[January 30th]
The next afternoon, three men stepped up to the four's hotel room. One knocked, and Samuel answered, nodding as he let them inside to the others.
"…alright." winced one of the men, turning away. "Go ahead."
The other two turned away -
- and Serena&Naomi stifled their screams as Split's hair burst out of their faces, fog filling their wounds as they groaned against the wall -
" - it's not pleasant." laughed Samuel, knowing it well.
"Really gross." winced Marisa. Serena & Naomi nodded as they sat down, Kate laughing beside.
"You get used to it after a while, don't you?" she said as she sat, gesturing to Samuel.
"You really, really don't." he laughed, and her head shook.
"I - don't know how you do that - and I don't want to know." winced Mia, and Matoi laughed.
"It's a clever use. Fortunately, they shouldn't know you've arrived yet."
"Right." nodded Kate. "You want to get right to it, then?"
Matoi nodded, two groups having already shared their information. "Correct. Currently, what we were discussing before you arrived…" She glanced at her phone. "Our theory is that the missing students in Wilcook had their Revenants taken from them, via Hayato alerting others whenever their tablet scanned a Revenant."
"Right." nodded Kate. "Happened to us the first day we got in, too - someone ambushed us right after. Didn't happen once we stopped scanning."
Matoi nodded. "Presumably, their… bodies - were brought to Dr. Fujishita - possibly to the storage unit you mentioned. He would be paid twice - once for Revenant removal and transfer - and once to convert the Revenant with Tamer."
"And you're thinking it's, uh - Chimera - hosting Tamer?" said Kate and the four nodded. "Right. Looked it up on the way over, too. He's Dr. Fujishita's son."
"And if he's fled here - he thinks he's safe." sighed Mia. "Serena, did you ask Yuruko about…"
"Penxeno?" said Serena. "Yeah. Um, she said that there's - not really any study about allergies to it, but - it's happened before. It only affects hosts, though."
"Can it happen if someone transfers a Revenant to you?" said Samuel, and Serena nodded.
"Yeah - like, once it activates. You can't ever undergo surgery."
"Conveniently." sighed Matoi. "If we're assuming Chimera is Tamer's host, and his Revenant grew new abilities past the conversion - then Leon - possibly Peter - transferred his Revenant to him."
"With Dr. Fujishita's help, yeah." nodded Kate. "Gets to still work at a Revenant facility - and run a side gig that's, uh - nearly untraceable."
"…right." Matoi sighed heavily. "It's complex - but the evidence matches up. The coincidence with the two men at the facility - a national level threat with a Revenant that broad - and one of them still fled."
"Yeah. Thing that, uh - did it for me was the scanning stuff. One guy ambushing us - could've just been that he heard us fighting, but…" Her head shook. "Didn't ever happen again once we stopped scanning."
"There'll be an actual investigation in to us - unfortunately. We can't attack him without justification."
"Yep. All that torture's gonna look like shit in federal court."
Marisa & Naomi winced.
"First time we've had to deal with due process." nodded Samuel, relevantly.
"…yep." sighed Kate. "Could try to, uh - disguise myself as Fujishita. Daigo. Might be able to talk to him - get him to say something."
Matoi's head shook. "You would have to meet with Chimera alone - it's too much risk."
Kate nodded. She thought the idea was good, but respected her president's judgment.
"You'd have to, like - find out where he is anyway, right?" said Marisa.
"For a good enough disguise to fool Hayato, yeah." nodded Kate. "Still - too risky."
"We don't know where he could be, either." murmured Mia. Matoi nodded, then paused and checked her tablet while Samuel spoke.
"Doubt he has anything incriminating on him, but - still'll be good to find him."
"Could even, uh - try to provoke Hayato using him." shrugged Kate. "Probably pretty close with his dad to do all this shit."
"…maybe, but…" Marisa frowned. "I mean - then we're just like, deliberately provoking him - not proving he's guilty."
"…right." sighed Kate, leaning back. "Sorry. Keep thinking in terms of - uh, you know. Regular criminals."
"It - if we're forced to, it may work." nodded Mia. "But only as a last resort."
