[December 14th, 2020]

The tracksuit non-Russian hadn't anyone to visit over the break, and her bags weren't packed by the time the door knocked. She opened it, and there stood Serena&Yuruko.

"Hey." chimed Serena. "Do you wanna spend Christmas with us?"

She smiled. "Sounds good."

"Coolio." said Yuruko.

◆◆◆

[December 25th]

The prodigal trio had decided on Yuruko's home for Christmas, though the amnesiac had brought a recent purchase.

"How - how are you that fast?" panted Serena, legs aching and sweating -

" - just - trying to get good at it!" chimed Naomi, arcade dancepad below, hands gripping a Medicinal-rail behind, legs flurrying and pop filling Yuruko's old room.

Yuruko slumped against the wall, Medicinal wiping the sweat off her cheeks. "…j-jeez."

"...and - d-done!" panted Naomi, stomping one last note down, no stones coming. She turned to the exhausted duo, face smiling over the rail.

"…jeez." laughed Yuruko. "You're - really good at it, dang."

"Helps… helps that I've got, got good reflexes -" panted Naomi, wiping her head - " - but - but yeah."

"Do you want some water?" laughed Serena, and Naomi nodded as she slumped down beside.

"S-Sure." she said, taking Serena's cup. "T-Thanks." Fog filled it, and she spoke after she drank. "…b-but. Y-Yeah." She exhaled. "Been… been practicing. A, a lot, actually."

"Apparently." grinned Yuruko, and Naomi nodded.

"…yeah." The sweaty lemming smiled. "Actually... kinda helps me - feel better, too, since… since, uh. I - I know I'm a good fighter - and I know I'm good at that. Getting good, anyway."

The three smiled.

◆◆◆

Rochelle & Tiffany had decided on Christmas with Tiffany's family. (Tiffany was white, and subsequently, so was her family.) The two sat down at a table of cousins, nephews, siblings, and parents. Rochelle glanced at the salt and hoped she wouldn't need it for her chalk-colored chicken.

"What's your badge say?" said Tiffany's nephew, pointing to Rochelle.

"Oh, um -" - she laughed, flashing it out - " - 'Screwball'."

"Screwball?" laughed Tiffany's father. "Why'd you choose that?"

"Uh." She laughed nervous, picking up the salt shaker and twisting the cap off. "My Revenant lets me do - this."

A dozen screws appeared on the cusp, and as she flipped it upsidedown -

- the salt stopped like it'd hit an invisible wall, setting eight nodding. "Just, uh - keeps stuff in place. You know."

"Sounds pretty 'screwed up'." chimed Tiffany's cousin, and Rochelle tried to join their laughter.

"Uh - yeah, just -"

- two tablets vibrated, setting two groaning.

"Ah sh- - crap." winced Rochelle, peeling her tablet out -

- and sighing at the location. "We - we gotta go. Five minutes away."

"Yeah. We'll come back after." nodded Tiffany, standing; she hugged her parents, and the couple went off.

"…well." said Tiffany's uncle. "Her - girlfriend seems nice."

"She's very, er…" Her cousin frowned. "…butch."

"Well - I didn't want to say it." nodded Tiffany's father. "But - certainly, butch women - they're nothing to be afraid of."

"I - yes." nodded Tiffany's mother. "Even if - we grew up in a different time, there's no need to worry about Tiffany."

"Agreed." said Tiffany's second cousin, sagely. "Admittedly, when she said she was bringing a… butch, over - I had my worries."

"I know a - I mean, the stereotype, I mean." said Tiffany's sister. "Is that they're kinda violent."

"Well - that's all Urasaria students, isn't it?" nodded Tiffany's cousin, relevantly.

"Yes." nodded Tiffany's mother. "Those are old stereotypes, honey. They've fought hard to be accepted - that's something to be proud of."

Tiffany's nephew frowned. "Did none of you notice she was black?"

◆◆◆

Timepact had four on standby for the winter, and one new guest.

