It was the next morning. Sophia was on patrol with her classmate Shirley Payne.
“Goooood morning my sweeties! Today, I am giving you another update vlog from my job as a Morpho Defender! I am here with my sweeeetest darling honey friend Sophia!!”
“Sh-Shirley please-” Sophia covered her face with her hands. “I don’t wanna be in your vlog…”
“Ah?” Shirley put down her camera and glanced at Sophia. “You don’t wanna be in my vlog? I would give you a shoutout. I could make you famous! But you’re too scared, eh? Too scared that my followers would say you look like a sad excuse of a twelve-year-old loser?”
Sophia gulped. “N-No… I’m just uncomfortable in front of a camera.”
“Mh… lame excuses.” Shirley let out an angry hiss. “Oh, whatever~ It doesn’t really matter. I’ll just cut you out of the video.” She raised her camera again, pointing it at herself. “The morning has been sooo chill~ Earlier, me and my little partner Xaros had a wonderful breakfast~”
“Did you even get the permission to film during your patrolling shifts?” Sophia asked. “‘Cause, I don’t know… That doesn’t seem safe or protocol.”
“Oh my fucking god, can you shut your ugly trap??!” Shirley grunted, looking furious. Her vlogging expression versus her expression talking to Sophia were like two completely different people. “It’s hard enough managing two full-time jobs at once, I don’t need to make things more complicated for me!!”
“If it’s so difficult, why don’t you just quit one of them?”
“HAH! You’re so dumb! Why would I quit? I love both jobs, and my YouTV channel pays well! I will never stop! Now shut your mouth and behave like a good girl.”
“Mh…” Sophia firmly grasped the strap of her bag.
Unlike Shirley’s partner Xaros, Strapholynne wasn’t out with Sophia. She was laying in her bag, sleeping, like she always did. Even when Sophia was on patrol, Strapholynne wouldn’t come out… unless there was a Morpho Mon nearby.
Strapholynne’s head popped out of Sophia’s bag. “Someone’s there.”
“Huh?” Sophia grabbed her smartphone to check for any suspicious Morpho Mon activity. “Where?”
Strapholynne jumped out of her bag and rapidly morphed into her Pergrandis form, without the aid of Sophia. “I’ll eliminate them.” And just like that, she ran off.
“STRAPH!! WAIT!!”
“Oh my gosh, and I got it all on camera!!” Shirley held her camera directed at Strapholynne, who, as fast as light, jumped over parking cars and buildings, before disappearing from sight.
“No…” Sophia sobbed. “Come back….”
“Hahaha! Are you seriously crying?!” Shirley let out an ugly laugh. “How pathetic! You should be glad your Morpho Partner is so strong and independent!”
“N-No… I don’t accept this!!” Sophia began to run. “STRAAAAAPH!! COME BAAACK!!”
“Oh my gosh.” Shirley rolled her eyes. “Come on Xaros, let’s follow her.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Her partner morphed into his Pergrandis form, a horned lizard large enough to ride, she hopped into him and they followed Sophia at a slow pace.
“Straph? Straph??” Sophia looked around the buildings, in alleyways, behind cars, while calling out for her partner. “Please… Where are you…”
“Sophia.” Strapholynne emerged from the shadow behind Sophia.
“Hahh?” Sophia turned around and faced Strapholynne. It strained her neck – Strapholynne in her Pergrandis form truly towered over the petite girl.
“I have eliminated the target. They weren’t corrupted, but they were highly aggressive and tried to kill a stray dog.”
“...” Sophia’s eyes became wet. “Straph… Why….” Tears rolled down her face. “Why do you hate me so much?!”
Strapholynne raised her eyebrows.
“I do everything… I groom you, I feed you, I pet you behind your ear because I know you love it so much… B-But you act so cold and distant and mean!!”
“...” Strapholynne looked to the side.
“What have I ever done to you to deserve this?! I want us to be friends! We’re partners! It’s been so long and you still can’t stand me!! Just tell me what’s wrong!!”
“....” Strapholynne crossed her arms. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me. As much as there’s a lot you don’t know about yourself.”
“Huh…” Sophia wiped her tears away. “W-What do you mean…?”
Strapholynne’s eyes were narrowed to a slit. “Don’t be foolish. I’m going to uncover who you are. I just need… more time.”
“... If- If it’s something I’ve said or done… Please tell me… I want to help you too…”
“As I said. I need more time.” Strapholynne raised her head to look to the sky. “I might tell you eventually. But please excuse my distant behavior. I have no other choice, given the circumstances.”
“... Why… j-just tell me…” Sophia held her own arm. “What do you know about me that I don’t know?”
“... I’m sorry, Sophia. You really don’t remember. I shouldn’t blame you.”
“Mhh… I’m even more confused than before…-”
Suddenly, Strapholynne pulled her in for a hug.
“Sophia…” She patted her head. “Once I tell you the truth… promise me you won’t freak out, okay?”
“Huh!!” Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. “I… I can’t promise for sure… But… I will try…. For your sake.”
Strapholynne let go of her. “Good.” She morphed back into her small form. “I will proceed with my slumber, if I may.”
Sophia nodded, getting down on her knees to pick up Strapholynne and place her back in her bag.
“Oh my GOSH! There you are!” Shirley hopped off her Morpho Partner’s back. “I was searching for AGES!”
“Ah…” Sophia faced her, and wiped her remaining tears away with a smile. “I’m sorry. But I found Straph. She’s back in my bag.”
“Well thank goodness! And the danger she mentioned?”
“It’s eliminated… I- I guess I should record that.” Sophia pulled out her smartphone.
“Please do! I’m starting to get bored. I know we’re on patrol, but please let’s get some Mooncoin’s coffee, I feel like I’m gonna fall asleep!”
“Ahm… Sure, if you want to.”
The two defenders went off.
Despite everything, Sophia felt like she made progress with getting along with Strapholynne. After all, she showed emotion in return to Sophia’s breakdown, something she had never done in all the weeks they’d been partners. She was determined to slowly crack Strapholynne’s hard shell, and uncover her secrets - Why she was so cold and distant.
And also, what she knew about Sophia’s past.
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