Chapter Two: Hot Cocoa Escalation!

Kobeni's posture had been guarded ever since she'd gotten here - her eyes darting back and forth to the many fiends walking around like they weren't going to eat people's faces off in the middle of the street.

Tears were already pricking at her eyes and she had to steady her breath to calm down. A police station would be the best place to get answers. She'd show them her Public Safety badge and she'd be back to normal. Kishibe and the others will likely scold her for disappearing, but it wasn't her fault!

She didn't want to be sucked into hell in the first place, so why should she be reprimanded for an unlikely outcome?

Walking around the streets and trying to ignore the obvious staring proved hard for Kobeni. It didn't help her consciousness or anxiety one bit. She needed to find a phone booth or something. Call in that she's back in the real world and let Kishibe know too.

"H-hah! A phone booth…! Finally." Kobeni sighed with relief, dashing in and reaching for the handle.

"Finally I can get back to some normalcy. Maybe I can ask for a ride. Maybe new clothes too. Maybe ask about bonuses…." She idly said with a tiny smile.

Small steps, Kobeni. Small steps and she'll be back in tip-top shape.

But… There was an odd feeling in her hand. A phone wasn't in her hand yet. Why was that?

Opening her eyes, she saw a giant television screen with an anime character waving at her.

"Hiya there, lucky! I'm Little Makoto! Here to make your visit to Musutafu all the more easier, ee-yup!" The chibi character did a peace pose with an over-exaggerated grin.

"M-makoto who now…? W-where's the phone and the book…? Kobeni's eyes noticed more and more a disturbing lack of what should be a phone booth.

It looked like a scrapped booth repurposed for tourism travel as well as picture taking with family and friends…. Oh.

"If you look over here, you'll see that Gran Torino donated a vast sum of money to help out our local orphans!" The character summoned out some digital map detailing the city she was in and she yelped at how it suddenly materialized out of nowhere.

"And over there near the East Side, ya can be sure to stay away! Lots of big bads and meanies known as Yakuza patrol those parts. But don't worry though, once Musutafu gets real proper funding, we'll enact a good plan to flush out those baddies once and for all, ee-yup!"

Defeated and more depressed, Kobeni trudged out with a downcast expression. Surely someone had a phone she could borrow to call someone, or at least her parents to let them know she's not dead yet. Though, she'd never doubt they'd already tried to cash in on her life insurance already after so many near-misses during previous excursions with Himeno.

Walking down the street with no real destination in mind, Kobeni needed a reprieve. A park or a community building to rest her tired feet. But lady luck offered a good hand finally!

Her eyes spotted a Cometbucks and visible relief washed over her. A nice warm hot cocoa would do wonders for her heart right now. Smiling slightly, she hurried over, wanting to beat what could be a lunch rush.

The smell of caramel coffee, fresh baked pastries, and a constant flush of human communication sounded really nice. However, before the gates of liquid heaven could be opened to her, a woman with a bob cut and a dark green apron stood in her way. Her face had been stone-cut from a slab of rock of some sort with how stoic she looked. Glaring at her with thick forearms crossed and shallow eyes. "And where do you think you're trying to go, huh?"

Kobeni immediately shrunk down under the woman's stern gaze, avoiding direct eye contact and babbling out some words. "I-I was just wanting to get–"

"Get high?!" The woman cuts her off, stabbing her index finger into Kobeni's shoulder, making her wince. "I know your type - doing that Red Lava shit, well not here you're not, you hobo."

"H-hobo?!" Kobeni squawked out. "N-no… I'm.. I'm uh… Devil Hun–"

"I'mma, I'mma, I'mma beat your ass is what you are gonna be if ya don't scram." The woman mocked Kobeni's wobbly stutter. "Look at ya - reeking of booze and barely covered in rags!"

Rags…? No, she had her–

Kobeni's eyes widened in surprise at how cut up her Devil Hunting slacks and suit was - littered with claw marks and giant tears in the mid-section, missing a sleeve… Everything made her look more like a saleswoman who'd lost it rather than a respected Devil Hunter.

