Another day in Paradise Hall, and another training session for Ueno. With Mei’s passing, Kiwako channeled her grief and regret into trying to shape Ueno into a capable fighter. She wasn’t having any luck, however, even with Hanako around to provide moral support. 

Kiwako: …Ooookay, take five!

Hanako: Ueno-chan, you’re getting stronger! I can feel it!

Yasu: …If Mei was able to make a megaphone work, I really don’t see how candy wouldn’t. You could do a lot with a power like that… (nibbling a cotton candy)

Ueno: (Ueno is bent over, exhausted) I looked it up… (pant) And I saw… (huff) That some people died in a molasses… (pant) A molasses flood… so I thought I could… (She swallows and straightens up) But, I guess that’s more for humans. Not Witches or Puellae… 

Kiwako: Don’t discount it! You never know if drowning a Witch in super-sweet molasses tar or whatever will work or not! Mei-chan learned how to take the most impractical weapon ever and… a-and…

Hanako: Kiwa-chan…

Kiwako: (sniffling, Kiwako quickly shakes her head) I-I know. I know, Lily-chan. It wasn’t my fault. I fought that… th-that mean harlot lady as best I could. Oh! Th-that’s a good tip! Never get your neck broken! It hurt for a whole day and a half…

Yasu: Er… Asaharu-san, what Kiwa-chan’s trying to say is, the will you put behind your magic means more than the shape it takes. Yui’d be the first one to tell you that. I’d be surprised if she hasn’t already… 

Ueno: I dunno… if there was just one dessert that was meant to kill you– and not like by poison– it’d be a lot easier… 

Hanako: (with a completely straight face, without missing a beat) You could probably make rock candy into some pretty deadly shapes.

Ueno: (Sounding a little manic) I tried that with rock candy and peanut brittle and they’re just not sturdy enough… even those super fancy desserts with gold leaf on ‘em! They only ever put these flimsy tin foil pieces of gold on ‘em that aren’t good for anything… (She drops her voice volume considerably) Though it sold great at the pawn shop to get some money… 

Hanako: (smiling) They don’t have to be sturdy if they’re sharp enough at just the right time. Like, can you expand or change or conjure the candy in someone’s throat?

Ueno: Or clog up their throat with molasses and stuff? Brr… (Ueno shudders) But, um, besides right now, I bet I’d mostly need to fight Witches, and I don’t think they’d care about tricks like that… need strong force!! 

Kiwako: That comes from within! Like, maybe you could make a reeeeeally powerful river of molasses! Fwooosh! I know it’s molasses, but it’s magic! (spinning) Make it flow like a typhoooon~! 

Hanako: …That’s a good point, Kiwa-chan. I think I could probably move even the thickest molasses around in my cyclones and give it some force…

Ueno: (She folds her arms) I can throw it or drop it from high myself! I just don’t know if even that has enough oomph… molasses probably as heavy as it gets, too… 

Shinju: (Shinju emerges from the basement stairway, shaking her head) What the heck are you guys talking about? 

Kiwako: (also without missing a beat) Making Ueno-chan’s magic stronger! Or finding ways she can hit harder against Witches, or anyone really!

Shinju: With… sweets and desserts, right?

Ueno: Sheesh! Why can’t it be, like, a traditional English dessert to have Sword Cake, which is cake with a real live metal sharp sword stuck in it for no reason! Argh!! 

Shinju: O-okay… the Americans on base who had weddings had some pretty big cakes, but no swords… 

Kiwako: (swaying a bit) …There’s one more method, Ueno-chan, if power is what you want~

Ueno: … I don’t wanna be with my Witch or anything… (She bites her finger, tapping her foot rapidly as her mind works) Oh! Th-that’s it! Wedding cakes!! The giant American ones come with big crazy stands, right?

Shinju: Eh? I-I guess? Can you make the stand or just the cake?

Kiwako: Enemy Stand user?

Ueno: I can make the gold leaf on a gold leaf dessert! I should be able to!! (she whips out her phone and starts searching furiously) C’mon, someone must have done a big metal stand that’d be useful… 

Hanako: Ehe… Ueno-chan, you don’t need to feel pressured into finding your silver bullet right now. I told you before, I can be the darkness for you. I can show you if you like, but somehow, I think that might not be what you need right now.