"Kate." said Matoi, eyes not rising from her tablet. "I need you to disguise yourself and search for Dr. Fujishita."
"What are you thinking?" said Samuel.
"Find where he is first." she said, scrolling down the list of students. "Someone might have a Revenant to help us once you do."
"Yes, President Rain-On-A-Wedding." nodded Kate. "What should I do when I find him?"
"Find out where he's staying - don't go near him, and don't attack him."
Kate nodded slowly and leaned back. The others started talking as she thought about how she'd find him, and she eventually stood & waved she was leaving, Split disguising her as she walked out. Matoi asked the others to hold their theories until she returned, and she did within two hours, sitting down undisguised.
"Did you find him?" said Marisa, and Kate nodded, eyes on her phone.
"Almost." She sat up. "So - here's what I got. Went down to Rockfield Airport. Undisguised when I was in the bathroom, kept my badge hidden until I got to talk to someone who works there - Ronald Kunlan. Went higher up the chain until someone let me look at the security footage from the day Dr. Fujishita got here." Her eyes rose. "...uh. Anyone copying this?"
"Um, me." said Serena, opening an app to copy that.
"Good." nodded Kate. "But - there was a taxi he took once he left the airport. Called up the company who runs it. Had to go down to them, Urasaria and all that, managed to get the cab that drove him. License plate number - ADTRW02. They checked the GPS and said he got dropped off at Clermont Hotel - about twenty minutes from here."
"…shit." said Marisa, relevantly.
"You can guess who the smarter one was in our pair." said Samuel and the seven laughed.
"Right." laughed Kate, glancing at Matoi. "And you, uh - had a plan once we had the room, right?"
"Correct." she nodded. "Continue."
"Right. So - was just gonna call them up now." she said, holding her phone to her ear. The six nodded as she called.
"... Hi. My name is Anagen - I'm a Urasaria student conducting an investigation. Badge number - 678786. I was calling to ask if you have a Daigo Fujishita checked in, and if so, what his room number is?" She sighed. "... Yes. One second." She handed her phone to Matoi. "Asking for extra confirmation."
"This is Rain-On-A-Wedding - Urasaria's student body president." Her eyes closed sighing. "...yes. Call Urasaria East's front office." One hand took her tablet out and started typing. "...yes. I'll hold."
"Here we go." groaned Marisa as she held.
"We could just go check the hotel out anyway, right?" said Serena, and Matoi's head shook.
"He'll know the second any of us start investigating near it."
"What's your plan, then?" said Marisa -
" - one second." sighed Matoi. "Yes. What? I said Urasaria East. Not - East. East. E - a - s - t." Six grins filled the circle as she went on hold again. "Regardless, we'll be ambushing him in his room. He won't have any time to call for help then."
"Sounds good." nodded Naomi.
"What about Chimera?" said Mia.
"That's part of it. We'll have all the evidence we need -" - she took it again - " - yes? You have - for fuck's sakes, you can't - I don't give a shit how many guests you have waiting, fucking answer me or I'll blast your fucking hotel in to atoms."
The six laughed thinking she was joking.
"Rain-On-A-Wedding, yes. Yes. Last-name Fujishita. I don't give a shit if it's against the law without a warrant. I am the law." She sighed. "…yes. I'll hold -"
- the six burst in to laughter, Matoi's head still shaking -
" - this fucking sucks -" laughed Serena -
" - should - should we head out?" laughed Mia -
" - I'm giving them thirty minutes." groaned Matoi, face falling in to her hands. "Thirty minutes."
An hour later, Matoi was finally off hold again.
"Yes." she droned. "Daigo Fujishita. Room number." She closed her eyes. "... yes. Three zero six. Three zero six. No. Do not notify anyone of this. I'll find you if you do."
"Jeez." laughed Marisa, sitting back up.
She hung up, seven sighs of relief in the room.
"So - what's the plan now?" said Marisa.
Matoi nodded and sat up. "I've already called in a student to assist with this. Kate - you'll meet her disguised at the airport, tomorrow, and disguise her. The two of you will go to Fujishita's hotel room - however you need to do it, so long as he's taken by surprise. She'll use her Revenant to control his mind and force him to confess what he knows."
