The clubroom door opened with its familiar creak, and Shiroko stepped inside carrying her rifle case. Her mismatched eyes swept the room with habitual awareness before settling on an unusual scene.
Aria was hugging Sensei from behind while he sat at the table, her face pressed against his shoulder. His hands rested gently on her arms, patient and steady.
Shiroko's head tilted slightly, the wolf ears atop her head twitching with curiosity. She approached without making a sound, settling into the chair across from them.
"What happened?"
Her quiet voice carried genuine concern rather than judgment.
Aria pulled back slowly, wiping at her eyes before managing a small smile.
"Just a simulation. A long one."
Shiroko nodded once, accepting the explanation without pressing for details. She understood better than most that some experiences didn't need to be shared, only acknowledged.
"Mm... Understood."
She set her rifle case on the table and began unpacking cleaning supplies with methodical precision. Aria watched for a moment before standing and retrieving her own maintenance kit from her locker.
They worked side by side in comfortable silence, the familiar ritual of gun maintenance grounding them both in the present moment. Sensei continued reviewing documents between them, occasionally glancing up to watch them work.
"How was patrol yesterday?"
He asked after several minutes of quiet.
"Quiet."
Shiroko replied while running a cloth through her rifle's barrel.
"No helmet gang activity. Few civilians needed directions."
"That's good. Means our recent operations are having an effect."
Aria disassembled her tactical pistols with practiced ease, laying each component out in neat rows. Her Gentle Hand trait made the delicate work effortless, fingers moving with surgical precision.
"The simulation taught me something."
She said quietly, not looking up from her work.
"About choices. About what matters."
Shiroko paused in her cleaning, her expression thoughtful.
"Good lessons?"
"Hard lessons. But necessary."
Aria fitted a cleaning rod through the barrel of her right pistol, her movements steady despite the emotional weight still pressing on her chest.
"Sometimes the right choice is the one that scares you most."
Sensei set down his pen, giving her his full attention.
"Want to elaborate?"
"Not yet. Still processing."
She reassembled the pistol with smooth efficiency, the mechanical sounds filling the space between words.
"But I understand now why some things matter more than others."
Shiroko resumed her work, but a small smile touched her lips. The expression was subtle, barely visible, but present nonetheless.
Aria had been showing more emotions lately. Ever since the rebirth, the walls she had built to hide her pain were coming down piece by piece. Real smiles instead of practiced ones. Genuine concern instead of calculated responses. Actual conversations instead of minimal replies.
It made Shiroko happy to see her friend becoming more herself instead of just a weapon pretending to be human.
"Your form is improving."
Shiroko observed, changing the subject to something more comfortable.
"Trajectory calculations are faster now."
"Mm... The simulation gave me combat experience. Decades worth, compressed into one night."
"Sounds exhausting."
"It was."
Aria finished reassembling her second pistol and began checking the sights, making minute adjustments with careful precision.
"But useful. I understand killing intent now. How to project it. How to use it."
Sensei's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Killing intent? That's a pretty advanced concept."
"The simulation was... intense. A lifetime of war. I learned things that can't be taught, only experienced."
She holstered both pistols and started working on her gloves, checking the reinforced knuckles and grip surfaces for wear.
"I'm stronger now. Not just physically. Mentally. Understanding what I'm fighting for instead of just fighting."
The door opened again, and Ayane entered with her tablet already active, data streaming across the screen. She looked up, noted the scene with analytical precision, and settled into her usual seat without comment.
"Morning everyone. The debt situation update just came through. We have twenty nine days left to file our legal challenge."
Sensei nodded, pulling up related documents on his own tablet.
"I've been working with Schale's legal department. They're building a case based on predatory lending practices and contractual bad faith."
"Will it work?"
"Maybe. Kaiser Corp has deep pockets and good lawyers. But the evidence of their illegal experiments gives us leverage. They might settle rather than risk exposure."
Hoshino shuffled in next, dolphin plushie tucked under one arm and her eyes barely open. She headed straight for her corner spot, arranged her pillows with practiced efficiency, and settled in for a morning nap.
"Nyaa... Wake me if something explodes..."
