[ARC 1: SCOURGE OVER URASARIA]

It always irritated Rodale how the redhead student assigned on Wednesdays made a habit of smoking indoors. He had once seen the hero name on her badge, and after a series of calls to Urasaria Academy's student body president with no real resolution, simply resolved that this was a group of people who broke the law as much as they enforced it.

He worked in a building whose existence had become nearly superfluous in recent years: a prison for former hosts. Mid-afternoon on the first day of August 2018, his eye was pulled over his desk at the visitor's center by a young, tall woman walking down the sidewalk.

"Well, there she is. I was wondering why she was so late."

His supervisor sat down beside. He saw nothing that made her different from the eight or so already gathered in the waiting room. "I don't know her. Is she somebody special?"

"Mia Schultz."

The name meant nothing to the supervisor. "One of the students?" he guessed.

"No, she just likes to dress like she is one. She don't talk much, but you should see her when a student does come in. She sits right up and smiles at them. I don't notice her pay any respect to anyone else who comes through here."

"You thinking of somebody in particular?"

"I just think law enforcement is law enforcement, I don't see why she's got to act like we're different. Would be nice if she learned some manners with everyone in this building. Not just those girls."

The supervisor mused. "I suspect that's the point."

Rodale watched as Mia pulled open the door. A 6' tall woman with midlength white hair, she wore a button-down shirt tucked in to her dress pants.

"Afternoon, Ms. Schultz." he said. "Here to visit your father?"

"Yes." she said.

He started typing. "I'll have them bring him out soon, then. Any particular reason you were so late today?"

"Revenant." she said, then turned away and sat down.

Rodale muttered something under his breath. He had seen Mia a few times around the city before; no wonder it was never with anyone else.

"I can see why you're so afraid of her." whispered the supervisor.

Mia coughed to herself as she took out her phone. The last host she had seen hadn't broken it, but the student who'd responded missiles nearly did. She checked social media for any recent Revenant sightings, then sighed a little as she saw a disparaging comment. In America. some still bitterly argued over the distinction between Urasaria students & civilian police: one killed when necessary & the other even when not. Which, of course, Mia would have answered in that order.

She often felt disconnected from the rest of her generation. Lesbian communities didn't like her because she defended Urasaria students, and for this reason & others, she had difficulty making any friends besides her parents. In her view, her years as a latchkey child walking home with students had grounded an obligation to defend them, acidic as she sometimes was.

Checking the comment again, she replied: "Civilian cops already practically have legal immunity. Why shouldn't students? They don't abuse it." Turning her phone on silent, she added: "Ask a radiation victim in California if students are too violent."

She had seen enough violent hosts with Revenants to feel no sympathy over their deaths. For this reason, rent was cheap around Urasaria Academy, and she came from parents whose money was cut off at the pockets until her father's arrest. She would be leaving soon for college, but wasn't entirely confident; she had signed up for Psychology only because it seemed like a major she might enjoy, or enough to live on. She felt some causes deeply - politics or students - but that was all.

Hearing the doors open, she turned to smile at a redhead student stepping inside, who didn't even look her way before pulling a pack of cigarettes out of her jacket. Mia knew this woman's Revenant from online videos, and she would confess that this was not a particularly attractive woman - by any standard. From what little conversation Mia had once made with her, she tended to speak as awkwardly as Mia.

A little embarrassed, Mia watched as Manufacture's metal rods formed in the woman's hands. An electrical spark from one of the rods lit her cigarette and another electrical arc pulled the smoke away. Out of the side of Mia's sight, Rodale's neck tensed with rage. She tittered just as the student did.

A guard called for Mia, and the last she saw before the door closed behind her was Rodale's mouth opening to yell. After being searched, Mia was escorted to the telephone visitation hall and sat across from her father Stefan.

She picked up the phone and smiled. "There was a - a Revenant, I'm sorry I'm so late."

"Better get all my questions out now, then." he said. "Did you get a haircut, or was that the Revenant?"

Mia laughed. "I had it cut last week."

"Should've brought what they cut off to me." he laughed, rubbing his head. "Could use some. What about - college, right? Admissions going good?"

