him again but makes a dignified exit.

Dice, too, is running from Chuuouku agents but gets away safely. He plops down behind a stairwell and digs out his phone again. #hypspoiler

However, the call he's placing goes to voicemail. Dice groans. He figured she wouldn't pick up, even if her number is still active. Well, if this doesn't work, he'll have to go see her in person... Just then, his phone rings, scaring him, but it's just Gentarou. #hypspoiler

Gentarou tells him to meet back up at the hotel, so Dice sets off. Yet when he and Gentarou arrive, they're shocked to see a shoe wedged in the doorway. They kick the door open and find the room trashed but with Ramuda nowhere to be found. #hypspoiler

The chapter ends here to be continued next month!