Chapter 23 Part 1: Forming Spartoi
Death's up to something... I get that he called Ao and Soul Eater to become a Death Scythe, but why has he called a bunch of us for the meeting too. And no, I don't mean other Death Scythes. He's called myself, Maka, Black*Star, Death the Kid, Liz, Patty, Ox, Harvard, Kim, Jacqueline, Kilik, Fire, Thunder, Meme, Tsubaki, Anya and Aaron! All together that's three teams! I managed to wrangle out of Spirit that it's not for a mission but he won't say anything else. I have a bad feeling about this...
Tsugumi's eyes swept over the Death Room as she entered with the rest of the group. Death was standing on the dais, alongside Spirit and Stein. Ao and Soul Eater were standing in front of them with their backs turned to the door. "Oh good, you're all here!" Death said. Ao and Soul Eater turned around to see them approach. Ao smiled while Soul Eater grinned. "Now I want all of you to go get changed!"
"Get changed?" Maka said narrowing her eyes at a blushing Spirit. He grinned and waved towards a number of boxes behind them. Tsugumi wondered how she had missed them. Maka walked over to the boxes and knelt down beside one. "There's one for each of us?"
"Exactly, now hop too it!" Death said. He and Spirit shooed the students out after handing them each a box with their names on it.
Tsugumi gave up on figuring out what those two wanted and went to get changed in the toilet. After she closed the stall door Tsugumi put the box down on top of the toilet seat. "Just what did they give us?" Tsugumi said opening the box. She found a short sleeved sailor uniform inside, similar to the one she wore now. There was a skirt lacking the frills of her current one as well. "How much effort did they put into this?" Tsugumi said face turning red as she pulled out a pair of black thigh-high stockings and panties. Another look confirmed that there was also a matching bra. Who wore a black bra under a white shirt?
"How does he still know my sizes?" Maka said, her voice shaking the stall walls. Tsugumi's eye twitched as she checked the tag on the inside of her own panties. These were her size too! As she glared at the offending clothing, the death logo on the front seemed to mock her.
"Maybe they looked up our sizes from the nurse's office..." Tsugumi said. Maka huffed, and though a wall kept them apart, Tsugumi would bet she was also blushing. She didn't want to contemplate any other method Spirit could have used to find out their sizes.
"I'm going to kick them both so hard Stein is going to have to surgically remove the heel of my new boots from their asses." Maka said. Tsugumi laughed and put down the disturbing panties. She checked the box again and found a pair of ankle boots.
"I am never going to be able to walk straight in these heels." Tsugumi said looking down at the boots. She'd never worn such high heels in her life and she doubted the fact that they had a solid base would help her much.
"Tsugumi hurry up!" Maka said. Tsugumi could hear her opening her own stall door.
"Just give me another minute!" Tsugumi said. She nearly tripped over herself taking off her uniform. How did Maka manage to get changed so fast?
Tsugumi and Maka made their way back to the Death Room together in their new uniforms. Tsugumi would almost say they looked quite good together while wearing similar outfits. Maka's uniform only different from hers in that she had a matching trench coat. If only she could stop tripping every fifth step and walk as gracefully as her meister it would be perfect.
"Halberd Meister Maka Albarn and Death Scythe Tsugumi Harudori reporting in," Maka said as they made their way back into the Death Room. Though she knew Maka was being formal to put Death and Spirit off guard in case ass kicking was necessary, Tsugumi threw away pretences and latched onto her partners arm to keep herself balanced.
"So cute...! This is the ultimate cuteness!" Spirit said his face turning pink. "I'm so glad I spent all that time picking your uniforms!" Maka glared at her father, halting his advance towards her. Tsugumi tightened her grip while she blushed. She wasn't surprised to hear Spirit had taken the chance to dress them up.
