The four met with Daishi the next morning.

"(There's been some progress made in the investigation - fortunately.)" nodded Daishi. "(The man we fought yesterday had a consumable Revenant, as well - but after some questioning, the police have narrowed their list of suspects.)"

"(What have they found?)" said Matoi.

"(Currently, the most promising lead is a man - Katuhisa Ono - who quit his job at a Revenant storage facility a few months ago. He was tested for a Revenant before he left - but it's possible… well. Someone might have faked the result - or these Revenants are truly man-made, not by a Revenant.)"

Matoi nodded. "(They'll test him for a Revenant, then?)"

"(Unfortunately not.)" sighed Daishi. "(It's - an invasive surgery. They would require a warrant for it.)"

Matoi thought of home. "(Unfortunate.)"

"(They're in the process of obtaining one, but - it may take some time.)" He nodded to Matoi's sigh. "(I'm in agreement. It's not my position to be political, but - well. The government is somewhat slow to respond in these matters.)"

"(Tradition is important.)" smirked Matoi, and he laughed.

"(Too much, in some ways.)"

Matoi relayed it to the others.

"Er - couldn't Junpei test him for a Revenant? Using Tyrant?" said Mia, and Matoi paused.

"(She's asking if Junpei could test Katuhisa for a Revenant.)"

"(Ah.)" Daishi's head shook. "(We considered it - but, the government prefers he not endanger himself like that. When he passes through a host, he's vulnerable to attack.)"

Matoi nodded. "(He could be killed - if Katuhisa has a close-range Revenant.)"

"(Precisely.)" nodded Daishi. "(He - has done it before, but for this - it would be best to only use it if forced. Was that all?)"

"(One moment.)"

Matoi relayed it, and the others nodded with no questions.

"(What will we be doing, then? Waiting?)"

"(Unfortunately so - but I'll see if I can't expedite it. In the meantime - the rest of Ueno has been quite busy, recently - but I hope there will be time to introduce them to you all, soon. Perhaps tonight.)"

"(Hopefully.)" nodded Matoi. "He hopes there'll be time to introduce other Ueno students to us."

"Do any of them, um, speak English?" said Marisa.

"(She asked if there's other students fluent in English - besides Junpei.)"

"(Well - somewhat.)" laughed Daishi. "(Admittedly - well, you used to live here, correct?)"

"(Correct.)" laughed Matoi. "(Eight years ago.)"

"(Then you remember - mandatory English. They might enjoy practicing it, if that's alright.)" laughed Daishi, and Matoi nodded.

"There's no one as fluent as Junpei - but public schools in Japan teach English."

"(They may be nervous, at first, but I'm sure they -") - his tablet rang, and Matoi nodded as he turned and took it. "( - apologies. Yes - Daishi.)"

He laughed. "(It - what is it?)" He laughed again. "(Of - of course, yes. I'll have Junpei evacuate your workers. It may take an hour for me to arrive, but I'll set out now.)"

He hung up, still laughing as he turned and stood. "(My - my apologies. There's a zoo with - some animals have gotten loose -)"

- Matoi laughed, and the others after she relayed it. "(Should I come with you, then?)"

"(It's appreciated - but there's no need. They doubt it's a Revenant.)" he laughed. "(Simply a new employee. Kiseru can handle a few lions, gorillas, elephants.)"

With a nodding laugh from Matoi, he set out.

"Man." grinned Marisa. "What type of animals do they have in zoos here, anyway?"

"…lions, gorillas, elephants." said Matoi. "The - same as American zoos."

"…oh. I guess that makes sense, like."

"I'd prefer fighting criminals." offered Samuel, and the four laughed as they stood.

"What should we do now, then?" said Mia.

"Uh… I wanna like, go out to a restaurant or something." chimed Marisa. "Like - we're getting all our expenses paid, right?"

"'Within reason.'" said Samuel, air quoting as the four laughed.

"We'll need to have another session with staff if they complain." chimed Mia, and their fates were locked then.

Matoi sent a message to Daishi as they came out of Ueno and in to the city, streets clogged with advertisements, Mia laughing at every bit of anime they saw. Matoi stopped at an ATM and made a withdrawal, as some businesses only accepted cash.

"Wait - they have these in Japan, too?" said Marisa a few minutes later, gesturing to a fast-food burger joint right. Matoi stifled a wince at the tourist.

"I - yes."

"I gotta see what it's like." grinned Marisa, already stepping inside, and the three helpless followed up to the counter, menu with pictures, name&price projected behind.

Matoi stepped up, saying something in Japanese to the man at the register. "What do you want?"

"Uh… oh, um. Is that burger special?" said Marisa, pointing again.

"It's a teriyaki burger with two pork patties." said Matoi, glancing back.

"I'll - do they have anything like, super weird?"

"… There's a fried shrimp burger with mayonnaise, I suppose."

"Um… I'll have that, then." nodded Marisa. "And an orange soda."

"I'll have the teriyaki burger - er, and a grape soda." said Mia.

"The tamago double for me, and a water." said Samuel, and Matoi relayed their orders, giving payment in to a tray near the register. She led them to one of the tables at the back and sat down, front doors opposite.

"Is Japanese mayonnaise different from American? I've heard that before." said Mia to Matoi.

"Slightly. It's thicker - slightly sweeter. I remember my mother buying a carton of mayonnaise ice cream -" - the other three winced, and she laughed - " - it tasted perfectly fine."

"I'll take your word for it." laughed Samuel. "I saw - did they have sweet tea up there?"

"They did." smirked Matoi. "I'm surprised you didn't order it."

"Oh no, no - won't trust it outside of the South. Isn't real sweet tea unless you've got half a chance of getting diabetes after."

