Disclaimer: I do not own any of the material appearing in this story. The OC's belong to their respective owners.
Note: A tad long.
The Day Air Arrived at the VCPD
BGM: Professor E. Gadd (Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time)
"So… tell us a little about yourself." Shuichi requested.
Air nodded. "Well, as you know, my name is Amaya Strauss. I'm currently fourteen years old, I was born in Vacuo but moved to Vale, I graduated from an elite all-girls boarding school-"
"What's the name of the academy?" Kokichi asked.
"Carmen Sandiego Academy."
"Ah, nice~!"
"Anyway, my current occupation is a freelance inspector-in-training after graduating high school there."
"That sounds about right…" Kokichi nodded.
"So, what are your personal hobbies?" Shuichi asked.
"My hobbies? Oh, that's easy! I like to play puzzle games, read mystery genre novels, watch rom-com movies and true crime documentaries, I like looking into fashion, and also cooking."
"Let me guess, you're a sucker for those cheesy ValeMark flicks where the plot is always the same?" Kokichi asked.
"Hey! That's not… okay, I'll admit, the plots are the same, but… yeahhh…" Air sighed. "Though I do enjoy Legally Brunette."
"Ya think they'll ever make a sequel where the gal's blonde?" Kokichi whispered to his brother.
"I doubt it." Shuichi responded.
"I've also recently gotten into watching a couple of classic teen sitcoms that Mine loved watching when she was younger. Blake & John and iSam, respectively."
"Oh, those were pretty good." Shuichi said. "It's too bad about that one actress on iSam… poor Jennifer McSadie…"
"My offer to castrate that producer is still on the table." Kokichi said.
"Kokichi, no."
"I could do it for ya." Air offered.
"Ey! Two against one~!" Kokichi grinned.
Shuichi groaned, rolling his eyes and shook his head. "What are you most passionate about?"
"The truth. Not just solving a case, but actually understanding it. Figuring out the why behind someone's actions is just as important as the who."
Shuichi nodded. "So what inspired your current career path?"
"I wanted to do something different other than insurance… you know how the big wigs are over there."
"Fair do!" Kokichi nodded. "Insurance and healthcare CEOS are quite the products of our time…"
"Mhm. I was also inspired by The Hardy Guys graphic novels and Puppy Doo cartoons that I loved to read and watch respectively when I was younger." She added.
"Those were pretty good!" Kokichi grinned.
"Now, what are your strengths and weaknesses?"
"My strengths? I like to work fast, I always pay attention even to the smallest detail, I make sure to often turn in assignments on time at the best quality possible, and I'm not afraid to collaborate with others with an open mind." She said before frowning. "As for my weaknesses… I sometimes get timid around crowds or people I don't know well, I'm kinda prone to short bursts of anger, I get easily irritated by unannounced extra paperwork-"
"Don't we all…" Shuichi quietly mumbled in agreement.
"I'm also prone to panic attacks whenever I'm stressed out by something too much for me to handle… unfortunately."
"So how well can you handle stress and workplace conflicts?" Kokichi curiously asked.
"Well, I like seeing which parts of an assignment take top priority and which are the least of my worries. I'm all about organization and efficiency. I also try to talk things out civilly and try to understand each side of the story."
Shuichi nodded. "What motivates you to work well?"
"Being part of a team that respects me, and knowing the work I do actually helps people. And, uh... also… coffee. I run on coffee, mostly if it's cappuccino."
"Ey, there's someone who understands coffee! It's the nectar of life!" Kokichi said.
"Technically, it's water…" Shuichi said.
"Blegh, too bland for my tastes." Kokichi said, causing Shuichi to sweatdrop with an eye roll.
"So what's your ideal work environment?" Shuichi asked.
"In a perfect world… stress free, quiet as can be, organized… all of that nice stuff. Of course, we can't have nice things." Air sighed. "So uh… I'll take what I can get."
"Soooo! Describe your previous workplace experiences." Kokichi requested.
"Ah, well, I worked at short-term yet well-paying internships for various companies in the legal and investigative services field, like law firms, detective agencies, and insurance groups and despite initial difficulties, especially with searching for client companies that could accept an early high school graduate like me, I managed to pull a good track record so far… even with my… previous client company."
She took a deep breath to try not to get worked up. "After at least five or six client companies, I started job-hunting on my own accord without my mother's help or family connections."
"Oh wow! That's pretty cool." Kokichi said. "So what do you consider as your greatest accomplishment?"
"Graduating high school early at CSA with honors while juggling two internships, some martial arts training, and sleep. Barely managing that last one…"
Relatable. Shuichi thought.
"So, why did you choose the Vale City Police Department?" Kokichi asked.
"Being the main law enforcement of the Kingdom of Vale, it has a reputation for fairness. And I admire the kind of cases you take on. Complex, morally grey, but honest work." Air explained.
"And why should we hire you?" Kokichi added before Shuichi could say anything.
"Because I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, but I'll never cross the line. I know where justice ends and vengeance begins. You need someone like that."
Shuichi smiled at the answer while Kokichi nodded his head in approval.
"What's your personal motto?" Shuichi asked.
"Always look at a different angle." She responded.
"So how do you define a fair and successful case?" Kokichi asked curiously.
"When all voices are heard and I come to a mutual understanding with one another before I give my final answer."
"Oooh, good one~!"
"What's your definition of justice?" Shuichi asked.
"My definition of justice? Oh, I'd say it'd be a fair trial with everyone getting closure on certain things."
"Oooh, I like that~" Kokichi said. "So, what are your future goals?"
"Getting married as I get older, have a kid or two who hopefully don't have my temperament, but I doubt it'll skip a generation as I feel it's hereditary. But other than that, I also hope that I can be a successful woman down the line because I wish to start up my own private law enforcement agency after I manage to make enough for myself."
Both brothers turned to look at each other and with a nod, they both turned to look at her.
"You're hired."
"Really?!" Air said in shock. "Oh thank you so much!"
End BGM
The next few days…
BGM: Funny Goings-On (Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam)
"Alright, scumbag. We can do this the Shuichi way, the Kokichi way or the Strauss way!" Kokichi said.
"...What's the Strauss way?"
"I'll sic the honey badger on you."
"Pah! Yeah right, I've heard how bad you can be… but do your worst on this honey badger."
Kokichi walked out of the room and pulled in Air. "Have fun~!"
"Pah! You're the honey badger? You ain't nothin' more than a lamb."
"Let me ask you this one time… where is your employer? He's knee deep in this operation, right?"
"So what if he is? I ain't listenin' to you."
"Does he look like a bitch?"
"...What?"
"Does. He. Look. Like. A. Bitch?"
"What?"
"...What kingdom are you from?"
"Uh… what?"
Suddenly Air flipped the table, which was enough to paralyze the man in fear.
"What" ain't a kingdom I ever heard of! Do they speak English in "What"?"
"Mmph… wh-what?"
"ENGLISH, MOTHERFUCKER! DO YOU SPEAK IT?!"
