[START OF URASARIA ACADEMY: YEAR THREE]
[ARC 13: SWIM LIKE AN EEL]
[August 3rd, 2020]
The four stepped in to Urasaria's main staff office, four seats facing twelve. Renault was on one end, his eyes on Mia, and Hirogane the other. The rest, teachers, security, and Armstrong at the center.
Matoi took her seat, and the rest followed.
"I've brought a list of demands."
"As to be expected, after that speech last year." said one of the women. "Give it all out now, then."
"A payraise of $2,000 a month for every student. An update of the housing below rank #50 to the standard of two-stars. Hero names will be chosen at registration. Students will have the option to hide information on their Revenant. Travel expenses will now be covered."
Eleven sat bored. They didn't speak until Armstrong did. "Is that all?"
"Correct."
"You realize it's a recession year, correct? The state can barely keep regular teachers paid, let alone more funding for Urasaria. Speeches are just that - speeches."
"And keeping Revenants from being secret -" - said one woman - " - came because Aimee couldn't control Jakuze -"
" - I'm aware you expect every other student to roll over and suck in whatever fudge you shit, but I was not putting this up for debate. Do you know what else this year is?" stated Matoi. "Election year. I've already found your party affiliations." She pointed down the line, starting at a black woman. "Police brutality is quite a hot topic. I wonder what a sweeping wave of conservatives being elected would do for the black community."
Another point. "Your sister is disabled, and currently on benefits. They're notoriously easy to lose. I doubt they would understand the trip to Hawaii you took using -"
"- and -" said one man, aghast - " - you'll be expelled the second you - it's a nonpolitical position, Rain-On-A-Wedding. You can't endorse -"
"- fortunately for me, Aimee has already graduated. Her agency is more than willing to endorse every candidate you - and the state's current legislature - despise. Your father died of pancreatic cancer due to being unable to pay his medical bills. I wonder what he would think of you now."
Mia gave her odd eyes for a second, but went along with it.
"You're attempting extortion." muttered the man.
"Precisely why we should have expelled Swarm -" said Renault -
" - do you really want to put Urasaria's president on trial for trying to help out students?" said Hirogane. "They gave the military a 700 billion budget. The school could use an influx of…" He glanced to Matoi. "I assume you did an estimate."
"Fifty million for the housing. Five million for the payraises. Conservatively, travel expenses - sixty million dollars. One hundred and fifteen million dollars - sixty five million recurring."
"This - this is what you fucking want us to bring to the legislature?" said the man. "Nearly doubling the budget?"
"Either that, or you can explain why Urasaria's Elite Four were expelled for reasons as insignificant as 'dared to ask for a raise'." She glanced to the black woman. "I wonder how many killer cops walk free. You have a son, thirteen years old - named Tyler. Does he ask you if he'll wind up on the news some day?"
"You're a fucking monster."
"Perhaps I'll accidentally lead a Revenant to him. Elections have consequences."
"Fuck you."
She got up and stomped out, and Matoi smirked as she heard the door slam behind.
"Would you care to know what else my investigation turned up?" Another glance. "Your wife. Martha would be interested."
"Keep talking. It'll be more evidence -"
" - who would arrest me? The reason all of you are in this position, Hirogane excluded, is because you couldn't make it as professional heroes. Washed-up men and women who insist on exerting what miniscule power they have. It's no wonder your -" - another glance - " - first husband left you. Domestic abuse charges. Quite difficult to be arrested for it as a woman. What would your boyfriend think of that?"
Another glance. "Raped as a teenager. I wonder where you would be now if abortion were illegal. It's certainly set to be an election issue -"
" - enough." sighed Armstrong. "You -"
"- you don't want to see what it would be like if I turned." sneered Matoi. "I dare you to expel me. I would turn this room in to a fucking graveyard on my way out."
Armstrong waved the security down, sensing their tension. "Even if you did, a professional hero -"
" - there's currently only ninety-six active in the United States. One is a firefighter. Sixty serve in the military. Six are -"
" - professional Revenants are nothing to fear." interrupted Mia. "We dealt with plenty in my second-year."
"Easily." muttered Samuel.
"… precisely." smirked Matoi. "Regardless - if my demands are not put forth for consideration, I have no qualms in making the rest of your lives hell. These were cursory searches - a more experienced investigator would have no issue finding more."
The fifteen fell in silence for a long while, and Matoi didn't stop her leer.
But for all she wanted to see them bend, she knew they wouldn't in front of her. She stood and walked out, and her three followed her, shutting the door behind as they went down the hall.
"… shit." murmured Marisa, relevantly.
"Correct." said Matoi. "I'll ensure there will be no backlash against any of you."
"It may have been a touch much, President Matoi." said Samuel.
"… er." mumbled Mia. "Was Aimee really willing to endorse…"
Matoi shrugged. "If they did not give in, I would have asked you mention it to her."
"I really should've known."
"Two thousand extra a month, though. If they'll do it." chimed Samuel, and Matoi's head shook.
