[December 13th, 2019]

The last day before winter break had come, and the prodigal mentor&protégé met in their living room, bags already packed.

"Try not to get in any trouble over Christmas." laughed Mia.

"Man, c'mon." laughed Serena. "You know I can handle myself by now."

"I meant the lottery tickets. Are you still buying those?"

"Yeah. I still, um… haven't won much, but ... hey, um." Serena took a deep breath and nodded. "I guess I never told you why I'm doing that, right?"

"Er, extra money?"

Serena laughed nervously. "Um. Yeah, but - I wanted to tell you something before winter break."

"Is everything alright?"

"Yeah." Serena nodded. "I just - oh whatever. Uh. Don't make this a huge deal, alright?"

"You haven't even said what it is."

"I'm transgender."

Mia's brow raised and she cursed herself for having a reaction. "I - oh!"

"You can ... react, you know." laughed Serena, relevantly. "Uh. Male to female. You don't - uh. Have to do anything different or anything, don't worry."

"I - er. I - apologize if I've ever…"

Serena's head shook. "Nah, don't worry, you've always been good. It's, uh - I talked about it with Yuruko, and… I wasn't sure if I was gonna tell you then or not. But - you've been… I'm really glad we're friends. So I figured you'd be chill with it."

"I - I am. I am chill with it." nodded Mia, putting on an exaggerated display of acceptance, as allies often did.

"Man, c'mon." laughed Serena. "But uh - yeah. I started… um, younger, so. And I've been saving up for a woman with a Revenant in Thailand. That's why I've been trying lottery tickets, and… why I had that money."

"A Revenant in Thailand?"

"Some doctor that - changes all the woodworks. The sticky parts. The grease. The hoola-hoops -"

" - I get the picture." laughed Mia. "I assume it only works on hosts, then?"

"Yeah - just like most medical Revenants. One of the reasons my mom bought me Odyssey. I'm pretty far off from it - but yeah - uh." Serena laughed. "Remember when we fought that combining Revenant?"

"As if I could ever forget Mirena."

"Yeah. Uh - I know it's kinda weird to say this, but… It really made me happy - because I really got to kinda feel what it's going to be like, sort of. Like." She smiled. "… I dunno. I've just been thinking about that ever since. It just felt really right - like everything finally matched up. It doesn't all feel matched up, right now, but I know it will some day." The punk wiped her eyes and smiled wider. "But I've still gotta get thirty thousand dollars for it - so it'll take a long time."

"It's thirty-thousand dollars?" sputtered Mia.

"Nah - it's fifty-thousand, but I've already got some saved up. She does only have a market of like… I dunno. What's the rate of getting born with a Revenant - like, two in a million or something? So it's a pretty uh - low rate. But I'll get there eventually."

Mia smiled. "Wait here."

She turned, and as she went in to her room, already heard Serena protesting. She pulled up her drawer, and came back to Serena.

"Here." chimed Mia, and Serena pretended to refuse the $100.

"C-C'mon." laughed Serena. "That's not even gonna make a dent anyway, so -"

" - then I'll take it with me -"

" - no! - uh - I'll take it, I just -"

- Mia laughed as she handed the stack to the stubborn punk. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas."

◆◆◆

Matoi had gone hunting that day, and came back home to her teacher at her door. "Dr. Raydao?"

"Rain-On-A-Wedding." he stated with a sigh like business. "Apologies - the police wanted to speak with you." He waved her down, and the two started walking.

"Something amiss?"

"Doesn't sound like it. They found someone's body - died a few months ago, was only just found now. House's already gotten repossessed, said they'd get all her belongings out so the bank can sell it. She had a bunch of drawings of you, apparently."

"Excuse me?"

"A fan of your's?"

Matoi blinked, and she didn't respond until they'd come up to the gate out of Urasaria. "… I - would presume."

"… sad, isn't it? Guess no one came around to find her. She had her savings set to auto-pay."

Matoi kept her frown under control. "… She - chose - to - do that. Suicide."

She'd keep that in the front of her mind for winter break.

◆◆◆

"… guess that's the last one, again." muttered Hirogane. "Guessing you're gonna stay with us for the break, Saya?"

Saya nodded, hand on Luna's. "…y-yes." She nodded again. "I - I will miss working with both of you."

"I'll meet up with you t-to give you your lunch. I-In the morning." chimed Luna.

"Maybe Serena could work here." yawned Hirogane, and the three laughed. "S'it'd make it full circle."