"A bit, but…" She frowned, needing to be careful. Eight guards were behind her father & two behind her. Since he'd been arrested, this was usually how she asked for money. "My scholarships were a… little short on tuition."

The two pretended to sigh.

"Well, they don't want any poor people getting an education, now." he laughed. "But, I'm sure - sure there's something you can do. Ask your mother."

"Perhaps." She smiled.

He nodded. "Who's on guard today? Did you see?"

"I, er, I don't remember her name. She hosts Manufacture, the - the metal rods."

"Did you talk to her?"

"I'm not attracted to e-every lesbian I see." laughed Mia.

"Oh, you don't know her name, but you know she's a lesbian?"

"Most hosts are." muttered Mia. "A-At least the women. A-And I have talked to her before, but she's not my type, she's very… weird, and I… like more butch women. I-I suppose."

"Well, has there been any development there?" he said and Mia shook her head. "I bet you'll be popular at college. You know your mother always told you you've got the height of a model."

"I s-suppose. I always feel a little nervous around other women." She sighed. "Or in general."

"Well, but that's something that… and if you had…" His head shook. "No, I'm not going to lecture you today. I'm just glad you were able to come visit."

Mia nodded, grateful he wasn't about to hit her with that foolishness about needing to find a job. If she wanted stubborn lessons about the 'real world' from a father who hadn't seen it in years, she listened to Stefan; if she needed coddling from a mother who wished she could've put Mia in a picture frame when she was 10 & kept her like that, she went to Alina.

They talked for a while, and after a guard escorted Mia back to the waiting room, she noticed the student was still smoking. She'd seen students survive amputation before; whatever durability that bacterial colony on their hearts gave them probably prevented cancer, too. As she walked past, the redhead pulled the smoke away from her eyes.

On the way home, she decided to walk closer by Urasaria Academy's street, and texted her mother.

(Mia) "I'll be home in an hour."

She passed by one corner, and in the next instant -

- four arms gripped her neck from behind -

" - FTL." his voice muttered -

- and she fell unconscious.

◆◆◆

She awoke bound to a bed in an unfamiliar room. One man & one woman were sitting beside her, but she felt relieved at their Urasaria badges.

"Was t-there a Revenant?" she panted, and the man stood up, middle-aged, wearing a white robe with black splotches. Mia heard a phone vibrating on the cornertable.

"Probably someone calling." he said, gesturing to the woman, young with pink-hair & a marching band uniform.

"I'll check it." she said and walked away.

"You're in Urasaria's infirmary." said the robed man. "Assuming you know what that is."

"Y-Yes." Mia nodded. "I-I think someone attacked me, or -"

" - it's her mom." said the pink-haired woman, vibrating phone in-hand.

"C-Can I speak to her?" said Mia.

"Not yet." The robed man shook his head. "Symphony, tell her to call the infirmary. Saya'll get it."

"Works for me." shrugged the pink-haired woman. Her badge read 'SYMPHONY'.

"She'll know you're safe here." he yawned. "Need to ask you questions, first. Name?"

"Mia, Mia Schultz - er - only one Mia." Near the edge of her sight, she saw Symphony stifling a laugh.

"…right. Any relation to Stefan?"

"Y-Yes. I'm his daughter."

"This shit's boring." said Symphony as she came over. "Ask her about -"

- the door knocked, and a woman's voice came. "Hirogane, I need help with patients, please."

The robed man gestured to Symphony as he went out & shut the door.

"Anyway." said Symphony. "I already know your name, so let's skip the - I mean, unless you have brain damage or some shit."

"I… don't believe so." Mia winced. "Why am I restrained?"

"Because you have a Revenant."

"What? I-I don't have a Revenant."

"Uh, yeah, you do. Already got somebody to confirm it." Symphony shrugged. "Anyway, you've got three options. You can get it removed, attend Urasaria, or-"

"- I'm - I'm sorry, but I-I don't have a Revenant -"

"- uh, you do. I just said that." said Symphony, relevantly. "It's just not active yet. You can't even use it, so -"

" - no, I-I was tested when I was younger - I don't even have the Volgari protein gene. When, when I was younger - I can't even host a Revenant -"

" - uh, right." Symphony sighed & sat down. She wasn't a woman of a patient nature, and took it as a rigid law that anything involving work should be left to someone else - usually Aimee. "Well, I'm still not gonna untie you until Hirogane gets back."