"YES!"
Outside, Kokichi had a bright proud smile on his face. "I taught her well~"
"...Great, a mini you." Shuichi sighed in exasperation.
"Aiyeeee!"
"My knee won't be the only thing that'll hurt your tender spot. I can twist and rip it off with my bare hand! NOW TELL ME WHERE YOUR EMPLOYER IS!"
"Nishishishi~ You say that like it's a bad thing~"
"Hmm… hey Shuichi, it seems like your math is a little off." Air said.
"Huh?" Shuichi wondered as he looked into it. "That's weird, I could've sworn I added it up correctly. Good catch."
Air quickly ran toward a bank robber as he was making his getaway, turning his head to see Air in hot pursuit.
"Good grief!" He exclaimed as he tried to hop in his vehicle, but Air jumped over and slammed on the top of his roof, punching a massive hole in his windshield and pulling him out.
"Hah… hah… you sure she's a Strauss or is she part of Night Raid?" Shuichi asked as he was catching his breath.
"If Yor is related to the Strauss family, it might explain a thing or two. Hehehe~" Kokichi grinned.
End BGM
Later…
The brothers were currently investigating a jewelry store that had recently been robbed. Shuichi even used his semblance to get an idea of what they were working with while Kokichi was gathering testimonies from witnesses.
"I think we're already starting to get a bunch of good leads in this case. Don't you think so, Air?" Shuichi asked but got no response. "Air?"
They turned around to face their protege, their eyes widening as they witnessed a unique quirk from her that she had forgotten to mention to them earlier. Her muttering state.
"Okay, so the angle of entry means the thief likely knows how to disable security systems, which is common among those who have done it before, but with a unique approach like this, there's a chance that they're a rookie who's just really prepared and wait—No… if they're using a specific method, they could have had help from someone like… like maybe another thief who specializes in stealth? If I analyze their movements and cross-check with criminal profiles—Wait, no… maybe they've studied martial arts too, 'cause their stance…"
She was currently jotting down notes.
"Umm…" Shuichi awkwardly let out as he and Kokichi watched Air mutter while taking down notes, who didn't even notice the weird stares she's been getting from the other people in the crime scene looking at her as well.
Air gripped her pink butterfly-themed pen tightly. "Ooh… There's a pattern forming... I just need to–"
"Hey, Air! Earth to Air!" Kokichi said before snickering at his own unintended joke. "Pffft… Earth to Air…"
Air snapped out of it. "H-huh, w-wha…?!" She noticed the awkward stares she's been getting, causing her to blush in embarrassment. "O-oh, I-I'm so sorry…! I-i-it's just that whenever I'm i-i-investigating something, I-I, uh… c-couldn't help but get into the zone a-a-and analyze it myself…! I-I'm so sorry if I came off as a total weirdo–"
"Whoa, whoa! Calm down, it's okay!" Shuichi said before taking a deep breath and giving her a reassuring smile. "I'm just really impressed by how you were able to quickly analyze and identify the correct key takeaways from this crime scene on your own based on context clues."
"R-really?" She asked in surprise.
Kokichi grinned. "Yeah~! This quirk of yours? It's actually pretty brilliant. This is really something that every inspector in the world needs, ya know? I mean, come on, it's not every day we get interns—or inspectors-in-training, for that matter—who can read the room so quickly and accurately. You've got a real knack for it, Air! Most people would miss half of what you're picking up on. You're one step ahead of the game already!"
Air looked absolutely flustered, yet she was also grateful for the praise.
"He's right, Air." Shuichi then sweatdropped. "But, uh… next time you analyze something, please at least do it quietly, okay?"
Air smiled sheepishly, but nodded in understanding. "O-okay, I'll keep that in mind."
Several minutes later…
"So where are we headed for lunch?" Air asked.
"Pangoro Express." Kokichi said as they pulled over and got out of the car.
BGM: Route 1 (Pokemon X and Y)
"Oh man, I can't remember the last time I had something this good…" Air said, drooling just looking at the restaurant as they walked inside, where the brothers would notice the Investigation Team in there as well.
"Hmm?" Chie turned her head the moment she heard the doors opening. She gasped in surprise the moment she saw them. "Hey, isn't that-?"
Kokichi grinned. "Hey, hey, Investigation Team~! It's been a while!"
Kanji groaned in annoyance. "Ah, great… the little shit's here…"
"I could say the same to you, Kokichi." Yu said and then turned to Shuichi. "Shuchi, been a while too."
"Likewise, Yu." Shuichi then noticed someone was missing. "And, uh… where's Rise and Naoto?"
"Oh, them? They're currently back in Toad Town, holding down the fort with Nanako's assistance. They volunteered to watch over our office while the rest of us went out for lunch." Yosuke said before spotting Air. "By the way, who's the kid? And why does she kinda look like Mine, but with her hair down?"
"I, um… I'm Amaya Strauss. I was recently hired as an intern in the VCPD under Mr. Saihara and Mr. Ouma's wing." She smiled softly. "But my family and friends call me Air."
Kanji raised an eyebrow, snickering. "Air? Pfft... what kind of parents nickname their kid 'Air'?" He teased, only to get elbowed in the ribs by Chie. "Ooof!"
"Show some respect."
"Wait… Strauss?" Yukiko asked in surprise. "So you're related to Mine and Kotoko?"
"Mhm." Air nodded. "I'm their cousin on my mom's side."
"Huh, neat!" Chie said. "She looks pretty cute too, like her cousins~!"
Air blushed in embarrassment. "Mmmm…"
"But is she really their cousin, though? She doesn't look like the type who would easily fly off the handle like those two chicks." Teddie mused.
Air glanced further to the side in further embarrassment. "Can we please not talk about that…?"
"Okay, okay, I'll drop it. Apologies for not knowing it was a touchy subject for you."
"It's okay. Not the first time I've heard of that."
Minutes later, the group ordered their food as they sat together on a table. They ordered a variety of dishes such as Mienshao mein, Mienshao fan, grilled teriyaki Torchic, orange Combusken, Scovillain steak with veggies on the side, honey walnut Clauncher, Exeggutor rolls, and some complimentary fortune cookies.
"So, how did you guys first meet?" Air asked.
"Oh, we first met when we needed help on a certain case months ago." Shuichi said.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't find any leads on this Honest guy. Like he covered his tracks." Kanji said. "Not sure where the bastard went… heard a rumor he was last seen in Solitas, but no one could determine if it was true or not."
"So, moving away from that guy… we need to address the elephant in the room." Chie said, feeling a glare as she turned her head to see a Faunus with elephant ears glaring at her. "Ahehe~ Sorry, not you!"
She turned back to Air. "Anyway, how the hell is a young gal like you working as a freelance inspector-in-training? I mean, it's commendable that you have a passion and natural talent for it, you look way too young to be working as a paid intern for the VCPD."
"It's uncommon, but I've heard of prodigies graduating early…" Yukiko said.
"I graduated early from high school last year at an elite all-girls boarding school because of my sharp mind and genius level intellect." Air said.
