After taking a seat in a chair across the desk as she was instructed, Aika lightly twirled one of her long blue pigtails with her finger to pass the time as she waited for the other new side kick to join them. She knew it wouldn’t be long when she heard the footsteps ascending the stairs, and just before the door opened, she dropped her hand away from her hair and sat up just a little straighter, perhaps instinctively wanting to make a good impression. But that was a people-pleaser for you, wasn’t it? She didn’t even know the guy—or so she thought—and she was already seeking his approval without even realizing it.<br/><br/>When the door opened, she tossed a look back over her shoulder, a friendly smile painted on her lips. The moment she saw him, her heart sank, although she fought hard not to allow her disappointment to show on her face. She could tell by the way that he squinted when he looked at her that he recognized her, although it seemed to take a moment for him to place her. “<span style="color: #40BFBF">Hello,</span>” she greeted him, using her years of training as an idol to force herself to be pleasant despite her personal feelings.<br/><br/>It wasn’t as if she hated the guy, she didn’t, really. He was rather cocky, to be sure, but beyond that he seemed to be a decent guy from what she could tell. No, that was not the problem. The problem, rather, was that he seemed to dislike her for reasons she didn’t truly understand, and he seemed perfectly content to maintain whatever preconceptions he held that blinded him from seeing her. He was probably the only person she had ever met that she could not get to like her. If she really thought about it, though, had she ever really tried? Or had she simply run from it because it irked her, or because she was afraid to face the possibility that even if she tried, he would still hate her no matter what she did?<br/><br/>What did it matter whether he liked her or not anyway? It wasn’t as though anyone could go through life without ever finding anyone with whom they didn’t get along. She didn’t need his approval to validate her… was how she knew she should feel, but old habits die hard, and it is not so easy to accept something so contrary to your entire world view. Instead, she decided that this time she would figure out why he hated her so much and make him like her! She would worry about her messed up sense of self worth at a later date.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, Miyuki (AKA Shadow Angel) gave the newcomer a small smile, “<span style="color: #FF80BF">Good morning,</span>” she greeted him, gesturing to the empty chair next to Aika. “<span style="color: #FF80BF">I gather that the two of you know one another?</span>” she observed, picking up on the tension in the room, “<span style="color: #FF80BF">Nonetheless, let’s get introductions out of the way,</span>” she suggested, standing as she did. This would force the two of them to interact and allow them all to become familiar with one another’s hero name, if they were not already. “<span style="color: #FF80BF">As you have probably guessed, I am Shadow Angel. I am the hero who runs this agency and I take that very seriously. I expect the same from you. Whatever your differences, I expect you will put them aside when you put on those uniforms. Understood?</span>” she spoke in a voice that was both soft and commanding all that once.<br/><br/>“<span style="color: #40BFBF">Yes ma’am,</span>” Aika nodded fervently, once again instinctively sitting up a little straighter in her seat. The pink-haired hero gave a nod to her, waited for Nico to indicate his understanding, then looked back to Aika, “<span style="color: #FF80BF">Go ahead. Start with your name and either why you want to be a hero or what kind of hero you want to be, your choice.</span>” The younger woman hesitated only a brief second before quickly standing and speaking up to introduce herself. “<span style="color: #40BFBF">I am Siren. I want to be the kind of hero who can make people happy, make them smile, and make them feel safe, because they can put their trust in me,</span>” she explained with an unexpected earnestness.  “<span style="color: #40BFBF">I look forward to working with both of you,</span>” she bowed before returning to her seat.<br/><br/>Once Aika was back in her seat, both women turned their attention to Nico, awaiting his answer. "<span style="color: #FF80BF">And what about you?</span>" Miyuki asked, tilting her head and watching him curiously.