Mia frowned as Symphony pulled her own phone out and continued.

"Anyway, you've got three choices. You can get it removed, you can attend Urasaria, or you can go fight in, uh, Iran or some shit." said Symphony, glancing between her phone's camera & Mia's legs. She was a visually-inclined woman and judged most lesbians by a tape measure.

The door opened, and in stepped a butch woman, face like a chipped stone & unevenly cut black hair, tattered denim vest, badge that read 'MAD DOG'. "Hey. What's going on?"

"A big mystery." said Symphony, who Aimee knew as Makoto. "Chick says she doesn't have a Revenant. Hirogane says she does, but it's not active."

"…uh. Right." she muttered, sitting down beside. Symphony's face grinned over her shoulder as she smiled nervously to Mia. "My name's, u-um, Aimee Sato. Urasaria's student body president."

"Rank #1." chimed Symphony.

Aimee nervously laughed. "Yeah. Uh. What's your name?"

Mia breathed deep. "…Mia Schultz."

Aimee nodded, but her pause told Mia she knew about her father too. "Alright. You said her Revenant's not active anyway, right?"

"Not yet, anyway." said Makoto. "Just found her outside unconscious. She says she got attacked."

"Right." said Aimee, placing her hands on Mia's restraints. "Uh. Probably pretty uncomfortable, right? Lemme undo these."

Mia nodded as Aimee unbound her. "T-Thank you."

"Sure." Aimee smiled. "Uh, so, you're in Urasaria's infirmary. You're safe here, u-um. Do you wanna talk about what happened?"

"…Y-Yes. G-Give me a minute, please." After a minute, she said: "All I remember was - I was walking home, a-and someone grabbed me from behind, and I fell unconscious. I-I woke up here."

"Yeah. Did you, um, have a Revenant before this? It's okay if you do since we know it isn't active. Won't get in trouble for that. Promise."

"A-Are you absolutely sure I have a Revenant? Because I just - I don't understand how I could have a Revenant, I - I don't have the… gene. F-For Volgari proteins." She saw Aimee's eyes wonder if she was lying, and now she worried she'd lost her sympathy.

"…alright. Do you have, uh… records of that?"

"My mother will. Alina Schultz."

"Okay. Makoto, can you go tell Hirogane to get that?"

"Sure thing, Lady Aimee." said Makoto and stepped out.

Aimee disliked the nickname, but showing that would've encouraged her. While she understood why Makoto had never had a girlfriend, she still liked her - maybe only because they'd spent a year as roommates.

A bit of anxiety came up in her being alone with Mia; like many lesbians, she had an unfortunate habit of throwing her thoughts in to a woman's basket before she knew her sexuality, and a persistent superstition of coming on too strongly.

"…u-uh." muttered Aimee. "S-So, you do have a Revenant. We have someone that confirmed that, but if you don't have the gene…"

"…I don't know how. I-I don't know how."

"Hey, it's - it's alright, right?" said Aimee. "I'm sure there's some explanation. Right? Maybe you're… you know, a medical marvel, right?"

"I-If only." laughed Mia, and Aimee smiled.

"Just, uh - medical marvel that got dropped off right at the gates." She laughed nervously, trying to keep her hands silent. "But, just gotta wait for now, uh. Sure you're telling the truth, but maybe just missed something. In the meantime, do you want anything? Something to drink? Um - a t-thousand bucks?"

Mia laughed. "Water, p-please."

"Sure thing."

Aimee went out to the main infirmary, then went over to knock at Saya's door.

"Come in." said her voice and Aimee stepped inside, black-haired & modestly-dressed medic at her desk. "Mad Dog. Do you need something?"

"Just a glass of water."

Saya took an empty glass out of her desk, frowning as she held her right hand over it. "…Blackburn hasn't replenished yet. Give me a minute, please."

"Sure thing." Aimee sat down. "Is uh, Luna not here today?"

Saya smiled. "She is, but she asked for time alone to practice socializing with patients."

Aimee nodded, but figured the infirmary's freckled chef was likely cooped up in her office. It was known around Urasaria that it took Saya to get anything out of Luna - whether they were best friends or best girlfriends was something speculated but never certain. "How's that going?"