"Really?" Yu asked in surprise. "What's the name of the school?"
"Carmen Sandiego Academy. It's in Vacuo."
The Investigation Team sweatdropped.
"...So that's where she ran off to." Yosuke mumbled.
"Hah. What's next, a Waldo Academy?" Kanji rolled his eyes.
"Not sure who that is, but it's named after the greatest criminal mastermind of Vacuo, stealing any treasure from snobby individuals and giving them to Faunus. …Or so they say anyway." Air said.
"Oooh, interesting~" Yukiko smiled.
"Anyway, I began doing voluntary work freelance at short term but well-paid internships at various client companies that fall under the legal and investigative services field, such as law firms, detective agencies, and insurance groups. Sure, I had to rely on my family's connections at the start since I'm still technically a minor, but after four or five companies, that's when I was able to strike out on my own."
She then sighed. "I had to leave my last company early because of certain complicated "reasons" unlike my previous jobs."
"What happened? Did your required number of service hours get cut in half?" Yu asked, eating some orange Torchic.
Air shook her head with a frown. "No... I got fired."
Pause BGM
"WHAT?!" The Investigation Team yelled in surprise.
Yosuke immediately chugged down his iced tea after nearly choking on his Mienshao Mein. "You… you got fired from your last job?!"
"Yeah! How the hell did you get fired?! Like Teddie said, you don't look much like the type who would easily pick a fight!" Kanji exclaimed.
"Well, I… ugh…" She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Maybe it's best to start from the beginning…"
A few weeks ago…
A red stamp was being pressed down on a sheet of paper. Once lifted, it showed the word "DENIED" in bold red text.
"D-denied?" An elderly woman stammered as she, together with her elderly husband, was sitting in front of a desk with the denied form; their faces were one of near despair. "Y-you're denying our claim? B-but I don't understand, w-w have full coverage." She tapped the sheet with a scrawny finger.
On the opposite side of the desk sat Air, who wore a rather glum expression on her face. "I'm so sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Cossack... but the company's liability is spelled out in Paragraph 19. It clearly states–" She explained in a rather sad monotone.
Mr. Cossack could only protest, "We can't pay for this!"
Suddenly, Air's Scroll on the desk began to ring. "Excuse me for a sec." She said as she picked up the device and answered it. "This is Amaya Strauss speaking."
"Hello, honey."
Air perked up a bit upon hearing her mother's voice. "Oh! Hi, Mom."
"I'm just calling to check up on you, see how you're doing and if you're managing okay with SafeGuard."
"Yeah, I'm doing okay here."
"That's good, because I've heard from a friend that they're under scrutiny due to rumors of unethical and corrupt business practices involving both employees and customers."
"Don't worry, I'm not a part of that crap. According to my contract, I'm already in my second-to-last week with the company and I've already lined up with another company for when my time with SafeGuard ends."
"That's wonderful! I'll talk to you soon. Oh, and by the way… hang in there. You got this! Just remember you can always turn to me whenever you need it. Love you!"
"Okay. Bye, Mom. Love you too." Air then put down her Scroll to address a sobbing Mrs. Cossack, who was being consoled by her husband. "Sorry, but... where were we again?"
"We're on a fixed income, and if you don't help us, I don't know what we'll do!" The old lady of the pair tearfully explained, blowing pitifully into her handkerchief.
"There, there, honey…" Mr. Cossack said to his wife in spite of his own distress.
Air looked down at the elderly couple in sympathy, then her face shifted to determination as she looked out the doorway of her office and then through the hallways.
Finally, she sat back down at her desk and spoke softly, "Okay, listen closely. I'd like to help you two, but I can't." But she still passed Mr. Cossack a notepad and pen. "I'd like to tell you two to take a copy of your policy up to Garfield Nixon on…" The young freelance inspector-in-training paused in her explanation to tap on the notepad. "Garfield. Nixon. N-I-X-O-N. On the fifth floor. But I can't."
The Cossacks then understood as the husband of the pair began scribbling down the instructions she was giving them, mumbling them to himself and his wife.
Overall, they were able to catch on to the fact that they were being given a technical loophole so that their claim could work.
Air continued, "I also do not advise you to fill out and file a WS5597 form with the company's legal department on the fourth floor. I wouldn't expect someone to get back to you quickly to resolve the matter. I'd like to help, but there's nothing I can do." She finished and rose to her feet with a smile.
Mr. and Mrs. Cossack looked at the girl in gratitude, the latter saying to her, "Oh, thank you so much, Ms. Strauss–" but Air quickly shushed her.
"I'M SORRY, YOU TWO!" She called out from her office to throw off any suspicion from any passerby outside in the hallway. "I KNOW YOU'RE BOTH UPSET!"
She then quickly leaned toward her clients and whispered, "Okay, now pretend to be upset."
The elderly couple smiled one last time at Air before the wife put on a pretty convincing performance of sobbing, with her husband doing the same by pretending to console her, as the pink-haired girl watched them leave her office with a satisfied smile.
But as they walked through the hallway, a lanky but grumpy-looking man in a suit wearing glasses brushed past them with a furious expression on his face and stormed into Air's office. "...STRAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUSSSS!"
Startled, the young teenager instantly shot up from her chair as the bespectacled man angrily threw a file on top of her desk. "You authorized payment on the Milhous policy?!"
"Some burglar broke into their house, Mr. Cross." Air explained, an annoyed expression forming on her face. "Their policy clearly covers–"
However, Mr. Cross rudely cut her off. "Upupup! I don't want to know about their coverage, Amaya! Don't tell me about their coverage! Tell me how you're keeping SafeGuard in the black!" Air could look on in anger and frustration at the man's tirade. "Tell me how that's possible, with you writing checks to every Harry Hardluck and Sally Sobstory THAT GIVES YOU A PHONE CALL!" With that last shout, Mr. Cross stormed back out of the room.
As Air just slumped back into her seat, an announcement rang out from the PA speaker. "The afternoon lunch break has started. We repeat; the afternoon lunch break has started."
"Remind me again why I picked this shitty insurance group of all places as my current client company...?" The girl bitterly muttered to herself as she took out her bento box, hoping that this hour-long lunch break could help get her mind off things, even for a little.
"Oh. He's one of those people." Kokichi said.
"Air, you have my deepest sympathies." Shuichi said.
"Deja vu…" Kanji quietly mumbled to himself.
"I swear I saw a movie about this once…" Yukiko hummed.
"I think I'm starting to see why you got fired." Chie said.
"Sounds like a guy who needs his heart stolen by the Phantom Thieves." Yosuke grimaced.
"I don't think they'd be much help…" Yu said.
"Goodness! And then what happened?" Teddie wondered.
"Well, after that mess, I went back home after work-"
Back in the past, several hours later…
A studio apartment's door suddenly opens as Air enters inside, kicking off her boots and hanging her hat on an adjacent coat rack before switching on the lights.
