Chapter Text
"From the description you are giving me, it seems like this is a personal affair. One that we were not given a case about."
Towa tapped her pencil on the rim of her notepad, watching Atari with a slight frown drawn across her face as the detective explained the situation.
"W-Well, that's not true! Puuchi gave it to me, right?" Atari tilted her head over to her robotic companion for affirmation, her hands held behind her head.
"Napu~!" Puubot replied, not that anyone but Atari could understand it.
"Besides! We've TACKLED some personal cases before! We'll have this one solved in a jiffy!"
Towa gave a light nod, following Atari's footsteps as they passed through Pwurp Island's Forest Ruins. One of Puubot's ears pointed them in the direction Ally and Rafisol had disappeared to, like a compass specifically tuned to them. Atari pushed away foliage that blocked their path, nearly tripping over tree roots at numerous opportunities. As they marched further into the forest, the trees began to grow more and more sparse, daylight now breaching through the leaves, a clearing now visible at the edge of their vision.
"...But that's not the point!" A desperate-sounding voice rang out, presumably Ally's.
"Napu!" Puubot beeped, lowering its ear.
"There they are!" Atari exclaimed, grabbing Towa by the arm once more. "Let's hurry!"
Before Towa could protest, she was lifted off the ground due to the sheer speed at which Atari ran. She masterfully evaded every obstacle standing in their way despite Towa's terrified screams. Atari skidded to a halt right at the edge of the clearing, letting Towa free as she glanced at her arms and legs.
"Hey, no scrapes this time!" She proudly stated, turning to check on her assistant, who had collapsed onto the ground, letting out hitched breaths and holding her chest with one of her hands, her head hung low.
Atari grit her teeth, quickly kneeling and grabbing her assistant by the shoulders. "H-Hey! You okay, Towa?!"
"Y-Yes..." She managed to reply between breaths, "Y-You are very... impressive... only a master detective... could have such physical prowess... I truly am honored to-"
"Who's there?" A monotoned voice called out, presumably Rafisol's.
Towa's head whipped up, staring straight forward into the clearing. Atari turned over her shoulder to look as well.
Atari cupped her hands, shouting, "OH!! IT'S US!! WE'RE COMING!! GIVE US A SEC!!"
Towa instinctively reached out her hand in an attempt to shut Atari up, but quickly withdrew her hand. Atari obviously knew what she was doing, she had solved countless problems with her out-of-the-box methods. She had full confidence in whatever the detective was planning. Plus, she was the assistant, she shouldn't be interrupting a master at work!
As her breath steadied, Atari gently grabbed Towa's hands, pulling her up off the ground. Then, leading her into the clearing, she waved at Ally and Rafisol with her free hand, Puubot mimicking her motions with one of its ears.
Numerous stone arches and large crystals littered the perfectly circular area. Stone tablets written with strange lettering dotted the area, and though aged, still provide valuable information to the few who still frequent the ruins. Usually, a warlock, sage, or stellar mage or two would be researching here, but today the area was empty, save for the Spacetime Detectives and the girls from the book.
"HEY!!" Atari called out, "WHAT'CHA DOING?!" A very professional greeting befitting of her profession.
"Oh, Ms. Atari, Ms. Towa, and M(?) Puubot! What are you all doing here?" Ally asked, approaching the detectives.
Rafisol remained where she stood, leaning against one of the large crystals, her arms lying loose at her sides.
Atari decided to meet Ally halfway, "We came to help you out!"
"Help us out?" Ally repeated, confused.
Atari nodded, then stretched her palm out in Rafisol's general direction. "Yeah! You know, your problem!"
"It is our duty as employees of the Spacetime Detective Agency to assist in all manners across spacetime." Towa chimed in, to which Atari pointed at her own chest with a thumb.
Ally's head lowered a bit, staring down at her skates, swaying her body from side to side, "Well, I suppose I have been having a problem..." She paused for a moment as her gaze shifted up to Atari. "You see, my dear friend Rafisol has trouble grasping the concept of love, among other various feelings. She believes that as a being created of darkness, she cannot experience these wonderful feelings!"
