Eous grimaced as Belle wrapped his arms in bandages. She didn't look any happier, glaring at the wound as Wise went through the audit logs of the excursion.

"We can come to a fairly safe assumption that those guys weren't actually Public Security." He and Fairy looked at some of the words she picked up from their proximity to the men before he entered the car.

"Many of the frauds were complaining about their uniforms not fitting. That is unprovable to be the case for certified professionals of Public Security, as they all have their measurements taken upon enrollment for Hollow Equipment." Fairy's nerding out wasn't that necessary...

"Well, we should get some rest. That was far more exhilarating than we assumed it would be." Belle stood up with a solemn smile.

"Sounds like a plan. We can act when Nekomata comes back with more details." Wise slid out from the desk and stood up with a small yawn.

"Good night, Eous! Sleep well." Belle parted.

"Hope you feel better in the morning." Wise added.

He and Belle left the office, leaving Eous to himself. He slumped against the couch and stifled a groan.

"Partner, it would have been wiser to remain in the Hollow a minute longer. It would've closed the wound far faster than now." Fairy recommended.

"...I know. But that's freaky. I don't wanna disturb the two with my new biology."

"I am almost certain the two would understand. They are compassionate individuals. You are like a third sibling to them." Fairy reasoned.

"Yeah, yeah, maybe next time."

"Have you not come to terms?"

"I haven't. I'm a freak of nature more in line with Ethereals." Honesty was the best policy.

"You are the peak of human evolution. You are immune to nearly all diseases, Ether corruption, stronger and more durable than anyone else, and have a super computer assistant willing to help with your every need. You are what humans call: the Ultimate Lifeform."

Eous couldn't help but laugh at Fairy's words. A smile settled on his face as he saw her flutter over the couch and sit on his shoulder.

"Thanks, Fairy. I needed that. I don't know about ultimate though..."

"You have me. That is very ultimate." She boasted.

He chuckled again and used his fingers to nudge her up so he could lie down. "Yeah, you're pretty cool. Ready to sleep?"

"Sleep well, Partner."

•

Corin slowly hovered around the street with Ellen Joe behind her. Looking for the best candidate to ask around for her new savior, she grew nervous seeing a mass crowd at the coffee shop nearby.

Ellen was distracted by her phone, but perked up seeing the line.

"Gotta be some promotion going on." She muttered.

"Apparently the Hollow Investigative Association is partnering with them. For... VR games...?" Corin wasn't sure she was reading the poster right.

As they wandered, they hadn't even realized that they had subconsciously got in line.

Ellen looked around in confusion before shrugging her shoulders. It was early, so she didn't find it so bad to get some coffee for the road.

Corin wanted a peak at the menu, but they were so far back it'd be awhile before they could ever get an idea of the specials.

That was until a menu was handed to her. She looked up and saw a young man smiling at her with unique multi-colored eyes.

"Yo, any idea what I can get you, girls?"

Corin was frozen in nervousness, stammering on her words while Ellen stared silently.

"Need any recommendations, Corin?" He asked.

"Wait... that voice! You're Eous! I found you!" Corin beamed with energy now that she spotted him.

"Well, seems more like I found you. You stopped by a bit sooner than I was expecting." Eous finally got Ellen to take the menu so she could peruse at her leisure.

"I wanted to show my gratitude as soon as possible! I didn't expect to find you work here though..."

"Oh, no, no. I'm just helping out since the promotion's more popular than expected. I'm kinda hired help around here. I actually work at the video store just down the block."

He gestured to Random Play, making Corin nod rapidly with a smile.

"So you're naturally that helpful! That's great!"

"Thanks. You know what you want?" He scratched his cheek with a grin.

"Oh, oh, um-" Ellen handed him the menu back and pointed at the promotion's special.

"We'll take two of the Dead End Lattes. Iced." She had to admit she was looking forward to it.

"Nice, I'll bring that out as soon as it's done. Nice to meet you, Corin, and...?"

"Ellen Joe, but just call me Ellen." She handed him the necessary dennies.

"Ellen. Be back soon." Eous waved head back to the shop as all the customers shuffled closer.

"You met this guy in the Hollow?" Ellen asked.

"Yes! He and... um... a cat Thiren helped me out of the Hollow in no time. But, I guess he's out of uniform." Corin replied.

"Uniform?"

"He has this weird Bangboo uniform! It's kinda cute, but I wonder why he wears it instead of the H.I.A. uniform...?"

"You think someone his age works for them?" Ellen asked sarcastically.

Corin thought about it, before shaking her head in realization. "Oh, he's an illegal Proxy, isn't he?"

"Yup, but that's none of our business..."

The line had been curling around the establishment and down the street, but in a quick minute, it had died down to only a small gathering by the door.

Now near the door, the two watched Eous return with two cups in hand. "Here you go."

"Thanks." "Th-Thank you!"

"No problem. Need anything else, just ring me." Before they could question what he meant, he had to go back in the shop and get other orders.

Corin took a sip of the drink and jerked her head to Ellen in delight. "I-It's really good!"

Ellen took a sip with a lazy nod before spotting something on the sticker of the cup. There was an account handle for Inter-Knot.