The four laughed and winced. A server came by with their four trays, planting them down and leaving.

"Wait, they have servers here?" said the fashionista. "In a fastfood place?"

"Etiquette is important, after all." chimed Mia; and her eyes grew as she looked to their trays - " - I - how many fries did they give us?"

Matoi laughed, wide carton of fries and wrapped burger on her tray. "Japan has a mega size option."

"Apparently." said Samuel, unwrapping his burger, fried egg, double-patties with bacon, pristine.

"Looks just like the photo." chimed Marisa, taking her fried shrimp burger out. Mia set to her teriyaki. "What'd you get, Matoi?"

Matoi unwrapped her cheeseburger, pristine.

"…oh." murmured Marisa.

Matoi shrugged and started her meal.

"Does it taste better than, like, the American ones?"

"It tastes exactly the same."

"…dang." murmured Marisa, setting to her portion.

"Guess they're all getting it from the same source anyhow." said Samuel, wide bite for the wide man.

"…there's a man staring at us." muttered Matoi, eyes pointing to a table near the front doors, hundred feet away. She kept her stare as she took her phone out, man keeping his gaze.

"Here we go." muttered Samuel. "Hope he'll at least let us finish eating."

"Work fast." smirked Mia, finishing her teriyaki&fries. Marisa finished her's, Samuel his, and Matoi ate her burger like a challenge.

The man raised his arm as if to receive something, and in the next instant -

- a dozen screams came from the kitchen; the four shot up, Matoi shouting in to her phone as they stood -

- and the civilians were gone, leaving only their foe a hundred feet away as he rose, five combatants with eyes sharp.

"Waited until we were finished." muttered Samuel, relevantly, and in the next instant -

- the four felt a spinning fan on the wall behind, sudden suction pulling and yanking at them -

" - Boudoir!" shouted Marisa, and the other three clutched to her tight -

- and a strand yanked the four to the ceiling, scarabs disintegrating the fan behind, still a hundred feet separating them and he.

"Be careful." laughed Matoi. "Nonlethal."

"Nonlethal." muttered Mia, and a rumbling began from the kitchen; their eyes ripped left, seeing fans anew at the counter sucking in gallons of fryer oil, and as the fans spun clogged -

- the scorching oil was launched with the strength of a thousand at them -

- and ghastly hands guided the liquid away as the four fell to the ground, hitting the floor running and starting their charge. Another liquid volley erupted from the kitchen -

" - here!" shouted Samuel -

- and ghastly hands threw it in the man's face, burning his cheeks & eyes; he shrieked as he stumbled back -

" - what - what did I just say?" cackled Matoi, and in the next instant -

- a dozen fans appeared on the wall behind the man, revving their engines and starting to blow, launching a dozen tables&chairs towards them -

- and as a true leader might, Matoi took the front as Wedding's lasers carved the tables to wooden shards; and ghastly hands threw each back to its master, keen ends slicing the fans open, second volley flying forward to the man -

- but a swift ceiling fan sucked away the projectiles, saving him as he stumbled back, peeling left and running out the door. The four kept their chase going across the restaurant, and as they ran out the front door -

- they felt with aghast back&hair a dozen fans above&behind, suction pulling at them with the force of a million. They grunted and stood, boots digging in to the street -

" - it's - out of Worldwide's range -" winced Mia, pulled back, inch by inch -

" - Wedding!" shouted Matoi; a dozen missiles burst out of her shoulders -

- and she sighed as she felt the fans shred every last, explosives swallowed uselessly. Only a few feet separated them from a shredded death, now; and it would soon be worse.

The fans' speed increased, sucking the oxygen out of the area, leaving four gasping and starting to weaken, boots starting to lose their grip -

- but the next scene was instant.

A tri-swarm raid flew down the four's mouths and throats, water filling their lungs, careful electrical current claiming the liquid -

- and the four gasped as new breath flowed in to them, electrolysis extracting oxygen from water as they stood again, constant swarm of scarabs keeping them safe.

"Got it!" chimed Marisa, trying not to gag as she swallowed another scarab. Ripping a ball of her dress, she threw it above&behind -

- and laughed as the immeasurably soft projectile clogged every fan, no longer staggering as they stood normal again -

- and saw their foe a hundred feet right&away, just within his Revenant's range. Boudoir's glove growing, Marisa scooped Mia-Mia up -

" - go ahead." laughed Mia-Mia -

- and a flick of her glove threw her above, swift blue flames disintegrating the clogged fans, Marisa catching her as Samuel&Matoi kept their rush going.

The man turned and fled, emptied cars at regular intervals as he rushed down the avenue, two in pursuit sixty feet behind, fans appearing behind their backs; but unable to slow them.

"Only strong if it's concentrated." muttered Samuel as they ran, and Matoi nodded.

"Enhance." she muttered; a single missile flew towards the man, and as it eeked the edge of its range -

- ghastly hands guided it ahead of the man -

- and the shockwave blasted him with the strength of a thousand in to the two, road scraping his back as he landed&skid; with no time to waste, Samuel rushed and crouched over, gauntlets starting to strangle him as Matoi rushed up -

- and sighed as three fans appeared below the man; and in the next instant -

- every car in the avenue was sucked towards them, sudden automobiles forming a tornado spinning swifter and swifter, man still struggling below -

" - he has -" - Samuel repressed his skull-smashing urge - " - fans inside his fucking lungs - I can't get him unconscious -"

" - so fucking tedious." groaned Matoi, relevantly, Wedding's lasers thrown in to the tornado around, hearing Marisa&Mia unable to enter outside, hundreds of shards turning to thousands and still spinning, dozens of missiles burrowing in to the ground below.

