[ARC 16: ALL DRESSED UP]

The duo had missed their train out of Brigston, but returned to the Elite Four's office the next morning.

"We didn't find the money, nah." laughed Serena, sat with Naomi, Mia across. "Or at least, um - the police haven't yet."

"Have to go back for testimony in a week, too." said Naomi, and Mia's head cocked.

"You… testimony?" she said, and Serena laughed.

"Yeah, um - there was a guy we didn't kill, so."

"I - yeah." laughed Naomi. "We thought that he, uh… Maybe - might've known something about my amnesia, but…"

She thought about telling Mia, but worried she'd disagree with her decision for ignorance.

"Ah." nodded Mia. "Are you - feeling better, then?"

Naomi smiled. "Feeling a - lot better, yeah. Just starting to - you know, get adjusted and all that."

"And fortunately, you have a good mentor." chimed Mia, and the three laughed.

"Yep. Kinda violent, though." grinned Naomi; Mia laughed -

" - you'll be used to it by the end of the year -"

" - that's what she told me, too -" she laughed -

" - I told you I gotta be creative." chimed Serena, and Mia's head shook as she sat up.

"I still remember that woman on our first trip -" she laughed - " - what, what was it you said?"

"Which one?" laughed Serena. "The water chick?"

Mia nodded and grinned. "Something about - never having children again -"

" - oh! Yeah, when I - the fucking acid from the inside-out -"

- Naomi winced & laughed - " - oh, man -"

" - and even - god -" laughed Mia - " - when Tiffany was kidnapped -"

" - I mean, that guy did call me a -" - Serena's lips pinched, remembering Naomi's lack of knowledge - " - uh - a retarded bitch, so -"

" - of course." laughed Mia, gesturing to Naomi's cocked head - " - she - quadruple amputated someone, but -"

" - jeeeez." laughed Naomi. "Guy sounded like a total dick, though."

"He really was."

"Yeah." laughed Serena. "Man, and… trying to think what else, um…" She winced. "…those - guys we dealt with last summer."

"…yes." winced Mia. "Utterly fucking despicable." Her eyes went to Naomi. "We dealt with a sex trafficking ring."

"Oh." said Naomi, face pinching. "I… yeah. You, uh - don't have to talk about that."

Mia nodded for a few seconds before speaking. "…yes."

"…yeah." mumbled Serena, and Naomi knew she should chime.

"…uh. Got - all three of us in a room, right? Like - line of protege and mentor, huh?" she said, and the two laughed.

"Yeah." grinned Serena. "Just need -"

- the door opened, and in came the fourth.

"There we go." chimed Naomi, relevantly.

"Hey." said Marisa, sitting down beside Mia. "What's up?"

"We were just talking about - a line of protege and mentors." smiled Mia, and Marisa nodded less than usual.

"Oh. I guess so, like." she laughed. "Uh. Naomi, right?"

"Yeah." she smiled. "Um... Marisa, right -"

- three tablets vibrated; Serena took her's quick -

" - go ahead." laughed Mia, and the two waved goodbye as they left.

"Is she doing good? Serena?" chimed Marisa, and Mia smiled nodding.

"I'm sure she is. Naomi's nearly two-star."

"That's good. Uh…" She shrugged. "Matoi still has the flu, so, like..."

"Still?" sighed Mia.

"It's probably some like - super bad infection if even she's getting it." laughed Marisa. Mia could tell it was quieter than usual. "Hirogane says she'll be fine, though, so."

"I suppose it's a week free of training, at least." smirked Mia, and Marisa nodded.

"Yeah. Uh…" She sighed, eyes on the wall. "…uh. Yeah."

"Is... everything alright?"

"Yeah. Just… I dunno. Just - feeling kinda lonely. I guess."

"I… oh." murmured Mia. (Marisa had struggled before.) "Er - is there anything I can do to help?"

Marisa's head shook. "Nah. It's just like… I told you about only wanting to, like - date another host, right?"

Mia nodded. "In case of - yes. For their safety."

"Yeah. I mean, I dunno if it'd like - if that'd really happen, but. It feels like the right thing to do, it's just…" She leaned back and laughed. "Ugh - I'd probably even take Makoto at this point -"

" - don't even -" laughed Mia -

" - she's changed!" laughed Marisa - " - she's like - sorta cute, I guess -"

" - don't - I'll tell Aimee not to allow you near her -"

" - come on." laughed Marisa. "Just because you like, got to find the love of your life in your first year -"

- the two laughed, Mia smiling as she thought about Aimee.

