"I haven't seen it, no spoilers," says Larissa.

"Oooh, sorry, uh, new topic--I think I might want to go full time with the swarm-hunting thing? Like not just doing it over the summer, but maybe going into emergency services instead of college in a couple years."

"I guess that is one of the jobs you can still get without college," says Larissa.

"Aren't you smart, though?" says Sumiko.

Margaret looks at the table. "I'm good at engineering and math and stuff. And I did always think I'd go to college, my parents are certainly expecting it . . . But fighting uses my intelligence too. And, there are lots of engineers in the world, you know? Maybe I'd be doing more good fighting swarms than designing the next generation of consumer gadget."

"Maybe if you can fight kaiju," says Sumiko. "Any girl with a skirt and an energy beam can kill a city swarm."

"Yeah, I'd only skip college if I thought I had a good shot at making Paladin, and even then college keeps my options more open. I should talk to the guidance counselor, see if college is any different for magical girls."

"Paladins don't use stardarters," says Larissa. "You'd need military hardware, or a way to make your prophecies cough up about kaiju on demand."

"Would I have to join the military to get cleared for military hardware? Because I don't really want to fight anything *other* than swarms."

"Oh, no, Paladins aren't a military branch. It used to be part of the Coast Guard but it spun off," Larissa says. "They just buy some of the same weapons. You don't want to plink a stardart into something as big as a skyscraper."

"Oh, obviously not, but I bet I could get really good with, say, a rocket launcher."

"They have those, yep."

"My tactical sense has been helpful enough that I think I should at least look into trying for Paladin. I bet Vanessa will have an idea of if I could get that good, as a fighter if not magically."

"Good luck," says Sumiko.

"Maybe they'll put you through college like the army will," says Larissa, "I don't remember, I think all the Paladins I know went to college first."

"A scholarship would be great. My parents will definitely co-sign student loans if I get into somewhere expensive but it would be better not to have to."

"You could probably get a merit scholarship though, right?"

"I can certainly try! I'm glad I don't have to decide for another year and more."

"I'm applying to state schools, plus ones in New York. I might go to seminary," says Larissa, "but concurrently or after, not instead."

"Makes sense. Do you know what you'll major in? I'll definitely do mechanical engineering if anything."

"History probably," Larissa says.

"Chem maybe?" says Sumiko.

"Those are good majors. Think there's still time for me to talk to the guidance counselor before lunch ends?"

"Maybe, if you're fast and the guidance counselor's not eating?" says Sumiko.

"Worth a shot, I guess." Is the guidance counselor eating? 

Well, he's not in the lunchroom.

Then perhaps he is in his office! Margaret will say goodbye to Larissa and Sumiko and head over there.

He is in his office! "Margaret! What can I do for you?"