Her voice trailed off as sleep claimed her within seconds.
Serika arrived shortly after, bright energy filling the room despite the early hour. She bounced over to where Aria and Shiroko were finishing their gun maintenance.
"Good morning! Oh, are we doing weapons check? I should probably do mine too."
She pulled out her own pistol and joined them, chattering about yesterday's shift at the ramen shop while she worked. The owner had been pleased with their efficiency. Tips had been good. A regular customer had complimented Aria's service, which still made Serika laugh thinking about how stiff and formal Aria's customer interactions were.
Nonomi was last to arrive, her gentle presence completing the group. She surveyed everyone with a warm smile before clapping her hands together.
"You know what? We've been working so hard lately. Let's take a break today! No missions, no training. Just relaxing and having fun."
Ayane looked up from her tablet, clearly about to protest the inefficiency.
"But we have budget planning and..."
"Can wait until tomorrow."
Nonomi's smile remained bright but carried an edge of determination.
"Everyone needs rest sometimes. Even you, Ayane."
She turned to Aria and Serika, her expression shifting to playful conspiracy.
"Mall trip! Just us girls. Shopping, lunch, maybe some window shopping. What do you say?"
Serika lit up immediately.
"Yes! I've been wanting to check out that new accessories shop!"
Aria hesitated, glancing at Sensei and the documents spread before him.
"Go."
He said with an amused smile.
"Have fun. The paperwork will still be here when you get back."
"Besides,"
Ayane added, her analytical mind already seeing the value,
"stress relief improves productivity. A break now means better performance later."
She stood and moved to sit beside Sensei, tablet in hand.
"I'll help with the documentation. You three enjoy yourselves."
Nonomi beamed, already moving toward the door.
"Perfect! Come on, let's go before anyone changes their mind!"
The mall was busy with afternoon crowds, students from various schools mixing with civilians as they browsed shops and enjoyed the commercial district's offerings. Nonomi led them through the entrance with purpose, clearly having planned this outing in advance.
"First stop: clothing!"
She announced cheerfully, steering them toward a boutique that displayed elegant dresses and casual wear.
The shop interior was spacious and well lit, with racks organized by style and color. Nonomi immediately began pulling items, draping them over her arm while evaluating Aria with a critical eye.
"Let's see... your coloring is so unique. Silver hair and cyan eyes. You can wear almost anything, but certain colors will really make you stand out."
She held up a dress in deep blue, then another in soft lavender, comparing them before adding both to her growing collection.
Serika joined the hunt enthusiastically, finding a white sundress with delicate embroidery.
"This one! Try this one first!"
Aria found herself herded into a changing room with an armful of clothes, both girls waiting outside with barely contained excitement. She looked at the pile, feeling slightly overwhelmed but also touched by their enthusiasm.
The first dress was the blue one Nonomi had selected. Aria slipped it on, adjusting the fit before stepping out to show them.
Both girls made sounds of approval.
"Beautiful!"
Nonomi circled her, examining the dress from all angles.
"The color matches your eyes perfectly. Very elegant."
"Try the white one next!"
Serika handed over the sundress, practically bouncing with excitement.
The fashion show continued for nearly an hour. Casual dresses, formal wear, practical clothing that could work for missions, comfortable outfits for relaxing. Aria tried them all while Nonomi and Serika provided running commentary and suggestions.
Eventually they settled on several outfits, including a casual dress in soft gray that Aria had genuinely liked, a practical jacket similar to what Nonomi had bought her before, and a few tops that could pair with her existing skirts.
"My treat."
Nonomi insisted when they reached the counter, pulling out her wallet before Aria could protest.
"You work hard at the ramen shop. Let me do something nice for you."
Serika added a cute hair accessory to the pile, a silver clip shaped like a small gear that matched Aria's halo aesthetic.
"From me! To celebrate you getting better."
Aria felt warmth spread through her chest, the simple kindness of friends who wanted nothing more than to see her happy. She smiled, genuine and unforced.
"Thank you. Both of you."