"She's much too busy." laughed Saya. "And - I will require some time off, for my federal license exams."

"G-Good luck." said Luna. "… I-I'll m-miss you."

Saya smiled to quell Luna's eyes. "We still have a month together, and you'll always be able to visit me."

With a nod, the infirmary staff set out.

◆◆◆

Christmas day came, and for the first time, Jeanne refused her traditional gift.

"Um, I'm good." nodded Jeanne, waving down her father's baggie. "I stopped smoking a few months ago."

"Suit yourself."

"What a pothead." preened Nuiko.

◆◆◆

"Yeah." Serena smiled. "Um, it's been going really well, yeah."

"How did Mia react?"

"Uh - kinda caught her off-guard." She laughed. "I guess she didn't really suspect anything, so - and - Yuruko didn't know until I told her, either."

"Well - see? I told you you pass. You're a beautiful young woman, Serena."

It was the first time her mother had said her name & not a nick.

"… Y-Yeah. U-Um. Y-Yeah."

◆◆◆

"Respirator." said Yuruko's father, already wearing his. She set to work on her own as they stood over the mirror on the table.

"Got it." she muttered, forming a flask. "What next?"

"Silver nitrate. Then dilute with sodium hydroxide."

"Aqueous silver nitrate?"

"Of course."

She nodded, dipping a finger in to the flask, clear liquid starting to drip out of her glove. "47, 7, 8 - and then, 11, 1, 8."

"Good. See the precipitate starting to form?"

"Brown. That's... silver oxide. 47, 47, 8."

"Good. Ammonia. Enough to dissolve it."

"One nitrogen, four hydrogens, one oxygen, one hydrogen… Done."

"Little more. Pour it on the mirror."

She nodded, pouring the clear liquid on the mirror -

- and the two grinned as they saw their reflections as ones in a disturbed pond, liquid mirror shimmering as she poured it, bars on the mirror keeping it trapped.

"Coolio."

"Tollens' reagent - this tests for aldehydes. Normally, you'd need to have an aldehyde on the mirror, or a reducing sugar - but we formed it quickly, so we didn't have to. Still. We can't let this stay out for too long. It'll decompose to silver nitride."

"Explosive." muttered Yuruko, nodding.

"Right. Now, use a dilute acid to get rid of it, and -"

- Yuruko swept her hands across the liquid, and her father laughed as it disappeared.

"Somehow, I still forget you can do that."

◆◆◆

"How fast is your writing?"

Saya took a deep breath.

"Start."

She wrote Asclepius down within two seconds -

- and smiled as it healed her instructor.

"Good. Come back for your next exam next week."

"Thank you." nodded Saya, eager to see Luna.

◆◆◆

Henry came home to his mother at the front door, and he knew she'd heard the news.

"I can ex-"

"-I don't want to hear any fucking excuses. Leave."

◆◆◆

"How far up are you?" said Kirihara's father.

"Ten." she muttered. "Protégé keeps slowing me down."

"I don't know why they bother assigning those." said Kirihara's mother. "First you have to deal with having some pot-smoking mentor for your first year, and now, they expect you to sacrifice your progress even more by giving you some amateur?"

"Least someone understands."

◆◆◆

Matoi went home to her mother. The two never celebrated Christmas, though Matoi's growing reputation had inadvertently propelled her mother's small business.

"I almost thought you would be late." Her mother laughed. "Did you wish to talk about it now?"

Matoi nodded, wanting business first. "Were you able to find someone willing?"

"I… perhaps. Is your... tablet on?"

"I left it with Samuel."

"Good." She nodded. "I have. Urasaria's main staff... you said a dozen, yes?"

"One is Hirogane - there's no need for him." Matoi's head shook. "I assume it'll be expensive."

"It will. Then, for eleven people… $2000 an hour."

"I've already saved what I can - $8,500."

"Then I'll add $12,000 for Christmas."

◆◆◆

"You're here a bit late. Get in a fight on your way over?" said Samuel's father, and the boar's head shook.

"Apologies. Was dropping off something for Matoi. Bit of cash for her gift."

"What do you even get a woman like that?"

"Bit of cash. Like I said."

◆◆◆

"Is he not coming?" said Tuyuan, gesturing to his brother's empty seat.

"I invited him, but…" His father sighed.

They wondered how selfish a man could be.

◆◆◆

"I hit 315 today." laughed Sylvia. "Guess it gets easier with the Revenant strength, though."

Grant frowned for a second. "Are you dating anyone with a sister?"

"Uh, me, dating? Miss me."