Saya tapped the glass, fog appearing on her right hand. Blackburn's fog flew in & filled the cup with water. "She's… still in her office, I believe. I should go check on her."

Aimee smiled as she took the glass & the two went back out. Makoto & Hirogane came up to her.

"Mother says she doesn't have a Revenant, and she doesn't have the Volgari gene." said Hirogane. "Asked her to fax over the test result."

"Yeah, after she finds a fax machine in an antique store or some shit." said Makoto.

Aimee laughed. "Probably, yeah. Still. Can tell she's not dangerous."

"Uh, except to you." grinned Makoto as Hirogane walked off. "Gonna ask for some alone time?"

"Wouldn't mind it." muttered Aimee, and she & Makoto went back to Mia holding her phone.

"E-Er, I-I took it back." she said, and Aimee nodded as she handed her the glass.

"Um, mom might've told you, but they asked for the test result."

"She's going down to, er, a local library for their fax machine."

"Figured. Guess she, uh - at least she didn't have to look in an antique store, right?" said Aimee, and Mia smiled.

"Yes."

Given that Makoto had never had a girlfriend, Aimee realized she shouldn't have stolen the joke. One was hopeless due to her personality and the other her appearance, and if Makoto wasn't so stubborn, she might've put her luckier half of things to use.

"Good one, Aimee." chimed Makoto.

Any other time, Aimee would've joshed Makoto over it, but in front of a woman like Mia felt a need to hide any of her personality that might've been taken offensively. About the only thing she felt confident in was fighting, though her Revenant was the type of ability where she sometimes worried her being rank #1 could've been achieved by *anyone* hosting it.

Out of her eyes' corners, she saw Makoto eyeing Mia. Aimee was rarely a sexual woman, even disgusted by it at times. She might've felt a bit envious if she didn't know her best friend's sheets usually covered thoughts of any feminine woman, not specifically Mia. Makoto had once said that her first month at Urasaria had left her with pruned fingers for a year. Never before had another lesbian's words left such a visceral & graphic import in Aimee's mind.

The door opened, and Hirogane stepped in holding a sheet of paper. "S'legitimate - she didn't have Volgari proteins before, and she has them now." He glanced at Mia. "You got tested when you were sixteen."

Mia nodded. Her pillow had been damp the entire week after that result.

"Any idea what that means?" said Aimee.

"Medical marvel, or another Revenant gave it to her." said Hirogane. "She doesn't have a Penxeno allergy, either. Already checked with Pulse."

Mia spoke up. "Er, does - does that mean I do have a Revenant now?"

"You do." said Hirogane.

"…shit." muttered Makoto. "What the fuck?"

"Um, Mia." said Aimee and turned. "You know what that means, right? Volgari gene and all that?"

Mia nodded, a little excited.

"She did go to highschool, you know." said Hirogane. "Presumably."

Aimee saw Makoto smirking at that one. Someday, she was going to put up a sign outside Urasaria's gate - 'HOME TO 99 STUDENTS & 3 JACKASSES'. "Uh, yeah, but - just want to make her c-comfortable."

Mia smiled. "It helps. Thank you."

"Sure thing." Aimee grinned like a sheep.

"Yep." chimed Makoto. "That's our president. Super nice. And she's really good at eating -"

" - someone dropped her off at the front gate, then." said Hirogane. "Renault's cameras should have seen who. I'll let him know." He walked out.

Aimee nodded, trying to keep her comforting streak going. "Yeah, um. We'll find out what happened, and make sure you're safe. Right?"

"T-Thank you." said Mia. "What happens now, then?"

"Uh, s-sorry, but… They're not gonna let you leave Urasaria until we find out."

"That's alright."

"Yeah. But, um - probably just get to stay here, and the food's pretty good. Right?"

"I haven't tried it yet." said Mia, and Aimee laughed nervously.

"O-Oh. Uh. I-If you want, I can get something for you. But, uh - if your Revenant activates, tell someone right away."

"Er, how will I know when it activates?"

"You hear its name." said Makoto. "Shit's impossible to miss."

"Loudest thought you'll ever have." laughed Aimee. "You'll feel stronger, too. Reaction times speed up, stuff like that. After that, uh… You'll probably go with Urasaria, right?"

