Esper Story: Odette

This summer is sooooo hot...

The heat wave's so bad it's even reduced the city's crime rate. The only silver lining is patrol duty's been a breeze.

But at a price... Fridge lounge is broken. No more cold drinks for us...

What, really?!... Well, they'll just fix it soon, right?

Look, that's Miss Odette. Where'd she get a cold one?

You mean the angry-looking one? I'll ask.

Shhh, hold on. She's one of the "ice Espers". Probably made it herself.

Then I'll ask her to make some for us?

Uhh... I don't know if that's a good idea. Odette is known for being... uh... a tad unpredictable...

Fine. Then I'll ask maintenance when the fridge is getting fixed.

Oh. Fridge is broken? My time to shine.

(One orange soda, one iced coffee.)

(Laura likes coffee, doesn't she? I'll help her beat the heat.)

(Wait... Something's wrong. I can feel someone's eyes on me...)

Yikes! She noticed me! Look away!

How come?

(Why were they staring at me?)

(Forget it. To Laura with her drink then.)

If... I mean, what if...

What if I asked Odette real nice? Think she'd chill a little drink for me?

If you want to try, you've got my moral support.

Here. Try my drink too.

Excuse me. Did I hear you mention Odette's name?

Oh, Laura! Uh, right. We're just jealous, heh. You know, how she can chill things instantly.

A real gift in this hot weather, eh? So we were kind of wondering... if she'd be so kind as to chill our drinks?

But we're a little apprehensive about whether we should ask her...

Apprehensive?! You're apprehensive.

Mm. I see.

I think you've got Odette all wrong. Yes, she can seem a tad stern, but...

Hey, Laura. There you are!

Odette!

Here. Cold coffee. The fridge is broken so I made this one for you.

I'd better get back to work. See ya later.

Wait. Odette? Could I get your help for a moment?

I was wondering if we could ask you for a favor since, as you know, our fridge is broken.

Okay. Well, first of all, I'm not much of a mechanic.

Heh, no, no. I'm asking if you wouldn't mind chilling some of the pantry drinks for other colleagues.

?

I think some of them would appreciate it.

But they want me to ask because, for some strange reason, they find you... unapproachable.

Huh?

I saw how you made that cold coffee. It was so awesome!

M-miss Odette, y-you don't have to do it... uh... if it's at all inconvenient...

Well, it's not instant.

But since you've asked me so nicely.

I'll help you out this one time.

Whooaaaaa!

Amazing!

From now on, please let me call you the "Goddess of Iced Cola".

Oh, oh! And "Goddess of Iced Tea" please. Please, keep making more iced teas!

Excuse me? I just need to put Miss Odette's special iced cola into this thermos.

Oh hey, don't push. Keep it orderly in here please.

Laura, will you please stop laughing and come help me?!

You see, Odette is actually a very warm person. You just don't know it.

Oh no! I'm a very warm person. Anyway, I have time today!

But don't expect this to become an everyday thing!

Haha. Miss Odette, you're not as "cold" as you look!

Thank you so much!

Eh. Take your drink!

I-I won't do this again!

First time we've teamed up, Odette!

So... did you grow up in Utgard?

Sort of. Most of it out in Raine Tundra.

After some stuff happened, I moved back to the city. I'm more or less pretty familiar with Utgard.

Oh, okay. Cool. Any local snacks you'd recommend? I'd like try some great local specialties.

The tomato wrap? You'll find some good ones on the corner of 15th.

...Tomato wrap? Are you sure? Pretty standard vegetable...

Standard?

Come on, you're a "cool girl", heh. I thought you'd recommend something more spicy!

Like... uh... lobster mustard rolls with ghost peppers! Something to smash our taste buds, eh?

More your style, right?

Huh? What do you mean?

A tomato wrap? You really like that?

You're making me wonder about our teamwork prospects.

Ow, that hurts! Come on. I'm serious, uh, sincere.

......

Change topic, okay? Recently, I...

You know what? I'd feel more comfortable patrolling alone.

Huh? Wait!

Was it something I said? I was too direct?

That's the thief! He stole a wrap!

Well-dressed, aren't you, huh? You got some nerve!

Thanks, I guess? Maybe I am, but... Hey! Don't hit me!

I was just having a look, that's all! See?! Nothing in my hands!

You must've eaten it already! I know how you guys operate. And we caught you red-handed!

Don't let him go! Let's take him to the Marshal.

Everyone, please! Calm down! I'm an Ops Chief with the Union.

If I was really a thief, I wouldn't have stayed around for you to catch me.

Excuse me. Let me through, please. All right, everyone. What's going on?

Oh, Odette! Can you believe it? They think I'm a thief!

I saw it! Two freshly made wraps! They vanished!

Please, listen.

I saw it too!

Wait. You're Espers, aren't you? Are you pulling some sort of Esper stunt?

Hold on. I know he's a strange man, a weirdo, an oddball, but I can guarantee he's no thief or menace to society.

Excuse me? What?!

Well, don't try to deny it! We all saw you!

Calm down! Let me do some basic investigating first.

See? I told you.

Wait. Look there.

*Meow*

Shh. Listen.

Huh? It was a kitten? That explains all the wraps. I never thought... A cat? How?

Uhh...

I'm so sorry, young man. Please, have this. It's the least I can do, my apology.

Thanks for the help.

Did you really just come here to get a tomato wrap?

Not really. I was passing by when I noticed the popular snack you mentioned.

Hmph...

Odette, I'm sorry. Sometimes I think I don't... express myself very well.

I shouldn't have assumed, you know. I shouldn't have second-guessed your preferences.

I'm sorry. Truly.

Okay. For that sincere apology, here: let me treat you to a tomato wrap.

