Handling Claims
...It happened again.
Petra skipped our scheduled training once more, claiming she had "shopping to do."
Eventually, after waiting long enough, I decided to look for her myself and started walking through the streets of NOA.
And there she was. In a place I didn't expect.
Always a pleasure. You buy so much every time you visit.
What are you researching this time?
Nyahaha... Are you really gonna make me say it? Bombs, of course ♪
Petra's always craving something that goes "boom!" in a big, strong way. Mm?
Petra...
C-Captain...? Nyahaha... What a coincidence...
No, let's call it fate ♡ That sounds better, right?
Petraaa...
Forgive me!! Petra's cute, so you'll forgive me, right?! I'll even marry you!!
Uuugh... I'm sooorry...
I'll never skip training again, so stop scolding meee...
More importantly, what were you doing?
You said you were going shopping.
Hmm? I did go shopping. Bought all sorts of things!
Petra loves making bombs ♡ And I'm pretty good at it too.
Nyahaha, what's a cute girl supposed to do when she's talented too?
When you're this perfect, jealousy's just part of the package ♪
But Captain, aren't you prying a little too deep into a lady's private life?
Nyahaha, even fiancés need their secrets...
Hey, you're the head of Petra Construction, right?
Huh?
You remember me? The one who hired you for home repairs last week?
Oh right, that's you!
That picky custom— Er, I mean...
Nyahaha! So, what can Petra do for you today?
Don't tell me you couldn't stop thinking about Petra's adorable charm every night?
I want a refund!!
W-what...?
Nya... haha... What are you talking about?
I'm pretty sure I made it clear while signing the contract... that there are no refunds...
No refunds? I dare you to say that after you see THIS!
The furious woman pulled a broken pipe out from her coat.
Look at it!
This pipe broke clean in half! It fell right off!
She swung the pipe around wildly, far more than necessary.
...Broke off, huh?
The cut at the end was perfectly clean.
It looked almost... intentional.
You promised your construction was solid!
Then how do you explain? The pipe snapped and nearly crushed everyone inside!
How are you going to take responsibility for this?!
...
N-nyahaha... W-well, we'll need to check that ourselves first...
I'll send an employee over soon to inspect it and get back to you...
What are you talking about?! This is all the proof you need!
!
The woman raised her voice and brandished the pipe threateningly.
There's no need to check anything! Refund me NOW!
...Th-that's... Uh...
Petra...?
I'm...
I'm sooorry...
I'm sooo sooorry...
I-I just thought... it was all done properly back then...
Are you talking back to me?!
N-no, that's not what I meant...
I'm sorry... If you just give me one more chance... I'll fix it right this time...
You think "sorry" cuts it? I want my money back!
I-I... don't have any money right now... B-but the support money will be coming in soon, and I'll use that to...
I-I'll make sure you get your refund... somehow...
If Petra Construction had truly made a mistake, her apology made sense.
But this woman's demand for a refund didn't sit right with me.
Enough with the nonsense.
Who are you? Oh, so you're that famous Journey Captain, huh?
I've heard the rumors! You're secretly investing in Petra Construction, aren't you? You two have been in on it from the start, you scammers!
I only see one scammer making things up...
And it's the one who deliberately cut a pipe to demand a refund!
Ngh!
Y-you're the one making things up here!
Judging by her flustered face, must've hit the mark.
Should I call the Town Guard and let them sort it out?
...Th-the Town Guard?!
...
Fine! I'll let it go this time... but don't think you can keep doing business like this!
Red-faced, the woman stormed off in a hurry...
But Petra still couldn't lift her head.
Petra, are you okay?
...
Captain... I looked really pathetic back there, didn't I...?
I should've handled that... so much better...
Instead I just froze up like an idiot again...
Petra, back there, you...
...
...I may have looked scared, but!
Nyahaha, so? H-how was I?
Even a scared Petra is cute, right?
That's Petra showing off her other side ♡!
...You don't have to pretend you're fine, Petra.
Hmm? I'm not pretending ♪ I really am fine ♪
This kind of thing happens all the time when you run a company.
It's just... this time the customer was a bit intense, so Petra was just a liiittle startled.
It was just a tiny moment of panic!
Yeah, that's all it was.
So don't worry, Captain.
If you say so...
Of course ♪
Nothing to worry about at all!
...Crying doesn't change anything anyway.
...
Anyway! Let's talk about something else!
Like, say... the wedding plans between Petra and Captain, who just saved her? Or where we should go for our honeymoon?
Petra, if there's something you didn't finish saying back there...
Nyahaha!
Captain, you worry way too much! You're the overprotective type, eh?
Anyway, let's just head back... Looking at that worried face of yours is way more stressful than training.
I'd rather work hard and ace the Journey... Then I can really ask you to marry me ♪
...In the end, Petra brushed it all off with her usual teasing grin, and I returned to Candle Square without hearing the full story.
...
No matter how much I pretend otherwise...
...Nothing's really changed since that day.
...