Smoke's Up!

Ohhh! Not again! I always spend too much in there!

I just can't say no to all these adorable clothes though! Think I bought too many too!

Haha whoa! There's a clothes store here as well?

Wait, but aren't you from around here, Dewey? You don't seem to know the area very well.

Haha, yeah... I suppose you could say that.

Oookay then...

Thank you very much! Please come again, anytime.

Oh man! I can't wait till I can pull off a suit like that. All stylish 'n' cool!

Hey! What the heck! Watch where you're going, you decrepit old man!

Oh... I'm terribly sorry about that young man. My sight isn't what it used to be, you see.

You think sorry is going to cut it?! You messed up my best suit!

What's going on over there?

Is it a fight? That guy looks really mad. Looks like that old timer did something.

Well don't just stand there looking senile! How're you gonna rectify this, huh?! I gotta go meet an important lady friend soon. And there's no way I'm gonna be able to get this cleaned in time for that now, is there!

Well how about I buy you a new...

You even know how much this thing costs?! I won't accept any old shabby threads, you hear!

That's going too far! All he did was bump into you by accident!

You take a chill pill too, Aldo. Just leave this mess to me.

Let's call it a day, all right? You're not even a little embarrassed for yelling at this poor old dude, huh? Kinda pathetic, if you ask me. That suit is completely wasted on a chump like you.

What'd you say, you little brat?!

Your suit got dirty right? Then I'll give it the cleaning that you say it needs so bad!

What the, ?

There you go. Suit's as good as new, and you've cooled off a bit too, two birds, one stone!

Ohhh, why I'm gonna... I'm soaking wet now, you stupid brat! Think 'cos you can shoot a little bit of water from your finger, that I'm not gonna whale on you, huh?!

Well that's where you're wrong. This is all nano tech. It's a gun that produces steam, just in case you were interested.

I didn't ask, and I don't care! I'm an adult. And Elzion will fall out of the sky before I let a kid like you get the better of me!

Might wanna hold off before you go talking all big with, "adult this, adult that." And just to let you know, that little squirt just now was weakest setting I have.

But I won't hold back next time.

Um...

Mommy! Help meee!

Well, what do you know the body of an adult with the mind of a child.

Oh, you were ever so brave facing off that man like that. It's so refreshing to see children stand up for the elderly.

Children? Grr. I better get some growth spurts soon, or I'm gonna go crazy!

Th-thank you ever so much.

You all right there, gramps? What happened back there anyway?

I was just mullin' over a little problem I had see. Doing the old walky-thinky thing, then all of a sudden I start getting yelled at.

Problem? If you want, you could...

Oh my! Is that the time! I'm supposed to be meeting somebody now! You'll have to excuse me, young sirs. I gotta get myself to the Entrance Gate, on the double.

Wait, hang on a second!

Hmm... I'm kinda worried about him.

Who? The old guy? Yeah, me too. Wanna go after him, make sure he's okay?

You don't mind? Thanks, Dewey. I heard him say something about the Entrance Gate. Let's head over there.

Hmm... This is peculiar.

What's peculiar?

Oh my! It's you from just a moment ago. What a coincidence meeting again! World sure is a small place.

Haha! It's not a coincidence at all. We followed you here!

We thought your problem must be pretty serious for you to bump into people and all. I thought you said you were meeting somebody here? Haven't they turned up yet?

A keen set of ears you have there. They were supposed to be here already. Oh... I do hope nothing has happened to them.

You're overthinking it! I'm sure the Cargo Bus just got held up somewhere.

I hope you are right...

Graaandpaaa!

That's her voice!

Oh, I'm so sorry to keep you waiting! My appointment went on longer than I thought it would.

Don't worry about me. I'm just glad that you are safe.

So, umm... Who are these people?

I had a little bit of trouble with an angry young man who I bumped into in town. It looked like I was going to have to pay for another tasteless suit for him until these two showed up.

Wow! Sounds like you've had an eventful morning! Thank you for looking out for my grandpa. It's terrible what people can get upset about these days, huh?

I really didn't do anything. If you're going to thank anyone, thank Dewey here.

Oh, okay. Hey, Dewey, thanks for protecting my grandpa.

It was nothing really...

Ohhh! You're so cute, all shy!

Anyway, did you get the results?

Nothing good. Seems they won't do anything until there's an actual threat.

Threat?

Recently, we think that there has been someone hanging around outside our house.

I've felt like I'm being watched by somebody when I'm at home.

Which is really scary, right? So I went to talk with the EGPD, to see if they would do anything about it. But they didn't really take me seriously.

Well, if you don't mind, we'd be happy to help? I've never been good at ignoring someone in trouble.

You would?! Oh, thank you so much!

If you're sure, then we'll happily accept your offer.

Our home's in the Theta District. Would you be okay meeting up in front of the Xeno Prisma there?

That's fine with me. Okay, well, we'll see you later then.

You're a real people person, huh, Aldo? I don't think many people would just help random strangers like that.

You're the same, aren't you? You were the one who helped the old timer in the first place.

But that was less about helping out the old guy, and more that "mister fancy suit" got on my nerves.

Anyway, I guess we should head to Theta District now.

You came! Thank you again for doing this for us.

No problem. Where's your grandpa?

He's just gone off to do a bit of shopping. He should be back soon though. Let me show you our house in the meantime.

So what exactly can we do to help? I supposed we could question everyone who looks fishy walking near your house?

I don't think that will work. You'll put the real culprit on guard if they see you investigating everyone like that.

You mean...

What we need is a stakeout!

Yes! A stakeout! Umm that's the one when you wait for the criminal to show up and do something criminal, right?

