Live A Hero Melodic Meteorite Christmas Episode 1 (Abridged)

Mid December
Reconstruction is on track in Orient City, and the gang is going back to the office after finishing lunch.
Mokdai: This new udon place is great! I could eat bowls of the stuff with that soup stock!
Sui: You kinda did. Are you going to go into a food coma this afternoon?
Mokdai: Oh no I actually might... it's been so cold lately that I keep eating warm stuff. Nice to see the city getting back to normal now. I'm doing my part to help the economy recover!
MC: I'm getting sleepy too / Be sure to exercise after eating! / Don't get too fat
(A) Sui: MC, you can't. Huckle asked you to get some new documents done quick.
(B) Mokdai: I-I do! Maybe I should ask Ryekie for workout help...
(C) Mokdai: I'll be careful! I can't eat if I get sick!

The office
Mokdai: We're back! Hi you two, how was the meeting?
Ryekie: Welcome back you three! We just hit a stopping point and had a light lunch.
Sui: Ooh, it's warm in here...
Huckle: Cold outside? Go ahead and get closer to the heater.
Mokdai: I'll make tea. Ryekie, Director, you guys want some too?
Ryekie: Sure! Make mine less hot!
Huckle: Don't catch cold, everyone. Sure it's been some time since reconstruction happened after the big Monster went down, but there's still plenty of people looking to us for help.
Ryekie: Don't work your nerves too hard that you pass out either though! You gotta rest! This means you too, Huckle! How about another end of the year office trip to the hot springs!?
MC: Is it that time already? / The year went by so fast / Yay, hot springs trip!

And now the news.
Newscaster: Christmas time! Decorations in the city! And now for the tree decorating ceremony in New York...
Mokdai: Christmas is nice... oh, Sui can you pass out the tea?
Sui: Okay, thanks. [sic] Ooh, warm mug... is the one with the green dog yours, Mokdai? And the tiger stripes is Ryekie's?
Ryekie: Yep! Huckle got them for us as a Christmas present one time! Memories! Ooh, Earl Grey tea!
Huckle: Okay saying that is kind of embarrassing. On another note, what are you guys doing for Christmas? Any yearly traditions? (accepts tea)

Mokdai: I go around attending hero shows! They go all out for Christmas so I'm always excite for those! Being in the stands is nice, but it's also awesome to get front row seats! So if we get any coproduction requests I wanna help with that!
Huckle: Haha, you're so into your work. I can do that, but you can also go on vacation you know? Isn't this a busy time for Sui's fashion work?
Sui: Yes, we get a lot of Christmas suit orders so we have our hands full a little. Things calm down on Christmas day, so I'm okay for hero work then. I'm a little nervous about being in a hero show though...
Ryekie: Haha, don't worry because we're here! Right, Huckle!?
Huckle: Right. As I've said, go ahead and relax when nothing's up.
MC: Director, do you have Christmas plans? / Ryekie are you free on Christmas? / Sui, what do you do on Christmas?
(A) Huckle: Me? No, but if it's on a workday I have work. The day after I take off, but if our schedules match up want to go out and eat somewhere with me?
(B) Ryekie: Every year I get offers to go do hero shows, so I have work! I don't have plans after the afterparties though, so maybe working out at the gym! Wanna come with?
(C) Sui: I eat with my teacher at least. We get herb stuffed roast chicken every year. It's not much, but wanna join us if you're okay with my cooking? I'll tell Master too.

Ding dong!
Akashi: Hey guys. Crowne's not here today? I'm beat. I've been helping with my school's reconstruction and taking classes after reopening.
Mokdai: Hey Akashi. Have some tea before you start work. Crowne's busy at the spaceship garage. Maybe it's because of the big Monster attack?
Sui: Everyone's been busy after all that collateral damage...but that's also why everyone seems to want to get things back to normal and celebrate Christmas. Anyways we were talking about what we usually do for Christmas. What do you and MC do?
Akashi: Hmm... before I'd go out to see the lights, but... (side eyes MC) Do you remember?
MC: Uhh...nope.

Akashi: Oh...I guess your memories are still foggy. Well don't worry about it! We'll make some new fun memories going forward! Director, are we doing anything like an office party or anything?
Mokdai: Ooh, nice idea! How about we reserve a cake early?
Huckle: That could be fun. Feels like it could turn into an afterparty for a show though.
Akashi: Yes! I'm in if there's good food there!
Huckle: Slow down, people. Well it all depends on the day of, but if nothing happens--
Breaking news!
Newscaster: We interrupt this Christmas caroling to bring you UE the Space UN's announcement of a large meteor shower approaching Earth. It is predicted to arrive within 14 days, and UE is sending an investigation team to find out how to avoid it. Updates to come as they arrive. Now back to holiday singing!