"…huh. Really is making it this time." muttered Hirogane, watching Luna pull a plate of baked Alaska from Flashbulb's cube. She nodded as she set it on the table and sat to Saya.

"It's gotten much better." nodded Luna. "But - u-um, let me know if anything tastes weird."

"Already looks way better than store bought." laughed Charlotte, taking a slice alongside Non.

"Way better than -"

- four tablets vibrated, and one groaned -

" - fuck, are you - fucking kidding me?" winced Non, peeking at her tablet - " - it's an hour away, too, are you fucking - who even does this shit on Christmas, seriously? "

"That guy, apparently." nodded Hirogane, and all but Non laughed.

She groaned as she stepped out. "Just - ugh, cover my plate with a napkin, or - whatever."

"We will." chimed Charlotte, and the conductor stepped out. They waited until her footsteps disappeared to speak.

"…Luna." muttered Hirogane. "Hand me her slice."

◆◆◆

Kate had gone home to Lanacca and her father had picked her up from the airport.

"Already got three-star, huh?" he said, turning the radio down.

"Already got it, yeah." she nodded. "First out of my year to get it. Second closest is some chick named, uh - Miasma."

"That's good - real good. Hard work pays off."

"Yeah. Got the other pay raise coming in too. Think they, uh - just passed it."

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

"They did - was listening about it on the way over. Took them long enough." His head shook. "You know - that's because of that liberal governor they've got over there. Somehow has all the money in the world when it comes to - oh, what was it they had recently. Something about - oh, gays and lesbians week or something like that."

"The parade?"

"That's what it was. All the money in the world for that - but when it comes to students? Nope - can't lift a finger for them." He shook his head and sighed.

Kate shrugged. "There's plenty of gay students -"

" - you know that's not who I'm talking about, come on -"

" - half of the Elite Four went there -"

" - and if they want to celebrate that on their own time, that's fine - but should the government be using taxpayer money on that? No. No, they shouldn't." He glanced over. "Now, come on. You know they've got better things to spend it on than that."

"...Guess so." shrugged Kate. "Just glad I got my pay raise."

"Good. Might be getting a bit more soon, too. New president and all."

"Not like I've got a choice of jobs."

The two laughed.

"Well, still." he said. "I'm proud of you. Real, real proud of you. You're a hard worker. Anyone at that school ever tries to get you down on something - don't let it."

She smiled. "Thanks."

◆◆◆

The Elite Four - and one extra - had decided on one Christmas at one home. (Matoi had recovered.)

"Pretty nice place." said Aimee, five coming up to Matoi's mother's mansion.

"She's retired - though she runs a small online business." said Matoi. She knocked the door, and her mother answered smiling.

"Matoi." she said, gesturing the five in, pizza's scent hitting their nostrils as they went inside. "I hope your friends weren't expecting me to cook."

"Pizza's fine by me." laughed Samuel.

"Good." she laughed, leading them to the dining room, boxes&liters of soda already set up. The six sat down to eat. "My name is Fuyuko, and your names… oh, don't tell me."

She pointed down the line. "Mia - Swarm, and - your girlfriend, Aimee - Mad Dog. Marisa, Boudoir - and Samuel, Boar."

"Got it all right." nodded Aimee, and the six started eating.

"Did you run in to any trouble on your way here?"

"We received a call - someone else was able to deal with it, fortunately." said Matoi, and her mother smiled.

"A bit of a holiday break, then -" - her phone rang, and she sighed as she took it. " - one second."

She went to another room.

"She seems nice." chimed Marisa.

"Yeah." nodded Aimee. "Uh. Gonna guess she doesn't, but - do you know if she has any hot sauce?"

Matoi's laughing head shook, and Aimee nodded, taking a prepared bottle out of her pocket.

"Sheesh." laughed Samuel. "Got your own personal stash."

"Just in case." grinned Aimee, dousing her whole slice in it. "I tried, uh - what was that one sauce you guys had in Japan?"