"I'm home." Air said to practically no one but herself as she put her briefcase aside on the couch, which she plopped herself down on.
While not grand, her studio apartment is spacious and comfortable enough for one person to call home.
Air's studio apartment has a kitchen area that occupies the far left corner, equipped with a sink, stove, oven, refrigerator, cupboards, drawers, and countertop space for meal prep. Next to the kitchen is the living area, where a black couch sits facing a wall-mounted TV with a white OLED Nintendo Switch linked up to it, providing a space for entertainment and relaxation. To the right, a bed is placed against the wall decorated with cute butterfly Pokemon plushies like Butterfree, Beautifly, and Vivillon, with a simple wooden desk and chair beside it that includes a PC setup, creating a dual-purpose area for both rest and work. The place also features a small bathroom, closet space, a laundry room with a hidden compartment storing the boiler, and a narrow balcony. The place was also equipped with a ceiling-mounted air conditioner and an electric fan next to her bed, just in case she needed to save a bit on electricity.
"Wait a minute… you live alone?" Shuichi asked.
"Well, yes… and no."
"What do you mean by that?" Yukiko asked.
"Well, while I do technically live alone in my apartment, my parents often drop by to visit every once in a while just to check up on me. And then by the weekend, that's when I stay with them."
"Hmm, from where we come from, it's not that uncommon for teens in Japan to live by themselves in an apartment as long as they have proper adult supervision." Chie said. "So this doesn't sound too out of the ordinary."
"Man, Japan sounds like a jungle out there. …Mind if I live there? Sounds like my kind of par-"
Shuichi lightly bopped Kokichi on the head.
"Ow! Mmmph… party pooper."
Minutes after changing out of her clothes into a pink oversized hoodie that hung loosely over her like a mini dress, alongside a pair of white sweatshorts to go with it, Air went to the kitchen area to open a cupboard as she took out a box of instant curry roux, intending to make curry for dinner.
She then closed the cupboard as she turned around to walk towards the fridge next to get the other ingredients…
"Ack…!"
…only to suddenly yelp as she narrowly avoided falling after slipping on a puddle of water that she forgot to clean up earlier this morning, grabbing onto a sink cabinet door for support with her free hand.
"Stupid me… always forgetting to clean up your shit…" Air grumbled as she regained her footing… before noticing her hand on the sink cabinet door she grabbed on for support, which was nearly broken off one of its hinges. "Oh, great." She rolled her eyes.
A reeeaaaaally great way to end a great day and start a great night.
However, the day wasn't over just yet. Air tried to shut the cabinet door, only for it to swing back out because of the loose hinges.
She tried again, same result.
Rule of three. Air lost her patience as she slammed the door hard… with so much force the hinges broke off their foundations from the recoil.
Air's eye twitched as she stared at the fallen sink cabinet door before she started muttering angry, incoherent gibberish, her irises suddenly starting to glow a violent pink as she grabbed the door over her head, intending to take her anger out by throwing it across the room.
However, her anger was short-lived when she suddenly heard her Scroll ringing from the kitchen countertop.
Looking at the caller's ID, Air immediately calmed down the moment she saw Mine's face on the screen, putting down the door and leaning it against the wall as her eyes returned to normal.
Air immediately picked up the Scroll. "Hello? Big Sis Mine?"
"Hey lil' sis! How are ya!" Mine smiled.
"Oh, doing… okay-ish. Let me tell ya, the day I had was incredibly shitty."
"Oh no. What did Crossbones do THIS time?"
Air snickered at the "lovely" nickname that Mine gave him. "Oh, ya know, him just being a greedy and smug asshole like the late Jacques Schnee."
"Hang on, let me get Seryu on the line real quick. She could probably pay the guy a visit. He doesn't like Faunus, right?"
"Mine!" Air laughed.
"Kidding! Kidding!" Mine laughed with her. "But seriously, Cross just needs to get off your ass and take a chill pill."
"Tell me about it…"
"But hang in there, okay? I remember you saying the contract's almost up, so just survive a bit longer and you can go to the next job where your employer is less likely to be an ass. You got this!"
"Here's hoping… Thanks, Mine."
"No prob. Love you!"
"Love you too. Oh, and say hi to Kotoko for me!"
Both of them hung up as Air let out a sigh as she proceeded to grab a mop and mopped up the puddle and then fixed the hinges of the cabinet door. She then proceeded to make herself some curry dinner.
"Mmmm~ Delicious~"
When she finished, she hopped on her Switch and went toward the streaming service. "Alright… what did I miss in this Switch 2 Direct?"
Several minutes later…
"HOLY SHIT, KIRBY AIR RIDE'S GETTING A SEQUEL?!"
"Well, glad to hear that you're taking care of yourself." Kanji said.
"Sooo, how exactly did you get fired?" Yukiko wondered.
Air frowned in discomfort. "I was getting there…"
Back to the past, the following week…
Air was doing her usual business in her private office, sorting out paperwork, reviewing coverage reports, and responding to emails from a customer on her laptop… the usual.
However, her focus was interrupted when she heard knocking at her door.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Air looked up from her laptop. "It's open!"
On cue, a sharply dressed woman with short hair wearing glasses entered her office with a sympathetic expression. Based on her appearance, this person was Mr. Cross' secretary.
"Can I help you, Mrs. Flint?"
"Mr. Cross wishes to see you, Ms. Strauss."
"Now?"
She nodded. "Now."
At that, Air could only sigh in resignation. "Alright…" She said as she got off her chair and followed after the older woman.
Mrs. Flint frowned in sympathy and concern while escorting the young teen to his office, knowing what's inevitably about to come next. "Apologies in advance for the trouble, Ms. Strauss."
A couple of minutes later…
Inside his office, Mr. Cross was sharpening a pencil with the inscription "YOUR SAFETY IS IN OUR HANDS" on it into an electric sharpener. He then placed it on a calendar mat on her desk with three other sharpened pencils sitting perfectly straight and parallel to each other.
"Sit down, Amaya." Mr. Cross ordered calmly with a gesture.
Too tired even to argue, Air complied as she slumped down into the chair in front of Mr. Cross' desk.
"I'm not happy, Amaya." Mr. Cross leaned to glare at Air. "Not. Happy." He then stood up and walked around her desk to pace in front of the young teen, akin to a teacher lecturing a student who had just gotten into trouble. "Ask me why."
"Okay... why?" Air asked rather dully as she stared ahead, not even wanting to face her so-called "superior".
Mr. Cross paused, smirking. "Why, what? Be specific, Amaya."
"...Why are you unhappy, Mr. Cross?"
"Your customers make me unhappy."
That piqued Air's interest as she glanced up at him with a raised eyebrow. "What, you've gotten complaints?"
"Complaints I can handle." Mr. Cross straightened his necktie with assurance before he continued pacing. "But what I can't handle is your customers' inexplicable knowledge of SafeGuard's inner workings! They're experts! EXPERTS, Amaya! Exploiting every loophole, dodging every obstacle! THEY'RE PENETRATING THE BUREAUCRACY!"
