Prologue

Oh man, oh man, oh man! My heart's beating hard against my chest.

You know what? I'm starting to see why Ame-senpai likes doing this monologue thing. Really puts the edge off the tension. More than that, it sorts helps you focus a bit huh?

Alright, Kiara. Focus. FOCUUUUS!

Haaaaah. Deep breaths. Alright. There we go.

Where am I again?

Oh right!

Here I am, crouched down under the counter of the Mother Nature Cafe. Ame-senpai and I are here as reps for Gura's gang. However, Ame-senpai's having her ears cleaned by the nice Fauna lady. All of a sudden, bam! Calliope Mori appears out of nowhere! What the heck's she doing here?

I know Dr. Ninomae said that Calli was the more proactive Queenpin, but I didn't think that she would actually be here in the CENTRAL district! Just how courageous is this woman!?

But now that we're in the same room, without Calli knowing I'm there of course, I can see Calli's nothing like the pictures you see in the news. The front page Calli was the vicious ruler of South District, terrorizing police and civilians alike at every turn.

This Calli in the Mother Nature Cafe, though, seems much milder than in the stories. She didn't kick down the door like some sort of mob boss collecting protection payments. She opened the door and waited for service just like every other customer.

Heck, I think Calli even looks a little bit worried. It's almost cute! Seeing another side of the fearsome leader, that is.

Now that I've got a closer look at her, Calli's long hair looks pretty smooth and healthy. Her skin looks soft and supple and her black-painted nails are stylish. They even match her sharp black suit and her crimson red dress shirt!

I like her style.

I really do!

If she wasn't the notorious leader of the second largest gang in the City, I'd ask her what department store she goes to and where she gets her hair and nails done! Maybe ask her out to lunch - or dinner. Heck, we might even go to the Mother Nature Cafe~!

Then we'd go on dates and get closer and closer. We'd learn more and more about each other! Then, under the night sky, we'd gaze upon the stars - and gaze into each other's eyes, and then…!

…

While Kiara's fantasy got deeper and more detailed, Calli cupped her mouth and called out a second time.

"Excuse me! Is there anyone home?"

Calli's call yanked Kiara out of her delusion and brought her back to the present day. Not a second too soon either! After all, Fauna answered Calli's call from the ear cleaning booths.

"Just a minute!"

That was Kiara's cue to get the hell out of the back of the counters. The only problem was that Calli was still there in the main room.

Despite this, Kiara didn't lose her confidence.

Too bad for you, Calli, but I'm pretty good at hiding! After all, in the Navy, I was one of the elite operatives!

The ex-Navy detective folded her arms and thought proudly.

Was Frog!

With that, Kiara put all of her Navy Frogman Diver training to good use. Even while crouched, Kiara used her strong, well-toned legs to move fairly quickly under the counters without making too much noise.

Then, when Fauna emerged from the back of the cafe, Kiara dove from behind the counters in one smooth motion and into the cover of the small hallway to the cafe's washrooms. Calli and Fauna, on the other hand, were none the wiser!

I've still got the moves!

Satisfied with herself, Kiara picked herself up from the floor and pressed herself against the corner of the hallway's wall. From that new perch, Kiara watched the maid Kirin come face to face with the Queenpin of the Deadbeats.

"Oh Calli! It's you!" Fauna spoke with her ever pleasant voice, "Good afternoon!"

"Good afternoon to you too, FauFau." Calli smiled, "I almost thought you weren't in!"

"Sorry about that! I was tending to a customer, you see!" Fauna promptly apologized, "I can lose track of time when I do ear cleaning, after all."

"Heh, and I'm sure your customers lose track of time too!" Calli snickered, "Your technique's dope and relaxing as heck!"

"Mhm!" Fauna happily agreed, "If they feel any better, then they might feel so good that they'll turn into saplings for real! Then, I'll have more plants for the cafe!"

Calli and Fauna then shared a hearty laugh. Kiara, on the other hand, started feeling worried that she would literally turn into a plant!

Thankfully, when Kiara peeked out the other end of the hallway, she saw that Ame was still in the ear cleaning booth. Her senpai looked incredibly relaxed, but Ame didn't turn into a plant, at least.

Phew! Thank goodness!