◆◆◆

"Dmitri - get him to sheathe that ridiculous Revenant." laughed Atori's mother, and the scarfaced man shook his head at the dinner table.

"I refuse."

"Come on -- Atori. Everyone wants to see how -- Atorible you are."

The scarfaced man sighed, and his face went as Atorible as his mother had always said. Their two families had a laugh for their meal. Atori sighed, though it wasn't for the embarrassment.

He and Dmitri still remembered the hero they'd met in Lanacca.

◆◆◆

"Aaand, done." chimed Marisa, handing a new Boudoir-shirt to one of her younger brothers.

"Thanks."

"No problem - wait, are you wearing the one I gave you last Christmas?" She grinned.

"Uh, no. I bought this one."

She frowned.

◆◆◆

Mia had gotten a call from Aimee to meet her at a familiar dock, and once she arrived, the boat was already there, bridge down.

"C'mon." laughed Aimee, standing at the top. "Wanted to take you somewhere for Christmas."

Mia laughed and walked to her girlfriend. The two kissed. Aimee gave a wave up to helm as the bridge closed. The boat set out.

"Quite expensive transportation." said Mia with a laugh. "Was Mr. Thale...?"

"He's, uh - pretty weird guy. Real 'down with government' type, but the millionaire type - so, you know what that means. Says he wants to show the world that a private agency'll work better than the government." (Mia winced just as Aimee nodded.) "… Yeah. Still, promises to let me handle all the stuff - and he's got money, so, eh. Atori's the one who's usually gotta deal with him, anyway. He owns some line of tech startups, so, he figured Atori as security would save on costs. Twelve guards during the night for the price of one."

The boat turned left, and the coastline went from sand to stone.

"… Is it a private island?" said Mia, and Aimee laughed.

"Nah. It's uh, mined in to some cliffside. Kinda lonely, now, since it's only me, Makoto and Dmitri there - but y'know. It'll pick up as more people graduate. Plus, uh…"

"… Saya." murmured Mia, having heard the news.

"…yeah. She said Luna'll finish out the year and join up, too."

"And I suppose you want me to work there."

Aimee grinned. "That'll make me your boss."

The boat veered left again, and as Mia turned to the head, she saw the rocks peel back and flank, a gash cut through, shapes of platforms ahead. A few more minutes brought them to the landing bay of the base inside, and Aimee made an exaggerated show of courtesy as the two stepped off to the platform. Above, rocks for roofs, one building built direct in to the side.

They came up to the door. It opened, and out stepped Makoto with her traditional grin.

"Ooo. Bringing your girlfriend here? Does the local libertarian know?"

"It's fine." laughed Aimee, pressing her way past to the hall. "C'mon. Needed to talk with her about that, anyway."

"About that?" said Mia, passing the doors with Aimee. She heard Makoto laughing behind as she left.

"Er, yeah." chimed Aimee, coming up to one door at the end. She pressed it open, and the two stepped inside, desk with three monitors at the end, two chairs prepared. "Uh, don't worry - it's not anything bad, but I'm technically not supposed to show you this."

Aimee took a chair at her desk, gesturing Mia over as she flicked the monitors on.

"What is it?" said Mia, sitting as Aimee started typing.

"It's - uh - this."

A click, and a program started up onscreen, list of names right, identification and pictures left.

"Threat levels." said Aimee, pulling up the search. "So, basically - and I guess I should've expected it - government keeps tabs on Urasaria students once they get to three-star. They give professional agencies access to their database. That, and known villains, and you've got…"

She clicked her own name, and her information came up.

"Aimee Sato, threat level local?" said Mia.

"Local is about like, state level, if I decided to turn. Might like this one."

She scrolled down, and a man Mia knew appeared onscreen.

"Magnus Egashira. Revenant - Scourge." said Mia.

Aimee nodded. "Yep. Threat level national, lowered to local after a 'period of inactivity'."

"'Reappearance in…' ah."

"Yeah. Apparently, he took Ryumi's name when they got married, so, uh, at least he was a feminist. Goes - I have it set for both dead and alive. Three threat levels - local, national, and existential. Not allowed to look at details above my clearance unless they allow it, but -"

"- I'm - sorry, existential?"

"That's - right, sorry. Why I brought you here." chimed Aimee, clicking it to 'EXISTENTIAL'. Only two names were in the dropdown.

"Daigo Yashukure and ... what?"

"Ryumi Egashira - Queen of Scarabs. Unfortunately, doesn't tell me why. See."