"Yeah." grinned Marisa. "Meanwhile, I'm gonna be like - thirty and camped out at the front gates -"

" - trying to - what, spy on the new admissions?" cackled Mia -

" - 'who's that weird chick?' 'Oh, that's just Boudoir - '"

"' - she, er - she just - does that.'" laughed Mia, and the two kept it for another minute longer. "But - but. I'm sure you'll find someone, Marisa."

"Yeah." nodded Marisa. "Just gotta keep, like, at it. Yeah."

Their phones vibrated; they took them quick.

(Samuel) "That sushi place is shutting down. Having an all-you-can-eat sale today."

(Matoi) "motherfuckers."

(Samuel) "I figured you'd say that."

(Marisa) "lol"

(Marisa) "are you gonna come with us? Matoi?"

(Matoi) "I nearly vomited getting out of bed this morning."

(Samuel) "Is that a no?"

A pause.

(Matoi) "bring a box back."

(Mia) "I'll keep it cold."

The two laughed and set out.

◆◆◆

After an hour waiting, the three sat down at the back, tables scattered & filled around.

"…man." mumbled Marisa, taking a menu from the table's center.

"Everyone's here today." said Samuel, relevantly. "Might have to steal a few plates."

"Remember to bring one back for Matoi." laughed Mia, and the three placed their orders.

"No idea where that even came from, you know." laughed Samuel. "Might've - maybe there was something in Japan that did it -"

" - yeah, right." laughed Marisa.

"A flu with a month delay." laughed Mia, and their first portions came - " - thank you."

"Thank you." nodded Samuel. "You know, if it was anyone else - I'd think they're faking -"

" - not with her." laughed Marisa, two following. "Like - she'll probably want to train even harder as soon as she gets better -"

" - she'll have all the heaters back up." laughed Mia.

"I'm sure." laughed Samuel. "Think Hirogane was wanting to call someone in to take samples, too.

Marisa nodded, finishing her first roll. "In case it's like - a 'host flu' or whatever, yeah. Just in case."

"Well - either that, or they'll name it after her."

The three laughed as they finished their first portion, and in the next instant -

" - you've always been a fucking bitch, I swear -" grunted a man a table ahead, stomping over the woman across - " - Offal!"

- and in the next instant -

- the woman's fish leaped out of her rolls, slippery end shooting to her mouth; the three shot up, and the man turned -

- just in time for Samuel's plate to hit his face; pain & blood staggering him back, terror filled his eyes as he saw the three -

" - oh fuck -"

" - Boudoir!" shouted Marisa; a strand erupted from her palm and yanked the woman back, and she crouched down, glove on the woman's mouth as the raw fish slid down her throat -

" - Outcast." laughed Samuel, and in the next instant -

- ghastly hands threw the plate's shards to the man's back, but the next scene was instant. A hundred pieces of raw fish fled from their rice prisons and flew to the man's back -

- and in to the hardening armor went the projectiles -

" - O-Offal -" he panted, armor reforming at his front. A geyser of mercury burst out of his chest -

- but a swift cloud of ice scarabs froze it in mid-air -

" - yeah!" shouted one of the college-aged civilians beside - " - get the bitch, Swarm!"

- and she tried to stifle her smile at the recognition, thirty feet separating them and their foe. Marisa yanked the fish out of the woman's, cocoon keeping it trapped -

" - Solar Beam that shithead!" shouted another -

" - not today!" laughed Mia, relevantly. Swiping her own plate, she threw it forward, scarabs heating it as it flew -

- and the scorching frisbee burst through the man's chest & out his back; he shrieked as he fall back -

- just in time for a Boudoir-burst-fire to carve a dozen holes in his head, restaurant cheering as he fell rigid.

"T-Thank you." gagged the woman; Marisa nodded as she helped her to her feet -

" - you're safe, now!" shouted Mia, scarabs readying to disintegrate the corpse.

"I'll scan." chimed Marisa, taking her tablet out. As she crouched down to scan, she heard someone say it was their first time seeing a Revenant, even living near Urasaria.