"When Matoi pranked us?" said Marisa, and Aimee's head shook.

"No, the, uh - pepper sauce -"

" - yuzukoshō?" said Matoi -

" - yeah." nodded Aimee. "I tried some out - me and Mia went to a Japanese restaurant. Way too weak."

"As if." laughed Mia. "You practically wanted to drink the bottle -"

- Fuyuko came back as the five laughed, sitting down again. "Telemarketers."

"They never quit." said Samuel, relevantly.

Fuyuko nodded. "Lately, it's been either that, or -" - she laughed, gesturing to Matoi - " - really, I should blame you for it -"

" - what happened?" laughed Matoi -

" - I'm constantly getting calls asking for - either asking for an interview with me, or artwork of you -"

" - artwork?" said Marisa, and Fuyuko nodded as Matoi spoke.

"She sells paintings based on Revenants."

"Yes." nodded Fuyuko. "It won't - well, they'll never hang in a museum - but people are willing to pay for it."

"What kind of stuff do you paint?" said Aimee, drenching another slice beyond recognition.

"Well, I don't include the - name of it, or the student, of course." nodded Fuyuko. "Matoi told me of a… well, you would know, yes? Some sort of fog Revenant?"

"Blackburn?" said Mia, and Fuyuko laughed.

"I don't know their names."

"Sounds like Blackburn, yeah." laughed Marisa. "So do you like - just paint what you think it looks like?"

"You really should just show them." laughed Matoi, and Fuyuko nodded as she stood.

"One second."

She went to another room and came back with a landscape, black tendrils strangling a forest, trees snapped in half and filled with acid.

"…shit." said Marisa, relevantly. "That's - that's really good, like. How long have you been painting?"

Fuyuko smiled as she set it aside and sat down, gesturing to Matoi. "Well, when Matoi-tan was born -"

- and she laughed as her daughter's cheeks filled -

" - not - " - Matoi's face clenched -

" - is that a nickname?" grinned Mia, and Matoi grimaced as the rest laughed.

"I have to embarrass you in front of your friends, after all." said her mother, relevantly. "It's -"

" - an honorific that means 'baby'." muttered Matoi, cheeks full as the rest kept their laugh.

"And after your friends finish eating, I can show your baby photos -"

" - don't -" winced Matoi, rest still laughing -

" - but really." laughed Fuyuko. "She - she was so cute as a teenager, with Kekkonshiki."

"Kekkon - what was that word?" said Mia, and Matoi's head rose.

"Wedding's actual name - Kekkonshiki."

"It means the same in Japanese." nodded Fuyuko.

"Do you, uh, still have those metal plates or whatever?" laughed Aimee, and Matoi & Fuyuko followed.

"I should have never told you about that."

"I do." laughed Fuyuko. "Still hanging in her old bedroom. She would weld them with Kekkonshiki's lasers."

"We're not going in there." said Matoi, and the rest smiled as they ate.

"Perhaps later." smirked Fuyuko. "But - I wanted to ask - speaking of Kekkonshiki. Did you have any trouble in Japan? Other than, the…?" She gestured to Mia, and Matoi waved the others down.

"She watched the interview. I…" She sighed. "A man tried to grope me."

Her mother sighed. "They're still as awful as when we left, aren't they?"

"…correct." sighed Matoi. "Though I could at least threaten to kill them this time."

The five laughed knowingly.

"Is it, er - that common?" said Mia, gesturing to Matoi's mother. "We had boarded a women-only carriage, after, but…"

She nodded. "When I was… well, around your age -" - she laughed - " - before Revenants were around, I organized a women's group. In Japan."

"Over seventy percent." muttered Matoi.

"Can't imagine what that's like now." nodded Samuel. "Lot of scum with Revenants would probably try to attack something like that."

"They do in some countries - or so I've read." sighed Matoi's mother. "But, Urasaria here -is- primarily women -"

" - and primarily lesbian." chimed Marisa, homosexually, and Fuyuko laughed.