"Wait, we have someone with a mind control Revenant?" said Marisa, and Matoi's head shook affirmatively.
"Fortunately, we do. Her hero name is Vector. Tiffany."
Mia & Serena's lips pinched.
"...uh." Blackburn scratched Serena's neck. "... Does she... know about this?"
"She doesn't - though Kate will tell her when she arrives."
"Sounds good." nodded Kate. "Nice and simple."
"...er." Mia's wincing eye went to Serena's. "... Matoi, er - do you... know what her Revenant does?"
"It's listed as 'control over objects and people, via an implanted walnut'." said Matoi, relevantly.
"...uh. Yeah, that's - right, but..." winced Serena. "...um. Contagion doesn't let her mind control people."
"What?"
"Contagion -"
" - it only lets her control their movements -" winced Mia -
" - are you fucking kidding me?" groaned Matoi alongside every other -
" - it - yeah, it doesn't -" winced Serena - " - let her mind control, unless, um -"
" - no - no, I'm calling her up to - ask about this." groaned Matoi, phone eternally on her ear.
"She - fuck." groaned Kate, relevantly. "What's it - Serena, what's it do?"
"It just like - lets her control, um, objects and people, but it's... Um. Their - movement, I guess?" said Serena, eyes asking Mia.
"She - when we were escorting that man..." Mia sighed. "Because - I remember, we were curious why he was - why he needed an escort -"
" - and she couldn't get him to -"
" - hello, Vector?" said Matoi, and the rest paused. "Yes. I need to ask you about your Revenant. How does Contagion work?"
A long pause.
"What does it - when it's implanted inside someone. What can it do?" Her eyes closed. "...yes. For example, a criminal needing to testify. Can you force him to confess what he knows?"
The rest knew before she sighed again. "...yes. That's - why I asked you to come, but..."
"...hey, uh." said Kate. "Can you ask - can she make somebody talk? In general?"
"Can you make someone speak?" Matoi nodded to Kate. "Yes."
"I think - we might be able to work with that, right? Still?"
"Can make him sound like an idiot, at least." nodded Samuel.
"I think she should still come." nodded Kate. "Can figure something out with that, right? Something."
Matoi slowly nodded. "I'm putting you on speaker." She set her phone down and Tiffany's voice came up.
"Yeah, so, like I was saying to Matoi, uh..." She laughed. "I can't, uh... Contagion doesn't - mind control people. I can just control their limbs and stuff. I can't make them use their Revenant, either. Gotta be super close range, you know."
"But you can make someone speak, right?" said Kate.
"Yeah. I mean - that's just controlling their lips, sort of, so. I just… I don't - I can make them say stuff. Do you just need a confession for police or whatever?"
"No." sighed Matoi. "We needed information."
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"…oh. Ugh. Sorry, um…"
"You - just to clarify." said Samuel. "You can't…" He trailed off.
"…hello?" said Tiffany. "Still there?"
"…I was hoping I'd come up with something by the end of that -"
- the eight laughed&groaned.
"Sheesh." laughed Kate. "Still - think we need to come up with something by tomorrow morning -"
" - I remembered." said Samuel; another seven laughs - " - I was - was going to ask -" - he laughed - " - could - could you make them write something out?"
"Yeah."
"If it's not accurate information - it won't hold up in court." sighed Matoi. "Unfortunately - that's the most difficult part of this."
"And he's even the same threat level as me." groaned Mia. "There's no possible way to avoid a trial."
"…I need a break." groaned Matoi, and the seven nodded. "We've been thinking about this for the entire day." Her head shook. "Does anyone have any final questions for now?" (They shook their heads.) "Tiffany."
"Yep?"
"For now - keep your flight scheduled. You'll meet with Kate tomorrow - I'll let you know if anything changes. Goodbye."
"Byebye." She hung up.
"...we'll figure something out. We'll figure something out." nodded Kate.
"I'll leave the thinking to you." nodded Samuel, and the two laughed.
"Sounds about right." she laughed. "…still. Got - should be easy to ambush him. Can get her Revenant to work on him, make him talk, or write, or…" Her voice disappeared.