"Trust my reactions." she muttered -

- and the next scene was instant.

The fans stopped - the projectiles flew towards them -

- but a dozen shockwaves blasted the three out of the tornado and up in to the air, constant volley juggling them for hundreds and hundreds of feet up, Samuel gripping the unwanted cargo tight as they fell for hundreds and hundreds of feet down -

- and a trampoline of Boudoir caught them as they hit the ground, bouncing again down the avenue -

- and landing on a mattress of Boudoir, Mia prepared beside -

- and a bash of her electrical sword knocked the man unconscious.

"… good." muttered Matoi, Samuel scooping the cargo up as they stood.

"Another one down." chimed Marisa. She set her glove to Boudoir's mattress, reabsorbing it to her traditional dress. The four went back down the street, Mia having disintegrated the tornado's remnants, bits of Boudoir reappearing as Marisa came out of range.

"Without destroying a single building." chimed Mia, relevantly.

"And our first -nonlethal- takedown as a squadron." said Samuel, and Matoi's lips pinched.

"Unfortunately. I'll have to tell Junpei to bring the police here." She took her phone out, and in the next instant, Junpei and two police officers were there. "(My name is Matoi Kujo - Urasaria's student body president.)"

"(I notified them.)" nodded Junpei. "(Let me know if you require anything else.)"

And he was gone. The officers stepped away from Samuel. "(What occurred, then?)"

"(He's unconscious, but slightly injured -)" said Matoi, and remembering who she was speaking to - "( - unfortunately. He attacked a local restaurant's employees, and Junpei confirmed he was a host after evacuation. Swarm -)" - she gestured - "( - was forced to use electricity to knock him unconscious - though there won't be any lasting damage.)"

One of the officers nodded. "(We'll require a written report, then, by the end of the day. Daishi can -)"

"( - where's the Revenant?!)" said a woman's voice up the street, and they turned -

- to see a woman covered in spikes, wearing a badge that read '凍傷'.

"(He's been apprehended.)" said one of the officers, gesturing to Matoi. The woman came up.

"(…ah. The - Urasaria students, then?)" she said sheepishly and bowed. Matoi responded with the others.

"(Correct. We were attacked by a Revenant that placed fans that could - suck and blow, but we dealt with it.)"

"(We'll take this from here.)" nodded one of the officers, taking the unconscious cargo. "(Frostbite, can you ensure he remains unconscious?)"

"(Yes.)" nodded the woman. "(But - do you four need any help?)"

"(No, that was all.)" Matoi glanced at her badge. "(…apologies for asking. Do you have an ice Revenant?)"

"(I'm, er… not - meant to divulge that.)" she nodded.

"(One of my squadron has a Revenant involving fire. I was curious whose is stronger.)" She glanced to Mia. "Mia. Create a small blue flame for her."

She nodded as sheepish as the woman, a miniscule blue flame hovering before her face. The woman came close to it, and as she clapped her hands on it -

- she pulled them out immediately - " - ite ite ite! - " - she laughed, sensing their worry, and the seven laughed at the blue flame turned orange.

"Haven't seen that in a while." grinned Marisa.

"(Very - very hot.)" laughed the woman. "(Very strong. I - I'm only in my second year.)"

"(If it makes you feel better - she's rank #2.)" laughed Matoi. "(Her Revenant belonged to a professional hero, prior.)"

"(Of course.)" nodded the woman. "(Apologies - I should leave, now.)"

"(Thank you for indulging me.)" laughed Matoi, and the woman smiled as she went off with the police.

"What was all that about?" said Samuel as they went back up the street. Matoi notified Junpei, and the streets were soon packed again.

"Her badge said 'frostbite'. I had to see how Mia measured up." laughed Matoi.

"Did I pass?" she grinned.

"I'll count it."

"Excuse me." said a man's voice behind, and they turned -

- to a man wearing a camera around his neck. "My apologies. My name is Hachiro Ito - I'm a local reporter. A journalist. You four are, ah, Urasaria students, correct?"

"…correct." murmured Matoi, and he nodded.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

"If - I understand your time is very valuable, but - the way you dealt with that Revenant. I would love to hear about it. Perhaps, er - an exclusive interview, with one of you." he said, gesturing to Marisa.

"Sure." chimed Marisa. "Uh, I don't - speak Japanese, though, so -"

" - oh, not a problem at all -"

- and Matoi stepped like a reaper ahead of her. "(What magazine do you work for?)"

"(I - was talking to your -)"

"( - she's a member of my squadron. What magazine do you work for?)"

He mumbled something, and Matoi laughed.

"(Leave.)"

"(I can stay as long as I -)"

"( - enjoy your free ride.)" said Matoi, tapping her phone -

- and Junpei appeared -

- and the man&transporter disappeared, leaving three laughing. Matoi turned to Marisa.

"Tabloids." she said, and they started in Ueno's direction. "I wouldn't suggest speaking to any journalist that approaches you. Anyone legitimate will go through Ueno."

"As legitimate as journalists can get." said Samuel. "They're all just looking for views."

Matoi shrugged, used to the man's nature by then.

"…I guess." shrugged Marisa. "Uh - what else should we do while we're here? Like, tourist spots?"

"Pachinko?" chimed Mia, and Matoi smirked.

"You remembered that?"

"I - read about it online on the way over and remembered. Are they - they're called pachinko parlors, right?"

"Pachinko parlors, yes." laughed Matoi. "I'd only suggest visiting if we don't mind smelling like smoke for the rest of the trip."

"Is it that bad?"