"What - what is existential, exactly?"

"Existential is - uh, global threats, I think. Revenants that could end the world type stuff. Daigo, I already knew was the guy with the atomic manipulation Revenant - but, uh, why Ryumi is there… Any idea?"

"I… No, I don't believe so. I... haven't felt anything that could 'end the world'." murmured Mia, and Aimee laughed.

"Figured. Never know, though. Flames getting pretty hot." She winked, rubbing Schultzy's shoulder. "Wanna look through the local stuff? I've got full clearance on that, at least."

"I… suppose." murmured Mia, pressing the matter to her head's back. "Are there - er… Am I considered a threat?"

"Let's see." Aimee typed, and Mia frowned as she found no results. "…sorry, Schultzy. Here - I can filter by current Urasaria students, so."

One name came up and Mia sighed. "Matoi?"

"Matoi Kujo, threat level - local." laughed Aimee. "Missiles possess strength to collapse buildings. Has shown ability to blind opponents via a combination of her lasers and missiles. Possesses ability to plant and remotely detonate landmines - extreme caution advised if chasing. Strong personal integrity - likelihood of defection is low."

"It's accurate, at least. Er - but shouldn't Yuruko be on there, as well?"

"What do you mean?"

"Daigo was… atomic manipulation, correct? Isn't Medicinal also an atomic manipulation Revenant?"

"Oh - no, no." laughed Aimee. "No, uh - Daigo was way different. Renault sent me a bit of information on him one time, 'cuz I got bored. His was unlimited. Could affect people's biology, turn their organs to lead, stuff like that. Yuruko's is limited."

"I - oh. He was the one who… killed Ryumi, then?"

"I… guess so, yeah. Ended up killing each other."

"… I was just thinking of what Magnus told me. That Ryumi died of a wound that put her in to a coma."

"…yeah. Probably - uh, something to do with her organs, then. Who knows - maybe she got Existential just for killing him."

Mia nodded, resolving to press the matter, and the picture of Magnus&Ryumi out of her head.

"Still." winked Aimee, rubbing Schultzy's shoulder. "Bet you'll get up there some day - alive."

"Perhaps." laughed Mia.

"Still, uh… Off for a few days, at least." said Aimee, opening her arms for Mia. "Wanna go out somewhere? New photos?"

Mia grinned. "I think you should be the princess this year."

"Fine, fine." laughed Princess Aimee.

◆◆◆

A week before the two would return to Urasaria, another couple had their date.

"Told you she'd be accepting." grinned Yuruko, and Serena laughed. The chemist hadn't let up with it yet.

"Yeah. I guess I was just - kinda building it up more, or whatever."

"Yeah. I mean - it makes sense why you would, too, so…" She placed her gloved hand out, and Serena took it.

"… You know. I've never actually seen your hands before."

"Ooo." grinned Yuruko. "Do you think I have really fucked up ones?"

"I dunno." grinned Serena. "Do you sweat under there?"

"Nah. I can always just disintegrate it, anyway." Yuruko winked, taking an exaggerated show as she just disintegrated one glove, anyway.

"There we go. Thaaaat's the stuff -"

- and the two laughed as Medicinal formed a bikini for Yuruko's palm.

"Can't show that in a Christian manga." said Yuruko, relevantly.

"Yeah." Serena smiled as the two finished their meals. "Um, wanna do anything when we get back?"

"…hmm. I dunno. Tuyuan went out of town - so I don't have to deal with him for… another week."

The two laughed.

"Is he really that bad? I don't, uh, talk to him that much."

"He's getting more tolerable." laughed Yuruko. "Still - I dunno. I pirated Metal Slug 3 a few days ago. Wanna play that?"

"…Y-Yeah." Serena smiled. "Um - I, um…"

Yuruko smiled. "What's up?"

"I… just wanted to tell you that I-I-I love you."

"Oh - um -" - Yuruko stifled her nervous reflex to laugh - " - I -"

- and she winced involuntarily as she saw Serena's worry; she put her hand on Serena's. "I…" She smiled. "Um. I'm - I do really, really like you. You're my girlfriend."

"...o-oh." Serena laughed, trying to quell her nerves and worry. "Um. It's - you don't have to say it."

"I know. I'm just - I want to… I really, really like you. But I want to… I want us to be - I want to make sure I really mean it, when I say it. Right?"

"Y-Yeah." laughed Serena. "Um. Coolio."

"Coolio." grinned Yuruko. "Now, show me that tentacle."