"Did I do something illegal, sir?" Air questioned.
"No…" The lanky, bespectacled man growled out reluctantly.
"Are you saying that we shouldn't be helping our customers?" Air looked up at Mr. Cross, narrowing her eyes at him with a bit of iron in her voice.
Mr. Cross did a half-pace around her. "The law requires that I answer 'NO'."
"We're supposed to help people!" The pink-haired girl asserted.
"We're supposed to help OUR people!" Mr. Cross snapped. "Starting with our stockholders, Amaya!" Now, he actually sounded like he was pleading, which Amaya rolled her eyes at. "Who's helping them out, HUH?!"
Mr. Cross then took a deep breath to relax. "You know, Amaya…" He trailed off as his hand settled on a memo on his desk. "...A company…"
"Is like an enormous clock." Air muttered.
"Is like an enormous cl–" Mr. Cross paused, then she smiled at the young teen. "Yes, precisely! It only works if all the little cogs mesh together." He interlocked his fingers to emphasize his point as he started pacing again. "Now, a clock needs to be cleaned, well-lubricated and wound tight. The best clocks have jewel movements, cogs that fit, that cooperate by design."
Mr. Cross chuckled a little. "I'm being metaphorical, Amaya. Do you know what I mean by cooperative cogs?" He received no answer. "Amaya?"
The reason he hadn't gotten any response was that Air had drifted off towards the right as something suddenly caught her attention. Looking to her left, she saw a man dragging a nearby dog Faunus man into a dark alley right outside the window. The victim was thrown behind a dumpster, concealing him from the freelance inspector-in-training's sight, while his attacker started kicking him.
"Amaya?" Mr. Cross repeated before he leaned down to a shocked Air's level and pulled the girl's face over to his direction. "Look at me when I'm talking to you, Strauss!"
"That Faunus out there, he needs help." Air pointed out the window.
"Do not change the subject, young lady! We're discussing your atti–" Mr. Cross jabbed his finger at Air, who cut him off as she pointed out the window again.
"There's an innocent man outside getting mugged!"
Mr. Cross paused as he looked out the window. Instead of feeling worried, he sneered, "Well, let's hope we don't cover him!"
"Excuse me for a moment." Air said as she rose from her seat and began to walk toward the door.
But just as Air opened the door and was about to exit...
"Stop right now, OR YOU'RE FIRED!" Mr. Cross threatened loudly.
Air's eyes widened in shock as she stopped dead in her tracks while her superior smirked in smug triumph.
Just hearing this threat immediately spelled trouble for Air. While she could have formally tendered her resignation earlier and then simply searched for another client company, she knew that it wouldn't be an easy job. Despite being an exceptional freelance inspector-in-training with a sharp mind and genius-level intellect, Air was still just a fourteen-year-old girl who graduated early from high school last year, which had made her feel like an adult.
However, in the professional business world, being a minor was predictably a major obstacle, remembering those times when she reluctantly had to rely on her mother's help and family connections when she struggled to find legitimate work in her early days after graduation. Only after a lot of hard work and perseverance, did she finally start securing jobs on her own accord.
To make matters worse, she was still contractually bound to SafeGuard for a certain number of service hours. The agreement had been in place ever since she applied, just like her previous jobs, and breaking it only meant serious consequences.
"Close. The door." Mr. Cross ordered.
Air reluctantly did so, anger visible on her face.
Mr. Cross tapped his foot. "Get over here... NOW." He demanded, pointing to the floor as if he were talking to a misbehaving pet.
The young, pink-haired teen released her tight grip on the doorknob as she turned around and returned to Mr. Cross, who was oblivious to her ever-growing fury as she approached him. "I'm not happy, Amaya Strauss. Not happy." He repeated.
Air looked out the window again and saw the mugger toss the wallet aside after looking around and then take off from the alley, the unfortunate Faunus victim lying motionless behind the dumpster.
"He got away…" She scowled with narrowed eyes, anguished that she was forced to let an innocent man get beaten all for the sake of securing her job with her current client company.
"Good thing, too." Mr. Cross scoffed, snapping the girl's eyes open in shock.
Mr. Cross held his fingers an inch apart as Air slowly clenched her fists and gritted her teeth in rage at the audacity of his nonchalant callousness. "Heh, you were this close to losing your j–... ACK...!" His next words became a choked gasp as Air swiftly grabbed the taller man's necktie and brought her down to her level. Despite her smaller stature, the enraged pink-haired girl's grip was iron, and Mr. Cross could only paw around her arm.
Suddenly, a pair of light pink aura butterfly-like wings manifested from her shoulder blades as her irises glowed a dangerous pink.
Outside, the other SafeGuard employees were going about their day until a series of rapid, muffled thuds were heard from a wall. Next, the wall burst open as a blast of pink-colored energy, and Mr. Cross came crashing headfirst through it. The lanky, bespectacled man then rolled across the floor, slamming against a metal cabinet, then slumping down to the floor with a pained moan.
The dumbstruck office workers all stared at their injured boss, then through a series of holes smashed through four separate drywalls, then finally at a wide-eyed Air standing in Mr. Cross' office, her Semblance deactivating as her aura butterfly wings disappeared and her eyes returned to normal.
"Uh-oh…" was all Air could quietly mutter, realizing too late how much trouble she had just put herself in.
Back in the present day…
"That's how you got fired?!" Shuichi exclaimed in shock, with the rest of the Investigation Team having the same reaction. Even Kokichi looks at Air in shock at this revelation.
"Yeah…" She rubbed her arm awkwardly, guilt lingering in her eyes.
"Dude, who is she…?! Some kind of mini Mr. Incredible?!" Yosuke whispered to both Yu and Chie.
"Huh, so anger does really run in the Strauss family…" Kokichi mused before grinning. "Hehe, cool~!"
"No! Not cool, Mr. Ouma!" Air groaned before blushing in embarrassment, glancing to the side. "I may be a Strauss, but if there's something I'm not entirely proud of... It's being a walking, ticking time bomb like my aunt, my cousin, Granny Mirajane, and Grandpa Elfman..." She said before burying her face in her hands.
"I can take comfort knowing that my mom, Uncle Angelico, and Granny Lisanna are the only outliers so far… but Kotoko…? Ugh… why does anger always find a way of being hereditary in the family… even to those who have been adopted to it…?"
Both brothers rubbed her on the back. "While I don't condone your actions over handling the issue, I completely understand why you did it. We're not gonna think any less of you." Shuichi reassured.
"And besides, I would have done the same thing if I was in your shoes if some abusive, bureaucratic asshole also tried to stop me from trying to save someone's life." Kokichi said. "Of course, I'd go with kicking him in the balls just for being stopped for doing the right thing."
"So, given the gravity of the incident, your face should have been plastered everywhere in the media by now." Yu pointed out. "Even worse, you might also be at risk for being sued."
"That will never happen."
"What do you mean by that? They let you off with a slap on the wrist or something?" Kanji wondered.