"Somewhat. Japan has… laxer laws, concerning smoking. Restaurants aren't legally required to ban it."

"You're like our tour guide." chimed Marisa, and Matoi laughed.

"I thought you would have plenty of questions." She checked her phone. "There's one ten minutes away - if we'll risk it."

"Let's go." grinned Marisa, and the four set off.

Fifteen minutes later, they walked out.

"I - too much." winced Marisa. "I'm gonna have to like - remake Boudoir when we get back."

"I warned you." shrugged Matoi, and the Tobacco-Scented Four set off.

◆◆◆

Later that night, they had dinner with Ueno's twelve students, including Daishi and Junpei. Once the initial formality had faded, the rest of the students practiced their English with the four, telling stories of Revenants they had fought.

Matoi had chosen the tale of April 30th, Marisa of the bear made of meat, Samuel the butterfly swarm, and Mia Mirena and the drills. A few hadn't believed her's at first, but Matoi's assurance the normie wouldn't know of mecha anime had them enthralled by the end.

"Maybe blame them for it." laughed Junpei. "Bacteria must've watched that show and gotten ideas."

"Has that happened here before? Revenants that - are references like that?" said Samuel, relevantly, and Junpei nodded.

"(He's asking about - Revenants that… Cultural. Cultural stuff like that.)"

"It is - odd." said the woman they had spoken to prior, who they now knew as Rin. "That - we -" - she gestured to the man at her right, tornado for a neck - " - the…" She smiled like a lemming, and a laugh went through the table.

"(What are you trying to say?)" laughed Junpei.

"(Let - let me try it.)" she laughed. "A - similar story, with… The boy, highschool. The - kaiju." The Ueno students laughed. "But - he could not attend Ueno."

Matoi glanced to Daishi, and he held his hand out. "(Yes - there was a highschool boy that Rin and Yamato met. In Japan - Ueno only accepts Revenants that can apprehend suspects nonlethally.)"

"(I remember.)" nodded Matoi. "(They still remove it otherwise, then?)"

"(Yes - but they receive payment, as to - for their coming forward.)" nodded Daishi. "(He could grow as tall as a skyscraper - but the potential for damage, well.)"

"(One moment.)" laughed Matoi. "They don't allow lethal-only Revenants at Ueno. The highschool student had one that allowed him to - grow as tall as a skyscraper. It was named Kaiju, then?"

"Kaiju - giant monster. Gojira." laughed Rin. "Yes?"

"They were all thinking it." laughed Junpei.

"He wasn't allowed to attend Ueno, then?" said Mia, and Junpei&Matoi nodded.

"Property damage." said Junpei, hand waving like it was cursed. "Too risky."

Mia thought of Worldwide prior to her ice scarabs, but nodded. "I suppose -"

- twelve tablets vibrated, and Rin took her's quick -

"( - oh - right, ugh.)" laughed Rin, and she stood with Junpei.

"(You just volunteered.)" laughed one of the men.

"(Where's it at?)" said Junpei, walking over to peek. "(…gotta intercept it. Rough.)"

"(Who - who will come with me?)" said Rin, glancing to the tornado-necked man. "(Yamato?)"

"(I suppose if -)"

"( - Rain-On-A-Wedding - would one of your squadron be interested?)" said Daishi.

"(If Rin is fine with them not speaking Japanese.)"

"(It's a long way. Can teach her some English phrases on the way - can't need much, right?)" laughed Junpei, and Matoi shrugged.

"Elite Four - they're asking if anyone wants to go hunting -"

- Junpei laughed, Matoi having forgotten for a moment -

" - apprehending a suspect." said Matoi, and Junpei's head shook.

"My, my."

"Er - not myself, I assume." said Mia. "If her's is an ice Revenant, it would be redundant."

"I can go." chimed Marisa. "It'll be like fighting with Mia."

"Ueno's Mia." nodded Samuel, and with a laugh, Junpei, Marisa, and Ueno's Mia set out.

◆◆◆

The three arrived at the start of the countryside train tunnel, two set of tracks leading in&out.

"And - run, is… hashiru." said Junpei.

"Run." Run nodded and said something in Japanese; and the translator was gone. She stepped a distance beside the tracks, outside the entrance of the tunnel, Marisa coming up beside.

"Sekisetsu." said Rin, and in the next instant -

- a red wall of ice blocked the tunnel; she took her tablet out, nodding at Junpei's message.

"One minute."

The two waited half a minute, hearing the rumbling begin further outside up the tracks, and in the next instant -

- they saw a train screaming with the speed of sound left&down the tracks, blocked tunnel entrance up ahead, and as it passed by the two -

" - Sekisetsu!"

- a dozen icicles burst out of the ground and shot through its wheels, more ice forming as it smashed in to the barrier -

- and the two sighed as the barrier shattered in to hundreds of shards, no apparent damage done as the train kept screaming by, caboose pulling in to the tunnel -

" - Boudoir!" shouted Marisa, glove quick on Rin's torso -

- and a strand yanked them up&on to the final carriage, new strands forming to keep them balanced, train screaming a hundred miles an hour down the tunnel. With no time to waste, the two rushed right and hung their legs over the carriage, windows down below. Marisa's leg kicked at one window -

- and she sighed as it refused to break, far more durability than expected; at her side, Rin sighed, encountering the same indestructible entrance.

"Revenant - strong and weak." said Rin, and Marisa nodded, sweeping back up.

"Gotta go - here." she said, and the two rushed back down the carriage, seeing the back door opened below; the two leaped down and swept inside, running in to the carriage proper -

- and a bloodied scene met their stare, civilian entrails around, bullets and knives left in torn bodies. With a curse and a wince, the two started their rush up -

" - wait." whispered Marisa, yanking Rin back quick, careful web of Boudoir dulling their footsteps. "Shoes?"