"Or the Middle East." chimed Makoto, relevantly.

"…I-I don't know yet, but…" murmured Mia, knowing she wouldn't join the military. "…I can still have it removed, right?"

"...yeah." said Aimee. "But, uh. Urasaria's… It's, it's good. If you don't want to - whatever makes you comfortable."

Mia nodded. "May I call my mother?"

"Sure, yeah. Um, you can, u-um - what do you want to eat? K-kinda forgot to ask."

"Er, just milk, if that's alright. I-I'm not very hungry."

Aimee nodded and took her glass. "Sure thing. Be back in a few minutes."

"Gonna get something, too." yawned Makoto, stepping out with her. She grinned at Aimee once the door closed. "Jeeeez."

"S-Shut up." laughed Aimee.

"You might as well just write 'Please Sit Here' on your face."

"Yeah-yeah." muttered Aimee as they came to Saya's office.

"I mean, I'm trying to wingwoman you, but Hirogane interrupted -"

" - yeah, by making a sex joke." laughed Aimee, and Makoto slurped. "Come on." She knocked at Saya's door, realizing a second later where she was. She'd resolved to look like an idiot all day.

"Probably with her girlfriend." yawned Makoto, walking over to Luna's office. "Speaking of 'Please Sit Here'."

Aimee frowned and followed her. Makoto was one of the few who joked about Saya & Luna, and had never met a joke too dirty to tell. "C'mon."

"Who do you think's the top?"

It always perplexed Aimee when lesbians borrowed terms from gay men, but no matter. "She's going to hear you some day."

Makoto laughed. "And do what? Fill my throat with knives?"

"She could. Probably would be a pretty good student if she wanted to be."

"Uh, does Blackburn even desensitize her? She's a total pacifist." said Makoto. "You know, I never get those people who sign up so they can actually arrest hosts."

"You know Saya didn't sign up."

"I'm not talking about her, I'm talking about those nonlethal weirdos. Someone attacks you and you're still not gonna spray their guts two streets away? Fuck that."

Aimee shrugged. "Uh, they're a pretty self-eliminating bunch, Makoto."

"Yeah, but you don't know if your girlfriend in there is."

Aimee's eyes rolled as they kept walking. She even agreed with Makoto, but clearly, someone needed to externalize their frustration today. Aimee was just the opposite; she internalized everything and grew ulcers.

Saya came out of Luna's office & Aimee handed her the glass. "Hey, um - sorry, she wanted milk. We were talking for a few minutes, got distracted."

Saya nodded, Blackburn's fog refilling it with milk. Aimee thanked her and went back to Mia with Makoto.

"Here." chimed Aimee, handing it to Mia. "Um, if you want anything else, just let me know."

"…thank you." murmured Mia, still finding it difficult to talk. "I-I still need to call my mother."

"Sure thing." said Aimee as Makoto stood and left. "Revenant isn't active, so, um, sure."

"…er." Mia gestured awkwardly. "…I-I still need to call my mother. In private -"

" - oh! Sorry, um - sorry, I - yeah - um - sure thing." nodded Aimee quickly, trying not to stumble as she went out and closed the door -

" - you tried." grinned Makoto.

"T-This fucking sucks." winced Aimee, relevantly. "I don't even know if she's - or if she'll be - f-fuck."

"At least she's just as nervous of you. That's how you tell a chick likes you."

"Don't e-even." muttered Aimee, checking herself in her phone's reflection. "And I'm fucking looking like - this, too." It felt like the fantasy of seeing your ex on a day you were looking great, but as was really the case, it was on a day you looked your worst. "Hair is just - fuck."

Back in Mia's room, she hadn't called her mother yet. She didn't feel different yet, and her heart wasn't beating stronger. She reached over to the paper Hirogane had left, and remembering how she had reacted two years prior, felt excited, even nervous. She had felt empty of passion before; maybe this could fill her shoes with some.

She texted her mother to let her know she was safe and was going to rest, then got up and knocked at the door. Aimee opened it, Makoto gone.

"What's up?" she said.

"May I ask you about Urasaria?" said Mia, and Aimee nodded as she stepped inside & sat.