"…should just take a break." sighed Serena, and the rest nodded.
"Hotel's buffet is closing soon, too." said Samuel. "Should get something to eat now."
Kate nodded as she stood. "Would be good, yeah. Uh -" - she gestured to Naomi & Serena - " - you two want anything?"
" - uh, not if it means getting disguised again -" winced Serena; six laughed -
" - don't blame you one bit." laughed Samuel. "Still - can head out and get something for you. Give a bit of time to think, too."
"Sounds - sounds good." panted Naomi, anxiety growing at the conversation's end.
"I'll head out with you." said Kate. "Gimme a second."
She turned away, and a wince went through them as they saw her plant her face in her hair.
"…uh." winced Marisa. "I'll - head out too, like. Does anyone else want anything?"
"What do they have?" said Serena.
"Practically everything." laughed Samuel. "Table's about a mile long."
"Do they have fried chicken?" (Samuel nodded like a Southerner.) "Um - that and soda, then."
"That - that sounds good." said Naomi, anxiety rushing up. The thought of asking Matoi reeled her head with sickness, let alone the reminder, but Yuruko had suggested it.
"See if they have any pizza left." said Matoi, and Mia nodded to Marisa.
"Alright." chimed Marisa. "Uh, let's go, then."
Samuel & Marisa left, and a masculine Kate with them. Matoi yawned and leaned back. "…god. After this - I never want to hear 'Fujishita' again."
"…yeah." said Serena.
"…u-uh." nodded Naomi. "Um - President Matoi, can - I - talk to you about something?"
Matoi's eyes dipped past her nose. "What is it?"
"…P-Privately?"
Serena got up, and Mia with her as Matoi waved them out. "Of course. Serena - make sure you're not seen out in the hall."
"She won't be." chimed Mia, walking up to the next room they'd reserved. A swarm of fire scarabs disintegrated an entrance, and in to the room swept the women, fog refilling it behind.
Matoi glanced as it closed and nodded to Naomi. "Go ahead."
"...O-Okay." nodded Naomi. "S-Sorry, just - just nervous."
"It's alright. I'm not as intimidating as I look." smirked Matoi, and Naomi laughed.
"…y-yeah. S-So, um. I - I go to you if - someone - if I'm - if someone's…"
"…if you're having issues with another student, yes." nodded Matoi, sitting up. "I'm here to listen to you - and support you."
"...o-okay." nodded Naomi. "I - um, I don't know if - I'm, I'm sure you're… busy, but… You - you haven't heard - anything, um, about me - recently?"
"I have not." said Matoi, head shaking. "No one has come to me about you, either."
Naomi nodded another few times to keep from speaking. Matoi crouched down.
"Naomi." she said. "Can you tell me what's bothering you?"
"…y-yeah. It - I-I just…" She wiped her eyes. "… I-I don't know. P-Probably - o-overreacting, but - someone said I should talk to you, and…"
Matoi smiled. Admittedly, she felt she was acting a supportive president more than she were one, but knew the exterior mattered more. "Go ahead."
"…O-Okay. U-Um. Her - her name is - M-Mint Condition. J-Julia."
Matoi nodded. "I remember - I sent her and Yuruko to you and Serena."
"Y-Yeah." nodded Naomi. "A-and - we ended up pairing up for - I-I guess the past week or so. S-So. Um - s-so, when… S-She was - okay at the start, but…" Naomi sighed. "S-She just - started complimenting me a lot, a-and - i-it was just about my clothes a-at first, but then she - then she kept saying I looked cute, or hot, and - I-I know it doesn't sound like much, but…"
"It's clear why it would bother you." nodded Matoi. "At the very least."
"…y-yeah. Then she - started - touching my shoulder - and then s-she - asked me out to lunch, and I don't know, maybe she t-thought - thought s-she was asking me out, and I wanted to say something t-then, but…"
"It's not acceptable for her to touch you like that."
"…I-I guess. E-Everyone I've talked to says that, too, so… She - she tried to grab my ass, too, and…" She trailed off.
Matoi nodded. "Continue - if that's alright."
