First Encounter
In the middle of NOA's plaza.
I arrived a little early and was waiting for the Journey member.
...Was it just my imagination?
The whole time I waited, I felt people staring at me.
Do I have something on my face...?
That's when a girl in uniform walked up to me with a smile.
Hi there! Are you...
Huh?
Hmm... Hmmm... Mmmm...
...?
Ahem! Hello, I'm Annah! A town guard of NOA Public Security, joining the Journey as of today.
You must be the Journey Captain, right? Nice to meet you!
Yeah, same here.
Wait... did you say you're a town guard?
That's right! The Public Security is in charge of keeping NOA safe.
And what the town guard does... is something like this.
*Click*
?!
Suddenly, something snapped around both my wrists.
...Handcuffs?!
Yup! I'm part of the on-site response and arrest unit.
Just call me Annah, the Arrest Specialist!
Actually, on the way here, the town guard received three reports of suspicious activity.
Unfortunately, we haven't caught the culprit yet...
But I promise you, we will!
Criminals might be able to hide their faces, but they can't hide their scents.
I-is that so?
What were the reports about?
Also, why am I still cuffed...?
Well, you see...
Someone reported a shady figure in a long black coat wandering around.
Just like the one you're wearing right now, Captain.
...So?
Apparently said figure was also wearing a black hoodie pulled low, so no one could see his face.
Kind of like the one you're wearing right now...
What a... weird coincidence...
Witnesses say that the moment he realized he was reported to the town guard, he ran off.
And the last place he was seen was... this very plaza!
...What exactly did this person do?
Well!
...Brace yourself!
He was reported not be wearing anything under his coat.
That's not me!!
I blurted out louder than I meant to.
Same coat, same hoodie, same plaza...
Okay, hang on, calm down!
So that's why everyone was staring at me earlier...!
Captain...
Y-yes?
You have the right to remain silent...
What?! Inside your coat...?! R-right now?!
...But if I open that coat and...
Y-you really are completely naked underneath it...
I don't think I'm mentally prepared for that yet...
H-how very assertive of you, Captain...
Please wait just a moment.
Between me opening it, and you opening it yourself...
...I was just wondering which option would be more heart-pounding—
Is that the issue here?!
Annah unlocked the cuffs, and I quickly pulled open my coat to show her what was inside.
Hmm, I see...
Mysteries are always the most thrilling right before they're solved...
What nonsense...
Anyway, thanks for your cooperation, Captain!
I didn't really think you were the suspect, of course!
But I had to do a proper check, just in case.
Oh, the cuffs? W-well... they were... Yeah.
To prevent any escape attempts! ☆
So you were suspicious of me!!
While walking together, we arrived in front of the training grounds.
Ah, so this is the place we'll be working together from now on!
Time to run a thorough inspection!
With a smile, Arrest Specialist Annah strode into the training grounds ahead of me.
As I followed after her, I couldn't help thinking... if I was innocent, then where was the culprit?