Chapter 9 – Number one role model
Today I'm finally going with Maka to meet the person she's decided to train with! Apparently they work for the DWMA at the Extracurricular Lessons Reception Desk, which all EAT students with ranks high enough to go on missions use. In exchange for training with her Maka and I agreed to help out when the usual committee members are away, it seems they are all really busy since it's their final year.
"I'm glad you're finally going to meet my trainer Tsugumi." Maka said with a smile. "They're really amazing you know? I'm sure you'll get along!"
"I'm looking forward to seeing someone who managed to impress you so much Maka." Tsugumi said happily. 'For the cool and strong Maka to be so in awe they must be amazing.'
"They really are that impressive though!" Maka insisted. "I've never trained so hard before in my life." The two came to a stop at the window for the reception desk.
"You're both here and right on time." A tall and muscular blonde woman in uniform said in greeting. "So you're Maka's partner Tsugumi yes? Please call me 'Aunty'."
"Yes ma'am! It's nice to finally meet you" Tsugumi replied. 'So this is the lady in charge of reception, she seems very nice. But I wonder why Maka chose to train with her?'
"Well come around back, I have some uniforms here. Hopefully they'll fit." Aunty said in good cheer. "Come see me once you've changed."
I certainly wouldn't say Aunty is perfect, but she seems nice. Though I do wonder why Maka chose her out of all the meister she'd seen...
"Alright, let's get to work!" Aunty declared as she looked at the two in their uniforms with pride. "Although it's a shame neither of you have the curves for your belt's to make a difference."
"We're sorry for being flat then..." Tsugumi and Maka both gave Aunty a dirty look as they spoke in unison.
"Well, remember when you're older, careful management of a belt is what helps me look so slim." Aunty continued nonplussed. When she turned away the two noticed the belt at the back of her vest was torn.
"Yet her belt isn't working either..." Maka whispered to Tsugumi dryly. Tsugumi stifled a snort in response.
"As you two probably know we organise EAT students into ranks and that rank determines the quests you can take. Can you two organise these piles of forms into ranks for me?' Aunty asked, waving a hand at the aforementioned paperwork. "Also, these are confidential, so don't discuss them when you're outside this room."
"That seems easy enough." Maka agreed, making her way to the desk.
"Let's do our best Maka." Tsugumi agreed.
I don't know why I was surprised, but I never knew so much work goes into the Extracurricular Missions, and this is just the end on the production line. DWMA's reach sure is vast.
"Phew... This is easy but there's so much work." Maka declared as she ploughed through sorting the mission forms.
"I know, and they are all so varied... Defeat the Greenway River killer. Objective: apprehend the killer dead or alive... Investigation of corruption in the police force, corrupt officer wanted dead or alive. I had no idea EAT was involved in this kind of stuff." Tsugumi mussed as she continued to sort the paperwork.
"Well there are so many duties DWMA is responsible for, it's necessary for the missions to reflect that, otherwise students wouldn't be prepared when they graduate." Maka replied. "Don't try and read them all now, we'll never finish."
"True..." Tsugumi agreed. She was snapped from her thoughts by a sound of something cracking nearby. "Whoa!" Tsugumi said in surprise as something bounced past her.
"Oops~" Aunty chimed embarrassed. "Sorry. I have a firm grip, so I tend to break a lot of pens. My fourth today..."
"T-that was a pen!?" Tsugumi exclaimed before composing herself. "Are you an alumna of this school Aunty?"
"That's right Tsugumi." Aunty answered solemnly.
"You must have been an EAT student with strength like that." Tsugumi said, made nervous by Aunty's sudden mood change.
"You bet I was. I retired from that side of the business... But when it comes to protecting you sweet youngsters, I'm ready to jump back into the front lines anytime!" Aunty declared with a thumb up, her muscles bulging through her clothes seemingly in agreement. Tsugumi found herself staring in awe. 'Ah...There it is again... Just like cute and pretty Maka, she looks super-tough and cool when she puts her mind to fighting... EAT sure is amazing, I need to work hard or it will escape my grasp.' Tsugumi sighed. 'I need to keep up with Maka... Though what does she hope to gain from being EAT? I never asked her. It's a mystery.'
"Come to think of it, what are these things we've wrapped around our forearms?" Maka asked as she finished sorting the last of the quests.
"Well I see lots of office workers with them." Tsugumi answered, equally lost.
"Oh those things are called sleeve protectors. You put them on your wrists to elbows to keep your sleeves clean as you do desk work." Aunty replied.
"Well that makes sense." Maka said as she examined the sleeve protector.
"The death is wrong with you Kilik?" A familiar booming male voice yelled out drawing all three females' attention to the outside, all three made their way to look through the reception desk window.
"What's my problem? The hell is your problem Black*Star!?" Another male shouted back. The two boys were forehead to forehead, arms locked in a struggle to overpower the other.
"Isn't that a classmate of ours fighting with Black*Star?" Tsugumi asked Maka meekly. She hovered behind the reception desk, unsure how to separate them.
"Yes... I can't believe him. I know him and Kilik get along, the death do they have to fight all the time?" Maka answered, already facepalming. Tsugumi felt herself sweat dropping. 'She really doesn't see the irony of that statement?'
"Come now, boys..." Aunty said in an attempt to sooth the two boys, only for them to devolve into a full on fist fight. "That's enough..." Aunty said firmly this time, with a deep breath she tugged her sleeve protector up to cover her elbow. Without fanfare, she caught the two fighting boys in a textbook lariat. The two dropped like stones immediately. "Woo!" Aunty cheered, fist raised in celebration.
"I need to learn how to do that!" Maka declared, tugging her own sleeve protector up.
"That won't be necessary for you Maka." Tsugumi said, though without conviction. She was gobsmacked by the sight of her two strongest classmates now left twitching on the floor.
Seeing that, Maka choosing to train with Aunty made perfect sense... Being able to one-shot Black*Star is probably the best accreditation in her eyes.