"Well… kinda. SafeGaurd did let me off with a warning after I was fired and voluntarily kept my name anonymous from the incident, but…"
"But…?" Teddie leaned in, prying for more info.
"Mrs. Flint told me that my termination from SafeGuard would still be a part of my employment record. Because of that, I would most likely have a harder time looking for new client companies who could hire me." She smiled at Shuichi and Kokichi. "...That was until I applied for the VCPD without much problem."
Kokichi smiled back. "Hey, you definitely had your reasons for reacting the way you did. If what you did made it into the news, my bro and I would have a tough time hiring a girl who was this close to being sentenced to either juvie or probation."
Air grimaced. "...Y-yeah…"
"Hey, don't worry too much about it. Just be glad that neither of those two happened." Kanji waved it off.
"Uh, I hate to rain on your parade… but this still doesn't answer the question of why you weren't sued for assault." Yosuke said.
"Mr. Cross was about to… but he was silenced when the company's Board of Directors intervened after they heard the full story. My mom and aunt Eli may also have pulled some strings to make sure the whole matter was settled quietly and didn't go into court."
"The company board and your relatives were also involved? Huh..." Yukiko rubbed her chin.
"So basically, the higher-ups took the matter into their own hands when the news got their way, right?" Yu asked.
"Mhm. From what I heard, the board was surprisingly the strict yet fair type who didn't like the way Mr. Cross had been hiding such corrupt business practices from them. Guess they were trying to keep me safe from any form of scrutiny if the news ever went deeper in public…" She then scoffed. "Plus, nobody even likes Mr. Cross. Even if he tried to rat me out, nobody would believe him. The only reason his employees tolerate him is out of professional courtesy and because he signs their paychecks."
"Me and my bro recently heard that Mr Cross recently lost his position as CEO of Safeguard." Shuichi said.
"Wait, really?!" Air said in surprise.
"Yeah. The news came out that he accidentally tripped over something and broke every bone in his body after rolling down a long flight of stairs. He confessed everything as he was delirious."
"Nice cover up…" Air deadpanned.
Shuichi chuckled. "Once he's out of the hospital, he'll be in police custody facing charges for various crimes such as extortion, conspiracy, fraud, wage theft and other workplace violations. It came to light after an investigation was launched by the Board of Directors. Apparently, the board decided to do so after one random employee was brave enough to sue SafeGuard a few days after she got fired. Thankfully, it's under new management by an interim CEO who is a lot nicer."
Air breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, glad it's now in better and safer hands…" She then frowned. "Even so, they still fired me despite keeping things quiet. It's part of my permanent employee record now… made things harder for me for applying for future internships with other client companies."
Back in the past, at the Vale Hospital…
BGM: Ended up Drowning (Riverdale)
Mr. Cross was lying unconscious on a bed, currently covered in a full-body cast, with his face and fingertips being the only parts visible.
Meanwhile, Air was sitting down in the hallway, slumping down in guilt and shock over what she had done.
Before she could get lost in her thoughts, she heard the sound of a door opening as a woman with long pink hair tied into a loose ponytail, wearing a loosely tucked-in white blouse underneath a pink unbuttoned blazer, a pair of fitting light blue jeans, black pumps, and a white leather purse, exited Mr. Cross' room with Mrs. Flint trailing behind her. This was Alya Strauss, Air's mother and Eli's younger sister.
"Thank you for your time today, Mrs. Strauss." Mrs. Flint told her as they shook hands before she briefly glanced at Air. Instead of feeling angry at the girl for what she did to her boss, the secretary gave her an empathetic expression before she went back inside.
Likewise, Alya had the same expression as Mrs. Flint as she approached her daughter. "Let's go, honey. It's time to bring you home." She gently told Air.
Despite her melancholy, Air could only silently nod in reply as she got up and followed after her mother, too overwhelmed to even speak or defend herself.
Inside the car…
The sedan's interior was as silent as the late afternoon, neither side speaking up as Alya kept her focus on the road while Air sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window with a sullen expression.
"How is he…?" Air asked rather hesitantly after a long silence.
"He'll be fine, honey. A lot of broken bones… but Mrs. Flint and the doctors told me that he'll live." Alya answered reassuringly, causing Air to relax a bit.
While Alya was understandably shocked by what Air did, the moment she suddenly received a call from work to go to the hospital, she wasn't angry at her daughter for her violent and reckless act of retaliation against her greedy and abusive boss, no less with her Semblance.
Still, even if that incident predictably led to Air being terminated from her short-term contract with SafeGuard, that didn't stop her from feeling upset and worried for her child as she glanced at her, wanting to know the whole story from her perspective this time.
"I mean… what can I say, Mom?! Someone was in trouble! I just couldn't stand there and let him get hurt!"
"Then why did you stop?"
"I-I don't know! I… I don't know what came over me when Mr. Cross threatened to fire me the moment I was about to get out of that building to save that man…!"
Tears swelled within Air's eyes as they started to fall. "I'm such an idiot for choosing my job obligations over someone's life… I'm… I'm such a failure… a coward even!"
"Honey-"
"At the end of the day, I'm still just a kid who has to listen to adults and do what they say... even when it feels wrong!"
She let out a sharp sigh. "I know I've messed up... I just need to take responsibility for the collateral damage I didn't mean to cause and follow the consequences of my actions over everything else and… and…"
"I'm going to stop you right there." Alya said, cutting her off gently. "You don't need to carry all of this alone. The financial aspects have already been taken care of along with everything else we need. You've already been through enough and we'll take on more than you can handle."
She then gave her daughter a reassuring expression. "Your hard work isn't going to be for nothing. Right now, just focus on healing emotionally. The rest can wait."
"Even so... even when one person wants to do the right thing, to help people... so many things get in the way." Air's shoulders slumped. "Especially when that one person is just some early high school graduate trying to figure out how to make a difference while following her passions."
Alya softly smiled after a few moments. "You're still very good at what you do, sweetie. Don't let this get you down. And don't worry about the Faunus who was mugged earlier. From what I've heard from Mrs. Flint, he's going to be okay. Another person witnessed what had happened and called the ambulance for him."
Hearing this, Air perked up a bit.
"While I won't condone the way you reacted... you still had it in you to choose kindness over being right, balancing it with practical logic. It's the same way you've used your skills at SafeGuard to help your clients get what they deserved."
"Thank you…"
"However-" Alya continued, this time a bit sternly. "Your termination from SafeGuard will leave a permanent mark on your employment record. I advise that you avoid mentioning the real reason behind your firing when discussing it with potential employers. I know you didn't want to hear it, but it's important that you navigate this situation carefully."
"Right…"
Once they were nearing Air's apartment building…
"What do you plan to do next?"
"I… I honestly don't know." Air responded hesitantly.
Alya frowned in concern. "You know… Eli and I could always help you look for another client company to intern at." She offered. "Pull some strings just like in the early days."
Air shook her head. "That won't be necessary, Mom. Personally, I kinda also want to take a break right now from all this… 'work' too." She sighed.
