Vol. 1 Ch. 1 Ep. 14: The Masked Swimsuit Gang! Part 2

Sorry for the short delay...Aru, was it?

You call that a short delay?! I've been waiting here for six hours!

What kind of loan interview is this?! I've been here the whole day, and there wasn't even anyone in front of us!

Look at my associates over there! We've been waiting for so long that they've passed out on the couch!

We've had some internal issues. Our apologies.

However, I'm not quite sure if you're in the position to make any demands, Miss Aru.

U-Ugh...

As someone in need of assistance from our bank, waiting is the least you can do. And not to mention, it's frowned upon to sleep on communal seating.

*snaps* Guard. Wake up those bums...I mean, customers...

All right, all right! Rise and shine! Time to wake up!

Zzz...

Eek?! The heck?!

...!

S-Sorry! We're very sorry! We shouldn't have dozed off!

...

*flip* Now, let's see here. Name...Rikuhachima Aru. Affiliation: second-year at Gehenna Academy.

Present employment: boss of Problem Solver 68... That reads like a shell corporation to me. Your financial documents are a complete mess.

N-No! We're completely legitimate! We just haven't received payment on some of our commissions yet!

And look at this. You only have three people under you, but each has a special title... Chief of staff, department head, and entry-level employee? That's quite a reach. Are you playing make-believe at running a company?

If you want to earn commissions, you have to keep up appearances...

Would you care to explain this extravagant office lease you're paying? You should know better than to extend yourself beyond your means.

Y-You've gotta spend money to make money...?

...

My, my, Aru. This doesn't look like it's going well for you at all.

Th-This can't be happening!

My strong recommendation is that you secure legitimate employment at once. Might I suggest looking into the early-morning day-laborer market?

Wh-What did you say?!

(snaps)

(Why you little... I oughta smash everything and rob your bank right now!)

(No, I need to stay cool. Even if I sack this place, escaping from the Black Market is another story. Consider all those Market Guards on patrol everywhere...)

(But is it really? Maybe those guys aren't actually that big of a deal. Who's to say the four of us won't be able to blast our way out of here and take 'em down?)

(On second thought...I don't have the guts to make the entire Black Market my enemy.)

(This is so pathetic. I wanted to become the greatest outlaw in all of Kivotos, but look at me now...)

(This loan, my business... All I ever get is a constant headache.)

(This isn't what I wanted at all... I wanted to be a hard-boiled outlaw. A true, free spirit not bound to anything, not even fear.)

(It's all I ever wanted.)

Aru, are you listening?!

O-Of course I am! So...could you repeat that?

I said, your loan application has been denied. Now, run along.

Wait, what?! H-Hold on a second!

What's going on? A power outage?!

Did someone trip a breaker? All of the computers are dead!

Gunfire?!

Garrrgh!

Arrrgh!

What's happening? Ugh!

Everyone, down! Toss your weapons aside and hands where we can see them!

Those that won't comply will be in for a good thrashing! ☆

Th-This is a stick up...get down if you don't want to get hurt...please!

B-Bank robbers?!

*WEE WOO* *WEE WOO* Alert! Alert!

It's no use. The outer security system has already been turned off.

*gasp*

Hey, you over there! You were told to get down on the ground! Try any more funny business and I'll put holes in your circuits!

Please, everyone just do as we say. Please...

Heh! Everything's going according to plan! Time to move to the next phase. Give us your orders, Faust!

What?! Are you referring to me?!

That's right, you're the leader! The boss! And as for myself...

I'm Christina of the Masked Swimsuit Gang! ♧

Hey, when did we agree to give ourselves names?! And what kind of choice is that? It's so lame!

...

Heh heh! Better do as Faust says. You don't wanna make her angry. You wouldn't like her when she's angry.

I... Oh dear. How did I end up being the boss? And how can I face the Tea Party now?

Wait a second... Aren't they...?

The students from Abydos?!

That's right. Though I think I see someone new. The heck are they doing here? And what's with those masks?

A-Are they here for us?! Sh-Should I go annihilate all of them?

No, I don't think they're here for us... What are they up to? They're sticking this place up?

What are you doing, Aru?

I have the security camera blind spots, guard positions, and the bank's internal structure memorized. So nobody try anything stupid, or else.

All right, you over there. That cash truck that just left. I want you to take this bag and...

O-Of course! Cash, bonds, gold, whatever you want! You got it!

No, uh... What I want are the transport logs...

H-Here you are! I stuffed so much, the bag's practically bursting! Please don't hurt me!

U-Um... Thanks...

...

(They're really robbing a Black Market bank! That's sooooo cool!)

(How are they gonna pull off the getaway? And more importantly, how do they have the GUTS to do this kind of stuff?!)

(Look at that cool, calm composure. They're pros. It's like they were born to do this. They pulled this off in five minutes flat!)

(I-It's magnificent! So badass! Now these guys are real outlaws! I'm gonna start tearing up.)

She has absolutely no clue...

Is she actually getting teary-eyed?

*sigh*

Uh, so do we just stay put?

Between those guys or the bank, there's no reason for us to help either side. And with Aru in that state right now...we're better off staying out of it.

If you say so...

Hey, Shiro, I mean, uh...Blue. You got the goods?

Y-Yeah. The eagle has landed.

Then, c'mon! Let's move it, people!

All righty, then. Adios! ☆

L-Looks like no one got hurt. S-Sorry about this everyone. Thank you, and have a great day!

D-Don't let them get away! Seal off the roads! Contact the Market Guards!

They must be caught at once!