That's exactly it. And to make sure you can stay focused for as long as it takes, I went a little overboard with the shopping.

Food, drink, sleeping bags, and some, oh yes, magazines... Well those are for a lonely old man, but the rest is yours!

Oh grandpa! Don't you think you're getting a bit too excited? I know it must be fun having other guys around for a change and all.

No, I think gramps has the right idea. We could be at this for a while, and it never hurts to be over prepared.

Now I'm getting excited!

Okay. Well, let's go then. Follow me.

Well, this is my room. This may be a stakeout, but I doubt anything will happen straight away. Just make yourselves at home for the time being.

I'm going to go back to my place for a bit. Just ask my grandpa if you need anything, okay? I'll let you know right away if I notice anything strange on my end.

Her place? Wait, so they aren't living together then?

I guess. It's pretty common for families to live separately these days.

But for a regular housing unit, this place has a great view!

I could stakeout in a place like this for...

......

......

......

I think we've found what's been looking in on these guys!

You don't say!

Looks like it flew towards Route 99. Let's get after it before we lose sight of it!

Route 99? Got it! Let's chase it down!

Oh ho? Where'd they go already? Looks like old gramps is on his lonesome, yet again...

There it is! I think that's the drone from earlier! If we can get access to its picture banks, then we'll be able to say for sure if it's the one that was looking into the house.

Great! Let's catch it before it flies off again. I don't wanna spend all day chasing after this thing.

Nice! We got it before it could get away.

Right! Now I can have a look at what it's got stored on it.

Let's see... I take this out... Connect that to this... Pat my head and rub my tummy... Bingo! It's slideshow time!

Huh?

What is all this?!

Dewey, what's wrong?

Just stop right there!

Oh, well I never! Look at this mess!

What? Umm... Who are you?

Just what's the big idea, huh! All the pictures in this drone are of the old guy! And there's like, literally hundreds of them!

Whoa, really?! And, I guess the reason you're all the way out here is that you own this thing, right?

That's right! And what is it to you, hmm?

Wait, so you were the one peeping on the old timer then?!

P-Peeping?! What a nasty accusation! I just wanted to...check up on him... Without causing him any nuisance, of course!

Oh, just to see his kind, warm face. That silky, soft gray mane of his, those devilishly handsome gray whiskers...

Just basking in his glory from the other side of a screen was more than enough for me!

But why would you need to use a drone?

I...

I couldn't possibly tell him how I feel now, could I? Not at this age.

You really think so?

Huh?

Age's got nothing to do with it, I tell ya. You know, people's lives are more fleeting than we like to think...

If you go through life never being able to say what you really want, you'll only be left with regret at the end of it all. Let's go together, to the old guy's place. When we get there, you can tell him everything on your mind, in person. I know you'll feel much better for it.

I'm not sure, I... No, you know what, you're right. Wow. I never thought I would be getting life lessons from a child.

I'm not a child! And I have a name, you know! It's Dewey!

Oh, well I do apologize. Dewey, I'll make sure not to forget it.

Okay. Let's go, Aldo.

Sure. You wanna bring her back to the old timer's home in Theta District? I'm sure he'll still be there waiting for us.

You're back! I had no idea where you'd gone. One moment you were here, and the next, gone! Had an old man worried...

Yeah, sorry about that. Everything just kinda happened. But we found out who's been snooping around your house this whole time.

Really?!

Well, actually we've brought them along with us. I think you should listen to what they have to say before you do anything else.

Come on in, grandma. It's time for some explaining.

Yes, well... Umm...

Have I had the pleasure of meeting you somewhere before? You seem familiar somehow.

I am afraid not. I have always just been, gazing from afar.

I have been appreciating you from the shadows for oh so long now. But I got worried and approached you after that rude man started yelling at you.

And then I discover that my...admiring... had been the cause of your recent distress. Oh, I am ever so sorry. I never meant to trouble you like this.

I see. Well, no harm done. I won't press charges either. Everyone is okay, and there was no malicious intent, after all.

But...

I can't very well let you go unrebuked. Everyone will think I have gone soft now, won't they?

Oh... I suppose you're right.

Yes. As punishment, let's see... I know, you can come help me manage the dorms, how about that?

No, anything but th, wait, dorms?

Yeah, what dorms?

Old timer, you manage a dormitory?

I didn't say? I suppose things happened so quickly I forgot to mention it. The room is actually the surveillance room for the dorms.

Is that right?

It is indeed. Anyway, please come back here, bright and early tomorrow.

Y-Yes...

Phew! Glad all that's over now.

I think so too. I was a little worried there for a moment, but everything ended for the best it seems.

But I can see why she wouldn't want to barge in on his life after seeing how well he gets along with his granddaughter.

Excuse me? What granddaughter?

Huh? You, obviously.

But we're not related, you know? I'm pretty sure grandpa's been single his entire life, up until now.

Umm... What now?

He's just the manager for my company's women-only dorm. He's always been so kind and caring towards everyone that we all just ended up calling him grandpa. Myself included, of course.

A women-only dorm?!

So that's why they were living in different places then!

And when I told them all about how you rescued grandpa, they all wanted to show their gratitude.

You don't mean...

Is that him?! Our little hero, Dewey!

Oh man!

Yeah! That's him! And you'll never guess what. He also found out who was watching grandpa as well!

No way! So he's an adorable detective as well as a hero?!

Nah, it was nothing. I...

Oh! Look he's all embarrassed!

Ohhh! He's going all red! He's just the cutest thing I've ever seen!

I am not going red! I...

Whoa! Dewey, you okay there?!

Aww, you don't need to be nervous! We won't bite. Well, not much anyway! Muahaha!

Tee hee hee! He's sooo adorable!

No more... I...can't...