MC: OH NO / Are we gonna be okay? / It's the attack of the SF movie plot!
Nobody else seems concerned.
Mokdai: Oh, right. This your first time? We haven't had one of these lately, but they aren't that rare. This happens like once a year or so.
Akashi: Yeah they say it'll make impact, but like most of them aren't so big and burn up in the atmosphere. It'll be like a pretty shower of shooting stars.
Sui: If they are big enough or might hit the moon which doesn't have an atmosphere, they shoot them down early or change their trajectories. Since they're sending an investigation team I think you can relax.
MC: O-oh. Is it really gonna be okay?
Ryekie: HAHAHA! You are such a worrywart. It's fine, the investigators are specialists! They'll take care of everything!
Sui: Oh look at the time, I have work Master asked me to get to. Bye guys.
Huckle: (stands up) Break time's over then. Mokdai, MC, sort the data. Akashi, you mind doing some physical labor?
Akashi: Okay, it'll substitute for my workout. I'm good to go after that break!
Huckle: Thanks. Let's go everyone.

Title card: Traces of Winter

Flashback
Decades ago, a small snow covered planet was informed a meteor would hit it.
Citizen A: Really?
Citizen B: Can our Defense Department even handle it?
Citizen C: Should we leave?
Someone looks out the window as people start to worry.
Borealis: ...how peaceful. A comforting rhythm. The sound of snow piling, the wind blowing... and yet you're sounding all anxious. What was the announcement about? Normally you make gentle calming sounds.
Borealis turns towards the door and opens it to someone who was just about to knock.

Borealis: I don't think it's time for work yet, but is something happening?
???: AHH! You scared me! ...no wait I came to tell you something. You have a moment?
Borealis's friend enters the room, closes the door, and looks serious.
???: ...a bunch of meteors are on a collision course with this planet and there's discussion about what can be done... but panic is happening over the idea the technology here can't destroy them. It hasn't turned to violence yet, but everyone is on edge. People have screamed at me asking what the heroes are doing or to demand I do something.
Borealis: ...I see. It's fine, I became a hero to protect these people. We should contact the other heroes and prepare. We need information for that, so we should get started. You aren't the only one feeling the burden, Operator. We'll do this together.

Borealis finally smiles, and the two nod before Borealis grabs a coat as they leave.
Operator: ...by the way, how'd you know I was there? I tried to keep quiet while walking.
Borealis: You have a unique sound. I don't mean your footsteps, but the tone of your being. That's what I heard. My hearing is a little better than others, and I heard you sounded more stressed than usual...some special technique from me.
Operator: Huh. I thought you were reading my mind. You could've told me earlier! We're best friends in and out of work! We don't need to keep secrets from each other!

Present
It's late at night and somehow there's not many people around even in a city stated to have 20 million residents as MC walks home.
MC: Tireeed...I wanna teleport home...
Everyone worked on finishing up the backlog of end of year files, and it was closing time by the time it was done. It's not much longer before the last train of the night, so MC decides to cut through a back alley to get to the station quicker. They promptly bump into someone around the corner.
MC: Oh no!
Borealis: Oh, are you hurt?
MC is the one to almost fall over, but Borealis takes their hand and helps them up.
MC: I-I'm sorry, I'm okay. / You're so handsome and gentlemanly!
(AB) Borealis: So long as you're unhurt. I apologize.
(C) Borealis: You blurt out the funniest things. I'll take that as a compliment. You don't seem to be hurt, and I apologize.

MC starts to move on and Borealis starts to put back on the earplug that fell out when...
Borealis: ...no wait, stop!
MC stops in surprise and turns back. Borealis grabs MC by the arms in surprise too.
Borealis: You! Your sound! It can't...but... (stares)
MC: W-what? / Could you let go? / So bold!
Borealis: O-oh, excuse me. My name is Borealis, and I wish to apologize for my rudeness. (lets go)
Borealis: May I have a bit of your time? I'd like to talk to you, and I have no intentions of hurting you
MC: S-so... / Am I being hit on?
Borealis: Hmm, I phrased that badly. How do I say this...? Would you happen to be aware of what my job is?
MC shakes their head.
MC: Sorry, my memories are gone... / Are you famous!?

Borealis: ...oh. No, that's fine. By the way, what's your name?
MC: I guess it's okay to tell you.
MC sizes up Borealis again. Nice clothes, nice accessories, he seems legit. He's big enough that if he wanted to physically hurt you he'd have done it already.
MC: I'm MC. I'm a Hero Operator.
Borealis: Hmm...how mysterious. If you'd like--
Suddenly whistling from behind.
Thugs: Hey! What the hell are you guys doing on our turf!?
End of Episode