"Sure thing, yeah. Are you thinking about, um - staying? After?"

"I-I don't know yet." said Mia. "I-I simply, er, wanted to ask questions. What would - if I were to apply, what would happen?"

Aimee nodded. "Okay. So, u-uh, once your Revenant activated, they're gonna ask you what it does. They don't tell you, but they can check it if they think you're lying, so -"

" - er, who is they?"

"Staff. Sorry, um, yeah. They guy with the robe is Hirogane - he checks that staff. Head of infirmary."

"Alright."

"And then, um, so long as it's not - super useless - they give you a house on campus. Still not allowed to leave yet, and you start off with… a monthly salary." She tried not to let her tone show how little it was.

"I know it's low." said Mia, and Aimee nodded.

"…yeah. But once you hu- arrest more people with Revenants, it goes up, so -"

" - the rankings?"

Aimee laughed. "Yeah. Uh, guess I don't need to explain everything, right?"

"I - admittedly, I thought I recognized you when you first walked in." laughed Mia.

"Guess I'm kinda popular." chimed Aimee. "Um, hasn't - hasn't done anything with - with women but - y-yeah."

Mia nodded. "What happens after that?"

"R-Right." nodded Aimee. "You get a mentor assigned to you from second-years. Um, I'm a third-year, so. They'll help teach you how to use your Revenant, stuff like that, and… I'm sure they'll kinda repeat all this, but, um. They have a tablet that lets them get calls for where Revenants - hosts - are, and you go deal with them. If you get hurt, some people have stuff that can heal you, or come back to the infirmary and - yeah. Everything make sense?"

Mia shook her head affirmatively. "I-I believe so."

"Good." Aimee smiled. "Um, if you want - once you have your Revenant, we can… go out together and make sure you know what to do and everything? I-I can make you much more durable."

"Thank you. Er, perhaps." smiled Mia. "I - I really appreciate how understanding you're being."

"Y-Yeah. Um, sure." chimed Aimee. "Just want to make sure you're comfortable. Can always ask me anything."

"…er. One other thing, then. Most students kill, correct?"

Aimee nodded, but wondered what articles Mia had seen about her. Hopefully by the slanted side of the press. "Um. Most of them, yeah, but -"

" - I don't have any issue with that. I understand that it's in self-defense."

Aimee had nourished a secret hope she *would've* had issue, so she could shove Mia out of her head. "You always have the, uh, choice, but yeah."

"You're dealing with scum. There's no room to - no good reason to, er - risk yourself."

"Kinda sounds like your Revenant already activated." Aimee laughed a little.

"What do you mean?"

"You'll know once it activates, but - kinda makes you more violent. More, uh, desensitized." Seeing Mia's expression: "It - no, I mean it - it doesn't change your personality, it's just… um. Mind if I show you, kinda? Are you done with your milk?"

Mia nodded and drank the rest. Aimee gestured to her before she stepped out, and after a minute came back with Saya.

"Is everything alright, Ms. Schultz?" said Saya as she sat down.

"Yeah." said Aimee, sitting down beside and hoping Mia found her amusing. "She just, uh - wanted a new pillow. Right?"

"Yes." nodded Mia.

"Give me the case, then." said Saya. Mia handed it to her and Saya dipped her right hand inside it. "I am sorry if… it sounds as if you've had a very stressful day."

"A-A little."

Saya nodded. "Can you look at my right arm?" (Mia did.) "Good. I am about to summon my Revenant, Blackburn. Its fog won't hurt you if you accidentally touch it. It allows me to 'fill' things. It's a creation Revenant."

Blackburn's fog appeared on Saya's right arm, and she took the pillow out of its case. Streams of fog flew in to the case and filled it with a new pillow.

"See how it changes?" said Saya, and Mia nodded. "Would you like to touch it?"

"I suppose." laughed Mia, and Saya with her as she took her Blackburn-hand. After a few seconds, Saya smiled and pulled away, then glanced at the empty cup.

"…ah. Would you like another drink?"

"Was my milk created by Blackburn?"

"It was. It's safe for consumption."

"Fat-free, too." chimed Aimee, and Saya laughed.

"Well, it hasn't been checked for that, but it's safe."

"Can you create water?" said Mia.

