Past the ticket gates, Spencer Walther emerges from the subway, lugging what looks like a large laundry bag.

※Welcome! Welcome to Tokyo!§ I squeal, hopping up and down as he deposits his ticket and squeezes past the barrier. ※Is this...?§

※Yep, meet Kitsune,§ Walther says. Inside the black pouch, through a mesh window, I can see a red mameshiba 〞 the toy version of Japan*s Shiba dog breed 〞 sitting still and stoic as a garden statue. One brown eye rolls toward me imperiously. ※She*s ready to be out of her travel bag now.§