Right, it's an interesting detail, and I agree with what you pointed out wrt the earlier Shin and Alice interactions possibly being left over aspects that still worked either way from the deleted scenario situation instead. Alice seems pretty careful to conduct his Sou Hiyori investigation secretly, but at the same time, there are those OUTSIDERS CLUB MWAHAHA remarks of his. Meanwhile that other deleted scene where they discuss Reko's harshness is so awkward lmao.

That tokens trade headcanon I WILL BELIEVE THAT IT'S REAL, it fits perfectly. Ty Shin's hacker brain (which absolutely deserves enrichment and not starving to death...)

I'll definitely be on the lookout for opportunities for Topics to come up. It does kill me that no one besides Midori witnessed Kanna thriving. It also kills me to imagine the basement filled with things that Shin doesn't want to face sdljkdjh