"Guess that went pretty easy." laughed Samuel.

By her third year, she could've tapped to it blindfolded, and halfway through her fourth, she was at 159 kills. She wondered if she'd still be as old as thirty and doing the same thing as a professional. Mia disintegrated the corpse & gore, and after they finished eating, Marisa delivered Matoi's sushi. Samuel reported it.

Mia went home, as the conversation with Marisa had filled her head with Aimee. She called Timepact's secretary. (Mia thought the name was silly. Aimee had wanted to name her agency "Urasaria's Crusaders", but the government had trademarked "Urasaria".)

"Hello. Timepact." replied Charlotte's voice.

"Yes." laughed Mia, and Charlotte's laugh recognized her. "Is Aimee busy?"

"Unfortunately, yeah." laughed Charlotte. "Everyone but me and uh, Atori and Luna - left for France. Got that guy with eight arms running around."

"I - that was today?"

"Yep. Left this morning." yawned Charlotte's voice, sound of pencil on magazine following.

"…oh." laughed Mia. "I - suppose I misread her message."

"Yep." laughed Charlotte. "Sorry. Want me to uh, tell her to call you when she gets back?"

"Of course."

"Soooounds good." she chimed, pencil on paper following. "Uh - one last thing, before I let you go. Do you know…" A pause. "… five-letter word. Japanese animated movie. Main character's name is Kaneda?"

"Ask Serena." laughed Mia, relevantly.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

◆◆◆

The next morning, Marisa saw a report on a doctor who'd treated over a thousand patients. Something about it started to bug her. The news was uplifting, but how could she match that?

She spent the afternoon forming Boudoir-clothes to send to homeless shelters , but the boxes came back the next day with a 'thank you' note and a reminder on the Revenant Trade Agreement. She sighed, but remembered snippets of what she'd heard of Yuruko; the chemist had been shoved in to a few undercover contracts for the same.

For now, the only help Marisa felt she was was bringing Boudoir-tissues to Matoi. The white wedding had become snot-filled.

More days of easy Revenants went, and she started to wonder if that's how her life would become. At least Japan had new streets. Maybe a contract or crime spree would come soon, but she started to wonder if there'd someday be a society that just wanted doctors and not women like her.

She decided to go hunting with someone else next time. She met up with Kate on one street near Urasaria. Samuel's protege had her black hair in a permanent ponytail, badge that read 'ANAGEN'.

"Hey." she nodded as Marisa came up, and the two set down the sidewalk.

"Hey."

"How's, uh - Elite Four been doing? Doing good?"

"Yeah - except Matoi still like, has the flu." laughed Marisa, Kate following.

"She - wait, got the flu?"

"Yeah." laughed Marisa. "Like - they think it's some weird infection, but - they said she'll be fine."

"Shit." laughed Kate. "Usually get to skip out on that. I mean, we can take a shotgun right to the face. Sore throat doesn't usually register then."

"Yeah." grinned Marisa, relevantly. "Uh, what does your badge say?"

"Anagen?" she smirked. Her hair went taut. "Means, uh - some science-y term. It's when a new hair is starting to grow."

"Cool." chimed Marisa, and as they turned one corner -

" - give me your fucking money, shithead!" shouted a man thirty feet ahead, streetlamps at regular intervals, stomping on to another man -

" - Urasaria!" shouted his victim; the man's eyes turned -

" - fucking great." he sighed. "Solar Crest!"

- two beams shot out of his eyes -

- and up to the streetlamps yanked the women, one by strand, the other by hair, beam passing uselessly below; with no time to waste, the two swung and swing, and as they came within range -

- Marisa's boot crushed his skull in a crunch of blood -

- and Kate's crushed his crotch in a crunch of blood, hair going taut and forming to a knife -

- and slitting the man's throat in the next, Kate laughing as he fell rigid.

"All good." she said, glancing up to the former victim.

"T-Thank you."

The two stepped off, and Kate waved him away as she crouched down to scan. "Got that fucker."

"Got him, yeah." Marisa nodded.

◆◆◆

The next morning, she dropped another box of Boudoir-tissues off at the snot-filled wedding's couch.

"…g-god." sniffed Matoi. "Nearly through by now - fortunately. Hopefully."

"Good." chimed Marisa. "Uh, Hirogane's sure it's not a Revenant, right?"

