The motor rickshaw pulled into the quiet alley next to the shop.

The driver cut off his engine, checked his phone, and said "We have about seven minutes before the police arrive." He had the gravelly voice of a smoker, and twirled an e-cig between his fingers. "Ready for your close-up?"

"Born ready." The teenage girl in the back somehow managed to get out of the backseat and step into a filthy alley like she was stepping onto the red carpet at a Grauman's premiere. Minus the smile and pretty dress. "Left or right?"

"Left."

"Are you sure? I don't want to use my powers on the wrong-"

"Check the app yourself."

"No, it's okay. It's just-" She took a deep breath. "There's lives on the line here, Williams."

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

"Yeah. I know." Ken softened his voice. "If you want to go home and let the cops handle it —"

"No. I can do this."

"All right." Ken adjusted the shiny cap on his head with one hand, and worked his smartphone with the other. "Looks like he's right up against this wall. Everyone else is trying to get as far away from him as they can."

"Lucky for us."

"Yeah, lucky."

The girl stared at the wall.

Then she kept staring.

Then, for a change of pace, she stared at the wall.

Ken said "Any day now."

"I'm concentrating," the girl hissed. "Shut up."

"As you wish, ojou-sama."

Elizabeth Anne rolled her eyes. "Please don't call me 'milady'. It's so... neckbeardy."

"Hey! I used to have a neckbeard!"

"Exactly."

"Are you stalling?"

"No, we're stalling."

"We- yeah, I guess we are."

The girl smirked. "Okay. Okay."

She drew herself up to her full height -- which didn't really make much difference, actually -- took a deep breath, and shouted "Mahou Shoujo Snare Drum!"

"What did I tell you about the yelling?" Ken said.