Confused, Rin gave her right leg out, and Marisa slapped a patch of Boudoir on her sole. She nodded, giving her other leg out, assuring their footsteps were quiet as they rushed up the aisle.

The two kept their silent run going up another three carriages, and as they came in to the next -

- there, two carriages away and in the conductor's cabin was their oblivious foe, four hundred feet separating them and he, and as they started their run up -

- a hand shot to Marisa's ankle; she shrieked involuntarily, eyes ripping down to find a wounded man, feather poking out of his head, saying something in Japanese -

- and his body shattered in to a thousand pieces; on the distance, their foe turned fully aware now, and in the next instant -

- the floor shattered in to a thousand pieces, sudden feathers falling out and on to the track below -

" - Boudoir!" shouted Marisa, aiming her palms separate ways -

- and a strand tethered Rin to her as she was pulled up to the ceiling, safe as they hung, and as they readied to swing -

- the roof shattered in to a thousand pieces; the two shrieked as they fell, shards falling for another shredded death -

- but the next scene was instant.

"Sekisetsu!"

- the shards froze in midair, sudden pillars of red ice tethering the new spiked roof back to the carriage walls -

- and a strand of Boudoir brought them to the ceiling again, seeing a feather shoot out of the tracks and to the roof, and before they could react -

- the roof shattered again; as they fell, new red ice reformed the roof -

- but shattered instantly again -

" - Boudoir!"

- and a strand of Boudoir brought them to the right carriage wall -

- that shattered instantly -

- just in time for another strand of Boudoir to bring them to the tunnel's right wall, shards falling uselessly behind, train still screaming constant down the tunnel and disappearing down a corner ahead. With the balance of a fashionista, Marisa swung to the other wall of the tunnel, swinging down and down, trying to regain their former speed as they came around the corner -

- and screamed at the sudden train on the tracks heading their way; a swift strand of Boudoir yanked them up -

- and underneath them passed the second train, Rin cursing in Japanese, their speed lost as they came up to the ceiling -

" - Sekisetsu - let, let me use Sekisetsu!" shouted Rin, pointing up to the ceiling. Boudoir's winch brought them closer in, and as Rin tapped the tunnel's ceiling -

- a solid cylinder of ice appeared in the ceiling, replacing a section of the tunnel; a second tap, and the ice melted, leaving a clear burrow to the outside. Marisa swung higher to bring them up and out -

- to at last land feet-first on the roof of the tunnel, target train having not escaped yet.

"Hold - hold you!" shouted Rin, gripping Marisa tight, and as the two started their running -

- a pillar of ice burst at their feet and launched them with the strength of a thousand above -

- and a slide of ice formed midair as the two slid down for hundred and hundreds of feet; catching speed, they hit the bottom again -

- and a second pillar of ice launched them above, Marisa wincing as they flew for hundreds of feet again, needing to keep ahead of the train -

- and they kept for a minute longer, sliding and screaming at ludicrous speed until they saw the end of the tunnel below&ahead. A final ice slide brought them down, and as they were launched off the tunnel -

- a strand of Boudoir yanked them back to the tunnel -

- a pole of ice formed -

- and in to the sudden barrier smashed Marisa's skull, wincing as she gripped Rin too tightly, two laughing a second later.

"Sorry. I'm sorry." laughed Rin, and Marisa nodded, the two hanging before the entrance of the tunnel, hearing the train still driving within.

"It's - alright." she laughed. "Okay. Sekisetsu - can turn stuff -to- ice."

"Yes." nodded Rin. "I need a rope."

Marisa nodded, hanging from the pole with one glove, letting Rin rip a rope from her dress. She tied herself to the pole; Marisa dropped her down, and as the icewoman hung before the tunnel entrance -

- the train screamed in to sight, and as the cabin passed underneath Rin -

- the next scene was instant.

A tap of the cabin turned it to ice; sudden counter too quick, it flipped and derailed right off the track, river right and below as it rolled for hundreds and hundreds of feet down, man still trapped within as it dropped in to the river -

- and with no time to waste, Marisa severed the rope as Rin started her frozen slide down to the river, seeing him come out of the cabin of red ice below, diving underneath the water and starting to swim away -

- but as her foot hit the water's surface, the entire river froze solid, man trapped halfway in the ice two hundred feet left. She felt Marisa come up behind her, and the two started their assured charge down the frozen path, man thrashing desperately against his frozen prison. Only a hundred feet separated them and he now, and as Rin cleared the clearing -

- she tapped his nose, and the man morphed to an ice sculpture, leaving a laughing Rin and Marisa.

"He - he is not dead. Don't worry." laughed Rin, yanking out the ice angel. "Simply - in - stasis, but, safe."

"Good." grinned Marisa. Rin gestured back to the tunnel, and carried the frozen man back to where the calamity had begun.

"Thank you. Police." she nodded, setting the sculpture feet-first down. She tapped her phone -

- and Junpei appeared with two police officers. Rin spoke with them in Japanese, and the helpless foreigner kept eye contact with the horizon.

"Urasaria student, ah?" said one of the officers, gesturing to Marisa, and she nodded. "In America?"

"Yes."

"The home of - ah - big movies, hotdogs and burgers?" he laughed, and Marisa with him.

"And - uh, jeans." she chimed, and he nodded. Rin said something in Japanese, and he replied by waving her down.

"Before, we - leave. May I have your autograph?"

"Sure." Marisa nodded, and he took out a pen&pad as his partner laughed. She signed her name, and as the three left, Junpei appeared to lead her home.

