Yes, it's the first comic of an arc and I've got a comic that gives you no clue whatsoever to the what's going to happen next. Sorry, folks. I realize I do that a lot. It's partly trying to establish location, set a dramatic hook, and buy time to develop future comics. Admittedly, "Hello?" isn't the most gripping dramatic hook. If Sofia's line were "Did you say the building is going to explode?" or "I left the negatives under the bench in the park. I expect the remaining $50,000 to be delivered in the usual manner", then it'd be gripping action drama. But that's not where this arc is going, trust me - Terrence
Modern Commentary
There are a lot of manga that start with a large panel showing the scene. You see a school exterior or a quiet cafe or a crowded beach. Then the story actually begins now that you know where everybody is.
The advantage those manga have is that you get 20-40 pages at once instead of having to come back tomorrow now that you've learned that we're at Sofia's apartment and she's just got home from work - Terrence