"That was never intended as a serious offer. They'll downgrade it in negotiations to a thousand, if that - but even five hundred will double the salary of one-stars. The estimates I gave were far bloated, as well - if they bother to do the calculations, they'll assume they're getting a bargain."
"Man, you're scary when you're like that, though." chimed Marisa.
Matoi smiled. "Come. They'll heel - and there's a Japanese restaurant that opened nearby, recently."
Mia thought of Serena's possible payraise as the four went down and out of Urasaria. Matoi spoke of the more embarrassing blackmail as they walked.
"Armstrong has a soft spot for prostitutes, unsurprisingly." laughed Matoi, and the three with her.
"Seriously?" said Samuel, and Matoi grinned as they came up to the restaurant.
"He tells his wife he donates to charity, and prints out a different picture of a foreign child he's 'sponsoring' every month." The four laughed.
"How did you even get all this?" said Marisa, and the four went inside.
"Four." said Matoi, holding her hand up, and the hostess led them to a table at the back-right; they sat down. "Regardless, it's better you do not know."
"One of those mafia types, I bet." agreed Samuel.
"Precisely."
The four checked their menus and made their orders. Matoi leaned back and her tablet vibrated. Eight eyes went to it as she checked.
(Hirogane) "They gave in. $1,000 a month and paid travel expenses on the table. Hero names at registration."
She laughed.
(Matoi) "Fortunate. Thank you."
Four laughs went around the table, and Matoi kept that victorious smirk.
"Already making big waves." grinned Marisa. "Man - that's like… $12,000 extra this year. I dunno what I'm even gonna do with it."
"Let alone the travel expenses." muttered Samuel.
"It'll be useful for my other plans." said Matoi, suddenly serious. "Urasaria has kept itself isolated to North American concerns. I intend to change that."
"What do you mean?" said Mia, sitting up.
"I've reached out as best as I can to academies in other countries. The language barrier makes it difficult in some cases, but - Russia, Brazil, China -"
" - er - I wouldn't suggest China." said Mia. "Ningsing is…"
"They're very tied to the government." murmured Matoi, not catching it. "Regardless. I received a letter from their president in response, saying that they do not need aid, but they will ask for it if needed."
"So they told you to fuck off." said Samuel.
Matoi nodded. "Fortunately, out of the academies I've contacted - Japan seems most receptive. Partially due to my race, I imagine - but the start of something."
"So, um - how's that gonna work?" said Marisa.
Matoi smiled as their drinks came. "Thank you. But as for Japan - Ueno Academy. Their student body president knows that the four of us are reachable, if some crisis occurs in Japan - and the same for him."
"Finally a male student body president." said Samuel, and the three women laughed.
"Correct." murmured Matoi, eyes on the front door as a man stepped through. Something in his bowler's hat made her watch him as he went up to the register.
"Yeah. Finally." grinned Marisa. "Uh - Matoi, are you gonna like, translate if we go there?"
"Probably got some stuff in English for tourists. Don't they?" said Samuel, glancing at Matoi's eyes.
The man exchanged words with the hostess, and Matoi readied to stand as she saw her fingers dip underneath the register -
- and her tablet blinked a second later.
"Silent alarm." murmured Matoi, and whispered something to Marisa. The four stood, two turning, and in the next instant -
- a strand erupted from Marisa's glove and hit the woman's back, yanking her through the aisles and between the tables; the man's eyes widened -
" - Equivalence!" he shouted, stepping back -
- and all around them began the chaotic jingling of soup bowls, boiling liquid suddenly thrown in to civilian faces -
" - Samuel, Out-"
" - Worldwide!" shouted Mia, swift swarm of scarabs vaporizing to steam the foul vapors, civilians shoving themselves away and under the tables -
- and Matoi caught flustered for a second; but they had no time to rest. A volley of missiles burst out of her shoulders, careful path veering to the man -
- but the next scene was instant. A volley of blood burst out of his arms, sudden and sharp blades forming from his veins and slicing the missile to pieces. The eternal counter sett Matoi grunting as his blades sought the last -
- and the shockwave blasted him out of the doors and to the street beyond, road scraping his back as he landed -
" - Marisa, stay here!" shouted Matoi, and the fashionista nodded as the three rushed up the aisle and up to the doors -
- but a jet of blood burst out of the man as he stood, reaching and slicing clear through the restaurant's front wall, support lost and ceiling starting to collapse -
" - Mia - disintegrate - Samuel - redirect!" shouted Matoi, rain of rubble starting to fall - " - Marisa - protect!"
- and with the whip in her voice, the next scene was instant.
A hasty spray of Boudoir's strands around, swift fabric forming a new roof over the civilians as she yanked them underneath -
- a pillar of blue flame claimed Mia's body -
- and ghastly hands threw every last bit of rubble in to the disintegrator, leaving the four pleased as the demolition ended in seconds.