The same wraps the stall owner just gave us?

......

Oh, no. But thank you! Cheers!

Laura! Wait! This is the place, my favorite pizza store.

Care to try their latest pizza invention?

Sure. Sounds tasty.

Hello. I'd like to order three of your new-style pizzas.

I'd also like a cup of lemonade and two bowls of Italian gelato, please. What would you like, Laura?

Let me see... I'd like one seafood pizza and a cup of Earl Grey tea, thanks.

Okay. Here you go. Here's your receipt.

Oh, our store currently has a "Big Belly Championship" going on: finish your pizza super fast to win a reward!

The absolute first place winner will earn a year of free food here! Second and third place will get 20 free pizza vouchers.

We're offering free pizzas for other contestants too. Would you like to enter?

Sure, I'm in! I'd better warn you, though, I'm a big eater.

Okay then, heh. Alright. Please take a seat.

Humph. I'm gonna win this for sure. Easy.

Don't get too overconfident! At least wait 'till you see your opponents. Let me see...

Oh, isn't that lady an internet celebrity? Livestreams binge-eating? She's famous!

Bah. She just another "social media influencer". I'm not losing to her.

What about that muscular guy over there? Looks like he can eat a loooot.

We'll see, Laura, we'll see. Please. Have faith.

Anyway, I don't care who takes second place. As long as I'm the winner...

Okay everyone! Please take your seats! Our contest is about to begin.

I've got this in the bag.

Heh. Okay. I'll cheer you from the sidelines.

Hmm. Their new pizza really is good.

Let me see how the others are doing. Heh. Just as slow as I thought... Oh. Wait!

That influencer lady and Mr. Muscle are pretty good. They've ahead of in plates, by a lot.

Crud. I can't let them win.

It's alright. Gotta relax... Still plenty of time for me to catch up!

Oh. Check out that tiny girl...

Why? I'm not losing to Miss Thin!

I'm getting third place at the very least...

But her stomach's like a black hole. If she's so small, how can she eat so much?

Oh crud. Underestimated her too.

You're behind, Odette! It's ending soon!

At least...

I can... *burp*... I can get third place... I swear... my pride's on the line...

Time's up!

Oour champion and runner-up have won by a wide margin! Let's see who's in third place...

Oh wow! She may not look it, but our third place winner sure knows how to eat pizza!

*Panting*... I got third!

It's dead even. So let's go plate by plate to find out who's really won third!

Odette, I just counted it myself. She's got one more.

What?!

Tsk. Because I wasn't giving my all. You know what? She deserves it. She tried so hard!

I don't care about the free pizzas. Just let her win.

I now declare that both ladies have won third place! Thank you all for coming and enjoying the show!

Oh, I was wrong. You are actually even!

Ah-ha! See? Told you I'm good!

I mean, the manager probably didn't want to hurt the poor girl's feelings.

Miss Odette? Here is your reward. Thank you for supporting us!

Hurray! Free pizza vouchers!

Oh? You know of Odette?

Sure. She's a regular. Often brings her friends here. We all know Odette.

Looks like it was your feelings that they didn't want to hurt! Heh.

Huh? No way... Humph! Like I'd want that!

(Laura stares at Odette.)

Humph. That girl didn't win. I lost to her on purpose!

Hey Laura, do you have any plans for today?

Morning, Odette. No, nothing special.

Well, how about we head up to the snowfields and go camping?

Oh... Well, I wouldn't know what to bring.

Don't worry. I grew up in Raine Tundra. Just leave everything to me!

Well, isn't my "hometown" beautiful?

I've planned the best schedule. We'll go hunting, then have a barbecue, and then work on a "secret project".

"Secret project"? Ooh, what's that? Tell me about it.

You'll see when the time comes... Oh, here we are!

Let me teach you a bit about hunting. First, get yourself into a comfortable position that you can maintain for a long while.

Next, hold the barrel of the rifle like this.

Like this?

Try to keep calm and relaxed. Patience is the key.

Patience... just wait a bit longer.

......

......

There's nothing out here!

Ahem. Well, it can take a while to find the right animal. A whole day is normal.

You mean we should just keep waiting here?

Uh, nah. We've just got one day and plenty else to do.

Just not enough animals this time of year. Let's go set up that BBQ.

Just a tiny, tiny setback. Look! I've already got the flint, spices, and other ingredients ready!

Use the flint to spark the tinder and light up the branches, like so...

Huh. It's not working.

...Uh-oh. The branches are too wet.

Maybe from the recent snow?

How about we go and find some drier ones?

Watch out!

Woah. I'm fine. Today is just not my day. Look up! Just what we need: clouds!

So much for my secret project...

Clear up, you clouds, I'm warning you!

Hah! Even the weather is messing with me.

The forecast said 100% chance of sun!

Don't be mad. It often happens.

I know things haven't been the best for you recently. I guessed it because of the photo. You keep looking at it.

Of your family, right?

I really wanted to show you a nice time camping out in the snowfields so you could relax.

...That's why you invited me here?

Yeah! Hunting, barbecues, and beautiful starry skies.

I guess we won't get to do any of that now...

Thank you, Odette, for trying! For everything! I'm really grateful to have a friend like you.

Really?

I grew up next to an arid desert, you know. So for me this, snow and ice, is amazing!

Hmm. Well, if you're happy with it, I'm happy with it.

I don't give great pep-talks. I wanted to cheer you up the best way I know how.

Haha! That's so thoughtful and... considerate of you!

What do you mean?

And I say that with utter seriousness!

And look! The clouds are starting to clear!

We can see the stars! They're so beautiful!

Yeah. They sure are.

Thanks again, Odette.

Don't mention it. Just helping out a friend.