~Rumi's POV~

I was getting tired of the Public Hero Safety Commission insisting I needed someone to help me, even if it was just to handle paperwork and manage my public appearances. I wasn't really much of a team player. I preferred doing things on my own with my own skills, not relying on others. So far, I'd done my part, put up with each person they sent, for a single day found flaws in all of them and fired them. Eventually they'd have to run out of people to send me, right?

As I approached the Public Hero Safety Commission Headquarters to pick up yet another secretary they were forcing on me, I paused as my ears picked up on something from within. It sounded as if someone were being bullied as I heard a mocking voice say, "are you going to need lessons on how to work the phone you've been issued? And where on earth did you get that hideous dress? No store would dare sell such a thing."

I scowled at the building. What the hell? Was this high school? Deciding I should restrain myself and investigate further before jumping to conclusions and busting through the door in a violent display of power and force, I casually approached the door.

"Honestly, you shouldn't even bother getting attached to something so nice, I'm sure you're just going to get fired like all the others. Enjoy the luxury of technology while it lasts, poor girl." The mocking voice continued.

Though I didn't hear anyone else responding, my ears were keen enough to pick up on another heartbeat in the room. It was beating fast, very fast, like an animal cornered by a predator.

Having had enough, I kicked the door. The hope was that it would fly open with a loud bang, however, I kicked it too hard and it completely flew off its hinges, through the second set of doors, shattering a ton of glass and they both hit the pristine marble floor of the large reception area and slid to a stop at the front desk. Glass rained down everywhere as the wall of glass the second set of doors had been attached to also shattered, in solidarity with its fallen door. A sharp shrill scream sounded from behind the desk, it sounded much like the mocking voice I'd heard earlier.

I stepped inside and spotted a scrawny girl, who at first glance I thought was an actual child due to her flat chest, staring at the doors that had landed inches away from her with wide emerald green eyes. She was wearing a white dress that looked quite childish (zero help for determining her actual age) it had a sheer chiffon overlay and a rounded lace collar. The buttons lining the front of her dress alternated between cute cartoon bunnies and bright orange carrots. There was a headband in her short red hair that had a matching carrot on the side. It all looked homemade but expertly crafted. Atop her head of short red hair were two fluffy fox ears, the base of which was a red that nearly blended into her hair and had frosty white tips. The right ear was perked up slightly and the left was flopped over and a little droopy and it looked adorable, which did not help with her childlike appearance at all...which was really making me question the commission and their regard for child labor laws. A bushy red fox tail with a white tip swished nervously behind her. For a split second, I was almost annoyed thinking she was making fun of me with her very obvious rabbity attire, but remembered she'd just been brutally verbally assaulted by the coward now hiding behind the front desk, currently calling for security as she hadn't realized it was me.

"Uh-." The little fox girl seemed to panic for a moment. It seemed like she'd just run through about thirty different ways to greet someone in this situation in her head before landing on stepping forward a bit, crunching through the glass and bowing to me way too formally and uttering in a soft shaky squeak, "I'm sorry."

I stared at her, baffled. "...what?"

"I-...uh-..." She nervously straightened out of her bow, "I'm sorry." She repeated hesitantly before thinking it over and now realizing it was quite absurd.

"Wanna try that again?" I smirked.

She shook her head, pulling the rip chord on the conversation. It seemed like she was desperately trying to eject herself out of the conversation. She looked absolutely terrified.

The receptionist behind the desk, recognizing my voice, quickly hung up the call to security and shot to her feet. She smoothed out her long blonde hair and straightened her designer blouse. "Oh! Rumi! It's you." She smiled a fake irritating smile before shooting a smug look at the trembling little fox. "I'm sorry they couldn't find anything better, but I'm sure she won't last lo-."

"We're not friends, so you don't get to call me that." I shot her a dark look and cracked my knuckles threateningly before turning to the little fox. Her heart sounded like it was going to go catapulting right out of her chest at any moment if she didn't calm herself down. "You, introduce yourself."

The little fox paled considerably and I worried she'd faint on the spot, "L-Lorna Mirioka, a-at your s-service, M-m-mirko." She stammered and twitched slightly into an odd curtsy before realizing she'd done it, then blushing like mad and straightening up as if it had just been a spasm.

"YOU can call me Rumi. Let's go, little fox, there's a lot to do and so little time." I glanced at the miffed expression on the receptionist's face and turned my attention to her, "you should probably get this cleaned up, it's a safety hazard." I indicated the broken glass everywhere before turning on my heel and exiting the building.

The little fox scrambled after me awkwardly holding a smartphone in her hand as if it were a bomb that was about to explode. I threw her a curious glance.

"...why are you holding it like that? Is it going to detonate?" I asked.

The little fox blanched, "can they do that?!" She squealed.

I choked on a laugh, "no."

"O-oh." She gripped it a little more firmly in her hand. "...I've never had one before..."

That was quite obvious. "Why'd you let her walk all over you like that? You should have punched her."

"Eh?!" The fox squeaked, "I couldn't do that...if I'd caused trouble I'd lose my chance at ever becoming a hero support specialist."

"Oh? You make gizmos and gadgets?" I pondered.

She nodded.

"You'll have to show me some day." I remarked.

"Huh? You're not going to fire me?" She asked in awe, her emerald eyes growing impossibly wide.

I sighed, "no, I'm not going to fire you." It had originally been my plan but I couldn't do it. Not after what had happened with that shitty receptionist. I was still tempted to go back and punch her myself, but it seemed like the little fox was anxious to get away from the building. "...although...are you even old enough to have a job?" I frowned.

"I'm twenty two." She squeaked.

Seriously? I looked her over again. She was short, scrawny, and flat as a board. "If you say so." I shrugged.

"Lorna!" An elderly voice cried from further down the sidewalk, though it sounded as if it was approaching rapidly.

I turned and my eyes grew wide as I spotted a very elderly woman on what appeared to be a walker that had been transformed into some kind of hoverboard for the elderly. It rocketed towards us at an impressive speed, flying around pedestrians smoothly. The elderly woman atop it looked like she was having a blast, honking a silly horn attached to the handle of her walker and letting out a few 'wee' sounds as she went. She appeared to be in her late seventies and had long grey hair tied up in a tight bun. There were two floppy grey bunny ears atop her head. Her eyes were a pale blue in color and currently protected by a pair of ridiculous looking goggles. The hoverboard walker slowed to a stop in front of us and a small robotic rabbit hopped off the cushioned portion of the walker and carried over a wrapped lunch to Lorna.

"You left so early, I wasn't able to give you your lunch." The elderly woman scolded the little fox in a loving manner.

"I'm sorry, Baa-baa Cho." The little fox bowed her head apologetically before accepting the wrapped lunch from the robotic rabbit. "Thank you for lunch."

The elderly woman turned her pale blue eyes on me and looked me over sternly before taking note of my own rabbit ears. Her lips pulled into a smile, "you take care of my sweet little Lorna."

"I will, ma'am." I bowed my head to her politely.

"Lorna, she's got a rabbit quirk like me, you're in good hands." The elderly woman said in a hushed voice, though from the wink she threw at me I knew full well she knew I could hear every word.

The little fox blushed.

"Have a good first day at work, sweet girl." The elderly woman waved farewell as the robotic rabbit returned to the walker before they zoomed off.

"Never thought I'd see the day where a walker would be capable of getting a speeding ticket..."I remarked with a smirk before looking over at the little fox, "that your handiwork?"

Her face flushed scarlet, "y-yes."

"I look forward to seeing more." I remarked.

Her face lit up, "really?" She asked excitedly. Her joy was so pure and overwhelming, I couldn't help but smile.