"But–"

"But nothing! Oi, Mr. Freeze! Get over here! Glad you're here just in time to escort this lowlife away from my property." Bob cut said with a sigh of relief, waving over a man covered in ice and looking more like a popsicle than a trusty man of the law.

"Hey, hey! Tomiko! This bum bothering you?" Mr. Freeze said with a discerning glare. "Tch.. Reeks of piss too. I'll get her outta your hair."

"Much obliged. Honestly, we really need more people like you around here. Makes the young ones feel safe." Behind Tomiko, a few kids cheered on with claps and smiles.

"Woah… Mr. Freeze is here!" One kid with horns said with amazement.

"You think he'll beat up that hobo lady?" The other child with wasp wings added.

"I hope so! Something about her makes me wanna punch her!" A final kid with rock-like features chimed in.

P-punch her…? Who's kids are these and why do they look like demons from the deepest pits of hell?!

"Oi, you." Mr. Freeze's finger pointed at her. "You're comin' with me to the station. You'll get help there."

"Y-you're just a guy in a costu–" She yelped as she flinched from the woman pretending to strike her.

"Shuddap! You're lucky I ain't in my prime or else I'd have hauled you away myself. Whew…" Tomiko wiped away some sweat off her brow and paced back and forth with heavy breaths, like she was holding back some latent power. "Thank goodness you're here, Mr. Freeze or else I don't know what I'd do to this waste of space."

What did she mean by that…? Was Kobeni just casually going to be beat up by a barista in broad daylight while kids cheered her assaulter on?!

"I-I… I can just–"

"Y-you can just come with me to the police station like I said, criminal ." Mr. Freeze mocked her shy stutter like Tomiko did. What was with people mocking her when she was on the verge of tears? Is this hell? Why were people so mean?

"Criminal!? I'm a Devil Hunter…! People can vouch for me. I swear if you just give me a phone–"

"And what, run off with it to pawn off for more drugs?! Fat chance, you addict." Tomiko laughed. "Mr. Freeze, arrest this bum and get her outta here. She's scarin' my customers."

"With pleasure. C'mere, criminal. It's off to the slammer–"

"I'm no addict!" Kobeni screamed, latching her fingers into the barista's apron, jerking her back and forth. "I AM A DEVIL HUNTER! MY NAME IS KOBENI HIGASHIYAMA—" Her sense warned of imminent danger and she quickly backstepped, dodging a haymaker made by Mr. Freeze.

"That's it. You are coming with me. You're causing a scene." Mr. Freeze said with a firm glare, a cold mist forming around his arms.

"I'm causing a scene…?!" Kobeni said incredulously with tears streaming down her face. "I'm not though! I just wanted hot cocoa! I-I can pay!" She reached out, shoving yen into Tomiko's face, but she reared back like Kobeni was a plague-bearer.

"Eugh! What kinda counterfeit money is this?!" Tomiko said with a shrill cry. "Mr. Freeze… We got a really bad one. Get her outta here!"

Kobeni ducked down to avoid Mr. Freeze's grapple, backing away with hands raised up in surrender. "Why're you making this difficult?! I'm just trying to–" She looked around, a crowd forming around them while people fished out devices pointed at her. Were those brand new phones..? They don't look like flip-phones to her…

Wait…

Realization dawned on Kobeni. Oh no.

"Y-you're not recording this are you…?"

AN:I couldn't resist writing another chapter for this supposed one-shot. It really is growing on me, lol.

Again, Kobeni is dealt bad cards and meeting really horrible people who proceed to gaslight and escalate the situation to absurd proportions. I mean... Kobeni just wanted a hot chocolate...

Also, this is a really short chapter. My bad, but it came on in the spur of the moment! Definitely look forward to more of our huggable bean. I love her as much as I love Makima. I'm really happy y'all like this premise as much as I do too XD