"It looks like everyone got changed~" Death said bouncing up and down. Looking around Tsugumi realised they were the last to arrive. The group of newly dressed students gathered together around Death on the central dais. "With this we can form DWMA's elite team Spartoi!"
"Spartoi?" Maka aid. She turned to Stein with an eyebrow raised.
"It's Greek for the sown." Stein said with a smile. "A horde of skeletons born from dragon's teeth planted in the earth. They were set loose to combat insanity. I'd say it fits the people here just fine..."
"Hey, what happened to being called the DWMA-Kids Squad?" Soul Eater said. He was looking between Stein and Death.
"Stein changed the name." Death said with a huff. "He said DWMA-Kids Squad wouldn't be good for morale." Tsugumi could see why. She would have to refuse to be part of the DWMA-Kids Squad no matter how much Death begged.
"That's too bad... I thought it was charming." Ao said. Tsugumi gaped at Ao. How could she be so lacking in taste?
"The meeting today is for the formation of Spartoi, but it's also the birth of a new Death Scythe!" Spirit said. He held out a purple soul to Soul Eater. Seeing the spider legs sticking out of it as Soul Eater accepted it, Tsugumi knew it had belonged to Arachne.
"Bottoms up," Soul Eater said. He opened his mouth wide and swallowed the soul in a single bite. Tsugumi winced remembering having to do so herself, though she knew Soul Eater enjoyed it. Wind picked up as Soul Eater's wavelength multiplied while absorbing the witch soul. Once the energy calmed down Ao who had stared at Soul Eater shoulders slumped.
"Is that it?" Ao said. She puffed out her cheeks. "I thought turning into a Death Scythe would be more exciting!" Black*Star chuckled and turned away covering his mouth with a hand. Tsugumi wondered if he'd thought the same thing when she'd been promoted...
"Congratulations Soul Eater," Death said giving him a thumb up. "As of now you're one of my personal weapons." Soul Eater grinned as everyone but Death the Kid, Maka, Black*Star and Tsugumi swarmed around him to congratulate him. Tsugumi smirked, knowing he wouldn't be glad for long.
"Calm down," Stein said making a shooing motion with his hand. "We didn't call you all here to socialise. As of now you're all part of an elite group. Everyone here is being promoted to 2 Star ranks." Stein sighed as Kilik led the charge for everyone to cheer.
"It's good to see you have so much energy." Death said tilting his head to the side. "You'll need it for your new training schedules." The group paused mid-cheer. "We're breaking you all into groups with an important person leading your training."
"I'll be leading a group focused on improving martial combat and using combat abilities." Stein said. He tightened the bolt in his skull and grinned. "Black*Star, Kilik, Ox, Meme and Ao will be with me." Everyone named bar Black*Star winced as Stein laughed.
"Sid will be holding training at the firing range. Kid, Liz and Patty, along with Anya and Aaron will be working with him." Death said. Death the Kid nodded while Patty cheerfully agreed. Tsugumi caught sight of the others sighing, probably in relief for not being in Stein's group.
"Marie will teach more advanced methods of wavelength control, this is especially important for Soul Eater as the start of Death Scythe training." Stein said once he finally stopped laughing. "Kim, Jacqueline, Tsubaki, Fire, Thunder and Harvard will be with her as well."
"Then what are we doing?" Maka said. She pointed to her own face. Tsugumi had to wonder what else they needed to work on...
"Mifune's offered to give you some pointers to reach 3 Stars rank." Death said. Maka and Tsugumi blinked. Maka was already reaching 3 stars? But wait...
"What about me?" Tsugumi said. Spirit chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"It's high time you learnt the most difficult parts of being a Death Scythe!" Spirit said grinning. "You'll be helping me with my paperwork." Tsugumi gaped at Spirit, her mouth moving but no sound coming out. Her training was paperwork?
Tsugumi slipped out from under Spirit's arm and crossed her own arms."I refuse!" Tsugumi said. Maybe if she asked nicely Stein would let her going his group instead?