Maka walked up the giant stair well with Soul at her side. "Isn't this exciting, Soul? We're getting hands-on training without the risk of getting killed!"

Soul, annoyed at his meister, gritted his teeth and exhaled audibly. "Maka, as much as I love fighting with you, I would really prefer playing basketball right now. It's summer, for crying out loud. Why can't we do this during the school year?"

She wiped some sweat from her face. "The time to hone your skills as a Death Scythe is now, while we have all this time to spare! You would have wasted the summer if it wasn't for me."

He rolled his eyes and opened the door for her. "Give me a break. We're almost a perfect team, Maka. We don't need to be re-taught how to make me an invincible Death Scythe."

"Maybe we wouldn't need to do this if you had taken some of those lessons and actually tried to do what they said!" She walked inside, glad that the school was air-conditioned in the burning heat of Nevada. There was a sign that read: If you are here for the WM training camp, please report to Lord Death before heading to the auditorium. "That's convenient," she murmured, heading down the hallway.

"Hey," Soul called out, catching up to her. "Don't you think it's weird that we have to go to the auditorium? Wouldn't they prefer that we go outside where it's open or something?"

She rolled her eyes. "Maybe they don't want us to die of heat stroke. Besides, the stage is big; it's not impossible to train on it."

"I guess," he muttered, still obviously suspicious of Lord Death's true intentions.

When they arrived at the Death Room, the headmaster greeted them enthusiastically. "Soul! Maka! I'm so glad you came to join us at camp!"

Maka grinned. "It's good to be here, Lord Death!" She looked around. "Is there a reason why we're here talking to you?"

"I'd like to know," Soul muttered.

Lord Death smiled and clapped his large hands together. "I'm so glad you asked! Well, it's so that I can explain to you why this isn't actually a WM training camp!" He chuckled. "It's a theater production!"

Maka's jaw dropped while Soul had a scowl on his face. "But sir...!" Maka breathed.

"I know, you two must be confused. You see, according to my statistics and history with this city, I calculated that we have approximately four months of peace before something chaotic happens, and since it's the summer, I decided that it would be great to immerse you kids in normal activities!" he explained excitedly. "I can't leave my mirror, so Marie and Stein will be directing the play. If you run away now, I'll expel you."

Soul was already slowly backing away, so at the threat of expulsion, he sighed and went back to the headmaster. "You lied 'cause you thought that no one would want to be an actor?"

"Well, all of you are naturally fighters, so I knew that it would be difficult to get people to cooperate. In short, you are correct. Please go to the auditorium now!"

Maka raised her hand. Her face was pale, as if she had seen a ghost. "B-But sir, none of us can act."

"I didn't think you would give up so quickly, Maka," Lord Death spoke in faked disappointment. "After persevering through the toughest of battles to make Soul into a Death Scythe, a summer play scares you off so quickly?"

"Sir," she tried again, but Soul took her arm to leave the Death Room.

"Have fun!" the shinigami called out.

"What just happened?" Maka asked weakly.

Soul shook his head, but a knowing smile still graced his face. "I knew something was up. We're Lord Death's little dolls, and he wants to play 'human world.'"