Alya was visibly upset, but still understood and respected her decision. "You know you can always call me or your father if you're ready to change your mind." She said, her voice filled with love and support.
Air simply nodded. "I always appreciate your unwavering care and understanding."
Alya smiled. "I love you, Air. Have a good night."
"Love you too. Have a good night, too." Air got out of the car and watched her mom drive off, then went into her apartment after she disappeared.
End BGM
Back in the present…
"Your mother is your best supporter I've ever heard…" Teddie said, anime tears running down his cheeks with Yukiko and Yosuke joining him.
"Man, you've got one hell of a mom there." Chie said.
"I do…" Air softly smiled.
"So, then what did you do?" Kokichi asked.
Back to the past…
Air spent the rest of her week inside her studio apartment as she lay on her bed, only in her house clothes, emotionally drained over what had happened the other day.
Her room was a mess, as there were some discarded takeout bags, crumpled papers, and clothes scattered on the floor, and she was too depressed to even clean up after herself.
As she stared up at the ceiling, she began to reflect on her current life.
An early high school graduate, now a freelance inspector-in-training. While she could still do things girls her age normally do, she often found herself busy with her passions and talents.
Because of that big brain and sharp mind of hers, she personally needed a constructive outlet for those things. She knows that even as an early high school graduate as she mentioned earlier, she doesn't want to waste her life doing nothing until she's eighteen.
Initially, she began taking on internships right as soon as she graduated early from high school because she wanted to share her talents with those who could benefit from them. Over time, however, her motivation shifted. Now, she mainly interns with various client companies to earn extra money, but this often comes at the cost of flexibility and the freedom to pursue her own interests. As such, she instead found herself often following the instructions of her adult supervisors. Looking back, her journey seems more like a passion-driven pursuit without a clear sense of direction.
Then again, what can a fourteen-year-old girl like her do in her power to assert her stance to have more freedom and flexibility in an adult-dominated business world?
Whether she likes it or not, she's still a kid at the end of the day.
"What the hell is wrong with me…?" Air wondered as she was on the verge of tears.
Before she could lose herself further in her despair, her scroll went off on her bedside table. She reached for it and saw it was Mine calling her, requesting a video chat. Air sighed and accepted the call.
"Hey!"
"Hey…"
"Is everything okay? I've heard that you're not feeling so hot."
"It's not important…"
"Don't give me that! You're hiding something from me. Spill it, what's goin' on?"
Air reluctantly sighed, knowing there was no way to slip anything past Mine, even though a phone call. "I got fired."
"WHAT?!"
"I'm sure you've heard horror stories of that stupid CEO, Mr. Cross? Well, those stories are legit. He's the Vale equivalent of the late Jacques Schnee in my opinion. He does a lot of shady bullshit and claiming that he "helps people", but was more worried about the stockholders if anything. His verbal abuse was horrid and it was a toxic work environment because of him. Not only that, but he threatened to fire me if I went out to help a Faunus that was getting mugged. I put that man in a body cast…"
"Ooof…"
"And like, my firing is now part of my permanent record, so I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do now. And it's like… I dunno… Maybe I… I just don't like to admit that I'm in the wrong most of the time… Because if I'm wrong… then–"
"You are what everyone thinks you are." Mine finished her sentence for her.
"Just some kid who had no idea what she's really doing." Air let out a humorless chuckle as she nodded dejectedly at her words.
BGM: You're a Fighter (Stranger Things 3)
"You know… It's not really easy out there, Amaya."
"I know…"
"Because of that, those people easily beat themselves up over it until they give up their passions. And afterward... they just stop trying. The world forces them to give up and stop trying because they lost the will to stand for themselves... and to fight for what they love the most in life, just because they're not smart enough… not good enough… not… old enough to even understand anything."
Mine then gave her a reassuring smile.
"But I know you're not one of them. You're not just an inspector, you're also a fighter. You are and you've always been."
"Y-you think so…?" Air sniffled, looking stunned at her words.
"Uh-huh~! Y'know, I'm starting to think that you're already like a mini-me or Kotoko's long-lost twin." Mine teased in hopes of lightening the mood, even for a little.
"Mine…!" Air giggled a little before dropping it.
"The point is, it doesn't matter from whom you've got it from, ya know? Regardless, I'm proud of you for what you did." Mine proudly said.
"Proud of me for being fired after throwing my boss against a bunch of drywall?" Air giggled again while raising her eyebrow in confusion.
"No!" Mine shook her head at her remark while still keeping her eyes on her cousin. "I'm proud of you because you stood up for yourself!"
"R-really…?!" Air exclaimed as she stared at her cousin in surprise.
Mine nodded her head in confirmation. "Of course! I'll admit that even I don't exactly approve of the way you handled it, but I'm still proud that you were able to stand up to that shithead, Mr. Cross! Well, not just for yourself, but most likely for everyone else in SafeGuard who shares the same thoughts as you! Heck, if I were in your shoes, I most likely would've done the same thing too!"
Mine then took notice of her younger cousin's baffled reaction as she offered her some wisdom. "Air, being brave doesn't mean we're not afraid to look for trouble." The older, pink-haired girl spoke in a stern yet sagely manner. "But rather, it is when we choose to stand up for ourselves and for what we believe in, even in the face of fear, because we know it's the right thing to do."
Air smiled a bit at her cousin's bout of wisdom.
"Since when did you get so insightful?" Air playfully teased.
"I have my moments." Mine shrugged nonchalantly.
Air softly sighed, closing her eyes as she was feeling a bit better.
"Look at me." Mine then said, looking directly into her younger cousin's eyes with seriousness and encouragement. "You want to prove those assholes wrong? Then fight. Stand your ground and fight for what's right. Go find places where you feel like you can freely showcase your abilities and prove to others that you're the most credible and trustworthy inspector anyone has ever seen. The VCPD, the Future Foundation, the Investigation Team, yada, yada, or hell… maybe your own agency or whatever. The bottom line is that it doesn't really matter at all where you do it. Because if they were to find out that same kid they looked down on was able to make it big and successful as "Inspector Amaya Strauss" on her own merit… Oh man, they would definitely lose their minds about it and take back everything they once said about you!"
"That… that would be super cool!" Air beamed at her words.
"Yeah!" Mine nodded at her. "So why not? Why not, Air?"
"Stand and fight." She nodded back at her as they both gave each other a warm smile.
At that moment, Air gasped, realization hitting her like a truck. "Ya know… I just finally recalled why I truly aspired to be an inspector in the first place."
"Oh~?"
"First of all: I love cracking cases and solving puzzles all in the name of honor, truth and justice. Secondly, I thrive on challenging myself with every mystery I encounter, using each one as an opportunity to continuously hone my skills and finally: I don't do this for recognition or reward, but to make a difference, both for me and for the people I help and I don't expect anything in return."
"Ha! I remember you telling me this back then and I was your number one cheerleader."
"Yeah. Thanks for that pep talk… I needed it. My mopey days are over!"
