The socially awkward villain's furry superpower

Sienna left Handshaw's secluded bar feeling dizzy. The man had asked so many questions. Even though she chose to skip a significant portion (people didn't need to know so many things he asked. Why did he ask so many questions about her love life?), she still had to rack her brains to answer the less...embarrassing ones.

She imagined these answers might be valuable to those who were keen on gossip. In fact, she knew this all too well, because Handshaw had even asked her if she would be willing to give an interview to a national tabloid.

It was one of those awful magazines she always saw next to the chocolate and candy shelves in countless stores. She never imagined she would appear in one of those magazines.

She didn't want to be there either, but Handshaw inadvertently pointed out a few reasons why it might not be a bad idea.

In fact, for these kinds of magazines, interviewing any masked man with a bit of fame is a hot topic, especially when this masked man has recently made it onto the evening news—unfortunately, that's what happened to her, even if it was just as a minor news story.

For her, this meant a positive story, because the magazine didn't want to cut off its own revenue stream. It also meant more income.

Although it wouldn't be a lot, Sienna desperately needed a few hundred dollars to cover food and other expenses.

Moreover, this also aligns with her plan to collect protection money.

Of course, she wouldn't announce the plan aloud.

That night, she and a group of her younger sisters returned to their dorm, putting their worries behind them, and began to focus on their usual homework. The homework was easy and simple, requiring no brainpower, which was exactly what she needed.

The situation will be more complicated the next day, at least in the afternoon.

In the morning, Sienna had an ethics class. She found a seat in the back row and listened to a terribly poorly delivered lecture on the meaning of morality and the history of various traditions and beliefs, finding it rather ironic.

The lecture even touched on heroic acts and evil deeds. Sienna shifted uncomfortably in her seat, a strange new anxiety welling up inside her.

Normally, she was just afraid of being called on to speak, but now she worried that the people in the classroom would suddenly turn to her, point at her, and accuse her of being a hero or a villain. Either way, it would be terrible.

As soon as get out of class ended, she rushed back to her dormitory. She was going to be very busy that day.

“Hey, Sienna,” Sam said as he caught up with Sienna on the way back to the dorm. “Oh… wait, that nickname doesn’t suit you at all. You don’t look like what that nickname represents. Sorry, Sienna.”

“Well, it’s okay,” Sienna said. She tried not to get discouraged by Sam’s enthusiastic nagging. “Are you ready for today?” she asked.

"Oh, of course. It will go smoothly, don't worry. What's our schedule?"

“We have a meeting at 4:30,” Sienna said. “Just the interviewer and me.”

"Don't you want to bring those brats along?" Sam asked.

Sienna glared at her. "No, I don't think we need to bring her. Which sister do you think would be of any use in a meeting like that? Athena might be, though; she can be quite cautious sometimes."

But she might also arouse suspicion in the interviewee, or suddenly reveal ideas she's read in their mind.

"Yes, she is a bit creepy, that child. I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, because such judgments should only be made about adults, but Athena's eyes are strange, especially when she stares straight at you without blinking."

Sienna felt a little indignant on Athena's behalf. Sam was right, but in principle, she was still quite angry. Just not angry enough to voice her opinion.

"As for the others... well, Teddy will take every opportunity to talk at length about communism."

"From a negative perspective, those tabloids would actually like this kind of topic."

“And Trinity will definitely ramble on and then steal the interviewer’s things.” Sienna thought for a moment about her new sister. “I think Maple Leaf should be alright. She’s pretty shy, unless you get her to talk at length about one of her inventions, but to be honest, she’s pretty cute most of the time.”

Sam nodded repeatedly. "Your sisters are all quite cute. That's a huge advantage."

"Did you just say Athena is scary?"

“If you put in the effort enough, something scary can be cute,” Sam said. “Anything can be cute if you put in the effort.”

Sienna looked at her, this person who could perhaps be considered a friend, and said, "I'll trust you this once."

"Well, we have a few hours left, and I have a few goals. I think the first one is the best option. Have you heard of the 'Yeast Feast'?"

“Excuse me, what?” Sienna asked.

Sam snorted. "That proves you're not a local. It's an old bakery, right next to campus. You must have walked past it."

In short, the shop used to be run by a kind old man and his dog.

Oh, the dog doesn't run the business; it just sleeps at the shop entrance, begging for food. But that was a long time ago. The old man passed away a few years ago.

"What happened to the dog after that?" Sienna asked.

"I really don't know. But it was an old dog. Big and fat, a chubby mongrel. Anyway, the shop was closed for about a year, and then it was bought by a kind gay couple."

Now they sell pastries, bread, cakes, and the like. They're quite popular, at least among students from wealthier families. However, they've been robbed several times.

"Several times?" Sienna asked. "Where exactly is that place?"

"It's right next to the campus. There's a hardware store and some apartments next to it. It's strange that people would rob that store, but I guess it's because they often have a lot of cash transactions there."

So I think that's a good place to continue our protection money business. And if you want to do advertising or promotion, that might be a good place too.

Sienna nodded. An open space should be relatively safer, I suppose. Anyway, that makes sense.

"Have you spoken with the shop owner?" she asked.

Sam nodded. "We've talked it over, and the meeting is all arranged. Don't worry, everything will be fine. Just let Teddy sit at the shop entrance, and they'll charge you by the hour."

"Teddy?"

"Make her look like a bear. Maybe they can make her an oversized apron or a chef's hat."

“I remember it was a bakery, right?” Sienna asked.

Sam snorted. "That's about it. Come on, let's go call those brats, boss!"

Sienna followed Sam into the dormitory and then took the elevator upstairs with her. When she returned to her room, she hugged everyone and, after confirming that nothing was on fire, they packed their clothes into their bags and set off.

She was pleased to see that Maple Leaf hadn't turned her computer into a laser rifle or Mr. Toaster into another railgun. However, she still remembered to give Maple Leaf some random things to play with.

All the descriptions she read about mechanical geniuses said that they had a strong urge to create things.

In reality, few people with superpowers are content with their current situation. Sienna wasn't sure if this was some kind of psychological effect brought about by the superpowers, or simply the allure of it all.

If you can fly around, turn into a bear, or create amazing things out of scrap... then why not?

“Alright, girls,” Sienna said, “we’re going to do something today…something villainous.”

She paused for a moment, and the girls cheered.

“But I still hope that all of you will behave properly, okay? Even though we may be extorting money from people, we have to be polite and act like heroes when we do it.” Sometimes, Sienna couldn’t believe the words she was saying.

“No problem, boss,” Teddy said, giving a thumbs up. “By the way, how should we arrange the maple leaves?”

Maple Leaf moved to the side, hiding behind Athena, so that she could avoid being seen by everyone.

“Oh, right,” Sienna said. “We need to get you an outfit, right?”

Maple Leaf swallowed hard. "Do I need it?"

"I... I think it's necessary. Unless you'd rather not show your face at all?"

Maple Leaf nodded repeatedly as she listened.

“Hmm, then perhaps we can make this arrangement,” Sienna said. “We’ll need to stop halfway and take you to the subway tunnel. Maybe we can have a Trinity accompany you?”

“That’s a good idea. She’s not exactly a frontrunner anyway. She can tinker around in the tunnel and maybe even make some cool gadgets for other people,” Sam said.

Maple Leaf was clearly still a little nervous about attracting attention, but Sienna sensed that she actually quite liked the idea.

“Well, why not?” Sienna said. She figured nothing too bad would happen this way.