"Y-Yeah." Naomi nodded. "A-And, I-I kinda - went off on her, I guess. I-I kinda - yelled at her in public, a-and - after that, s-someone - some m-magazine had v-video of it and wrote an article a-about - about me yelling at her, and - I-I know a bunch of people probably think I'm s-so stupid and -"
" - don't concern yourself with that." said Matoi, sitting down beside. "If it helps - you're not the first student to have trouble with the press."
"…y-yeah." smiled Naomi. "T-That - k-kinda helps, y-yeah."
"It doesn't matter what they think. You asserted yourself against someone disrespecting you."
Naomi nodded, eyes still dripping. Matoi continued.
"The Elite Four took a trip to Japan last year."
"I-I remember." laughed Naomi. "S-Serena talked about it."
Matoi smirked. "We had problems with the press there, as well. There's entire political campaigns using Mia's face for why foreigners shouldn't be allowed in Japan."
"T-That bad, huh?" laughed Naomi, and Matoi with her.
"Regardless - the only constant you have is yourself. Someone will always think they know better than you. There'll always be somebody laughing at you or thinking you're an idiot."
"…m-man." laughed Naomi. "How do you - how do you deal with that?"
"By being better than them." smirked Matoi, and the two laughed. "Regardless. If Julia's done this to you - then it's good you came to me. It's unacceptable behavior."
"…y-yeah. A-And - I don't, I don't…" She sighed. "… I don't - want her… g-getting expelled or anything, but…"
"…unfortunately, she's a fourth-year. I can't expel her, regardless." Matoi's head shook. "However - I can speak with her and ensure she stays away from you. I can also demote her rank - or recommend she has her pay cut."
"I-I - I don't know about that." mumbled Naomi. "I-I just - I don't really want to see her, right now. A-And - she - she actually did apologize, too, but…"
Matoi's eyes followed her's to the floor. "Do you think she's sincere?"
"I… maybe?" she winced. "I-I don't really know. I-I kinda - I dunno. This - this is kinda a, a bit much for m-me."
Matoi nodded. "Whatever you decide, we'll discuss it together. I won't do anything unless you ask."
"…yeah." nodded Naomi. "Um. I think I just… I think I just - want to forget about it for a bit. Just - get my mind off of it for a bit."
"Of course."
Naomi embraced Matoi, and the president awkwardly matched it. "Thank you."
◆◆◆
In the other room, Mia had decided she wanted pancakes and persuaded Serena to change her order. She had gone down to the hotel's buffet and returned with two plates and one empty pitcher.
"Is everything alright with Naomi?" said Mia, and Serena nodded as she sat up against the wall, Mia beside.
"I think so, yeah. She just, um…" She sighed. "…um. I don't… wanna - talk too much about it, but… Kate called in someone else, and Naomi paired up with them." (Mia nodded.) "And she just… They - they were really shitty to Naomi - and she stuck up for herself - but some magazines found out -"
" - gossip rags?" winced Mia, and Serena nodded.
"Yeah. It really just - ugh, I was - I was really pissed when I found out, too."
"Understandably." nodded Mia. "Is that - why she's speaking to Matoi?"
"…yeah." nodded Serena. "She's probably, um… talking about what she wants to do. It - was pretty bad, so."
"…ah." murmured Mia, starting her meal. "Is... has everything else gone - well, with mentoring her?"
"Yeah." Serena smiled. "She's - I mean, you can kinda guess, but - I think she's really decided to just not, um - not go after her amnesia stuff. But, um - I think - I'm glad she stuck up for herself. I'm sure she'll be okay."
"Of course." nodded Mia, then smirked quite normieishly. "Does she also watch cartoons -"
- Serena laughed - " - you gotta stop calling them -"
" - I know it's called anime -" laughed Mia - " - but - the way you react every time I say that -"
" - come on." laughed Serena. "Nah, though. She's actually - getting in to videogames, kinda. Dancing games and stuff."
"Good." Mia smiled. "I saw the other day she's nearly at two-star."
"Yeah. She's been getting pretty good with Avalanche, too, so… um." She smiled. "I think - I mean, I guess there's still until August, but. I wanted to maybe let her go on a trip with someone else's pair, but - now…" She sighed.