"All good!" shouted Marisa, and the four saw the man running back across the road, reaching another sidewalk and starting to flee. With the fervor of a new squadron, the three rushed across the road, weaving between the cars -
- and out of every gas tank erupted streams of scorching fuel, making with the speed of oil towards them -
- and a pillar of blue flame claimed Mia's body, ghastly hands manipulating the liquid streams in to her again and disintegrating every last -
" - don't mind your clothes smelling bad, right?" laughed Samuel as the three veered left and down the sidewalk in pursuit, man running ahead and another line of restaurants right, fifty feet separating the three from him still.
" - Samuel - flank." murmured Matoi, and Samuel nodding, peeling off right, obsidian gauntlets&armor forming in full as he disappeared in to another restaurant.
"Er - liquid, yes?" said Mia, and Matoi nodded as they saw the man disappear right and past the street corner. With a wide angle, they turned -
- and saw the sidewalk covered in corpses; with no time to mourn, they started their chase again -
- and the corpses began to bubble -
- but a swarm of fire scarabs disintegrated them, only thirty feet separating them from him now. He passed by one casual building right -
" - Wedding!" shouted Matoi, missiles flying ahead -
- and stopping instantly as Samuel burst out of the wall ahead of the man; their foe shrieked as he stumbled back -
- and as a man might twist a screw, Samuel tore his head clear off, leaving a laughing Matoi and wide-eyed Mia.
"I haven't seen that in almost a year -" cackled Matoi, Outcast's armor disappearing as Samuel stepped up, discarding the grisly skull behind.
"I thought I was almost all desensitised." laughed Mia, relevantly. "After a year with Serena."
Matoi pat Samuel's shoulder as they started back. "Good work, pig."
"Thought you said you were gonna stop."
"I get one before the semester starts." smirked Matoi.
The three came back to the first restaurant's ruins, Marisa finishing up patching the last of civilian wounds. The hostess came up to Matoi, still shaking. "Y-You're - Urasaria's new president, r-right?"
"I - correct." said Matoi. "Do you need something?"
"I-I…" The woman laughed nervous. "May - may I have your autograph?"
Mia stifled a laugh as Matoi blinked at her, unused to the nonmurderous side of her presidency.
"I… suppose." she muttered. The woman gave her a pen and a pad.
"To help with the insurance payout, too." nodded the woman. Matoi gave her her autograph, and Marisa came over as the woman left.
"Miss Popular." grinned Marisa. "Did you guys get him?"
"Of course." chimed Mia.
"First kill as a squad."
The squad nodded.
"… still." murmured Matoi. "We did well, but - August 17th. We'll begin training together."
"As always." said Samuel, relevantly.
◆◆◆
Mia received a call from Aimee the next day, and she could never resist a chance to see her. Aimee was already at her desk when she came in.
"Wanted to call you in for this. C'mon - sit down."
Mia came on and sat down. Aimee pulled it up with a grin.
"Threat level…" Mia laughed. "Local. Fire possesses ability to disintegrate Revenants. Distinctive blue flames. Currently in a relationship with Aimee R. Sato."
Aimee clicked 'Additional Considerations'.
"… Worldwide was - they know this?"
"Federal heroes came in and interviewed me about it." said Aimee. "Uh. Just giving them information on your Revenant. Didn't want to lie, in case they asked you."
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
"'Worldwide was not given Xenocyclin when transferred to Mia P. Schultz, and still retains its upper power limit from when Ryumi E. Egashira - Threat Level Existential - was its host. Extreme caution is advised in longer engagements.'"
"Guess they figure it's the stress."
"I suppose." laughed Mia. "Was that all, then?"
"And I got reservations at that Russian place." grinned Aimee, and Mia smiled. "Gotta celebrate my threat level local girlfriend."
Her threat level local girlfriend nodded.
◆◆◆
They went out to that Russian place that Aimee had gotten reservations for. Mia had borscht, and Aimee had pierogi, mid-conversation by then.
"He - his Revenant was power over sand?" laughed Mia, and Aimee nodded grinning.
"Yeah. Real sandman. Actually a pretty good Revenant, though." She laughed. "Mexico's got some real nice beaches, too."
"Perhaps we'll go there some day." winked Mia, and Aimee smiled.
"Yeah. Keep getting a bunch of, uh, stuff in Canada, too - mostly Quebec."
"Don't - most of them only speak French?"
"Yeah." laughed Aimee. "Fought some guy where - he thought I spoke French - so he's just yelling at me the whole time, probably swearing. No clue what he was even saying, but - didn't need to, so."
Aimee shrugged, and Mia nodded slower.
"…oh." muttered Aimee. "…yeah."
"She - would have liked to visit, I imagine." chimed Mia, keeping upbeat.
"Maybe." she grinned. "Dunno, though. They just played that game all the time, anyway. Before we, uh - when we were on that trip. -That- trip."
The two groaned.
"Yeah. She'd always stay up on her phone texting Nuiko."