"And at the least - men are more wary of harassing any young woman they see out, now. People are more accepting of - lesbianism, as well."

"…most people." muttered Aimee. "Uh. Still some people who don't."

The four paused, but Matoi's mother nodded. "Unfortunately. There'll always be people, who, well… You women know what that's like."

"I sure do, ma'am." nodded Samuel, and the five laughed.

"But, before I forget -" laughed Fuyuko, gesturing to Mia - " - I'm sorry for the - treatment you had to endure, while in Japan."

"It's alright." laughed Mia. "I know what occurred - and what they were saying about me."

"Good." She smiled. "You're stronger than I was at your age."

"Thank you."

"Speaking of." said Samuel. "Don't know if this is a good time to bring it up, but - they make any progress on that neighborhood?"

"The government here sent a reconstruction professional over." said Matoi. "They're still wary of the area - but they were able to build new homes, elsewhere."

"Even the nationalists?"

"Even the nationalists, though Rin's told me -" - she started laughing - " - that, the man who yelled at Mia -"

" - here we go -" laughed Aimee -

" - Junpei sometimes goes in to his home with Tyrant and - rearranges all his belongings in to separate drawers -"

" - god -" laughed Marisa -

" - we really should go back sometime." laughed Samuel, and Aimee prodded Mia's shoulder.

"Could go to one of those hotels, you know." she whispered, and Mia grinned.

"We should."

"And you could go see her, too." said Fuyuko, gesturing to Matoi. "Was your girlfriend not able to come visit?"

- four sets of eyes widened.

"Wait -" said Mia -

" - you have a girlfriend?" sputtered Marisa -

" - yes." winced Matoi, already blushing.

"Was I not supposed to reveal that?" laughed her mother, and the rest followed.

"Who - you gotta introduce us!" grinned Marisa. "Is she like - is she a student?"

"You know how those president-student relationships go." said Samuel, and Aimee&Mia laughed.

"She's - nothing." muttered Matoi, digging deeper in her meal. "No - need to talk about her."

"What was her name again?" chimed her mother, and her daughter's face clenched.

"…they - already know who she is." muttered Matoi, and the four laughed.

"Who is it?" grinned Mia -

" - did you just start dating?" laughed Aimee -

" - well, only a few weeks ago, wasn't it?" laughed her mother, daughter's whole face tinting -

" - you know we're not gonna let up with this." laughed Samuel, relevantly.

"…fine." muttered Matoi, speaking to her food. "After - we…"

She paused, peanut gallery still laughing.

"Take your time." grinned Aimee.

"Can't believe you've been hiding this." laughed Samuel, Matoi's expression tightening as she continued.

"… I - had - the - contact information. Of - some Ueno students -"

- four gasps -

" - wait -" said Marisa - " - are you dating -"

" - Rin." stated Matoi, setting four with faces full of grins.

"The ice chick?" said Marisa, and Matoi mustered a nod.

"…jeez." laughed Aimee, leaning back. "What's she like?"

"Nothing." muttered Matoi. "I - already told you. Something else -"

" - no no, c'mon -" laughed Marisa -

" - she's - dedicated."

"To training?" chimed Mia, and Matoi nodded.

"…she's - slowly reviewed her English."

"Ooo." grinned Marisa. "Are you gonna get her to come visit soon?"

"You really should." laughed Matoi's mother. "I'm sure she would love it."

"P-Perhaps." muttered Fuyuko's daughter.

◆◆◆

One woman went home to her parents, her younger brother having been deployed a month prior.

"Doing good in the rankings, right?" said Kirihara's father.

"Yeah." muttered Kirihara. "Pretty hard to keep up against four people - but I'll get it."

"Who's the - the two you have left? The third-years?"

"Mia and Samuel." She rubbed her neck, having asked Hirogane not to fully heal the scar.

"…careful." nodded her mother. "If she reacted like that - who knows how she'd react to you becoming president?"

"I'm sure she can handle it." said her father. "Right?"

"Right."