Matoi nodded, shivering in a sweater and blanket. "He is - though he offered to pay for a flight across the country, to try to escape its range."

The two laughed. Matoi had the widescreen on to more good news. Marisa took space away from the contagious wedding.

"Still." Matoi sneezed. "A week at most - and back to hunting scum."

"Back to hunting scum." said Marisa. Matoi started coughing & sneezing, and she didn't speak until the wedding was over. "…hey, uh. Can I, like - can I ask you for advice?"

"What is it?"

Marisa nodded. "So, like… How do you like - stay motivated?"

Matoi blew her nose and sat up. "Stay motivated?"

"Yeah - or like…" Marisa shrugged. "…not just get bored, I guess. I mean, we're both gonna work for Aimee's agency, but - I dunno. I guess it just gets kinda boring just - fighting crime, like."

Matoi's head shook as she sat up. "It's not simply murdering scum. Every host we fight - every criminal we keep from harming innocent people - "

" - I know, but like - is that all we do?" sighed Marisa. "Like, we're both fourth-years, but… I can't… this is all I can do to help people. Just keep fighting Revenants. For the rest of my life."

"It's more exciting than most jobs." smirked Matoi, relevantly. "Still - it's not about what we do directly. Saving a hospital from being attacked - saving doctors who'll treat thousands of patients in their lives. Children who'll grow up because of us."

"You're getting deep." grinned Marisa, and Matoi laughed.

"Still. You see my point."

"I think so, yeah, like." Marisa nodded. "I guess I just - I dunno, like. It just - doesn't feel direct."

"It's not." laughed Matoi. "But it's important, regardless. We aren't doctors or scientists trying to cure cancer. We're heroes. There's no profession that saves more people than we do - directly or indirectly." She sneezed. "Regardless, we fight crime. If we want to help the world - we fight better."

"Sounds good." chimed Marisa.

◆◆◆

That night, the scarab woman had set out on patrol alone. She yawned down one sidewalk, and her tablet vibrated. She took it quick -

' - bank robbery - already lethal.'

["34 - tusk (Extended) - Ryu Ga Gotoku Zero/Yakuza Zero OST".]

She rushed back the way she had came, sword readied, knowing the area well as she ran back down another three sidewalks. The bank was on the corner, and as she rushed inside -

- she saw her two foes on the other end, fifty feet separating them, both covered in metal and one carrying a bag. He turned -

" - here we fucking go." he sighed. "Polarity!"

- in the next instant, an unseen force yanked her sword out of her hands and towards him -

- but a swift scarab set her sword burning blue as it flew; instincts too quick for his mind, he caught the hilt -

- and shrieked in agony as he threw it away; Mia laughed as it reappeared in her hands, and a dozen metal spikes shot towards her ahead; her shield of ice raised -

- but through the sudden barrier burst the projectiles And in to her face; share ends slashing her cheeks, the pain staggered her back, metal bits starting to drill in -

- but a puff of blue erupted from her nostrils to disintegrate them -

- and fear punched her for a second as her own flames burned her, desperate ice chilling her sudden wound -

' - no no - this isn't, no -'

- her scarabs swarmed her wrists, and she nodded as they bowed to her mental command, thinking quick as she stepped back, eyes on the stairway to the second-floor left.

'That was a Revenant. Worldwide isn't going out of control - calm. It won't happen again -'

- with the speed of light she spun -

- just in time for her sword to meet her third & sudden for, blade of obsidian with rainbow streaks meeting her's, fourth foe huddled near the doors ahead. More metal spikes entered her back, and in the next instant -

- she felt liquid dripping out of the trips and into her blood; shooting right and out of the clash, streams of water flushed her wounds as she ran, dodging and sweeping underneath more spikes. Bleeding with no way to chill, she rushed to the stairs, and as she started running up -

- a red streak appeared on one step -

- and in to the invisible wall she stumbled, grunting as she turned, five foes on the first-floor now, new arrival a fattened man covered in orange slime. He rushed up to the base of the stairs; a glob of slime erupted from his palm towards her -

- but the next scene was instant. A tuft of fire scarabs disintegrated a hole in the wall; out of the aperture she leaped and in to the street, spikes & slime catching only air behind, and as she landed -

- direct on a yellow strip in the road; her movements started instantly to slow, reactions dulling, eyes turning back in time to see the slime&obsidian men leap out of the aperture -

- and a globe of ice formed midair, blocking another glob of slime as she staggered back and off the yellow strip, reaction & swiftness returning to her as she stumbled back across the road. Frustration grew at her normal sword. She saw the other three rushing out of the bank and starting to flee -

- but she was fired to reach an existential threat.

