The New Part-timer at Mr. S's Mystery Shop

Meeting Sam & friends

After Christmas break, Ace returned to NRC together with Anna. During lunch break, they handed in the sign-up form to Sam at his mystery shop.

"Good afternoon Sam," greeted Ace. "This is my sister, Anna. She's interested in being a part-time worker at your shop."

"Hello, Mr. Sam," said Anna, bowing.

"Oooh, what a beautiful girl. And she resembles you a lot too!" giggled Sam. "No need to be so formal! Just Sam is fine! I see you want to apply for a spot in my shop, am I right?"

"I do."

"Well well well," said Sam as he looked at Anna from head to toe. "You do look like a decent worker. However..." he coughed, "You will have to pass some tests before you can be hired!"

"WHAT!?" Ace and Anna couldn't believe what they've heard.

"I'll tell you what: There were previous workers who turn out to be clumsy, rude and overall incompetent," said Sam, sighing. "Worst of all, one of them embezzled the money as well as stealing some of the products, and ended up in a reformatory,"

"Wow that's extreme," said Ace.

"That's right! That's why you'll need to prove to me that you'll be a hard-working, honest and polite worker!"

"I understand, after hearing about the disastrous workers," said Anna. "Very well. I'll accept them without protest."

"That's the spirit!" smiled Sam, clapping. "Now all you need is to sign this form. I do need your consent before I can let you go through the tests."

Sam went to his drawer in his office and handed Anna a form with the NRC logo on the bottom right of the paper.

"No problem," said Anna. She took out a fountain pen from her jean pocket and signed the form.

"Tomorrow please meet me here at 10 o'clock," said Sam. "The first test will start tomorrow,"

"Okay!" said Anna. She and her brother left the shop.

Later, after all the lessons are finished, Ace took Anna to meet his friends at Heartlabyul.

"Wow. I never know you had such a cute sister, Ace," said Deuce

"Nice to meet you all. I'm Anna, and I will be studying here next year."

"Oooh, and she has such a lovely voice too!" said Cater as he took out his phone. "Care for a selfie?"

"Sure!" said Anna as she walked towards Cater, standing next to him.

Not long after, Trey came out of the kitchen holding a delicious-looking lattice apple pie.

"Ah, you must be Anna Trappola," said Trey. "I'm third-year student Trey Clover."

"Hello Clover-senpai," said Anna "Ace's always talking about you, saying that you make the best sweets in NRC,"

"Haha, he's exaggerating," smailed Trey. "Here, would you like a slice of apple pie? Ace said that it's your favourite.'

"It is my favourite! Apple pies are the best!" 

"Nah. Cherry pies are the best," said Ace, shaking his head.

"You don't understand the beauty of apple pies," said Anna. "Those crispy apples cooked to perfection, and that cinnamon flavour...oooh to die for."

"Stop talking like a food critic!" yelled Ace. "Just imagine that bright red cherry filling! And when that tart taste meets the flaky pastry, it's just pure heaven!"

"You're the one who's being the food critic. Anyway, apple pies are the best!"

"No, cherry pies are the best!"

"Apple pie!"

"Cherry Pie!"

"Apple!"

"Cherry!"

"Ouch...looks like we're witnessing a battle between the Trappola siblings," said Cater.

"What's with the noise?" a voice came from the entrance of the lounge.

Deuce, Trey, Cater and Ace gasped as they noticed the person standing at the entrance. It is no one other than the dorm head of Heartslabyul, Riddle Rosehearts.

"Sorry, dorm head. Me and my sister are just...having a small disagreement..."said Ace.

"Your sister?" Riddle turned his head towards the direction of the girl sitting between Deuce and Trey.

"So it's you..." said Riddle.

"Hello. You must be dorm head Rosehearts. My name's Anna. Nice to meet you,"

"He...hello...mice to...I mean, nice to meet you!" for the first time, the red-haired boy stumbled his words as his silver-gray eyes met with Anna's. His face was red, but not because he's mad, rather because he's shy.

"I...I gotta go! Hope you like Heartslabyul!" said Riddle, escaping the lounge.

"Did I say something?" asked Anna with a worried look.

"Nah. I think he's just being bashful. Riddle does not interact with girls a lot, after all," said Trey.

"I see...." said Anna. 

Ace then took Anna to meet his clubmates Jamil and Floyd.

"Jamil, Floyd, this is Anna, my sister," said Ace.

"Hello Anna," Jamil shook hands with Anna.

"Hello~pretty girl. Since you're Kani-chan's sister, you're Yadokari-chan*!" said Floyd, enthusiastically hugging the girl.

*Yadokari: Hermit crab

"Ya-Yadokari? My sister's not a hermit!" Ace had his hands on his hips, not happy that his sister is getting a nickname like that.

"Whatever. He's an interesting guy," smiled Anna.

"Well...you're right,"