◆◆◆

On Matoi's nostalgia, the four set out to a local bookstore the next afternoon. She had gone through four manga strips in the papers and laughed at each, but only told the others they wouldn't understand the cultural references.

"…here." said Matoi, leading them down one aisle. "Some of these might have English editions."

"Ooo, magazines." chimed Marisa, thumbing through the rack, understanding absolutely none of it.

"I - Matoi, do you know, er…" Mia glanced down at her phone, and showed it to Matoi.

(Serena) "Can you get me a copy of Ultra Jump magazine? I'll pay you back."

"… I don't know what that is." Matoi shrugged. "If I see it, I'll let you -"

" - ugh, what the fuck?" groaned Marisa, taking one off the rack, a perfect shot of her cleavage for the cover.

"They work quickly." said Samuel.

"What the hell does - what does this say?" grunted Marisa, showing it to Matoi, and she sighed.

"Exclusive on America's hottest heroes."

"Am I in there?" chimed Samuel, and the four laughed.

"That's - fucking gross, ugh." sighed Marisa. "Can we just like, destroy these?"

"If only." muttered Matoi.

"I - should be on the cover, instead." chimed Mia. "If it's America's hottest heroes."

It took a second for the three to laugh groaning.

"Utter trash." sighed Matoi, taking it with her regardless.

"Might be good for a laugh." nodded Samuel, and the four got in line. The cashier's eyes switched between the cover and Marisa as they paid, and went outside with the utter trash.

"Is this the equivalent of paparazzi?" said Samuel, and Matoi nodded. She opened it up, the others' eyes following her finger.

"…page - thirty. Information on America's sexiest heroes - and whether you may have a chance." She glanced over the table of contents and saw a familiar figure on the other side of the street, and she hailed him down.

"(Rain-On-A-Wedding.)" laughed Daishi as he came over. "(My apologies - I was quite busy this morning. I hope you're finding Japan well.)"

"(Somewhat.)" laughed Matoi. "(The others are finding out about paparazzi today.)"

"(My - apologies. What do you mean?)"

She showed him the magazine, and his cheeks filled. "(I - apologize that -)"

"( - we were laughing over it. There's nothing else to do but that.)" said Matoi, shaking her head.

"(I - my deepest apologies that - this trash does not represent Japan.)"

"(They're aware.)" smirked Matoi.

"(If - you would like, I can ensure that these are brought off the shelves -)"

"( - and make them a collector's item? It's appreciated - but there's no need.)"

Daishi breathed a deep sigh. "(My - deepest apologies. I hope you are - enjoying Japan, otherwise.)"

"(We are.)" nodded Matoi. "He's apologizing for the magazine."

"We've got them back home, too." said Samuel. "Gossip rags."

"(He said to tell you that we have these types of magazines in America - ) - gossip rags." said Matoi, and the five laughed.

"Gosseep rags. (How does that translate?)"

"(It would be… gossip rags.)"

Daishi nodded. "(Correct, then.) Gosseep rags."

Four stifled laughs at the accent. "(We were about to read it.)"

"(I suppose it would be good.)" laughed Daishi, joining alongside. "(What magazine is it, again?)"

Matoi showed him the cover, and his head shook.

"(I remember,)" he said, "( - they had an article on - my apologies if this is too crude - on how breast milk could cure obesity.)"

Him and Matoi laughed, and she relayed it to set the others similar.

"Real trashy, then." grinned Marisa.

Matoi laughed as she thumbed through the pages, pointing to headlines for Daishi and translating for the others. "How to find a hostess girlfriend - for life. The soar of virtual reality and male hormones."

"The - er, what?" said Mia, and the formerly clueless lesbian's eyes widened at the pictures. "- oh!"

"(Next article - please.)" laughed Daishi. "(Most of these are on celebrities.)"

"(I'd thought so.)" laughed Matoi. "Here - our feature should be on the next page -"

- and three women sighed at the candid shots and ranking for each, Matoi's rank #1 having not transferred.

"(Disgusting.)" murmured Daishi. "(Magazines like these should be outlawed.)"

"So I'm not in it." muttered Samuel, and three laughed.

"No, no." laughed Matoi. "You're here. (Samuel is here.)" She pointed to the smidge of a man on the outskirts of one photo. "As for the text…"

"(…wait.)" murmured Daishi, and the two read. "(This -)"

"( - has our Revenants - these rats -)"

" - um, what's - what's up?" said Marisa -

" - these have our fucking Revenants in them." grunted Matoi. "Worldwide - Boudoir - Wedding - precisely the fucking effects of each."

"(This - this is completely unacceptable.)" said Daishi. "(This is clear endangerment of law enforcement. Where did you get this from?)"

"(From there.)" said Matoi, gesturing back there, and Daishi nodded.

"(My - deepest apologies - I'll be sure to report this. For now - you're legally authorized to confisicate - no, destroy - any of these you find. We'll - we shall see what we can do to - it's clearly illegal.)"

"(We shall.)" said Matoi. Daishi started back to the store, and Matoi followed beside, three helpless foreigners behind. "We're allowed to destroy any of these magazines we find. They'll sort it out in court."

The five came back to the store. Daishi relayed the impromptu campaign to the manager, and Mia disintegrated their stock. Daishi relayed three phrases in Japanese to the four, and they set off separate ways on a magazine-burning mission; the first phrase to request, the second for justification, and the third for where to direct complaints.

By the time they returned to Ueno, the rest of the students had done what they could to quell the information, and Daishi had extended them an invitation to an upscale restaurant to cover his embarrassment. Though he easily could have, he had chosen not to abuse his badge to book one better, as he was a public servant first, & respected his country deeply if not blindly.