"Worldwide." she grunted as the obsidian & slime men rushed towards her -

- and two geysers of water blasted them separate ways as she rushed up the road, eyes constant on the three fleeing ahead, sheets of warmer ice forming as she skid&slid; she winced at the unfamiliar chill, but as she came fifty feet away -

- a red strip appeared ahead -

- but a ramp of ice launched her over; she hit the ground running as she laughed, cars parked by civilians who should've known better by then. Her sword scraped the gas tank as she ran past one, covering her blade in gasoline, and as she aimed her sword out -

- the next scene was instant. A geyser of water & gasoline burst out of her sword, careful fire scarabs boiling only the water away as the jet flew to hit the man -

- but a swift red strip burst out of the ground like a solid wall; and in to the barrier halted the gas immediately, Mia groaning as she turned -

- and swept back just in time to avoid the yellow strip on the ground, obsidian-man grunting as they clashed again -

" - this bitch is alone, you know!" he shouted, slime-man rising up to meet them behind - " - don't see why you're so fucking scared!"

- a swift dome of ice formed over the combatants, and by a sweep of her sword seeking his neck -

- he swept with the speed of light back -

- but the next scene was instant. A tendril of ice burst out of the ground like an overgrown root -

- and impaled clear through his back & out his chest; his sword glowed orange -

- and a swift slash melted the frozen plant, freeing him as he rushed back and against the dome, another whirl of orange melting the prison, water dousing he&the slime-man outside -

" - thank you!" laughed Mia, rushing forward with electrical sword readied -

- but the next scene was instant. Globs of slime erupted from the man's back and covered the two men -

- and her electrical bash caught only slime. Tendrils of ooze yanked her sword further in, grip lost as her sword sank in to the ooze -

- but spat it back out as it burst in to blue flames; she snuffed her blade before she caught it, dome of ice melting around. Her eyes turned and see the three men with eyes on her now, readying to chase, two foes ahead and stores flanking them.

She started rushing away and down the road, five sets of footsteps chasing her, eyes sharp for when the red streak would appear again as she ripped her tablet out. She tapped Marisa's name and nodded as she ran.

'Five versus one. Of course I can do this. I'm a national threat, but.' she thought, but in the next instant -

- she felt another volley of metal spikes fly towards her; she turned -

- and her flaming orange sword blocked it, metal melting and forming a molten wrapper around it, careful grip to assure her safety as the metal started to drip. The obsidian and slime man were still rushing at her ahead, and before they could realize her plan -

- his rainbow obsidian blade clashed with her own; Mia laughed as she shot back, one swipe catching his face -

- and the man shrieked in agony as the molten metal charred his face, cheeks & skin melting as Mia shoved him back. A glob of slime tried to shoot to his face -

- but a swift pillar of ice blocked it -

- and a second swarm tore the flesh from the melted-man's bones, orange fire reminding Mia of her first year as she swept back -

" - 'I don't see why you're so scared'?"she laughed, seeing their fear starting ahead; aggression and arrogance building, she started her rush forward, leaving the slime-man behind as she pursued her other three foes, but in the next instant -

- a dozen slime tendrils burst out of the ground and shot to her limbs -

- but a coat of water kept her slippery & out of their grip as she slid on to another ice sheet, careful ice growing colder behind to prevent any more tendrils from sprouting. Once she came thirty feet away, her sword started to slip from her grip, magnetism of one of the metalmen trying to pull her sword away. She rose to her feet charging as it disappeared -

- and a homemade shield of ice blocked three globs of slime from behind, hungry oozes starting to eat away at the ice. More ice formed to repair her shield; but their pace was immeasurable, hunger & speed growing as they ate & chewed through her shield -

- and she discarded it just in time to avoid the slime reaching her fingers. Clouds of steam burst out of the ground as she faked right, hiding her advance as she rushed truly left, sidewalk&store she knew were ahead. As she came up to the front door, a red flame burnt an entrance; and in to the store she swept, but in the next instant -