Mia nodded. The two finished their dinners.
"…so, uh. Want any dessert?" chimed Aimee, and Mia grinned.
"I can't pass that up."
"Figured." laughed Aimee, waving the waiter down. "Uh - two orders of creampuffs, please."
His eyes went to her badge for a second, and he nodded slow. "…of - course." He went off.
"Still love those." laughed Aimee, and Mia with her. "Gonna be, uh… two years, coming up in few months. Us."
Mia nodded smiling. "It will be." She felt Aimee's hand under the table.
"…yeah. Really glad I met you."
"I'm really glad I met you, too."
"…you know, um." Aimee's cheeks filled as she scratched her neck. "…uh. I - hope we're together for a long time, but, um…"
"What is it?"
"…um." She laughed nervous. "Am I gonna be the one to propose, or you?"
Mia's heart pierced her. "I - e-er -" - her smile went pink, setting Aimee grinning -
" - I know you've thought about it, c'mon - that dream you had -"
- Mia laughed to cover her embarrassment - " - I - y-yes. I-I - er…" She nodded, breathing deep. "…I - wouldn't mind… you being the one to propose. When - when the, time comes."
"Nice." grinned Aimee. "Was gonna ask for that anyway."
"Y-Yes." laughed Mia. "Even if you are my student in bed -"
- their waiter came by with their desserts, and Mia hoped desperately he hadn't heard as he stopped, glancing at Aimee.
"… Mad Dog." he said.
"Yep." said Aimee. Mia felt Rider's tendrils. "What's up?"
"You killed my brother. Prepare to -"
- his body was headless in an instant; a pillar of blue flame disintegrated him.
"Idiot." droned Mia.
◆◆◆
[August 10th]
A week before the fall semester started, one familiar punk had a meeting with Hirogane.
"They - sorry, what?" said Serena.
"Happens sometimes." he mumbled, showing Serena the list of names. "This is current second-years. On the right, students applying to Urasaria - new first-years. As you can see…"
"…oh." mumbled Serena. "Um. Yeah. What happens then?"
"You'll come the first day, still - get your dispatch tablet. Can leave right after - though it might be better to stay, help me out with the healing." He shrugged. "Sorry. S'happened a few times."
"…yeah." she murmured. "I guess I'll just… hunt with Yuruko, or something?"
"S'fine. Could help out any other pair you want. Medic'll always be in demand."
Serena nodded and laughed after a pause. "…Yeah, I guess."
"Guessing you don't wanna work here, though."
"Um…" She frowned, and Hirogane laughed, waving her down.
"S'fine. Have to pay out of pocket for my own cooking, now, anyway."
"Maybe after I graduate." shrugged Serena.
◆◆◆
[August 16th]
Mia and Serena's summer classes had gone well, and to Mia's silent surprise, Serena had passed with better grades than she had.
That night, the two had confronted their foe in a bank, fifty feet separating them and he. Streams of fog flew in to Mia's ears -
- and filled them with earplugs like Serena's, the two nodding in true confidence as another soundwave shot towards them -
- and the two laughed deafly as the man panted, another soundwave bursting out of his ears towards them -
- and blasting them with the strength of a thousand away, Mia flying left and Serena right; sensing his last opening, the man rushed across the lobby and to the front doors -
- and panting to find them locked, Serena having filled it as she ran in; with no option left, a soundwave burst from his ears -
- and tore him in to a complete spiral of gore, Serena&Mia laughing as they stood again.
"Dumbass." grinned Serena, the two stepping over to the corpse and taking their earplugs out.
"What was it?" chimed Mia, taking her tablet out.
"I filled the doors with uh, a bunch of different tuning forks." said Serena. Her tentacle cut the doors open, and out fell the harmonics. "So - his soundwaves just got blasted back at him at a different pitch, or whatever."
"I wonder where you come up with these." smirked Mia.
"Anime." shrugged Serena, relevantly, tapping her non-speaking clothing.
Mia laughed, crouching down to scan. "And - with that, our…"
"Last time you have to do that for me." grinned Serena, and Mia nodded as they started back home.
"That may be our final fight together for a while, as well." She laughed. "Matoi's very strict. I'm certain we'll be starting training as soon as possible tomorrow."
"Yeah." nodded Serena. "Um - we're moving your stuff out first, right?"
"Er - if you'd prefer, we could start with your's."
"Nah - I've just got, um - my computer and consoles, anyway. Yuruko's gonna help me move in to her house tomorrow."
"Good." nodded Mia, already imagining Marisa's mansion as the two came up to the gates. Serena turned, and the entrance opened as her jacket was scanned, the two smiling as they stepped in to the hall.
"…still, um." Serena's step paused, and she glanced up the hall before speaking. "Um. So, I told you about the protégé stuff, right?"
"Yes." nodded Mia. "Er - but, there's often students who apply in the first few months, or drop out. You may still be assigned one, eventually."
