[March 31st]

The two entered a familiar arena and separated to opposite ends. Matoi's veil flashed over her eyes, and underneath grew a smile as she turned to Mia, their swords out.

"Are you ready, Swarm?"

"I am ready, Rain-On-A-Wedding."

And their gaze left no more words to be shared. Haze claimed Mia's eyes as she & Matoi rushed forward, and for the excitement filling her mind, she carried it through in a strike that met Matoi's steel, two combatants clashing with all their might against the other. Scarab swarming and chattering around her, her eyes twitched as their weapons smashed, and as heat grew from Wedding's eyes -

- a shield of ice formed and blunted the scorching beams; Matoi swept with the speed of light back, more lasers flashing & seeking to melt the barrier. Inch by inch, Mia stepped forward with shield raised high, and as a dozen feet separated the two -

- a volley of missiles burst from Wedding's shoulders and flew above, then blasted the floor below, and as their weapons clashed again -

"- you should have checked your footing, Mia!"

- an explosion from underneath blasted Mia in to the air -

- and a second volley juggled her back in to the wall, body smashing a familiar crater. Low wince. she rose up again, a third volley of missiles tracking her as she raised her shield of ice again -

- but the volley detonated midflight -

- and the shockwaves started slowing her pace as she started trudging forward, a hundred feet still separating the two now. She saw another explosive barrage tearing up the floor, and another volley laid a carpet of landmines between the two women.

Few options left, she aimed her sword to Matoi; a geyser of water burst out of the tip, soon filling the arena to their ankles. Not catching the trick, Matoi laughed with a shaking head.

"You already know about the insulator. Is that the best you h-"

- and the next scene was instant. A swarm of ice scarabs dove in to the water and froze the pool solid -

- and a carpet of icicles formed, piercing & defusing through every last landmine; Mia rushed forward and cleared the clearing - their weapons clashed again.

In a whirlwind of blows and white tatters they fought along the walls; a sweep from Mia's sword cut halfway through Matoi's shoulder, and as a fire scarab flew to its rightful inset -

- she snuffed the flame instantly out, yanking her sword back to catch a swipe from Matoi's.

'Not yet. Calm. Calm.'

"Something wrong?!" grunted Matoi, anger flashing; a bash of her hilt broke Mia's guard -

- and her free hand shot to her hair again, yanking and smashing her skull against the wall, and as her sword sought Mia's spine -

- as Mia had before, she ripped her hand back through Matoi's steel, and before the madwoman could realize the counter -

- pillars of fire erupted from her torn palm, melting half the sword to molten steel; with the speed of light Matoi ripped her half-liquid blade back, Mia spinning to her feet, and the two combatants clashed mismatched again.

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The pressure of her strikes forced Matoi further back, missiles and lasers erupting as they fought danger close, scarabs freezing to guard Mia from the explosives.

The corner was approaching Matoi's back, and with no option left, she swept back from the clash; another volley blast Mia's feet as ice boots formed to block the projectiles, and as another volley landed before her -

- a flash of bright lasers erupted from Wedding's eyes and hit the missiles' exteriors; the refracted light filled Mia's eyes, blinding her and forcing her vision shut -

- and Matoi was among her with a rush and a gigantic bound. Her blade slashed open Mia's chest, a second sweep ripping the skin from her left arm; Mia stumbled back, her eyes opening again -

- and just as suddenly blinded again, feeling Matoi's blade rip through her stomach - a desperate kick threw her back and away, and as Matoi rushed in pursuit -

- the floor of ice melted to steam, plunging the arena in to a blinding vapor and swallowing the next beam. Eyes opening, Mia balanced against the wall. She didn't see any figure around, and a few seconds passed before the cacophony of explosions at the northern wall began.

'Of course.'

"Come, Swarm!" came her voice from the northern end. "You, of all people, know the challenge!"

'She'll have planted a field of landmines - I'll lose if I do, lose if I don't.'

"Then I'll help you!" shouted Mia, running to the southern end and coming quickly to the southern wall. The steam began to dissipate, and she heard the volley of missiles slow, Matoi's eyes on her from the other end.

Her scorching orange blade went through the southern wall, cutting halfway through the material. grunting as she had some difficulty ripping it back out -

" - do you think your sword can penetrate through, Swarm?" Matoi laughed, loving the exaggerated show. "Wedding's missiles were made for this tactic - but your sword?"

"If I can - fucking -"

- she ripped her vision back to Matoi, and every taunt in the month entered her mind.

A second fire scarab flew in to its rightful inset, and as it burst open -

- her sword burst in to white flames, already beginning to melt; with no time to waste, she hacked and slashed at the wall, expecting as much resistance as before -

- and her sword cleaved clear through. The entire wall began to buckle, the last layer of material melted -

'Oh fuck-'

- the walls started to rend downward & in; a rain of rubble smashed the back of Mia's skull, and as the entire building shuddered in on the two -

" - W-Worldwide!"

- a cloud of fire and ice scarabs turned the air above to wind, weak bubble of air slowing its descent as she slashed up through the rubble, and as she burst up through the ruins of the building -

- fear filled her as she turned & saw no Matoi on the other end. She rushed over the rubble, sword outstretched as her eyes desperately searched below -

- but from the rubble behind, she heard a familiar eruption of lasers & missiles, and in the next instant -

- Matoi's blade was at the back of her neck.

"I - of course." said Mia. She laughed, and she turned -

- and she shrieked, horrendous wounds carved through Matoi's torso and legs, her elbows burst out of her arms. "If - you're - going to - c-concede - do it - quickly."

"I - infirmary." panted Mia, crouching down, readying to bridal carry the wedding. She saw a crowd gathering on Urasaria's streets as she stepped over the rubble, and over a small golden puddle that'd been her sword's tip.

"… V-Very g-g-good." panted Matoi.

As they stepped out of the ruins, Mia smiled. "…Matoi - my sword burned white. Angry in one moment, calm in the next. White fire burns hotter than orange."

Matoi nodded quietly. Students flanked her as they went down the road.

"Er, sorry." laughed Mia once she saw Yuruko, and the chemist laughed.

"It's coolio. Gotta get more practice with Medicinal." (As she didn't have a mentor, she had built the arena.)

From the crowd burst out a laughing Marisa and Aimee.

"Who won?" chimed Marisa, offering her arms out to take the white wedding, and a nod from Matoi allowed the transfer.

"You two. Jeez." Aimee shook her head, offering her arms out, and Mia fell like a true wedding in to her's.

"A draw, we'll say." murmured Mia, and Matoi winked in answer.

◆◆◆

Hirogane shouted for Luna outside the curtain, and she entered holding a cake & utensils. The two healed combatants were laying in separate beds.

"U-Um." said Luna. "To cele-celebrate your - your, um..."

Since last year, she had never felt fully comfortable around students; she assumed her reputation around campus was of a woman easy to manipulate & bed. Even excepting her ex-boyfriend, a few still took pleasure in asking her to make dishes they knew Flashbulb couldn't, and she did not like relying on Saya or Hirogane to tell them off.

"Their training." chimed Aimee. "Last day. Sounds like you're all back to normal now, Schultzy."

"Come back any time." droned Hirogane, and he was gone.

Luna placed the cake down on a stool between them. Written in frosting: "Congratulations on your -SCARABS-", and a struck-out "baby", as Flashbulb had scanned the wrong recipe.

[END OF ARC 4: RED&WHITE&BLUE AND WHITE]