- a wall of spikes burst up ahead; a hundred jets of mercury shot towards her left -

- but the next scene was instant. A wall of ice formed over the spikes, swallowing their poisonous volley; she rushed to the left wall, foe having inadvertently revealed his position then -

' - the magnetism is alone. The creation of metal - magnetism is separate.' she thought, swarm of fire scarabs disintegrating her next entrance. She rushed in to another store and to another set of front doors, and as she came to the sidewalk -

- she grinned at her confirmed theory, three foes chasing after the other store & one metal-man left thirty feet ahead -

" - she's out here!" he shouted, and in the next instant -

- a volley of metal spikes flew towards her from the left -

" - Worldwide!" she laughed -

- and as he saw the slide of ice form in mid-air, he was doomed and he knew it, spikes hitting & sliding right in to his line -

- and the entire volley burst through him in the next, Mia keeping her laugh going as she rushed over to his pockmarked corpse, sword drawn with no worry for magnetism now, three foes with true fear rushing to forty feet away -

" - are you rethinking your - your 'Revenants can harm their hosts' ability now?" she laughed, taunting pushing her slight worry down, but in the next instant -

- the road started to buckle beneath her, footing crumbling and throwing her to the spikes below -

- but seven-inch frozen platforms formed for her boots; she leaped up & off of them & out of the hole, slime behind eating its frozen meals as she hit the road again. The men stepped back as she started stepping forward, car beside herself -

- and she slashed open the gas tank again, laughing as she pointed her gasoline-dripping sword towards them, no hope for the red streak counter then. More globs of slime & more metal spikes were thrown towards her -

- but she dodged every last, fire scarab burning a miniscule hole in the ground beside as she kept her position. More scarabs followed in like a line of ants, their mistress nodding with confidence in her plan.

"I know why you're protecting - is it him?" she laughed, sword pointing to the third man huddled behind, neither slime or metal - " - I could easily Solar Beam you if he was dead!"

She laughed -

- and the next scene was instant. She threw her sword forward, blade bursting in to blue in midair, and as it hit the ground ahead of the men -

- it disintegrated an enormous hole in the road, and in the next instant -

- an enormous geyser of water burst out of the hole & drenched the three men, electrical current following a second later -

- and charring the metal man to ash in an instant, armor of slime only enough to save the other two as Mia's sword reappeared, laughing as she started her rush in true confidence ahead.

"F-Fuck this -" panted the other man, starting to flee away -

" - no you fucking don't!" shouted the slime-man; tendrils burst out his back and yanked the man to him, unwilling cargo screaming and thrashing, Mia stepping forward grinning, twenty feet separating the two. A pouch of ice was on her sword's hilt, gasoline contained within, ready to fall at her mental command.

Ahead, the slime-man stomped; the ground started to buckle inward, slime eating through the asphalt as Mia stumbled back -

" - Worldwide!" she shouted, scarabs melting her container and dropping the gasoline to the ground -

- and she swept with the speed of light back as a blue pillar of flame erupted ahead, momentary purple as the slime-man rushed in to it; the brightness threw her eyes shut after a second -

- and once she snuffed her fire out again, she laughed at the lack of corpse ahead, final foe charred and rushing down the road right, true fleeing beginning then.

"I - I - I'll donate my Revenant!" he shouted as he ran - " - just don't -"

" - as fucking if!" she laughed as she cleared the clearing, and in the next instant -

- a swarm of scarabs burrowed in to his back -

- and ripped his still-beating heart out, Mia still grinning at her skill, having surpassed Matoi's record; once unintentional, once intentional.

"Five… five against one." she panted, crouching down to rest & scan. After she scanned five times, she knew her first call.

"… Yes. Is Aimee busy?" She smiled. "…yes. I - I wanted to ask her something."

She waited a minute, and Aimee's voice showed up. "Hey, what's up?"

"I just fought five hosts." laughed Mia, and Aimee with her.

"Go better than, uh - last time?"

"Much better." chimed Mia. "But I, er… I - wanted to ask you something. Are you - can you look at the threat level rankings?"

Aimee's footsteps set the background. "Sure, uh - yeah. Gimme a minute."

The sound of a door opening & closing.

"What's up? Did you need to look someone up?"