"…right." murmured Mia. "Er, if you'd like - I could take some time away from the Elite Four for that."
"Maybe, yeah." Serena nodded. "Maybe Tiffany and her protege or something. I just want to make sure she can handle being on her own, I guess."
"Of course." nodded Mia. "I'm sure she can."
"Yeah. I guess it's just - yeah. The - stuff with…" She sighed. "…ugh. That stuff, and... we're good friends, but - I guess I just kinda worry about her."
"Of course." grinned Mia. "You feel responsible for her, just like -"
" - don't even start -" laughed Serena -
" - just like a certain someone was on your first trip -"
" - that was way different, c'mon."
The two laughed.
"Helps that I can heal her, though." chimed Serena, and Mia laughed.
"Of course."
The two ate for a while before speaking again.
"…Serena."
"What's up?"
"I…" Mia's lips pinched like an ally. "… You - mentioned - that you're good friends." (Serena nodded.) "Does - Naomi know you're transgender?"
"Yeah." She smiled. "Getting pretty close on my money, too, so - she knows about that, too."
"To your Revenant?" smiled Mia, and Serena nodded.
"…yeah. It's kinda hard to… I mean, you know. That it's - really close. Just - been thinking about it for a really long time."
"I imagine. How long have you been saving up for it?"
"About, uh - like, three years by now." laughed Serena. "I used to just - try not to think about it, and just focus on - that whatever month it'd be would come eventually, but…" She smiled, and Mia saw tears forming. "…y-yeah. Not - not gonna cry." She laughed. "Just - just really excited."
"Will it, er… What does it - do?"
"Uh, I told you. Changes the gullyworks -"
" - the hulahoops -"
" - and the woodworks." laughed Serena. "Um, but - I'm - actually not really sure. Like, she has a few reviews online, and I know she's legit, but… They just say she - 'changes sex'. I guess she like, works at Thailand's academy." She shrugged. "Iunno. I'm just trying to - I mean, it's all from other trans people that were super happy about it, so."
"Good." nodded Mia. "I'm - certain it'll… er."
"Help me?" grinned Serena, and Mia laughed.
"I wasn't sure how to put it."
"Yeah." laughed Serena. "You don't have to worry about like - offending me. I know you're good for it."
"I'm a good ally." chimed Mia, and the two laughed.
"Uh - but if you're president next year, you've gotta be a true ally and put me in your squad." grinned Serena, and Mia laughed.
"Of course."
"Yeah." laughed Serena, leaning back. "Or I mean - if Kirihara's president, we could just assassinate her."
Mia laughed. "Perhaps."
"'Scorch you off the face of the earth.'" grinned Serena.
"We did go through a lot that year, after all."
"Yeah." Serena smiled. "…yeah. Um. I'm still - glad I got assigned you as my mentor, too. I dunno what I would've… if you weren't accepting, I mean. I dunno what I would've… yeah."
"Of course." nodded Mia. "I - admittedly, the winter break after you told me -" - she laughed - " - I tried to look up resources online, to make sure I wasn't accidentally offending you -"
" - jeeeeez -" - laughed Serena - " - you're like - going above and beyond -"
" - of course." laughed Mia. "But - you're my best friend. I wanted to support you."
"Yeah." smiled Serena. "…yeah. My mom, um, was really glad when I told you too, and…" She paused.
"Everything alright?"
"Yeah." laughed Serena. "I just, um. I remember - I used to - I guess I was kinda stereotypical. When I was a kid, I wanted to have like - you know. Dresses and stuff like that."
"I can't imagine that now." grinned Mia, and the two laughed.
"Yeah. My mom - um. My dad died when I was a baby, so… She - kinda thought it was because he… wasn't around. But. She came around." laughed Serena. "I mean, really, really came around. Like - maybe a little too much."
"You were - you started hormones early, didn't you?"
Serena nodded. "When I was fourteen, actually. I was already going to therapy for a few years, just to make sure I wasn't - like, suppressing something else, or…" She shrugged. "Like - they wanted to make sure my dysphoria wasn't going away."