Ueno: (She seems to calm and clears her throat, putting her phone away for now) N-no, I want to see it. I don’t know if it’s for me, but, um… it’s your power, Lily, so I want to see it… 

Hanako: Ah, um… w-well, it is best demonstrated in a fight, so, em… I’d need someone willing to spar with me. But you’re not feeling confident in that, are you, Ueno-chan?

Ueno: Huh!? N-no, I… I don’t wanna fight you… 

Kiwako: Hmm~ Does anyone else wanna take a turn with Lily-chan then~?

Shinju: (She waves her hand with a sad smile) Maybe next time… 

Yasu: I’ll pass. Wouldn’t be much sport in it, Hanako and I spent about a month sparring with one another.

Kiwako: (swaying) Well, if there’s really no one else, then I suppose we can make it a reeeeally good demonstration, and both of us can— (Kiwako is interrupted by a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump)

Yui: And let you two go completely unhinged and destroy my gym? No thanks. I’ll take a crack at it though. (Yui stares directly at Hanako as she releases Kiwako, stepping forward) It’s easier for you, right? If you fight someone you’re not as close to, I mean.

Hanako: (Her eyes widen, but she steps forward with a resolved nod) …R-Right. Well then…

Hanako’s eyes take on a familiar, swirling dark hue, the air around her coming to a complete halt as an ivory rapier appears in her left hand. Yui remains perfectly relaxed, her eyes flashing violet. Lily lunges without a sound, just barely grazing Yui’s cheek as she moves only her head to avoid the attack. Without a sound, Lily continues her assault, lunging and thrusting her rapier towards Yui, though Yui dodges each hit effortlessly. After some time, Yui puts more effort into her movements out of necessity as Lily’s attacks grow more fierce, yet also more focused. Even without wind powers, Lily was showing herself to be a formidable opponent for Yui. Tired of the game, however, Yui brings her knee into Hanako’s stomach, causing her to squeak and collapse onto her knees. Before Yui could press her attack any further, however, Lily bolted upright, a well-placed thrust of her sword catching Yui’s side. Yui winced, covering her fresh, bloody wound along her stomach. Her eyes flashed again, and this time, her attack caught Hanako in the throat, sparks coming off the wound. Hanako’s eyes returned to normal, and she held her hands up to stop the bout, coughing soon after.

Yui: (Yui didn’t bother pursuing the attack, instead grabbing some bandages out of her pocket to wrap around her waist) Tch… my fault for getting cocky, I guess. …Nice shot, Hanako. 

Hanako: …S-Sorry—

Yui: Well there you have it, Ueno. She didn’t even need her wind. If she was using it, I would’ve had to try a lot harder to fight back. And uh… I think you know how strong I am. (Hissing, Yui hopped out of the ring) …I’m going for a nap. 

Ueno: U-um, have Aoi look at that… please… 

Yui: Eh, I’ll be fine. Not the first time I got stabbed. You should’ve seen the wounds I got takin’ on that clown chick.

Hanako: …Y-You… fought Moonlover?

Yui: Yep, that’s how this all started. Figured I’d already said that though. Couldn’t take her down. Like she was made of iron or some shit, the way nothing fazed her. The fact that y’all pulled it off genuinely impresses me. (her glance is especially poignant on Shinju as her eyes scan the room)

Shinju: She was overconfident enough to take us on right on a body of water. Underwater is a big advantage for me and everyone else would… struggle. 

Yui: …Yeah, strategy didn’t seem like her strong suit. She came off more as a Terminator type, just mindlessly pursuing. And making shitty one-liners all the time.

Hanako: Gods… she did that to you, too?

Yui: …Shinju, somethin’ botherin’ you?

Shinju: H-huh? No, no… I’m doing okay, everything considered. 

Yui: Well, if you ever need an ear from a veteran of our kind, hit me up. Or Kohaku, she’d know well enough too, and you’d be more comfortable talkin’ to her, I’d bet. (She gives a wave, still clutching her side) Well, ‘fore I bleed out… (Yui leaves, making her way downstairs)

Ueno: (Shouting after her) Seriously, have Aoi look at that!! 

Hanako: Mmh… I-I kind of feel bad. Yui doesn’t seem the type to take her injuries seriously, but she’s also… among the toughest people I know. Still…

Kiwako: You didn’t do anything, Lily-chan! Your Witch did! Besiiiiides, Yui knew the rules of the spar! The point was to show off your bond with your Witch! Ueno-chan! Did you get a good look?

Ueno: Y-yes, I saw. You’re very strong, Lily… 

Hanako: I… I have to be. To protect what matters to me, Ueno-chan.