"You said I was Threat Level National, correct?"

"Yeah."

"How many are there? Total?"

"...uh. National threats? Pretty... low, but… lemme check." said Aimee, and after a while; "Uh… Looks like it's - ugh, lemme count."

The two laughed as Aimee counted aloud.

"…ten, fifteen… Uh - counting dead people?"

"Only alive."

"Figured." She heard Aimee's wink. "Thirty-three."

Mia paused. Urasaria had over a hundred students. A hundred professional heroes in North America. Thousands globally.

"…thank you." She smiled. "That was everything."

"Alright. Love you."

"I love you too -"

" - uh, wait, one more thing, uh - we're doing Christmas with Matoi, right -"

- Mia laughed - " - yes -"

" - just wanted to make sure." laughed Aimee. "Alright. Love you."

"I love you too." she chimed, and as she hung up -

- she heard someone land behind; with the speed of light she turned -

" - I - oh." she laughed, cheeks suddenly filling -

" - was that Aimee?" grinned Marisa, strands retreating back to her dress as Mia laughed.

"It - it was."

"Aww." She set her gloves on Mia's wounds, Boudoir giving her new flesh. "What happened, though, like? I tried to get here -"

" - I dealt with five hosts." grinned the national threat -

" - wait, really?" laughed Marisa -

" - without a single Solar Beam -"

" - maaaan, Matoi's gonna be like - super jealous -" grinned Marisa, and in the next instant -

- the two swept underneath a jet of water from up the road; they turned -

- and saw their foe two hundred feet away, greasy hair and palms outstretched.

"Time to make it six!" chimed Marisa, relevantly; Mia nodded as they started their rush forward. "You're good to - fight, right?"

"Of course." grinned Mia, scarabs and burning blue truly readied. More jets of murky water flew towards them ahead -

- but a wall of blue flame erupted ahead; in to the flaming shield went the geysers, flame suddenly wilting to red -

- and a cloud of murky steam burst outward; the two swept with the speed of light back, hearing the road weaken ahead -

" - makes stuff weaker?" said Marisa, and Mia-Mia nodded. Boudoir's glove growing as the two rushed left, she gripped Mia-Mia up -

" - go ahead." she laughed, streetlamps ahead and buildings beside. A strand brought them to the one wall, and down the street started swinging the two, more jets of murky water entering the buildings behind -

- and weakening the walls as they dodged, stores & ceilings starting to collapse as they came a hundred feet away & left -

" - hang on!" shouted Marisa, aiming her palm to the road; a strand yanked them to it -

- and another strand brought them to the other end of the avenue just in time to dodge another geyser, former mentor & former protege swinging along the buildings again. Marisa threw a Boudoir ball in to one jet -

- and nodded as it disintegrated instantly; another swing, and the two landed thirty feet ahead of their foe, empty lot of trees left. His hands flashed out -

- but the next scene was instant. Marisa stomped -

- and tendrils of Boudoir flipped a chunk of road in to the man's face; the pain staggered him back, tainted water catching only air above -

- and the two groaned as he rushed & ran left in to the empty lot, temporary rain slowing their pursuit before they could rush to him again, building's back at the other end as they entered the lot, foe fifty feet away and still fleeing.

He passed by one tree, and in the next instant -

- a Boudoir-bullets sliced right through it; down fell the timber towards them -

- but a hasty jet of water wilted it black, man laughing as he rushed to the building's back wall. Another gust of water wilted an entrance for him, and they saw him sweep aside & within the store as they came up thirty feet away, more trees around them. Mia's palms swept forward -

" - I got it." grinned Marisa. A strand shot to one tree left, another strand to the tree right, and as a woman might uproot a weed -

- tore both clear out of the ground, Mia laughing as she realized it -

- and the true show began then, Marisa's newly found hammers bashing and smashing the roof down, building starting to collapse as the wooden jackhammers crushed it; inside, they heard the man shriek -

" - good luck!" chimed Marisa, fashionista turned lumberjack still smashing, more strands grabbing more hammers, dozens of trees smashing the building to shreds - 

- and the two kept their laughter even after his crushed corpse popped out of the ruins, Mia's head shaking as she went over to scan.

"So absurd." she laughed, and Marisa grinned.

"That was pretty fun."

[END OF ARC: ALL DRESSED UP]