Tokyo, Japan—-
A band of three masked crooks broke into a Tokyo bank, firing off shots into the air. People began running and screaming, heading for the exits.
"Clear the field, people," the leader ordered. "This lotto's ours."
He fired off another shot as a warning.
The banker raised her hands. "Okay, okay!"
They marched forward. as the woman hurried to stuff money in the bag. "Here you go!"
The leader swiped the bag, checking it. "This better not be fake, or your ass is going inside a bag next!"
"It's not! I promise! I took it from my own stash!"
"Yeah, you'd better. Jeff! Check this for me!"
The big robber next to him sniffed the money and deeply scanned it. "Yep, it's legit!"
"Good!"
They took the money and ran out of the building, hopping into their car. "Quick, let's slide!"
Once they were gone, the banker ducked below the counter and dialed 911.
"Hello. Smother Squad Hotline here. What is your emergency?"
"Please, send the Smother Squad right away! My bank has just been robbed?"
"Are you reporting a felony in progress?"
"Yes, yes I am! They just got in their van and drove south!"
"Confirmed. Smother Squad-A will be there shortly. Please remain calm."
The phone hung up, leaving the banker out of breath. "Thank goodness!"
On the road, the robbers sped down the block, putting distance between themselves and the bank.
"Did we make it?" Jeff asked.
"Don't worry about that," the second one, John, assured. "We drive far enough, they'll never even notice!"
The leader, Jim, stomped on the gas. "Hold that money tight."
He turned corner after corner, making it to the south side of Tokyo: Shinagawa Ward.
A few minutes after they crossed the border, the sound of sirens could be heard.
"Shit, they found us! That bitch sold us out!" Jim exclaimed.
"Drive, man! Hit the gas!" Jeff insisted.
The crew swerved around other cars, knocking some off the road and causing them to spin out.
"Idiot! You just added another felony to our list!" John yelled.
"Doesn't matter! We're dead either way!"
As Jim refocused on the road, he noticed a giant tanker in front of him.
"...Shit."
He slammed into it, throwing all the robbers forward and cracking the window. Behind them, the police car stopped.
"Shit, shit," Jeff worried. "They're coming, they're coming! Go! GO!"
"I can't! The car's stuck!"
5 girls stepped out of the police car, wearing police tops, black skirts, and black thigh-high boots. The blonde girl pulled out a microphone.
"Step out of the car, felons! Put your hands up and get on the ground!"
"Really?" the redhead next to her sighed. "Just drag them out. We're not kids."
"Shush, Sakura. We're on protocol."
"Uh-huh."
Jeff began to open the door, but his partners stopped him.
"The hell are you doing?"
"Stepping out, man! We've got no choice!"
"Are you stupid?"
The girl cleared her throat. "I repeat, felons! Step out of the car! Now!"
The red-haired girl next to her cracked her fists. "How about this? 5...4...3..."
The other two gulped and reluctantly stepped out of the car as well, hands up.
"Don't move!" the blonde-haired girl ordered. "You all are sentenced to death for armored robbery, hitting and running, and this car appears stolen, so I'll tack on grand theft auto as well!"
The girls behind her all pulled out tasers as she continued. "Now, on the ground. I hereby sentence your execution method as smothering. This means *I* shall sit on each of your faces, until you stop breathing. One, by one."
She pointed to the leader. "Starting with you."
"Wait, can't we talk about this—-?"
"Silence. On the ground, and remain still."
Soon after, the other girls were pinning the men down, and the blonde girl stood over the leader's face, her skirt swaying in the air. "May you find peace."
And with that, she sat down.
Soon after, everything went black.
Later—-
"Breaking News! Another crime thwarted by Smother Squad-A! That gives them a 99.7% success rate!"
"Felony crimes are down 200% since last year! Thank you, Smother Squad!"
Inside the governor's office, the five officers entered through the large double doors, where Governor Michitaka Oshima was waiting for them.
"Ah, there you are, girls. Yumi, Sakura, Azura, Rina, and Kiyoko. Glad you could make it."
The blonde, Yumi, bowed. "It's an honor, sir."
"Today was your 10,000th crime stopped. I believe this calls for a celebration!"
The girls all shared a look. The brown-haired girl, Kiyoko, scratched her head. "What kind of celebration are you proposing?"
"One dedicated to you hard-working girls! I'll reserve all of Tokyo for one day to throw a massive parade in your stead!"
The blue-haired girl, Rina cheerfully clasped her hands. "〜Thank you, Sir, but we don't really believe that's necessary! 〜"
"Nonsense! I request your presence tomorrow at 6 pm. We'll host you on live TV! Bring your Director, too!"
After a moment's silence, they all bowed, except for the red-haired girl, Sakura, who was scrolling on her phone. Yumi elbowed her, and she quickly corrected herself.
"Yes, sir," they replied.
"Take this as a token of my appreciation, Leader Yumi."
He handed her a plaque with his face on it, and she nervously laughed. "Oh, thank you..."
"Now, dismissed!"
Outside the governor's office, Yumi stopped Sakura. "What are you doing?"
"Scrolling through that Jeff guy's phone. Why? You need something?"
"...Why? Just why?"
"Why not? Look, he's got 300$ worth of gift cards! Uber me something, totally."
Rina jumped on her shoulders. "Me, me! I want something too!"
Kiyoko rubbed her stomach. "Me three! Working as a squad nurse is a very draining job."
Yumi slapped her forehead. "Ridiculous."
The white-haired girl, Azura got into the driver's seat of the car. "I'm going home. Anyone who's coming along, get in the vehicle in the next 3 seconds."
"Wait, Azura—-!"
"3. See you at home."
And with that, she rode off.
"Welp," Sakura shrugged. "Seems I'll have to call an Uber to go along with that food."
Mansion—-
The girls arrived at a large white-and-gold mansion, where dozens of cars were lined up in the driveway. They approached the door, and Yumi swiped her keycard.
"Phew," she sighed. "Long day. I can't wait to tell Mr. Zanko all about it!"
"I hope he's home," Sakura stated. "He's like, always gone."
The door opened, revealing an opulent living room and staircase. A dog was watching TV on the couch, and Rina went to pet him.
"〜 Rocky! Did you miss me, fluff-puff? 〜"
"WOOF!"
"Mr. Zanko!" Yumi called.
The other girls did the same, but there was no response.
"Maybe he's in his room?" Kiyoko suggested. "I find him there often."
"Okay, I'll go check," Yumi volunteered.
"No, I will," Sakura interrupted.
"No, you won't."
"Yes, I will."
Azura stepped in between them. "Logic dictates I should be the one to go check. Wait here."
Both Yumi and Sakura immediately protested.
"NO!"
Unbeknownst to them, a skull-masked thug was busy watching them from the doorway, recording on his phone.
"They're back home, Boss. What's the plan?"
A garbled voice responded.
"Keep them busy. They can't find out about *Project Mafia.*"
"Will do, Boss."
The man disappeared just as Rocky turned to look at the door.
"...Woof?"
——