They arrived to him at the front doors, hailing them down. "(I've already made the reservations - to make up for the tabloids.)"

"(I already told you it was fine.)" laughed Matoi, and Daishi with her.

"(Ah - come, come - I'm paying. You can't deny that, can you?)"

"(I suppose not.)" laughed Matoi as they stepped inside, tables arranged on the first floor of two. Daishi spoke with the host (but not that kind), and led the four up to the second floor.

"He's paying for all our meals." said Matoi.

"He might regret that with me." laughed Samuel, and they sat down at one table near the back, three menus already prepared in English, two in Japanese.

"Niiice." grinned Marisa, thumbing through. "I - this is expensive, damn - uh."

"The illustrious Kobe beef." murmured Samuel. "Can't pass that up."

"They have fugu here, as well." murmured Mia, and Daishi held his hand out.

"(I wouldn't recommend it - is she thinking of ordering the pufferfish?)"

"Are you?" said Matoi, and three gave her eyes odd - " - I - Mia." she laughed. "Are you going to order the fugu?"

"It's - poisonous, isn't it?" winced Mia, shaking her head.

"(She isn't.)"

"(Good.)" laughed Daishi. "(Admittedly, even if prepared improperly - to us hosts, well. I was unfortunate enough to have it with the poison still in it, once - it was like having the flu for an entire month.)"

Matoi laughed and relayed it, setting five smiling.

"Can you ask Daishi what's in the - sashimi and steak? The combination?" said Samuel.

"(Do you know what raw fish they serve?)"

"(Usually - bluefin tuna. That and the steak combo - well, if Ueno's cafeteria served that - I would be dead of mercury poisoning in a week.)" laughed Daishi.

"Bluefin tuna - and he recommends the steak." said Matoi. "Be careful not to die of mercury poisoning."

The four nodded and placed their orders, speaking while they waited.

"(I hope he had medium rare.)" said Daishi, and Matoi laughed.

"He's asking if you ordered medium rare - Samuel."

"Wouldn't dream otherwise."

"(He wouldn't ruin it otherwise.)" said Matoi, and Daishi laughed.

"(Excellent.)"

"I - er, Matoi." said Mia. "Ueno doesn't have a ranking system, correct?"

"Correct."

"How do they choose their student body president?"

"Probably by voting." said Marisa.

"So no fun." said Samuel.

"(How does Ueno choose its president?)"

Daishi's head leaned. "(It's - chosen by students voting. I presume - is it different in America?)"

"(We have a leaderboard of - hosts - dealt with. I'm rank #1, Mia is #2, Marisa is #3 - Samuel is rank #14.)"

"(Ah.)" nodded Daishi. "(If I may ask - where is rank #4?)"

"He's asking about Kirihara." said Matoi, and the three winced. "(Rank #4 is an incredibly unpleasant woman - though I can't expel her, unfortunately. Samuel is my former protégé - Mia is Marisa's.)"

"(Ah - there's something in common, then.)" laughed Daishi. "(Ueno also has a mentor and protégé system - though we're trusted to operate on our own by our fourth-year.)"

Their food came, and Matoi translated the three's praise, setting Daishi with the pride of a patriot.

The time to order desserts came.

"…let's see…" murmured Marisa. "Uh - sesame ice cream? What's that?"

"Er - like sesame seeds?" said Mia.

"What's sesame seeds?"

The other three gave her eyes odd, and in the next instant -

- the windows burst open in dozens of showers of glass, enormous thorned vines following behind; the five shot up, Daishi ripping his phone out -

"(Junpei!)" shouted Daishi. "(Kotaro - two floors.)"

A pause, new vines entering by the second, civilians ducking under the tables.

"(You - what - yes - then, you can't enter?)" He nodded. "(We'll manage, then. Keep yourself safe.)" He hung up. "Junpei - cannot arrive. (He says there's - white foam covering the entire building - a Revenant.)"

"Junpei can't evacuate - Elite Four!" shouted Matoi, voice whipping. "There's a white foam Revenant outside! First floor - tell the civilians - jitto shite - daijobu dakara!"

"Jeetoshi - daijobu dah-cara." nodded Mia, fire scarabs flying below; Samuel&Marisa clutched tight to her -

- and fell with her to the first floor as she disintegrated a hole through, landing on one man's table, civilians not yet privy -

"Urasaria! Jeetoshi - daijobu dah-cara!" shouted Mia -

- and sighed as every civilian she saw gave her eyes odd -

" - what are you trying to say?" shouted a man's voice behind - " - I speak English!"

"I - stay down and - you'll be alright!" shouted Mia, and she heard the man reply; "Jitto shite - daijobu dakara!"

"…isn't that what I said?" she muttered, civilians ducking under their tables.

With no time to waste, the three leaped off and to the floor, lobby on the other end; Mia started her running as Marisa&Samuel stayed behind, scarabs and sword drawn as she rushed up to the front door, white foam covering the windows from the outside.

A sweep of gold went through the door -

- and she sighed aghast as she felt the white foam outside, starting to harden and swallow her sword; with a wince, a single fire scarab lit her sword blue -

- and turned the foam to white molten liquid, burning in an instant the front doors down; pulling her burning sword out, she stepped carefully back -

- and saw the foam seep in through the aperture, covering the room and starting to grow as it dripped on the floor, and in the next instant -

- four tendrils burst out of the foam and shot to her hands&wrists, hardening as they gripped her tight -

" - Worldwide!"

