As I returned to my dorm, I couldn't help but sigh as I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling that had become so familiar to me.
"Disgusting, huh? Like some monster pretending to be human..."
I rested the back of my hand against my forehead.
"She's right...I'm no longer human, no longer what I once was. Whoever I was back then, isn't the me now...I know that."
My white, diamond-shaped pupils trembled, perhaps out of fear of what I'm becoming, but also with the fragility that came with the moment.
Making me remember what happened earlier.
...
..
.
[2 hours earlier]
After coming to the surface, I found myself staring at the backs of Miu and Rio...
Two people who seemed to trust me more than I trusted myself.
One was an irreplaceable friend. The other was a mentor...and something like an older sister.
My mind buzzed with what had happened earlier. Yet at the same time, it felt as though my thoughts had never been clearer.
A mix of contradictions, a mix of paradoxes.
"Shizuka..."
My black eyes shifted, glancing toward the person who called my name.
Miu looked at me with a comforting smile, her eyes showing nothing but gentle kindness.
Beside her, Rio crossed her arms. Yet her eyes, too, held nothing but warmth.
"I know what you'll become...once...you are ready to set out and make yourself known. I know...however, know that whatever happens, you are my hero."
Miu said, biting her lower lip before continuing.
"And nothing will ever change that...before you are my friend, you are my hero...so...whatever you do, make sure you do it well."
Miu looked me straight in the eyes and smiled before turning around and continuing to walk.
Rio matched my pace for a moment, walking beside me and IXX.
"Shizuka, what you did earlier...yeah, you did great."
Rio scratched the back of her head.
"You will become someone I will despise. But I no longer have the power to oppose it. Even so, with my teachings...hopefully you'll still pack a punch, huh?"
Rio laughed as she walked ahead.
Soon, we reached the dojo. Rio had something to do and left immediately. Miu also had other commitments to attend to...
Now it was just me and IXX.
"Master...those eyes mark a change, not just physically...but within your soul. The more seals you break, accept, or change...the more you change as well."
The black cat stretched lazily.
"So please, Master, don't be afraid. Accept change. Accept every possibility. If you want to cry, cry. If you want to lash out, lash out. But never run away."
Hearing the cat's words, I curled my hand into a fist.
"I know...I know that very well...after all..."
...
..
.
My mouth opened once more as I stared at the familiar ceiling.
"To not accept change is to remain stagnant..."
I sat up from my bed, alone in my dorm room.
I couldn't help but laugh a little.
「IXX went back to the castle...what have I not done yet...? Oh right...the new magical girls.」
My immediate thought, a way to ease my boredom and quiet the buzz in my head.
To finally see what the magical girls were up to.
To be completely honest, I would sometimes check in on them. However, it always seemed to be at the most embarrassing moments.
Usually when they were brushing their teeth or taking a bath...
And it's not like I wanted to watch!
Whenever I actually had free time, they were either studying or doing something completely nonsensical to me, so I stopped checking for a while.
Not to mention, it gets tiring constantly scaring Chie, constantly psychologically torturing her.
I want her miserable, not suicidal.
In any case...
It's time to find out what they're up to.