"The, er - your gender dysphoria?"
"Someone's really been reading." grinned Serena. "Yeah, though. Um - I guess it's kinda hard to describe, but… For me, um. It's not like - feeling ugly. It kinda is, but it's more… It just - felt like I wasn't supposed to… I didn't like the way my body was - changing. Um. Male puberty stuff. It - kinda scared me - and it wasn't going away."
"Of course." nodded Mia. "Go on."
"But it wasn't like - stereotypical, not like - it wasn't just me thinking 'girls get to wear dresses, so I want to be a girl'. I knew I could just be a guy that wears dresses, too - uh, I mean - I don't like dresses now, but -" - the two laughed - " - I wanted to take estrogen, and - I guess live as a woman. Like now, I mean. I still get pretty happy when someone calls me 'she'."
"Of course." smiled Mia. "As they should."
"Yeah." laughed Serena. "But my mom, um… She knew I'd have a hard time getting a job, too. We kinda - we grew really close over the years. I got my name changed, my gender legally changed and all that before I entered Urasaria. I didn't, um - get in to the college I wanted to get in to, so she asked me if I wanted to - if I wanted her to buy me a Revenant, since she heard of someone online that could - like, change the sex of hosts." She grinned. "I thought she was just confused, because my mom sucks with computers."
"As do most parents." grinned Mia.
"Yeah." grinned Serena. "But, um. It got… I'm really glad I got a Revenant now, definitely. Like, it's way better. But once I got it… I used to be in like, transgender groups and stuff like that online. But - once I…" Her head shook. "… I'm better off without them, anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"It's just - you know. I got to be the one that could really 'change my biology'. They told me I was privileged and stuff like that, and - I dunno, people just started being dicks to me about it. They told me I didn't understand what it was like to be a trans woman, and just -" - she sighed. "I dunno. I'm glad I have a mom like mine, but... Maybe I'm not… Maybe I won't be - 'really transgender' - once I get it, but." She nodded. "I'm gonna get it."
"You're better off without them - I agree." nodded Mia. "Most lesbian groups I've found tend not to like us, either. Urasaria students."
"Yeah. They just think we're cops." She laughed. "It's kinda funny, though, um. Since I know like - most of them aren't going to really think I'm transgender. Or I mean, they wouldn't. But then - people on the other end are gonna say I'm always transgender - but they're gonna say it to say I'm not a woman."
"Gender is complicated." chimed Mia, and the two laughed.
"Yeah." The two smiled. "…I'm really glad I can talk about stuff like that with you."
"Of course." nodded Mia. "I'm glad that you're - getting close to your… Revenant, as well."
"Yeah." Serena laughed. "Sorry - guess I kinda went off there."
"It's alright." laughed Mia. "I - admittedly, I - was curious how you - realized you were transgender, but -"
" - yeah." The two laughed. "You can always ask me about stuff like that, so - um, yeah." chimed Serena; and yawned.
Mia nodded. "I… am curious about something else, then."
"Go ahead."
"Did your - er, I read about this - online. Did your sexuality ever change?"
Serena laughed. "Uh, I'm bisexual -"
" - what?" sputtered Mia; Serena laughed -
" - yeah -"
" - how - how did I not know this?" she laughed -
" - because you, um, never asked?" chimed Serena, and the two smiled.
"I - suppose that simplifies it." laughed Mia, relevantly.
"Yeah." laughed Serena.
The two finished their meals for a minute, and Serena paused after she finished.
"…um. I guess…" She shrugged. "Um. How did you - realize you were a lesbian? If you - wanna talk about that."
Mia nodded. "I… always had - crushes on women, I suppose." The two laughed. "My parents were always accepting, so - there - wasn't any issue."
"That's good." chimed Serena.
"It was. But, I remember that - Urasaria was something that helped me." She smiled and nodded. "To show there wasn't anything wrong with me."
"Yeah."
"…that, and…" murmured Mia, suppressing a grin. "The first time I saw Aimee shirtless - "
- the two laughed, Mia unable to stifle it -
" - jeeeeez -" laughed Serena - " - I don't - not even gonna comment -"
" - like a bull seeing red -"
" - stop, stop -" cackled Serena - " - come on -"
" - I - I had to say it." laughed Mia. "But. But - that was how I realized. It - it was just - something I knew, I suppose."
