Esper Story: Drew

Good morning, field agents...

A-a-choo!

What a freezing winter! This time last year, I was only wearing a cashmere coat...

Good morning, Miss Ye Suhua.

Drew, your bandages, um, I mean, where are your winter "earmuffs"?

As you can see, I removed the bandages.

Did you get some good ones? It's so cold today. And you're out in the field...

Not yet. I didn't want to concern you and others with a prominent set of bandages over my ears, so...

Don't worry about that, Mr. Drew!

I have another idea. Hold on...

Oh. You're a bit tall for me. Can you just lower your head a tad?

Like so?

Yep.

Anyway, keep them on for a couple of days, please. And I'll let the others know what's going on.

Thank you.

Speaking of which... Solstice is coming soon. I heard the Esper Union's got something special planned. Some fantastic events this year.

I can see you're looking forward to it!

The Miramon have been so atrocious lately... Anything that can cheer folks up!

Indubitably. If only they could take a holiday too!

Haha...

Done. What do you think?

Very warm. Thank you.

Pretty good, huh?

A much warmer fit than my own efforts. As to be expected from you, Miss Ye Suhua, highly professional.

Thanks.

Happy holidays, Drew!

Happy holidays, Miss Ye Suhua.

So what'd you think? Have you found your gifts?

Beg your pardon?

Um... Don't people hide gifts on Solstice Festival? I mean, uh, have you started looking?

Oh, sorry... I haven't had a Solstice Festival in the past two years. I've neglected some things.

I can start looking for them now if you'd like.

Alright! Here's a hint, one or more have been hidden in this very lounge!

But quite possibly more than one!

Let's see if you can find my gift...

...This drawer seems to have been opened recently. Lo and behold this says "To Drew"... Yours?

Nope.

Although there are some new satchels on these bookshelves. Perhaps?

Unfortunately, no.

...Then I must examine this lounge in more detail.

I assume it must be one of these.

Wow. There sure are a lot. But it's not!

You're popular, Mr. Drew. But you still haven't found my gift.

Can I avail myself of a hint, Miss Ye Suhua?

Okay...

How about a riddle: it is hidden in this lounge, yet it will be in your home in five hours.

These are...

Earmuffs?

Why don't you try them on?

They're... they're perfect!

Right! Special customized earmuffs just for you!

But... when could you have possibly measured my ears?

The, uh, last time I applied the "earmuff" bandages. I figured this would be warmer.

It's very warm. As extraordinary as I could have expected, Miss Ye Suhua.

You can say goodbye to cold ears for many winters to come.

... Next up, we'll be looking at unusual Shadow Decree member activities over the past two months.

First, this neighborhood adjacent to a Miracle has experienced over ten cases of suspected Shadow member-Miramon collusion that...

Please, come in.

Sorry for the interruption. Had trouble finding the place.

Lucas, if I recall correctly? Recent Academy graduate?

Correct.

We've already begun. Please take a seat.

As I was saying...

Over ten Miramon attacks on a Miracle-adjacent neighborhood in the last two months. We have no doubt this is due to the Shadow Decree, and...

Psst. Lucas. Are you alright? You look nervous.

Why didn't you all tell me how to get here? Not cool!

I forgot they put it in the middle of nowhere. Sorry.

Never mind. The speaker... he's Drew, right? Heard about him at the Academy.

I wanted to impress him. Not much chance of that now.

He's probably angry, right?

Don't worry about it. He's not that sensitive.

How do you know?

We got the dirt on him.

What I've highlighted only shows some of the threat posed by Shadow-induced Miramon activity on Union-aligned residents.

However, to be clear, Union security forces could have reacted more quickly. Issues with response times have been identified...

Now he's getting annoyed...

Huh?

Body language, my friend...

Look at his ears.

...His ears?

Yeah! Sideways ears, or as I like to call'em, "airplane ears", means he's angry.

I think he is not happy with how we've been handling civilian defense.

...And I sincerely hope we do not witness a repeat of such incidents, and certainly not in the near future.

His ears! You're right. Not sideways anymore.

So... is that the only way to tell if Drew's angry?

Of course not, we've also worked out some other patterns. We all did.