"Yeah." laughed Serena. "I might end up getting one, yeah. Just gotta see. But, um - before we go pack up, I…" She laughed, cheeks filling without fog. "I - c'mon - you already know what I'm gonna say. Last day as mentor and protégé, and…"
"No, no." Mia grinned. "Go ahead - tell me what a wonderful mentor I was."
"Jeez." laughed Serena. "You seriously were, though, um. I'm really glad I got assigned to you. You - when I first - before I came here, I kinda thought it'd be like… I dunno. Some sort of super strict military thing, but - just being able to joke around with you made me way less nervous over the first few weeks."
Mia mock-fanned herself as Serena smiled.
"Like that." Serena laughed. "So, um. I dunno how to say thanks, but I'm really glad we're friends. I'm really glad I got to be your protégé."
"I'm very glad we're friends, as well." Mia smiled. "And that I was assigned to be your mentor."
The two embraced, and started down the hall.
"… still, er, for this year, I'll be busy with…"
"'Elite Four' business?" grinned Serena, and Mia laughed.
"Something like that. But - let me know if you need any help."
"Thanks. Um - you too."
The best friends smiled, and Mia got to their home before it struck her. "… Serena. How far are you on your money?"
"Oh - uh. I'm at about… Still only like, $26,000 or so."
Mia grinned. "You didn't hear it from me - but I believe you'll receive some good news soon."
"You gotta tell me." grinned Serena, and Mia wagged her head.
"No, no. You'll just have to wait and see."
◆◆◆
Serena stepped in to the arena her first day, already planning to leave with Yuruko after the initial announcements. Tuyuan stepped behind her, checking her new (but old) jacket.
"… Miasma. Huh." he said, stepping beside her. "Surprised you didn't go for an anime reference."
Serena shrugged. "No. Just tried to think of something cool to do with fog."
"Makes sense." He tapped his badge that read 'WRAITH'. "Unique, too. I wrote down a whole list for mine."
"I had to look up a thesaurus." laughed Tiffany at his left, new badge that read 'VECTOR'. "I still can't believe you got two-star before me, though - shit."
"I tried my best." laughed Serena, and Tuyuan with her.
"Her mentor's in the top four, too -"
- the front doors opened, and in stepped Hirogane, no assistants left and bag in tow, eyes on Serena for a second as he stepped forward.
"Here. Come up and get your dispatch devices. Got three announcements to make."
They came up and got their dispatch devices, the tablet thankfully not a new design.
"What wonderful new restrictions do you have for us this year?" said Tuyuan, flicking the tracker off.
"S'all good news - for you, at least." shrugged Hirogane. "Thank your president when you see her. State legislature's currently drafting a bill with the following. Paid travel expenses for two-stars -"
" - what?" sputtered Tiffany, the rest following -
" - sheesh, let me get through it. Paid travel expenses for two-stars - within reason. Don't go blowing it all on gambling if you visit a town with a casino. Probably'll have to call you all up to get your Urasaria credit card when it passes. Second - your proteges will be choosing their hero name by this Friday. If you're still not two-star - you'll be choosing your's, too. New rule."
"How the fuck did she get paid travel expenses?" sputtered Tuyuan. "What - last year, they're -"
" - and third, you're all getting a pay raise of a thousand a month - at every rank."
Mia's good news on her mind, calculations readjusting in her head, Serena asked; "When?"
"Your president gave it a deadline of two months to pass."
A laugh went down the line.
"She -" - Tiffany laughed - " - -she's- the one making the deadline?"
Hirogane shrugged. "She's got her ways. There's your good news."
"…shit." murmured Serena. With her salary only - next July. Three-star or contracts - even sooner.
Hirogane nodded. "If you take a look at your tablet now -"
- the front doors burst open behind, and in stepped a young panting man -
" - there's - there's - a woman unconscious at the front gate -"
- he turned - " - there's, what?"
"A - a woman -" - he nodded - " - um, I don't - know if that's normal, or -"
" - um, I can check it out." said Serena, stepping up, and Hirogane nodded as he waved her away.
"Bring her back here - I'll check on her."
"Yeah." nodded Serena and started up the hall,the two running - " - you said she's unconscious?"
"Yes, she's - I don't know who she is, if she's a current student or someone, or a first-year, but -"
- the two rushed out of the first-year building, Serena catching speed as she ran up the streets, through the hall. As she came out of the front gate -
- she saw to her right a heavily bruised woman, slumped against the wall, crowd of eight students having gathered; she ran up quick, checking breathing and pulse first. The woman had a black ponytail, black&white tracksuit gashed in twenty places.
"Let me - um, I'm a second-year, so - does anyone know what happened?"
"N-No, I didn't - I mean, none of us - tried to touch her, but -" said a woman from the crowd, and Serena nodded, sweeping the unconscious cargo with arm&tentacle, streams of fog checking the woman for open wounds.
She stepped back through the gates, careful with her cargo until she came back to the arena, second-years and Hirogane in anticipation as she laid her gently down.