Saya took the cup. "Yes. Is that what you would like?" (Mia nodded.) Streams of fog flew in to the cup, filling it with water as she handed it back. "Thank you. If you need anything else, please do not hesitate to call for me, or Hirogane. Neither of our Revenants can harm you."

"Thank you." said Mia, and Saya walked out.

"See?" chimed Aimee. "I told her you were - said you were scared of Revenants, so."

"She seems very nice." Mia smiled.

"Yeah." laughed Aimee. "Nicest person on campus, too. She's Hirogane's assistant, so you'll see her a lot, and, uh… there's Luna, too, but she just stays in her office most of the time."

"Have I seen her yet?"

"Nah. She's ... freckles, stutters a lot. Usually sticks close to Saya, but she makes food. Has a Revenant that lets her take a picture of any recipe and just recreates it. Flashbulb."

"I assume she's not a student, then." laughed Mia, and Aimee nodded.

"Nah, she's not. Everyone jokes about her and Saya - uh, dating, since - just how they look at each other."

Mia grinned, gossip appealing to her brain's base. "Are they?"

Aimee laughed and shook her head. "They're just good friends, pretty sure. Wouldn't have any reason to hide that, anyway. Most of us are lesbians."

"The women, at least." chimed Mia and the two laughed.

"Yeah. You never know, though, uh…" Aimee trailed off, remembering she didn't know Mia's sexuality.

"I may fit right in, then. Er, also - who was the other woman? With the pink-hair?"

"Makoto." Aimee winced. "…uh. Hope she didn't make you… uncomfortable. She can be a bit much sometimes. Doesn't have a filter."

"I did get that from her."

"Yeah. She's in, uh - if someone says 'Council of Four', they mean me, her, two other guys. Just some, uh - silly name I came up with."

Mia nodded and the two kept quiet for a while. Aimee started feeling anxious over not talking, so she said; "But, um, yeah. Still need to find out why you have a Revenant and all that. Right? U-Um, we have someone that has cameras and stuff, so... Someone must've dropped you off, right?"

"Yes. But, er, I don't know who would have done it."

"Might be the same guy who attacked you." said Aimee. "Any idea where you were?"

"Er, near - near Clermont Street."

"Alright. I'll make sure they start looking around there, yeah."

Aimee wouldn't normally be involved in an investigation, but she knew she would be because of Mia. Even though the fantasy that being a good detective would woo her was ridiculous, she still liked to believe it, as she didn't feel her personality or appearance were up to the task. She was unlike Makoto in that she did not let her lack of success step ahead of her judgment when it came to women.

"But, um. Just get some rest, and stay here for now, right?" said Aimee. "Lemme give you my number, so - um, yeah. Let me know if you need anything, or if anything happens. Right?"

"Right." Mia nodded and leaned back. "Thank you for answering my questions."

"Sure thing. Text me, um - anytime you want. Don't have to worry about me being too b-busy."

Mia nodded and closed her eyes.

◆◆◆

Mia thought about college over the next week, as she wasn't allowed outside of the infirmary. She had seen the rows of housing out of the third-floor window and the mansions near the front gate & walls. Relatively isolated in location, she had noticed that the area directly around Urasaria Academy had little of the resonant neon glow life as an urban woman had conditioned her eyes to imbue in night.

She also noticed that for as essential as Urasaria was, most of the funding didn't show in the housing. Aimee had visited her daily, and pointed out the squat brick of mismatched boards that was row of one-star housing, along with her own mansion; a fact that seemed to embarrass her.

She worried over her choice between Urasaria & college. With college, she might've never seen a Revenant, but she may have regretted it. The videos she watched from both current & never-students did little to whittle this anxiety down; she recognized that both would rationalize their own decisions.

Her Revenant hadn't activated yet, and she still didn't feel stronger. How much power would be packed in to that colony of bacteria she did not know. Saya had demonstrated Blackburn for her, filling patients' wounds with new flesh, and she saw Flashbulb's cube too. Luna didn't talk much, but her & Saya held hands, and Mia remembered to gossip about it with Aimee.