Ears up means he's in a good mood. Floppy ears means he's feeling shy.

When he's thinking, they're wiggling. See? Just like that.

......

I see. Didn't realize it could be so easy to get a read on someone...

Thanks. I'll be sure to use all that.

Mr. Drew, you wanted to see me?

That's right, Lucas. Please, have a seat. I'm sorry I can't offer you any afternoon tea here.

(Could he still be angry from the presentation? What about my recent mission failure?)

Mr. Drew, believe me when I tell you I have learned a lot since my last mission. And it won't happen again!

Mistakes are an inevitability of life. It's alright. Just try to be more careful.

(But his ears are not righting themselves upward... Why?)

I've got to, uh, go to fewer music festivals and focus more on training and studying between missions, I'm sure.

You should know that we at the Union are not opposed to fun and games. Attend all your music festivals, by all means.

......

But, Mr. Drew, something tells me I've done something wrong.

What makes you say that, Mr. Lucas? Am I giving you that impression?

From the children you protected on that last mission. They sent a few drawings to us afterward. I thought perhaps that... you could have them?

What? But your ears...

My ears? Pardon?

Someone, uh, they told me if your ears are angled sideways then you're... you're annoyed.

Oh. I see. Yes, well. That can be true.

With exceptions, of course. For example, if someone were to replace the candy in my jar with extra, extra super sour lemon candy...

......

Anyway... Fear not, young Lucas. Actually, do you mind if I look at these drawings now with you here?

What would look more festive? A corner ornament with a wool hat? Or elsewhere?

Worth a try...

Drew!

Very good, if I do say so myself. Now to...

Excuse me?

Is someone there?

...Mr. Drew?

Oh, Miss. Brynn!

Apologies. I must not have heard you.

Am I interrupting something? Is it work?

Sorry.

Something to discuss, Miss Brynn?

New Year's coming and... I was thinking of buying presents for everyone since you're all so lovely! Heh. But I'm not sure. I am pretty new here. I honestly don't know what... uh, what people might want.

You speak of preferences, Miss Brynn?

...Yeah. That's right. I was guessing you might know what everyone would like. I heard so, anyway.

I'll certainly offer the best advice I can muster, Miss Brynn. I take it you would be mostly familiar with your fellow female colleagues?

Well, yeah. I guess so. Everyone's so different. It's hard to know what people would like.

Indeed. As for our esteemed colleagues of the female persuasion, I do believe Miss Chang Pu would appreciate a gift in the area of gardening, Mona around video games, and Miss Helena around fashion.

Chang Pu's gardening tools may possibly be a little worn. In any case, I think she would certainly appreciate a new set.

And for Mona... the latest console?

A dedicated gamer such as Miss Mona might well have the most popular devices in her possession already.

Yeah. She's talked about her gaming achievements. And the games look pretty new. Or how about candy? She eats a lot of lollipops.

An excellent idea! And Miss Mona often frequents a particular candy shop titled "Sweet Bombs Galore".

...That's Mona.

In terms of Helena... fashion accessories? Any brand, any shop, she particularly likes?

I do believe Miss Helena might favor something a little more intangible. New fashion designs, related content, perhaps?

She certainly values their opinions quite highly.

Oh, right! Good idea. Much safer than buying the wrong item!

But I don't know anything about high-end fashion. Maybe rock'n'roll. That's it.

Fashion magazines, then? The New Year should be accompanied by a number of year-end specials from the major publisher.

Great one, Mr. Drew! Helena once recommended "Cool Sound Waves" to me. She'll like that.

You're very observant as well, Miss Brynn. I'm sure you'll find the perfect gifts.

Still good to have your help... Thanks a lot, Mr. Drew. I really want to make a good impression. These new friendships are so important to me!

My pleasure...

Anything else I can assist with?

I, uh, still have a few other gifts to discuss...

Delivery?

Yes, sir. Please sign here.

...Thanks.

Happy New Year, by the way!

Happy New Year, Mr. Drew.

I haven't ordered anything recently. I wonder what it could be...?

These are...

...I could do with a brand-new pair of fine gentleman's gloves. Rather an improvement over my current ones, I'd say.

Thank you, Miss Brynn, for my favorite ever New Year's gift.