"Anything I should worry about? Revenant - anything like that?" he muttered, drawing Pulse's tendril out.
"They - didn't say anything, no." said Serena, and Pulse touched the woman's heart. Hirogane nodded slow, feeling the rest of the first-years coming up behind and crowding around.
"Is she -" said one man -
" - if I'm an inch off, this kills her. Don't interrupt me." sighed Hirogane. "Mentors, come get your new rubbernecking proteges."
It took a minute for the mentors to peel off their new rubbernecking proteges, and Serena heard murmurs as she kept crouched next to Hirogane.
"… Can Pulse actually kill?" she whispered.
"No, but it gets them to shut up and stay still." He drew the tendril out. "Seems like she's got a colony. Doesn't look like it's active, though. Can't heal her myself."
"What do you mean?"
"She's got a Revenant - but it's not active yet. Giving her nutrients won't help." He glanced to her. "Take her to the infirmary and keep an eye on her. Treat her if you can, and call me if she wakes up."
"Alright."
Diet Saya scooped the woman up, and she set off. Eventually, she came to the infirmary door on the third-floor, and groaned to find it locked.
"Blackburn."
Streams of fog filled it with a perfect match, and in she stepped, placing gently her cargo on to a bed. Her breathing was steady, with no odd cycle. Serena placed her hand on the woman's forehead -
- and found her temperature dropping rapidly, chill skin suddenly claiming her patient -
" - Blackburn." she winced, streams of fog filling the woman with heat -
- and her left arm burnt black; with a shriek, Serena filled her with cold -
- and her left arm froze solid - with only one option left, Serena ripped her new tablet out and tapped it quick -
" - uh - how do I fucking use this fuck fuck -" - she groaned and threw it aside, swapping it for her phone, calling the only woman she could as her patient's temperature began to drop again -
" - he-"
" - Need you! Infirmary! Emergency!"
" - Matoi - Serena needs me for an emergency - I'll be right there."
She heard Mia running on the other end, sheets of ice forming as she slid.
"What's - what's happening?"
"There's -" - Serena winced, Blackburn forced to fill the woman with heat again, fingers starting to char and burn off - " - someone unconscious, and they're super sensitive to temperature - but it keeps dropping, and -"
- the infirmary window shattered open in a rain of glass -
- and there was the prodigal former mentor, ladder of ice melting behind as she rushed over, scarabs readied -
" - she's - very sensitive to temperature? Is it alright to touch her?" panted Mia, hair a mop of sweat -
" - I - I think so, yeah." nodded Serena; Mia threw her hand to the woman's forehead -
- and the two breathed relief as the woman's arm stayed the same, normal temperature resuming in her body. Serena's tentacle pulled a chair for Mia, and the two sat together.
"I… alright." Mia nodded, panting. "… S-Serena. Can you - g-glass of water?"
"Okay." said Serena, pulling her cup out, filling it and handing it to Mia.
She drank the fog-juice. "… t-thank you." She exhaled, fire scarabs drying her sweating hair.
"…man. I've never seen you like this." grinned Serena. "Even when we were in that maze."
"Don't remind me." Mia winced. "I still have nightmares about that."
"That fucking scream." winced Serena. "But, um, yeah. This chick… She - someone found her unconscious, outside. Hirogane said she has a Revenant, but it's not active, I guess."
"…r-right." heaved Mia, wiping the sweat out of her eyes. "I - Matoi's - training - g-god."
"What's she having you do?"
"Currently - carrying - Marisa." winced Mia. "While running - in a track room that she - has ten heaters at - full blast inside."
Serena laughed where Mia didn't.
"She's not letting me use my ice scarabs for it, either."
"'You'll either survive, or you'll break.'" grinned Serena.
"I don't even want to think about that room, right now." groaned Mia. "Someone… someone found her outside, then…?"
"Yeah. I wanna check if there's a Revenant inside her, too."
Mia nodded, and as Serena dipped her tentacle in the woman's stomach -
" - what the fuck? Her - I mean, I can't really - see - but - even I can tell her organs are all fucked up -"
" - they're - all fucked up?"
Serena nodded. "There's just like - someone - like someone took a knife to her - or a hammer." With a wince, Blackburn's tentacle refilled the patient with new tissue -
- and a bomb erupted from inside the woman's legs -
- but a swift globe of ice formed around, protecting Mia&Serena from the explosive blast as the bed broke in half -
- and swift streams of fog refilled the woman's decapitated stumps -
" - what the fuck?!" panted Serena, scarabs still keeping the patient safe as they backed carefully away -
" - was somebody - trying to use her as a bomb?"
"That - maybe, but, that would've killed Hirogane, right? If he had healed her?"
"If it's triggered that way." nodded Mia. "…but…"
Serena stepped up careful, dipping her tentacle in again. She gestured to a new bed, transferring the patient careful.
