Esper Story: Helena

Hello everyone from Chloe's Fashion Studio, where today we'll get to show off all kinds of difficult customer requests and our ability to handle them!

What you see now is our pre-opening staff prep...

Woah!!!

Put the phone down! Not at Helena. Haven't got her permission.

Gave me a fright! What are you filming?

As you can see, we're live-streaming our styling work.

We're showing our entire process. From the customer request to the final look. And comparing the before and after...

Voila! New customers.

...I don't get it. How does this attract new customers?

It's an alternate advertising strategy. Think about it. Other fashion studio promos are meticulously edited, right?

We don't do carefully created content. We show the whole process, raw and unedited. You can't buy that kind of authenticity.

Don't underestimate a phone camera. It's simple but effective. Our store's turnover went up by a third after we started live-streaming. Remarkable, isn't it?

Live-streaming with just your phone? Smart.

How'd you like to be today's first live-stream customer?

Remember Helena: be confident, always smile, and make a great introduction...

3, 2, 1... Action!

Hello world! I'm radio host Helena and this is my first very live-stream. Welcome everyone! Next up... well... how about a story? Let's go all the way back to my last Spring in Nielheim...

I have a grand total of... two viewers.

Only two!?

Is it 'cos I'm just starting? Chloe streams to more than 10,000...

*Sigh* It takes time to build up an audience. Guess it's normal not to have many viewers at the beginning...

Huh? What's going on?

More viewers! A lot more! 100! 2,000! Uhh, I should say something!

Heh. Helena still hasn't noticed all the viewers I'm funneling her way...

Where does she think all these viewers are coming from if not my recommendation? Sillyhead.

Mr. Q, you seem to be doing Miss Helena a great favor. Why not disclose it?

That's not my style. Giving favors, I mean. I just see what happens. Anyway, a lot of my followers also like her.

Ahahaha. Look. She's so nervous! But hey. She's doing well for a newbie. Attagirl.

Mr. Q, maybe you can afford to be more forthright.

Not my style...

Hello? Q! Can you hear me?

Hmm?!

Thanks, friends. I appreciate you all helping me! You're seeing this too, aren't you?

Thank you all for recommending my first livestream!

It seems Miss Helena has recognized your effort for what it was, Mr. Q.

...Hmph. Well, of course I realized she'd find out quickly if I used my main account!

Whatever will you do next, Mr. Q?

Eh. No biggie. My gift from one streamer to another.

She's really trying, isn't she?

Donar, any chance I can take next week off?

I'd like to return to Nielheim and use up my remaining leave there.

Oh? Has something happened? Can we help?

Not even the Union can help with this. My sister just gave birth, I have a niece!

Wow. Congratulations! Oh, and don't forget to submit a request... and be sure to return on schedule.

Yes. Definitely. I'll be back before you know it!

Wait... You're going back to Nielheim?

Yes! Back home.

In that case... Can I ask a favor?

What do you mean? What kind of "favor"?

...Can you do me a favor by bringing back some homegrown vegetables?

Vegetables?!

There's this thing about produce from your hometown in the fitness community. It's famous for being super healthy and fresh.

Okay... You'll have to write out a list of the vegetables you want though.

Thank you so much! The other gym rats'll be green with envy!

You know what? You just can't find someone to source real Nielheim produce.

No problem. I'll be sure to return only with vegetables of the very highest quality!

Hey, Helena! I heard you're going back to celebrate the birth of your niece!

Right. Can I bring something nice back for you from Nielheim?

Same goes for you... Chang Pu, Drew.

Whatever you want, just name it! We "Nielheimese" are famous for our hospitality!

Anything...?

I would hate to impose, Miss Helena.

Heh. My family hasn't had a happy reunion like this in a long, long time. It'd be part of the celebrations, really.

So, have you decided yet? This is a rare chance to get something awesome from Nielheim!

Sure! How about some dried vegetables? My fitness instructor's been hounding me about my vitamin and fiber intake!

How about some rare seeds found only in Nielheim?

Our greenhouse residents would be delighted by some distant visitors...

I've heard much of Nielheim's so-called unique earthenware. I wouldn't mind a handmade clay tea set for my collection. Not at all.

But... would it really not be too much trouble?

S-Slow down! I can't write with you all speaking at once...

Is it too much? Helena, you don't have to agree to everything we ask...

It's... It's all right! I'm a lady of my word. And I'd be delighted to return with all these gifts!

As the great Helena of Nielheim, there's nothing I cannot do!

1, 2, 3, 4... Why did I promise so many gifts for so many people? I can't possibly get them all.

B-But I gave my word... No, Helena, you need to do it!

There's only one way...

Hello? Mom. Ahh... I'll be returning soon. And I'm going to need to ask for your help...

That's right... Seeds, a tea set, specialty vegetables plus dried vegetables. Ship them to the Union and put my name on the package.

Why am I buying all this stuff? 'Cause I'm popular! Gotta show off that famous Nielheim hospitality...

...No, no! Mom! What are you talking about?! I'm a proper Union Ops Chief in Gyrate! This is not a side hustle!

Mom! I'm serious! I have a very serious job, listen...!

Civilians, please slow down and maintain an arm's length from each other. No running–

Please cooperate! Thank you!

What are all these people doing here? Did you hear anything?

You didn't know? The rock star concert today. At the stadium.

Too bad I couldn't get a ticket. Or you'd be on patrol today with somebody else.

I see! No wonder you were so enthusiastic about today.

Yup. I can still hear it well enough from this distance.

Well, we all have our passions... Everyone! Please keep the exits open!

Helena... Is that you, Helena?

Uh, yes... You know me?

Are you really Helena? From the podcast?

Wow! No wonder you sounded so familiar! I've listened to all your episodes! All your stories!

T-thanks for saying that!

I'm amazed I have a fan that can recognize me...

Haha, Helena. You're famous!

All that hard work finally paid off, hasn't it?

I'm no big deal really. Look at all the other famous people we have in the Union. I'm just starting... I'm a total rookie.

Well, you've worked hard at what you love. You deserve to be recognized for it! I've been there all along the way.

Hey! Will you talk about this on your podcast today?

You could tell your listeners, "Helena went to that big concert with everyone. She was probably standing right next to you!" You know, enticing stuff!

Uh... I'll think about it...

Hey, is that Brynn...? I'm not seeing things, am I?

Huh?

Oh my God, it is Brynn! I, uh... I was at your concert!

Can I get an autograph? Or a photo with you?!

Me too! I didn't bring a tape recorder with me or I'd have recorded every word you said–

Uh, no, no... Wait, everyone! Wait a minute... We're from the Union. And we're on patrol!

This is an official matter! So, no, you can't take pictures! Erm... Or maybe if you could wait until we finish...

Not good. We can't get stuck here. We're meant to be on patrol!

We have to slip away somehow. Think of something!

I'm thinking, I'm thinking!

...How about this, Brynn. When I say "run", you go left. I go right!

We have to split up, got it? We're attracting too much attention together. Can't patrol. Can't do anything.

Guess we have no choice. I'll give my location after. Then we'll continue.

We can make it a competition: whoever ditches their fans first wins. Could be hard.

The prize is: the winner can actually patrol!

What did you just say?

Now! Run!

Helena, don't go! I just wanted one picture. Just one!

*Huff*Huff*

Thank you... Thank you so much for your support! I'm really touched!

But... a photo? Next time!