- but a swarm of fire&ice scarabs watered her wrists, turning her slippery as she thrashed out of their grip, still dripping as she ran back across the room. Her eyes glanced back and saw the foam growing over the droplets of water. Halting quick and sword turning electrical, she bashed the ground -

- a dozen bolts of lighting erupted outward, and as they hit the growing ooze -

- the current scorched through the foam, scarring and wounding it as it retreated to the front wall. Another dozen tendrils shot towards her -

- and she swept with the speed of light away, wall of ice blocking her exit and vision as the tendrils shot for her again -

- and stopped suddenly in their tracks, flailing blindly, Mia groaning as she realized it.

'It's not an automatic Revenant. The host is in the dining room.'

And on the second floor, the two presidents had already found their foe two hundred feet away, civilians already sleeping at their half-eaten plates. A new swarm of vines shot towards the two -

- but a swift missile blasted each in to chunks of green gore; fear in their branches, the remaining vines retreated, decapitated stumps regrowing as the two started their rush forward. A rumbling began underneath the floor, and in the next instant -

- a dozen vines carrying electrical wires burst out of the ground; gripping Matoi's legs, the electrical current claimed her body -

- and she laughed as Wedding's laser trimmed every last weed, electricity eternally useless. "(You should have read the tabloids.)"

The two started their rush unimpeded again, passing by tables and seeing their foe backing against the wall ahundred feet ahead; the floor began to rumble again, and in the next instant -

- a dozen new electrical vines shot to Daishi -

- but the next scene was instant.

" - Kiseru!" he shouted, sweeping a plate of eel off the table beside, puff of black gas filling it as it took the hit for him -

- and absorbed every last current, tumors on the suddenly electrical&dead animal's body, lightning bolts bursting outwards -

- and charring to bits the green army around. New weapon readied, he swept it to the floor -

- but sighed to find no wires in the floor. Above, the two heard new vines erupt out of the ceiling, roots growing and cracking, roof buckling in and starting to collapse -

"( - do you mind property damage?)" laughed Matoi -

"( - go ahead!)" said Daishi, almost eager for the spectacle -

- and the next scene was instant. A volley of missiles flew from Wedding's shoulders, constant line of explosive projectiles erupting out of her armor, hundreds and hundreds of micromissiles flying around and above -

- and blasting the entire roof to bits, rubble turned miniscule as hundreds and hundreds of explosives burst outward -

- and leaving two laughing as the shockwaves blasted the debris to the clear streets below, smoke and embers thrown aside in its wake, one final chunk of rubble left to fall on the two -

- just in time for a final shockwave to blast it ahead; the man instinctively threw his arm out -

- and the keen end smashed in to their foe's skull, knocking him unconscious in an instant, leaving two laughing as they rushed up.

"(Good.)" laughed Daishi, and a puff of purple haze filled the man's nostrils. "(I shall stay back here, in case another comes.)"

"(Enjoy.)" laughed Matoi, and an explosion below brought her to the first floor -

- and a bizarre scene met her stare fifty feet ahead, Marisa holding a Boudoir coffin covered in frayed wires, civilians unconscious, Mia with electrical sword readied, Samuel with a set of new wires.

"Maybe now." he sighed, ghastly hands dipping the new set inside, Boudoir opening to allow the conductors in -

" - now!" shouted Marisa, and the two threw their hands off -

- another bash of electrical sword claimed the coffin -

" - god - fuck!" groaned Mia, still feeling the foam-man thrashing inside. Matoi stayed still, watching the spectacle, three oblivious facing away.

"How strong was that?" sighed Samuel, new set of wires readied.

"A - billion volts." sighed Mia. "I could try higher, but - it might kill him -"

- and Matoi laughed, unable to stifle it as she walked up - " - how - how long have you been doing this?"

The three turned, coffin still thrashing.

"… a - few minutes." murmured Mia. "He's - er… appears to be immune to electricity."

Matoi laughed. "Daishi will handle it, then."

"Thanks, President Matoi." said Samuel.

Matoi brought Daishi and his cargo back, and a puff of purple gas filled the coffin. Marisa unearthed the unconscious body a few minutes later, and Kiseru kept their two foes sleeping while they waited for the civilians to awake.

An hour later, Daishi spoke to the entire restaurant.

"(Our deepest apologies.)" Daishi bowed, and the four followed. "(During your meals, two men with Revenants attacked this restaurant. They've been apprehended, but we were forced to knock you all unconscious to find them. However, there will be no lasting damage.)"

A murmur went through the crowd, and Daishi nodded to Matoi.

"(For those who aren't aware,)" she said, bowing, "(my name is Matoi Kujo - Urasaria Academy's student body president, in North America. We were invited here to assist in keeping the peace. These three are members of my elite squadron.)"

Marisa stifled a sigh to find the men's eyes on her, knowing they knew the cover.

"(One last matter before Junpei brings each of you home.)" said Daishi. "(Is the owner of this building here?)"

A man stepped up nodding from the crowd, and Daishi bowed again.

"(My deepest apologies for the property damage.)" said Daishi. "(The roof was beginning to collapse - we were forced to destroy it, and there's some damage to the electrical wiring.)"

"(Thank - thank you.)" he panted, bowing. "(That - the government will handle the repairs, of course.)"

"(Correct.)" nodded Daishi. "(If you call Ueno Academy, they'll have all the necessary information - where to file the forms, insurance. But - as an additional apology…)"

He tapped his phone, and Junpei appeared.

"(Junpei - this restaurant will be your new evacuation spot for this prefecture - once it is rebuilt.)"

"(Yes, Daishi.)"

"(Assuming you don't mind the increase in business - until the next.)" laughed Daishi, and the man with him.

"(Not at all - thank you.)"

Daishi and Matoi bowed again, and the three helpless followed.