Mission 108 (
Summary[]
Melinda thinks Yor is a fellow believer in divination
Inside Lunaluna☽Selena's tent, Yor and Melinda are surprised to see each other. Melinda explains to Yor that fortune-telling is a hobby of hers and begs Yor to keep it a secret, as dabbling in the occult would cause problems for her and Donovan, and Yor agrees. Melinda continues, talking about how she enjoys the occult, and she begins to feel embarrassed about it. However, Yor admires how Melinda tries to pursue what she loves without causing trouble for anyone, which moves Melinda while also making her believe that Yor is also interested in divination, overjoying her.
Melinda receives Anya's request about Damian
As this happens, Anya watches in shock as she feels she will fall behind in her Friendship Scheme battle with Yor, so she interrupts them to ask about her fortune, asking Melinda to tell her how she can become friends with Damian. Melinda is taken aback by Anya's request and is shocked to learn that Damian is also at the festival, so she asks Anya to keep her secret in exchange for a reading. Internally, Melinda worries that Donovan might believe that she brought Damian to the festival and what he may think of it. She wishes Damian would go away but also wants to spend time with him at the festival, then expresses joy to know that someone wants to be Damian's friend, which perplexes Anya.
Seven tarot cards for Anya
Melinda begins the reading and arranges seven tarot cards at her divination table, where she will see how Anya can befriend Damian by looking at her past, present, and future. The first card is the "Four of Cups," which Melinda admits to not understanding and apologizes for it. She moves on to another card, "Death," and tells Anya that "the Grim Reaper is right there beside you," which shocks both Anya and Yor. The next card is the reversed "Star" card, which Melinda interprets as Anya never being able to get another Stella Star for all eternity. Anya is horrified to hear this, and Melinda tries to reinterpret the card's reading to see how it would help her make friends with Damian.
Melinda becomes shaken with fear after remembering Donovan's stare
Melinda suddenly asks Anya if she likes Damian. Anya bluntly states the opposite, as he bullies her, which Melinda apologizes for on his behalf and thanks her for still trying to befriend him. Melinda then thinks about how Anya may know more about Damian than she does, recalling how she was unable to be there for him during their family dinner due to her perceived weakness and worthlessness as a mother. Not wanting things to continue this way, Melinda feels she must face Donovan, but the thought of his cold stare strikes her with visible fear, and Anya hears her terrified thoughts about defying her husband. Yor asks Melinda if she is okay, and Melinda says that she is exhausted from working so much, unable to tell her friend that she is scared of her husband. Wondering if Donovan "bullies" Melinda, Anya curiously asks her if the Desmonds get along, prompting Melinda to suddenly end the reading as she decides to leave, and her thoughts remind Anya of a familiar feeling. Seeing her friend's distressed state, Yor remembers something and proposes it to Melinda before she goes.
The boys play with a Ouija board
At the beer garden outside, Damian and his friends play with a Ouija board to predict the topic of their next History test while Becky watches in disapproval. When Anya and Yor return, Becky asks about her friend's reading, and Anya tells her about the Grim Reaper, which shocks Becky and saddens Yor, who internally swears to Anya that she is not the Reaper. Becky moves on to ask for Anya's love reading, and Anya claims she was told that things will go great if she gets invited to "his" house. Eavesdropping on their conversation, Damian interjects in embarrassment, but Becky points out that Anya never said she asked about him, then teases him to talk about his feelings, which flusters him.
"...your mom loves you too."
Loid decides to slip away to start tracking Melinda, but Anya, hearing his thoughts and knowing Melinda already left, asks to remain with her school friend group, which they agree with. Loid is swayed, deciding that it would be more advantageous to get more intel out of the present adults than following Melinda, and so he stays, spending the rest of the day doing as such. At the end of the day, the group splits up and bids each other goodbye, with Loid worn out from scheming all day. While the Forgers part ways with Damian's group, Damian mocks Anya for "childishly" holding Yor's hand, to which Anya tells him that his mother also loves him. Yor supports Anya's words, making Damian blush as he flees in embarrassment. While Jeeves runs off to retrieve Damian, the other butlers hope to meet with Loid again before also leaving, which causes him to recall an old memory with his childhood friends at their town festival. Loid then asks if Anya had fun, to which she cheerfully agrees, and the Forgers head home together.
Melinda finds out about Loid's "concussive therapy"
Days later, at Berlint General Hospital, Loid is approached by Gerald Gorey, who offers to let him handle a recent drop-in patient: Melinda Desmond. Back at the festival, Yor suggested that Melinda visit Loid for a therapy session, though she accidentally lowered his reputation by mentioning his "concussive therapy." Despite Melinda's dislike for hospitals and wariness of getting kicked by Loid, she decides to go at Yor's insistence. After briefing him on the situation, Gerald asks Loid if he is up to the task, which Loid is more than happy to accept.
Characters[]
Trivia[]
- The chapter was originally scheduled to be released on November 25, 2024. However, on November 26, 2024, it was officially delayed as the manga was announced to be going on hiatus until December 23, 2024.[2]
- During Jump Festa 2025 on December 21, 2024, there was a sneak peek showing the first page of the coming chapter.
- The tarot cards that Melinda uses to read Anya's fortune are as follows:
- Ace of Cups (Reversed)
- Ten of Pentacles
- Four of Cups
- Three of Wands (Reversed)
- Three of Swords
- Death
- The Star (Reversed)
References[]