Game of Hearts (Shiny Tropics: Fran x Pixel)

Chapter 1

'What an entertaining toy~ Won't you play with me, Detective Sora? I'll be waiting~'

The detective clutched the blood red card, breath hitching in her throat. This was...

"Rosa Rouge! You won't get away with this!" Her mother shouted at the rooftops as the tip of the thief's silky black cape disappeared from view. "For God's sake, we were so close!"

"M-mother..." She practically whispered the words, heart racing like she had just run a marathon. She should... Tell her mother about the card. It was her mother's case, after all. She was only there because the case had popped up in the middle of a missing cat case. But when her mother turned to look at her with icy eyes, the words died. "... You'll catch her next time."

Her mother sniffed, before turning to speak to another higher up. She sighed, turning away and coming face to face with the excited smile of Kokoro Jin, another apprentice. "Pixel, do you know what just happened?! We just got to witness Rosa Rouge in action!! Her performances are really something else." Pixel merely nodded, offering her friend a small smile.

Kokoro narrowed her eyes. "What's wrong? Aren't you excited to be a part of something so important?" Pixel nodded, before sighing again. Her meeting with the thief had been brief, but the ever elusive Rosa Rouge hadn't gotten away from skill alone.

"What's a little runt like you doing here~? This is where the big kids play, doll. Run along home, before you get caught up in something you don't want to be caught up in~"

Pixel startled, whirling around and coming face to face with the infamous Rosa Rouge. Her playful voice echoed in the detective's ears as she gaped.

"R-Rosa Rouge!" She took a steady breath. "Your crimes won't continue unpunished!" The giggle she got in return only fueled her anger. "You're cornered! I won't let you get away!"

"Aren't you cute~? I wouldn't mind being caught by such a pretty face, but I'm not sure if the timing is right." The thief grinned, resting a gloved hand against Pixel's cheek. "Bring handcuffs next time, will you~?"

Pixel choked on her own spit, face flushing. She opened her mouth to retort, but Rosa Rouge merely pushed a card between her lips. "A gift from me~" Pixel felt something soft press against her cheek, and then the thief was gone. She pressed a hand to her cheek, feeling the sticky lip gloss that remained. The scent of roses hung in the air as Pixel caught her breath, clutching the card that had been gifted to her. As to be expected of a thief such as this one, she was so charming...

"Sora Enomoto, what on earth are you holding?" Pixel snapped out of the memory, staring up in shock at her mother. Detective Enomoto glared down at her daughter, an eyebrow raised.

"I-it's... Um..." Her mother snatched the card from her startled daughter, reading it herself. Pixel watched in fear as her mother's face went from annoyed, to shocked, to elation. "... Mother?"

"This is from Rosa Rouge. Sora, do you have any idea what this means?!" Her mother's painted lips twisted into a grin, eyes shining. "Come with me. I'm putting you on this case."

"What?! But I'm just an apprentice-! I-I can't-" Her mother gripped her arm and started to drag her away from the crowd starting to surround the small team of investigators. "Mother!"

"Sora. If a thief chooses you as their detective, it's up to you to play their game." Her mother giggled, grin widening. "Rosa Rouge wants you, and who are we to defy? You'll bring this thief to justice, Sora."

Pixel gaped at her mother, before nodding. "Okay... I'll do my best!"

"Oh darling... You won't just do your best. You will find out who's behind that mask. No matter what it takes."