Pharos was manifesting

(chapter originally by Phantom Pen on writing.com)

If there was anybody Minako hadn't been expecting to see that day, it was Pharos, the decidedly unnerving boy that seemed to know a great deal about the Dark Hour.

"Pharos?! Wh-what are you doing here?! S-stop looking at me!" Minako shrieked, her arms crossed over her body in an attempt to conceal herself.

Pharos, however, seemed to barely even notice anything wrong with what was going on. Indeed, even the water of the shower blasting onto him didn't seem to register as he stood there with his usual enigmatic smile.

"Is there a problem? You didn't seem to mind letting your friend see you." Pharos asked in his normal high-pitched monotone.

"That's... that's different!" Minako stammered. "This better be really important, pal! If you poofed in just to ogle me, I'm gonna-"

"It's a Shadow." Pharos said, cutting off Minako's threat. "You've fallen victim to a particularly nasty Shadow. That's the root of your recent troubles."

Minako's eyes widened at this revelation. This strange behavior did manifest seemingly out of the blue, only happening after the previous night's debacle. The Shadows didn't just leave her alone, then! Finally, something to work with!

"A Shadow? Oh, I'm gonna kill it! Kill it dead! Where is it, Pharos?" Minako asked, clenching a fist in a show of dedicated vengeance.

"I don't know." was all Pharos said. "I simply understand the nature of Shadows, not the location of every specific one. I simply felt I should explain the nature of your predicament, as well as its quirks."

"What do you mean 'quirks'?" Minako asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Pharos explained the general idea of the Shadow's manipulation to Minako. The focus on embarrassment and humiliation, the intention to spread it to the other girls in SEES, and the new restriction placed on explaining what had happened to herself and Mitsuru.

"Mitsuru!" Minako exclaimed. "She's calling for help! Whoever she's calling is bound to ask what's wrong! I-I've got to stop her!"

Minako hopped out of the shower, leaving a puzzled and somewhat amused Pharos behind, the strange boy disappearing shortly after. Throwing open the door to the bathroom, Minako saw Mitsuru spread out on the hotel room's bed, phone already in hand and clearly in the middle of conversation.

"Takeba, it's Mitsuru. Listen carefully, Minako and I are in need of your help. We need two sets of clothing, anything you think would fit us, brought to the Seaside Clamshell Inn."

It wouldn't take a genius to figure out that Yukari would be understandably confused about such a request. Easily confused enough to ask for an explanation. Minako couldn't let that happen! She had to stop that call! Frantically, Minako leaped at Mitsuru, hoping to knock the phone out of her hand before the Shadow's little trick could take hold.