Lunch was at a cozy restaurant specializing in comfort food. They ordered generously, plates arriving filled with hot meals that smelled incredible. Aria found herself eating more than usual, her Perfect Body trait processing the nutrition efficiently while her companions chatted about various topics.
"Did you hear Trinity is having some kind of festival next month?"
Serika mentioned between bites.
"Hifumi sent me a message about it. Apparently there's going to be Peroro merchandise everywhere."
"We should go."
Nonomi suggested.
"It would be fun to see other schools, and Hifumi did promise to visit us. We should return the favor."
"Mm... Sounds good."
Aria agreed, thinking about the nervous Trinity girl they had helped during the bank incident. She hoped Hifumi was doing well.
After lunch, they wandered through the mall at a leisurely pace, occasionally stopping to window shop or check out interesting displays. The afternoon sun streamed through the large windows, casting everything in warm golden light.
Eventually they decided to take a shortcut through a nearby park on their way back to Abydos. The green space was a pleasant change from the urban environment, trees providing shade and the sound of children playing filling the air.
That's when they spotted them.
Near the sandbox, four distinctive figures were huddled together in what could only be described as a very serious discussion. The girl in red with long pink hair and a tactical eyepatch gesticulated wildly. Beside her, a pink haired girl with twin tails looked exasperated. Another with purple hair and fox ears examined something on her tablet. The last one, smallest of the group with distinctive bunny ears, seemed to be mediating.
Problem Solver 68.
Nonomi, Serika, and Aria exchanged glances before approaching. As they got closer, fragments of conversation became audible.
"I'm telling you, Aru, that job was clearly too good to be true!"
The pink twin tailed girl, Mutsuki, sounded frustrated.
"But the client seemed so legitimate!"
Aru protested, her dramatic nature on full display.
"They had official looking documents and everything!"
"Forged documents."
The fox eared girl, Haruka, stated flatly while scrolling through her tablet.
"Very obviously forged, I might add. The watermarks were completely wrong."
"How was I supposed to know about watermarks?!"
The small bunny eared girl, Kayoko, sighed deeply.
"This is the third time this month we've been scammed. At this rate, we'll never afford that office space in D.U."
Aria cleared her throat, announcing their presence. All four Problem Solver members jumped slightly before turning to face them.
"Oh."
Aru recovered first, striking a pose that was probably meant to look confident but came across as defensive.
"The Abydos Foreclosure Task Force. We meet again under less... contentious circumstances."
"You got scammed."
Aria stated simply, her voice carrying neither judgment nor mockery. Just observation.
Mutsuki groaned.
"Is it that obvious?"
"You're sitting in a sandbox looking miserable while discussing forged documents. Context clues suggest a failed job."
Serika stepped forward, her natural friendliness overcoming any lingering awkwardness from previous encounters.
"What happened? Maybe we can help."
Haruka pulled up information on her tablet, turning it to show them.
"We accepted a contract to recover stolen goods from a warehouse. The payment was substantial, so Aru insisted we take it despite several red flags."
"The red flags being?"
Nonomi asked gently.
"Payment upfront without verification, vague details about the stolen goods, and a client who used three different communication methods without consistency."
Haruka's analytical mind had clearly identified the problems after the fact.
"We completed the job, recovered the goods, only to discover they were actually props from a movie production. The real theft was us taking them from the legitimate owner's storage."
"We had to return everything and apologize profusely to avoid legal action."
Kayoko added with another heavy sigh.
"Now we're out the time, resources, and reputation. Plus we still don't have enough for the office space."
Aria studied Aru, noting the girl's deflated posture despite her attempts to maintain her confident facade. The self proclaimed "great outlaw" was clearly taking the failure hard.
"May I?"
Aria gestured to Haruka's tablet. The fox eared girl hesitated before handing it over.
Aria scanned through the contract details, her Technology Affinity and Hacking expertise letting her quickly identify the flaws that should have raised immediate alarms.
"Here."
She pointed to specific sections while speaking.
"First: always verify client identity through at least two independent channels. Cross reference their contact information with public records. If they resist verification, that's a red flag."
She swiped to another screen.