Yet it bothered her to see Aimee come in with injuries; she had hoped after a certain point a Revenant was strong enough to kill instantly. If Rank #1 only had slightly thinner wounds than #50 or #70, then she wasn't sure relying on herself would be good enough, either, even with a mentor.

On the first quarter of the eighth night, something in her room screeched -

" - WORLDWIDE!"

- she woke up screaming -

- and Hirogane came in a few seconds after, turning the lights on; she threw her hands over her eyes -

" - I - I think it - I think my Revenant a-a-awoke - is someone in here?"

"Just me." yawned Hirogane, and she slowly nodded, still shaking as he came over.

"A-Alright." she panted, uncovering her eyes. "I-I h-heard something screaming -"

" - I didn't hear anything. Probably was your Revenant."

"…a-a-alright." She breathed for a minute. "I-I believe its name is, e-er - Worldwide."

Hirogane nodded. Mia had realized over the past week his bedside manner was worse than Saya's. "Need to check if it's active, then. Make sure you stay still."

Mia sat up as he tapped one of his robe's black splotches.

"Pulse." He pulled an oily tendril out of it, drew it up her vein, and she felt calmly disgusted as it slithered up her arm, touching her heart. He pulled Pulse out. "S'active. Should be able to summon it."

"I… I would prefer to w-wait for Aimee, if that's alright." said Mia, and called Aimee.

Aimee's mansion was the furthest from the infirmary, but she still got there within a minute.

"Hey." She smiled, yawning as she sat down. "You got it?"

"Y-Yes." said Mia. "But I - I wanted to wait until you were here."

Aimee nodded, though her crush had grown worse in the interim. She'd tried moisturizer and a new haircut, still trying to work out if Mia liked her usual outfit. "Go ahead."

"...Worldwide." said Mia, and in the next instant -

- a dozen scarabs appeared on her right sleeve, golden with one red line. One flew above her head and exploded in a tuft of red flame.

"Nice." nodded Aimee. "Uh, want to try something fun out?"

"Like what?"

"U-Um, give me your wrist."

Mia nodded and gave her her wrist. Blue tendrils burst out of Aimee's wrist, which Mia knew as Rider, if not the ability.

Rider's tendrils dipped in her veins, and as another scarab exploded -

- a tuft of orange flame puffed out.

"There we go." chimed Aimee, taking her hand off. "Uh, just kinda - enhancement."

"I-I felt that, yes. Er, is it only ... I'm not sure if there's any other ability to it, or…"

"That's … kinda just something you know innately, s-so. Its abilities. Can you extinguish it, if you set something on fire?"

"I don't believe I can." frowned Mia, and Hirogane yawned.

"Careful around any buildings."

"Y-Yeah." laughed Aimee. "Guess what you could do is - if you accidentally set something on fire, uh. Cover it with your body. Since Revenants can't harm their hosts or what they're wearing."

A scarab exploded on Mia's palm, and she nodded as no pain came. "I want to apply to Urasaria."

Aimee smiled and looked to Hirogane.

"On it." He yawned and walked out.

"Should, um - just t-take a minute." said Aimee excitedly. "Luna's not here, otherwise we could celebrate. Maybe, um - maybe tomorrow we could go out fighting and get to know Worldwide, maybe?"

"Worldwide, yes." she smiled. "But, er… I-I appreciate the offer, but, I wish to practice more before... hunting."

"O-Oh. Um. Y-Yeah. Sorry." laughed Aimee. "Sure thing, yeah."

"But, eventually."

"Sounds good."

Hirogane came back with her registration papers, and Aimee helped her through them. Once Mia had finished, she wanted sleep again, so Aimee & Hirogane left to the main infirmary once her eyes shut. Hirogane glanced at her door, then gestured out to the hall. Aimee followed him.

"What's up?" she whispered.

"Something's wrong with her colony. Felt it when Pulse was checking her. It's an extremely small colony. Could barely feel it on her heart."

"… I mean, it's new, right?"

"… I'll check her again in a week. Might have something to do with whoever gave it to her. Still. Keeps up like that - should tell that to whoever she gets assigned."

"…yeah. Uh. Speaking of - who gave it to her. Any progress with that?"

"Renault's still checking Rewind."

"…alright. Lemme know how she's doing."

As Hirogane watched her walk away, he felt the name Worldwide sounded familiar.