'Guess that's his tag. Maybe I'll get a bonus for the connection...' Ellen smirked before turning to Corin.

"Need anything else from the guy?" She wondered.

Corin shrugged. "W-Well, no, but he's super nice. Maybe we can give his actual store some business?"

"I'm down. Could use something to watch at headquarters." She nodded her head towards the video store, but suddenly turned to the table just outside the store.

•

It didn't take long for Eous to get the line down to a small few inside the store, so Tin Master thanked him for his service and gave him a small gift, a coupon and some dennies, and sent him on his way in high spirits.

'He looks good in an apron...' Ellen thought seeing him take it off.

As he left the shop, Eous rose a brow seeing Ellen and Corin still lingering around.

"Hey," he greeted. "You guys liked the special enough to stay?"

"Well, it was great, but I don't think two cups of Joe so early is healthy." Ellen replied.

"Ellen, you added almost twelve packs of sugar-" Corin was cut off by Ellen's tail covering her mouth.

Eous chuckled and crossed his arms. "Well if that's not the case, how can I help you?"

"You work at the video store, right? Need some good recommendations, and since I've got you here, could use the help." Ellen waved him over as she began walking away.

Eous and Corin followed after as the boy pulled out a bottle of juice from his bag. "Sure thing!"

•

Wise walked into the storefront with a hum, sliding behind the front desk where Belle was squinting her eyes.

"What's got you so skeptica-" Wise looked up and saw the situation.

Eous was holding a movie, gesturing to a specific genre section as Corin and Ellen listened. He seemed to crack a joke that got a chuckle out of Corin, but Ellen rolled her eyes and took the movie with interest.

"That's the Corin girl right? I barely recognized her out of the maid outfit..." Belle whispered.

"Believe so. The shark Thiren must be her coworker." Wise whispered back with a smirk. He was amused by their gossip.

Belle suddenly eased up and smiled. "Do you... think it's time he makes friends his age? They've got good chemistry."

"You think the Cunning Hares are a bit much for him?"

"Well, no, but I don't always want him in the illegal business crowd. I know it's half our income but... he's still pretty young." Belle explained.

"I understand, but... you think housekeeping maids in a Hollow sounds legal?"

Belle thought about it, before realizing the legitimacy of their business was about as legal as their own. She sighed and shook her head.

"He's stuck in the wrong crowd and it's our fault." She held her head in disappointment, but looked up when Wise nudged her shoulder.

The two looked up and saw the three laughing together with big smiles. They had become rather quick friends and traded contact info on a far more personal basis than the Nova account Eous gave them earlier.

"These aren't bad picks. One to sleep to, one I'm interested in, and one for the boss." Ellen smirked.

Eous smugly crossed his arms. "See? Told you I knew what I was talking about. But, you should probably sign up for a membership. Makes your first rental order 20% off."

"Sounds like a plan. Corin can you handle that?" Ellen looked to Corin and saw her flinch.

She tugged on Eous' sleeve. "C-Can I do it online?"

"Yeah, of course. Just look up our store and you can sign up on the website." He pat her shoulder reassuringly, quick to understand she wasn't the best socialite.

Corin was quick to retrieve her phone and sign up as Eous was dragged over to the counter by Ellen's tail.

Belle had to turn away from the two to squeal in delight, but muffled it in her hands.

Ellen placed the three tapes on the counter before Corin walked over and passed her phone. "These three for two weeks, please."

"I see. And you've already signed up for a membership. Great, that'll be only 1800 Dennies." Wise smirked as Eous rubbed his nape.

This time, Corin was the one to pay since it was a much smaller fee than the two coffees, amazing Ellen at the deal.

"Woah. Gotta come here more often." Ellen mumbled.

"Thank you for your patronage." Belle couldn't take her eyes off the tail wrapped around his torso, grinning from ear to ear.

Ellen and Corin walked to the door with Eous still in tow.

"Thanks again for getting Corin out of that spot. I'll put in a good word in with our boss, Nova." Ellen nudged his side with a smirk.

"No problem. You know who to call when you need the world's best Proxy." Eous put a fist to his chest with pride.

"O-Of course! Til' next time!" Corin waved as the two left, leaving Eous, Wise and Belle.

Eous was quick to glare at them. "Not a damn word."

"But that was so cute! She was super into you! Who was she? I know Corin was with her but are they coworkers or friends?!" Belle was rapid fire with questions.

"You're rambling, Belle." Wise pat her shoulder and gestured Eous over to the counter.

"You guys clicked pretty well. It's nice to see you make more friends is all." Wise smirked seeing Eous wave him off.

"Yeah. Real~ nice."

The three turned and saw Nekomata had slipped in the store from the back exit, arms crossed in annoyance.

"I'm busy getting more information and here you are chatting it up with girls! Am I the only one putting in work for this operation?" Nekomata stomped over with a huff.

"I got shot...? Is that not work enough?" Eous asked in disbelief.

Nekomata's eyes widened remembering he took a bullet for her. "Oh yeah. Never mind! We've gotta get back to business! You can hang out with your little girlfriends later..."

Wise and Belle chuckled as they led the two inside the office.