Catching Phantom Thief Starlight (ch2)

FOR MY $20+ PATRONS!

Now we'll be getting into the present time!

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

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												Chapter 2. An Old Partnership

It's only about one year later when Claudine receives a summons from her Chief of Police and department director.

In the year she's been working in Paris, Claudine has proven to be an exemplary officer in every sense, though in recent months, due to various circumstances, she had been given the position of a crime scene investigator.

She'd done a lot of quiet observation and analysis back at the Academy when she'd been forced into suppression, and it had allowed her to hone her skills incomparably. Now, she's the best inspector in Paris, the lieutenant, as well as one of the best officers in the country.

Presently, she struts into her chief's office and announces herself.

"Chief Daiba. You asked to see me?"

Nana Daiba is also a rather young woman, but she's one of the smartest in all of Europe, hence her position. She turns around in her chair with a kind smile.

"Ah, yes, Lieutenant Saijou. Just who I wanted to see. Please, have a seat."

Claudine enters the office, closes the door behind her, and takes a seat across from her chief. Nana paws through some papers on her desk for a moment. Claudine sits with stiff posture, a little nervously.

"Has there been something lacking in my performance lately…?"

Nana quickly looks up at her.

"Oh, not at all! Don't be silly, Lieutenant! You've been exceeding expectations even more so than usual! Which is why I called you in today. I have a special mission for you."

Claudine relaxes just a little, but remains intensely attentive.

"Anything you need, Chief."

"That's my girl." Nana files through a few more papers until she finds what she's looking for. It's a packet of at least a dozen pages. "Ah, here we go. This is a good one. I think you'll like it."

Claudine tilts her head and inches closer onto the edge of her seat. Nana has pulled out a criminal file; all the known information about a suspect who is still at large. She reads the words at the top of the page out loud.

"Phantom Thief Starlight…"

Claudine blinks.

"Chief… are you saying…?"

Nana grins.

"Yes, indeed! Europe has had enough of this hooligan's nonsense, how he somehow manages to infiltrate the highest-security places in the country, steal whatever valuables, and then just leaves them on some random street-corner trash can the next day. He hasn't kept even one item he's stolen yet. He just deposis them anywhere for anyone to find, and that honestly causes even bigger problems for us…"

She trails off for a moment before getting back on track.

"I've had several meetings with the other directors and chiefs across Europe, and we all agree it's about time something be done about this vagrant. Though he's yet to cause any real harm or even keep anything that he steals, he's been active for far too long. His skills of infiltration and snooping around while leaving no trace are just too unnerving, and the public is beginning to grow nervous. If he can slip under the best guards' noses at a national museum to snatch away ancient artifact jewelry, who's to say he won't try to sneak into government establishments, or our own police departments?"

Claudine listens as her chief gives her discourse. She's heard of the Phantom Thief, of course. He's been on the front page of at least one daily newspaper per week, and he is somewhat of an internet sensation.

People loved his Victorian-esque outfit; a rather fancy suit, cape, hat, and mask that concealed his identity. And some rather liked him for how he never actually kept anything he stole, nor did he carry a weapon. He's never tried to hurt anyone in all his endeavors, and even when spotted only ever used his nimble athleticism to evade capture.

Many argued that he should be left to his own devices, that he was merely a glorified prankster. But many others believe he should be apprehended immediately, before he started trying newer and more dangerous things.

Claudine has been interested in him for months, but she'd never imagined she would be the one having this conversation with her chief right now.

"Chief Daiba… are you saying you want to send me out to catch the Phantom Thief…?"

"That is correct!" Nana says, clapping once. "The unrest he has been causing as of late has started to become concerning. People believe he will start to escalate in his unprecedented and unpredictable behavior. Various departments all across the country have sent out teams to try and apprehend him to no avail. And so we've decided to stop fooling around. We're sending out the best of the best. And that's you, Lieutenant Saijou."

Claudine feels a tingle of excitement wriggle in her chest and she straightens up.

"Chief… you really mean it?"

"Of course! You're the best I've got, Saijou. One of the top inspectors and officers in all of Europe! You have no idea how much I get to brag about having you in my department on a daily basis."

Claudine feels her heart do a happy little backflip, and her cheeks turn pink. Nana laughs.

"And the one with the most character too, no doubt! But yes, I would like you to team up with one more officer in order to hunt down the Phantom Thief. His antics have gone on long enough, stealing from under our noses only to leave the unguarded spoils elsewhere. It's like he's deliberately taunting us, and police all across Europe are beginning to look like incompetent fools. And we're no closer to catching him than we were when he first showed up four months ago. It's time to put an end to this lunacy, Lieutenant."

"Yes, ma'am, I agree." Claudine dips her head respectfully. "Thank you very much for trusting me with this task. I won't rest until I've caught Starlight."

Nana nods.

"While I appreciate the sentiment, there's no need for you to actually become an insomniac over this case. As I said, you will be given a partner on this mission, so you can take turns sleeping throughout the night if you wish."

Claudine raises an eyebrow. "A partner?"

Nana's smile softens a little.

"Yes, indeed, Lieutenant. Now, I don't want to injure your pride with this, but you did graduate only in second place at the Academy, did you not? I've just gotten notice that she's arrived. She should be here any-"

Before Claudine can register what's happening, a knock comes on the office door behind her. Nana cuts herself off to respond.

"Come in! Ahem, Lieutenant Saijou, your partner in crime - or rather, in stopping crime - for this case will be no other than Europe's finest, top of her class, London's Head Inspector-"

But Claudine doesn't hear most of her chief's words once that door opens.

She recognizes the young woman who steps through in a heartbeat, her long dark-brown hair with a blue ribbon at the back, her charming, stoic smile, her fierce, determined eyes…

Her name falls from Claudine's lips and sends her heart into a nostalgic whirl.

"Tendo Maya…"

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A/N: And there is our set-up! The antics of an oddball thief are temporarily bringing Claudine and Maya back together. But will things be the same as they were back in their academy days...?

Also, just fyi, I have limited knowledge about officers VS inspectors and whatnot so I'll probably mention or have them do things that people in their positions might not actually do in real life... sorry in advance lol.