"Yeah." nodded Serena.
The two sat back, eyes on the room they couldn't see.
"…man." mumbled Serena. "Maybe they fell asleep or something."
"They're probably trying to brainstorm ideas for Tiffany." laughed Mia.
"Yeah, maybe." laughed Serena.
Another minute.
"…um. Can I - ask you about something?"
"Go ahead." said Mia.
"…you said, um." Her neck itched. "That - Urasaria helped you with lesbian stuff, right?"
Mia nodded. "It did, yes. Being able to - there was a couple - that would always mention it if they were interviewed, and they put out videos online." She laughed. "Jade and Emerald - their hero names. I still remember watching their videos at a local library." She started checking her phone, wondering if they were still around.
"...do you think I should do that?" said Serena, and Mia paused. "Because - I mean, like… There's probably - no one else who's transgender at Urasaria, I guess."
"I… possibly." murmured Mia. "Er - you're the only - transgender person I know."
"…yeah." mumbled Serena. "I mean - like, when I was posting in those groups, I didn't really - they know there's a transgender Urasaria student, but…"
"It… could - help." nodded Mia. "But, you - would become, er. Very public, I assume."
"Yeah." laughed Serena. "I'd probably get - man, I'd probably get so many interviews."
"And magazine covers." chimed Mia, and the two laughed. "But - it's your decision, of course."
"Yeah." smiled Serena. "Maybe. I guess just - talking about that stuff made me think about it."
Mia nodded.
"…yeah." Serena sighed. "… I guess I'd probably be, like - pretty public, though, yeah. Plus - everyone at Urasaria would know, and, I dunno -"
- the door knocked, and in stepped Marisa, closing the door behind quick.
"Hey, Mia-Mia - Serena." she chimed.
"Hey." chimed Serena.
"Are Samuel and Kate back?" said Mia, and Marisa nodded.
"Yep. I think they're like - gonna sleep in that room, so, uh - speaking of."
Boudoir's gloves unfurled to form a sleeping bag. Serena laughed as Marisa handed it to her. "Thanks."
"Sure thing. I dunno if -"
- a knock came on the wall, and their phones vibrated.
(Naomi) "Open up!"
Mia stood, and in the next instant -
- the wall burst open -
- and the three laughed at Naomi standing in the aperture, Avalanche's arm out and the other three laughing behind.
"…uh. Got it." she chimed.
"Clearly." laughed Samuel.
"We're going to sleep." laughed Matoi. "She'll tell you what we discussed."
"Good night." laughed Mia, and the rest followed. Streams of fog refilled the wall once Naomi stepped inside.
"…wait." said Naomi, eyes on the pitcher. "Weren't you getting pizza?"
"We got pancakes instead." laughed Serena. "But, um. Are you feeling better?"
Naomi nodded. "Yeah. Feeling, um. Feeling pretty good, yeah."
"Good." chimed Serena.
Naomi smiled, glad Serena was her mentor, if partially because her confidence despite her dorkiness helped. Serena was happy, had a best friend, a good mentor, a sure job, and a girlfriend she loved. Most people barely had three of those, so maybe it was better not to be like most people.
"Yeah." nodded Naomi. "So, um… Matoi said that - the four of us are gonna sleep in this room, and Kate and the others in their room."
"The four protege and mentors." chimed Mia, and the four laughed as Marisa made another Boudoir bag.
"Yep." said Naomi. "But, uh, she said not - I mean. Me and Serena - not to leave without Kate disguising us."
"I - really don't want to feel that again." winced Serena, and Naomi with her.
"…yeah. I guess that.. probably - won't have to, right?"
"I - still can't believe that." winced Marisa. "That's like - the grossest way to use a Revenant I can think of."
"Yeah." winced Naomi. "But - I guess, uh… Otherwise - just - Kate's gonna meet with Tiffany tomorrow, and… uh. Gonna talk about - our plan, I guess."
"Sounds good." said Serena.