"I have tried so many things, but my methods seem to bear no fruit." She continued, sighing. "I don't understand what I'm doing wrong! Rafisol is a wonderful person, and she deserves to know it!"
"You are... very passionate about this, Ms. Ally," Towa commented, scribbling away in her notepad.
"Of course!" Ally spun around, "Everybody deserves love in their life! Especially dear Rafisol!"
Atari tapped a finger against the side of her head, processing Ally's request. It wasn't the strangest request she had received, but still ground she was unfamiliar with. A lightbulb materialized above her head as she snapped her fingers, a small star popping out of them and falling to the ground.
"OH!! I got it!! You want us to get you and Rafisol together!"
Ally held a hand over her mouth in shock, lightly blushing behind it, her eyes shifting away to avoid the detective's gaze.
"U-Um, Atari, I d-don't mean to question your assessment of the situation, but... I-I don't believe that is at all what Ms. Ally asked of us!!" Towa stammered, holding her notepad in front of her mouth out of light embarrassment.
"W-Well, I... wouldn't exactly mind if you were to do that as well..." Ally corrected, fidgeting with the hem of her dress, still avoiding eye contact.
Towa's eyes widened in shock, slamming her notepad against her dress, turning to her superior, and bowing.
"I am so very sorry, Atari! I will never doubt your assessments ever again! Your cunning, your reading between the lines, your intellect, all astounding! Truly, you are a master-"
"W-Woah! I mean, uh, thanks! Eheh..." Atari turned away from her assistant, scratching the back of her head as her face turned a shade of pink. "B-But we've got a case to solve! HEY!!" She cupped her hands and yelled. "MS. RAFISOL!! COME OVER HERE PLEASE!!"
"NAPU!!" Puubot mimicked her.
Rafisol, who had not said a word nor moved an inch, remained stationary like a wall. She glared at the detectives from afar.
"HELLO!!!!!!!" Atari yelled louder. "CAN YOU HEAR ME???????"
No movement.
"Rafisol! Would you mind coming over here, please? The detectives would like to speak with us!" Ally called her partner.
Rafisol instantly began to float over.
"Wow, Ms. Ally! Do you have some kind of secret spell that she answers to?" Atari asks, throwing her arms out for emphasis.
"Err- I don't believe so?"
"What." Rafisol spat out in her monotone.
"Yes!! Hello, Ms. Rafisol!! We..." Pointing to herself and Puubot, who was on her shoulder, with a thumb, and down at Towa with her index finger, "...Are going to teach you two how to love each other!!"
"What."
"Don't worry! You'll get it in no time, I promise!"
"What."
"We'll start with the basics first!"
"What."
"Um, Ms. Rafisol..." Towa, noticing Rafisol's confusion, interjected, "...What Atari is trying to say is we are going to assess what you already know about the subject of love."
Atari placed her hands on her hips confidently and nodded.
"So!" The detective continued. "How do you feel about Ms. Ally over here?" Atari gestured to Ally with her arms, as if presenting her.
"I am... unsure."
"Hmm, ok! What would you do to me if I hurt her?"
"I would bury you."
"Alright! So, you obviously have strong feelings for her. The next part should be easy!" Atari turned to the sky and closed her eyes, placing a hand on her chin.
"Do not play games with me. If you are not going to be straightforward, then I am leaving."
"R-Rafisol! They're trying to help us!"
"And they are wasting their time doing so. If you, despite all your tutelage and effort, are unable to grant me these... emotions... then I see no world where these people can."
"Rafisol, they're experts! I promise you, they can help!" Ally gently scooped her partner's hands into her own, pulling them slightly closer together.
Atari and Towa side-eyed each other, raising a brow.
"Ok, new plan." Atari whispered to her assistant.
"AAAAAAAALRIGHT, LADIES! We'll see you two later, bye!" Atari quickly turned about-face, grabbing Towa by the arm and marching off back into the woods.
"Huh? W-Wait! Where are you going?" Ally called out.
"DON'T WORRY!!" Atari yelled as she trekked further away from the travelers. "WE WON'T BE GONE LONG, WE'LL MEET YOU SOMEPLACE ELSE!!"
The girls could only stare off into the woods in confusion as their unhired help left them in the dust.