"Second: payment structure matters. Legitimate clients typically pay a deposit, then the remainder upon completion. Full payment upfront usually means they're trying to make you feel obligated even if the job turns out to be illegitimate."
Aru leaned in, her attention caught despite her earlier embarrassment.
"Third: vague job details. If a client can't or won't provide specific information about what you're recovering, why it was stolen, or who stole it, you're probably being used as an unwitting accomplice."
Aria pulled up another section of the contract.
"Fourth: check for standard legal clauses. Legitimate contracts include liability limitations, dispute resolution processes, and clear termination conditions. This one has none of that."
She handed the tablet back to Haruka.
"Fifth: research your clients. Even basic searches would have revealed this person had no prior business history and was using a recently created identity."
The silence that followed was contemplative rather than defensive. Aru's expression had shifted from embarrassment to genuine interest.
"You make it sound so obvious when you explain it like that."
"It is obvious once you know what to look for."
Aria's voice remained neutral, neither condescending nor sympathetic.
"Every field has patterns. Learn them, and you avoid most traps."
Kayoko pulled out a notebook, already jotting down notes.
"This is actually really helpful. We've been operating mostly on instinct and Aru's... enthusiasm."
"Hey!"
Aru protested, but without real heat.
Aria continued, her Teaching trait activating as she organized information into digestible lessons.
"Build a checklist. Every job gets evaluated against standard criteria before acceptance. Initial contact method, client verification, payment structure, job details, legal framework, background research. If more than two criteria fail, decline the job."
"Even if the payment is good?"
Mutsuki asked.
"Especially if the payment is good. High reward usually means high risk or high illegitimacy. You're a problem solving group, not criminals. Legitimate clients pay fair rates for legitimate work."
Haruka was already creating a digital checklist on her tablet, organizing criteria with her natural analytical precision.
"This could significantly improve our success rate. Maybe even help us build a reputation beyond 'those girls who keep getting scammed.'"
Aru had straightened up, her natural confidence returning but tempered with genuine appreciation.
"You know, when we first met, I thought you Abydos students were just lucky. But you actually know what you're doing."
"We had to learn fast."
Serika interjected with a slight smile.
"Our school's debt situation doesn't leave room for mistakes."
"Speaking of which,"
Nonomi added gently,
"if you ever need advice on job evaluation or contract review, feel free to ask. We're not competitors. Kivotos is big enough for multiple problem solving groups."
The offer seemed to genuinely touch all four Problem Solver members. Kayoko smiled, her usual serious expression softening.
"Thank you. That's... really kind of you."
Aria nodded once, considering the interaction complete. She turned to leave, Nonomi and Serika following her lead.
"Wait!"
Aru called out, causing them to pause.
"I, the great Aru Rikuhachima, acknowledge your wisdom! When Problem Solver 68 finally secures our D.U. office and becomes legendary, I'll remember that the Abydos Foreclosure Task Force helped us along the way!"
The dramatic declaration was so quintessentially Aru that even Aria's lips twitched toward a smile.
"Good luck with the office."
She replied simply before continuing on.
As they walked away, Serika giggled softly.
"I think you just earned yourself a fan. Did you see how Aru was looking at you? Like you were some kind of expert consultant."
"She's enthusiastic."
Aria observed neutrally.
"But they have potential. With proper procedures, they could be effective."
"You're good at teaching."
Nonomi commented thoughtfully.
"Breaking down complex information into simple steps. Have you considered offering tactical consulting? We could advertise it as a service."
"Maybe."
The idea had merit. Her Teaching trait combined with her various simulation derived knowledge could genuinely help other students. And it would provide additional income for the school's debt.
"We can discuss with Ayane. See if it's financially viable."
They continued through the park as afternoon shifted toward evening, the sun casting long shadows across the paths. The simple outing had been exactly what they needed: time away from debt concerns and mission planning, just enjoying each other's company while doing normal things that normal students did.
Behind them, Problem Solver 68 remained huddled around Haruka's tablet, now energetically working on their new job evaluation checklist with renewed determination.
And Aru, despite her teammates' focus on practical matters, kept glancing in the direction Aria had gone with an expression of newfound respect that would definitely lead to interesting future interactions.