"You're welcome! Now good luck and get back out there, girl! I'll always have your back no matter what!"
"Right! Love you, cuz!"
"Love ya too!"
"Oh, and say hi to Kotoko for me!"
Air hung up as flames shot out of her eyes as she sprung up, her passion reignited. "Let's do this."
End BGM
A few hours later…
BGM: Grand Prix - Title (ARMS)
After showering and changing into a fresh set of clothes, Air grabbed a broom and dustpan from the storage closet. She swept the floors and gathered the discarded clutter into trash bags.
With her studio apartment no longer resembling a pigsty, Air felt a sense of satisfaction. She then went to the fridge and cupboards to prepare herself a proper meal.
For lunch, she cooked Salisbury steak with asparagus and mashed potatoes. Once the meal was ready, she sat down at the dining table and ate while scrolling through her Rembook feed on her Scroll.
As she browsed, she noticed a promotional post from the Vale City Police Department announcing they were still accepting junior interns at this time of month, which finally made her recall that she had planned to apply there as her next client company once her time at SafeGuard was up.
After that incident at SafeGuard and her pity party, it made her forget about that plan for a while.
After finishing her lunch and cleaning up, Air sat down at her desk, opening her computer to update her cover letter and resume. She considered omitting the part about her time at SafeGuard but ultimately chose to be honest. Following her mother's advice, she mentioned that she had been fired after a violent altercation with her boss over a major disagreement, though she left out the specifics.
As instructed in the Rembook post, she emailed the documents to the HR manager of the VCPD's email address. She then wrote formal emails to her mother, cousin, and aunt, asking if they would write letters of recommendation for her and explaining her current plans.
After some time, Air sent the email with the required documents to the HR manager and decided to let time do the rest.
The next day, she received an email from the VCPD HR manager about her internship application, asking when they could schedule her interview.
End BGM
Back in the present…
Resume Route 1 - Pokemon X/Y BGM
"And what do ya know, the rest is history~" Air smiled.
"Wow! That's awesome!" Chie said. "Don't let anyone else get you down!"
"What she said." Kanji said with Teddie nodding in agreement.
"You're definitely an aspiring young lady. Don't let that fire snuff out." Yukiko smiled.
"Yeah, you got it all made. That one asshole shouldn't get ya down." Yosuke said.
Yu nodded. "Just continue to be yourself."
"Yeah! Continue being a honey badger too!" Kokichi grinned, which earned a swift kick to the crotch by Chie. "MMMPH!"
"Thank you…" Shuichi quietly mouthed as Chie let out a grin.
"No fair… I wasn't ready…!" Kokichi whimpered.
"Anyway, I… got nothing to add on to it since everyone else said what I wanted to say." Shuichi said.
"Well, we gotta get going." Yu said as they stood up and walked out, all of them waving goodbye as they walked out the door.
Air picked up a fortune cookie and opened it up alongside Shuichi and Kokichi.
"Every challenge you face is an opportunity to grow." Air read, causing a smile to form on her face.
"Get out of your shell and open yourself up more." Shuichi read. "...Huh."
"Agh, what the hell is this?" Kokichi asked.
"Beware of those who are athletic enough to kick you between the legs"
"Coulda warned me ahead of time…"
Later, at the VCPD…
Shuichi, Kokichi, and Air return to their office, settling down at their respective workspaces and continuing with whatever paperwork they have left.
However, as Air approached her desk, she noticed a small pile of paperwork left there. She looked confused at this, having finished yesterday's and this morning's paperwork before she left with Shuichi and Kokichi for their field assignment.
She also noticed a small sticky note left on top of the pile, which was from the deputy manager.
The person responsible for this called in sick and left early. I chose Air to handle these unprocessed investigation reports at the last minute because she's the best fit for the job. - The Deputy Manager
PS: My sincere apologies for this sudden inconvenience!
"Wha…" Air paled in shock and disbelief, her eye twitching as she looked back and forth at the note and the small pile of extra paperwork sitting on her desk before she screamed, "WHAT IN THE FUCKING HEEEELLLLLLLL?!"
"Don't like extra paperwork, eh?" Kokichi asked.
"If there's THREE things I hate, it's one: Involuntary overtime work, two: unannounced extra paperwork, and three: All of the above without my consent or the fact I have to reluctantly agree to it if I'm offered a raise if I do it well! UGGGHHHH!"
"Yeah, that sounds about right."
Air stared at the apology on the sticky note, which did little to calm her down. THAT PIECE OF SHIT DEPUTY MANAGER…! She scowled in indignation, crushing the note with her hand.
Once a Strauss, always a Strauss… Shuichi sweatdropped.
"I think that note mentioned that your salary for the week will be doubled as an incentive for doing well before everyone clocks out later." Kokichi said as Air uncrumpled the note to see it.
PSS: Your salary will be doubled for this week if you do a good job with it before everyone clocks out.
Air sighed in exasperation. "Me and my tunnel vision…"
Shuichi looked at the unprocessed police reports. "By the looks of it, it's only seven minor cases… by my estimate, it'll take about three to seven hours to complete in total. Each case takes about thirty minutes to an hour to go through, depending on the information."
"This is gonna be a looooooooong day…" Air slumped down, crying anime tears as Shuichi gave her a sympathetic pat on the back.
"There, there…"
"Tell ya what, we can help you out with it. We'll even take you to Castor's Steak & Pasta later for dinner if we finish on time." Kokichi said.
Air perked back up, not wanting to miss the chance on an affordable, yet expensively fancy steak dinner. She shook her head in amusement before sitting up straight again, lightly smacking her cheeks.
"Alright, time to get to work~!"
Meanwhile, with Kotoko…
BGM: Iono Zone (Pokemon Scarlet & Violet)
Kotoko chuckled, drinking some coffee as she was watching Iono's stream. Her special guest for the stream? Elesa!
"Don't we just look stunning? I look like a new gal~!" Iono smiled. "We totes should have invited Alessandra for this!"
"I did a fashion show with her one time. She absolutely killed it."
"I can imagine~!"
Kotoko chuckled. "Not surprised."
"Oh, before we continue, I'd like to show off a new friend I've made the other day. He decided to be the protector of Levincia in our little quadrant of Paldea and we became fast friends!"
Iono pulled out an Ultra Ball. "Say hello toooooo…"
She threw it up into the air as the Pokemon in question came out.
"HUH?!" Elesa yelled, flinching in surprise.
"This awesome Paradox Raikou!"
Kotoko immediately did a spit take the moment Raging Bolt came out.
"Is that… that… what… I… is this a Paldean Raikou?! What am I looking at?!"
"HOW DID SHE GET THAT IN AN ULTRA BALL?!"
This Gaiden idea was made by DarkRebellion!
Deadpool: Starting to think mostly everyone in the Strauss family are a bunch of honey badgers...
Ibuki: *snickers*
By the way, was anyone able to snag a Switch 2 preorder? I was able to get one myself with the Mario Kart bundle at Best Buy!