"…shit. She's got… fuck, like - everywhere I put my tentacle, there's something new fucked up." Her tentacle dipped in to the woman's kneecaps. "Her bones are - ugh, I can feel them - this is super gross."
"What is it?" said Mia, drawing up.
"There's like - holes in them. Like someone took a fucking drill to her."
"…hm." Mia frowned. "If the bombs are triggered by that, then…"
"… only one way to find out." winced Serena, refilling the woman's bones -
- and two sighed relief as no explosion came. Serena set to work for an hour longer on refilling and repairing the woman and her clothing, organs torn and gashed, joints replaced randomly by lead, skeleton smashed in several places, damage only barely visible from the outside.
"…someone was fucking torturing this woman." muttered Mia as they finished.
The woman started to stir, and the two sat still as her eyes opened -
- with two gashes cut in each. Serena winced, crouching over. "Um - hi. My name is Serena. I'm going to heal your eyes, okay?"
No response.
"Okay?"
"Serena." murmured Mia, pointing to the woman's ears.
"Oh." mumbled Serena, streams of fog repairing the woman's hearing and sight with new tissue. "Can you hear me now? My name is Serena."
"Your name is Serena." said the woman, utterly monotone.
Serena smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Me and Mia are here to help you. What's your name?"
"Naomi."
"Good." nodded Mia. "How are you feeling?"
"I am feeling terrible. My entire body hurts."
"Is - do you have any other injuries? I can help heal you." said Serena.
"Where am I?"
"Urasaria Academy's infirmary." said Mia. "You're safe here."
"Do, um. Do you remember anything?" said Serena.
"I remember six things. My name is Naomi. Your name is Serena. Her name is Mia. Serena can heal me. I am at Urasaria Academy. The infirmary is safe."
"…um. What about before you woke up?"
"I woke up?"
"Yeah. Just now."
"Why is your arm a tentacle?"
"Oh, um. That's my Revenant - Blackburn. It can heal you."
"And mine is Worldwide. The scarabs." nodded Mia. "They're harmless." Sensing normal temperature returning, Mia's scarabs disappeared. "Let me know if you're too cold, or too hot."
The infirmary door opened, and in stepped Hirogane. "She doing alright -"
- his eyes went to the shattered bed, and Serena gave a vague wave as he came over.
"Who is that?" said Naomi.
"That's Hirogane." said Serena. "A medic."
Naomi blinked. "Who are you two?"
"Um. Serena."
"Mia." said Mia, and Hirogane sat down beside.
"Guessing you two already asked her the usual questions. What's her name?"
"Naomi." said Mia.
"Where am I?"
"Urasaria Academy." said Serena. "Um - hang on." She took her phone out, typing a list.
"She had a lot of injuries." murmured Mia. "Someone planted a bomb in her legs. They - Serena said her organs were torn, her bones broken."
"Yeah." said Serena. "Plus, when I brought her in here, her temperature started dropping really quick. That's why I called Mia."
"Smart thinking." murmured Hirogane. "Naomi, do you remember anything that happened before you woke up?"
"I woke up?"
"Um. I think she has amnesia, too." said Serena, handing Naomi her phone. "Here. So you can keep track of stuff."
"Your name is Serena. Her name is Mia. His name is Hirogane."
"Right." smiled Serena.
"Where am I?" Naomi looked down at the phone. "Urasaria Academy."
"Right. In the infirmary."
"Your Revenant is Blackburn. A tentacle that can heal me."
Hirogane glanced at Serena and shrugged. "About right."
"Yes." Mia nodded. "Serena - did you let her know about the temperature?"
"Yeah, that's on there."
"I woke up." said Naomi.
"…right." said Hirogane. "So, you… Serena. Do you think she has a brain injury?"
"…um. I'm… not really sure."
"Guess I'm supposed to be the doctor." yawned the man who was supposed to be the doctor.
"The temperature fluctuations, and - what had been done to her…" Mia frowned. "It… must be the work of a Revenant."
"As always." said Hirogane, relevantly. "Keep her here for a while - see if she remembers anything. Can take her to one of the private rooms and keep her away from students."
Naomi set the phone down. "Who are you?"
Serena stifled a laugh. "Um, lemme make this simpler." she chimed, filling her hand with a marker. She rolled up Naomi's sleeves and wrote 'CHECK THE PHONE' on her right arm, updating the list with the other.
"Check the phone." She checked the phone with her left hand. "My name is Naomi. Your name is Serena."
"Yeah. Are you hungry?"
"Yes."
"What do you want?"
Naomi blinked. "Why is your arm a tentacle?"
Mia stifled a laugh as she raised Naomi's right arm. Naomi nodded and checked the phone.
"Seems like you two've got it." said Hirogane. "Yell for me if you need something."
"Er - right." murmured Mia. "Here, Naomi."
The two took her to a private room, and she asked who they were once they set her down. Serena took a bowl from Luna's former office and filled it with oatmeal, and the patient ate and drank water by herself. An hour later, already dreading her return, Mia left for the Matoi chamber of death, and Serena tried to keep conversation with Naomi.