Now that she knew her senpai was still a sentient being, Kiara hurried back to the other end of the hall to spy on Fauna and Calli once more.

"Alright, Calli. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Fauna started, "If you're here for an ear cleaning, then you'll have to wait in the queue. I have another person to serve after my current one, you see!"

"You can't put me ahead of the line? Even as a major supplier?" Calli probed.

"Even if it were Gura herself asking, i'd make her wait in line too." Fauna answered firmly, "I treat all my customers properly after all - even the Queenpins of the City!"

Fauna mentioned Gura!? Am I gonna have to call for backup!?

Calli paused for a moment, but she didn't seem to be bothered by Gura's name. Instead, she face Fauna cheerfully.

"That makes you one of the fairest persons in the city, my dawg!" Calli grinned at the Kirin maid.

That was… quite a measured answer. Calli doesn't seem to hate Gura, at least.

"But of course~!" Fauna raised her head proudly and ran a hand through her light green hair, "So, shall I add you to the queue?"

"Not today, FauFau. I'm just here to finalize some things with you." Calli explained, "A glass of wine would be sick, though!"

Fauna giggled.

"A glass of wine, then. Coming right up!"

Kiara watched the Kirin maid go behind the counter to browse through her collection of wines.

Phew. Thank goodness I got out of there.

Fauna poured a glass of wine for Calli and the two of them started talking about business.

"Are you still in contact with the Arms Dealer?" Calli asked, taking a sip of wine.

"For the upcoming war?" Fauna asked, albeit with a small frown, "Is it really happening?"

"I'm not one hundred percent sure yet, but we have to be ready." Calli explained, swirling the wine in her glass, "The Shrimps and the Deadbeats are evenly matched, but there's more of them. I want my boys and girls to be ready for the worst."

"I understand what you mean, but I can't say I'm happy about it." Fauna's frown soured even more.

"I'm sorry, FauFau." Calli finished off her wine and set her glass on the counter, "Things have been pretty rough since the Nephilim Jazz Club incident."

"I don't blame you." Fauna folded her arms, "Just don't cause any more problems than you have to alright?"

"I'll do my best." Calli promised, "I hope Gura will do the same."

Damn. So they really are preparing for war. Even Fauna can't stop her two friends from clashing, it seems.

"I guess there's nothing else I can do." Fauna shook her head. She managed to wear a small smile and restored her chipper tone, "So where do you want the meeting to take place?"

"At Industrial Way." Calli replied, "We'll talk with them in the Swingwell office."

"Consider it done." Fauna answered without hesitation, "Maybe in three days."

"Glad I can count on ya, FauFau!"

An arms deal in three days. This cold war's gonna turn hot very soon.

"Aside from that, how else can I help you today, Calli?" Fauna asked.

"Oh right!" Calli noted. She reached into the pocket of her coat and brought out a paper package.

"I don't have a lot of agents in Central, so I need you to deliver this." Calli explained.

"Where to?" Fauna asked.

"Central Hospital. It's for Irys." Calli spoke grimly, "After the jazz club shooting, I want Irys taken care of."

Taken care of!? Is Calli trying to tie up a loose end with Irys?

With that, Calli thanked Fauna again and excused herself. Fauna put away Calli's wine glass and saw the Queenpin to the door. Once Fauna was 'alone', she held the paper package in hand and hummed thoughtfully. She then looked around the cafe and hummed.

"Come to think of it… where's Miss Erika?"

Oh crap!

Kiara opened one of the washrooms and flushed a toilet. She pretended to wash her hands before she shimmed back into the cafe's main room.

"Oh, there you are!" Fauna smiled at her, "I see you were able to find the washrooms."

Kiara, acting like the English-less Erika, nodded emphatically.

"I see." Fauna hummed, "Well, when I'm done with your ear cleaning and Miss Amelon's, there's something that i'd like the two of you to do."

Kiara tilted her head, wordlessly asking what Fauna had in mind.

"I'd like you and Miss Amelon to deliver some packages for me to Central Hospital!"

Oh man… I had a feeling that she'd say that. But wait! Did she say 'packages'!? More than one!?

...

Queenpins

Tactical Espionage Action Time

...

To Be Continued