By night, Hirogane came in and suggested Naomi be by her side constantly. Renault would check the security footage by the next morning. Serena warned Yuruko of the new arrival before she came home, and the chemist was as curious with Naomi on the couch.
"She's, uh - gonna be staying over?" said Yuruko, standing over the deadpan woman, and Serena nodded.
"I think it'd be safe for her, yeah."
(Given that the two didn't have sex much due to Serena's dysphoria & Yuruko's low drive, the most embarrassing thing Naomi might've heard would be Yuruko yelling at videogames. Serena still felt guilty that they had to put that part of their relationship on hold until after Kamon, but Yuruko didn't mind.)
"You are Yuruko. Serena's girlfriend." said Naomi, reading the list.
"Yep." chimed Yuruko, Serena's girlfriend.
"Does she use her tentacle on you -"
- Yuruko burst laughing while Serena's cheeks filled -
" - u-um - I d-don't." panted Serena, Yuruko grinning like a fiend at her side.
"I like her already." She gave a wink to Serena as she sat beside Naomi, Serena following, sheathing her tentacle.
"Um, she seems to be getting better, at least." said Serena. "You know my name now, right?"
"Serena. You are Yuruko's girlfriend, and use your tentacle, Blackburn, on her -"
- and the two didn't bother stifling it, Naomi's eyes sunken and unable to comprehend it -
" - to heal her -"
" - oh!" panted Serena - " - I - um - yeah."
Naomi nodded.
"Yeah, Serena." grinned Yuruko. "What did you think she meant?"
"Like you weren't thinking of it." laughed Serena. "Especially after that picture."
"Yeah." laughed Yuruko. "Still, uh. Naomi. Are you feeling tired?"
"Yes."
"You should sleep. Serena and me'll keep you safe."
She nodded, and laid her head down on a Blackburn pillow. Yuruko got up and in to another chair, ready to watch her in shifts with Serena.
"Good luck." chimed Serena, the lucky first slumberer, and went to her&Yuruko's room.
◆◆◆
The next morning, the three met with Jamie, Renault's wife and eternally unpleasant.
"They - what?" sighed Serena.
Jamie put on her best smile for Naomi. "The bad man threw her out of my husband, Renault's, camera's range. She was throooown. From out of where the cameras could see."
Yuruko frowned. "You know she just has amnesia, right? She's not disabled."
"I am not retarded." nodded Naomi, sagely, and Jamie laughed.
"Well. That's what happened. Useless fucking man - I told him to plant those fucking fireflies further back. You know what he does?"
"What does he do?" said Serena.
"He places them a god damn foot ahead where I told him to. Rewind's fireflies! Can place them anywhere he fucking wants, and he still chooses -"
" - can we just get the video?" sighed Yuruko, and Jamie grunted.
"You don't know how Rewind works, do you? Don't have an app for it."
"What?"
"Rewind's fireflies - they're cameras. Renault can project the video out - but can't give anyone a 'file'."
"…can he let us see the video, then?" said Serena, and Jamie laughed.
"When a man can turn in to a woman. Only staff gets to see."
Yuruko saw Blackburn's fog appear for a second.
"Great." muttered Serena. "Thanks."
Two stepped out and one followed.
"She is unpleasant." said Naomi, and the two laughed.
"Yeah. Sounds about right." grinned Yuruko, tapping Serena's shoulder. She bucked her annoyance off and nodded.
"Yeah. Still, though." She frowned. "If the guy who dropped you off isn't on video… oh, um - check your phone. Number five."
Naomi checked her phone and nodded. (Mia had bought her one for note-taking.)
"Yeah." sighed Yuruko. "Maybe, uh… wait. She - she said 'threw' you, right?"
"She did." said Naomi.
"Memory's still improving, too." nodded Serena. "Um. Okay. Someone threw you?"
"Wait, so - you said she had a shitton of bruises, right?" said Yuruko. "And her Revenant isn't active?"
"Yeah - wait, I think I know what you're getting at -"
" - was somebody trying to activate her Revenant? Like - by beating her up?"
The three paused.
"…Um. What do you think, Naomi?"
"My Revenant is not active. I do not know why I was beaten."
"That… Maybe." winced Yuruko. "Maybe like… They dropped her off, because they got... frustrated? Just to make sure - you've never heard its name, right?"
"I have n-"
" - BOO!" shouted Yuruko; Serena shrieked -
- and Naomi blinked.
"… Was worth a try." murmured Yuruko. "Uh, but yeah. Natural Revenants usually activate when the host is pretty stressed, so…"
"Should we try to activate it?" winced Serena, and Yuruko nodded.
"Uh - not by beating her, though. I think we should go out hunting and just keep her safe."
The three came out of the building.
"Is that coolio with you, Naomi?"
Naomi checked her phone. "It says to trust Yuruko and Serena."
"Coolio." grinned Yuruko, and the three set out.